bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity and variability of soil health indicators in a California cropping system
Authors: Lazicki Patricia , Mazza Rodrigues Jorge L. , Geisseler Daniel
Published: May 2021

An indicator that is used to monitor whether a management practice is improving soil health must be sensitive to management changes. However, it should not be overly influenced by variations in sampling time or location, previous crop, or annual differences in weather or operations timing. In this study, we assessed the sensitivity and variability of several soil health indicators in long‐term plots under typical farming practices in a Mediterranean climate. These plots have been conventionally or organically farmed in a corn (Zea mays L.)–processing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) rotation for 25 yr. We sampled in both crop phases prior to planting and midseason for two consecutive years, analyzing subsamples taken from three adjacent locations per plot. Management was the most significant factor differentiating most indicators, particularly indicators of biological processes and C accumulation. Whereas management differences were consistent across sampling times, average indicator values for a management system often varied significantly between dates and years. Crop phases, conversely, were usually similar. Accounting for soil texture increased management sensitivity for aggregate stability and most C accumulation indicators. Sensitive indicators such as mineral N, particulate organic matter C, and mineralizable C had greater subsample variability than indicators measuring large, stable pools, such as total C. Our results show that indicators relating to organic C and biological processes most strongly differentiated the two systems, and underline the importance of using consistent sampling dates. They also suggest that an indicator dataset including both stable and sensitive indicators may be the most reliable to interpret.
Fast Label‐Free Nanoscale Composition Mapping of Eukaryotic Cells Via Scanning Dielectric Force Volume Microscopy and Machine Learning
Authors: Checa Martí , Millan‐Solsona Ruben , Mares Adrianna Glinkowska , Pujals Silvia , Gomila Gabriel
Published: May 2021

Mapping the biochemical composition of eukaryotic cells without the use of exogenous labels is a long‐sought objective in cell biology. Recently, it has been shown that composition maps on dry single bacterial cells with nanoscale spatial resolution can be inferred from quantitative nanoscale dielectric constant maps obtained with the scanning dielectric microscope. Here, it is shown that this approach can also be applied to the much more challenging case of fixed and dry eukaryotic cells, which are highly heterogeneous and show micrometric topographic variations. More importantly, it is demonstrated that the main bottleneck of the technique (the long computation times required to extract the nanoscale dielectric constant maps) can be shortcut by using supervised neural networks, decreasing them from weeks to seconds in a wokstation computer. This easy‐to‐use data‐driven approach opens the door for in situ and on‐the‐fly label free nanoscale composition mapping of eukaryotic cells with scanning dielectric microscopy.
Crown–rump length measurement error: impact on assessment of growth
Authors: Gadsbøll K. , Wright A. , Kristensen S. E. , Verfaille V. , Nicolaides K. H. , Wright D. , Petersen O. B.
Published: May 2021

Objective

To examine the impact of first‐trimester crown–rump length (CRL) measurement error on the interpretation of estimated fetal weight (EFW) and classification of fetuses as small‐, large‐ or appropriate‐for‐gestational age on subsequent growth scans.

Methods

We examined the effects of errors of ± 2, ± 3 and ± 4 mm in the measurement of fetal CRL on percentiles of EFW at 20, 32 and 36 weeks' gestation and classification as small‐, large‐ or appropriate‐for‐gestational age. Published data on CRL measurement error were used to determine variation present in practice.

Results

A measurement error of −2 mm in first‐trimester CRL shifts an EFW on the 10th percentile at the 20‐week scan to around the 20th percentile, and the effect of a CRL measurement error of + 2 mm would shift an EFW on the 10th percentile to around the 5th percentile. At 32 weeks, a first‐trimester CRL measurement error would shift an EFW on the 10th percentile to the 7th (+ 2 mm) or 14th (−2 mm) percentile; at 36 weeks, the EFW would shift from the 10th percentile to the 8th (+ 2 mm) or 12th (−2 mm) percentile. Published data suggest that measurement errors of 2 mm or more are common in practice.

Conclusion

Because of the widespread and potentially severe consequences of CRL measurement errors as small as 2 mm on clinical assessment, patient management and research results, there is a need to increase awareness of the impact of CRL measurement error and to reduce measurement error variation through standardization and quality control. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Temporalsemantische Dynamisierungen: Zur Korrelation von Regression und Progression
Authors: Brössel Stephan
Published: May 2021

Die Forschung zu unserem Gegenstandsfeld spricht immer wieder von einer »Auflösung der Romantik« (Schmidt 1853: 434) oder von einer ›Fortwirkung der Romantik‹ (vgl. Kluckhohn 1928), von ›Metamorphosen der Romantik‹ (vgl. Hauser 1953) und von einer ›Romantik im Vormärz‹ (vgl. Dedner/Hoftstaetter 1992).
Schluss: Ein Plädoyer für die Zukunft der Zwischenphase
Authors: Brössel Stephan
Published: May 2021

Kehren wir zum Anfang zurück. Die vorangegangenen Ausführungen dienen als Versuch, ein erneutes Nachdenken über die Phase zwischen Goethezeit und Realismus anzustoßen – eine Beschäftigung damit, wie die vielfach konstatierte Vielschichtigkeit und Diversität dieser Phase produktiv in die Literaturgeschichtsschreibung eingebracht werden könnte und nicht einfach kapitulierend als Diffusität hingenommen wird. Die Literaturwissenschaft täte gut daran, die Differenz im Objektbereich als solche anzuerkennen und sie in der Modellbildung des literarhistorischen Segments und der Periodisierung der Literatur des 19. Jahrhunderts im deutschsprachigen Raum zu berücksichtigen.
An improved holographic nodal line semimetal
Authors: Liu Yan , Wu Xin-Meng
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study an improved holographic model for the strongly coupled nodal line semimetal which satisfies the duality relation between the rank two tensor operators $$ \overline{\psi}{\gamma}^{\mu v}\psi $$

ψ
¯

γ
μv

ψ
and $$ \overline{\psi}{\gamma}^{\mu v}{\gamma}^5\psi $$

ψ
¯

γ
μv

γ
5

ψ
. We introduce a Chern-Simons term and a mass term in the bulk for a complex two form field which is dual to the above tensor operators and the duality relation is automatically satisfied from holography. We find that there exists a quantum phase transition from a topological nodal line semimetal phase to a trivial phase. In the topological phase, there exist multiple nodal lines in the fermionic spectrum which are topologically nontrivial. The bulk geometries are different from the previous model without the duality constraint, while the resulting properties are qualitatively similar to those in that model. This improved model provides a more natural ground to analyze transports or other properties of strongly coupled nodal line semimetals.
Spin(7) Instantons and Hermitian Yang–Mills Connections for the Stenzel Metric
Authors: Papoulias Vasileios Ektor
Published: May 2021

We use the highly symmetric Stenzel Calabi–Yau structure on$$T^{\star }S^{4}$$T⋆S4as a testing ground for the relationship between the Spin(7) instanton and Hermitian–Yang–Mills (HYM) equations. We reduce both problems to tractable ODEs and look for invariant solutions. In the abelian case, we establish local equivalence and prove a global nonexistence result. We analyze the nonabelian equations with structure group SO(3) and construct the moduli space of invariant Spin(7) instantons in this setting. This is comprised of two 1-parameter families—one of them explicit—of irreducible Spin(7) instantons. Each carries a unique HYM connection. We thus negatively resolve the question regarding the equivalence of the two gauge theoretic PDEs. The HYM connections play a role in the compactification of this moduli space, exhibiting aremovable singularityphenomenon that we aim to further examine in future work.
The HELENA study: Hexvix®-TURB vs. white-light TURB followed by intravesical adjuvant chemotherapy—a prospective randomized controlled open-label multicenter non-inferiority study
Authors: Gierth M. , Breyer J. , Zeman F. , Fritsche H. M. , Cordes J. , Karl A. , Zaak D. , Stenzl A. , von Schmeling I. Kausch , Sommerhuber A. , Zierer T. , Burger M. , Mayr R.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Photodynamic diagnosis and white-light TURB with adjuvant intravesical chemotherapy (ICT) is widely used in treatment of bladder cancer. This non-inferiority trial is designed to demonstrate non-inferiority regarding recurrence-free survival (RFS) of Hexvix® TURB followed by immediate instillation compared to white-light TURB with immediate instillation followed by maintenance ICT.

Methods

Between 07/2010 and 12/2016, 129 patients with EORTC intermediate risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with TURB were included in this multicentre phase III study. Patients were randomized and received either white-light TURB with immediate ICT followed by maintenance ICT (n = 62, 20 mg Mitomycin weekly for 6 weeks as induction phase, afterwards 20 mg/month for 6 months) or Hexvix® TURB with immediate ICT only (n = 67, 40 mg Mitomycin). Primary study endpoint was RFS after 12 months. Hexvix® TURB was counted as non-inferior to white light alone if the upper limit of the one-sided 95% confidence interval of hazard ratio was lower than 1.676. Due to the non-inferiority design, the per-protocol population was used as the primary analysis population (n = 113)

Results

Median follow-up was 1.81 years. Hexvix® group showed more events (recurrence or death) than white-light group (19 vs. 10) resulting in a HR of 1.29 (upper limit of one-sided 95%-CI = 2.45; pnon-inferiority = 0.249). The ITT population yielded similar results (HR = 1.67); 3.18], pnon-inferiority = 0.493). There was no significant difference in overall survival between both groups (p = 0.257).

Conclusion

Non-inferiority of Hexvix® TURB relative to white-light TURB with maintenance Mitomycin instillation in intermediate risk urothelial carcinoma of the bladder was not proven. Hence a higher effect of maintenance ICT is to assume compared to a Hexvix®-improved TURB only, confirming its important role in patient treatment.
Vergleich der subjektiven Lebensqualitätsverbesserung von Patienten nach eröffnenden und minimal-invasiven Operationstechniken zur Rekanalisierung von Tränenwegsstenosen in den Jahren 2015 bis 2018
Authors: Mehlan J. , Ismani F. , Dulz S. , Green S. , Spitzer M. S. , Schüttauf F.
Published: May 2021

Hintergrund

Die eröffnende und die minimal-invasive Tränenwegschirurgie gehören zu den häufigen Operationsindikationen. Jedoch ist bislang wenig über die jeweilige Beeinflussung der Lebensqualität bekannt.

Ziel der Arbeit

Mit dieser Studie soll die subjektive Beeinflussung der Lebensqualität von Patienten nach eröffnenden und minimal-invasiven Operationstechniken zur Rekanalisierung von Dakryostenosen vergleichend erfasst werden.

Material und Methoden

Aus dem Kollektiv der Patienten, die von 2015 bis 2018 am Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf operiert wurden, nahmen 169 Patienten (111 DCR, 58 Endoskopie) an der Umfrage teil und beantworteten 9 Fragen zur subjektiven Zufriedenheit, welche wir – auch vergleichend – ausgewertet haben.

Ergebnisse

Gefragt nach der postoperativen Zufriedenheit zeigten sich die Patienten nach DCR signifikant zufriedener (p = 0,001) als die Patienten, die eine Tränenwegsendoskopie erhielten. Es zeigte sich kein signifikanter Unterschied hinsichtlich der postoperativen Komplikationen (p = 0,348). Die Rate an Re-Operationen jedoch war in der Patientengruppe, welche eine Tränenwegsendoskopie erhielten, signifikant höher (Chi-Quadrat-Test, p = 0,004).

Schlussfolgerung

Zusammenfassend lässt sich daher sagen, dass die DCR hinsichtlich der Patientenzufriedenheit einer Tränenwegsendoskopie nicht unterlegen ist.
Vorhersage von Zeitserien der Biogasproduktion in anaeroben Faultürmen mit einem Temporal Fusion Transformer
Authors: Sappl Johannes , Harders Matthias , Rauch W.
Published: May 2021

Anaerobe Gärung in Faultürmen liefert als fixer Bestandteil vieler Abwasserreinigungsanlagen einen wertvollen Beitrag zur nachhaltigen Energieerzeugung. Der Einfluss verschiedener Parameter auf die gewonnene Menge an Biogas ist dabei noch nicht hinreichend erforscht. Mit Veränderungen am Faulprozess kann unter realen Bedingungen jedoch nicht experimentiert werden. Deshalb trainieren wir ein datengetriebenes Modell, einen sogenannten Temporal Fusion Transformer, welcher die biochemischen Vorgänge abbildet und Vorhersagen über die zu erwartende Produktionsrate trifft. Sowohl Zeitserien als auch nicht-numerische Merkmale werden dabei gemeinsam verarbeitet. Dies liefert ein umfassenderes Bild, weil externe Faktoren, wie z. B. Schwankungen bedingt durch den Tourismus, ebenfalls mit in Betracht gezogen werden. Das Modell stützt sich auf die vorliegende Information der letzten sieben Tage und erstellt daraus eine Vorhersage für die kommende Woche. Diese besteht zusätzlich zum Median aus den 2 %-, 10 %-, 25 %-, 75 %-, 90 %-und 98 %-Quantilen. Damit unterstützt und verbessert unser Modell die betriebliche Entscheidungsfindung. Der zur Kalibrierung verwendete Datensatz stammt von zwei realen Fermentern in Tirol.
Stability conditions in families
Authors: Bayer Arend , Lahoz Martí , Macrì Emanuele , Nuer Howard , Perry Alexander , Stellari Paolo
Published: May 2021

We develop a theory of Bridgeland stability conditions and moduli spaces of semistable objects for a family of varieties. Our approach is based on and generalizes previous work by Abramovich–Polishchuk, Kuznetsov, Lieblich, and Piyaratne–Toda. Our notion includes openness of stability, semistable reduction, a support property uniformly across the family, and boundedness of semistable objects. We show that such a structure exists whenever stability conditions are known to exist on the fibers.

Our main application is the generalization of Mukai’s theory for moduli spaces of semistable sheaves on K3 surfaces to moduli spaces of Bridgeland semistable objects in the Kuznetsov component associated to a cubic fourfold. This leads to the extension of theorems by Addington–Thomas and Huybrechts on the derived category of special cubic fourfolds, to a new proof of the integral Hodge conjecture, and to the construction of an infinite series of unirational locally complete families of polarized hyperkähler manifolds of K3 type.

Other applications include the deformation-invariance of Donaldson–Thomas invariants counting Bridgeland stable objects on Calabi–Yau threefolds, and a method for constructing stability conditions on threefolds via degeneration.
Benznidazole in vitro dissolution release from a pH-sensitive drug delivery system using Zif-8 as a carrier
Authors: de Moura Ferraz Leslie Raphael , Tabosa Alinne Élida Gonçalves Alves , da Silva Nascimento Débora Dolores Souza , Ferreira Aline Silva , Silva José Yago Rodrigues , Junior Severino Alves , Rolim Larissa Araújo , Rolim-Neto Pedro Jose
Published: May 2021

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). Endemic in underdeveloped and developed countries, due to the migratory movement, it is considered a serious public health problem. Endemic in underdeveloped countries and due to the migratory movement, in developed countries as well, it is considered a serious public health problem. One of the reasons for this is a weak therapeutic arsenal, represented only by the drug benznidazole (BNZ) which, although it promotes significant cure rates in the acute phase of the disease, presents serious problems of toxicity and bioavailability, mainly due to its low aqueous solubility. Several studies have presented several drug delivery systems (DDS) based on BNZ aiming at enhancing its solubility in aqueous medium and, with this, promoting an increase in the dissolution rate and, consequently, in its bioavailability. However, the present work is a pioneer in using a zeolitic imidazolate framework as a carrier agent for a DDS in order to promote a pH-sensitive modulation of the drug. Thus, this work aimed to develop a novel DDS based on BNZ and the ZIF-8 to use it in development of prolonged-release dosage forms to alternative treatment of Chagas disease. The BNZ@ZIF-8 system was obtained through an ex situ method selected due to its higher incorporation efficiency (38%). Different characterization techniques corroborated the obtainment and drug release data were analyzed by in vitro dissolution assay under sink and non-sink conditions and setting the kinetic results through both model dependent and independent methods. Under sink conditions, at pH 4.5, BNZ and BNZ@ZIF-8 showed similar release profile, but the DDS was effective in promoting a prolonged release. At pH 7.6, after 7 h, BNZ showed a lower release than BNZ@ZIF-8. On the other hand, in non-sink conditions at pH 4.5 the BNZ presented 80% of drug release in 3 h, while the DDS in 6 h. At pH 7.6, BNZ presented a release of 80% in 2 h, while the DDS reaches it in only at 12 h. Therefore, at pH 4.5 the DDS BNZ@ZIF-8 showed a faster release with a burst effect, while at pH 7.6 it showed a prolonged and controlled release. Finally, it is evident that a promising DDS pH-sensitive was obtained as a novel carrier that might be able to prolongs BNZ release in dosage forms intended for the alternative treatment of Chagas disease.
Estimated respiratory arousal threshold in patients with rapid eye movement obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Hoshino Tetsuro , Sasanabe Ryujiro , Murotani Kenta , Hori Reiko , Mano Mamiko , Nomura Atsuhiko , Konishi Noriyuki , Baku Masayo , Nishio Yoshitomo , Kato Chihiro , Kuczynski Wojciech , Shiomi Toshiaki
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Rapid eye movement (REM) obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent clinical phenotype. However, the literature focusing on the pathophysiology of REM OSA is limited. This study compared the proportion of individuals with a low respiratory arousal threshold between patients with REM and non-REM OSA.

Methods

REM OSA was defined as having an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 and AHI during REM (AHI-REM)/AHI during NREM (AHI-NREM) ≥ 2. REM OSA was sub-divided into REM-predominant OSA and REM-isolated OSA. REM-predominant OSA was defined as satisfying the definition of REM OSA and having an AHI-NREM ≥ 5. REM-isolated OSA was defined as satisfying the definition of REM OSA and having an AHI-NREM < 5. Patients with an AHI-REM/AHI-NREM < 2 were defined as having non-REM OSA. A low respiratory arousal threshold was defined as having 2 or more of the following conditions: AHI < 30 events/h, proportion of hypopnea > 58.3%, and nadir SpO2 > 82.5%.

Results

The proportions of individuals with low respiratory arousal thresholds among individuals with REM-predominant OSA and REM-isolated OSA were significantly higher (77.2% and 93.7%, respectively) than that of patients with non-REM OSA (48.6%). This was also true when the analysis was performed according to sex.

Conclusion

These results indicate that a low respiratory arousal threshold might be an important endotype that contributes to the pathogenesis of REM OSA, especially in REM-isolated OSA.
Deformation Behaviour of a FAST Diffusion Bond Processed from Dissimilar Titanium Alloy Powders
Authors: Levano Blanch Oliver , Lunt David , Baxter Gavin J. , Jackson Martin
Published: May 2021

Titanium alloys have a high strength-to-weight ratio, fatigue performance and excellent corrosion resistance, and therefore are widely used in the aerospace sector due to their ability to withstand severe mechanical and thermal stresses in service. There are numerous cases where it would be desirable to use different titanium alloys in defined subcomponent regions to improve performance and efficiency. Conventional processing routes do not permit components to be produced with multiple titanium alloys and thus, design efficiency and optimization of component properties is compromised or over-engineered. In this study, a hybrid solid-state consolidation route is presented whereby field assisted sintering technology (FAST) is exploited to diffusion bond (DB) dissimilar titanium alloy powders in defined regions—a process termed FAST-DB. Titanium alloy powders Ti-6Al-4V (Ti-64) and Ti-6Al-2Sn-4Zr-2Mo (Ti-6242) were bonded using FAST in order to study the tensile deformation behavior and strain localization across a dissimilar alloy solid-state bond. FAST-DB was carried out at the sub- and super- beta transus temperatures of both alloys to generate dissimilar microstructure morphologies across the bond. In all cases, diffusion bonds showed excellent structural integrity with no defects and a smooth hardness profile across the bond. The deformation characteristics of the bonds was studied using two different tensile test approaches. The first approach used ASTM standard specimens to measure the mechanical properties of FAST-DB samples and study the location of the tensile failure. The second approach used a microtester and optical Digital Image Correlation to capture the grain interaction in the bond region under tensile loading. The work demonstrated that the diffusion bond remains intact and that tensile failure occurs in Ti-64 (i.e. the lower strength alloy) and is independent of the grain crystal orientation. The results from this study will provide materials engineers confidence in nesting FAST-DB technology in future near net shape manufacturing routes.
Bibliometric Survey for Adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Construction Industry– A Safety Perspective
Authors: Hire Shalaka , Sandbhor Sayali , Ruikar Kirti
Published: May 2021

The construction industry is multidisciplinary in nature and various operations are executed at the same time. One of the major resources for executing construction operations is the human workforce. Management of this workforce with effective safety provisions is a prime factor for reducing accidents on construction sites. Nowadays, technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) offer the potential to manage safety on-site with their automatic safety checking capability. BIM is a model-based smart nD platform that offers tools for architecture, engineering, and construction proficients to plan, design, and manage construction activities more efficiently. Despite its growing use globally, BIM has not been adopted sufficiently in the Indian construction industry. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of the adoption of BIM in the global construction and the Indian construction industry. It also reviews the adoption of BIM for safety in the global and Indian construction industry. The bibliometric analysis is carried out in two phases, at first it reviews the adoption of BIM globally, and limits the findings to cover BIM adoption in the Indian construction industry. Secondly, it reviews the adoption of BIM for safety in global construction and limits the findings to cover BIM adoption for safety in India. Various complementary tools such as VOSviewer, iMapbuilder have been used for data analysis. The research highlights the need for BIM in India particularly for safety on construction sites.
Liberale Leitlinien für eine deutsche Außen‑, Sicherheits- und Entwicklungspolitik aus einem Guss
Authors: Graf Lambsdorff Alexander
Published: May 2021

Die Covid-Pandemie verstärkt globale Entwicklungen, die bereits zuvor ihre Schatten voraus warfen. Eine neue Ära der Großmachtkonflikte bricht an, die Demokratie gerät weltweit in die Defensive. Insbesondere der Aufstieg Chinas fordert die Staatengemeinschaft heraus. Internationale Organisationen stehen unter Druck, während Herausforderungen wie der Klimawandel multilaterale Antworten erfordern. Deutschland wird daher international mehr Verantwortung übernehmen müssen. Der Beitrag stellt vor diesem Hintergrund die außen- und sicherheitspolitischen Positionen der Fraktion der Freien Demokraten vor.
Flavonoids as an effective sensitizer for anti-cancer therapy: insights into multi-faceted mechanisms and applicability towards individualized patient profiles
Authors: Liskova Alena , Samec Marek , Koklesova Lenka , Brockmueller Aranka , Zhai Kevin , Abdellatif Basma , Siddiqui Manaal , Biringer Kamil , Kudela Erik , Pec Martin , Gadanec Laura Kate , Šudomová Miroslava , Hassan Sherif T. S. , Zulli Anthony , Shakibaei Mehdi , Giordano Frank A. , Büsselberg Dietrich , Golubnitschaja Olga , Kubatka Peter
Published: May 2021

Cost-efficacy of currently applied treatments is an issue in overall cancer management challenging healthcare and causing tremendous economic burden to societies around the world. Consequently, complex treatment models presenting concepts of predictive diagnostics followed by targeted prevention and treatments tailored to the personal patient profiles earn global appreciation as benefiting the patient, healthcare economy, and the society at large. In this context, application of flavonoids as a spectrum of compounds and their nano-technologically created derivatives is extensively under consideration, due to their multi-faceted anti-cancer effects applicable to the overall cost-effective cancer management, primary, secondary, and even tertiary prevention. This article analyzes most recently updated data focused on the potent capacity of flavonoids to promote anti-cancer therapeutic effects and interprets all the collected research achievements in the frame-work of predictive, preventive, and personalized (3P) medicine. Main pillars considered are:

- Predictable anti-neoplastic, immune-modulating, drug-sensitizing effects;

- Targeted molecular pathways to improve therapeutic outcomes by increasing sensitivity of cancer cells and reversing their resistance towards currently applied therapeutic modalities.
Timber volume estimation based on airborne laser scanning — comparing the use of national forest inventory and forest management inventory data
Authors: Rahlf Johannes , Hauglin Marius , Astrup Rasmus , Breidenbach Johannes
Published: May 2021

Key message

Large-scale forest resource maps based on national forest inventory (NFI) data and airborne laser scanning may facilitate synergies between NFIs and forest management inventories (FMIs). A comparison of models used in such a NFI-based map and a FMI indicate that NFI-based maps can directly be used in FMIs to estimate timber volume of mature spruce forests.

Context

Traditionally, FMIs and NFIs have been separate activities. The increasing availability of detailed NFI-based forest resource maps provides the possibility to eliminate or reduce the need of field sample plot measurements in FMIs if their accuracy is similar.

Aims

We aim to (1) compare a timber volume model used in a NFI-based map and models used in a FMI, and (2) evaluate utilizing additional local sample plots in the model of the NFI-based map.

Methods

Accuracies of timber volume estimates using models from an existing NFI-based map and a FMI were compared at plot and stand level.

Results

Estimates from the NFI-based map were similar to or more accurate than the FMI. The addition of local plots to the modeling data did not clearly improve the model of the NFI-based map.

Conclusion

The comparison indicates that NFI-based maps can directly be used in FMIs for timber volume estimation in mature spruce stands, leading to potentially large cost savings.
Quality by design prospects of pharmaceuticals application of double emulsion method for PLGA loaded nanoparticles
Authors: Panigrahi Dhananjay , Sahu Pratap Kumar , Swain Suryakanta , Verma Rajan Kumar
Published: May 2021

QbD approach empowers the pharma researchers to minimize the number of experimental trials and time. It helps identify the significant, influential factors such as critical material attributes, critical formulation variables, and critical process parameters, which may significantly impact the quality of the products. Poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer, has gained an immense potential and wide range of applications as a carrier for manufacturing of polymeric nanoparticle drug delivery systems as per US-FDA and European Medicine Agency for drug delivery. The double emulsion method for preparing PLGA nanoparticles to encapsulate hydrophilic drugs has attracted interest in manufacturing processes. The double emulsion is a two-step process consisting of two different emulsification, making the process more complicated. The stability of nanoparticles obtained by a double emulsion method remains questionable due to the many formulations and process attributes. Currently, PLGA based nanoparticles prepared by a double emulsion technique are an alternative pharmaceutical manufacturing operation for getting the quality product by employing the Quality by Design approach. This present review has discussed the QbD elements to elucidate the effect of material attributes, formulation, and process variables on the critical quality attributes of the drug product, such as particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency, etc. The components of a double emulsion, characteristics of drugs, polymers, and stabilizers used have been discussed in detail in this review.

Graphic abstract
Model-Based FDI Applied to a Piezoelectric Active Vibration Suppression System for Smart Flexible Spacecraft
Authors: Iannelli Paolo , Angeletti Federica , Gasbarri Paolo
Published: May 2021

Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) techniques have captured extensive interest and attention in modern autonomous systems; in particular, they are of foremost importance in space applications, due to their scientific relevance, cost and current inability of doing on-orbit maintenance of space systems. In this scenario, FDI strategies are required to counteract possible failure events that, if not properly handled, can reduce system performance or compromise the realization of the mission objectives. In this paper, a model-based FDI strategy is implemented onboard a satellite equipped with a very large mesh reflector on which a distributed network of smart actuators/sensors is mounted to actively counteract undesired elastic vibrations. In particular, the detection and isolation of a possible piezo-actuator failure occurring in the Active Vibration Control (AVC) system of the antenna is addressed by a bank of Unknown Input Observers (UIOs). The design of the proposed UIOs is derived by solving a Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) problem, which provides the conditions for their existence, and it is based on the linearized 3D state-space model of the controlled spacecraft, under the assumption that all the uncertainties, exogenous disturbances and measurement noises are neglected. Furthermore, pole assignment in the sense of D-stability is integrated in the standard formulation of the UIO to guarantee an adequate transient behaviour of the observers. Finally, an extensive Monte Carlo simulation campaign is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the proposed FDI architecture and its robustness against modelling uncertainties and measurement noise.
From Jacobite to Loyalist: The Career and Political Theology of Bishop George Hay
Authors: Tirenin Gregory
Published: May 2021

Although Catholics were marginalized and strongly associated with Jacobitism under the early Hanoverians, the reign of George III saw a gradual assimilation of Catholics into mainstream political culture. The Vicars Apostolic of Great Britain played a key role in this process by emphasizing passivity and loyalty. The bishop who most strongly personified this Jacobite to loyalist transition was George Hay (1729-1811). A convert to Catholicism from the Scottish Episcopalian faith, Hay served the Jacobite Army as a medic in 1745 and was imprisoned following that conflict. After his conversion and subsequent ordination, Hay became coadjutor of the Lowland District of Scotland in 1769 and was promoted to the Apostolic Vicarate in 1778. Hay actively engaged with many high-profile statesmen and political thinkers, including Edmund Burke. Most notably, he constructively utilized Jacobite political theology to criticise revolutionary ideology. His public involvement in politics was most remarkable during the American and French Revolutions, when he confidently deployed the full force of counterrevolutionary doctrines that formerly alienated Catholics from the Hanoverian state. However, since the Age of Revolution presented a stark duality between monarchy and republicanism, Hay’s expressions of passive obedience and non-resistance endeared him and the Catholic Church to the British establishment.
Engaging the Liberal State II: Cardinal Manning and the Royal Commission of 1886
Authors: von Arx Jeffrey
Published: May 2021

As Archbishop of Westminster, Henry Edward Manning had been much involved in negotiations over the Elementary Education Act of 1870 (Forster’s Act), which aimed at establishing a national system of elementary education. By the early 1880s, Manning was dissatisfied with the operation of the Act, because the secular board schools, financed from rates, had become substantial competitors with the voluntary denominational schools, which were supposed to be the backbone of the system. This established, in effect, a dual system of secular and denominational education, which Manning believed the Act had never envisioned. He lobbied for a Royal Commission to amend the Act, which Lord Salisbury granted in 1886 (the Cross Commission), with Manning as a member. In his work on the Commission, Manning was motivated by three principles, which he believed were critical for the engagement of religious bodies with the liberal state. The first was cross-denominational collaboration in support of religious education. The second was voluntarism so as to prevent state control. The third was localism as opposed to centralization, which was eventually realized with the creation of County Councils by the Local Government Act of 1888, upon whom the supervision of schools eventually devolved.
Biomimetics provides lessons from nature for contemporary ways to improve human health
Authors: Stenvinkel Peter , Avesani Carla M. , Gordon Line J. , Schalling Martin , Shiels Paul G.
Published: May 2021

Homo sapiens is currently living in serious disharmony with the rest of the natural world. For our species to survive, and for our well-being, we must gather knowledge from multiple perspectives and actively engage in studies of planetary health. The enormous diversity of species, one of the most striking aspects of life on our planet, provides a source of solutions that have been developed through evolution by natural selection by animals living in extreme environments. The food system is central to finding solutions; our current global eating patterns have a negative impact on human health, driven climate change and loss of biodiversity. We propose that the use of solutions derived from nature, an approach termed biomimetics, could mitigate the effects of a changing climate on planetary health as well as human health. For example, activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 may play a role in protecting animals living in extreme environments, or animals exposed to heat stress, pollution and pesticides. In order to meet these challenges, we call for the creation of novel interdisciplinary planetary health research teams.
COVID-19 and the Well-Being of the Homeless Population
Authors: del Castillo Fides A. , del Castillo Clarence Darro B. , Corpuz Jeff Clyde
Published: May 2021

A previous editorial by the Editor-in-Chief discusses public health and steps towards recovery from the COVID-19 disaster.1 In addition to the current public health disasters, and multiple disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons and hurricanes, worldwide recession, and global morbidity and mortality, the authors would like to highlight the need for responses to deal with the well-being of the homeless population due to their condition and vulnerability in the society. People who are experiencing homelessness are considered vulnerable and “preferential options for the homeless” must be considered.
The violent inaction of the state and the camp as site of struggle: The perspectives of humanitarian actors in Moria Camp, Lesvos
Authors: Gordon Eleanor , Larsen Henrik Kjellmo
Published: May 2021

Until it was destroyed in a fire in September 2020, Moria camp on the island of Lesvos, Greece, was widely referred to as ‘a living hell’. This article investigates the causes and effects of poor camp conditions from the perspectives of humanitarian actors who have worked in the camp. We argue that poor conditions are intended to perform a deterrent function for both migrants and humanitarian actors. We also argue, however, that such camps are not simply static manifestations of violent borderwork, but complex, dynamic sites of struggle in which those who live and work there continuously make and remake the camp. This can be seen, for instance, in the ways in which humanitarian actors simultaneously fill the gap resulting from the violent inaction of the state while contributing to poor camp conditions, as a result of inter-agency competition and criticism, and the broader ways in which they challenge and reinforce the violent governance of migration.
Parametric instabilities of a stratified shear layer
Authors: Buchta M. Ryan , Yalim Jason , Welfert Bruno D. , Lopez Juan M.
Published: May 2021

A Boussinesq fluid inside a stably thermally stratified square container whose walls are inclined

${45}^{\circ }$

with respect to gravity, with two opposite walls kept at constant temperatures and the other two insulated is nearly isothermal in the regions above and below the horizontal diagonal. The flow is concentrated in the wall boundary layers and a shear layer centred about the horizontal diagonal. The equilibrium is maintained by the balance between dissipation in the shear and boundary layers, the heat fluxes at the constant temperature walls, and the induced flow resulting from the no-flux condition at the inclined insulated walls. The dynamical response of the fluid to vertical oscillations of the container is studied over a range of forcing frequencies. For a small forcing amplitude and below a viscosity-dependent cutoff forcing frequency, this response exhibits a modal cellular structure localized about the shear layer. With increasing forcing amplitude, the response experiences instabilities, studied here numerically at a forcing frequency above the cutoff frequency, that are similar to those encountered in the Faraday wave problem, such as parametric subharmonic instability, triadic resonance and resonant collapse.
Organizational support and intrapreneurial behavior: on the role of employees' intrapreneurial intention and self-efficacy
Authors: Chouchane Rahma , Fernet Claude , Austin Stéphanie , Karoui Zouaoui Samia
Published: May 2021

Despite the well-documented contributions of intrapreneurial behavior to organizational performance, the manifestations of the psychosocial factors at play remain poorly understood. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, social exchange theory, and social cognitive theory, we propose that perceptions of organizational support would contribute to employees' intrapreneurial intentions and behaviors, but only insofar as employees feel confident about their intrapreneurial skills. The data were collected from 179 employees of a Canadian small and medium enterprise (SME) specializing in damage insurance. The regression analysis results indicate that the indirect effect of perceived organizational support on intrapreneurial behavior through intrapreneurial intention is moderated by intrapreneurial self-efficacy. These findings reveal that intrapreneurial self-efficacy is a boundary motivational condition for perceived organizational support to act on the intrapreneurial process so that intention can translate into behavior. The paper provides useful avenues for managers seeking to identify contextual and motivational levers to develop, sustain, and improve employee intrapreneurship.
Distribution, abundance and natural enemies of the invasive tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) in Kenya
Authors: Kinyanjui G. , Khamis F. M. , Ombura F. L. O. , Kenya E. U. , Ekesi S. , Mohamed S. A.
Published: May 2021

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) has become a serious menace to sustainable production of tomato in Kenya. A survey was conducted between April 2015 and June 2016 to determine its distribution, abundance, infestation, and damage levels on tomato, and associated natural enemies. Trap counts of T. absoluta moths were recorded in all surveyed 29 counties, which indicated its nationwide distribution irrespective of altitude. Tuta absoluta was present in both open fields and greenhouses. The highest moth/trap/day was 115.38 ± 15.90. Highest leaf infestation was 92.22% and the highest number of mines and larvae per leaf were 3.71 ± 0.28 and 2.16 ± 0.45, respectively. Trap captures in terms of moth/trap/day were linearly and positively related to leaf infestations in open fields (R2 = 0.81) and greenhouses (R2 = 0.61). Highest fruits’ infestation and damage were 60.00 and 59.61%, respectively, while the highest number of mines per fruit was 7.50 ± 0.50. Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) and Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) were identified as predators of T. absoluta larvae. Nine species of larval parasitoids were recovered from infested foliage, with a combined parasitism of 7.26 ± 0.65%. Hockeria species was the most dominant (31.25%) and accounted for 12.88 ± 1.47% parasitism. Two species of larval parasitoids, Hockeria and Necremnus were obtained from sentinel plants with an average parasitism of 1.13 ± 0.25. The overall abundance and parasitism rates of recovered natural enemies were low to effectively control the field populations of T. absoluta. These findings form the basis of researching and developing effective and sustainable management strategies for the pest.
Evaluation of maize-based intercropping on runoff, soil loss, and yield in foothills of the Indian sub-Himalayas
Authors: Ranjan Rajeev , Sharma N.K. , Kumar Ambrish , Pramanik Monalisha , Mehta Harsh , Ojasvi P.R , Yadav R.S.
Published: May 2021

Soil and nutrients losses due to soil erosion are detrimental to crop production, especially in the hilly terrains. An experiment was carried out in three consecutive cropping seasons (2012–2015) with four treatments: sole maize; sole maize with plastic mulch; maize and cowpea under plastic mulching; and maize and soybean under plastic mulching in randomized block design (RBD) to assess their impact on productivity, profitability, and resource (rainwater, soil, and NPK nutrients) conservation in the Indian sub-Himalayan region. The plot size was 9 × 8.1 m with 2% slope, and runoff and soil loss were measured using a multi-slot devisor. The results showed that mean runoff decreased from 356 mm in sole maize with plastic mulch plots to 229 mm in maize + cowpea intercropping with plastic mulch, representing a reduction of 36% and corresponding soil loss reduction was 41% (from 9.4 to 5.5 t ha−1). The eroded soil exported a considerable amount of nitrogen (N) (13.2–31.4 kg ha−1), phosphorous (P) (0.5–1.7 kg ha−1), and potassium (K) (9.9–15.6 kg ha−1) and was consistently lower in maize + cowpea intercropping. The maize equivalent yield (MEY) was significantly higher in maize + cowpea with plastic mulch intercropping than the other treatments. These results justify the need to adopt maize with alternate legume intercrops and plastic mulch. This strategy must be done in a way guaranteeing high yield stability to the smallholder farmers of the Indian sub-Himalayan region.
Peasant Studies: Subsistence, Justice, and Precarity
Authors: Galvin Shaila Seshia
Published: May 2021

“There are districts in which the position of the rural population is that of a man standing permanently up to the neck in water, so that even a ripple is sufficient to drown him.” With this epigraph, invoking the words of economic historian R. H. Tawney, James C. Scott launched The Moral Economy of the Peasant. His pathbreaking second book describes the social and cultural repertoires through which Southeast Asian peasantries struggled in the 1930s to dampen the ripples and torrents of political and economic change, in an effort to keep their heads above water. In the years since its publication, and despite this seemingly delimited focus, The Moral Economy of the Peasant has generated considerable ripples of its own, energizing the waters through which it has moved over the last four decades. A number of excellent reviews have delved deeply into the origins, inspiration, and impact of this work. Building on these, this short essay attempts to grapple with its intellectual energy, to understand something of how The Moral Economy of the Peasant became, and remains, a touchstone within and beyond the interdisciplinary field of Asian studies.
Casein hydrolyzate for drying-off lactating mammary quarters in cows with chronic mastitis
Authors: Barcelos Melina M. , Freu Gustavo , Alves Bruna G. , Monteiro Camylla P. , Santos Marcos V.
Published: May 2021

In this research communication we address the hypothesis that a single intramammary infusion of casein hydrolyzate (CH) would have a similar effect to three intramammary infusions of CH for drying-off quarters with chronic mastitis (CM) during lactation. Sixty cows with CM were selected and randomly distributed into two treatment groups: (a) three intramammary CH infusions (100 mg, 50 ml per infusion, with 24-h intervals) or (b) single intramammary CH infusion (300 mg, 50 ml). Milk samples from the treated and untreated quarters were collected for microbiological culture and somatic cell count (SCC) before and after CH infusions. Milk yield was recorded and a manual pressure index measurement was used to evaluate cessation of lactation. Of the 60 quarters selected, 43 (71.67%) had positive microbiological culture. The quarters treated with three intramammary CH infusions had higher udder pressure index than those treated with single CH infusion. However, the average milk yield and composite SCC of three functional quarters were not different among treatments. Therefore, a single infusion of CH has the potential to be used as an alternative method for drying-off mammary quarters with CM during lactation.
Partial congenital arrhinia: never seen before adult presentation
Authors: Malakar S , Garg N , Gupta N
Published: May 2021

Background

Arrhinia is defined as the partial or complete absence of the nasal structures. It is a defect of embryonal origin and can be seen in association with other craniofacial anomalies, central nervous system anomalies, absence of paranasal sinuses, and other palatal and ocular abnormalities. Very few patients with arrhinia have been reported so far in the history of modern medicine.

Case report

This study reports an adult patient with congenital partial arrhinia and reviews the literature along with the embryological basis of such a rare disease.

Conclusion

Arrhinia is a medical condition with scarce documentation in the literature. This article presents the clinical as well as radiological features of this rare entity.