bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Prediction Model for Harvest Moisture Content of Rough Rice Using Meteorological Data and Color Characteristics
Authors: Kim Hoon , Kim Oui Woung , Han Jae Woong , Lee Hyo-Jai
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Moisture content, meteorological data, and leaf color characteristics of rice were investigated by harvest time.

The moisture content decreased, and leaf color value increased as days after heading passed.

Harvest moisture content prediction models were developed using meteorological data and leaf color.

It is necessary to use both leaf color and meteorological data to determine the harvest time.

Abstract.In this study, ambient temperature, accumulated temperature, and rice leaf color values were measured before harvest time to develop models for predicting the harvest moisture content (HMC) of short-grain rice. Field tests were conducted on Chuchung and Whang-gum-nu-ri, which are short-grain rice cultivars, at different experimental plots, for four years. As days after heading (DAH) passed, the moisture content (MC) decreased, and leaf color (L*, a*, and b* values) tended to increase. An experimental model that can predict HMC was developed based on the experimental results of 3 years, and the experimental results of the remaining 1 year were used for verification. The coefficient of determination of the HMC prediction model that used ambient and accumulated temperatures was 0.719, and that of the prediction model that used leaf color was as low as 0.418. However, the coefficient of determination of the integrated model that used all the factors, i.e. ambient and accumulated temperatures and leaf color, was as high as 0.915. Therefore, to determine the harvest time using the HMC of rough rice, leaf color, and meteorological data should be used together. Leaf color tended to increase markedly as the DAH increased, but the leaf color values were not similar for the same MC each year. This is because leaf color is influenced not only by MC but also by various cultivation factors such as soil conditions and growth rate during the rice cultivation process. Keywords: Accumulated temperature, Harvest, Harvest moisture content, Leaf color, Rice, Short variety.
Robust Markerless Registration of Point Clouds for Terrestrial Laser Scanning-Based Measurement of Bulk Grains Stockpiled in Storehouses
Authors: Hu Xingbo , Yang Leidong , Wu Fangming , Tian Yinghong
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Fully automated registration free from artificial markers for multi-scan point clouds aimed for TLS-based measurement of bulk grains in large storehouses.

The geometric structure of the large grain storehouse is explored to derive geometrical features as the structurally semantic information for scene understanding.

The geometrical features are modeled as a small ordered set and correspondences are established by performing trials for all possible matching pairs of two sets extracted from two different scans.

Significant improvements have been achieved in registration accuracy, computational efficiency, and robustness against scenes with symmetric structures as well as the immunity to noises and varying point density.

Abstract. Point clouds collected by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in the application of bulk grain measurement and quantification contain a vast amount of data, relatively low-textured surfaces and highly symmetric structures. All of these challenges make it a difficult task to automatically register multiple scans from different viewpoints needed to fully cover a large-scale scene. To address the challenges, this article presents a robust automatic marker-free registration method dedicated for multi-scan TLS point cloud data captured in large grain storehouses. The framework of the dedicated method follows the common procedure to split the entire registration into coarse alignment and fine registration, and uses the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm for the latter. The main contribution of the proposed dedicated method is an efficient way to find a global coarse alignment that is robust across individual scans in a TLS-based bulk grain measurement project. To tackle the correspondence problem, which is at the core of a registration task, the geometric information inherent in grain storehouses is explored in the stage of global coarse alignment. The derived semantic feature points are modeled as a small ordered set and reliable correspondences are established by performing trials for all possible matching pairs of two sets extracted from two different scans. Experimental results show the dedicated method outperforms the existing generic markless registration approaches in terms of accuracy, robustness and computational efficiency. With robustness, efficiency and accuracy, the proposed markless point cloud registration method dedicated for bulk grain measurement can cover a gap between the TLS technology and various granary field applications. Especially, its applicability to the dominant storage structure in Chinese huge grain reserve system implies remarkable efficiency improvements and will facilitate the application of TLS-based measurement in the national grain inventory of China. Keywords: Bulk grain measurement, Feature extraction, Grain storehouse, Markerless registration, Point cloud, Terrestrial laser scanning.
The Impact of Tedding on Alfalfa Nutritive Value in a Silage Production System
Authors: Hartfield Lindsey M. , Digman Matthew Francis
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Tedding alfalfa reduced moisture content by 108 g kg-1 on a wet basis over a 24 h period.

Tedding increased water soluble carbohydrates in harvested alfalfa which could improve silage nutritive value.

Tedded alfalfa had similar or lower ash content compared to non-tedded alfalfa.

Tedding did not have an observable impact on total digestible nutrients.

Abstract. Two treatments, tedded and untedded, were applied to an alfalfa field to determine their impact on the nutritive value of the resulting harvested forage. The tedded treatment area was tedded immediately after the cutting, and the untedded treatment was left in its original 1.5 m width windrow. The tedded alfalfa dried faster (p = 0.001) than the untedded in all cuttings. When results were averaged across the three cuttings, crude protein (p = 0.006), water soluble carbohydrates (p = 0.05), and ash content (p < 0.001) were also observed to be different. The tedded treatment had a 6 g kg-1 lower crude protein content, a 9 g kg-1 higher water soluble carbohydrate content and an 8 g kg-1 lower ash content than the untedded treatment. A difference was not observed between the treatments for neutral detergent fiber (p = 0.49) or total digestible nutrients (p = 0.89). Producers can rely on a tedding intervention to hasten alfalfa drying for silage production while having a minimal impact on forage nutritive value. Keywords: Alfalfa, Forage nutritive value, Medicago sativa, Tedder
Kinematics Analysis and Trajectory Planning of Segmentation Robot for Chilled Sheep Carcass
Authors: Bao Xiulan , Junsong Leng , Mao Jincheng
Published: December 2021

Highlights

An automatic sheep segmentation robot system was developed to realize the automatic segmentation of chilled sheep carcass and improve the segmentation efficiency.

The mechanical properties of mutton and lamb ribs were analyzed.

The motion model of robot was established and the cutting path of sheep carcass was designed.

Accurate segmentation of sheep carcass was realized.

Abstract. With the quick development of animal husbandry, it is imperative to switch from extensive management to intensive operation. To improve the automation and quality of mutton segmentation, an automatic sheep segmentation robot system was developed in this article, which realizes the automatic segmentation of chilled sheep carcass and improves the segmentation efficiency of chilled sheep carcass. According to the technological requirements of sheep carcass segmentation, the cutting procedure of slaughtering chilled fresh sheep carcass was designed and the three-dimensional model of chilled fresh sheep carcass was established in reverse. A chilled fresh sheep carcass clamp was designed based on the characteristics of the profiling structure. Then the mechanical characteristics of chilled fresh mutton and sheep ribs were analyzed. Specifically, considering that the carcass of chilled fresh sheep is a viscous body, the shear test of chilled fresh mutton tissue was carried out. Thus, the kinematics model of segmentation robot was established. The workspace of the slaughtering robot was analyzed. Furthermore, the dynamic model of a slaughtering robot was established. The cutting track of the segmentation robot was designed and the sheep carcass cutting experiment was completed on the segmentation robot system. The mass of sheep carcass before and after cutting were 15.3 and 14.9 kg, respectively. The loss rate during cutting was 2.61%, which indicates the incision was smooth and the sheep carcass segmentation was accurate. The effectiveness of the sheep carcass segmentation robot was proved by experimental results. Keywords: Cutting force, Reverse modeling, Sheep contour, Segmentation robot, Trajectory planning.
Characterizing turbulence profile layers through celestial single-source observations
Authors: Laidlaw Douglas J. , Reeves Andrew P. , Singhal Himanshi , Calvo Ramon Mata
Published: December 2021

Future spacecraft missions aim to communicate with the Earth using near-infrared lasers. The possible bit rate of free-space optical communication (FSOC) is orders of magnitude greater when compared to current radio frequency transmissions. The challenge of ground–space FSOC is that atmospheric turbulence perturbs optical wavefront propagation. These wavefront aberrations can be measured using a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor (SHWFS). A ground-based adaptive optics (AO) system can mitigate these aberrations along the optical path by translating wavefront measurements into deformable mirror commands. However, errors result from atmospheric turbulence continuously evolving, and there are unavoidable delays during AO wavefront correction. The length of an acceptable delay is referred to as the coherence time—a parameter dependent on the strength of turbulence profile layers and their corresponding wind-driven velocity. This study introduces a novel technique, to the best of our knowledge, for using SHWFS single-source observations, e.g., the downlink signal from a geostationary satellite, to measure the strength and velocity of turbulence profile layers. This work builds upon previous research and demonstrates that single-source observations can disentangle turbulence profile layers through studying the cross-covariance of temporally offset SHWFS centroid measurements. Simulated data are used to verify that the technique can recover the coherence time. The expected and measured results have a correlation coefficient of 0.95.
Femtosecond tunable light source with variable repetition rate between 640 kHz and 41 MHz with a 130 dB temporal pulse contrast ratio
Authors: Floess Moritz , Steinle Tobias , Gerhardt Ilja , Giessen Harald
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate a femtosecond tunable light source with a variable pulse repetition rate based on a synchronously pumped fiber-feedback optical parametric oscillator (FFOPO) that incorporates an extended-cavity design. The repetition rate can be reduced by an acousto-optical modulator in the FFOPO pump beam. The extended FFOPO cavity supports signal oscillation down to the 64th subharmonic. The high nonlinearity of the FFOPO threshold suppresses signal output for residual pump pulses that are transmitted by the pulse picker. We characterize the temporal pulse contrast ratio of the FFOPO signal output with a second-order cross-correlation measurement. This FFOPO system enables pulse picking with extraordinarily high values up to 111 dB suppression of adjacent pulses and exhibits a temporal contrast ratio that exceeds 130 dB. It generates fs-pulses with tunable wavelength from 1415–1750 nm and 2.5–3.8 µm and variable repetition rates ranging from 640 kHz to 41 MHz.
Harmonic and fundamental-frequency mode-locked operations in an Er-doped fiber laser using a Cr2Si2Te6-based saturable absorber
Authors: Xu Nannan , Sun Shuo , Shang Xinxin , Zhang Huanian , Li Dengwang
Published: December 2021

In our work, Cr2Si2Te6, a novel two-dimensional (2D)-layered ferromagnetic insulator, was used as a saturable absorber (SA) for demonstrating a pulsed Er-doped fiber laser (EDFL) based on its nonlinear saturable absorption properties. The modulation depth and saturation intensity of the Cr2Si2Te6-based SA are 6.61% and 10.77 MW/cm2, respectively. When the pump power is 60.3 mW, the 13th harmonic mode-locked generation is obtained, the 3 dB optical spectrum bandwidth is 1.392 nm and the central wavelength is 1568.032 nm. When the pump power is higher than 170.3 mW, the EDFL works at the fundamental repetition frequency of 1.23 MHz with a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 dB. The experimental results reveal that Cr2Si2Te6 SA has enormous potential in demonstrating ultrafast fiber lasers and provide references for future research based on Cr2Si2Te6 as ultrafast optical modulators.
A rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction-based live virus microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood/serum
Authors: Abidi Syed Hani , Imtiaz Kehkashan , Kanji Akbar , Qaiser Shama , Khan Erum , Iqbal Kiran , Veldhoen Marc , Ghias Kulsoom , Simas J. Pedro , Hasan Zahra
Published: December 2021

Background

Individuals recovering from COVID-19 are known to have antibodies against the Spike and other structural proteins. Antibodies against Spike have been shown to display viral neutralization. However, not all antibodies against Spike have neutralizing ability although they may be cross-reactive. There is a need for easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing assays for the determination of virus-neutralizing activity in sera of individuals. Here we describe a PCR-based micro‐neutralization assay that can be used to evaluate the viral neutralization titers of serum from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals.

Methods

The SARS-CoV-2 strain used was isolated from a nasopharyngeal specimen of a COVID-19 case. The limiting dilution method was used to obtain a 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of Vero cells. For the micro‐neutralization assay, 19 serum samples, with positive IgG titers against Spike Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) were tested. After 24 hours, infected cells were inspected for the presence of a cytopathic effect, lysed and RNA RT-PCR conducted for SARS-CoV-2. PCR target Ct values were used to calculate percent neutralization/inhibition of SARS-CoV-2.

Results

Out of 19 samples, 13 samples gave 100% neutralization at all dilutions, 1 sample showed neutralization at the first dilution, 4 samples showed neutralization at lower dilutions, while one sample did not demonstrate any neutralization. The RBD ODs and neutralization potential percentages were found to be positively correlated.

Conclusion

We describe a rapid RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 microneutralization assay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies. This can effectively be used to test the antiviral activity of serum antibodies for the investigation of both disease-driven and vaccine-induced responses.
Implementation of a lung cancer screening initiative in HIV-infected subjects
Authors: Díaz-Álvarez Jorge , Roiz Patricia , Gorospe Luis , Ayala Ana , Pérez-Pinto Sergio , Martínez-Sanz Javier , Sánchez-Conde Matilde , Casado José L. , Pérez-Elías María J. , Moreno Ana , Ron Raquel , Vivancos María J. , Vizcarra Pilar , Moreno Santiago , Serrano-Villar Sergio
Published: December 2021

In this pilot program of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) for the screening of lung cancer (LC) in a targeted population of people with HIV (PWH), its prevalence was 3.6%; the number needed to screen in order to detect one case of lung cancer was 28, clearly outweighing the risks associated with lung cancer screening. While data from additional cohorts with longitudinal measurements are needed, PWH are a target population for lung cancer screening with LDCT.
Overexpression of the microtubule-binding protein CLIP-170 induces a +TIP network superstructure consistent with a biomolecular condensate
Authors: Wu Yueh-Fu O. , Bryant Annamarie T. , Nelson Nora T. , Madey Alexander G. , Fernandes Gail F. , Goodson Holly V.
Published: December 2021

Proper regulation of microtubule (MT) dynamics is critical for cellular processes including cell division and intracellular transport. Plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs) dynamically track growing MTs and play a key role in MT regulation. +TIPs participate in a complex web of intra- and inter- molecular interactions known as the +TIP network. Hypotheses addressing the purpose of +TIP:+TIP interactions include relieving +TIP autoinhibition and localizing MT regulators to growing MT ends. In addition, we have proposed that the web of +TIP:+TIP interactions has a physical purpose: creating a dynamic scaffold that constrains the structural fluctuations of the fragile MT tip and thus acts as a polymerization chaperone. Here we examine the possibility that this proposed scaffold is a biomolecular condensate (i.e., liquid droplet). Many animal +TIP network proteins are multivalent and have intrinsically disordered regions, features commonly found in biomolecular condensates. Moreover, previous studies have shown that overexpression of the +TIP CLIP-170 induces large “patch” structures containing CLIP-170 and other +TIPs; we hypothesized that these structures might be biomolecular condensates. To test this hypothesis, we used video microscopy, immunofluorescence staining, and Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP). Our data show that the CLIP-170-induced patches have hallmarks indicative of a biomolecular condensate, one that contains +TIP proteins and excludes other known condensate markers. Moreover, bioinformatic studies demonstrate that the presence of intrinsically disordered regions is conserved in key +TIPs, implying that these regions are functionally significant. Together, these results indicate that the CLIP-170 induced patches in cells are phase-separated liquid condensates and raise the possibility that the endogenous +TIP network might form a liquid droplet at MT ends or other +TIP locations.
Pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness of antidiabetic flavonoids: Molecular docking and DFT study
Authors: Bitew Mamaru , Desalegn Tegene , Demissie Taye B. , Belayneh Anteneh , Endale Milkyas , Eswaramoorthy Rajalakshmanan
Published: December 2021

Computer aided toxicity and pharmacokinetic prediction studies attracted the attention of pharmaceutical industries as an alternative means to predict potential drug candidates. In the present study, in-silico pharmacokinetic properties (ADME), drug-likeness, toxicity profiles of sixteen antidiabetic flavonoids that have ideal bidentate chelating sites for metal ion coordination were examined using SwissADME, Pro Tox II, vNN and ADMETlab web tools. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were also employed to calculate quantum chemical descriptors of the compounds. Molecular docking studies against human alpha amylase were also conducted. The results were compared with the control drugs, metformin and acarbose. The drug-likeness prediction results showed that all flavonoids, except myricetin, were found to obey Lipinski’s rule of five for their drug like molecular nature. Pharmacokinetically, chrysin, wogonin, genistein, baicalein, and apigenin showed best absorption profile with human intestinal absorption (HIA) value of ≥ 30%, compared to the other flavonoids. Baicalein, butein, ellagic acid, eriodyctiol, Fisetin and quercetin were predicted to show carcinogenicity. The flavonoid derivatives considered in this study are predicted to be suitable molecules for CYP3A probes, except eriodyctiol which interacts with P-glycoprotein (p-gp). The toxicological endpoints prediction analysis showed that the median lethal dose (LD50) values range from 159–3919 mg/Kg, of which baicalein and quercetin are found to be mutagenic whereas butein is found to be the only immunotoxin. Molecular docking studies showed that the significant interaction (-7.5 to -8.3 kcal/mol) of the studied molecules in the binding pocket of the α-amylase protein relative to the control metformin with the crucial amino acids Asp 197, Glu 233, Asp 197, Glu 233, Trp 59, Tyr 62, His 101, Leu 162, Arg 195, His 299 and Leu 165. Chrysin was predicted to be a ligand with high absorption and lipophilicity with 84.6% absorption compared to metformin (78.3%). Moreover, quantum chemical, ADMET, drug-likeness and molecular docking profiles predicted that chrysin is a good bidentate ligand.
Visible Human Project® female surface based computational phantom (Nelly) for radio-frequency safety evaluation in MRI coils
Authors: Noetscher Gregory M. , Serano Peter , Wartman William A. , Fujimoto Kyoko , Makarov Sergey N.
Published: December 2021

Quantitative modeling of specific absorption rate and temperature rise within the human body during 1.5 T and 3 T MRI scans is of clinical significance to ensure patient safety. This work presents justification, via validation and comparison, of the potential use of the Visible Human Project (VHP) derived Computer Aided Design (CAD) female full body computational human model for non-clinical assessment of female patients of age 50–65 years with a BMI of 30–36 during 1.5 T and 3 T based MRI procedures. The initial segmentation validation and four different application examples have been identified and used to compare to numerical simulation results obtained using VHP Female computational human model under the same or similar conditions. The first application example provides a simulation-to-simulation validation while the latter three application examples compare with measured experimental data. Given the same or similar coil settings, the computational human model generates meaningful results for SAR, B1 field, and temperature rise when used in conjunction with the 1.5 T birdcage MRI coils or at higher frequencies corresponding to 3 T MRI. Notably, the deviation in temperature rise from experiment did not exceed 2.75° C for three different heating scenarios considered in the study with relative deviations of 10%, 25%, and 20%. This study provides a reasonably systematic validation and comparison of the VHP-Female CAD v.3.0–5.0 surface-based computational human model starting with the segmentation validation and following four different application examples.
A strengths-based approach to exploring diabetes management in an Indigenous minority population: A mixed methods study
Authors: Abu-Saad Kathleen , Daoud Nihaya , Kaplan Giora , Ziv Arnona , Cohen Arnon D. , Pollack Daphna , Olmer Liraz , Kalter-Leibovici Ofra ,   on behalf of the Diabetes in the Arab Population in Israel (DAPI) Study Group
Published: December 2021

Indigenous and other marginalized racial/ethnic minorities have poorer health status than majority populations, including higher rates of type 2 diabetes. These disparities have typically been addressed using a ‘deficit-based’ discourse that isolates disease management from the broader social, economic, political context and does not incorporate patient perspectives. We aimed to explore factors affecting glycemic control among Indigenous Arabs with diabetes in Israel using a strengths-based approach that centered participants’ knowledge of their context, needs, resources and strengths. We conducted an exploratory sequential mixed methods study, which included 10 focus groups (5 men’s, 5 women’s) and 296 quantitative in-person surveys. Participants with diagnosed diabetes were randomly drawn from the patient list of the largest healthcare service organization (survey response rate: 93%). Prominent and interconnected themes emerged from focus group discussions, including: diet, physical activity, and social, economic, mental/psychological and political stress. The discussions raised the need for adapting diabetes management approaches to incorporate participants’ communal, physical and psychological well-being, and socioeconomic/political realities. The connections between these factors and diabetes management were also reflected in multivariable analyses of the survey data. Women (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.09–4.63), people with disabilities (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.28–4.64), and unemployed people (OR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.28–5.44) had higher odds of economic barriers to diabetes management. Furthermore, female sex (OR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.25–4.09), unemployment (OR: 4.07; 95% CI: 1.64–10.10), and suboptimal glycemic control (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03–1.41 per 1-unit increase in HbA1c) were associated with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. A pro-active, team-based healthcare approach incorporating Indigenous/minority participants’ knowledge, experience, and strengths has the potential to improve individuals’ diabetes management. Healthcare services should be structured in ways that enable providers to listen to their patients, address their key concerns, and foster their strengths.
Growth and trend analysis of area, production and yield of rice: A scenario of rice security in Bangladesh
Authors: Al Mamun Md. Abdullah , Nihad Sheikh Arafat Islam , Sarkar Md. Abdur Rouf , Aziz Md. Abdullah , Qayum Md. Abdul , Ahmed Rokib , Rahman Niaz Md Farhat , Hossain Md. Ismail , Kabir Md. Shahjahan
Published: December 2021

Bangladesh positioned as third rice producing country in the world. In Bangladesh, regional growth and trend in rice production determinants, disparities and similarities of rice production environments are highly desirable. In this study, the secondary time series data of area, production, and yield of rice from 1969–70 to 2019–20 were used to investigate the growth and trend by periodic, regional, seasonal and total basis. Quality checking, trend fitting, and classification analysis were performed by the Durbin-Watson test, Exponential growth model, Cochrane-Orcutt iteration method and clustering method. The production contribution to the national rice production of Boro rice is increasing at 0.97% per year, where Aus and Aman season production contribution significantly decreased by 0.48% and 0.49% per year. Among the regions, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Bogura, Jashore, Rajshahi, and Chattogram contributed the most i.e., 13.9%, 9.8%, 8.6%, 8.6%, 8.2%, and 8.0%, respectively. Nationally, the area of Aus and Aman had a decreasing trend with a -3.63% and -0.16% per year, respectively. But, in the recent period (Period III) increasing trend was observed in the most regions. The Boro cultivation area is increasing with a rate of 3.57% per year during 1984–85 to 2019–20. High yielding variety adoption rate has increased over the period and in recent years it has found 72% for Aus, 73.5% for Aman, and 98.4% for Boro season. As a result, the yield of the Aus, Aman, and Boro seasons has been found increasing growth for most of the regions. We have identified different cluster regions in different seasons, indicating high dissimilarities among the rice production regions in Bangladesh. The region-wise actionable plan should be taken to rapidly adopt new varieties, management technologies and extension activities in lower contributor regions to improve productivity. Cluster-wise, policy strategies should be implemented for top and less contributor regions to ensure rice security of Bangladesh.
The measurement of competitiveness of forest green food industry in Yunnan Province
Authors: Li Zhongming , Fu Wei , Udimal Thomas Bilaliib , Luo Mingcan , Chen Jiancheng
Published: December 2021

Improvement in living standards has led to the development and utilization of forest green foods. The study seeks to examine the foundation and potential of forest green food industry in Yunnan Province. By constructing the industrial competitive advantage model, this paper measured and analyzed the competitiveness of forest green food industry in Yunnan Province from 2016 to 2020 by using fuzzy evaluation method and AHP. The conclusions were as follows: (1) The competitiveness of forest green food industry in Yunnan Province was at a medium level with competitiveness index of 83.98. (2) The competitive advantage of forest green food industry in Yunnan Province mainly depended on key factors such as natural endowment and education level. The area is however not having comparative advantage in general factors and important factors. Therefore, there is the need to put in place measures to realise the full potential of forest green food industry in the area by providing players in the sector with requisite skills.
Disposal habits and microbial load of solid medical waste in sub-district healthcare facilities and households in Yilo-Krobo municipality, Ghana
Authors: Egbenyah Fredrick , Udofia Emilia Asuquo , Ayivor Jesse , Osei Mary-Magdalene , Tetteh John , Tetteh-Quarcoo Patience B. , Sampane-Donkor Eric
Published: December 2021

The study aimed to assess disposal practices and quantify the microbial load present in SMW from ten sub-district level healthcare facilities and 385 households in Yilo Krobo municipality, Ghana. Disposal of solid medical waste (SMW) was assessed by questionnaire-based surveys, unstructured interviews and field observations. Microbiological analysis identified species and counts of bacteria present in SMW from both sources. Sociodemographic factors influencing the method of SMW disposal in households were evaluated using logistic regression analysis, with statistical significance set at p<0.05. Open burning (29%), burying (25%) and disposal at a dumpsite (49%) were common methods used by households to discard SMW. SMW disposal at a dumpsite was associated with age of respondents in households. Older people (50+ years) were three times more likely to place SMW in household waste later discarded at a dumpsite, compared to younger persons (20–30 years) [a0R, 95%CI = 3.37, 1.41–8.02]. In sub-district level healthcare facilities, open burning and burying were the most common methods used. Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium tetani, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter spp. Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus and Enterococcus faecium) were bacteria identified in SMW recovered from both the healthcare facilities and the households. Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp. and Clostridium tetani were found exclusively in untreated SMW generated in the healthcare facilities. Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. were found in one sample of treated SMW. The microbial load in SMW from healthcare facilities and households ranged from 0.036 x 103cfc/mg to 0.167 x 103 cfc/mg and from 0.118 x 103cfc/mg to 0.125 x 103cfc/mg respectively. This highlights the need for institutionalizing appropriate treatment methods in sub-district level facilities or strengthening the linkages with higher level facilities to ensure regular and adequate treatment of SMW. Public guidance on management of SMW generated in households which is context specific should also be provided.
Art, politics, pedagogy: Juxtaposing, discomfiting, disrupting
Authors: Bruff Ian , Jordan Mel
Published: December 2021

In this opening essay we explain the rationale for the Special Issue, the first of two on the theme of ‘politicizing artistic pedagogies’. In doing so, we outline the connections between this collection of articles and those in the next issue of Art & the Public Sphere while also stressing the distinctive, societal scope of the present issue. The article considers some themes of particular relevance for this edited collection. For example, we discuss our understanding of art, politics and pedagogy and draw on Juliet Hooker’s work on juxtaposition to advocate the benefits of discomfiting yet welcome disruptions to our more established ways of thinking and practising. This is often narrated in a biographical style, which enables us to highlight how we, from rather different backgrounds, came to collaborate at various points over the last decade and how this manifested in a noteworthy and instructive teaching experience for Ian when invited to deliver two seminar sessions for Mel’s students. Overall, we promote a pluralistic and inclusive approach to the notion of ‘politicizing artistic pedagogies’ but make sure, in the process, to outline where we depart from more established positions (such as on pedagogy and on art’s function). Finally, we briefly introduce the articles that comprise the Special Issue.
Conflictual sociability? A paradoxical approach to politicized street theatre
Authors: Burchill Antoinette
Published: December 2021

In Agonistics (), Chantal Mouffe highlights sociability and notes its potential for artists in devising agonistic counter-hegemonic performances. However, sociability as an isolated factor is unlikely to produce politicized dissent. Instead, therefore, a politicized form of conflictual sociability is created by applying Mouffe’s notion of a ‘conflictual consensus’ (an agreement between opponents to disagree) to art practice. By applying paradoxical thinking to the performance of dissent in the public realm, the article argues for sociability in service of politicized critique. The potential of conflictual sociability is examined through guerrilla street theatre performances, an artform with the capacity to generate unauthorized and participatory incursions into the urban public realm. Firstly, via autoethnographic reflections upon a practice-based research project, The Wizard of Oz (2015) performed in London, United Kingdom; and secondly, in analysis of Dread Scott’s Money to Burn () performance in Wall Street, New York, United States. Conflictual sociability offers a novel methods-led process of engaging agonistically with passers-by (publics) and transforming them into activated participants. Because it is engaging, conflictual sociability creates spaces of public dialogue that antagonistic conflict potentially shuts down. This reveals an effective pedagogy for facilitating agonistic politicized dissent through performative practices in the public realm.
Teaching urban spaces and world politics: Perdido Street Station and pedagogies of production
Authors: Davies Matt
Published: December 2021

This article explores teaching international politics, international political economy (IPE) and urbanism through a reading of China Miéville’s novel, Perdido Street Station. The novel as an artefact of popular culture affords a critical encounter with the production of space for students of international politics and IPE. Departing from prevailing approaches to understanding the urban in relation to the international that tend to focus on networks and circulation, the article offers a reading of the novel as demonstrating the production of space. The article links a critique of the hierarchical relations between teacher and student to critiques of the subordination of labour to design and planning, both of which render invisible the work of producing knowledge and space. Through an analysis of the political struggles over the formal and real subsumption of labour in Perdido Street Station, the article argues that studying the politics of urbanism in relation to the international through artefacts of popular culture can disrupt the invisibility of work.
Allowing ourselves to follow our bodies: Cultivating student curiosity via sensorily-oriented modes of teaching
Authors: Bruff Ian
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the themes animating the Special Issue from the other side of the coin, namely the notion of aestheticizing political pedagogies. This reflects the direction of travel in some sections of politics and international relations scholarship, where there has been an upsurge of interest in aesthetics and especially popular culture. While there have been valuable contributions on teaching within such work, there has been a lack of sustained reflection on how, for example, a more aesthetically informed pedagogical practice can help us encourage students to think critically in creative ways. There has also been a rather bloodless account of aesthetics, diverting attention away from its visceral essence. Taking inspiration from the writings of Matt Davies on aesthetics, Jennifer Mason on the sensory and Cynthia Enloe on curiosity and surprise, the article explores the potential for aestheticizing political pedagogies to be mobilized in purposeful, strategic ways for enhancing the capacity of students to think critically and creatively. More specifically, I discuss how sensorily-oriented modes of teaching can disrupt entanglements between students’ ways of knowing and experiencing the world and their ‘objective’ understandings of politics, society, culture and so on. Three examples from my own teaching practice are discussed, all rooted in my utilization of extreme metal music with the aim of cultivating curiosity among students about their topics.
Structures within structures: Examining alternative cultures of learning in the institution
Authors: Edginton Sadie , Parry Alex , Östholm Cicilia
Published: December 2021

This article explores the possibilities of using critical pedagogy inside and outside the art school to counter the effects of neoliberalism. Developed from an initial transcript of a conversation between three graduates of the Royal College of Art (United Kingdom) about our education-as-art projects, it takes the form of a constructed dialogue that mirrors our approach to working collectively. We discuss particular issues that arose for us whilst studying, as we experienced how the neo-liberal art school conceptualized a form of education and arts practice that promoted individualized paths and set competitive dynamics between students. We are interested in how art practices characterized as being social, collaborative and democratic can resist the neo-liberal art school. Advocating for process-based methods that facilitate learning between groups of students, we aim to open up space for embodied and situated knowledges. Bringing critical pedagogical approaches to the inside of the university creates a porosity with the alternatives we experienced outside. Through re-practicing historically radical methods and creating supportive structures, we challenge the dominant ways of communicating and managing the student-body. We argue that students and artists can organize their own cultures of learning in opposition to those that the university-as-business wants to promote, whilst creating supportive models that take students’ needs into account.
El monstruo y la lógica del mundo: acerca de la unidad y la multiplicidad en "Un único desierto" de Enrique Prochazka
Authors: Martínez Gutiérrez Juan Tomás
Published: December 2021

Este trabajo constituye una aproximación a Un único desierto (1997) a través de la figura del monstruo y la categoría monstruosa, elementos que aparecen nombrados de forma explícita en varias historias. Se trata de dos nociones complejas, no quivalentes, pero íntimamente relacionadas, que han evolucionado históricamente y cuyos significados están ligados a contextos específicos. El monstruo se comprende como un ser deformado según el orden natural. Lo monstruoso, por su parte, se relaciona con una determinada conducta o acción que introduce una ruptura con el orden de las cosas consideradas normales o naturales y, en el caso de Prochazka, con un orden lógico, y particular dificultad sobre la (im) posibilidad de acercarnos al conocimiento de cosas o seres.
Exhibir los objetos del daño, festejar lo inhóspito del ser. Articulaciones de lo monstruoso en María Negroni
Authors: Fernández del Valle Ana
Published: December 2021

La huella de Bomarzo (1962) de Manuel Mujica Láinez en La Boca del Infierno (2009), de la poeta argentina María Negroni, delata un extraño ser. En este artículo, nos acercamos al componente monstruoso del poemario a partir del contrapunto entre la obra de Negroni y la historia del duque de Orsini. Desde la reelaboración de la mística en el encabezamiento, observamos cómo lo monstruoso se rearticula a partir de la compilación de acepciones. El análisis va revelando la confección alegórica del poemario y la presencia de un monstruo invisible, subversivo, asociado a la voz femenina.
Ultreya
Authors: Sánchez-Reseco Mateos-Aparicio Raúl , Mateos Mateos María Jesús
Published: December 2021

En la New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, dentro de la Music Division, encontramos el fondo denominado Guide to the Neighborhood Playhuse Scores, 1919-1931 and undated [signatura 04-4019]. En él, se conservan unos papeles manuscritos por el músico alemán Kurt Schindler que contienen una transcripción del famoso himno al apóstol Santiago «Dum Pater Familias», perteneciente al Codex Calixtinus. Ante estos materiales, este artículo persigue tres objetivos claros. Primero, presentar estas fuentes inéditas que complementan los estudios sobre la relación de Schindler con España. Segundo, especular sobre el propósito de las mismas y su relación con la Neighborhood Playhouse de las hermanas Lewisohn. Tercero, comparar el himno de Schindler con otras transcripciones disponibles en la época, en busca del posible modelo utilizado por el músico alemán.
Herramientas digitales aplicadas a la etnomusicología
Authors: Payo León Enrique
Published: December 2021

Las “ventajas de las herramientas digitales” y las “posibilidades tecnológicas” que pueden aplicarse a la etnomusicología moderna parecen haberse quedado en clichés etéreos que en pocas ocasiones se llevan a la práctica. Pero cuando se hace, muchas veces queda en algo parcial. El hecho de digitalizar los registros sonoros y ponerlos a disposición de la comunidad científica abre boca a grandes proyectos de recuperación histórica, pero está eclipsando la capacidad crítica para cuestionar la viabilidad de estos materiales. Es amplia la bibliografía en materia de digitalización, preservación, gestión y catalogación de los registros sonoros, comenzando por el manual de recomendaciones del Centro de Documentación de Música y Danza (2017)1, pero exigua en el paso siguiente. Y es que para que estas grabaciones sirvan a la etnomusicología en sus transcripciones y elaboración de cancioneros, entre otras tareas, necesitan un proceso de reparación acústica que mejore su inteligibilidad. Solo así se logrará una verdadera transferencia de conocimiento plena.

Nos referimos, en esta ocasión, a una problemática de la recuperación de registros sonoros grabados sobre soportes analógicos: el ruido. No solo dificulta la transcripción, sino que provoca fatiga auditiva en el investigador, ralentizando todo el proceso. Este artículo detalla las tipologías más comunes de este fenómeno y presenta un software profesional de reparación de audio: iZotope RX. En concreto, se aplica de forma práctica en las grabaciones de campo del musicólogo alemán Kurt Schindler en España a partir de 1920. Son referentes para los estudios de la etnomusicología española, por ser de las primeras fuentes documentales de los trabajos de campo antes de la guerra civil, como apunta Olarte (2010)2. Como prueba, se lleva el resultado al tratamiento de algunas piezas cuya transcripción se recoge en el cancionero póstumo de Schindler, Música y poesía popular de España y Portugal (1941)3, y se cuestiona su utilidad a través de una matriz DAFO.

 

1. Comité de expertos en digitalización de archivos sonoros (2017): Archivos sonoros. Recomendaciones para su digitalización. Madrid: Centro de Documentación de Música y Danza, INAEM. ISBN: 978-84-9041-272-5. https://www.musicadanza.es/ficheros/documentos/archivos-sonoros.pdf [01/04/2021]

2. Olarte Martínez, Matilde (2010): “Las anotaciones de campo de Kurt Schindler durante sus grabaciones en España”, Etnofolk. Revista de Etnomusicología, No. 16-17, pp. 35-74. ISSN 1698-4064.

3. Schindler, Kurt (1941): Folk music and poetry of Spain and Portugal [obra póstuma]. Nueva York: Hispanic Institute in the United States.
Avaliação da resistência da união metal-cerâmica utilizando diferentes agentes de união
Authors: Tango Rubens N. , Jóias Renato M. , Avelar Rander P. , Saavedra Guilherme S. F. A. , Nishioka Renato S.
Published: December 2021

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resistência da união ao cisalhamento entre uma liga de cobalto-cromo para metalo-cerâmica e uma cerâmica, utilizando diferentes agentes de união. A partir de um dispositivo metálico cilíndrico, com 4mm de diâmetro e 5mm de altura, foram obtidos trinta padrões em cera e posteriormente fundidos em liga de Co-Cr (New Ceram, CNG). Os corpos-de-prova (cp) foram separados em três grupos de acordo com o agente de união: G1: Controle – superfície jateada com óxido de alumínio (110μm); G2: Wash Opaque Vita Omega 900 (Vita) e G3: Pré Bond Opaque (CNG). Foi utilizado um dispositivo de teflon para compactar a cerâmica, e todos cp receberam aplicação de revestimento estético (Vita Omega 900), com 4mm de diâmetro por 4mm de altura. O ensaio mecânico de cisalhamento foi realizado numa máquina EMIC, a 0,5mm/min. As médias de resistência de união para os grupos foram: G1-76,33±5,69MPa, G2-101,13±16,74 MPa e G3-114,55±6,80MPa. Os valores foram submetidos à análise de variância e ao teste de Tukey para comparação entre os grupos (α = 0,05). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os grupos tratados, contudo estes apresentaram valores superiores ao grupo controle. Pode-se concluir que os dois agentes de união determinaram valores semelhantes de resistência de união entre metal e cerâmica, os quais foram superiores ao grupo controle.
Estudo preliminar do instrumento de avaliação clínico proposto aos alunos de graduação de odontopediatria da Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba- Unicamp
Authors: S. Oliveira Carolina , Kantovitiz Kamila R. , Teixeira Milena S. , Vieira Karlla A. , Serra Márcia D. , Gambareli Flávia R. , Pascon Fernanda M.
Published: December 2021

Nos dias atuais a relação ensino aprendizado vem sendo analisada em suas áreas de domínio cognitivo e habilidades, produzindo reflexões sobre o resultado final do aprendizado, porém não há um método científico que forneça, de forma objetiva e padronizada, procedimentos de avaliação. O objetivo desse estudo preliminar foi elaborar, aplicar e analisar um instrumento de avaliação clínico (IA), o qual se propôs a desenvolver o interesse de docentes, discentes e pós-graduandos, tendo por base o acompanhamento diário do desempenho do aluno de graduação nas atividades clínicas na área de Odontopediatria, durante o sexto semestre da graduação. Para isso, elaborou-se um sistema de avaliação tendo por base a instituição de valores numéricos aos procedimentos clínicos realizados avaliando o aluno sob os aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos. Ao final do semestre para coletar a opinião dos alunos a respeito do IA, estes responderam a um questionário auto-administrado. Concluiu-se que o IA padronizou a avaliação e permitiu a visão geral das atividades clínicas e do desempenho dos alunos e que ajustes na metodologia inicialmente proposta devem ser realizados para se padronizar com maior eficácia o IA. A participação dos alunos foi relevante, pois as críticas construtivas puderam contribuir para o aprimoramento desta nova proposta de avaliação na clínica odontopediátrica.