bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weltweite Unfälle mit Blitzschlägen: regionale Analyse und medizinische Therapie
Authors: Liebold Felix , Schmitz Jan , Hinkelbein Jochen
Published: November 2021

Die Häufigkeit von Blitzunfällen ist weltweit unterschiedlich verteilt. Die klimatischen Bedingungen in den Tropen und Subtropen, in Küstenregionen sowie in Bergregionen begünstigen die Entstehung von Gewittern. Der Klimawandel wird die von Blitzgewittern ausgehende Gefahrenlage übereinstimmenden Prognosen zufolge in fast allen Teilen der Welt ansteigen lassen. Schutz vor Blitzunfällen bieten sichere Gebäude sowie Aufklärung über Risiken und deren Vermeidung. Eine besondere Bedeutung hat die Risikoabschätzung von Gewittern im Kontext von Reisen in Regionen mit hoher Gewitterfrequenz, Outdoorsport, Großveranstaltungen im Freien, landwirtschaftlicher Tätigkeit, Flugverkehr sowie militärischen Operationen und Trainings.
A stable proportion of Purkinje cell inputs from parallel fibers are silent during cerebellar maturation
Authors: Ho Shu , Lajaunie Rebecca , Lerat Marion , Le Mickaël , Crépel Valérie , Loulier Karine , Livet Jean , Kessler Jean-Pierre , Marcaggi Païkan
Published: November 2021

Significance

Synapses connecting granule cells to Purkinje neurons are considered essential sites for learning in the cerebellum. Strikingly, most of them appear to be silent: they do not transmit any electrical information. This may relate to information storage capacity and reliability, which are expected to improve during postnatal maturation. Here, we quantify the proportion of silent synapses in mice by combining optogenetic mapping of synaptic inputs and Purkinje neuron patch-clamp recording. We show that this proportion remains stable between the stage immediately following the postnatal establishment of cerebellar circuitry and 3 wk later when cerebellar function has maturated, presumably as a result of natural learning processes. Our results suggest that information storage capacity and reliability are optimized early during cerebellar maturation.
Variation in mild context-sensitivity
Authors: Frank Robert , Hunter Tim
Published: November 2021

Aravind Joshi famously hypothesized that natural language syntax was characterized (in part) by mildly
context-sensitive generative power. Subsequent work in mathematical linguistics over the past three decades has revealed
surprising convergences among a wide variety of grammatical formalisms, all of which can be said to be mildly context-sensitive.
But this convergence is not absolute. Not all mildly context-sensitive formalisms can generate exactly the same stringsets (i.e.
they are not all weakly equivalent), and even when two formalisms can both generate a certain stringset, there might be
differences in the structural descriptions they use to do so. It has generally been difficult to find cases where such differences
in structural descriptions can be pinpointed in a way that allows linguistic considerations to be brought to bear on choices
between formalisms, but in this paper we present one such case. The empirical pattern of interest involves wh-movement
dependencies in languages that do not enforce the wh-island constraint. This pattern draws attention to two related dimensions of
variation among formalisms: whether structures grow monotonically from one end to another, and whether structure-building
operations are conditioned by only a finite amount of derivational state. From this perspective, we show that one class of
formalisms generates the crucial empirical pattern using structures that align with mainstream syntactic analysis, and another
class can only generate that same string pattern in a linguistically unnatural way. This is particularly interesting given that
(i) the structurally-inadequate formalisms are strictly more powerful than the structurally-adequate ones from the perspective of
weak generative capacity, and (ii) the formalism based on derivational operations that appear on the surface to align most closely
with the mechanisms adopted in contemporary work in syntactic theory (merge and move) are the formalisms that fail to align with
the analyses proposed in that work when the phenomenon is considered in full generality.
Material and embodied resources in the accomplishment of closings in technology-mediated business meetings
Authors: Oittinen Tuire
Published: November 2021

This study uses conversation analysis (CA) and video-recorded data from an international company to investigate closings in technology-mediated (i.e. distant) meetings. The focus is on the situated affordances and multimodal resources that the chair and participants deploy to transition from meeting talk to a coordinated exit. Due to restricted access to bodily-visual leave-taking behaviours, other mutually recognized practices need to be implemented to initiate and advance closings: (1) when closing is made relevant as the next step, (2) when opportunity spaces to move out of the closing emerge, and (3) when departure from the meeting needs to be negotiated. This progression requires the close coordination of co-participants’ vocal and embodied conduct in the physical setting and rendering actions publicly intelligible via the screen at specific moments. The analysis portrays closings as emergent, collaborative accomplishments, in which the import of multimodal turn constructions and (dis)aligning behaviours must be negotiatedin situ.
Signal conditioning circuit for gel strain sensors
Authors: Payo Ismael , Polo José L , López Blanca , Serrano Diana , Rodríguez Antonio M , Antonia Herrero M , Martín-Pacheco Ana , Sánchez Inmaculada , Vázquez Ester
Published: November 2021

Conductive hydrogels are soft materials which have been used by some researchers as resistive strain sensors in the last years. The electrical resistance change, when the sensor is stretched or compressed, is usually measured by the two-electrode method. This method is not always suitable to measure the electrical resistance of polymers-based materials, like hydrogels, because it could be highly influenced by the electrode/sample interface, as explained in this study. For this reason, a signal conditioning circuit, based on four-electrode impedance measurements, is proposed to measure the electrical resistance change when the gel is stretched or compressed. Experimental results show that the tested gels can be used as resistance force/pressure sensors with a quite linear behaviour.
Sorbates and benzoates in meat and meat products: Importance, application and determination
Authors: Bajcic A , Petronijevic R B , Sefer M , Trbovic D , Djordjevic V , Ciric J , Nikolic A
Published: November 2021

Recent views on the use of preservatives sorbic and benzoic acids and their salts in meat products are presented from the point of accordance with current legislation in the Republic of Serbia and the EU, food safety and public health risks, and mainstreams in the methodology for their determination. These preservatives are permitted to be added individually or in combination, the maximum level is applicable to the sum and the levels are expressed as the free acid. Currently set values of the recommended daily intake of sorbate and benzoate are 25 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg, respectively. These values vary and depend on regulations in different countries. Considering control of the use of these additives, the most common methods for their determination are chromatographic methods based on high performance, or high pressure, liquid chromatography with diode array detectors.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on food supply chain: An overview
Authors: Baltic T , Rajic S , Ciric J , Brankovic Lazic I , Djordjevic V , Velebit B , Geric T
Published: November 2021

Since 2020, the rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused the global pandemic COVID-19, generating health, economic and social impacts. The rapid spread of the infection in the human population required an accelerated adaptation to the new circumstances to protect human health and mitigate financial losses. As the ongoing pandemic has caused reported cases in the multi-millions, all stakeholders need to prevent further outbreaks and mitigate associated risks. Hence, besides government, health care systems, business stakeholders, public authorities, non-governmental organizations, and other socially responsible associations, the food sector has a crucial role in combating COVID-19. The food sector in this context is referred to as every actor in the food supply chain. This paper explores the difficulties in the entire food supply chain’s reactions to the pandemic crisis and underlines the meat sector’s response.
The controversies of genetically modified food
Authors: Blagoevska K , Ilievska G , Jankuloski D , Stojanovska Dimzoska B , Crceva R , Nikolovska  , Angeleska A
Published: November 2021

The increasing use of genetically modified (GM) foods and feeds attracts the interest of media and public, causing great concern among consumers about the consequences of their consumption. The issues of concern are mainly focused on the impact on consumer health and the repercussions on the environment. The biggest fears are the possible negative consequences on human and animal health, which encompass allergic reactions, side effects such as toxicity, damage to individual organs, gene transfer and differences in nutritional value. Consumers are unsure and confused as to whether consuming GM foods is harmful to their health or not. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted between October 2019 and March 2020, 48% of respondents said GM foods are harmful, 13% responded GM foods are safe, while 37% of respondents could not express their opinion due to lack of knowledge about it. Numerous studies have been undertaken to examine the effects that GM foods and feeds exert on humans and animals. The results differ in many ways that issue numerous questions. In this paper, we will try addressing questions that concern the public, as well as the activities and measures that science and competent institutions are taking to confront them.
Evaluation of trace element levels in beef cuts available to the consumers in Serbia
Authors: Djinovic-Stojanovic J , Jankovic S , Nikolic D , Vranic D
Published: November 2021

The present study evaluated the levels of Mn, Se, Cu and Zn in beef cuts available at markets in Serbia. We also assessed the risk associated with the consumption of these foods based on the estimated daily intake (EDI) of these elements. Thirty-six beef meat cuts were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The EDI of all the studied elements was estimated on the basis of a calculation of the amount of beef consumed by Serbian households (mean beef consumption of 17.2 g/person/day). The studied beef cuts pose no risk with respect to the EDIs of Mn, Se, Cu and Zn. Among the four studied beef cuts, shoulder had the highest content of dietary zinc (68.2 mg/kg).
Controversy about goods classification: the use of terms and their definitions according to FEACN of the CU
Authors: Kuznetsova O A , Gustova D S
Published: November 2021

The paper considers the problematic terminological questions that arise among declarants and customs officials when classifying goods. Disadvantages of receiving a classification decision are described. The necessity to harmonize the terms “raw fat”, “speck” and “animal rendered fat” in the FEACN of the CU is shown.
Current view on the assessment of antioxidant and antiradical activities: A mini review
Authors: Kupaeva N V , Kotenkova E A
Published: November 2021

The main problems in assessing the antioxidant properties of plant biologically active compounds are discussed in this review. Antioxidant potential should be considered as a combination of antioxidant and antiradical activities, since antiradical activity is part of the antioxidant activity and does not always coincide with antioxidant activity. The mechanisms of action and the existing experimental and computational methods for their evaluation were reviewed. Methods like FRAP, CUPRAC etc. could be used for assessment of antioxidant activity of plant compounds, but it is necessary to perform studies on cell cultures or laboratory animals in order to determine mechanisms of action on the antioxidant system of a living organism. The current methodological approaches for studying antiradical activity and its mechanisms include experimental methods such as DPPH, ABTS and ORAC, and computational methods based on density functional theory. The main thermodynamic parameters for evaluating antiradical mechanisms (HAT, SET-PT and SPLET) are the bond dissociation enthalpy, ionization potential, proton dissociation enthalpy, proton affinity, and electron transfer enthalpy, among others. The existing approaches for determining the antiradical mechanisms of antioxidants are quite informative, but can still cannot predict or determine by in vitro methods the antioxidant mechanism of these compounds in organisms consisting of many complex individual systems.
Dressing percentage and meat yield of Hybro G+ provenance broilers
Authors: Lilic Slobodan , Milijasevic Jelena Babic , Geric Tamara
Published: November 2021

The goal of this paper was to examine the slaughter characteristics of meat from Hybro G+ provenance broilers. Characteristics studied were dressing percentage, breast, leg (thigh and drumstick) and abdominal fat in chilled carcass, and percentage of meat, bones and skin in breast and leg. In this trial, one-day broilers of Hybro G+ provenance were raised under the same zoohygienic and ambient conditions that met the technological requirements for this provenance and were provided with feed and water ad libitum. After 42 days’ fattening, broilers were slaughtered and the resultant carcasses were air chilled. The average dressing percentage was 73.15%, and in carcasses, the average percentage of breast was 34.33%, leg was 27.91% and abdominal fat was 1.13%. The percentage in breast and leg of meat was 72.61% and 70.38%, of skin was 8.00% and 9.45% and of bones was 19.79% and 19.59%, respectively. The meat:bone ratio was 0.27 for breast and 0.28 for leg.
The nutritional and health value of beef lipids - fatty acid composition in grass-fed and grain-fed beef
Authors: Lukic M , Trbovic D , Karan D , Petrovic Z , Jovanovic J , Babic Milijasevic J , Nikolic A
Published: November 2021

Interest in meat fatty acid (FA) composition stems mainly from the need to find ways to produce healthier meat with a suitable ratio of polyunsaturated (PUFA) to saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a favourable balance between n-6 and n-3 PUFA. Studies of grass feeding versus grain feeding cattle have been conducted in different regions throughout the world and suggest that grass-based diets can significantly improve the fatty acid (FA) composition of beef. Compared with grain diets, grass diets contribute to a lower total fat content and more favourable SFA composition i.e. higher proportion of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and cholesterol-neutral stearic acid (C18:0). Feeding fresh grass compared to concentrates results in higher levels of n-3 PUFA in muscle lipids and a more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio that is within the nutritional recommendations for the human diet.
Slaughter yield and chemical composition of Siberian sturgeon reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS)
Authors: Pelic Dragana Ljubojevic , Pelic Milos , Knezevic Suzana Vidakovic , Balos Milica Zivkov , Jaksic Sandra , Kureljusic Jasna , Puvaca Nikola
Published: November 2021

Sturgeon fish species are food fish of commercial significance in many countries. Sturgeon farming in Serbia is a relatively new branch of aquaculture, and sturgeon farming has been developing in the last several years. The objective of this study was to examine morpho-physiological and slaughter characteristics and proximate composition of one-year-old sturgeons produced in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Sturgeons were cultured in a RAS system nearby Novi Sad and were fed with commercial feed. Moisture content in fillets ranged from 75.63 to 77.91%, protein content from 18.06 to 18.89% and lipid content from 2.37 to 4.38%. The slaughter performance results are in agreement with those reported by various authors for different strains of sturgeons. Sturgeon species have potential to become an attractive fish in our aquaculture in terms of overall proximate composition and slaughter performance.
Antimicrobial activity of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and oregano (Origanum vulgare) essential oils against Listeria monocytogenes in fermented sausages
Authors: Nedic Drago , Grkovic Nevena , Kalaba Vesna , Golic Bojan , Ilic Tanja , Kasagic Dragan , Suvajdzic Branko , Vejnovic Branislav , Djuric Spomenka , Vasilev Dragan , Dimitrijevic Mirjana
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate antibacterial effects of oregano and thyme essential oils on Listeria monocytogenes in fermented sausages and their effect on the sensory characteristics of these sausages. For testing purposes, sausages contaminated with L. monocytogenes were produced. Changes in the microbiological status of fermented sausages and physicochemical properties were monitored during ripening. Essential oils exhibited antibacterial activity against L. monocytogenes, and in the groups with a high concentration (0.6%) of oregano or thyme essential oils (KLO2 and KLT2), the number of L. monocytogenes was below the detection threshold on day 14 of ripening, with a stronger effect of oregano. In groups with 0.3% essential oil of oregano or thyme added, the number of L. monocytogenes was reduced to below the detection threshold on day 21 of ripening. During the ripening, the aw and pH of all test groups of fermented sausages decreased. Experimental sausages with 0.3% thyme essential oil had acceptable smell and taste, while in other experimental groups, sausage smell and taste were very intense, uncharacteristic and unacceptable.
Health lipid indices of dry fermented sausages made of pork meat
Authors: Parunovic N , Trbovic D , Ciric J , Savic R , Gogic M , Betic N , Radovic C
Published: November 2021

This research presents the results of a comparison assessment of the cholesterol content, fatty acid profile, and atherogenic (IA) and thrombogenic (IT) health lipid parameters of four dry fermented sausages produced from Mangalitsa and Swedish Landrace pork meat. The highest cholesterol level was found in Sremska sausage prepared from Landrace meat (64.92 mg/100g). Polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels were considerably greater in Landrace meat sausages than in other kinds. The main cause of these variations was a higher overall n-6 PUFA concentration. The sausages made from Mangalitsa meat had the highest levels of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and unsaturated fatty acid (USFA). The highest saturated fatty acid (SFA) level was found in sausages prepared from Landrace meat. Fermented sausages made from Mangalitsa pork meat show better health lipid indices, atherogenic (IA), thrombogenic (IT), and PUFA/SFA ratios.
Influence of CLA addition in non-ruminant diets on lipid index values
Authors: Peric Dejan , Brankovic Lazic Ivana , Pantic Srdjan , Baltic Milan Z. , Janjic Jelena , Sefer Dragan , Radulovic Stamen , Markovic Radmila
Published: November 2021

In monogastric animals, tissue fatty acid profile directly reflects the fatty acid profile present in the animal’s diet. Inadequate ratio of fatty acids in food can lead to negative effects on human health. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a group of isomers of linoleic acid (C18:2), and its most interesting role is in the prevention of tumors, atherosclerosis and diabetes. CLA is found in ruminant meat and milk, and since pigs and poultry do not have the ability to synthesize CLA, it is possible to add them to animal feed with biotechnological solutions. The scientific public imposes modern parameters for determining the nutritional value of fatty acids, in which the AI – index of atherogenicity, TI – index of thrombogenicity and H/H - hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio are distinguished. The aim of this study was to determine the effect CLA addition to the diet of non-ruminants on the lipid indices of certain categories of meat, from the aspect of consumer health needs. A significant influence of the correction of feed’s fatty acid composition on the lipid indices in food of animal origin was determined.
The role of marbling as an intrinsic characteristic at the point of meat purchase–the Taguchi approach
Authors: Rajic S , Djordjevic V , Baltic T , Simunovic S
Published: November 2021

Meat quality is considered a complex concept depending on many characteristics that could be intrinsic or extrinsic. At the same time, intrinsic and extrinsic quality cues affect consumers’ purchasing decisions. The importance of each quality cue was analysed and discussed in previous literature. Thus, colour and level of marbling of fresh meat were defined as key quality cues at the point of meat purchase. These characteristics are mostly related to pork and beef. The aim of this study was to identify quality characteristics that most closely match the consumer’s preferences and at the same time could be related to quality losses. For that purpose, this paper gives a novel approach of the potential application of Taguchi loss function associated with quality characteristics and related losses for colour and level of marbling. This application can be implemented by providing a quality characteristic’s proper target values and limits, which would make the meat production process more consistent.
Tracking brucellosis–a re-emerging disease
Authors: Schaeffer J , Revilla-Fernández S , Hofer E , Djordjevic V , Lakicevic B , Indra A , Schmoll F , Allerberger F , Ruppitsch W
Published: November 2021

Brucellosis caused by members of the genus Brucella is of major concern for animal and public health and is recognized as a re-emerging zoonotic disease. Brucellosis causes flu-like symptoms like fever, sweats, weakness, pain in muscles, joint and back, with some symptoms persisting for longer time periods. Infections occur through consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or undercooked meat, inhalation, and contact with animals. Human-to-human transmission is rare. Surveillance of this disease in animals and humans and prevention of infection risks factors are the most effective strategies to prevent brucellosis. With the progress in sequencing technologies, whole genome sequencing (WGS) has become an effective tool in surveillance, tracking of pathogens and in outbreak investigation. WGS allows identification of the source of infection and to elucidation of transmission chains, which enables authorities to implement timely and appropriate interventions.
Estimation of fat cover of bovine carcases by means of computer vision system (CVS)
Authors: Simunovic S , Rajic S , Djordjevic V , Tomovic V , Vujadinovic D , Djekic I , Tomasevic I
Published: November 2021

The aims of this study were to obtain percentages of meat and fat cover for SEUROP classification system reference images using a computer vision system (CVS) and to calculate classification intervals which could be used in the future for construction of cheap and easy to use classification devices for small slaughterhouses. Lowest percentages of fat cover were found for the first class marked as “low” (the lowest fat content) and they gradually increased to the last class marked as “very high” (the highest fat content). Based on the obtained results, decision making intervals were proposed. In the present study, classification only refers to classification of adult bovine animals based on fat cover.
Surface adsorption and survival of SARS-CoV-2 on frozen meat
Authors: Velebit B , Milojevic L , Jankovic V , Lakicevic B , Baltic T , Nikolic A , Grkovic N
Published: November 2021

The first case of a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus-2 was reported in December 2019 in China. The disease spread globally quickly, causing the 2019–2021 COVID-19 pandemic. The meat industry became concerned over the possibility of transmitting the virus in the slaughterhouse environment. The level of air exchange strongly affects the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols within the slaughterhouses. The adsorption of the SARS-CoV-2 virus on the surface of the frozen meat is dictated mainly by the interplay of electrostatic forces between the virion and tissue (pH) and environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) in the vicinity of adsorption micro-location. Suppose the virus contaminates the meat surface, whereby pH is 5.5 or less. In that case, it firmly adsorbs due to bonds established by protonated amine group and a hydrogen bond between the COOH group of the viral protein and oxygen in hydroxyl groups present on meat surfaces. The meat surface, coated with a thin water film, interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 virions by establishing strong hydrogen bonds. Although there is no proof of COVID-19 contraction by food consumption, the strong surface adsorption and ability of SARS-CoV-2 to survive meat freezing indicate a potential risk of virus transmission by meat.
Seasonal overview of beef meat quality in a small-scale slaughterhouse
Authors: Vicic I , Petrovic M , Stajkovic S , Cobanović N , Karabasil N
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between blood parameters related to animal welfare and defined beef meat quality characteristics during winter and summer seasons in one small-scale slaughterhouse. At exsanguination, blood samples were collected, and serum concentrations for total proteins (TP), albumin and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated. After 24 h of chilling, ultimate pH was measured and meat samples were used for drip loss and cooking loss determination. Dehydration was not observed during seasons, while elevated concentrations of TP accompanied by higher CRP values pointed to summer as a more stressful season. Analysing the meat quality parameters, it was observed that during the two seasons, ultimate pH values were in the range for normal meat acidification, but values for drip and cooking loss were significantly increased during the summer season. In conclusion, CRP could be used as potential biomarker for beef meat quality estimation, in the first instance drip loss and ultimate pH.
Engineering liver microtissues to study the fusion of HepG2 with mesenchymal stem cells and invasive potential of fused cells
Authors: Lee Junmin , Ung Aly , Kim Hanjun , Lee KangJu , Cho Hyun-Jong , Bandaru Praveen , Ahadian Samad , Dokmeci Mehmet R , Khademhosseini Ali
Published: November 2021

Increasing evidence from cancer cell fusion with different cell types in the tumor microenvironment has suggested a probable mechanism for how metastasis-initiating cells could be generated in tumors. Although human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been known as promising candidates to create hybrid cells with cancer cells, the role of hMSCs in fusion with cancer cells is still controversial. Here, we fabricated a liver-on-a-chip platform to monitor the fusion of liver hepatocellular cells (HepG2) with hMSCs and study their invasive potential. We demonstrated that hMSCs might play dual roles in HepG2 spheroids. The analysis of tumor growth with different fractions of hMSCs in HepG2 spheroids revealed hMSCs’ role in preventing HepG2 growth and proliferation, while the hMSCs presented in the HepG2 spheroids led to the generation of HepG2-hMSC hybrid cells with much higher invasiveness compared to HepG2. These invasive HepG2-hMSC hybrid cells expressed high levels of markers associated with stemness, proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and matrix deposition, which corresponded to the expression of these markers for hMSCs escaping from hMSC spheroids. In addition, these fused cells were responsible for collective invasion following HepG2 by depositing Collagen I and Fibronectin in their surrounding microenvironment. Furthermore, we showed that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) could also be fused with HepG2, and the HepG2-HSC hybrid cells possessed similar features to those from HepG2-hMSC fusion. This fusion of HepG2 with liver-resident HSCs may propose a new potential mechanism of hepatic cancer metastasis.
Spinning process optimization and microstructure of stainless-steel welded pipe
Authors: Liu Fengde , Zhang Qiushi , Fang Chaofu , Liu Jiaming , Ning Kai , Zhang Hong
Published: November 2021

Defects, such as cracks, typically occur in the spinning process of ternary catalyst shells. This study investigates the optimization of spinning process parameters to prevent such defects. In this regard, an orthogonal simulation was performed using a finite element model of the spinning process of a ternary catalyst shell. Moreover, spinning tests using a 439 stainless steel welded pipe were conducted to verify the simulation results. Thus, the microstructure, hardness, and quality of formed parts are analyzed. The simulation and test results showed that when the spinning temperature is 1000 °C, the roller fillet radius, roller speed, and feed ratio are 5 mm, 40 r s−1, and 1.2 mm r−1, respectively. In addition, the error rates of the forming thickness, port diameter, and roundness error are 1.37%, 1.25%, and 4.8%, respectively. These results verified the accuracy of the simulation. Furthermore, no defects were generated during spinning, and the spinning quality was high. The feed ratio was the main factor affecting the roundness error, followed by the roller speed. As deformation increased, hardness increased, and the crystal size decreased. The results of this study can provide crucial theoretical guidance for practical spinning applications.
Dynamics and instabilities of the free boundary of a two-dimensional dry active nematic aggregate
Authors: Lin Li-Shing , Chen Hsuan-Yi
Published: November 2021

The dynamics of a two-dimensional aggregate of active rod-shaped particles in the nematic phase with a free boundary is considered theoretically. The aggregate is in contact with a hard boundary at y = 0, a free boundary at y = H(x, t), and in the x-direction the aggregate is of infinite extension. By assuming fast relaxation of the director field, we find instabilities driven by the coupling between the deformation of the free boundary and the active stress in parameter regimes where bulk systems are stable. For a contractile aggregate, when the particles are aligned parallel to the boundaries, the system is unstable in the long wavelengths at any strength of contractility for any H, and the critical wavelength increases as H increases; when the particles are aligned perpendicular to the boundaries, the system acquires a finite-wavelength instability at a critical active stress whose strength decreases as H increases. The behavior for an aggregate with steady-state particle density ρ

s
, strength of active stress χ, bulk modulus ρ

s

β, and particles aligned perpendicular to the boundaries can be mapped to one with active stress strength − χ, bulk modulus ρ

s
(β − χ), and particles aligned parallel to the boundaries. The stability of an extensile aggregate can be obtained from the analysis for contractile aggregates through this mapping as well, even though the corresponding physical mechanisms for the instabilities are different. In the limit H → ∞ , the free boundary is unstable for any contractile or extensile systems in the long-wavelength limit.
Statistical and machine learning methods applied to the prediction of different tropical rainfall types
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Wong Raymond K W , Jun Mikyoung , Schumacher Courtney , Saravanan R , Sun Chunmei
Published: November 2021

Predicting rain from large-scale environmental variables remains a challenging problem for climate models and it is unclear how well numerical methods can predict the true characteristics of rainfall without smaller (storm) scale information. This study explores the ability of three statistical and machine learning methods to predict 3-hourly rain occurrence and intensity at 0.5° resolution over the tropical Pacific Ocean using rain observations the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite radar and large-scale environmental profiles of temperature and moisture from the MERRA-2 reanalysis. We also separated the rain into different types (deep convective, stratiform, and shallow convective) because of their varying kinematic and thermodynamic structures that might respond to the large-scale environment in different ways. Our expectation was that the popular machine learning methods (i.e., the neural network and random forest) would outperform a standard statistical method (a generalized linear model) because of their more flexible structures, especially in predicting the highly skewed distribution of rain rates for each rain type. However, none of the methods obviously distinguish themselves from one another and each method still has issues with predicting rain too often and not fully capturing the high end of the rain rate distributions, both of which are common problems in climate models. One implication of this study is that machine learning tools must be carefully assessed and are not necessarily applicable to solving all big data problems. Another implication is that traditional climate model approaches are not sufficient to predict extreme rain events and that other avenues need to be pursued.
The paradoxes experienced by informal caregivers of people with dementia during the transition from home to a nursing home
Authors: Groenvynck Lindsay , de Boer Bram , Beaulen Audrey , de Vries Erica , Hamers Jan P H , van Achterberg Theo , van Rossum Erik , Khemai Chandni , Meijers Judith M M , Verbeek Hilde
Published: November 2021

Background

The transition from home to a nursing home is a common care process experienced by older persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. This transition process is often experienced as fragmented and is paired with negative outcomes for both older persons (e.g. mortality) and informal caregivers (e.g. grief). Due to the central role that informal caregivers play, it is crucial to capture their experiences throughout all phases of the transition.

Methods

A secondary data analysis was conducted using an interpretative phenomenological design. A total of 24 informal caregivers of older persons with dementia, moving to a nursing home, participated in in-depth interviews. Data were collected between February 2018 and July 2018 in the Netherlands. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.

Results

The transition experiences are characterised by three paradoxes: (i) contradicting emotions during the transition process; (ii) the need for a timely transition versus the need to postpone the transition process and (iii) the need for involvement versus the need for distance. All paradoxes are influenced by the healthcare system.

Conclusions

The identified paradoxes show the impact of the healthcare system and the importance of timely planning/preparing for this transition on the experiences of informal caregivers. In addition, it provides healthcare professionals insight into the thought processes of informal caregivers. Future research can use these paradoxes as a foundation to develop innovations aiming to improve the transition process from home to a nursing home for informal caregivers and, consequently, older persons.
Biafras of the Mind: French Postcolonial Humanitarianism in Global Conceptual History
Authors: Heerten Lasse
Published: November 2021

After a long period of neglect, historians have rediscovered the humanitarian crisis in the famine-ridden secessionist Republic of Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–70). The recent historiography is spurred by the growing interest in the histories of human rights and humanitarianism. While critical of narratives about the Biafran crisis as a “myth of origins” of Doctors Without Borders, the historiography of Biafra, particularly on the French case, remains calibrated to this perspective: “doing history backwards,” it projects a genealogy of the humanitarianism of the present into the past. To provide a different reading, this article proposes to historicize the Biafran moment more thoroughly through an expanded form of global conceptual history that combines textual and visual analysis with a focus on multiple temporalities. As the article aims to show, such a “history in the plural” based on the work of German conceptual historian Reinhart Koselleck is particularly promising for dealing with the complex temporalities that global historical research requires. Global conceptual history can help historians move beyond stories of the origins of “our present” and at the same time develop a better understanding of the contemporary era’s specific conditions.
Using Negative Control Outcomes and Difference-in-Differences Analysis to Estimate Treatment Effects in an Entirely Treated Cohort: The Effect of Ivacaftor in Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Newsome Simon J , Daniel Rhian M , Carr Siobhán B , Bilton Diana , Keogh Ruth H
Published: November 2021

When an entire cohort of patients receives a treatment, it is difficult to estimate the treatment effect in the treated because there are no directly comparable untreated patients. Attempts can be made to find a suitable control group (e.g., historical controls), but underlying differences between the treated and untreated can result in bias. Here we show how negative control outcomes combined with difference-in-differences analysis can be used to assess bias in treatment effect estimates and obtain unbiased estimates under certain assumptions. Causal diagrams and potential outcomes are used to explain the methods and assumptions. We apply the methods to UK Cystic Fibrosis Registry data to investigate the effect of ivacaftor, introduced in 2012 for a subset of the cystic fibrosis population with a particular genotype, on lung function and annual rate (days/year) of receiving intravenous (IV) antibiotics (i.e., IV days). We consider 2 negative control outcomes: outcomes measured in the pre-ivacaftor period and outcomes among persons ineligible for ivacaftor because of their genotype. Ivacaftor was found to improve lung function in year 1 (an approximately 6.5–percentage-point increase in ppFEV1), was associated with reduced lung function decline (an approximately 0.5–percentage-point decrease in annual ppFEV1 decline, though confidence intervals included 0), and reduced the annual rate of IV days (approximately 60% over 3 years).
Mian: interactive web-based microbiome data table visualization and machine learning platform
Authors: Jin Boyang Tom , Xu Feng , Ng Raymond T , Hogg James C
Published: November 2021

Mian is a web application to interactively visualize, run statistical tools and train machine learning models on operational taxonomic unit (OTU) or amplicon sequence variant (ASV) datasets to identify key taxonomic groups, diversity trends or taxonomic composition shifts in the context of provided categorical or numerical sample metadata. Tools, including Fisher’s exact test, Boruta feature selection, alpha and beta diversity, and random forest and deep neural network classifiers, facilitate open-ended data exploration and hypothesis generation on microbial datasets.

Availability

Mian is freely available at: miandata.org. Mian is an open-source platform licensed under the MIT license with source code available at github.com/tbj128/mian.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Explainable multimodal machine learning model for classifying pregnancy drug safety
Authors: Shtar Guy , Rokach Lior , Shapira Bracha , Kohn Elkana , Berkovitch Matitiahu , Berlin Maya
Published: November 2021

Motivation

Teratogenic drugs can cause severe fetal malformation and therefore have critical impact on the health of the fetus, yet the teratogenic risks are unknown for most approved drugs. This article proposes an explainable machine learning model for classifying pregnancy drug safety based on multimodal data and suggests an orthogonal ensemble for modeling multimodal data. To train the proposed model, we created a set of labeled drugs by processing over 100 000 textual responses collected by a large teratology information service. Structured textual information is incorporated into the model by applying clustering analysis to textual features.

Results

We report an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.891 using cross-validation and an AUC of 0.904 for cross-expert validation. Our findings suggest the safety of two drugs during pregnancy, Varenicline and Mebeverine, and suggest that Meloxicam, an NSAID, is of higher risk; according to existing data, the safety of these three drugs during pregnancy is unknown. We also present a web-based application that enables physicians to examine a specific drug and its risk factors.

Availability and implementation

The code and data is available from https://github.com/goolig/drug_safety_pregnancy_prediction.git.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Weird Horizons and the Mysticism of the Unhuman in Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach Trilogy
Authors: Newson-Errey Georgie
Published: November 2021

This article argues that the New Weird Fiction of Jeff VanderMeer is highly attuned to the difficulty of processing and representing extreme alterity. Its particular focus is his Southern Reach trilogy and the forms of weird encounter it describes. The article proposes a ‘mysticism of the unhuman’, and explains why it pertains to the encounters depicted in VanderMeer’s texts. It explores the instances of mystical annihilation that feature in the trilogy, an analysis that evolves into a discussion of the relationship between mysticism and horror. This leads into a discussion of linguistic representation, suggesting that approaches by philosophers of language and natural theologians to certain paradoxes surrounding ineffability can illuminate aspects of VanderMeer’s mythos. Although aspects of VanderMeer’s ‘Area X’ may escape human language and cognition, it is nevertheless able to convey information about itself. In exploring how this transmission occurs, the article turns to the notion of recognition, circling back to earlier discussions by asking whether an annihilation of alterity is required for linguistically incompatible beings to recognise one another. The article concludes that VanderMeer answers this question affirmatively, but that his stance is not necessarily pessimistic with regard to the possibility of establishing recognition between human and unhuman inhabitants of Earth.
Mapping Interventions: Toward a Decolonial and Indigenous Praxis across Communication Subfields
Authors: Na’puti Tiara R , Cruz Joëlle M
Published: November 2021

Engaging organizational communication and rhetorical studies subfields, we develop a case for decolonial and Indigenous approaches that offer texture and depth. In the process, we flip the existing topographic “map” of the field and shift Eurocentric canons undergirding cultural and critical Communication Studies. Drawing on vignettes from our fieldworks, we argue for a decolonial critical intervention to affirm marginalized voices, experiences, and theories. Our focus demonstrates how Indigenous methods and decolonial theories advance more responsible engagements with Indigenous epistemologies. Providing a theoretical challenge to the occlusion of indigeneity, we offer a conceptual praxis-oriented mode of theory building that engages communities toward creating Indigenous Communication futures.
Fosfomycin Vs Ciprofloxacin as Oral Step-Down Treatment for Escherichia coli Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Multicenter Trial
Authors: ten Doesschate Thijs , Kuiper Sander , van Nieuwkoop Cees , Hassing Robert Jan , Ketels Tom , van Mens Suzan P , van den Bijllaardt Wouter , van der Bij Akke K , Geerlings Suzanne E , Koster Ad , Koldewijn Evert L , Branger Judith , Hoepelman Andy I M , van Werkhoven Cornelis H , Bonten Marc J M ,   FORECAST Study Team, ten Doesschate Thijs , Hoepelman Andy I M , van Werkhoven Cornelis H , Bonten Marc J M , van Nieuwkoop Cees , Kuiper Sander , van Dijk Marleen M , Stalenhoef Janneke E , Smid Linda , Hassing Robert Jan , Ketels Tom , den Ouden-van der Thiel Yvonne , Gisolf Elisabeth H , van Mens Suzan P , van den Bijllaardt Wouter , van der Bij Akke K , Voogt-Vrijhoef Tanja , Geerlings Suzanne E , van der Vaart Thomas W , Koster Ad , Koldewijn Evert L , Hobijn Mandy , Van ‘t Hof Maartje , Branger Judith , Cents-Bosma Aafke S , Meinders Arend Jan , van Lelyveld Steven , Hendriks Kelly D
Published: November 2021

Background

We aimed to determine the noninferiority of fosfomycin compared to ciprofloxacin as an oral step-down treatment for Escherichia coli febrile urinary tract infections (fUTIs) in women.

Methods

This was a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial in 15 Dutch hospitals. Adult women who were receiving 2–5 days of empirical intravenous antimicrobials for E. coli fUTI were assigned to step-down treatment with once-daily 3g fosfomycin or twice-daily 0.5g ciprofloxacin for 10 days of total antibiotic treatment. For the primary end point, clinical cure at days 6–10 post-end of treatment (PET), a noninferiority margin of 10% was chosen. The trial was registered on Trialregister.nl (NTR6449).

Results

After enrollment of 97 patients between 2017 and 2020, the trial ended prematurely because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The primary end point was met in 36 of 48 patients (75.0%) assigned to fosfomycin and 30 of 46 patients (65.2%) assigned to ciprofloxacin (risk difference [RD], 9.6%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –8.8% to 28.0%). In patients assigned to fosfomycin and ciprofloxacin, microbiological cure at days 6–10 PET occurred in 29 of 37 (78.4%) and 33 of 35 (94.3%; RD, –16.2%; 95% CI: –32.7 to –0.0%). Any gastrointestinal adverse event was reported in 25 of 48 (52.1%) and 14 of 46 (30.4%) patients (RD, 20.8%; 95% CI: 1.6% to 40.0%), respectively.

Conclusions

Fosfomycin is noninferior to ciprofloxacin as oral step-down treatment for fUTI caused by E. coli in women. Fosfomycin use is associated with more gastrointestinal events.

Clinical Trial Registration

Trial NL6275 (NTR6449).
The unintended consequences of the regulation of cryptocurrencies
Authors: Sauce Loïc
Published: November 2021

This paper investigates whether the application of the latest guidance of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for regulating cryptocurrencies may engender unintended consequences at odds with the initial purposes of transparency and technology neutrality. For instance, we will ask whether regulation strengthening may incite a category of investors to flight to unregulated and non-compliant decentralised exchange platforms to stay under the radar of regulators. Furthermore, we ask whether regulation may lead to a two-tier industry, fragmented between compliant trading venues that attract mainstream users and non-compliant trading venues that attract privacy-centric users. We argue that somewhat paradoxically, regulation may push part of the crypto-industry to the ‘dark side’ of financial innovation and drives privacy-centric investors out of the scope of regulators.