bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOTAS PRELIMINARES SOBRE O CONCEITO DE PAISAGEM: ENTRE A LANDSCAPE INGLESA E A LANDSCHAFT ALEMÃ
Authors: Fernandes Ulisses Da Silva , Torres Philippe Dias Leão
Published: August 2021

É possível atestar uma relativamente recente retomada dos estudos de paisagem sobretudo na Geografia Cultural. Contudo, para além da importância dessa área das ciências geográficas, a paisagem já foi um conceito chave para a compreensão da natureza e da geografia do homem. Como afirma Richard Hartshorne em Perspective on the Nature of Geography (1959), porém, há um problema histórico com relação ao conceito de paisagem na etimologia alemã – Landschaft – que, apesar de nas traduções para o inglês assumir a palavra landscape, ambas possuem significados sensivelmente distintos. O presente artigo, portanto, busca reabrir as discussões no que concerne a essas diferenças fundamentais, razão de alguns ruídos, sobretudo quando chega à língua portuguesa, quando o termo alemão geralmente não foi traduzido do original, mas de suas versões inglesa e francesa. Tendo essa questão inicial, objetiva-se estabelecer preliminarmente algumas diferenças entre a landscape inglesa e a Landschaft alemã, tendo em vista o pensamento científico filosófico referente aos séculos XVIII e primeira metade do XIX.
ESPAÇO E CULTURA: A REVISTA: ORIGEM E MEIO DE CONHECIMENTO HUMANO
Authors: Souza José Arilson Xavier de
Published: August 2021

Depoimento em comemoração aos 25 anos da Revista Espaço e Cultura.
PARAFRASEANDO ROSENDAHL: REVISTA ESPAÇO E CULTURA – VEÍCULO EM QUE “(…) SE PENSAM AS IDEIAS E SE ESCREVE SOBRE ELAS”
Authors: Frangelli Patricia
Published: August 2021

Depoimento em comemoração aos 25 anos da Revista Espaço e Cultura.
O caráter decolonial da comunicação popular: Midiativismo de favela contra o Covid-19
Authors: Custódio Leonardo
Published: August 2021

Este artigo é uma contribuição para debates que reforçam o caráter sociopolítico e a relevância da “decolonização” como um termo que significa ações anti-hegemônicas e transformadoras. Meu objetivo é demonstrar o caráter decolonial das práticas de comunicação popular. Em síntese, a comunicação popular envolve a construção de comunidades e processos de comunicação desenvolvidos por grupos sociais marginalizados e estruturalmente oprimidos. Inicialmente, a partir do meu posicionamento como homem negro no ambiente acadêmico, posiciono-me sociopoliticamente e reflito sobre o que significa decolonização em relação aos debates latino-americanos sobre “colonialidade”. Em seguida, argumento que a comunicação popular representa um conjunto de ações decoloniais para transformação social. Ilustro meus argumentos com exemplos de ações midiativistas para prevenir a disseminação do covid-19 nas favelas do Rio de Janeiro.
DIÁSPORA, RESISTÊNCIA E CONSTRUÇÃO DA IDENTIDADE EM POEMAS SELECIONADOS DE SOFT MAGIC (2015), DE UPILE CHISALA, E QUESTIONS FOR ADA (2015), DE IJEOMA UMEBINYUO
Authors: Alves Érica Fernandes , Diamante F. Ferreira Geniane
Published: August 2021

A mulher negra sempre foi, desde o momento da colonização, vítima de dupla discriminação. Deste modo, ela tem de ser vista de forma especial, desde sua origem diaspórica, passando pela resistência, até o processo de formação de sua identidade, em virtude das peculiaridades que o gênero impõe. Assim sendo, este trabalho tem por objetivo analisar alguns poemas em língua inglesa que discutem esses temas, quais sejam, a diáspora, a posição da mulher negra na sociedade e sua resistência e a construção de sua identidade. Os poemas selecionados pertencem às obras Soft Magic (2015), de Upile Chisala e Questions for Ada (2015), de Ijeoma Umebinyuo. As duas autoras são do continente africano, Malaui e Nigéria, respectivamente, e as obras foram publicadas no mesmo ano, o que nos fornece um denominador comum para efeito de comparação literária. A metodologia se baseia na discussão e aplicação das teorias sobre racismo, discriminação, resistência e identidade desenvolvidas por Davis, Hall, Mohanty, dentre outros. Os resultados revelam que a mulher negra, apesar de toda submissão a ela imposta, consegue, por meio da resistência, recuperar sua identidade para que tenha condições de integrar a sociedade em que está inserida.
MULHERES E(M) SILENCIAMENTO: DESNATURALIZANDO SUPRESSÕES DA ESCRITA POÉTICA DE LOLA RIDGE
Authors: Battistam Laura Pinhata , Marins Líliam Cristina
Published: August 2021

O cânone literário tem sido, historicamente, de difícil acesso para as mulheres autoras e apenas há pouco houve a possibilidade desse espaço ser, ainda que minimamente, ocupado por elas. No entanto, esse lugar continua sendo restrito e limitado a certas mulheres enquanto outras ainda são silenciadas. Este artigo visa investigar, a partir das formas do silêncio fundamentadas em Orlandi (1997), as limitações da produção de uma literatura canônica de autoria feminina, tomando como exemplo a obra poética produzida por Lola Ridge, poeta da classe trabalhadora que compõe a literatura proletária entre os anos de 1915 e 1930, nos Estados Unidos. Lola Ridge é uma entre diversas outras poetas mulheres que foram relegadas ao silenciamento e ao esquecimento, em consonância com as críticas feministas Russ (2018), Olsen (2003) e Berke (2001). Busca-se, portanto, questionar a condição da mulher no cânone literário e discutir a possibilidade de recuperação dessas obras pela prática da Tradução Feminista.
REPRESENTAÇÕES DA DIMENSÃO DE SAGRADO E DE ESPIRITUALIDADE: O MAR E O SILÊNCIO NAS POÉTICAS DE CECÍLIA MEIRELES, SOPHIA DE MELLO BREYNER ANDRESEN E GLÓRIA DE SANT’ANNA
Authors: Fogaça Ana Paula Perdiz de Crato
Published: August 2021

Tendo como referentes poéticos o mar e o silêncio e, através abordagem comparatista, este trabalho propõe analisar laços existentes nos versos de três poetas de língua portuguesa: Cecília Meireles, Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen e Glória de Sant’Anna. Os diálogos intertextuais da dimensão de sagrado e de espiritualidade potenciada pelos caminhos simbólicos do mar e do silêncio revelam a cumplicidade entre as poetas. Como fundamento dessas visões dialógicas recorreu-se às teses do teórico Michel Collot sobre referente poético; à conceção fenomenológica de Gaston Bachelard sobre a imaginação material e dinâmica da(s) água(s), e às interpretações de Martin Heidegger sobre a essência da poesia em Hölderlin.
Rare health conditions 49: sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS), sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and Hansen's disease
Authors: Barber Chris
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this series is to highlight a range of rare health conditions. Rare health conditions are those that affect no more and usually fewer than 1 person in every 2000. Many healthcare assistants and nurses will encounter some of these conditions, given the high number of them. This 49th article will explore three of these conditions: sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS); sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); and Hansen's disease.
Double-Clutch Power Shift Quality Optimization Based on Optimal Control Theory
Authors: Xia Guang , Wang Yueqiang , Tang Xiwen , Zhao Linfeng , Hu Jinfang
Published: August 2021

Highlights

A power shift control strategy based on torque and speed transition, which aims to deliver multiple target and multiparameter optimization of power shift control, is proposed in this study. It can effectively solve the shift power cycle.

Based on minimum optimal control theory, the optimal control of shift quality during power shifting optimizes clutch terminal oil pressure, which is determined by solving the Rebecca differential matrix equation and shift characteristics based on various stages.

By aiming at the multiple target and multiparameter optimization problem of the clutch control in the power shift process, the minimum optimal control principle is applied to the shift quality optimization of the power shift.

Based on the minimum optimal control theory, the optimal solution of the terminal oil pressure of the clutch is determined by solving the Rebecca differential matrix equation to improve the shift quality of the power shift process.

Abstract
. The dual clutch of the combined transmission of a tractor with large horsepower uses a dynamic shifting process, in which only one clutch undergoes slipping friction during the shift. A power shift control strategy based on torque and speed transition, which aims to deliver multiple target and multiparameter optimization of power shift control, is proposed in this study. Based on minimum optimal control theory, the optimal control of shift quality during power shifting optimizes clutch terminal oil pressure, which is determined by solving the Rebecca differential matrix equation and shift characteristics based on various stages. In addition, the power shift simulation model of the double clutch is established. Simulation results show that the power shift control strategy based on single slip friction can effectively avoid power flow cycle, uninterruptible tractor power shift, and adaptive resistance change. The minimum optimization theory can effectively reduce the output torque fluctuation in the dynamic shift process, reduce friction work, and improve the shift impact. Keywords: Double clutch, Heavy-horsepower tractor, Minimum theory, Power shift.
Design and Operating Parameter Optimization of a Harvester for Efficient Lily Bulb Cultivation
Authors: Guo Ruijin , Li Zengxi , Zhao Ping , Yu Tiankuo , Yang Yingdong , Bai Xiaohu
Published: August 2021

Highlights

An urgent need exists to mechanize lily harvesting to meet growing demand.

A new lily bulb harvester suited to the agronomy of lily planting sites in China was designed.

Operation parameters were optimized and validated via field tests.

Bulb loss and stem damage rates of 2.31% and 1.82%, respectively, were achieved.

Abstract
. At present, lily bulbs are harvested primarily by manual excavation in most countries, whereas harvesting machinery is used for other tuber and rhizome crops. However, this approach results in several problems, such as high manual excavation costs, low efficiency, and incomplete separation of soil and lily bulbs. To address these problems, we propose a harvesting machine designed specifically for lily harvesting. Our design process involved measuring and analyzing the physical and mechanical properties of soil and lily bulbs during the harvest period, designing key mechanical components through theoretical calculations, and performing a single-factor simulation of the harvesting process to determine the test value range of each factor. We considered the bulb loss and stem damage rates as evaluation indicators and the machine forward speed, elevator linear speed, and elevator inclination as test factors. We conducted a three-factor, three-level rotation combined test, and the working parameter values were optimized according to the regression analysis results. The test results show that for a forward speed, linear elevator speed, and elevator inclination of 1.4 m/s, 1.8 m/s, and 25°, respectively, the bulb loss and stem damage rates were limited to 2.31% and 1.82%, respectively, thus maximizing the quality and yield of the harvest. Field experiment results showed that the optimized results were consistent with the experimental results and met the requirements of lily harvesting. Keywords: Harvester, Rhizome harvesting, Lily cultivation, Lily bulb properties, Soil parameters, Simulation analysis.
Optimal Design of an Angular Box for a Mixed Flow Grain Dryer
Authors: Jiang Qing , Zhang Ye , Yan Shiyou , Xu Liangyuan
Published: August 2021

Highlights

The drying effect in the drying layer is affected by the status of the flow field.

The angular box of the drying oven is optimized to improve the drying effect.

The structure of the variable-section angular box significantly reduced unevenness and improved the drying effect.

Abstract
. Dryers are subject to problems as they are unable to fully and uniformly dry grain. Considering the mixed-flow drying process and improving the drying uniformity, this study conducted a numerical simulation of the hot air temperature field, velocity field, and pressure field with ordinary equal cross-section. The dryer was optimized by a variable-section angular box structure for simulation analysis and experimental verification. The results demonstrated the following: the optimized variable cross-section angular box can improve the uniformity of the overall flow of hot air in the drying box; that is, it diffuses uniformly in the temperature, speed, and pressure field of hot air. A comparative analysis of equal cross-section and variable cross-section angled tubes indicated that the unevenness coefficient of the tubes’ wind field of the same section was reduced from 81.31% to 66.8%, 51.19% to 32.78%, and 56.98% to 42.57%, which significantly reduced unevenness and improved the drying effect. Keywords: Angular box, Flow field distribution uniformity, Grain drying, Numerical simulation.
A autoimagem, os transtornos mentais comuns e a depressão em estudantes de graduação
Authors: Palma Tarciso de Figueiredo , Ribeiro Sara Maria Alves , Teixeira Santos Vitória Maria
Published: August 2021

Este estudo objetivou analisar a preocupação com a imagem corporal, os transtornos mentais comuns e a depressão. Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal analítico e exploratório, com 117 estudantes de graduação em uma instituição do interior da Bahia. Estimou-se as prevalências das variáveis estudadas, testou-se as associações, através do qui-quadrado e foi usada a regressão logística binária para ajustes das variáveis. A ideação suicida apresentou prevalência alta (18,8%) em comparação a preocupação exagerada com a autoimagem (13,4%). As prevalências de Depressão Maior e de TMC foram, respectivamente, de 39,3% e 54,7%. Houve associação significativa com TMC para: sexo feminino (RP = 2,9; 1,5 – 5,4), realizar atividade física menos que duas vezes por semana (RP = 1,6; 1,1 – 2,3), estar desempregado (RP = 1,5; 1,1 – 2,2). Já para a depressão maior, houve significância para: realizar atividade física menos que duas vezes por semana (RP = 1,9; 1,2 – 3,1), estar desempregado (RP = 1,9; 1,2 – 3,1), ter ideias suicidas (RP = 2,1; 1,4 – 3,1) e ter preocupação exagerada com a autoimagem (RP = 2,2; 1,5 – 3,3), mesmo quando ajustado por idade e sexo (p-valor = 0,015). ABSTRACTThis study aimed to analyze the concern with body image, common mental disorders and depression. An analytical and exploratory cross-sectional study was carried out with 117 undergraduate students at an institution in the countryside of Bahia. The prevalence of the variables studied was estimated, associations were tested using the chi-square and binary logistic regression was used to adjust the variables. Suicidal ideation had a high prevalence (18.8%) in comparison to the exaggerated concern with self-image (13.4%). The prevalence of Major Depression and CMD were 39.3% and 54.7%, respectively. There was a significant association with CMD for: female gender (PR = 2.9; 1.5 - 5.4), performing physical activity less than twice a week (PR = 1.6; 1.1 - 2.3), being unemployed (PR = 1.5; 1.1 - 2.2). For major depression, there was significance for: performing physical activity less than twice a week (PR = 1.9; 1.2 - 3.1), being unemployed (PR = 1.9; 1.2 - 3, 1), having suicidal ideas (PR = 2.1; 1.4 - 3.1) and being overly concerned with self-image (PR = 2.2; 1.5 - 3.3), even when adjusted for age and gender (p-value = 0.015).
Nomofobia: uma revisão integrativa sobre o transtorno da modenidade
Authors: Morilla Jéssica Leitão , Vieira Gabriella Cassago , Dantas Carolina Nishiwaki , Cassago Regina Márcia , Pucci Silvia Helena Modenesi , Gobbi Débora Rita
Published: August 2021

As novas tecnologias, como internet e celular, trouxeram muitos benefícios. Entretanto, o uso abusivo pode gerar comportamentos viciantes encontrados na Nomofobia. Objetiva-se apresentar os aspectos sociodemográficos, psicológicos e ambientais correlacionados à nomofobia já publicados na literatura internacional. Buscou-se por artigos publicados entre 2014 e 2020, com os descritores: “nomophobia”, “dimensions of nomophobia”, “nomophobia questionnaire”, “mobile phone dependence” e “smartphone addiction”. Obteve-se 22 artigos, que foram dispostos em tabelas. Trata-se de pesquisas exploratória-descritivas com aplicação de questionários. As características psicológicas associadas foram: ansiedade, solidão e apego ao celular. As questões sociodemográficas foram: idade, gênero e escolaridade. Houve influência na qualidade de vida e no desempenho de tarefas. O mindfulness foi uma possível abordagem terapêutica. A falta de reconhecimento da nomofobia pelas ferramentas de diagnóstico de transtornos mentais e a falta de instrumento específico para o diagnóstico, corroboram para a diversidade de questionários, prejudicando a comparabilidade dos materiais. Por ser um Transtorno da Modernidade houve dificuldade em encontrar artigos sobre o tema. NOMOPHOBIA: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW ABOUT THE MODERNITY DISORDER ABSTRACT The new technologies such as internet and cell phone, have brought many benefits. However, the abusive use of them can lead to addictive behavior found in Nomophobia. The objective is to present the sociodemographic, psychological and environmental aspects related to nomophobia already published in the international literature. We selected papers published between the years of 2014 and 2020. The keywords used were “nomophobia”, “dimensions of nomophobia”, “nomophobia questionnaire”, “mobile phone dependence” and “smartphone addiction”. Only 22 papers were considered relevant, which were arranged in tables. These are exploratorydescriptive research with questionnaires. The psychological characteristics associated were: anxiety, loneliness and cell phone attachment. Socodemographic issues were: age, gender and education. The influence on quality of life and task performance was noticed. Mindfulness was a possible therapeutic approach. The lack of recognition about nomophobia by diagnostic tools for mental disorders and the lack of a specific instrument for diagnostic, corroborate the diversity of questionnaires, impairing the comparability of the materials found. Because it is a Modernity Disorder, it was difficult to find articles about the topic.
Violência contra crianças e adolescentes na Bahia: caracterização dos casos, 2009-2016
Authors: Neves Ramos Izabel Cristina , Regis Aranha Rossi Thaís
Published: August 2021

O estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar, através de uma série histórica, o quadro da violência contra crianças e adolescentes no estado da Bahia por meio da análise das notificações realizadas pelos serviços de saúde. Foram utilizados dados do Sistema de Vigilância de Violência e Acidentes (VIVA Contínuo), durante os anos de 2009 a 2016, totalizando 14.115 casos reportados. Os dados mostraram um aumento de 212,30% nas notificações, entre 2009 e 2016. Quanto às vítimas, a faixa etária de 10 a 19 anos prevaleceu em todos os anos analisados, assim como a presença de vítimas autodeclaradas negras. A tipologia mais frequente foi violência física. Para análise estatística, foi utilizado software Minitab18. Os achados desde estudo são preocupantes e demonstram a magnitude da violência contra crianças e adolescentes, bem como destacam suas especificidades e a importância do combate a esse problema de saúde. ABSTRACTThis study aimed to characterize, through a historical serie, the frame of violence in the state of Bahia by analyzing the notifications made by the public health services. The data was obtained from the Violence and Accidents Vigilance System (VIVA Contínuo) from 2009 to 2016 totalising 14,115 reported cases. The data showed a rise of 212.30% in the notifications done between 2009 to 2016. Regarding the the victims, the age group of 10 to 19 years old prevailed in all analysed years, the same goes for the presence of victims selfdeclared as black. The most frequently type was physical violence. The statistical analysis was made by the software Minitab18. The findings of this study are worrysome and shows the magnitude of the violence against children and adolescents as well as highlight their specificities and theimportance of facing this health problem.Keywords: Violence; Health services; Child; Adolescent. RESUMENEl estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar, a través de una serie histórica, el panorama de la violencia contra la niñez y adolescencia en el estado de Bahía a través del análisis de las notificaciones realizadas por los servicios de salud. Se utilizaron datos del Sistema de Vigilancia de Violencia y Accidentes (VIVA Contínuo) durante los años 2009 a 2016, totalizando 14.115 casos notificados. Los datos arrojaron un incremento del 212,30% en las notificaciones, entre 2009 y 2016. En cuanto a las víctimas, predominó el grupo de edad de 10 a 19 años en todos los años analizados, así como la presencia de víctimas autodeclaradas negras. El tipo más frecuente fue la violencia física. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el software Minitab18. Los hallazgos de este estudio son preocupantes y demuestran la magnitud de la violencia contra la niñez y la adolescencia, además de resaltar sus especificidades y la importancia de combatir este problema de salud.Palabras Clave: Violencia; Niño; Servicios de salud; Adolescente.
Position observation-based calibration method for an LDV/SINS integrated navigation system
Authors: Xiang Zhiyi , Wang Qi , Huang Rong , Xi Chongbin , Nie Xiaoming , Zhou Jian
Published: August 2021

With the advantages of high velocity measurement accuracy and fast dynamic response, the laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) is expected to replace the odometer to be combined with a strapdown inertial navigation system (SINS) to form a higher precision integrated navigation system. However, LDV scale factor error and misalignment angles between LDV and inertial measurement unit will affect the accuracy of navigation. Considering that not all global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receivers can directly provide velocity information and current mainstream calibration methods are sensitive to the measurement noise and outliers of velocity and position information, a robust calibration method aided by GNSS is proposed in this paper, which is based on position observation. Different from current popular calibration methods, the attitude information of the GNSS/SINS integrated navigation system obtained by an adaptive Kalman filter is used to construct the observation vector together with LDV velocity outputs and GNSS position outputs in this method. The LDV scale factor error and the misalignment angle are determined by the ratio of two observation vector modulus and the Davenport’s q-method method, respectively. The accuracy and robustness of the calibration method are verified by one vehicle test with normal GNSS signals and one vehicle test with GNSS signals with outliers. And the horizontal position error of dead reckoning of the calibrated LDV/SINS integrated system are less than 0.0314% and 0.1033% of the mileage, respectively.
ZWA: Viral genome assembly and characterization hindrances from virus-host chimeric reads; a refining approach
Authors: Dovrolis Nikolas , Kassela Katerina , Konstantinidis Konstantinos , Kouvela Adamantia , Veletza Stavroula , Karakasiliotis Ioannis
Published: August 2021

Viral metagenomics, also known as virome studies, have yielded an unprecedented number of novel sequences, essential in recognizing and characterizing the etiological agent and the origin of emerging infectious diseases. Several tools and pipelines have been developed, to date, for the identification and assembly of viral genomes. Assembly pipelines often result in viral genomes contaminated with host genetic material, some of which are currently deposited into public databases. In the current report, we present a group of deposited sequences that encompass ribosomal RNA (rRNA) contamination. We highlight the detrimental role of chimeric next generation sequencing reads, between host rRNA sequences and viral sequences, in virus genome assembly and we present the hindrances these reads may pose to current methodologies. We have further developed a refining pipeline, the Zero Waste Algorithm (ZWA) that assists in the assembly of low abundance viral genomes. ZWA performs context-depended trimming of chimeric reads, precisely removing their rRNA moiety. These, otherwise discarded, reads were fed to the assembly pipeline and assisted in the construction of larger and cleaner contigs making a substantial impact on current assembly methodologies. ZWA pipeline may significantly enhance virus genome assembly from low abundance samples and virus metagenomics approaches in which a small number of reads determine genome quality and integrity.
Drosophila H2Av negatively regulates the activity of the IMD pathway via facilitating Relish SUMOylation
Authors: Tang Ruijuan , Huang Wuren , Guan Jingmin , Liu Qiuning , Beerntsen Brenda T. , Ling Erjun
Published: August 2021

Insects depend on the innate immune response for defense against a wide array of pathogens. Central toDrosophilaimmunity are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), released into circulation when pathogens trigger either of the two widely studied signal pathways, Toll or IMD. The Toll pathway responds to infection by Gram-positive bacteria and fungi while the IMD pathway is activated by Gram-negative bacteria. During activation of the IMD pathway, the NF-κB-like transcription factor Relish is phosphorylated and then cleaved, which is crucial for IMD-dependent AMP gene induction. Here we show that loss-of-function mutants of the unconventional histone variant H2Av upregulate IMD-dependent AMP gene induction in germ-freeDrosophilalarvae and adults. After careful dissection of the IMD pathway, we found that Relish has an epistatic relationship with H2Av. In the H2Av mutant larvae, SUMOylation is down-regulated, suggesting a possible role of SUMOylation in the immune phenotype. Eventually we demonstrated that Relish is mostly SUMOylated on amino acid K823. Loss of the potential SUMOylation site leads to significant auto-activation of Relishin vivo. Further work indicated that H2Av regulates Relish SUMOylation after physically interacting with Su(var)2-10, the E3 component of the SUMOylation pathway. Biochemical analysis suggested that SUMOylation of Relish prevents its cleavage and activation. Our findings suggest a new mechanism by which H2Av can negatively regulate, and thus prevent spontaneous activation of IMD-dependent AMP production, through facilitating SUMOylation of the NF-κB like transcription factor Relish.
Comparison of genovars and Chlamydia trachomatis infection loads in ocular samples from children in two distinct cohorts in Sudan and Morocco
Authors: Ghasemian Ehsan , Inic-Kanada Aleksandra , Collingro Astrid , Mejdoubi Lamiss , Alchalabi Hadeel , Keše Darja , Elshafie Balgesa Elkheir , Hammou Jaouad , Barisani-Asenbauer Talin
Published: August 2021

Trachoma is a blinding disease caused by repeated conjunctival infection with differentChlamydia trachomatis(Ct) genovars. Ct B genovars have been associated with more severe trachoma symptoms. Here, we investigated associations between Ct genovars and bacterial loads in ocular samples from two distinct geographical locations in Africa, which are currently unclear. We tested ocular swabs from 77 Moroccan children (28 with trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) and 49 healthy controls), and 96 Sudanese children (54 with TF and 42 healthy controls) with a Ct-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. To estimate bacterial loads, Ct-positive samples were further processed by multiplex real-time qPCR to amplify the chromosomal outer membrane complex B and plasmid open reading frame 2 of Ct. Genotyping was performed by PCR-based amplification of the outer membrane protein A gene (~1120 base pairs) of Ct and Sanger sequencing. Ct-positivities among the Moroccan and Sudanese patient groups were 60·7% and 31·5%, respectively. Significantly more Sudanese patients than Moroccan patients were genovar A-positive. In contrast, B genovars were significantly more prevalent in Moroccan patients than in Sudanese patients. Significantly higher Ct loads were found in samples positive for B genovars (598596) than A genovar (51005). Geographical differences contributed to the distributions of different ocular Ct genovars. B genovars may induce a higher bacterial load than A genovars in trachoma patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of conducting broader studies to elucidate if the noted difference in multiplication abilities are genovar and/or endemicity level dependent.
Describing the intestinal microbiota of Holstein Fasciola-positive and -negative cattle from a hyperendemic area of fascioliasis in central Colombia
Authors: Ramírez Angie L. , Herrera Giovanny , Muñoz Marina , Vega Laura , Cruz-Saavedra Lissa , García-Corredor Diego , Pulido-Medellín Martin , Bulla-Castañeda Diana M. , Giraldo Julio Cesar , Bernal María Consuelo , Fernández-Manrique José , Vásquez-Arteaga Luis R. , Ramírez Juan David
Published: August 2021

The ability to identify compositional changes in the intestinal microbiota of parasitized hosts is important for understanding the physiological processes that may affect animal productivity. Within the field of host–parasite interactions, many studies have suggested that helminths can influence the microbial composition of their hosts via their immunomodulatory effects. Bovine fascioliasis is a helminthiasis widely studied by immunologists, but with little information available regarding gut microbial communities. Thus, we aimed to describe the composition of the intestinal microbiota of HolsteinFasciola-positive and -negative cattle using parasitological methods and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Bovine fecal samples (n = 65) were obtained from livestock slaughter plants in the Cundi-Boyacense Colombian highlands (a hyperendemic region for bovine fascioliasis) and studied by amplicon-based next-generation 16S-rRNA and 18S-rRNA gene sequencing. From these samples, 35 wereFasciola hepatica-negative and, 30 wereF.hepatica-positive in our detection analysis. Our results showed a reduction in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Ascomycota in theFasciola-positive samples, along with decreased relative abundances of the commensal taxa previously associated with fermentation and digestion processes. However, metabolomic approaches and functional analyzes of the intestinal microbiota are necessary to support these hypothesis. These findings are a small first step in the development of research aimed at understanding how microbial populations in bovines are modulated in liver helminth infections.
Identification of stable heat tolerance QTLs using inter-specific recombinant inbred line population derived from GPF 2 and ILWC 292
Authors: Kushwah Ashutosh , Bhatia Dharminder , Singh Inderjit , Thudi Mahendar , Singh Gurpreet , Bindra Shayla , Vij Suruchi , Gill B. S. , Bharadwaj Chellapilla , Singh Sarvjeet , Varshney Rajeev K.
Published: August 2021

Heat stress during reproductive stages has been leading to significant yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). With an aim of identifying the genomic regions or QTLs responsible for heat tolerance, 187 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross GPF 2 (heat tolerant) × ILWC 292 (heat sensitive) were evaluated under late-sown irrigated (January-May) and timely-sown irrigated environments (November-April) at Ludhiana and Faridkot in Punjab, India for 13 heat tolerance related traits. The pooled ANOVA for both locations for the traits namely days to germination (DG), days to flowering initiation (DFI), days to 50% flowering (DFF), days to 100% flowering (DHF), plant height (PH), pods per plant (NPP), biomass (BIO), grain yield (YLD), 100-seed weight (HSW), harvest index (HI), membrane permeability index (MPI), relative leaf water content (RLWC) and pollen viability (PV)) showed a highly significant difference in RILs. The phenotyping data coupled with the genetic map comprising of 1365 ddRAD-Seq based SNP markers were used for identifying the QTLs for heat tolerance. Composite interval mapping provided a total of 28 and 23 QTLs, respectively at Ludhiana and Faridkot locations. Of these, 13 consensus QTLs for DG, DFI, DFF, DHF, PH, YLD, and MPI have been identified at both locations. Four QTL clusters containing QTLs for multiple traits were identified on the same genomic region at both locations. Stable QTLs for days to flowering can be one of the major factors for providing heat tolerance as early flowering has an advantage of more seed setting due to a comparatively longer reproductive period. Identified QTLs can be used in genomics-assisted breeding to develop heat stress-tolerant high yielding chickpea cultivars.
Perceived food palatability, blood glucose level and future discounting: Lack of evidence for blood glucose level’s impact on reward discounting
Authors: Muda Rafał , Sawicki Przemysław , Ginszt Michał
Published: August 2021

Some previous studies have shown that an increase in blood glucose level makes people more future oriented, however, results are inconsistent, other studies failing to replicate this effect. Here, we tested whether psychological factors (in this instance, perception of food pleasantness after consumption of more palatable or less palatable meal) can play a moderating role. We hypothesized that consuming more palatable food (perceived as rewarding) should cause blood glucose levels to affect future discounting, but that this should not occur for the consumption of less palatable food. A high-powered, independent groups experiment (N= 149, power β = .90) showed that, subsequent to performing an initial discounting task, the two groups consuming a meal (a control group consumed no meal) displayed a significant increase in blood glucose levels 10 minutes after meal consumption and just before repeating the discounting task. However, the increased blood glucose levels did not cause changes in delay discounting in either experimental group.
Study protocol: One plus one can be greater than two—Ecological momentary assessment for Black prostate cancer survivors and partners
Authors: Cho Dalnim , Milbury Kathrin , Liao Yue , Pettaway Curtis A. , Gregg Justin R. , Li Yisheng , McNeill Lorna H.
Published: August 2021

Given that romantic partners play a pivotal role in patients’ survivorship period, integrating partners into survivorship care and broadening the focus of behavioral interventions from the individual (survivor) to the survivor-partner dyad may make healthy lifestyle behaviors more easily adopted and potentially maintained. Understanding the role of dyadic processes in Black survivors is particularly important because their lifestyle behaviors are poor and they have higher cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. To develop an effective dyadic lifestyle behavior intervention for Black survivors, micro-level investigations of interactions between Black survivors and their partners are necessary to pinpoint how survivors and partners facilitate or hinder each other’s lifestyle behaviors in their natural, everyday lives. Accordingly, the objective of the present study is to fill these gaps using ecological momentary assessment to eventually develop more effective lifestyle interventions for Black prostate cancer (PCa) survivors and partners. A total of 120 dyads (i.e., 240 individuals) who are Black adult survivors diagnosed with non-metastatic PCa and their romantic partners will be asked to complete four assessments per day for 14 consecutive days on a smartphone after an initial retrospective survey. Over the 14 days, participants will be asked to complete a brief survey regarding their lifestyle behaviors (physical activity, sedentariness and eating behaviors), contexts of lifestyle behaviors, stress, and coping. Physical activity and sedentary behavior will be assessed via accelerometer; eating behaviors will be assessed with the Automated Self-Administered 24-hour Dietary Assessment Tool. After completing the 14-day assessment, participants will be asked to complete a final retrospective survey. Results of the proposed study will inform the rigorous development of a theory-based dyadic lifestyle intervention in this vulnerable survivorship population with the ultimate goal to improve overall survival and reduce morbidities (for survivors) and reduce cancer incidence (for partners).
Pest-removal services provided by birds on subsistence farms in south-eastern Nigeria
Authors: Tela Murna , Cresswell Will , Chapman Hazel
Published: August 2021

To what extent birds provide the ecosystem service of pest control in subsistence farms, and how this service might depend on retained natural habitats near farmlands is unexplored in West Africa. To fill this knowledge gap, we placed plasticine mimics of insect pests on experimentally grown crops on the Mambilla Plateau, South Eastern Nigeria. We recorded bird attacks on the mimics and the proportion of mimics removed by birds. We also determined the influence of distance of crops from forest fragments on both attack and removal rates. We placed 90 potted plants of groundnut (Arachis hypogea) and bambara nut (Vigna subterranea) along 15 transects running 4.5 km from forest edge into open grassland. Each plant had six of the 540 mimics in total placed on their leaves. We inspected the potted plants weekly for 12 weeks to record (i) the presence of bird beak marks on mimics, and (ii) the number of missing mimics. Once a week we collected all the mimics from the plants and counted the number of assumed beak marks. After counting we replaced the mimics on the plants, mark free. We found a strong positive correlation between the abundance of insectivorous birds and the mean number of missing mimics and/or bird attack marks on mimics. However, this positive effect of insectivorous bird abundance on prey mimic attack/removal became less strong the farther they were from a forest fragment. We found increased predation rates and abundance of insectivorous birds closer to forest fragments. Our data suggest that pest predation may be a key ecosystem service provided by insectivorous birds on Nigerian farmlands. Farmlands that are closer to forest fragments may experience a higher rate of pest control by insectivorous birds than those further away, suggesting that retaining forest fragments in the landscape may enhance pest control services in sub-Saharan subsistence farms.
Machine-learning model selection and parameter estimation from kinetic data of complex first-order reaction systems
Authors: Zimányi László , Sipos Áron , Sarlós Ferenc , Nagypál Rita , Groma Géza I.
Published: August 2021

Dealing with a system of first-order reactions is a recurrent issue in chemometrics, especially in the analysis of data obtained by spectroscopic methods applied on complex biological systems. We argue that global multiexponential fitting, the still common way to solve such problems, has serious weaknesses compared to contemporary methods of sparse modeling. Combining the advantages of group lasso and elastic net—the statistical methods proven to be very powerful in other areas—we created an optimization problem tunable from very sparse to very dense distribution over a large pre-defined grid of time constants, fitting both simulated and experimental multiwavelength spectroscopic data with high computational efficiency. We found that the optimal values of the tuning hyperparameters can be selected by a machine-learning algorithm based on a Bayesian optimization procedure, utilizing widely used or novel versions of cross-validation. The derived algorithm accurately recovered the true sparse kinetic parameters of an extremely complex simulated model of the bacteriorhodopsin photocycle, as well as the wide peak of hypothetical distributed kinetics in the presence of different noise levels. It also performed well in the analysis of the ultrafast experimental fluorescence kinetics data detected on the coenzyme FAD in a very wide logarithmic time window. We conclude that the primary application of the presented algorithms—implemented in available software—covers a wide area of studies on light-induced physical, chemical, and biological processes carried out with different spectroscopic methods. The demand for this kind of analysis is expected to soar due to the emerging ultrafast multidimensional infrared and electronic spectroscopic techniques that provide very large and complex datasets. In addition, simulations based on our methods could help in designing the technical parameters of future experiments for the verification of particular hypothetical models.
Wellbeing, quality of life, presence of concurrent diseases, and survival times in untreated and treated German Shepherd dogs with dwarfism
Authors: Kitzmann Stefanie , Hartmann Katrin , Zablotski Yury , Rieger Anna , Mueller Ralf , Wehner Astrid
Published: August 2021

Background

Pituitary dwarfism (PD) in German Shepherd dogs (GSD) is a rare endocrinopathy. Cause and inheritance of the disease are well characterized, but the overall survival time, presence of concurrent diseases, quality of life (QoL) and influence of different treatment options on those parameters is still not well investigated. The aim of this study was to obtain data regarding the disease pattern of GSD with PD and to investigate the impact of treatment.

Methods

47 dogs with dwarfism (presumably PD) and 94 unaffected GSD serving as controls were enrolled. Data were collected via a standardized questionnaire, which every owner of a participating dog had completed. Dogs with PD were grouped based on three categories of treatment: Group 1 (untreated), group 2 (treated with levothyroxine), group 3 (treated with thyroxine and progestogens or with growth hormone (GH)). Groups were compared using One-Way-Anova, Kruskal-Wallis test or Wilcoxon-rank-sum test. Categorical analysis was performed using Two-Sample-Chi-Squared-test.

Results

Dogs treated with thyroxine and gestagen or GH were significantly taller and heavier compared to all other dogs with PD. Quality of life was best in dogs with PD treated with thyroxine and similar to unaffected GSD. Treatment increased survival time in dogs with PD independent of the treatment strategy. Dogs receiving thyroxine and progestogens or GH did not develop chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Conclusion

GSD with PD should be treated at least for their secondary hypothyroidism to increase survival time. Additional treatment with progestogens or GH improves body size and seems to protect against the occurrence of CKD.
Influence of HLA-B*5701 on 20 year survival rate among patients living with HIV
Authors: Aksak-Wąs Bogusz Jan , Parczewski Miłosz , Urbańska Anna , Hackiewicz Małgorzata , Kowalska Justyna D.
Published: August 2021

Background

The life expectancy of people living with HIV (PLWH) remains shorter than that of the general population, despite significant improvement in the recent years. Mortality in HIV-infected individuals may be associated with a higher viral load at of diagnosis, a lower CD4 count, or clinical variables such as sex or route of transmission. This article investigated the role of the HLA-B*5701 varian on mortality among PLWH.

Methods

Material for the analysis consist of the data of 2,393 patients for whom the HLA-B*57 variant was known. Those patients were followed under the care of the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Warsaw (n = 1555) and the Clinic of Acquired Immunodeficiency of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin (n = 838). Factors such as age, gender, date of HIV diagnosis, route of transmission, date of death, baseline HIV viral load and baseline CD4 counts, were collected, and end-point cross-sectional analyses were marked at 60, 120, 180 and 240 month of observation.

Results

HLA-B*5701 allele was found in 133 (5.5%) analyzed cases. Median age was notably higher for HLA-B*5701 positive patients [32.7 (28.3–41.3) vs. 31.6 (26.8–38.3)years p = 0.02]. HLA-B*5701 was associated with lower baseline viral load [4.21 (3.5–4.8) vs. 4.79 (4.2–5.3)log copies/ml p<0.001] and higher CD4count [448 (294.5–662) vs. 352 (176–514) cells/μl p<0.001]. There were no association between HLA-B*5701 and survival for any given end-point. Higher mortality was associated to male gender, intravenous drug users, lower CD4 count at baseline and higher baseline viral load.

Conclusions

In our study, the presence of HLA-B*5701 allel was not associated with mortality rate of HIV infected patients, irrespective of being associated with both higher baseline CD4 + cell count and lower baseline HIV viral load.
Patient preferences for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices: Wrist-type or arm-type?
Authors: Zeng Wei-wei , Chan Sze Wa , Tomlinson Brian
Published: August 2021

Background

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is important in evaluating average 24-hour blood pressure (BP) levels, circadian rhythm, sleeping BP and BP variability but many patients are reluctant to use standard ABPM devices.

Methods

We compared two validated ABPM devices, the BPro tonometric wrist monitor and the A&D TM-2430 oscillometric upper arm monitor, for agreement of recordings and acceptability in 37 hypertensive patients (aged 55±9 years).

Results

Successful BP measurements were less frequent with the wrist-type than the arm-type device during the sleeping (66.3% vs. 92.9%, P <0.01) and awake periods (56.2% vs. 86.5%, P <0.01). Comparable paired readings showed no significant difference in systolic BP but diastolic BP (DBP) values were higher with the wrist compared to the arm monitor (24-hour 89±13 vs. 85±14 mmHg, P <0.01) with similar differences awake and sleeping. Bland-Altman analysis showed some large discrepancies between individual arm and wrist monitor measurements. More patients found the wrist monitor more comfortable to use than the arm monitor.

Conclusions

Despite the difference in individual BP measurements and the systematic overestimation of DBP values with the BPro device, wrist monitors with good patient acceptability may be useful to facilitate ABPM in some patients to provide additional information about cardiovascular risk and response to antihypertensive therapies.
Impact of the veterinary feed directive on Ohio cattle operations
Authors: Dillon Mary Ellen , Jackson-Smith Douglas
Published: August 2021

Widespread use of antibiotics in U.S. livestock operations has been identified as a potential contributor to the rising rates of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new rules in January 2017. GFI (Guide for Industry) #213 banned use of antibiotics for growth promotion and required veterinarian permission, via a revised Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), to deliver antibiotics through feed. Many stakeholders expressed pre-implementation concerns regarding the rules’ potential adverse effects on production and profitability. Our study employed qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate how implementation of GFI #213/VFD impacted Ohio cattle operations. We interviewed over fifty cattle farmers and eight large animal veterinarians to document changes in farm antibiotic use, management practices, and profitability. We also examined published government data for possible effects on overall meat production at the state and national levels. We found that the great majority of Ohio farmers reported little difficulty in complying with the VFD with minimal adverse impacts. Farm responses to the feed directive varied with operation size, type (beef or dairy), and whether producers had previously used fed antibiotics. The most commonly reported changes, by both producers and veterinarians, were more veterinary-client interactions, more paperwork/record-keeping, and decreased use of fed antibiotics. All veterinarians, many beef operators, but no dairy operators reported perceiving the VFD as beneficial; however, dairy operations reported less difficulty with compliance due to established working relationships with veterinarians. We found no evidence that the rules impacted the trajectory of state or national livestock output. In conclusion, GFI #213 was reported as not burdensome enough to prevent compliance, but inconvenient enough to incentivize reduced use of fed antibiotics (when previously used) without significant adverse effects, consistent with its goal of promoting judicious use of medically important antibiotics in order to preserve their effectiveness.