bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Observation of the feeding behaviour of reared Japanese eel Anguilla japonica leptocephali fed picocyanobacteria Synechococcus spp.
Authors: Kenzaki Akira , Okunishi Suguru , Tomoda Tsutomu , Shioura Yuuya , Uchida Motoharu , Tezuka Naoaki , Maeda Hiroto
Published: December 2021

The authors observed the feeding behaviour of artificially reared Japanese eel Anguilla japonica leptocephali, 7.5–19 mm total length (10–61 days post‐hatch), fed Synechococcus sp., which is considered a potential food source of anguilliform larvae. Three strains of Synechococcus sp. (NIES‐972, 976 and 979) were tested as the food material. Larvae across the entire length range could effectively ingest a suspension of pico‐sized cyanobacteria (1–3 μm in diameter). Video observations of the mid‐hindgut of larvae under an epifluorescence microscope confirmed that the movement of microvilli of the intestinal epithelium allowed the cell particles to circulate in the mid‐hindgut, before becoming solidified in the anal region. Significant differences in food intake were observed between larvae fed two strains of Synechococcus (NIES‐972 and 976), and among different cell densities, which suggests feeding selectivity and density dependence. Comparisons of feeding behaviour under the light group (9L:15D) and the dark group (24D) showed significantly higher food intake (measured as an index of intestinal fullness) in the light group, although substantial and continuous ingestion was observed in the dark group, indicating continuous feeding by swallowing sea water. The authors hypothesise that the feeding ecology of anguilliform leptocephali is based on a survival strategy whereby the larvae do not compete with various higher‐trophic‐level fishes for food in an oligotrophic environment.
Vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction: A quantitative assessment using CT scans
Authors: Du Plessis Anneli , Van Schoor Albert , Wessels Quenton , Murphy Patrick , Van Schouwenburg Francois , Ihuhua Pulenge , Kehrmann Jana , Scholtz Magda , Keough Natalie
Published: December 2021

The thoracolumbar junction is often associated with traumatic injuries, due to its biomechanical instability. Reasons for this instability are currently still under debate; however, contributing factors such as the rapid change in spinal curvature and facet orientation from the thoracic to lumbar transition have been implicated. Normally, the superior facet orientation in the thoracic region is angled in a coronal plane, whereas vertebrae in the lumbar region have facets angled in the sagittal plane. Distinguishing between thoracic, lumbar, and transitional vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction based on articular facet angles, using quantitative methods on CT scans has, to the authors' knowledge, not yet been reported in the literature. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether quantitative measurements can be clinically applied and used to differentiate vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction using CT scans and, additionally, to record possible cases of congenital defects or variations observed in the spine. A sample (n = 173) of CT scans representative of the Windhoek population in Namibia was retrospectively assessed using radio‐imaging software. Measurements of the angle formed by the superior facets of the vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction (T11‐L1) were recorded. Based on the results of this study, quantitative morphometry of the superior facet of vertebrae can differentiate between thoracic, lumbar,. and transitional vertebrae at the thoracolumbar junction. All individuals with identified thoracolumbar transitional vertebrae (TLTV) in this sample had at least one other congenital anomaly of the spine.
Differences in the prevention and incidence of maternal venous thromboembolism according to the type of institution in Japan in 2018: A sub‐analysis of national questionnaire surveillance
Authors: Morikawa Mamoru , Adachi Tomoko , Itakura Atsuo , Nii Masafumi , Nakabayashi Yasushi , Kobayashi Takao ,   The Japan Society of Obstetrical, Gynecological and Neonatal Hematology
Published: December 2021

Aim

To clarify the relation between institutions capacity to manage venous thromboembolism (VTE) and its incidence in pregnant women throughout Japan.

Methods

Among the 2299 institutions that received the surveillance questionnaire, 666 (29.0%) responded, after which data from 295 961 women who gave birth at those institutions in 2018 were analyzed. Incidences and characteristics of antepartum and postpartum VTE in perinatal medical centers (PMCs), general hospital with obstetric facilities (GHs), and maternal clinic with beds (MCs) were then determined.

Results

The frequencies at which routine antepartum and postpartum thromboprophylaxis for high‐risk women and routine transport to the more advanced medical institutions upon antepartum and postpartum pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) onset were performed differed significantly according to types of institution (PMCs: 92.4%, 96.2%, 23.8%, and 21.2%; GHs: 76.5%, 80.6%, 58.8%, and 54.1%; MCs: 29.2%, 41.7%, 96.5%, and 96.2%, respectively). Among the 295 961 women analyzed, 243 (0.082%) developed VTE. Incidences of antepartum VTE differed significantly according to institution types (PMCs: 106.4, GHs: 51.6, and MCs: 11.6 per 100 000 women). PMCs and GHs had significantly higher incidences of postpartum VTE compared to MCs (43.3 and 26.6 vs. 10.7 per 100 000 women, respectively), although PMCs and GHs had similar incidences. Among the four women (1.4%) who died due to VTE, three and one developed a PE in a PMC and MC, respectively.

Conclusions

PMCs had higher incidences of VTE despite their more frequent performance of thromboprophylaxis. Several pregnant women with higher risk of VTE transported to PMCs.
Social security and longevity risk: An analysis of couples
Authors: Cottle Hunt Erin , Caliendo Frank N.
Published: December 2021

To help manage longevity risk, Social Security pays three types of benefits to retirees: retirement benefits as a life annuity, spousal benefits until the death of the primary earner, and survivor benefits after the death of primary earner. How effective is Social Security at insuring couples against the joint longevity risks that they face? We take a public finance approach to this important question by comparing a Laissez Faire economy to a variety of different public insurance structures including the First Best, the Second Best, and US Social Security. We find that the welfare gains to couples from participating in the US Social Security system are large, and the survivor benefit feature is the key to this result while the spousal benefit provides very little efficiency gains. In fact, the optimal mixture of spousal and survivor benefits (i.e., the Second Best) improves ex ante efficiency by providing a larger payment to widows and a smaller spousal benefit than the current US system. We obtain these results using a theoretical model of couples who have full information about gender‐specific longevity risks and solve a dynamic stochastic (regime‐switching) problem to optimally hedge these risks.
Factors associated with personal recovery among psychiatric nursing home residents
Authors: Chao Pei‐Yi , Hsieh Wen Ling , Yeh Shin Ting , Hsieh Chia Jung , Liu Chieh‐Yu , Liu Wen‐I
Published: December 2021

Accessible Summary

What is known about the subject?

Poor recovery will cause harm to the quality of life and well‐being of residents and that the scope of influence includes the self, family and society.

No study to date has investigated empowerment and the other multiple factors associated with personal recovery among psychiatric nursing home residents.

What does the paper add to existing knowledge?

The factors associated with personal recovery are empowerment, social support and global functioning.

This pioneer study contributes new evidence that personal recovery is mainly predicted by empowerment, social support and global function, with empowerment exhibiting the highest predictive value.

What are the implications for practice?

Strengthening empowerment in mental health nursing may contribute more to the personal recovery of psychiatric nursing home residents than improving global function or social support.

Mental health professionals should shift to empowerment‐oriented care to improve individuals' personal recovery, such as offering more opportunities to achieve autonomy, encouraging individuals' involvement in decision‐making and promoting individuals' motivation for achieving their goals.

Introduction

Individuals diagnosed with mental illness have a need for recovery. No study to date has investigated empowerment and the other multiple factors associated with personal recovery among psychiatric nursing home residents.

Aim

The study aimed to identify the factors associated with personal recovery among psychiatric nursing home residents.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study with convenience sampling. Participants were recruited from a psychiatric nursing home in Northern Taiwan between April and June 2018. Data were collected through self‐reported, structured questionnaires with verified reliability and validity. Descriptive and hierarchical regression analyses were performed. The present study followed the STROBE guidelines.

Results

The study included 158 participants. The factors associated with recovery according to bivariate associations were religious belief, psychotic symptoms, global function, social support and empowerment. In the hierarchical regression, empowerment, social support and global function were the main predictive factors of recovery, with the explained variation reaching 40.8%. Empowerment exhibited the highest predictive value for the recovery.

Implications for clinical practice

Strengthening empowerment in mental health nursing may contribute more to the personal recovery of psychiatric nursing home residents than improving global function or social support.
Targeted (PCR-based) screening of antibiotic resistance genes’ prevalence in the gut microbiota of tribal people of Nabarangpur, Odisha, India
Authors: Sethi M. , Mohanty V. , Mishra S. , Dash J. , Mahapatra S. , Parida D. , Mohapatra A.P. , Mishra R. , Prasad P. , Parida A. , Senapati S.
Published: December 2021

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern worldwide. The gut microbiota harbours multiple antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) that contribute to the existing and future microbial population in a community or ecosystem. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of 35 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the gut microbiota of the tribal people of Nabarangpur, Odisha, India. A total of 83 faecal samples were collected from three different tribes (Bhatra, Gond, and Paraja). Total faecal DNA was extracted, and the simplex polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect selected ARGs. Further analysis was done to estimate the incidence of these ARGs across these tribes based on alcohol consumption habits. We identified a higher prevalence of tetracycline resistance genes (tetW, tetQ and tetM) in the gut microbiota among three populations. Furthermore, a significant (P = 0·024) difference in ARG prevalence against vancomycin in individuals with and without alcohol consumption habits was noticed. The overall distribution of ARGs among the three major tribes of this location was found to be very similar. Together, irrespective of the tribes, the people of this location have gut microbiota harbouring different kinds of ARGs and tetracycline-resistant genes are the most commonly found ARGs.
“The politics of the medieval preracial”i
Authors: Kim Dorothy
Published: December 2021

For several decades, medieval scholars have argued over race's definition and its use for geographies, contexts, and group dynamics in premodern Europe. In medieval history, this discussion has been based on a non‐scholarly definition of race that never cited any work in critical race studies. Medieval history's uncritical definition of race, which is defined with a eugenicist, pre‐World War II classification and has ignored the last 60 years of scholarship, has stopped medieval studies from having a sustained, well‐informed discussion. Medieval history remains willingly stuck in pre‐civil rights methodologies of white supremacist history, but other disciplines offer useful correctives. For instance, scholars in literary and religious studies use critical race concepts drawn from social sciences to better understand medieval ideas of race.
The intellectual body, the body intellectual
Authors: Rajabzadeh Shokoofeh
Published: December 2021

Medieval Studies is embodied through whiteness, limited by whiteness, and created by the white imagination. In this field, as it is, objectivity is white subjectivity. In this paper, I argue that unless we practice embodied criticism, there is no way to think about the time and space we define as “Medieval Studies” without inhabiting whiteness. Embodied criticism sanctions, if not requires, that we find entry points to history that are not historical. By valuing all of ourselves, by making our critical landscape all of us, we make it impossible to abandon, overlook, or forget the present as we engage with the past. The Middle Ages that I think about and write about is one that is processed through me. In this Middle Ages, nothing that affects how I am in the world is deemed anachronistic because the theoretical, political, social, and legal forces that govern how I operate in the world are the ones that affect how and what I know about history, how and what I think about space. In it, there is value for the questions grief yields. Any work I produce as I process history is radically transparent as a production by me of me, a Muslim, Iranian‐American body in this place and time.
Embodying antiracist White Latinidad in medieval studies
Authors: Thomas Carla María
Published: December 2021

This essay presents an autoethnographic account of my coming to acknowledge my own whiteness while my Puerto Rican mother stressed that I was Boricua above all and my non‐LatinX White grandfather called me “the best kind of mix, a Texa‐Rican.” In my presentation at the inaugural RaceB4Race symposium, which was titled “How to Begin Embodying Antiracist Whiteness in Premodern Studies,” I began with a brief history of the United States Census forms since 1970 to demonstrate the socially constructed nature of the panethnic categories “Latino” and “Hispanic” that led to my mother's emphasis on my Latinidad rather than my whiteness, which, in turn, led to my own ethnoracial confusion. I draw upon research in medieval studies, LatinX studies, critical race studies, raciolinguistics, and critiques of institutional diversity work. One of this essay's goals is to stress that the violent identity erasure that Black LatinX, as well as other Black, Indigenous, People of Color, experience in addition to the racism they face every day is different from the ethnolinguistic exclusion and erasure that I experience. I share my narrative of learning to own my white identity to emphasize our need for truly intersectional practices within scholarship and institutional work with the hope that more White colleagues will reflect on the ways that their whiteness not only hinders their ability to see whiteness as a racial identity, but also contributes to the ongoing violence we perpetuate on our colleagues of color, even those of us who identify as white LatinX. These hindrances prevent us from fully embodying and enacting antiracist practices within medieval studies and academia more broadly.
Complex interactions between benefits, ecosystem services and landscape dynamics: A synthesis of Lake Malombe, Malawi
Authors: Makwinja Rodgers , Mengistou Seyoum , Kaunda Emmanuel , Alamirew Tena
Published: December 2021

African inland freshwater lakes experience a high level of exploitation, as evidenced by a decline in biodiversity, food production and rising poverty. Lake Malombe in Malawi provides the best example of this situation. The lake catchment is severely degraded and faces profound biodiversity losses. Households in the catchment are caught in a vicious cycle of poverty. Management decisions regarding Lake Malombe involve choices that reflect opportunity costs among the complex socio‐ecological interactions that are often unnoticeable. Ecosystem managers unintentionally make decisions that diminish the value of some critical ecosystem services (ESs), while enhancing others. The present study used geospatial and participatory approaches to explore complex interactions between benefits, ESs and landscape dynamics. The study findings indicate the ecosystem provisioning services (EPSs) are the main livelihood sustenance vehicle for Lake Malombe's local population. The increased cultivated land from 52,932 to 78,983 ha and decreased forest land from 56,235 to 8585 ha between 1989 and 2019 are linked to EPSs changes at the expense of regulatory, supporting and cultural ecosystem services. The findings of the present study suggest an important need to balance the opportunity costs among the complex ESs dynamics and landscape transformation as a means of achieving management policy efficiency while at the same time also avoiding adverse outcomes from human activities.
First‐line corticosteroids for Kawasaki disease: Pulse versus multiple dose
Authors: Abrams Joseph Y , Ae Ryusuke , Maddox Ryan A , Schonberger Lawrence B , Nakamura Yosikazu , Belay Ermias D
Published: December 2021

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) can result in severe coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs). Corticosteroids added to initial standard intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment may decrease the risk for these complications. Different corticosteroid regimens (single‐day high dose pulse vs multiple lower doses) may contribute to the discrepant results of prior studies.

Methods

Using data from the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Japanese nationwide KD surveys (2011–2016), we identified KD patients who did not have CAAs at first presentation and who were treated with either pulse or multiple‐dose corticosteroids as part of their initial treatment. Occurrence of subsequent CAAs and treatment failure were compared between the treatment regimens and adjusted odds ratios were calculated controlling for sex, age group, illness day at first treatment, survey, and recurrent KD.

Results

There were 782 KD patients who received pulse corticosteroid treatment and 4,817 who received multiple dose treatment. Patients receiving multiple dose treatment were less likely to develop CAAs (5.5% vs 8.3%, OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48–0.85) or treatment failure (21.4% vs 41.6%; OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.33–0.45). Adjusted analyses showed similar protective effects of multiple‐dose treatment against CAAs (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.51–0.90) and treatment failure (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.33–0.46).

Conclusions

Multiple‐dose corticosteroid combination treatment resulted in substantially improved outcomes in KD patients compared to pulse treatment. For patients who may be at elevated risk of treatment failure or CAA, use of multiple‐dose corticosteroids in conjunction with IVIG is likely to provide considerable clinical benefit.
Drawing the line: How the workplace shapes the naming of sexual harassment
Authors: Strom Phoebe , Collins Christopher J. , Avgar Ariel C. , Ryan Katherine
Published: December 2021

Although sexual harassment naming – the process by which individuals identify and label experiences as sexual harassment – is key to tackling the problem of workplace sexual harassment, extant research focused on individual differences has explained a limited amount of variance in individuals’ propensity to name. We push this research in a new direction, drawing on institutional theory and strategic human resource management to identify workplace contextual factors that influence individuals’ propensity to name sexual harassment. Surveying 408 employed adults, we find that current employment in an industry with a high prevalence of sexual harassment reduces individuals’ likelihood of identifying scenarios as sexual harassment. Further, prior work experience in highly sexually harassing industries has a lasting negative effect on individuals’ propensity to name. In contrast, we show that individuals’ propensity to identify sexual harassment is greater when they perceive that their organization has implemented more HR practices supporting a climate for naming and that these HR practices can actually reduce the negative effect of current employment in a highly sexually harassing industry. Critically, by demonstrating that changing industry norms or adopting specific HR practices can shift individual naming of sexual harassment, we offer new avenues for sexual harassment prevention.
Survey of data collection methods and retention strategies in European birth cohorts of children and adults born very preterm
Authors: Teixeira Raquel , Doetsch Julia , Freitas Ana Isabel , Lorthe Elsa , Santos Ana Cristina , Barros Henrique ,   the RECAP‐preterm consortium
Published: December 2021

Background

The long‐term follow‐up of very preterm and very low birthweight cohorts contributes to valuable evidence to understand life‐course outcomes in these vulnerable populations. However, attrition is a major challenge in long‐term outcome studies. Examining the techniques used by existing cohorts may help to reveal practices that enhance willingness to continue participation over time.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of data collection methods and retention strategies on overall retention in European birth cohorts of individuals born very preterm and very low birthweight.

Methods

A survey of European cohorts integrated in the RECAP‐preterm Consortium provided data on study characteristics, retention at the most recent follow‐up, data collection methods and retention strategies. Cohorts were classified according to participants’ age at most recent follow‐up as child (<18) or adult cohorts (≥18 years old).

Results

Data were obtained for 17 (81%) cohorts (7 adult and 10 child) in 12 countries. Considering the baseline, at the most recent follow‐up, overall retention ranged from 10% to 99%. Child cohorts presented higher median retention (68% versus 38% or 52% for adult cohorts with ≤5 or >5 follow‐ups) and used relatively more retention strategies. For contact and invitation, cohorts mostly resorted to invitation letters, and to face‐to‐face interviews for assessments. Study duration was negatively correlated with retention and positively associated with the number of follow‐up evaluation. We identified 109 retention strategies, with a median of 6 per cohort; bond‐building (n = 41; 38%) was the most utilised, followed by barrier‐reduction (n = 36; 33%) and reminders (n = 32; 29%). Retention was not influenced by category or number of strategies.

Conclusions

Regular contact with cohort participants favour retention whilst neither the number nor the categories of retention strategies used seemed to have an influence, suggesting that tailored strategies focussed on participants at higher risk of dropout might be a more effective approach.
Family members’ participation in palliative inpatient care: An integrative review
Authors: Saarinen Johanna , Mishina Kaisa , Soikkeli‐Jalonen Anu , Haavisto Elina
Published: December 2021

Aim

To analyse how family members participate in hospital inpatient palliative care, and how their participation could be supported.

Methods

This review followed a methodology outlined in the literature for integrative reviews. A literature search supplemented by a manual search was conducted on four electronic databases during 2020 to 2021: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Library. A critical appraisal of the included studies was performed, and data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

Results

The literature search resulted in 4990 articles, of which 14 articles were included in this review. Four main categories were identified concerning the participation of family members in hospital inpatient palliative care: participation in the physical care, provision of emotional support, promoting good patient care, and support provided by healthcare professionals for family members’ participation. Family members’ participation can be supported in different ways, including active communication and adequate information.

Conclusion

Family members’ participation in hospital inpatient palliative care has been an important part of palliative care in hospital settings. Family members should be offered the opportunity to participate in patient care, and their presence in the hospital should be accommodated. Research on the topic is still scarce, and future research is needed from different perspectives, including intervention research.
Moral Status and Intelligent Robots
Authors: Gordon John‐Stewart , Gunkel David J.
Published: December 2021

The great technological achievements in the recent past regarding artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and computer science make it very likely, according to many experts in the field, that we will see the advent of intelligent and autonomous robots that either match or supersede human capabilities in the midterm (within the next 50 years) or long term (within the next 100–300 years). Accordingly, this article has two main goals. First, we discuss some of the problems related to ascribing moral status to intelligent robots, and we examine three philosophical approaches—the Kantian approach, the relational approach, and the indirect duties approach—that are currently used in machine ethics to determine the moral status of intelligent robots. Second, we seek to raise broader awareness among moral philosophers of the important debates in machine ethics that will eventually affect how we conceive of key concepts and approaches in ethics and moral philosophy. The effects of intelligent and autonomous robots on our traditional ethical and moral theories and concepts will be substantial and will force us to revise and reconsider many established understandings. Therefore, it is essential to turn attention to debates over machine ethics now so that we can be better prepared to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the future.
Case factors for selection of femoral component type in canine hip arthroplasty using a modular system
Authors: Meltzer Lauren M. , Dyce Jonathan , Leasure Christopher S. , Canapp Sherman O.
Published: December 2021

Objective

To describe a femoral stem selection process based on case features in dogs treated with total hip replacement (THR) by an expert surgeon, compare complications between implant types, and develop an algorithm for stem type selection.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Animals

128 dogs, 135 THR.

Methods

Data collected included breed, age, weight, canal flare index (CFI), and implant type: cementless (BFX), cementless with a collared stem (BFX‐C), hybrid (cementless acetabular component with cemented stem), and cemented (CFX).

Results

Of the 135 THRs, 69 BFX, 47 hybrid, and 18 BFX‐C were performed. Dogs receiving hybrid (mean 5.5 years) were older than those receiving BFX (2.5 years,p < .0001) and BFX‐C implants (2.5 years,p = .0014). The mean weights of dogs with hybrid, BFX, and BFX‐C implants were 40.0, 31.0, and 35.3 kg, respectively, with dogs receiving hybrid heavier than those receiving BFX (p < .0001). Mean CFI for hybrid (1.52) was lower than for BFX (1.79,p < .0001) and BFX‐C (1.76,p = .0021). Total complication rate was 14.0% with catastrophic complications in 1.5% and no association between implant type and risk of complications (p = .36). Femur fractures occurred in 2.9% of all cases and 1.1% of cementless THR cases.

Conclusions

Dogs receiving hybrid THR were older with lower CFI than dogs receiving BFX and BFX‐C and heavier than dogs receiving BFX. There was no difference in complications between groups. Catastrophic complications and femur fractures occurred less frequently compared to recent studies of BFX THR.

Clinical Significance

Careful preoperative assessment and implant selection can reduce complications of canine THR.
Weed suppression versus water use: Efficacy of cover crops in water‐limited agroecosystems
Authors: Agarwal Prashasti , Schutte Brian J. , Idowu Omololu John , Steiner Robert L. , Lehnhoff Erik A.
Published: December 2021

Winter cover crops (CC) may facilitate weed management by inhibiting weed seed germination and seedling emergence and suppressing weed growth within the cash crop. In southern New Mexico, with scarce winter precipitation and limited irrigation water, producing sufficient CC biomass for effective weed suppression while conserving water resources is challenging. This study assessed the water requirement to produce a CC with enough biomass for weed suppression benefits during cash crop growth at two locations in New Mexico. Three winter CC species, barley, Austrian winter pea and mustard, grown singly and in a three‐way mix, under three differential irrigation treatments (one, two or three irrigations after emergence) were evaluated for their weed‐suppressive potential. Maize was planted as a cash crop four weeks after winter CC termination. Number of irrigations had no effect on the CC and weed biomass production. All CCs had lower weed density prior to maize planting compared with fallow. Barley and the three‐way mix reduced weed density by 56–96% and 68–95%, respectively. All CC treatments had lower weed biomass at the end of critical period for weed control in maize compared with fallow. Weed biomass at maize harvest did not differ between treatments. The maize yield was consistently higher in conventionally managed, weed‐free subplots, than in unsprayed weedy subplots, suggesting that CCs did not suppress weeds throughout the maize growing season. Except for barley, CCs did not cause reductions in maize yield compared with fallow. Overall, the study suggested that with adequate winter precipitation, weed‐suppressive winter cover crop stands can be produced with just one irrigation at seeding and one supplemental irrigation, making them a viable option in water‐limited agroecosystems.
WHEN TO BE WHAT? WHY SCIENCE‐INSPIRED NATURALISM NEED NOT IMPLY RELIGIOUS NATURALISM
Authors: Drees Willem B.
Published: December 2021

In The Aristos, John Fowles imagined the human situation as that of a diverse group of people on a raft, apparently between a wreck in the past and a shore where they will land. But there was no wreck, there is no shore. The conference on which this thematic set of papers draws was about a similar multitude of perspectives. Some identify as religious naturalists, others as naturalists without religion, while others respect science but identify with a historic tradition. In this contribution, I defend the intellectual and moral value of science‐inspired naturalism. But I also offer a variety of reasons why naturalism may not be all. In philosophical anthropology and in life, whether religious or nonreligious, dualistic and pluralist perspectives are appropriate, while one may be agnostic on ultimate questions.
Integrating Daylighting with Task-Ambient Lighting for Enhanced Energy Savings in Office Spaces
Authors: Ingabo Simeon Nyambaka , Chaiwiwatworakul Pipat
Published: December 2021

Daylighting has been widely studied as a fundamental aspect of spatial illumination and energy efficient façade design. Effective installation and control of shading devices diminishes the adverse effects of prevailing climatic conditions on building envelope performance and reduces resultant lighting and cooling energy consumption. Task-ambient lighting as a free-standing approach has also been proven to reduce lighting energy consumption compared with typical general ambient lighting. This study estimates the energy saving potential of integrating daylighting through fixed external horizontal shading slats with task lighting. Spot measurements were taken in a test room to validate a daylight calculation program. Full year indoor work plane daylight simulations were performed for office spaces of different floor areas and varying window to wall ratios. Indoor daylight quality was assessed using the Useful Daylight Illuminance metric and three different task lighting schemes explored.  Lighting energy savings of 10% to 90% were estimated under the three schemes in comparison to similar office spaces with common unshaded heat reflective glazing.
Fundamental local equivalences in quantum geometric Langlands
Authors: Campbell Justin , Dhillon Gurbir , Raskin Sam
Published: December 2021

In quantum geometric Langlands, the Satake equivalence plays a less prominent role than in the classical theory. Gaitsgory and Lurie proposed a conjectural substitute, later termed thefundamental local equivalence. With a few exceptions, we prove this conjecture and its extension to the affine flag variety by using what amount to Soergel module techniques.
A crossover control study of three methods of heat acclimation on the magnitude and kinetics of adaptation
Authors: Kissling Lorenz S. , Akerman Ashley P. , Campbell Holly A. , Prout Jamie R. , Gibbons Travis D. , Thomas Kate N. , Cotter James D.
Published: December 2021

New Findings

What is the central question to the study?

Are primary indices of heat adaptation (e.g., expansion of plasma volume and reduction in resting core temperature) differentially affected by the three major modes of short‐term heat acclimation, that is, exercise in the heat, hot water immersion and sauna?

What it the main finding and its importance?

The three modes elicited typical adaptations expected with short‐term heat acclimation, but these were not significantly different between modes. This comparison has not previously been made and highlights that individuals can expect similar adaptation to heat regardless of the mode used.

Heat acclimation (HA) can improve heat tolerance and cardiovascular health. The mode of HA potentially impacts the magnitude and time course of adaptations, but almost no comparative data exist. We therefore investigated adaptive responses to three common modes of HA, particularly with respect to plasma volume. Within a crossover repeated‐measures design, 13 physically active participants (five female) undertook four, 5‐day HA regimes (60 min/day) in randomised order, separated by ≥4 weeks. Rectal temperature (Tre) was clamped at neutrality via 36.6°C (thermoneutral) water immersion (TWI; i.e., control condition), or raised by 1.5°C via heat stress in 40°C water, sauna (55°C, 52% relative humidity), or exercise in humid heat (40°C, 52% relative humidity; ExH). Adaptation magnitude was assessed as the pooled response across days 4–6, while kinetics was assessed via the 6‐day time series. Plasma volume expansion was similar in all heated conditions but only higher than TWI in exercise in the heat (ExH) (by 4%, P = 0.036). Approximately two‐thirds of the expansion was attained within the initial 24 h and was moderately related to that present on day 6, regardless of HA mode (r = 0.560–0.887). Expansion was mediated by conservation of both sodium and albumin content, with little evidence for these having differential roles between modes (P = 0.706 and 0.320, respectively). Resting Tre decreased by 0.1–0.3°C in all heated conditions, and systolic blood pressure decreased by 4 mmHg, but not differentially between conditions (P ≥ 0.137). In conclusion, HA mode did not substantially affect the magnitude or rate of adaptation in key resting markers of short‐term HA.
The Development And Characterization Of Heparin-Conjugated Fibrin Hydrogel With Incapsulated Mesenchimal Stem Cells And Growth Factors
Authors: Sarsenova M.A. , Issabekova A.S. , Karzhauov M.R. , Kudaibergen G.K. , Zhunussova M.S. , Ogay V.B.
Published: December 2021

Currently, one of the major focuses in regenerative medicine is the development and implementation into practice of composite biomaterials with chondro- and osteoinductive properties, which include human stem cells and growth factors. Heparin-conjugated fibrinogen was obtained using the carbodiimide method, which was further used to create heparin-conjugated fibrin hydrogels (HCFH). As a result of this work, two types of HCFH were obtained: a hydrogel with encapsulated mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and a hydrogel with TGF-β1 and BMP-4 growth factors. It has been found that synovial MSCs retain viability after encapsulation in HCFH, which indicates that the developed hydrogel is biocompatible and does not have toxic effect to the cells. The results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on the kinetics of BMP-4 and TGF-β1 release from HCFH showed that the developed hydrogel is able to retain BMP-4 and TGF-β1. The kinetics of release from HCFH into phosphate buffer was significantly slower compared to fibrin hydrogel.
Gut Microbiota Modulation In Diabetic Patients
Authors: Kozhakhmetov S.S. , Mukhanbetzhanov N. , Kushugulova А.R
Published: December 2021

Metabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus are one of the major complex public health problems in the world, and in fact are becoming a global epidemic. It is associated with an increased risk of a large number of complications, including dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease. The microbiota modulates inflammation, metabolizes indigestible food components, affects intestinal permeability, glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and overall energy homeostasis. The study investigated the effect of a multistrain probiotic on the intestinal microflora in diabetic patients. As a result of the work carried out, it was shown that the microbiome of patients with diabetes mellitus differs from normal and is depleted in bifidobacteria and some butyrate producers, such as Subdoligranulum, but enriched in Prevotella. The use of a multi-strain probiotic has led to an increase in the biodiversity of the intestinal microflora. Also, in the fecal samples, the content of acetate and butyrate increased, while the concentration of propionate decreased markedly.
Study of proteolytic and keratinolytic enzymes of bacillus sp. A5.3
Authors: Aktaeva S. , Saparbayev M.
Published: December 2021

Feathers, as a major part of the waste from the industrial poultry industry, require a special approach for disposal and, at the same time, are of interest as a source of feed protein. Feather biomass consists of 90% β-keratin, hydrolysates of which can be a valuable source of pepton, but feather keratin is highly resistant to most proteolytic enzymes. For hydrolysis, therefore, keratin must be subjected to special treatment, the purpose of which is to break down the compact structure of the keratin molecule to produce polypeptides, peptides and single amino acids.  For enzymatic hydrolysis of keratin, proteases with keratinase activity are used, capable of cleaving keratin disulfide bonds.  A strain of Bacillus sp. A5.3 was isolated from feather waste sites and showed high proteolytic and keratinolytic activity. The strain is able to grow on minimal feather medium and has caseinolytic, collagenase and β-keratinolytic activity. The secretory proteome of the strain was studied using nano HPLC/Q-TOF-MS. As a result, 154 proteins were identified, 13 of which are proteases and peptidases. The genes for 3 proteases and peptidases clpY, clpX and ytjP were amplified from the genomic DNA of Bacillus sp. A5.3, sequenced, and the nucleotide sequence of the genes was deposited in the GenBank database. A study of a strain of Bacillus sp. A5.3 showed that the strain is capable of effective feather degradation and promising as a producer of proteolytic and keratinolytic enzymes.
Study of synthesis strategies to improve the electrical properties of magnetron sputtered copper oxide thin films
Authors: Krumpmann Arnaud , Snyders Rony
Published: December 2021

Copper oxides CuO and Cu2O are promising p-type semiconductors for low cost and environmentally friendly solar energy conversion applications. To design optimized devices, a precise control of their optoelectonic properties is necessary. Direct current reactive magnetron sputtering was used to synthesize CuO and Cu2O thin films, and their optoelectronic properties were assessed and compared. It is shown how a heated or biased substrate can modify the electrical properties of sputtered copper oxides. Applying a negative bias mostly increases the hole density and conductivity of the material by one order of magnitude, with a moderate increase of mobility, while heating the substrate (523 K) leads to a clear increase of the hole mobility (up to 0.3 and 4.5 cm2/V s for CuO and Cu2O, respectively) and a decrease of the hole density. A hole density of 1015 cm−3 was reached for Cu2O, while for CuO, it remained as high as 1019 cm−3.
Long-term light and moderate exercise intervention similarly prevent both hippocampal and glycemic dysfunction in presymptomatic type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Jesmin Subrina , Shima Takeru , Soya Mariko , Takahashi Kanako , Omura Koki , Ogura Kasane , Koizumi Hikaru , Soya Hideaki
Published: December 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for hippocampal memory dysfunction, which would progress since the prediabetic stage. We found that 4 mo of exercise both at the light and moderate intensity prevented the progression of memory dysfunction with an improvement of hippocampal MCT2 expression in presymptomatic diabetes, implying that light intensity exercise could be a therapeutic approach, and the alteration of hippocampal MCT2 would be a therapeutic target of memory dysfunction from presymptomatic diabetes.
Identification of Circulating Exosomal miR-101 and miR-125b Panel Act as a Potential Biomarker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sun Li , Xu Mu , Zhang Guoying , Dong Lin , Wu Jie , Wei Chenchen , Xu Kexin , Zhang Lu
Published: December 2021

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide with high mortality, and there is an urgent need of new diagnosis measures. This study is aimed at investigating whether circulating exosomal miRNAs could act as biomarkers for the diagnosis of HCC. Methods. A four-stage strategy was adopted in this study. Candidate miRNA was selected by comprehensive analysis of four GEO datasets and TCGA database. The expression of candidate miRNAs in serum exosomal samples were examined through qRT-PCR. The diagnostic utility of the final validated miRNAs was examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results. After synthetical analysis of four GEO datasets, six miRNAs were selected as candidates due to their higher differential fold change. miR-101 and miR-125b were selected as candidate miRNAs to further investigate their potential as biomarkers for HCC due to their differential fold change and their influence on overall survival based on the TCGA database. As a result, miR-101 and miR-125b expressions were remarkably downregulated in both tissues and serum exosomes of patients with HCC. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of circulating exosomal miR-101 and miR-125b were 0.894 (95% CI, 0.793–0.994) and 0.812 (95% CI, 0.675–0.950), respectively. The combination of the two miRNAs presented higher diagnostic utility for HCC (

AUC
=
0.953

). Conclusion. The exosomal miR-101 and miR-125b panel in the serum may act as a noninvasive biomarker for HCC detection.
Zero‐Correlation Linear Cryptanalysis on SPARX‐64
Authors: Zhou Dawei , Chen Huaifeng , Zong Rui , Song Ningning
Published: December 2021

SPARX is a family of ARX‐based block ciphers designed according to the long‐trail strategy, which has 32‐bit ARX‐based SBoxes and has provable bounds against single‐differential and single‐linear cryptanalysis. Since its proposation, some third‐party cryptanalysis methods have been presented. As far as we know, the best attacks against SPARX‐64 covered 16 (out of 24) rounds. In this paper, we propose zero‐correlation linear attacks on SPARX‐64. At first, we construct some new zero‐correlation linear distinguishers covering 14‐round and 15‐round SPARX‐64. Then, 15,16,17 and 18‐round versions can be attacked using multidimensional or multiple zero‐correlation linear attack models, under DKP(distinct known plaintexts) settings. These are the best attacks against SPARX‐64 up to now, regarding to the number of attacked rounds. Finally, we transform the zero‐correlation distinguishers into integral ones using existing methods, which are also longer than the ones proposed by the designers.
A Rapid Artificial Intelligence-Based Computer-Aided Diagnosis System for COVID-19 Classification from CT Images
Authors: Syed Hassaan Haider , Khan Muhammad Attique , Tariq Usman , Armghan Ammar , Alenezi Fayadh , Khan Junaid Ali , Rho Seungmin , Kadry Seifedine , Rajinikanth Venkatesan
Published: December 2021

The excessive number of COVID-19 cases reported worldwide so far, supplemented by a high rate of false alarms in its diagnosis using the conventional polymerase chain reaction method, has led to an increased number of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) examinations conducted. The manual inspection of the latter, besides being slow, is susceptible to human errors, especially because of an uncanny resemblance between the CT scans of COVID-19 and those of pneumonia, and therefore demands a proportional increase in the number of expert radiologists. Artificial intelligence-based computer-aided diagnosis of COVID-19 using the CT scans has been recently coined, which has proven its effectiveness in terms of accuracy and computation time. In this work, a similar framework for classification of COVID-19 using CT scans is proposed. The proposed method includes four core steps: (i) preparing a database of three different classes such as COVID-19, pneumonia, and normal; (ii) modifying three pretrained deep learning models such as VGG16, ResNet50, and ResNet101 for the classification of COVID-19-positive scans; (iii) proposing an activation function and improving the firefly algorithm for feature selection; and (iv) fusing optimal selected features using descending order serial approach and classifying using multiclass supervised learning algorithms. We demonstrate that once this method is performed on a publicly available dataset, this system attains an improved accuracy of 97.9% and the computational time is almost 34 (sec).
Security Regulation and Enterprise Innovation in Communication Industry
Authors: Gao Kai , Ma Lijun
Published: December 2021

This paper conducted an evolutionary game model of the interaction between the governments and communication enterprises and analyzed the impact of the government’s communication security regulation on the innovation decision-making of communication enterprises. The results show that the behavior of the governments depends on the social benefits, rent-seeking benefits, and regulating costs in strict and de security regulations. The communication enterprises’ behavior depends on the benefits of innovation and the costs in R&D and rent-seeking. When government subsidies are relatively inadequate, the communication enterprises’ strategy under government security regulation swings from not-innovation finally to innovation. The policy implications of this study indicate that appropriate de security regulation by the government will help communication enterprises generate a good atmosphere for innovation, and the appropriate increase in subsidies will be more conducive to driving enterprise innovation.