bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomimetic polymer fibers—function by design
Authors: Ebbinghaus Thomas , Lang Gregor , Scheibel Thomas
Published: June 2023

Biomimicry applies the fundamental principles of natural materials, processes, and structures to technological applications. This review presents the two strategies of biomimicry—bottom-up and top-down approaches, using biomimetic polymer fibers and suitable spinning techniques as examples. The bottom-up biomimicry approach helps to acquire fundamental knowledge on biological systems, which can then be leveraged for technological advancements. Within this context, we discuss the spinning of silk and collagen fibers due to their unique natural mechanical properties. To achieve successful biomimicry, it is imperative to carefully adjust the spinning solution and processing parameters. On the other hand, top-down biomimicry aims to solve technological problems by seeking solutions from natural role models. This approach will be illustrated using examples such as spider webs, animal hair, and tissue structures. To contextualize biomimicking approaches in practical applications, this review will give an overview of biomimetic filter technologies, textiles, and tissue engineering.
Effects of Fresh Chicken Meat and Wood Enrichments on Behavior of Sumatran Tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae, Pocock, 1929) at Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation Rescue Centre
Authors: Kiranaputri Genoveva , Sjahfirdi Luthfiralda , Tumbelaka Ligaya ITA , Priyanto Sadmoko K , Yana Ari , Yuliati Lesty C , Risgianto  , Mukti Guntur W , Herawati Maria E , Firmansyah Ardi B
Published: June 2023

Behavior gives valuable information for tiger’s management care. Tigers may perform stereotypic behavior as coping mechanism or stress in captivity. Enrichment techniques can reduce those stereotypic behavior. This research aims to evaluate food and environmental enrichment techniques on Sumatran tiger. Four tigers were observed by focal animal sampling (from 08.00 a.m. to 12.00 a.m. and 01.00 p.m. to 05.00 p.m.) at Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation Rescue Centre. Tiger’s behaviors were categorized into active, inactive and stereotypic. Two tigers (1 female and 1 male) were observed for 2 days each baseline and post-enrichment. Two tigers (both males) were observed for 4 days each baseline and post-enrichment. Novel woods were introduced to the tigers’ enclosures for environmental enrichment. Fresh chicken meats (2 – 5 kg) were given disorderly at tigers’ enclosures as food enrichment. Baseline and post-enrichment behaviors were analzyed with Wilcoxon. The outcome was tigers’ stereotypic behavior (Z = -1,461, P = 0,144 > 0,05), active behavior (Z = -1,826, P = 0,680 > 0,05) and inactive behavior (Z = -1,095, P = 273 > 0,05) were not significantly reduced by these enrichment techniques. Other enrichment techniques need to be explored even more for tigers’ management care.
Comparison of the combinations of water and ethanol extract of Strychnos ligustrina blum wood with Dihydroartemisinin- Piperaquin Phosphate (DHP) as an anti-malaria in mice infected P. berghei ANKA
Authors: Cahyaningsih U , Sa’diah S , Syafii W , Sari R K , Maring A J , Nugraha A B
Published: June 2023

One of the most significant global public health issues is malaria. Combination treatment of S. ligustrina blum wood with Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquin phosphate (DHP) as an antimalaria to increase the effectiveness of S. ligustrina blum wood extract. The purpose of this study was to see how effective the combination of aquadest extract (AE) and 25% ethanol extract (EE) of S. ligustrina blum wood with DHP was against P. berghei ANKA. S. ligustrina blum wood extract were extracted by maceration using aquadest and 25% ethanol. The extract formulated into capsules with or without DHP. Fifty DDY mice were divided into 10 groups (n = 5). Group I was infected infected-untreated, group II was received 25 mg/kg BW of dihydroartemisinin and 197 mg/kg BW of piperaquine phospate, and the others group of mice inoculated with 1x106
P. berghei ANKA and treated with 200 mg/kg. Blood samples were taken every day, starting from the first day to the tenth day. The number of parasites and erythrocytes was calculated using the image photoshop program, then the percentage of parasitemia and inhibition was determined. There was no difference between AE and EE in combination with half dose of DHP with DHP control, but significantly different with infection control. S. ligustrina blum wood extract worked synergistic with DHP as an antimalaria with a percentage of inhibition approaching 100% on the 10th day after treatment. S. ligustrina blum wood extract has the potential to be developed as an effective and safe combination antimalaria drug with pure chemical active ingredients.
2021 Quantitative Risk Assessment of Antimicrobial Residues in Pork Samples from Slaughterhouses in Laguna Using Monte Carlo Simulation.
Authors: Gacosta F D , Pangga G V
Published: June 2023

A quantitative risk assessment of antimicrobial residues in pork liver samples from slaughterhouses in Laguna, Philippines was performed to determine the probability of occurrence of adverse effects on the population upon consumption of antimicrobial residues in pork products. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data regarding the daily pork consumption of the population study. Meanwhile, secondary data on antimicrobial residues of quinolone, ceftiofur, florfenicol, streptomycin, tetracycline and tylosin found in pork liver samples were obtained from a previous study by Datuin (2018). Monte Carlo simulation using @RISK software was then used to calculate the estimated daily intake of the population and the risk associated with exposure to the antimicrobial residues. Results showed that the population of Laguna had a mean daily intake of 155 grams of raw pork and 92 grams of processed pork in the year 2021. Also, the calculated mean and maximum estimated daily intakes for each antimicrobial residue were within the acceptable daily intake and no hazard quotient exceeded the value of one during risk characterization. Therefore, the study concludes that antibiotic residues in pork products from slaughterhouses in Laguna pose low risk to the health of pork consumers. Nonetheless, precaution on the use of antimicrobials is still warranted, especially with the administration of tetracycline which had the highest hazard quotient out of the six antimicrobial residues.
Profile of Leukocytes in Pig (Sus scrofa domestica) Before and After Heart Infarct Surgery
Authors: Gunanti  , Widhyari Sus Derthi , Rahmiati Dwi Utari , Murtiningrum Fitria Senja , Iman Bintang Nurul , Juara Fanggy Malindo
Published: June 2023

Pigs are the most appropriate species in cardiovascular research, one of which is myocardial infarction. This study aimed to obtain data on the number of leukocytes in domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) before and after heart infarct surgery. A total of six four-month-old pigs at the Teaching Animal Hospital, IPB University, had their blood samples taken through the jugular vein, then put into a vacuum tube containing an anticoagulant (K3EDTA) for further testing using a hematology analyzer. Data were analyzed descriptively. The results of the study from 6 samples analyzed that the average number of leukocytes before and after heart infarct surgery were 16.33 ± 3.62 x 103/μL and 16.97 ± 4.59 x 103/μL. The increase in leukocytes in the blood cannot be used as an independent predictor to diagnose cardiac infarction. This is because many events can trigger an increase in the number of leukocytes in the blood, such as inflammation during heart infarct surgery.
Association Between Farmer’s Knowledge and Decision to Trade the Cattle in Anthrax Infected Village in Gunungkidul Regency
Authors: Primadipta S B A , Nugroho W S , Wibawa H
Published: June 2023

From 2019 until 2022, some villages in Gunungkidul had anthrax outbreaks twice and infected some people. These facts raise the question: Do the farmers know enough about anthrax and its risk? This study aims to identify the association between farmers’ knowledge of anthrax from the anthrax outbreak village in Gunungkidul regency and their decision to trade cattle. This study was achieved at four anthrax outbreak villages in Gunungkidul Regency; 155 farmers answered the questionnaire, collecting information about knowledge, attitude, and practice about anthrax. Demographic and Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) data were analyzed descriptively. The association between knowledge about anthrax and their decision to trade cattle in the anthrax outbreak suspect village was measured by chi-square and odds ratio. The average score of farmers’ anthrax knowledge is 3,14, ranging from a score of 0 to 8 and a median of 3. 65 farmers have good knowledge of anthrax, and 90 farmers have bad knowledge of anthrax. Fourteen of 65 farmers with good knowledge and 21 of 90 with bad knowledge farmers decided still trade cattle from the anthrax-outbreak suspect village. This study found that knowledge of anthrax has no impact on the farmers’ decision to trade cattle from the anthrax-outbreak suspect village (odds ratio (OR) 0.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42-1.94, P = 0.792). The education method that has been used on farmers needs to be evaluated to make farmers have better knowledge, attitude, and practice toward anthrax; further study is required to find the appropriate method of anthrax education.
Post-Mining goes international: Hurdles to climate neutrality using the example of China
Authors: Tiganj J , Li Y , Kretschmann J
Published: June 2023

The topic of post-mining is becoming increasingly important globally in times of climate change and sustainability. This includes not only dealing with the post-mining heritage through adequate mine water management or environmental monitoring. Rather, it requires concepts for a successful transition in affected mining regions. China, as the world’s largest mining country, offers an important point of reference here. In coal-intensive regions, economic viability is closely linked to the coal industry. Structural change requires additive policies and restructuring to create, on the one hand, innovative conversion opportunities such as the integration of renewable energies into existing mines. On the other hand, plant closures are followed by unemployment for former workers. Here, on the other hand, the creation of alternative employment and new incentives is needed to minimize the consequences for citizens and the environment. Nevertheless, it can be stated that it is essential to reuse abandoned mines in order to support several factors: Efficient use of existing resources, cost reduction, creation of alternative jobs, protection of industrial heritage, modernization of history, sustainability and green development. The driver behind this research is to actively contribute to a livable sustainable future, nationally and internationally. This area has many research gaps that need to be filled to promote internationalization and individual development. Therefore, the results are transferred from German experiences to an international level by taking China as a dominant coal player into account.
Numerical analysis of discontinuous berm-supported shallow excavations for building construction
Authors: Muñoz Miguel Ángel Millán , Carrizosa David Mencías , García Alejandro Calle
Published: June 2023

The use of discontinuous berms remains a common strategy in medium-rise urban excavations when a uniform slope is not safe enough and certain conditions are met. However, despite its frequent use, there is no broad and contrasted reference that allows its design and verification in a similar way to how it is done in the usual homogeneous slopes, either by abacus such as those of Taylor or Hoek and Bray or the two-dimensional numerical calculation with bishop’s method, finite elements, or finite differences, among others. The difficulty associated with the calculation of slope stability with discontinuous berms lies in the fact that it is basically a three-dimensional problem, not admitting any of the simplifications that allow it to be reduced to a two-dimensional case and use one of the methods mentioned above. The present research is oriented to model an excavation with discontinuous berms, considering its three-dimensional configuration and including as main variables the height of the excavation, the width between berms, and the properties of the terrain, represented with a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. From a large number of calculations, the necessary regressions will be obtained to allow a pre-design and verification of the main cases that arise in practice. The article presents the results obtained and details the advantages and disadvantages of the associated methodology.
Enhancing the Urban Atlas Features with the Water Balance Estimates Using the Landsat 8 Imagery
Authors: Guizani Douraied , Buday-Bódi Erika , Tamás János , Nagy Attila
Published: June 2023

Between climate change and anthropogenic forcing, pressure on water resources is continually increasing all over the world. The growing population is gathering more and more in cities where the artificialization of soils and urban developments of all kinds are modifying the local water cycle. However, knowledge about the hydrological cycle in urban areas is not well developed today. Urbanization in a watershed can produce significant changes to the natural water cycle, mainly because permeable soils have been covered by less permeable surfaces. The consequences of this urbanization can be significant and multiple. The assessment of urban water resources aims to provide a suitable circumstances for planning, conditions for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of works used for irrigation and sanitation, among other applications. The methodology of the research is based on the data collection, which includes climatic data from June 2021 to June 2022 and the use of Digital elevation model to create a hydrographic network. The second part is land use data processing to create a land cover map using maximum Likelihood Supervised Classification, by combining different band composites of Landsat 8 images and NDVI to differentiate between vegetative and non-vegetative areas. However, CORINE Land Cover database was utilized to distinguish between continuous and discontinuous urban area in this classification. The final step in the process is to determine the hydrological coefficients by calculating the water cycle parameters (Evapotranspiration Runoff and Infiltration) for each land-use class. Furthermore, establishing a link between land use and hydrological behaviour and conducting a precise calculation of water balance-related coefficients in urban areas using Urban Atlas 2018.
AI-Accelerated Decision Making in Forest Management
Authors: Budnik Kacper , Byrtek Jan , Skrabanek Bartosz , Wajs Jaroslaw
Published: June 2023

This paper is a continuation of the research on the application of artificial intelligence in counting trees with the use of methods for the automatic analysis of photogrammetric data in forests of the continental region. This paper is devoted to the AI application in accelerating decision making processes in forest management. It also discusses how RGB imagery from drones could replace aerial and satellite hyperspectral imagery and automatically detect unhealthy and dead trees. Experimental research was conducted to verify whether Faster R-CNN can automatically detect and classify snag and trees weakened by diseases on aerial RGB data, enabling a quick response to forest-threatening factors. The research is based on photogrammetric data taken in areas of forest districts subordinate to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Zielona Góra. Non-metric imagery data was collected from drones and small airplanes with a photogrammetric container and postprocessed with respect to the photogrammetric constraints. The results show that in specific cases aerial and satellite hyperspectral imagery can be replaced by RGB orthomosaics in order to decrease the time needed for forestry treatments.
Assessing Performance of Modified Spectral Indices as Land Surface Temperature Indicators in Tropical Urban Areas
Authors: Hadibasyir H Z , Firdaus N S , Fikriyah V N , Sari D N
Published: June 2023

Spectral indices derived from remote sensing data such as NDVI, SAVI, NDBI, NDWI, and MNDWI were modified using various mathematical operations to enhance the overall accuracy of the automated mapping built-up (BU) areas. Although some of the modified spectral indices succeed in improving the accuracy of mapping BU areas, their performance as land surface temperature (LST) indicators needs to be investigated. Hence, this paper aims 1) to assess the performance of various spectral indices as LST indicators and 2) to investigate the relationship between performance of spectral indices as LST indicators and their accuracy for mapping BU areas. Research locations were located in Yogyakarta and Surakarta City, Indonesia. Spectral indices and LST were derived from Landsat 8. Results showed that NDBI, NDBI*MNDWI, NDVI*NDBI, and NDBI*SAVI were good LST indicators both in Yogyakarta and Surakarta proven by moderate to strong coefficient of Pearson correlation. The relationship between the performance of various spectral indices as LST indicators and their accuracy for mapping BU areas showed strong positive Spearman correlation by 0.69 and 0.73 for Yogyakarta and Surakarta, respectively. In other words, spectral indices, for both original and modified indices, with good accuracy for automated mapping BU areas tended to be good LST indicators.
The relation of the economic value of rice field agricultural land with the location characteristics in Cugenang District, Cianjur Regency
Authors: Ellandini H , Setiadi H , Rizqihandari N
Published: June 2023

The population growth causes the demand for land to increase. The availability of land is limited thus that there is competition for land use between agricultural and non-agricultural land. This happened in Cugenang District, where the area of paddy fields continued to decrease thus it is necessary to study the economic evaluation produced by paddy fields. This study aims to analyse the variation of the economic value of paddy fields and to analyse the relationship between the economic values of paddy fields and the characteristics of the location in Cugenang District. The method used is a quantitative method with statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation. The analysis used is spatial and descriptive analysis. The results showed that the economic value of paddy fields is different at different elevation areas. The economic value of paddy fields at an elevation of < 600 m has a higher value, which is Rp 2,982/m2. Location characteristics that have a relationship with the economic value of paddy fields are the distance from the city centre and the distance from the market. The distance from the market has a linear relationship, while the distance from the city centre has an inverse relationship. Overall, the physical location of paddy fields has a more significant relationship than economic location because the level of productivity in paddy fields is more influenced by physical location than economic location.
Compact implementation of high-dimensional mutually partially unbiased bases protocol
Authors: Chang Zehong , Wang Yunlong , Guo Zhenyu , An Min , Qu Rui , Jia Junliang , Wang Fumin , Zhang Pei
Published: June 2023

Transverse spatial mode of light is crucial in high-dimensional quantum key distribution (QKD). However, applications in realistic scenarios suffer from mode-dependent loss and the complexity of system, making it impractical to achieve higher-dimensional, longer-distance and low-cost communications. A mutually partially unbiased bases (MPUBs) protocol has been proposed to fundamentally eliminate the effects induced by mode-dependent loss for long propagation distances and limited sizes of apertures. Here, we demonstrate the first implementation of the MPUBs protocol in dimensions of

d
=
2
,
4
,
5

and 6. By performing a controlled unitary transformation, we can actively switch the measurement basis and enable a compact measurement system. In consequence, a higher encoding dimension is available under finite system resources, resulting in higher key rates and stronger noise resistance. Our work enhances the practicability of MPUBs protocol, and may promote the applications of high-dimensional QKD in quantum networks.
Mesoporous silica shell in a core@shell nanocomposite design enables antibacterial action with multiple modes of action
Authors: Pamukçu Ayşenur , Karakaplan M Baran , Didem Şen Karaman
Published: June 2023

Core@shell structured nanocomposites have received significant attention for their synergistic mode of antibacterial action. Identification of the accommodated unit’s function in the core@shell nanostructure is necessary in order to determine whether antibacterial synergism against bacterial cell growth that is provided within the same core@shell structure. Herein, a novel nanostructure(s) composed of a cerium oxide core and a porous silica shell (CeO2@pSiO2) accomodating curcumin and lectin was prepared, and the antibacterial synergism provided by the nanocomposite was identified. The resulting spherical-shaped CeO2@pSiO2 nanostructure allowed accommodation of curcumin loading (9 w/w%) and a lectin (concanavalin A) coating (15 w/w%). The antibacterial synergism was tested using a minimal inhibitory concentration assay against an Escherichia coli Gram-negative bacterial strain. Furthermore, the mechanisms of bacterial cell disruption induced by the curcumin-loaded and concanavalin A-coated CeO2@pSiO2 core@shell structure, namely the nanoantibiotic (nano-AB) and its design components, were identified. Our findings reveal that the mesoporous silica shell around the CeO2 core within the nano-AB design aids the accommodation of curcumin and concanavalin A and promotes destruction of bacterial cell motility and the permeability of the inner and outer bacterial cell membranes. Our findings strongly indicate the promising potential of a mesoporous silica shell around nanoparticles with a CeO2 core to provide synergistic antibacterial treatment and attack bacterial cells by different mechanisms of action.
Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in the different croplands along the Yellow River shoreline
Authors: Zhang Zuoxu , Yuan Wei
Published: June 2023

Many antibiotics and their related antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are found in agricultural soil, raising concerns for public and environmental health. As a result, it is crucial to examine the abundance of sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, macrolides, and β-lactam antibiotics and their corresponding ARGs in agricultural soils. We investigted the abundance of aadA, sul1, aac(6’)-Ib, tetX, tetA, ermB, mphB, qnrA, intI1, intI2, and ISCR1 genes and explore their relationships with antibiotics in rice, peach orchard, maize, peanut, and garlic croplands along the Yellow River in Zhongmu and Yuanyang, Henan Province. There was no significant difference across the five croplands (P > 0.05), however, the paddy field had the highest average concentration (>10 μg kg−1) of oxytetracycline, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin antibiotics. The predominant ARGs were aadA, sul1, with the the highest number of ARGs and MGEs detected in paddy rice, followed by maize, peanut, garlic, and peach soils. Integrase gene intI1 was significantly greater than intI2 and ISCR1, which was positively linked with sul1, aadA, aac(6′)-Ib, tetA, tetX, and ermB genes (P < 0.05). According to redundancy analysis, antibiotics may accelerated the prevalence of ARGs. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that antibiotics contributed 78.7% of the total ARG variations. Notably, the concentration of oxytetracycline in all the croplands ranged from 10.33 to 14.42 μg kg−1, which had impacted the frequency of ermB, bla
CTX-M, intI2, and mphB genes as demonstrated by RDA analysis. Results revealed that effective techniques are required to lower the prevalence of ARGs in the agroecosystems.
Future projections of wind and solar energy resources over China from regional climate models based on bias correction
Authors: Li Tongxin , Hui Pinhong , Tang Jianping , Fang Juan
Published: June 2023

In this study, the wind and solar energy resources over China are projected during 2031–2060 under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model and Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4). The bias correction method based on probability distribution is applied to correct the simulated 100-m wind speed and surface down-welling shortwave radiation. The results show that the bias correction method can remarkably improve the skill of the individual simulations and the ensemble mean in capturing the features of wind speed and shortwave radiation from the aspects of spatial distribution, annual cycle, quantile distribution, probability distribution and cumulative probability distribution. The future projections from the bias-corrected ensemble show that both the wind and solar energy resources are abundant over northwestern China, with higher wind power density reaching up to 130 W m−2 in winter and richer surface down-welling shortwave radiation above 240 W m−2 in summer. Generally, the wind and solar energy resources will decrease in the future, by around 6% over the western regions and 4% over southeastern China in winter, respectively. The interannual variability of the two resources is projected to increase over most areas of northern China, indicating a decrease in the stability of resources, while tends to decrease over Southeastern China.
Sisters
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

Ursula and Gudrun* Brangwen sat one morning in the window-bay of their father’s house in Beldover, working and talking. Ursula was stitching a piece of brightly coloured embroidery, and Gudrun was drawing upon a board which she held on her knee. They...
Shortlands
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

The Brangwens went home to Beldover, the wedding-party gathered at Shortlands, the Criches’ home. It was a long, low old house, a sort of manor farm, that spread along the top of a slope just beyond the narrow little lake of Willey Water. Shortlands...
In the Train
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

One day at this time Birkin was called to London. He was not very fixed in his abode. He had rooms in Nottingham, because his work lay chiefly in that town. But often he was in London, or in Oxford. He moved about a...
Coal-Dust
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

Going home from school in the afternoon, the Brangwen girls descended the hill between the picturesque cottages of Willey Green till they came to the railway crossing. There they found the gate shut, because the colliery train was rumbling nearer. They could hear the...
Sketch-Book
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

One morning the sisters were sketching by the side of Willey Water, at the remote end of the lake. Gudrun had waded out to a gravelly shoal, and was seated like a Buddhist, staring fixedly at the water-plants that rose succulent from the mud...
Man to Man
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

He lay sick and unmoved, in pure opposition to everything. He knew how near to breaking was the vessel that held his life. He knew also how strong and durable it was. And he did not care. Better a thousand times take one’s chance...
Woman to Woman
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

They came to the town, and left Gerald at the railway station. Gudrun and Winifred were to come to tea with Birkin, who expected Ursula also. In the afternoon, however, the first person to turn up was Hermione. Birkin was out, so she went...
A Chair
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

There was a jumble market every Monday afternoon in the old market-place in town. Ursula and Birkin strayed down there one afternoon. They had been talking of furniture, and they wanted to see if there was any fragment they would like to buy, amid...
Flitting
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

That evening Ursula returned home very bright-eyed and wondrous—which irritated her people. Her father came home at supper-time, tired after the evening class, and the long journey home. Gudrun was reading, the mother sat in silence.

Suddenly Ursula said to the company at large, in...
Snowed Up
Authors: Lawrence D. H.
Published: June 2023

When Ursula and Birkin were gone, Gudrun felt herself free in her contest with Gerald. As they grew more used to each other, he seemed to press upon her more and more. At first she could manage him, so that her own will was...
Pejorative Assertions, Human Rights Evaluation, and European Veiling Laws
Authors: Cox Neville
Published: June 2023

An increasing number of European states have, since 2009, passed laws restricting or prohibiting the practice of Islamic veiling. These laws have been challenged both before the European Court of Human Rights and the United Nations Human Rights Committee. In the former context, these laws have invariably been upheld whereas in the latter, they have always been deemed to be incompatible with the right to freedom of religion under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Superficial analysis suggests that this is because the ECtHR, unlike the UNHRC, applies a margin of appreciation doctrine to give effect to concerns with subsidiarity. In this Article it is suggested that the better explanation is that the ECtHR (again unlike the UNHRC) accepts assertions of facts from states as to why their laws are justified in the absence of any demonstrable supporting evidence. It is argued that this is of particular concern because these assertions tend to make insidious and pejorative statements about the practice of Islamic veiling that have the capacity to generate stigma and substantive damage for the veil wearing woman. When they are endorsed by a putatively independent body like the ECtHR, these messages, and the accompanying stigma are mainstreamed and legitimized. It is finally argued that this means that the approach of the ECtHR cannot be justified by concerns with subsidiarity but rather reflects an irresponsible abdication of responsibility.
Perceptual noise and the bell curve objection
Authors: Beck Jacob , Languedoc William
Published: June 2023

Perceptual experience supports the assignment of confidences in belief – doxastic confidences. To explain this fact, many philosophers appeal to Perceptual Indeterminacy, which holds that perceptual content can be more or less determinate. Others instead appeal to Perceptual Confidence, which says that perceptual experience supports doxastic confidences because it assigns confidences too. Morrison argues that a primary reason to favour Perceptual Confidence is that it is uniquely capable of accounting for bell-shaped doxastic confidence distributions; we call this the bell curve objection to Perceptual Indeterminacy. Here we show that two recent defences of Perceptual Indeterminacy, due to Nanay and Raleigh and Vindrola, fail to adequately address the bell curve objection. But we also argue that all is not lost for proponents of Perceptual Indeterminacy. They can counter the bell curve objection by embracing a third view, which we call Perceptual Noise.
Substrate- and life habit-induced morphological convergence and divergence in Recent marine bivalve communities
Authors: Sharma Neha , Mondal Subhronil , Ganguly Srinanda , Giri Anisha
Published: June 2023

The morphological disparity of the marine benthos, through the Phanerozoic, is shaped by multiple abiotic and biotic factors, among which substrate and ecology are key contributors. However, the relationship among substrate, ecology, and morphology is not straightforward—a substrate can be occupied by phylogenetically unrelated families with different life habits, influencing morphological convergence. In contrast, related taxa may differ in substrate and life habits, indicating morphological divergence. Here we evaluate the effect of substrate and ecology on the community-level morphological disparity of 398 Recent marine bivalve species from coastal India, using geometric morphometrics. We further evaluate whether the observed patterns are decoupled from taxonomic identities, i.e., phylogenetic (in)dependence. We find that the Recent marine bivalve assemblages show significant morphological differences while living in different substrates or having different life habit traits. However, while sharing a specific substrate or life habit trait (tiering/motility), different families do not show shape convergence, i.e., families maintain their mean shape, except for families living in soft sediments, for which they show strong substrate-driven morphological convergence. These instances of morphological divergence and convergence suggest that the association among sediment preference, ecology, and shape can be rather complex, and can often transgress phylogenetic boundaries in bivalves.
Measurement properties of the patient global assessment numerical rating scale in moderate-to-severe psoriasis
Authors: Yu Ning , Peng Chen , Zhou Jing , Gu Jun , Xu Jinhua , Li Xia , Bi Xinling , Deng Hui , Li Xin , Ding Yangfeng , Shi Yuling
Published: June 2023

Background

Patient global assessment (PtGA) has been recommended as one of the core domains in psoriasis clinical trials. Among multiple versions of PtGA, the single-question, 11-point PtGA numeric rating scale (NRS) remains to be validated in patients with plaque psoriasis.

Objectives

To evaluate the psychometric characteristics of an 11-point PtGA NRS for disease severity in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

Data were analysed from 759 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in the Shanghai Psoriasis Effectiveness Evaluation CoHort (SPEECH), a prospective, multicentre and observational registry assessing the comparative effectiveness and safety of biologics (adalimumab, ustekinumab, secukinumab or ixekizumab), conventional systemic therapies (acitretin or methotrexate) and phototherapy.

Results

The test–retest reliability of the PtGA NRS showed good agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient range 0.79–0.83). No floor or ceiling effects of PtGA NRS were observed. The PtGA NRS was significantly correlated with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), static Physician Global Assessment (sPGA), body surface area, Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Relatively large correlations of PtGA NRS with PASI and the DLQI ‘symptoms and feelings’ domain (all correlations ≥ 0.4 except at baseline) supported convergent validity. The presence of psoriatic arthritis or joint symptoms had no significant association with the PtGA NRS. In multivariate regression analyses, the PtGA NRS at baseline was predicted by age, lesion extent, lesion intensity, patients’ symptoms and feelings, and impact on work or school. The PtGA NRS displayed known-groups validity with the PASI, sPGA and DLQI score bands. The PtGA NRS was responsive to change in PASI and DLQI after treatment. Anchor- and distribution-based approaches supported –3 as the minimal important difference for PtGA NRS. An absolute PtGA NRS ≤ 2 during follow-up was concordant with the state of minimal disease activity based on a 90% reduction in PASI (PASI 90) or PASI 90 plus a DLQI of 0/1. Sensitivity analysis using subgroup comparison and multiple imputation model yielded consistent conclusions.

Conclusions

The PtGA NRS showed good reliability, validity and responsiveness in patients with psoriasis, and was feasible in clinical trials and daily practice.
Tourism, social networks, and community development: a case study of a coastal Vietnamese village
Authors: Dinh Thu , Andriesse Edo , Gillen Jamie
Published: June 2023

This article examines how tourism becomes integrated into rural communities and how an isolated Vietnamese community explores and creates employment opportunities through social networks. The empirical investigation is based on a case study of local involvement in tourism employment in Viet Hai, a remote coastal commune. The results of forty in-depth, semi-structured interviews reveal that the involvement of locals in tourism employment is closely associated with the density of individual social networks. Particularly, villagers with dense networks with external tourism operators and stronger kinship relations are more likely to have better access and resources to participate in tourism employment. Our empirical findings also demonstrate that the popularity of social media in remote areas could bring more opportunities to establish and strengthen external relationships and generate more resources for tourism development. Interviews with local people also unveil that tourism can intensify the income gaps among villagers, causing increasing intra-village disparities in living standards. Based on these results, local governments should be more active in connecting local villagers and tour operators. Future research and policy work in tourism and community development would benefit from a more explicit focus on the relationships between social networks and new forms of inequality, kinship ties, agritourism, and more sustainable trajectories of local development.
Sodium evolution in hyponatraemia: a mixed effects model analysis of the Hyponatraemia Registry
Authors: Cukoski Sadrija , Osterholt Thomas , Suárez Victor , Hackl Matthias Johannes , Grundmann Franziska , Burst Volker , Möllenhoff Kathrin
Published: June 2023

Objective

Achieving recommended targets of sodium correction is challenging to physicians treating hyponatraemia. Plasma sodium has to be increased effectively, yet overcorrection must be prevented. This is often hampered by a high variability of responses to treatment. Here, we sought to delineate factors influencing sodium evolution.

Design

We retrospectively analysed 3460 patients from the multinational Hyponatraemia Registry comprising a wide range of hyponatraemia aetiologies and treatment strategies.

Methods

Multivariable linear mixed effects models were applied to identify predictors of plasma sodium evolution within the first 24 h of treatment.

Results

Evolution of sodium levels over time showed a curvilinear pattern with steeper rise at earlier time points. Baseline sodium showed the most pronounced impact with an additional increment of 3.12 mEq/L for every 10 mEq/L initial sodium reduction. With sodium increments of 1.9 mEq/L and 1.4 mEq/L per 24 h, respectively, the entities hypovolaemic and thiazide-associated hyponatraemia were independent factors for sodium evolution. Therapeutic regimens using hypertonic saline (4.6 mEq/L/24 h), tolvaptan (3.4 mEq/L/24 h), or combination therapy (2.6 mEq/L/24 h) were also associated with a significantly larger sodium rise when compared with no active treatment.

Conclusions

Choice and dosing of active hyponatraemia therapy should be adjusted not only according to aetiology but most importantly to pretreatment sodium. Although counterintuitive, less aggressive therapy in more profound hyponatraemia might be safer but yet effective at least in less severe cases.
Comparison of novel ventricular pacing strategies using an electro-mechanical simulation platform
Authors: Meiburg Roel , Rijks Jesse H J , Beela Ahmed S , Bressi Edoardo , Grieco Domenico , Delhaas Tammo , Luermans Justin G LM , Prinzen Frits W , Vernooy Kevin , Lumens Joost
Published: June 2023

Aims

Focus of pacemaker therapy is shifting from right ventricular (RV) apex pacing (RVAP) and biventricular pacing (BiVP) to conduction system pacing. Direct comparison between the different pacing modalities and their consequences to cardiac pump function is difficult, due to the practical implications and confounding variables. Computational modelling and simulation provide the opportunity to compare electrical, mechanical, and haemodynamic consequences in the same virtual heart.

Methods and results

Using the same single cardiac geometry, electrical activation maps following the different pacing strategies were calculated using an Eikonal model on a three-dimensional geometry, which were then used as input for a lumped mechanical and haemodynamic model (CircAdapt). We then compared simulated strain, regional myocardial work, and haemodynamic function for each pacing strategy. Selective His-bundle pacing (HBP) best replicated physiological electrical activation and led to the most homogeneous mechanical behaviour. Selective left bundle branch (LBB) pacing led to good left ventricular (LV) function but significantly increased RV load. RV activation times were reduced in non-selective LBB pacing (nsLBBP), reducing RV load but increasing heterogeneity in LV contraction. LV septal pacing led to a slower LV and more heterogeneous LV activation than nsLBBP, while RV activation was similar. BiVP led to a synchronous LV–RV, but resulted in a heterogeneous contraction. RVAP led to the slowest and most heterogeneous contraction. Haemodynamic differences were small compared to differences in local wall behaviour.

Conclusion

Using a computational modelling framework, we investigated the mechanical and haemodynamic outcome of the prevailing pacing strategies in hearts with normal electrical and mechanical function. For this class of patients, nsLBBP was the best compromise between LV and RV function if HBP is not possible.
Visceral Adiposity Independently Predicts Time to Flare in Inflammatory Bowel Disease but Body Mass Index Does Not
Authors: Sehgal Priya , Su Steven , Zech John , Nobel Yael , Luk Lyndon , Economou Ioannis , Shen Bo , Lewis James D , Freedberg Daniel E
Published: June 2023

Background

Obesity is associated with progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Visceral adiposity may be a more meaningful measure of obesity compared with traditional measures such as body mass index (BMI). This study compared visceral adiposity vs BMI as predictors of time to IBD flare among patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study. IBD patients were included if they had a colonoscopy and computed tomography (CT) scan within a 30-day window of an IBD flare. They were followed for 6 months or until their next flare. The primary exposure was the ratio of visceral adipose tissue to subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT:SAT) obtained from CT imaging. BMI was calculated at the time of index CT scan.

Results

A total of 100 Crohn’s disease and 100 ulcerative colitis patients were included. The median age was 43 (interquartile range, 31-58) years, 39% had disease duration of 10 years or more, and 14% had severe disease activity on endoscopic examination. Overall, 23% of the cohort flared with median time to flare 90 (interquartile range, 67-117) days. Higher VAT:SAT was associated with shorter time to IBD flare (hazard ratio of 4.8 for VAT:SAT ≥1.0 vs VAT:SAT ratio <1.0), whereas higher BMI was not associated with shorter time to flare (hazard ratio of 0.73 for BMI ≥25 kg/m2 vs BMI <25 kg/m2). The relationship between increased VAT:SAT and shorter time to flare appeared stronger for Crohn’s than for ulcerative colitis.

Conclusions

Visceral adiposity was associated with decreased time to IBD flare, but BMI was not. Future studies could test whether interventions that decrease visceral adiposity will improve IBD disease activity.
Trans parents and the gendered law: Critical reflections on the Swedish regulation
Authors: Alaattinoğlu Daniela , Margaria Alice
Published: June 2023

Sweden has attracted international attention for its 2018 legislative provisions which recognize trans parenthood in line with legal gender. This legislation provides that a trans man who gives birth is registered as his child’s father in Sweden, unlike in most countries of the world. This article offers an original engagement with the genesis, peculiarities, and future of the revised Swedish Children and Parents Code, and the criticism it attracts, as an illustrative example of the inherent challenges present in regulating trans parenthood in a gendered, cis- and hetero-normative legal system. The critical analysis of the Swedish provisions investigates two alternative legal models for regulating trans parenthood from a comparative perspective: degendering legal parenthood and misalignment of legal gender and parental status. Looking towards the future, the article normatively embraces a substantive conceptualization of degendering legal parenthood, rather than merely a nominal one, highlighting the need to rethink and redistribute childcare.
Post-Diapause DNA Replication during Oogenesis in a Capital-Breeding Copepod
Authors: Monell K J , Roncalli V , Hopcroft R R , Hartline D K , Lenz P H
Published: June 2023

Synopsis

In high-latitude environments where seasonal changes include periods of harsh conditions, many arthropods enter diapause, a period of dormancy that is hormonally regulated. Diapause is characterized by very low metabolism, resistance to environmental stress, and developmental arrest. It allows an organism to optimize the timing of reproduction by synchronizing offspring growth and development with periods of high food availability. In species that enter dormancy as pre-adults or adults, termination of diapause is marked by the resumption of physiological processes, an increase in metabolic rates and once transitioned into adulthood for females, the initiation of oogenesis. In many cases, individuals start feeding again and newly acquired resources become available to fuel egg production. However, in the subarctic capital-breeding copepod Neocalanus flemingeri, feeding is decoupled from oogenesis. Thus, optimizing reproduction limited by fixed resources such that all eggs are of high quality and fully-provisioned, requires regulation of the number of oocytes. However, it is unknown if and how this copepod limits oocyte formation. In this study, the phase in oocyte production by post-diapause females that involved DNA replication in the ovary and oviducts was examined using incubation in 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU). Both oogonia and oocytes incorporated EdU, with the number of EdU-labeled cells peaking at 72 hours following diapause termination. Cell labeling with EdU remained high for two weeks, decreasing thereafter with no labeling detected by four weeks post diapause, and three to four weeks before spawning of the first clutch of eggs. The results suggest that oogenesis is sequential in N. flemingeri with formation of new oocytes starting within 24 hours of diapause termination and limited to the first few weeks. Lipid consumption during diapause was minimal and relatively modest initially. This early phase in the reproductive program precedes mid-oogenesis and vitellogenesis 2, when oocytes increase in size and accumulate yolk and lipid reserves. By limiting DNA replication to the initial phase, the females effectively separate oocyte production from oocyte provisioning. A sequential oogenesis is unlike the income-breeder strategy of most copepods in which oocytes at all stages of maturation are found concurrently in the reproductive structures.