bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cultural code of the Shtetl in Grigory Gorin's play "Memorial Prayer"
Authors: Kotliar Elena Romanovna , Zolotuhina Natal'ya Anatol'evna , Zolotuhina Arina YUr'evna
Published: March 2024

The subject of our article is the identification of cultural codes of Eastern European shtetl towns in the play by Grigory Gorin "Memorial Prayer", the libretto of which was written by the author based on the works of the famous Yiddish writer Sholom Aleichem. The author of the article describes the history and conditions of localization of Jewish culture in Eastern Europe and the Russian Empire, the peculiarities of its transformation, the tragic history of the Jewish theater in the first third of the twentieth century. After the disappearance of the towns and the disuse of the Yiddish language, the preservation of the history of the characteristic everyday and philosophical way of life of the shtetls became the goal of museum figures, historians, writers, playwrights, and artists. In the work, using the example of Tevye the milkman, his family and environment, characteristic images of the inhabitants of small towns, their habitat, types of thinking and actions are revealed.  The article uses the methods of historicism in the retrospective of the culture of Shtetl towns, the method of analysis in the identification of Shtetl archetypes, the method of synthesis in the generalization of a set of characteristic cultural codes. The main conclusions of the study are: 1. Eastern European Jewish shtetl towns are small urban-type settlements with a predominantly Jewish population, whose unique culture was determined by the Jewish faith, everyday and religious traditions, the Yiddish language, as well as the localization of residence in a small area. 2. During the period of large-scale social upheavals of the early twentieth century and the subsequent expansion beyond the boundaries of the towns, their unique culture became a mythologeme, the foundation for writers, artists, musicians, and theater figures who emerged from it. One of the milestones in the preservation of this culture was the Jewish theater GOSET, whose existence was tragically cut short in the middle of the twentieth century. 3. The play "Memorial Prayer", written by Grigory Gorin based on the works of Sholem Aleichem and staged at the Lenkom Theater by Mark Zakharov, became the quintessence of the characteristic images of the shtetl, and at the same time the revival of authentic Jewish culture. The author's special contribution is to highlight in the play the images-the archetypes of the Shtetl, which have become cultural markers, or codes of Jewish Yiddish culture.
Disruption of awake sharp-wave ripples does not affect memorization of locations in repeated-acquisition spatial memory tasks
Authors: Deceuninck Lies , Kloosterman Fabian
Published: March 2024

Storing and accessing memories is required to successfully perform day-to-day tasks, for example for engaging in a meaningful conversation. Previous studies in both rodents and primates have correlated hippocampal cellular activity with behavioral expression of memory. A key role has been attributed to awake hippocampal replay – a sequential reactivation of neurons representing a trajectory through space. However, it is unclear if awake replay impacts immediate future behavior, gradually creates and stabilizes long-term memories over a long period of time (hours and longer), or enables the temporary memorization of relevant events at an intermediate time scale (seconds to minutes). In this study, we aimed to address the uncertainty around the timeframe of impact of awake replay by collecting causal evidence from behaving rats. We detected and disrupted sharp wave ripples (SWRs) - signatures of putative replay events - using electrical stimulation of the ventral hippocampal commissure in rats that were trained on three different spatial memory tasks. In each task, rats were required to memorize a new set of locations in each trial or each daily session. Interestingly, the rats performed equally well with or without SWR disruptions. These data suggest that awake SWRs - and potentially replay - does not affect the immediate behavior nor the temporary memorization of relevant events at a short timescale that are required to successfully perform the spatial tasks. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the impact of awake replay on memory and behavior is long-term and cumulative over time.
Endogenous tagging using split mNeonGreen in human iPSCs for live imaging studies
Authors: Husser Mathieu C. , Pham Nhat P. , Law Chris , Araujo Flavia R. B. , Martin Vincent J.J. , Piekny Alisa
Published: March 2024

Endogenous tags have become invaluable tools to visualize and study native proteins in live cells. However, generating human cell lines carrying endogenous tags is difficult due to the low efficiency of homology-directed repair. Recently, an engineered split mNeonGreen protein was used to generate a large-scale endogenous tag library in HEK293 cells. Using split mNeonGreen for large-scale endogenous tagging in human iPSCs would open the door to studying protein function in healthy cells and across differentiated cell types. We engineered an iPS cell line to express the large fragment of the split mNeonGreen protein (mNG2
1-10
) and showed that it enables fast and efficient endogenous tagging of proteins with the short fragment (mNG2
11
). We also demonstrate that neural network-based image restoration enables live imaging studies of highly dynamic cellular processes such as cytokinesis in iPSCs. This work represents the first step towards a genome-wide endogenous tag library in human stem cells.
Atlas of Fshr Expression from Novel Reporter Mice
Authors: Chen Hong-Qian , Fang Hui-Qing , Liu Jin-Tao , Chang Shi-Yu , Cheng Li-Ben , Sun Ming-Xin , Feng Jian-Rui , Liu Ze-Min , Zhang Yong-Hong , Rosen Clifford , Liu Peng
Published: March 2024

The FSH-FSHR signaling pathway has traditionally been considered an essential regulator in reproductive development and fertility. But there has been emerging evidence of FSHR expression in extragonadal tissues/organs. This poses new questions and long-term debates regarding the physiological role of the FSH-FSHR pathway, and underscores the need for reliable, in vivo analysis of FSHR expression in animal models. However, conventional methods have proven insufficient for examining FSHR expression due to limitations, such as the scarcity of ‘reliable’ antibodies, rapid turnover/degradation of transcripts, and a lack of robust in vivo tools. To address this challenge, we developed Fshr-ZsGreen ‘knockin’ reporter mice under the control of the endogenous Fshr promoter using CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology to append a P2A-ZsGreen targeting vector into a site between the last exon and the stop codon of the Fshr locus. With this novel genetic tool, we provide a reliable readout of Fshr expression at single-cell resolution level in vivo and in real time. Reporter animals were also subjected to additional analyses, including immunohistochemical staining, ddRT-PCR, and in situ hybridization, to define the accurate expression profile of FSHR in gonadal and extragonadal organs/tissues. Our compelling results not only demonstrated Fshr expression in gonadal tissues but also, strikingly, unveiled notably increased expression in Leydig cells, osteoblast lineage cells, endothelial cells in vascular structures, and epithelial cells in bronchi of the lung and renal tubes. The genetic decoding of the widespread distribution of Fshr expression highlights its physiological relevance beyond fertility and opens new avenues for therapeutic options for age-related disorders of the bones, lungs, kidneys, and hearts, among other tissues/organs. Exploiting the power of the Fshr knockin reporter animals, this report provides the first comprehensive genetic record of the spatial distribution of FSHR expression, correcting a long-term misconception about Fshr expression and offering prospects for extensive exploration of FSH-FSHR biology.
Boosting biodiversity monitoring using smartphone-driven, rapidly accumulating community-sourced data
Authors: Atsumi Keisuke , Nishida Yuusuke , Ushio Masayuki , Nishi Hirotaka , Genroku Takanori , Fujiki Shogoro
Published: March 2024

Ecosystem services, which derive in part from biological diversity, are a fundamental support for human society. However, human activities are causing harm to biodiversity, ultimately endangering these critical ecosystem services. Halting nature loss and mitigating these impacts necessitates comprehensive biodiversity distribution data, a requirement for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. To efficiently collect species observations from the public, we launched the ‘
Biome
’ mobile application in Japan. By employing species identification algorithms and gamification elements, the app has gathered >6M observations since its launch in 2019. However, community-sourced data often exhibit spatial and taxonomic biases. Species distribution models (SDMs) enable infer species distribution while accommodating such bias. We investigated
Biome
data’s quality and how incorporating the data influences the performance of SDMs. Species identification accuracy exceeds 95% for birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, but seed plants, molluscs, and fishes scored below 90%. The distributions of 132 terrestrial plants and animals across Japan were modeled, and their accuracy was improved by incorporating our data into traditional survey data. For endangered species, traditional survey data required >2,000 records to build accurate models (Boyce index ≥ 0.9), though only ca.300 records were required when the two data sources were blended. The unique data distributions may explain this improvement:
Biome
data covers urban-natural gradients uniformly, while traditional data is biased towards natural areas. Combining multiple data sources offers insights into species distributions across Japan, aiding protected area designation and ecosystem service assessment. Providing a platform to accumulate community-sourced distribution data and improving data processing protocol will contribute to not only conserving natural ecosystems but also detecting species distribution changes and testing ecological theories.
Deletion of sulfate transporter SUL1 extends yeast replicative lifespan via reduced PKA signaling instead of decreased sulfate uptake
Authors: Long Juan , Ma Meng , Chen Yuting , Gong Bo , Zheng Yi , Li Hao , Yang Jing
Published: March 2024

The regulation of cellular metabolism and growth in response to nutrient availability is essential for cell survival and can significantly impact lifespan. Central to the regulation is a class of transporters that sense and transport specific nutrients and transduce the signal downstream to control genes responsible for growth and survival. In this work, we identified SUL1, a plasma membrane transporter responsible for regulating the entry of extracellular sulfate in
S. cerevisiae
, as a key gene for regulating lifespan. We performed a systematic analysis to delineate the downstream mechanism underlying the lifespan extension by SUL1 deletion. Surprisingly, we found that the lifespan extending effect of SUL1 deletion is not caused by decreased sulfate transport. SUL1 deletion mutant exhibited decreased PKA signaling, resulting in a range of downstream effects, including increased stress-protective trehalose and glycogen, increased nuclear translocation of MSN2 and elevated expression of general stress response genes, enhanced autophagy, and reduced expression of amino acid biosynthetic and ribosomal genes. We show that the observed increase in lifespan is dependent on MSN2 and autophagy pathways. Our findings exemplify the influence of nutrient signaling, rather than the nutrient itself, on lifespan regulation and further substantiate the pivotal role of the PKA pathway in this process.
Plantar load distribution with centers of gravity balance and rearfoot posture in daily lives of Taiwanese college elite table tennis players: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chow Tong-Hsien , Lee Yu-Ling
Published: March 2024

Background

Table tennis is an asymmetric sport involving the powerful forward swing of the upper limbs depends on the solid support of the lower limbs. The foot drive really affects the weight balance and stroke accuracy even though the distance and momentum of the lower limb displacement are limited within a limited range. Given that previous research on table tennis has typically focused on the footwork and stroke performance of professional players, the study aimed to investigate the daily static and dynamic plantar load distribution as well as the centers of gravity balance and rearfoot posture among Taiwanese college elite table tennis players.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study of 70 elite male table tennis players (age: 20.0 ± 0.9 years; height: 173.4 ± 5.1 cm, weight: 67.6 ± 5.3 kg, experience: 10.0 ± 1.6 years) and 77 amateur table tennis players of the same gender (age: 20.1 ± 0.8 years, height: 167.4 ± 4.4 cm, weight: 64.3 ± 4.0 kg, experience: 4.4 ± 1.2 years) from Taiwanese universities. The JC Mat optical plantar pressure analyzer was applied to determine the plantar load distribution along with arch index (AI) and centers of gravity balance. Assessment of rearfoot postural alignment was mainly used to contrast the performance of the centers of gravity balance.

Results

The static arch indices of both feet in the elite group were symmetrical and considered normal arches (AI: 0.22 ± 0.07) during their non-training and non-competition daily lives. Their static plantar loads were symmetrically concentrated on the bipedal lateral metatarsals (P < 0.05) as well as shifted to the medial and lateral heels (P < 0.05) and the lateral metatarsals (P < 0.05) during the walking midstance phase. Additionally, the plantar loads were mainly applied to the bipedal medial (P < 0.01) and lateral heels (P < 0.05) during the transitional changes between both states. Elite athletes had symmetrical and evenly distributed centers of gravity on both feet (left: 50.03 ± 4.47%; right: 49.97 ± 4.47%) when standing statically, along with symmetrical rearfoot angles and neutral position of the subtalar joint (left: 2.73 ± 2.30°; right: 2.70 ± 2.32°) even though they were statistically lower than those of the amateur athletes (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The daily static and dynamic foot patterns of Taiwanese college elite table tennis players were characterized by plantar load distribution on the lateral metatarsals and the entire calcaneus along with balanced centers of gravity and normal rearfoot posture. This foot and posture layout outlines the excellent athletic performance of the foot and ankle in professional athletes. Portions of this text were previously published as part of a preprint (https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2993403/v1).
Empirical Evidence on the Validity of the Unconditional Higher Moment CAPM in the Bombay Stock Exchange
Authors: Asthana Akash , Ahmed Syed Shafi , Tiwari Anjana
Published: March 2024

The traditional Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) assumed a normal distribution of returns, which was criticized by various researchers who recognized the non-normal distribution of returns in the Sharpe-Lintner CAPM. The introduction of unconditional higher moments, namely co-skewness and co-kurtosis, as additional measures of systematic risk may enhance the model's explanatory power, especially when the distribution function of stock returns is asymmetric. The present study empirically investigates the applicability of unconditional higher order moment CAPM and the impact of higher moments in the Indian stock market i.e. Bombay Stock Exchange using the data of sectoral indices for the period from April 2011 to March 2021. To test the four moment CAPM empirically, the specification given by Fang and Lai has been used in the study. The findings of the present study revealed that the higher moments (coskewness and cokurtosis) are significantly priced and have impact on the returns in the Indian stock market. The market risk premium for covariance was found to be insignificant. Further the hypothesis related to intercept term was accepted and market risk premiums were rejected. The results showed an increase in the explanatory power of the model as compared to the unconditional CAPM as the R-square value of the model was obtained better than the latter model. The mixed and inconclusive findings contradicted the model in the Indian context. The alternate models like the Fama-French three factor and five factor model should be exploited in the Indian context as those models have been rarely used in the Indian context.
Nutritive Compounds of Traditional Rainfed Rice (Oryza glaberrima) from Goh-Djiboua and Mountains Districts in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Aurèle Aka Boigny Ange , Henri Biego Godi , Ysidor Konan N’Guessan , Beye Amadou Moustapha
Published: March 2024

Aims: The biochemical composition of rainfed rice (Oryza glaberrima) consumed in Côte d'Ivoire has not yet been revealed, whereas rice is of the main staple foods for many people. This work investigates the main biochemical traits of numerous traditional rainfed rice varieties from Ivorian environment, namely in Gôh-Djiboua and Mountains Districts, for better valorization.

Study Design:  Study performed on traditional rainfed rice varieties collected from 450 farmers in both regional Districts mentioned above. Shelled rice perceived per variety, conditioned, and total final 5.4 kg of resulted rice considered, 200g per variety, for due laboratory investigation.

Place and Duration of Study: Sampling between January and June 2017, full analysis by 2018 in Laboratory of Food Sciences, Felix Houphouët- Boigny University.

Methodology: All rice samples conveyed to laboratory, then 100g taken per variety, oven-dried at 50 °C/72 h, ground in metallic grinder, sealed into polyethylene bags, and kept into desiccator till analyses. Investigations consisted in triplicate evaluation of moisture, carbohydrates (total glucides, starch, soluble carbohydrates, reducing carbohydrates), fats, proteins, caloric energy, fibres, and ash by rice sample.

Results: Great variability (P<.001) recorded between rive samples for biochemical traits assessed. Thus, the variety Jbröko represents the most important source of glucides (84.19±0.37g/ 100 g) and caloric energy (322.17±0.37kcal/ 100 g) compared to the other varieties. Oppositely, the variety Yoroukouiagnêzê recorded the highest proteins content (7.27±0.03 g/100g), whereas Abê provides more food fibres (6.67±0.14g/ 100g). Otherwise, the variety Danané belating is richer in free soluble sugars (4.63±0.08 g/100 g), while Azi red displayed more moisture content (10.96±0.1%) and Gbêklêazi is richer in lipids with content of 1.26±0.21g/ 100g. The top ash and starch contents were respectively recovered from varieties Zonhonkloumin black (1.38±0.02 g/100 g) and Abê (71.99±0.03g/ 100g).

Conclusion: The studied rainfed rice record good nutritive traits above the widespread improved rice varieties. They remain significant caloric food resources thanks to considerable contents in glucides (varieties Abê, Akita, Jbröko, No-No-No, and Danané I), proteins, lipids, and significant amount of food fibre (varieties Boumabou, Glawlon, Dikouè, Loêgnini, and Danané fowl) and minerals. This nutritive composition could permit their quite usages for consumers and researchers, even though other investigations on the functional nutritional compounds should be performed.
Through Indian Eyes: A Case Series on Steroid-induced Secondary Cataract
Authors: Girish B S , Meghana C S , Johns Joel M. , Srinivasan R.
Published: March 2024

Lichen planus, a chronic autoimmune dermatological disorder, often necessitates the use of topical corticosteroids for symptom management. However, this case series highlights the emergence of topical steroid-induced secondary cataracts in two patients, emphasizing a previously underrecognized complication. Both patients, females aged 36 and 43, presented with gradual vision loss in their left eyes, attributed to prolonged corticosteroid use for lichen planus and skin allergies, respectively. Ophthalmological examinations confirmed the diagnosis, leading to cataract surgeries. The pathogenesis involves complex cellular and molecular mechanisms, emphasizing the need for vigilant monitoring during corticosteroid therapy. Moreover, the lack of stringent reporting systems for adverse drug reactions in India underscores the necessity for comprehensive monitoring to mitigate economic and quality of life burdens. The study emphasizes the importance of judicious corticosteroid use, tapering regimens, and patient education to minimize complications while effectively managing dermatological conditions. This underscores the critical need for heightened awareness, surveillance, and patient-centred approaches to mitigate the risk of corticosteroid-induced secondary cataracts, ensuring optimal therapeutic outcomes and long-term ocular health.
AI-Driven Real-time Quality Monitoring and Process Optimization for Enhanced Manufacturing Performance
Authors: Okuyelu Olanrewaju , Adaji Ojima
Published: March 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into manufacturing processes has revolutionized quality control and process optimization. This paper focuses on AI-driven real-time monitoring and process optimization, exploring its potential to enhance manufacturing performance. The study reviews recent advancements in AI technologies, emphasizing their application in manufacturing environments. Utilizing machine learning algorithms, sensor data, and IoT connectivity, the proposed system facilitates continuous monitoring of production parameters. The AI-driven framework enables early fault prognosis, minimizing disruptions and the likelihood of substandard output. The paper further explores AI's role in dynamically optimizing manufacturing through real-time analytics, adaptive control, predictive maintenance, and intelligent decision-making, enhancing efficiency, resource utilization, and product quality. Drawing on a comprehensive review of literature, case studies, and experimental results by Wan et al. (2021), Kleven Maritime AS, and Ekornes collectively demonstrate how AI-assisted Computer-aided Manufacturing (CM) enhances production efficiency and customization through real-time data analysis, modularization, ERP system implementation, and Industry 4.0 readiness, thereby enabling concurrent processing of multiple tasks tailored to customer preferences. This paper provides a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and industry professionals aiming to harness the full potential of AI to propel manufacturing performance to new heights.
Clinico-pathological Consistency in the Diagnosis of Skin Disorders in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern Nigeria: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Analysis
Authors: Obahiagbon I.  , Omatighene E. O. U.
Published: March 2024

Background: The histopathological examination of representative skin biopsy specimens is widely regarded as the gold standard for the resolution of dermatological diagnostic dilemmas, especially with good clinico-pathological correlation, and the skin biopsy is the dermatologists’ most requested investigation. Studies on the clinico-pathological consistency in the diagnosis of skin disorders from our part of the world are very rare.

Objective: This study aimed at determining the consistency between the provisional clinical diagnosis and the histopathologiscal diagnosis of skin biopsy specimens.

Materials and Methods: This study was carried out over a six-month period using specimens from the 58 patients who consented to skin biopsy during this time, and comparison was made between the provisional clinical diagnosis and the histopathological diagnosis.

Results: Of the 58 subjects that participated in the study, 29 were males and 29 were females. Their ages ranged between 7 and 68 years, with a mean age of 37.3 years.

The spectrum of histopathologically diagnosed disorders included skin tumours and tumour-like conditions (12 cases, 20.7%), psoriasiform disorders (10 cases, 17.2%), lichenoid disorders (9 cases, 15.5%), infectious disorders (8 cases, 13.8%), disorders of epidermal maturation and keratinization (7 cases, 12.1%), spongiotic disorders (7 cases, 12.1%), vesiculo-bullous disorders (3 cases, 5.2%), and others (3.4%). Overall, the histopathological diagnosis was consistent in 19 cases (32.8%), corroborative in 12 cases (20.7%), with clinico-pathological correlation, and inconsistent in 27 cases (46.6%), leading to the issuance of a completely new diagnosis.

Conclusion: The observed degree of clinico-pathological inconsistency in the evaluation and diagnosis of skin disorders in our environment implies that skin biopsy for histopathological examination is highly valuable if patients are to be issued the appropriate diagnoses for the avoidance of inappropriate treatments. The contribution of histopathology to the accuracy of dermatological diagnosis is significantly enhanced by clinico-pathological corroboration.
Feasibility of Parallel Cropping of Black Gram with Pigeon pea in Central Trait of Uttar Pradesh
Authors: Singh Shailendra Pratap , Maurya C. L. , Khan Naushad
Published: March 2024

An experiment was laid out during two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-18 at Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur. The main objective was to find out the yields of main crop of pigeonpea and black gram and their economic in term of net return. The soil analysis indicated the medium nutrients status. The cropping system i.e., pigeonpea sole, black gram sole and pigeonpea + black gram (1+1) additive series were tested. The total productivity of pigeonpea + black gram was maximum (23.53 q/ha) in comparison to pure crop of pigeonpea (17.34 q/ha) and black gram pure (9.44 q/ha). The study of pooled data of economic display that maximum cost of cultivation Rs. 57876/- ha observed under intercropping of pigeonpea + black gram system. The highest gross return Rs. 134024/ha, net return Rs. 76148/ha and BCR 2.32 were also noted under pigeonpea + black gram (1+1) additive series.
Effect of Risks Management on the Financial Performance of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria
Authors: Kumshe Hauwa Modu , Umar Bamanga , Modibbo Salihu Aliyu
Published: March 2024

This study examined the effect of risk management on the financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria. Adopting correlation research design, the target population was all the listed DMBs in Nigeria as at 31st December, 2022 and were nineteen (19) in number. Out of the 19 banks, 16 were purposively selected as sample based on the criteria that, the bank must have been listed before 31st December 2017 and also have complete annual report and account over the period of five years from 2018-2022. The study used descriptive statistics and panel regression analysis to analyze the data collected, and the results of the analyses revealed that, credit risk management, market risk management and capital adequacy risk management have positive and significant effect on the financial performance of the listed DMBs in Nigeria over the period of the study. However, liquidity risk management was found to have negative but insignificant effect on the financial performance of the banks. Hence, the study concluded that; effective risk management have positive and significant effect on the financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria.  Based on these findings, this study recommends that; the management of listed DMBs in Nigeria should improve and strengthen their liquidity management strategies, while keeping adequate watch on credit risk, market risk, and capital adequacy risk to further improve their financial performance. Therefore, further studies could look into the effect of effective risk management process (risk identification, assessment, monitoring, and controlling process) on the financial performance of DMBs. Also, future studies could consider the impact of the adoption of IFRS on risk management and financial performance of listed DMBs in Nigeria.
Decadal Change in Income Diversification of Small and Marginal Farmers of Assam in Climate-Vulnerable Situations
Authors: Phukan Pallabi , Barman U.
Published: March 2024

The cross-sectional, micro-level study was conducted to determine the changing trends of some income-related variables and income diversification in a decade among marginal and small farmers of Assam. The base years were 2010 and 2020. The number of samples was selected randomly to make it three hundred from the three districts of Assam, viz., Jorhat, Majuli and Golaghat. Data were collected during 2021. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Simpson Index of Diversity. The findings asserted that between 2010 and 2020, landholding declined among the respondents. The average annual income of respondents also did not increase between 2010 and 2022. Respondents still preferred to stay in the joint family type. The findings show that farmers in 2020 preferred to change income sources. Many farmers’ income diversification also increased, though income did not increase. The study identified that in a decade, there was a decrease in operational landholdings, no increase in annual income, and marginal and small farmers opted for income diversification. So, it suggested that livestock and non-farm-based income sources may be provided to improve the income of marginal and small farmers of Assam. The study suggests that the scientists and policymakers of government going for more micro-level study would help develop different policies for small and marginal farmers.
Clinical functional vulnerability and health conditions of elderly people with Parkinson's disease / Vulnerabilidade clinico funcional e condições de saúde de idosos com doença de Parkinson
Authors: Marcelo do Couto Alcimar , Sales Galdino Carolina , Maria Soares Sonia
Published: March 2024

Objetivo: caracterizar a vulnerabilidade clinico funcional e as condições de saúde de idosos com Parkinson de um serviço de atenção especializada de um município de grande porte brasileiro. Método: trata-se de um estudo documental, transversal, realizado com 230 idosos com diagnóstico de Doença de Parkinson. Foram avaliados os prontuários dos pacientes com enfoque nos instrumentos: Índice de Vulnerabilidade Clínico Funcional-20 e o Plano de Cuidados da avaliação multidimensional. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando o software R. Resultados: predomínio de idosos entre 80 e 89 anos, sexo feminino e baixa escolaridade. Apresentaram como principais marcadores de vulnerabilidade clinico funcional o comprometimento da mobilidade, incontinência urinária, sarcopenia, marcha/quedas, distúrbio de humor, comorbidade múltipla e polifarmácia. Conclusão: os achados mostraram alta prevalência de comprometimento funcional na doença de Parkinson. Acredita-se que os resultados possam contribuir na melhoria do cuidado a essa população, possibilitando aos profissionais da enfermagem atuarem na promoção do autocuidado.
Modeling the supercritical fluid extraction of hazelnut and walnut oils
Authors: Bernardo‐Gil M. Gabriela , Casquilho Miguel
Published: September 2007

Data from supercritical fluid extraction of hazelnut and walnut oils were modeled using the Sovová's mass transfer model. The extractions were carried out at temperature ranging from 308–321 K and pressure 18–23.4 MPa. For the hazelnut oil, the influence of superficial velocity of the fluid (CO2) was studied in the range (4.42–7.10) × 10−4 ms−1, for ground hazelnut with Dp = 0.7 mm. For the walnut oil, the influence of particle size was studied, in the range 0.01–0.5 mm, for 6.8 × 10−4 ms−1 of superficial velocity of the fluid. The overall mass transfer coefficients in the solvent phase and in the solid phase, the fraction of the solute directly exposed to the solvent, and the void fraction in the bed were selected as adjustable parameters. For hazelnut oil, values of these parameters were: ε = 0.273; fk = 0.668; Kf = (1.29–3.65) × 10−2 s−1; and Ks = (8.97–28.1) × 10−5 s−1. The Kf calculated by the Sherwood equations varied from 1.61 × 10−2 to 2.62 × 10−2 s−1, agreeing very well with values determined by the Sovová's model. For the walnut oil, ε varied from 0.142 to 0.225; fk = (0.339–0.581); Kf = (1.04–3.62) × 10−2 s−1; and Ks = (5.17–16.0) × 10−5 s−1. The Kf calculated by the Sherwood equations varied from 1.49 × 10−2 to 5.46 × 10−2 s−1, agreeing well with those obtained by Sovová's model. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
New insights in insect prey choice by chimpanzees and gorillas in Southeast Cameroon: The role of nutritional value
Authors: Deblauwe Isra , Janssens Geert P.J.
Published: September 2007

The insect diet of chimpanzees and gorillas living at the northern periphery of the Dja Biosphere Reserve in southeast Cameroon and its nutritional contribution is described. We analyzed fecal samples and recorded additional evidence of insectivory. A detailed prey species list is presented for both apes. We carried out nutritional analyses (macronutrients, macro‐ and micro‐minerals) on 11 important and eight nonimportant, but accessible, ant and termite prey species, and estimated the average nutrient intake/day through insects. Although gorillas ate insects more frequently, the average prey biomass intake/day by chimpanzees was twice that by gorillas. The lack of tool‐use by gorillas cannot be the main reason for the small overlap of important prey species. Both apes did not seem to consume ant prey for one or more specific nutrients. Also other factors, such as medicinal use, should be considered. Termites, on the other hand, seemed to be selected for particular nutrients. Gorilla intake of the important termite prey, Cubitermes and Thoracotermes, met with estimated iron requirements. Their potential role as antidiarrheal treatment is as yet unclear. Chimpanzee intake of the important termite prey, Macrotermes spp., met with estimated manganese requirements and the protein intake/day (mean: 2 g/d) reached significant values (>20 g/d). To fully understand the importance of nutritional contributions of insects to ape diets in Cameroon, the chemical composition and nutrient intake of fruit and foliage in their diets should be investigated. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synthesis and characterization of pH sensitive poly(PEGDMA‐MAA) copolymeric microparticles for oral insulin delivery
Authors: Kumar Amit , Lahiri Sitanshu S. , Punyani Supriya , Singh Harpal
Published: September 2007

Poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (PEGDMA) were synthesized by esterification reaction of different molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) with methacrylic acid in presence of acid catalyst. Their degrees of acrylation were found to be in the range of 93–95% using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. PEG dimethacrylates of molecular weight ranging from 400 to 4000 and methacrylic acid were further copolymerized to obtain pH sensitive crosslinked hydrogel microparticles. The diameters of poly(PEGDMA‐MAA) microparticles increased with increasing molecular weight of the poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates and was found to be in the range of 0.4–2.7 μm at pH 7.4 and 5.2–25.3 μm at pH 2.5 in aqueous solution. Surface morphology of various polymeric samples were observed using SEM, which showed partial aggregation of particles at pH 2.5 but microparticles coalesce with each other and appeared like a continuous film at pH 7.4. In vitro insulin release studies were performed by simulating the condition of gastrointestinal tract, which showed only 18–25% insulin release into the aqueous medium at pH 2.5 in 90 min, while significantly higher release was observed at pH 7.4. In studies with diabetic rabbits, the blood glucose levels were lower for animals that received the insulin loaded hydrogel microparticles and the effect lasted for 8–10 h. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
Immobilization of myoglobin from horse skeletal muscle in hydrophilic polymer networks
Authors: Castro‐Forero Angelines , Jiménez David , López‐Garriga Juan , Torres‐Lugo Madeline
Published: September 2007

This work examines the immobilization of myoglobin from horse skeletal muscle in hydrophilic polymer networks. Due to specific changes in the spectroscopic properties of hemoproteins during ligand binding, they could be employed in optical sensing devices. Two immobilization techniques were considered: imbibition and entrapment. Anionic hydrogels composed of methacrylic acid (MAA), cationic hydrogels composed of dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate (DMAEM), and neutral hydrogels composed of poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether monomethacrylate (PEGMA; molecular weight = 200, 400, or 1000), all crosslinked with poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) (molecular weight = 200, 600, or 1000), were synthesized by free‐radical solution polymerization. By the imbibition method, MAA‐based hydrogels incorporated the highest amount of myoglobin in comparison with PEGMA or DMAEM polymers. The evaluation of the correlation length of the networks revealed that MAA hydrogels had the highest correlation length in comparison with PEGMA‐containing matrices or DMAEM hydrogels. Release experiments from MAA hydrogels at pHs 5.8 and 7.0 showed that the solute‐transport mechanism was a combination of Fickian and chain relaxation diffusion. Myoglobin‐loaded MAA hydrogels retained their heme reactivity after the immobilization process. The release of myoglobin incorporated by entrapment in MAA–PEGDMA hydrogels was highly influenced by the chain relaxation process. The diffusion coefficients of myoglobin incorporated by entrapment into anionic hydrogels were 2 orders of magnitude smaller (∼ 10–13) than those for myoglobin incorporated by imbibition (10–11), both evaluated at pH 7.0. Substrate binding studies indicated that the protein biological activity was not compromised in those hydrogels loaded by the imbibition method, whereas prepolymeric solutions showed detrimental effects on protein stability. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
Effect of the molecular architecture of graft copolymers on the phase morphology and tensile properties of PS/EVA blends
Authors: Soares Bluma G. , Moreira Ana C. F. , Sirqueira Alex S. , Barbosa Ronilson V. , Simão Renata A.
Published: September 2007

Graft copolymers of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl acetate) (EVA) grafted with polystyrene (PS) with different molecular weight and different EVA/PS ratio were prepared by coupling reaction between acyl chloride functionalized PS (PS‐COCl) and hydrolyzed EVA. PS‐COCl with controlled molecular weight was prepared by anionic polymerization of styrene, followed by end capping with phosgene. The effect of the molecular architecture of the graft copolymer on the compatibilization of PS/EVA blends was investigated. Substantial improvement in the elongation at break and ductility was observed using the graft copolymer with PS segments with molecular weight as high as 66,000 g/mol and with a PS proportion equal or higher than EVA. The effect of the compatibilization on the morphology was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The blend that presented the highest value of elongation at break also displayed dispersed phase constituted by inclusions of the PS phase inside the EVA particle forming a cocontinuous structure, as observed by AFM. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008
Chitosan nanoparticles for loading of toothpaste actives and adhesion on tooth analogs
Authors: Liu Hui , Chen Bo , Mao Zhengwei , Gao Changyou
Published: September 2007

Delivery and sustained release of toothpaste actives is an important but unexplored area. In this work, chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by a water‐in‐oil emulsion/glutaraldehyde crosslinking method. The typical number average diameter of chitosan and toothpaste active (cetylpyridiniumchloride and NaF) nanoparticles was within the range of 100–500 nm. The particles increased their size at higher pH value. The morphology, adherence, and stability of these nanoparticles were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The size of the chitosan/NaF nanoparticles was doubled after they were stored at 4°C for 20 days, and then kept constant till 251 days, the examined time so far. These particles showed good stability in toothpaste lixivium after incubated at 60°C for 30 days too. By contrast, the chitosan/cetylpyridiniumchloride nanoparticles were easy to form floccules in the toothpaste lixivium. The loaded toothpaste actives showed a sustained released behavior for at least 10 h. All the particles could adhere onto the tooth analogs such as hydroxyapatite discs and glass slides in a simulated brushing and rinsing process. In vitro cell culture did not find any cytotoxicity of the as‐prepared chitosan nanoparticles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
The generalized dependency degree between attributes
Authors: Yang Haixuan , King Irwin , Lyu Michael R.
Published: September 2007

Inspired by the dependency degree γ, a traditional measure in Rough Set Theory, we propose a generalized dependency degree, Γ, between two given sets of attributes, which counts both deterministic and indeterministic rules while γ counts only deterministic rules. We first give its definition in terms of equivalence relations and then interpret it in terms of minimal rules, and further describe the algorithm for its computation. To understand Γ better, we investigate its various properties. We further extend Γ to incomplete information systems. To show its advantage, we make a comparative study with the conditional entropy and γ in a number of experiments. Experimental results show that the speed of the new C4.5 using Γ is greatly improved when compared with the original C4.5R8 using conditional entropy, while the prediction accuracy and tree size of the new C4.5 are comparable with the original one. Moreover, Γ achieves better results on attribute selection than γ. The study shows that the generalized dependency degree is an informative measure in decision trees and in attribute selection.
Language‐modeling kernel based approach for information retrieval
Authors: Xie Ying , Raghavan Vijay V.
Published: September 2007

In this presentation, we propose a novel integrated information retrieval approach that provides a unified solution for two challenging problems in the field of information retrieval. The first problem is how to build an optimal vector space corresponding to users' different information needs when applying the vector space model. The second one is how to smoothly incorporate the advantages of machine learning techniques into the language modeling approach. To solve these problems, we designed
the language‐modeling kernel function, which has all the modeling powers provided by language modeling techniques. In addition, for each information need, this kernel function automatically determines an optimal vector space, for which a discriminative learning machine, such as the support vector machine, can be applied to find an optimal decision boundary between relevant and nonrelevant documents. Large‐scale experiments on standard test‐beds show that our approach makes significant
improvements over other state‐of‐the‐art information
retrieval methods.
Estimating the top‐of‐atmosphere longwave radiative forcing due to Saharan dust from satellite observations over a west African surface site
Authors: Brindley H. E.
Published: September 2007

This paper presents a methodology for estimating the longwave top‐of‐atmosphere direct radiative forcing due to Saharan dust aerosol from satellite observations made by the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) and Geostationary Earth Radiation Budget (GERB) instruments. Narrow‐band observations from SEVIRI are used to detect dust presence and quantify its loading, while GERB provides an estimate of the dust impact on the total outgoing longwave radiation. Applying the technique to observations made over the Banizoumbou surface station in Niger through March–June 2006 indicates a midday longwave forcing efficiency of 17 ± 5 W m−2 per unit aerosol optical depth. Copyright © 2007 Royal Meteorological Society
Randomized clinical trial of the effect of preoperative oral carbohydrate treatment on postoperative whole-body protein and glucose kinetics
Authors: Svanfeldt M , Thorell A , Hausel J , Soop M , Rooyackers O , Nygren J , Ljungqvist O
Published: September 2007

Background

Preoperative oral carbohydrate (CHO) reduces postoperative insulin resistance. In this randomized trial, the effect of CHO on postoperative whole-body protein turnover was studied.

Methods

Glucose and protein kinetics ([6,62H2]D-glucose, [2H5]phenylalanine, [2H2]tyrosine and [2H4]tyrosine) and substrate oxidation (indirect calorimetry) were studied at baseline and during hyperinsulinaemic normoglycaemic clamping before and on the first day after colorectal resection. Fifteen patients were randomized to receive a preoperative beverage with high (125 mg/ml) or low (25 mg/ml) CHO content.

Results

Three patients were excluded after the intervention, leaving six patients in each group. After surgery whole-body protein balance did not change in the high oral CHO group, whereas it was more negative in the low oral CHO group after surgery at baseline (P = 0·003) and during insulin stimulation (P = 0·005). Insulin-stimulated endogenous glucose release was similar before and after surgery in the high oral CHO group, but was higher after surgery in the low oral CHO group (P = 0·013) and compared with the high oral CHO group (P = 0·044).

Conclusion

Whole-body protein balance and the suppressive effect of insulin on endogenous glucose release are better maintained when patients receive a CHO-rich beverage before surgery.
Mental disorder, substance misuse and violent behaviour: the Swedish experience of caring for the triply troubled
Authors: Lindqvist Per
Published: September 2007

Background Professional standards in psychiatry, especially concerning the care of people with the combined clinical presentation of psychiatric symptoms, substance misuse and violent behaviour – the ‘triply troubled’, have been subject to much criticism in Sweden.

Aims To present the current Swedish situation concerning treatment and care of ‘the triply troubled’ and to discuss future development.

Methods Analysis of official government documents and contemporary literature as a basis for a personal assessment of the current state of the art.

Results Due to the work of a government task force, the National Psychiatric Services Commission, considerable improvements have been seen for treating substance‐abusing mentally disordered people who are not aggressively or criminally inclined. This is less true for ‘the triply troubled’.

Conclusion/implications The ‘triply troubled’ should be given higher priority in mental health services and there is a salient need for more extensive professional training, service improvement, method development and overarching coordination and planning for these people. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.