bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RESISTANCE, PRODUCTIVITY, AND QUALITY OF VEAL WHEN USING BASULIFOR PROBIOTIC FEED ADDITIVE
Authors: V. G. Semenov  , D. A. Baimukanov  , I. A. Alekseev  , R. A. Yegorov  , A. F. Kuznetsov  , V. G. Sofronov  , A. H. Volkov  , K. Zh. Iskhan  , A. K. Nesipbayeva
Published: February 2020

Against the background of the use of a probiotic feed additive at a rate of 0.3 g/kg and 0.4 g/kg of fodder, in experimental calves, compared with the controlanalogs, there was a significant increase in the average daily weight gain on the 15th day of the experiment by 4.60-4.90%, on the 30th day - by 5.87 - 6.34%, on the 60th day - by 7.48 - 7.81%, in the blood of animals the number of red blood cells increased by 3.69 - 4.54%, leukocytes - by 1.48 - 1.75%, hemoglobin - by 6.39 - 7.59%, in blood serum the level of total protein - by 3.28 - 3.31% (P<0.05), albumin - by 2.08 - 2.69% (P<0.05), globulins - by 3.70 - 4.20% (P<0.05), gamma globulins - by 12.41 - 12.91 % (P<0.01). Introduction to the diet of calves of the specified probiotic feed additive promoted a slight increase of immunoglobulins A in blood serum in the experimental calves, in relation to the control analogues, in both experimental groups of animals by 5.00% (P<0.05), immunoglobulins M - by 4.43 - 5.64% (P<0.01), immunoglobulins G - by 5.69 - 5.90% (P<0.05), increasing the preservation of calves - by 3.22 - 3.69% (P<0.05).
DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT OF DIOCTOPHYMOSIS IN DOGS
Authors: A. Balgimbayeva  , G. Shabdarbaeva  , L. Zhanteliyeva  , A. Ibazhanova  , Uğur Uslu  , D. Khussainov
Published: February 2020

This article includes materials on the rare disease in domestic and wild carnivores, dioctophimosis, caused by a helminth from the group of aphasmidia nematodes, Dioctophyme renale, which is parasitic in the kidneys, recently registered in veterinary clinics in Almaty. The disease has important social significance - a person is susceptible to it, the infection of which occurs when raw fish is eaten. In Almaty, according to the statistics of veterinary clinics in recent years (2018-2019), 17 cases of dioctophimosis in dogs have been registered, that is up to 0.3% of the number of dogs examined for helminthiases. The appearance of this disease, which is relatively new for our region, can have a significant impact on the epizootiological and epidemiological situation. The results of in vivo laboratory diagnosis of dioctophimosis in dogs by ovoscopic methods are presented, with the provision of microphotos of the parasite eggs; methods of instrumental diagnostics - ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the kidneys with the provision of photos proving the presence of a parasite in the renal pelvis. Since the only treatment for dioctophimosis is surgery and extraction of dioctophyma from the affected organ (kidney), our own original materials are presented for a step by step surgical intervention to extract helminth from the kidneys of dogs and treat animals. The condition of the operated animals is satisfactory, the prognosis for surgery is favorable.
PERHITUNGAN THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES PADA PIPA KAPILER EKSPANSI PADA SISTEM REFRIGERASI ABSORPSI AMONIA
Authors: 'Atifah Nailul , Yohan Yohan , Triyansyah Mochamad Kiki
Published: February 2020

Abstrak: Penelitian mengenai perhitungan thermodynamic properties pada pipa kapiler ekspansi pada sistem refrigerasi ammonia telah dilaksanakan. Proses ekspansi isenthalpic R717 ini beroperasi pada temperatur input sebesar 300C dan temperatur output sebesar-150C dengan nilai enthalpi sebesar 339,04 kJ/kg. Nilai tekanan input adalah 1166,93kPa dan tekanan outputnya adalah 236,20 kPa. Laju aliran massa refrigerant R717 yang dioperasikan adalah sebesar 0,0031 kg/s. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghitung kebutuhan panjang pipa kapiler dengan variasi diameter 0,026 inchi, 0,031 inchi, dan 0,042 inchi serta mengetahui bagaimana perubahan temperatur, tekanan dan fraksi uap di sepanjang pipa kapiler dengan variasi diameter tersebut. Hasil perhitungan menunjukkan bahwa semakin besar diameter pipa kapilernya maka semakin panjang kebutuhan pipanya. Pipa kapiler berdiameter 0,026 inchi, 0,031 inchi, 0,042 inchi memerlukan panjang pipa kapiler masing-masing sebesar 0,249 m, 0,368 m dan 0,959 m. Penurunan temperatur dan tekanan refrigerant R717 di sepanjang pipa kapiler pada semua varisi diameter tersebut bersifat tidak linier terhadap kenaikan panjang pipa. Terjadi penurunan temperatur dan tekanan yang curam di bagian akhir alirannya. Kenaikan fraksi uap refrigerant R717 di sepanjang pipa kapiler pada semua varisi diameter tersebut bersifat tidak linier terhadap kenaikan panjang pipa. Terjadi  kenaikan fraksi uap yang bersifat eksponensial di bagian akhir alirannya hingga mencapai fraksi output pda -150C yakni sebesar 0,158.Kata kunci : Pipa kapiler, diameter, R717, ekspansi isenthapic, temperatur, tekanan, fraksi uap
ANALISA KERUSAKAN SUDU TURBIN UAP MATERIAL MARTENSITIC STAINLESS STEEL 410 PADA STAGE TERAKHIR
Authors: Cahyadi Muhamad
Published: February 2020

Abstrak: Sudu dari turbin uap merupakan komponen penting dalam pembangkit listrik, dalam mengubah gerakan linier dari uap bersuhu dan tekanan tinggi mengalir menuruni gradient tekanan menjadi gerakan berputar dari poros turbin. Jika sudu turbin mengalami kerusakan/kegagalan, pembangkit listrik akan berhenti beroperasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa dan menentukan jenis-jenis kerusakan serta penyebab utama kerusakan sudu turbin, agar mendapatkan petunjuk yang berguna untuk mencegah timbul dan  meluasnya tingkat kerusakan serta langkah-langkah penanggulangan atau pencegahan sesuai dengan penyebab kerusakan, meminimalisir terjadinya breakdown dengan tujuan meningkatkan reliability machine, sehingga pasokan produksi listrik yang ditargetkan dapat terpenuhi dan menentukan jenis sistem pemeliharaan mesin yang efektif dan optimal. Hasil analisa penyebab utama kerusakan terjadi karena putaran tinggi ( over speed ) pada turbin uap yang mengakibatkan overload, penyebab utama kerusakan digunakan untuk pengembangan kualitas sudu turbin serta optimasi berupa perbaikan desain, pemilihan material, perbaikanmanufaktur, cara pemasangan serta penerapan sistem manajemen pemeliharaan yang tepat. Kata kunci: Turbin uap,reliability machine, optimasi
KOROSI BAJA TAHAN KARAT AISI 410 DI DALAM LARUTAN BRINE BUATAN
Authors: Anwar Moch. Syaiful
Published: February 2020

Abstrak:Baja AISI 410 adalah baja tahan karatmartensitik yang umumnya digunakan sebagai komponenvalve¸ pompa dan turbin.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghitung laju korosi pada baja tahan karat AISI 410 pada proses pembentukan yang berbeda (Standar, casting dan forging) di dalam media larutan brine buatan. Sampel baja AISI 410 standar, casting, dan forging di potong dengan ukuran yang sama yaitu 1 cm. Kemudian permukaan sampel-sampel baja AISI 410 dihaluskan menggunakan kertas amplas sampai grit 800. Setelah itu, sampel-sampel baja direndam didalam larutan brine buatan dengan dialiri gas CO2selama 13 hari. Perubahan nilai pH larutan brine buatan dan potensial sirkuit bebas diukur setiap hari selama 12 hari. Pada hari ke 13 dilakukan penimbangan berat pada masing-masing sampel. Hasilpada sampel baja AISI 410 hasil proses forging mengalami penambahan berat yg cukup tinggi dari pada sampel lainnya. Kata Kunci: Baja AISI 410, martensitik, larutan brine buatan, standar, casting, forging, pH, laju korosi.
Do Demographic Subgroups and Education Levels of Financial Planners Create a Difference of Opinion when Developing a Retirement Plan in South Africa?
Authors: Rathnasamy Shagaran , Deodutt Jugjith
Published: February 2020

Society’s reliance on financial planners, to provide a holistic overview on retirement, needs to be supported by unbiased fact. Greninger et al. (2000), found consensus between experts among a panel of 188 financial planners and educators. Consensus was found and there was agreement on the guidelines for planning assumptions and meeting family needs. Nine-tenths of the experts agreed that families should have achieved 50-60% of retirement savings goals by age 50 and 90% by age 60%. Although the consensus level was indeed high, there were noted differences between gender and occupation. Overall, there were more males (55%) than females (45%). Financial planners were predominantly male (77%) with educators predominantly female (59%) creating a significant relationship between occupation and gender in the sample. The study also revealed a significant difference in the educational level of the two occupational subgroups. As expected, most planners possessed bachelor degrees whereas most educators possessed postgraduate degrees up to a doctoral level. On the guidelines where there was a high level of agreement, it would be useful to know how the advice was influenced by varying demographic and educational backgrounds. This study is to determine what differences of opinion might exist between educational and demographic subgroups of financial planners.
Contextualisation of the Early Iron Age hoard of bronze objects discovered in Gdynia-Karwiny, site 1
Authors: Dzięgielewski Karol , Longa Anna , Langer Jerzy , Moskal-del Hoyo Magdalena
Published: February 2020

After the amateur discovery of a hoard of bronze ornaments (a kidney bracelet and two hollow ankle rings) in 2014 in a forest near Gdynia (Pomerania, northern Poland), the place was subjected to excavation. It turned out that in the nearest context of the bronzes (which had been found arranged one on top of the other in a narrow pit reaching 60 cm in depth) there was a cluster of stones, some of which could have been arranged intentionally in order to mark the place of the deposit. Next to this alleged stone circle there was a deep hearth used to heat stones, and for burning amber as incense. Remains of amber were preserved in the form of lumps and probably also as a deposit on the walls of some vessels. Some of the features of the examined complex may indicate a non-profane nature of the deposit: the presence of the stone structure, traces of burning amber, the location of the deposition spot in a not very habitable flattening of a narrow valley, as well as the chemical composition of the alloy of metals themselves. The ornaments were made of a porous copper alloy with a high addition of lead, antimony and arsenic, which could promote their fragility and poor use value. However, the ceramics found near the place where the bronzes are deposited do not differ from the settlement pottery of the time. The hoard and its context should be dated to the transition phase between the periods HaC1 and HaC2 (the turn of the 8th and 7th cent. BC). The Gdynia-Karwiny deposit adds to the list of finds from a period marked by the most frequent occurrence of hoards in Pomerania (turn of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age). Its research seems to contribute to the interpretation of the deposition of metal objects as a phenomenon primarily of a ritual nature, and at the same time a social behaviour: a manifestation of competition for prestige.
Research in Rehabilitation
Authors: Kriščiūnas Aleksandras
Published: February 2020

The paper deals with applying principles of evidence-based medicine in performance of research studies in rehabilitation, its requirements for the researchers. It is emphasized that research in rehabilitation is characterized by unique features as its results depend on many factors: medical, social, technical, economical. The significance of qualitative and quantitative investigations is emphasized in the evidence practice. It is shown that evaluation of clinical efficacy of the physical factors is possible when the method and area of application, the power of the factors, dosage, the number of the application sessions per week, and the duration of treatment are known. The purpose of this article was to review scientific research carried out in rehabilitation, and emphasize their significance on the final results of rehabilitation. In 1969 WHO experts defined rehabilitation as “the combined and co-ordinated use of medical, social, educational, and vocational measures for training and re-training the individual to the highest possible level of functional ability”. To achieve this purpose, specialists of rehabilitation team must use scientific methods, technologies, and means. Important decision evaluating after-effects of diseases, traumas and disabilities at bio-psychosocial point of view was made in 2001 by WHO after adaptation of the “International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health”. Definition such as “Evidence-based medicine” is defined as one of most important area of the development of medicine. It outspread quickly in the world of medicine, but now more often was changed to a more comprehensive term as “Evidencebased practice”. Evidence-based practice involves scientific information and information received from patients and their family members. In this way it is possible to get scientific evidence from a vast number of scientific studies from all over the world. Scientific studies in rehabilitation are unique because they depend on many factors: medical, technical, social, and economical. The paper emphasizes the significance of qualitative and quantitative studies in the practice of evidence-based medicine. It should be noted that evaluation of clinical effectiveness of physical factors is explicable when the method and area of application, the power of the factor, dosage, the number of the application sessions per week, and the duration of treatment are known. Evidence-based medicine is important for all rehabilitation specialists and team members. In practice we can prove effectiveness of rehabilitation methods and means by applying principles of evidence-based medicine correctly.Keywords: rehabilitation, evidence-based medicine, research.
The Influence of Physiotherapy on Health-Related Quality of Life in Women with Depression
Authors: Šakalienė Rasa , Juodžbalienė Vilma , Lukošiūtė Lina
Published: February 2020

Depressive disorders are common illnesses associated with long duration of episodes, high rates of chronicity, relapse, and recurrence. Physical activity is increasingly being cited as an alternativeto more traditional drug treatments for treating depression. The aim of research was to evaluate the influence of physiotherapy on quality of life of persons with depression. 32 women (age 30–59 yr), having moderate (F 32) and severe (F 33) depression, participated in the research. All subjects got medications and underwent psychotherapy. The subjects were divided into two groups: the experimental group – 16 patients (age 44.9 ± 2.3 yr), for whom beside medication and psychotherapy, the three weeks duration physiotherapy program was additionally applied, and the control group consisted of 16 patients (age 43.4 ± 2.6 yr), for whom the physiotherapy was not applied. Physiotherapy program consisted of 40 minutes of vigorous and moderate intensity aerobic exercises three times a week and 40 minutes of low intensity muscle strengthening exercises with dumbbells, muscle stretching, relaxation breathing exercises twice a week. The type of exercises was changed every second day. At the beginning and at the end of the research the subjects completed Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). The health-related quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) – a self-administered questionnaire in which lower scores are indicative of greater impairment. After three weeks of treatment the anxiety and depression significantly decreased in both groups. The health-related quality of life in women of the experimental group significantly improved in all domains. The quality of life of the controls significantly improved in almost all domains, except role limitations due to physical and emotional problems. The comparison of the results between groups showed that the symptoms of anxiety and depression in women for whom the physiotherapy was applied have decreased, and the quality of life have improved significantly more (p < 0.05) than for the patients who were treated by medication and psychotherapy only. Physiotherapy – 40 min five times a week performed program of exercises – is effective in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improving the quality of life in women with depression.Keywords: depression, anxiety, physiotherapy, health-related quality of life.
Disrupting the ethnographic imaginarium: Challenges of immersion in the Silk Road cryptomarket community
Authors: Maddox Alexia
Published: February 2020

This paper is a contemplation of a digital ethnography with the community surrounding Silk Road, the first widely used cryptomarket for drugs on the Dark Web. To position the study within the broader field of illegal anthropology, it provides links between the existing literature on the study of cryptomarkets with relevant anthropological scholarship. A theory of piracy is interrogated for its explanatory capacity of the digital pirates of the Dark Web. The start of the study unexpectedly coincided with the FBI seizure of Silk Road in October 2013. The field site disappearance provoked a practice-based and conceptual rewiring. The paper unpacks how the ‘hydra effect’ introduced to conceptualise resilient innovation within cryptomarkets can also apply to the multiplicity of identities linked to research practice. This effect also raises how the knowledge production within digital ethnographic practice may be reconfigured through notions of opportunism, replication, obsolescence, regeneration, iteration, adaptation and proliferation.
Формальна сепарація як умова розірвання шлюбу в законодавстві Литви та Мальти
Authors: Верба-Сидор О. Б. , Воробель У. Б.
Published: February 2020

У статті проаналізовано законодавчі положення інституту сепарації в Литві та Мальті. Установлено, що ці держави обрали для себе модель правового регулювання сепарації, відповідно до якої визнається безпосередня залежність розірвання шлюбу від формальної сепарації (сепарації, оформленої рішенням компетентного органу). На підставі дослідження виокремлено характерні риси цієї моделі правового регулювання інституту сепарації.
Соціальна спрямованість трудового права в Україні: стан і тенденції
Authors: Любчик О. А.
Published: February 2020

У статті досліджуються наукові погляди щодо соціальної спрямованості норм трудового права, її стан та тенденції, аналізуються мета та завдання цієї галузі права у світлі останніх законодавчих ініціатив щодо регулювання трудових відносин. На підставі аналізу думок вітчизняних та закордонних науковців з трудового права, діючого та перспективного законодавства визначається стан та тенденції вдосконалення трудового законодавства та підвищення його ролі в забезпечені розвитку та утвердження України як соціальної держави.
The State of the Science and Technology in Deep Borehole Disposal of Nuclear Waste
Authors: Mallants Dirk , Travis Karl , Chapman Neil , Brady Patrick V. , Griffiths Hefin
Published: February 2020

This Special Issue of the Energies Journal on Deep Borehole Disposal of Nuclear Waste has delivered a timely update on the science and technology of borehole disposal and the types of radioactive wastes it could potentially accommodate. The Special Issue papers discuss (i) circumstances under which a national waste management programme might wish to consider deep borehole disposal; (ii) a status report of deep borehole disposal options in Germany; (iii) the analysis of corrosion performance of engineered barrier systems; (iv) a review of the potential cementing systems suitable for deep borehole disposal; (v) the thermal evolution around heat-generating waste for a wide range of material properties and disposal configurations; (vi) a geochemical analysis of deep brines focussed on fluid-rock interactions; (vii) post-closure performance assessment calculations for deep borehole disposal of Cs/Sr capsules and an example safety case for (viii) horizontal and (ix) vertical deep borehole disposal of nuclear wastes.
Tissue Distribution and Immunomodulation in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Following Dietary Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyl Aroclors and Food Deprivation
Authors: White Shannon L. , DeMario Devin A. , Iwanowicz Luke R. , Blazer Vicki S. , Wagner Tyler
Published: February 2020

Although most countries banned manufacturing of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) over 40 years ago, PCBs remain a global concern for wildlife and human health due to high bioaccumulation and biopersistance. PCB uptake mechanisms have been well studied in many taxa; however, less is known about depuration rates and how post-exposure diet can influence PCB concentrations and immune response in fish and wildlife populations. In a controlled laboratory environment, we investigated the influence of subchronic dietary exposure to two PCB Aroclors and food deprivation on tissue-specific concentrations of total PCBs and PCB homologs and innate immune function in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Overall, we found that the concentration of total PCBs and PCB homologs measured in whole body, fillet, and liver tissues declined more slowly in food-deprived fish, with slowest depuration observed in the liver. Additionally, fish that were exposed to PCBs had lower plasma cortisol concentrations, reduced phagocytic oxidative burst activity, and lower cytotoxic activity, suggesting that PCBs can influence stress and immune responses. However, for most measures of immune function, the effects of food deprivation had a larger effect on immune response than did PCB exposure. Taken together, these results suggest that short-term dietary exposure to PCBs can increase toxicity of consumable fish tissues for several weeks, and that PCB mixtures modulate immune and stress responses via multiple pathways. These results may inform development of human consumption advisories and can help predict and understand the influence of PCBs on fish health.
Tit for Tat: Abusive Supervision and Knowledge Hiding-The Role of Psychological Contract Breach and Psychological Ownership
Authors: Ghani Usman , Teo Timothy , Li Yan , Usman Muhammad , Islam Zia Ul , Gul Habib , Naeem Rana Muhammad , Bahadar Humera , Yuan Jing , Zhai Xuesong
Published: February 2020

The extant literature has focused on individuals’ knowledge-sharing behavior and its driving factors, which stimulate the knowledge transmission and exchange in organizations. However, little research has focused on factors that inhibit knowledge sharing and encourage individuals to hide their knowledge. Therefore, based on social exchange and displaced aggression theories, the study proposed and checked a model that examined the effect of abusive supervision on knowledge hiding (KH) via a psychological contract breach (PCB). The Psychological ownership was regarded as a boundary condition on abusive supervision and KH relationship. Using a time-lagged method, we recruited 344 full-time employees enrolled in an executive development program in a large university in China. The findings show that PCB mediates the association between abusive supervision and KH. Similarly, psychological ownership moderates the association between abusive supervision and KH. Employees with high psychological ownership minimized the effect of abusive supervision on KH. Based on study findings, contributions to theory and practice, limitations, and future directions are discussed.
Chemical Reduction of Nitrate by Zero-Valent Iron: Shrinking-Core versus Surface Kinetics Models
Authors: Villen-Guzman Maria , Paz-Garcia Juan Manuel , Arhoun Brahim , Cerrillo-Gonzalez Maria del Mar , Rodriguez-Maroto Jose Miguel , Vereda-Alonso Carlos , Gomez-Lahoz Cesar
Published: February 2020

Zero valent iron (ZVI) is being used in permeable reactive barriers (PRB) for the removal of oxidant contaminants, from nitrate to chlorinated organics. A sound design of these barriers requires a good understanding of kinetics. Here we present a study of the kinetics of nitrate reduction under relatively low values of pH, from 2 to 4.5. We use a particle size of 0.42 mm, which is within the recommended size for PRBs (0.2 mm to 2.0 mm). In order to avoid possible mass-transfer limitations, a well-stirred reactor coupled with a fluidized bed reactor was used. The experiments were performed at constant pH values using a pH controller that allows to accurately track the amount of acid added. Since the reduction of H + to H 2 by the oxidation of ZVI will always be present for these pH values, blank experiments (without nitrate) were performed and the rate of this H + reduction obtained. This rate of reduction was studied using three kinetic models: a regular empirical one, the Shrinking-Core Model (SCM), and the Surface Kinetics Model (SKM). The best performance was obtained from the SKM model. Therefore, this model was also used to study the results for the nitrate reduction, also with satisfactory results. In both cases, some assumptions are introduced to maintain a moderate number of fitting parameters.
A Narrative Review of the Role of Economic Crisis on Health and Healthcare Infrastructure in Three Disparate National Environments
Authors: Claborn David M.
Published: February 2020

The collapse of a country’s economy can have significant impacts on the health and healthcare infrastructure of the country. This paper compares the collapse of three national economies from widely separated regions: Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Despite significant differences in the environments and cultures of these countries, there are some common variables and outcomes shared by most of the countries including effects on healthcare workforce, disproportionate effects on marginalized populations, and resurgence of certain infectious diseases.
Microbiological Assessment of Tap Water Following the 2016 Louisiana Flooding
Authors: Phan Nati K. , Sherchan Samendra P.
Published: February 2020

Floods are a prominent risk factor in the world of public health, as there is a risk of dispersal of harmful biological and chemical contaminants in floodwater. As climate change increases, the occurrence of natural disasters and risk of adverse health outcomes due to flash flooding also increases. Fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Enterococci, are often encountered in contaminated floodwater and can cause gastrointestinal illnesses as well as a variety of infections. In August 2016, East Baton Rouge and surrounding parishes in Louisiana suffered heavy floods due to intense rainfall. No study of water quality during flooding has been conducted previously in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Twenty-three pre-flush and post-flush water samples were collected immediately from accessible homes that had been affected by the floods in order to quantify concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria. These samples were analyzed for the presence of E. coli and Enterococci through both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the IDEXX enzyme substrate method. The qPCR results indicated that 30% of the samples contained Enterococci and 61% of the samples contained E. coli, with the highest concentrations found in the pre-flush outdoor hose and the pre-flush kitchen tap. The IDEXX method yielded total coliforms in 65% of the samples, E. coli in 4%, and Enterococci in 35%, with the highest concentrations in the pre-flush outdoor faucet and the pre-flush post-filtration kitchen tap. Physical parameters including temperature, barometer pressure, dissolved oxygen, oxidation reduction potential, pH, conductivity, and salinity of these samples were also recorded. Of these parameters, conductivity and salinity were significant, suggesting they may positively influence E. coli and Enterococci growth.
A Bibliometric Analysis of the Impacts of Air Pollution on Children
Authors: Sun Jinfang , Zhou Zhichao , Huang Jing , Li Guoxing
Published: February 2020

In recent years, many researchers have investigated the association between air pollution and children. However, there has been little research to provide a macroscopic overview in this field. The aim of this study is to characterize the scientific production around the world in this area and map the trends. The relevant literature was searched from 1999 to 2018. To guarantee the quality of the literature, we combined the PubMed and WoS databases. The built-in statistics tools of the Web of Science website were used to display the trend of articles published by year and the distribution of journals. By CiteSpace (5.5.R2), the reference co-citation and burst keywords were extracted. In total, 15,999 target English documents were obtained. We summarized the characteristics of published documents, of research institutes’ cooperation, and of the contents. As part of a research hotspot, ten clusters are presented, four popular topics are elaborated. Twenty-four burst words were obtained and analyzed. China has received more attention in recent years. Researchers in this field could carry out more cohorts’ studies and fine particulate matter is one good air pollution index. Household air pollution exposure and children’s lung function should be paid more attention.
How Does Environmental Regulation Affect the Location of New Polluting Firms? Exploring the Agglomeration Threshold of Effective Environmental Regulation
Authors: Wu Yinhao , Miao Changhong , Miao Jianming , Zhang Yan
Published: February 2020

Some scholars have already proved the important role of agglomeration in studying how environmental regulation (ER) affects the location of polluting firms. However, further research is needed on both the mechanism and the empirical evidence. This paper reports the construction of a location database of new chemical plants in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB), where a fixed-effects panel threshold regression model was used to explore the agglomeration threshold of effective ER. We found a single agglomeration threshold for the whole YREB region that represented the turning point of ER from excluding to attracting new chemical enterprises. Additionally, there were two agglomeration thresholds in the lower reaches. If agglomeration reached the lower threshold, the effect of ER changed from repulsion to nonsignificant attraction. Once above the upper threshold, the attraction effect became large and significant. The results for this region were consistent with the Porter hypothesis. Furthermore, there was a single agglomeration threshold in the middle reaches. When agglomeration level exceeded the threshold, the repellant effect of ER was no longer significant. In the upper reaches, we found no valid threshold and ER always exhibited a small and nonsignificant exclusion effect. The pollution haven hypothesis was more explanatory in the middle and upper reaches. In the end, some suggestions are provided to support the government to formulate differentiated environmental policies.
Marketing to Children in Supermarkets: An Opportunity for Public Policy to Improve Children’s Diets
Authors: L. Harris Jennifer , Webb Victoria , J. Sacco Shane , L. Pomeranz Jennifer
Published: February 2020

Public health experts worldwide are calling for a reduction of the marketing of nutrient-poor food and beverages to children. However, industry self-regulation and most government policies do not address in-store marketing, including shelf placement and retail promotions. This paper reports two U.S.-based studies examining the prevalence and potential impact of in-store marketing for nutrient-poor child-targeted products. Study 1 compares the in-store marketing of children’s breakfast cereals with the marketing of other (family/adult) cereals, including shelf space allocation and placement, special displays and promotions, using a national audit of U.S. supermarkets. Child-targeted cereals received more shelf space, middle- and lower-shelf placements, special displays, and promotions compared with other cereals. Study 2 compares the proportion of product sales associated with in-store displays and promotions for child-targeted versus other fruit drinks/juices, using syndicated sales data. A higher proportion of child-targeted drink sales were associated with displays and promotions than sales of other drinks. In both categories, the results were due primarily to major company products. Although in-store marketing of child-targeted products likely appeals to both children and parents, these practices encourage children’s consumption of nutrient-poor food and drinks. If companies will not voluntarily address in-store marketing to children, government policy options are available to limit the marketing of unhealthy foods in the supermarket.
Effects of Cadmium on Bioaccumulation, Bioabsorption, and Photosynthesis in Sarcodia suiae
Authors: Han Tai-Wei , Tseng Chung-Chih , Cai Minggang , Chen Kai , Cheng Sha-Yen , Wang Jun
Published: February 2020

This study investigated the changes in bioaccumulation, bioabsorption, photosynthesis rate, respiration rate, and photosynthetic pigments (phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin) of Sarcodia suiae following cadmium exposure within 24 h. The bioabsorption was significantly higher than the bioaccumulation at all cadmium levels (p < 0.05). The ratios of bioabsorption/bioaccumulation in light and dark bottles were 2.17 and 1.74, respectively, when S. suiae was exposed to 5 Cd2+ mg/L. The chlorophyll a (Chl-a) concentration, oxygen evolution rate (photosynthetic efficiency), and oxygen consumption rate (respiratory efficiency) decreased with increasing bioaccumulation and ambient cadmium levels. The levels of bioaccumulation and bioabsorption in light environments were significantly higher than those in dark environments (p < 0.05). In addition, the ratios of phycoerythrin (PE)/Chl-a, phycocyanin (PC)/Chl-a, and allophycocyanin (APC)/Chl-a were also higher in light bottles compared to dark bottles at all ambient cadmium levels. These results indicated that the photosynthesis of seaweed will increase bioaccumulation and bioabsorption in a cadmium environment.
Socioeconomic Inequalities in Frailty in Hong Kong, China: A 14-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Yu Ruby , Tong Cecilia , Leung Jason , Woo Jean
Published: February 2020

The prevalence of frailty varies among socioeconomic groups. However, longitudinal data for the association between subjective social status and frailty is limited. In this study, we examined whether subjective social status was associated with incident frailty. Data were obtained from a 14-year cohort of Chinese men and women (n = 694) aged 65 years and older who participated in the MrOs study—a longitudinal study on osteoporosis and general health in Hong Kong. Subjective social status at baseline (2001–2003) was assessed using a 10-rung self-anchoring scale. Incident frailty at the 14-year follow-up (2015–2017) was defined as proposed by Fried and colleagues. Ordinal logistic regressions were used to examine the association between subjective social status (high, middle, or low) and incident frailty. After adjustment for age, sex, marital status, objective socioeconomic status, medical history, lifestyle, mental health, and cognitive function, subjective social status at baseline was negatively associated with risk of developing frailty over time (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.6). In sex-stratified analysis, the social gradient in frailty was only found in men. Social inequality in frailty in men but not in women supports interventions specific to gender inequality and frailty.
Optimal Strategies for Reducing Number of People in the Social Security System
Authors: Yip Paul , Chen Mengni , So Bing Kwan , Lam Kwok Fai , Wat Kam Pui
Published: February 2020

Providing social security to the population in need has become a major expenditure for many governments. Reducing the number of dependents in the social security system and maintaining a dynamic economically active population is a high priority concern for policymakers. A good understanding of the dynamics of the social security system—specifically, who enters and who exits the system—would be helpful for formulating effective interventions. Here, we made use of the data of Hong Kong’s Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), which is currently a basic welfare scheme in Hong Kong that provides supplementary payments to households that cannot support themselves financially. We proposed a stochastic model to examine the in- and out- movement in the CSSA scheme and conducted elasticity analyses. The elasticity analyses allowed us to identify the potential target groups of people that would lead to the largest reduction in the number of the CSSA recipients in the system. This analytical method can also reveal whether policies would be more effective in preventing people from entering the CSSA system or helping them leave the CSSA scheme. Our analyses suggest that targeting those aged 30–49 with children would have the largest impact. Additionally, we found that policies that aim to prevent this group from entering the CSSA system would be more effective in reducing the number of CSSA recipients compared with policies that aim to help them exit. In contrast, for the younger age group of 10–29, policies that help them leave CSSA would be more effective than policies that prevent them from entering CSSA. Providing employment for those unemployed in this younger group would be more effective. The results indicate that by tailoring measures to specific subgroups, the overall number of CSSA recipients would be reduced, thereby improving the efficiency of Hong Kong’s social security system, which has accounted for more than 16.5% of Hong Kong government expenditure in 2018, amounting to more than HKD 92 billion.
Evolutionary Characteristics and Trade-Offs’ Development of Social–Ecological Production Landscapes in the Loess Plateau Region from a Resilience Point of View: A Case Study in Mizhi County, China
Authors: Zhang Hang , Chen Hai , Geng Tianwei , Liu Di , Shi Qinqin
Published: February 2020

Social-ecological production landscape resilience (SELPR) is a significant representation of the continuous supply capacity of landscape services. It is a quantitative assessment of the spatial-temporal evolution of SELPR under internal and external disturbances that provides a scientific basis for regional ecological environments and socio–economic development. Taking Mizhi County for the study of the Loess Plateau region, a three-dimensional (social system, ecosystem, and production system) SELPR evaluation framework was constructed. Data integration was performed using the watershed as the evaluation unit. This study quantitatively evaluated the spatial–temporal differentiation of the social–ecological production landscape (SELPs) subsystem’s resilience and the total SELPR in the study area and classified the areas from the three-system resilience combination level to achieve regional development trade-offs. The results were as follows: (1) In 2009–2018, the change in the social–ecological production landscapes pattern in Mizhi County showed a significant reduction in agricultural production landscapes, relatively stable social living landscapes, and an increase in ecological landscapes; (2) in 2009–2018, the SELPR increased by 12.38%. The spatial distribution of resilience was significantly different, showing a distribution pattern of high central and low surrounding areas; (3) the county’s watershed development zones were divided into five partitions: synergistic promotion areas, ecological restoration areas, social development areas, production optimization areas, and comprehensive remediation areas. The five types of zones have a certain agglomeration effect. In addition, the main obstacle factors affecting the SELPR of each zone are quite different. The key issues and development directions of different types of watersheds are also proposed in this paper.
Food System Transformation: Integrating a Political–Economy and Social–Ecological Approach to Regime Shifts
Authors: Pereira Laura M. , Drimie Scott , Maciejewski Kristi , Tonissen Patrick Bon , Biggs Reinette (Oonsie)
Published: February 2020

Sustainably achieving the goal of global food security is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The current food system is failing to meet the needs of people, and at the same time, is having far-reaching impacts on the environment and undermining human well-being in other important ways. It is increasingly apparent that a deep transformation in the way we produce and consume food is needed in order to ensure a more just and sustainable future. This paper uses the concept of regime shifts to understand key drivers and innovations underlying past disruptions in the food system and to explore how they may help us think about desirable future changes and how we might leverage them. We combine two perspectives on regime shifts—one derived from natural sciences and the other from social sciences—to propose an interpretation of food regimes that draws on innovation theory. We use this conceptualization to discuss three examples of innovations that we argue helped enable critical regime shifts in the global food system in the past: the Haber-Bosch process of nitrogen fixation, the rise of the supermarket, and the call for more transparency in the food system to reconnect consumers with their food. This paper concludes with an exploration of why this combination of conceptual understandings is important across the Global North/ Global South divide, and proposes a new sustainability regime where transformative change is spearheaded by a variety of social–ecological innovations.
Growth and Maturation in Development: A Fly’s Perspective
Authors: Delanoue Renald , Romero Nuria M.
Published: February 2020

In mammals like humans, adult fitness is improved due to resource allocation, investing energy in the developmental growth process during the juvenile period, and in reproduction at the adult stage. Therefore, the attainment of their target body height/size co-occurs with the acquisition of maturation, implying a need for coordination between mechanisms that regulate organismal growth and maturation timing. Insects like Drosophila melanogaster also define their adult body size by the end of the juvenile larval period. Recent studies in the fly have shown evolutionary conservation of the regulatory pathways controlling growth and maturation, suggesting the existence of common coordinator mechanisms between them. In this review, we will present an overview of the significant advancements in the coordination mechanisms ensuring developmental robustness in Drosophila. We will include (i) the characterization of feedback mechanisms between maturation and growth hormones, (ii) the recognition of a relaxin-like peptide Dilp8 as a central processor coordinating juvenile regeneration and time of maturation, and (iii) the identification of a novel coordinator mechanism involving the AstA/KISS system.
Different MicroRNA Families Involved in Regulating High Temperature Stress Response during Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) Anther Development
Authors: Chen Jin , Pan Ao , He Shujun , Su Pin , Yuan Xiaoling , Zhu Shengwei , Liu Zhi
Published: February 2020

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small molecule RNAs widely involved in responses to plant abiotic stresses. We performed small RNA sequencing of cotton anthers at four developmental stages under normal and high temperature (NT and HT, respectively) conditions to investigate the stress response characteristics of miRNA to HT. A total of 77 miRNAs, including 33 known miRNAs and 44 novel miRNAs, were identified, and 41 and 28 miRNAs were differentially expressed under NT and HT stress conditions, respectively. The sporogenous cell proliferation (SCP), meiotic phase (MP), microspore release period (MRP), and pollen maturity (PM) stages had 10 (including 12 miRNAs), four (including six miRNAs), four (including five miRNAs), and seven (including 11 miRNAs) HT stress-responsive miRNA families, respectively, which were identified after removing the changes in genotype-specific miRNAs under NT condition. Seven miRNA families (miR2949, miR167, and miR160 at the SCP stage; miR156 and miR172 at the MP stage; miR156 at the MRP stage; and miR393 and miR3476 at the PM stage), which had expression abundance of more than 10% of the total expression abundance, served as the main regulators responding to HT stress with positive or negative regulation patterns. These miRNAs orchestrated the expression of the corresponding target genes and led to different responses in the HT-tolerant and the HT-sensitive lines. The results revealed that the HT stress response of miRNAs in cotton anthers were stage-specific and differed with the development of anthers. Our study may enhance the understanding of the response of miRNAs to HT stress in cotton anthers and may clarify the mechanism of plant tolerance to HT stress.
The Oviductal Extracellular Vesicles’ RNA Cargo Regulates the Bovine Embryonic Transcriptome
Authors: Bauersachs Stefan , Mermillod Pascal , Almiñana Carmen
Published: February 2020

Oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs) are emerging as key players in the gamete/embryo–oviduct interactions that contribute to successful pregnancy. Various positive effects of oEVs on gametes and early embryos have been found in vitro. To determine whether these effects are associated with changes of embryonic gene expression, the transcriptomes of embryos supplemented with bovine fresh (FeEVs) or frozen (FoEVs) oEVs during in vitro culture compared to controls without oEVs were analyzed by low-input RNA sequencing. Analysis of RNA-seq data revealed 221 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between FoEV treatment and control, 67 DEGs for FeEV and FoEV treatments, and minor differences between FeEV treatment and control (28 DEGs). An integrative analysis of mRNAs and miRNAs contained in oEVs obtained in a previous study with embryonic mRNA alterations pointed to direct effects of oEV cargo on embryos (1) by increasing the concentration of delivered transcripts; (2) by translating delivered mRNAs to proteins that regulate embryonic gene expression; and (3) by oEV-derived miRNAs which downregulate embryonic mRNAs or modify gene expression in other ways. Our study provided the first high-throughput analysis of the embryonic transcriptome regulated by oEVs, increasing our knowledge on the impact of oEVs on the embryo and revealing the oEV RNA components that potentially regulate embryonic development.
How Much Information Does a Robot Need? Exploring the Benefits of Increased Sensory Range in a Simulated Crowd Navigation Task
Authors: Hagens Marit , Thill Serge
Published: February 2020

Perfect information about an environment allows a robot to plan its actions optimally, but often requires significant investments into sensors and possibly infrastructure. In applications relevant to human–robot interaction, the environment is by definition dynamic and events close to the robot may be more relevant than distal ones. This suggests a non-trivial relationship between sensory sophistication on one hand, and task performance on the other. In this paper, we investigate this relationship in a simulated crowd navigation task. We use three different environments with unique characteristics that a crowd navigating robot might encounter and explore how the robot’s sensor range correlates with performance in the navigation task. We find diminishing returns of increased range in our particular case, suggesting that task performance and sensory sophistication might follow non-trivial relationships and that increased sophistication on the sensor side does not necessarily equal a corresponding increase in performance. Although this result is a simple proof of concept, it illustrates the benefit of exploring the consequences of different hardware designs—rather than merely algorithmic choices—in simulation first. We also find surprisingly good performance in the navigation task, including a low number of collisions with simulated human agents, using a relatively simple A*/NavMesh-based navigation strategy, which suggests that navigation strategies for robots in crowds need not always be sophisticated.