bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The inclusion of cactus pear changes the fermentation process, chemical composition and aerobic stability of arboreal cotton silages
Authors: De Souza Melo Daniel Anderson , Pinheiro Leite Ana Clara Silva , Da Silva Lima Raquel , Da Conceição da Silva Rodrigues Jessica Maria , De Almeida Araújo Cleyton , De Sousa Cunha Diego , De Jesus Pinheiro Costa Claudenilde , Nogueira de Sá Moema Kelly , Rodrigues Magalhães André Luiz , Sena Campos Fleming
Published: October 2022

The objective was to evaluate the fermentation process, nutritional quality, and aerobic stability of mixed silages of arboreal cotton and cactus pear. This was a completely randomized design, with five levels of inclusion of cactus pear (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60%) in the arboreal cotton silage and four replications per treatment, totaling 20 experimental units. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression at a 5% probability level for type I error. The inclusion of cactus pear resulted in increased losses from gases (P<0.001), effluents (P<0.001), buffering capacity (P<0.001), aerobic stability (P = 0.010), and pH upward trend (P<0.001). There was a decreasing linear effect on dry matter recovery (P<0.001), pH (P<0.001), ammonia nitrogen (P <0.001), the maximum difference in the temperature of the silage in relation to the environment (P = 0.005) and maximum pH (P<0.001) of silages. The inclusion of cactus pear affected the maximum temperature (P<0.001) of silages in a quadratic way. There was a decreasing linear effect of dry matter (P<0.001), ether extract (P<0.001), Organic matter (P<0,001), crude protein (P = 0,002) and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (P = 0.030). The use of cactus pear promoted an increasing linear effect for the levels of mineral matter (MM) (P<0.001), corresponding to an increase of 0,271%, for each 1% inclusion of cactus pear. The increase in the proportions of cactus pear in the silages promoted an increasing linear effect for mineral matter (P<0,001). The inclusion of cactus pear by up to 60% in arboreal cotton silages alters the fermentation profile with increased fermentation losses and nutritional reduction. However, it still presents characteristics of good quality silages.
The association between morphological characteristics and yield in forage cactus clones varies according to water regimes: a principal component analysis
Authors: Araújo Júnior George do Nascimento , Souza Luciana Sandra Bastos de , Jardim Alexandre Maniçoba da Rosa Ferraz , Alves Cleber Pereira , Assis Méry Cristina de Sá , Silva José Orlando Nunes da , Souza Carlos André Alves de , Pinheiro Antonio Gebson , Oliveira Alexandre Campelo de , Silva Thieres George Freire da
Published: October 2022

Forage cactus species exhibit distinct morphological characteristics, which have a relationship to yield and can be affected by different water conditions. The objective was to analyze, with the principal components analysis (PCA), the association between morphological and productivity variables in forage cactus clones in different water regimes. We cultivated, in Serra Talhada, Brazilian semiarid, the Miúda (MIU), Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) and IPA Sertânia (IPA) clones under four water regimes based on crop evapotranspiration – ETc (0%, 40%, 80% and 120% ETc). Between the years 2016 and 2018, morphological and crop productivity data were obtained. Two main components explained >82% of the total variability of the data, and the relationship between morphological and production variables depended on the clone and the water regime. The production of fresh and dry matter was more influenced by the morphological characteristics in the MIU and OEM clones. The IPA clone showed no correlation between the variables analyzed, regardless of the water regime. PCA can be used to understand the growth dynamics of plants and to identify the water conditions that act in the production of cactus clones, favoring better management in the cultivation of culture.
Seed germination of Opuntia dejecta, a non-desert cactus native to Central America
Authors: Matus Rubelsi , Perroni Yareni , Virgen Miguel , Flores Joel , Miranda-Jácome José Antonio
Published: October 2022

Opuntia species from arid and semiarid environments have dormant seeds. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the soil influences seed germination of the cactus O. dejecta. We hypothesized that O. dejecta seeds in the basaltic rocky soil will show lower seed germination than seeds in a site with alluvial soil from the coastal plain. An experiment of partial reciprocal transplant was performed, placing seeds from basaltic soil (San Ignacio population) in pots containing alluvial soil from Puente Nacional population and in slabs from basaltic soil, and placing them on two greenhouses, in San Ignacio population and Puente Nacional population. We found that seed germination (%) was lower in San Ignacio site (with basaltic soil) than in Puente Nacional site (with alluvial soil), and that alluvial soil showed higher seed germination than basaltic soil, as well as higher seed germination in Puente Nacional than in San Ignacio. The results suggest that seed dormancy for the population situated in the rocky condition is a trait locally adapted, and the basaltic soil can be considered as a selection factor.
Leaf production and gel quality of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. F. under irrigation regimens in northern Mexico
Authors: Pedroza Sandoval Aurelio , Sifuentes Rodríguez Nidia Susana , Trejo Calzada Ricardo , Zegbe-Dominguez Jorge A. , Minjares-Fuentes Rafael , Samaniego-Gaxiola José A.
Published: October 2022

The derivatives of aloe plant leave [Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.], such as gel, juice, and powder, are highly appreciated in the industrial sector. This study evaluated the effect of different soil moisture contents on the growth, production, and gel quality of aloe grown in an arid region of Mexico. The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Base on the percentage of field capacity (FC), three irrigation treatments were tested: 42%, 72%, and 100% of FC corresponding, on average (± standard deviation), to 0.12 ± 0.02 m3 m-3 (as control), 0.18 ± 0.02 m3 m-3, and 0.24 ± 0.02 m3 m-3 of soil water content, respectively. Aloe plants watered with 72% of FC had greater plant height and leaf width than plants watered at 42% of field capacity, while plants with 100% of FC treatment had the longest (56.1 cm) and thickest (1.5 cm) leaves. Aloe plants irrigated at either 72% or 100% of field capacity produced the freshest leaf biomass and gel. In contrast, plants grown at 42% of field capacity treatments had the highest pH (4.94), total soluble solids (1.77 °Brix), ash content (0.62%), methanol-precipitated solids (1.24%), and total solids (1.88%) of aloe gel. Even though the lowest soil moisture content (42% of field capacity) reduced plant and leaf growth and leaf and gel yields, gel quality was enhanced, meeting the gel quality standards demanded by the international market.
La responsabilidad administrativa o la imputación penal, bajo el comentario de la Ley N° 30424.
Authors: Tume Chunga Marcos Enrique , Manco Ramírez Jussan Enrique
Published: October 2022

En el presente artículo, se tiene como propósito analizar el tema de la responsabilidad de la persona jurídica en relación al Derecho Penal. Partiendo de la Ley N° 30424 se analiza el sentido de la palabra “administrativa” y si esta es precisa o implica un concepto más cercano al de responsabilidad penal. En ese sentido, es importante que se analice los usos de los términos que se “responsabilidad administrativa” usados en el título de la Ley y en el artículo 3 de la misma.

Así mismo, agradezco la colaboración del amigo Jusan Enrique Junior Manco Ramírez en la colaboración y elaboración del presente artículo.
La relation contrôleur-contrôlé dans les activités industrielles à risque
Authors: Marsden Eric
Published: October 2022

This document concerns the regulatory oversight and governance of high-hazard industrial activities. A complex set of laws, regulations and institutions contribute to the social control of these activities, reinforcing and serving as a complement to the risk prevention mechanisms put in place by operating companies. This document focuses in particular on the relationship between regulators and the regulated entities and the impact of the quality of this relationship on industrial safety. The scope is the prevention of major accident hazards in different industry sectors (process industry, transport, energy), in France and at an international level. The document addresses a broad range of meanings for the term “regulator”, including the entities and people who play an official role in regulatory control and societal governance: legislators, control authorities, inspectors, as well as certified third parties with a mandate to control specific activities, and the internal risk control organizations within firms. This document aims to outline the impacts of the regulator-regulatee relationship, its contribution to the governance and control of major accident hazards, and the factors that determine the quality of this relationship and its capacity to contribute to safety.
Um Arcabouço de Alto Desempenho para Análise de Fácies Sísmicas
Authors: Faracco Julio Cesar , Napoli Otávio , Borin Edson
Published: October 2022

A análise de fácies sísmicas é um importante estudo geológico para obtenção de informações estruturais relevantes de dados sísmicos. Esses dados são geralmente obtidos através de mapeamento de uma região utilizando vários métodos de captura e podem ser relativamente grandes se a área analisada for da ordem de quilômetros. Além disso, com o uso cada vez maior de técnicas de aprendizagem de máquina ou aprendizado profundo nesse tipo de análise, o manuseio de dados grandes pode exigir uma quantidade maior de recursos computacionais. No contexto de análise de fácies símicas, são poucas as ferramentas e bibliotecas que se dedicam a abordar amplamente essa área de HPC. Com isso, a necessidade de ferramentas que deem suporte as mais variadas infra-estruturas de processamento são cada vez mais necessárias. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um arcabouço padronizado que possa ser facilmente utilizado para análise de fácies sísmicas, oferecendo o máximo possível de técnicas de aceleração em conjunto. Por fim, apresentaremos alguns resultados obtidos através do uso desse ferramental desenvolvido e como ele pode beneficiar geólogos ou geofísicos.
Análise de desempenho do cálculo matricial em sistemas paralelos utilizando AVX-512
Authors: Libório André , Baldassin Alexandro , Papa João Paulo
Published: October 2022

Em virtude dos processos de otimização em software advindos de tecnologias mais recentes, este estudo busca analisar a vantagem trazida por implementações de vetorização baseadas em hardware, neste caso, AVX2 e AVX-512, em um cenário de multiplicação matricial. Os resultados apresentam que a vetorização proporciona ganhos bastante expressivos, destacando-se o AVX-512.
Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of Preventive Measures Against COVID-19: A Prospective Observational Study from Pakistan
Authors: Abbas Kiran , Ahmed Moiz , Ali Sadia Asad , Ghazanfar Shamas , Noorali Ali Aahil , Yadav Tularam
Published: October 2022

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly spreading global emergency, causing significant damage to the global economy and health care. Knowledge and awareness are crucial elements in stimulating self-imposed preventive measures. Objectives: We evaluated the knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 and the practice of hygiene measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in Karachi, Pakistan, between March 01 and March 25, 2020, using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. All individuals aged 18 years or above were included in the study. The individuals who had no formal education were excluded from the study. A self-reported questionnaire assessing knowledge, awareness, and practices was distributed among the participants. Results: The mean age ± SD of the study population was 29.11 ± 7.8 years. In our study, 424 (98.6%) participants knew that a virus causes COVID-19, and most were knowledgeable about the disease's transmission mode. Higher education status and the medical profession were associated with the better practice of preventive measures. Conclusions: We recommend that knowledge about COVID-19 and preventive measures be spread across the country via electronic media.
Pharmaceutical Portfolio Development: Strategic Rationale, Challenges & Solutions
Authors: Sanjay K. Rao
Published: October 2022

Seeking revenue growth has always been one of the key strategic priorities of business entities in the biopharmaceutical industry. The path to such growth can take diverse forms shaped by factors such as business context, strategic and operational capabilities, asset profiles, resources, and competition. Developing assets (whether organic or acquired) with a strategy that seeks to build, maintain, optimize and grow a portfolio of assets offers a reliable path to reducing risks presented by organic development or through mechanisms such as partnering, mergers & acquisitions. The benefits of achieving profitable growth with a portfolio strategy span the asset life cycle continuum, from influencing asset development programs, shaping investment decisions, determining commercialization choices, informing launch planning, and driving corporate priorities. This article outlines the rationale for crafting and adopting a portfolio strategy since it improves the design of corporate, development, commercialization and lifecycle management strategies. Through cases based on the author’s engagements, this article highlights common challenges and creative solutions that lead to the development and execution of viable portfolio strategies implemented by firms of diverse sizes and corporate objectives.
Review of occurrence of mycotoxins in Serbian food items in the period from 2005 to 2022
Authors: Živančev Jelena , Antić Igor , Buljovčić Maja , Bulut Sandra , Kocić-Tanackov Sunčica
Published: October 2022

This paper aimed to review the publications on mycotoxins' presence in cereals and foodstuffs originated from the Serbian market covering the period from 2005 to 2022. The review covers all the important steps in mycotoxins analysis including sampling, sample preparation, instrumental analysis, and concentration ranges in which the mycotoxins were found. Also, the results were interpreted from the European Union regulation point of view. The review emphasizes the importance of multi-mycotoxins analysis for determining the simultaneous presence of mycotoxins that can negatively affect the Serbian human population. The most frequently used instrumental technique in the mycotoxin analysis of Serbian products was the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay followed by the Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Most of the studies undertaken in Serbia until now investigated a few groups of matrices such as wheat, maize, milk, and dairy products. Only a few studies involved specific matrices such as nuts, dried fruits, biscuits, cookies, and spices. The review showed that contamination of milk and dairy products with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), occurred at the very beginning of 2013, was the major health issue related to the population health. The contamination of milk and dairy products with the AFM1 was a consequence of maize contamination with aflatoxins which occurred in the year 2012, characterized by drought conditions. The studies dealing with the analysis of masked and emerging mycotoxins are rare and more attention should be paid to monitoring the presence of these types of mycotoxins in foodstuffs from Serbia.
Current State of the Vessel.JS Library: A Web-Based Toolbox for Maritime Simulations
Authors: Gaspar Henrique
Published: October 2022

This paper presents the current state of the open and collaborative Vessel.JS library, firstly introduced at the 2018 edition of IMDC. The new features of the library are discussed via available online examples. The core of the paper uses a newly developed web-based online ship simulator as guiding example, where the ship, sea and environment are constructed using the library and its dependencies. Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) research vessel Gunnerus is used as example for the ship and maneuverability model. The landscape is based on an open map from Trondheim municipality, joint by the library with the sea and sky. The bridge and control center uses the OpenBridge library for the instruments, a result from a recent cooperation between NTNU and Oslo School of Architecture (Oslo, Norway). The whole platform is available online and can be modified and improved by peers. A discussion is included in the last part of the paper about how recent studies in digital twin standards can be implemented in the mentioned example using web technologies. The paper concludes with a proposal for re-use of the available model and a call to open and collaborative development in maritime design.
School Leadership for Decolonization and Indigenization
Authors: Hill Joshua
Published: October 2022

Decolonization and Indigenization of k-12 schooling is pressing and important and must move forward within the significant challenges and unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this paper I share what I learned in partnership with school leaders about leading Indigenization in a global pandemic. Through findings from a design-based study I present the needs and challenges of school leaders and chronicle what school leadership looked like towards decolonization and Indigenization. I conclude with questions intended to inspire critical reflection and open up possibilities for educators, policy makers, and educational researchers leading this work in the ongoing pandemic and beyond.
Post-Secondary Educational Leadership Working Remotely During a COVID-19 Pandemic in Saskatchewan, Canada: Exploring Best Practices, Experiences, and the New Normal Post-Pandemic
Authors: Papp Theresa (Therri) A. , Cottrell Michael
Published: October 2022

This mixed methods research design focuses on post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan, Canada, its employees’ experiences of working remotely, and the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on school leadership. Presented are the perceived challenges as well as the benefits of the new workplace since the COVID-19 crisis. Administrative and instructional leadership had changed dramatically. Most identified their quality of work as better or the same because of having fewer distractions, interruptions, and less wasted time at the workplace. The participants’ interviews and survey responses describe the necessary adaptation, flexibility, mental health and wellness, accountability, workload intensification, and future expectations of the workplace and leadership once the pandemic is over.
More Pivots than a Centipede on Ice Skates: Reflections on Shared Leadership in a Post-Secondary Institution During COVID-19
Authors: Smith Dan
Published: October 2022

This article is a case study describing the University College of the North’s (UCN) response to the COVID-19 pandemic, outlining pandemic planning and management processes at UCN from March 11, 2020, to September 30, 2021. UCN’s planning processes evolved from a top-down approach led by administration to an approach that saw greater shared leadership in the crisis. Shared leadership included senior leaders, middle management, faculty, and staff who both addressed the immediate crisis and engaged in post-pandemic planning. Lessons learned may help post-secondary institutions gain greater resiliency and sustainability as the post-COVID environment emerges.
БИБЛИОГРАФИЈА AКАДЕМИКА РАДЕТА МИХАЉЧИЋА
Authors: Вуковић Драгичевић Тамара
Published: October 2022

...
UTICAJ ON-LINE MARKETINGA NA PODIZANJE KONKURENTNOSTI PREDUZEĆA
Authors: Božić Rade , Stevanović Suzana , Tešić Nataša
Published: October 2022

Internet marketing predstavlja najpopularniji način plasiranja informacija potencijalnim kupcima, bilo na nacionalnom, ili na međunarodnom nivou. Široka rasprostranjenost, niski troškovi implementacije, mogućnost prilagođavanja svakom kupcu ponaosob, čine samo neke od niza prednosti koje ovaj vid marketinga izdvaja u odnosu na tradicionalni. Plasiranje informacija putem ovog medija postaje neminovnost u savremenom poslovanju, kao i potreba u održavanju konkurentske prednosti, ali istovremeno i šansa za nove, male ili srednje poslove koji imaju prostora za napredovanje na tržištu. Kao jedan od osnovnih uslova za njegovu implementaciju, Republika Srpska sadrži adekvatnu mrežnu infrastrukturnu podlogu. Međutim, njegov potencijal nije dovoljno, a ni adekvatno iskorišten. Veći dio dosadašnje implementacije odnosi se na samoinicijativu privrednih subjekata. Dolazi do stvaranja specijalizovanih kompanija čiji je osnovni zadatak istraživanje online tržišta, vođenje internet marketinške strategije i njene implementacije u korist drugih preduzeća. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da se primjenom on-line marketinga može značajno pospješiti konkurentska pozicija preduzeća. Potrebno je podići svijest poslovnih organizacija o značaju internet marketinga, iskoristiti njegove raznovrsnosti i prednosti kako bi se stekla i očuvala konkurentska prednost na tržištu.
Unboxed
Authors: Calleja Gordon
Published: October 2022

An in-depth exploration of the experience of playing board games and how game designers shape that experience.

In Unboxed, Gordon Calleja explores the experience of playing board games and how game designers shape that experience. Calleja examines key aspects of board game experience—the nature of play, attention, rules, sociality, imagination, narrative, materiality, and immersion—to offer a theory of board game experience and a model for understanding game involvement that is relevant to the analysis, criticism, and design of board games. Drawing on interviews with thirty-two leading board game designers and critics, Calleja—himself a board game designer—provides the set of conceptual tools that board game design has thus far lacked.

After considering different conceptions of play, Calleja discusses the nature and role of attention and goes on to outline the key forms of involvement that make up the board game playing experience. In subsequent chapters, Calleja explores each of these forms of involvement, considering both the experience itself and the design considerations that bring it into being. Calleja brings this analysis together in a chapter that maps how these forms of involvement come together in the moment of gameplay, and how their combination shapes the flow of player affect. By tracing the processes through which players experience these moments of rule-mediated, imagination-fueled sociality, Calleja helps us understand the richness of the gameplay experience packed into the humble board game box.
Whiteness
Authors: Lund Martin
Published: October 2022

The socially constructed phenomenon of whiteness: how it was created, how it changes, and how it protects and privileges people who are perceived as white.

This volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series examines the socially constructed phenomenon of whiteness, tracing its creation, its changing formation, and its power to privilege and protect people who are perceived as white. Whiteness, author Martin Lund explains, is not one single idea but a shifting, overarching category, a flexible cluster of historically, culturally, and geographically contingent ideals and standards that enable systems of hierarchical classification. Lund discusses words used to talk about whiteness, from white privilege to white fragility; the intersections of whiteness with race, class, and gender; whiteness in popular culture; and such ideas as “colorblindness” and “reverse racism,” which, he argues, actually uphold whiteness.

Lund shows why it is important to keep talking and thinking about whiteness. The word “whiteness,” he writes, doesn't describe; it conjures something into being. Drawing on decades of critical whiteness studies and citing a range of examples (primarily from the United States and Sweden), Lund argues that whiteness is continually manufactured and sustained through language, laws, policies, science, and representations in media and popular culture. It is often positioned as normative, even universal. And despite its innocuous-seeming manifestations in sitcoms and superheroes, whiteness is always in the service of racial domination.
What Not
Authors: Macaulay Rose
Published: October 2022

An early novel by Rose Macaulay about a government program of compulsory selective breeding in a dystopian future England.

In a near-future England, a new government entity—the Ministry of Brains—attempts to stave off idiocracy through a program of compulsory selective breeding. Kitty Grammont, who shares the author's own ambivalent attitude to life, gets involved in the Ministry's propaganda efforts, which are detailed with an entertaining thoroughness. However, when Kitty falls in love with the Minister for Brains, a man whose genetic shortcomings make a union with her impossible, their illicit affair threatens to topple the government. Because it ridiculed wartime bureaucracy, the planned 1918 publication of What Not, whose alphabetical caste system would directly influence Aldous Huxley's 1932 dystopia Brave New World, was delayed until after the end of World War I.

Matthew De Abaitua is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Essex. His debut science fiction novel The Red Men (2007) was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award and adapted into a short film, Dr. Easy. His science fiction novels IF THEN (2015) and The Destructives (2016) complete the loose trilogy. His book Self & I: A Memoir of Literary Ambition (2018) was shortlisted for the New Angle Prize for Literature.
Telocytes regulate macrophages in periodontal disease
Authors: Zhao Jing , Birjandi Anahid A , Ahmed Mohi , Redhead Yushi , Olea Jose Villagomez , Sharpe Paul
Published: October 2022

Telocytes (TCs) or interstitial cells are characterised in vivo by their long projections that contact other cell types. Although telocytes can be found in many different tissues including the heart, lung, and intestine, their tissue-specific roles are poorly understood. Here we identify a specific cell signalling role for telocytes in the periodontium whereby telocytes regulate macrophage activity. We performed scRNA-seq and lineage tracing to identify telocytes and macrophages in mouse periodontium in homeostasis and periodontitis and carried out hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signalling inhibition experiments using tivantinib. We show that telocytes are quiescent in homeostasis; however, they proliferate and serve as a major source of HGF in periodontitis. Macrophages receive telocyte-derived HGF signals and shift from an M1 to an M1/M2 state. Our results reveal the source of HGF signals in periodontal tissue and provide new insights into the function of telocytes in regulating macrophage behaviour in periodontitis through HGF/Met cell signalling, which may provide a novel approach in periodontitis treatment.
Experimental evidence that group size generates divergent benefits of cooperative breeding for male and female ostriches
Authors: Melgar Julian , Schou Mads F , Bonato Maud , Brand Zanell , Engelbrecht Anel , Cloete Schalk WP , Cornwallis Charlie K
Published: October 2022

Cooperative breeding allows the costs of parental care to be shared, but as groups become larger, such benefits often decline as competition increases and group cohesion breaks down. The counteracting forces of cooperation and competition are predicted to select for an optimal group size, but variation in groups is ubiquitous across cooperative breeding animals. Here, we experimentally test if group sizes vary because of sex differences in the costs and benefits of cooperative breeding in captive ostriches,Struthio camelus,and compare this to the distribution of group sizes in the wild. We established 96 groups with different numbers of males (1 or 3) and females (1, 3, 4, or 6) and manipulated opportunities for cooperation over incubation. There was a clear optimal group size for males (one male with four or more females) that was explained by high costs of competition and negligible benefits of cooperation. Conversely, female reproductive success was maximised across a range of group sizes due to the benefits of cooperation with male and female group members. Reproductive success in intermediate sized groups was low for both males and females due to sexual conflict over the timing of mating and incubation. Our experiments show that sex differences in cooperation and competition can explain group size variation in cooperative breeders.
Early stage NSCLS patients’ prognostic prediction with multi-information using transformer and graph neural network model
Authors: Lian Jie , Deng Jiajun , Hui Edward S , Koohi-Moghadam Mohamad , She Yunlang , Chen Chang , Vardhanabhuti Varut
Published: October 2022

Background:

We proposed a population graph with Transformer-generated and clinical features for the purpose of predicting overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for patients with early stage non-small cell lung carcinomas and to compare this model with traditional models.

Methods:

The study included 1705 patients with lung cancer (stages I and II), and a public data set for external validation (n=127). We proposed a graph with edges representing non-imaging patient characteristics and nodes representing imaging tumour region characteristics generated by a pretrained Vision Transformer. The model was compared with a TNM model and a ResNet-Graph model. To evaluate the models' performance, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) was calculated for both OS and RFS prediction. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to generate prognostic and survival estimates for low- and high-risk groups, along with net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis. An additional subanalysis was conducted to examine the relationship between clinical data and imaging features associated with risk prediction.

Results:

Our model achieved AUC values of 0.785 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.716–0.855) and 0.695 (95% CI: 0.603–0.787) on the testing and external data sets for OS prediction, and 0.726 (95% CI: 0.653–0.800) and 0.700 (95% CI: 0.615–0.785) for RFS prediction. Additional survival analyses indicated that our model outperformed the present TNM and ResNet-Graph models in terms of net benefit for survival prediction.

Conclusions:

Our Transformer-Graph model was effective at predicting survival in patients with early stage lung cancer, which was constructed using both imaging and non-imaging clinical features. Some high-risk patients were distinguishable by using a similarity score function defined by non-imaging characteristics such as age, gender, histology type, and tumour location, while Transformer-generated features demonstrated additional benefits for patients whose non-imaging characteristics were non-discriminatory for survival outcomes.

Funding:

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91959126, 8210071009), and Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (20XD1403000, 21YF1438200).
Hepatic inactivation of murine Surf4 results in marked reduction in plasma cholesterol
Authors: Tang Vi T , McCormick Joseph , Xu Bolin , Wang Yawei , Fang Huan , Wang Xiao , Siemieniak David , Khoriaty Rami , Emmer Brian T , Chen Xiao-Wei , Ginsburg David
Published: October 2022

PCSK9 negatively regulates low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) abundance on the cell surface, leading to decreased hepatic clearance of LDL particles and increased levels of plasma cholesterol. We previously identified SURF4 as a cargo receptor that facilitates PCSK9 secretion in HEK293T cells (Emmer et al., 2018). Here, we generated hepatic SURF4-deficient mice (Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+) to investigate the physiologic role of SURF4 in vivo. Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice exhibited normal viability, gross development, and fertility. Plasma PCSK9 levels were reduced by ~60% in Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice, with a corresponding ~50% increase in steady state LDLR protein abundance in the liver, consistent with SURF4 functioning as a cargo receptor for PCSK9. Surprisingly, these mice exhibited a marked reduction in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels out of proportion to the partial increase in hepatic LDLR abundance. Detailed characterization of lipoprotein metabolism in these mice instead revealed a severe defect in hepatic lipoprotein secretion, consistent with prior reports of SURF4 also promoting the secretion of apolipoprotein B (APOB). Despite a small increase in liver mass and lipid content, histologic evaluation revealed no evidence of steatohepatitis or fibrosis in Surf4fl/fl Alb-Cre+ mice. Acute depletion of hepatic SURF4 by CRISPR/Cas9 or liver-targeted siRNA in adult mice confirms these findings. Together, these data support the physiologic significance of SURF4 in the hepatic secretion of PCSK9 and APOB-containing lipoproteins and its potential as a therapeutic target in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.
Theacrine alleviates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury by repressing the activation of NLRP3/Caspase-1 inflammasome
Authors: Yang Maoxian , Shen Peng , Xu Longsheng , Kong Min , Yu Congcong , Shi Yunchao
Published: October 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and serious complication of sepsis, which results in a rapid decline of kidney function. Currently, there are no curative therapies for AKI. Theacrine is a purine alkaloid and exerts significant role in regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and mood elevation. The study aims to evaluate the biological role and potential mechanism of theacrine in septic AKI. The murine and cellular models of septic AKI were established in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice and HK-2 cells, respectively. The effect of theacrine on alleviating septic AKI was assessed after pretreatment with theacrine in vivo and in vitro. We found that theacrine treatment significantly alleviated LPS-induced kidney injury, as evidenced by decreased levels of kidney injury markers (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), inflammatory factors (IL-1β and IL-18), and cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, theacrine markedly repressed the activation of NOD-like receptor (NLR) pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3)inflammasome. As expected, MCC950 (a specific inhibitor of NLRP3) treatment also decreased LPS-induced production of IL-18 and IL-1β and cell apoptosis in HK-2 cells. More important, Nigericin sodiumsalt (a NLRP3 agonist) damaged the effect of theacrine on repressing kidney injury markers (blood urea nitrogen and creatinine), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-18 and IL-1β), and cell apoptosis. Taken together, these results demonstrate that theacrine alleviates septic AKI, at least in part by repressing the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.
Oral Etoposide for Dengue Induced Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Presented as Acute Liver Failure
Authors: Patodiya Bharat , Iyengar Souwmya , Rao Padaki Nagaraja , Sekaran Anuradha , Reddy Duvvu Nageshwar Reddy
Published: October 2022

Dengue fever is not an uncommon arboviral infection in lieu of tropical geography. The gravity of the disease ranges from an Outpatient Department (OPD) visits for febrile illness to haemorrhagic complications like shock. Hereby authors report a case of a 33-year-old female patient with no prior morbidities. Initial fever episodes due to dengue resulted but she deteriorated clinically with second wave of continuous fever spikes. On evaluation, a diagnosis of Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) was made. The patient was treated with steroids and oral etoposide following which patient recovered completely. Although scarce occurrence of HLH following viral illness needs strong suspicion, prompt investigation, and management to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. On a case-to-case basis HLH protocol can be modified to make an OPD base treatment by switching to oral etoposide.
Impact of PMKISAN Scheme on Production and Efficiency of Paddy Cultivation in Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Jagadeshwaran P. , Ashok K. R. , Vidhyavathi A. , Devi M. Nirmala , Patil S. G.
Published: October 2022

Aims: This study aimed to estimate the impact of Direct Cash Transfer scheme on production and technical efficiency of paddy cultivation.

Study Design:  Multi-stage random sampling was used.

Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Three districts namely Dharmapuri, Thoothukudi and Thanjavur were randomly selected for the study during December 2021-March 2022.

Methodology: Both primary and secondary were used in the study. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect the information on general characteristics, cost of cultivation and resource inputs used were collected from 90 beneficiaries and 90 non-beneficiaries. Thus, a total of 180 sample respondents.    

Results: Of the total PMKISAN assistance (Rs. 6000) about 5.16% (Rs. 3300) of the amount has been spent for cultivation purpose. The average cost of cultivation among the beneficiaries was lesser than non-beneficiaries and the net returns were more among the beneficiary than the non-beneficiary. The major share of operational cost incurred in paddy cultivation for beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries was towards human labour followed by machine labour and fertilizer cost. The estimated mean technical efficiency for PMKISAN beneficiaries was 84% and there is a chance of improvement for increase in yield. The difference in yield and technical efficiency may be due to assistance provided to the farmers, through which the cost of cultivation was less and were able to adopt new technologies.

Conclusion: Overall, the PMKISAN beneficiaries were able to use the PMKISAN assistance for procuring seeds, fertilizers and wages for labour. The beneficiaries were technically efficient in paddy production and also the cost of cultivation was lesser when compared to non-beneficiaries.
Atuação de enfermeiros na estratégia saúde da família às crianças que sofrem maus-tratos: uma revisão integrativa / The performance of nurses in the family health strategy for children suffering maltreatment: an integrative review
Authors: Silva Ramos de Souza Jhuliano , Silva Costa Rodrigues Alice , Aparecida Carvalho Leite Marilia , Mendonça de Moraes Camila , Scotini Freitas Patrícia , Okino Sawada Namie
Published: October 2022

Objetivo: analisar na literatura científica as evidências sobre a assistência de enfermeiros que atuam na estratégia saúde da família às crianças que sofrem maus-tratos. Método: Revisão integrativa realizada nas bases de dados: Web of Science, Embase, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature  e Medical Literature and Retrivial Sistem online, no período de março a maio de 2021.Resultados: Foram selecionados oito estudos que emergiram as categorias: conhecimento da prática profissional dos enfermeiros em casos de violência infantil; despreparo e desproteção dos enfermeiros com relação à tomada de decisão frente aos casos de violência e dificuldades enfrentadas pelos enfermeiros da atenção primária à saúde mediante o encaminhamento de casos de violência. Conclusão: A falta de preparo assistencial pelos enfermeiros é identificada pela ausência de um protocolo operacional padrão para nortear a assistência a crianças vítima de violência infantil.
Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor activators modulate the osteoblastic maturation of MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts
Authors: Jackson Simon M. , Demer Linda L.
Published: July 2002

The reduced bone mineral density (BMD) observed in osteoporosis results, in part, from reduced activity of bone‐forming osteoblasts. We examined the effect of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) activators on MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblast maturation. Activators of PPARα, δ and γ induced alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix calcification and the expression of osteoblast genes as determined by reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction. However, at relatively high concentrations of the specific PPARγ ligands, ciglitazone and troglitazone, maturation was inhibited. PPARα, δ and γ1 were expressed in MC3T3‐E1 cells. PPARγ1 mRNA and protein levels were induced early during osteoblastic maturation. We speculate that endogenous and pharmacological PPAR activators may affect BMD by modulating osteoblastic maturation.
Successful execution of product development projects: Balancing firmness and flexibility in the innovation process
Authors: Tatikonda Mohan V , Rosenthal Stephen R
Published: July 2002

This paper investigates project management methods used during the execution phase of new product development projects. Based on prior field observations, organizational theory and product development literature, we pose hypotheses regarding the effectiveness of the project execution methods of formality, project management autonomy and resource flexibility. A cross‐sectional survey sample of 120 completed new product development projects from a variety of assembled products industries is analyzed via hierarchical moderated regression. We find that the project execution methods are positively associated with project execution success. Further, these methods are effective singly and collectively, suggesting that firms can “balance firmness and flexibility” in product development via appropriate execution methods. Surprisingly, the effectiveness of these methods is not contingent on the product or process technology novelty inherent in a given development project. The findings suggest that firms should adopt high levels of these approaches, and that a variety of projects can be managed using broadly similar project execution methods. The findings also suggest limitations on the application of organizational information processing theory to the context of product development projects. Directions for additional theory development are outlined.
Characterization of Dicarboxylic Acids for Cellulose Hydrolysis
Authors: Mosier Nathan S. , Sarikaya Ayda , Ladisch Christine M. , Ladisch Michael R.
Published: July 2002

In this paper, we show that dilute maleic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, hydrolyzes cellobiose, the repeat unit of cellulose, and the microcrystalline cellulose Avicel as effectively as dilute sulfuric acid but with minimal glucose degradation. Maleic acid, superior to other carboxylic acids reported in this paper, gives higher yields of glucose that is more easily fermented as a result of lower concentrations of degradation products. These results are especially significant because maleic acid, in the form of maleic anhydride, is widely available and produced in large quantities annually.
Modelling climate response to historical land cover change
Authors: Brovkin Victor , Ganopolski Andrey , Claussen Martin , Kubatzki Claudia , Petoukhov Vladimir
Published: July 2002

In order to estimate the effect of historical land cover change (deforestation) on climate, we perform a set of experiments with a climate system model of intermediate complexity – CLIMBER‐2. We focus on the biophysical effect of the land cover change on climate and do not explicitly account for the biogeochemical effect. A dynamic scenario of deforestation during the last millennium is formulated based on the rates of land conversion to agriculture. The deforestation scenario causes a global cooling of 0.35 °C with a more notable cooling of the northern hemisphere (0.5 °C). The cooling is most pronounced in the northern middle and high latitudes, especially during the spring season. To compare the effect of deforestation on climate with other forcings, climate responses to the changing atmospheric CO2 concentration and solar irradiance are also analysed. When all three factors are taken into account, dynamics of northern hemisphere temperature during the last 300 years within the model are generally in agreement with the observed (reconstructed) temperature trend. We conclude that the impact of historical land cover changes on climate is comparable with the impact of the other climate forcings and that land cover forcing is important for reproducing historical climate change.
Heavy schistosomiasis associated with poor short‐term memory and slower reaction times in Tanzanian schoolchildren
Authors:   Partnership for Child Development
Published: July 2002

Cross‐sectional studies of the relationship between helminth infection and cognitive function can be informative in ways that treatment studies cannot. However, interpretation of results of many previous studies has been complicated by the failure to control for many potentially confounding variables. We gave Tanzanian schoolchildren aged 9–14 a battery of 11 cognitive and three educational tests and assessed their level of helminth infection. We also took measurements of an extensive range of potentially confounding or mediating factors such as socioeconomic and educational factors, anthropometric and other biomedical measures. A total of 272 children were moderately or heavily infected with Schistosoma haematobium, hookworm or both helminth species and 117 were uninfected with either species. Multiple regression analyses, controlling for all confounding and mediating variables, revealed that children with a heavy S. haematobium infection had significantly lower scores than uninfected children on two tests of verbal short‐term memory and two reaction time tasks. In one of these tests the effect was greatest for children with poor nutritional status. There was no association between infection and educational achievement, nor between moderate infection with either species of helminth and performance on the cognitive tests. We conclude that children with heavy worm burdens and poor nutritional status are most likely to suffer cognitive impairment, and the domains of verbal short‐term memory and speed of information processing are those most likely to be affected.
Decreased incidence of prostate cancer with selenium supplementation: results of a double‐blind cancer prevention trial
Authors: Clark  , Dalkin  , Krongrad  , Combs Jr  , Turnbull  , Slate  , Witherington  , Herlong  , Janosko  , Carpenter  , Borosso  , Falk  , Rounder
Published: July 2002

Objective

 To test if supplemental dietary selenium is associated with changes in the incidence of prostate cancer.

Patients and method

 A total of 974 men with a history of either a basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma were randomized to either a daily supplement of 200 μg of selenium or a placebo. Patients were treated for a mean of 4.5 years and followed for a mean of 6.5 years.

Results

 Selenium treatment was associated with a significant (63%) reduction in the secondary endpoint of prostate cancer incidence during 1983–93. There were 13 prostate cancer cases in the selenium‐treated group and 35 cases in the placebo group (relative risk, RR=0.37, P=0.002). Restricting the analysis to the 843 patients with initially normal levels of prostate‐specific antigen (≤4 ng/mL), only four cases were diagnosed in the selenium‐treated group and 16 cases were diagnosed in the placebo group after a 2 year treatment lag, (RR=0.26 P=0.009). There were significant health benefits also for the other secondary endpoints of total cancer mortality, and the incidence of total, lung and colorectal cancer. There was no significant change in incidence for the primary endpoints of basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. In light of these results, the ‘blinded’ phase of this trial was stopped early.

Conclusions

 Although selenium shows no protective effects against the primary endpoint of squamous and basal cell carcinomas of the skin, the selenium‐treated group had substantial reductions in the incidence of prostate cancer, and total cancer incidence and mortality that demand further evaluation in well‐controlled prevention trials.