bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global shipping and climate change impacts in Africa: the role of international trade
Authors: Ayesu Enock Kojo , Asaana Clement Agonyim
Published: May 2023

This paper examines the interacting effect of global shipping and trade on climate change in Africa using data on 31 countries for the period 2006–2016. We employ the system generalized method of moments estimation technique for our analysis. The results reveal that, in both the short run and long run, global shipping and trade contribute significantly to climate change in African countries. Furthermore, we document that the impact of shipping on climate change become larger through the aggregate trade channel. Based on these outcomes, policies designed to reduce emissions from global shipping are important in mitigating the menaces of climate change in Africa.
Enhancing tomato resistance by exploring early defense events against Fusarium wilt disease
Authors: Li Jingtao , Wang Chenyang , Yang Limei , Qiu Fahui , Li Yue , Zheng Yaning , Liu Sihui , Song Limin , Liang Wenxing
Published: May 2023

Studying plant early immunity, such as the unique immune mechanisms against pathogens, is an important field of research. Tomato wilt resulting from the infection by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) is an important soil-borne vascular disease. In this study, we challenged tomato plants with Fol for a time-course RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. The result indicated that phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathway genes were significantly enriched during the early invasion stage. Further study revealed that the flavonoids galangin and quercetin could effectively inhibit Fol growth and enhance wilt resistance in tomato. Moreover, the genes involved in plant-pathogen interactions, the MAPK signaling pathway, and plant hormone signal transduction were significantly enriched. These genes were also involved in plant pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI) signaling pathways. Strikingly, the transcription levels of pathogen-related protein 1 (SlPR1) were dramatically increased at 2 days post Fol inoculation, implying that SlPR1 is important in early immunity in tomato. SlPR1 does not have direct antifungal activity. Instead, its C-terminal peptide CAPE1 could activate root defense responses, such as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, salicylic acid (SA)/jasmonic acid (JA) production, and defense-related gene expression, which collectively increased tomato resistance to Fol infection. In addition, CAPE1 could induce systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Application of CAPE1 onto tomato leaves induced local resistance to the pathogen Botrytis cinerea and systemic resistance to Fol infection. These results advanced our understanding for the early immunity against Fol in tomato and provide potential strategy for tomato disease control.
Team-focused implementation strategies to improve implementation of mental health screening and referral in rural Children’s Advocacy Centers: study protocol for a pilot cluster randomized hybrid type 2 trial
Authors: McGuier Elizabeth A. , Aarons Gregory A. , Wright Jaely D. , Fortney John C. , Powell Byron J. , Rothenberger Scott D. , Weingart Laurie R. , Miller Elizabeth , Kolko David J.
Published: May 2023

Background

Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) use multidisciplinary teams to investigate and respond to maltreatment allegations. CACs play a critical role in connecting children with mental health needs to evidence-based mental health treatment, especially in low-resourced rural areas. Standardized mental health screening and referral protocols can improve CACs’ capacity to identify children with mental health needs and encourage treatment engagement. In the team-based context of CACs, teamwork quality is likely to influence implementation processes and outcomes. Implementation strategies that target teams and apply the science of team effectiveness may enhance implementation outcomes in team-based settings.

Methods

We will use Implementation Mapping to develop team-focused implementation strategies to support the implementation of the Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS), a standardized screening and referral protocol. Team-focused strategies will integrate activities from effective team development interventions. We will pilot team-focused implementation in a cluster-randomized hybrid type 2 effectiveness-implementation trial. Four rural CACs will implement the CPM-PTS after being randomized to either team-focused implementation (n= 2 CACs) or standard implementation (n= 2 CACs). We will assess the feasibility of team-focused implementation and explore between-group differences in hypothesized team-level mechanisms of change and implementation outcomes (implementation aim). We will use a within-group pre-post design to test the effectiveness of the CPM-PTS in increasing caregivers’ understanding of their child’s mental health needs and caregivers’ intentions to initiate mental health services (effectiveness aim).

Conclusions

Targeting multidisciplinary teams is an innovative approach to improving implementation outcomes. This study will be one of the first to test team-focused implementation strategies that integrate effective team development interventions. Results will inform efforts to implement evidence-based practices in team-based service settings.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov,NCT05679154. Registered on January 10, 2023.
Phase III Study of Afatinib or Cisplatin Plus Pemetrexed in Patients With Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma With EGFR Mutations
Authors: Sequist Lecia V. , Yang James Chih-Hsin , Yamamoto Nobuyuki , O'Byrne Kenneth , Hirsh Vera , Mok Tony , Geater Sarayut Lucien , Orlov Sergey , Tsai Chun-Ming , Boyer Michael , Su Wu-Chou , Bennouna Jaafar , Kato Terufumi , Gorbunova Vera , Lee Ki Hyeong , Shah Riyaz , Massey Dan , Zazulina Victoria , Shahidi Mehdi , Schuler Martin
Published: May 2023

PURPOSE

The LUX-Lung 3 study investigated the efficacy of chemotherapy compared with afatinib, a selective, orally bioavailable ErbB family blocker that irreversibly blocks signaling from epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ErbB2), and ErbB4 and has wide-spectrum preclinical activity against EGFR mutations. A phase II study of afatinib in EGFR mutation–positive lung adenocarcinoma demonstrated high response rates and progression-free survival (PFS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this phase III study, eligible patients with stage IIIB/IV lung adenocarcinoma were screened for EGFR mutations. Mutation-positive patients were stratified by mutation type (exon 19 deletion, L858R, or other) and race (Asian or non-Asian) before two-to-one random assignment to 40 mg afatinib per day or up to six cycles of cisplatin plus pemetrexed chemotherapy at standard doses every 21 days. The primary end point was PFS by independent review. Secondary end points included tumor response, overall survival, adverse events, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

RESULTS

A total of 1,269 patients were screened, and 345 were randomly assigned to treatment. Median PFS was 11.1 months for afatinib and 6.9 months for chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.58; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.78; P = .001). Median PFS among those with exon 19 deletions and L858R EGFR mutations (n = 308) was 13.6 months for afatinib and 6.9 months for chemotherapy (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.34 to 0.65; P = .001). The most common treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea, rash/acne, and stomatitis for afatinib and nausea, fatigue, and decreased appetite for chemotherapy. PROs favored afatinib, with better control of cough, dyspnea, and pain.

CONCLUSION

Afatinib is associated with prolongation of PFS when compared with standard doublet chemotherapy in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and EGFR mutations.
Vitamin K1 Intake and Incident Diabetes in the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study
Authors: Pokharel Pratik , Bellinge Jamie W , Dalgaard Frederik , Murray Kevin , Sim Marc , Yeap Bu B , Connolly Emma , Blekkenhorst Lauren C , Bondonno Catherine P , Lewis Joshua R , Gislason Gunnar , Tjønneland Anne , Overvad Kim , Hodgson Jonathan M , Schultz Carl , Bondonno Nicola P
Published: May 2023

Context

Observational studies have reported lower risks of type 2 diabetes with higher vitamin K1 intake, but these studies overlook effect modification due to known diabetes risk factors.

Objective

To identify subgroups that might benefit from vitamin K1 intake, we examined associations between vitamin K1 intake and incident diabetes overall and in subpopulations at risk of diabetes.

Methods

Participants from the prospective cohort, the Danish Diet, Cancer, and Health Study, with no history of diabetes were followed up for diabetes incidence. The association between intake of vitamin K1, estimated from a food frequency questionnaire completed at baseline, and incident diabetes was determined using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models.

Results

In 54 787 Danish residents with a median (interquartile range) age of 56 (52-60) years at baseline, 6700 individuals were diagnosed with diabetes during 20.8 (17.3-21.6) years of follow-up. Vitamin K1 intake was inversely and linearly associated with incident diabetes (P < .0001). Compared to participants with the lowest vitamin K1 intake (median:57 µg/d), participants with the highest intakes (median:191 µg/d) had a 31% lower risk of diabetes (HR; 95% CI, 0.69; 0.64-0.74) after multivariable adjustments. The inverse association between vitamin K1 intake and incident diabetes was present in all subgroups (namely, men and women, ever and never smokers, low and high physical activity groups, and in participants who were normal to overweight and obese), with differences in absolute risk between subgroups.

Conclusion

Higher intake of foods rich in vitamin K1 was associated with a lower risk of diabetes. If the associations observed are causal, our results indicate that more cases of diabetes would be prevented in subgroups at higher risk (men, smokers, participants with obesity, and those with low physical activity).
The Association of Guideline-Directed Prophylaxis with Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in Pediatric Patients: A Single-Center, Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Andrew Benjamin Y. , Habib Ashraf S. , Taicher Brad M.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND:

Guidelines for postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis in pediatric patients recommend escalation of the number of antiemetics based on a preoperative estimate of PONV risk. These recommendations have been translated into performance metrics, most notably by the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group (MPOG), used at over 25 children’s hospitals. The impact of this approach on clinical outcomes is not known.

METHODS:

We performed a single-center, retrospective study of pediatric general anesthetic cases from 2018 to 2021. PONV risk factors were defined using MPOG definitions: age ≥3 years, volatile use ≥30 minutes, PONV history, long-acting opioids, female ≥12 years, and high-risk procedure. Adequate prophylaxis was defined using the MPOG PONV-04 metric: 1 agent for 1 risk factor, 2 agents for 2 risk factors, and 3 agents for 3+ risk factors. PONV was defined as documented postoperative nausea/emesis or administration of a rescue antiemetic. Given the nonrandomized allocation of adequate prophylaxis, we used Bayesian binomial models with propensity score weighting.

RESULTS:

A total of 14,747 cases were included, with PONV in 11% (9% adequate prophylaxis versus 12% inadequate). Overall, there was evidence for reduced incidence of PONV with adequate prophylaxis: weighted median odds ratio 0.82 (95% credible interval, 0.66–1.02; probability of benefit, 0.97) and weighted marginal absolute risk reduction 1.3% (−0.1% to 3.1%). In unweighted estimates, there was an interaction between sum of risk factors and the association of adequate prophylaxis with PONV, with reduced incidence in patients with 1 to 2 risk factors (probability of benefit 0.96 and 0.95) but increased incidence in patients with 3+ risk factors receiving adequate prophylaxis (probability of benefit 0, 0.01, and 0.03 for 3, 4, and 5 risk factors). This was attenuated by weighting, with persistent benefit in 1 to 2 risk factors (probability of benefit 0.90 and 0.94) but equalization of risk in 3+ risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS:

Guideline-directed PONV prophylaxis is inconsistently associated with incidence of PONV across the guideline-defined risk spectrum. This phenomenon, and its attenuation with weighting, is consistent with 2 points: dichotomous risk-factor summation ignores differential effects of individual components, and prognostic information might exist beyond these risk factors. PONV risk at a given sum of risk factors is not homogeneous, but rather is determined by the unique composition of risk factors and other prognostic attributes. These differences appear to have been identified by clinicians, prompting use of more antiemetics. Even after accounting for these differences, however, addition of a third agent did not further reduce risk.
Colson Whitehead's Paranoid Styles
Authors: Lem-Smith Timothy
Published: May 2023

This article makes the case for a rejuvenated and multifaceted mode of paranoid reading. Eve Sedgwick famously used the term paranoid reading to signal critique's overblown, cynical, and alarmist tendencies and to provisionally create the space for a reparative alternative. Since then, the specific concept of paranoia has barely figured in the dispute over critique's usefulness, appearing only latently in, for example, Bruno Latour's “Why Has Critique Run Out of Steam?” when he evokes conspiracy theory as a symptom of the mainstream's oversaturation by the precepts of theory. It was thus that paranoia became once again the domain of political ideologues and their fervent supporters rather than a viable mode of literary critical engagement. Against recent postcritical dismissals of critique and other suspicious hermeneutics, the article argues that paranoia offers one of the most generative sites of potential collaboration between criticism and the novel. Circumscribing this potential, the article discovers three distinct but imbricated paranoid styles in Colson Whitehead's first novel, The Intuitionist: the racialized paranoid imperative, paranoid double consciousness, and what I tentatively call aleatory paranoia. These styles characterize a radical form of racialized paranoid thought whose diverse precepts constellate into a genuine mode of critique, not only of the structures of white supremacy but of the forms of fatalistic racial capitalist ideology that enable their persistence. The article thus serves to exemplify the expanded horizon of critical possibility enabled by a mode of reading that takes the novel as a site of the production of new ways of knowing.
Notes on the Novella
Authors: Frank Morgan Day
Published: May 2023

Longer than a short story but shorter than a novel, the novella appears to occupy a clear formal niche. However, novellas have posed problems for even the most basic taxonomies of literary criticism and publishing. Though the novella is defined by its length, length alone has never been sufficient to determine whether a text counts as a novella. Though the novella is a global form, shared among many national literary cultures, its transnational history is muddled by terminological inconsistency. This article sets out to understand the novella as a slippery form, one that slides through the institutional machinery that administers literary production. It centers its investigation on the United States during a period in global cultural history when the literary field was slowly coming into existence. In this environment, a group of long short stories or short novels—Nathaniel Hawthorne's “The Scarlet Letter,” Herman Melville's “Benito Cereno,” and Frederick Douglass's The Heroic Slave—revealed the incoherence of “literature” as it gradually assumed its modern form.
Effect of Statin on Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes of Intracranial Aneurysms Treated With Pipeline Embolization: A Propensity Score–Matched Analysis
Authors: Salih Mira , Young Michael , Filo Jean , Shutran Max , Taussky Philipp , Ogilvy Christopher S.
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Studies have shown that use of statin can improve radiographic and clinical outcomes in patients receiving treatment for coronary artery or peripheral vascular stenosis. Statins are thought to be effective by reducing arterial wall inflammation. The same mechanism may have an influence on the efficacy of pipeline embolization device (PED) for intracranial aneurysm treatment. Although this question has been of interest, there is a lack of well-controlled data in the literature. The objective of this study is to analyze the effect of statins on outcomes of aneurysms treated with pipeline embolization through propensity score matching.

METHODS:

Patients who underwent PED for unruptured intracranial aneurysms at our institution between 2013 and 2020 were identified. Patients on statin treatment vs those who were not were matched through propensity score by controlling for confounding factors including age, sex, current smoking status, diabetes, aneurysm morphology, volume, neck size, location of aneurysm, history of treatment for the same aneurysm, type of antiplatelet therapy, and elapsed time at last follow-up. Occlusion status at first follow up and last follow-up, and incidence of in-stent stenosis and ischemic complications during the follow-up period were extracted for comparison.

RESULTS:

In total, 492 patients with PED were identified, of whom 146 were on statin therapy and 346 were not. After one-to-one nearest neighbor matching, 49 cases in each group were compared. At last follow-up, 79.6%, 10.2%, and 10.2% of cases in the statin therapy group and 67.4%, 16.3%, and 16.3% in the nonstatin group were noted to have Raymond–Roy 1, 2, and 3 occlusions, respectively (P = .45). No significant difference was observed in immediate procedural thrombosis (P > .99), long-term in-stent stenosis (P > .99), ischemic stroke (P = .62), or retreatment (P = .49).

CONCLUSION:

Statin use does not affect occlusion rate or clinical outcomes in patients treated with PED treatment for unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Prevalence and Predictors of Inappropriate Antithrombotic Prescription in Patients Presenting With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Blitz Sarah E. , Mashouf Leila A. , Nieves Amber , Matos Jason , Yaffe Michael , Davis Roger B. , Alterman Ron L. , Stippler Martina
Published: May 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

A growing proportion of the US population is on antithrombotic therapy (AT), most significantly within the older subpopulation. Decision to use AT is a balance between the intended benefits and known bleeding risk, especially after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Preinjury inappropriate AT offers no benefit for the patient and also increases the risk of intracranial hemorrhage and worse outcome in the setting of TBI. Our objective was to examine the prevalence and predictors of inappropriate AT among patients presenting with TBI to a Level-1 Trauma Center.

METHODS:

A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients with TBI and preinjury AT who presented to our institution between January 2016 and September 2020. Demographic and clinical data were collected. Appropriateness of AT was determined through established clinical guidelines. Clinical predictors were determined by logistic regression.

RESULTS:

Of 141 included patients, 41.8% were female (n = 59) and the average age (mean ± SD) was 80.6 ± 9.9. The prescribed antithrombotic agents included aspirin (25.5%, n = 36), clopidogrel (22.7%, n = 32), warfarin (46.8%, n = 66), dabigatran (2.1%, n = 3), rivaroxaban (Janssen) (10.6%, n = 15), and apixaban (Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.) (18.4%, n = 26). The indications for AT were atrial fibrillation (66.7%, n = 94), venous thromboembolism (13.4%, n = 19), cardiac stent (8.5%, n = 12), and myocardial infarction/residual coronary disease (11.3%, n = 16). Inappropriate antithrombotic therapy use varied significantly by antithrombotic indication (P < .001) with the highest rates seen with venous thromboembolism. Predictive factors also include age (P = .005) with higher rates younger than 65 years and older than 85 years and female sex (P = .049). Race and antithrombotic agent were not significant predictors.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, 1 in 10 patients presenting with TBI were found to be on inappropriate AT. Our study is the first to describe this problem and warrants investigation into possible workflow interventions to prevent post-TBI continuation of inappropriate AT.
Accelerated Amidation of a Glycine Propargyl Ester on a Polymer and the Two-Way Use of One-Pot Double Postpolymerization Modification with Click Chemistry
Authors: Tanaka Tomonari , Iwamoto Shoichiro , Aso Yuji
Published: May 2023

The glycine propargyl (GP) ester moiety, as a newly activated ester, is a candidate for amidation in modification reactions and can be combined with click chemistry. Here, the amidation of GP esters on a polymer side chain was investigated using various amino-group-containing compounds. The amidation on the GP ester proceeded well when n-alkyl, cycloalkyl, and aromatic-group-containing primary amines were used without a catalyst under neutral conditions. Hydrophilic amines containing hydroxy and carboxy groups provided no amidation products. The amidation on the polymer was accelerated by the neighboring group effect on the polymer side chain. One-pot double postpolymerization modification was achieved using a GP ester-bearing polymer by combining amidation with the Huisgen cycloaddition.
Políticas públicas baseadas em evidências: um debate necessário
Authors: Pereira Andrade Daniel
Published: May 2023

É preciso que, de um lado, o extremismo ideológico que ignora e falsifica a realidade e, de outro, o positivismo gerencialista não nos ceguem para a importância de discutir visões de bem comum que perpassam o desenho das políticas públicas.
Serum angiopoietin 1 level in patients with severe COVID-19: An observational study
Authors: Turki Muhammed , A. Kasim Ali
Published: May 2023

Background: Exocytosis of the endothelial storage granules, Weibel-Palade bodies, upon severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion with the consequent release of P-selectin and Von Willebrand factor, as well as several chemokines, results in hypercoagulability. Angiopoietin-2 is a chemokine stored in Weibel-Palade bodies; it is a context-dependent competitive antagonist of angiopoietin-1. Disruption of the angiopoietin/Tie2 pathway contributes to vascular dyshomeostasis in sepsis. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of angiopoietin-1 in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: A total of 85 participants were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: the first group included 45 patients with severe COVID-19, and the second group included 40 healthy individuals of comparable age and sex to serve as the control group. ELISA was used to measure serum angiopoietin-1 levels.

Results: Serum angiopoietin-1 levels were significantly lower in patients with severe COVID-19 than in control subjects (14.52 (5.56) ng/ml and 30.56 (17.56) ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.001). Moreover, at a cut-off value ≤21.05 ng/ml, serum angiopoietin-1 level had 97.8% sensitivity and 100% specificity in differentiating between severe COVID-19 patients and non-infected individuals (p-value <0.001).

Conclusions: Serum angiopoietin-1 levels were lower in patients with severe COVID-19 than in control subjects, and it has potential to be used as a diagnostic marker for patients with severe COVID-19.
Community engagement for the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) program: an analysis of key stakeholder roles to promote a sustainable program in Zambia
Authors: Zulu Joseph M. , Mwamba Trevor , Rosen Alyssa , Matenga Tulani Francis L. , Mulawa Joseph Mulanda , Kaimba Mutale , Chilembo Masitano , Silondwa Madaliso , Kamboyi Royd L. , Simwanza Sylvia Chila , Sichone George , Chavula Malizgani Paul
Published: May 2023

Background: Within the Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision (VMMC) programme, community engagement has been central in facilitating the acceptance of VMMC, especially in non-circumcising communities. We used the case of the development of community engagement plans for sustainability of VMMC in Zambia to illustrate diversity of stakeholders, their power, roles, and strategies in community engagement.

Methods: Data were collected using document review, in-depth interviews (n=35) and focus group discussions (n=35) with community stakeholders, health workers, health centre committees, counsellors, teachers, community volunteers and parents/caregivers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The analysis was guided by the power and interest model.

Results: Differences were noted between the rural and urban sites in terms of power/influence and interest rating of community stakeholders who could be involved in the sustainability phase of the VMMC response in Zambia. For example, in the urban setting, neighbourhood health committees (NHCs), health workers, leaders of clubs, community health workers (CHWs), radio, television and social media platforms were ranked highest. From this list, social media and television platforms were not highly ranked in rural areas. Some stakeholders had more sources of power than others. Forms or sources of power included technical expertise, local authority, financial resources, collective action (action through schools, churches, media platforms, other community spaces), and relational power.   Key roles and strategies included strengthening and broadening local coordination systems, enhancing community involvement, promoting community-led monitoring and evaluation, through the use of locally recognised communication spaces and channels, facilitating ownership of VMMC, and improving local accountability processes in VMMC activities.

Conclusions: By consulting with the most relevant stakeholders, and considering community needs in programme development, the VMMC programme may be able to leverage the community structures and systems to reduce long term demand generation costs for VMMC and increase the acceptability and frequency of male circumcision.
Recovery of metagenomic data from the Aedes aegypti microbiome using a reproducible snakemake pipeline: MINUUR
Authors: Foo Aidan , Cerdeira Louise , Hughes Grant L. , Heinz Eva
Published: May 2023

Background: Ongoing research of the mosquito microbiome aims to uncover novel strategies to reduce pathogen transmission. Sequencing costs, especially for metagenomics, are however still significant. A resource that is increasingly used to gain insights into host-associated microbiomes is the large amount of publicly available genomic data based on whole organisms like mosquitoes, which includes sequencing reads of the host-associated microbes and provides the opportunity to gain additional value from these initially host-focused sequencing projects.

Methods: To analyse non-host reads from existing genomic data, we developed a snakemake workflow called MINUUR (Microbial INsights Using Unmapped Reads). Within MINUUR, reads derived from the host-associated microbiome were extracted and characterised using taxonomic classifications and metagenome assembly followed by binning and quality assessment. We applied this pipeline to five publicly available Aedes aegypti genomic datasets, consisting of 62 samples with a broad range of sequencing depths.

Results: We demonstrate that MINUUR recovers previously identified phyla and genera and is able to extract bacterial metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) associated to the microbiome. Of these MAGS, 42 are high-quality representatives with >90% completeness and <5% contamination. These MAGs improve the genomic representation of the mosquito microbiome and can be used to facilitate genomic investigation of key genes of interest. Furthermore, we show that samples with a high number of KRAKEN2 assigned reads produce more MAGs.

Conclusions: Our metagenomics workflow, MINUUR, was applied to a range of Aedes aegypti genomic samples to characterise microbiome-associated reads. We confirm the presence of key mosquito-associated symbionts that have previously been identified in other studies and recovered high-quality bacterial MAGs. In addition, MINUUR and its associated documentation are freely available on GitHub and provide researchers with a convenient workflow to investigate microbiome data included in the sequencing data for any applicable host genome of interest.
COVID-19 - postinfectious hypercoagulable state as a probable cause of basilar artery occlusion - Case Report
Authors: Kędra Kamila , Michalik Izabela , Bielak Maciej , Wiącek Marcin
Published: May 2023

Covid-19 can manifest with serious neurological complications and hypercoagulability. Latest data from China showed neurological complications in 36% of 214 COVID-19 patients- mainly ischemic stroke. Coagulopathy associated with Covid-19 was reported to increase the risk of stroke also in young adults without comorbidities. A 29-year-old patient with hypertension admitted to the hospital with dysarthric speech and balance disorders and dizziness with vomiting was referred for thrombectomy of an occluded basilar artery after ineffective RTPA therapy. After the thrombectomy, a gradual reduction in the neurological deficit was observed-the permeability of the basilar artery was restored. However, during the intervention, the posterior right cerebral artery was damaged and a short-term extravasation of the contrast blood to the subarachnoid space occurred. MRI showed minor multifocal ischemic changes in the area of the cerebellum, pons and cerebral peduncle. In the pre-hospital interview a week earlier, transient changes in smell and taste were noted. On the day of admission, the patient had a negative antigen and PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2- virus. Laboratory tests showed high D-Dimers (5696 H ng /ml) and reduced fibrinogen. After mechanical thrombectomy, the patient reported double vision when looking straight and left. He was correctly oriented with slight ataxia and a deficit of strength in the left limbs, meningeal symptoms were negative. It is important to understand the association between Covid 19 and the possibility of an ischemic stroke and coagulation changes in order to choose appropriate stroke treatment methods.
Z Pasztunistanu: Fragmenty literatury
Authors: Pstrusińska Jadwiga
Published: May 2023

Niniejsza książka zawiera przekłady wytrawnej znawczyni przedmiotu na skalę międzynarodową, prof. Jadwigi Pstrusińskiej. Przedstawiony zbiór obejmuje rozmaite rodzaje i gatunki literatury pasztuńskiej właściwie od początku jej istnienia niemal do dzisiaj. Antologia uwzględnia zarówno to, co nazywamy literaturą „wysoką”, jak i „ludową” – poezję, prozę oraz tzw. małe formy literackie, czyli przysłowia. (...) Książka jest adresowana zarówno do badaczy Orientu, jak i studentów, a także innych Czytelników zainteresowanych literaturą powszechną. Niniejsza publikacja niewątpliwie wzbogaca polską bibliotekę orientalistyczną. Z recenzji prof. dr. hab. Marka M. Dziekana
Biofertilizer and Consortium Development: An Updated Review
Authors: MUTHUSAMY YUVARANI , Sengodan Kavitha , Arthanari Malarvizhi , Kandhasamy Ramesh , Gobianand Kuppannan
Published: May 2023

To boost crop yield on arable land, fertilizers have been extensively utilized. A country may become food-self-sufficient by using more chemical fertilizers in agriculture, yet chemicals are harmful to the environment and living things. Biofertilizers are organic substances that make use of microorganisms to increase the fertility of soil, which helps safeguard the soil's health and also the quality of crop products. Biofertilizers provide nutrients through natural processes like nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and plant growth-inducing chemical synthesis. There are some important microorganisms that are used in biofertilizer production: Azotobacter, Azospirillum, Phosphobacter, and Rhizobacter. There is a significant growth result when the biofertilizers are inoculated with two or three microorganisms rather than a single one, i.e., a consortium. On co-inoculation of the microorganisms show to stimulate plant growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Other microorganisms, like Pseudomonas and Bacillus, act as an effective biocontrol system. Some microorganisms are able to survive in a vast range of environments, expecting synergistic modes of action. They are also environment-friendly and responsible for the continuous availability of nutrients from natural sources. This review describes the importance of biofertilizers, widely used strains, and their potential significance in crop production.
Growth Promoting Activity of Lead Resistant Bacillus Subtilis Isolated from Petrochemical Waste Water at Haldia, West Bengal on Indian Mustard Saplings Under Metal Stress
Authors: Jana Harekrishna , chatterjee Ankana , Ghorai Shakuntala , Shit Puspendu
Published: May 2023

With ever increasing population to feed and shrinking arable land arising from industrialization, we are in a dilemma to survive sustainably along with the ecosystem we belong to. Adding to this, soil is continuously getting contaminated with various heavy metals through multiple anthropogenic practices. Phytoremediation can be one economically feasible solution to soil pollution as plants are natural habitants of soil. Rhizosperic microbes are essentially part of the solution as they aid in promoting the health and wellbeing of the plant species. For a long time, these plant growth promoting rhizospheric bacteria (PGPRs) have established their role in heavy metal laden soil as well. We report of a lead resistant Bacillus sp. isolated from petrochemical waste water at Haldia, West Bengal and its role in promoting germination of Indian mustard and tomato saplings in presence of 1000ppm Pb(NO3)2 along with growth of Indian mustard saplings under metal stress.
Multi-criteria Agriculture Recommendation System using Machine Learning for Crop and Fertilizesrs Prediction.
Authors: Patel* Krupa , B. Patel Hiren
Published: May 2023

Agriculture plays an essential role in the economies of developing countries such as India and contributes significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP). The escalation in population has led to an upsurge in food demand. Numerous challenges such as the selection of crops, fertilizers, and pesticides without considering the various parameters like types of soil, water requirement, temperature conditions, and profitability analysis of crops for a particular region may lead to degradation in the quality of crop, yield and profitability. With the advancement of Computational technologies, researchers are working on recommending crops according to soil condition, water requirement, and market profitability along with fertilizers recommendation, disease identification, and pesticide recommendation. Through this research, we propose a machine learning-based crop and fertilizer recommendation algorithm called AgriRec. We have utilized soil properties, water level, farm size, and minimum support price of crop and design a machine learning model which predicts crops for different seasons. Further, we propose another mechanism that processes the properties/details of soil, crop, and fertilizer to envisage a combination of fertilizer(s) for a given pair of soil and crop. Our algorithm is tested for 5000 land samples of Gujarat region with 24 different crop and it successfully recommends crops with 95.85% accuracy and fertilizer with 92.11% accuracy with 4 times better performance as compared to existing benchmark recommendation approaches.
Is India Moving Away from Coarse Cereals? Examining Evidence from Trends in Rice, Wheat and Coarse Cereals
Authors: Oak Hena
Published: May 2023

India’s agricultural production of cereals since the 1950s mainly comprises of rice, wheat and coarse cereals. Data shows that coarse cereals despite having maximum area under cultivation post independence and a high growth rate of production, have registered a declining trend in the recent decades. With global warming becoming a threat to monsoon- dependent grains like rice and wheat, India needs to start focusing more on coarse cereals. They are not only climate resilient using one-third the amount of water as compared to rice and wheat, but are also nutritionally superior to these grains. Data analysis for top five rice, wheat and coarse cereal producing states show that the decadal growth rates and yield per hectare have been declining for rice and wheat. Detailed inter-state comparisons are done to evaluate various aspects of these foodgrains. Finally, a fixed effects regression model is estimated to analyze the effect of area, annual rainfall, fertilizer consumption and MSP on the productivity of coarse and fine cereals, results show coarse cereals to be less dependent on rainfall and fertilizer use.
Ascorbic Acid and Calcium Silicate Improve MorphoPhysiological Characteristics of Cadmium Stressed Mung Bean Crop
Authors: Kaur Gagandeep , Jit Singh Kamal
Published: May 2023

A rise in heavy metal contamination especially in the rhizosphere affecting the growth and yield of crops is a major concern. We aimed to study the influence of using calcium silicate (CS) and ascorbic acid (AsA) supplements on lowering the impact of cadmium-induced toxicityin mung bean. Both the supplements alone or in combination improved growth characteristics of cadmium (Cd) stressed mung bean plants like root-shoot length and fresh-dry weight. Leaf pigments like chlorophyll and carotenoids were also restored. A significant improvement in the relative leaf water content (RLWC) and low electrolyte leakage (EL) at the membrane was recorded. Results were more promising when combinations of CS and AsA treatments were used against the lower concentration of cadmium. Hence, both CS and AsA interact synergistically to alleviate Cd induced metal toxicity in mung bean plants.
Tracing of contamination level of organochlorine pesticides in Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria), Sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca), Brinjal (Solanum melongena), Plum (Prunus domestica), Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) and Pineapple (Ananas comosus)
Authors: Devendra Kumar Devendra Kumar
Published: May 2023

Fruits and vegetables have nutritional value, but they can also be source of toxic contaminants such as pesticide residues. The aim of this study was to estimate the contamination level of pesticide residues in summer season fruits and vegetables. The constant use of pesticides contaminated fruits and vegetables pose a major risk to community health. An electron capture detector was used in Gas chromatography analysis to monitor 20 organochlorine pesticides including α-chlordane, γ-chlordane, isomers of benzene hexachloride (α-BHC, β-BHC, γ-BHC, δ-BHC), 4,4’-DDT, 4,4’-DDE, 4,4’-DDD, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, endrin aldehyde, endrin ketone, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan-I, endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate and methoxychlor in six types of fruits and vegetables (bottle gourd, sponge gourd, brinjal, plum, kiwi and pineapple) of summer season. It was found that plum and pineapple were found contaminated with 4,4’-DDD and other fruits and vegetables were found contaminated with more than one pesticides. During the tracing it was noticed that the estimated pesticides concentrations were lower than the (MRL) values but constant eating of infected pesticide fruits and vegetables may produce severe health complications. The findings of the present research showed that the existence of strict rules and observance of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is a basic need.
Determinants of Female Workforce Participation in Agriculture of Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Renu Renu
Published: May 2023

Most of the rural female workforce is engaged in the agriculture sector and unequally distributed in various operations. The gender inequality in workforce participation in agriculture sector is easily visible. There is a high participation of women in some specific tasks and some others are recognized as male dominated work. According to NSSO 68th round data (2012) , the participation of women in various agricultural activities is only 17% in Uttar Pradesh, India. The diverse socio-economic status of rural Uttar Pradesh affects participation in different ways. The female participation as agricultural laborer is high in Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes and it is comparatively low in General and Other Backward Caste (OBC). Participation ratio is having an increasing trend from 15-29 to 30-44 years age groups, and later it is having a declining trend to older age groups. Female participation is increasing from small to medium-sized households, after which it has declined sharply here. Almost half (46%) of the women participation in agricultural is coming from households which derive at least half of their income from own farming. Education level and female participation are inversely associated. Female participation is found highest in families with marginal size of land holdings (74.61%), followed by small land holdings (12.66%) and medium land holdings. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) has been used to identify the key determinants of female participation in various operations. It is found that household type, education level and size of land are the most important among many other factors. This study is useful for offering suggestions to make the participation of women easier and more effective.
Round ligament varicosity: a rare but important differential diagnosis of groin lumps during pregnancy
Authors: Buksh Md Mahfooz , Naib Shahla Al , Samaraee Ahmad Al
Published: May 2023

Round ligament varicosity is rare and mainly reported during pregnancy. A systematic review of the literature identified 48 relevant studies reporting a total of 159 cases of round ligament varicosity, 158 of which were associated with pregnancy. Where reported, the mean age of the patients was 30.65 years, and 60.2% were of Asian ethnicity. The laterality of the condition was almost equally distributed, and nearly 50% presented with a painful groin lump. More than 90% of the patients were diagnosed via Doppler ultrasound scan of the affected groin. Conservative management was successful in more than 90% of the patients. Associated maternal complications are rare, with no mortality reported. No fetal complications or loss were reported. Round ligament varicosity can be misdiagnosed as a groin hernia, which may lead to unnecessary surgery during pregnancy. Therefore, increased awareness of this condition among clinicians is important.
Getting started at Crossref: An introduction for new members
Authors: Collins Susan , Farley Isaac , Nason Mike
Published: May 2023

This webinar took place on 25 May 2023. Crossref staff Susan Collins and Isaac Farley, together with Mike Nason from PKP, provided an introduction to Crossref for new members. Topics included: * Membership benefits and obligations * The role of persistent identifiers (DOIs) and metadata * Methods for registering your content * Creating landing pages, displaying DOIs, and reference linking * Updating and adding extra metadata * Billing and invoicing * Where to find further help and support
Response of vegetative performance in soybean cultivars submitted to deficit irrigation
Authors: Lopes Thays Sousa , Soares Robert William Ferreira , Pereira Filho João Valdenor , Nascimento Thalita Alves Lima do , Santos Neuriane Cabral dos , Pereira Carmem Cristina Mareco de Sousa
Published: May 2023

Agricultural crops present phenological stages of less susceptibility to soil water deficit, in which the deficit irrigation management strategy can be used. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the influence of deficit irrigation management during different stages of development in three soybean cultivars in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the southern cerrado of Piauí. The research was conducted from September 2020 to January 2021, in the municipality of Uruçuí-PI (with geographic coordinates of 07º 13’ 46” S, 44º 33’ 22” W), under an experimental design of randomized blocks, in a split-plot scheme, where the treatments, composed in the plots, were defined according to the time of induction of the water deficit of 50% of the crop’s potential evapotranspiration - ETpc, via climate, in three soybean phenological stages (vegetative, flowering and production formation), and the subplots, were composed of three cultivars (FT 4191; FT 3181 and BG 478 IPRO), with three replications. In order to verify the effects of the imposed treatments, the following variables were evaluated: plant height, number of leaves and total dry mass of the aerial part. Variables were maintained for statistical analysis by Tukey’s test (cultivars) and Scott-Knott’s test (deficient irrigation treatments). The vegetative characteristics of the investigated soybean cultivars (plant height, number of leaves and shoot dry mass production) are drastically affected when the imposition of water deficit (50% of ETpc) is induced throughout the production cycle. Under such water conditions, the FT 4181 and 3191 IPRO cultivars stood out among the investigated cultivars, thus being identified as the most tolerant to reduced water availability in their different phenological stages.
Rigorous simulation model of double-Ronchi shearing interferometry on lithographic tools
Authors: Niu Zhiyuan , Li Sikun , Liu Yang
Published: May 2023

Double-Ronchi shearing interferometry is widely used in wavefront
aberration measurements for advanced lithography projection lens
systems. A rigorous simulation model of double-Ronchi shearing
interferometry on lithographic tools is the precondition for
phase-shifting retrieval algorithm design and error analysis. This
paper presents a rigorous simulation model of double-Ronchi shearing
interferometry considering the vector nature of light. The model is
accurate and can be used in the study of double-Ronchi shearing
interferometry.
Carrier-resolved real-field theory of multi-octave frequency combs
Authors: Puzyrev Danila N. , Skryabin Dmitry V.
Published: May 2023

Optical frequency combs are pillars of precision spectroscopy, and
their microresonator realization serves applications where
miniaturization and large tooth separation are important.
Microresonator combs cover an enormous range of time scales varying
from the femtosecond periods of optical oscillations to milliseconds
corresponding to the kilohertz linewidth of the comb teeth. Here, we
develop and implement the carrier-resolved real-field model for
multi-octave frequency combs, which allows for nearly ab initio capture of all the time scales
involved. As an example, we consider a microresonator that has a mix
of second- and third-order nonlinearities and uses periodic poling. By
applying the real-field approach, we demonstrate how to surpass
traditional limitations and model the spectral broadening and soliton
mode-locking across three optical octaves.