bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural characterization of carboxyatractyloside and acaricidal activity of natural ent-kaurene diterpenoids isolated from Chamaeleon gummifer against Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Badalamenti Natale , Bruno Maurizio , Pavela Roman , Maggi Filippo , Benelli Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Plant-borne secondary metabolites are attracting high interest for their potential use in agricultural applications, with special reference to the control of arthropod pests. In the present work, the structural elucidation of glycosylated diterpenoid carboxyatractyloside (2) isolated from the roots of Chamaeleon gummifer Cass. (Asteraceae) is reported by means of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Complete identification occurred thanks to one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments, assigning the single protons and carbons, and the stereochemistry by the NOESY correlations. Carboxyatractyloside (2), together with two ent-kaurenes atractyloside (1) and atractyligenin (3), extracted from the roots of C. gummifer, have been tested for their acaricidal and oviposition inhibition activity against the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) Notably, compounds 1–3 were toxic to T. urticae, leading to significant mortality, oviposition inhibition, reduced hatchability of eggs, and natality inhibition. However, at the lowest dose (12.5 µg cm−2) compound 2 was the most effective, leading to mortality > 60% after 5 days exposure, inhibiting oviposition by > 70% and egg hatching by 33%; it also reduced natality by 80%. Overall, these compounds represent valuable candidates to develop novel acaricides for crop protection. Further research on how to develop stable formulations for field use, as well as on non-target effects of these compounds on pollinators and mite biocontrol agents, is ongoing.
Die Abwägung von Kunstfreiheit und Tierschutz
Authors: Korn Lukas Paul
Published: August 2023

Werden lebendige Tiere im Rahmen künstlerischer Darbietungen verwendet und ihnen dabei Schmerzen,
Leiden oder Schäden zugefügt, kann dies einen Verstoß gegen das Tierschutzgesetz (TierSchG)
begründen und Untersagungsverfügungen, Bußgelder oder Strafverfahren nach sich ziehen. In
derartigen Fällen kommt es entscheidend darauf an, ob die Ausübung der grundrechtlich gewährleisteten
Kunstfreiheit einen ,,vernünftigen Grund‘‘ i.S.d. TierSchG darstellt. Die Ausfüllung dieses
unbestimmten Rechtsbegriffs erfordert eine Abwägung zwischen den Verfassungsgütern der Kunstfreiheit
aus Art. 5 Abs. 3 S. 1 Var. 1 GG und dem Staatsziel Tierschutz aus Art. 20a GG. Der vorliegende Beitrag
zeigt auf, in welchen Fällen eine solche Abwägungsentscheidung notwendig ist und entwickelt Kriterien
für den Abwägungsvorgang.
Die tatsächlichen und rechtlichen Hintergründe der Kormoranverordnungen der Länder
Authors: Gerhold Sönke Florian , Mittag Vincent
Published: August 2023

Der Kormoran ist derzeit in den meisten Flächenstaaten Deutschlands nach den Vorgaben sogenannter
Kormoranverordnungen jagdbar in einem weiten Sinne, obwohl er dem Tötungsverbot der Vogelschutzrichtlinie
(RL 2009/147/EG) unterfällt. Die Verordnungen sehen insofern Ausnahmen vom generellen Tötungsverbot
des BNatSchG insbesondere aus Gründen des Schutzes von Fischfauna und Fischereiwirtschaft vor. Der
vorliegende Beitrag nimmt die tatsächlichen und rechtlichen Hintergründe der Kormoranverordnungen
in den Blick und setzt sich dabei auch mit der praktisch sehr bedeutsamen Frage nach dem Verhältnis
des TierSchG zum BNatSchG auseinander.
Rethinking how children individuate objects: spatial indexicals in early development
Authors: Hildebrandt Frauke , Glauer Ramiro , Moore Richard
Published: August 2023

The current understanding of cognitive development rests on the premise that infants can individuate objects early on. However, the so-called object-first account faces severe difficulties explaining extant empirical findings in object individuation tasks while alternative, more parsimonious explanations are available. In this paper, we assume that children start as feature-thinkers without being able to individuate objects and show how this ability can be learned by thinkers who do not already implicitly possess the notion of an object. Based on Tugendhat's ideas on the relation between singular terms and object reference, we argue that spatial indexicals comprise the fundamental means of object individuation and describe how feature thinkers might acquire the complex substitutional system of spatial indexicals. In closing, two accounts of object cognition that do not rely on symbolic capacities, namely Pylyshyn's FINST indexes and Burge's perceptual objectivity, are critically discussed.
Language-Concordant Care: a Qualitative Study Examining Implementation of Physician Non-English Language Proficiency Assessment
Authors: Garcia Maria Esteli , Williams Mia , Mutha Sunita , Diamond Lisa C. , Jih Jane , Handley Margaret A. , Pathak Sarita , Karliner Leah S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Language concordance can increase access to care for patients with language barriers and improve patient health outcomes. However, systematically assessing and tracking physician non-English language skills remains uncommon in most health systems. This is a missed opportunity for health systems to maximize language-concordant care.

Objective

To determine barriers and facilitators to participation in non-English language proficiency assessment among primary care physicians.

Design

Qualitative, semi-structured interviews.

Participants

Eleven fully and partially bilingual primary care physicians from a large academic health system with a language certification program (using a clinician oral proficiency interview).

Approach

Interviews aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to participation in non-English language assessment. Two researchers independently and iteratively coded transcripts using a thematic analysis approach with constant comparison to identify themes.

Key Results

Most participants were women (N= 9; 82%). Participants reported proficiency in Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish. All fully bilingual participants (n=5) had passed the language assessment; of the partially bilingual participants (n=6), four did not test, one passed with marginal proficiency, and one did not pass. Three themes emerged as barriers to assessment participation: (1) beliefs about the negative consequences (emotional and material) of not passing the test, (2) time constraints and competing demands, and (3) challenging test format and structure. Four themes emerged as facilitators to increase assessment adoption: (1) messaging consistent with professional ethos, (2) organizational culture that incentivizes certification, (3) personal empowerment about language proficiency, and (4) individuals championing certification.

Conclusions

To increase language assessment participation and thus ensure quality language-concordant care, health systems must address the identified barriers physicians experience and leverage potential facilitators. Findings can inform health system interventions to standardize the requirements and process, increase transparency, provide resources for preparation and remediation, utilize messaging focused on patient care quality and safety, and incentivize participation.
Relationship of POLST to Hospitalization and ICU Care Among Nursing Home Residents in California
Authors: Zingmond David , Powell David , Jennings Lee A. , Escarce Jose J. , Liang Li-Jung , Parikh Punam , Wenger Neil S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) document instructions for intensity of care based upon patient care preferences. POLST forms generally reflect patients’ wishes and dictate subsequent medical care, but it is not known how POLST use and content among nursing home residents is associated with inpatient utilization across a large population.

Objective

Evaluate the relationship between POLST use and content with hospital utilization among nursing home residents in California.

Design

Retrospective cohort study using the Minimum Data Set linked to California Section S (POLST documentation), the Medicare Beneficiary Summary File, and Medicare line item claims.

Patients

California nursing home residents with Medicare fee-for-service insurance, 2011–2016.

Main Measures

Hospitalization, days in the hospital, and days in the intensive care unit (ICU) after adjustment for resident and nursing home characteristics.

Key Results

The 1,112,834 residents had a completed and signed (valid) POLST containing orders for CPR with Full treatment 29.6% of resident-time (in person-years) and a DNR order with Selective treatment or Comfort care 27.1% of resident-time. Unsigned POLSTs accounted for 11.3% of resident-time. Residents experienced 14 hospitalizations and a mean of 120 hospital days and 37 ICU days per 100 person-years. Residents with a POLST indicating CPR Full treatment had utilization nearly identical to residents without a POLST. A gradient of decreased utilization was related to lower intensity of care orders. Compared to residents without a POLST, residents with a POLST indicating DNR Comfort care spent 56 fewer days in the hospital and 22 fewer days in the ICU per 100 person-years. Unsigned POLST had a weaker and less consistent relationship with hospital utilization.

Conclusions

Among California NH residents, there is a direct relationship between intensity of care preferences in POLST and hospital utilization. These findings emphasize the importance of a valid POLST capturing informed preferences for nursing home residents.
Identifying Implementation Factors for the Development, Operation, and Sustainment of Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Programs: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Qureshi Nabeel , Keller Michelle S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Pharmacist-led programs and clinics have been integrated into primary and specialty care clinics in a variety of ways, for example, to improve diabetes outcomes via patient education and counseling. However, factors important to the implementation of different outpatient pharmacy models have not been well elucidated.

Objective

To identify provider- and health system–level drivers of implementation and sustainability of pharmacy-led programs in the outpatient setting.

Design

Qualitative study of key informants using semi-structured interviews of individuals working in various roles throughout a large health system, including ambulatory clinical pharmacists, pharmacy managers, medical directors and physician leaders, and operations and quality managers.

Participants

Key informants (n=19) with leadership roles in pharmacy programs and front-line experience providing integrated pharmacy care were selected purposively and with snowball sampling.

Approach

We coded the interviews using a codebook derived from the 2022 Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), which details various internal and external factors important for implementation.

Key Results

We identified the following themes related to implementing ambulatory care pharmacy programs: (1) pharmacy programs varied in their level of embeddedness in the outpatient clinic, (2) establishing pharmacy program required leadership advocacy and coordination among stakeholders, (3) continued operations required integrated workflows and demonstrated value to the health system and clinicians, and (4) established revenue streams or added indirect value and continued improvement of integration sustained programs over time.

Conclusions

External policies and incentives such as new reimbursement codes and quality measurement programs that rely on pharmacy input play a significant role in shaping the design, implementation, and sustainability of health system outpatient pharmacy programs. Ensuring that quality metrics used in value-based contracts or programs demonstrate pharmacy benefits will be critical to supporting and growing pharmacy programs.
Moral judgments under uncertainty: risk, ambiguity and commission bias
Authors: Song Fei , Shou Yiyun , Olney Joel , Yeung Felix S. H.
Published: August 2023

Previous research on moral dilemmas has mainly focused on decisions made under conditions of probabilistic certainty. We investigated the impact of uncertainty on the preference for action (killing one individual to save five people) and inaction (saving one but allowing five people to die) in moral dilemmas. We reported two experimental studies that varied the framing (gain vs loss), levels of risk (probability of gain and loss) and levels of ambiguity (imprecise probability information) in the choice to save five individuals by sacrificing one. We found that participants preferred actions with uncertainty (risk/ambiguity) over inaction. Specifically, we found that participants preferred actions with precise probability information (risk) over inaction, and they preferred actions with modest or high levels of ambiguity over actions with precise probabilities, especially when moral dilemmas had a loss frame. We also observed commission bias in Study 2. We discussed the implications for research in moral decision-making.
The Brain Development Revolution
Authors: Thompson Ross A.
Published: August 2023

The science of human development informs our thinking about children and their development. The Brain Development Revolution asks how and why has brain development become the major lens for understanding child development, and its consequences. It describes the 1997 I Am Your Child campaign that engaged public attention through a sophisticated media communications effort, a White House conference, and other events. It explores the campaign's impact, including voter initiatives to fund early childhood programs and a national campaign for prekindergarten education, but also several missed opportunities. The study examines why brain development compels our attention, why we are – but shouldn't be – neurodeterminists, and the challenges of communicating developmental brain science. This book examines the framing of the brain development story, the selectivity of the messaging, and overpromising the results of early programs. Lastly, it discusses proposals for how science communication can be improved to better serve children and the public.
Color and Meaning in the Art of Achaemenid Persia
Authors: Nagel Alexander
Published: August 2023

In this volume, Alexander Nagel investigates the use of polychromy in the art and architecture of ancient Iran. Focusing on Persepolis, he explores the topic within the context of the modern historiography of Achaemenid art and the scientific investigation of a range of works and monuments in Iran and in museums around the world. Nagel's study contextualizes scholarly efforts to retrieve aspects of ancient polychromies in Western Asia and interrogates current debates about the contemporary use of color in the architecture and sculpture in the ancient Mediterranean world, especially in North Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. Bringing a multi-disciplinary perspective to the topic, Nagel also highlights the important role of theory, methodology, and conservation studies in the process of reconstructing polychromy in ancient monuments. A celebration of the work of painters, artisans, craftsmen and -women of Iran's past, his volume suggests frameworks through which historical and contemporary research play a dynamic role in the reconstruction of ancient technological knowledge.
International Humanitarian Law
Authors: Tsagourias Nicholas , Morrison Alasdair
Published: August 2023

By drawing together key documents, case law, reports and other materials on international humanitarian law from diverse sources, the book presents in a systematic and analytically coherent manner this body of law and to offer students, teachers and practitioners an easily accessible, targeted but also critically informed account of the relevant rules and of how they apply in practice. It covers all areas of international humanitarian law and specifically addresses issues of contemporary interest such as cyber warfare, targeting, occupation, detention, human rights in armed conflict, peacekeeping, neutrality, responsibility and accountability, enforcement, reparations. The book is ideal for instruction, research, reference and application purposes either as a standalone resource or as accompaniment to textbooks and more specialist references.
Freeing Trade in North America
Authors: Anderson Greg
Published: August 2023

Conceived in an era of rapid post-Cold War economic liberalization, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed in 1994, brought together Canada, Mexico and the United States with the aim of creating a regional trade bloc that eliminated the friction and costs of trade between the three nations.

Without an overarching institutional framework, NAFTA never sought to attain the levels of integration achieved by the European Union - for many it was a missed opportunity - and never quite fulfilled its potential as a single market. And under Trump's administration a trilateral trade agreement has become increasingly precarious.

This book provides an overview of NAFTA and its successor the USCMA, explaining the theory behind the politics and economics of trade in North America. It offers an accessible and concise analysis of the key provisions, shortcomings and past revision efforts of the governments involved.

At a time of increasing protectionism and heightened awareness of trading relationships, the book highlights the lessons to be learnt from the fraught history of one of the largest trade blocs in the world.
The Future of UK-China Relations
Authors: Brown Kerry
Published: August 2023

At a time when both China's role in the world is becoming the focus of international business strategy and Brexit is pushing the UK to look to the rest of the world for trade and investment, Kerry Brown assesses the potential for a new 'golden age' of UK-China relations.

For too long, Brown argues, China has been regarded with indifference by the UK, despite a well-established relationship stretching back some two hundred years. Now, more than ever, Britain needs to actively engage with China and seek to understand China's ambitions. This entails a radical change of mindset, vocabulary and attitude, as well as establishing a clear vision of what the UK wants from a resurgent global China, beyond trade and money.

Brown shows that our future relationship with China is deep with symbolic meaning and will have reverberations throughout the world, as either a sobering example of what a world run on Chinese values might look like, or as a model of how to successfully rebalance a sudden asymmetrical dependence on a newly powerful China. It is one, however, that requires the UK to question some of its own national myths and the story it tells about itself, as well as to learn about a new power with a very different history and set of values.
The Economy of the Gulf States
Authors: Gray Matthew
Published: August 2023

The six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - have a disproportionate importance in the global economic system because of their enormous reserves of oil and gas.

Matthew Gray provides a brief yet comprehensive profile of these six Gulf states and their modern political economy. Focusing on the postwar period, particularly the last twenty years, he examines the key factors that have shaped these nations' economies and enabled them to bypass typical development pathways.

The book explores how the combination of rentierism, state ownership of key firms and assets, and the use of patron-client networks to distribute favours and opportunities, has created a very effective strategy for regime maintenance and durability. However, the book also outlines how cooptive bargains with society have given the Gulf states a unique set of economic problems, including low levels of innovation and entrepreneurship, reliance on foreign workers and an inflated public sector. With the global demand for hydrocarbons set to decline, the need for the Gulf states to diversify their economies, expand the private sector, and build a more diverse taxation base has become ever more pressing. The book explains the importance of these challenges, which, along with those of geography, regional security, rapidly growing populations, and sectarianism are likely to test the Gulf's new generation of leaders.
Exchangeable FGM copulas
Authors: Blier-Wong Christopher , Cossette Hélène , Marceau Etienne
Published: August 2023

Copulas provide a powerful and flexible tool for modeling the dependence structure of random vectors, and they have many applications in finance, insurance, engineering, hydrology, and other fields. One well-known class of copulas in two dimensions is the Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (FGM) copula, since its simple analytic shape enables closed-form solutions to many problems in applied probability. However, the classical definition of the high-dimensional FGM copula does not enable a straightforward understanding of the effect of the copula parameters on the dependence, nor a geometric understanding of their admissible range. We circumvent this issue by analyzing the FGM copula from a probabilistic approach based on multivariate Bernoulli distributions. This paper examines high-dimensional exchangeable FGM copulas, a subclass of FGM copulas. We show that the dependence parameters of exchangeable FGM copulas can be expressed as a convex hull of a finite number of extreme points. We also leverage the probabilistic interpretation to develop efficient sampling and estimating procedures and provide a simulation study. Throughout, we discover geometric interpretations of the copula parameters that assist one in decoding the dependence of high-dimensional exchangeable FGM copulas.
Contextual effects in salary satisfaction
Authors: Birnbaum Michael H. , Rouvere Julien
Published: August 2023

This article reports a series of studies of judgments of satisfaction with salary, manipulating the distribution of salaries of others doing the same work. The experiments were designed to compare 6 theories of contextual effects in judgment, including adaptation-level theory, correlation–regression theory, inferred distribution (ID) theory, decision by sampling (DbS), ensemble (EN) theory, and range–frequency (RF) theory. Manipulations of the frequency distribution using cubic density functions produce a double crossover of curves relating judgments to salaries; this double crossover violates implications of 4 of the theories but remains consistent with DbS and RF theories. ID theory assumes that rank is inferred from the mean and endpoints, so it fails to describe the double crossover. Manipulations of the endpoints produce changes in the heights and slopes of the curves, which are not explained by DbS and are partially inconsistent with EN theory. EN theory implies no effect of the rank of a salary and assumes that endpoints only affect judgments of salaries on the same side of the mean, contrary to the results. RF theory implies that ratings of stimuli holding the same ranks in 2 contexts with differing endpoints should be linearly related, and the data appeared consistent with this implication. RF theory is the only theory that gives a consistent account of all of the results. RF theory can be extended in order to estimate the effective context, which appears to differ systematically between people according to their full-time incomes.
Paleoenvironmental changes in the eastern Kumtag Desert, northwestern China since the late Pleistocene
Authors: Song Haoze , Yang Xiaoping , Preusser Frank , Fülling Alexander , Chen Bo
Published: August 2023

Sedimentary records from the Kumtag (also known as Kumtagh) Desert (KMD) in northwestern China are investigated to better understand Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental changes in this hyper-arid region. Presented here are the results of probably the first systematic survey of sedimentary sequences from the KMD, with the chronology determined by the optically stimulated luminescence dating. The variation of sedimentary facies, supported by granular and geochemical paleoenvironmental proxies, is used to decipher the history of Late Quaternary environment changes. The results demonstrate that a constantly dry condition characterized the eastern KMD since the last glacial maximum, but with occurrences of wetter periods. From ca. 17 to 15 ka, fluvial activity was probably triggered by melting of glaciers in mountains located south of the KMD. A distinctly drier stage (ca. 13–7 ka) was recognized due to the prominent occurrence of aeolian sands. A wetter environment likely persisted between ca. 4.4 and 2.2 ka, consistent with evidence of human activities. While the causes of paleoenvironmental changes in the eastern KMD are still a matter of debate, the melting of glaciers in the Altyn-Tagh Mountains in the south must be considered as an important factor.
State and Religion in Iraq: The Sufi Insurgency of the Former Baʿth Regime in Historical Context
Authors: Jordan David
Published: August 2023

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, Iraqi society has experienced profound crises in its transition from a strong centralized state under secular Baʿth Party authoritarianism to a new weak but still authoritarian federal state that is dominated by Shiʿi Islamist parties and plagued by factionalism, open sectarian competition, and conflict. A comprehensive scrutiny of the country's recent historical ruptures and continuities that pertain to the relations between the state and religion in particular is still a desideratum in contemporary Iraq studies. The extent to which thirty-five years of Baʿthi dictatorship transformed and lastingly shaped Iraq's diverse religious landscape is still not yet fully understood. Following the US-led invasion, the former regime was well-remembered for its repression and atrocities against almost all segments of society, but its image and the long-held notion and memory of it as “atheist” and “antireligious” are increasingly being challenged. Moreover, sectarian conflicts and violence since 2005 reveal an ongoing conflict over the interpretive sovereignty and ownership of famous religious sites of memory, such as shrines and mosques, between the various factions in Iraq. Beginning with the Iran–Iraq War in 1980, the Baʿth regime lavishly sponsored Sunni and Shiʿi shrines and advertised them in its religious war propaganda all over the country as sites of memory for the Iraqi and Arab nation. Many of these religious sites were surrounded by a certain confessional ambiguity and constitute memorials and meeting places for Sunnis and Shiʿis equally. After the fall of the regime, this ambiguity sparked sectarian competition over these sites since both communities often associated with one and the same shrine quite different memories of the same saintly figure, or they disagreed about who was buried there. Radical jihadist Salafis, in turn, generally rejected them as un-Islamic and even associated them with the old regime from 2014 onward.
Talc May Make Mexico’s Subduction Zone More Slippery
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: August 2023

Production of the weak, water-bearing mineral at the interface between the Cocos and North American Plates could contribute to the occurrence of poorly understood episodic tremor and slow slip.
Some Chemicals Lingered for Weeks After Ohio Train Derailment
Authors: Cutts Elise
Published: August 2023

Researchers drove around a van outfitted with a sensitive mass spectrometer to measure airborne chemicals weeks after the disaster.
Simultaneous presentation of dual pathologies within the oral cavity: an unusual and diagnostically challenging presentation
Authors: Thandi Beant Singh , Jane Rosemarie , Chavda Vinay , Chapple Iain L. C.
Published: August 2023

Necrotising sialometaplasia (NS) is a rare condition, with a limited scientific evidence base regarding its aetiology and pathophysiology. Diagnosing NS demands extensive investigatory tests. Their accuracy is vital in order to exclude oral malignancy and prevent unwarranted, invasive management.

Within Birmingham Dental Hospital, a 22-year-old, South Asian woman presented with generalised pain from the lower right third molar extending to involve the palate, to which the patient's general medical practitioner previously attributed to a viral upper respiratory infection. Clinical examination revealed bilateral erythematous: non-ulcerated, palatal swellings (10 mm x 5 mm) at the greater palatine foramina. Following extensive investigations, the challenging definitive diagnoses of two distinct pathologies were made: non-ulcerative NS and pericoronitis.

This case report describes the successful diagnosis and management of non-ulcerating NS, an 'atypical' presentation of a rare condition, that was confounded by a simultaneous episode of pericoronitis - a presentation not previously documented within scientific literature.
Structural snapshots along K48-linked ubiquitin chain formation by the HECT E3 UBR5
Authors: Hehl Laura A. , Horn-Ghetko Daniel , Prabu J. Rajan , Vollrath Ronnald , Vu D. Tung , Pérez Berrocal David A. , Mulder Monique P. C. , van der Heden van Noort Gerbrand J. , Schulman Brenda A.
Published: August 2023

Ubiquitin (Ub) chain formation by homologous to E6AP C-terminus (HECT)-family E3 ligases regulates vast biology, yet the structural mechanisms remain unknown. We used chemistry and cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM) to visualize stable mimics of the intermediates along K48-linked Ub chain formation by the human E3, UBR5. The structural data reveal a ≈ 620 kDa UBR5 dimer as the functional unit, comprising a scaffold with flexibly tethered Ub-associated (UBA) domains, and elaborately arranged HECT domains. Chains are forged by a UBA domain capturing an acceptor Ub, with its K48 lured into the active site by numerous interactions between the acceptor Ub, manifold UBR5 elements and the donor Ub. The cryo-EM reconstructions allow defining conserved HECT domain conformations catalyzing Ub transfer from E2 to E3 and from E3. Our data show how a full-length E3, ubiquitins to be adjoined, E2 and intermediary products guide a feed-forward HECT domain conformational cycle establishing a highly efficient, broadly targeting, K48-linked Ub chain forging machine.
Using pseudo-labeling to improve performance of deep neural networks for animal identification
Authors: Ferreira Rafael E. P. , Lee Yong Jae , Dórea João R. R.
Published: August 2023

Contemporary approaches for animal identification use deep learning techniques to recognize coat color patterns and identify individual animals in a herd. However, deep learning algorithms usually require a large number of labeled images to achieve satisfactory performance, which creates the need to manually label all images when automated methods are not available. In this study, we evaluated the potential of a semi-supervised learning technique called pseudo-labeling to improve the predictive performance of deep neural networks trained to identify Holstein cows using labeled training sets of varied sizes and a larger unlabeled dataset. By using such technique to automatically label previously unlabeled images, we observed an increase in accuracy of up to 20.4 percentage points compared to using only manually labeled images for training. Our final best model achieved an accuracy of 92.7% on an independent testing set to correctly identify individuals in a herd of 59 cows. These results indicate that it is possible to achieve better performing deep neural networks by using images that are automatically labeled based on a small dataset of manually labeled images using a relatively simple technique. Such strategy can save time and resources that would otherwise be used for labeling, and leverage well annotated small datasets.
Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani in basmati rice by the application of Lactobacillus and Weissella spp.
Authors: Akhtar Maira , Nosheen Asia , Keyani Rumana , Yasmin Humaira , Naz Rabia , Mumtaz Saqib , Hassan Muhammad Nadeem
Published: August 2023

Rice is a staple food crop and is a major source of employment and income in the world. However, the attack of fungal disease poses a serious threat to the crop growth and productivity and leads toward yield loses. Therefore, current study was performed to evaluate the biocontrol potential of Lactobacillus and Weissella spp. on basmati rice against Rhizoctonia solani. Agar disc method was performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of both bacteria against R. solani. Petri plate and pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the growth promotion and biocontrol potential of both bacteria in Basmati rice under R. solani stress. Results indicated that maximum antifungal activity (82%) was recorded by Lactobacillus sp. Maximum phosphate solubilization and siderophore production was recorded by Weissella sp. In petri plate experiment, maximum root length, root fresh and dry weight (36%, 40% and 13%) was recorded by Weissella sp. and maximum shoot length and shoot fresh weight (99% and 107%) by Lactobacillus sp. In pot experiment, both bacteria enhanced the growth parameters of Basmati rice including root and shoot length, fresh and dry weight as well as no. of lateral roots. Application of Weissella sp. resulted in maximum increase (332% and 134%) in chlorophyll a and b content while Lactobacillus sp. + R. solani showed maximum (42%) carotenoid contents. Lactobacillus sp. + R. solani showed maximum increase in the proline (54%) and sugar contents (100%) while Lactobacillus sp. alone showed maximum (35%) soluble protein contents. Plant defense enzymes i-e SOD (400%), POD (25%), CAT (650%), PPO (14%) and PAL (124%) were notably increased by Weissella sp. + R. solani and Lactobacillus sp + R. solani. The Lactobacillus sp showed the best results in antifungal activity against R. solani and Weissella sp. showed the best results in production of defense enzymes in basmati rice against R. solani stress and can be suggested as the potent biocontrol agents for the rice crop.
Copper trafficking systems in cells: insights into coordination chemistry and toxicity
Authors: Han Jiyeon
Published: August 2023

This review describes the coordination chemistry of a copper trafficking system and the toxicity mechanisms arising from impaired copper homeostasis.
Molecular hydrogen and water activation by transition metal frustrated Lewis pairs containing ruthenium or osmium components: catalytic hydrogenation assays
Authors: Beard Sophie , Grasa Alejandro , Viguri Fernando , Rodríguez Ricardo , López José A. , Lahoz Fernando J. , García-Orduña Pilar , Lamata Pilar , Carmona Daniel
Published: August 2023

Masked transition metal frustrated Lewis pairs containing ruthenium and osmium components activate a variety of bonds of small molecules.
Low-temperature in situ preparation of Eu3+/Tb3+-doped CaMoO4/SrMoO4 nanoparticle thin films and their application in anti-counterfeiting
Authors: Pan Jiejun , Xu Guang , Ren Sixue , Xu Tingjie , Li Dongrui , Liu Mengxin , Shi Xinan , Pan Daocheng
Published: August 2023

Highly luminescent text and patterns consisting of Eu3+-doped CaMoO4 nanoparticles have been successfully screen-printed by a low-temperature and in situ method.
Controlled synthesis of M doped NiVS (M = Co, Ce and Cr) as a robust electrocatalyst for urea electrolysis
Authors: Wang Chao , Wang Qirun , Du Xiaoqiang , Zhang Xiaoshuang
Published: August 2023

Ce-NiVS as a catalytic electrode requires only 141 mV overpotential for HER and 1.291 V potential for UOR at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH and 0.5 M urea mixed alkaline solution.
CHEX-MATE: X-ray absorption and molecular content of the interstellar medium toward galaxy clusters
Authors: Bourdin H. , De Luca F. , Mazzotta P. , Bartalucci I. , Donahue M. , Eckert D. , Ettori S. , Gastaldello F. , Ghizzardi S. , Kay S. , Lovisari L. , Maughan B. , Oppizzi F. , Pointecouteau E. , Pratt G. W. , Rossetti M. , Sereno M.
Published: August 2023

The X-ray spectrum of extragalactic sources, such as galaxy clusters, is affected by the photo-absorption of various components of the Galactic interstellar medium (ISM). The resulting spectral distortion contributes to the systematics of cluster temperature measurements. It essentially depends on the neutral (atomic+molecular) Galactic hydrogen density column, NH, which remains challenging to map across the sky in the lack of a straightforward tracer of the molecular gas phase in the ISM. Combining data from the HI4PI and Planck HFI sky surveys, we investigate the mass fraction of molecular gas across the line of sight of CHEX-MATE galaxy clusters by searching for thermal dust emission excess with respects to the neutral atomic hydrogen density column, NHI. Consistent with earlier studies of the ISM based on IRAS and Planck data, we detect dust emission excess along the line of sight of some members of the CHEX-MATE cluster catalogue that are mostly localised behind dense ISM regions. We find that the CHEX-MATE cluster catalogue can be divided into three categories: 40% of members are located behind low NHI regions where the molecular mass fraction is negligible, 40% of members are located behind intermediate NHI regions where the molecular gas fraction would reach 5% on average, and the remaining 20% of members are located behind high NHI regions that locally exhibit even higher molecular gas fractions. The apparent cluster temperature shifts associated with the molecular content of the ISM are about 1% or less for most CHEX-MATE clusters, but can exceed 5% in the highest NHI regions.
Endothelial Cell Stress with Arterial Re-entry During Bypass
Authors: Beckley Philip D. , Duffner Brett D. , Laribee Julia A. , O’Brien William B. , Wittenmyer Barbara L.
Published: August 2023

High velocity arterial blood re-entry during cardiopulmonary bypass is known to be associated with numerous potential deleterious effects. One of these may be endothelial cell stress with resulting intimal injury. Previous studies by others would suggest that endothelial cell injury of this type could result in long-term vascular disease. To test the hypothesis that arterial reentry during cardiopulmonary bypass will induce endothelial injury, six mongrel dogs were divided into three study pairs: control (no bypass), continuous (non-pulsatile) bypass, and pulsatile bypass. Evans blue dye was used as a marker of aortic endothelial cell injury. Following each experimental period, the aorta was removed en bloc and examined for Evans Blue Dye staining. Sections of aortic tissue were also examined histologically for cellular damage.

All subjects tolerated the study period without incident. Gross tissue examination of the control subject aortic segments revealed no Evans Blue Dye staining. Histologic examination of these segments was unremarkable. Gross tissue examination of the bypass subject aortic segments revealed Dye staining in all cases with the pulsatile bypass pair staining more extensively and heavily than the continuous bypass pair. Histologic examination of the stained tissue showed acute and focal endothelial denudation (J. Extra-Corporeal Technol. 21(2): 52-55, 1989).
Technique: Arteriorarterial Bypass For Renal Transplant Protection During Abdominal Aortic Aneurysmectomy Using a Centrifugal Pump and Limited Heparinization
Authors: Fabrizio M. Charlene
Published: August 2023

Today, renal transplant patients have increasing longterm success rates. Since the arteriosclerotic disease plaguing the renal patient seems to be more intensified after hemodialysis, expectations are that greater numbers of renal transplant patients with aortic disease will be seen.

When clamping of the aorta occurrs during aneurysmectomy, perfusion of the transplanted kidney is compromised. A Bio-Medicus [a] centrifugal pump was utilized in the repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm to protect the transplanted renal graft. The bypass consisted of cannulated sites of the left axillary artery and the left femoral artery with the centrifugal pump unit interposed. The resulting bypass was considered to be an “in situ” perfusion of the kidney. A small amount of heparin was given. The transplanted kidney excreted urine the entire procedure; the creatinine levels remained stable, and the patient did well.

Successful use of this simple yet effective arterioarterial bypass lends itself to greater use in the future (J. Extra-Corpor. Technol., 21(2): 61-64, 1989, 11 Ref).
Hyperthermia in Extracorporeal Technology
Authors: Holt David W.
Published: August 2023

A review of the application of hyperthermia in the treatment of cancer is presented. The definition, historical background, biological rationale, indications and contraindications are discussed. The five basic methods of inducing hyperthermia as well as the five objective therapeutic modalities are reviewed. Hyperthermia for the treatment of cancer applied by extracorporeal circulation either alone or in conjunction with isolated regional perfusion is the specific target of the review. The published results demonstrating hyperthermic therapy as a “detrimental” therapy, an “indifferent” therapy or a “positive” therapy are explored (J. Extra-Corpor. Technol. 21(2): 65-72, 1989, 83 Ref).
“Heparin less” Venovenous Bypass for Renal Cell Carcinoma Involving the Inferior Vena Cava: A Case Report
Authors: Fabrizio M. Charlene
Published: August 2023

This presentation offers a simple yet effective method of venovenous bypass without systemic heparinization to assist in the surgical intervention of renal cell carcinoma involving the inferior vena cava. This system is comprised of a closed BioMedicus (a) centrifugal pump system and cannulation sites of femoral vein and axillary vein. No direct cardiac cannulation is made.

Renal cell carcinomas involving the inferior vena cava have been surgically treated by means of cavotomy, often with major loss of blood (1). Risks also include embolization to the right heart and lungs, poor visualization with less than desirable results, uncertainty as to retrieval of tumor thrombus, and the possibility of decreased return of venous blood to the right heart and those sequelae.

Other surgical measures have included cardiopulmonary bypass with or without circulatory arrest. Also, a venovenous bypass from femoral vein to right atrium has been conducted (2, 3). Some complications associated with these uses will be discussed in the following text The degree of inferior vena caval involvement in this case report extended to the diaphragm and was handled surgically with the assist of this venovenous bypass system, but cases involving thrombus above the level of the diaphragm might also be considered depending on the extent and surgeon discretion.

The bypass described herein affords a simple, convenient method to offer hemodynamic stability in the surgical procedure without cannulation of the heart and systemic heparinization. This bypass will be utilized in future cases based on individual situations.
Atrial Fibrillation after Descending Aorta Repair: Occurrence, Risk Factors, and Impact on Outcomes
Authors: Pujara Akshat C. , Koprivanac Marijan , Stembal Filip , Lowry Ashley M. , Nowicki Edward R. , Chung Mina , Wagoner David V. , Blackstone Eugene H. , Roselli Eric E.
Published: August 2023

Background As risks of repairing the descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta diminish, common complications that may prolong hospital stay, or actually increase risk, require attention. One such complication is postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we characterized prevalence of, risk factors for, and effects of postoperative atrial fibrillation (PoAF) after descending and thoracoabdominal aorta repair.

Methods From January 2000 to January 2011, 696 patients underwent open descending or thoracoabdominal aorta repair at Cleveland Clinic. Operations approached via median sternotomy (n = 178) and patients treated preoperatively for arrhythmias (32 amiodarone, 9 paced) or in AF on preoperative electrocardiogram (n = 14) were excluded, leaving 463. Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors for PoAF. Temporal relation of PoAF with postoperative morbidities was determined, and outcomes following PoAF were compared between propensity-matched pairs.

Results New-onset PoAF occurred in 101 patients (22%) at a median 68 hours of postincision. Risk factors included older age (p = 0.002) and history of remote AF (p = 0.0004) but not operative details, such as pericardiotomy for cardiac cannulation. Hypoperfusion and neurologic complications tended to precede PoAF, whereas sepsis, respiratory failure, and dialysis followed. Among 94 propensity-matched patient pairs, those developing PoAF were more likely to experience hypoperfusion (p = 0.006), respiratory failure (p = 0.009), dialysis (p = 0.04), paralysis (p < 0.0001), longer intensive care unit stay (median 7 vs. 5 d, p = 0.02), and longer postoperative hospital stay (median 15 vs. 13 d, p = 0.004). However, hospital death was similar (6/94 PoAF [6.4%] vs. 7/94 no PoAF [7.4%], p = 0.8).

Conclusion PoAF after descending thoracic aorta surgery is relatively common and a part of a constellation of other serious complications prolonging postoperative recovery. While PoAF was associated with adverse events, it did not impact postoperative cost and mortality. Descending thoracic aorta surgery is by itself comorbid enough, which is likely why PoAF does not have a more significant effect on postoperative recovery and cost.
Patient initiated radiology requests: proof of wellness through images
Authors: De Silva Lizzie , Baysari Melissa , Keep Melanie , Kench Peter , Clarke Jillian
Published: August 2023

Background Traditionally, general practitioners (GPs) have initiated the need for, and ordered, radiological tests. With the emergence of consumer-centred care, patients have started to request scans from doctors on their own initiative. Consumeristic health care has shifted the patient–doctor dyadic relationship, with GPs trending towards accommodating patients’ requests. Methods A mixed method analysis was conducted using a survey instrument with open ended questions and concurrent interviews to explore participants’ responses from their requests for radiological studies from GPs. Themes emerging from both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were mapped onto the Andersen Newman Model (ANM). Results Data were analysed for ‘predisposing,’ ‘need’ and ‘enabling’ elements of the ANM model and were correspondingly mapped to patient’s requests for radiological referrals according to the elements of the ANM. Participants expressed anxiety about their health, were confident in the types of radiological scans they desired and typically indicated the need for evidence of good health. Their desire for such requested scans was often enabled through prior exposure to health information and the experience of specific symptoms. Requests came with the expectation of validation, and if these requests were denied, participants indicated that they would seek another doctor who would oblige. Conclusions In our modest study of Australian patients, participants were well informed about their health. Exposure to information seems to create a sense of anxiousness prior to visiting the doctor. Individuals sought visual proof of wellness through imaging, and doctors in return often accommodated patient requests for radiological studies to appease patients’ needs and to maintain workflow.
The Raised Index Finger gesture in Hebrew multimodal interaction
Authors: Inbar Anna
Published: August 2023

The present study examines the roles that the gesture of the Raised Index Finger (RIF) plays in Hebrew multimodal interaction. The study reveals that the RIF is associated with diverse linguistic phenomena and tends to appear in contexts in which the speaker presents a message or speech act that violates the hearer’s expectations (based on either general knowledge or prior discourse). The study suggests that the RIF serves the function ofdiscourse deixis: Speakers point to their message, creating a referent in the extralinguistic context to which they refer as an object of their stance, evaluating the content of the utterance or speech act as unexpected by the hearer, and displaying epistemic authority. Setting up such a frame by which the information is to be interpreted provides the basis for a swifter update of the common ground in situations of (assumed) differences between the assumptions of the speaker and the hearer.