bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response of Conservation Agriculture on System Productivity and Carbon Sequestration in Rice-Based Cropping Systems
Authors: Pandiaraj T. , Chaturvedi Sumit , Bhardwaj A. K.
Published: September 2020

Low crop yields due to constant monocropping systems and deteriorating soil health in a smallholder farmers’ field of Indo-Gangetic plains of India have led to a quest for sustainable production practices with greater resource use efficiencies. The aim of the study was to elucidate the short term effects of conservation agricultural systems on productivity, soil health and carbon sequestration rate of soils in three different diversified cropping systems. The treatments consisted of two different tillage systems (conventional and reduced tillage), two mulch levels (no and straw mulch) and two levels of fertility (100 and 75% RDF) were compared in three rice-based cropping systems (rice-wheat; rice-vegetable pea-greengram; and rice-potato-maize sequences) for two years on an experimental field (clay loam) located at Norman E Borlaug Crop Research Center, Pantnagar, India. The resource conservation technologies (RCT) i.e. reduced tillage, mulch, and 100% RDF had recorded 2.5 and 3.0% higher system productivity and relative production efficiency in rice-vegetablepea-greengram and rice-potato-maize sequences, respectively in two consecutive years. Conservation tillage had sequestered three times higher carbon than conventional tillage while mulching acted four times higher than non-mulched condition in agricultural soils. Even though cropping system not significant significantly influenced on carbon sequestration, rice-vegetablepea-greengram sequence had recorded higher carbon sequestration rate and higher soil organic carbon stock noted in surface plough sole layer than any other cropping systems. Therefore, our results suggested that Indo-Gangetic farmers should consider adopting resource conservation practices together in indogangetic area because of benefits to soil health, carbon sequestration and system productivity.
Assessment of Heavy Metals and Proximate Analysis of Cocoa Beans from Selected Cocoa Growing Areas in Ghana
Authors: Nnuro William Asante , Amankwaah Daniel , Awudza Johannes A. M. , Afful Samuel
Published: September 2020

The levels of six selected heavy metals namely: lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) have been investigated in cocoa beans sampled from Bekwai, Juaso, Kaspen, Asampaneye and Asamakese, five major cocoa-growing communities in Ghana. Aqua regia digestion procedure was applied for sample digestion and atomic absorption spectroscopy was used for the determination of the metals. The method for the determination of the metals was validated by analyzing standard reference material and levels of metals obtained compared favourably with reported values. Samples were also subjected to proximate analysis by determining moisture, ash, fibre, fat, protein and carbohydrate nutritional compositions of the beans. Method of proximate analysis as reported by Association of analytical chemists (AOAC) was used for estimation of nutritional compositions. Indeed, lead and cadmium concentrations were the lowest in all the samples. The generally high concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn in the samples were anticipated as they are regarded essential in living organisms. The mean concentrations expressed in µg/g ranged from 0.013 to 0.042 for Pb, 25.36 to 54.24 for Cd, 36.94 to 58.71 for Zn, 7.12 to 64.65 for Mn and 10.14 to 54.17 for Cu. Proximate analysis of the cocoa beans showed carbohydrate and fat as the nutrients with the dominant composition. Correlation analysis of the metals and nutritional compositions indicated no clear relationship between the levels of the metals and the nutrients.
Effect of Tiger Nut Meal on Some Sex Hormones and Sperm Cells in Androgen-induced Benign Prostate Hyperplasia in Adult Male Wistar Rats
Authors: Izunwanne D. I. , Egwurugwu J. N. , Emegano C. L.
Published: September 2020

Introduction: It is generally believed that Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut) has some fertility boosting effects. However, scientific validation of some of the fertility boosting potentials as well as the ameliorative effect of tiger nut on Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) is lacking.

Objective: The aim of the project is to determine the effect of tiger nuts in reproductive function in rats induced with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: A total of sixty (60) male rats weighing between 160 – 200 g were used in this study. They were divided into six groups of ten rats per group. Benign prostate hyperplasia was induced in three groups of the rats (as stated in methodology) with 30 mg/kg sub-cutaneous injections of hormones containing dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol valerate dissolved in olive oil in the ratio of 10:1 (three times in a week, one day interval). Administration of tiger nut meal commenced immediately and lasted for two months. At the end of administration, assay of reproductive hormones (FSH, LH and Testosterone) was done. Comprehensive semen analysis was also done including (count, motility & morphology).

Results: The study showed that the induction of BPH resulted in a very significant reduction of FSH while the administration of the tiger nut meal did not show any significant effect on FSH (P 0.05). The same trend was also observed on the effect of the tiger nut meal on LH level. For testosterone, it was observed that after the initial decrease as a result of the induction of infertility, 20% tiger nut meal administration significantly increased the testosterone level to 2.10±0.06 ng/ml from 0.30±0.01 ng/ml in the infertility-induced group. The effect of tiger nut meal on semen analyses namely, normal sperm cells and sperm motility showed a significant increase (P<0.05) following the induction of infertility. The effect of the tiger nut meal on sperm morphological toxicities were also examined. Sperm abnormalities like sperm cells with twisted tails were examined.

Conclusion: The administration of tiger nut significantly ameliorated the abnormalities and thus, restored the morphology of the sperm cells such that it can enhance fertility.
Atypical Presentation of Medullary Syndrome in a Young Woman
Authors: Sharma Geetanjali
Published: September 2020

Wallenburg syndrome occurs due to damage to lateral segment of the medulla. Medial medullary syndrome occurs due to damage to upper portion of the medulla. I report a case of a 30 years old woman diagnosed with medullary syndrome [both medial & lateral features] in absence of CT scan findings sent to the department of Physiology for electrophysiological tests like nerve conduction studies, blink reflex, brainstem auditory evoked potential (BERA) & visual evoked potential (VEP). She had loss of sensations on the ipsilateral half of face (right), hemisensory loss on contralateral trunk & extremities, headache, contralateral hemiparesis (left), ipsilateral lingual paresis with atrophy, fibrillations with contralateral positive Babinski’s sign. The electrophysiological tests showed decrease in conduction velocity of right facial nerve, left tibial & peroneal nerves with decreased amplitude. The nerve conduction studies of median nerve (both motor & sensory) were normal. In blink reflex, latency of R2 ipsilateral & R2 contralateral of supraorbital nerves were increased on right side. There were increased latencies of waves II, III, IV & V of BERA & increased P100 latencies in VEP.

The results of the electrophysiological tests of the patient showed that she had features of both medial & lateral medullary syndrome suggesting a lesion of both upper & middle medulla. The CT scan in this case was normal but conduction of MRI & CT guided angiography of posterior cerebral & vertebral arteries could have further localized the lesion causing this mixed symptomology.
Evaluation of Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Clerodendrum myricoides (Hochst. Vatke) Leaves and Its Solvent Fractionsin Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Convulsion in Mice
Authors: Kediso Teketel Eristu , Tolessa Tesfaye , Getachew Fikirte , Makonnen Eyasu , Seifu Daniel
Published: September 2020

Introduction: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. Herbal medicines are widely used across the globe due to their wide applicability and therapeutic efficacy. The low side effects of traditional herbal medicines have encouraged many types of research into antiepileptic activity. Clerodendrum myricoides is a plant whose leaves extract is traditionally used as an anticonvulsant in Ethiopia. 

Objective: The point of this investigation was to assess the anticonvulsant effect of the hydro-alcoholic extract and solvent fractions of C. myricoides leaves against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in mice.  

Methods: Comparison of mean latency to onset of convulsion, mean duration of convulsions, and the proportion of percentage protection against seizure of the plant extract was tested against PTZ-induced seizures. Three different doses were used by giving them orally 30 minutes before subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (80 mg/kg) administration with the positive (diazepam 2 mg/kg) and negative (physiological saline 10 mg/kg) control groups. Data were presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean and analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and followed by post-hoc Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. Fisher’s exact test was used for the percentage protection. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The crude extract of C. myricoides, with the doses of 300, 600, 1,200 mg/kgshowed a significant delay in mean latency to onset of seizures [299.33±30.129 sec (p< 0.05); 387.167± 27.6 sec (p<0.01); 417.833±31.9 sec (p<0.001); respectively)]; decrease in the duration of convulsion [27.333±1.585 sec (p<0.05); 16.833±1.537 sec (p<0.01); 10.50±0.671 sec (p<0.001) respectively]; and a proportion of percentage protection of mice against seizure [16.33% (1/6) (p< 0.05); 33.33% (2/6) (p<0.01); 50% (3/6) (p<0.001) respectively] in a dose-dependent manner compared to the control group [92.833±13.006 sec; 34.167±3.683 sec, 0%  respectively]. C. myricoides anticonvulsant activity was less than that of diazepam [1001.16± 68.430 sec, 4.500±0.619, 83.33 sec, 83.33% respectively for the doses]. Its solvent fractions, however, didn’tshow a significant anticonvulsant effect.

Conclusion: The hydroalcoholic leaves crude extract of C. myricoides has anticonvulsant activity but its solvent fractions do not have comparable significant effects.
Screening of Enrofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin Residues in Chicken Meat by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Verma M. K. , Ahmad A. H. , Pant Disha , Rawat Parul , Sharma Sonam , Arya Nidhi
Published: September 2020

Enrofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin antibiotics are widely used in chicken production for prophylaxis and therapeutics purposes. Existence of these antibiotic residues in chicken meat can pose hazards to human health. The present study was aimed to assess the residue level of these antibiotics in chicken meat. Chicken meat samples (including muscle, liver, kidney and fat) from poultry farms and retail market were collected. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was used for screening of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin residues in chicken meat samples. The analysis revealed that 43.58% meat samples were positive for enrofloxacin and 38.71% for ciprofloxacin residues. Out of it, 45.17% samples were having concentration above the MRL for enrofloxacin and 50.28% for ciprofloxacin. So it can be concluded that the usage of these antimicrobial in chicken lead contamination of meat and it may cause resistance in consumers and seems to be a public health threat.
Impact of Climate Change on Animal Health, Emerging and Re-emerging Diseases in Africa
Authors: Magiri Royford , Muzandu Kaampwe , Gitau George , Choongo Kennedy , Iji Paul
Published: September 2020

The threat of climate change and global warming is gaining worldwide recognition. The African continent, because of its size, diversity, and its new status as a “hub” of livestock production, need to gear up to mitigate the possible impacts of climate change on animal health. The aim of this review article is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the influence of climate and climate change on the health of food-producing animals. Depending on its intensity and duration, heat stress may directly affect livestock health by causing metabolic disruptions, oxidative stress, and immune suppression, causing increased disease susceptibility, and death. Animal health could also be affected by emergence and re-emergence of vector- and non-vector-borne pathogens that are highly dependent on climatic conditions. The response to these challenges requires community participation in the adaptation of animal production systems to new environments and strengthening the efficiency of veterinary services delivery combined with well-coordinated public health services, since many emerging human diseases are zoonotic.
DNA-Programmed Chemical Synthesis of Polymers and Inorganic Nanomaterials
Authors: Xu Xuemei , Winterwerber Pia , Ng David , Wu Yuzhou
Published: September 2020

DNA nanotechnology, based on sequence-specific DNA recognition, could allow programmed self-assembly of sophisticated nanostructures with molecular precision. Extension of this technique to the preparation of broader types of nanomaterials would significantly improve nanofabrication technique to lower nanometer scale and even achieve single molecule operation. Using such exquisite DNA nanostructures as templates, chemical synthesis of polymer and inorganic nanomaterials could also be programmed with unprecedented accuracy and flexibility. This review summarizes recent advances in the synthesis and assembly of polymer and inorganic nanomaterials using DNA nanostructures as templates, and discusses the current challenges and future outlook of DNA templated nanotechnology.
Towards smart biomanufacturing: a perspective on recent developments in industrial measurement and monitoring technologies for bio-based production processes
Authors: Gargalo Carina L , Udugama Isuru , Pontius Katrin , Lopez Pau C , Nielsen Rasmus F , Hasanzadeh Aliyeh , Mansouri Seyed Soheil , Bayer Christoph , Junicke Helena , Gernaey Krist V
Published: September 2020

The biomanufacturing industry has now the opportunity to upgrade its production processes to be in harmony with the latest industrial revolution. Technology creates capabilities that enable smart manufacturing while still complying with unfolding regulations. However, many biomanufacturing companies, especially in the biopharma sector, still have a long way to go to fully benefit from smart manufacturing as they first need to transition their current operations to an information-driven future. One of the most significant obstacles towards the implementation of smart biomanufacturing is the collection of large sets of relevant data. Therefore, in this work, we both summarize the advances that have been made to date with regards to the monitoring and control of bioprocesses, and highlight some of the key technologies that have the potential to contribute to gathering big data. Empowering the current biomanufacturing industry to transition to Industry 4.0 operations allows for improved productivity through information-driven automation, not only by developing infrastructure, but also by introducing more advanced monitoring and control strategies.
Influence of nutrient enrichment on the growth, recruitment and trophic ecology of a highly invasive freshwater fish
Authors: Ruiz-Navarro Ana , Jackson Michelle C. , Almeida David , Britton J. Robert
Published: September 2020

The establishment probability of introduced alien fish can be context dependent, varying according to factors including propagule pressure and biotic resistance. The influence of nutrient enrichment on establishment outcomes of alien fishes is uncertain, yet this is a common anthropogenic stressor of many freshwaters. Here, the small-bodied alien topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva was used in mesocosms to experimentally test how a gradient of nutrient enrichment affected their growth rates, recruitment and trophic ecology. A ‘Control’ represented ambient, mesotrophic conditions, while treatments covered three levels of nutrient enrichment: low (eutrophic), medium (hypertrophic) and high (very hypertrophic). Each mesocosm was seeded with 6 mature P. parva (equal sex ratio) at the start of their reproductive season. After 100 days, length increments of the adult fish were significantly elevated in the low treatment, and these fish had also produced significantly higher numbers of 0+ fish compared to all other treatments. The trophic niche width of the mature fish was substantially higher in the control than the treatments, but this did not appear to confer any advantages to them in somatic growth rate or reproductive output. These results suggest that the nutrient status of receiving waters can have substantial impacts on the outcomes of fish introductions, where eutrophic conditions can assist the rapid population establishment of some alien species.
Should we redefine meiofaunal organisms? The impact of mesh size on collection of meiofauna with special regard to nematodes
Authors: Ptatscheck C. , Gehner S. , Traunspurger W.
Published: September 2020

Meiofaunal organisms are the predominant metazoans in benthic systems and important members of the benthic food web. They are defined by mesh size and specifically by their retention on a sieve with a 44-µm mesh size. In this study, we examined the accuracy of this standard collection method by counting the number of meiobenthic individuals, life stages and nematode species in a sample. A filter cascade consisting of five different mesh sizes (41 µm, 30 µm, 20 µm, 10 µm and 1 µm) was used to fractionate a natural freshwater meiobenthic collection, and the individuals in each fraction were then counted. In line with the current definition of meiofauna, all tardigrades, microcrustaceans, chironomids and oligochaetes were retained by the largest mesh size, whereas 9% of the rotifers were first retained on the 30-µm meshes. For nematodes, 23% were not retained on the 41-µm meshes and individuals were collected even from the 1-µm fraction. With declining mesh size, the yield of retained nematodes increased, the age structure shifted to juveniles, evenness declined, and the species composition changed. As all of these findings were significant, this study therefore shows that the current definition of meiofauna is not sufficient to encompass the entire spectrum of meiofauna present in a sample and may result in misleading assessments of the diversity and composition of these organisms. We therefore propose that, especially for nematodes, a definition based on a smaller mesh size (at least 20 µm) is more appropriate.
The Kac Ring or the Art of Making Idealisations
Authors: Jebeile Julie
Published: September 2020

In 1959, mathematician Mark Kac introduced a model, called the Kac ring, in order to elucidate the classical solution of Boltzmann to the problem of macroscopic irreversibility. However, the model is far from being a realistic representation of something. How can it be of any help here? In philosophy of science, it is often argued that models can provide explanations of the phenomenon they are said to approximate, in virtue of the truth they contain, and in spite of the idealisations they are made of. On this view, idealisations are not supposed to contribute to any explaining, and should not affect the global representational function of the model. But the Kac ring is a toy model that is only made of idealisations, and is still used trustworthily to understand the treatment of irreversible phenomena in statistical mechanics. In the paper, my aim is to argue that each idealisation ingeniously designed by the mathematician maintains the representational function of the Kac ring with the general properties of macroscopic irreversibility under scrutiny. Such an active role of idealisations in the representing has so far been overlooked and reflects the art of modelling.
Fostering prospective teachers’ explaining skills during university education—Evaluation of a training module
Authors: Findeisen Stefanie , Deutscher Viola Katharina , Seifried Jürgen
Published: September 2020

Providing instructional explanations is a core component of effective instruction and an important teaching skill. Teaching skills are generally regarded as learnable, and teacher education programs aim to improve teachers’ professional competences. In this study, we analyze to what extent explaining skills can be fostered during teacher education at university by means of a specific training module. We designed a training (university module) for prospective economics teachers at vocational schools (candidates in a Master’s teaching program). By means of videotaped simulated interactions at two measurement points, we analyzed the development of teacher candidates’ explaining skills. Teacher candidates were asked to explain the neoclassical supply and demand model (treatment group: n = 48; control group: n = 30) to an actor playing the role of a school student. The quality of the explanations was operationalized in respect of five aspects of successful explanations, which were derived from a literature review: (1) Content, (2) Student-teacher interaction, (3) Process structure, (4) Representation, and (5) Language. The results show that there was a treatment effect on the development of the Process structure aspect, while Student-teacher interaction appeared to develop “naturally” through experience, regardless of participation in the training. The quality aspects Content, Representation, and Language appeared stable over time. Hence, the findings show that some aspects of explaining skills are learnable even in a short training module. Learning effects are attributable partly to the instructional input received and partly to repeated practice. Both imply the importance of further opportunities to practice instructional explanation in teacher education.
Mutual Gaze: An Active Ingredient for Social Development in Toddlers with ASD: A Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Rollins Pamela Rosenthal , De Froy Adrienne , Campbell Michelle , Hoffman Renee Thibodeau
Published: September 2020

We examined the efficacy of an early autism intervention for use in early childhood intervention (ECI) and mutual gaze as a contributor to social development. Seventy-eight families were randomly assigned to one of three 12-week interventions: Pathways (with a mutual gaze component), communication, or services-as-usual (SAU). The Pathways/SAU comparison concerned the efficacy of Pathways for ECI, and the Pathways/communication comparison, mutual gaze. The Pathways group made significantly more change on social measures, communicative synchrony, and adaptive functioning compared with the SAU group and on social measures compared with the communication group. There were no group differences for communicative acts. The results support Pathways as a potential ECI program and mutual gaze as an active ingredient for social and communication development.
The State Space of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Lyre Holger
Published: September 2020

The goal of the paper is to develop and propose a general model of the state space of AI. Given the breathtaking progress in AI research and technologies in recent years, such conceptual work is of substantial theoretical interest. The present AI hype is mainly driven by the triumph of deep learning neural networks. As the distinguishing feature of such networks is the ability to self-learn, self-learning is identified as one important dimension of the AI state space. Another dimension is recognized as generalization, the possibility to go over from specific to more general types of problems. A third dimension is semantic grounding. Our overall analysis connects to a number of known foundational issues in the philosophy of mind and cognition: the blockhead objection, the Turing test, the symbol grounding problem, the Chinese room argument, and use theories of meaning. It shall finally be argued that the dimension of grounding decomposes into three sub-dimensions. And the dimension of self-learning turns out as only one of a whole range of “self-x-capacities” (based on ideas of organic computing) that span the self-x-subspace of the full AI state space.
Studies on the aetiology of kiwifruit decline: interaction between soil-borne pathogens and waterlogging
Authors: Savian Francesco , Ginaldi Fabrizio , Musetti Rita , Sandrin Nicola , Tarquini Giulia , Pagliari Laura , Firrao Giuseppe , Martini Marta , Ermacora Paolo
Published: September 2020

Aims

In 2012, Italian kiwifruit orchards were hit by a serious root disease of unknown aetiology (kiwifruit decline, KD) that still causes extensive damage to the sector. While waterlogging was soon observed to be associated with its outbreak, the putative role of soil microbiota remains unknown. This work investigates the role of these two factors in the onset of the disease.

Methods

Historical rainfall data were analysed to identify changes that might explain KD outbreak and mimic the flooding conditions required to reproduce the disease in a controlled environment. A greenhouse experiment was thus designed, and vines were grown in either unsterilized (U) or sterilized (S) soil collected from KD-affected orchards, and subjected (F) or not (N) to artificial flooding. Treatments were compared in terms of mortality rate, growth, and tissue modifications.

Results

KD symptoms were only displayed by FU-treated vines, with an incidence of 90%. Ultrastructural observations detected tyloses and fibrils in the xylem vessels of all plants, irrespective of the treatment. Phytopythium vexans and Phytopythium chamaehyphon, isolated from roots of FU plants, emerged as the associated microorganisms.

Conclusions

We succeeded in reproducing KD under controlled conditions and confirmed its association with both waterlogging and soil-borne microorganism(s).
Balancing Emotion and Reason to Develop Critical Thinking About Popularized Neurosciences
Authors: Lombard François , Schneider Daniel K. , Merminod Marie , Weiss Laura
Published: September 2020

Bioscientific advances raise numerous new ethical dilemmas. Neuroscience research opens possibilities of tracing and even modifying human brain processes, such as decision-making, revenge, or pain control. Social media and science popularization challenge the boundaries between truth, fiction, and deliberate misinformation, calling for critical thinking (CT). Biology teachers often feel ill-equipped to organize student debates that address sensitive issues, opinions, and emotions in classrooms. Recent brain research confirms that opinions cannot be understood as solely objective and logical and are strongly influenced by the form of empathy. Emotional empathy engages strongly with salient aspects but blinds to others’ reactions while cognitive empathy allows perspective and independent CT. In order to address the complex socioscientific issues (SSIs) that recent neuroscience raises, cognitive empathy is a significant skill rarely developed in schools. We will focus on theprocessesof opinion building and argue that learners first need a good understanding of methods and techniques to discuss potential uses and other people’s possible emotional reactions. Subsequently, in order to develop cognitive empathy, students are asked to describe opposed emotional reactions as dilemmas by considering alternative viewpoints and values. Using a design-based-research paradigm, we propose a new learning design method for independent critical opinion building based on the development of cognitive empathy. We discuss an example design to illustrate the generativity of the method. The collected data suggest that students developed decentering competency and scientific methods literacy. Generalizability of the design principles to enhance other CT designs is discussed.
A theory of instrumental and existential rational decisions: Smith, Weber, Mauss, Tönnies after Martin Buber
Authors: Khalil Elias L. , Marciano Alain
Published: September 2020

This paper proffers a dialogical theory of decision-making: decision-makers (DMs) are engaged in two modes of rational decisions, instrumental and existential. Instrumental rational decisions take place when the DM views the self externally to the objects, whether goods or animate beings. Existential rational decisions take place when the DM views the self in union with such objects. While the dialogical theory differs from Max Weber’s distinction between two kinds of rationality, it follows Martin Buber’s philosophical anthropology. The paper expounds the ramifications of the dialogical theory in understanding structures of exchange considering assessments of diverse thinkers.
Predictive factors of posttreatment fracture by definitive radiotherapy for uterine cervical cancer
Authors: Ishikawa Kazuki , Yamashiro Tsuneo , Ariga Takuro , Toita Takafumi , Kudaka Wataru , Heianna Joichi , Maemoto Hitoshi , Kusada Takeaki , Makino Wataru , Aoki Yoichi , Murayama Sadayuki
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Fractures are known to shorten life expectancy and worsen the quality of life. The risk of fractures after radiation therapy in cervical cancer patients is known to be multifactorial. In this study, we examined risk factors for fractures in cervical cancer patients, especially by evaluating bone densities and DVH parameters for fractured bones.

Materials and Methods

For 42 patients, clinical characteristics, pretreatment CT bone densities, and radiation dose were compared between patients with and without fractures.

Results

Posttreatment fractures occurred in 25 bones among ten patients. Pretreatment CT bone densities were significantly lower in patients with fractures (P < 0.05–0.01 across sites, except for the ilium and the ischium). Although DVH parameters were also significantly associated with fractures in univariate analysis, only CT densities were significantly associated with fractures in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Pretreatment CT densities of spinal and pelvic bones, which may reflect osteoporosis, have a significant impact on the risk for posttreatment fractures.
Differential variational–hemivariational inequalities: existence, uniqueness, stability, and convergence
Authors: Tang Guo-ji , Cen Jinxia , Nguyen Van Thien , Zeng Shengda
Published: September 2020

The goal of this paper is to study a comprehensive system called differential variational–hemivariational inequality which is composed of a nonlinear evolution equation and a time-dependent variational–hemivariational inequality in Banach spaces. Under the general functional framework, a generalized existence theorem for differential variational–hemivariational inequality is established by employing KKM principle, Minty’s technique, theory of multivalued analysis, the properties of Clarke’s subgradient. Furthermore, we explore a well-posedness result for the system, including the existence, uniqueness, and stability of the solution in mild sense. Finally, using penalty methods to the inequality, we consider a penalized problem-associated differential variational–hemivariational inequality, and examine the convergence result that the solution to the original problem can be approached, as a parameter converges to zero, by the solution of the penalized problem.
Novel Vascular Anastomoses and Moyamoya Disease in a Woman with Down Syndrome
Authors: Byworth Miles Timothy , Moffatt James Ian , Perera Kanjana S
Published: September 2020

A 56-year-old woman with Down syndrome presented with right-sided weakness and dysarthria, and was found on CT/CTA to have a left middle cerebral artery infarct secondary to moyamoya disease. Her left posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) was fed both by the left vertebral artery, and the left ascending pharyngeal artery (APA), with a variant origin from the internal carotid artery (ICA), then passing through the jugular foramen (Figure 1). Her right PICA originated exclusively from her right occipital artery, also via the jugular foramen (Figure 2). The left vertebral artery originated directly from the aortic arch, whereas the right vertebral artery originated from the brachiocephalic trunk. In addition, she had a trifurcated anterior cerebral artery (ACA), and just prior to this trifurcation, her left ACA was partially supplied by the left ICA, via a superior hypophyseal artery. This case is noteworthy for several reasons. First, though it is exceedingly rare to have the PICA supplied by the jugular branch of the APA, this is the first reported case with an ICA origin of that APA.1,2 The fact that both PICAs in this patient originate from the anterior circulation should remind clinicians that in unexplained posterior circulation infarctions, vascular anatomy should be explored, as carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses such as these are rare, but possible. Lastly, the conjunction of moyamoya disease and anomalies of the vertebrobasilar system in a patient with Down syndrome raises interesting questions about the influence of trisomy 21 on the developing vasculature. Connections from the APA to the vertebrobasilar system are hypothesized to result from a lack of regression of an embryological anastomosis, in line with the more common persistent trigeminal and persistent hypoglossal arteries.1 Patients with moyamoya disease have a significantly higher rate of persistent carotid-vertebrobasilar anastomoses than the general population,3 and are also 26 times more likely to have Down syndrome.4 Correspondingly, patients with Down syndrome have significantly higher levels of moyamoya disease, and are more than 10 times as likely as the general population to have abnormalities of the Circle of Willis5 and vertebral arteries.6 Several genes on chromosome 21 are known to affect angiogenesis, namely collagen XIII/endostatin (COL18A1), DYRK1A, and Down syndrome candidate region 1 (DSCR1), possibly through inhibition of VEGF activity.7 Whether additional copies of these genes are responsible for the anomalous vascular development seen in Down syndrome, in turn predisposing to the development of moyamoya disease, could benefit from further exploration.
ON WIDE ARONSZAJN TREES IN THE PRESENCE OF MA
Authors: DŽAMONJA MIRNA , SHELAH SAHARON
Published: September 2020

A wide Aronszajn tree is a tree of size and height

$\omega _{1}$
with no uncountable branches. We prove that under

$MA(\omega _{1}\!)$
there is no wide Aronszajn tree which is universal under weak embeddings. This solves an open question of Mekler and Väänänen from 1994.

We also prove that under

$MA(\omega _{1}\!)$
, every wide Aronszajn tree weakly embeds in an Aronszajn tree, which combined with a result of Todorčević from 2007, gives that under

$MA(\omega _{1}\!)$
every wide Aronszajn tree embeds into a Lipschitz tree or a coherent tree. We also prove that under

$MA(\omega _{1}\!)$
there is no wide Aronszajn tree which weakly embeds all Aronszajn trees, improving the result in the first paragraph as well as a result of Todorčević from 2007 who proved that under

$MA(\omega _{1}\!)$
there are no universal Aronszajn trees.
SELF-REFERENTIAL THEORIES
Authors: ALEXANDER SAMUEL A.
Published: September 2020

We study the structure of families of theories in the language of arithmetic extended to allow these families to refer to one another and to themselves. If a theory contains schemata expressing its own truth and expressing a specific Turing index for itself, and contains some other mild axioms, then that theory is untrue. We exhibit some families of true self-referential theories that barely avoid this forbidden pattern.
Notes from Libya
Authors: Bennett Paul
Published: September 2020

‘Notes from Libya’ is a new regular feature of Libyan Studies, and follows the reports of the Society's Head of Mission. These reports were previously concerned with the organization of fieldwork and administrative matters connected to obtaining permissions, visas and so on, and were recorded in the minutes of the Council meetings. However, they have recently taken on a new form, outlining the alarming developments in Libya, largely focusing on its heritage but also on the political and economic situation, which impacts on the management of Libya's ancient monuments and artefacts. The importance and historical interest of these reports now, however, merits a wider audience and a more formal record, so these accounts are now published in Libyan Studies.
Testing size–frequency distributions as a method of ontogenetic aging: a life-history assessment of hadrosaurid dinosaurs from the Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada, with implications for hadrosaurid paleoecology
Authors: Wosik Mateusz , Chiba Kentaro , Therrien François , Evans David C.
Published: September 2020

Hadrosaurid dinosaurs, the dominant large-bodied terrestrial herbivores in most Laurasian Late Cretaceous ecosystems, have an exceptional fossil record consisting of many species known from partial ontogenetic series, making them an ideal clade with which to conduct life-history studies. Previous research considered the Dinosaur Park Formation (DPF) of Alberta as an attritional, or time-averaged, sample and interpreted size–frequency distribution of long bones collected from the DPF with three size classes to suggest that hadrosaurids from the DPF attained near-asymptotic body size in under 3 years. This conflicted with previously published osteohistological estimates of 6+ years for penecontemporaneous hadrosaurids from the Two Medicine Formation (TMF) of Montana, suggesting either extreme variation in hadrosaurid growth rates or that size–frequency distributions and/or osteohistology and growth modeling inaccurately estimate ontogenetic age.

We tested the validity of the previously proposed size–age relationship of hadrosaurids from the DPF by significantly increasing sample size and combining data from size–frequency distributions and osteohistology across multiple long-bone elements. The newly constructed size–frequency distributions typically reveal four relatively distinct size–frequency peaks that, when integrated with the osteohistological data, aligned with growth marks. The yearling size class was heavily underrepresented in the size–frequency distribution. If not due to preservation, this suggests that either juvenile (<2 years of age) hadrosaurids from the DPF had increased survivorship following an initially high nestling mortality rate or that yearlings were segregated from adults. A growth-curve analysis revealed asymptotic body size was attained in approximately 7 years, which is consistent with hadrosaurids from the TMF. The data suggest size–frequency distributions of attritional samples underestimate age and overestimate growth rates, but when paired with osteohistology can provide unique life-history insights.
A SETI survey of the Vela region using the Murchison Widefield Array: Orders of magnitude expansion in search space
Authors: Tremblay C. D. , Tingay S. J.
Published: September 2020

Following the results of our previous low-frequency searches for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), directed towards the Galactic Centre and the Orion Molecular Cloud (Galactic Anticentre), we report a new large-scale survey towards the Vela region with the lowest upper limits thus far obtained with the MWA. Using the MWA in the frequency range 98–128 MHz over a 17-h period, a$400\,\textrm{deg}^{2}$field centred on the Vela Supernova Remnant was observed with a frequency resolution of 10 kHz. Within this field, there are six known exoplanets. At the positions of these exoplanets, we searched for narrow-band signals consistent with radio transmissions from intelligent civilisations. No unknown signals were found with a 5$\sigma$detection threshold. In total, across this work plus our two previous surveys, we have now examined 75 known exoplanets at low frequencies. In addition to the known exoplanets, we have included in our analysis the calculation of the Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) upper limits towards over 10 million stellar sources in the Vela field with known distances fromGaia(assuming a 10-kHz transmission bandwidth). Using the methods of Wright, Kanodia, & Lubar (2018) to describe an eight-dimensional parameter space for SETI searches, our survey achieves the largest search fraction yet, two orders of magnitude higher than the previous highest (our MWA Galactic Anticentre survey), reaching a search fraction of$\ \sim2\,{\times}\,10^{-16}$. We also compare our results to previous SETI programs in the context of the$\mbox{EIRP}_{\textrm{min}}$—Transmitter Rate plane. Our results clearly continue to demonstrate that SETI has a long way to go. But, encouragingly, the MWA SETI surveys also demonstrate that large-scale SETI surveys, in particular for telescopes with a large field-of-view, can be performed commensally with observations designed primarily for astrophysical purposes.
Obesity, COVID-19 and innate immunometabolism
Authors: Gleeson Laura E. , Roche Helen M. , Sheedy Frederick J.
Published: September 2020

As COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, severe disease and mortality have been observed in obese patients. We discuss how obesity and obesity-associated factors such as ‘meta-flammation’, dietary fat intake and paradoxical suppression of the innate immune response within the pulmonary compartment may be crucial determinants in the host response to a novel viral pathogen. Modulation of immune cell bioenergetics and metabolic potential plays a central role in the innate immune response to infection, and as we strive to combat this new global health threat, immunometabolism of the innate immune system warrants attention.
Antimicrobial resistance profile of non-aureus Staphylococci isolates from buffalo, goat and sheep mastitis in the Northeast region of Brazil
Authors: Santos André de Souza , Lima Débora Costa Viegas de , Abad Atzel Candido Acosta , Oliveira Pollyanne Raysa Fernandes de , Silva José Givanildo da , Moura Guilherme Santana de , Silva Amanda Thaís Ferreira , Amorim Vinícius da Silva , Costa Mateus Matiuzzi da , Mota Rinaldo Aparecido
Published: September 2020

The study described in this Research Communication investigated the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of resistance to beta-lactams and other antimicrobials in non-aureus Staphylococci (NAS) isolated from buffalo, goat and sheep mastitis in the Northeast region of Brazil. A total of 190 isolates were analyzed and 42.3, 43.9 and 23.6% of them were positive for blaZ gene in buffalo, goat and sheep, respectively. Regarding the animal groups, in goats, amoxicillin was the antimicrobial with highest resistance index (72.7%), followed by penicillin G in buffaloes (51.9%) and ampicillin in sheep (43.1%). With regard to multiple antimicrobial resistance, 30.8% of NAS isolates from buffalo milk samples, 25.8% from goats and 25.0% from sheep presented multidrug-resistance. In the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) technique, amoxicillin MIC50 and MIC90 were 64 and 128 μg/ml, respectively, among isolates of the three animal species. In conclusion, high rates of resistance to beta-lactams are presented among NAS isolated from mastitis cases in buffaloes, goats and sheep in Northeast region of Brazil. These results provide an alert to animal and human health researchers, suggesting that the frequency of NAS needs to be reduced because they carry resistance genes which might increase the existing levels of antimicrobial resistance.
Quoting Activity and the Cost of Capital
Authors: Rosu Ioanid , Sojli Elvira , Tham Wing Wah
Published: September 2020

We study the quoting activity of market makers in relation to trading, liquidity, and expected returns. Empirically, we find larger quote-to-trade (QT) ratios in small, illiquid, or neglected firms, yet large QT ratios are associated with low expected returns. The last result is driven by quotes, not by trades. We propose a model of quoting activity consistent with these facts. In equilibrium, market makers monitor the market faster (and thus increase the QT ratio) in neglected, difficult-to-understand stocks. They also monitor faster when their clients are more precisely informed, which reduces mispricing and lowers expected returns.
Autoantibody-associated psychiatric syndromes: a systematic literature review resulting in 145 cases
Authors: Endres Dominique , Maier Viktoria , Leypoldt Frank , Wandinger Klaus-Peter , Lennox Belinda , Pollak Thomas A. , Nickel Kathrin , Maier Simon , Feige Bernd , Domschke Katharina , Prüss Harald , Bechter Karl , Dersch Rick , Tebartz van Elst Ludger
Published: September 2020

Background

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) is an important consideration during the diagnostic work-up of secondary mental disorders. Indeed, isolated psychiatric syndromes have been described in case reports of patients with underlying AE. Therefore, the authors performed a systematic literature review of published cases with AE that have predominant psychiatric/neurocognitive manifestations. The aim of this paper is to present the clinical characteristics of these patients.

Methods

The authors conducted a systematic Medline search via Ovid, looking for case reports/series of AEs with antineuronal autoantibodies (Abs) against cell surface/intracellular antigens combined with predominant psychiatric/neurocognitive syndromes. The same was done for patients with Hashimoto encephalopathy/SREAT. Only patients with signs of immunological brain involvement or tumors in their diagnostic investigations or improvement under immunomodulatory drugs were included.

Results

We identified 145 patients with AE mimicking predominant psychiatric/neurocognitive syndromes. Of these cases, 64% were female, and the mean age among all patients was 43.9 (±22.1) years. Most of the patients had Abs against neuronal cell surface antigens (55%), most frequently against the NMDA-receptor (N= 46). Amnestic/dementia-like (39%) and schizophreniform (34%) syndromes were the most frequently reported. Cerebrospinal fluid changes were found in 78%, electroencephalography abnormalities in 61%, and magnetic resonance imaging pathologies in 51% of the patients. Immunomodulatory treatment was performed in 87% of the cases, and 94% of the patients responded to treatment.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that AEs can mimic predominant psychiatric and neurocognitive disorders, such as schizophreniform psychoses or neurodegenerative dementia, and that affected patients can be treated successfully with immunomodulatory drugs.
The Logic of Vulnerability and Civilian Victimization
Authors: Costalli Stefano , Moro Francesco Niccolò , Ruggeri Andrea
Published: September 2020

What causes civilian victimization in conventional civil wars and in conventional wars that experience insurgencies? The authors argue that a key driver of civilian victimization is the vulnerability of the incumbent forces, specifically when the conflict’s front line is shifting. Vulnerability is a function of informational and logistical challenges: when the front line is moving, incumbents face increased informational uncertainty and unstable supply chains that augment their vulnerability. Thus, incumbents will increase the use of civilian victimization in response to a scarcity of high-quality information on the location and identity of insurgents, to limit possible information leaks, and to contain supply disruption and logistics support to adversaries. The authors support their argument using matched difference-in-differences analyses of original subnational data on Nazi-Fascist violence in World War II Italy (1943–1945) and qualitative evidence.