bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Arterial Supply of the Basal Ganglia: A Fiber Dissection Study
Authors: Kuzucu Pelin , Çeltikçi Pınar , Demirtaş Oğuz Kağan , Canbolat Çağrı , Çeltikçi Emrah , Demirci Harun , Özışık Pınar , Tubbs R. Shane , Pamir M. Necmettin , Güngör Abuzer
Published: January 2023

BACKGROUND:

The basal ganglia, a group of subcortical nuclei located deep in the insular cortex, are responsible for many functions such as motor learning, emotion, and behavior control. Nowadays, because it has been shown that deep brain stimulation and insular tumor surgery can be performed by endovascular treatment, the importance of the vascular anatomy of the basal ganglia is being increasingly recognized.

OBJECTIVE:

To explain the arterial blood supply of the basal ganglia using white matter dissection.

METHODS:

The Klingler protocol was used to prepare 12 silicone-injected human hemispheres. The dissections were performed from lateral to medial with the fiber dissection technique to preserve arteries.

RESULTS:

The globus pallidus blood supply came from the medial lenticulostriate, lateral lenticulostriate, and anterior choroidal arteries; the substantia nigra and subthalamic nucleus were supplied by the branches of posterior cerebral artery; the putamen was supplied by the lateral and medial lenticulostriate arteries; and the caudate nucleus was supplied by the lateral lenticulostriate and medial lenticulostriate arteries and the recurrent artery of Heubner.

CONCLUSION:

Knowledge of the detailed anatomy of the basal ganglia and its vascular supply is essential for avoiding postoperative ischemic complications in surgeries related to the insula. In addition, knowledge of this anatomy and vascular relationship opens the doors to endovascular deep brain stimulation treatment. This study provides a 3-dimensional understanding of the blood supply to the basal ganglia by examining it using the fiber dissection technique. Further studies could use advanced imaging modalities to explore the vascular relationships with critical structures in the brain.
Toxoplasma gondiiscavenges mammalian host organelles through the usurpation of host ESCRT-III and Vps4A
Authors: Romano Julia D. , Mayoral Joshua , Guevara Rebekah B. , Rivera-Cuevas Yolanda , Carruthers Vern B. , Weiss Louis M. , Coppens Isabelle
Published: January 2023

Intracellular pathogens exploit cellular resources through host cell manipulation. Within its nonfusogenic parasitophorous vacuole (PV), Toxoplasma gondii targets host nutrient-filled organelles and sequesters them into the PV through deep invaginations of the PV membrane (PVM) that ultimately detach from this membrane. Some of these invaginations are generated by an intravacuolar network (IVN) of parasite-derived tubules attached to the PVM. Here, we examined the usurpation of host ESCRT-III and Vps4A by the parasite to create PVM buds and vesicles. CHMP4B associated with the PVM/IVN, and dominant-negative (DN) CHMP4B formed many long PVM invaginations containing CHMP4B filaments. These invaginations were shorter in IVN-deficient parasites, suggesting cooperation between the IVN and ESCRT. In infected cells expressing Vps4A-DN, enlarged intra-PV structures containing host endolysosomes accumulated, reflecting defects in PVM scission. Parasite mutants lacking T. gondii (Tg)GRA14 or TgGRA64, which interact with ESCRT, reduced CHMP4B-DN-induced PVM invaginations and intra-PV host organelles, with greater defects in a double knockout, revealing the exploitation of ESCRT to scavenge host organelles by Toxoplasma.
Multiple behaviors for turning performance of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)
Authors: Downs Abigail M. , Kolpas Allison , Block Barbara A. , Fish Frank E.
Published: February 2023

Tuna are known for exceptional swimming speeds, which are possible because of their thunniform lift-based propulsion, large muscle mass and rigid fusiform body. A rigid body should restrict maneuverability with regard to turn radius and turn rate. To test if turning maneuvers by the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) are constrained by rigidity, captive animals were videorecorded overhead as the animals routinely swam around a large circular tank or during feeding bouts. Turning performance was classified into three different types: (1) glide turns, where the tuna uses the caudal fin as a rudder; (2) powered turns, where the animal uses continuous near symmetrical strokes of the caudal fin through the turn; and (3) ratchet turns, where the overall global turn is completed by a series of small local turns by asymmetrical stokes of the caudal fin. Individual points of the rostrum, peduncle and tip of the caudal fin were tracked and analyzed. Frame-by-frame analysis showed that the ratchet turn had the fastest turn rate for all points with a maximum of 302 deg s−1. During the ratchet turn, the rostrum exhibited a minimum global 0.38 body length turn radius. The local turn radii were only 18.6% of the global ratchet turn. The minimum turn radii ranged from 0.4 to 1.7 body lengths. Compared with the performance of other swimmers, the increased flexion of the peduncle and tail and the mechanics of turning behaviors used by tuna overcomes any constraints to turning performance from the rigidity of the anterior body morphology.
Verification Phase Confirms V̇O2max in a Hot Environment in Sedentary Untrained Males
Authors: PRYOR J. LUKE , LAO PETER , LEIJA ROBERT G. , PEREZ SERGIO , MORALES JACOBO , LOONEY DAVID P. , COCHRANE-SNYMAN KRISTEN C.
Published: January 2023

The verification phase is becoming the norm for confirming V̇O2max during a graded exercise test (GXT), but the use of such testing in untrained participants in the heat remains unknown.

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the V̇O2 uptake obtained during a GXT and subsequent verification phase in untrained participants in a hot environment.

Methods

Twelve sedentary males completed a GXT followed by a biphasic supramaximal-load verification phase in a hot environment (39°C, 32% relative humidity). Rest between tests occurred in a temperate chamber and lasted until gastrointestinal temperature returned to baseline.

Results

Mean verification phase V̇O2max (37.8 ± 4.3 mL·kg−1·min−1) was lower than GXT (39.8 ± 4.1 mL·kg−1·min−1; P = 0.03) and not statistically equivalent. Using an individualized analysis approach, only 17% (2/12) of participants achieved a V̇O2 plateau during the GXT. Verification phase confirmed GXT V̇O2max in 100% of participants, whereas the traditional and the new age-dependent secondary V̇O2max criteria indicated GXT V̇O2max achievement at much lower rates (8/12 [67%] vs 7/12 [58%], respectively). Correlational indices between GXT and verification phase V̇O2max were strong (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95, r = 0.86), and Bland–Altman analysis revealed a low mean bias of −2.1 ± 1.9 mL·kg−1·min−1 and 95% limits of agreement (−5.8 to 1.7 mL·kg−1·min−1).

Conclusions

Very few untrained males achieved a V̇O2 plateau during GXT in the heat. When conducting GXT in a hot condition, the verification phase remains a valuable addition to confirm V̇O2max in untrained males.
Effect of Cadence on Physiological and Perceptual Responses during Eccentric Cycling at Different Power Outputs
Authors: MATER ADRIEN , BOLY ADRIEN , ASSADI HERVÉ , MARTIN ALAIN , LEPERS ROMUALD
Published: January 2023

Introduction

The effect of cadence in eccentric (ECC) cycling on physiological and perceptual responses is, to date, poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cadence during ECC cycling on muscular activation (EMG), oxygen consumption (V̇O2), and perceived effort (PE) for two different levels of power output.

Methods

Seventeen participants completed four sessions 1 wk apart: 1) determination of the maximal concentric peak power output (PPO) and familiarization with ECC cycling at five cadences (30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 rpm); 2) second familiarization with ECC cycling; 3) and 4) ECC cycling exercise consisting of 5 min at the five different cadences at either 40% or 60% PPO. PE was reported, and V̇O2 and EMG of seven muscles were calculated over the exercise’s last minute.

Results

PE, V̇O2, and global lower limb muscles activation (EMGALL) showed an effect of cadence (P < 0.001) and followed a curvilinear function. Both low and high cadences increased PE and V̇O2 responses compared with intermediate cadences. Although muscle activation of vastus lateralis follows a U-shaped curve with cadence, it was greater at low cadence for rectus femoris and biceps femoris, greater at high cadence for tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius medialis, and was not altered for soleus. The estimated optimal cadence was greater (all P < 0.01) for V̇O2 (64.5 ± 7.9 rpm) than PE (61.7 ± 9.4 rpm) and EMGALL (55.9 ± 9.3 rpm), but power output had no effect on the optimal cadences.

Conclusions

The physiological and perceptual responses to changes in cadence during ECC cycling followed a U-shaped curve with an optimal cadence depending on the parameter considered.
Validation of ACT24 Version 2.0 for Estimating Behavioral Domains, Active and Sedentary Time
Authors: KEADLE SARAH KOZEY , PATEL SHREYA , BERRIGAN DAVID , CHRISTOPHER CAMI N. , HUANG JEFFERY , SAINT-MAURICE PEDRO F. , LOFTFIELD ERIKKA , MATTHEWS CHARLES E.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the criterion validity of Activities Completed over Time (ACT24), an automated previous-day recall tool designed for mobile devices for 1) estimating sedentary versus active time compared with an activPAL, and 2) estimating time spent in activity domains (e.g., work, household, leisure) compared with direct observation (DO).

Methods

Over a 7-d study period, 53 participants were sent invitations to complete three automated ACT24 recalls and to wear an activPAL device. A subset (N = 24) consented to two, 3-h video-recorded DO sessions. activPAL and ACT24 data were matched by date, and agreement for sedentary versus active time was compared between methods using paired t-tests for mean differences and spearman correlations. We compared DO and ACT24 results by domain for overall time use and separately for sedentary and active time using κ statistics and tested mean differences with linear mixed models.

Results

Compared with the activPAL, the mean difference in ACT24 sedentary time was 1.9% (mean (95% confidence interval), −0.17 (−0.75 to 0.40) h·d−1), and the mean difference for ACT24 active time was 2.2% (0.14 (−0.32 to 0.60) h·d−1). Correlations were R = 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.39 to 0.76) and R = 0.65 (0.44 to0.78) for sedentary and active time, respectively. Domain-specific agreement was substantial for leisure-time, work, and shopping/errands (κ range, 0.63–0.79), moderate for transportation (κ = 0.49), and fair for personal care and household activities (κ = 0.24 and 0.33). ACT24 estimates of average time within each domain were not significantly different from DO.

Conclusions

The present study confirms that ACT24 is accurate for group-level estimation of active and sedentary time. Domain-specific agreement tended to be higher for more commonly reported activities and those that were of longer duration.
SOEs and Soft Incentive Constraints in State Bank Lending
Authors: Cao Yiming , Fisman Raymond , Lin Hui , Wang Yongxiang
Published: January 2023

We study how Chinese state bank managers’ lending incentives impact lending to state-owned enterprises (SOEs). We show lending quantity increases and quality decreases at month’s end, indicating monthly lending targets that decrease lending standards. Increased quantity comes from both SOEs and private lending, whereas decreased quality is from only SOEs, which continue to receive loans even after prior defaults (particularly at month’s end). We suggest that SOE lending may thus be beneficial for state bank managers, who lend to delinquent state enterprises to meet targets, which in turn may exacerbate SOEs’ soft budget constraints. (JEL G21, G28, L32, O16, P34).
Tumoral calcinosis of unusual location in a chronic hemodialysis patient
Authors: Sakhy Youssef , Taoussi Reda , Ndayishimiye Vianney , Sabiri Mouna , Labied Mohammed , Lembarki Ghizlane , El Manjra Samia , Lezar Samira , Essodegui Fatiha
Published: February 2023

Tumoral calcinosis is a rare cause of intratissular calcifications in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. Its frequency is estimated between 0.5 and 7% of patients. We illustrate through a case of unusual localization diagnosed in Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco, the radiographic and scannographic aspect of this little known entity. A 40-year-old man, followed for hypertensive cardiopathy, in chronic renal failure for 12 years under hemodialysis, consulted for bilateral inguinal swellings evolving in a progressive and painless way. Biological investigations revealed hyperparathyroidism with increased phosphocalcic product. He was referred to us for radiological evaluation which revealed lesions in favor of bilateral puboinguinal tumor calcinosis. Tumoral calcinosis is a rare cause of intratissular calcifications in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis. Pubic localization with infiltration and osteolysis of the symphysis pubis is very rare. Its main risk factors are the existence of hyperparathyroidism, an increase in phosphocalcic product and probably local traumatic factors. Tumoral calcinosis has a typical appearance on radiographs: amorphous, cystic and multilobulated calcifications of periarticular distribution. The CT scan allows a better delineation of the calcified mass. Its treatment remains controversial. The knowledge of osteoarticular manifestations of chronic hemodialysis patients, especially tumoral calcinosis by radiologists, allows to easily make the diagnosis and thus avoid invasive complementary explorations for the patient and to quickly institute an effective treatment.
The genome sequence of the Rustic Shoulder-knot, Apamea sordens (Hufnagel, 1766)
Authors: Boyes Douglas ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Holland Peter W.H. ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Apamea sordens (the Rustic Shoulder-knot; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Noctuidae). The genome sequence is 614 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.3 kilobases in length.
Severe anaemia, iron deficiency, and susceptibility to invasive bacterial infections
Authors: Abuga Kelvin M. , Nairz Manfred , MacLennan Calman A. , Atkinson Sarah H.
Published: February 2023

Severe anaemia and invasive bacterial infections remain important causes of hospitalization and death among young African children. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance demand better understanding of bacteraemia risk factors to inform prevention strategies. Epidemiological studies have reported an association between severe anaemia and bacteraemia. In this review, we explore evidence that severe anaemia is associated with increased risk of invasive bacterial infections in young children. We describe mechanisms of iron dysregulation in severe anaemia that might contribute to increased risk and pathogenesis of invasive bacteria, recent advances in knowledge of how iron deficiency and severe anaemia impair immune responses to bacterial infections and vaccines, and the gaps in our understanding of mechanisms underlying severe anaemia, iron deficiency, and the risk of invasive bacterial infections.
The genome sequence of the Grey Ermine, Yponomeuta sedella (Treitschke, 1832)
Authors: Boyes Douglas ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Langdon William B.V. ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Yponomeuta sedella (the Grey Ermine; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Yponomeutidae). The genome sequence is 658 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.4 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 13,010 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the Riband Wave, Idaea aversata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Boyes Douglas ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Mulley John F. ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Idaea aversata (the Riband Wave; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Geometridae). The genome sequence is 437 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.5 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 10,165 protein coding genes.
ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT AND HUMUS RESERVES IN NATURAL SOILS OF ROSTOV AGGLOMERATION
Authors: Skripnikov Pavel N. , Bezuglova Olga S. , Gorbov Sergey N. , Tagiverdiev Suleiman S.
Published: February 2023

The research aims to study the content of organic matter in typical chernozem, its distribution in the soil profile under herbaceous and wooden phytocenoses. Organic matter plays a key role in the functioning of soils and their stable performance of ecological functions, including – the protection function. This is particularly relevant in the growing urbanization. The research analysis includes 40 full-profile sections of migration-segregated chernozems (typical carbonate) laid on the upland soil of the Rostov agglomeration. We determined organic matter by high-temperature catalytic combustion on a TOC-L CPN Shimadzu in an SSM-5000A solid sample combustion unit. Based on the data obtained, we calculated the organic carbon reserves. Statistical analysis included the calculation of the Mann-Whitney U-test to consider significant differences in the samples of indicators under wooden and herbaceous phytocenoses and descriptive statistics. The research results showed the influence on the organic carbon content of such a widespread type of anthropogenic impact as planting trees in the steppe zone. Comparison of the total organic carbon content values in similar genetic horizons under herbaceous and wooden phytocenoses indicates the spatial heterogeneity of this indicator, associated primarily with the type of land use. The supply of humus for Rostov chernozems under herbaceous phytocenoses was assessed as low and under wooden phytocenoses – as average. In the one-meter layer of natural chernozems of the Rostov agglomeration, humus reserves are 387 t/ha, which corresponds to the average supply level. Thus, the park and recreational zone, where wooden vegetation grows, plays a special ecological role in the city as a place of accumulation of an increased amount of organic matter of natural origin compared to other soils of the Rostov agglomeration.
Basics of database design
Authors: Viktor Nikolavich
Published: January 2023

The tutorial describes the basic concepts of databases, relationships in models and the relational approach to building models, the stages of database design, database structure design, organization of SQL queries and much more. 18 practical works are given.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of secondary vocational education of the latest generation.
It can be used to study the discipline "Fundamentals of database design" in the specialty "Information systems and programming" when mastering the qualifications: "Database Administrator", "Programmer", "Developer of Web and multimedia applications", "Information systems Specialist", "Information Technology Testing Specialist", "Technical writer".
Philosophy of education
Authors: Bulgakova Irina , Dyagileva T.
Published: January 2023

The monograph is devoted to the philosophical problems of upbringing and education. The solution to the problems of the systemic crisis in the field of education and upbringing lies in changing the type of thinking of a modern teacher. The author highlights such sections as ontology and anthropology of education. The models of hermeneutics, phenomenology, existentialism, pragmatism and postmodernism education are studied in detail. An approach corresponding to the post-nonclassical type of rationality is proposed. An attempt is being made to overcome mechanistic, biologizing and sociologizing extremes in understanding the nature of education. The philosophy of education, according to the author, is a meta-theoretical concept that can become the basis for a systematic study of education and modernization of pedagogy, a source of pedagogical creativity.
It can be useful to anyone who deals with the problems of methodology of humanitarian knowledge and problems of creativity in the field of pedagogy. It may be of interest to philosophers, anthropologists, psychologists, educators, historians of Russian philosophy.
Fundamentals of the welfare State
Authors: Morozova Oksana , Sokolov Aleksandr , Mal'ceva Svetlana
Published: January 2023

The textbook reveals the topics of the discipline "Fundamentals of the welfare State", contains a description of practical exercises, a list of basic and additional literature, questions for self-examination, recommendations for the preparation of an abstract and essay, tests and other additional materials.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is addressed to undergraduate students studying the academic discipline "Fundamentals of the welfare state".
Information Disclosure and Promotion Policy Design for Platforms
Authors: Gur Yonatan , Macnamara Gregory , Morgenstern Ilan , Saban Daniela
Published: February 2023

We consider a platform facilitating trade between sellers and buyers with the objective of maximizing consumer surplus. Even though in many such marketplaces, prices are set by revenue-maximizing sellers, platforms can influence prices through (i) price-dependent promotion policies that can increase demand for a product by featuring it in a prominent position on the web page and (ii) the information revealed to sellers about the value of being promoted. Identifying effective joint information design and promotion policies is a challenging dynamic problem as sellers can sequentially learn the promotion value from sales observations and update prices accordingly. We introduce the notion of confounding promotion policies, which are designed to prevent a Bayesian seller from learning the promotion value (at the expense of the short-run loss of diverting some consumers from the best product offering). Leveraging these policies, we characterize the maximum long-run average consumer surplus that is achievable through joint information design and promotion policies when the seller sets prices myopically. We then construct a Bayesian Nash equilibrium, in which the seller’s best response to the platform’s optimal policy is to price myopically in every period. Moreover, the equilibrium we identify is platform optimal within the class of horizon-maximin equilibria, in which strategies are not predicated on precise knowledge of the horizon length and are designed to maximize payoff over the worst-case horizon. Our analysis allows one to identify practical long-run average optimal platform policies in a broad range of demand models.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, revenue management and market analytics.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4677 .
EBUS-TBNA-induced Purulent Pericarditis: A Rare Complication of a Common Procedure
Authors: Alfaiate Joana , Brito Andreia , Matos Ana
Published: January 2023

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a diagnostic tool used to investigate mediastinal lesions. It has a good safety profile, but there are rare accounts of potentially deadly complications. The present article describes one such complication: pericardial empyema. A 70-year-old man underwent EBUS-TBNA for the differential diagnosis of a pulmonary mass with multiple mediastinal adenopathies. Two weeks after the procedure he developed chest pain, shortness of breath and fever, with rapid progression to hypotension, tachycardia and low peripheral saturation. He was diagnosed with purulent pericarditis with cardiac tamponade. Pericardial drainage and antibiotic therapy were employed with successful recovery from obstructive disease and septic shock.
REGIME INTERNACIONAL DO INVESTIMENTO E COMÉRCIO: PERSPECTIVAS DE APROXIMAÇÃO / INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT REGIME AND TRADE: PROSPECTS FOR THEIR APPROXIMATION
Authors: Paulino Bonnomi Natália , Nilsen Ribeiro Barza Eugênia Cristina
Published: January 2023

Resumo: O presente artigo trata do regime internacional do investimento, em especial sua intersecção com o comércio internacional. O principal objetivo do artigo é, a partir de uma análise do histórico de disciplinamento conjunto do investimento e do comércio na seara internacional, demonstrar as perspectivas dessa regulamentação e verificar seus impactos para o regime internacional de investimento. A técnica de pesquisa adotada pelo artigo é a bibliográfica, em que serão explorados tanto a doutrina especializada na temática quanto os acordos internacionais de investimento e de comércio. Serão estudados: (i) os principais acordos internacionais de investimento; (ii) as tentativas de negociação multilateral em investimento e comércio; e (iii) a regulamentação de investimento e comércio na forma de acordos preferenciais de comércio, em particular os mega-acordos regionais de comércio. Conclui-se que tem havido uma tendência de aproximação entre investimento e comércio no contexto de acordos preferenciais de comércio, o que não necessariamente tem contribuído para a redução de inconsistências no regime internacional do investimento.Palavras-chave: Investimento. Comércio internacional. Multilateralismo. Acordos preferenciais de comércio. Mega-acordos regionais de comércio. Abstract: This article deals with the international investment regime, in particular with its interaction with international trade. The main objective of this article is, from the analysis of the history of the international disciplines on investment and trade, to demonstrate the perspectives for this regulation and to verify its impacts on the international investment regime. The research method is the bibliographic technique, through which the literature and international agreements on investment and trade will be examined. The article studies: (i) the main international investment agreements; (ii) the attempts of multilateral negotiations on investment and trade; and (iii) the regulation of investment and trade through preferential trade agreements, specially mega-regional trade agreements. It was concluded that there is a tendency of approximation between investment and trade in preferential trade agreements, which does not necessarily contribute to the reduction of inconsistencies in the international investment regime.Keywords: Investment. International trade. Multilateralism. Preferential trade agreements. Mega-regional trade agreements.
Sound sensitivity in dogs: protecting emotional welfare and the human–pet bond
Authors: Hargrave Claire
Published: February 2023

The dog's auditory system is designed in such a way that it will be aware of sounds that are sudden or presented in an unusual manner, and it is reasonable to suggest that sound sensitivity is adaptive in dogs. Studies of sound sensitivity in dogs have mainly focused on intense but occasional sounds, such as fireworks, thunder and gunshots; these studies suggest that almost half of the domestic canine population suffer a depletion in emotional welfare when exposed to such sounds. A dog's early learning period is largely intended to ensure that it learns to ignore stimuli that are inconsequential to its safety. However, both the environment within and outside human homes can be intensely noisy and unpredictable, regularly exposing many dogs to inescapable sounds that they did not meet during their early developmental period, which can initiate emotional responses of anxiety, fear and frustration and a motivation for avoiding sound-producing stimuli. This article discusses the issue of sound sensitivity in dogs, and considers the extent to which sensitivity to everyday soundscapes will become an increasing emotional health problem in the domestic canine population.
Development of a Reverse Transcription-Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assay for Duplex Detection of Foodborne Viruses in Oysters
Authors:   Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, 169 Long-Hard Bangsaen Rd., Chonburi 20131, Thailand, Chutoam Palatip , Jinda Suthasinee ,   Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, 169 Long-Hard Bangsaen Rd., Chonburi 20131, Thailand, Lethochavalit Supannee ,   Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, 169 Long-Hard Bangsaen Rd., Chonburi 20131, Thailand, Intamaso Uraiwan ,   Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Burapha University, 169 Long-Hard Bangsaen Rd., Chonburi 20131, Thailand
Published: February 2023

Abstract Viral contamination may occur at any stage of food processing. The study aim was to develop a two-step reverse transcription (RT)-recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assay and evaluate for in-field duplex detection of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus in oysters. The RNA expression plasmids were generated by amplifying a fragment of the VP1 gene of HAV and norovirus through PCR and cloning it into an expression vector. The RNAs were transcribed in vitro from the plasmids and further used for reverse transcription. The resulting single-stranded cDNAs were used as the purified or spiking templates to determine the sensitivities of simplex and duplex RT-RPA compared with RT-PCR, and RT-qPCR assays. The reproducibility and application of duplex RT-RPA in the field were also evaluated. Our results showed that simplex RT-RPA was at least 100 times more sensitive than RT-PCR and RT-qPCR and even more than duplex detection using purified targets. Unlike RT-PCR, the RT-RPA reaction was unaffected by inhibitors found in food, allowing simple sample preparation methods for detection within a fraction of the time. The duplex assay detected HAV, norovirus, or both in 12/30 (40%) oyster samples tested. Duplex RT-RPA proved to be a rapid, accurate, and reproducible method in a field test for detecting HAV and norovirus. Thus, duplex RT-RPA should be suitable for use in minimally equipped laboratories and field settings. If in-field RT-RPA services are provided to oyster farmers, the technique can minimize the risk of infection to consumers, thereby improving food safety. Keywords: Food safety, Hepatitis A virus, Direct extraction, Norovirus, Nucleic acid amplification
Non-Polar Fraction Constituents, Phenolic Acids, Flavonoids and Antioxidant Activity in Fruits from Florina Apple Variety Grown under Different Agriculture Management
Authors:   Departament of Organic Chemistry and Inorganic Chemistry, Technological Faculty, University of Food Technologies, 26 Maritza Blvd., 4002, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Petkova Nadezhda , Bileva Tatyana ,   Department of Agroecology and Environmental Protection, Agriculture University Plovdiv, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Valcheva Ekaterina ,   Department of Agroecology and Environmental Protection, Agriculture University Plovdiv, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Dobrevska Galya ,   Department of Fruit Growning Agriculture University, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria, Grozeva Neli ,   Trakia University, Faculty of Agriculture, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, Todorova Mima ,   Trakia University, Faculty of Agriculture, 6000 Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, Popov Vladislav ,   Department of Agroecology and Environmental Protection, Agriculture University Plovdiv, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Published: February 2023

Abstract The effect of agricultural management on non-polar compounds, phenolic acids, flavonoids and antioxidant properties in apple fruit of Florina variety was studied. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using four assays (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and CUPRAC), based on different mechanisms. The current research demonstrated that organically grown apple fruits yielded significantly higher levels of total phenolics, unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant activity than apples from the conventional conditions. Seven representatives of phenolic acids (gallic, p-coumaric, chlorogenic, vanillic, caffeic, syringic and salicylic) and four flavonoids (quercetin, rutin, catechin and epicatechin) were found in fruits. Chlorogenic, vanillic, salicylic, caffeic acids and catechin were dominated in apples grown in organic orchards. Epicatechin, gallic and syringic acids were in the highest content in conventionally grown sward apples. The highest correlation (r2>0.99) was found between total polyphenols and antioxidant activity by three methods (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods). As a result of the organically grown conditions, the quality of the fruits of the Florina apple variety is improved based on the accumulation of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. Moreover, thirty-nine volatile components (saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, fatty alcohols, phytosterols and triterpenes) were detected in non-polar apple fraction. Palmitoleic, palmitelaidic, oleic, elaidic, (13E)-octadecenoic, (13Z)-octadecenoic, (11Z)-eicosenoic and (13Z)-eicosenoic, linoleic acid and linolenic acid and ursolic and oleanolic acid acetates dominated in organic apple orchards. Therefore, organic apple provided more phenolic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, ursolic and oleanolic acid acetates and catechin for healthy human nutrition. Keywords: Apples, Antioxidants, Anthocyanins, Organical And Conventional Growing Conditions, Polyphenolic and non-polar compounds
Environmental and Industrial Impact on the Biological Systems of Living Organisms
Authors:   Department of Ecology and Geography, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Dakieva Kulzipa , Sadykanova Gulnaz ,   Department of Biology, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Tsyganov Anatoliy ,   Department of Ecology and Geography, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Chursin Anatoliy ,   Department of Ecology and Geography, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Sharipkhanova Anargul ,   Department of Biology, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, Egorina Anna ,   Department of Ecology and Geography, Non-Commercial Joint-Stock Company East Kazakhstan University named after Sarsen Amanzholov, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
Published: February 2023

Abstract The purpose of this work is to establish the adaptive, stress and compensatory responses in people employed in titanium production and in laboratory animals kept at the Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant. It focused on the adaptive responses of mice (a total of 28 individuals in the experimental and control groups). The population of human participants consisted of 430 workers in the main workshops and 100 office workers (control group) employed at the plant. Morbidity and working conditions were analyzed. Urinary and blood biochemistry was evaluated. Changes in nitrogen metabolism were observed. The level of urea increased by 22%, creatinine – by 19%, and hydroxyproline – by 71% after a 2-week exposure to titanium and its compounds. Changes in carbohydrate metabolism were found. The level of glucose increased by 44% and the level of lactic acid increased by 65% after a 4- and 12-week exposure. As to animals, the study confirmed that there was a 41% increase in the concentration of lactic acid, a 38% increase in glucose, and a 50% increase in hydroxyproline following a 2-week exposure. Creatinine increased by 20%, indicating kidney damage in animals. The adaptive changes observed in workers can be markers in risk assessment. Keywords: Titanium, Pollution, Manufacturing plant, Toxins, Adaptive changes, Creatinine, Hydroproline
Formulation of Coconut Oil Mouthwash with Mixed Emulsifier and Its Growth Inhibition of Candida albicans Biofilms
Authors:   Department of Family and Community Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand., Chanpa Paween , Owittayakul Darunee ,   Department of Family and Community Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand., Wanachantararak Phenphichar ,   Dental Research Center, Faculty of Dentistry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Chaiyana Wantida ,   Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Sookkhee Siriwoot ,   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Published: February 2023

Abstract Virgin coconut oil has been used for oil pulling, which helps to promote oral health and can inhibit oral fungi. Due to 15-20 minutes of rinsing time, oily taste, and instability of lately developed mouthwashes, this present study aimed to develop a mouthwash formula from virgin coconut oil with good stability and appropriate rinsing time to inhibit Candida albicans in biofilm. The formulation results showed that the mixed emulsifiers between tween 80 and span 80 at the ratio of 40:60 were appropriate to use as the mixed emulsifier of virgin coconut oil. After the formulation, seven mouthwash formulas including F5 (10:25:65), F21 (20:20:60), F36 (30:20:50), F49 (40:20:40), F59 (50:15:35), F67 (60:10:30) and F73 (70:5:25) which comprised the ratios among virgin coconut oil: mixed emulsifier: distilled water, respectively, exhibited the stable emulsion by using the lowest mixed emulsifier in each ratio. Results from the XTT assay at various exposure times demonstrated that a five-minute exposure with formula F73 exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against C. albicans biofilm with a significant difference compared to other formulas. To confirm the anticandidal activity, the F73 formula could inhibit the growth of C. albicans after enumerating the colonies with an exposure time of five minutes. It may be concluded that the appropriate virgin coconut oil mouthwash was formulated at the ratio of coconut oil: mixed emulsifier: distilled water at 70:5:25 and could inhibit C. albicans after five minutes of exposure. Keywords: Formulation, Coconut oil mouthwash, Mixed emulsifier, Candida albicans, Biofilm
Synovial fluid neutrophil extracellular traps could improve the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Cai Yuanqing , Liang Jialin , Chen Xiaoqing , Zhang Guangyang , Jing Zhaopu , Zhang Rupeng , Lv Leifeng , Zhang Wenming , Dang Xiaoqian
Published: January 2023

Aims

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic value of synovial fluid neutrophil extracellular traps (SF-NETs) in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) diagnosis, and compare it with that of microbial culture, serum ESR and CRP, synovial white blood cell (WBC) count, and polymorphonuclear neutrophil percentage (PMN%).

Methods

In a single health centre, patients with suspected PJI were enrolled from January 2013 to December 2021. The inclusion criteria were: 1) patients who were suspected to have PJI; 2) patients with complete medical records; and 3) patients from whom sufficient synovial fluid was obtained for microbial culture and NET test. Patients who received revision surgeries due to aseptic failure (AF) were selected as controls. Synovial fluid was collected for microbial culture and SF-WBC, SF-PNM%, and SF-NET detection. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of synovial NET, WBC, PMN%, and area under the curve (AUC) were obtained; the diagnostic efficacies of these diagnostic indexes were calculated and compared.

Results

The levels of SF-NETs in the PJI group were significantly higher than those of the AF group. The AUC of SF-NET was 0.971 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.903 to 0.996), the sensitivity was 93.48% (95% CI 82.10% to 98.63%), the specificity was 96.43% (95% CI 81.65% to 99.91%), the accuracy was 94.60% (95% CI 86.73% to 98.50%), the positive predictive value was 97.73%, and the negative predictive value was 90%. Further analysis showed that SF-NET could improve the diagnosis of culture-negative PJI, patients with PJI who received antibiotic treatment preoperatively, and fungal PJI.

Conclusion

SF-NET is a novel and ideal synovial fluid biomarker for PJI diagnosis, which could improve PJI diagnosis greatly. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(2):113–120.
Blur-specific image quality assessment of microscopic hyperspectral images
Authors: Quintana-Quintana Laura , Ortega Samuel , Fabelo Himar , Balea-Fernández Francisco J. , Callico Gustavo M.
Published: January 2023

Hyperspectral (HS) imaging (HSI) expands the number of channels captured within the electromagnetic spectrum with respect to regular imaging. Thus, microscopic HSI can improve cancer diagnosis by automatic classification of cells. However, homogeneous focus is difficult to achieve in such images, being the aim of this work to automatically quantify their focus for further image correction. A HS image database for focus assessment was captured. Subjective scores of image focus were obtained from 24 subjects and then correlated to state-of-the-art methods. Maximum Local Variation, Fast Image Sharpness block-based Method and Local Phase Coherence algorithms provided the best correlation results. With respect to execution time, LPC was the fastest.
Balanced wavelength modulated Zeeman spectroscopy for oxygen detection
Authors: Shashaty Kasey , Patrick Link , Wysocki Gerard
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we present the development and testing of a balanced Zeeman spectroscopy method utilizing wavelength modulation for selective detection of paramagnetic molecules. We perform balanced detection via differential transmission measurement of right-handed circularly polarized and left-handed circularly polarized light and compare the performance of our system to the Faraday rotation spectroscopy technique. The method is tested using oxygen detection at 762 nm and can provide real-time oxygen or other paramagnetic species detection for a variety of applications.
Broadband source-driven resonant micro-optic gyroscope based on a multi-turn waveguide-type ring resonator
Authors: Liu Shuang , Hu Junyi , Wang Yuxin , Liu Qingwen , Ma Huilian , He Zuyuan
Published: January 2023

The resonant micro-optic gyroscope (RMOG) is one of the most promising candidates for chip-scale optoelectronic gyroscopes. A broadband source-driven RMOG based on a multi-turn waveguide-type ring resonator (WRR) has been proposed and demonstrated. The theoretical sensitivity is enhanced with the multi-turn structure, while the parasitic backscattering can be resolved by the use of the broadband source, thus greatly improving the long-term bias stability of the RMOG. We also reduce the relative intensity noise (RIN)-induced error of the broadband source at the gyro output by optimizing the number of loop turns of the WRR, and improve the angle random walk (ARW) by 4.8 dB compared with the case of a single-turn WRR. Finally, a bias stability of 1°/h is obtained with a 5-turn WRR of 4.05 cm diameter, achieving the tactical-grade resolution. To the best of our knowledge this is the best result reported to date for an RMOG of similar size.
Superposition Fabry–Perot filter array for a computational hyperspectral camera
Authors: Feng Shiqi , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin , Dun Xiong
Published: January 2023

Computational hyperspectral cameras with broadband encoded filter arrays enable high precision spectrum reconstruction with only a few filters. However, these types of hyperspectral cameras have limited application, because it is difficult for conventional encoded filter arrays to balance among the spectrum regulation capacity, angle insensitivity, and processibility. This Letter presents a new, to the best of our knowledge, encoded filter composed of superposition Fabry–Perot resonance cavity (SFP) that can simultaneously take all three aspects into consideration. By learning the parameters of an SFP encoder and a neural network decoder in an end-to-end manner, a computational hyperspectral camera based on an SFP filter array presents up to 2.24 times higher spectral reconstruction accuracy, 10 times wider working angle, and can be produced with a low-cost manufacturing process.
Exoskeleton type long-period fiber grating for cross-talk-resistance single-parameter measurement
Authors: Wang Jiabin , Wang Anzhi , Yang Xingyu , Wang Shengjia , Zeng Xinzhe , Hao Jiayu , Zhou Jian , Kou Yanru , Niu Chong , Geng Tao , Sun Weimin
Published: January 2023

This paper proposes a new, to the best of our knowledge, design framework of long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors resistant to multi-parameter cross talk. A section of hollow quartz capillary (HQC), which acts as an exoskeleton, is periodically merged with a single-mode fiber (SMF) by the arc-discharge method. The mechanical stress in the SMF is released while the thermal stress is enhanced after a high-temperature fusion process. Under the influence of the elastic-optical effect, the refractive index of the core is periodically modulated along the axial direction to form an exoskeleton long-period fiber grating (Es-LPFG). The unique exoskeleton structure not only induces mode coupling but also enables the proposed device to resist cross talk among the strain, ambient refractive index, and vector bending. The temperature is able to be measured independently with a sensitivity of 74 pm/∘C. The novel Es-LPFG is promising in single-parameter sensing, mode-locked lasers, and frequency-locked gain flattening.
Sign flips, crossovers, and spatial inversions in surface plasmon resonance across a chiral–metal interface
Authors: Lee Hyoung-In , Gaul Christopher
Published: January 2023

We consider the surface plasmon resonance established along an interface between a metal and a chiral medium (chiral case). Resulting solutions are compared with those obtained for a metal–dielectric interface (achiral case). We found that the chiral case exhibits either larger or smaller phase speeds than the achiral case due to the energy redistribution between translation and rotation. For a loss-free system, we found crossovers among the dispersion curves and spatial inversions in field profiles. These features are associated with anti-symmetric spin flips with respect to medium chirality. The short-wavelength limit leads to an upper bound on the medium chirality.
Design of an off-axis near-eye AR display system based on a full-color freeform holographic optical element
Authors: Wang Yongdong , Yang Tong , Ni Dongwei , Cheng Dewen , Wang Yongtian
Published: January 2023

In this Letter, we propose a design and fabrication method for a full-color augmented reality (AR) optical system based on a freeform holographic optical element (HOE). A point-by-point design method is proposed to generate the starting point of the system. Based on the preliminarily optimized system, the recording systems of the full-color HOE are designed. A joint optimization is conducted for all the systems, simultaneously considering the overall imaging performance, the diffraction efficiency, the constraints, and fabrication. A prototype is designed and fabricated to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.