bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic and proteomic intra-tumor heterogeneity of colorectal cancer varies depending on tumor location within the colorectum
Authors: Árnadóttir Sigrid Salling , Mattesen Trine Block , Vang Søren , Madsen Mogens Rørbæk , Madsen Anders Husted , Birkbak Nicolai Juul , Bramsen Jesper Bertram , Andersen Claus Lindbjerg
Published: December 2020

Background

Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH) of colorectal cancer (CRC) complicates molecular tumor classification, such as transcriptional subtyping. Differences in cellular states, biopsy cell composition, and tumor microenvironment may all lead to ITH. Here we analyze ITH at the transcriptomic and proteomic levels to ascertain whether subtype discordance between multiregional biopsies reflects relevant biological ITH or lack of classifier robustness. Further, we study the impact of tumor location on ITH.

Methods

Multiregional biopsies from stage II and III CRC tumors were analyzed by RNA sequencing (41 biopsies, 14 tumors) and multiplex immune protein analysis (89 biopsies, 29 tumors). CRC subtyping was performed using consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), CRC intrinsic subtypes (CRIS), and TUMOR types. ITH-scores and network maps were defined to determine the origin of heterogeneity. A validation cohort was used with one biopsy per tumor (162 tumors).

Results

Overall, inter-tumor transcriptional variation exceeded ITH, and subtyping calls were frequently concordant between multiregional biopsies. Still, some tumors had high transcriptional ITH and were classified discordantly. Subtyping of proximal MSS tumors were discordant for 50% of the tumors, this ITH was related to differences in the microenvironment. Subtyping of distal MSS tumors were less discordant, here the ITH was more cancer-cell related. The subtype discordancy reflected actual molecular ITH within the tumors. The relevance of the subtypes was reflected at protein level where several inflammation markers were significantly increased in immune related transcriptional subtypes, which was verified in an independent cohort (Wilcoxon rank sum test; p<0.05). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of the protein data identified large ITH at protein level; as the multiregional biopsies clustered together for only 9 out of 29 tumors.

Conclusion

Our transcriptomic and proteomic analyses show that the tumor location along the colorectum influence the ITH of CRC, which again influence the concordance of subtyping.
The gamma response to colour hue in humans: Evidence from MEG
Authors: Perry Gavin , Taylor Nathan W. , Bothwell Philippa C. H. , Milbourn Colette C. , Powell Georgina , Singh Krish D.
Published: December 2020

It has recently been demonstrated through invasive electrophysiology that visual stimulation with extended patches of uniform colour generates pronounced gamma oscillations in the visual cortex of both macaques and humans. In this study we sought to discover if this oscillatory response to colour can be measured non-invasively in humans using magnetoencephalography. We were able to demonstrate increased gamma (40–70 Hz) power in response to full-screen stimulation with four different colour hues and found that the gamma response is particularly strong for long wavelength (i.e. red) stimulation, as was found in previous studies. However, we also found that gamma power in response to colour was generally weaker than the response to an identically sized luminance-defined grating. We also observed two additional responses in the gamma frequency: a lower frequency response around 25–35 Hz that showed fewer clear differences between conditions than the gamma response, and a higher frequency response around 70–100 Hz that was present for red stimulation but not for other colours. In a second experiment we sought to test whether differences in the gamma response between colour hues could be explained by their chromatic separation from the preceding display. We presented stimuli that alternated between each of the three pairings of the three primary colours (red, green, blue) at two levels of chromatic separation defined in the CIELUV colour space. We observed that the gamma response was significantly greater to high relative to low chromatic separation, but that at each level of separation the response was greater for both red-blue and red-green than for blue-green stimulation. Our findings suggest that the stronger gamma response to red stimulation cannot be wholly explained by the chromatic separation of the stimuli.
Neonatal brain metabolite concentrations: Associations with age, sex, and developmental outcomes
Authors: Merz Emily C. , Monk Catherine , Bansal Ravi , Sawardekar Siddhant , Lee Seonjoo , Feng Tianshu , Spann Marisa , Foss Sophie , McDonough Laraine , Werner Elizabeth , Peterson Bradley S.
Published: December 2020

Age and sex differences in brain metabolite concentrations in early life are not well understood. We examined the associations of age and sex with brain metabolite levels in healthy neonates, and investigated the associations between neonatal brain metabolite concentrations and developmental outcomes. Forty-one infants (36–42 gestational weeks at birth; 39% female) of predominantly Hispanic/Latina mothers (mean 18 years of age) underwent MRI scanning approximately two weeks after birth. Multiplanar chemical shift imaging was used to obtain voxel-wise maps of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine, and choline concentrations across the brain. The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, a measure of cognitive, language, and motor skills, and mobile conjugate reinforcement paradigm, a measure of learning and memory, were administered at 4 months of age. Findings indicated that postmenstrual age correlated positively with NAA concentrations in multiple subcortical and white matter regions. Creatine and choline concentrations showed similar but less pronounced age related increases. Females compared with males had higher metabolite levels in white matter and subcortical gray matter. Neonatal NAA concentrations were positively associated with learning and negatively associated with memory at 4 months. Age-related increases in NAA, creatine, and choline suggest rapid development of neuronal viability, cellular energy metabolism, and cell membrane turnover, respectively, during early life. Females may undergo earlier and more rapid regional developmental increases in the density of viable neurons compared to males.
Barriers and enablers to the implementation of protocol-based imaging in pancreatic cancer: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework
Authors: Maharaj Ashika D. , Evans Sue M. , Zalcberg John R. , Ioannou Liane J. , Graco Marnie , Croagh Daniel , Pilgrim Charles H. C. , Dodson Theresa , Goldstein David , Philip Jennifer , Kench James G. , Merrett Neil D. , Neale Rachel E. , White Kate , Evans Peter , Leong Trevor , Green Sally E.
Published: December 2020

Background

Accurate pre-operative imaging plays a vital role in patient selection for surgery and in allocating stage-appropriate therapies to patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC). This study aims to: (1) understand the current diagnosis and staging practices for PC; and (2) explore the factors (barriers and enablers) that influence the use of a pancreatic protocol computed tomography (PPCT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm diagnosis and/or accurately stage PC.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with radiologists, surgeons, gastroenterologists, medical and radiation oncologists from the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, Australia. Interviews were conducted either in person or via video conferencing. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, de-identified and data were thematically coded according to the 12 domains explored within the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Common belief statements were generated to compare the variation between participant responses.

Findings

In total, 21 clinicians (5 radiologists, 10 surgeons, 2 gastroenterologists, 4 medical and radiation oncologists) were interviewed over a four-month-period. Belief statements relevant to the TDF domains were generated. Across the 11 relevant domains, 20 themes and 30 specific beliefs were identified. All TDF domains, with the exception of social influences were identified by participants as relevant to protocol-based imaging using either a PPCT or MRI, with the domains of knowledge, skills and environmental context and resources being offered by most participants as being relevant in influencing their decisions.

Conclusions

To maximise outcomes and personalise therapy it is imperative that diagnosis and staging investigations using the most appropriate imaging modalities are conducted in a timely, efficient and effective manner. The results provide an understanding of specialists’ opinion and behaviour in relation to a PPCT or MRI and should be used to inform the design of future interventions to improve compliance with this practice.
Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the Indian state of Karnataka
Authors: Pattabiraman Chitra , Habib Farhat , P. K. Harsha , Rasheed Risha , Prasad Pramada , Reddy Vijayalakshmi , Dinesh Prameela , Damodar Tina , Hosallimath Kiran , George Anson K. , Kiran Reddy Nakka Vijay , John Banerjee , Pattanaik Amrita , Kumar Narendra , Mani Reeta S. , Venkataswamy Manjunatha M. , Shahul Hameed Shafeeq K. , Kumar B. G. Prakash , Desai Anita , Vasanthapuram Ravi
Published: December 2020

Karnataka, a state in south India, reported its first case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on March 8, 2020, more than a month after the first case was reported in India. We used a combination of contact tracing and genomic epidemiology to trace the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the state up until May 21, 2020 (1578 cases). We obtained 91 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 which clustered into seven lineages (Pangolin lineages—A, B, B.1, B.1.80, B.1.1, B.4, and B.6). The lineages in Karnataka were known to be circulating in China, Southeast Asia, Iran, Europe and other parts of India and are likely to have been imported into the state both by international and domestic travel. Our sequences grouped into 17 contact clusters and 24 cases with no known contacts. We found 14 of the 17 contact clusters had a single lineage of the virus, consistent with multiple introductions and most (12/17) were contained within a single district, reflecting local spread. In most of the 17 clusters, the index case (12/17) and spreaders (11/17) were symptomatic. Of the 91 sequences, 47 belonged to the B.6 lineage, including eleven of 24 cases with no known contact, indicating ongoing transmission of this lineage in the state. Genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Karnataka suggests multiple introductions of the virus followed by local transmission in parallel with ongoing viral evolution. This is the first study from India combining genomic data with epidemiological information emphasizing the need for an integrated approach to outbreak response.
Exploring the “anchor word” effect in infants: Segmentation and categorisation of speech with and without high frequency words
Authors: Frost Rebecca L. A. , Dunn Kirsty , Christiansen Morten H. , Gómez Rebecca L. , Monaghan Padraic
Published: December 2020

High frequency words play a key role in language acquisition, with recent work suggesting they may serve both speech segmentation and lexical categorisation. However, it is not yet known whether infants can detect novel high frequency words in continuous speech, nor whether they can use them to help learning for segmentation and categorisation at the same time. For instance, when hearing “you eat the biscuit”, can children use the high-frequency words “you” and “the” to segment out “eat” and “biscuit”, and determine their respective lexical categories? We tested this in two experiments. In Experiment 1, we familiarised 12-month-old infants with continuous artificial speech comprising repetitions oftarget words, which were preceded by high-frequencymarker wordsthat distinguished the targets into two distributional categories. In Experiment 2, we repeated the task using the same language but with additional phonological cues to word and category structure. In both studies, we measured learning with head-turn preference tests of segmentation and categorisation, and compared performance against a control group that heard the artificial speech without the marker words (i.e., just the targets). There was no evidence that high frequency words helped either speech segmentation or grammatical categorisation. However, segmentation was seen to improve when the distributional information was supplemented with phonological cues (Experiment 2). In both experiments, exploratory analysis indicated that infants’ looking behaviour was related to their linguistic maturity (indexed by infants’ vocabulary scores) with infants with high versus low vocabulary scores displaying novelty and familiarity preferences, respectively. We propose that high-frequency words must reach a critical threshold of familiarity before they can be of significant benefit to learning.
Demonstration of the potential of white-box machine learning approaches to gain insights from cardiovascular disease electrocardiograms
Authors: Rieg Thilo , Frick Janek , Baumgartl Hermann , Buettner Ricardo
Published: December 2020

We present the results from a white-box machine learning approach to detect cardiac arrhythmias using electrocardiographic data. A C5.0 is trained to recognize four classes using common features. The four classes are (i) atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, (ii) tachycardias (iii), sinus bradycardia and (iv) sinus rhythm. Data from 10,646 subjects, 83% of whom have at least one arrhythmia and 17% of whom exhibit a normal sinus rhythm, are used. The C5.0 is trained using 10-fold cross-validation and is able to achieve a balanced accuracy of 95.35%. By using the white-box machine learning approach, a clear and comprehensible tree structure can be revealed, which has selected the 5 most important features from a total of 24 features. These 5 features are ventricular rate, RR-Interval variation, atrial rate, age and difference between longest and shortest RR-Interval. The combination of ventricular rate, RR-Interval variation and atrial rate is especially relevant to achieve classification accuracy, which can be disclosed through the tree. The tree assigns unique values to distinguish the classes. These findings could be applied in medicine in the future. It can be shown that a white-box machine learning approach can reveal granular structures, thus confirming known linear relationships and also revealing nonlinear relationships. To highlight the strength of the C5.0 with respect to this structural revelation, the results of further white-box machine learning and black-box machine learning algorithms are presented.
Predictors of suboptimal adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy among adolescents and children living with HIV
Authors: Kay Alexander W. , Thivalapill Neil , Skinner Donald , Dube Gloria Sisi , Dlamini Nomathemba , Mzileni Bulisile , Fuentes Patricia , Ustero Pilar , Adams Lisa V. , Mandalakas Anna M.
Published: December 2020

This study identified factors associated with adherence to a 6-month isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) course among adolescents and children living with HIV. Forty adolescents living with HIV and 48 primary caregivers of children living with HIV completed a Likert-based survey to measure respondent opinions regarding access to care, quality of care, preferred regimens, perceived stigma, and confidence in self-efficacy. Sociodemographic data were collected and adherence measured as the average of pill counts obtained while on IPT. The rates of suboptimal adherence (< 95% adherent) were 22.5% among adolescents and 37.5% among the children of primary caregivers. Univariate logistic regression was used to model the change in the odds of suboptimal adherence. Independent factors associated with suboptimal adherence among adolescents included age, education level, the cost of coming to clinic, stigma from community members, and two variables relating to self-efficacy. Among primary caregivers, child age, concerns about stigma, and location preference for meeting a community-health worker were associated with suboptimal adherence. To determine whether these combined factors contributed different information to the prediction of suboptimal adherence, a risk score containing these predictors was constructed for each group. The risk score had an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI: 0.76, 0.99) among adolescents and an AUC of 0.76 (95% CI: 0.62, 0.90), among primary caregivers suggesting that these variables may have complementary predictive utility. The heterogeneous scope and associations of these variables in different populations suggests that interventions aiming to increase optimal adherence will need to be tailored to specific populations and multifaceted in nature. Ideally interventions should address both long-established barriers to adherence such as cost of transportation to attend clinic and more nuanced psychosocial barriers such as perceived community stigma and confidence in self-efficacy.
Optimization study on spatial distribution of rice based on a virtual plant approach
Authors: Xu Lifeng , Huang Zusheng , Yang Zhongzhu , Ding Weilong , Buck-Sorlin Gerhard Hartwig
Published: December 2020

How to increase crop yield is the most important issue in agricultural production. Many studies have been devoted to optimizing spatial distribution of crops, to improve light interception and increase photosynthetic assimilation. However, finding an optimal solution based on field experiments is almost impossible since the large number of combinations of factors that are related, and the cost in terms of finances and time are prohibitive. A new optimization strategy was proposed in this study, integrating a Functional-Structural Model of rice with a workflow based on a Mixed Particle Swarm Optimization (MPSO) algorithm. The 3D modelling platform GroIMP was used to implement the model and optimization workflow. MPSO is a new Particle Swarm Optimization-based algorithm with multistage disturbances, which has improved abilities to get rid of local optima and to explore solution space. Spacing between plants was used as optimization target in the first example. An optimal plant spacing was obtained within the model framework of current environmental settings together with the functional and structural modules. Simulation results indicate that the optimized plant spacing could increase rice yield, and that the optimization results remain stable.
Drivers of food consumption among overweight mother-child dyads in Malawi
Authors: Thakwalakwa Chrissie , Flax Valerie L. , Phuka John C. , Garcia Harrison , Jaacks Lindsay M.
Published: December 2020

To address the increase in overweight and obesity among mothers and children in sub-Saharan Africa, an understanding of the factors that drive their food consumption is needed. We hypothesized food consumption in Malawi is driven by a combination of factors, including season, food accessibility (area of residence, convenience of purchasing food, female autonomy), food affordability (household resources, food expenditures, household food insecurity), food desirability (taste preferences, body size preferences), demographics, and morbidity. Participants in Lilongwe and Kasungu Districts were enrolled across three types of mother-child dyads: either the mother (n = 120), child (n = 80), or both (n = 74) were overweight. Seven-day dietary intake was assessed using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire during the dry and rainy seasons. Drivers associated with intake of calories, macronutrients, and 11 food groups at p<0.1 in univariate models were entered into separate multivariate linear regression models for each dietary intake outcome. Mother-child dyads with an overweight child had a higher percent of calories from carbohydrates and lower percent of calories from fat compared to dyads with a normal weight child (both p<0.01). These mothers also had the highest intake of grains (p<0.01) and their children had the lowest intake of oil/fat (p = 0.01). Household food insecurity, maternal taste preferences, and maternal body size preferences were the most consistent predictors of food group consumption. Household food insecurity was associated with lower intake of grains, fruits, meat and eggs, oil/fat, and snacks. Maternal taste preferences predicted increased consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, vegetables, fish, and oil/fat. Maternal body size preferences for herself and her child were associated with consumption of grains, legumes/nuts, dairy, and sweets. Predictors of food consumption varied by season, across food groups, and for mothers and children. In conclusion, indicators of food affordability and desirability were the most common predictors of food consumption among overweight mother-child dyads in Malawi.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of late auditory evoked potentials as a candidate biomarker in the assessment of tinnitus
Authors: Cardon Emilie , Joossen Iris , Vermeersch Hanne , Jacquemin Laure , Mertens Griet , Vanderveken Olivier M. , Topsakal Vedat , Van de Heyning Paul , Van Rompaey Vincent , Gilles Annick
Published: December 2020

Subjective tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of any sound source, is routinely assessed using questionnaires. The subjective nature of these tools hampers objective evaluation of tinnitus presence, severity and treatment effects. Late auditory evoked potentials (LAEPs) might be considered as a potential biomarker for assessing tinnitus complaints. Using a multivariate meta-analytic model including data from twenty-one studies, we determined the LAEP components differing systematically between tinnitus patients and controls. Results from this model indicate that amplitude of the P300 component is lower in tinnitus patients (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.83, p < 0.01), while latency of this component is abnormally prolonged in this population (SMD = 0.97, p < 0.01). No other investigated LAEP components were found to differ between tinnitus and non-tinnitus subjects. Additional sensitivity analyses regarding differences in experimental conditions confirmed the robustness of these results. Differences in age and hearing levels between the two experimental groups might have a considerable impact on LAEP outcomes and should be carefully considered in future studies. Although we established consistent differences in the P300 component between tinnitus patients and controls, we could not identify any evidence that this component might covary with tinnitus severity. We conclude that out of several commonly assessed LAEP components, only the P300 can be considered as a potential biomarker for subjective tinnitus, although more research is needed to determine its relationship with subjective tinnitus measures. Future trials investigating experimental tinnitus therapies should consider including P300 measurements in the evaluation of treatment effect.
Further validation of the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ)
Authors: Johansson Mia , Karlsson Therese , Finizia Caterina
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to update and, if necessary, revise the Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ), the only existing trismus-specific questionnaire, and retest its psychometric properties. Semi-structured interviews were performed with 10 trismus patients of which 5 had head and neck cancer (HNC) and 5 suffered from benign temporomandibular disorders. Trismus was defined as a maximal incisal opening of ≤ 35mm. An expert panel discussed and revised the GTQ based on interview information, expertise knowledge and the original questionnaire. The revised questionnaire was then tested in a study sample consisting of benign jaw-related conditions (n = 26), patients treated for HNC (n = 90) and an age- and gender-matched control group with no trismus (n = 116). The revised version of the GTQ (GTQ 2) was well accepted by patients. The original three domains continued to show high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.74–0.94) and construct validity. Two dually posed single items were split into four questions and the wording was altered in another three items. Moreover, a new domain (Facial pain) was identified, which had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.96) and good construct validity. The revision of the original Gothenburg Trismus Questionnaire (GTQ 1) with inclusion of patient-input, resulted in splitting of ambiguous items, identifying a fourth domain named Facial pain and the recall time shortened for some items. Additionally, the remaining domains and items were re-confirmed as strong in the psychometric analysis. Henceforth, the new version, GTQ 2 should be used.
An embedded system for the automated generation of labeled plant images to enable machine learning applications in agriculture
Authors: Beck Michael A. , Liu Chen-Yi , Bidinosti Christopher P. , Henry Christopher J. , Godee Cara M. , Ajmani Manisha
Published: December 2020

A lack of sufficient training data, both in terms of variety and quantity, is often the bottleneck in the development of machine learning (ML) applications in any domain. For agricultural applications, ML-based models designed to perform tasks such as autonomous plant classification will typically be coupled to just one or perhaps a few plant species. As a consequence, each crop-specific task is very likely to require its own specialized training data, and the question of how to serve this need for data now often overshadows the more routine exercise of actually training such models. To tackle this problem, we have developed an embedded robotic system to automatically generate and label large datasets of plant images for ML applications in agriculture. The system can image plants from virtually any angle, thereby ensuring a wide variety of data; and with an imaging rate of up to one image per second, it can produce lableled datasets on the scale of thousands to tens of thousands of images per day. As such, this system offers an important alternative to time- and cost-intensive methods of manual generation and labeling. Furthermore, the use of a uniform background made of blue keying fabric enables additional image processing techniques such as background replacement and image segementation. It also helps in the training process, essentially forcing the model to focus on the plant features and eliminating random correlations. To demonstrate the capabilities of our system, we generated a dataset of over 34,000 labeled images, with which we trained an ML-model to distinguish grasses from non-grasses in test data from a variety of sources. We now plan to generate much larger datasets of Canadian crop plants and weeds that will be made publicly available in the hope of further enabling ML applications in the agriculture sector.
Combined abnormal muscle activity and pain-related factors affect disability in patients with chronic low back pain: An association rule analysis
Authors: Shigetoh Hayato , Nishi Yuki , Osumi Michihiro , Morioka Shu
Published: December 2020

Objectives

In patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), reduced lumbar flexion-relaxation and reduced variability of muscle activity distribution are reported as abnormal muscle activity. It is not known how abnormal muscle activity and pain-related factors are related to CLBP-based disability. Here, we performed an association rule analysis to investigated how CLBP disability, muscle activity, and pain-related factors in CLBP patients are related.

Methods

Surface electromyographic signals were recorded from over the bilateral lumbar erector spinae muscle with four-channel electrodes from 24 CLBP patients while they performed a trunk flexion re-extension task. We calculated the average value of muscle activities of all channels and then calculated the flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) and the spatial variability of muscle activities. We also assessed the pain-related factors and CLBP disability by a questionnaire method. A clustering association rules analysis was performed to determine the relationships among pain-related factors, the FRR, and the variability of muscle activity distribution.

Results

The association rules of severe CLBP disability were divisible into five classes, including ‘low FRR-related rules.’ The rules of the mild CLBP disability were divisible into four classes, including ‘high FRR-related rules’ and ‘high muscle variability-related rules.’ When we combined pain-related factors with the FRR and muscle variability, the relationship between abnormal FRR/muscle variability and CLBP disability became stronger.

Discussion

Our findings thus highlight the importance of focusing on not only the patients’ pain-related factors but also the abnormal motor control associated with CLBP, which causes CLBP disability.
Morfología urbana, infraestructuras ferroviarias y crecimiento económico en las ciudades cántabras
Authors: Delgado Viñas Carmen , Lagüera Díaz Sara
Published: December 2020

En el territorio de la actual Comunidad Autónoma de Cantabria tuvo lugar desde mediados del siglo XVIII un intenso proceso de articulación territorial que culminó con la construcción del Ferrocarril de Isabel II y de la red ferroviaria de vía estrecha. Las nuevas infraestructuras viarias favorecieron el crecimiento de algunos núcleos urbanos entre los que se encuentran Castro Urdiales, Torrelavega y, sobre todo, la capital regional, Santander. Aunque con distinta intensidad, tiempos y ritmos, representan tres notables ejemplos del proceso de transición urbana y urbanística en España.El núcleo central de la investigación en que se apoya este artículo es el impacto urbanístico diferencial de las infraestructuras ferroviarias en la remodelación de la morfología urbana y en el nacimiento de nuevos paisajes urbanos.En Santander influyeron en la potenciación del centro urbano y de la “ciudad balnearia” de El Sardinero, así como en la configuración de áreas suburbanas y periurbanas industriales, que constituyeron unidades paisajísticas bien diferenciadas. En Torrelavega las dos estaciones existentes funcionaron de manera muy distinta en la articulación del espacio y el paisaje urbano. Los ferrocarriles mineros de Castro Urdiales constituyeron un verdadero “cinturón de hierro” mientras que, por el contrario, la localización periférica de la estación tuvo escaso impacto.
Inventory of biosecurity measures and antibiotics therapy practices on laying hen farms in Benin
Authors: Aguidissou Oscar N. C. , Boko Cyrille K. , Adoligbe Camus M. , Dete Clarisse H. , Capo-Chichi Picole T. , Akpo Yao , Koutinhouin Benoit G. , Farougou Souaïbou
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim: Laying hen breeding is on the rise in Benin; nevertheless, there are several sanitary constraints to its development, including bacterial diseases. Faced with this situation, breeders mainly resort to different means of treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the current state of hygiene measures, the bacterial diseases commonly encountered, and antibiotic therapy practices on laying hen farms in Benin.

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 laying hen farms were randomly selected from lists of laying hen farms obtained from veterinary offices, territorial agricultural development agencies, and the Benin National Union of Professional Aviculturists. Each visited farmer was subjected to a semi-structured questionnaire by direct interview. The results were compared using the bilateral Z-test.

Results: The results of this survey revealed that 99.5% of the surveyed farms had a health and medical prophylaxis program although only 88.5% of them reported strictly adhering to it (p<0.001). About 25.0% of them reported that the dominant bacterial diseases they commonly encountered on their farms were salmonellosis, colibacillosis, and chronic respiratory disease. Only 7.0% of farmers said that they confirmed their diagnosis outside of clinical signs through laboratory analysis. To control these pathologies, 14.5% of farmers used only oxytetracycline, while 39.0% used other antibiotics such as colistin, enrofloxacin, tylosin, tylodox, flumequine, and norfloxacin. In comparison, 13.5% used a trimethoprim-sulfadimethoxine and sulfadimidine combination, while 32.0% said that they used erythromycin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, neomycin, and colistin (p<0.001) combination.

Conclusion: This study highlights the inadequacies of hygiene and antibiotic therapy practices implemented on Benin's laying hen farms.
BACTERIOPHAGES: Genius Viruses Leading the Future of Biotechnology
Authors: Nandi Amartya , Sharma Kanav , Puri Bhavana M. , Puri Bhaskar R. , Bose Mansi
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT:

Bacteriophages or phages are the most abundant organisms in the biosphere and are an omnipresent feature of prokaryotic existence. A

bacteriophage

is a virus which infects a bacterium and can be used for multiple perspectives in biological sciences. With the capability of better bio-film penetration, they are target-specific in nature,

lyse

bacteria at the site of infection and can be called as targeted antibiotics in the field of medical science. Phages can be used in agricultural industries, petroleum industries and as bio-control agents. With recent advancement of technologies and techniques, phages can be used as vehicles for vaccine delivery to humans and other mammals. In genetic engineering, they can be used as vectors for horizontal gene transfer. Phages possess good therapeutic and clinical values for cancer and HIV therapies. They are revolutionizing CRISPRCas9 resistance and extend the frontier for bio-control and bio-processing. Bacteriophages have the ability to reform modern medical science due to its uniqueness and specificity on pathogens. many researchers and institutions have taken a step forward and are analyzing phage human interactions at genomic and

proteomic

levels. We can conclude that future era of biotechnology can be led by these genius viruses which possess a scientific uniqueness in them and leading biological research to new extents.
Pushing Corruption and Money Laundering into Reverse Momentum
Authors: Ekwueme Ejike
Published: December 2020

In this article, the author emphasizes how corruption and money laundering have caused incalculable economic damage to society. The two problems are intricately linked and very difficult to separate. The board of directors should introduce an enhanced corporate governance mechanism(s) alongside other countermeasures in order to minimize weaknesses in the current system. In exercising their corporate function(s), aside from other committees, the board should focus more on the audit committees. It is very important that the board uses the services of competent non-executive directors (NEDs) on the audit committees. NEDs should monitor the authenticity of audit reports and minimize the occurrence of fictitious financial reports that aid fraud. Efforts at whistle-blowing should be encouraged with rewards by the board for curtailing fraud through such brave conduct. Fictitious and vexatious reports should not go unpunished. The time is ripe for boards to focus on corporate ethics and make sure that they are practised across the entity from ‘the top to the shop floor’. The corporate culture should be seen to nurture the best behaviour in people. This approach has very strong potential to minimize fraudulent and dishonest behaviours that translate into corruption and, by implication, money laundering.

Keywords: corruption; money laundering; board of directors; whistle-blowers; non-executive directors; corporate ethics
China’s New Foreign Investment Law
Authors: Xiaoyang Zhang
Published: December 2020

China’s legal framework for governing foreign investment has recently been considerably streamlined in comparison to its former self. The newly promulgated Foreign Investment Law of the People’s Republic tends to level the investment playing field in the country so that foreign investors can no longer enjoy significant privileges that have been unavailable to domestic firms and entrepreneurs. Operating a relatively nondiscriminatory mechanism, such as has been introduced, will in practice mean reliance on a negative list approach to confine inflows of overseas capital to specifically identify sensitive sectors. As China has committed its market to opening up on a much grander scale in the foreseeable future, the new foreign investment regime and accompanying ideology may not necessarily deter foreign investors from looking for opportunities in the foreseeable future.

Keywords: China; foreign investment; negative list; market opening-up
Editorial
Authors: Mason Stephen
Published: December 2020

Editorial Vol 17: 2020
The role and function of the e-signature, time stamp, and e-evidence in the context of Turkish commercial law
Authors: Berber Leyla Keser
Published: December 2020

One of the aims of the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC) is to enable digital companies to promote digital transformation. To achieve this aim, it has brought many novelties to Turkish Law. This paper explains the roles and functions of the e-signature, time stamp and e-evidence in the context of the TCC, and concludes that although the TCC promotes digital companies, further changes to the legal framework are necessary to keep up with the technological advancements.

Index words: Turkish Commercial Code; digital transformation; e-signature; time stamp; e-evidence
The application of forensics examination in crime-related prosecution
Authors: Onwubiko Davidson C. , Eboibi Felix E.
Published: December 2020

The increased use of the internet and information technology in Nigeria has led to the need to utilize technologies to identify and prosecute perpetrators of crimes. In today’s world, the application of forensics in the investigation and prosecution of crimes is essential. This paper critically examines the effect of the absence of a coordinated standard for the execution and presentation of forensic investigations utilizing electronic evidence in Nigeria. It examines the nature and scope of the various forensic models proposed, while questioning the appropriateness or otherwise of their usefulness in criminal prosecutions. The paper suggests the need for the regulation of forensics practices, the provision of standards, and a universal model for the successful prosecution of crimes in Nigeria.

Index words: Nigeria; forensic examination; digital crime; standardization
CONTORNOS DA FRONTEIRA CAPITALISTA NO SÉCULO XXI: UM OLHAR SOBRE O CERRADO E A AMAZÔNIA
Authors: Oliveira Adão Francisco de , Ferreira Rogério Castro , Barreira Celene Cunha M. A.
Published: December 2020

O presente trabalho objetiva lançar um olhar sobre as características territoriais atuais da região Centro-Norte-Amazônica brasileira, assente sobre o Cerrado e a Floresta Amazônica, identificando os elementos que delineiam a fronteira capitalista nesse princípio de século XXI. Destaca a forma como as cidades médias têm servido aos preceitos capitalistas no recente processo de urbanização da região e busca relacionar as transformações ocorridas no território do Cerrado a partir da modernização imposta pelo capitalismo, por meio de uma reestruturação urbana pela qual a região Centro-Oeste tem passado desde meados do século XX com o processo de expansão da fronteira econômica sobre a Amazônia. Parte-se do entendimento de que o Estado brasileiro se adequa às exigências do capitalismo mundial por meio da implantação do modelo urbano-industrial. O método de abordagem é o Histórico e a análise desprendida é a Dialética, sendo que este trabalho é resultado parcial de uma pesquisa componente dos projetos “PGPSE/CAPES Desenvolvimento Territorial e Sociobiodiversidade: perspectivas para o mundo do Cerrado” e “PROCAD/CAPES Território, Meio Ambiente e Dinâmicas Rural-Urbano-Regionais na Amazônia Brasileira”.
The violent-care of dingo conservation breeding
Authors: Jackson-Martin Charlie
Published: December 2020

In 2019, a wild-born dingo pup named Wandi was taken from the Victorian high country to the Australian Dingo Foundation to become a part of their breeding program. Wandi was chosen because he was identified as a ‘rare’ ‘alpine’ dingo. At the point at which Wandi was handed over to the ADF, he became a captive dingo and will likely never be released. Wandi is one of thousands of dingoes who are bred and sold each year by the dingo breeding industry in Australia – both for zoos and wildlife parks to exhibit, and as privately owned ‘pets’. None of these dingoes can ever be released. Dingo captivity is often justified by dingo breeders as a necessary part of ‘essential’ conservation to combat the possible ‘extinction’ of the dingo. In this article, I question this assumption and demonstrate how it perpetuates and energises historically constructed distinctions between dingo ‘types’ (such as ‘alpine’ and ‘pure’). Here, I mobilise Thom van Dooren’s concept of ‘violent-care’ to better understand the contradictory ways in which dingoes experience life and captivity in Australia: ‘rare’ but a ‘pest’, charismatic and newsworthy but also imprisoned, evincing popular sentiments of affection and forced into captive breeding. I work with these contradictions every day as the founder of Sydney Fox and Dingo Rescue (SFDR). As dingo advocates, we have a responsibility to examine the violence dingoes experience as a result of captivity and the ‘logics’ and discourse that drive that violence, as van Dooren writes: ‘[w]hen the ‘logics’ that structure violence (or care for that matter) go unexamined, they become both invisible and commonsensical’ (van Dooren, ‘A Day with Crows’ 3).
Kartu pemantauan pertumbuhan panjang badan dapat meningkatkan nilai z-skor PB/U pada anak stunting
Authors: Waliyo Edy , Agusanty Shelly Festillia , Nopriantini Nopriantini
Published: December 2020

Background: Stunting in children was largely unknown by parents, because when visited the Posyandu there wasn’t assessment of length growth. The purpose of this study was to provide a card to monitor the lenght growth in children who are stunted against length for age z-skor (LAZ).Method: This type of research was a quasi experimental design pre and posttest control group design using two group: the intervention group was given a length growth monitoring card and and the control group was given a standard child growth chart. This research was conducted in Sambas Subdistrict, Sejangkung Regency for three months. The sample in this study was stunting children aged 3-21 months with a total sample of twenty each group. The dependent variable was LAZ, which is measured before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was to determine the differences between the two groups after the intervention with the Mann Whitney Test.Results: The results showed that the group given the length growth card was the average value of LAZ before -3.12 ± 0.69 and after the intervention -2.98 ± 0.78 with an increase in the z-score of 0.14 ± 0.68, while the control group LAZ values before -2.68 ± 0.34 and after the intervention -2.62 ± 0.68 with an increase of 0.07 ± 0.633. Statistically with the Man Whitney Test showed no difference, but the change in the LAZ was higher in the group given the growth card compared to the control group.Conclusion: Giving growth cards and child growth charts did not difference in increasing LAZ in stunting children. However providing a growth monitoring card can encourage mothers to feed their children better.
Cholesterol-lowering activity of lactic acid bacteria and yeast when used as probiotics in laying quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica)
Authors: Istiqomah L. , Sakti A. A. , Sofyan A. , Herdian H. , Anggraeni A. S.
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the administration of Lactobacillus plantarum AKK-30 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae B-18 as probiotics in reducing cholesterol of blood, egg, and meat and also the production performance of laying quail (Coturnix coturnix Japonica). A number of 600 birds of the twenty one-day-old quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 6 replications (initial BW= 101.35 ± 1.64 g). Treatments were as follows: A = negative control (basal diet without probiotic), B = 1% of L. plantarum AKK-30 (107 cfu/g), C = 1% of S. cerevisiae B-18 (106 cfu/g), D = 1% of a probiotic consortium, E = positive control (commercial probiotic). Parameters observed were blood biochemistry profiles, product quality, and production performance. The results revealed that administration of 1% S. cerevisiae (C) resulted the lowest cholesterol in blood (101.75 mg/dL) and egg (9.44 mg/g) and while administration of 1% L. plantarum(B) increased meat protein and decreased fat content (P<0.05). Level of blood triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were not different among treatments. Probiotic treatments did not affect the growth performance, quail day production (QDP), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and egg uniformity. However, probiotic increased diameter of egg yolk (P<0.05). It was concluded that administration of single probiotic L. plantarum AKK-30 or S. cerevisiae B-18 improves the quality of laying quail products.
An income analysis of beef cattle fattening system and its contribution to the total household income in Central Java Province
Authors: Prasetyo E. , Ekowati T. , Gayatri S.
Published: December 2020

Beef cattle fattening is raised by farmers in Central Java, but not yet profit oriented. The aims of this research were to analyze the farmer income of beef cattle fattening farm and its contribution to the total household income and to analyze the influence of production costs and farm size toward beef cattle farm income. Survey was used among 150 beef cattle farmers, while multi stage cluster quota sampling was used as sampling method. Income analysis, paired t test, and multiple linear regression were used for data analysis. Research result showed that the farmer’s income from beef cattle farm is IDR 6,736,824.21 per 6.32 month fattening period on an average farm scale was 2.31 heads (equal to IDR 1,065,953.20/month). While, average income of farm households from non-beef cattle farm was IDR 3,516,080.95/month. The contribution of beef cattle farm to household farmer’s income was 30.32%. Based on the paired t test, beef cattle farm income is significantly different and smaller than the income from non-beef cattle farm. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that variable cost and number of beef cattle had a significant effect on beef cattle farm income, while the fixed cost had no significant effect.
THE ROLE OF THE WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORK-FAMILY CULTURE AND EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING
Authors: Putri Hilda Elsa , Etikariena Arum
Published: December 2020

This study aims to determine whether the work-family conflict plays a role as a mediator in the relationship between work-family culture and employee well-being. Data were gathered from three automotive company branches in Lampung, Indonesia using purposive sampling, with N = 165 (80% male; average age 25 years, SD = 7.90). The analysis method for this study was a simple mediation test with Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS macro. The result of the study showed that there were no significant positive effects of work-family culture on employee well-being, t(162) = .29, p = .76. On the other hand, work-family culture had significant effects on work-family conflict (a = .58) and work-family conflict had significant effects on employee well-being (b = .61). In line with the research hypothesis, there was an indirect relationship between work-family culture and employee well-being through work-family conflict as a mediator (ab = .35). We used the perceived organizational support (POS) theory as a framework and spillover theory to interpret the results. The findings of this study provide insights that it pays off to invest in a work-family culture because such culture is expected to give optimum advantages on well-being at work.