bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scientific principles for finding the causes of land unremolution in Ukraine as the main factors to exit the existing crisis
Authors: Kovaliv O.
Published: March 2022

The article clarifies the main reasons for land unregulation in Ukraine as the main factors in overcoming the current land crisis. Further development of market land relations and nature management in the agricultural landscapes of Ukraine is possible under the conditions of full institutionalization of constitutional norms on the right of ownership of the Ukrainian people to land and its natural resources as natural objects — the main national wealth under special protection of the state — in the current constitutional field of Ukraine. Five unresolved reasons have been revealed, which have not yet been legally regulated and are not in line with the current «land» norms of Art. 13 and 14 of the Constitution of Ukraine, including with the participation of many «scientists», based on the contrived dualism and stratification of the right of absolute ownership of the Ukrainian people to land and its natural resources as natural objects. The necessity of further institutional development of the legal, economically developed and ecologically stable state, based on the new knowledge of constitutional land pragmatism acquired by us, in the process of land reform in Ukraine as a new paradigm is substantiated. The solution of existing land problems in Ukraine as a crisis will also contribute to the deepening of our research and substantiation of cognitive pathways and mechanisms for formulating new theoretical and methodological foundations for land reform in the space-time sphere of land economy as the latest socio-economic formation of the unitary rule of law. based on the known laws of animate and inanimate nature and society.
Prospects of using pulp and paper industry by-products in agriculture
Authors: Romanenko Т. , Zinovchuk N.
Published: March 2022

The industrial sector plays a significant role in the growth of the world economy, but the development of industrial production leads to an increasing amount of wastes. The analysis of pulp and paper industry waste’s positive properties allows us to consider paper mill sludge as a by-product of cardboard and paper production. It is established that sludge contains both organic and non-organic substances that have properties necessary for crops and soils. Sludge can be used for soil improvement, and even as an organo-mineral fertilizer for yield gain, both in pure form and in a mixture with other components. There is a need for further studies of the properties of the paper sludge for agricultural uses within Ukrainian ecosystems. A number of recommendations have been given for further research of sludge management in Ukrainian farming ecosystems.
About Thought Experiment
Authors: Soltani Abolfazl
Published: March 2022

In physics, whenever we cannot do an experiment for physical, technological, financial or ethical reasons, we use "thought experiment". In this letter we will prove that sometimes a thought experiment may lead us to the wrong results and we will prove that to achieve the correct results, an experiment must be done in the real world.
Machine Learning in Structural Design: An Opinionated Review
Authors: Málaga-Chuquitaype Christian
Published: March 2022

The prominence gained by Artificial Intelligence (AI) over all aspects of human activity today cannot be overstated. This technology is no newcomer to structural engineering, with logic-based AI systems used to carry out design explorations as early as the 1980s. Nevertheless, the advent of low-cost data collection and processing capabilities have granted new impetus and a degree of ubiquity to AI-based engineering solutions. This review paper ends by posing the question of how long will the human engineer be needed in structural design. However, the paper does not aim to answer this question, not least because all such predictions have a history of going wrong. Instead, the paper assumes throughout as valid the claim that the need for human engineers in conventional design practice has its days numbered. In order to build the case towards the final question, the paper starts with a general description of the currently available AI frameworks and their Machine Learning (ML) sub-classes. The paper then proceeds to review a selected number of studies on the application of AI in structural engineering design. A discussion of specific challenges and future needs is presented with emphasis on the much exalted roles of “engineering intuition” and “creativity”. Finally, the conclusion section of the paper compiles the findings and outlines the challenges and future research directions.
Life-Cycle and Techno-Economic Assessment of Early-Stage Carbon Capture and Utilization Technologies—A Discussion of Current Challenges and Best Practices
Authors: Zimmermann Arno W. , Langhorst Tim , Moni Sheikh , Schaidle Joshua A. , Bensebaa Farid , Bardow André
Published: March 2022

The mitigation of climate change requires research, development, and deployment of new technologies that are not only economically viable but also environmentally benign. Systematic and continuous technology assessment from early technology maturity onwards allows assessment practitioners to identify economic and environmental characteristics. With this information, decision-makers can focus time and resources on the most promising technologies. A broad toolset for technology assessment exists—stretching from the well-established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to more loosely defined techno-economic analysis (TEA) methods and the increasingly popular principles of technology maturity assessment such as the concept of technology readiness levels (TRL). However, current technology assessment practice faces various challenges at early stages, resulting in a potential mismatch of study results and stakeholders' needs and an escalation of assessment effort. In this practice review, we outline current challenges in the interplay of LCA, TEA, and TRL and present best practices for assessing early-stage climate change mitigation technologies in the field of carbon capture and utilization (CCU). The findings help practitioners systematically identify the TRL of a technology and adapt technology assessment methodologies accordingly. We highlight the methodological challenges for practitioners when adapting the goal and scope, identifying benchmark technologies, creating a comprehensive inventory, comparing early stage to commercial stage, ensuring clarity of recommendations for decision-making under high uncertainty, and streamlining conventional LCA and TEA assessment approaches and provide actionable recommendations. Overall, this work contributes to identifying promising technologies faster and more systematically, accelerating the development of new technologies for climate change mitigation and beyond.
Designing Wearable Augmented Reality Concepts to Support Scalability in Autonomous Vehicle-Pedestrian Interaction
Authors: Tran Tram Thi Minh , Parker Callum , Wang Yiyuan , Tomitsch Martin
Published: March 2022

Wearable augmented reality (AR) offers new ways for supporting the interaction between autonomous vehicles (AVs) and pedestrians due to its ability to integrate timely and contextually relevant data into the user's field of view. This article presents novel wearable AR concepts that assist crossing pedestrians in multi-vehicle scenarios where several AVs frequent the road from both directions. Three concepts with different communication approaches for signaling responses from multiple AVs to a crossing request, as well as a conventional pedestrian push button, were simulated and tested within a virtual reality environment. The results showed that wearable AR is a promising way to reduce crossing pedestrians' cognitive load when the design offers both individual AV responses and a clear signal to cross. The willingness of pedestrians to adopt a wearable AR solution, however, is subject to different factors, including costs, data privacy, technical defects, liability risks, maintenance duties, and form factors. We further found that all participants favored sending a crossing request to AVs rather than waiting for the vehicles to detect their intentions—pointing to an important gap and opportunity in the current AV-pedestrian interaction literature.
Dilated Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Diameter Is a New Risk Factor of Acute Kidney Injury Following Coronary Angiography
Authors: Li Qiang , Chen Shiqun , Huang Haozhang , Chen Weihua , Liu Liwei , Wang Bo , Lai Wenguang , Yi Shixin , Ying Ming , Tang Ronghui , Huang Zhidong , Deng Jiayi , Chen Jiyan , Liu Jin , Liu Yong
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) is a common indicator in echocardiogram, and dilated LVEDD was correlated with left ventricular insufficiency. However, it is uncertain whether dilated LVEDD is associated with increasing the risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Patients and Methods

We enrolled 8,189 patients with CAD undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) between January 2007 and December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups according to the LVEDD length (normal LVEDD: men: LVEDD ≤56 mm, women: LVEDD ≤51 mm; dilated LVEDD: men: LVEDD >56 mm, women: LVEDD >51 mm). The endpoints were CA-AKI0350 and CA-AKI0525 (CA-AKI0350: an increase in the serum creatinine (Scr) level by >0.3 mg/dl or >50% within the first 48 h after CAG; CA-AKI0525: an absolute Scr increase ≥ 0.5 mg/dl or a relative increase ≥ 25% within 72 h after contrast medium exposure). In-hospital dialysis, 30-day mortality, and 1-year mortality were contained as well. Univariate and multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the association between LVEDD and CA-AKI.

Results

Among 8,189 participants (men: 76.6%, mean age: 64.4 ± 10.7 years), 1,603 (19.6%) presented with dilated LVEDD. In addition, the dilated LVEDD group indicated an elevation of CA-AKI0350 (12.4 vs. 6.2%, p < 0.001) and CA-AKI0525 (15.0 vs. 8.8%; p < 0.001) when compared with the normal group. According to multivariable logistic analysis, dilated LVEDD was an independent predictor of CA-AKI0350 [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.61, p = 0.010) and CA-AKI0525 (aOR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.04–1.67; p = 0.020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, these results demonstrated that the dilated LVEDD was a significant and independent predictor of CA-AKI following CAG in patients with CAD. Further verifications are needed to verify the association between LVEDD and CA-AKI.
Diabetes Mellitus Is an Independent Risk Factor for a Stiff Left Atrial Physiology After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Kim Moon-Hyun , Yu Hee Tae , Park Yoon Jung , Kim Tae-Hoon , Joung Boyoung , Lee Moon-Hyoung , Pak Hui-Nam
Published: March 2022

Background

Scar tissue formation after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) may adversely affect the diastolic properties of the left atrium (LA), which can result in a stiff LA physiology in a small proportion of patients. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between diabetes mellitus and a stiff LA physiology after AF catheter ablation (AFCA).

Methods

A total of 1,326 patients who underwent de novo AFCA, and baseline and 1-year follow-up echocardiographies were enrolled. After 1:3 propensity score (PS) matching for age, sex, and AF type, we compared 211 patients with DM with 633 patients without DM. A stiff LA physiology was defined as estimated pulmonary arterial pressure increase of >10 mmHg and a right ventricular systolic pressure of >35 mmHg at 1-year follow-up echocardiography. Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was estimated using echocardiographic parameters.

Results

Among the 844 PS-matched patients, a stiff LA physiology was observed in 32 patients (4.1%). The patients with DM showed a higher peak LA pressure (p < 0.001) and greater LA wall stress (p = 0.001) than did those without. A stiff LA physiology was independently associated with DM [Odds ratio (OR) = 2.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-5.59, p = 0.045], empirical extra-pulmonary vein LA ablation (OR = 3.14, 95% CI 1.07–9.3, p = 0.038) and the ΔPVR (OR = 1.78, 95% CI 1.37–2.31, p < 0.001). The ΔPVR was independently associated with DM (β = 0.37, 95% CI 0.06-0.67, p = 0.020) and a stiff LA physiology (β = 1.40, 95% CI 0.70–2.10, p < 0.001). During the 38.8 ± 29.3months follow-up, the incidence of the clinical recurrence of AF was significantly higher in the patients with a stiff LA physiology than in those without (log rank p = 0.032).

Conclusion

A stiff LA physiology was independently associated with DM because of the relatively small decrease in the PVR after AFCA in this population. The patients with a stiff LA physiology had worse rhythm outcomes after AFCA than those without.
Quit Stage and Intervention Type Differences in the Momentary Within-Person Association Between Negative Affect and Smoking Urges
Authors: Benson Lizbeth , Ra Chaelin K. , Hébert Emily T. , Kendzor Darla E. , Oliver Jason A. , Frank-Pearce Summer G. , Neil Jordan M. , Businelle Michael S.
Published: March 2022

Background

Smoking urges and negative affect play important roles in daily cigarette smoking and smoking lapse during a cessation attempt. Traditionally, laboratory research has considered negative affect as a potential cause of smoking urges. A deeper understanding of momentary associations between negative affect and smoking urges during a smoking cessation attempt can inform treatment development efforts. This study examined whether the within-person association between negative affect and smoking urges differed before and after a quit attempt, and by intervention type.

Methods

Data are from a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing 3 smoking cessation interventions. Participants were randomly assigned to: (1) a novel, smartphone-based just-in-time adaptive intervention that tailored treatment content in real-time (Smart-T2; n = 24), (2) the National Cancer Institute QuitGuide app (n = 25), or (3) a clinic-based tobacco cessation program (TTRP; n = 23) that followed Clinical Practice Guidelines. All participants received up to 12 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy and completed up to 5 assessments per day (MPreQuit= 25.8 assessments, SD = 6.0; MPostQuit= 107.7 assessments, SD = 37.1) of their negative affect and smoking urges during the 7 days (M = 6.6 days, SD = 1.0) prior to their quit-date and the 29 days (M = 25.8 days, SD = 6.4) after their quit-date. Prior to analysis, repeated measures of smoking urges were decomposed into between-person and within-person components.

Results

After accounting for baseline nicotine dependence, Bayesian multilevel models indicated that the extent of within-person association between negative affect and smoking urges was stronger in the post-quit stage of the intervention than the pre-quit stage. Results also indicated that in the post-quit stage of the intervention, the within-person association between negative affect and smoking urges was weaker for those in the Smart-T2 and TTRP groups compared with those in the QuitGuide group. The extent of this within-person association did not differ between those in the Smart-T2 and TTRP groups.

Conclusions

These findings offer preliminary evidence that the momentary within-person association between negative affect and smoking urges increases following a quit attempt, and that the TTRP and Smart-T2 interventions may weaken this association. Research is needed to replicate and expand upon current findings in a fully powered randomized controlled trial.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02930200; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02930200.
Water Uptake by Artemisia ordosica Roots at Different Topographic Positions in an Alpine Desert Dune on the Northeastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Wang Haijiao , Tian Lihui , Zhang Hongwei , Yu Yang , Wu Huawu
Published: March 2022

Different strategies of water uptake by roots in a semi-arid desert are one way that plants adapt to the water-limited environment. In this study, stable isotopes of δ18O were used to analyze the variability in water sources of the native species Artemisia ordosica during the growing season in an alpine semi-arid desert on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. A. ordosica depended primarily on water from upper soil layers in the early growing season, except for those windward, which obtained water from three soil layers and groundwater from 0.19 to 0.28. In the summer, A. ordosica switched sources, and those individuals at the top of the dune used 0.85 of water from middle soil layers, whereas those on windward (0.27–0.33) and leeward slopes (0.31–0.37) absorbed water from three soil layers. Shallow soil water was the main water source at all sites at the end of the growing season. The water uptake pattern of A. ordosica was consistent with the root distribution in positions with different dune geomorphology. The results suggest that the micro-landforms of sand dunes affect vegetation growth not only through aeolian activities and soil properties but also through plant water use.
Characteristics of Microseismic Waveforms Induced by Underground Destress Blasting: Comparison With Those Induced by Ground Blasting and Coal Mining
Authors: Kan Jiliang , Dou Linming , Li Jiazhuo , Li Xuwei , Bai Jinzheng , Wang Mengqi
Published: March 2022

Some industrial activities in mines, such as underground coal mining, destress blasting for preventing rockburst, and ground blasting for mining, can cause microseismic occurrence. The microseismic waveform contains abundant information on the hypocenter and propagation path, which is valuable to study the microseismic mechanism and propagation. Therefore, this study adopts the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MF-DFA) and the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) method to study the nonlinear and time–frequency–energy characteristics of different types of microseismic waveforms. The microseismic waveform induced by mining and destress blasting has a higher dominant frequency (above 100 Hz) and shorter duration (less than 0.5 s) than ground blasting-induced microseismic waveforms (dominant frequency below 25 Hz and duration more than 3 s). Furthermore, for destress blasting-induced microseismic waveforms, the waveform is characterized by rich spectrum, complex energy attenuation, developed coda wave, and clear multifractal characteristics, which indicate that the waveform is more complex and variable. The complex underground geological environment and the superposition effect of blasting stress and mining stress are the main reasons. Moreover, the propagation distance and source energy of microseismic waveforms also greatly affect waveform characteristics. The results show that the waveform information of destress blasting-induced microseismic waveforms can describe the release process of blasting stress and mining stress. Based on this, a blasting efficiency index Be was proposed to evaluate the effect of pressure relief, and the classification system was developed. Then, the evaluation index was successfully applied to 63 rounds of destress blasting in the Yutian coal mine. The research results can provide a certain reference for some work such as the identification of different microseismic, rock dynamic failure process analysis, and evaluation of the destress blasting effect.
New Ankylosaurian Cranial Remains From the Lower Cretaceous (Upper Albian) Toolebuc Formation of Queensland, Australia
Authors: Frauenfelder Timothy G. , Bell Phil R. , Brougham Tom , Bevitt Joseph J. , Bicknell Russell D. C. , Kear Benjamin P. , Wroe Stephen , Campione Nicolás E.
Published: March 2022

Australian dinosaur research has undergone a renaissance in the last 10 years, with growing knowledge of mid-Cretaceous assemblages revealing an endemic high-paleolatitude Gondwanan fauna. One of its most conspicuous members is ankylosaurs, which are rare but nonetheless occur in most Australian dinosaur-bearing formations spanning the uppermost Barremian to lower Cenomanian. Here we describe a partial ankylosaur skull from the marine Toolebuc Formation exposed near Boulia in western Queensland, Australia. This skull represents the oldest ankylosaurian material from Queensland, predating the holotype of Kunbarrasaurus ieversi, which was found in the overlying Allaru Mudstone. The ankylosaur skull is encased in a limestone concretion with the maxillary tooth rows preserved only as impressions. Synchrotron radiation X-ray tomography was used to non-destructively image and reconstruct the specimen in 3D and facilitate virtual preparation of the separate cranial bones. The reconstruction of the skull revealed the vomer, palatines, sections of the ectopterygoids and maxillae, and multiple teeth. The palate has posteriorly positioned choanae that differs from the more anterior placement seen in most other ankylosaurians, but which is shared with K. ieversi, Akainacephalus johnsoni, Cedarpelta bilbeyhallorum, Gobisaurus domoculus, and Panoplosaurus mirus. Phylogenetic analyses place the new cranial material within the recently named basal ankylosaurian clade Parankylosauria together with K. ieversi. This result, together with the anatomical similarities to the holotype of K. ieversi, permits its referral to cf. Kunbarrasaurus sp. This specimen elucidates the palatal anatomy of Australian ankylosaurs and highlights one of the most ubiquitous components of Australian mid-Cretaceous dinosaur faunas.
A Relative Paleointensity (RPI)-Calibrated Age Model for the Corinth Syn-rift Sequence at IODP Hole M0079A (Gulf of Corinth, Greece)
Authors: Maffione Marco , Herrero-Bervera Emilio
Published: March 2022

The Corinth basin (Greece) is a young continental rift that recorded cyclic basin paleoenvironment variations (i.e., marine to lacustrine) caused by glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations during its initial connection to the global oceans. The Corinth syn-rift sequence offers therefore a unique opportunity to determine the timing and modality of connection of young rifts to the global oceans, and investigate how sediment supply change during this extremely dynamic stage of their evolution. Here we use magnetostratigraphic and relative paleointensity (RPI) constraints from 885 discrete samples from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Hole M0079A to generate an unprecedented high-resolution (∼15kyr) age model for the youngest part of the Corinth’s offshore syn-rift sequence. Our RPI-calibrated age model spans the last ∼850 kyr and reveals that initial connection of the Corinth basin to the Mediterranean Sea occurred at ∼530 ky, more recently than previously thought and after a short-lived marine incursion at ∼740 kyr. Accumulation rates calculated from our age model indicate two significant changes in sediment supply at 530 (from 74 to 156 cm/kyr on average) and 70 ka (from 156 to 258 cm/kyr on average), interpreted as due to increased local fault activity in the southern margin of the Corinth basin. Sedimentation rates also display a short-term variation indicating a lower sediment supply (98 cm/kyr on average) during interglacial periods and a higher input (156 cm/kyr on average) during glacial periods. We conclude that long-term variations of sediment supply in young rifts connecting to the global oceans are predominantly controlled by local tectonics (i.e., new depocenters formation), while short-term variations may be driven by global climate (i.e., increased erosion aided by fewer vegetation during glacial periods). Grain size of the Corinth syn-rift sequence shows a weak correlation with glacial cycles too (i.e., coarser sediments during interglacials), but we suggest this to be controlled by the hydrodynamics of the basin (i.e., stronger bottom currents when the basin was connected to the Mediterranean Sea during interglacial periods).
Probabilistic Volcanic Hazard Assessment for National Park Infrastructure Proximal to Taranaki Volcano (New Zealand)
Authors: Mead Stuart , Procter Jonathan , Bebbington Mark , Rodriguez-Gomez Cecilia
Published: March 2022

Hazard assessment for infrastructure proximal to a volcanic vent raises issues that are often not present, or not as severe in hazard assessments for more distal infrastructure. Proximal regions are subject to a greater number of hazardous phenomena, and variability in impact intensity increases with the hazard magnitude. To probabilistically quantify volcanic hazard to infrastructure, multiple volcanic hazards and their effects on exposed elements need to be considered. Compared to single-hazard assessments, multi-hazard assessments increase the size and complexity of determining hazard occurrence and magnitude, typically introducing additional uncertainties in the quantification of risk. A location-centred approach, focusing on key locations rather than key hazards, can simplify the problem to one requiring identification of hazards with the potential to affect the location, followed by assessment of the probability of these hazards and their triggering eruptions. The location-centred approach is more compatible to multi-source hazards and allows for different hazard estimation methodologies to be applied as appropriate for the infrastructure type. We present a probabilistic quantification of volcanic hazard using this location centred approach for infrastructure within Te Papakura o Taranaki National Park, New Zealand. The impact to proposed park infrastructure from volcanic activity (originating from Mt. Taranaki) is quantified using a probability chain to provide a structured approach to integrate differing hazard estimation methods with eruption probability estimates within asset lifetimes.

This location-centered approach provides quantitative estimates for volcanic hazards that significantly improve volcanic hazard estimates for infrastructure proximal to the Taranaki summit vent. Volcanic mass flows, predominantly pyroclastic surges or block and ash flows, are most likely (probability >0.8) to affect walking tracks if an eruption occurs. The probability of one or more eruption(s) in the next 50 years is estimated at 0.35–0.38. This use of probability chains and a location centered assessment demonstrates a technique that can be applied to proximal hazard assessments globally.
Transient Stability Margin Prediction Under the Concept of Security Region of Power Systems Based on the Long Short-Term Memory Network and Attention Mechanism
Authors: An Jun , Zhang Liang , Zhou Yibo , Yu Jiachen
Published: March 2022

Transient stability prediction under the concept of security region of a power system can be used to identify potential unstable states of the system and ensure its secure operation. In this paper, we propose a method to predict the transient stability margin under the concept of security region based on the long short-term memory (LSTM) network and attention mechanism (AM). This method can ensure rapid and accurate situational awareness of operators in terms of transient stability. The LSTM layer reduces the dimension of the historical steady-state power flow data, and the temporal characteristics are extracted from the data. Subsequently, the AM is introduced to differentiate the characteristics and historical transient stability margin data for the models to identify the information associated with stability. Finally, the LSTM and fully connected layers are used to predict the transient stability margin, providing up-to-date situational awareness of the power system to operators. We performed simulations on the IEEE 39-bus system, and the simulated results validated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Energy Optimal Dispatch of the Data Center Microgrid Based on Stochastic Model Predictive Control
Authors: Zhu Yixin , Wang Jingyun , Bi Kaitao , Sun Qingzhu , Zong Yu , Zong Chenxi
Published: March 2022

Renewable energy outputs such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, as well as data center workloads are both random and uncertain. In order to enhance the stability and economy of the data center in actual operation effectively, a multi-time scale optimal dispatch method for the data center microgrid based on stochastic model predictive control is proposed in this paper. In the day-ahead scheduling stage, the characteristic of the data center that batch workloads are allowed to be served delayed is considered. And the scenario analysis method is applied to describe the uncertainty of loads and renewable energy outputs, based on which an economic optimization scheduling model is established to minimize the system operating cost. The intra-day scheduling utilizes the rolling optimization and feedback correction of model predictive control to correct the deviation of loads and renewable energy outputs and adjust the day-ahead dispatch plan in real time, which ensures the effectiveness of day-ahead plan and the stability of system operating. Through the simulation results of a typical data center microgrid, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified.
Sediment Particle Size Composition in the Riparian Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir
Authors: Liu Dan , Nie Qingyu , Xiong Chunmei , Yu Zhuolin , Lv Yunan , Zhang Shuai , Cheng Shuxun , Lan Bo , Kumar Amit , Yu Zhiguo , Lin Junjie
Published: March 2022

The riparian zone is a transitional zone of terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems, which is one of the main sources of reservoir sediment and pollutants. The sediment loss has an increasing trend in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), which was closely related to sediment particle size composition change in the riparian zone, but its distribution and factors are still unclear. Hydrological conditions, sediment particle size composition and vegetation properties in the riparian zone were investigated in 3 mainstream and 8 tributary sections along the Yangtze River within the TGR across 450 km. On the one hand, both sediment sand content and median particle size (D50) showed a horizontal raising trend from the upstream to the dam region of the TGR at the mainstream and tributary sites. On the other hand, compared to the upper-middle mainstream and the tributaries of Longxi, Wu, Longxi, Pengxi, Daning, Tongzi rivers, the D50 was much higher in the lower altitudes of the riparian zone in the tributaries of Wubu, Ruxi, and Xiangxi and the mainstream in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. With the raising of the riparian zone slope, D50 decreased in the mainstream riparian zone sites, while increased in the tributary riparian zone sites (p < 0.05). Besides, D50 was 2.3 times higher in the south aspect relative to the north aspect of the riparian zone in the TGR. No significant relationship was found between root biomass of a local dominate species-Cynodon Dactylon (Linn.) and D50. Hydrological and geographical variables could predict 64%–67% of the D50 variance, and thus could be regarded as the main predictor of D50 in the riparian zone of the TGR.
Business Ethics and Irrationality in SME During COVID-19: Does It Impact on Sustainable Business Resilience?
Authors: Huang Xiang , Chau Ka Yin , Tang Yuk Ming , Iqbal Wasim
Published: March 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has serious economic consequences, such as rising unemployment, and these consequences can be managed by sustaining economic activities by spurring the creation of new businesses. In this study, we examine the current state of business ethics in China, as well as the challenges, success factors, and obstacles in implementing such ethics in order to improve organizational development and business management in China. Cross-sectional data and quantitative survey were collected from 288 SMEs in China. According to structural equation modeling results, herd behavior and endowment effect have a strong relationship with business resilience. Additionally, this study found that altruism has an optimistic correlation with business resilience, and it has positively mediated China’s small business irrational behavior. The findings of this study suggest that business ethics and irrationality in SMEs can be promoted using this study’s model of SMEs, which may provide practical guidelines or implications for Chinese SMEs. Based on the findings from this study, it is recommended that business ethics can be incorporated into policies and practices of SME owners and entrepreneurs whose communities, stakeholders, and employees are committed to moral values such as decent governance and social corporate responsibilities.
Common Cuckoo Nestling Adapts Its Begging Behavior to the Alarm Signaling System of a Host
Authors: Wang Jiaojiao , Ma Laikun , Chen Xiangyang , Yang Canchao
Published: March 2022

Cuckoo nestlings thrive as avian brood parasites. To acquire sufficient food from the host parents, cuckoo nestlings generally make louder begging calls than host nestlings, but this may cause them to be more likely to attract the attention of predators. Studies have shown that nestlings would respond to the alarm calls of their parents by begging less, or crouching and remaining silent as an adaptation to reduce the risk of being heard by predators. Nevertheless, research is lacking on how parasite nestlings respond to alarm calls of their host parents. We studied the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) and one of the most common cuckoo host species, the oriental reed warbler (Acrocephalus orientalis), using a playback experiment in Yongnianwa National Wetland Park during the breeding seasons from June to July, 2020–2021. The begging behaviors of either cuckoo or host nestlings were quantified by playing back the alarm calls of host adults toward common cuckoo, sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), or oriental turtle doves (Streptopelia orientalis). Meanwhile, normal begging without playback, playback of the natural singing (NS) of host adults, and background noise (BN) were included as behavioral reference, non-threatening comparison, and playback control, respectively. The results showed that the cuckoo and host nestlings produced similar levels of begging with or without playback of NS and BN; however, both types of nestlings inhibited their begging intensity after hearing the playback of alarm calls, although they did not respond differently to the various alarm call playbacks. This study therefore elucidated that coevolution has selected the common cuckoo nestlings that adapt their begging behavior to the parent–offspring communication of alarm signaling in their host, oriental reed warblers.
How to Accurately Delineate Morphologically Conserved Taxa and Diagnose Their Phenotypic Disparities: Species Delimitation in Cryptic Rhinolophidae (Chiroptera)
Authors: Chornelia Ada , Lu Jianmei , Hughes Alice Catherine
Published: March 2022

Systematics and taxonomy are the backbone of all components of biology and ecology, yet cryptic species present a major challenge for accurate species identification. This is especially problematic as they represent a substantial portion of undiscovered biodiversity, and have implications for not only species conservation, but even assaying potential risk of zoonotic spillover. Here, we use integrative approaches to delineate potential cryptic species in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophidae), evaluate the phenotypic disparities between cryptic species, and identify key traits for their identification. We tested the use of multispecies coalescent models (MSC) using Bayesian Phylogenetic and Phylogeography (BPP) and found that BPP was useful in delineating potential cryptic species, and consistent with acoustic traits. Our results show that around 40% of Asian rhinolophid species are potentially cryptic and have not been formally described. In order to avoid potential misidentification and allow species to be accurately identified, we identified quantitative noseleaf sella and acoustic characters as the most informative traits in delineating between potential cryptic species in Rhinolophidae. This highlights the physical differences between cryptic species that are apparent in noseleaf traits which often only qualitatively described but rarely measured. Each part of the noseleaf including the sella, lateral lappets, and lancet furrows, play roles in focusing acoustic beams and thus, provide useful characteristics to identify cryptic Rhinolophus species. Finally, species delimitation for cryptic species cannot rely on genetic data alone, but such data should be complemented by other evidence, including phenotypic, acoustic data, and geographic distributions to ensure accurate species identification and delineation.
Association Among the Gut Microbiome, the Serum Metabolomic Profile and RNA m6A Methylation in Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy
Authors: Wang Hui , Wang Qing , Chen Jingjing , Chen Cunrong
Published: March 2022

Objective: To investigate the relationship among the gut microbiome, serum metabolomic profile and RNA m6A methylation in patients with sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE), 16S rDNA technology, metabolomics and gene expression validation were applied.

Methods: Serum and feces were collected from patients with and without (SAE group and non-SAE group, respectively, n = 20). The expression of serum markers and IL-6 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and blood clinical indicators were detected using a double antibody sandwich immunochemiluminescence method. The expression of RNA m6A regulator were checked by Q-RTPCR. The gut microbiome was analyzed by 16S rDNA sequencing and the metabolite profile was revealed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Results: In the SAE group, the IL-6, ICAM-5 and METTL3 levels were significantly more than those in the non-SAE group, while the FTO levels were significantly decreased in the SAE group. The diversity was decreased in the SAE gut microbiome, as characterized by a profound increase in commensals of the Acinetobacter, Methanobrevibacter, and Syner-01 genera, a decrease in [Eubacterium]_hallii_group, while depletion of opportunistic organisms of the Anaerofilum, Catenibacterium, and Senegalimassilia genera were observed in both groups. The abundance of Acinetobacter was positively correlated with the expression of METTL3. The changes between the intestinal flora and the metabolite profile showed a significant correlation. Sphingorhabdus was negatively correlated with 2-ketobutyric acid, 9-decenoic acid, and l-leucine, and positively correlated with Glycyl-Valine [Eubacterium]_hallii_group was positively correlated with 2-methoxy-3-methylpyazine, acetaminophen, and synephrine acetonide.

Conclusion: The gut microbiota diversity was decreased. The serum metabolites and expression of RNA m6A regulators in PBMC were significantly changed in the SAE group compared to the non-SAE group. The results revealed that serum and fecal biomarkers could be used for SAE screening.
Identification of Potential Core Genes for the Rupture of Intracranial Aneurysms by a Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Lin Yuan , Ma Hai-Ying , Wang Yi , He Jiang , Liu Heng-Jian
Published: March 2022

Background: Previous studies, using autopsy and angiography, have shown that 3.6–6% of the population have intracranial aneurysms, and the rupture of aneurysm can lead to brain dysfunction or even death in patients.

Methods: To explore potential preventional target genes for the ruptured of aneurysm, we analyze three gene expression datasets (GSE13353, GSE15629 and GSE54083) derived from the GEO database. We confirm DEGs associated with the unrupture of aneurysms by R package. DAVID version provides functional classification and annotation analyses of associated genes, including GO and KEGG pathway. PPI of these DEGs is analyzed based on the string database and visualized by Cytoscape software. DEGs are verified by qRT-PCR using samples isolated from the patients.

Results: 249 overlapping DEGs, including 96 up-regulated genes and 153 down-regulated genes are screened using the Venn diagram webtool. The GO term and KEGG pathways analysis results indicate that these DEGs are mainly enriched in protein phosphorylation, apoptotic process and inflammatory response in the BP term and focal adhesion, thyroid hormone signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and some disease processes in the KEGG pathways. 6 candidates are confirmed by Cytoscape software and qRT-PCR, including APP, JUN, GSK3B, ErbB2, PPBP and THBS1.

Conclusions: Our data and previous studies show that ErbB2 and THBS1 are crucial to prevent aneurysm rupture, while APP, JUN, GSK3B and PPBP performs the opposite role, and further experiments are needed to verify these findings.
Sex as a Potential Moderator for Baclofen Response in the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence
Authors: Morley Kirsten C. , Louie Eva , Hurzeler Tristan , Baillie Andrew , Dore Glenys , Phung Nghi , Haber Paul S.
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

Recent studies indicate that sex may moderate the response to baclofen in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD). We conducted a secondary analysis of a double-blind randomized controlled trial, Baclofen in the treatment of Alcohol Liver Disease (BacALD), to examine the moderating role of sex on treatment response to baclofen in reducing alcohol consumption.

Methods

Alcohol-dependent patients (n = 104 including 74 men and 30 women) were treated for 12 weeks with baclofen (30 mg/day or 75 mg) or placebo. Predefined primary outcomes included time to lapse (any drinking) and relapse (≥ 5 drinks per day in men and ≥ 4drinks per day in women). Other outcomes included drinks per drinking day, the number of heavy drinking days, and percentage of days abstinent. We also examined the frequency of adverse events with an exploratory dose–response analysis.

Results

There was a main effect of baclofen for days to first lapse for women (Log Rank: χ2 = 6.23, p = 0.01, d = 0.49) but not for men (Log Rank: χ2 = 2.48, p = 0.12, d = 0.22) and a marginal effect of baclofen for days to first relapse for women (Log Rank: χ2 = 3.15, p = 0.08, d = 0.27) but not for men (Log Rank: χ2 = 2.03, p = 0.16, d = 0.17). There were no significant effects of sex on the frequency of adverse events reported for the combined-dose or between-dose analysis (all p > 0.44).

Conclusion

Baclofen significantly delayed the time to lapse for women but not male participants. These findings provide some support for the hypothesis that sex may be a potential moderator of baclofen response in the treatment of AUD.

Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01711125, identifier: NCT01711125.
Advances in Irradiated Livestock Vaccine Research and Production Addressing the Unmet Needs for Farmers and Veterinary Services in FAO/IAEA Member States
Authors: Unger Hermann , Kangethe Richard T. , Liaqat Fatima , Viljoen Gerrit J.
Published: March 2022

The Animal Production and Health section (APH) of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture at the International Atomic Energy Agency has over the last 58 years provided technical and scientific support to more than 100 countries through co-ordinated research activities and technical co-operation projects in peaceful uses of nuclear technologies. A key component of this support has been the development of irradiated vaccines targeting diseases that are endemic to participating countries. APH laboratories has over the last decade developed new techniques and has put in place a framework that allows researchers from participating member states to develop relevant vaccines targeting local diseases while using irradiation as a tool for improving livestock resources.
Two Fish in a Pod. Mislabelling on Board Threatens Sustainability in Mixed Fisheries
Authors: Blanco-Fernandez Carmen , Erzini Karim , Rodriguez-Diego Sara , Alba-Gonzalez Pablo , Thiam Ndiaga , Sow Fambaye Ngom , Diallo Mamadou , Viðarsson Jónas R. , Fernández-Vidal Duarte , Gonçalves Jorge M. S. , Rangel Mafalda , Stobberup Kim , Garcia-Vazquez Eva , Machado-Schiaffino Gonzalo
Published: March 2022

Accuracy in reporting captures is a key element to achieve fisheries sustainability. However, identification of the catches might be a challenge when two or more species are morphologically similar and caught jointly, like the mixed fisheries of black hakes in East Atlantic African waters. Black hakes (Merluccius senegalensis and M. polli) are tough to differentiate without previous training due to their high morphological resemblance. The two species are managed as a single stock, although the biological differences between them suggest the need of a separate management. In this study, a total of 806 black hakes were visually identified by fishers on deck of fishing vessels operating in Mauritania and Senegal waters, then assigned to a species by sequencing 450bp of the Mitochondrial Control Region. Comparing the results with visual identification we found 31.4% of the total catch were incorrectly labelled on board by the fishermen. The accuracy of the fishers’ identification depended on the depth of capture and on fish size, larger individuals caught from deeper waters being more correctly assigned to M. polli. Mislabelling biased to M. polli suggests that M. senegalensis, already catalogued as endangered, is being underreported, which could endanger the conservation of this species and threaten the sustainability of black hake fisheries. Our results highlight the need for separate evaluation of the stocks in mixed fisheries for morphologically similar fish. Thus, monitoring through DNA barcoding in the very first step of the seafood chain surveys would improve accurate species delimitation and reduce its impact on the correct assessment of the stocks.
Modulation of Cilia Beat Kinematics Is a Key Determinant of Encounter Rate and Selectivity in Tintinnid Ciliates
Authors: Wandel Hava , Holzman Roi
Published: March 2022

Tintinnids are a group of ciliated microzooplankton, who spontaneously settle on marine snow and other aggregates. Tintinnids create a feeding current that draws particles towards their mouth using a crown of continuously beating oral cilia. Similarly to other ciliated microzooplankton, not all encountered particles are ingested. However, it is unclear what is the mechanistic and behavioral basis of this selectivity. Here, we used particle tracking velocimetry to quantify the feeding flow, prey fate, and cilia beat frequency. We then asked (1) what determines the encounter rate with prey, (2) at which stages of the feeding sequence does selectivity develop, and (3) which predator’s behaviors modify selectivity. We found that the speed of the tintinnids’ feeding currents is modulated by their cilia beat frequency. Individual tintinnids were observed to modify their cilia beat frequency during foraging, resulting in ~3-fold acceleration or deceleration of the flow speed within seconds. Selectivity changed throughout the feeding sequence as tintinnids preferentially captured larger prey but subsequently preferentially ingested spherical over prolate prey. Short bouts of flow reversal mitigated the preference for larger prey during both encounter and handling. Overall, we show that individual tintinnids were able to modulate cilia kinematics, which affected encounter rates, encounter outcome, and handling outcome. The tintinnids’ ability to modulate their cilia kinematics is a major component of their feeding behavior.