bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II trial of lurbinectedin combined with avelumab as maintenance therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma with stable or responding disease following platinum-based chemotherapy.
Authors: Sonpavde Guru P. , Alemany Carlos A. , Mchayleh Wassim , Pepe Julie W. , Coakley Susan , Young Ashley , Jain Rohit K.
Published: March 2023

TPS590

Background: Maintenance avelumab following stable/responding disease after 4-6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy is a conventional first-line therapy for metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC). Given the attrition of patients between lines of systemic therapy, there is a role for extending the benefits of maintenance avelumab by combinations with tolerable and active agents. Lurbinectedin (Lurbi) is an alkylating agent and selective inhibitor of oncogenic transcription. Lurbi is approved by the US FDA for treating small cell lung cancer with progression on platinum-based chemotherapy with typical dosing as 3.2 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks. The activity of lurbi in the presence of DNA damage repair (DDR) alterations, multiple transcriptomic drivers and preclinical synergism with and feasibility of co-administration with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) suggests potential activity of combination lurbi and ICI in mUC. Patients with stable or responding disease following platinum-based chemotherapy are phenotypically selected for deficiencies in DDR. Lurbi may be tolerable in this setting given mostly reversible myelosuppression and no serious non-hematologic toxicities especially neurotoxicity. Thus, the combination of lurbi with maintenance avelumab may warrant evaluation in mUC. Methods: A non-randomized multicenter (Advent Health Cancer Institute, Moffitt Cancer Center) phase II trial (n=36) is designed to evaluate combination avelumab (800 mg IV every 2 weeks) and lurbi (3·2 mg/m2 IV as a 1-h infusion every 4 weeks) for those with stable or responding disease following 4-6 cycles of platinum-based first-line platinum-based chemotherapy for mUC. Therapy is continued till progression of disease, intolerable toxicities or patient decision. Patients are seen for a clinical examination every 4 weeks (1 cycle) with laboratory evaluation every 2 weeks. Radiographic imaging is performed every 8 weeks for 6 months and then every 12 weeks thereafter to assess disease. Premedication for lurbi includes corticosteroids (dexamethasone 8 mg or equivalent) and serotonin antagonists. Mandatory granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) prophylaxis will be administered to all patients. Baseline archival tumor tissue and periodic blood is collected for correlative studies (tumor genomics/PD-L1 expression, circulating tumor DNA and immune markers). Given a median progression-free survival (PFS) with avelumab alone of 3.7 months, an alternative median PFS of 6 months is of interest warranting further development. We will enroll 33 evaluable patients to achieve 90% power at a 1-sided alpha level 0.1 to detect hazard ratio of 0.62. Given ~10% of enrolled patients may be inevaluable, we may enroll up to 36 patients. Clinical trial ID: NCT05574504. Clinical trial information: NCT05574504 .
Vacancy-superlattice–induced higher-order topological corner states in a Chern insulator
Authors: Tu Wei , Wu Ya-Jie , Liu Chao-Chen , Li Ning
Published: March 2023

Recent studies have discovered local potentials can induce nontrivial eigenmodes responding to the bulk topology for the system. While previous studies focused on conventional first-order topological states emerging from vacancy superlattice, here we study higher-order topological properties of the vacancy superlattice on a two-dimensional Chern insulator with particle-hole symmetry. The vacancy superlattice with alternate lattice spacings exhibits an emergent second-order topological phase characterized by the nontrivial edge polarization. This topological phase is robust against particle-hole symmetry-preserved perturbations as long as the energy gap remains open for the mid-gap states. Our work generalizes the nontrivial higher-order topological properties to a Chern insulator with local defect vacancies and provides a controllable platform for engineering higher-order topological corner states.
The Prevalence of Metabolically Unhealthy Normal Weight and Its Influence on the Risk of Diabetes
Authors: Ye Jianan , Guo Keyu , Li Xia , Yang Lin , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: March 2023

Context

Diabetes is a major health problem and metabolically unhealthy is an important risk factor.

Objective

To conduct the first nationally representative study on epidemiological data of metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) focused only on nondiabetic subjects and determine the predictive effect on diabetes in China.

Methods

A longitudinal study was conducted using data from the Rich Healthcare Group in China. Metabolic status was determined by the revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and individuals with 2 or more criteria were categorized as MUNW and diagnosed with metabolic syndrome (MetS) if they met 3 or more.

Results

Of a total of 63 830 nondiabetic normal-weight individuals, 8935 (14.0%) were classified as MUNW and 1916 (3.00%) were diagnosed with MetS. After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals with MUNW had a greater diabetes risk (4.234, 95% CI 3.089-5.803) than those without MUNW during an average of 3.10 years of follow-up. Also, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for developing diabetes were 3.069 (95% CI 1.790-5.263), 7.990 (95% CI 4.668-13.677), and 11.950 (95% CI 6.618-21.579) for participants with 1, 2, and 3 or more components, respectively, compared with those without any components. Further analyses suggested that the number of MetS components present is associated with the risk of diabetes, especially in metabolically unhealthy normal-weight young male adults. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for incident diabetes among individuals with 1, 2, and at least 3 components were 4.45 (1.45-13.72), 9.82 (3.05-31.64), and 15.13 (3.70-61.84) for participants aged ≤44 years, and 3.55 (1.81-6.97), 8.52 (4.34-16.73), and 13.69 (6.51-28.77) for male participants, respectively.

Conclusions

The prevalence of MUNW is 14% in Chinese normal-weight nondiabetic individuals, and active intervention is necessary for this category of people. The presence of MUNW significantly increases the risk of diabetes, and the risk of diabetes is associated with the number of MetS components present in the patient.
Non-muscle myosin 2 at a glance
Authors: Quintanilla Melissa A. , Hammer John A. , Beach Jordan R.
Published: March 2023

Non-muscle myosin 2 (NM2) motors are the major contractile machines in most cell types. Unsurprisingly, these ubiquitously expressed actin-based motors power a plethora of subcellular, cellular and multicellular processes. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review the biochemical properties and mechanisms of regulation of this myosin. We highlight the central role of NM2 in multiple fundamental cellular processes, which include cell migration, cytokinesis, epithelial barrier function and tissue morphogenesis. In addition, we highlight recent studies using advanced imaging technologies that have revealed aspects of NM2 assembly hitherto inaccessible. This article will hopefully appeal to both cytoskeletal enthusiasts and investigators from outside the cytoskeleton field who have interests in one of the many basic cellular processes requiring actomyosin force production.
Validation of the Dominican system for measuring early childhood development
Authors: Sánchez-Vincitore Laura V. , Alonso Pellerano María Angélica , Valdez María Elena , Jiménez Angie Sabrina , Ruiz-Matuk Carlos B , Castro Arachu , Díaz Felipe , Cubilla-Bonnetier Daniel
Published: March 2023

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Dominican System for Measuring Early Childhood Development (SIMEDID, for its Spanish acronym), to adjust the sequence of item presentation, and to provide age-standardized norms for each item, to enable policy and program managers to make decisions based on specific and structured data.

Methods: After approval from an ethics committee, a total of 948 children from 0 to 60 months participated in this study. Participants were evaluated on four early childhood development domains (gross motor, fine motor, language development, and socio-emotional development). The data were collected from November 2021 to February 2022, either at early childhood care centers or at home, using mobile devices that guided the evaluators through the screener. Data were later synced to a global database. Psychometric properties were calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and split-half parallel reliability. For reorganizing item presentation and to obtain age-standardized norms, we conducted a logistic regression analysis for each item on dependent variable item success, and independent variable age.

Results: The instrument showed excellent reliability and additional evidence of validity. The item presentation order was rearranged according to the probability of item success progression. In addition, the study characterized the expected evolution of item success probability across participants' age.

Conclusions: SIMEDID is a valid and reliable instrument for depicting childhood development in national evaluations. Its integration with electronic platforms for national monitoring represents a cost-effective, time-efficient screening tool adapted to the Dominican sociocultural context. This represents a promising tool to strengthen strategies that support early childhood development.
Improving genomic prediction of rhizomania resistance in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) by implementing epistatic effects and feature selection
Authors: Lange Thomas Martin , Heinrich Felix , Kopisch-Obuch Friedrich , Keunecke Harald , Gültas Mehmet , Schmitt Armin O.
Published: March 2023

Background: Rhizomania counts as the most important disease in sugar beet Beta vulgaris L. for which no plant protection is available, leaving plant breeding as the only defence strategy at the moment. Five resistance genes have been detected on the same chromosome and further studies suggested that these might be different alleles at two resistance clusters. Nevertheless, it was postulated that rhizomania resistance might be a quantitative trait with multiple unknown minor resistance genes. Here, we present a first attempt at genomic prediction of rhizomania resistance in a population that was genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.

Methods: First, genomic prediction was performed using all SNPs. Next, we calculated the variable importance for each SNP using machine learning and performed genomic prediction by including the SNPs incrementally in the prediction model based on their variable importance. Using this method, we selected the optimal number of SNPs that maximised the prediction accuracy. Furthermore, we performed genomic prediction with SNP pairs. We also performed feature selection with SNP pairs using the information about the variable importance of the single SNPs.

Results: From the four methods under investigation, the latter led to the highest prediction accuracy. These results lead to the following conclusions: (I) The genotypes that were resistant at all known resistance genes, provided the highest possible variation of virus concentrations that the machine can measure. Thus, it can be assumed that more genes must be involved in the resistance towards rhizomania. (II) We show that prediction models that include SNP interactions increased the prediction accuracy.

Conclusions: Altogether, our findings suggest that rhizomania resistance is a complex quantitative trait that is affected by multiple genes as well as their interaction.
Słowa i gesty w komunikacji: Prace wybrane
Authors: Antas Jolanta
Published: March 2023

The book includes selected articles of Professor Jolanta Antas from the years 1981- 2022, published earlier in scientific journals and collective volumes. It comprises works divided into three topical chapters with 13 articles presented chronologically.
Learning Equilibria in Asymmetric Auction Games
Authors: Bichler Martin , Kohring Nils , Heidekrüger Stefan
Published: March 2023

Computing Bayesian Nash equilibrium strategies in auction games is a challenging problem that is not well-understood. Such equilibria can be modeled as systems of nonlinear partial differential equations. It was recently shown that neural pseudogradient ascent (NPGA), an implementation of simultaneous gradient ascent via neural networks, converges to a Bayesian Nash equilibrium for a wide variety of symmetric auction games. Whereas symmetric auction models are widespread in the theoretical literature, in most auction markets in the field, one can observe different classes of bidders having different valuation distributions and strategies. Asymmetry of this sort is almost always an issue in real-world multiobject auctions, in which different bidders are interested in different packages of items. Such environments require a different implementation of NPGA with multiple interacting neural networks having multiple outputs for the different allocations in which the bidders are interested. In this paper, we analyze a wide variety of asymmetric auction models. Interestingly, our results show that we closely approximate Bayesian Nash equilibria in all models in which the analytical Bayes–Nash equilibrium is known. Additionally, we analyze new and larger environments for which no analytical solution is known and verify that the solution found approximates equilibrium closely. The results provide a foundation for generic equilibrium solvers that can be used in a wide range of auction games.

History: Accepted by Ram Ramesh, Area Editor for Data Science & Machine Learning.

Funding: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant BI-1056/I-9].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1281 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0151 ) at ( http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7407158 ).
What is the right CPD for your career?
Authors: Tan Elizabeth
Published: March 2023

Finding CPD is easy, but sourcing a suitable option can be the issue. The perfect course must fit in with a busy schedule, work for a small budget and be easily accessible. So where do you start when looking to do your CPD?
Using NDVI For Variable Rate Cotton Irrigation Prescriptions
Authors: Stone Kenneth C. , Billman Eric , Bauer Philip , Sigua Gilbert
Published: March 2023

This is digital research data corresponding to a published manuscript, "Using NDVI For Variable Rate Cotton Irrigation Prescriptions", in Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2022, Volume 38(5): 787-795. doi:10.13031/aea.15071.  

Irrigation timing is crucial for achieving high cotton yields and lint quality. This irrigation timing is more challenging in the southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain region due to its spatial variable sandy soils with low water and nutrient holding capacities and rainfall variability during the growing season. To address these challenges, we conducted a 2-year (2017 and 2018) study evaluating two irrigation scheduling methods under a variable rate irrigation system. The two irrigation methods were: (1) a uniform irrigation management based on weekly crop water usage, and (2) spatial crop coefficients derived from normalized difference vegetation indices (NDVI). We compared cotton yields and water use efficiency using the two irrigation scheduling methods at two different planting densities. The two plant populations were 5 and 11.5 plants m-1 of row to provide different NDVI readings and water requirements.
How do Vocational Teachers Learn? Formal and Informal Learning by Vocational Teachers in Kenya
Authors: Njenga Moses
Published: March 2023

Context: Participation in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) supports the development of vocational teacher competencies. However, it is often not clear what learning methods vocational teachers use in their CPD. This study therefore investigated the CPD practices of vocational teachers in Kenya, with a specific focus on the formal and informal learning methods used. Approach: The study used a questionnaire survey to collect data from TVET teachers randomly drawn from six Technical and Vocational Colleges in Kenya's Nairobi Metropolitan Area. Descriptive and inferential analysis of the data was used to determine how frequently different learning methods are used and to identify associations between CPD practices and teacher characteristics.Findings: TVET teachers in Kenya were found to use different learning methods depending on the availability of the learning methods and the learning goals teachers have. Formal academic learning and discussions with colleagues are frequently used while collaborative learning methods and practice-based learning activities are less frequently used. Rarely used are written reflections about practice and its outcomes. Despite viewing Lecturer Industrial Attachment (LIA) as important and therefore wishing to attend LIA, more than a third of the participants indicated that they had never attended LIA. The use of professional literature is restricted to text books with limited use of primary and secondary literature. CPD activities such as mentoring, supervising other teachers, and school visits were found to form a unique category of CPD activities that is more frequently used by teachers with administrative responsibilities. Conclusion: The limited use of active learning methods that involve critical evaluation of practices and their outcomes risks limiting the ability of vocational teachers in Kenya to transform and adopt better practices. It is recommended that vocational teachers in Kenya are encouraged to adopt a broad conception of teacher CPD that embraces collaborative, reflective, and practice-based learning.
Dancing to a different tune, can we switch from chemical to biological nitrogen fixation for sustainable food security?
Authors: Jhu Min-Yao , Oldroyd Giles E. D.
Published: March 2023

Our current food production systems are unsustainable, driven in part through the application of chemically fixed nitrogen. We need alternatives to empower farmers to maximise their productivity sustainably. Therefore, we explore the potential for transferring the root nodule symbiosis from legumes to other crops. Studies over the last decades have shown that preexisting developmental and signal transduction processes were recruited during the evolution of legume nodulation. This allows us to utilise these preexisting processes to engineer nitrogen fixation in target crops. Here, we highlight our understanding of legume nodulation and future research directions that might help to overcome the barrier of achieving self-fertilising crops.
A sleep-active neuron can promote survival while sleep behavior is disturbed
Authors: Busack Inka , Bringmann Henrik
Published: March 2023

Sleep is controlled by neurons that induce behavioral quiescence and physiological restoration. It is not known, however, how sleep neurons link sleep behavior and survival. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the sleep-active RIS neuron induces sleep behavior and is required for survival of starvation and wounding. Sleep-active neurons such as RIS might hypothetically promote survival primarily by causing sleep behavior and associated conservation of energy. Alternatively, RIS might provide a survival benefit that does not depend on behavioral sleep. To probe these hypotheses, we tested how activity of the sleep-active RIS neuron in Caenorhabditis elegans controls sleep behavior and survival during larval starvation. To manipulate the activity of RIS, we expressed constitutively active potassium channel (twk-18gf and egl-23gf) or sodium channel (unc-58gf) mutant alleles in this neuron. Low levels of unc-58gf expression in RIS increased RIS calcium transients and sleep. High levels of unc-58gf expression in RIS elevated baseline calcium activity and inhibited calcium activation transients, thus locking RIS activity at a high but constant level. This manipulation caused a nearly complete loss of sleep behavior but increased survival. Long-term optogenetic activation also caused constantly elevated RIS activity and a small trend towards increased survival. Disturbing sleep by lethal blue-light stimulation also overactivated RIS, which again increased survival. FLP-11 neuropeptides were important for both, induction of sleep behavior and starvation survival, suggesting that FLP-11 might have divergent roles downstream of RIS. These results indicate that promotion of sleep behavior and survival are separable functions of RIS. These two functions may normally be coupled but can be uncoupled during conditions of strong RIS activation or when sleep behavior is impaired. Through this uncoupling, RIS can provide survival benefits under conditions when behavioral sleep is disturbed. Promoting survival in the face of impaired sleep might be a general function of sleep neurons.
Lessons from zoom-university: Post-secondary student consequences and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic—A focus group study
Authors: Morava Anisa , Sui Anna , Ahn Joshua , Sui Wuyou , Prapavessis Harry
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically altered the model of university education. However, the most salient challenges associated with online learning, how university students are coping with these challenges, and the impact these changes have had on students’ communities of learning remain relatively unexplored. Changes to the learning environment have also disrupted existing communities of learning for both lower and upper-year students. Hence, the purpose of our study was to explore how: (1) academic and personal/interpersonal challenges as a result of COVID-19; (2) formal and informal strategies used to cope with these academic and non-academic challenges; (3) and services or resources provided by the institution, if any, affected students’ communities of learning. Six focus groups of 5–6 students were conducted, with two focus groups specifically dedicated to upper and lower year students. Questions related to academic and interpersonal challenges, formal and informal coping strategies, and access to/use of university services/resources were posed. Common challenges included poor accommodation from professors and administrators; burnout from little separation school and personal life; lack of support for students transitioning out of university; and difficulties forming and maintaining social networks. These findings suggest the importance of fostering communities of learning informally and formally at universities beyond the pandemic context.
Can children and adolescents with ADHD use attention to maintain verbal information in working memory?
Authors: Superbia-Guimarães Luísa , Bader Michel , Camos Valérie
Published: March 2023

Children and adolescents with attentional-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) present deficits in working memory (WM), but accounts for this phenomenon are still lacking. In this study, we used two variations of a complex-span task to test whether a specific WM mechanism, attentional refreshing, causes these deficits. Attentional refreshing is a maintenance strategy based on the sequential switch of attention between maintaining and processing information in WM. Its use is evidenced by a decrease in recall performance proportional to the distraction of attention away from the memoranda. In this study, we designed two experiments requiring children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms to maintain sequences of letters for subsequent recall, while performing a distracting task. In Experiment 1, the distracting task consisted of reading digits aloud. In Experiment 2, it consisted in making spatial judgements. The pace of the distracting tasks was varied to manipulate the level of attentional distraction. We observed that recall in ADHD participants was higher in the distracting conditions that give attention more opportunity to refresh letters. Moreover, ADHD participants had a similar recall performance to their age-matched typically developing peers. This study shows first evidence that individuals with ADHD can use attention to maintain verbal information in WM and calls for more research to understand their WM development.
Predicting soft tissue thicknesses overlying the iliac crests and greater trochanters of younger and older adults
Authors: Town Claudia M. , Gyemi Danielle L. , Ellis Zoe , Kahelin Charles , Laing Andrew C. , Andrews David M.
Published: March 2023

Soft tissues overlying the hip play a critical role in protecting against fractures during fall-related hip impacts. Consequently, the development of an efficient and cost-effective method for estimating hip soft tissue thicknesses in living people may prove to be valuable for assessing an individual’s injury risk and need to adopt preventative measures. The present study used multiple linear stepwise regression to generate prediction equations from participant characteristics (i.e., height, sex) and anthropometric measurements of the pelvis, trunk, and thigh to estimate soft tissue thickness at the iliac crests (IC) and greater trochanters (GT) in younger (16–35 years of age: 37 males, 37 females) and older (36–65 years of age: 38 males, 38 females) adults. Equations were validated against soft tissue thicknesses measured from full body Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry scans of independent samples (younger: 13 males, 13 females; older: 13 males, 12 females). Younger adult prediction equations exhibited adjusted R2 values ranging from 0.704 to 0.791, with more explained variance for soft tissue thicknesses at the GT than the IC; corresponding values for the older adult equations were higher overall and ranged from 0.819 to 0.852. Predicted and actual soft tissue thicknesses were significantly correlated for both the younger (R2 = 0.466 to 0.738) and older (R2 = 0.842 to 0.848) adults, averaging ≤ 0.75cm of error. This research demonstrates that soft tissue thicknesses overlying the GT and IC can be accurately predicted from equations using anthropometric measurements. These equations can be used by clinicians to identify individuals at higher risk of hip fractures who may benefit from the use of preventative measures.
A new family of glutamate-gated chloride channels in parasitic sea louse Caligus rogercresseyi: A subunit refractory to activation by ivermectin is dominant in heteromeric assemblies
Authors: Tribiños Felipe , Cuevas Patricio , Cornejo Isabel , Sepúlveda Francisco V. , Cid L. Pablo
Published: March 2023

Sea louse ectoparasitosis is a major threat to fish aquaculture. Avermectins such as ivermectin and emamectin have been effectively used against sea louse infestation, but the emergence of resistance has limited their use. A better understanding of the molecular targets of avermectins is essential to the development of novel treatment strategies or new, more effective drugs. Avermectins are known to act by inhibiting neurotransmission through allosteric activation of glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls). We have investigated the GluCl subunit present in Caligus rogercresseyi, a sea louse affecting aquaculture in the Southern hemisphere. We identify four new subunits, CrGluCl-B to CrGluCl-E, and characterise them functionally. CrGluCl-A (previously reported as CrGluClα), CrGluCl-B and CrGluCl-C all function as glutamate channel receptors with different sensitivities to the agonist, but in contrast to subunit -A and -C, CrGluCl-B is not activated by ivermectin but is rather antagonised by the drug. CrGluCl-D channel appears active in the absence of any stimulation by glutamate or ivermectin and CrGluCl-E does not exhibit any activity. Notably, the expression of CrGluCl-B with either -A or -C subunits gives rise to receptors unresponsive to ivermectin and showing altered response to glutamate, suggesting that coexpression has led to the preferential formation of heteromers to which the presence of CrGluCl-B confers the property of ivermectin-activation refractoriness. Furthermore, there was evidence for heteromer formation with novel properties only when coexpressing pairs E/C and D/B CrGluCl subtypes. Site-directed mutagenesis shows that three transmembrane domain residues contribute to the lack of activation by ivermectin, most crucially Gln 15’ in M2, with mutation Q15’T (the residue present in ivermectin-activated subunits A and C) conferring ivermectin activation to CrGluCl-B. The differential response to avermectin of these Caligus rogercresseyi GluClsubunits, which are highly conserved in the Northern hemisphere sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis, could have an influence on the response of these parasites to treatment with macrocyclic lactones. They could serve as molecular markers to assess susceptibility to existing treatments and might be useful molecular targets in the search for novel antiparasitic drugs.
Az innováció területi egyenlőtlenségének okai
Authors: Szabó Bálint , Trautmann László , Vida Cecília
Published: March 2023

Az innováció a 20. század eleje óta jelen van a közgazdaságtudományban és a gazdálkodástudományban mégis az elmúlt 10 évben újra a figyelem középpontjába került. Ennek alapvető oka, hogy az elmúlt harminc, negyven év innovációi elsősorban a fejlett országokban mentek végbe. Lényegében 3-4 innovációs központ emelkedett ki a világban, közöttük a legismertebb a Szilícium-völgy, de említhetnénk Boston környékét vagy Németországban a Rajna vidék autóipari fejlesztéseit. Az ezekben a központokban született eredmények határozták meg az innovációs folyamatot.
A jövő körforgásos és platform gazdasága
Authors: Tóth Tibor Gergely
Published: March 2023

A Magyar Nemzeti Bank podcast sorozatában „A jövő körforgásos és platfrom gazdasága” című beszélgetés (https://soundcloud.com/magyar_nemzeti_bank/a-jovo-korforgasos-es-platform-gazdasaga-vendegunk-danoczy-balint-es-sajtos-peter?si=e00620a5218047a58a1f0c222751e2e8&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing ) témáját a jegybank által májusban meghirdetett Új fenntartható közgazdaságtan című vitairat adta. A vendégek Danóczy Bálint és Sajtos Péter voltak, akik a vitairat „Termelés és szolgáltatás új formáiról” című fejezetét készítették. A podcast házigazdái Bodnár Előd és Nánási-Kézdy Tamás voltak. A felvétel 4 hónappal a leirat elkészülése előtt történt. A vitairat kiindulópontja az, hogy át kell alakítanunk az élet minden területét, de azon belül is a közgazdaságtant annak érdekében, hogy a fenntarthatóság kerüljön a középpontba. Az említett fejezet a termelési láncok átalakítását sürgeti, a jelenleg domináns lineáris termelési lánc felől a körforgásos gazdaság felé. A szerzők ennek a módjára és szükségszerűségére mutatnak rá.
The effectiveness of insulin therapy in the functional and morphological recovery of leydig cells in rats submitted to Diabetes mellitus
Authors: Silva Alluanan Adelson do Nascimento , Oliveira Jessica Santana de , Dias Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro , Moraes Rosana Nogueira de , Melo Elizabeth Neves de , Soares Pierre Castro , Júnior Valdemiro Amaro da Silva
Published: March 2023

The effects of systemic insulin administration at different concentrations on the testicular tissue of diabetic adult rats, induced by streptozotocin, are evaluated by the morphological analysis of spermatogenic process. Twenty-four adult male rats were divided into 1) Control Group: they received citrate buffer, by intraperitoneal injection; 2) Diabetic Group: induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60 mg. kg-1 of body weight); 3) Insulin 50%: induced diabetes treated with half of standard dosage of insulin; 4) Insulin 100%: induced diabetes treated with standard dose of insulin. After eight weeks, animals were weighted and anesthetized; testicles were removed and processed in resin. Body and testicular weight of diabetic rats decreased when compared to that of control. Parameters increased with insulin therapy. Testosterone levels were low in diabetic animals but rates recovered after insulin therapy. Nuclear diameter and volume of Leydig cells decreased in diabetic rats although they significantly increased after insulin therapy. Results showed that the administration of insulin in diabetic rats promoted a protective effect of testicular parenchyma, enhancing efficient recovery on testosterone levels and increase in daily sperm production.
Yield potential and selection of off-season maize for silage and grain using GT Biplot under limited water and frost
Authors: Guimarães Amanda Gonçalves , Ceccon Gessí , Capristo Denise Prevedel , Oliveira Odair Honorato de , Retore Marciana , Santos Adriano dos
Published: March 2023

Maize silage has been used as a forage reserve strategy for critical periods or continuous use in animal feed. However, new genotypes and their potential must be identified. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of maize genotypes for silage and grain in one off-season in the midwest region of Brazil, under limited water and frost, and select them for this dual purpose (silage and grain) using the GT Biplot tool. The experiment was performed at Embrapa Western Agriculture in the autumn-winter season of 2021 in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks of six maize genotypes (BRS1010, KWS9606, 1P2224, 1Q2383, BRS3046, and CAPO) with five replications under no-tillage. Silage points were evaluated at harvest when the grain milk line was at ¾ and maize grains at the maturation stage (dry plant). The 1P2224 and 1Q2383 maize genotypes present silage (high green and dry biomass) and grain yield potential. The GT Biplot tool identified the 1P2224 genotype as superior and suitable for cultivation or as a parent in a breeding program in the midwest region of Brazil for silage and grain yield evaluations of one off-season under limited water and frost.
Methodological proposal for evaluation of susceptibility to environmental degradation
Authors: Albuquerque Erickson Melo , Lima Eduardo Rodrigues Viana , Sousa Maria Fátima Barroso
Published: March 2023

Land use and occupation is a research theme that contributes to the analysis of the territory dynamics, reflected in the relationships between society and nature that modify the landscape. These relationships include environmental, spatial, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that integrate the environment from a systemic point of view and perform functions and activities capable of maintaining or disturbing the natural balance of the environment.Thus, knowing the limits of environmental systems is a way to live rationally with the exploitation of natural resources for the development of the various human activities. Therefore, this study aimed to propose a method to assess the degree of susceptibility to environmental degradation, using geoprocessing techniques, in the Immediate Geographical Region of “Princesa Isabel” (IGRPI), located in the semi-arid region of Paraíba. Geology, pedology, geomorphology, rainfall, vegetation cover, and land use and occupation data were integrated into the Geographic Information System to compute the Biophysical Index of Susceptibility to Environmental Degradation (BISED) in the IGRPI. The analyzed factors were more fragile in rural areas because of natural factors,since in urban areas there are more intense anthropogenic activities, and the BISED ranged from low to high, especially in municipal seats, indicating that the region, even being little developed, has the opportunity to plan the environment for a future with sustainable exploitation.
Soils of lake environments in the Brazilian Pantanal
Authors: Nascimento Diogo Costa , Corrêa Guilherme Resende , Gradella Frederico Santos , Campos Prímula Viana , Koch Viviane Arantes , Vasconcelos Bruno Nery Fernandes
Published: March 2023

The Pantanal comprehends a set of heterogeneous and biodiverse landscapes of esteemed environmental, economic and social value. The study of soils is effective to stratify and to understanding the operation of these environments. The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare soils of lake landscapes of the Pantanal: baías (freshwater lakes), salinas (alkaline lakes) and their respective levees (sandy ridges originally with forest vegetation). For this purpose, we carried out field work with sampling, in triplicate, of superficial soil layers in 12 representative areas of low and high Nhecolândia; analytical determinations of 26 soil attributes were performed, totaling 936 response variables and statistical analyses were performed in order to synthesize the data and present the results. In both landscapes, the fine sand fraction predominates in the soil granulometry. The textural class of the soils varied from very sandy, medium sandy and medium sandy for the baías; very sandy for the levees, with particle density related to the presence of quartz; and very sandy, medium sandy, medium clayey and clayey for the salinas. In the chemical attributes and organic matter, the baías stand out for higher potential acidity (H+Al), slightly high organic matter contents and availability of metal ions, especially Fe; in the levees, higher average remaining phosphorus (Prem) are more evident; while the saline lake soils are related to more alkaline pH values, high base saturation and high Sodium Saturation Indices (ISNa). Salinas landscapes presented the highest data variability and have soil attributes that refer to the action of different environmental processes.
Educar a la ignaciana en el siglo XXI
Authors: Llorente Ortiz Inmaculada
Published: March 2023

Este artículo hace un análisis de elementos clave de los Ejercicios Espirituales de san Ignacio de Loyola y del papel del acompañante según las Anotaciones a los mismos para presentar, seguidamente, cómo a su luz se define el perfil del educador ignaciano, así como algunas “lecciones prácticas” para la relación educador-alumno.
Embracing AI for student and staff productivity
Authors: Venaruzzo Lynnae , Ames Kate , Leichtweis Steve
Published: March 2023

The ACODE 88 workshop was held on Thursday 2 March 2023 with 241 registrations from 31 institutions. Attendees represented a broad range of roles from across the sector, including teaching academic staff, educational designers and technologists, directors of learning and teaching, and learning support specialist staff. In addition to activities on the day, a pre-workshop survey was distributed to institutional representatives to determine the current state of decision-making, understanding, and actions on the use of AI. The survey received 34 responses from Australasian higher education institutions, and the following recommendations were developed based on workshop discussions, roundtables and survey responses.
The Illegal Wildlife Trade in Poland – Crime Control Models
Authors: Drzazga Edyta
Published: March 2023

Wildlife traffickindg of endangered species is an international crime that is increasing in in terms of its significance and position in the global crime hierarchy. This phenomenon is a significant subject of research for both traditional and green criminology. The representatives of green criminology, when discussing the criminal policy in matters related to green crimes, refer to its broad meaning. From this perspective, “green criminal policy” includes: a) the legal and social approach, b) a regulatory system that emphasizes social arrangements, norms and reforms in the production and consumption system; and c) a system of social interactions. Each of these models is presented in the article. In this context, the results of qualitative research on the state of the social control of illegal trade in wild fauna and flora in Poland will also be cited.
Influence of a thin dielectric layer on resonance frequencies of square SRR metasurface operating in THz band
Authors: Lopato Przemyslaw , Herbko Michal , Mescheder Ulrich , Kovacs Andras
Published: March 2023

This article investigates the effect of an additional thin dielectric layer on the top of the metasurface (MS), on the transmission of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz band. For this purpose, the split ring resonator-based MS was designed and analyzed in the terahertz band. The influence of permittivity, film thickness, and suspension height on S
21 transmission coefficient characteristics was studied. For this purpose, a numerical model was created and solved using the finite element method. The conducted study can be helpful in three cases. First, changing the suspension height of the dielectric layer may allow tunable MSs using MEMS structures. Also, this research can be used to determine the effect of applying an additional layer of protection when using the MS as a sensor to test substances that can damage it. In addition, there is an opportunity to study the dielectric properties of thin films using the proposed MS.
Effects of ellagic acid and ε-polylysine hydrochloride on the content of biogenic amines, volatile compounds and quality of salmon slices during chilled storage
Authors: Zhao Nan , Zhang Xinyuan , Zhang Zian , Guo Xiaohua , Ma Rui , Meng Yuqiong , Li Yingchang
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to investigate effects of ellagic acid (EA) and ε-polylysine hydrochloride (ε-PL) on biogenic amines (BAs), volatile compounds and quality of salmon slices stored at 4 °C. The results showed that EA and ε-PL attenuated the production of BAs, retarded the increase of TVC, TVB-N and TBARS. Additionally, water mobility, texture properties of salmon slices were also stabilized by the EA and ε-PL. Volatile compounds including aldehydes, alcohols and hydrocarbons were identified and spoilage-related compounds reduced by the EA and ε-PL, which was related to the inhibition of bacterial, TVB-N and TBA growth by EA and ε-PL. The content of phencthylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine and tyramine in EA-s-PL groups reduced by 46.53%, 54.1%, 26.42%, 31.98% and 45.37% compared to the control group at the end of storage, respectively. Therefore, EA and ε-PL can be applied for inhibiting the increase of BAs and delaying quality deterioration of salmon slices.
Wheat thermoplastic starch composite films reinforced with nanocellulose
Authors: Norrrahim Mohd Nor Faiz , Janudin Nurjahirah , Asmal Rani Mohd Saiful , Jenol Mohd Azwan , Sharip Nur Sharmila , Nurazzi Norizan Mohd , Asyraf Muhammad Rizal Muhammad , Ilyas Rushdan Ahmad
Published: March 2023

The rising costs of non-renewable plastic and environmental concerns with their industrial usage have encouraged the study and development of renewable products. As an alternative, biological-based materials create a huge opportunity for a healthy and safe environment by replacing non-renewable plastic in a variety of applications. Wheat is one of the world’s most widely cultivated crops. Due to its mechanical and physical properties, wheat starch is vital in the biopolymer industry. Wheat thermoplastic starch exhibits useable properties when plasticizers, elevated temperatures and shear are present. Thus, make it very suitable to be used as packaging material. However, this material suffers from low mechanical properties, which limit its applications. Several studies looked at the feasibility of using plant components which is nanocellulose as a reinforcing agent in wheat starch thermoplastic composites. Overall, the addition of nanocellulose can improve the performance of wheat thermoplastic starch, especially for its mechanical properties. It can potentially be used in several areas of packaging and biomedical. The objective of this review is to discuss several achievements regarding wheat starch/nanocellulose-based composites. Several important aspects of the mechanical performance and the thermal properties of the composites were evaluated. The discussion on wheat starch and nanocellulose was also tackled in this review.
COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AS A BASIS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
Authors: Tsaryk Olga
Published: March 2023

The article is devoted to the study of communicative competence as a basis for the successful implementation of international projects. The concepts of "competence" and "communicative competence" are considered. The purpose of the article is to analyze the main methods and forms of development of communicative competence, the study of communicative competence as a basis for the successful implementation of international projects. It was established that communicative competence is defined as an integrative personal resource that ensures the success of communicative activity. The development of communicative competence includes the organization of communication, the development of communicative abilities and the formation of communicative skills. It has been proven that communicative competence can be effectively developed with the help of international projects. The priority task of the university is the development and implementation of international projects and programs in the field of youth work. It is emphasized that improvement of communicative competence cannot be separated from personality development.

Keywords: competence, communicative competence, project method, international project.
Newly isolated cellulose-degrading bacterium Achromobacter xylosoxidans L2 has deinking potential
Authors: Li Yahua , Zhang Li , Xian Hongquan , Zhang Xiaomei
Published: March 2023

Compared with conventional chemical deinking, enzymatic deinking is a more environmentally compatible alternative for processing recovered paper. In this study, a bacterial isolate identified as Achromobacter xylosoxidans (designated as L2) was found to be a promising candidate for a paper deinking process. It showed endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, endoxylanases, and filter paper degrading activities (FPase) with the maximal values of 2.60, 2.57, 3.08, and 24.58 U/mL, respectively. The optimal temperature and pH for FPase were determined to be 44 °C and pH 7.6. After two days of incubation with L2 at 130 rpm and 30 °C, the waste newspaper strips (0.5 cm × 5 cm) were disintegrated to debris with the average size of 3.5 mm (while that of the untreated without inoculation of L2 was 5.7 mm). The final brightness of the regenerated handsheets after incubation with L2 increased 3.7 units (31.4% ISO). The isolate and its complete lignocellulosic enzymes could be applied as deinking agents in the recycling of waste paper.
Structural aspects on the manufacturing of cellulose nanofibers from wood pulp fibers
Authors: Moser Carl , Henriksson Gunnar , Lindström Mikael E.
Published: March 2023

The exact mechanism behind the disintegration of chemical pulp fiber into cellulose nanofibers is poorly understood. In this study, samples were subjected to various homogenization cycles, indicating that the mechanism is a stepwise process. In the earlier stages of the mechanical process, a large amount of macrofibrils were created as the larger structures disappeared. Upon mechanical treatment these macrofibrils disappeared despite the increasing yield of cellulose nanofibers. The proposed model expands the understanding of the disintegration pathway and may provide additional insight as to how wood cells are converted into microfibrils.