bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential of Duckweed (Lemnaperpusilla Torr) to improve the taste of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Mayasari N , Said D S , Chrismadha T , Febrianti D
Published: June 2021

Lemna perpusilla Torr is one of the freshwater plants of the duckweed group (family Lemnaceae) spread all over the world that found in inland waters such as ponds, ponds (embung), or paddy fields. This study aims to determine Lemna’s potential use as a feed for tilapia to improve the taste. Three treatments are measured organoleptically. The N1 treatment is for tilapia fed by full Lemna. The N2 treatment is tilapia that fed 50% Lemna and 50% commercial feed. The last treatment, N3 is tilapia that given full commercial feed. Thirty-two semi-trained panelists among Research Center for Limnology workers conducted organoleptic tests on four tilapia preparations. The preparations are in the form of fried fish, whole fresh fish, fillets, and slices. The analysis of the organoleptic test is by the Kruskal Wallis test with a significant level of 10% proceed with the Dunn test if there are substantial differences. The result is that in fried tilapia, there is no real difference in organoleptic colors, odors, and preferences. However, fried tilapia found that the treatment of N2 was better than N1. The same thing also found in fresh whole fish preparations. Organoleptic colors and preferences give the result that N2 is better than N1. While in fillet preparations, the treatment of N2 and N3 compared with N1 gave significantly different effects on the organoleptic components of color and likeness. In sliced fish, significant differences found in organoleptic colors, where N1 and N2 treatments had better color appearance compared to N3. Treatment of 50% Lemna and 50% commercial feed gave better organoleptic results compared to the others.
Mapping of Mature and Young Oil Palm Distributions in a Humid Tropical River Basin for Flood Vulnerability Assessment
Authors: Yamamoto E M S , Sayama T , Yamamoto K , Apip
Published: June 2021

Oil palm is one of the key drivers of economic growth in some regions in the humid tropical countries such as Indonesia. Previous studies show that floods risk at particular river basins in Indonesia will increase in the future due to climate change. This will give negative impacts to the sustainable production of palm oil in the future and subsequently the regions’ economy. Discussion on adaptation strategies on this matter is necessary however, the vulnerability of oil palm plantations against floods at river basin scale are still poorly understood. Field surveys for oil palms’ vulnerability at such scale is costly in time, labour and resources, and making use of remote sensing is more feasible. The aim of this study is to use remote sensing in assessing oil palm vulnerability against floods at river basin scale. To achieve this objective two oil palm distribution maps which were developed using Sentinel imageries for years 2015 and 2018 allowing young oil palms to be matured under normal condition. To understand the impact of floods to oil palms, a composite of flood extents using radar scenes for years 2016 and 2017 was developed. Our results show that young oil palms are highly vulnerable to floods compared to matured ones. Only 6% of the earlier could survived floods and be matured in time, while most of the matured ones could survive.
Collective Action in Lake Management (CALM): an Indonesian stocktake
Authors: Abdurrahim A Y , Farida F , Sari R R , Noordwijk M van , Yogaswarai H , Adiwibowo S , Dharmawan A H
Published: June 2021

More than 500 lakes in Indonesia have been recognized as important parts of local economies and, at least in some cases, identity, but there is little literature on resource management and collective action. By reviewing literature and using a ‘serious game’, this paper aims to (1) review some of the currently used generic frameworks for understanding collective action in natural resource management, (2) recount some experiences in supporting collective action in Lake Singkarak, Sumatra and (3) describe early steps in using ‘serious games’ developed elsewhere to increase stakeholder understanding of how upstream land management affects lake quality and functions. Some important findings are that collective action is an important key to sustainable natural resources management and the lake as a complex social-ecological system also requires collective action of multi-stakeholders from upstream to downstream. We recommend the use of DPSIR and Javanese ‘gunungan’ frameworks together with ‘serious game’ to identify socio-ecological problems and build multi-stakeholder collective action. Based on our initial research experience in Lake Singkarak, this combination of methods has succeeded in finding various problems, especially different types of knowledge, ways of knowing, and learning styles from multi-stakeholders. These problems are then used as a basis for finding and forming a common understanding which is then transformed into collective action in lake management.
Variations of springs water conductivity the selected springs at the flank of Mount Rajabasa, Lampung
Authors: Bakti H , Lubis RF , Purwaarminta A , Sukmayadi D , Purwoko W , Mulyono A
Published: June 2021

Continuous Electrical conductivity (EC) monitoring has been carried out on springs in the lower slopes of The Mount Rajabasa. The research is intended to find the variation of EC in volcanic springs as a signal to understand groundwater flow regimes. Data evaluation makes use of frequency distribution from statistical methods. The results give clear information for each character of the spring measured at the research site.
Hydro-physical properties of agriculturally used peatlands in Liang Anggang Protected Forest, South Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Salim A G , Narendra B H , Lisnawati Y , Rachmat H H
Published: June 2021

The utilization of peatlands as agricultural areas that do not pay attention to proper water management will result in peatland degradation. To restore the degraded peatlands, it is necessary to explore the peat’s hydrological and physical characteristics. Therefore this study investigates the hydro-physical peat characteristics in the peatlands that have been converted into agricultural use. The research was carried out in the Liang Anggang Protected Forest area, specifically in the area converted to agricultural land. Undisturbed peat samples were collected in both intensive and un-intensive agricultural sites. Peat characteristics were analysed in the laboratory include bulk density, particle density, porosity, total soil water content, and hydraulic conductivity variables. The result shows that peat characteristics in the intensive agricultural land significantly indicate higher bulk density and particle density with the values 0.30 g/cm3 and 0.91 g/cm3, respectively. Still, significantly lower values are found in porosity (66.87%), total soil water content (226.95%), and hydraulic conductivity (0.0025 cm/s). Degraded peatland restoration that functions as a protected forest must be carried out through rewetting activities and maintaining the water table depth. On the other side, the peatland whose function is designated as an agricultural area, wetland farming systems should be applied using adaptive crop species.
Pliocene climate in Indonesia: a review
Authors: Agusta V C , Hendrizan M , Cahyarini S Y , Utami D A , Nurhidayati A U
Published: June 2021

Pliocene climate is known as global cooling. However, some study was showing a warm condition during Pliocene. During Pliocene in the tropics, the warm condition mechanisms are still in debate, whether it occurs due to the permanent El Niño or not. Indonesia is the prominent site to study climate from past to present. Several Pliocene climate studies have resulted from records surrounding Indonesia, but not many were found from inside the Indonesian sea. Pliocene records based on Pollen analysis content in Sajau Formation, Northeast Kalimantan, shows that the presence convinces the warm wet climate condition during the late Pliocene of arboreal pollen domination. However, the causing mechanism of warm wet Pliocene climate has remained a question.
Fundamental laboratory experiments of siphon drain for slope stabilization
Authors: Tohari A , Koizumi K , Komatsu M , Ferranie S , Subagja K
Published: June 2021

Controlling the groundwater level in the slope can prevent the occurrence of landslides and maintain the stability of soil slopes. This paper aims to present the results of laboratory siphon drain experiments to evaluate the siphon drain effectiveness in lowering the water table in a model slope under different experimental conditions. The objective of the experiments was to observe and document the effect of the siphon well location, the siphon well spacing, and the initial groundwater level on the discharge and groundwater level. Five siphon pipes connected to five flushing units were used to extract the water from the slope. Several plastic manometer tubes were installed to monitor the water table. The laboratory experiments demonstrate that the siphon drains decreased the water level in the slope under different siphon well locations. The water seeping out of the slope toe decreased as the water extracted by the siphon drains increased. However, the siphon drains are useful to decrease the water level in the wells with a high-pressure head. Under high water due to rapid water level rise, the siphon drain can reduce the water table level within the slope up to 10 cm at the steady-state condition. In contrast, the siphon drain can effectively prevent the increase of the water table and further development of the seepage face area at the slope toe under low water level associated with a slow increase of water level.
1-Dimensional analysis of land subsidence in Semarang city due to anthropogenic forces
Authors: Sarah D. , Soebowo E. , Satrio N. A. , Syahbana A. J. , Wirabuana T. , Wahyudin
Published: June 2021

Anthropogenic factors play an important role in land subsidence. The northern part of Semarang City has long suffered from land subsidence since the 1980s. This paper aims to analyze the land subsidence process inthe northern part of the Semarang city due to anthropogenic factors of groundwater exploitation andbuilding loads. The analysis was carried out by using 1-dimensional numerical and analytical models. Results of modeling were subsequently compared to results from stable benchmark monitoring data in Madukoro and Kaligawe. Modeling results show that the contribution of groundwater level decrease accounts for 74-82% of the total subsidence, while the remaining 18-26% is attributed to the building load. The rate and magnitude of subsidence arehigher at thenortheastern part (Kaligawe) due to the thicker aquitard and more rapid groundwater level drop. Comparison of modeling and monitoring results signifies that the land subsidence in the northwestern part (Madukoro) approximately follows the model scenarios of groundwater level drawdown and surface loading;meanwhile the land subsidence rate in Kaligawe exceeds modeling results, most possibly due to the large discrepancy between the current conditions to modeling scenarios, presumably faster groundwater drawdown
Deformation mechanism of boudin structures at the Bulukuning area, Banjarnegara
Authors: Puswanto E , Afif M Al , Farisan A , Hastria D , Raharjo P D , Arisa D , Tuakia M Z
Published: June 2021

The greywacke sandstone in the Bulukuning area, Banjarnegara where was previously proposed as the Bulukuning Formation is part of the Luk Ulo Mélange Complex. In general, these molassic deposits show alternation between siltstone and siltstone with thin bedding deposited in the foreland basin. The Eocene sandstones are in some parts associated with the boudin structure, folded and cut by faults in the contractional regime. This study aims to determination of boudin type, structural orientation is highly correlated with deformation mechanism. This mechanism of deformation can be formed in different deformation periods. The correlation between the orientation of the systematic fault P-foliation, Y-shear, and R shows that the formation of boudinage is thought to be affected by the presence of a right movement (dextral), which follows the principle of the riedel shear. The deformation mechanism in the formation of sandstone boudin structures embedded in the scaly clay matrix is thought to be affected by plastic (ductile) by following the simple shear principle.
A Multivariate Analysis of Factors Influencing Green Energy
Authors: Kaur R , Sandhu V , Bhabra K , Kaur H
Published: June 2021

Non-renewable energy, fossil fuel are such sources which satisfy energy needs at environmental cost. But renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydrogen and biogas satisfy needs and also protect environment from CO2 emission. The study took data of 2009 to 2019 of India in which relationship and impact of determinants were studied through correlation and multiple regression technique. Green energy drivers are energy security; CO2 emission; and social & economic development. Only renewable energy consumption is positively correlated with Green Energy no other factor is positively correlated with Green energy. CO2 per capita has negative relation with Renewable energy consumption. It means if Renewable energy consumption will increase then there will be decrease in CO2 per capita. Moreover, more Renewable consumption led to Green Energy. The study revealed the impact of independent variables which represents that Renewable energy consumption per capita; Energy usage per capita; renewable energy consumption; and fossil fuel energy consumption plays significant role in influencing Green Energy.
Effect of Expanded Graphite on Nitrate-Based Phase Change Materials being used in Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Priyanka  , Priya Shanmuga
Published: June 2021

This research is focused on the preparation and characterization of new graphite-based phase change material (PCM) for energy storage application. Characterization like microstructure and chemical composition were discussed using XRD and SEM with EDX. Added to the above thermal conductivity of the prepared samples were studied. This PCM is based on nitrate fillers with expanded graphite (EG). Samples were synthesized with EG concentration of 3%, 5%, 7% and 9 wt%. This composite PCM consists of salts and graphite or eutectic. The SEM images shown the uniform distribution of EG into the nitrate based PCM. Thermal conductivity measurement shows the thermal conductivity is increased with EG concentration. The obtained results suggest that the graphite-based nitrate PCM is a promising element to use in high thermal energy storage applications.
Suitable Sites Identification for Solid Waste Disposal Using Geographic Information System and Analytical Hierarchy Process Method in Debark Town, Northwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Jothimani Muralitharan , Geberslasie Asmamaw , Duraisamy Radhakrishnan
Published: June 2021

Proper site selection for solid waste disposal is a significant issue in the management of solid waste. The present study has been carried out in Debark town, Amhara region, Northwestern Ethiopia, with an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method and geographic information system (GIS) tools to locate the suitable solid waste disposal sites. In the present study, the following eleven thematic layers such as groundwater level, lithology, land use/land cover, precipitation, soil types, elevation, and slope, distance from the (drainages, springs, lineaments, and roads), and their sub-criteria have been used for the selection of suitable solid waste disposal sites. The above-mentioned thematic factors and their sub-criteria standardized weights and consistency ratios have been calculated and checked using the AHP method. The outcome of this study shows (2 km2 area) 2.50%, (3 km2 area) 3%, and (77 km2 area) 94.5% of the area is highly, moderately, and unsuitable, respectively, for the siting the solid waste disposal site in the present study area. The current study results show the effectiveness of GIS tools and the AHP method in solid waste disposal site selection analysis.
Don’t Transfer Waste, Transform Waste: A Sustainable Approach Towards Zero Waste Events Initiative During Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneshwar, India
Authors: Bahl M , Dua S , Patro A , Mahajan N
Published: June 2021

This paper is based on the planning, execution and implementation of solid waste management in the Hockey World Cup hosted by the city of Bhubaneswar and implemented by GIZ (German Development Cooperation). Zero Waste Plan was prepared wherein establishment of a zero-waste facility; collection of waste in colour coded bins of capacity 120l; hands on training provided to the operational staff for ensuring proper segregation. Approximately 1000kgs/day of waste was segregated, out of which 30% organic, 25% Plastic, 30% Paper, 10% Metal and Glass and 5% of rejects. The initiative was successful in diverting more than 90% waste for recycling. Sustainable waste management has been exemplified in the Hockey World Cup 2018, making Bhubaneswar a pioneer city to host large event as a Zero Waste event. Well integrated, efficient and socially inclusive system was ensured in alignment with long term vision of Government of India and Smart City Missions.
Construction and Demolition Waste as an Alternative of Rigid Pavement Material: A Review
Authors: Vilas Meena Ram , Singh Chouhan Harshwardhan , Kumar Jain Jitendra , Kumar Satankar Raj
Published: June 2021

Current study involves review of waste material from construction and demolition activities, further utilised in construction of rigid payment. Recently Government has placed strong emphasis to utilize solid waste in different manner to reduce or decrease their negative environmental impacts, in Indian context such type of work is limited, and we are progressively working toward it. This study presents a summarised overview of studies conducted in India using RCA (Recycled concrete aggregate), RAP (Recycled Asphalt Pavement) and WFS (Waste Foundry Sand). Research has reported effective use of RAP, RCA or WFS with partial replacement of aggregates and cement, however workability issue has to be identified and further research may be done.
Impact of Aspect Ratio of Floor Plan on the Energy Performance of Office Rooms in New Delhi, India
Authors: Kumari Rashmi
Published: June 2021

The use of efficient building design strategies at the inception of the building project helps to improve the overall building energy performance. This paper focuses on the effect of aspect ratio of the floor plan on the energy performance of a building to reduce the energy demand of the office buildings. The other factors deciding energy performance of a building, like orientation, floor area, floor height, floor number and window to wall ratio, have been kept constant. The simulation is performed in Design Builder software, and the energy consumptions at different assumed cases have been analysed using correlation and regression analysis technique, thoroughly to find the optimum solution. The findings of this research will be useful in providing solutions for the reduction of energy demand of the office buildings in the study area.
The urban-rural polarisation of political disenchantment: an investigation of social and political attitudes in 30 European countries
Authors: Kenny Michael , Luca Davide
Published: June 2021

Relatively little research has explored whether there is a systemic urban-rural divide in the political and socioeconomic attitudes of citizens across Europe. Drawing on individual-level data from the European Social Survey, we argue that there are strong and significant differences between the populations in these different settings, especially across western European countries. We suggest that this divide is a continuum, running on a gradient from inner cities to suburbs, towns and the countryside. The differences are explained by both composition and contextual effects, and underscore how a firmer appreciation of the urban-rural divide is integral to future place-based policy responses.
Adult House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Response to Black Soldier Fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) Associated Substrates and Potential Volatile Organic Compounds Identification
Authors: Adjavon Fatim J M A , Li Xueling , Hu Bin , Dong Lu , Zeng Honghong , Li Chujun , Hu Wenfeng
Published: June 2021

Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), larvae are suspected to inhibit house flies, Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), seeking oviposition sites. However, the mechanisms regulating these interactions are not well known. In this study, a Y-tube olfactometer was used to determine whether black soldier fly eggs, larvae, puparia (without pupae inside), adult carcasses, or resulting frass of black soldier fly decrease attractiveness of adult house flies to an oviposition substrate (i.e., sugar and wheat bran diet, used as the control). Secondly, two symbiotic bacteria associated were isolated, identified, and tested for house fly attractiveness with a Y-tube olfactometer. Thirdly, volatile organic compounds produced by swine feed before and after black soldier fly, or house fly larval digestion were analyzed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results indicate feed mixed with black soldier fly larval frass, and symbiotic bacteria, Paenalcaligenes sp. associated with black soldier fly, were less attractive to house flies than the control. However, another symbiotic bacterium Lysinibacillus sp. associated with black soldier fly pupae was attractive. In total, 52 volatile organic compounds were identified from treatments previously described. Quantitative differences in volatile profiles across treatments potentially explain the mechanism regulating house fly substrate choices in the presence, or absence, of black soldier fly larvae.
Risk Attitudes and Conflict in the Household
Authors: Serra-Garcia Marta
Published: June 2021

Risk attitudes determine decision making by individuals. Theoretically, heterogeneity in risk attitudes also affects household behaviour, increasing or decreasing marital instability, depending on whether households benefit primarily from sharing public goods or risk. Using a nationally representative sample with repeated measurements of risk attitudes, this paper shows that intrahousehold heterogeneity in risk attitudes is an economically and statistically significant predictor of future marital instability. Consistent with models of public good sharing, preference heterogeneity is associated with less public good sharing. Furthermore, risk attitudes converge within stable households over time. These findings highlight the empirical relevance of risk attitudes in explaining household behaviour.
The need for environmental surveillance to understand the ecology, epidemiology and impact of Cryptococcus infection in Africa
Authors: Edwards Hannah M , Cogliati Massimo , Kwenda Geoffrey , Fisher Matthew C
Published: June 2021

Our understanding of the pathogenic yeasts Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii has been greatly enhanced by use of genome sequencing technologies. Found ubiquitously as saprotrophs in the environment, inhalation of infectious spores from these pathogens can lead to the disease cryptococcosis. Individuals with compromised immune systems are at particular risk, most notably those living with HIV/AIDS. Genome sequencing in combination with laboratory and clinical studies has revealed diverse lineages with important differences in their observed frequency, virulence and clinical outcomes. However, to date, genomic analyses have focused primarily on clinical isolates that represent only a subset of the diversity in the environment. Enhanced genomic surveillance of these yeasts in their native environments is needed in order to understand their ecology, biology and evolution and how these influence the epidemiology and pathophysiology of clinical disease. This is particularly relevant on the African continent from where global cryptococcal diversity may have originated, yet where environmental sampling and sequencing has been sparse despite harbouring the largest population at risk from cryptococcosis. Here, we review what scientifically and clinically relevant insights have been provided by analysis of environmental Cryptococcus isolates to date and argue that with further sampling, particularly in Africa, many more important discoveries await.
Synergistic interactions prevail in multispecies biofilms formed by the human gut microbiota on mucin
Authors: Sadiq Faizan Ahmed , Wenwei Lu , Heyndrickx Marc , Flint Steve , Wei Chen , Jianxin Zhao , Zhang Hao
Published: June 2021

Bacterial species in the human gut predominantly exist in the form of mixed-species biofilms on mucosal surfaces. In this study, the biofilm-forming ability of many human gut bacterial strains (133 strains recovered from human faeces) on mucin-coated and non-coated polystyrene surfaces was determined. A significant variation (P < 0.05) in the biofilm-forming ability of many bacterial species on both surfaces was noticed. Based on some preliminary trials, four bacterial species were selected (Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis, Parabacteroides distasonis and Bacteroides ovatus), which could not form any abundant biofilm individually under the in vitro conditions investigated, but produced abundant biofilms when co-cultured in different combinations of two, three and four species, giving an evidence of synergistic interactions in multispecies biofilm formation. There was a 4.74-fold increase in the biofilm mass when all strains developed a biofilm together. Strain-specific qPCR analysis showed that B. bifidum was the most dominant species (56%) in the four-species biofilm after 24 h, followed by B. longum subsp. infantis (36.2%). Study involving cell free supernatant of the cooperating strains showed that cell viability as well as physical presence of cooperating cells were prerequisites for the observed synergy in biofilms. The molecular mechanism behind these interactions and subsequent effects on the functionality of the strains involved were not determined in our study but merit further work.
Improved Assessment of Overall Health in Variably Aged Murine Models of Multiple Sclerosis With a Novel Frailty Index Tool
Authors: Ribeiro Ana Rita , Barros Catarina , Barateiro Andreia , Howlett Susan E , Fernandes Adelaide
Published: June 2021

The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model is the most commonly used animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, phenotypic characterization of mice based on the traditional 5-point clinical paralysis scale does not fully capture disease progression. The frailty index (FI) conceptualizes frailty as the accumulation of health deficits and it is widely used to assess overall health in aging humans and preclinical models. Here, we adapted an established mouse FI tool for use in EAE mice and determined whether this could evaluate general signs of health in variably aged female EAE mice. The EAE-Clinical FI included 34 items related to clinical signs and deficits characteristic of aging and MS. This tool clearly showed more detailed EAE progression and severity at all ages, highlighting changes in systems other than motor paralysis measured with the traditional 5-point paralysis scale. When we induced disease at 3 and 6 months of age, mice showed typical EAE clinical manifestations with peak disease severity between 17 and 19 days post-induction and mean frailty scores of 0.36 ± 0.04 (3-month-old) and 0.43 ± 0.05 (6-month-old). By contrast, disease severity peaked after 14 days in 12-month-old mice. They showed atypical signs including wobbling, early belly drag, and splayed hindlegs that were better captured with the EAE-Clinical FI. Peak frailty scores also were higher than those of younger animals (0.54 ± 0.04). As MS most often develops in young to middle-aged people, this new tool may have significant value for use in EAE animal studies as a first step toward translation to people with MS.
Age-Related Susceptibility to Muscle Damage Following Mechanotherapy in Rats Recovering From Disuse Atrophy
Authors: Hettinger Zachary R , Hamagata Kyoko , Confides Amy L , Lawrence Marcus M , Miller Benjamin F , Butterfield Timothy A , Dupont-Versteegden Esther E
Published: June 2021

The inability to fully recover lost muscle mass following periods of disuse atrophy predisposes older adults to lost independence and poor quality of life. We have previously shown that mechanotherapy at a moderate load (4.5 N) enhances muscle mass recovery following atrophy in adult, but not older adult rats. We propose that elevated transverse stiffness in aged muscle inhibits the growth response to mechanotherapy and hypothesize that a higher load (7.6 N) will overcome this resistance to mechanical stimuli. F344/BN adult and older adult male rats underwent 14 days of hindlimb suspension, followed by 7 days of recovery with (RE + M) or without (RE) mechanotherapy at 7.6 N on gastrocnemius muscle. The 7.6 N load was determined by measuring transverse passive stiffness and linearly scaling up from 4.5 N. No differences in protein turnover or mean fiber cross-sectional area were observed between RE and RE + M for older adult rats or adult rats at 7.6 N. However, there was a higher number of small muscle fibers present in older adult, but not adult rats, which was explained by a 16-fold increase in the frequency of small fibers expressing embryonic myosin heavy chain. Elevated central nucleation, satellite cell abundance, and dystrophin−/laminin+ fibers were present in older adult rats only following 7.6 N, while 4.5 N did not induce damage at either age. We conclude that age is an important variable when considering load used during mechanotherapy and age-related transverse stiffness may predispose older adults to damage during the recovery period following disuse atrophy.
Conceptual and Analytical Overlap Between Allostatic Load and Systemic Biological Aging Measures: Analyses From the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States
Authors: Hastings Waylon J , Almeida David M , Shalev Idan
Published: June 2021

Background

Indices quantifying allostatic load (AL) and biological aging (BA) have independently received widespread use in epidemiological literature. However, little attention has been paid to their conceptual and quantitative overlap. By reviewing literature utilizing measures of AL and BA, and conducting comparative analysis, we highlight similarities and differences in biological markers employed and approach toward scale construction. Further, we outline opportunities where both types of indices might be improved by adopting methodological features of the other.

Methods

Using data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (N = 2055, age = 26–86), we constructed 3 AL indices: 1 common literature standard and 2 alternative formulations informed by previous work with measures of BA. The performance of AL indices was juxtaposed against 2 commonly employed BA indices: Klemera-Doubal Method Biological Age and Homeostatic Dysregulation.

Results

All indices correlated with chronological age. Participants with higher AL and older BA performed worse on tests of physical and subjective functioning. Further, participants with increased life-course risk exposure exhibited higher AL and BA. Notably, alternative AL formulations tended to exhibit effect sizes equivalent to or larger than those observed for BA measures, and displayed superior mortality prediction.

Conclusions

In addition to their conceptual similarity, AL and BA indices also exhibit significant analytical similarity. Further, BA measures are robust to construction using a panel of biomarkers not observed in previous iterations, including carotenoids indexing antioxidant capacity. In turn, AL indices could benefit by adopting the methodological rigor formalized within BA composites, such as applying biomarker down-selection criteria.
Disease Activity Indices for Pouchitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Sedano Rocio , Nguyen Tran M , Almradi Ahmed , Rieder Florian , Parker Claire E , Shackelton Lisa M , D’Haens Geert , Sandborn William J , Feagan Brian G , Ma Christopher , Jairath Vipul
Published: June 2021

Background

Several indices exist to measure pouchitis disease activity; however, none are fully validated. As an initial step toward creating a validated instrument, we identified pouchitis disease activity indices, examined their operating properties, and assessed their value as outcome measures in clinical trials.

Methods

Electronic databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials including indices that evaluated clinical, endoscopic, or histologic pouchitis disease activity. A second search identified studies that assessed the operating properties of pouchitis indices.

Results

Eighteen randomized controlled trials utilizing 4 composite pouchitis disease activity indices were identified. The Pouchitis Disease Activity Index (PDAI) was most commonly used (12 of 18; 66.7%) to define both trial eligibility (8 of 12; 66.7%), and outcome measures (12 of 12; 100%). In a separate search, 21 studies evaluated the operating properties of 3 pouchitis indices; 90.5% (19 of 21) evaluated validity, of which 42.1% (8 of 19) evaluated the construct validity of the PDAI. Criterion validity (73.7%; 14 of 19) was evaluated through correlation of the PDAI with fecal calprotectin (FCP; r = 0.188 to 0.71), fecal lactoferrin (r = 0.570 to 0.582), and C-reactive protein (CRP; r = 0.584). Two studies assessed correlation of the modified PDAI (mPDAI) with FCP (r = 0.476 and r = 0.565, respectively). Fair to moderate inter-rater reliability of the PDAI (k = 0.440) and mPDAI (k = 0.389) was reported in a single study. Responsiveness of the PDAI pre-antibiotic and postantibiotic treatment was partially evaluated in a single study of 12 patients.

Conclusions

Development and validation of a specific pouchitis disease activity index is needed given that existing instruments are not valid, reliable, or responsive.
“We the prosecutors”: Challenges to social participation in Brazilian public law litigation
Authors: Denari Gomes de Mattos Karina
Published: June 2021

The Brazilian Ministério Público (MP) is an agency that aims to monitor the enforcement of criminal law, prosecuting wherever necessary, in addition to protecting relevant collective goods, such as those included in consumer and environmental regulations. These latter types of powers—established for the first time in the 1934 Constitution and consolidated in the 1988 Constitution—are uncommon from a comparative perspective. Although at first glance they could be seen to be useful for enforcing important principles and fundamental rights, I argue that the gradual empowerment of the MP could potentially have damaged civil society associations’ (CSAs) capacity for legal mobilization, since the areas of competence of this legal institution largely overlap with the niche in which civil society advocacy organizations operate. The experimentalist constitutional design combined with the gradual activist behavior from its members, have positioned the MP as perhaps one of the major institutional guardians of the public interest after Brazil’s re-democratization. I conclude by suggesting that the MP should develop strategies to enhance the representativeness and effectiveness of CSAs by engaging in a fruitful dialogue with them, including the monitoring of those cases once they leave the courtroom. In turn, CSAs also have strategic incentives to align with the MP, mainly to withstand current judicial skepticism about its institutional capacity for public law litigation.
Differential habitat use by sympatric species of mouse lemurs across a mangrove–dry forest habitat gradient
Authors: Wuesthoff Eric F , Fuller Todd K , Sutherland Christopher , Kamilar Jason M , Ramanankirahina Rindrahatsarana , Rakotondravony Romule , Rouse Sarah , Radespiel Ute
Published: June 2021

Understanding the mechanisms by which similar species coexist in sympatry is a major driver of ecological research. Niche partitioning and ecological plasticity can facilitate spatial and habitat use overlap between generalist and specialist species. Mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) are a highly speciose group of small primates that are endemic to the forests of Madagascar. In northwestern Madagascar, the relatively widespread M. murinus occurs sympatrically with the microendemic M. ravelobensis. We investigated spatial distributions and densities of these two species across a mangrove–dry forest habitat gradient in Mariarano commune. We used capture-mark-recapture techniques and nocturnal line transect surveys along six transects during June and July 2017. Spatial capture-recapture and distance sampling models were used to estimate lemur densities across habitat types. The congeners displayed differential patterns of spatial distribution and densities. Microcebus murinus was found in similar densities across all habitat types, while M. ravelobensis was found at much higher densities in dry forests compared with mangroves. This suggests that the generalist M. murinus uses a wider array of habitats more evenly than the specialist M. ravelobensis. Our study provides empirical evidence of how cryptic lemur species differ in their habitat use and distribution across an environmental gradient and provides new insights into their ecology in an understudied habitat. Lemurs are one of the most threatened groups of mammals in the world, and understanding how these species are distributed across different forest types is crucial for planning and implementing conservation measures to protect lemur habitat.
Government Grants, Donors, and Nonprofit Performance
Authors: Coupet Jason , Schehl Madeline
Published: June 2021

Nonprofits engaged in public service provision can receive funding from both donors and governments. Much of the nonprofit performance theory suggests that donors are unlikely to base donation decisions on nonprofit production. However, governments may prioritize performance in nonprofit funding decisions. We combine study internal production reports for the years 2010–2016 from 535 Habitat for Humanity Affiliates with financial data from IRS Form 990 reports and housing price data from the FHA. We then use a dynamic panel design to compare the effects of performance on donor and government funding. Production does not increase donations, but a 1% increase in production increases government grant revenue by 0.28%. Our findings indicate that nonprofit performance theory should move beyond the donor-nonprofit dyad and explicitly explore the role of government principals. Our findings also suggest that while requirements that accompany government funding might be cumbersome for nonprofits, government entities might use the data in future grant decisions.
Medication reviews in community pharmacy: a scoping review of policy, practice and research in Canada
Authors: Olufemi-Yusuf Damilola T , Kung Janice Y , Guirguis Lisa M
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This scoping review aims to systematically map the empirical evidence on publicly funded medication reviews provided by community pharmacists in Canada and identify gaps that could inform future research directions.

Methods

We used a scoping review framework and PRISMA guidelines for Scoping Reviews to conduct the study. Three electronic databases were searched for papers published between January 2000 until August 2020. Data was charted on study characteristics, and a thematic synthesis was performed.

Key findings

Of 41 original studies included, most were conducted in Ontario (n = 21). Majority of the studies employed quantitative designs (70%). Five major themes identified were program uptake, patient health outcomes, stakeholder beliefs and attitudes, processes and collaboration and pharmacy workplace culture, which varied considerably. At the individual, organizational and policy levels, many factors were interrelated and influenced the implementation of reimbursed medication reviews by community pharmacists. Gaps in eligibility policy highlighted some patients who may have complex needs are excluded. Variation in clinical outcomes may relate to different types of medication review and pharmacist practice across Canada. Few researchers evaluated eligibility criteria, the impact of policy changes, strategies to engage patients and healthcare professionals, patient–pharmacist communication or compared practice models of medication reviews. About 12% of the research applied a theoretical framework.

Publicly funded medication reviews in Canadian community pharmacies reduce medication-related problems and potentially improve patient health outcomes. Future research and policies could consider addressing barriers and exploring models for sustainable delivery of high-quality medication reviews internationally.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Microbial Therapeutics for the Treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Bernard Rachel , Hourigan Suchitra K , Nicholson Maribeth R
Published: June 2021

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and has high rates of recurrent disease. As a disease associated with intestinal dysbiosis, gastrointestinal microbiome manipulation and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have evolved as effective, although relatively unregulated therapeutics and not without safety concerns. FMT for the treatment of CDI has been well studied in adults with increasing data reported in children. In this review, we discuss the current body of literature on the use of FMT in children including effectiveness, safety, risk factors for a failed FMT, and the role of FMT in children with comorbidities. We also review emerging microbial therapeutics for the treatment of rCDI.
Balance Beams and Suicide-Risk Screening
Authors: Bryan Craig J.
Published: June 2021

This chapter examines how the mental illness model of suicide has led us to place more faith than may be warranted in concepts such as suicide “warning signs” and suicide-risk screening tools. These concepts are notoriously unreliable indicators of emerging suicidal behaviors because they do not sufficiently reflect the inherently dynamic and ever-changing nature of suicide risk. Any given warning sign for suicide will be wrong much, much more often than it will be right. Even when multiple warning signs are experienced or expressed by an individual, this problem persists. One factor limiting the accuracy of suicide-risk screening is that thoughts about death and suicide fluctuate over time. Thus, we should move away from assuming that we must know who will and who will not attempt suicide to prevent these behaviors from occurring.
Seat Belts and Second Chances
Authors: Bryan Craig J.
Published: June 2021

This chapter argues for a potentially high-impact but underutilized strategy: restricting or limiting access to highly lethal methods for suicide, especially firearms. It begins by describing the role of seatbelts in traffic fatality prevention. Prevention through design assumes that injuries, illnesses, and fatalities can be most effectively reduced or controlled by designing and building systems that eliminate or remove potential hazards from the very beginning, before they can cause any harm. If we shifted our mindset surrounding suicide prevention in a way that better aligned with the prevention through design approach underlying traffic fatality prevention, we might reconsider the considerable time, effort, and resources being devoted to the development and implementation of suicide risk identification and detection methods, and consider instead the potential impact of redirecting these efforts toward environmentally focused strategies that are more likely to reduce suicide rates. The chapter then considers the life-saving effects of laws and policies designed to reduce access to firearms, discussing firearm suicide in the United States.
Mentalization-based therapies
Authors: Duschinsky Robbie , Foster Sarah
Published: June 2021

Clinical work as a psychoanalyst working with adults and children directly informed Fonagy’s concern with mentalizing, which grew out of technical innovations in ‘developmental help’ offered at the Anna Freud Centre. In turn, the theory developed by Fonagy and colleagues fed into the emergence of mentalization-based therapy (MBT) as a treatment modality. Initially, in the 1990s, the target of this intervention was patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, MBT has subsequently been used with patients facing a variety of mental health symptoms, including common symptoms like anxiety and depression. This chapter will describe the development of MBT over time, including variants such as dynamic interpersonal therapy (DIT). We will also consider some remaining questions about MBT, including the potential for MBT to harm some groups of patients.
The lens SW05 J143454.4+522850: a fossil group at redshift 0.6?
Authors: Denzel Philipp , Çatmabacak Onur , Coles Jonathan , Cornen Claude , Feldmann Robert , Ferreras Ignacio , Gwyn Palmer Xanthe , Küng Rafael , Leier Dominik , Saha Prasenjit , Verma Aprajita
Published: June 2021

Fossil groups are considered the end product of natural galaxy group evolution in which group members sink towards the centre of the gravitational potential due to dynamical friction, merging into a single, massive, and X-ray bright elliptical. Since gravitational lensing depends on the mass of a foreground object, its mass concentration, and distance to the observer, we can expect lensing effects of such fossil groups to be particularly strong. This paper explores the exceptional system J143454.4+522850 (with a lens redshift zL = 0.625). We combine gravitational lensing with stellar population synthesis to separate the total mass of the lens into stars and dark matter. The enclosed mass profiles are contrasted with state-of-the-art galaxy formation simulations, to conclude that SW05 is likely a fossil group with a high stellar to dark matter mass fraction (0.027 ± 0.003) with respect to expectations from abundance matching (0.012 ± 0.004), indicative of a more efficient conversion of gas into stars in fossil groups.
The first photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the extremely low mass-ratio contact binary NSVS 5029961
Authors: Zheng Shu-Yue , Li Kai , Xia Qi-Qi
Published: June 2021

We performed photometric and spectroscopic investigations of NSVS 5029961 for the first time. The new BV(RI)c-band light curves were obtained with the 1.0-m telescope at Weihai Observatory of Shandong University. Applying the Wilson–Devinney program, we found that NSVS 5029961 is an A-subtype shallow contact binary with extremely low mass ratio (q = 0.1515, f = 19.1 per cent). Six spectra have been obtained by LAMOST, and many chromospheric activity emission line indicators were detected in the spectra, revealing that the target exhibits strong chromospheric activity. We calculated the absolute parameters with the photometric solutions and Gaia distance, and estimated the initial masses of the two components and the age of the binary. The evolutionary status was discussed by using the mass–radius and mass–luminosity diagrams. The result shows the primary component is a little evolved star and the secondary component has evolved away from the main sequence. The formation and evolution investigations of NSVS 5029661 indicate that it may have evolved from a detached binary with short period and low mass ratio by angular momentum loss via magnetic braking and case A mass transfer, and is in a stable contact stage at present.