bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated analysis reveals CP is a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in glioma
Authors: Liu Linjiang , Xu Zhen , Wang Cuicui , Wu Cheng , Li Hongjian , Zhu Qianni , Gu Dayong , Zou Haijun , Li Weihua
Published: July 2023

Purpose:
Glioma is a challenging brain tumor with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Ceruloplasmin (CP), a multicopper protein involved in oxidative stress and iron homeostasis, has been implicated in various cancers but its role in glioma remains unclear.
Methods:
In this study, we investigated the association between CP expression and various factors, including prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), immune infiltration, and immune checkpoint markers. We utilized single-cell sequencing data to assess the expression of CP in both glioma tissues and normal tissues. Furthermore, we conducted in vitro experimentation to evaluate the effects of CP knockdown on glioma cells.
Results:
Our findings demonstrated a significant correlation between high CP expression and unfavorable clinical characteristics, as well as poor overall survival in glioma patients. Enrichment analysis revealed associations between CP and immune-related pathways, suggesting its involvement in immune regulation. We observed increased immune infiltration in glioma cases exhibiting high CP expression. Additionally, CP expression showed positive correlation with immune checkpoint genes, indicating its potential as an immunotherapy target. Single-cell analysis confirmed the expression of CP in both tumor and immune cells, further supporting its role as a biomarker. Moreover, our in vitro knockdown experiments demonstrated that inhibiting CP suppressed glioma cell proliferation.
Conclusion:
In summary, our findings suggest that CP is associated with glioma progression, immune regulation, and holds potential therapeutic implications.
Generalized Fiducial Inference for the GEV Distribution
Authors: Qiao Yaru , Cai Xia , Li Shanshan
Published: July 2023

This paper considers parameter estimation and quantile estimation for the generalized extreme value distribution. When the shape parameter is less than -0.5, the frequentist method does not have the standard asymptotic properties and the confidence intervals are invalid. Meanwhile, the Bayesian method relies on the prior, so a robust and efficient method is needed. In this paper, generalized fiducial inference is used to construct the fiducial distributions of the parameters of interest. Then the generalized fiducial estimates and confidence intervals of the parameters are derived. The proposed method is compared with the frequentist method and the Bayesian approach. The simulation results show that the proposed generalize fiducial method is more suitable for parameter estimation and quantile estimation, especially when the shape parameter is less than -0.5. Finally, the proposed method is applied to a real example to illustrate the estimation procedure.
Development of a novel protocol for the production of doubled haploids in Hot Pepper
Authors: Misal Sachin , Das Arunava
Published: July 2023

Hot pepper ranks seventh among the most produced vegetables in the world. This crop is famous for its color and pungency. Hot pepper contains many important phytonutrients that enable it to fight against cancer. Conventional breeding in Hot Pepper is labor-consuming and a long-term process. This can be overcome by using novel approaches, such as, in vitro doubled haploid plant production. This method not only accelerate breeding programs but also facilitates recovery of recessive mutations. There are many articles published on doubled haploid development in Capsicum annuum; it reports both anther culture and shed-microspore culture methods, but both these methods require either subculture of anthers or the addition of new media, which makes both protocols laborious. The present study aims to develop a single-step direct embryogenesis protocol to produce doubled haploids in Capsicum annuum. We analyzed effectiveness of microspore embryogenesis on ten Hot pepper genotypes with six media combinations. Among six, one media combination responded well to single-step direct embryogenesis with more than 20% plant regeneration frequency. We observed an average embryogenesis of 7.53% and plant regeneration frequency of 3.81%. We achieved a survival index of 97.61%. The results of these experiments show that, one-step direct embryogenesis can be achieved with unique combination of plant growth regulators.
Construction and characterization of microsatellite markers for the Schistosoma japonicum isolate from a hilly area of China based on whole genome sequencing
Authors: Sun Mengtao , Cheng Yuheng , Gao Changzhe , Peng Hanqi , Wang Ning , Gu Weiling , Lu Dabing
Published: July 2023

Schistosome japonicum had once caused the greatest disease burden in China, and has still been transmitted in some hilly areas, for example in Shitai of Anhui province, where rodents are projected to be the main reservoir. This may lead to a critical need of molecular tools with high efficiency in monitoring the dynamic of the rodent-associated S. japonicum, as an appropriate amount of schistosome input can re-establish its life cycle in a place with snails and then result in the re-emergence of schistosomiasis. We sampled the hilly schistosome isolate from Shitai of Anhui in China and sequenced the parasite with the next-generation sequencing technology. The whole genome was assembled with four different approaches. We then developed 71 microsatellite markers at a genome-wide scale throughout two best assembled genomes. Based on their chromosome mapping and the expected length of targeted sequences, we selected 24 markers for the development of multiplex reactions. Two multiplexes composed of 10 loci were finally developed, and their potential were revealed by their successful application on and capturing the genetic diversity of three schistosome populations. The selected 10 markers, each with clear chromosome location and characteristics, will be greatly useful in tracing the dispersal pathways or/and dynamics of the rodent-associated S. japonicum or others in the hilly area of China or elsewhere.
Calculating and investigating the trend of Inequality in the Distribution of Pharmacies across Iran using Gini coefficient and Lorenz Curve: a population based study
Authors: Hayati Hadi
Published: July 2023

Background
Health systems always face financial resource constraints to achieve their goals, but on the other hand, the equitable distribution of these resources throughout the system is of paramount importance. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine equality in the distribution of pharmacies in all Iranian provinces.
Methods
This study is a retrospective examination of the trend of equality in the distribution of pharmacies throughout Iran over three five-year periods, using the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve.
Results
The results of this study indicate that the Gini coefficient for the distribution of pharmacies in Iran has been decreasing over the past decade, indicating an improvement in equity in this area. Although the current level of the Gini coefficient is still not acceptable, it is showing a trend towards upgrading.
Conclusion
The Iranian Ministry of Health has implemented effective policies that have improved the distribution of pharmacies in Iranian provinces over the past decade. This improvement can serve as an example for other developing countries facing similar challenges in the distribution of health resources.
Deep-learning Based Egocentric Action Anticipation: A Survey
Authors: Wardle Richard , Rowlands Sareh
Published: July 2023

As autonomous systems become more embedded into our environments, the ability of these systems to anticipate the future actions of humans will become invaluable for providing assistance and safety measures. Egocentric action anticipation is a task in which a future activity must be predicted using first-person footage. This project is a survey that aims to provide an updated view of advancements within this task, to guide architecture design for future implementations. This survey has chosen a range of publicly available egocentric action anticipation models. An analysis of the models revealed that this task's predictive architectures tend to fall into either a recurrent network or a transformer. The evaluation of the models on two datasets revealed that the transformer-based "Adaptive Video Transformer' and `Temporal Aggregation' generally outperformed all the recursive architectures in this survey. These results demonstrate that the attention-based architecture of the transformer is valuable within vision prediction tasks and that future design of predictive architecture should focus on using attention-based models.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in children: An epidemiological study based on the German Resuscitation Registry identifying modifiable factors for return of spontaneous circulation
Authors: Katzenschlager Stephan , Kelpanides Inga K. , Ristau Patrick , Huck Matthias , Seewald Stephan , Brenner Sebastian , Hoffmann Florian , Wnent Jan , Kramer-Johansen Jo , Tjelmeland Ingvild B. M. , Weigand Markus A. , Gräsner Jan-Thorsten , Popp Erik
Published: July 2023

Aim
This work provides an epidemiological overview of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in children in Germany between 2007 and 2021. We wanted to identify modifiable factors associated with survival.
Methods
Data from the German Resuscitation Registry (GRR) was used, and we included patients registered between 1st January 2007 and 31st December 2021. We included children aged > 7 days and < 18 years, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was started and treatment was continued by emergency medical services (EMS). Incidences and descriptive analyses are presented for the overall cohort and each age group. Multivariate binary logistic regression was performed on the whole cohort to determine the influence of (1) CPR with/without ventilation started by bystander, (2) OHCA witnessed status, and (3) nighttime on the outcome hospital admission with ROSC.
Results
OHCA in children aged < 1 year had the highest incidence per 100 000 inhabitants, with 23.42, accounting for 42.0% of all included cases. Overall, hypoxia was the leading presumed cause of OHCA; whereas trauma and drowning accounted for a high proportion in children aged > 1 year. Bystander-witnessed OHCA and bystander CPR rate were highest in children aged 1–4 years, with 43.9% and 62.3%, respectively. In reference to EMS-started CPR, bystander CPR with ventilation were associated with an increased odds ratio for ROSC at hospital admission after adjusting for age, sex, year of OHCA and location of OHCA.
Conclusion
This study provides an epidemiological overview of OHCA in children in Germany and identifies bystander CPR with ventilation as one primary factor for survival.
Trial registrations
German Clinical Trial Register: DRKS00030989, December 28th 2022.
Using Flammap to Assess Wildfire Behavior in Bohemian Switzerland National Park
Authors: Kudlackova Lucie , Podebradska Marketa , Blahova Monika , Cienciala Emil , Beranova Jana , McHugh Charles , Finney Mark , Novotny Jan , Zahradnicek Pavel , Stepanek Petr , Vebrova Dana , Mozny Martin , Surovy Petr , Zalud Zdenek , Trnka Miroslav
Published: July 2023

The 2022 summer fire in Bohemian Switzerland National Park (BSNP) is ranked as the largest in the Czech Republic´s 30-year recorded history, with an affected area over 1000 ha. The FlamMap fire modeling system was used to investigate the fire behavior associated with the BSNP and to evaluate scenarios under a range of fuel types, fuel moistures, and weather conditions. We used the model to simulate fire conditions, propagation, and extent. We focused on matching the observed fire perimeter and on fire behavior characteristics. The fire took place in a region of BSNP that was heavily affected by the Spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus L.) infestation; hence, most of the burned area was in dead spruce forest (Picea abies Karst.). The best FlamMap simulations of observed fire behavior and progression were compared with several created scenarios that differed in various input conditions. Scenarios included a fire in a healthy spruce forest, in clearcuts, or under different meteorological conditions. We were able to calibrate and use FlamMap to recreate a recent wildfire under observed conditions. We found that the fire would have likely spread to its observed final perimeter even if standing dead trees were removed. However, at lower fire intensity and with a considerably shorter duration. Alternatively, if healthy standing vegetation with a closed canopy had been present, the wildfire perimeter would have been approximately half. Similar results were obtained for both the nonnative spruce forest and the deciduous forest, which is a native alternative.
Determination of variability in financing and time using Chance-Constrained programming in Time Cost Tradeoff construction problems
Authors: tiwari Shntanu , Trivedi Manoj Kumar
Published: July 2023

The linear optimization methodology is applied to address the issue related to managing trade-offs between project duration and associated costs. While numerous models have been created for solving such problems, a limitation noted is that the majority of models are inclined towards scenarios where projects are restricted by a pre-defined deadline. However, this approach considers both the timeline for completing a particular project and its associated expenses in monetary terms. In this study, it is considered both time uncertainty and financing variability during the scheduling process, considering both the individual and combined effects. The chance-constrained programming (CCP) is utilized to estimate the coefficient of variation for financing feasibility at a desired confidence level and time uncertainty in models is factored in using probabilistic scheduling methods like PERT. This uncertainty can be evaluated by calculating CV at a specified confidence interval. An objective function and a set of constraints is an effective way to minimize direct costs. Excel Solver provides a powerful tool to help with this task. Four different scenarios are adopted to understand the impact of time uncertainty and financing feasibility.
Multi-head Attention Spatio-temporal Graph Neural Networks for traffic forecasting
Authors: Hu Xiuwei , Wu Zhiyong , Sun Yilong , Zheng Yunhui
Published: July 2023

Accurate traffic prediction is crucial for an intelligent traffic system (ITS). However, the excessive non-linearity and complexity of the spatio-temporal correlation in traffic flow severely limit the prediction accuracy of most existing models, which simply stack temporal and spatial modules and fail to capture spatio-temporal features effectively. To improve the prediction accuracy, a multi-head attention spatio-temporal graph neural networks (MSTNet) is proposed in this paper. First, the traffic data is decomposed into unique time spans that conform to positive rules, and valuable traffic node attributes are mined through an adaptive graph structure. Second, time and spatial features are captured using a multi-head attention spatio-temporal module. Finally, a multi-step prediction module is used to achieve future traffic condition prediction. Numerical experiments were conducted on an open-source dataset, and the results demonstrate that MSTNet performs well in spatio-temporal feature extraction and achieves more positive forecasting results than the baseline methods.
Tunable Elliptical Torus Metamaterial Absorber for Light Absorption in the Optical Region
Authors: Isogun Toluwalase Adewale , Ni Hai Bin
Published: July 2023

We present a transparent single-band nanostructured metamaterial absorber (NMMA) for efficient absorption. The NMMA consists of an elliptical torus-shaped structure on a metallic sheet-backed dielectric substrate. Using COMSOL Multiphysics, we investigated the electromagnetic properties and performed simulations. The NMMA exhibits exceptional absorption stability, with over 98% absorption in the visible wavelength range. This stability is maintained for TE and TM polarization states at oblique incidence angles. The absorber offers tunability, with an absorption rate exceeding 97%. It demonstrates polarization insensitivity, even after structural modifications. Incorporating Gold and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) results in enhanced electrical conductivity and catalytic activity. The designed absorber holds promise for various operating spectra and potential applications in solar thermophotovoltaics, thermal emission, and optoelectronic devices. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into a tunable elliptical torus metamaterial absorber. Valuable insights are offered for solar energy conversion, thermal engineering, and optoelectronics. Further exploration can optimize the absorber's shape for specific spectral ranges, considering alternative materials.
Diagnosis of primary pancreatic lymphoma: percutaneous or ultrasound endoscopic biopsy?
Authors: Zhang Jie , Wen Hua , Du Zhaozhao , Fan Ling , Li Jie , Lu Ning , Cui Manli , Zhang Mingxin
Published: July 2023

Background: Primary pancreatic lymphoma (PPL) is a relatively rare pancreatic tumor in clinical practice. It lacks specificity in clinical presentation and imaging, and is easily confused with pancreatic cancer, leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.The diagnosis is now usually confirmed clinically by obtaining tissue samples through percutaneous/endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) guided biopsy or exploratory dissection biopsy.
Case presentation: A 79-year-old female patient underwent two biopsies of pancreatic specimens. The first was an unconfirmed diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) under EUS guidance, and the second was an ultrasound-guided percutaneous aspiration biopsy that confirmed the diagnosis of PPL.
CONCLUSION: The decision regarding exactly which procedure to choose requires a combination of the patient's anatomy, the surgeon's expertise, and the results of a combination of factors in the field.
Quantitative Dynamic Contrast-Enhance MRI Parameters for Rectal Carcinoma Characterization: Correlation with Tumor Tissue Composition
Authors: Yuan Jie , Liu Kun , Zhang Yun , Yang Yuchan , Xu Huihui , Han Gang , Lyu Hua , Liu Mengxiao , Tan Wenli , Feng Zhen , Gong Hangjun , Zhan Songhua
Published: July 2023

Objective
To investigate the relationship between dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements and the potential composition of rectal carcinoma.
Methods
Twenty-four patients provide informed consent for this study. DCE MRI was performed before total mesorectal excision. Quantitative parameters were calculated based on a modified Tofts model. Whole-mount immunohistochemistry and Masson staining sections were generated and digitized at histological resolution. The percentage of tissue components area was measured. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlations between pathological parameters and DCE MRI parameters.
Results
On the World Health Organization (WHO) grading scale, there were significant differences in extracellular extravascular space (Ktrans) (F = 9.890, P = 0.001), mean transit time (MTT) (F = 9.890, P = 0.038), CDX-2 (F = 4.935, P = 0.018) and Ki-67 (F = 4.131, P = 0.031) among G1, G2, and G3. ECV showed significant differences in extramural venous invasion (t=-2.113, P = 0.046). Ktrans was strongly positively correlated with CD34 (r = 0.708, P = 0.000) and moderately positively correlated with vimentin (r = 0.450, P = 0.027). Interstitial volume (Ve) was moderately positively correlated with Masson’s (r = 0.548, P = 0.006) and vimentin (r = 0.417, P = 0.043). There was a moderate negative correlation between Ve and CDX-2 (r=-0.441, P = 0.031). The rate constant from extracellular extravascular space to blood plasma (Kep) showed a strong positive correlation with CD34 expression (r = 0.622, P = 0.001). ECV showed a moderate negative correlation with CDX-2 (r=-0.472, P = 0.020) and a moderate positive correlation with collagen fibers (r = 0.558, P = 0.005).
Conclusion
The dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI-derived parameters measured in rectal cancer were significantly correlated with the proportion of histological components. This may serve as an optimal imaging biomarker to identify tumor tissue components.
Error Fields: Personalized robotic movement training that augments one's more likely mistakes
Authors: Aghamohammadi Naveed Reza , Bittmann Moria Fisher , Klamroth-Marganska Verena , Riener Robert , Huang Felix C. , Patton James L.
Published: July 2023

Control of movement is learned and uses error feedback during practice to predict actions for the next movement. We have shown that augmenting error can enhance learning, but while such findings are encouraging the methods need to be refined to accommodate a person’s individual reactions to error. The current study evaluates error fields (EF) method, where the interactive robot tempers its augmentation when the error is less likely. 22 healthy participants were asked to learn moving with a visual transformation, and we enhanced the training with error fields. We found that training with error fields led to greatest reduction in error. EF training reduced error 264% more than controls who practiced without error fields, but subjects learned more slowly than our previous error magnification technique. We also found a relationship between the amount of learning and how much variability was induced by the error augmentation treatments, most likely leading to better exploration and discovery of the causes of error. These robotic training enhancements should be further explored in combination to optimally leverage error statistics to teach people how to move better.
Prevalence of COVID-19 vaccines among Damascus hospital nurses and evaluation of side effects
Authors: Juratli Asaad , Muhnna Youlian , Nahas Louay
Published: July 2023

Introduction: After the World Health Organization declared the end of the Covid 19 pandemic as a global emergency, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 continues to spread in several countries around the world, and in the absence of an effective treatment, the vaccine was the best hope to control this disease. the disease. Nurses participated in the front lines in the battle against COVID-19, in this study we seek to assess the spread of the vaccine and its side effects among the nurses of Damascus Hospital.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses at Al-Mujtahid Hospital in Damascus, using the appropriate sampling method. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. A self-administered and filled-out questionnaire distributed in paper form, which was used in previous studies. The study included 143 participants. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB), Faculty of Human Medicine, Syrian Private University.
Results: Out of 143 participants, 90% were females and 10% were males. With an average age of 29.7 years. 36.4% of the participants stated that they took the vaccine in its full program with two doses, 23.7% took the vaccine in its full program in its single dose only, and 39.9% did not receive the vaccine. High fever was the most prominent symptom, especially after receiving the first dose of the vaccine. Most of those who received the Sinopharm vaccine showed mild side effects, 27.8%, prominently compared to the rest of the types of vaccines. Most of those who received another vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson, AstraZeneca, or combination among More than one type) greater side effects compared to the rest of the vaccines, namely Sputnik and Sinopharm.
Conclusion: This study revealed that almost all of the side effects that occurred were similar to those reported in the literature, indicating that almost all of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines are known at this time. Most are not life threatening, with most cases being mild to moderate in severity and resolving within a few days. There were statistically significant relationships between the type of vaccine and the different side effects. More comprehensive studies must be conducted and others also to investigate the possible causes of each vaccine.
Biogeography and evolutionary history of Puntius sensu lato (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sudasinghe Hiranya , Ranasinghe Tharindu , Dahanukar Neelesh , Raghavan Rajeev , Rüber Lukas , Pethiyagoda Rohan , Meegaskumbura Madhava
Published: July 2023

Sri Lanka’s biota is derived largely from Southeast Asian lineages which immigrated via India following its early-Eocene contact with Laurasia. The island is now separated from southeastern India by the 30 km wide Palk Strait which, during sea-level low-stands, was bridged by the 140 km-wide Palk Isthmus. Consequently, biotic ingress and egress were mediated largely by the climate of the isthmus. Because of their dependence on perennial aquatic habitats, freshwater fish are useful models for biogeographic studies. Here we investigate the timing and dynamics of the colonization of—and diversification on—Sri Lanka by a group of four closely-related genera of cyprinid fishes (Puntius sensu lato). We construct a molecular phylogeny based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear gene markers, conduct divergence timing analyses and ancestral-range estimations to infer historical biogeography, and use haplotype networks to infer phylogeographic patterns. The origin of Puntius s.l. is dated to ~20 Ma. The source of diversification of Puntius s.l. is Sri Lanka-Peninsular India. Species confined to perhumid rainforests show strong phylogeographic structure, while habitat generalists show little or no such structure. Ancestral range estimations for Plesiopuntius bimaculatus and Puntius dorsalis support an ‘Out of Sri Lanka’ scenario. Sri Lankan Puntius s.l. derive from multiple migrations across the Palk Isthmus between the early Miocene and the late Pleistocene. Species dependent on an aseasonal climate survived aridification in rainforest refugia in the island’s perhumid southwest and went on to recolonize the island and even southern India when pluvial conditions resumed. Our results support an historical extinction of Sri Lanka’s montane aquatic fauna, followed by a recent partial recolonization of the highlands, showing also that headwater stream capture facilitated dispersal across basin boundaries.
A New Normal: Exposure of the US Population to Extreme Precipitation
Authors: Kim Jungho , Porter Jeremy , Kearns Edward J.
Published: July 2023

The magnitude and frequency of extreme precipitation events in the early 21st century have already proven to be increasing at a rate more quickly than previously anticipated. Currently, the biggest consequence is the lack of a climate-adjusted national standard taking into account these recent increases that could be used to prevent life and property loss from catastrophic precipitation-driven floods. Here, we address how severe the change in extreme precipitation compares against the current national standard for precipitation climatology (NOAA Atlas 14) and how much of the population is affected by the underestimation of this risk in the contiguous United States (CONUS). As a result, extreme precipitation in the early 21st century has outpaced our current national standard in half of CONUS, and the heavy precipitation events experienced recently are quickly becoming a “new normal”, which will increase in severity and frequency in a continually changing climate. Over three-quarters of the U.S. population will likely experience this new normal occurrence of extreme precipitation. As much as one-third of the population is expected to experience the current definition of a 1-in-100-year storm as often as 3 times in their lifetime. Additionally, the current precipitation standards for designing transportation infrastructure and urban stormwater drainage systems that are built upon Atlas 14 may be insufficient to protect the public's safety and personal/community property from severe flooding. Areas where flood risk is mitigated by operating hydraulic and adaptation structures urgently need to assess the impact of the increased-hourly extreme precipitation and reevaluate their applicable operation rules. Understanding and predicting patterns and the likelihood of short-duration heavy precipitation would be beneficial in preparing for severe precipitation-driven disasters, such as flash floods and landslides, which would happen more frequently in a changing climate. Following the results of this analysis, accelerating the development and dissemination of the next generation of the national standard that has been climatically adjusted to adapt to the new normal is strongly recommended.
Dissemination of thermodynamic temperature using Fe-C and Pd-C high-temperature fixed point cells
Authors: Anhalt Klaus , Martin Maria- Jose , Mantilla Jose-Manuel , Nasibli Humbet , Korkmaz Mucahit , Kňazovická Lenka , Králová Martina , Sadli Mohamed , Bourson Frédéric , Sánchez Carlos Larriba , Machin Graham
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the utilization of Fe-C and Pd-C high-temperature fixed points (HTFPs) for the dissemination of thermodynamic temperature and the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90). Initially, the HTFPs were manufactured and evaluated to determine the thermodynamic temperature during the melt of these materials. Subsequently, the cells were employed to compare the local realization of the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) in an ISO 17025 accredited industrial laboratory and two National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) with limited experience in operating HTFPs. The HTFPs were installed in Alumina tube furnaces, which have a maximum operating temperature of approximately 1600 °C. The investigation focused on the Fe-C (1153 °C) and Pd-C (1492 °C) fixed-point materials due to their suitability for realizing the temperature scale through interpolation schemes in this type of furnace. The findings of this comparative study contribute to enhancing the understanding and application of HTFPs for thermodynamic temperature dissemination.
The effect of echinococcosis (hydatid disease) on carcase weight in cattle
Authors: Brookes Victoria J. , Barnes Tamsin S. , Jenkins David J. , Saag Matthew van der , Dempster Robert , Wilson Cara S.
Published: July 2023

Hydatid disease is caused by the zoonotic tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. There has been ongoing controversy over whether it causes weight loss in cattle. Recently implemented recording of comorbidities at processors have provided opportunity to investigate this effect. Using prevalence-based observational data from 1,648,049 adult cattle processed in from seven states and territories in Australia (2019—2022), we explored associations between carcase weight, hydatid cysts, comorbidities, sex, age, and region. Linear mixed-effect regression models estimated the effect of hydatid disease on carcase weight, guided by directed acyclic graphs to reduce bias. The highest, previously unreported, prevalence was in the southeast Queensland region. The estimated effect of hydatid disease cysts on carcase weight ranged from 0.32kg (se 0.58kg; two-tooth 2022) to -5.45kg (se 0.63kg; six-tooth 2019) with most point estimates (11/16) between 0 – -2.5kg across all cattle grouped by year and dentition. This effect size would be practically undetectable in live cattle and is an important finding; cattle producers are unlikely to observe increased productivity through weight gain from hydatid disease prevention in cattle, and awareness to strengthen prevention in domestic dogs around cattle properties to reduce human risk remains a public health focus.
Hybrid Bermudagrass Responses to Impaired Water Sources
Authors: Hejl Reagan W. , Williams Clinton F. , Monaco Thomas A. , Serba Desalegn D. , Conley Matthew M.
Published: July 2023

Low-quality (i.e., impaired) water sources are commonly used to irrigate warm-season turfgrass landscapes as a result of limited supplies of potable water sources. Currently, there is great need to define the impacts of impaired water sources on turfgrass water consumption, growth, and quality. The objectives of this study were to characterize actual evaporation (ETa), clipping production, and quality of three hybrid bermudagrass varieties [‘TifTuf’, ‘Tifway’, and ‘Midiron’; Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. traansvalensis Burtt Davy] grown under three water sources [reverse osmosis (RO), local well, and recycled], each supplied at full irrigation levels (1.0 × ETa) over two 8-week study periods. When pooling across water source and date, TifTuf maintained the highest visual quality and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) compared with both Midiron and Tifway. This was accompanied by a greater daily ETa rate, clipping production, and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with Midiron in both studies. When pooling across variety and date, daily ETa of turfgrass receiving recycled water was 5% to 10% less than those receiving the local well or RO water. In addition, turfgrasses receiving local well water held the greatest visual quality and NDVI compared with those receiving either RO water in the summer study. Visual quality and NDVI were also less in turfgrasses receiving RO water compared with those receiving local well or recycled water in the fall. Despite turfgrasses having a lower ETa under recycled water in both study periods, these plants had significantly greater clipping production compared with RO water in the summer. Also, clipping production under recycled water did not differ significantly from the other two sources in the fall study. Furthermoe, in both studies, WUE was similar for turfgrasses receiving recycled water compared with those receiving RO or local well water. Results demonstrated that irrigation water quality influences critical factors for hybrid bermudagrass growth and that considerable variability exists among three commercially available varieties for evapotranspiration rates, quality, and clipping production.
A Modified Delphi Study on Boxwood Blight Disease Management in the US Nursery Industry
Authors: Ghimire Bhawana , Liyanage Kumuditha Hikkaduwa Epa , Hall Charlie , Baysal-Gurel Fulya
Published: July 2023

Boxwood is one of the most popular evergreen shrubs in the United States, the production of which is currently challenged by boxwood blight, an emerging threat that has spread across 30 states. A thorough understanding of boxwood production, plant health, management practices and economic impact could aid in answering the needs of the nursery industry in managing this disease. An online modified Delphi survey was conducted to identify grower perceptions on processes, programs, and practices to limit or prevent the entry and spread of boxwood blight disease. The expert panel consisted of 29 nursery producers who represented a significant portion of boxwood production nationally. The panel members rated boxwood blight as the third most problematic disease with a potential to be number one in the future. Boxwood transplants were perceived as the main source of boxwood blight outbreak, followed by cutting tools, nursery equipment, containers, plant debris, irrigation water, worker hygiene, and other crops. According to the panel responses, cultural control methods, inspection, and quarantine of incoming plant material, scouting, and sanitization were the most important practices that can limit or prevent plant diseases during boxwood production. The panel members did not agree that the composted manure could influence the spread of plant disease in boxwood production, although this has been verified by the findings of various previous research experiments. Panel members were very familiar with scouting and employee training, best management practices, and the boxwood blight cleanliness program. This study documents the key components, practices, and procedures in boxwood production that could influence the spread of boxwood blight in nurseries and could be further verified by sampling and laboratory assays to specify the critical control points in the production process.
Turfgrass Use on US Golf Courses
Authors: Shaddox Travis W. , Unruh J. Bryan , Johnson Mark E. , Brown Clark D. , Stacey Greg
Published: July 2023

Golf facilities account for 2.3 million acres in the United States. Numerous turfgrass species are managed on US golf facilities, but golf facilities may change turfgrasses depending on numerous variables. Knowing which turfgrasses are grown and how turfgrass selection has changed would provide important information to scientists, turfgrass managers, and policymakers. The objective of this survey was to measure turfgrass use on US golf facilities in 2021 and to determine whether changes in turfgrass selection have occurred since 2005. A survey was developed and distributed via e-mail to 13,938 US golf facilities, with 1861 responding. From 2005 to 2021, the total projected area of maintained turfgrass on US golf facilities decreased by 14.2%, which was likely a result of course closures and maintenance operations. Nationally, bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) remained the most common warm- and cool-season turfgrasses, respectively. The area of winter-overseeded turfgrass declined by 60% between 2005 and 2021. The percentage of golf facilities that used zoysiagrass (Zoysia sp.) and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) increased depending on region and specific playing surface, albeit a pragmatically minor increase. In general, turfgrass selection on golf facilities in northern climates did not change, whereas turfgrass selection in southern climates favored a change from cool- to warm-season species, depending on the playing surface. Whether in historically cool-season or warm-season regions, it appears that many golf facilities are exploring alternatives to their traditional turfgrass species.
Effect of external factors on the stability of sparkling wine quality during storage
Authors: Dubinina E. V. , Moiseeva A. A. , Andrievskaya D. V. , Trofimchenko V. A.
Published: July 2023

The shelf life of sparkling wine is an indicator that can vary depending on the impact of a large number of external factors on the product. These factors include transportation conditions, storage temperature, humidity, exposure to light, and packaging quality. The current regulatory documentation regulates certain requirements for the storage conditions of sparkling wines, but they are often violated during transportation and storage, which leads to a significant deterioration in the quality of products. This review is devoted to the study of changes in the quality characteristics of wines during their storage and transportation. It is shown that the intensity of physicochemical changes occurring in wine during storage depends on temperature conditions, the presence of vibration and exposure to light. The issue of the influence of temperature storage conditions on the quality characteristics of wine products, including sparkling wines, has been studied in some detail. Most researchers are of the opinion that in order to maintain a stable quality of wine, it is necessary to store and transport it at a constant temperature not exceeding 20 °C. In scientific publications, there are different views on the problem of the influence of bottle color on the change in chemical composition and the preservation of the quality characteristics of both still and sparkling wines during storage. It has been found that bottles made of darker glass allow protecting wine to a greater extent from the effects of light, especially in its ultraviolet and visible short-wave (λ = 400 nm) range, and prevent the appearance of the so-called “taste of light” (gout de lumière) in the wine. It is shown that the causes of the appearance of the “taste of light” in champagne are sulfur-containing compounds formed as a result of photochemical reactions. It has been found that the intensity of these reactions depends on the degree of illumination, as well as the presence of riboflavin and iron (III) ions in the wine. It is concluded that controlling the amount of light to which wines are exposed can prevent deterioration of their quality during storage and extend the shelf life. The possibility of preventing photodegradation of wine through the use of various antioxidants is also considered. Based on the information available in scientific publications, the study of the development of negative changes in wine under the influence of light is an important aspect from the point of view of risk assessment during product storage.
The sociocultural and productivity nexus in yam farming in Nigeria
Authors: Ema E.-O. S. , Obidegwu J. E. , Akpabio E. M.
Published: July 2023

Socio-cultural structures of yam production are largely shaped by the tradition, religion, beliefs, taboos, myths, spirituality and social relationships. Obudu community was the focus to examine the implications of these structures on yam productivity and sustainability. Data was collected through 60 interviews, 2 public meetings, 3 focus group discussions, local informants, review of literature, including secondary and grey literature and keen observation. Our findings reveal a range of indices of respondents’ perception as measures of productivity. The native and the ‘aged’ majority of the population were more conservative in their farming practice exhibiting deeper attachment to traditional practices and ecological wholesomeness with decreasing material productivity and performance in yield outputs, though not so significant. The socially mobile non-natives and the younger demographic groups were open to the modern farming approach targeting the quantity and tons of yam tubers and were not so keen on the overall health and integrity of the ecological system that makes sustainable production and human existence possible. The results emphasize the need to look beyond the improvement in material productivity as other non-material indices of productivity should be explored. More rigorous quantitative and long-term trend analysis should be conducted to assess the productivity performance trend associated with the natural ecological health and yam outputs for the study area.
Individual integrated approach to honey identification using instrumental methods of analysis and statistical processing of results
Authors: Panasyuk A. L. , Kuzmina E. I. , Sviridov D. A. , Ganin M. Yu.
Published: July 2023

Bee honey is a valuable highly nutritive natural product; it is widely consumed among the population. Due to its high cost the natural honey often becomes the object of adulteration. The authenticity of honey is the most important criterion of quality, as on the one hand it ensures the biosecurity of honey, and provides the healthy market competition on the other hand. In this regard, the issue of honey identification is quite acute in all countries with developed beekeeping culture. The authors provide an overview of domestic and foreign regulatory documents regarding the authenticity of honey, as well as its status as a product with a controlled designation of origin. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, the most significant studies aimed to a method of honey authenticity confirmation were selected and brought out. These studies were carried out in the countries of the European Union, China, Brazil, the USA, Mexico and other countries. These studies showed that chromatographic methods and the method of isotope mass spectrometry are the most effective for detection of added sugars in honey, as well as for revealing the fact of feeding bees with various syrups. The authenticity of the botanical and geographical point of honey origin is usually determined by the principle of “fingerprints”. The principle involves collecting the values of an array of indicators and processing them by means of statistical analysis methods. To form a database, in addition to the above methods, methods of NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, PCR, ICP-MS and some others have become widely used. When determining the authenticity of the botanical and geographical origin of honey, it is also necessary to consider the specific features of local melliferous plants, bee species, soil composition and climatic conditions. Thus, an individual yet integrated approach to the identification of honey by means of the instrumental methods of analysis and statistical processing of results will become a powerful and reliable tool in determining its authenticity, including its botanical and geographical origin.
Study of the process of hydrolysis of milk proteins using enzyme preparations of domestic and production
Authors: Semenova E. S. , Simonenko E. S. , Simonenko S. V. , Zorin S. N. , Petrov N. A. , Mazo V. K.
Published: July 2023

Due to the high prevalence of allergic diseases among the children, especially when transiting a child to bottle feeding at an early age, the development of dairy and other food products with reduced allergenicity is of high relevance and true importance nowadays. Meanwhile Russia still lacks sufficient production of raw materials and ingredients to create home-produced specialized food, including designated babies’ and children’s food. The use of whey milk proteins for the production of baby food has its advantage, as whey proteins feature pretty high digestibility and bioavailability: after eating the food based on whey proteins, the concentration of amino acids and peptides in the blood increases dramatically already within the first hour. However, it should be kept in mind that allergy to cow’s milk proteins is the most common symptom of food allergy, which is particularly often diagnosed in early postnatal age. Technological approaches to reduction of the potential allergenicity of the protein component shall take a leading place in the system of food control and food safety of children’s dairy products. The most efficient and widely used technological approach to reduce the potential allergenicity of food protein is the elimination of its antigenic structures, which approach makes it possible to include this protein into the composition of specialized food, which is intended for the people who suffer from food allergies or for the people exposed to the allergy risk. The allergenicity is reduced by means of enzymatic hydrolysis in combination with membrane processing of the obtained hydrolyzate. To obtain a peptide module with pre-determined physical and chemical parameters, an appropriate selection of initial protein, application of various enzymes, and ranging of technological parameters like pH, temperature, exposure time, enzyme-substrate ratio and other parameters is required.
Role of feed adaptogens in forming the concept of organic pig production
Authors: Nekrasov R. V. , Bogolyubova N. V. , Chabaev M. G. , Ostrenko K. S. , Rykov R. A. , Semenova A. A. , Nasonova V. V.
Published: July 2023

One of the priorities of the Strategy of scientific and technological development of the Russian Federation (approved by Presidential Decree № 642 of December 1, 2016) is the transition to a highly productive and environmentally friendly agriculture. Organic agriculture can help to ensure sufficient food for the population by 2050 and simultaneously reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment only if it is implemented as part of a system of agricultural production, which should provide the same volume and composition of products as in the baseline scenario. An important aspect of organic livestock production is to reduce the impact of stress factors on animals. A promising solution can be the use of natural biologically active substances with pronounced antioxidant properties. The action of natural bioflavonoids (Taxifolin) and also in a complex with vitamins on the organism of fattening pigs during the periods of stress of various etiology (climatic, fodder, social etc.) has been studied. A complex including vitamin C, vitamin E and Taxifolin has been developed. The provisions of the method of feeding pigs as a way to reduce the negative impact of stress factors on meat quality by means of the studied nutritional factor have been studied experimentally.