bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring of soil pollution caused by industrial enterprises in one of the districts of St. Petersburg
Authors: Yakusheva M A , Davydov R V , Sanin S S , Karakotov S D
Published: October 2022

The features of soil pollution control in different districts of St. Petersburg are considered. A method for comparison of pollution in various urban areas has been proposed and experimentally implemented. Studies of the state of soil in three zones of Kirovsky and Moscovsky districts of St. Petersburg have been carried out. It is established that consideration of the factors of migration of polluting elements is necessary to establish the causes of significant pollution and develop measures to improve the environmental situation.
Regulation of land-destructive load on water catchment areas of small rivers
Authors: Romanov M , Switala F
Published: October 2022

In the paper, the issues of provision the sustainable functioning of the ecosystems (natural-engineering systems) of the catchment area of small rivers were considered. It was distinguished, that one of the most widespread kinds of impact is land-destructive load, associated with direct expropriation and transformation of lands, occupied by natural ecosystems. The authors present the criteria for regulation of the land-destructive load, based on the assessment of the diversity of natural and anthropogenic-modified ecosystems in the catchment area of a small river. It was found, that a part of anthropogenic-modified ecosystems should not exceed 35–40 % of the total catchment area (for the middle and southern taiga zone).
Monitoring the water quality in our rivers in urban areas
Authors: Pchelkin G A , Kosolapov V , Zhuchenko A , Switala F
Published: October 2022

The problems of river pollution with various hazardous elements on the example of the Volkovka river are considered. A study of water from various regions of the Volkovka river was carried out for the presence of various chemical compounds and elements in them. A relationship has been established between the location of the river bed in the city and the level of pollution by various compounds. The comparison of the measurement results with the previously obtained data is carried out and the tendency of changes in pollution is established.
Parameters of acute toxicity and sensitizing properties of a microbiological preparation based on L. acidophilus IV138 and B. subtilis GA24 strains
Authors: Mukhammadiev Rish S , Mukhammadiev Rin S , Rud I V , Rud S V , Mukhammadieva A S , Ivanochkin I A , Yarullin A I , Valiullin L R
Published: October 2022

This article presents the results of a study of the parameters of acute toxicity and sensitizing properties of a microbiological additive based on probiotic strains L. acidophilus IV138 and B. subtilis GA24 on White Wistar rats and White Giant rabbits. The acute toxicity class of the prototype feed additive was established in accordance with the fundamental document OECD Test № 423 “Acute Oral Toxicity - Acute Toxic Class Method” (2001). The evaluation of the irritating properties of the microbiological preparation was carried out by the method of skin applications and using the test conjunctival test. The research results showed that the probiotic preparation does not have acute toxicity when administered orally to warm-blooded animals, sensitizing properties in the conjunctival test and skin application. According to the results of experimental studies, the feed additive containing L. acidophilus IV138 and B. subtilis GA24 strains is classified as a low-hazard product.
Recombination radiation of heteroepitaxial structures with InAs quantum dots grown on surface of (311)B GaAs by MBE
Authors: Kuznetsova Y A , Bayramov F B , Toporov V V , Bairamov B H , Yu Rud V , Glinushkin A P
Published: October 2022

Dynamics of recombination radiation is found to be fundamental for control the efficiency of quantum dots (QDs) based structures for different range of optoelectronic device applications. We presented results of an experimental study of recombinational radiation of heteroepitaxial strongly confined InAs QD structures with s which are grown up on a surface of the semi-insulating (311)B GaAs substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. It is shown that for the InAs QDs dots, with characteristic dimensions of 12 x 6 nm2, half-width (FWHM) of the observed recombination line attributed to the main electronic fundamental transition of the exciton at 1.1690 meV at T = 77 K is 41.58 meV. This value of FWHM is substantially less than typical literature values obtained under comparable experimental conditions for heteroepitaxial structures with InAs QDs, grown on vicinal surfaces of (100) GaAs substrate with angle of disorientation 7° relative to direction [001].
New environmental policy of the European Union: some aspects of transition to green energy
Authors: Asadov B , Asadov E
Published: October 2022

The implementation of the EU’s new environmental policy, the Green Deal, among other important areas, provides for enhanced energy efficiency. The increase in the share of green energy as a result of the targeted use of environmentally oriented development strategies of the EU is increasingly acting as a driver for creating a new clean energy industry. Attempts have been made to consider certain aspects of the transition to green energy, which causes ambiguous assessments and protracted discussions. The expected changes in the clean, affordable and safe energy transition may not always go as planned and will have profound implications. In this regard, these risks are considered as an objective phenomenon and their growing impact on green energy price adjustments is huge.
Influence of flame spraying on the mechanical and tribological properties of 42CrMo4 steel
Authors: Opačak Ivan , Turmanidze Raul , Dašić Predrag , Popkhadze Giorgi
Published: October 2022

Flame spraying is a thermal spray coating process that produces high quality surface coatings using heat, from the combustion of a fuel gas with oxygen. In the experimental part of the paper, laboratory tests were carried out on selected sprayed samples in terms of sample preparation for testing, measurement of chemical composition, recording of characteristic microstructures, measurement of hardness in the sample cross-section and tribological tests. Based on the analysis of the collected test results, it can be concluded that with increasing number of cycles at constant load, there is a mass loss of AISI431 (test sample 1) and Metco 350NS (test sample 2) coatings.
Reducing the Economic Risk and Increasing the Operational Profit
Authors: Stoenoiu C E
Published: October 2022

Reducing economic risk is a constant concern of companies to survive in the market. In this study, the economic risk was analyzed through the prism of two possible variants: the level of the physical volume of the production or the refurbishment. It was found that it can be reduced in both situations due to the existence of several production options and that economic risk is directly related to operating profit when the change is made only by increasing the quantity of the first product and decreasing the second product. In the case of refurbishment, the connection is reversed, respectively, when the operating profit decreases, the coefficient of the operational leverage increases. The 25% increase in sales revenues produces more favorable effects in the case of refurbishment.
LabVIEW-based solar air heater monitoring system
Authors: Ifrim V-C , Bejenar C , Milici L-D , Atănăsoae P
Published: October 2022

Solar air heaters are equipment which have the ability to convert solar energy into thermal energy by means of an internal air flow. The development of such a system is closely related to the presence of solar radiation without which it is not possible to obtain thermal energy. For maximum yields it is necessary to establish the performance or thermal capacity of a solar air heating system. For this purpose, it is recommended to use a monitoring system, which has the ability to indicate the weaknesses of the equipment. This paper presents a model of monitoring using the LabVIEW software via a DAQ USB device, two thermocouple sensors type J, one humidity sensor, a pyranometer and four signal adapters. The commercial solar air heater and a thermostat, are also part of the monitoring system. The purpose of the current study is a short analysis of the performances of a solar air heater with the assistance of a monitoring system and the proposal of constructive changes to increase the thermal efficiency. The work completes with graphically presented results and conclusions that emerge from the study.
Key performance indicators used to measure the adherence to the iterative software delivery model and policies
Authors: Făgărăşan C , Cristea C , Cristea M , Popa O , Mihele C , Pîslă A
Published: October 2022

This paper analyzes the Agile metrics embedded in the widely adopted issue tracking tools and used by agile teams to deliver software products. Organizations face challenges when they are required to measure the performance of all the teams operating within the company to provide a holistic view of the software delivery performance at a higher level. A new set of key performance indicators (KPIs) is introduced that can help software companies standardize their delivery across the organization and provide an overview of the software delivery performance that can serve as an insight for the top management teams. The new metrics are applied to a project as part of a case study. The conclusions highlight that the metrics provided by the issue tracking systems do not provide insights into the non-functional requirements of the software products, the methodology applied during the delivery, and the quality of each increment produced. The proposed set of KPIs addresses these shortcomings.
The influence of reduced velocity on the control of two-degree-of-freedom vortex induced vibrations of a circular cylinder via synthetic jets
Authors: Wang Haibo , Yu Hailong , Sun Yunlan , Sharma Rajnish N
Published: October 2022

A two-dimensional numerical study is conducted to investigate the influence of the reduced velocity on two-degree-of-freedom vortex induced vibrations of a circular cylinder controlled by synthetic jets ejected in horizontal and vertical directions (β = 0° and β = 90°). The Reynolds number is constant at Re = 150, and the reduced velocity varies in the range of 2.5 and 15 (U*
= 2.5–15). The mass ratio of the circular cylinder is 2.0, and the in-flow to the cross-flow natural frequency ratio equals 1.0 (f
nx
/f
ny
= 1.0). The oscillation characters, hydrodynamic forces and vortex shedding of circular cylinders with or without synthetic jets control are analyzed and compared. The results indicate that synthetic jets ejected in vertical direction (β = 90°) can intensify both in-flow and cross-flow oscillations of the circular cylinder in the whole reduced velocity range, the vortex shedding of the controlled case (β = 90°) becomes complicated even unstable with the reduced velocity increasing. Synthetic jets ejected in horizontal direction (β = 0°) have excellent performance on suppressing the cross-flow oscillation of the circular cylinder in the whole reduced velocity range. When U*
⩾ 8.0, the in-flow oscillation of the circular cylinder can even be intensified by synthetic jets ejected in horizontal direction (β = 0°).
High flux durability underwater superoleophobic mesh modified by poly (maleic acid mono-(2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl ester-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate) and nanosilica particles hybrid
Authors: Mao Wentao , Qiao Baolei , Kong Qinggang , He Wenjun , Qian Haiyan
Published: October 2022

It is difficult to separate oil-polluted water mixtures, which has been considered a global problem. In this study, a simple dip-coating process was used to produce a stainless-steel mesh coated with poly (malaic acid mono-(2-(dimethylamino)-ethyl ester-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate)-tetraethyl orthosilicate-silica (P(MDME-co-HEA)-TEOS-SiO2). The membrane’s shape, chemical composition, separation capabilities, and mechanical properties were carefully examined. The membrane was extremely hydrophilic and extremely oil-phobic underwater due to its rough surface structure and hydrophilic chemical composition. For petroleum ether/water mixture, the separation flux of the membrane reached 224,600 l·m−2·h−1, with a 99.96% separation efficiency. The coated mesh also presented outstanding anti-oil fouling performance. Moreover, it exhibited excellent mechanical resistance and chemical stability.
Novel fabrication and development of multifunctional Zn/Fu@Cs nanofibers material for wound care and operate room infection control
Authors: Wang Yi , Zhao Guoyan
Published: October 2022

Treatment of operate room wounds infections is a clinically more challenging process. Therefore, several techniques and wound care materials have been taken to improve wound healing mechanisms. The present study is mainly focused on zinc oxide and fucoidan-loaded chitosan nanofiber scaffolds fabricated by the electrospinning method. The functional groups, morphology, and hydrothermal stability of fabricated Zn/Fu@Cs were observed and investigated by microscopic and some spectroscopic techniques. The wound healing potential of Zn/Fu@Cs nanofiber has been evaluated by various in vitro biological experiments. In addition, the prepared nanofiber showed suitable bacterial growth inhibition against P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S. aureus, and E. coli wound infecting bacteria and in vitro studies confirmed the excellent cell proliferation, and cytocompatibility. In vitro study exhibited significant cell proliferation and viability is observed in Zn/Fu@Cs nanofiber treated L929 cells within 3 days, which is comparable to the control it is higher. In wound scratch assay the wound healing efficiency has been monitored on the human skin fibroblast L929 cell line. The wound scratch experiment results revealed that the Zn/Fu@Cs nanofiber shows quick cell regeneration without bacterial infections. The biodegradation study concluded the biocompatibility of nanofibers under physiological condition. The overall results suggest that the Zn/Fu@Cs nanofiber is a potential material for wound care with enhanced antibacterial property against operate room pathogens.
The effect of diamond like carbon coating on the wear resistance at dry sliding conditions
Authors: Al-Asadi Maitham Mohammed , Al-Tameemi Hamza A
Published: October 2022

Wear due to sliding is an inevitable problem in many engineering applications. Protective surface coating is usually used to mitigate this problem. The development in this field is continuous and consistent. There are many types of coatings according to their compositions and the deposition methods. One of the coatings with the most promising properties, such as the hardness, is the Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating. The tribological properties of this coating generated by Plasma-Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (PACVD) and applied on bearing steel 52100 ASTM are not available. In this study, the wear resistance of the DLC coating applied to bearing steel 52100 ASTM, was evaluated. The coating method employed was PACVD, which is regarded as one of the most distinctive coating techniques due to the unique tribological properties imparted to the coating. The pin-on-disc tribometer was used to examine the coefficient of friction and mass losses for samples of (steel disc against steel ball) and (DLC coated disc against DLC coated ball) under constant sliding velocity and constant sliding distance with four different loads (2, 5, 10 and 20 N) that results in maximum contact pressure below and higher than the maximum shear stress of the bearing steel. The wear coefficient was calculated using Archard’s equation based on the experimental results. It was found that the DLC coating may result in significant reduction, reaching 93.5%, in weight loss and 83% in COF at low contact pressure (less than the maximum shear stress). However, at high contact pressure (equals to or higher than the maximum shear stress) the weight loss and the COF for the DLC coating are higher than those of the bearing steel. This behavior indicates that the DLC coated pair may not be suitable at high loads. The wear coefficient is calculated for each testing condition and it is found to be affected by the applied load. The average wear coefficient for the DLC coating is provided which can be used with the Archared wear model to predict the wear rate within the range of the parameters used in this study.
Performance characterization and pyrolysis kinetics of graphene-reinforced, green rigid polyurethane foam
Authors: Gu Xiaohua , Wang Xiaoyao , LIu Siwen , Guo Xinyu , Wang Tong , Fan Anyu , Liu Yan
Published: October 2022

Rigid polyurethane (PU) foam waste was chemically degraded by the two-component alcoholysis agent of diethylene glycol and ethanolamine and graphine oxide (GO), and PU/GO nanocomposites were obtained by one-step foaming. Rigid PU foam was chemically degraded by adding different proportions of two-component alcoholysis agent and GO. Research on the introduction of GO to degrade PU matrices, using different proportions of the alcoholysis agent degradation law of PU oligomer polyols for regeneration, was conducted through the viscosity and hydroxyl value of recycled polyol determination, the infrared spectrum of foam samples, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, density, water absorption, thermogravimetric and polarizing microscope analysis. The results showed that the compressive strength of PU/GO nanocomposites increased to 0.2754 MPa by 9.6% when the amount of graphene was 0.5% and the thermal conductivity 0.0120 W m−1·K−1, which is 4.8% reduction. The Kissinger equation was used to calculate the activation energy of the regenerated PU pyrolysis reaction. The results showed that the activation energy of the regenerated PU pyrolysis reaction was improved by adding the graphene.
Development of an upgraded motional Stark effect diagnostic system on EAST tokamak
Authors: LI Yichao , FU Jia , HUANG Yao , QIAN Jinping , TI Ang , BAE Cheonho , FU Shengyu , LI Jiankang , GU Yongqi , LUO Zhengping , KO Jinseok , WEI Yongqing , LIU Dongmei , XIAO Bingjia , LYU Bo , GONG Xianzu , WAN Baonian
Published: October 2022

A new multi-channel motional Stark effect (MSE) diagnostic system has been developed on the upgraded EAST tokamak, which was installed on the port C to observe a tangential neutral beam. A telecentric imaging lens was deployed to ensure uniform illumination from the core to the boundary. A square fiber head which contained 23 fiber bundles was mounted to this imaging lens; each fiber bundle contained 19 fibers and two of them were assigned to CXRS and BES spectrometer, respectively. The angle tuning method was used for matching the Doppler shift of the σ component’s wavelength which was caused by the beam voltage. At the present stage, the MSE system only contains ten channels that would be extended to 23 channels in the future, covering a measurement range from R = 1.8 to R = 2.27 m with a temporal resolution of 10 ms and a spatial resolution of 3 cm. The polarization angle-constrained q profiles and current density profiles were reconstructed with EFIT equilibrium reconstructions. In the sawtooth discharges, the q = 1 surface position was validated by the ECE signals, which further verified the rationality of the MSE measurement.
The effect of Na doping on layered LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 single-crystal structure as a cathode for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Yu Dongsheng , Li Jili , Min Zhiyu , Tang Chunjuan , Meng Peiguo , Chen Baotai
Published: October 2022

A cathode with single-crystal structure for Li-ion batteries is shown to provide stable cycle performance because of its integrated crystal structure and smaller internal stress. Here, Na+ ions with larger radius are doped into LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (LNCMO) single-crystal nanoparticles through a simple sol–gel method to further improve the rate capability. Different amounts of Na doping are considered to illustrate the cooperative effect of single-crystal structure and Na doping. The results indicate that a Li0.9Na0.1Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode has a discharge capacity of 193.7 mAh g–1 at 0.2 C, much higher than the 174.8 mAh g–1 of its undoped counterpart. After 50 cycles, the capacity retention is enhanced from 71.3% for undoped LNCMO to 89.2% for Li0.9Na0.1Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2. At the same time, Li0.9Na0.1Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 delivers a discharge capacity of 137.9 mAh g–1 at 10 C, about twice the capacity of LNCMO. Na ions doped into the lattice can magnify the distances between lithium layers and act as pins for more stable structure and faster kinetics of Li+-ion diffusion.
Improving breast cancer diagnosis by incorporating raw ultrasound parameters into machine learning
Authors: Baek Jihye , O’Connell Avice M , Parker Kevin J
Published: October 2022

The improved diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound breast examinations remains an important goal. In this study, we propose a biophysical feature-based machine learning method for breast cancer detection to improve the performance beyond a benchmark deep learning algorithm and to furthermore provide a color overlay visual map of the probability of malignancy within a lesion. This overall framework is termed disease-specific imaging. Previously, 150 breast lesions were segmented and classified utilizing a modified fully convolutional network and a modified GoogLeNet, respectively. In this study multiparametric analysis was performed within the contoured lesions. Features were extracted from ultrasound radiofrequency, envelope, and log-compressed data based on biophysical and morphological models. The support vector machine with a Gaussian kernel constructed a nonlinear hyperplane, and we calculated the distance between the hyperplane and each feature’s data point in multiparametric space. The distance can quantitatively assess a lesion and suggest the probability of malignancy that is color-coded and overlaid onto B-mode images. Training and evaluation were performed on in vivo patient data. The overall accuracy for the most common types and sizes of breast lesions in our study exceeded 98.0% for classification and 0.98 for an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, which is more precise than the performance of radiologists and a deep learning system. Further, the correlation between the probability and Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System enables a quantitative guideline to predict breast cancer. Therefore, we anticipate that the proposed framework can help radiologists achieve more accurate and convenient breast cancer classification and detection.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Systems
Authors: Nelson Randy J.
Published: October 2022

53 articles

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Systems provides an up-to-date survey of the wide range of scholarship being conducted on these two systems in the field of neuroendocrinology. The Encyclopedia includes more than 50 articles—each approximately 8,000 words in length—that provide thorough overviews of a diverse set of topics in neuroendocrine regulation, neuroimmunology, behavioral neuroendocrinology, autonomic regulation, stress, thirst and water balance, regulation of food intake, and biological rhythms and sleep, among many others. All authors were commissioned specifically for the Encyclopedia, and all articles received blind peer reviews. The articles provide critical and synthetic examinations, as well as the history, progress, direction, and debates about research on a given topic, surveying developments and different perspectives, and discussing important contributors and contributions. The Encyclopedia offers coverage of core and emerging areas of research to provide readers a reliable source of specialist information on topics not discussed in existing reference works. As such, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Neuroendocrine and Autonomic Systems represents a unique contribution to scholarship in neuroendocrinology and will be a standard reference for researchers, students, and professionals in the field.
Standardized neonatal continuous infusion concentrations: A quality improvement initiative
Authors: Mulvihill Christine , McDonald Danielle
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Medication errors are a significant and preventable source of patient harm, especially in the neonatal population. Standardized infusion concentrations increase patient safety and streamline the workflow for pharmacists, nurses, and physicians.

Methods

Neonatal continuous infusion concentrations were standardized and implemented into the electronic health record using an automated order panel. Pre- and postimplementation data were collected to assess the impact of this quality improvement initiative. The primary endpoint was the proportion of neonatal intensive care unit infusion orders that were compatible with “bolus from infusion” functionality in the syringe pump.

Results

Before implementation, only 40% of eligible infusions were compatible with the “bolus from infusion” function, compared to 93% after implementation (P < 0.00001). Within the syringe pump, the ratio of total options to the number of concentrations per medication was reduced by 31%.

Conclusion

Implementation of an order panel with defaulted standard infusion concentration selection improved workflow and optimized technology in the neonatal intensive care unit.
A novel generation adversarial network framework with characteristics aggregation and diffusion for brain disease classification and feature selection
Authors: Bi Xia-an , Mao Yuhua , Luo Sheng , Wu Hao , Zhang Lixia , Luo Xun , Xu Luyun
Published: October 2022

Imaging genetics provides unique insights into the pathological studies of complex brain diseases by integrating the characteristics of multi-level medical data. However, most current imaging genetics research performs incomplete data fusion. Also, there is a lack of effective deep learning methods to analyze neuroimaging and genetic data jointly. Therefore, this paper first constructs the brain region-gene networks to intuitively represent the association pattern of pathogenetic factors. Second, a novel feature information aggregation model is constructed to accurately describe the information aggregation process among brain region nodes and gene nodes. Finally, a deep learning method called feature information aggregation and diffusion generative adversarial network (FIAD-GAN) is proposed to efficiently classify samples and select features. We focus on improving the generator with the proposed convolution and deconvolution operations, with which the interpretability of the deep learning framework has been dramatically improved. The experimental results indicate that FIAD-GAN can not only achieve superior results in various disease classification tasks but also extract brain regions and genes closely related to AD. This work provides a novel method for intelligent clinical decisions. The relevant biomedical discoveries provide a reliable reference and technical basis for the clinical diagnosis, treatment and pathological analysis of disease.
Effect of interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery on disease recurrence and survival in rectal cancer: long-term results of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Akgun Erhan , Caliskan Cemil , Bozbiyik Osman , Yoldas Tayfun , Doganavsargil Basak , Ozkok Serdar , Kose Timur , Karabulut Bulent , Elmas Nevra , Ozutemiz Omer
Published: October 2022

Background

The optimal timing of surgery following chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is controversial. This trial aimed to assess disease recurrence and survival rates between patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) who underwent total mesorectal excision (TME) after a waiting interval of 8 weeks or less (classic interval; CI) versus more than 8 weeks (long interval; LI) following preoperative CRT.

Methods

This was a phase III, single-centre, randomized clinical trial. Patients with LARC situated within 12 cm of the anal verge (T3–T4 or N+ disease) were randomized to undergo TME within or after 8 weeks after CRT.

Results

Between January 2006 and January 2017, 350 patients were randomized, 175 to each group. As of February 2022, the median follow-up time was 80 (6–174) months. Among the 322 included patients (CI, 159; LI, 163) the cumulative incidence of locoregional recurrence at 5 years was 10.1 per cent in the CI group and 6.9 per cent in the LI group (P = 0.143). The cumulative incidence of distant metastasis at 5 years was 30.8 per cent in the CI group and 18.6 per cent in the LI group (sub-HR = 1.78; 95 per cent c.i. 1.14 to 2.78, P = 0.010). The disease-free survival (DFS) in each group was 59.7 and 69.9 per cent respectively (P = 0.157), and overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years were 73.6 versus 77.9 per cent (P = 0.476).

Conclusion

Incidence of distant metastasis decreased with an interval between CRT and surgery exceeding 8 weeks, but this did not impact on DFS or OS.

Registration number

NCT03287843 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Towards a more cognitive evaluation of progressive aphasias?
Authors: Renard Antoine , Annoni Jean-Marie
Published: October 2022

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Unclassified fluent variants of primary progressive aphasia: distinction from semantic and logopenic variants’ by Watanabe et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcac015)
Callampas of disaster: negotiations and struggles for the commons under forestry hegemony in Chile
Authors: Cid-Aguayo Beatriz E , Krstulovic-Matus Josefa E , Carrasco Henríquez Noelia , Mella-Moraga Valentina , Oñate Vargas Diego
Published: October 2022

The massive planting of exotic species under the so-called forestry model has dramatically transformed the landscapes of south-central Chile, replacing diverse agricultural, livestock and forest landscapes with forest monocultures, which are highly water-consuming and prone to massive fires. This has meant a productive simplification, and peasant communities have been displaced and stripped of their traditional ways of life. However, in this landscape of disaster, biotic communities of fungi have flourished, and with them human communities of collectors have learned to sustain themselves in a monocultural and privatized scenario. This paper is based on a multi-local ethnographic approach, built upon 26 semi-structured interviews, participant observation, social mapping, creating a calendar and a trend line. The text documents the processes of two communities affected by massive fires which have developed organization, agencies and practices. Mushrooms (callampas in Chilean Spanish) are claimed as a common good derived from the forestry model, claiming access to their use and usufruct of land belonging to forestry companies. They have also developed local governance systems for the care and better use of this new resource for common use. Forestry companies, for their part, try to subsume these practices in their territorial governance processes, disputing these commons’ meaning and purpose. Both cases contribute to empirically address the central thesis of this article, according to which communalization exercises within contexts of capitalist expansion constitute responses of survival, resistance and adaptation in landscapes transformed and devastated by extractivist industries.
Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hospitalization Outcomes and Patient Disposition Differ by Disability Status and Disability Type
Authors: Clarke Kristie E N , Hong Kai , Schoonveld Megan , Greenspan Arlene I , Montgomery Martha , Thierry JoAnn M
Published: October 2022

Background

Systemic inequities may place people with disabilities at higher risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness or lower likelihood to be discharged home after hospitalization. We examined whether severity of COVID-19 hospitalization outcomes and disposition differ by disability status and disability type.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis of April 2020–November 2021 hospital-based administrative data among 745 375 people hospitalized with COVID-19 from 866 US hospitals, people with disabilities (n = 120 360) were identified via ICD-10-CM codes. Outcomes compared by disability status included intensive care admission, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), in-hospital mortality, 30-day readmission, length of stay, and disposition (discharge to home, long-term care facility (LTCF), or skilled nursing facility (SNF).

Results

People with disabilities had increased risks of IMV (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.08) and in-hospital mortality (1.04; 1.02–1.06) compared to those with no disability; risks were higher among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) (IMV [1.34; 1.28–1.40], mortality [1.31; 1.26–1.37]), or mobility disabilities (IMV [1.13; 1.09–1.16], mortality [1.04; 1.01–1.07]). Risk of readmission was increased among people with any disability (1.23; 1.20–1.27) and each disability type. Risks of discharge to a LTCF (1.45, 1.39–1.51) or SNF (1.78, 1.74–1.81) were increased among community-dwelling people with each disability type.

Conclusions

Severity of COVID-19 hospitalization outcomes vary by disability status and type; IDD and mobility disabilities were associated with higher risks of severe outcomes. Disparities such as differences in discharge disposition by disability status require further study, which would be facilitated by standardized data on disability. Increased readmission across disability types indicates a need to improve discharge planning and support services.
Scale Insects Support Natural Enemies in Both Landscape Trees and Shrubs Below Them
Authors: Wilson Caleb J , Frank Steven D
Published: October 2022

Scale insects are frequently abundant on urban trees. Although scales can worsen tree condition, some tree species tolerate moderate scale densities. Scales are prey for many natural enemies. Therefore, scale-infested trees may conserve natural enemies in their canopies and in nearby plants. We examined if scale-infested oaks—Quercus phellos L.—hosted more natural enemies than scale-uninfested oaks—Q. acutissima Carruth. and Q. lyrata Walter in Raleigh, NC. USA. We also tested if natural enemies were more abundant in holly shrubs (Ilex spp.) planted below scale-infested compared to scale-uninfested oaks. We collected natural enemies from the canopies of both tree types and from holly shrubs planted below these trees. To determine if tree type affected the abundance of natural enemies that passively dispersed to shrubs, we created hanging cup traps to collect arthropods as they fell from trees. To determine if natural enemies became more abundant on shrubs below scale-infested compared to scale-uninfested trees over short time scales, we collected natural enemies from holly shrubs below each tree type at three to six-day intervals. Scale-infested trees hosted more natural enemies than scale-uninfested trees and shrubs below scale-infested trees hosted more natural enemies than shrubs under scale-uninfested trees. Natural enemy abundance in hanging cup traps did not differ by tree type; however, shrubs underneath scale-infested trees accumulated more natural enemies than shrubs under scale-uninfested trees in six to nine days. Tolerating moderate pest densities in urban trees may support natural enemy communities, and thus biological control services, in shrubs below them.
Long-term outcomes and risk factors of residual thoracic spaces after pleurectomy/decortication for mesothelioma
Authors: Nakamura Akifumi , Hashimoto Masaki , Kondo Nobuyuki , Matsumoto Seiji , Nakamichi Toru , Kuribayashi Kozo , Kijima Takashi , Kodama Hiroshi , Yamakado Koichiro , Hasegawa Seiki
Published: October 2022

OBJECTIVES

The residual thoracic spaces (RTS) after pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) remain unexplored to date. Hence, this study aims to examine the details and risk factors of RTS during the 3 post-P/D months.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by P/D for malignant pleural mesothelioma from September 2012 to December 2020. The RTS group included cases of residual thoracic cavity unaccompanied by pleural effusion on 3 postoperative months computed tomography. We determined risk factors for RTS using univariable and multivariable analyses.

RESULTS

Of 170 patients examined, 58 (34.1%) were in the RTS group and 112 (65.9%) in the non-RTS group. In the RTS group, 43 patients recovered from RTS during the follow-up period; 4 patients developed chronic fistular empyema, while 2 required fenestration and 2 were thoracoscopic debridement. Besides, 11 patients exhibited RTS continuously. The univariable analysis revealed that compared with the non-RTS group, the RTS group reported a significantly longer postoperative air leak (>7 days; P < 0.01) and right P/D (P = 0.04). The multivariable analysis demonstrated that longer postoperative air leak (>7 days) remained a risk factor for RTS (odds ratio 2.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.3–4.9, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

RTS was a postoperative event that frequently observed in patients undergoing P/D. Overall, the current study findings suggest longer postoperative air leak (>7 days) as a significant risk factor for RTS.
A high-efficiency pretreatment method for elution of pathogenic bacteria in lettuce
Authors: Liao Xiaoyan , Pu Chunmin , Cui Yan , Bai Yalong , Shi Xianming , Chen Lili
Published: October 2022

Many current studies on rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in foods have focused on the construction of detection methods, neglecting pretreatment. It is also a key step to efficiently elute pathogenic bacteria from food samples for rapid detection and can even determine the success or failure of an assay. In this study, we used Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis), and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) as model bacteria to compare the elution efficiency of different eluants; explore the effect of surfactant, ionic strength, protein (or amino acid and peptide), and enzyme on the recovery rate of bacteria in lettuce; and compare the compound effect caused by multiple factors. Finally, we developed an efficient bacterial recovery method and confirmed the superiority of this method to analyze the bacterial diversity of eluants from lettuce. The results showed that the recovery efficiency of E. coli, S. enteritidis, and L. monocytogenes, which were artificially contaminated with approximately 105 CFU/g in lettuces, could reach 94.4%, 90.6%, and 93.7% by using 10 mmol/L Tris·HCl (pH 9.5) with 0.1% peptone and 300 U/100 mL of cellulase, and furthermore, the elution efficiency could reach 99.6%, 98.6%, and 100% with the aid of a 2-min stomaching. For the lettuce samples with only native bacteria, the recovery rate reached 92.1% for viable aerobic bacteria by this method, which was approximately 10% higher than that of the modified previous method. The bacterial diversity of the eluted solution was analyzed, and the result was significantly improved. Considering these advantages, it is important to improve the elution efficiency to achieve rapid and accurate detection of pathogenic bacteria in lettuces.
Reduced γ-glutamyl hydrolase activity likely contributes to high folate levels in Periyakulam-1 tomato
Authors: Tyagi Kamal , Sunkum Anusha , Gupta Prateek , Kilambi Himabindu Vasuki , Sreelakshmi Yellamaraju , Sharma Rameshwar
Published: October 2022

Tomato cultivars show wide variation in nutraceutical folate in ripe fruits, yet the loci regulating folate levels in fruits remain unexplored. To decipher regulatory points, we compared two contrasting tomato cultivars: Periyakulam-1 (PKM-1) with high folate and Arka Vikas (AV) with low folate. The progression of ripening in PKM-1 was nearly similar to AV but had substantially lower ethylene emission. In parallel, the levels of phytohormones salicylic acid, ABA, and jasmonic acid were substantially lower than AV. The fruits of PKM-1 were metabolically distinct from AV, with upregulation of several amino acids. Consistent with higher °Brix, the red ripe fruits also showed upregulation of sugars and sugar-derived metabolites. In parallel with higher folate, PKM-1 fruits also had higher carotenoid levels, especially lycopene and β-carotene. The proteome analysis showed upregulation of carotenoid sequestration and folate metabolism-related proteins in PKM-1. The deglutamylation pathway mediated by γ-glutamyl hydrolase (GGH) was substantially reduced in PKM-1 at the red-ripe stage. The red-ripe fruits had reduced transcript levels of GGHs and lower GGH activity than AV. Conversely, the percent polyglutamylation of folate was much higher in PKM-1. Our analysis indicates the regulation of GGH activity as a potential target to elevate folate levels in tomato fruits.
A tomato HD-zip I transcription factor, VAHOX1, acts as a negative regulator of fruit ripening
Authors: Li Fenfen , Fu Mengjie , Zhou Shengen , Xie Qiaoli , Chen Guoping , Chen Xuqing , Hu Zongli
Published: October 2022

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors are only present in higher plants and are involved in plant development and stress responses. However, our understanding of their participation in the fruit ripening of economical plants, such as tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), remains largely unclear. Here, we report that VAHOX1, a member of the tomato HD-Zip I subfamily, was expressed in all tissues, was highly expressed in breaker+4 fruits, and could be induced by ethylene. RNAi repression of VAHOX1 (VAHOX1-RNAi) resulted in accelerated fruit ripening, enhanced sensitivity to ethylene, and increased total carotenoid content and ethylene production. Conversely, VAHOX1 overexpression (VAHOX1-OE) in tomato had the opposite effect. RNA-Seq results showed that altering VAHOX1 expression affected the transcript accumulation of a series of genes involved in ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction and cell wall modification. Additionally, a dual-luciferase reporter assay, histochemical analysis of GUS activity and a yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) assay revealed that VAHOX1 could activate the expression of AP2a. Our findings may expand our knowledge about the physiological functions of HD-Zip transcription factors in tomato and highlight the diversities of transcriptional regulation during the fruit ripening process.
Phase 1/2a Safety and Immunogenicity of an Adenovirus 26 Vector Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine Encoding Prefusion F in Adults 18–50 Years and RSV-Seropositive Children 12–24 Months
Authors: Stuart Arabella S V , Virta Miia , Williams Kristi , Seppa Ilkka , Hartvickson Robyn , Greenland Melanie , Omoruyi Edmund , Bastian Arangassery Rosemary , Haazen Wouter , Salisch Nadine , Gymnopoulou Efi , Callendret Benoit , Faust Saul N , Snape Matthew D , Heijnen Esther
Published: October 2022

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of pediatric morbidity, with no approved vaccine. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of the Ad26.RSV.preF vaccine candidate in adults and children.

Methods

In this randomized, double-blind, phase 1/2a, placebo-controlled study, 12 adults (18–50 years) and 36 RSV-seropositive children (12–24 months) were randomized 2:1 to Ad26.RSV.preF (1 × 1011 viral particles [vp] for adults, 5 × 1010 vp for children) or placebo, at day 1 and 29, with 6-month immunogenicity and 1-year safety follow-up. Respiratory syncytial virus infection was an exploratory outcome in children.

Results

In adults, solicited adverse events (AEs) were generally mild to moderate, with no serious AEs. In children, no vaccination-related serious AEs were reported; fever was reported in 14 (58.3%) Ad26.RSV.preF recipients. Baseline pediatric geometric mean titers for RSV A2 neutralization increased from 121 (95% confidence interval [CI], 76–191) to 1608 (95% CI, 730–3544) at day 29, and 2235 (95% CI, 1586–3150) at day 57, remaining elevated over 7 months. Respiratory syncytial virus infection was confirmed in fewer children receiving Ad26.RSV.preF (1, 4.2%) than placebo (5, 41.7%).

Conclusions

Ad26.RSV.preF demonstrated immunogenicity in healthy adults and toddlers, with no safety concerns raised. Evaluations in RSV-seronegative children are underway.
Antibody and T-Cell Subsets Analysis Unveils an Immune Profile Heterogeneity Mediating Long-term Responses in Individuals Vaccinated Against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Agallou Maria , Koutsoni Olga S , Michail Maria , Zisimopoulou Paraskevi , Tsitsilonis Ourania E , Karagouni Evdokia
Published: October 2022

Background

Based on the fact that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading despite worldwide vaccine administration, there is an imperative need to understand the underlying mechanisms of vaccine-induced interindividual immune response variations.

Methods

We compared humoral and cellular immune responses in 127 individuals vaccinated with either BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 vaccine.

Results

Both mRNA vaccines induced faster and stronger humoral responses as assessed by high spike- and RBD-specific antibody titers and neutralizing efficacy in comparison to ChAdOx1-nCoV-19 vaccine. At 7 months postvaccination, a decreasing trend in humoral responses was observed, irrespective of the vaccine administered. Correlation analysis between anti-S1 IgG and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production unveiled a heterogeneous immune profile among BNT162b2-vaccinated individuals. Specifically, vaccination in the high-responder group induced sizable populations of polyfunctional memory CD4+ helper T cells (TH1), follicular helper T cells (TFH), and T cells with features of stemness (TSCM), along with high neutralizing antibody production that persisted up to 7 months. In contrast, low responders were characterized by significantly lower antibody titers and memory T cells and a considerably lower capacity for interleukin-2 and IFN-γ production.

Conclusions

We identified that long-term humoral responses correlate with the individual's ability to produce antigen-specific persistent memory T-cell populations.
Global Disorder: A Blind Spot or Distinct Concept of the International Society Approach?
Authors: McKeil Aaron
Published: October 2022

The international society approach to the study of international relations has advanced a distinct understanding of international order in world politics. Does this approach therefore also implicitly have a distinct understanding of disorder in world politics, too? From a close reading of this literature, and the writings of Hedley Bull in particular, I argue that a “purposive” understanding of disorder in world politics is evident, as well as a set of sociological explanations of it, including hierarchy conflict, political value conflict, and the structural contradictions of international society. I suggest that this approach is more insightful and promising for studying increasing manifestations of disorder in world politics than alternative realist approaches. Finally, I make the case that this concept's analytical utility and theoretical role in this approach is the assessment of the continued viability of international society as a path to order in world politics.