bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of feeding methods on ecological soil wastewater infiltration systems for sewage treatment
Authors: Jiang Zefang , Xia Yuqing , Li Ziqi , Zhang Yuxi , Li Lin , Fan linlin , Wang Shiyao , Pan Jing
Published: November 2022

Intermittent feeding method and continuous feeding method were adopted in two experimental form ecological soil wastewater infiltration systems (ESWISs), respectively. The results showed that COD, NH4
+ and TN removal efficiencies were enhanced from 81.8%, 70.5% and 45.8% in continuous feeding ESWIS to 90.0%, 88.5% and 72.7% in intermittent feeding ESWIS. The same TP removal efficiency was achieved in two feeding mehtods. Matrix oxidation reduction potential (ORP) was enhanced through the intermittent feeding ESWIS, especially above 60 cm depth of the matrix, which encouraged nitrification. The metabolic activity and reproduction of microbes were improved by intermittent feeding method, such as actinomyces, bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, fungus. Meanwhile, denitrifying bacteria and nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NIR) activities were also increased. PCR-DGGE analysis confirmed that intermittent feeding method improved bacterial diversity. These results suggest that intermittent feeding method is viable to heighten the performance of ESWISs in sewage treatment.
The Evaluation of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality Industry Based on AHP-Entropy Weight Method
Authors: Peng Meng , Yang Lu , Zhang Kun , Zhao Weidong , Xu Jiayu
Published: November 2022

In response to the carbon peak and carbon neutrality dual targets, an index evaluation system was established around green development and decarbonisation consisting of three directions: “driving force”, “state”, and “response”. It includes 16 indicators such as the number of low-carbon technology releases, the proportion of CO2 generated from the industrial process. After collecting several current methods of constructing an index evaluation system around green development, an index evaluation system for assessing the low carbon industry process was advocated in different cities. The defined AHP analytic hierarchy process (AHP)-entropy weight method was used to determine the weights of evaluated indicators, and the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method was adopted to complete the quantitative evaluation of data. Finally, the model was applied to 31 provinces, cities and autonomous regions in China and work out the score matching each province. According to the overall score, the development of CPCN process 31 provinces is categorized into 5 levels. The results show that a level C and a level D dominating and the level D accounting for the most significant proportion (more than 50%). Only three provinces and cities achieved the outstanding level of A. The conclusion that the carbon peak and carbon neutrality development in our country is still relatively lagging at the current stage with uneven regional distribution matches the actual situation; therefore, it validates the reliability of the method. Based on the scoring relationships between different indicators in each region, the defects and resistance of low-carbon industrial development in some provinces should be analysed to provide a foundation for further accelerating the steps towards achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality.
Calculation and scenario prediction of methane emissions from agricultural activities in China under the background of “carbon peak”
Authors: Li Zhongming , Fu Wei , Luo Mingcan , Chen Jiancheng , Li Long
Published: November 2022

Climate warming has become a difficult problem all over the world. As the most important component of greenhouse gas, methane plays a vital role in the earth’s climate system. CH4MOD model and emission factor method are used in calculating and analyzing the methane emission from agricultural activities in China. The scenario analysis method is used in predicting the methane emission from agricultural activities in China. The results show that: (1) The changing trend of total methane emission from agricultural activities in China from 2001 to 2020 increased firstly, then decreased, and finally tended to steady fluctuation, in which the contribution of livestock intestinal fermentation emission was the largest. (2) From 2001 to 2020, GHGI1 of methane in agricultural activities in China showed a downward trend, while GHGI2 fluctuated. (3) China’s methane emissions from agricultural activities are predicted to increase under different scenarios from 2021 to 2030. To meet China’s goal of reaching a carbon peak by 2030, the strict emission reduction scenario is more suitable for China’s future methane emission development trend than other scenarios.
Rare Earth Elements behaviour in different types of mineral waters within Baikal Lake
Authors: Chelnokov G. A. , Lavrushin V.Y. , Aidarkozhina A. S. , Bragin I. V. , Kharitonova N.A. , Ermakov A.V.
Published: November 2022

The current study contains a review of the REE abundance and distribution in thermal and cold mineral waters which are widely spread around Baikal Lake. Studied mineral waters were divided into CH4, N2 and CO2-rich waters by the associated gas composition. We found that the highest REE concentrations were connected with thermal waters that were accumulated in swamps (slow-moving waters). Another core process for accumulating of REE in waters is the rock weathering in CO2 presence. This study shows that there are no correlations between REE and main ions, Eh, TDS and temperature. But dependence of REE on pH and positive correlations of REE with Al, P, Mn, V, Cu, Pb and As, which indicate common processes of microelements migration, were established. Within the study waters the light REE concentrations dominate over heavy REE. The presence of CO2 gas increases heavy REE concentrations, and concentrations of several light elements (La, Ce, Nd). The observed differences in REE contents in studied waters can be provenance dependent and possibly relate to more complicated evolutionary processes as water circulation time, depth and mixing. This is the first investigation of REE distribution and abundance in mineral waters of the Baikal Lake.
Analysis of spatial-temporal atmospheric emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks in central and southern Liaoning urban agglomeration
Authors: Cao Yanhao , Wu Xiaohan , Song Zhiwei , Chen Baiyizhuo , Liu Shuai , Gao Chengkang
Published: November 2022

The problem of diesel vehicle pollution has aroused wide concern in central and southern Liaoning Urban Agglomeration (CSLA), as it is associated with large amounts of atmospheric emissions. This article focuses on heavy-duty diesel trucks (HDT) of Chinese National Standards for heavy-duty diesel trucks (GB) III, GB IV, and GB V. This research measures emission factors (EF) of NOx, CO, and PM by vehicle tests. Subsequently, the emission inventory has been established according to emission factors (EF), activity levels (AL), and Technic guidelines for road motor vehicle emission inventory of air pollutants (Guideline, 2015) in central and southern Liaoning Urban Agglomeration (CSLA). This study further obtained the spatial distribution map of pollutants in CSLA, 2019, using the Geographic Information System (GIS). Results exhibit NOx and CO emissions of HDT directly proportional to the amount of their ownership, and GB III was the main contributor to the PM emissions accounting for nearly 74%. It was concluded the annual emissions of NOx, CO, and PM in CSLA were 20.34, 6.46, and 0.044 million tons individually in 2019. Moreover, the emissions of NOx and CO in heating seasons were higher than in non-heating seasons, accounting for approximately 56% and 57% of the whole year respectively. Notably, Shenyang, Dalian, and Anshan were the top three cities in atmospheric emissions. In addition, the three kinds of pollutants mainly appeared in suburbs and decreased gradually from suburbs to urban areas.
Fostering low-carbon industrial parks in Vietnam: establishment and application of an index system for Trang Bang Industrial Park
Authors: Mai Thi Vuong Thi , Vuong Tran Hau , Quang Hung Nguyen Tri , Ba Ho Thanh , Hue Nguyen Kim , Ky Nguyen Minh
Published: November 2022

In recent years, Vietnam has experienced urbanization and industrialization, leading to potential air pollution and climate change risks. To reduce these negative consequences of economic development, Vietnam has promoted a low-carbon economy (LCE) by setting many goals for green growth, air pollution reduction, and increasing the absorption capacity of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in many industrial sectors. However, there is still a lack of a specified policy to promote these goals systematically. This study proposes a set of criteria that could be used to evaluate and certify low-carbon industrial parks (LCIPs). The criteria were developed using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), expert opinion, data normalization, and carbon emission calculation. The set of criteria includes five groups of indicators with eighteen criteria for evaluating LCIPs, which can be applied in Vietnam’s contexts. Using such an index system to Trang Bang IP in the period 2016–2020 as a case study, the results show that the Trang Bang has yet to meet the criteria of LCIPs, particularly in terms of energy consumption and GHGs emission.
Analysis of land subsidence change in Wuhan based on sentinel-1A
Authors: Zhao Yizhan , Zhou Lv , Qin Jie , Wang Cheng , Sheng Haiquan
Published: November 2022

We used 52-view Sentinel-1A images to obtain the subsidence of Wuhan city by SBAS method during the period of 2020-2021. At present, Hongshan District of Wuhan is the area with the most serious subsidence, and the maximum accumulated settlement reaches 90mm. In addition, there are obvious subsidence funnels in Qiaokou, Qingshan, Jiang’an and Wuchang Districts. Spatial distribution of settlement areas in Wuhan is closely related to urban construction, and the formation of most of the subsidence funnels is related to the high-intensity urban construction activities in the region, with extensive ground subsidence along Metro Line 5 and Metro Line 11. Karst collapse and ground subsidence are more likely to occur in carbonate rock belt and soft soil covered area. Rainfall affects the total amount of groundwater and the river water level in Wuhan. Rainfall can add the groundwater volume, raise the water level of rivers and slow down the rate of ground subsidence in the major subsidence areas of Wuhan.
Soil heavy metal Pb concentration quantitative inversion method based on hyperspectral remote sensing
Authors: Chen Maoyu , Ke Dan , Wang Wenkai , Zhang Wanming , Li Xianglan
Published: November 2022

Taking a mining area in the Liangshan section of the Anning River Basin as the research area, soil samples were collected, and the collected soil samples were respectively measured for Pb concentration and soil spectral reflectance, and the correlation between soil Pb concentration and soil spectral reflectance was analyzed, using the partial least squares regression method to construct the soil Pb concentration estimation model and carry out the accuracy test. The results show that: (1) The correlation between the original soil spectral curve and the measured value of soil Pb concentration is greatly improved after the first-order differential(FD), second-order differential(SD), reciprocal first-order differential(RTFD) and inverse second-order differential(RTSD) transformation, and there are many characteristic bands. (2) The best model for estimating soil Pb concentration is the model established by second-order differential, whose coefficient of determination (R2) is 0.56 and root mean square error (RMSE) is 1.28. It provides a reference for the retrieval of remote sensing hyperspectral soil Pb concentration in this area.
Mesozoic hydrocarbon accumulation model in the Northern South China sea
Authors: Zhong Guangjian , Su Pibo , Feng Changmao , Chen Shenghong , Sun Ming , Yi Hai , Wang Yanlin , Yu Junhui , Zhao Jing , Zhao Zhongquan
Published: November 2022

The ChaoShan Depression is the largest Mesozoic depression covering an area of 3.7 x 104 km2 where the relict Mesozoic strata are up to 5000 m thick. It has experienced disruption since the late Mesozoic. In early survey, the oil-gas migration condition and reservoiring mechanism are poorly expounded from the Meso-Cenozoic tectonic superposition due to poor seismic imaging to the deep Mesozoic layers. New seismic surveys using long streamers and quasi three-dimensional layouts has improved obviously the deep images of the Mesozoic formations, enabling analysis of tectono-stratigraphic features and petroleum geology. Correlating to the regional Mesozoic stratigraphic and facies characteristics from the well LF35-1-1 and onshore outcrops, two sets of source layer tested with high organic carbon content are interpreted within the upper Triassic to mid-Jurassic semi-closed gulf sequences which become thicker toward the east side of Dongsha Island. Three sets of potential reservoir beds are also interpreted, which are a basin-floor fan sandstone layer of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, a limestone layer atop the mid Jurassic, and a sandy layer in the Upper Jurassic. Over the low bulge of the ChaoShan Depression, a big anticline is found bounded by two sets of faults which played as migration passage for hydrocarbon from the deep Mesozoic source to the reservoir layers. Likely, one set of the fault act reverse barrier to block the petroleum escape, thus form the fault-bounded trap, favorable for future exploration.
Spatial accessibility of medical facilities based on green travel mode - Take the central urban area of Wuhan as an example
Authors: Wei Wei , Zhang Jianhua
Published: November 2022

Based on the concept of “people-oriented”, this paper simulates the green travel mode of Wuhan residents in the main urban area by walking and public transportation (bus and rail) based on the public transportation network and walking network of Wuhan city, combined with the POI data of residential community points and medical public service facilities. ArcGIS network analysis technology was used to quantitatively analyze the spatial accessibility distribution characteristics and qualitatively analyze the problems of medical service facilities in the main city of Wuhan. The spatial accessibility distribution characteristics of the three types of medical service facilities (General hospital, Specialist hospital and community hospital) in Wuhan city were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. The conclusions are as follows: under the different green travel mode (walk, by bus or take the subway), the spatial accessibility of the three types of medical facilities in the central urban area of Wuhan is good. The areas with the spatial accessibility of the three types of medical facilities within 15min account for most of the central urban area of Wuhan. However, the spatial accessibility of the three types of medical facilities shows obvious imbalance in the spatial distribution characteristics. The spatial accessibility of three medical facilities in the west of Jianghan district, the north of Jiangan district, the east of Wuchang district and the middle of Hongshan district is poor. And the spatial accessibility in these areas is more than 15min. There are distinct differentiating characteristics in areas with good and bad spatial accessibility. Based on the above analysis results, suggestions and countermeasures are put forward to improve the spatial accessibility of medical public service facilities in the central city of Wuhan.
Urgent need to strengthen unified management of scientific data of natural resources
Authors: Zhang Chengcheng , Gui Dezhu
Published: November 2022

At present, the institutional restructuring and business restructuring of the Ministry of natural resources have been basically completed, and business integration has become the focus of the work. Earth data science is combination of earth science and data science, and is a frontier cross field of earth science research and a paradigm shift of data-driven scientific discovery. This paper reviews the progress of big earth data research in 2020 from the aspects of earth data science program, scientific data governance, and earth science data sharing. It focuses on the Deep-Time Digital Earth Science Program, Big Earth Data Science Engineering Project and achievements in global data aggregation, authentication, repository, policies, standards, and identification, as well as practices of the earth science data centers, databases, data models, data integration, and data publishing. The paper points out countermeasures and suggestions for promoting scientific management of natural resources.
Enhancing soil fertility and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) growth using bio-organic fertilizer
Authors: Ngoc Ngo Phuong , Dang Le Van , Quynh Le Ngoc , Hung Ngo Ngoc
Published: November 2022

Acid soils contain high concentrations of aluminum and ferrous ions, which limit crop growth and the available plant nutrients. The current work was to determine the effects of bio-organic fertilizer (BOF) application on soil quality and the growth of blueberry cultivated in acid soil. A completely randomized block design was arranged, with four doses of BOF (0, 2, 4, and 6 t ha–1 yr–1). Each treatment was carried out with four replicates. In the present work, soil quality properties such as pH, soil organic matter, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, aluminum (Al3+), and iron (Fe2+) were measured. Additionally, the influence of organic fertilizer on the growth of blueberry (plant height, number of shoots, and leaves) was also investigated. The results indicated that both the rates of BOF (4 and 6 t ha−1 yr–1) significantly improved soil organic matter and available phosphorus. Also, BOF application greatly decreased the soil concentrations of Al3+ and Fe2+ compared to the control treatment. Similarly, 12 months after planting, the number of shoots and leaves was improved in the pots with BOF compared to that without BOF addition. From the results of this study, we recommend using BOF as the best measure for enhancing soil health and blueberry growth.
Relationship between the size composition observed from the photosedimention technique and chromaticity of the fine-grained surface sediments from the modern lakes, Songnen Plain
Authors: Su Yangxin , Zhang Xinrong , Zhang Shun , Fang Shi , Fu Xiuli , Shao Hongjun
Published: November 2022

The relationship between clay particle size in fine-grained sediments and the enrichment of organic matter and the redox degree of their environment is conducive to the judgment and evaluation of the hydrocarbon generation potential of fine-grained sediments. The grain size characteristics of clay particles in the surface fine-grained sediments of Chaersen lake, Delong lake, Hongyuan lake, Lamasi lake, and Zhongnei lake in Songnen Plain are revealed by light sedimentation method. On the basis of the test, the relationship between the particle size of clay particles and the sediment chromaticity is analyzed, and the directivity of chromaticity to the content of organic matter and redox degree of fine-grained sediments is used for the organic content estimation. It is confirmed that the particle size of clay is negatively correlated with its organic matter content and positively correlated with its redox degree. This has important reference significance for discussing the hydrocarbon generation potential and evaluation of Cretaceous lacustrine fine-grained source rocks in the Songliao Basin.
Fine Particulate Air Pollution and the “No-Multiple-Versions-of-Treatment” Assumption: Does Particle Composition Matter for Causal Inference?
Authors: Weichenthal Scott , Ripley Susannah , Korsiak Jill
Published: November 2022

Here we discuss possible violations of the “no-multiple-versions-of-treatment” assumption in studies of outdoor fine particulate air pollution (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5)) owing to differences in particle composition, which in turn influence health. This assumption is part of the potential outcomes framework for causal inference, and it is needed for well-defined potential outcomes, as multiple versions of the same treatment could lead to different health risks for the same level of treatment. Since 2 locations can have the same outdoor PM2.5 mass concentration (i.e., treatment) but different chemical compositions (i.e., versions of treatment), violations of the “no-multiple-versions-of-treatment” assumption seem likely. Importantly, violations of this assumption will not bias health risk estimates for PM2.5 mass concentrations if there are no unmeasured confounders of the “version of treatment”–outcome relationship. However, confounding can occur if these factors are not identified and controlled for in the analysis. We describe situations in which this may occur and provide simulations to estimate the magnitude and direction of this possible bias. In general, violations of the “no-multiple-versions-of-treatment” assumption could be an underappreciated source of bias in studies of outdoor PM2.5. Analysis of the health impacts of outdoor PM2.5 mass concentrations across spatial domains with similar composition could help to address this issue.
Pharmacists’ role in detection and evaluation of adverse drug reactions: Developing proactive systems for pharmacosurveillance
Authors: Salazar Alejandra , Amato Mary G , Shah Sonam N , Khazen Maram , Aminmozaffari Saina , Klinger Elissa V , Volk Lynn A , Mirica Maria , Schiff Gordon D
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To identify current challenges in detection of medication-related symptoms, and review technology-based opportunities to increase the patient-centeredness of postmarketing pharmacosurveillance to promote more accountable, safer, patient-friendly, and equitable medication prescribing.

Pharmacists have an important role to play in detection and evaluation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The pharmacist’s role in medication management should extend beyond simply dispensing drugs, and this article delineates the rationale and proactive approaches for pharmacist detection and assessment of ADRs. We describe a stepwise approach for assessment, best practices, and lessons learned from a pharmacist-led randomized trial, the CEDAR (Calling for Detection of Adverse Drug Reactions) project.

Conclusion

Health systems need to be redesigned to more fully utilize health information technologies and pharmacists in detecting and responding to ADRs.
Dentoskeletal and soft-tissue changes of class II malocclusion treatment with modified first class appliances: a prospective clinical trial
Authors: Anraki Carolina Caetano , Campos Cássio Bernard Alves , Sant’Anna Gabriel Querobim , Bellini-Pereira Silvio Augusto , Aliaga-Del Castillo Aron , Grec Roberto , Henriques José Fernando Castanha , Garib Daniela
Published: November 2022

Background/Objectives

Intraoral distalizers are effective and conservative alternatives for Class II malocclusion treatment. However, the literature is still controversial regarding the effects of using skeletal anchorage in intraoral distalizers with different designs. The aim of this study is to compare dentoskeletal and soft-tissue changes of Class II malocclusion patients treated with three types of First Class (FC) distalizers.

Materials/Methods

The sample of this prospective clinical trial included 30 consecutive patients divided into three groups: G1—FC conventionally anchored; G2—FC skeletally anchored Type 1; G3—FC skeletally anchored Type 2. Each group consisted of 10 patients. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed in two stages: at pre-treatment (T0) and after distalization (T1). The radiographs were digitized and analyzed using the software Dolphin Imaging 11.5. Comparisons of treatment changes between groups (T1–T0) were performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Tukey test.

Results

Patients treated with the conventionally anchored FC showed significantly greater incisors protrusion and labial inclination, second premolars mesial inclination and mesialization than the FCs skeletally anchored. No differences were observed regarding the amount of molar distalization and molar angulation between groups.

Limitations

It can be considered that the limitation of this study lies in its non-randomized design.

Conclusions/Implications

First Class distalizers with conventional and skeletal anchorage are effective alternatives for Class II molar distalization. Distalization associated with indirect skeletal anchorage reduce the undesirable effects observed in the incisors and premolars during distalization when compared to distalization conventionally anchored.
Pain and discomfort during the first week of maxillary expansion using two different expanders: patient-reported outcomes in a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hansson Stina , Josefsson Eva , Lindsten Rune , Magnuson Anders , Bazargani Farhan
Published: November 2022

Background

Quad Helix (QH) is the appliance most preferred by orthodontists to correct unilateral posterior crossbite in the early mixed dentition while other orthodontists suggest rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on deciduous teeth in these patients.

Objectives

To evaluate and compare perceived pain intensity, discomfort, functional jaw impairment, and analgesic consumption during the first week of treatment with either RME or QH appliances.

Trial design

Two-arm parallel group, two-centre, randomized controlled trial.

Material and methods

Seventy-two patients, mean age 9.5 (SD ±0.8) years, with unilateral posterior crossbite requiring maxillary expansion were randomly allocated to either the RME (22 boys, 14 girls) or QH (22 boys, 14 girls) group. Validated questionnaires were used to assess pain intensity, discomfort, jaw function impairment, and analgesic consumption, on the first, fourth, and seventh days after appliance insertion and activation.

Blinding

Due to clinical limitations, only the outcome assessors were blinded to the groups to which the patients were allocated.

Results

Seventy patients completed the questionnaires. Pain from the tongue and chafe from the appliance were significantly higher in the QH group on the first day of treatment (P = 0.003 and P = 0.000, respectively). On the fourth day, the chafe from the appliance was still significantly higher in the QH group (P = 0.007). Speech was affected in both groups on day 1; this impairment continued and was significantly higher in the RME group days 4 and 7. No significant difference in analgesic consumption was found between the groups at any time. The analgesic consumption was highest at day 1 of treatment.

Harms

No harm was observed in any patient.

Limitations

Double blinding was not possible due to the clinical limitations.

Conclusion

During the initial 4 days of treatment, pain from the tongue and chafe from the appliance caused the most reported inconvenience in the patients in the QH group. A majority of reported visual analogue scale values were in the lower mid-range, suggesting low to moderate pain and discomfort in both groups.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT04458506
Emperors, ambassadors and opera reviews in 17th-century Venice: an annotated libretto of Cesti’s L’Argia (1669)
Authors: Marcaletti Livio
Published: November 2022

This article addresses the rare and fortunate discovery of a printed libretto currently preserved in the National Library of the Czech Republic. The libretto is filled with fascinating manuscript notes on a Venetian performance of Antonio Cesti’s L’Argia in 1669, at the Teatro S. Luca. The anonymous author—whose identity is revealed from numerous hints found in the notes themselves—wrote a sort of review of the performance, probably addressed to the emperor Leopold I, who was continuously in search of new singers for his court. The handwritten remarks present a ferocious critique of the Venetian production of L’Argia, which is considered extremely inferior to the original version (Innsbruck, 1655). Almost every scene contains entries praising or criticizing various aspects of the performance. The author’s original intention may have been solely to send reports of the performance to the imperial court, but the result constitutes a rare example of late 17th-century music criticism.
New light on the 17th-century English cathedral wind band: a (fragmentary) Canterbury tale
Authors: Roberts Helen
Published: November 2022

Despite the long-acknowledged and widespread association of wind instrumentalists with English cathedrals in the late 16th and 17th centuries, and the continued performance tradition enjoyed by sacred vocal music of the period, the performance practices of English cathedral wind bands during this time have been strangely neglected in the existing literature. Drawing on a combination of traditional musicological and archival research and bespoke practice-led research methodologies, this article discusses some possible solutions to the question of how wind instrumentalists may have been employed in the day-to-day enactment of Prayer Book services during a turbulent period of English history. New archival evidence surrounding the life of William Mather, cornettist at Canterbury Cathedral in the years before the suspension of sung worship in 1642, sheds new light on the interplay between civic and ecclesiastical music-making in the city, contributing to our knowledge of the historical and social contexts of the people and practices involved, and offering a tantalizing glimpse into life in the 17th-century gig economy.
Fermented butter aroma for plant-based applications
Authors: Gu Liuyan , Tadesse Belay Tilahun , Zhao Shuangqing , Holck Jesper , Zhao Ge , Solem Christian
Published: November 2022

Plant-based dairy alternatives are gaining increasing interest, e.g. alternatives to yoghurt, cheese, and butter. In all these products butter flavor (diacetyl + acetoin) plays an important role. We previously have reported efficient butter flavor formation from low value dairy side streams using a dairy isolate of Lactococcus lactis deficient in lactate dehydrogenase. Here, we have tested the ability of this strain, RD1M5, to form butter flavor in plant milks based on oat and soy. We found that oat milk, with its high sugar content, supported more efficient production of butter aroma, when compared to soy milk. When supplemented with glucose, efficient butter aroma production was achieved in soy milk as well. We also carried out an extended adaptive laboratory evolution of the dairy strain in oat milk. After two months of adaptation, we obtained a strain with enhanced capacity for producing butter aroma. Despite of its high sugar content, RD1M5 and its adapted version only metabolized approximately 10% of the fermentable sugars available in the oat milk, which we found was due to amino acid starvation and partly starvation for vitamins. The study demonstrates that dairy cultures have great potential for use in plant-based fermentations.
Preceding birth interval, timing and number of antenatal contacts in Africa, 2010–2020
Authors: Tuoyire Derek Anamaale , Amo-Adjei Joshua
Published: November 2022

Background

Utilization of adequate and quality prenatal healthcare services confers critical benefits to women and their unborn children. However, utilization rates remain low in many countries in Africa. Several studies have attempted to understand the primary drivers behind these low statistics. This article contributes to this discourse by examining the associations between birth interval and timing and number/frequency of antenatal care visits in Africa.

Methods

We pooled data from the publicly available Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in the last decade (2010–2020) for 32 African countries. Data were analysed using descriptive proportions and mixed effect binary logistic regression.

Results

The results illustrate moderate significant associations between spacing on the most recent birth by ≥36 months and early (first trimester) first antenatal care contact in both our bivariate (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, p<0.001) and multivariate (OR 1.106, p<0.001) analyses. The benefits on optimal antenatal contacts predicted on spacing are also noticed with birth intervals of 24–35 months (OR 1.08, p<0.001) and ≥36 months (OR 1.48, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Optimal birth spacing is beneficial for ANC utilization in terms of timing and total number of contacts. Post-partum family planning/contraceptive use can be an effective pathway to prolonging birth intervals. We argue that maternal and child health programmes strengthen prioritizing contraceptive use between births.
Weakly supervised convolutional neural network for pavement crack segmentation
Authors: Tang Youzhi , Qian Yu , Yang Enhui
Published: November 2022

Crack assessment plays an important role in pavement evaluation and maintenance planning. Recent studies leverage the powerful learning capability of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and have achieved good performance with computer vision-based crack detectors. Most existing models are based on the Fully Supervised Learning (FSL) approach and heavily rely on the annotation quality to achieve reasonable accuracy. The annotation cost under the FSL approach has become nontrivial and often causes heavy burdens on model development and improvement, especially for complex networks with deep layers and a large number of parameters. To combat the image annotation cost, we proposed a novel Weakly Supervised Learning U-Net (WSL U-Net) for pavement crack segmentation. With the Weakly Supervised Learning (WSL) approach, the training of the network uses weakly labeled images instead of precisely labeled images. The weakly labeled images only need rough labeling, which can significantly alleviate the labor cost and human involvement in image annotation. The experimental results from this study indicate the proposed WSL U-Net outperforms some other Semi-Supervised Learning (Semi-SL) and WSL methods and achieves comparable performance with its FSL version. The dataset cross-validation shows that WSL U-Net outperforms FSL U-Net, suggesting the proposed WSL U-Net is more robust with fewer overfitting concerns and better generalization capability.
Optimal Taxation of Robots
Authors: Thuemmel Uwe
Published: November 2022

I study the optimal taxation of robots, other capital, and labor income. I show that it is optimal to distort robot adoption. The robot tax (or subsidy) exploits general-equilibrium effects to compress wages, which reduces income-tax distortions of labor supply, thereby raising welfare. In the calibrated model, when robots are expensive, a robot subsidy is optimal. As robots get cheaper, it becomes optimal to tax them. Yet, when reforming the status-quo tax system, most welfare gains can be achieved by adjusting the income tax. The additional gains from taxing robots differently from other equipment capital are close to zero.
Silence of resident microglia in GPI anchorless prion disease and activation of microglia in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease and sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Authors: Noguchi Hideko , Koyama Sachiko , Yagita Kaoru , Shijo Masahiro , Matsuzono Kosuke , Hamasaki Hideomi , Kanemaru Takaaki , Okamoto Tsuyoshi , Kai Keita , Aishima Shinichi , Abe Koji , Sasagasako Naokazu , Honda Hiroyuki
Published: November 2022

GPI anchorless prion diseases (GPIALPs) show numerous coarse prion protein (PrP) deposits in the CNS but neuropil spongiform changes are mild and the incidence of dementia is low. Here, we examined differences in resident microglial phenotypes between GPIALP (D178fs25) and the other prion diseases Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease and sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) with respect to homeostasis and activation. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 2 GPIALP (D178fs25), 4 GSS (P102L), and 4 sCJD cases. Homeostatic microglia expressing TMEM119 and P2RY12 were preserved in GPIALP compared to GSS and sCJD. Microglia/macrophage activation in GSS and sCJD was associated with the extent of spongiform change. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed TMEM119 and P2RY12 in PrP plaque cores. Activated microglia/macrophages expressing HLA-DR and CD68 were predominant in GSS and sCJD whereas in GPIALP, homeostatic microglia were retained and activated microglia/macrophages were rarely observed. These data suggest that PrP deposition in GPIALP is less toxic and that microglia may be immune-tolerant to PrP deposition. This may be associated with milder tissue damage and a low incidence of dementia. Whereas microglia/macrophage activation is considered to be a reaction to tissue injury, this study shows that the degree of microglia/macrophage activity might influence the extent of tissue damage.
A multiscale tissue assessment in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: San Martín Molina Isabel , Fratini Michela , Campi Gaetano , Burghammer Manfred , Grünewald Tilman A , Salo Raimo A , Narvaez Omar , Aggarwal Manisha , Tohka Jussi , Sierra Alejandra
Published: November 2022

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has demonstrated the potential to assess the pathophysiology of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) but correlations of DTI findings and pathological changes in mTBI are unclear. We evaluated the potential of ex vivo DTI to detect tissue damage in a mild mTBI rat model by exploiting multiscale imaging methods, histology and scanning micro-X-ray diffraction (SμXRD) 35 days after sham-operation (n = 2) or mTBI (n = 3). There were changes in DTI parameters rostral to the injury site. When examined by histology and SμXRD, there was evidence of axonal damage, reduced myelin density, gliosis, and ultrastructural alterations in myelin that were ongoing at the experimental time point of 35 days postinjury. We assessed the relationship between the 3 imaging modalities by multiple linear regression analysis. In this analysis, DTI and histological parameters were moderately related, whereas SμXRD parameters correlated weakly with DTI and histology. These findings suggest that while DTI appears to distinguish tissue changes at the microstructural level related to the loss of myelinated axons and gliosis, its ability to visualize alterations in myelin ultrastructure is limited. The use of several imaging techniques represents a novel approach to reveal tissue damage and provides new insights into mTBI detection.
Asymmetric song recognition does not influence gene flow in an emergent songbird hybrid zone
Authors: Brooks William E , Wimberger Peter H
Published: November 2022

Hybrid zones can be used to examine the mechanisms, like song recognition, that affect reproductive isolation and speciation. Song has mixed support as a driver of speciation; we did not find song to be associated with reproductive isolation in White-crowned Sparrow subspecies (Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis and Z. l. gambelii). We examined an emerging secondary contact zone in these subspecies by measuring song variation, song recognition, plumage, morphology, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Plumage and morphological characters provided evidence of hybridization in the contact zone, with some birds possessing intermediate phenotype and song characteristics, and some possessing discordant phenotype and mitochondrial haplotype. Playback experiments revealed asymmetric song recognition: male pugetensis displayed greater response to their own song than gambelii song, whereas gambelii did not discriminate significantly. If female choice operates similarly to male song discrimination, we predicted asymmetric gene flow, resulting in a greater number of hybrids with gambelii mtDNA. Contrary to our prediction, more gambelii and putative hybrids in the contact zone possessed pugetensis mtDNA haplotypes, possibly due to greater pugetensis abundance and female-biased dispersal.
More-than-Human Leadership?
Authors: Huopalainen Astrid
Published: November 2022

How can the relational, embodied, and affective dynamics between horses and humans enrich, develop, or even change common understandings about leadership? Moving away from hu-man-centred conceptualizations of leadership towards radically novel, species-inclusive, and posthuman terrains, this chapter investigates the co-creation of leadership in horse–human relationships within Finnish equestrian culture. Theoretically, it combines insights from the literature on relational leadership and horse–human relationships to develop micro-level understandings of how multispecies relationships—and what the author calls expressions of more-than-human leadership—emerge and co-become in situated practices. Drawing on ethnographic material on horse–human interactions (as in groundwork and in riding), combined with interviews with professional riding instructors, the chapter analyses how horses and humans co-construct leadership relationally. Further, it develops novel, care-based understandings of leadership through sensing, relating to, and learning from horses. By seeking to shift ordinary knowing positions and power distributions through care and respect for the horse, this chapter opens up novel possibilities for co-creating leadership across species boundaries and for conceptualizing and researching leadership differently.
Political Parties and Party System
Authors: Pratas Mafalda , Bizzarro Fernando
Published: November 2022

This chapter describes the foundation, evolution, organization, and societal connections of Portugal’s main political parties, and reviews the main cleavages and lines of competition of the party system. It argues that Portugal is home to an institutionalized, consolidated, and nationalized party system of moderate pluralism, and that Portuguese parties have an electoral-professional organization with relatively weak roots in society. These features make the Portuguese party system stand out when compared to other third wave democracies, where party systems are generally less stable, more fragmented, and in which political parties include organizations that are less durable and professionalized than in older democracies. Perhaps surprisingly, the Portuguese party system closely resembles party systems in other Western European countries, where democracy was consolidated much earlier than in Portugal.
Gender and Politics in Portugal
Authors: Espírito-Santo Ana , Catalano Weeks Ana
Published: November 2022

This chapter surveys the literature on gender and politics in Portugal, focusing on explanations for gender differences in political participation and representation. We map trends in women’s inclusion in key areas of political life: from conventional to unconventional political participation, to the election of women to parliamentary parties (descriptive representation), and responsiveness to women’s policy demands (substantive representation). Examining Portugal in comparative perspective, we highlight the crucial roles of state feminism, women activists within parties, and strategic incentives for parties to advance gender equality. We propose several avenues for developing future research which leverages the Portuguese case, including the downstream impacts of political gender quotas, intersectional and non-binary analysis, and the symbolic impact of women’s inclusion in public life.
The Relations Between the Catholic Church and the Political Arena in Portugal
Authors: Meyer Resende Madalena
Published: November 2022

The relation between the Catholic Church and the political arena in Portugal is shaped by the absence of a religious cleavage and by a strong interdependence between the church and the state. This makes Portugal unique among the Southern European Catholic monopolies, and results in a culture of compromise between the two spheres. This chapter describes the evolution of the Catholic Church as a political actor. Starting with the democratic transition, it goes on to examine the processes of transition to religious freedom, the liberalization of abortion, and the reorganization of state support to private (including Catholic) schools. The chapter concludes that the ecclesiastic hierarchy has maintained its reserve of direct interventions in the political arena, while negotiating with state interlocutors. This has resulted in a decline of its relevance as a political actor, despite the fact that religiosity remains high.
Portuguese Labour Market Governance in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Afonso Alexandre
Published: November 2022

This chapter analyses the core characteristics of labour market governance in Portugal in a comparative perspective, analysing the interplay between public and private regulation within the context of wages and employment conditions. This chapter describes the main characteristics of the Portuguese employment model within the European context and how it differs from other Southern European countries, notably when it comes to female and low-skilled employment. It argues that the power relationships that emerged from the transition to democracy favoured a more liberal employment regime than in Spain, resulting in a lower threshold of unemployment but also in higher income inequalities and lower wage protections. The models have tended to converge in recent years, and income inequality in Portugal has diminished. This chapter highlights the high level of female employment since the 1960s, a characteristic that is significantly different from other Southern European countries. This can be explained by specific contextual factors, notably the legacy of the colonial war and high rates of emigration.
The Portuguese Macroeconomic Policy Framework
Authors: Alexandre Fernando , Bação Pedro
Published: November 2022

This chapter describes the evolution of Portugal’s macroeconomic policy framework since the mid-1970s. During this period, Portugal’s macroeconomic policy framework changed considerably, from an autonomous economic policy to compliance with the Eurozone rules. During this regime change, the importance of policy targets varied, as the set of instruments changed. The regime change was fundamental for achieving the goal of price stability. Initially, the external equilibrium was overlooked, with dire consequences. The fundamental problem was the failure to achieve the goal of economic growth and convergence. The Eurozone sovereign debt crisis led to a review of the Eurozone’s governance. Structural reforms and policies focused on productivity became the core of national economic policies. In the case of Portugal, these policies are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of public debt, and for reducing the dependency on the ECB’s policies, especially within the context of an ageing society.
The Military and Defence Policies
Authors: Carreiras Helena
Published: November 2022

After briefly examining the role of the military in the transition and consolidation of democracy in Portugal, this chapter focuses on major transformations that have been taking place since the mid-1980s in terms of civil-military relations, military organization, and defence policies. Two main areas are explored. Firstly, organizational restructuring, looking at force reduction, the end of conscription, budgetary shrinking, and personnel policies; secondly, changing mission definition and alliance policies, including the reorientation of the Portuguese armed forces towards international peace support missions and operations. The overall legitimacy of the military around those major organizational changes is also addressed on the basis of results from public opinion surveys conducted since the early 1990s. The chapter concludes with an assessment of the changing role of the military throughout this period and raises questions for future research.