bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Access to Quality Seed of Improved Groundnut Varieties Through Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in Northern Ghana
Authors: Puozaa Doris K. , Jinbaani Alhassan Nuhu , Adogoba Desmond S. , Busagri Douglas , Rasheed Masawudu Abdul , Issah Abdul Rashid , Oteng-Frimpong Richard
Published: January 2021

One of the main constraints to groundnut production has been the use of low yielding varieties, susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses. Multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) have been used by agricultural research organizations to help make their research more relevant and to facilitate the adaptation and dissemination of findings. In the implementation of TLIII project in Ghana, eight MSPs were set up with the objective to improve groundnut productivity among actors through improved access to varieties and related technologies. Through trainings, demonstrations and field days, the platform members totalling 347 (55% being female) were exposed to two existing improved groundnut varieties and several candidate varieties which were yet to be released. The actors have become important sources of high-quality groundnut seed in their communities and beyond with the production of 5 tons of seed of the new varieties. The seed farms where improved varieties were planted and managed using good agronomic practices (GAPS) yielded up to 1.6 tons/ha, 70% higher than the use of their old varieties and practices on their personal farms which gave less than 0.5 tons/ha. This form of experiential learning was observed to be very useful in the willingness of platform members to uptake technology. As unintended benefits, through the use of funds raised by the associations, the sanitation and health of some members and their households were improved, and many engaged in non-farm businesses. Going forward, good conflict resolution skills and access to funds for supporting platform activities and members’ individual interests would be very important in the sustainability of these platforms.
Developing Sustainable Cowpea Seed Systems for Smallholder Farmers through Innovation Platforms in Nigeria: Experience of TL III Project
Authors: Iorlamen Teryima , Omoigui Lucky O. , Kamara Alpha Y. , Garba Umar , Iyorkaa Nater , Ademulegun Temitope , Solomon Reuben
Published: January 2021

Limited access to and low use of quality seed of improved varieties rank among the topmost causes of persistently low cowpea yields in Nigeria. This paper presents experiences under the Tropical Legume III (TL III) project in facilitating the access of smallholder farmers to seeds of improved cowpea varieties through the establishment of innovation platforms (IPs) that were introduced in 2015 as part of the activities of the TL III project. There was rapid adoption and use of newly released varieties by farmers as a result of increased awareness of improved varieties through multi-media and user-friendly communication strategies and tools. During the four years of the project (2015–2018), a total of seven multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs), which comprised six seed companies, 46 farmer groups, five public seed enterprises, two NGOs, and 718 individual seed entrepreneurs and other stakeholders, were established/strengthened to link actors in the cowpea value chain. Community-based seed producers were linked to seed companies while seed companies were linked to research institutions to access early generation seed (EGS). These activities led to the production of over 532 tons of basic seed and 8366 tons of certified/QDS seed of improved cowpea varieties that were entrenched in the seed system. Yield also increased almost twofold from 500 to 900 kg/ha on farmers’ field. Women and youth incomes increased as a result of seed entrepreneurship activities. The small packs approach was an efficient and cost-effective means of reaching more farmers with affordable quantities of seed and a wide range of preferred varieties.
Transcriptomics analysis of hepatotoxicity induced by the pesticides imazalil, thiacloprid and clothianidin alone or in binary mixtures in a 28-day study in female Wistar rats
Authors: Alarcan Jimmy , Sprenger Heike , Waizenegger Julia , Lichtenstein Dajana , Luckert Claudia , Marx-Stoelting Philip , Lampen Alfonso , Braeuning Albert
Published: January 2021

Co-occurrence of pesticide residues in food commodities raises a potential safety issue as their mixture effects on human health are largely unknown. In a previous study, we reported the toxicological effects (pathology and histopathology) of imazalil (IMZ), thiacloprid (THI), and clothianidin (CTD) alone and in binary mixtures in a 28-day oral gavage study in female Wistar rats. Five dose levels (up to 350 mg/kg body weight/day) ranging from a typical toxicological reference value to a clear effect dose were applied. In the present study, we undertook a transcriptomics analysis of rat livers by means of total RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq). Bioinformatic data analysis involving Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) was used to gain mechanistic information on hepatotoxicity-related pathways affected after treatment with the pesticides, alone and in mixtures. Our data show that 2986 genes were differentially regulated by CTD while IMZ and THI had effects on 194 and 225 genes, respectively. All three individual compounds shared a common subset of genes whose network is associated with xenobiotic metabolism and nuclear receptor activation. Similar networks were retrieved for the mixtures. Alterations in the expression of individual genes were in line with the assumption of dose addition. Our results bring new insight into the hepatotoxicity mechanisms of IMZ, THI, and CTD and their mixtures.
Classic serotonergic psychedelics for mood and depressive symptoms: a meta-analysis of mood disorder patients and healthy participants
Authors: Galvão-Coelho Nicole L. , Marx Wolfgang , Gonzalez Maria , Sinclair Justin , de Manincor Michael , Perkins Daniel , Sarris Jerome
Published: January 2021

Rationale

Major depressive disorder is one of the leading global causes of disability, for which the classic serotonergic psychedelics have recently reemerged as a potential therapeutic treatment option.

Objective

We present the first meta-analytic review evaluating the clinical effects of classic serotonergic psychedelics vs placebo for mood state and symptoms of depression in both healthy and clinical populations (separately).

Results

Our search revealed 12 eligible studies (n = 257; 124 healthy participants, and 133 patients with mood disorders), with data from randomized controlled trials involving psilocybin (n = 8), lysergic acid diethylamide ([LSD]; n = 3), and ayahuasca (n = 1). The meta-analyses of acute mood outcomes (3 h to 1 day after treatment) for healthy volunteers and patients revealed improvements with moderate significant effect sizes in favor of psychedelics, as well as for the longer-term (16 to 60 days after treatments) mood state of patients. For patients with mood disorder, significant effect sizes were detected on the acute, medium (2–7 days after treatment), and longer-term outcomes favoring psychedelics on the reduction of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

Despite the concerns over unblinding and expectancy, the strength of the effect sizes, fast onset, and enduring therapeutic effects of these psychotherapeutic agents encourage further double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials assessing them for management of negative mood and depressive symptoms.
Diagnostic Performance of a Panel of miRNAs (OsteomiR) for Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Kerschan-Schindl K. , Hackl M. , Boschitsch E. , Föger-Samwald U. , Nägele O. , Skalicky S. , Weigl M. , Grillari J. , Pietschmann P.
Published: January 2021

A specific signature of 19 circulating miRNAs (osteomiRs) has been reported to be associated with fragility fractures due to postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, it is unknown whether osteoporotic fractures or low BMD phenotypes are independently contributing to changes in osteomiR serum levels. The first aim was to characterize the abundance, sensitivity to hemolysis, and correlation of osteomiR serum levels, the second objective to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of osteomiRs for osteoporosis according to the WHO criteria and on basis of major osteoporotic fracture history. Fifty postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (with or without fragility fracture) and 50 non-osteoporotic women were included in this cross-sectional study. The diagnostic performance of osteomiRs for osteoporosis based on the WHO definition or fracture history was evaluated using multiple logistic regression and receiver-operator curve (AUC) analysis. The osteomiR® signature is composed of four clusters of miRNAs providing good performance for the diagnosis of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women defined by WHO criteria (AUC = 0.830) and based on history of major osteoporotic fractures (AUC = 0.834). The classification performance for the WHO criteria and for fracture risk is driven by miR-375 and miR-203a, respectively. OsteomiRs, a signature of 19 emerging miRNA bone biomarkers, are measurable in human serum samples. They constitute a panel of independent bone and muscle biomarkers, which in combination could serve as diagnostic biomarkers for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
Water and Life: The Medium is the Message
Authors: Frenkel-Pinter Moran , Rajaei Vahab , Glass Jennifer B. , Hud Nicholas V. , Williams Loren Dean
Published: January 2021

Water, the most abundant compound on the surface of the Earth and probably in the universe, is the medium of biology, but is much more than that. Water is the most frequent actor in the chemistry of metabolism. Our quantitation here reveals that water accounts for 99.4% of metabolites in Escherichia coli by molar concentration. Between a third and a half of known biochemical reactions involve consumption or production of water. We calculated the chemical flux of water and observed that in the life of a cell, a given water molecule frequently and repeatedly serves as a reaction substrate, intermediate, cofactor, and product. Our results show that as an E. coli cell replicates in the presence of molecular oxygen, an average in vivo water molecule is chemically transformed or is mechanistically involved in catalysis ~ 3.7 times. We conclude that, for biological water, there is no distinction between medium and chemical participant. Chemical transformations of water provide a basis for understanding not only extant biochemistry, but the origins of life. Because the chemistry of water dominates metabolism and also drives biological synthesis and degradation, it seems likely that metabolism co-evolved with biopolymers, which helps to reconcile polymer-first versus metabolism-first theories for the origins of life.
Anatomy of teleost fish immune structures and organs
Authors: Bjørgen Håvard , Koppang Erling Olaf
Published: January 2021

The function of a tissue is determined by its construction and cellular composition. The action of different genes can thus only be understood properly when seen in the context of the environment in which they are expressed and function. We now experience a renaissance in morphological research in fish, not only because, surprisingly enough, large structures have remained un-described until recently, but also because improved methods for studying morphological characteristics in combination with expression analysis are at hand. In this review, we address anatomical features of teleost immune tissues. There are approximately 30,000 known teleost fish species and only a minor portion of them have been studied. We aim our review at the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and other salmonids, but when applicable, we also present information from other species. Our focus is the anatomy of the kidney, thymus, spleen, the interbranchial lymphoid tissue (ILT), the newly discovered salmonid cloacal bursa and the naso-pharynx associated lymphoid tissue (NALT).
Metagenomic identification, purification and characterisation of the Bifidobacterium adolescentis BgaC β-galactosidase
Authors: Mulualem Daniel Mehabie , Agbavwe Christy , Ogilvie Lesley A. , Jones Brian V. , Kilcoyne Michelle , O’Byrne Conor , Boyd Aoife
Published: January 2021

Members of the human gut microbiota use glycoside hydrolase (GH) enzymes, such as β-galactosidases, to forage on host mucin glycans and dietary fibres. A human faecal metagenomic fosmid library was constructed and functionally screened to identify novel β-galactosidases. Out of the 16,000 clones screened, 30 β-galactosidase-positive clones were identified. The β-galactosidase gene found in the majority of the clones was BAD_1582 from Bifidobacterium adolescentis, subsequently named bgaC. This gene was cloned with a hexahistidine tag, expressed in Escherichia coli and His-tagged-BgaC was purified using Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography and size filtration. The enzyme had optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 37 °C, with a wide range of pH (4–10) and temperature (0–40 °C) stability. It required a divalent metal ion co-factor; maximum activity was detected with Mg2+, while Cu2+ and Mn2+ were inhibitory. Kinetic parameters were determined using ortho-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (ONPG) and lactose substrates. BgaC had a Vmax of 107 μmol/min/mg and a Km of 2.5 mM for ONPG and a Vmax of 22 μmol/min/mg and a Km of 3.7 mM for lactose. It exhibited low product inhibition by galactose with a Ki of 116 mM and high tolerance for glucose (66% activity retained in presence of 700 mM glucose). In addition, BgaC possessed transglycosylation activity to produce galactooligosaccharides (GOS) from lactose, as determined by TLC and HPLC analysis. The enzymatic characteristics of B. adolescentis BgaC make it an ideal candidate for dairy industry applications and prebiotic manufacture.

Key points

• Bifidobacterium adolescentis BgaC β-galactosidase was selected from human faecal metagenome.

• BgaC possesses sought-after properties for biotechnology, e.g. low product inhibition.

• BgaC has transglycosylation activity producing prebiotic oligosaccharides.
Axiomatizations of the proportional division value
Authors: Zou Zhengxing , van den Brink René , Chun Youngsub , Funaki Yukihiko
Published: January 2021

We present axiomatic characterizations of the proportional division value for TU-games, which distributes the worth of the grand coalition in proportion to the stand-alone worths of the players. First, a new proportionality principle, called proportional-balanced treatment, is introduced by strengthening Shapley’s symmetry axiom, which states that if two players make the same contribution to any nonempty coalition, then they receive the amounts in proportion to their stand-alone worths. We characterize the family of values satisfying efficiency, weak linearity, and proportional-balanced treatment. We also show that this family is incompatible with the dummy player property. However, we show that the proportional division value is the unique value in this family that satisfies the dummifying player property. Second, we propose appropriate monotonicity axioms, and obtain axiomatizations of the proportional division value without both weak linearity and the dummifying player property. Third, from the perspective of a variable player set, we show that the proportional division value is the only one that satisfies proportional standardness and projection consistency. Finally, we provide a characterization of proportional standardness.
Injury epidemiology in men’s professional team sports: is media analysis helpful?
Authors: Szymski Dominik , Achenbach Leonard , Krutsch Volker , Alt Volker , Meffert Rainer , Krutsch Werner , Fehske Kai
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Epidemiological injury surveillance in professional sports is often based on online media analysis in order to collect necessary data. However, the validation of this study protocol is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the validity of injury surveillance in men’s professional team sports based on media reports.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, the validity of media-data-relating injuries was investigated in participating teams of the highest two German divisions in men’s professional basketball (BB) and handball (HB) in the season 2018/2019. Injury protocols completed by the team physicians were compared to those of sports media injury reports.

Results

The study population was composed of 133 athletes (54 BB and 79 HB). Of 343 injuries reported by the team physicians, 151 (44%) could be identified by means of sports media reports. Severe injuries (n = 75, 72%) were reported more likely in sports media compared to less severe injuries (n = 76, 32%, p < 0.00001). Odds ratio (OR) was 5.33 (95% CI 3.22–8.82). No differences regarding injury reporting could be seen between the two team sports.

Conclusion

For severe injuries, media analysis may be a sufficient method for data collection in popular men’s professional ball sports. An underestimation of true injury prevalence lies within the range of previous reported investigations concerning the validation of injury surveillance methods. Non-severe injuries could not be verified via media analysis in professional handball and basketball.
Real-time intraoperative functioning lumen imaging probe during endoscopic per-oral pyloromyotomy (pop)
Authors: Fathalizadeh Alisan , Klingler Michael , Landreneau Joshua , Allemang Matthew , Rodriguez John , Ponsky Jeffrey , El-Hayek Kevin
Published: January 2021

Background

Endoscopic per-oral pyloromyotomy (POP) has emerged as a safe and effective first line option in medically refractory gastroparesis. Determining the appropriate extent of the pyloromyotomy continues to present a challenge as there are no standardized tools for measuring changes in pyloric distensibility during the procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of using impedance planimetry with endoscopic functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP) to measure changes in pyloric distensibility after POP, and to compare these changes with improvement in symptoms and objective gastric emptying.

Methods

Patients with medically refractory gastroparesis underwent POP with FLIP measurements of the pylorus (EndoFLIP®, Medtronic, Fridley MN). FLIP measurements, as well as changes in symptoms measured by the validated gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) and scintigraphic gastric emptying studies (GES), were evaluated before and after POP.

Results

A total of 14 patients underwent measurement with FLIP during POP, 12 of whom had pre- and post-POP measurements. Mean pyloric diameter increased by 1.4 mm, from 13.9 mm to 15.3 mm (p = 0.0012). Mean distensibility index increased from 6.2 mm2/mmHg to 9.1 mm2/mmHg (p = 0.0074). Successful division of the pylorus was achieved in 100% of patients with a mean operative time of 36 min and no perioperative complications. The mean length of stay was 0.7 days (0–3 days). Post-POP mean GCSI score improved from 2.97 to 2.28 at a mean follow-up time of 27 days (p < 0.001). Objective improvement in gastric emptying was observed in 80% of patients with scintigraphic GES, with mean four-hour retention decreasing from 46.3% to 32.4% (p < 0.007).

Conclusions

FLIP is a safe and feasible tool to provide objective measurements during POP. Larger cohorts with longer follow-up are required to determine if measured improvements in pyloric diameter and distensibility are predictive of sustained improvements in GCSI and GES.
Reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms one year after knee replacement: a register-based cohort study of 403 patients
Authors: Mahdi Aamir , Hälleberg-Nyman Maria , Wretenberg Per
Published: January 2021

Background

Anxiety and depression are associated with patient dissatisfaction after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Understanding whether preoperative knee-related symptoms could be a cause of anxiety and depression might help prevent unnecessary delay of surgery for this group of patients. We investigated changes in prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms one year after TKA, and compared demographic data between patients with and without anxiety and depression symptoms preoperatively.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study of 403 patients scheduled for TKA. Data on patient-related outcome measures and the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms were collected preoperatively and one year postoperatively. Before–after differences in anxiety/depression prevalence were compared with a chi-square test, and differences in demographic data between the groups with and without anxiety and/or depression symptoms were compared with an independent t test.

Results

Among the 15% of patients with anxiety symptoms before surgery, 59% had improved in these symptoms one year after surgery; while among the 10% with depression symptoms before surgery, 60% had improved one year after surgery. Patients with preoperative anxiety and/or depression were younger, and had higher body mass index, lower general quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), higher pain scores (visual analog scale), and lower knee-related (KOOS) scores on all subscales except sport.

Conclusion

Presurgical symptoms of anxiety and depression seem to be partly caused by knee symptoms. Understanding of this issue would offer better strategies to prevent unnecessary delay of surgery in this group of patients.
Association between urine pH and risk of contrast-associated acute kidney injury among patients after emergency percutaneous coronary intervention: a V-shape relationship?
Authors: Chen Hanchuan , He Chen , You Zhebin , Zhang Sicheng , He Haoming , Chen Xi′nan , Wang Sunying , Lin Kaiyang , Guo Yansong
Published: January 2021

Aim

We investigated whether perioperative urine pH was associated with contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) in patients undergoing emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods

The study enrolled 1109 consecutive patients undergoing emergency PCI. Patients were divided into three groups based on perioperative urine pH (5.0–6.0, 6.5– 7.0, 7.5–8.5). The primary endpoint was the development of CA-AKI, defined as an absolute increase ≥ 0.3 mg/dL or a relative increase ≥ 50% from baseline serum creatinine within 48 h after contrast medium exposure.

Results

Overall, 181 patients (16.3%) developed contrast-associated acute kidney injury. The incidences of CA-AKI in patients with urine pH 5.0–6.0, 6.5–7.0, and 7.5–8.5 were 19.7%, 9.8%, and 23.3%, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, perioperative urine pH 5.0–6.0 and 7.5–8.5 remained independently associated with CA-AKI [odds ratio (OR)1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25–2.82, P = 0.003; OR 2.70, 95% CI 1.5–4.68, P < 0.001, respectively]. The association was consistent in subgroups of patients stratified by several CA-AKI risk predictors. However, the risk of CA-AKI associated with urine pH 7.5–8.5 was stronger in patients with worse renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73m2) (HR 5.587, 95% CI 1.178–30.599 vs. HR 2.487, 95% CI 1.331–4.579; overall interaction P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The urine pH and CA-AKI may underlie the V-shape relationship.
A Novel One- and Zero-Dimensional Model for Turbulent Jet Ignition
Authors: Bardis Konstantinos , Kyrtatos Panagiotis , Barro Christophe , Denisov Alexey , Wright Yuri Martin , Herrmann Kai , Boulouchos Konstantinos
Published: January 2021

Turbulent jet ignition (TJI) is a promising combustion technology for burning highly diluted air-fuel mixtures. Computationally efficient models to assess the effect of the operating conditions and design parameters on the ignition propensity and timing are of paramount importance for the development of combustion systems employing TJI. To this end, a one-dimensional (1-D) jet model, which is based on the solution of the section integrated mass and momentum conservation equations, is derived in the present study. The model is extended with two additional transport equations for the turbulence intensity and the ignition precursor/tracer, that marks the ignition event. One-dimensional transient flamelet calculations are performed to generate tables for the ignition precursor source term that account for the turbulence and chemistry interaction. Further simplification of the model is carried out to obtain a novel penetration correlation and a computationally inexpensive Lagrangian ignition model. The extended jet model is hierarchically validated using available literature data for non-reactive and reactive jets, as well as experiments conducted in a state-of-the-art optically accessible prechamber. The derived model is able to reproduce both flow-related quantities (velocity and turbulence profiles, jet penetration) and the ignition delay time under different variations. This study also illustrates how numerical simulations in canonical configurations (one-dimensional flamelet) can be used in practical applications of TJI.
Biofilm-specific uptake of a 4-pyridone-based iron chelator by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Houshmandyar Sharareh , Eggleston Ian M. , Bolhuis Albert
Published: January 2021

Iron is an essential nutrient for virtually all microbes and limiting the concentration of available iron is a potential strategy to be used as an alternative to antibiotic treatment. In this study we analysed the antimicrobial activity of two chelators, specifically 3-hydroxy-1,2-dimethyl-4(1H)-pyridone (deferiprone, DFP), which is clinically approved for the treatment of iron overload disorders, and its 1,2-diethyl homologue, CP94. Both compounds showed moderate activity towards planktonically growing P. aeruginosa cells, and the mechanism of action of these chelators was indeed by limiting the amount of free iron. Surprisingly, the compounds behaved very differently when the cells were grown in biofilms. DFP also showed inhibitory effects on biofilm formation but in contrast, CP94 stimulated this process, in particular at high concentrations. We hypothesised that CP94 behaves as an iron carrier, which was confirmed by our observation that it had antimicrobial synergy with the toxic metals, gallium and copper. This suggests that P. aeruginosa produces a biofilm-specific transport protein that recognises CP94 but not the closely related compound DFP.
A prospective observational study of patient-reported functioning and quality of life in advanced and metastatic breast cancer utilizing a novel mobile application
Authors: Richardson David , Zhan Lin , Mahtani Reshma , McRoy Lynn , Mitra Debanjali , Reynolds Maria , Odom Dawn , Hollis Kelly , Kaye James A. , Jones Cheryl , Hargis Jeffrey
Published: January 2021

Purpose

To assess and describe patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in women with locally advanced/unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (aBC/mBC) with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR + /HER2 −) status receiving palbociclib combination therapy in a US real-world setting.

Methods

A prospective, noninterventional, multicenter longitudinal study was conducted in US patients initiating treatment with palbociclib combination therapy for HR + /HER2 − aBC/mBC. PRO data (SF-12; CES-D-10; mood; pain; fatigue; interference of aBC/mBC or its treatment on family life, social life, physical activity, energy, and productivity; overall health rating; and quality of life [QOL]) were collected via a custom-developed mobile application at daily, weekly, and cycle-based intervals. Patient medical information (demographics, clinical characteristics, treatment information, and adverse events) was collected from medical records at baseline and at the end of the 6-month follow-up period.

Results

Patients’ general health status (SF-12) remained consistent throughout treatment and was generally consistent with published norms for individuals diagnosed with cancer. The presence of depression (CES-D-10) was low and did not change substantially over time. Mean pain and fatigue scores using an 11-point numeric rating scale were low and remained stable. Patients, on average, reported neutral or positive moods. Patient-reported QOL and overall health was primarily “Good,” “Very good,” or “Excellent.” Findings were consistent regardless of patient experience with neutropenia.

Conclusions

Patients treated with palbociclib, on average, reported consistently low levels of pain and fatigue as well as good QOL and overall health that remained stable throughout the first 6 months of treatment regardless of episodes of neutropenia.
Milking It for All It’s Worth: Unpalatable Practices, Dairy Cows and Veterinary Work?
Authors: Clarke Caroline , Knights David
Published: January 2021

Viewing animals as a disposable resource is by no means novel, but does milking the cow for all its worth now represent a previously unimaginable level of exploitation? New technology has intensified milk production fourfold over the last 50 years, rendering the cow vulnerable to various and frequent clinical interventions deemed necessary to meet the demands for dairy products. A major question is whether or not the veterinary code of practice fits, or is in ethical tension, with the administration of ‘efficient’ techniques, such as artificial insemination, to enhance reproduction levels among cattle? Vets perform these interventions and their ‘success’ is measured by the maximisation of milk production, requiring perpetually pregnant cows. Our empirical research on 33 farm vets explores how their professional ethical code promising to protect the welfare of the animal ‘above all else’, is increasingly in conflict with, and subordinate to, the financial demands of clients. Since vets cannot stand outside of the productive power–knowledge relations that have intensified the consumption of animal bodily parts and secretions, we argue that a process of adiaphorization’ (Bauman and Lyon, Liquid surveillance, Polity Press, Cambridge, 2013, p. 8) occurs, whereby humans become morally indifferent to cruel practices deemed necessary to our consumerist ways of life. However, this indifference reflects and reinforces a taken-for-granted anthropocentrism among vets, animal owners and the population generally. We suggest that posthumanist ideas may offer new insights for the study of human–animal relations in organisations that transcend the coercive and negative impact of discourses that deny any alternative to prevailing farm/veterinary practices. Our study has major implications in relation to climate warming and zoonotic diseases, both partly derived from our unethical relationship to animals, that are increasingly threatening our, and their, lives.
Amplitude and rotational speed control of variable length pendulum by periodic input
Authors: Kajiwara Hidekazu , Aoyagi Manabu
Published: January 2021

In this paper, a control law to stabilize the amplitude or rotational speed of a variable length pendulum to a desired value by periodically changing the position of the center of gravity is proposed. First, the motion of the pendulum oscillating around a lower equilibrium point is analyzed using the averaging method, and a first-order differential equation for the amplitude of the pendulum is derived. Subsequently, using the derived equation of motion, a control law is designed to control the amplitude of the pendulum to the desired value. Similarly, the motion of a pendulum rotating continuously around the rotation axis is analyzed, the first-order differential equation for the angular velocity of the pendulum is derived, and then a control law of the rotational speed is designed. The derived nonlinear feedback control law consists of the amplitude, angle, and angular velocity of the pendulum in the case of amplitude control, and in the case of rotational speed control, the rotational velocity and angular acceleration of the pendulum. Finally, by using the proposed control method, it is shown that the amplitude and rotational speed of the pendulum can be controlled to the desired values.
Social image retrieval based on topic diversity
Authors: Wang Yaxiong , Zhu Li , Qian Xueming
Published: January 2021

Image search re-ranking is one of the most important approaches to enhance the text-based image search results. Extensive efforts have been dedicated to improve the accuracy and diversity of tag-based image retrieval. However, how to make the top-ranked results relevant and diverse is still a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a novel method to diversify the retrieval results by latent topic analysis. We first employNMF(Non-negative Matrix Factorization) Lee and Seung (Nature 401(6755):788–791, 1999) to estimate the initial relevance score to the queryq. Then, the initial relevance score is fed into an adaptive multi-feature fusion model to learn the final relevance score. Next, the diversification process is conducted. We group all the images by semantic clustering and estimate the topic distribution of each cluster by topic analysis. The clusters are ranked based on the topic distribution vector and the final retrieval image list is obtained by a greedy selection mechanism based on the estimated relevances. Experimental results on the NUS-Wide dataset show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Trope analysis and folk intuitions
Authors: Rennick Stephanie
Published: January 2021

This paper outlines a new method for identifying folk intuitions to complement armchair intuiting and experimental philosophy (X-Phi), and thereby enrich the philosopher’s toolkit. This new approach—trope analysis—depends not on what people report their intuitions to be but rather on what they have made and engaged with; I propose that tropes in fiction (‘you can’t change the past’, ‘a foreknown future isn’t free’ and so forth) reveal which theories, concepts and ideas we find intuitive, repeatedly anden masse.Imagination plays a dual role in both existing methods and this new approach: it enables us to create the scenarios that elicit our intuitions, and also to mentally represent them. The method I propose allows us to leverage the imagination of the many rather than the few on both counts—scenarios are both created and consumed by the folk themselves.
Measures of relative metacognitive accuracy are confounded with task performance in tasks that permit guessing
Authors: Vuorre Matti , Metcalfe Janet
Published: January 2021

This article investigates the concern that assessment of metacognitive resolution (or relative accuracy—often evaluated by gamma correlations or signal detection theoretic measures such asda) is vulnerable to an artifact due to guessing that differentially impacts low as compared to high performers on tasks that involve multiple-choice testing. Metacognitive resolution refers to people’s ability to tell, via confidence judgments, their correct answers apart from incorrect answers, and is theorized to be an important factor in learning. Resolution—the trial-by-trial association between response accuracy and confidence in that response’s accuracy—is a distinct ability from knowledge, or accuracy, and instead indicates a higher-order self-evaluation. It is therefore important that measures of resolution are independent of domain-knowledge accuracy. We conducted six experiments that revealed a positive correlation between metacognitive resolution and performance in multiple-choice mathematics testing. Monte Carlo simulations indicated, however, that resolution metrics are increasingly negatively biased with decreasing performance, because multiple-choice tasks permit correct guessing. We, therefore, argue that the observed positive correlations were probably attributable to an artifact rather than a true correlation between psychological abilities. A final experiment supported the guessing-related confound hypothesis: Resolution and performance were positively correlated in multiple-choice testing, but not in free-response testing. This study brings to light a previously underappreciated limitation in assessing metacognitive resolution and its relation to task performance in criterion tasks that may involve guessing.
Tau in Alzheimer’s Disease: Pathological Alterations and an Attractive Therapeutic Target
Authors: Gu Jian-lan , Liu Fei
Published: January 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disease with two major hallmarks: extracellular amyloid plaques made of amyloid-β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau. The number of NFTs correlates positively with the severity of dementia in AD patients. However, there is still no efficient therapy available for AD treatment and prevention so far. A deeper understanding of AD pathogenesis has identified novel strategies for the generation of specific therapies over the past few decades. Several studies have suggested that the prion-like seeding and spreading of tau pathology in the brain may be a key driver of AD. Tau protein is considered as a promising candidate target for the development of therapeutic interventions due to its considerable pathological role in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Abnormal tau hyperphosphorylation plays a detrimental pathological role, eventually leading to neurodegeneration. In the present review, we describe the recent research progresses in the pathological mechanisms of tau protein in AD and briefly discuss tau-based therapeutic strategies.
A Comprehensive Review of Group Activity Recognition in Videos
Authors: Wu Li-Fang , Wang Qi , Jian Meng , Qiao Yu , Zhao Bo-Xuan
Published: January 2021

Human group activity recognition (GAR) has attracted significant attention from computer vision researchers due to its wide practical applications in security surveillance, social role understanding and sports video analysis. In this paper, we give a comprehensive overview of the advances in group activity recognition in videos during the past 20 years. First, we provide a summary and comparison of 11 GAR video datasets in this field. Second, we survey the group activity recognition methods, including those based on handcrafted features and those based on deep learning networks. For better understanding of the pros and cons of these methods, we compare various models from the past to the present. Finally, we outline several challenging issues and possible directions for future research. From this comprehensive literature review, readers can obtain an overview of progress in group activity recognition for future studies.
Ex vivo Bone Models and Their Potential in Preclinical Evaluation
Authors: Cramer E. E. A. , Ito K. , Hofmann S.
Published: January 2021

Purpose of Review

Novel therapies for damaged and diseased bone are being developed in a preclinical testing process consisting of in vitro cell experiments followed by in vivo animal studies. The in vitro results are often not representative of the results observed in vivo. This could be caused by the complexity of the natural bone environment that is missing in vitro.Ex vivo bone explant cultures provide a model in which cells are preserved in their native three-dimensional environment. Herein, it is aimed to review the current status of bone explant culture models in relation to their potential in complementing the preclinical evaluation process with specific attention paid to the incorporation of mechanical loading within ex vivo culture systems.

Recent Findings

Bone explant cultures are often performed with physiologically less relevant bone, immature bone, and explants derived from rodents, which complicates translatability into clinical practice. Mature bone explants encounter difficulties with maintaining viability, especially in static culture. The integration of mechanical stimuli was able to extend the lifespan of explants and to induce new bone formation.

Bone explant cultures provide unique platforms for bone research and mechanical loading was demonstrated to be an important component in achieving osteogenesis ex vivo. However, more research is needed to establish a representative, reliable, and reproducible bone explant culture system that includes both components of bone remodeling, i.e., formation and resorption, in order to bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo research in preclinical testing.
The “Social Brain,” Reciprocity, and Social Network Segregation along Ethnic Boundaries
Authors: Windzio Michael
Published: January 2021

How does segregation along ethnic boundaries emerge in social networks? Human evolution resulted in highly social beings, capable of prosociality, mindreading, and self-control, which are important aspects of the “social brain.” Our neurophysiologically “wired” social cognition implies different cognitive goal frames. In line with recent developments in behavioral theory, the present study defines network ties as episodes of social exchange. This dynamic definition can account for shifts in goal frames during an exchange episode: whereas deliberate choice and hedonic or gain goals drive the initiation of a tie, given the opportunity structure, the normative goal frame activates a strong dynamic effect of reciprocity, which limits actors’ choice set and appears as “self-organization” at the network level. Longitudinal analyses of 18 birthday party networks comprising 501 students support the definition of network ties as exchange episodes, as well as the relevance of humans’ inherent tendency to reciprocate. However, reciprocation is much stronger in dyads of the same ethnicity than in dyads of different ethnicities. Network segregation along ethnic boundaries results from deliberate decisions during the initiation of an episode, but also from different commitments to reciprocity during the ongoing exchange process, depending on intra or interethnic dyadic constellations.
ASPEN plus simulation of liquid–liquid equilibria data for the extraction of aromatics from waste tyre pyrolysis gasoline using organic and deep eutectic solvents: a comparative study
Authors: Usman Mohammed Awwalu , Fagoroye Olumide Kayode , Ajayi Toluwalase Olufunmilayo , Kehinde Abiola John
Published: January 2021

Waste tyre pyrolysis gasoline (WTPG) contain significant amount of aromatics such as benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX) and thus provide a good source for these value-added chemicals. Separation of aromatics from aliphatic media as obtained in WTPG and naphtha is done commercially by solvent extraction using volatile organic solvents such as sulfolane (SUF), dimethylformamide (DMF) and diethylene glycol (DEG). The high cost of this state-of-the art separation method and environmental consideration have necessitated search for non-volatile and green solvent such as deep eutectic solvent (DES). This study intends to conduct a comparative evaluation of the performance of five solvents (SUF, DMF, DEG, and two DESs) for the extraction of BTX from WTPG. The two DESs are choline chloride/ethylene glycol (DES1) and choline chloride/glycerol (DES2) in molar ratios 1:2. An ASPEN plus simulation was carried out to generate liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) data for the pseudo-ternary systems {WTPG + BTX + solvent (SUF/DMF/DEG/DES)}. Performance evaluation was based on selectivity (S) and solute (BTX) distribution coefficient (D). The propriety of the simulation protocol was validated using literature data. The results revealed the following maximum values of selectivity and distribution coefficients for the solvents: DES2 (S = 378.283, D = 0.656); DES1 (S = 77.364, D = 1.423); SUF (S = 55.371, D = 0.756); DMF (S = 25.336, D = 0.786) and DEG (S = 17.531, D = 0.793). The DESs therefore performed better than the organic solvents and can suitably replace same in the extraction of BTX from waste tyre pyrolysis gasoline.
Prenatal Sonographic and MRI Assessment of Early Fetal Neck Immature Teratoma
Authors: Kapoor Aakriti , Kapoor Apurva , Kapoor Ravi , Kapoor Aakaar , Kapoor Sunita
Published: January 2021

We report a case of a pregnancy involving a fetal neck mass which was diagnosed at 19 weeks of gestation. Three dimensional ultrasound provided detailed additional information about the extent of the lesion and the areas of involvement. Color Doppler revealed intense vascularity within the lesion, with both arterial and venous flow. Fetal MRI revealed the exact extent of the lesion along with deep seated structures involved. Diffusion weighted images revealed restricted diffusion with low ADC values suggesting a mitotic etiology. The patient along with her husband decided to abort the fetus. An infantogram of the abortus was taken. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry was performed. The final diagnosis was immature teratoma.
On the Deformation Tensor Regularity for the Navier–Stokes Equations in Lorentz Spaces
Authors: Huang Shiguo , Ji Xiang
Published: January 2021

This paper is concerned with the regularity criteria in terms of the middle eigenvalue of the deformation (strain) tensor$$\mathcal {D}(u)$$D(u)to the 3D Navier–Stokes equations in Lorentz spaces. It is shown that a Leray–Hopf weak solution is regular on (0, T] provided that the norm$$\Vert \lambda _{2}^{+}\Vert _{L^{p,\infty }(0,T; L ^{q,\infty }(\mathbb {R}^{3}))} $$‖λ2+‖Lp,∞(0,T;Lq,∞(R3))with$$ {2}/{p}+{3}/{q}=2$$2/p+3/q=2$$( {3}/{2}<q\le \infty )$$(3/2<q≤∞)is small. This generalizes the corresponding works of Neustupa–Penel and Miller.
Quantitative linkage between global value chains’ backward participation and logistics performance in the host country: a structural gravity model analysis of emerging ASEAN economies
Authors: Taguchi Hiroyuki , Thet Mon Soe
Published: January 2021

This article addresses issues on the degree of participation in global value chains (GVCs) for emerging economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The main research question is whether there is a linkage between GVC backward participation, that is, vertical trade defined as the foreign value embedded in exports and logistics performance as a component of service links in the host country. The major contributions of this study are the usage of the UNCTAD-Eora Global Value Chain Database for describing vertical trade and the application of a “structural” gravity model setting for the specification of estimated equations. The statistical observations demonstrate that GVC backward participation in emerging ASEAN economies made substantial progress during the 1990s with per capita GDP growth, and a large gap occurred in the degree of GVC backward participation between forerunners and latecomers in the ASEAN economies. Empirical estimation can also identify a quantitative linkage between GVC backward participation and logistics performance in the host country.
Empirical models for estimating the global solar radiation of Jubail Industrial City, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mujabar Sheik , Chintaginjala Venkateswara Rao
Published: January 2021

Empirical models provide precise and cost-effective information on solar energy assessment. The main objective of this work is to create and examine some regression models (linear, quadratic and logarithmic), for the estimation of the monthly global solar radiation potential in the Jubail Industrial City of Saudi Arabia. The industrial city has more solar energy potential, and the global horizontal irradiance is ranging from 4000 to 7000 Wh/m2/day. In order to initiate the green energy development in the city, site-specific hybrid models, which includes the ambient temperature, sunshine hours and relative humidity have been developed. Precise equation for the three proposed models is built up and examined for the industrial city. All the three empirical models provide good results. The statistical error estimation of the developed models reveals that the estimated and measured values appear exceptionally great and deliver similar outcomes. The values of the correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination of the quadratic model are 0.939 and 0.925, respectively, which are the highest among the three models. The mean absolute percentage error of the quadratic model is only 6.17%, and the other statistical errors are also comparatively low for the quadratic model. Therefore, the quadratic model gives an improved approximation on the estimation of solar energy parameters in which the errors between the measured and calculated values are smaller. Thus, the present regression models provide valuable data on the solar strength probable in the industrial city, and the data could be used for future energy planning.