bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continuing to Talanoa: storytelling dialogues for youth engagement in climate action and justice
Authors: Hautzinger Sarah
Published: February 2024

This article recounts a classroom application of a dialogue, story-telling process used at COPs beginning in 2017. In that year, the Fijian President of the United Nations climate summit, COP23 in Bonn, proposed the entire assembly use his nation’s Talanoa Dialogue process for building ambition for national commitments to the Paris Agreement. When youth, women’s and Indigenous voices were heard in unprecedented ways, many committed to continuing the practice. A florescence of the Asian-Pacific-inspired, conflict-resolution storytelling and dialogue practice ensued, with some continuing for years afterward. This paper recounts eight rounds of varied Talanoa Dialogues employed in higher education contexts. Purposes ranged from internal team-building, to forging community partnerships, to serving as vehicles for youth representation in international contexts like climate COPs. All dialogues nonetheless prioritized listening, recording, and representation through ethnographic, anthropological lenses. These experiences support recommendations to (1) Create chances for youth to listen empathetically to the stories of others in ways attentive to varied national, ethnic and other intersectional (e.g. gendered, class-based) social locations, expanding their awareness and linking their affective and intellectual selves; (2) Make opportunities for youth to voice their own stories and perspectives on climate challenges and work, considering their developmental trajectories in intergenerational contexts, while emphasizing the need to “scale” from individual through global dimensions; (3) Explore the implications of borrowing from exogenous cultural traditions, considering what factors may render this relatively legitimate, as opposed to appropriative. I explore particularities of the cultural origins of Talanoa Dialogues, which mediate hierarchy and egalitarianism, arguing that this function is especially apt for navigating conundrums of youth leadership and so-called “youth-washing.”
Percutaneous balloon-assisted ultrasound-guided direct thrombin embolization of superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm: a case series and literature review
Authors: Bruno Antonio , Vendetti Francesco , Papalexis Nicolas , Russo Mattia , Papadopoulos Dimitris , Mosconi Cristina
Published: February 2024

Background

Superficial femoral artery (SFA) pseudoaneurysms, a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, that can arise after vascular interventions or trauma. This case series explores the efficacy and safety of a minimally invasive treatment modality, percutaneous ultrasound-guided thrombin injection (PUGTI) combined with balloon occlusion, in three patients with SFA pseudoaneurysms.

Case presentation

Three patients (age: 71–82 years; 3 female) with SFA pseudoaneurysms underwent PUGTI with balloon occlusion. The procedure involved direct thrombin injection under ultrasound guidance while occluding the parent artery using a balloon catheter. Follow-up was conducted at 1 week and 1 month post-procedure to assess technical success, complications, and recurrence.

Conclusion

PUGTI combined with balloon occlusion appears to be a safe and effective treatment for SFA pseudoaneurysms, particularly for larger pseudoaneurysms. The procedure is associated with a high technical success rate. Balloon occlusion may offer a safer alternative to direct thrombin injection without occlusion, as it potentially minimizes the risk of complications such as distal thromboembolism.
Virtual facilitation best practices and research priorities: a scoping review
Authors: Agulnik Asya , Boykin Derrecka , O’Malley Denalee M. , Price Julia , Yang Mia , McKone Mark , Curran Geoffrey , Ritchie Mona J.
Published: February 2024

Background

Facilitation is an implementation strategy that supports the uptake of evidence-based practices. Recently, use of virtual facilitation (VF), or the application of facilitation using primarily video-based conferencing technologies, has become more common, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Thorough assessment of the literature on VF, however, is lacking. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe conceptual definitions of VF, evaluate the consistency of terminology, and recommend “best” practices for its use as an implementation strategy.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review to identify literature on VF following the PRISMA-ScR guidance. A search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases was conducted in June 2022 for English language articles published from January 2012 through May 2022 and repeated in May 2023 for articles published from January 2012 through April 2023. Identified articles, including studies and conference abstracts describing VF, were uploaded into Covidence and screened independently by two reviewers. Data extraction was done by two reviewers in Microsoft Excel; additionally, studies were evaluated based on the Proctor et al. (2013) reporting guidelines for specifying details of implementation strategies.

Results

The search strategy identified 19 articles. After abstract and full-text screening, eight studies described by 10 articles/abstracts were included in analysis. Best practices summarized across studies included (1) stakeholder engagement, (2) understanding the recipient’s organization, (3) facilitator training, (4) piloting, (5) evaluating facilitation, (6) use of group facilitation to encourage learning, and (7) integrating novel tools for virtual interaction. Three papers reported all or nearly all components of the Proctor et al. reporting guidelines; justification for use of VF was the most frequently omitted.

Conclusions

This scoping review evaluated available literature on use of VF as a primary implementation strategy and identified significant variability on how VF is reported, including inconsistent terminology, lack of details about how and why it was conducted, and limited adherence to published reporting guidelines. These inconsistencies impact generalizability of these methods by preventing replicability and full understanding of this emerging methodology. More work is needed to develop and evaluate best practices for effective VF to promote uptake of evidence-based interventions.

Trial registration

N/A.
Evaluation of hepatic toxicity in autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and Evans syndrome patients: a single-center Egyptian study
Authors: Abozeid Fatma , Shaaban Yasmine , Elbogdady Mohamed , Jamal Esraa
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Benign auto-immune illnesses include Evans syndrome (ES) and auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). Despite being benign in nature, the patients’ livers are burdened by the disease’s chronicity and the accompanying problems beyond the course of treatment. An additional burden stems from HCV infection, of which a significant proportion of Egyptians are positive. The purpose of this study was to identify the hepatotoxicity risks and the variables that influence the prognosis and survival of patients with AIHA/ES. There are 126 AIHA patients in this observational study, which is retrospective. From June 2009 to March 2021, patients visited the Haematology Unit of the Oncology Centre in Egypt. One hundred and sixteen patients have available data.

Results

There was no significant difference between primary and secondary AIHA groups as regards baseline hemoglobin (Hb), bilirubin, LDH, or reticulocyte count. Thirty-four patients (29.31%) had HCV-positive tests and 1 patient (0.9%) had HBV. There was no difference between HCV-positive and negative cases as regards mean Hb concentration, mean platelet, or immune markers (P > 0.05). AIHA patients with HCV-positive showed a significantly higher relapse rate (56%) than HCV-negative patients (32%) (P = 0.034). HCV positivity and low platelet counts at diagnosis were poor predictors for overall survival (OS) (P 0.022 and 0.04, respectively). Median OS was significantly better in patients with no viral hepatitis infection (1101 days, 95% CI 592–2068) than in patients with positive HCV infection (521, 95% CI 326–1325) (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

Azathioprine is the least hepatotoxic in AIHA patients under treatment. Viral hepatitis represents a superadded damage to the liver besides AIHA concerning clinical characteristics and outcomes.
Neurosurgical emergencies in spinal tumors: pathophysiology and clinical management
Authors: Faraj Christina Abi , Snyder Rita I. , Tatsui Claudio E. , McCutcheon Ian E.
Published: February 2024

Whether they are spinal metastases or primary spinal neoplasms, spinal tumors cause a myriad of complications given their critical location. Spinal tumors can be extradural, intradural extramedullary, or intramedullary, with extradural metastatic tumors the most commonly encountered. Spinal cord and/or cauda equina compression is one of the most devastating complications of cancer and represents a true oncologic emergency. Patients present with progressive paralysis, paresthesiae, and/or autonomic dysfunction. In addition to spinal cord compression (SCC), extradural spinal tumors can cause mechanical spinal instability and axial loading pain which often warrant surgical consultation. The diagnosis of SCC begins with clinical suspicion even before neurological deficits ensue. Patients presenting with back or neck pain who have a history of cancer should be evaluated carefully for SCC. MRI is the imaging modality of choice. Management of SCC generally requires a multidisciplinary approach, with goals of symptom control and prevention of irreversible functional loss. Patients with metastatic epidural SCC who undergo surgical decompression and reconstruction followed by radiotherapy exhibit better outcomes in preservation of function and symptom control than do those undergoing radiotherapy alone. Recent advances in the surgical management of SCC include minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS), spinal laser interstitial thermotherapy (SLITT), and vertebral augmentation of pathologic vertebral compression fractures. Generally, SCC in patients with cancer serves as evidence of uncontrolled and aggressive disease. Although it is associated with poor outcome in most patients, effective palliation is possible with early diagnosis and careful application of modern surgical techniques for the elimination of cord compression, prevention or reversal of neurological deficits, and restoration of mechanical spinal stability. In addition to SCC from spinal tumors, other spinal complications can be seen in cancer patients who develop spine infections such as surgical site infection (SSI), spinal epidural abscesses (SEA), subdural empyema (SDE), or vertebral osteomyelitis. These complications can be due to inoculation from the spinal surgery itself or as a result of the patients’ immunocompromised state. This article provides a scoping review of the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of major spinal oncologic emergencies and summarizes current modes of surgical and nonsurgical management.
Immune response to vaccination in people with psychotic disorders relative to healthy controls: prospective study of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination
Authors: O'Brien Oisín , Arumuham Atheeshaan , Mizuno Yuya , Baxter Luke , Lobo Maria , Parmar Sita , Jolles Stephen , Howes Oliver D.
Published: February 2024

This prospective study examines the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients with psychotic disorders compared with healthy volunteers. Participants were recruited naturalistically as part of the UK's COVID-19 vaccination programme. Prior to receiving their first COVID-19 vaccine, blood samples were provided by participants to examine anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulins (IgG) at baseline, followed by a repeat assay 1 month after receiving their first vaccine to assess vaccine response. The increase of IgG levels from baseline to 1 month post-vaccination was significantly lower in patients compared with controls, supporting evidence of impaired vaccine response in people with psychotic disorders. When excluding patients treated with clozapine from the analysis, this difference was no longer significant, suggesting that effects may be particularly marked in people taking clozapine.
Medicaid Privatization: Has the Invisible Hand Led Us Astray?
Authors: Saulsberry Loren
Published: February 2024

Medicaid Privatization: Has the Invisible Hand Led Us Astray? presents timely questions regarding our nation’s healthcare safety-net: (1) What are the consequences when states outsource the administration of Medicaid to private organizations with a profit motive?; (2) Can returning administrative responsibility back to state governments restore any losses to quality and equity experienced by previously privatized public programs?; and (3) Is it time to abandon Medicaid managed care altogether for state-operated fee-for-service or other alternative administrative arrangements?
Touch and Voice inAbsalom, Absalom!
Authors: Spillers Hortense J. , Arac Jonathan
Published: February 2024

William Faulkner constructed Absalom, Absalom! with techniques that allowed him to reach beyond his time and place to a historical grasp of problems that arise from a long past and that continue to shape our world nearly a century after the novel's publication. This essay explores that achievement through a double focus: touch and the intricate phenomenology of human sensory experience, combined with voice and the interplay of writing, speaking, and thinking in language.
Maxillary first premolar shape (and not size) as an indicator of sexual dimorphism: A 2D geomorphometric study
Authors: Natarajan Srikant , Ahmed Junaid , Jose Nidhin Philip , Shetty Shravan
Published: February 2024

Introduction The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the morphological form of the maxillary first premolar using 2D geomorphometry and evaluate the sexually dimorphic characteristics. Methods The present study was carried out on standardized photographs of right Maxillary first premolar from 120 dental casts (60 male and 60 females). Twenty landmarks (based on geometric and anatomic evidence) were marked on the tooth using TPSdig software and analysed using Morpho J applying procrustes analysis and discriminant function analysis. Results The results showed similar centroid sizes between gender (p = 0.541). Procrustes ANOVA for shape analysis showed a greater dimorphism between sexs (f value of 1.35; p value=0.0793).  Discriminant function analysis based on the procrustes coordinates showed an overall accuracy of 74.2 % in classifying sex based on the landmark coordinates with correct classification of  48/60 (80.00%) females and 41/60 (68.33) males. Conclusion Shape of the tooth can be measured objectively using geometric morphometric methods which can be utilized to identify the sex of an individual. The enamel is derived from ectoderm and once formed does not change during the life. The tooth’s structure and shape are determined by the sex chromosomes, which is well represented as sexual dimorphism. The study evaluates the occlusal and contact area morphology of premolars. These are important parameters considered during restorative treatment, functional rehabilitation and forensic investigations.
The top 50 most-cited articles about COVID-19 and the complications of COVID-19: A bibliometric analysis
Authors: Singh Tanya , Rao Padubidri Jagadish , Shetty Pavanchand H. , Antony Manoj Matthew , Mary Therese , Thejaswi Pallempati Bhanu
Published: February 2024

Background This bibliometric analysis examines the top 50 most-cited articles on COVID-19 complications, offering insights into the multifaceted impact of the virus. Since its emergence in Wuhan in December 2019, COVID-19 has evolved into a global health crisis, with over 770 million confirmed cases and 6.9 million deaths as of September 2023. Initially recognized as a respiratory illness causing pneumonia and ARDS, its diverse complications extend to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, hematological, neurological, endocrinological, ophthalmological, hepatobiliary, and dermatological systems. Methods Identifying the top 50 articles from a pool of 5940 in Scopus, the analysis spans November 2019 to July 2021, employing terms related to COVID-19 and complications. Rigorous review criteria excluded non-relevant studies, basic science research, and animal models. The authors independently reviewed articles, considering factors like title, citations, publication year, journal, impact factor, authors, study details, and patient demographics. Results The focus is primarily on 2020 publications (96%), with all articles being open access. Leading journals include The Lancet, NEJM, and JAMA, with prominent contributions from Internal Medicine (46.9%) and Pulmonary Medicine (14.5%). China played a major role (34.9%), followed by France and Belgium. Clinical features were the primary study topic (68%), often utilizing retrospective designs (24%). Among 22,477 patients analyzed, 54.8% were male, with the most common age group being 26-65 years (63.2%). Complications of COVID-19 affected 13.9% of patients, with a recovery rate of 57.8%. Conclusion Analyzing these top-cited articles offers clinicians and researchers a comprehensive, timely understanding of influential COVID-19 literature. This approach uncovers attributes contributing to high citations and provides authors with valuable insights for crafting impactful research. As a strategic tool, this analysis facilitates staying updated and making meaningful contributions to the dynamic field of COVID-19 research.
Realtime physical simulator for virtual reality sailing by patients with spinal cord injury: an innovative voyage
Authors: Recio Albert C , Stiens Steven A , Morgan Marjorie , Selvarajah Shalini , Mazeh Amna C , Habgood Mark D , Saunders Norman R
Published: February 2024

Background The aim of this study was to explore whether sail training using a VSail® simulator would allow people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) to learn to sail in a safe controlled environment and then sail competently on the water in wind of moderate strength (12 knots). A battery of physical tests and questionnaires was used to evaluate possible improvements in health and well-being as a consequence of participation in the trial. Methods Twenty participants were recruited with the assistance of their physicians from The International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute. Inclusion criteria were SCI >6 months previously, medically stable, with no recent (1 month or less) inpatient admission for acute medical or surgical issues. All neurological SCI levels (C1-S1) were eligible. All subjects followed a programme of instruction leading to mastery of basic sailing techniques (steering predetermined courses, sail trimming, tacking, gybing and mark rounding). Results Not all participants completed the study for various reasons. Those that did were seven males and six females, six with tetraplegia and seven with paraplegia. The mean age was 45 years (23 to 63) and the average time since injury was 14.7 years (2 to 38 years). At the end of the course subjects were able to perform the sailing maneuvers and navigate a triangular racecourse on the simulator’s display in 12 knots of wind within a pre-set time. At 6 weeks post completion of training most subjects showed a decrease in depression, physical and social limitations, and an improvement in physical tests. These improvements were maintained or increased in most participants by 12 weeks, but not others. Conclusions The primary objective of the trial was achieved as all participants who completed the VSail® training were able to sail on the water at the Downtown Sailing Center in Baltimore.
Strategies for recruitment of adolescent girls into physical activity programmes: a systematic review protocol
Authors: O'Brien Tanya , Darker Catherine D , Mockler David , Barrett Emer M
Published: February 2024

Background Physical activity is essential for youth physical and mental health, yet just 15% of adolescent girls versus 22% of adolescent boys worldwide meet the World Health Organization guideline of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day. As activity patterns established in adolescence often persist into adulthood, there is a looming risk of adverse health outcomes due to insufficient physical activity. A persistent challenge faced by physical activity providers, however, is recruiting adolescent girls into their programmes. This systematic review will quantitatively synthesise existing knowledge surrounding the recruitment of adolescent girls into physical activity interventions and aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for optimal recruitment practices. Methods Five electronic databases will be searched to identify randomised controlled trials of physical activity interventions for adolescent girls worldwide. Hand-searches of reference lists of included randomised controlled trials, relevant systematic reviews, and author publications will also be conducted. Data will be extracted regarding study, participant, and intervention characteristics, pre-determined recruitment goals, recruitment strategies employed, and the number of participants screened, eligible, approached, randomised, and retained. Outcomes will include whether pre-determined recruitment goals were met, recruitment rate, and any adapted or extended recruitment measures required mid-study. Descriptive statistics, including the median recruitment rate for all included studies, will be calculated and stratified by subgroups such as the type or setting of physical activity. Recruitment strategies will be categorised, and the percentage of studies using each category, along with their associated recruitment rates, will be documented. If sufficient studies are found, multi-variable regression will be employed to determine if the use of a specific recruitment strategy increases enrolment. Discussion Application of the findings of this review by physical activity programme providers may enhance their recruitment processes, potentially increasing teenage girls’ physical activity enrolment worldwide. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD#42023475858
Factors influencing mental health service delivery during public health emergencies: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Hursztyn Pawel , Khan Almas , Matvienko-Sikar Karen , Kõlves Kairi , Nyhan Marguerite , Browne John
Published: February 2024

Background Unforeseeable public health emergencies (PHEs) profoundly impact psychological well-being and disrupt mental health care provision in affected regions. To enhance preparedness for future emergencies, it is crucial to understand the effectiveness of mental health services, their underlying mechanisms, the populations they are tailored to, and their appropriateness across distinct emergencies. The aim of this scoping review will be to explore how mental health services have responded to PHEs, focusing on their effectiveness as well as barriers and facilitators to implementation. Methods Following the five-stage Arksey-O'Malley guidance, as updated further by Westphaln and colleagues, this mixed-methods scoping review will search academic and grey literature. Publications related to mental health interventions and supports delivered during PHEs will be considered for inclusion. The interventions and supports are operationally defined as any adaptations to mental health service provision at the international, national, regional or community level as a consequence of PHEs. The “Four Ss” framework will be utilised to provide structure for the evidence synthesis and inform categorisation of interventions and supports delivered during PHEs. Any research methodology will be considered for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts of publications against eligibility criteria. The gathered data will be depicted in accordance with the Four Ss” framework through the utilisation of descriptive/analytical statistics and supplemented by narrative exploration of findings. Conclusions Considering the diverse research methodologies and the varied applicability of services in different contexts of PHEs, this review will offer insights into the type, effectiveness, and implementation barriers and facilitators of mental health interventions and supports delivered during PHEs. By employing the “Four Ss” framework, the review will guide decision-making bodies in identifying effective and practical aspects of mental health system operations during emergencies.
Caledonian reactivation and reworking of Timanian thrust systems and implications for latest Mesoproterozoic to mid-Paleozoic tectonics and magmatism in northern Baltica
Authors: Koehl Jean-Baptiste P. , Stokmo Eirik
Published: February 2024

Background The Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone is the southernmost thrust fault of the Timanian Orogen and extends for thousands of kilometers from northwestern Russia to northern Norway. Though there is little about its location onshore northeastern Norway, where it is mapped as a major fault system dominantly comprised of NNE-dipping thrust faults, its continuation to the west below Caledonian nappes and offshore post-Caledonian sedimentary basins remains a matter of debate. Methods The present study provides a more definitive answer about the continuation of Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone west of the Varanger Peninsula by using seismic reflection, bathymetric, topographic, and magnetic data onshore Finnmark and offshore on the Finnmark Platform. Results The NNE-dipping Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone merges with a recently identified northwest-dipping brittle–ductile thrust, the Sørøya–Ingøya shear zone, which was previously thought to have formed during the Caledonian Orogeny. The present study demonstrates that the Sørøya–Ingøya shear zone represents a portion of the Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone that was folded into a NE–SW orientation and reactivated as a top-southeast thrust during the Caledonian Orogeny, while other portions of the Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone (e.g., on the Varanger Peninsula) were reactivated as strike-slip faults. The study also documents the presence of another major, NNE-dipping Timanian shear zone with a similar geometry to the Trollfjorden–Komagelva Fault Zone north of the Varanger Peninsula. Conclusions The present study suggests that (1) the Seiland Igneous Province formed in a backarc setting, (2) metasedimentary rocks of the Kalak Nappe Complex deposited along the Baltican margin of the Iapetus Ocean, possibly in a late–post-Grenvillian collapse basin, (3) the Iapetus Ocean was much narrower than the several thousands of kilometers width commonly proposed, and (4) early Neoproterozoic magmatism in northern Norway is related to the initial breakup of Rodinia.
ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ ИНЖЕНЕРНО-ТОПОГРАФИЧЕСКОЙ ГРАМОТНОСТИ КУРСАНТОВ ВОЕННЫХ ИНСТИТУТОВ РОСГВАРДИИ
Authors: KRINICHKO VITALY , SIDORINA TATYANA
Published: February 2024

Военная топография – специальная военная дисциплина, изучающая тактические свойства местности, способы и средства оценки местности, ориентирования на ней и производства полевых измерений для обеспечения боевой деятельности войск (сил), топографические карты, другие документы о местности и приёмы работы с ними. Данная дисциплина включена в учебные планы всех военно-образовательных учреждений профессионального образования, а также в планы боевой подготовке (воинских частей) всех видов и родов войск Вооружённых сил Российской Федерации и изучается всеми категориями военнослужащих Вооружённых сил Российской Федерации, федеральных органов исполнительной власти, в которых Федеральным законом «О воинской обязанности и военной службе» предусмотрена военная служб. Современный этап развития информационных технологий в образовании характеризуется внедрением в него информационных систем нового поколения - геоинформационных. Геоинформационные технологии – это технологии и системы, которые позволяют пользователю работать с пространственными данными, строить модели и решать задачи пространственно - временного анализа. С участием РФ в военных конфликтов последнего десятилетия военно-политического руководства страны увеличивается понимание значимости о роли географических информационных систем военного назначения для решения задач в области управления войсками и оружием, а также необходимости повышения уровня квалификации офицеров части владения средствами ГИС ВН. Таким образом, перспективы применения геоинформационных технологий в военном деле достаточно широки.
‘You have to be guided by yourself, your feelings and your child’: Women's experiences of weaning after breastfeeding beyond infancy
Authors: Shiells Kate , Williams Sophie , Hallam Jenny , Jackson Jessica
Published: February 2024

Mothers who breastfeed beyond infancy report a need for specialised support, and it is important to understand mothers’ experiences across the continuum of the breastfeeding journey, including weaning. This study explored women's experiences of weaning after breastfeeding for more than 1 year. Four mothers who had weaned after breastfeeding for more than 1 year took part in a semi-structured telephone interview, which invited them to share their breastfeeding journey, focusing on their experiences of weaning. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified three themes: challenges associated with weaning; what worked well; and the need for information and support. Mothers experienced confusion about how to wean and how to deal with the emotional effects they encountered. The women emphasised the importance of a gradual weaning approach and trusting maternal instincts, as well as readily available, ongoing advice and access to judgement-free peer support.
A Novel Lightweight Underwater Fish Individual Recognition Method Based on Local Feature Guidance Training for Precision Aquaculture
Authors: Gao Chunqi , Wu Junfeng , Yin Jianhao , Yu Hong , Guo Shihao , Liu Liang , Jiang Zhongai
Published: February 2024

Highlights

This article proposed a novel lightweight underwater fish individual recognition method.

The proposed method can fully learn the characteristic information of fish.

This method can guide training through local features.

During prediction, only the global branch is utilized, resulting in a small number of parameters.

Abstract. Individual recognition of fish within aquaculture fish groups is crucial for monitoring the growth status of each fish and is a key technology for precision and green aquaculture. However, accurately recognizing fish faces challenges due to the significant variations in fish postures and the influence of complex environments. This article aims to present a highly accurate method for underwater fish individual recognition, offering technical support for intelligent fish farming. To achieve this goal, a novel lightweight underwater fish individual recognition method based on local feature guidance training was proposed for precision aquaculture in this study. The method designs a multi-scale network based on deep learning and utilizes SE_ResNext for feature extraction. This network consists of a branch representing the global feature and a branch representing the local feature. During training, the full image of the fish individual is inputted as a coarse scale to the global branch (G-branch) to learn the global feature and calculate the ID loss. The image of each part formed after segmenting the fish individual is inputted as a fine-scale input to the partial branch (P-branch) to learn the local feature. Subsequently, the global feature and local feature are combined to form the fusion feature, and the Triplet loss and ID loss are calculated on the fusion feature. Finally, the loss calculated in the global feature and the loss calculated in the fusion feature are weighted and summed to obtain the total loss. Through the design of the loss function, the global feature is consistently influenced by the local feature, and the local feature serves to guide the global feature. During prediction, the global feature, having learned the information from the local feature, allows for the sole utilization of the G-branch to recognize fish individuals. This approach significantly reduces the number of parameters and computational requirements, resulting in a lightweight network. The method achieves high accuracy, with both Rank-1 and Rank-5 accuracy rates surpassing 95%. Remarkably, even with low image resolution and slight obscuration of the fish body, the Rank-1 accuracy remains above 90%. Keywords: Deep learning, Multi-scale network, Object detection, Recognition of fish individual.
Impact of Kernel Thickness on Germination and Vigor of Seed Rice
Authors: Olaoni Samuel , Luthra Kaushik , Atungulu Griffiths
Published: February 2024

Highlights

The impact of kernel thickness grading on seed germination and vigor was explored in medium and low moisture content seeds using two hybrid rice cultivars (RTv7303 & RT7301).

Rough rice samples were size fractionated into two thickness fractions (thick >2.03 mm and thin 1.91>>2.03 mm) and dried to 12.5% moisture content (MC) at temperatures of 40°C and 60°C and 25% relative humidity (RH).

It was discovered that harvested rice seeds at a medium MC (19% to 21%) and a temperature of 60°C increased seed germination and vigor.

Thick kernels outperformed thin kernels in terms of seed germination but were not statistically different when compared to unsorted kernels.

ABSTRACT. Rough rice lots harvested on the field contain varying kernel thicknesses within the panicles. These variations influence the drying characteristics of seeds and, thus, the seed germination and vigor. In this study, two hybrid long-grain rice cultivars (RTv 7303 & RT 7301) with harvest moisture contents (HMC) ranging from 19% to 21% and 15% to 17% wet basis (w.b.) for medium and low MC seeds were used, respectively. These rough rice samples were size fractionated into two thickness fractions (thick >2.03 mm and thin 1.91>>2.03 mm), with non-fractionated samples labeled as unsorted or control samples. Kernels from each sub-lot were dried to 12.5% MC at 40°C and 60°C air temperatures and 25% constant relative humidity (RH). Immediately after drying, samples were selected for seed germination and vigor assessments. RTv 7303 had higher seed germination compared to RT 7301, indicating that the two cultivars were genetically different from each other. Thick kernels had significantly higher seed germination (SG) than thin kernels, but there was no significant difference compared to unsorted kernels. Additionally, the percentage points difference between the thick versus unsorted and thin kernels varies from ˜1-pp to 8-pp for low MC seeds and from 2.5-pp to 6-pp for medium MC seeds. The seed vigor index (SVI) difference between the two cultivars is around 3.0 m.% and 1.5 m.% for medium and low MC, respectively. Harvested rice seeds with a medium MC (19% to 21%) and dried at a temperature of 60°C resulted in greater seed germination and vigor. Ultimately, these findings highlight the role of thickness grading in seed assessments. Thus, it was concluded that if the thin kernels could be screened out from the harvested rice lots, seed germination and vigor would increase significantly. Keywords: Rice drying, Rice seed, Seed germination, Seed vigor, Thickness grading.
First report of Ceratocystis fimbriata causing wilt disease of soursop in South Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: PRATAMA RAHMAT , MUSLIM AHMAD , SUWANDI SUWANDI , SHK SUPARMAN
Published: February 2024

Abstract. Pratama R, Muslim A, Suwandi S, Suparman Shk. 2023. First report of Ceratocystis fimbriata causing wilt disease of soursop in South Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 6711-6721. Ceratocystis fungus is a well-known pathogen that frequently attacks agroforestry plants. Symptoms of canker and wilt in soursop plants (Anona muricata L.) similar to those of ceratocystis disease with 57-100% mortality were first observed in South Sumatra, Indonesia in 2021. This study aimed to describe the symptomatology of the new disease and characterize isolates of Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halst. obtained from diseased soursop plants. The identification of this pathogen involved a comprehensive polyphasic analysis, which combined morphological and molecular characteristics derived from specific genomic regions (ITS and ?-tubulin). Morphological and phylogenetic analysis revealed that all pathogen isolates were identified as C. fimbriata. All the population showed uniform morphology, comprising ITS5 and ITS7b haplotypes. The pathogenicity test indicated that C. fimbriata induced similar symptoms similar to natural symptoms, resulting in mortality rates of 50-90%. The results of pathogenicity tests of A. muricata isolates showed their high pathogenicity toward other Ceratocystis hosts plants, including Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. and Acacia mangium Willd. These tests resulted in the death rates of 15-50% and 75-100%, respectively, which closely resembled the pathogenicity observed on A. muricata. Both isolates of the ITS5 haplotype exhibited nearly identical pathogenicity on the three hosts, while ITS7b displayed higher aggressiveness. This is the the first report of C. fimbriata as a causal agent of wilt in soursop trees in Indonesia and worldwide, highlighting the importance of understanding this pathogen and its management to mitigate its impact on agroforestry plants.
Anticancer activity of secondary metabolite isolated from the rhizospheric fungus Fusarium oxysporum isolate-ABRF1, 2-propenoic acid, pentadecyl ester
Authors: SAHU MAHENDRA KUMAR , SUTHAKARAN SHRUTHI , GHOSH SHARMISTHA CHAITALI , SINGH DIGVIJAY , DAS AMITAVA , JHA HARIT
Published: February 2024

Abstract. Sahu MK, Suthakaran S, Ghosh SC, Singh D, Das A, Jha H. 2023. Anticancer activity of secondary metabolite isolated from the rhizospheric fungus Fusarium oxysporum isolate-ABRF1, 2-propenoic acid, pentadecyl ester. Asian J Nat Prod Biochem 21: 88-100. The rhizospheric fungus Fusarium oxysporum ABRF1 from the Achanakmar Biosphere Reserve, Chhattisgarh, India, was evaluated for its anticancer potency using various cellular and molecular assays. A differential cytotoxic profile of the different fractions of the ABRF1 isolate was observed against various cancer cell lines. DNA fragmentation analysis revealed the aqueous and toluene fractions were effective and correlated well with apoptotic gene expression in several breast cancer cells. The fractions showed markedly increased expression of pro-apoptotic protein markers – BAX and cleaved caspase 3 in the breast cancer cells. Structural and functional characterization of potential secondary metabolite from the fungal isolate ABRF1 was carried out using Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance that characterized as 2-propenoic acid, pentadecyl ester. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the anticancer property were confirmed by molecular docking analysis of 2-propenoic acid, pentadecyl ester, and positive controls such as Doxorubicin and Noscapine. The results showed an efficient binding with molecular targets such as protein kinases (EphA2) and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers (Vimentin) in breast cancer cells. The active metabolite 2-propenoic acid, pentadecyl ester, has a potential anticancer property that needs to be taken further for in vivo studies and drug development in the future.
On Love, the Palestinian Way: Kinship, Care and Abolition in Palestinian Feminist Praxis
Authors: Ihmoud Sarah
Published: February 2024

This article centres the forms of kinship and care work that Palestinian women perform within and beyond the institution of the colonial prison in occupied territory through an analysis of letters expressing grief, care and radical hope as material expressions of an abolitionist feminist praxis of decolonial love. Women’s letter-writing practices offer a material expression of the sentient life forms that suture the social fabric of the Palestinian collective, regenerating our connections to each other and to our homeland. This analysis invites consideration of decolonial love as a liberatory method through which Palestinians call each other into intimate relation. It argues that attending to this underexplored feminist praxis enacted from within the space of genocidal duress holds the capacity to amplify a Palestinian sensorium that sharpens our capacity to enact revolutionary struggle against Israeli state violence and settler colonial criminality.
Learning from the NWSA Strategic Planning Process
Authors: Levin Amy , Skinner Jolene
Published: February 2024

The NWSA Strategic Planning Committee engaged in its work from fall 2002 to spring 2004. During that time, the committee discussed the meaning and importance of feminist strategic planning and created a distinctive process. After a period of data collection, the group collaboratively arrived at a plan to guide the association for the next five years. The process revealed important details about the organization's demographics and diversity; the balances between praxis and theory; individual activism and academic scholarship; and perceptions of the purpose of NWSA. Ultimately, the committee was significant not only for developing a feminist method for organizational planning, but also for generating a wealth of information that can serve as the basis for additional research on NWSA, Women's Studies, and feminism in the United States. The article discusses the implications of this information for NWSA, individual women's studies programs, and generating feminist theory.
"Imaginary Engineering" or "Re-imagined Engineering": Negotiating Gendered Identities in the Borderland of a College of Engineering
Authors: Foor Cindy E. , Walden Susan E.
Published: February 2024

Explanations for women's continued underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have popularly employed a "leaky pipeline" metaphor. Recently, however, some have found the pipeline metaphor lacking in explanatory power for dealing with subtle, yet pervasive barriers embedded in specific cultures of engineering. The tension between culturally prescribed notions of masculinity, femininity, and engineering identities is one such barrier. Ethnographic interviews of 118 engineering undergraduates revealed multiple and shifting projects of constructing and claiming certain femininities and masculinities associated with engineering. Our analysis uses an intersection of feminist and discourse theory for a critical examination of multiple discourses contributing to the gendering of images, roles, positions, and a particular engineering discipline within our college and university culture. Loosened from the boundaries of gendered norms, this particular engineering discipline has become more "inviteful" to both women and men but requires different identity projects from each. Our goal is to contribute to discussions about gendered identities and cultures in engineering and to add our support to an emerging model in engineering education, the boundary model, for conceptualizing the movement of students into, across, and through the various domains of engineering.
The National Family: Allegory and Femininity in a Festspiel from 1880
Authors: Askey Jennifer
Published: February 2024

This essay analyzes a Sedan Day pageant, written by Johanna Siedler and celebrated at a girls' school in Berlin in 1880. Although Sedan Day celebrations were common in imperial Germany, Siedler's pageant is unique in providing roles for women and girls to play. The pageant models an emotional relationship between young women and the state, whereby girls take on allegorical roles that embody the virtues and the historical and cultural continuity of the German nation. The pageant's language-that of love and duty, longing and national belonging-coupled with the discursive role of the young women's bodies on the stage demonstrate how nationalism was gendered in imperial Germany and how schools as institutions of the nation state integrated women into the nation. The girls learn that, in order to lay claim to their own Germanness, they must align their private feelings with their role as delineated in the textual and symbolic discourse of nation. (JA)
The Evolving Study of Revolution
Authors: Beissinger Mark R.
Published: February 2024

As the practice of revolution has evolved, so too have theories of revolution. Much of the current literature on revolutions focuses on contentious processes. But a need exists to take a more holistic approach—one that better incorporates history, thinks across divides in the literature, contemplates what precedes and follows revolution, and places revolutionary processes and the structural factors that underpin them into dialogue with one another.
GaN/AlN bilayers for integrated photonics
Authors: Bhat Nagesh , Gromovyi Maksym , El Kurdi Moustafa , Checoury Xavier , Damilano Benjamin , Boucaud Philippe
Published: February 2024

III-Nitride semiconductors offer a versatile platform for integrated photonic circuits operating from the ultra-violet to the near-infrared spectral range. Either pure AlN or pure GaN waveguiding layers have usually been investigated so far. In this work, we report on the study of GaN/AlN bilayers epitaxially-grown on a sapphire substrate for photonic circuits. Quality factors up to 410,000 are demonstrated with microring resonators in the near-infrared spectral range. We emphasize the peculiar advantages of these bilayers for nonlinear photonics: GaN offers a larger nonlinear susceptibility as compared to AlN. More importantly, both materials exhibit nonlinear susceptibilities with opposite signs that can be advantageous for nonlinear conversion. Thick epitaxial III-nitride bilayers are associated with the occurrence of cracks in the epi-layers and multimode waveguide propagation. We show that the multimode character can lead to peculiar resonance line shapes with the capacity to control full transmission and reflection by phase engineering.