bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing interventions for sustainable change in a real-world laboratory
Authors: Pärli Rea , Stauffacher Michael , Seigo Selma L’Orange , Probst Matthias , Pearce BinBin
Published: September 2022

Real-world laboratories (RWL) aim to support transformations for sustainable urban development by producing outputs with practical and scientific relevance. To achieve these aims, the local community of which the RWL is a part should be in close collaboration from the start of a project. RWLs offer spaces for ‘thinking outside the box’ and for experimenting with new ideas through concrete interventions into the life world of the community. We provide methodological guidance for researchers on how to design interventions in RWLs that both affect change on the ground and contribute to scientific knowledge. This includes addressing issues important to local communities and generating transformation knowledge about how sustainable urban development can be actualised. We use the case of a project-based master’s course within an RWL in the city of Zurich in Switzerland to demonstrate how the use of design thinking supported the development of needs-based interventions, curbing emissions from food consumption while aiming to generate scientifically relevant output. We conclude that further improvements in methodology are needed in order to test the effectiveness of interventions. However, the outputs of the approach show its potential both for having an impact in the real world and building on existing academic concepts for advancing transformation knowledge.
Do the political attitudes of students change during their time in higher education?
Authors: Fryer Tom
Published: September 2022

Experience of higher education (HE) has come to characterise many contemporary political divisions, including those related to Brexit, Trump and coronavirus policy. However, the academic literature is unclear whether HE plays a causal role in changing peoples’ political attitudes or is simply a proxy. Furthermore, in many contexts, there is limited descriptive evidence on whether students’ political attitudes change during HE. This paper focuses on the UK, using data from the British Election Study, to make a twofold contribution. Firstly, the paper introduces recent political science theorising on the nature of contemporary political divisions, which has remained largely outside the HE literature to date. This theorising is illustrated through a cross-sectional analysis, comparing the political attitudes of those with and without experience of HE, showing that the former tend to be more left-leaning and less ethnocentric. Secondly, a longitudinal analysis is performed to assess how students’ political attitudes change during their time in HE. While in HE, students tend to make small movements to the left and become less ethnocentric, representing approximately 20–33% of the overall division between those with and without experience of HE. These findings are interpreted through a critical realist lens—they evidence that HE could have a causal role to play in creating contemporary political divisions. However, to establish whether HE does play a causal role, further intensive research is needed to explore how particular aspects of HE might bring about these changes and how this varies for different students in different contexts.
Disrupting the Link between Corporal Punishment Exposure and Adolescent Aggression: The Role of Teacher-Child Relationships
Authors: Neaverson Aimee , Murray Aja Louise , Ribeaud Denis , Eisner Manuel
Published: September 2022

Previous research has identified harsh parenting practices, such as corporal punishment, as a predictor of adolescent behaviour problems such as increased aggression. However, not all children who experience childhood corporal punishment develop increased aggression, making the illumination of factors moderating this link an important question for informing prevention. In the current study, an autoregressive cross-lagged panel model was used to examine teacher-child relationships as both a direct and interactive protective factor (via weakening the effects of corporal punishment exposure) in adolescent aggression. Data was used from the Zurich Project on the Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso). Self-reported data was collected at three time points: age 11 (n = 1144, 49% female) age 13 (n = 1366, 49% female) and age 15 (n = 1447, 48% female). Results suggested having a positive teacher-child relationship was a direct protective factor against concurrent aggression. However, there was not consistent evidence for a moderating effect of teacher-child relationships. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Specific properties of shRNA-mediated CCR5 downregulation that enhance the inhibition of HIV-1 infection in combination with shRNA targeting HIV-1 rev
Authors: Cardona Maria E. , Hinkula Jorma , Gustafsson Kristin , Christensson Birger , Wahren Britta , Mohamed Abdalla J. , Smith C. I. Edvard , Arteaga H. Jose
Published: September 2022

Treatment with RNAi against HIV-1 transcripts efficiently inhibits viral replication but induces selection of escape mutants; therefore, the CCR5 coreceptor was suggested as an additional target. Blocking viral and host transcripts improved the antiviral effect. We have used short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the human CCR5 (shCCR5) or the HIV-1 rev (shRev) transcripts to demonstrate distinctive properties of anti-CCR5shRNA: shCCR5 induced more sustained protection than shRev; partial reduction in CCR5 expression substantially decreased HIV-1 infection, and shCCR5 performed better than shRev in the mixed shRNA-treated and untreated cultures. These observations indicate that CCR5 inhibitors should be conveniently included in HIV-1 gene silencing treatment schedules when only a certain cell fraction is protected to further reduce endogenous virus in a properly ART-treated HIV-1 infected individual.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids Reduce Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells Loss by Inhibiting the Activation of Astrocytes via the SGK1/IL-6 Signalling Pathway
Authors: Gao Yanmin , Xie Di , Wang Yang , Niu Lei , Jiang Hua
Published: September 2022

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are known to be actively involved in neurological diseases, but their roles in hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury (HIBI) are unclear. In this study, a rat model of HIBI was established, and this study measured the changes in IL-6 and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), in addition to proliferation and apoptosis indicators of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). The mechanism of action of SCFA on astrocytes was also investigated. Astrocytes were subjected to hypoxia in vitro, and OPCs were treated with IL-6. The results showed that SCFAs significantly alleviated HIBI-induced activation of astrocytes and loss of OPCs. SCFA pretreatment (1) downregulated the expression of NLRP3, IL-6, CCL2, and IP-10; (2) had no effect on the proliferation of OPCs; (3) ameliorated the abnormal expression of Bax and Bcl-2; and (4) regulated IL-6 expression via the SGK1-related pathway in astrocytes. Our findings revealed that SCFAs alleviated the loss of OPCs by regulating astrocyte activation through the SGK1/IL-6 signalling pathway.
Paclitaxel Regulates TRPA1 Function and Expression Through PKA and PKC
Authors: Sánchez Julio C. , Muñoz Laura V. , Galindo-Márquez María-Leonor , Valencia-Vásquez Aníbal , García Andrés M.
Published: September 2022

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a frequently used anticancer drug that causes peripheral neuropathy. Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), a plasma membrane calcium channel, has been associated with PTX toxicity and with other chemotherapy agents such as oxaliplatin and vincristine. However, the effect of PTX on the functional expression and calcium currents of TRPA1 has not been determined. The present study shows the effect of PTX on TRPA1 activity in a neuronal cell line (SH-SY5Y). The effect of PTX on the expression of TRPA1 was assessed through quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses to determine the relative mRNA and protein expression levels. To assess the effect on calcium flux and currents, cells were exposed to PTX; simultaneously, a specific agonist and antagonist of TRPA1 were added to evaluate the differential response in exposed versus control cells. To assess the effect of PKA, PKC and PI3K on PTX-induced TRPA1 increased activity, selective inhibitors were added to these previous experiments. PTX increased the mRNA and protein expression of TRPA1 as well as the TRPA1-mediated Ca2+ currents and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. This effect was dependent on AITC (a selective specific agonist) and was abolished with HC-030031 (a selective specific antagonist). The inhibition of PKA and PKC reduced the effect of PTX on the functional expression of TRPA1, whereas the inhibition of PI3K had no effects. PTX-induced neuropathy involves TRPA1 activity through an increase in functional expression and is regulated by PKA and PKC signaling. These findings support the role of the TRPA1 channel in the mechanisms altered by PTX, which can be involved in the process that lead to chemotherapy-induced neuropathy.
Structural, optical, dielectric, and surface properties of polyimide hybrid nanocomposites films embedded mesoporous silica nanoparticles synthesized from rice husk ash for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Ebnalwaled A. A. , Sadek Ahmed H. , Ismail Sameh H. , Mohamed Gehad G.
Published: September 2022

In this study, mesoporous silica nanoparticles previously prepared from the rice husk ash were utilized as nanofillers to fabricate thin films of polyimide/silica hybrid nanocomposites with different ratios (0, 6, 8, 10, and 12%). Subsequently, all hybrid films were further subjected to comprehensive characterization using XRD, SEM, AFM, and contact angle analyzers. The films exhibited a variety of optoelectronic properties depending on the silica nanoparticles' content. Where the silica nanofillers affected the optical clarity of polyimide films and increasing the silica ratio resulted in decreasing in films transmittance which led to reducing the transparency and enhanced the absorption coefficient of films in the UV range. Besides, the dielectric constant value and free charge carrier concentrations have increased which promoted the optical conductivity of the films. Moreover, increasing silica content resulted in converting the films from hydrophobic to hydrophilic surfaces, and has improved their wettability at all pH values.

Graphical abstract
Evaluation of medication-related problems in liver transplant recipients with and without an outpatient medication consultation by a clinical pharmacist: a cohort study
Authors: Mulder Midas B. , Doga B. , Borgsteede S. D. , van den Burg A. M. , Metselaar H. J. , den Hoed C. M. , Hunfeld N. G.M.
Published: September 2022

Background

Transplant recipients undergo significant changes in their medication regimen during follow-up and are at an increased risk for medication-related problems (MRPs).

Aim

This study aimed to compare the prevalence and types of MRPs and interventions in liver transplant recipients with and without an outpatient medication consultation by a clinical pharmacist as well as the satisfaction with information about medicines and medication adherence.

Method

We performed a single-center, observational cohort study. A retro- and prospective cohort were used and subdivided in a group that did and did not receive a medication consultation. The prevalence and types of MRPs and interventions were identified and categorized. The satisfaction parameters were evaluated using validated questionnaires.

Results

Included were 291 patients. In total, 368 MRPs were identified in 197 patients in the non-medication consultation cohort (median 1; range 1–3 per patient) and 248 MRPs in 94 patients in the medication consultation cohort (median 2; range 1–4 per patient). In the medication consultation cohort, significantly fewer MRPs as unnecessary drugs (17.3% versus 58.7%, p < 0.001), suboptimal therapy (2.4% versus 9.5%, p < 0.001), untreated indication (2.8% versus 6.8%, p = 0.040) and underdosed drugs (0.4% versus 6.3%, p < 0.001) were identified. In the non-medication consultation cohort significantly more patients used unnecessary drugs (72.1% versus 39.4%, p < 0.001) compared to the medication consultation cohort. Patients in both cohorts are satisfied with the information about medicines and reported a high medication adherence.

Conclusion

Patients in the medication consultation cohort had significantly fewer MRPs and used significantly less unnecessary drugs. Including a clinical pharmacist to the post-transplant care has an added value.
The Families First Program to Prevent Child Abuse: Results of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Ruiz-Casares Mónica , Thombs Brett D. , Mayo Nancy E. , Andrina Michelle , Scott Susan C. , Platt Robert William
Published: September 2022

The Families First parenting program is a 10-week paraprofessional-administered adaptation of the Positive Discipline in Everyday Parenting program for West Java, Indonesia. It has not been tested in a randomized controlled trial. The objective was to evaluate the effects of Families First on physical and emotional punishment. We conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial and randomly assigned 20 rural and urban villages in West Java, Indonesia, to intervention or waitlist. Caregivers of children aged 0–7 years in intervention villages received Families First. Between 2017 and 2018, measurements were taken before randomization, immediately post-intervention, and 6 months post-intervention. Primary outcome was presence versus absence of caregiver-reported physical or emotional punishment immediately post-intervention. Intention-to-treat regression models accounted for clustering within villages and were run to compare between groups. Participants and study personnel could not be blinded. There were 374 caregivers in the 10 intervention villages and 362 in the 10 waitlist villages included in the trial and in outcome analyses. The intervention did not result in a lower proportion of intervention families using punishment immediately post-intervention (odds ratio [OR] for physical or emotional punishment immediately post intervention = 1.20 (95% CI 0.79–1.82). There were no significant differences for positive and involved parenting, setting limits, and opinion on discipline, but caregivers in the intervention group had significantly lower odds of using positive discipline (OR = 0.65 (95% CI 0.53–0.80). Families First did not prevent punishment in a setting with low levels of reported punishment but should be tested in a setting with higher levels or among people selected for risk or presence.
Nonlinear Generation of Fluting Perturbations by Kink Mode in a Twisted Magnetic Tube
Authors: Ruderman M. S. , Petrukhin N. S.
Published: September 2022

We study the excitation of fluting perturbations in a magnetic tube by an initially imposed kink mode. We use the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in the cold-plasma approximation. We also use the thin-tube approximation and scale the dependent and independent variables accordingly. Then we assume that the dimensionless amplitude of the kink mode is small and use it as an expansion parameter in the regular perturbation method. We obtain the expression for the tube boundary perturbation in the second-order approximation. This perturbation is a superposition of sausage and fluting perturbations.
Wittgenstein and the Duty to Believe
Authors: Gómez-Alonso Modesto
Published: September 2022

It is generally assumed that hinge-commitments are deprived of an epistemically normative structure, and yet, that although groundless, the acceptance of Wittgensteinian certainties is still rational. The problem comes from the intellectualist view of hinge-approvals which many recent proposals advance—one that falls short of the necessities and impossibilities pertaining to what would be the right description of how it is like to approve of hinges. I will raise the Newman-inspired worry as how to cash the abstract acceptance of principles of enquiry into real assent, as well as the question about how to extend normativity all the way back to foundations. It is my aim here to argue that ethical normativity is the only kind of normativity capable to ground the rationality of hinges. In defence of this, I will draw some consequences from Ernest Sosa’s claim that hinges about the external world are logically related to the cogito.
Finite Aperture Stereo
Authors: Bailey Matthew , Hilton Adrian , Guillemaut Jean-Yves
Published: September 2022

Multi-view stereo remains a popular choice when recovering 3D geometry, despite performance varying dramatically according to the scene content. Moreover, typical pinhole camera assumptions fail in the presence of shallow depth of field inherent to macro-scale scenes; limiting application to larger scenes with diffuse reflectance. However, the presence of defocus blur can itself be considered a useful reconstruction cue, particularly in the presence of view-dependent materials. With this in mind, we explore the complimentary nature of stereo and defocus cues in the context of multi-view 3D reconstruction; and propose a complete pipeline for scene modelling from a finite aperature camera that encompasses image formation, camera calibration and reconstruction stages. As part of our evaluation, an ablation study reveals how each cue contributes to the higher performance observed over a range of complex materials and geometries. Though of lesser concern with large apertures, the effects of image noise are also considered. By introducing pre-trained deep feature extraction into our cost function, we show a step improvement over per-pixel comparisons; as well as verify the cross-domain applicability of networks using largely in-focus training data applied to defocused images. Finally, we compare to a number of modern multi-view stereo methods, and demonstrate how the use of both cues leads to a significant increase in performance across several synthetic and real datasets.
Potential for Pastoral Irrigation Using Sulphate-Rich Waters at Macraes Gold Mine, Southern New Zealand
Authors: Rufaut Cathy , Weightman Erin , Craw Dave , Pillai Dhana , Kerr Gemma , Scott James
Published: September 2022

There is growing recognition that elevated dissolved sulphate around mines will lead to significant environmental issues within the industry that need specific management. Various sulphate attenuation engineering methods exist, and so processes that could occur within a mine site are of particular interest. In this pilot study, we investigate the possibility of using high-sulphate mine water (~ 2500 mg/L) for irrigation of farm land. This approach is made feasible from mildly alkaline (pH ~ 8), non-toxic discharge waters at a semi-arid gold mine site. Geochemical models predicted Ca-sulphate will readily precipitate from the mine water at pH 6 and potentially attenuate downstream concentrations of dissolved sulphate. We used the slightly acidic natural soil environment (pH 5–6) of the mine to test initial model predictions in the laboratory and field trials. Ca-sulphate in gypsum formed in experimental soil columns, and the pH of input water lowered by 2–3 units. In the field, only minor soil gypsum was observed, and instead Mg-sulphate and Ca-carbonate were found more readily on evaporation surfaces. Additional terrestrial effects of soil dilution, leaching, and plant uptake of sulphate are discussed. Irrigated pasture had healthy, green plants that supported a potentially dual benefit of mine water irrigation to enhancing farm productivity in the local community. Irrigation is an effective way to manage mine waters with high dissolved sulphate but requires further trials to refine methods and the feed values of pasture.
Susceptibility of caprine mastitis pathogens to tildipirosin, gamithromycin, oxytetracycline, and danofloxacin: effect of serum on the in vitro potency of current macrolides
Authors: Galecio Juan Sebastian , Escudero Elisa , Corrales Juan Carlos , García-Romero Edgar , de la Fe Christian , Hernandis Verónica , Marin Pedro
Published: September 2022

Mastitis is a significant disease in dairy ruminants, causing economic losses to the livestock industry and severe risks to public health. Antibiotic therapy is one of the most crucial practices to treat mastitis, although the susceptibility of caprine mastitis pathogens to current antibiotics has not been tested under standard or modified incubation conditions. This work evaluated the in vitro activity of tildipirosin, gamithromycin, oxytetracycline, and danofloxacin against caprine mastitis pathogens incubated following standard conditions of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and deviation method by 25% supplementation with goat serum. Mycoplasma agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from dairy goats with mastitis in Spain. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the broth microdilution technique. The lowest MIC90 under standard conditions was obtained with danofloxacin for mastitis-causing pathogens. An exception was M. agalactiae, where danofloxacin and oxytetracycline obtained low values. However, after adding serum, gamithromycin showed the lowest MIC50 for S. aureus, Streptococcus spp., and CNS. The lowest MIC50 was obtained with all the antibiotics tested (< 0.125 µg/ml) against M. agalactiae. Supplementing with serum resulted in a significant variation in tildipirosin and gamithromycin MIC values for CNS, S. aureus, M. agalagtiae, and E. coli. In brief, the MIC for antibiotics used against mastitis should be determined under conditions closely resembling intramammary infections to obtain representative susceptibility patterns against mastitis pathogens. Caprine mastitis pathogens were broadly susceptible to danofloxacin under standard conditions. The potency of macrolides against caprine mastitis pathogens increases when serum is present in culture media.
The Cyrenaica Coastal Survey Project: Documenting Endangered Maritime Heritage in Libya
Authors: Nikolaus Julia , Abdrbba Mohamed O. M. , Emrage Ahmad
Published: September 2022

This paper introduces the Cyrenaica Coastal Survey (CCS), a collaborative project between the Maritime Endangered Archaeology project and the Department of Antiquities (DoA) Cyrenaica in partnership with the Universities of Al Bayda and Benghazi in Libya. Since the Arab Spring in 2011 and the subsequent civil unrest in Libya, heritage professionals, the DoA, and various individuals interested in heritage have struggled to safeguard heritage sites across the country, as policies and laws that protected archaeological sites were no longer reinforced and adhered to in the wake of the revolution. This lack of finances, capacity, and governmental support led to an unprecedented loss of archaeological sites since 2011. The CCS survey records the current condition of maritime sites along the Cyrenaican coast. The project focuses on the smaller, lesser known, coastal heritage sites that are not as well studied as the much larger classical period port towns of Apollonia, Tocra, or Ptolemais. This article will focus on the results of the first phase of the project between ancient Phycus (modern Zawiet el-Hamama) and Kainopolis (modern Al-Ogla). The results of the first stage of the Cyrenaica Coastal Survey provides a snapshot of the damages and threats that coastal heritage faces in Libya, most notably (often unregulated) building activities, clearance, sand mining, and coastal erosion. Furthermore, this article highlights the importance of remote collaboration between UK institutions, in-country partners, and heritage authorities, especially in countries where the discipline of maritime archaeology has been established more recently.
Influence of blanching on the bioactive compounds of Terminalia ferdinandiana Exell fruit during storage
Authors: Bobasa Eshetu M. , Srivarathan Sukirtha , Phan Anh Dao Thi , Netzel Michael E. , Cozzolino Daniel , Sultanbawa Yasmina
Published: September 2022

Changes in quality of fruits and vegetables during processing and storage might impact on the nutritional and economical value of food products. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of blanching on the content of vitamin C and ellagic acid (EA) as the main bioactive compounds present in Kakadu plum (KP) fruits (Terminalia ferdinandiana) during storage at 40oC to mimic typical temperature when wild harvested. Changes in the profile of fatty acids, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, as a biomarker for lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant properties of KP fruits were evaluated. The results revealed that vitamin C decreased between 25 and 52% over the storage period. Statistically significant differences in the concentration of vitamin C were associated with temperature (p < 0.05) and blanching (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences in EA during storage were observed. DPPH radical scavenging capacity and total phenolic content of both blanched and control samples decreased by 80% and 35%, respectively, at the end of the storage period compared to day 0. In addition, the change in DPPH activity is significantly correlated (Pearson R2 = 0.829, p ˂ 0.01) with the breakdown of ellagitannins. Furthermore, KP fruit demonstrated excellent antioxidative properties by reducing MDA production. It was concluded that blanching causes significant vitamin C loss whereas neither blanching nor long-term storage at elevated temperature affect the EA content. The results also indicate that the antioxidant compounds present in the KP fruits provided considerable protection against fatty acid oxidation during storage.
Impact of Silicon Foliar Application on the Growth and Physiological Traits of Carthamus tinctorius L. Exposed to Salt Stress
Authors: Jam Bahareh Jamshidi , Shekari Farid , Andalibi Babak , Fotovat Reza , Jafarian Vahab , Najafi Javad , Uberti Daniela , Mastinu Andrea
Published: September 2022

Althought safflower is a tolerant crop against many environmental stresses, but its yield and performance reduce under stress. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effect of silicon (Si) application on the possibility of increasing salinity resistance and related mechanisms in safflower. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Si spraying (0, 1.5 and 2.5 mM) on safflower plants grown under salt stress condition (non-saline and 10 dS m−1). Salinity reduced seedling emergence percent and rate, growth parameters and disrupted ion uptake but increased emergence time and specifc leaf weight. Spraying of Si increased plant height, fresh and dry weight, leaf area, relative water content (RWC), potassium, calcium and silicon content, while sodium absorption was decreased. As a result, the K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Na+ ratios were increased. Elevated ion contents and ratios indicate an enhanced selectivity of ion uptake following silicon application and may increase ion discrimination against Na+. Treatment with 2.5 mM Si showed the most positive effect on the measured growth traits. Decrement in leaf area ratio under salinity indicates a more severe effect of salinity on leaf area compared to biomass production. On the other hand, silicon reduced the specific leaf weight under stress and non-stress conditions, which revalues the positive effects of silicon on leaf area expansion. Improvement of RWC may a reason for the icrease in leaf area and biomass production. Data shows that spraying with Si especialy with 2.5 mM can reduce salinity stress damage to safflower and increase biomass production.
Identification of representative dairy cattle and fodder crop production typologies at regional scale in Europe
Authors: Díaz de Otálora Xabier , Dragoni Federico , Del Prado Agustín , Estellés Fernándo , Wilfart Aurélie , Krol Dominika , Balaine Lorraine , Anestis Vasileios , Amon Barbara
Published: September 2022

European dairy production faces significant economic, environmental, and social sustainability challenges. Given the great diversity of dairy cattle production systems in Europe, region-specific concepts to improve environmental and socioeconomic sustainability are needed. Regionally integrated dairy cattle-crop systems emerge as a more resilient and sustainable alternative to highly specialized farming systems. Identifying different dairy cattle production typologies and their potential interactions with fodder crop production is presented as a step in transitioning to optimized agricultural systems. Currently existing typologies of integrated systems are often insufficient when characterizing structural, socioeconomic, and environmental components of farms. We fill this gap in the literature by identifying, describing, and comparing representative dairy cattle production system typologies and their interrelation with regional fodder crop production at the European regional scale. This is a necessary step to assess the scope for adapted mitigation and sustainability measures in the future. For this purpose, a multivariate statistical approach is applied. We show how different land-use practices, farm structure characteristics, socio-economic attributes, and emission intensities condition dairy production. Furthermore, the diversity of regional fodder crop production systems is demonstrated by analyzing their distribution in Europe. Together with identified typologies, varying degrees of regional specialization in milk production allow for identifying future strategies associated with the application of integrated systems in key European dairy regions. This study contributes to a better understanding of the existing milk production diversity in Europe and their relationship with regional fodder crop production. In addition, we discuss the benefits of integrated systems as a clear, viable, and resilient alternative to ongoing livestock intensification in the European context. Identifying interactions between components of integrated systems will facilitate decision-making, the design and implementation of measures to mitigate climate change, and the promotion of positive socio-economic and environmental interactions.
Assessment and validation of SPH modeling for nano-indentation
Authors: Shen Hao , Brousseau Emmanuel , Kulasegaram Sivakumar
Published: September 2022

Nano-indentation tests are important techniques in material science. Over the past two decades, many numerical approaches have been proposed to model and simulate the nano-indentation process. In this paper, the possibility of modeling the process using a meshless numerical technique, known as smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH), is explored. In particular, the SPH modeling of nano-indentation is conducted using the ANSYS/LS-DYNA software using three different published studies as benchmarks. More specifically, SPH results reported by Guo et al. (J Semicond 36:083007, 2015) when nano-indenting a KPD crystal were used first to verify the validity of the SPH model established in this work. Following this, the outcomes of further SPH simulations were found to compare well against finite element modeling and experimental results reported in Dao et al. (Acta Mater 49:3899–3918, 2001) and Karimzadeh et al. (Comput Mater Sci 81:595–600, 2014) for both micro- and nano-indentation, respectively. These observations suggest that SPH is a technique with the potential to be considered more widely by researchers investigating high strain, or strain rate, deformation phenomena on the nanoscale. For example, the presented research on the development of a SPH-based nano-indentation model lays the foundations toward formulating a comprehensive model for the accurate simulation of nanoscale tool-based machining processes.
Multi-scale progressive blind face deblurring
Authors: Zhang Hao , Shi Canghong , Zhang Xian , Wu Linfeng , Li Xiaojie , Peng Jing , Wu Xi , Lv Jiancheng
Published: September 2022

Blind face deblurring aims to recover a sharper face from its unknown degraded version (i.e., different motion blur, noise). However, most previous works typically rely on degradation facial priors extracted from low-quality inputs, which generally leads to unlifelike deblurring results. In this paper, we propose a multi-scale progressive face-deblurring generative adversarial network (MPFD-GAN) that requires no facial priors to generate more realistic multi-scale deblurring results by one feed-forward process. Specifically, MPFD-GAN mainly includes two core modules: the feature retention module and the texture reconstruction module (TRM). The former can capture non-local similar features by full advantage of the different receptive fields, which facilitates the network to recover the complete structure. The latter adopts a supervisory attention mechanism that fully utilizes the recovered low-scale face to refine incoming features at every scale before propagating them further. Moreover, TRM extracts the high-frequency texture information from the recovered low-scale face by the Laplace operator, which guides subsequent steps to progressively recover faithful face texture details. Experimental results on the CelebA, UTKFace and CelebA-HQ datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed network, which achieves better accuracy and visual quality against state-of-the-art methods.
Earth’s gradients as the engine of plate tectonics and earthquakes
Authors: Zaccagnino Davide , Doglioni Carlo
Published: September 2022

The processes occurring on the Earth are controlled by several gradients. The surface of the Planet is featured by complex geological patterns produced by both endogenous and exogenous phenomena. The lack of direct investigations still makes Earth interior poorly understood and prevents complete clarification of the mechanisms ruling geodynamics and tectonics. Nowadays, slab-pull is considered the force with the greatest impact on plate motions, but also ridge-push, trench suction and physico-chemical heterogeneities are thought to play an important role. However, several counterarguments suggest that these mechanisms are insufficient to explain plate tectonics. While large part of the scientific community agreed that either bottom-up or top-down driven mantle convection is the cause of lithospheric displacements, geodetic observations and geodynamic models also support an astronomical contribution to plate motions. Moreover, several evidences indicate that tectonic plates follow a mainstream and how the lithosphere has a roughly westerly drift with respect to the asthenospheric mantle. An even more wide-open debate rises for the occurrence of earthquakes, which should be framed within the different tectonic setting, which affects the spatial and temporal properties of seismicity. In extensional regions, the dominant source of energy is given by gravitational potential, whereas in strike-slip faults and thrusts, earthquakes mainly dissipate elastic potential energy indeed. In the present article, a review is given of the most significant results of the last years in the field of geodynamics and earthquake geology following the common thread of gradients, which ultimately shape our planet.
Convex–concave and anterior–posterior spinal length discrepancies in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with major right thoracic curves versus matched controls
Authors: de Reuver Steven , de Block Nick , Brink Rob C. , Chu Winnie C. W. , Cheng Jack C. Y. , Kruyt Moyo C. , Castelein René M. , Schlösser Tom P. C.
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The apical deformation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a combination of rotation, coronal deviation and passive anterior lengthening of the spine. In AIS surgery, posterior–concave lengthening or anterior–convex shortening can be part of the corrective maneuver, as determined by the individual surgeon’s technique. The magnitude of convex–concave and anterior–posterior length discrepancies, and how this needs to be modified to restore optimal spinal harmony, remains unknown.

Methods

CT-scans of 80 pre-operative AIS patients with right convex primary thoracic curves were sex- and age-matched to 80 healthy controls. The spinal length parameters of the main thoracic curves were compared to corresponding levels in controls. Vertebral body endplates and posterior elements were semi-automatically segmented to determine the length of the concave and convex side of the anterior column and along the posterior pedicle screw entry points while taking the 3D-orientation of each individual vertebra into account.

Results

The main thoracic curves showed anterior lengthening with a mean anterior–posterior length discrepancy of + 3 ± 6%, compared to a kyphosis of − 6 ± 3% in controls (p < 0.01). In AIS, the convex side was 20 ± 7% longer than concave (0 ± 1% in controls; p < 0.01). The anterior and posterior concavity were 7 and 22 mm shorter, respectively, while the anterior and posterior convexity were 21 and 8 mm longer compared to the controls.

Conclusions

In thoracic AIS, the concave shortening is more excessive than the convex lengthening. To restore spinal harmony, the posterior concavity should be elongated while allowing for some shortening of the posterior convexity.
Angina and Arrhythmia Symptoms Following Multiple Bee Stings: Kounis Syndrome
Authors: Acehan Selen , Satar Salim , Gulen Muge , Yucel Ceyhun , Segmen Mustafa Sencer
Published: September 2022

Kounis syndrome (KS) is an acute coronary syndrome including coronary spasm, acute myocardial infarction, and stent thrombosis preceded by an anaphylactic, anaphylactoid, allergic, or hypersensitivity injury. In this case presentation, we discussed Type I and Type II KS. Case 1 was a 72-y-old man who presented to the emergency department with allergic symptoms and chest pain that developed after multiple bee stings. Electrocardiography showed ST depression in the lateral leads. Case 2 was a 42-y-old woman who presented to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain, dizziness, and presyncope that developed after multiple bee stings. Mobitz Type II Block with right bundle branch block was observed in 42 beats·min-1 in the electrocardiography. Both patients were first treated for allergic reaction. Although early percutaneous coronary intervention was performed for graft thrombosis in Case 1, a permanent pacemaker was inserted in Case 2. The patients were discharged without any complications. Increasing physician awareness towards the existence of KS can prevent fatal outcomes with early diagnosis and treatment.
Surviving a 400 m Fall on Mount Everest
Authors: Deonarain Dinesh , Karki Pawan
Published: September 2022

Mountaineering is a dangerous recreational activity with falls causing severe injuries and deaths. Survival from falls longer than 100 m is uncommon. We present a case of a high-altitude porter on Mount Everest who fell 400 m and survived. He slipped from a ridge at 7000 m (22,900 ft). A rescue party found him above Camp 2 (6600 m, 21,600 ft) and arranged a helicopter rescue. The Everest ER medical team at Everest Base Camp (5400 m, 17,700 ft) received the climber. They identified a head injury without signs of other serious trauma. A doctor provided manual inline stabilization of the cervical spine, airway support, and ventilation for the patient during the helicopter and ground transport to a tertiary hospital in Kathmandu. The time from the fall to definitive hospital care was 2.5 h. The hospital emergency team diagnosed an epidural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage without midline shift and right parietal, orbital, and maxillary fractures. The neurosurgical team evacuated the intracranial bleed. The patient spent 6 d in the hospital. He had a positive neurological outcome. He had mild cognitive impairment and vision loss in his left eye but could perform activities of daily living. He returned to physical work, but not to climbing. This case report provides evidence that survival is possible after falls from extreme heights and sheds light on the challenges of an evacuation from austere environments.
HOW DO EXCAVATED MANUSCRIPTS AND TRANSMITTED CANONS AND COMMENTARIES SHED LIGHT ON EACH OTHER? AN OUTLOOK FROM MATHEMATICS
Authors: Chemla Karine
Published: September 2022

Before the mathematical manuscript titledWritings on Mathematical Procedures(Suanshu shu筭數書) was found at Zhangjiashan, historians of mathematics could trace mathematics in early imperial China only on the basis of the received canonical literature, notablyThe Nine Chapters on Mathematical Procedures(Jiuzhang suanshu九章算術). After the Zhangjiashan and other mathematical manuscripts were found, they were mainly compared withThe Nine Chapters, in the belief that these were all early imperial mathematical works and therefore adequate objects of comparison. As such,The Nine Chapterswas transmitted with layers of commentaries and subcommentaries. This article argues thatWritings on Mathematical Procedurespresents important parallels with the commentarial literature onThe Nine Chapters. This sheds light on how such exegeses were composed. The article further demonstrates that examination of these commentaries and subcommentaries allows us to perceive parallels betweenWritings on Mathematical ProceduresandThe Nine Chaptersthat to date have not been considered.
Past, present, and future of the Italian memory of Fascism. Interviews with Luisa Passerini, Filippo Focardi, John Foot, Robert Gordon, and Philip Cooke
Authors: Bartolini Guido
Published: September 2022

This article consists of interviews with five world experts on the memory of Fascism. Taking the centenary of the March on Rome as an opportunity to rethink the development of Italian collective memory, the five interviewees were asked to reflect on different aspects of the Italian memory of Fascism, addressing the dominant conceptualisations, limits, and transformations of the discourses used to narrate Fascism in Italian culture. The result of these conversations, which touch upon issues related to the memory of the Resistance, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and colonialism, is a rich overview of the main trends and current trajectories of Italian memory culture, which can help us imagine the future directions of the Italian memory of Fascism and enhance interventions in this field by memory scholars and memory activists.
Models of gene–culture evolution are incomplete without incorporating epigenetic effects
Authors: Ragsdale Gillian , Foley Robert Andrew
Published: September 2022

Epigenetics impacts gene–culture coevolution by amplifying phenotypic variation, including clustering, and bridging the difference in timescales between genetic and cultural evolution. The dual inheritance model described by Uchiyama et al. could be modified to provide greater explanatory power by incorporating epigenetic effects.
Genetic solutions to cultural problems?
Authors: Newson Lesley , Richerson Peter J.
Published: September 2022

In theory, observed correlations between genetic information and behaviour might be useful to members of the WEIRD (western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic) populations. Guiding young people to choose educational opportunities that best match their abilities would benefit both the individual and society. In practice, however, such choices are far more profoundly limited by the culture people have inherited than their genes.
The many geographical layers of culture
Authors: Götz Friedrich M. , Ebert Tobias , Rentfrow Peter J.
Published: September 2022

Uchiyama et al. present a dual inheritance framework for conceptualizing how behavioural genetics and cultural evolution interact and affect heritability. We posit that to achieve a holistic and nuanced representation of the cultural environment and evolution against which genetic effects should be evaluated, it is imperative to consider the multiple geographic cultural layers impacting individuals and genetic heritability.
Rye-soybean double-crop: planting method and N fertilization effects in the North Central US
Authors: Malone Robert W. , O'Brien Peter L. , Herbstritt Steph , Emmett Bryan D. , Karlen Douglas L. , Kaspar Tom C. , Kohler Keith , Radke Anna , Lence Sergio H. , Wu Huaiqing , Richard Tom L.
Published: September 2022

Double-cropping winter rye cover crops (CC) with soybean in the North Central US could help with the global effort to sustainably intensify agriculture. Studies addressing the management of these systems are limited. Therefore, a field study was conducted from 2017 to 2019 in Central Iowa, US to evaluate winter rye CC biomass production, aboveground N accumulation, estimated economics, estimated within-field energy balance and estimated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under three N application rates (0, 60, 120 kg N ha−1) and three planting methods (pre- and post-harvest broadcast and post-harvest drilling). Averaged over N rates, all planting methods resulted in >5.0 Mg ha−1 year−1 rye aboveground biomass dry matter. Averaged over the 2-year study and compared with unfertilized treatments, applying 60 kg N ha−1 produced 1.1 Mg ha−1 more aboveground biomass (6.1 vs 5.0 Mg ha−1), accumulated 30 kg ha−1 more N in aboveground biomass (88 vs 58 kg N ha−1), and led to 20 GJ ha−1 more net energy. Biomass production was not significantly higher with 120 kg N ha−1 compared with the 60 kg N ha−1 rate. Even when accounting for an estimated 0.75 Mg ha−1 of above ground rye biomass left in the field after harvesting, more N was removed than applied at the 60 kg N ha−1 rate. The minimum rye prices over the 2-year study needed for double-cropping winter rye CC to be profitable (breakeven prices) averaged $117 and $104 Mg−1 for the 0 and 60 kg N ha−1 rates, which factors in estimated soybean yield reductions in 2019 compared with local averages but not off-site transportation. GHG emissions were estimated to increase approximately threefold between the unfertilized and 60 kg N ha−1 rates without considering bioenergy offsets. While environmental tradeoffs need further study, results suggest harvesting fertilized rye CC biomass before planting soybean is a promising practice for the North Central US to maximize total crop and net energy production.
Agronomic cover crop management supports weed suppression and competition in California orchards
Authors: Haring Steven C. , Hanson Bradley D.
Published: September 2022

Cover crops enhance the biodiversity of cropping systems and can support a variety of useful ecosystem services, including weed suppression. In California orchards, cover crops are typically implemented as annual plants that can replace resident vegetation in orchard alleyways during the rainy winter season. Our research objective was to evaluate cover crop management factors that support a competitive, weed-suppressing cover crop in the unique orchard systems of central California. We conducted two experiments: an experiment evaluating cover crop management intensification in walnuts (Juglans regia L.) and an experiment evaluating multispecies cover crop mixes and planting date in almonds [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb]. These experiments demonstrate that timely cover crop planting is important for producing an abundant cover crop, and a variety of cover crop management programs can produce weed-suppressing cover crops. However, cover crops do not result in weed-free orchards and should be considered within the context of integrated management programs. The apparent flexibility of orchard cover crop management provides an opportunity to promote other agroecosystem services, with vegetation management and weed suppression as complementary management goals.