bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematics teacher’ perceptions and adaptations in developing online classes - ideas for teacher training
Authors: Guerrero-Ortiz C , Huincahue J
Published: December 2020

The wide availability of digital tools, as well as the current global pandemic has transformed the way in which teachers and students interact. This of course will have consequences on the learning of in physics and mathematics in the medium and long term. The objective of this research is to explore what are the feelings, difficulties and adaptations of the teachers to develop online classes. We reach this goal with support on the tetrahedron model for a didactical situation, which describes the interactions between student, teacher, content, and technology. Following a qualitative methodology, a survey of 48 in-service teachers was conducted to explore how teachers’ knowledge and their use of digital tools influence teacher-student-technology interactions. The results showed that 65% of the participants feel prepared for online teaching, while 35% feel. However, there is not a big difference in the interactions they promote with the students. Teachers experiment a high level of negative emotions such as frustration and anxiety, many of these emotions were recognised in teachers feeling online teaching. The findings explain how emotional and infrastructural factors are related to the interactions in online teaching. The results have implications in physics and mathematics teacher training programs, the ways we teach physical and mathematical content, insofar we highlight those aspects into account to improve the students’ learning.
Construction of an economic and environmental assessment of the state of regional forestry in the Russian Federation based on the methods of the fuzzy set theory
Authors: Bogachev T V , Alekseychik T V , Stryukov M B , Yakovlev A V
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a methodology for constructing an assessment of the state of forestry for a sufficiently long period from the point of view of economic and environmental activity in the forestry of the region based on the mathematical apparatus of the fuzzy set theory, which is used to the study of the Central, North-West and Ural Federal Regions of Russia as the richest of forest resources. A feature of this technique is the construction of comprehensive assessments of the state of the forestry in the region for each sub-period, for example, with a duration of 5 years, which are obtained by dividing the study period into sub-periods in a sliding way. This makes it possible to identify the priorities of the activities of organizations and enterprises in the direction of improving the state of forestry in the regions. In addition, when constructing complex assessments of regions, the obtained sets of optimal alternatives make it possible to rank the regions under study by the level of the state of production activity in the forestry of the regions, as well as from the point of view of the area of burned forests and number of fires.
Methods of assessing the effectiveness of reforestation based on the theory of fuzzy sets
Authors: Kuzminov A , Sakharova L , Stryukov M , Zolnikov V
Published: December 2020

Purpose of the study: development of a new universal fuzzy-multiple methodology that allows assessing the effectiveness of reforestation based on a variable set of indicators, the significance of which is taken into account on the basis of expert assessments, in contrast to existing assessment methods. The systems of fuzzy-logical conclusions, the so-called standard multilevel [0,1] classifiers, were used as a mathematical tool for constructing the assessment methodology. As a result of the implementation of the methodology, an assessment of reforestation in the Rostov region was carried out on the basis of a set of 23 indicators characterizing the dynamics of reforestation, thinning activities, and patrolling of the forest fund in the region. In comparison with the already existing estimation methods, the proposed estimation method has a number of such advantages, such as: simple calculation scheme; when constructing estimates, taking into account a large number of heterogeneous significant indicators that can vary depending on the available statistical material and the characteristics of the specific practical problem being solved; the possibility of varying the weight of the contribution of the studied indicators to the corresponding comprehensive assessment; the possibility of analyzing on its basis the situation in the region under consideration.
Stimulating and toxic effects of graphene oxide on Betula pubescens microclones
Authors: Zakharova O , Kolesnikova E , Muratov D , Gusev A
Published: December 2020

We have studied the impact of graphene oxide (GO) at 1.5 – 15 μg/L on Betula pubescens microclones. Discovered, that the nanomaterial protects the plants against phytopathogens at the stage of culture establishment and promotes a 25% increase in the shoots survival rate. Further growth stimulation was observed in the groups treated with 1.5 and 3 μg/L, where the shoots length increased by 1.8 and 1 cm, and the number of leaves increased by 2 and 1.5 times respectively. 15 μg/L reduced the height of shoots by 20%. At the multiplication stage addition of GO enhanced the plantlets survival rate by 20% and had a stimulating effect on the birch regenerants growth, as well as on the number of leaves. The data on the plantlets survival rate and their morphometric analysis results correspond well with the biochemical assessment, namely in the GO group both photosynthetic and catalase activity exceeded those of the control group by 2 and 1.5 times, respectively. At the same time, histological analysis exhibits reduced number of stomata in the GO-treated group. At the rooting stage addition of 1.5 μg/L GO to the growth medium increased the number of plantlets with roots by 10% compared to control.
Study of driving dynamics of modular forestry tillage machine-tractor units in CAE SolidWorks Motion
Authors: Lysych M N
Published: December 2020

The issues of simulation studies driving dynamics of wheeled forestry machine-tractor units on the surface with obstacles are considered. The method of simulation modeling in CAD SolidWorks and CAE SolidWorks Motion is used. A simplified 3d-model of the MTZ-82.1 agricultural wheeled tractor was created, preserving all the main geometric and mass-inertia parameters of the moving elements. The tractor model was equipped with front and rear mounted modular forest tillage implements in the transport position. The research was performed on a virtual track with four different types of obstacles similar to those found in forest conditions. In a computer experiment, three different schemes of units were studied and the following parameters were obtained: wheel lift height, lateral displacement of the center of gravity, and linear speed fluctuations. Analysis of the results showed that the 0+1 scheme (rear-mounted single-row harrow) was the most stable. The heaviest scheme 1+2 (front-mounted drum chopper and rear-mounted two-row harrow) also had satisfactory stability. The least stable was a tractor equipped according to the 0+2 scheme (rear-mounted two-row harrow). The virtual experiment allowed us to study the dynamic stability of various forestry units in the transport position and establish the most stable configurations.
The effect of hydromorphic processes on the soil organic matter in the Central Russia (case study of the Voronezh and Kursk regions)
Authors: Tsaregorodtsev A , Akhtyrtsev A , Golyadkina I
Published: December 2020

The one of the main types of land degradation that cause the most damage to the state of soil cover is local waterlogging of soils. Only in Russia, about 9 million hectares are currently considered waterlogged, including 5 million hectares of agricultural land. On the lowland plains of the forest-steppe zone of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia, local over moistening of the soil cover creates significant difficulties in the use of arable land resources. Natural factors effects waterlogging are the amount of precipitation and the level of groundwater. The objects of research are virgin and arable soils with different hydromorphic conditions in the Central Russian Upland. The article presents results about humus content and reserves in Chernozems typical, Chernozems leached, Meadow-chernozemics soil, Chernozems-meadow soil and Chernozem wet-meadow soil. According to our investigations the most rich humus soils of the forest-steppe is semi-hydromorphic Meadow-chernozemics soils. Meadow-chernozemics leached and typical soils have an average thickness of the humus horizon of 88 and 85 cm and contain about 8.5 and 8.8% humus in the arable layer. Humus reserves in horizons A + AB is 623 and 629.5 t/ha and in a meter layer is 653.5 and 672.5 t/ha.
Trends in the average annual snow depth in various forest zones of Russia
Authors: Konstantinov A V , Kharchenko N N , Moiseeva E V
Published: December 2020

Snow cover is one of the important indicators of changes in weather and climate indicators that have a huge impact on the forests of Russia. The article analyzes changes in the average annual depth of snow cover in the period from 1966 to 2018. We used data from 23 meteorological stations located in 20 modal regions of Russia, reflecting the diversity of forest growth conditions in the country. For ease of analysis the indicators were grouped by decade (1966-1970, 1971-1980, 1981-1990, 1991-2000, 2001-2010, 2011-2018), for the main 30-year periods (1966-1990, 1991-2018) and for the last two five-year periods (2009-2013, 2014-2018). The results of the analysis show that the current trend of increasing the average annual snow depth on the territory of Russia, when compared with the base period of 1966-1990 manifests itself in the absolute majority of observation points. Only in two points – on the coast of the Baltic (26063 Saint Petersburg) and White (22550 Arkhangelsk) sea, it is not so pronounced. The nature of the dynamics of the average annual snow depth has zonal features and similarities within the forest zones of Russia.
Growth and ameliorative role of protective plantation in conditions of forest-steppe zone
Authors: Mikhin V I , Taniykevich V V , Mikhina E A
Published: December 2020

The systems of protective plantations transform agro-territories of the forest-steppe of the European part of Russia. With an area of artificial linear plantings in the Central Black soil region of 600000 ha, negative natural phenomena and erosion processes in landscapes were significantly reduced. In windbreaks with fast-growing tree species, the highest growth rates are observed with a row spacing of 3.0 m and a tree spacing of 1.0 m. A convex transverse profile is formed in middle-aged stands, where the height of the middle rows is higher by 12.1 - 17.2% than in the extreme. The average tree growth continues up to 30 years. The growth rate is 0.73 - 0.83 m/year with the decrease from the age of 15-24 years. In the system of forest belts during the growing season, there is an increase in relative humidity of 1.8 - 9.8%, which altogether leads to an increase in the yield of grain crops by 330 - 550 kg/ha. The formation of plantings on the arable land of optimal parameters and structures will make it possible to have biological structures of long-term use with an increasing reclamation effect.
Socio-ecological and economic efficiency of the territories of forestry
Authors: Bezrukova T L , Gyiazov A T , Kuksova I V
Published: December 2020

The article proposes a new paradigm for assessing the socio-ecological and economic efficiency of the state of forestry territories on the example of one of the Russian regions. The traditional model of economic growth in forestry has now run out of steam, since the economic growth in forestry is primarily a quantitative characteristic and cannot be sustained indefinitely, while economic development that improves the quality of life without increasing the consumption of forest resources can be sustainable. The transition to a new paradigm of o involves the formation of a set of interrelated and mutually dependent economic, social, political and other processes based on the organization of such a system that is able to resolve emerging internal and external contradictions. The socio-ecological and economic efficiency of forestry territories is calculated considering the correlation coefficients, which allows us to identify the proximity and direction of the relationship of the studied indicators. The calculated performance indicators can be further used in regional management for an adequate diagnosis of the current situation in forestry, identifying cause-and-effect relations between indicators and parameters of territory development.
Digitalization as a new factor of sustainable development of the Russian forest industry complex
Authors: Avdeeva I , Belolipezkaj A , Golovina T , Polyanin A
Published: December 2020

Digital technologies break new ground for forest management and regeneration though the forest industry complex is behind many industrial sectors according to the digitalization speed. The goal of study is to study the essence, principles and opportunities to implement digital technologies for the purpose of sustainable development of the Russian forest industry complex providing for collective advance international practices. The proposed concept is based on the methods of analysis and synthesis within the framework of the study of the forest industry complex in the integrity, unity and interconnection of its constituent parts in order to analyze, generalize information and to identify the prospects for using digital technologies in the economic systems management. In the framework of the study the context of modern system of forest industry complex management has been brought to light, there have been highlighted the issues which are possible to solve in the course of digital technologies. The result of the research is the proprietary model of the digital platform functioning, taking into account its conceptual characteristics and technological features of the forest industry complex management. Digital technologies give the forest industry a wide range of opportunities for sustainable development.
The practice of using a sieveless separator for pre-sowing treatment of common pine seeds (Pinus sylvestris)
Authors: Golev A D , Bukhtoyarov V N , Ivannikov V A
Published: December 2020

The paper presents the results of studies on the effect of calibrating Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seeds on the morpho-biological characteristics of seedlings. The studies were carried out in 2017-2019. Scots pine seeds were used as the object of research. In the course of the research, laboratory and field methods were used. The seeds were calibrated using a sieveless separator, which makes it possible to obtain several tens of seed fractions with a size gap of 0.02 mm. It was found that plants of large seeds were characterized by a higher starting growth. Throughout the growing season, the advantage of these fractions persisted. Due to the higher growth rate of small fraction plants, the difference between plants decreased by the end of the growing season. By the end of the first year of vegetation, there was some advantage of large seedlings, the height of which varied from 6.95 cm (second fraction) to 7.18 cm (fourth fraction). The seedlings of these fractions were characterized by the highest uniformity (17.0%). At the end of the second growing season, the most intensive growth was noted in seedlings of large seeds, due to which a large planting material is formed, characterized by high uniformity.
Laboratory tests of the horse strangles vaccine
Authors: Neustroev M P , Petrova S G , Elbyadova E I , Tarabukina N P
Published: December 2020

An inactivated vaccine against horse strangles was developed based on the Streptococcus equi strain “N-5/1”, which has sufficient efficacy and environmental safety. The vaccine was tested in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation No. 101 dated March 6, 2018 “On approval of the rules for preclinical studies of a medicinal product for veterinary use, clinical study of a medicinal product for veterinary use, and bioequivalence of a medicinal product for veterinary use”. According to the results of the tests, the absence of toxicity and irritating activity during intragastric administration of the vaccine to white mice at the maximum permissible dose (1 cm3) was established. The vaccine withstands the test for pyrogenicity, does not cause an increase or decrease in body temperature in animals during the observation period. A sufficiently high immunogenicity in laboratory animals of an inactivated vaccine was determined with a single injection (up to 80%), which meets the general requirements for the immunogenicity of microorganism strains in the composition of inactivated vaccines.
Prevention of postpartum complications and management of reproductive qualities of cows with the use of Prevention-N-B-S bio-preparation
Authors: Semenov V G , Tyurin V G , Smirnov A M , Kuznetsov A F , Larionov G A , Mudarisov R M , Ivanova T N
Published: December 2020

The article describes a method of preventing postpartum obstetric-gynecologic diseases and improving the reproductive function of cows by increasing the nonspecific resistance of the organism with the use of Prevention-N-B-S bio-preparation. For the first time the newly developed bio-preparation was injected to cows of Experimental Group 2 intramuscularly with a dose of 10 ml 35-30, 15-10 and 10-5 days before the expected calving date, while Dorogov’s antiseptic stimulant 2 fraction and Eleovit at the ratio of 1:9 were injected to the animals of Experimental Group 1 60 days before the estimated calving dates. It was established that the first estrus of Experimental Group 2 cows (28.8 ± 0.56 days) was 5.8 and 14.4 days earlier than that of the same-age cows of Experimental Group 1 (34.6 ± 0.93 days) and the Control Group (43.2 ± 1.64 days). The service period in Experimental Group 1 (64.6 ± 1.62 days) and Experimental Group 2 (57.8 ± 1.50 days) became shorter, comparing to the Control Group (89.2 ± 3.02 days). Use of bio-preparations in critical pregnancy periods of cows reduced the risks of subinvolution of uterus, endometritis and mastitis in the postpartum period and increased reproductive qualities of cows. The effect was most apparent when Prevention-N-B-S bio-preparation was used.
Improving taxation of agricultural production as a factor of successful development of the agricultural sector in Russia
Authors: Zotikov N , Savderova A , Lyubovtseva E
Published: December 2020

Modern reality, the current economic situation in the world put forward special requirements for ensuring the food security of the state, and conducting import substitution. The purpose of the study is to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the taxation system of agricultural producers in the form of unified agricultural tax, the impact of changes made to the Tax Code. The study used general methods of cognition (deduction and induction, analysis and synthesis, observation method, generalization and particular methods of cognition (factor analysis, comparison method, grouping, graphical and tabular methods of data presentation). Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the application of unified agricultural tax in practice raises questions that need to be revised and clarified, especially regarding the effectiveness of the special regime used in the development of small business in the agricultural sector. It is proposed to abolish the exemption from Value-Added Tax duties of all payers of the unified agricultural tax, regardless of their income, and to use the indicator “cost-effectiveness” when setting the single tax rate from 0 to 6%. The significance of the article is the issues addressed in the article are relevant for most countries of the world.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of a helio-greenhouse with soil heating
Authors: Belov V V , Belov E L , Sharonova T V
Published: December 2020

In most cases, various industrial greenhouses are used to grow vegetables in large volumes. Smallholder farms and horticultural individual plots have recently begun to use small polycarbonate greenhouses. However, it is not always possible to fully use the capabilities of such greenhouses due to the influence of weather, especially in early spring and late autumn. According to the authors, one of the methods to increase crop production in greenhouses is the collection and accumulation of solar energy, its further use for heating the lower layers of air in the greenhouse, and heating the soil. To solve this problem, an experimental helio-greenhouse with a height of 4.2 m has been made. The design of the helio-greenhouse provides for a system of underground pipes 110 mm in diameter buried to a depth of about 1 m into which air heated by the sun is fed from the upper part by an axial fan. The article presents the results of experimental studies of the microclimate (temperature and relative humidity) in an experimental Helio-greenhouse in comparison with a standard greenhouse and the environment. The results prove the effectiveness of the experimental Helio-greenhouse, namely, the temperature in it is 3 - 35 °C higher than the ambient temperature; there is a possibility of accumulation of warm air and its further use for heating the soil; it is possible to sow (plant) plants earlier than in a standard greenhouse.
Physiological state and reproductive qualities of sows when using probiotic preparations A2 and Immunoflor
Authors: Semenov V G , Obukhova A V , Kirillov N K , Kulmakova N I , Leontyev L B , Yu Petrov O , Aldyakov A V
Published: December 2020

The paper provides research and practice rationale for feasibility of using the complex probiotic preparations A2 and Immunoflor in the pig production and growing technology with the aim of improving reproductive qualities of sows through increasing nonspecific resistance of the organism. The probiotic preparations were given with the feed twice, at the beginning of pregnancy and 14 days before farrow, A2 in the amount of 1.62 g per animal in Experimental Group 1 and “Immunoflor” in the amount of 0.05 g per animal in Experimental Group 2. It was established that pig production from sows of both Experimental Groups 1 and 2 was 7.2 and 10.3 % higher, comparing that in the Control Group. At that, the number of healthy and viable pigs obtained from sows of the given experimental groups was reliably 8.5 and 12.5 % greater than in the Control Group (P < 0.01). The new complex probiotic agents A2 and Immunoflor, having significant antagonistic activity against putrefactive bacteria, decreased the mortinatality of pigs 1.4 and 2.1 times, respectively, increased litter size by 11.4 and 3.6 % and the milkability of sows by 4.2 kg and 4.7 kg.
Combined units for mowing and sealing of siderates
Authors: Kalimullin M , Abdrakhmanov R , Latypov R , Pushkarenko N , Maksimov I , Salimzyanov M , Sharipov R
Published: December 2020

Many agricultural producers have switched to organic farming methods, i.e. the use of green fertilizers - green manure. Many experts recommend cutting siderate cultures with a subsurface plowand leaving it on the surface of the soil as mulch. But not all termination methods are effective. The purpose of this work is to develop a technology for cultivating green manure crops for fertilization, to substantiate the most rational method for planting green manure crops and an agricultural unit for its implementation. It is proposed to hang a plant chopper on the front of the tractor, which will perform the function of mowing and chopping green manure, and both batteries of the discator, mounted on the rear part of the tractor, will close up the chopped stalks of green manure. To determine the effectiveness of using the proposed approach, comparative field trials were carried out, consisting in determining the completeness of incorporation of green mass in green manure crops. According to the results of the experiments, it was found that the completeness of incorporation of green mass of green manures without mowing was 65%, and with mowing and grinding - 96%, which is 1.5 times more than the compared approach.
Honey yield conditions and characteristics of honeys in the south of the Far East of Russia
Authors: Komin A E , Pulinets E K , Gamaeva S V
Published: December 2020

The article presents the characteristics of honey yield conditions and the quality of honey in the south of the Far East of Russia. The intensity of nectar production by plants in the active period of the beekeeping season is determined. The quality of the produced honey is estimated. The dominant honey plants in different seasons of the year have been established. The melliferous vegetation is rich and diverse and it allows to obtain the yield of marketable honey up to 61.6 kg per one bee colony during the research period. The main honey plant of Primorsky Krai is Tilia L. Its pollen contribution can reach 86.7% of the total number of pollen grains in the honey. Moreover, it is present in almost all honey samples. Among the secondary honey plants, the most valuable are Lespedeza bicolor Turcz., Fagopyrum esculentum Moench., species of genus Polygonum L. and of the Araliaceae family. Honey gathered at the same time in various areas of the region differs in pollen content of dominant honey plants significantly. Pollen of endemic plants are present in the honey samples, and it makes it possible to identify “Primorsky Honey” as highly reliable.
Transversals, duality, and irrational rotation
Authors: Duwenig Anna , Emerson Heath
Published: December 2020

An early result of Noncommutative Geometry was Connes’ observation in the 1980’s that the Dirac-Dolbeault cycle for the

2
2

-torus

T

2

\mathbb {T}^2

, which induces a Poincaré self-duality for

T

2

\mathbb {T}^2

, can be ‘quantized’ to give a spectral triple and a K-homology class in

K
K

0

(

A
θ

⊗

A
θ

,

C

)

\mathrm {KK}_0(A_\theta \otimes A_\theta , \mathbb {C})

providing the co-unit for a Poincaré self-duality for the irrational rotation algebra

A
θ

A_\theta

for any

θ
∈

R

∖

Q

\theta \in \mathbb {R}\setminus \mathbb {Q}

. Connes’ proof, however, relied on a K-theory computation and does not supply a representative cycle for the unit of this duality. Since such representatives are vital in applications of duality, we supply such a cycle in unbounded form in this article. Our approach is to construct, for any non-zero integer

b
b

, a finitely generated projective module

L

b

\mathcal {L}_{b}

over

A
θ

⊗

A
θ

A_\theta \otimes A_\theta

by using a reduction-to-a-transversal argument of Muhly, Renault, and Williams, applied to a pair of Kronecker foliations along lines of slope

θ
\theta

and

θ
+
b

\theta + b

, using the fact that these flows are transverse to each other. We then compute Connes’ dual of

[

L

b

]

[\mathcal {L}_{b}]

and prove that we obtain an invertible

τ

b

∈

K
K

0

(

A
θ

,

A
θ

)

\tau _{b}\in \mathrm {KK}_0(A_\theta , A_\theta )

, represented by an equivariant bundle of Dirac-Schrödinger operators. An application of equivariant Bott Periodicity gives a form of higher index theorem describing functoriality of such ‘

b
b

-twists’ and this allows us to describe the unit of Connes’ duality in terms of a combination of two constructions in KK-theory. This results in an explicit spectral representative of the unit – a kind of ‘quantized Thom class’ for the diagonal embedding of the noncommutative torus.
Classification of non-free Kleinian groups generated by two parabolic transformations
Authors: Akiyoshi Hirotaka , Ohshika Ken’ichi , Parker John , Sakuma Makoto , Yoshida Han
Published: December 2020

We give a full proof to Agol’s announcement on the classification of non-free Kleinian groups generated by two parabolic transformations.
Poverty Awareness: Development and Validation of a New Scale for Examining Attitudes regarding the Aetiology and Relational–Symbolic Aspects of Poverty
Authors: Weiss-Dagan Shlomit , Krumer-Nevo Michal
Published: December 2020

This study describes the development and validation of a new Poverty Awareness Scale (PAS). Existing scales of attitudes towards poverty focus on poverty’s aetiology, leaving other notions regarding poverty underexplored. Our new scale is based on the key role that relational–symbolic aspects of poverty play in current critical poverty knowledge and adds the examination of these aspects. The scale was distributed to 127 social workers and social work students before and after six different poverty-aware courses in Israel. For psychometric validation, we calculated the internal consistency of the construction of the scale dimensions and of the relationships between them. The scale evinced high levels of internal consistency. Construct validity was established through correlational analyses between our scale and a xenophobia scale. In addition, we found a significant difference in attitudes between the pre- and post-poverty-aware courses, with participants altering their attitudes in the direction of explanations that were more structural and exhibiting increased awareness of the relational symbolic aspects of poverty. The new PAS has the potential to be useful for service training and social work education.
Ultrasound Guidance and Risk for Central Venous Catheter–Related Infections in the Intensive Care Unit: A Post Hoc Analysis of Individual Data of 3 Multicenter Randomized Trials
Authors: Buetti Niccolò , Mimoz Olivier , Mermel Leonard , Ruckly Stéphane , Mongardon Nicolas , Dupuis Claire , Mira Jean-Paul , Lucet Jean-Christophe , Mégarbane Bruno , Bailly Sébastien , Parienti Jean-Jacques , Timsit Jean-François
Published: December 2020

Background

Ultrasound (US) guidance is frequently used in critically ill patients for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion. The effect of US on infectious risk remains controversial, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed mainly noninfectious complications. This study assessed infectious risk associated with catheters inserted with US guidance vs use of anatomical landmarks.

Methods

We used individual data from 3 large RCTs for which a prospective, high-quality data collection was performed. Adult patients were recruited in various intensive care units (ICUs) in France as soon as they required short-term CVC insertion. We applied marginal Cox models with inverse probability weighting to estimate the effect of US-guided insertion on catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs, primary outcome) and major catheter-related infections (MCRIs, secondary outcome).We also evaluated insertion site colonization at catheter removal.

Results

Our post hoc analysis included 4636 patients and 5502 catheters inserted in 2088 jugular, 1733 femoral, and 1681 subclavian veins, in 19 ICUs. US guidance was used for 2147 catheter insertions. Among jugular and femoral CVCs and after weighting, we found an association between US and CRBSI (hazard ratio [HR], 2.21 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.17–4.16]; P = .014) and between US and MCRI (HR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.01–2.38]; P = .045). Catheter insertion site colonization at removal was more common in the US-guided group (P = .0045) among jugular and femoral CVCs in situ for ≤7 days (n = 606).

Conclusions

In prospectively collected data in which catheters were not randomized to insertion by US or anatomical landmarks, US guidance was associated with increased risk of infection.
Photoregime Affects Development, Reproduction, and Flight Performance of the Invasive Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in China
Authors: He Limei , Ge Shishuai , Zhang Haowen , He Wei , Yan Ran , Wu Kongming
Published: December 2020

The migratory fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), has become a worldwide agricultural pest. In this study, the effects of photoregime on the development, reproduction, and flight performance of fall armyworm were assessed based on two-sex life tables, ovarian and testis anatomy, and flight mill tests. The results indicated that photoregime had a significant effect on developmental duration of fall armyworm individuals, pupal survival and emergence, and adult fecundity. Among seven photoregimes tested, the 16:8 (L:D) h photoregime was the most suitable for fall armyworm fitness with the shortest pre-oviposition period and mean generation period (T), highest mating frequency and mating rate of female moths, largest intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ), and highest net reproduction rate (R0). Population growth for seven different photoregimes in decreasing order was 16:8 (L:D) h > 8:16 (L:D) h > 12:12 (L:D) h > 10:14 (L:D) h > 14:10 (L:D) h > 0:24 (L:D) h > 24:0 (L:D) h. The ovarian development level, mating frequency, and testis size did not significantly differ between long (16:8 (L:D) h) and short (10:14 (L:D) h) illumination. Photoregime had a significant effect on mass loss during flight of adults, but not on flight velocity, flight duration, and flight distance. These findings can be used to refine laboratory rearing protocols, accurately predict seasonal changes in population dynamics and should help improve regional forecasts and management of the fall armyworm.
Prognostic significance of aortic valve calcium in relation to coronary artery calcification for long-term, cause-specific mortality: results from the CAC Consortium
Authors: Han Donghee , Cordoso Rhanderson , Whelton Seamus , Rozanski Alan , Budoff Matthew J , Miedema Michael D , Nasir Khurram , Shaw Leslee J , Rumberger John A , Gransar Heidi , Dardari Zeina , Blumenthal Roger S , Blaha Michael J , Berman Daniel S
Published: December 2020

Aims

Aortic valve calcification (AVC) has been shown to be associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; however, whether this is independent of traditional risk factors and coronary artery calcification (CAC) remains unclear.

Methods and results

From the multicentre CAC Consortium database, 10 007 patients (mean 55.8±11.7 years, 64% male) with concomitant CAC and AVC scoring were included in the current analysis. AVC score was quantified using the Agatston score method and categorized as 0, 1–99, and ≥100. The endpoints were all-cause, CVD, and coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths. AVC (AVC>0) was observed in 1397 (14%) patients. During a median 7.8 (interquartile range: 4.7–10.6) years of study follow-up, 511 (5.1%) deaths occurred; 179 (35%) were CVD deaths, and 101 (19.8%) were CHD deaths. A significant interaction between CAC and AVC for mortality was observed (P<0.001). The incidence of mortality events increased with higher AVC; however, AVC ≥100 was not independently associated with all-cause, CVD, and CHD deaths after adjusting for CVD risk factors and CAC (P=0.192, 0.063, and 0.206, respectively). When further stratified by CAC<100 or ≥100, AVC ≥100 was an independent predictor of all-cause and CVD deaths only in patients with CAC <100, after adjusting for CVD risk factors and CAC [hazard ratio (HR): 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–3.27; P=0.013 and HR: 2.71, 95% CI: 1.15–6.34; P=0.022, respectively].

Conclusion

Although the overall prognostic significance of AVC was attenuated after accounting for CAC, high AVC was independently associated with all-cause and CVD deaths in patients with low coronary atherosclerosis burden.
Toxic Metals in Liquid and Aerosol from Pod-Type Electronic Cigarettes
Authors: Gray Naudia , Halstead Mary , Valentin-Blasini Liza , Watson Clifford , Pappas R Steven
Published: December 2020

High-quality, accurate data on liquid contents and aerosol emissions from electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS, e.g., e-cigarettes) are crucial to address potential health concerns as these devices evolve and mature. Metals are an important class of ENDS constituents that merit attention as they have various health implications. Proper sampling, handling and aerosol trapping materials are essential to generate accurate quantitative metal data and to reduce the likelihood of inaccurate results originating from inappropriate collection vessels and materials that contribute to high background levels. Published methods that meet these criteria were applied to the analyses of chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, tin and lead in liquid and aerosol from mint/menthol and tobacco flavors of currently popular pod-based devices from three manufacturers. Metal concentrations from pods that had not been used for generating aerosol ranged from below our lowest reportable level to 0.164 µg/g for Cr, 61.3 µg/g for Ni, 927 µg/g for Cu, 14.9 µg/g for Zn, 58.2 µg/g for Sn and 2.56 µg/g for Pb. Cadmium was included in our analyte panel and was not present above detection limits in liquid or aerosol. Aerosol metal concentrations (using a 55-mL puff) ranged from below our lowest reportable level to 29.9 ng/10 puffs for Cr, 373 ng/10 puffs for Ni, 209 ng/10 puffs for Cu, 4,580 ng/10 puffs for Zn, 127 ng/10 puffs for Sn and 463 ng/10 puffs for Pb. Our results showed some metal delivery from all the products examined and highly variable metal levels between manufacturer, brand and package.
Diapause Termination and Postdiapause in Lygus hesperus (Heteroptera: Miridae)
Authors: Brent Colin S
Published: December 2020

The western tarnished plant bug, Lygus hesperus Knight, overwinters as a diapausing adult in response to short day lengths. Once environmental conditions are favorable, the bugs revert to an active reproductive state. To determine the impact on life-history traits of diverting resources toward diapause rather than oogenesis during early adulthood, diapausing and nondiapausing L. hesperus females were reared from the same cohorts. Body mass, ovarian maturation, ovipositional activity, and survivorship were monitored starting either at the time of release from diapause-inducing conditions or at adult eclosion for diapausers and nondiapausers, respectively. Females that had gone through 2 wk of diapause were larger and able to mobilize the resources necessary for oogenesis faster than nondiapausers, initiating oogenesis and ovipositing sooner and at a faster initial rate. However, lifetime egg production and average daily rates were similar for both groups. Postdiapausers lived longer than nondiapausers by an average of 19 d, which is five more than the 2-wk period when they were reproductively senescent. Overall, the results indicate that short-term diapause does not have a negative impact on life history. Furthermore, the extra endogenous resources stored during diapause may be able to enhance the alacrity with which the female can take advantage of improved environmental conditions and may prolong life by shielding the females against environmental stressors such as temperature extremes, oxidative agents, or food deficits.
The Axiom of Choice in computability theory and Reverse Mathematics with a cameo for the Continuum Hypothesis
Authors: Normann Dag , Sanders Sam
Published: December 2020

The Axiom of Choice (${\textsf{AC}}$ for short) is the most (in)famous axiom of the usual foundations of mathematics, ${\textsf{ZFC}}$ set theory. The (non-)essential use of ${\textsf{AC}}$ in mathematics has been well-studied and thoroughly classified. Now, fragments of countable ${\textsf{AC}}$ not provable in ${\textsf{ZF}}$ have recently been used in Kohlenbach’s higher-order Reverse Mathematics to obtain equivalences between closely related compactness and local–global principles. We continue this study and show that ${\textsf{NCC}}$, a weak choice principle provable in ${\textsf{ZF}}$ and much weaker systems, suffices for many of these results. In light of the intimate connection between Reverse Mathematics and computability theory, we also study realisers for ${\textsf{NCC}}$, i.e. functionals that produce the choice functions claimed to exist by the latter, from the other data. Our hubris of undertaking the hitherto underdeveloped study of the computational properties of (choice functions from) ${\textsf{AC}}$ leads to interesting results. For instance, using Kleene’s S1-S9 computation schemes, we show that various total realisers for ${\textsf{NCC}}$ compute Kleene’s $\exists ^{3}$, a functional that gives rise to full second-order arithmetic, and vice versa. By contrast, partial realisers for ${\textsf{NCC}}$  should be much weaker, but establishing this conjecture remains elusive. By way of catharsis, we show that the Continuum Hypothesis (${\textsf{CH}}$ for short) is equivalent to the existence of a countably based partial realiser for ${\textsf{NCC}}$. The latter kind of realiser does not compute Kleene’s $\exists ^{3}$ and is therefore strictly weaker than a total one.
The mean square radius of the neutron distribution and the skin thickness derived from electron scattering
Authors: Kurasawa Haruki , Suda Toshimi , Suzuki Toshio
Published: December 2020

The second-order moment of the nuclear charge density ($R^2_c$) is dominated by the mean square radius (msr) of the point proton distribution ($R_p^2$), while the fourth-order moment($Q^4_c$) depends on the msr of the point neutron one ($R_n^2$) also. Moreover, $R^2_n$ is strongly correlated to $R^2_c$ in nuclear models. According to these facts, the linear relationship between various moments in the nuclear mean field models are investigated with the use of the least-squares method for $^{40}$Ca, $^{48}$Ca and $^{208}$Pb. From the intersection of the obtained straight line and the line of the experimental value for $R^2_c $ or $Q^4_c$ determined through electron scattering, the values of $R_p$ and $R_n$ are estimated. Since relativistic and non-relativistic models provide different lines, the obtained values of $R_n$ and the skin thickness ($R_n-R_p$) differ from each other in the two frameworks.
Neural Correlates of Self-other Distinction in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: The Roles of Agency and Hand Identity
Authors: Uhlmann Lukas , Pazen Mareike , van Kemenade Bianca M , Kircher Tilo , Straube Benjamin
Published: December 2020

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) are characterized by disturbed self-other distinction. While previous studies associate abnormalities in the sense of agency (ie, the feeling that an action and the resulting sensory consequences are produced by oneself) with disturbed processing in the angular gyrus, passive movement conditions to isolate contributions of motor predictions are lacking. Furthermore, the role of body identity (ie, visual features determining whether a seen body part belongs to oneself) in self-other distinction is unclear. In the current study, fMRI was used to assess the roles of agency and hand identity in self-other distinction. Patients with SSD and healthy controls (HC) performed active and passive hand movements (agency manipulation) while seeing their own or someone else’s hand moving in accordance with their action (hand identity manipulation). Variable delays (0–417 ms) between movement and feedback had to be detected. Our results showed overall lower delay detection performances during active than passive conditions; however, these differences were reduced in patients when the own hand was displayed. On a neural level, we found that in HC, activation in the right angular gyrus was modulated by agency and hand identity. In contrast, agency and hand identity revealed no overlapping activation in patients, due to reduced effects of agency. Importantly, HC and SSD patients shared similar effects of hand identity in the angular gyrus. Our results suggest that disturbances of self-other distinction in SSD are particularly driven by agency, while self-other distinction based on hand identity might be spared.
Urinary miRNA Biomarkers of Drug-Induced Kidney Injury and Their Site Specificity Within the Nephron
Authors: Chorley Brian N , Ellinger-Ziegelbauer Heidrun , Tackett Michael , Simutis Frank J , Harrill Alison H , McDuffie James , Atabakhsh Elnaz , Nassirpour Rounak , Whiteley Laurence O , Léonard Jean-François , Carswell Gleta K , Harpur Ernie , Chen Connie L , Gautier Jean-Charles
Published: December 2020

Drug-induced kidney injury (DIKI) is a major concern in both drug development and clinical practice. There is an unmet need for biomarkers of glomerular damage and more distal renal injury in the loop of Henle and the collecting duct (CD). A cross-laboratory program to identify and characterize urinary microRNA (miRNA) patterns reflecting tissue- or pathology-specific DIKI was conducted. The overall goal was to propose miRNA biomarker candidates for DIKI that could supplement information provided by protein kidney biomarkers in urine. Rats were treated with nephrotoxicants causing injury to distinct nephron segments: the glomerulus, proximal tubule, thick ascending limb (TAL) of the loop of Henle and CD. Meta-analysis identified miR-192-5p as a potential proximal tubule-specific urinary miRNA candidate. This result was supported by data obtained in laser capture microdissection nephron segments showing that miR-192-5p expression was enriched in the proximal tubule. Discriminative miRNAs including miR-221-3p and -222-3p were increased in urine from rats treated with TAL versus proximal tubule toxicants in accordance with their expression localization in the kidney. Urinary miR-210-3p increased up to 40-fold upon treatment with TAL toxicants and was also enriched in laser capture microdissection samples containing TAL and/or CD versus proximal tubule. miR-23a-3p was enriched in the glomerulus and was increased in urine from rats treated with doxorubicin, a glomerular toxicant, but not with toxicants affecting other nephron segments. Taken together these results suggest that urinary miRNA panels sourced from specific nephron regions may be useful to discriminate the pathology of toxicant-induced lesions in the kidney, thereby contributing to DIKI biomarker development needs for industry, clinical, and regulatory use.
Genome Resource of Podosphaera xanthii, the Host-Specific Fungal Pathogen That Causes Cucurbit Powdery Mildew
Authors: Kim Seunghwan , Subramaniyam Sathiyamoorthy , Jung Myunghee , Oh Eun-A , Kim Tae Ho , Kim Jeong-Gu
Published: December 2020

Approximately 33 types of commonly consumed fruits and vegetables are members of the family Cucurbitaceae, making it an important crop family worldwide. However, pathogen resistance to pesticides and fungicides has become a growing problem in cultivation practices. The identification of the effector proteins in each unique fungus–host pair would help toward the development of strategies for preventing the infection of important crops. In this study, we characterized the genome of Podosphaera xanthii, the fungal pathogen that causes powdery mildew disease in cucurbitaceous plants. A first-draft genome of 209.08 MB was assembled and compared with those of 25 other fungal pathogens, particularly for identifying candidate secreted effector proteins. This draft genome can serve as a valuable resource for future genomic and proteomic studies of P. xanthii and its host-specific pathogenesis.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .