bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Evolution of the State and the Failure of Society: Theoretical Notes
Authors: Rubinstein Alexander Ya.
Published: April 2023

The article presents a theoretical and historical analysis of the state transformation processes, starting from the household patriarchal form of paternalism up to its later transfer to the state, creating the basis for “paternalistic state”, which differs from the patriarchal model by the collective nature of generating public interests and democratization possibilities of the public choice process itself. In this context the problems of democratization of non-market decisions, with their inherent risks of distortion of public choice, are considered, and the fundamental contradiction of the modern political process is formulated. As one of its consequences, the article draws a fundamental conclusion about the exhaustion of the “welfare state” model and the onset of the next stage of evolution, the feature of which is the transformation of the welfare state into a paternalistic state. This conclusion is combined with other results of this study, which highlighted the main stages of state evolution, including the initial phase of the “patriarchal state” and the stage of the “decline of the paternalistic state”, associated with the “failure of society”. The matter here is such a state, when the society's broken protective mechanisms no longer prevent the choice of paternalistic state goals that do not correspond to the interests of society, and the erroneous strategies of their implementation. The article formulates an assumption about the possibility of restoring society's “immune system”. Having reached the stage of a developed paternalistic state, society faces zevolutionary cross-roads. In one case, the process of paternalistic state degradation starts, accompanied by a reduction of the field of social choice and a transition to autocracy, and then to the liquidation of the mechanisms of social choice. In another case, there are prerequisites for recovery of society's immune system connected with the development of social networks, creating an essentially new channel of communication between politicians and society that contributes to the formation of informal institutions, providing expansion of the public choice field.
Students' Perception on the Use of Youtube Song Lyrics for Learning English
Authors: Yuhariah Feti , Syafryadin Syafryadin
Published: April 2023

The objective of this research was to identify the Student’s perception to use youtube song for learning English at SMA 7 Kota Bengkulu. This study use quantitative method. The subject of this research was consisted of 28 students ten grade X IPA 8. In this research, the researcher used questioner to know the students perception to use youtube song for learning English. The result of this research, The result, 83% students gave positive respond in every activity conducted in the classroom because the song make the class become more conducive, fun, and meaningful, so it influenced their ability in listening improved well. Not only that, they also mastered the component of language in English, such as grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The findings of the, learning English using YouTube while listening to English songs videos is more effective. The study demonstrated the value of YouTube songs as a learning tool for English.
Syllabus Design of English Club: Fostering Joyful Extracurricular for Tenth Graders
Authors: Mashudi Aziz , Indah Rohmani Nur , Syaifulloh Burhanudin
Published: April 2023

The transition from online to onsite English classroom resulted in the challenge for tenth graders to be more skillful in actively engaging into English conversation activities. However, it requires better planning of English Club as curricular lesson to enhance student’s participation. This study was intended to develop the syllabus of English Club to be a joyful extracurricular for tenth graders at a senior high school in Daha Kediri. The need analysis used questionnaire and interview to find the required data of student’s speaking practice in English Club activities. The findings show that English Club plays an important role in supporting students to practice speaking. The students also thought that the English Club had a great way of encouraging their motivation to practice speaking with friends. In other words, English Club gives them more joyful experience and knowledge from the learning atmosphere which is fun and comfortable making them more interested in practicing speaking.
Instructional Design to Promote Translingual Practices in an English First Additional Language Context
Authors: Zano Kufakunesu , Mbirimi-Hungwe Vimbai
Published: April 2023

Languages are not set, autonomous, bounded entities whose nature cannot be disrupted; they are flexible entities that can be reformed, re-arranged and recreated to fit into new contexts of communication. This study was driven by the need to explore the instructional design used to promote translingual practices in an English first additional language context in the Further Education and Training phase. For this qualitative study, eight (8) English first additional language teachers in the Further Education and Training phase were used as respondents. These teachers were stationed at four (4) high schools in one district of South Africa, meaning two (2) teachers per school were selected. The researchers used telephone interviews to collect data. The results revealed that translanguaging can be used in conjunction with collaborative activities like co-teaching, peer tutoring and group work in the English first additional language classroom.  Besides, all learners have prior knowledge gained from schooling and life experiences and English first additional language teachers can build on those experiences. Also, based on the findings, it is indispensable to take advantage of modern technological facilities like WhatsApp in aiding the task of teaching English first additional language.
Use of locative postposition-verb construction in Korean: analysis of L1-Korean corpora and L2-Korean textbooks
Authors: Jung Boo Kyung , Shin Gyu-Ho
Published: April 2023

A usage-based account argues that the actual experience of language use greatly affects the course of language acquisition. On the basis of this premise, this study investigates how language textbooks, as a main input source for L2 learners, reflect the properties of a target language. We focus on a Korean locative postposition–verb construction, consisting of one of the three locative postpositions (– ey, – eyse and –( u) lo) and particular sets of verbs. For this purpose, we adopt representative L1 written/spoken corpora in Korean and two L2-Korean textbook corpora, and analysed three aspects of them: frequency of these postpositions and verbs, their association strength, and change in use of the construction’s components across the corpora. We find that ( i) verb types co-occurring with each postposition follow the Zipfian distribution in both datasets, ( ii) L1 corpora and L2 textbooks are inconsistent with their manifestation of postposition–verb associations within the construction, and ( iii) the two textbook types differ in verb use co-occurring with the postpositions. The implications of this study’s findings are discussed in terms of the acquisitional benefits of constructional frames and using corpora for L2 learning and teaching
On the pressureless sintering of ZrB2-20 vol% MoSi2 composites
Authors: Saha Mainak
Published: April 2023

Zirconium diboride based ceramic composites reinforced with 20 vol.% MoSi2 particulate, and having 74-98% of theoretical density were produced by pressure-less sintering at 1700 o C for 2 h. The influence of compaction pressure on the mechanical properties and densification of ZrB 2 -20 vol.% MoSi2 composites is investigated in the present study. Results exhibit improvement in Young’s modulus, indentation fracture toughness and hardness by increasing the compaction pressure.
Investigating clove oil and its derivatives as anaesthetic agents for decapod crustaceans to improve welfare commercially and at slaughter
Authors: Spoors Felicity , James Mark A. , Mendo Tania , McKnight J. Chris , Bønnelycke Eva-Maria S. , Khan Nicola
Published: April 2023

Decapods have been recently classified as sentient beings in UK policy and therefore the establishment of humane methods for the live transportation and slaughter of commercially valuable shellfish as well as for decapods used in research is critical. Formerly overlooked, the use of anaesthetics provides a promising avenue for improving welfare standards for husbandry and slaughter for decapod crustaceans destined for human consumption or research. In particular, clove oil and its derivatives (eugenol and isoeugenol) have been trialled and recommended in literature as naturally-derived and effective, reversible anaesthetic compounds for a variety of decapods, including two commercially important British shellfish, brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). Further investigations should be undertaken to confirm the use of such anaesthetics is suitable for improving welfare standards in the British shellfish sector and in research to ensure that when the legislation changes, humane solutions are present.
Multifactorial resistance mechanisms associated with resistance to ceftazidime-avibactam in clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from Switzerland
Authors: Babouee Flury Baharak , Bösch Anja , Gisler Valentin , Egli Adrian , Seiffert Salome N. , Nolte Oliver , Findlay Jacqueline
Published: April 2023

Background

Increasing reports of multidrug resistance (MDR) in clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa have led to a necessity for new antimicrobials. Ceftazidime-avibactam (CZA) is indicated for use against MDR P. aeruginosa across a broad range of infection types and particularly those that are carbapenem resistant. This study sought to determine the molecular mechanisms of CZA and imipenem (IPM)-resistance in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from Swiss hospitals.

Methods

Clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained from inpatients in three hospitals in Switzerland. Susceptibility was determined by either antibiotic disc testing or broth microdilution according to EUCAST methodology. AmpC activity was determined using cloxacillin and efflux activity was determined using phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide, in agar plates. Whole Genome Sequencing was performed on 18 clinical isolates. Sequence types (STs) and resistance genes were ascertained using the Centre for Genomic Epidemiology platform. Genes of interest were extracted from sequenced isolates and compared to reference strain P. aeruginosa PAO1.

Results

Sixteen different STs were identified amongst the 18 isolates in this study indicating a high degree of genomic diversity. No carbapenemases were detected but one isolate did harbor the ESBL blaPER-1. Eight isolates were CZA-resistant with MICs ranging from 16-64 mg/L, and the remaining ten isolates had either low/wildtype MICs (n=6; 1-2 mg/L) or elevated, but still susceptible, MICs (n=4; 4-8 mg/L). Ten isolates were IPM-resistant, seven of which had mutations resulting in truncations of OprD, and the remaining nine IPM-susceptible isolates had intact oprD genes. Within CZA-R isolates, and those with reduced susceptibility, mutations resulting in ampC derepression, OprD loss, mexAB overexpression and ESBL (blaPER-1) carriage were observed in various combinations and one harbored a truncation of the PBP4 dacB gene. Within the six isolates with wildtype-resistance levels, five had no mutations that would affect any antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of interest when compared to PAO1.

Conclusion

This preliminary study highlights that CZA-resistance in P. aeruginosa is multifactorial and could be caused by the interplay between different resistance mechanisms including ESBL carriage, increased efflux, loss of permeability and derepression of its intrinsic ampC.
Influences of inattention on perceived self-efficacy, stress, and depression
Authors: Carriere Jonathan S. A. , Nelson Andrea L. , Cheyne James Allan , Smilek Daniel
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Going through life mindlessly appears to produce feelings of boredom and depression, suggesting that cognitive deficits can lead both directly and indirectly to emotional problems. Under this hypothesis, there are numerous possible routes from attention to affective issues, including through the sense of self-efficacy – a judgement about our ability to successfully achieve goals – and the experience of psychological stress. The present study assessed potential pathways from everyday inattentiveness, through the presumed intermediate experiences of diminished self-efficacy and psychological stress, to the experience of depressive affect.

Method

In two studies we collected questionnaire responses from large groups of participants (N = 188, Study 1; N = 399, Study 2), assessing individual differences in trait inattention, attention-related errors, self-efficacy, stress, and depression.

Results

Via path analyses we tested several predictions: 1) the frequency of attention lapses predicts depressive affect; 2) attention-related errors mediate effects of inattention in predicting both self-efficacy and stress; 3) self-efficacy and stress directly influence depressive affect. The results indicate the proposed Attention-to-Affect models provide good fit overall. They also indicate a reversal of the causal flow, while consistent with traditional views, does not adequately fit the data.

Discussion

That the Attention-to-Affect models provide good fit for the data is consistent with the view that everyday inattention contributes to the emotional distress that creates depression. While this view is contrary to the typical conception of attention problems as consequences of depression, it is consistent with our own previous findings. Accordingly, our results continue to suggest it is important for future research to further validate this pathway and to consider directly remedying attentional issues as a potentially important part of depression treatment strategies.
High triglyceride glucose-body mass index correlates with prehypertension and hypertension in east Asian populations: A population-based retrospective study
Authors: Chen Lu , He Linfeng , Zheng Wenbin , Liu Qiuying , Ren Yifan , Kong Wen , Zeng Tianshu
Published: April 2023

Background

There is compelling evidence for an association between triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, data on the relationship between TyG-BMI and prehypertension (pre-HTN) or hypertension (HTN) remains scant. The aim of this study was to characterize the association between TyG-BMI and pre-HTN or HTN risk, and to assess the ability of TyG-BMI in predicting pre-HTN and HTN in Chinese and Japanese populations.

Methods

A total of 214,493 participants were included in this study. The participants were divided into 5 groups based on quintiles of TyG-BMI index at baseline (Q1, Q2, Q3 Q4 and Q5). Logistic regression analysis was then employed to assess the relationship between TyG-BMI quintiles and pre-HTN or HTN. Results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Our restricted cubic spline analysis showed that TyG-BMI was linearly correlated with both pre-HTN and HTN. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that TyG-BMI was independently correlated with pre-HTN [ORs and 95% CIs were 1.011 (1.011–1.012), 1.021 (1.02–1.023), 1.012 (1.012–1.012), respectively] and HTN [ORs and 95% CIs were 1.021 (1.02–1.021), 1.031 (1.028–1.033), 1.021 (1.02–1.021), respectively] in Chinese or Japanese individuals or both groups after adjusting for all variates. In addition, subgroup analyses showed that the relationship between TyG-BMI and pre-HTN or HTN was independent of age, sex, BMI, country, smoking and drinking status. Across all study populations, the areas under the TyG-BMI curve predicting pre-HTN and HTN were 0.667 and 0.762, respectively, resulting in cut-off values of 189.7 and 193.7, respectively.

Conclusion

Our analyses showed that TyG-BMI was independently correlated with both pre-HTN and HTN. Besides, TyG-BMI showed superior predictive power in predicting pre-HTN and HTN compared to TyG or BMI alone.
“Cross-talk” between gut microbiome dysbiosis and osteoarthritis progression: a systematic review
Authors: Liu Su , Li Guoqing , Xu Huihui , Wang Qichang , Wei Yihao , Yang Qi , Xiong Ao , Yu Fei , Weng Jian , Zeng Hui
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the available literature on gut microbiome (GMB) and osteoarthritis (OA), analyze the correlation between GMB and OA, and explore potential underlying mechanisms.

Methods

A systematic search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science with the keywords “Gut Microbiome” and “Osteoarthritis” was conducted to identify the human and animal studies exploring the association between GMB and OA. The retrieval time range was from the database inception to July 31, 2022. Studies reported the other arthritic diseases without OA, reviews, and studies focused on the microbiome in other parts of the body with OA, such as oral or skin, were excluded. The included studies were mainly reviewed for GMB composition, OA severity, inflammatory factors, and intestinal permeability.

Results

There were 31 studies published met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed, including 10 human studies and 21 animal studies. Human and animal studies have reached a consistent conclusion that GMB dysbiosis could aggravate OA. In addition, several studies have found that alterations of GMB composition can increase intestinal permeability and serum levels of inflammatory factors, while regulating GMB can alleviate the changes. Owing to the susceptibility of GMB to internal and external environments, genetics, and geography, the included studies were not consistent in GMB composition analysis.

Conclusion

There is a lack of high-quality studies evaluating the effects of GMB on OA. Available evidence indicated that GMB dysbiosis aggravated OA through activating the immune response and subsequent induction of inflammation. Future studies should focus on more prospective, cohort studies combined with multi-omics to further clarify the correlation.
Efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) on COVID-19-related neurological disorders over the last 2 years: an up-to-date narrative review
Authors: Manganotti Paolo , Garascia Gabriele , Furlanis Giovanni , Buoite Stella Alex
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Among the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection, neurological features have been commonly reported and the state-of-the-art technique suggests several mechanisms of action providing a pathophysiological rationale for central and peripheral neurological system involvement. However, during the 1stmonths of the pandemic, clinicians were challenged to find the best therapeutic options to treat COVID-19-related neurological conditions.

Methods

We explored the indexed medical literature in order to answer the question of whether IVIg could be included as a valid weapon in the therapeutic arsenal against COVID-19-induced neurological disorders.

Results

Virtually, all reviewed studies were in agreement of detecting an acceptable to great efficacy upon IVIg employment in neurological diseases, with no or mild adverse effects. In the first part of this narrative review, the interaction of SARS-CoV-2 with the nervous system has been discussed and the IVIg mechanisms of action were reviewed. In the second part, we collected scientific literature data over the last 2 years to discuss the use of IVIg therapy in different neuro-COVID conditions, thus providing a summary of the treatment strategies and key findings.

Discussion

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) therapy is a versatile tool with multiple molecular targets and mechanisms of action that might respond to some of the suggested effects of infection through inflammatory and autoimmune responses. As such, IVIg therapy has been used in several COVID-19-related neurological diseases, including polyneuropathies, encephalitis, and status epilepticus, and results have often shown improvement of symptoms, thus suggesting IVIg treatment to be safe and effective.
Nrl:CreERT2 mouse model to induce mosaic gene expression in rod photoreceptors
Authors: Thorson Molly T. , Wei Stephanie E. , Johnson Craig , Gabriel Christopher J. , Arshavsky Vadim Y. , Pearring Jillian N.
Published: April 2023

Photoreceptors are sensory neurons that capture light within their outer segment, a narrow cylindrical organelle stacked with disc-shaped membranes housing the visual pigment. Photoreceptors are the most abundant neurons in the retina and are tightly packed to maximize the capture of incoming light. As a result, it is challenging to visualize an individual cell within a crowded photoreceptor population. To address this limitation, we developed a rod-specific mouse model that expresses tamoxifen-inducible cre recombinase under the control of the Nrl promoter. We characterized this mouse using a farnyslated GFP (GFPf) reporter mouse and found mosaic rod expression throughout the retina. The number of GFPf-expressing rods stabilized within 3 days post tamoxifen injection. At that time, the GFPf reporter began to accumulate in basal disc membranes. Using this new reporter mouse, we attempted to quantify the time course of photoreceptor disc renewal in WT and Rd9 mice, a model of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa previously proposed to have a reduced disc renewal rate. We measured GFPf accumulation in individual outer segments at 3 and 6 days post-induction and found that basal accumulation of the GFPf reporter was unchanged between WT and Rd9 mice. However, rates of renewal based on the GFPf measurements were inconsistent with historical calculations from radiolabeled pulse-chase experiments. By extending GFPf reporter accumulation to 10 and 13 days we found that this reporter had an unexpected distribution pattern that preferentially labeled the basal region of the outer segment. For these reasons the GFPf reporter cannot be used for measuring rates of disc renewal. Therefore, we used an alternative method that labels newly forming discs with a fluorescent dye to measure disc renewal rates directly in the Rd9 model and found it was not significantly different from WT. Our study finds that the Rd9 mouse has normal rates of disc renewal and introduces a novel Nrl:CreERT2 mouse for gene manipulation of individual rods.
The value of DCE- MRI of the breast as a diagnostic tool in assessing amorphous calcifications in screening mammography
Authors: Wang Siqi , Wang Hui , Li Yang , Lou Jianjuan , Zou Qigui , Jiang Yanni , Wu Feiyun , Tang Yuxia , Wang Shouju
Published: April 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in differentiating benign and malignant amorphous calcifications.

Methods

This study included 193 female patients with 197 suspicious amorphous calcifications detected on screening mammography. The patients’ demographics, clinical follow-up, imaging, and pathology outcomes were reviewed, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of DCE-MRI were calculated.

Results

Of 197 lesions (193 patients) included in the study, 50 (25.4%) were histologically proved to be malignant. DCE-MRI based on breast imaging report and diagnosis system (BI-RADS) had a sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 85.7%, PPV of 69.1%, and NPV of 97.7% for the detection of malignant amorphous calcifications. Notably, diagnosis solely based on the presence or absence of DCE-MRI enhancement showed the same sensitivity but significantly decreased specificity (44.8%, p < 0.001) and PPV (44.8%, p < 0.001). In patients with a minimal or mild degree of background parenchymal enhancement (BPE), the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV increased to 100%, 90.6%, 78.6%, and 100%, respectively. However, in patients with a moderate degree of BPE, MRI resulted in three false negatives of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Overall, the addition of DCE-MRI detected all invasive lesions and could decrease unnecessary biopsy by 65.5%.

Conclusion

DCE-MRI based on BI-RADS has the potential to improve the diagnosis of suspicious amorphous calcifications and avoid unnecessary biopsy, especially for those with low-degree BPE.
Status of pediatric echocardiography clinical trials: a cross-sectional study of registered trials in ClinicalTrials.gov
Authors: Mao Li-Juan , Wang Lan , Lv Dong-Mei
Published: April 2023

Background

The objective of this study is to analyze the characteristics of pediatric echocardiography clinical trials registered in ClinicalTrials.gov.

Methods

A data set including pediatric echocardiography clinical trials was downloaded from ClinicalTrials.gov until May 13, 2022. We searched the PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Embase databases to extract publication data. Pediatric echocardiography trial characteristics, application areas, and publication status were described. The secondary objectives were to evaluate factors associated with trial publication.

Results

We identified 410 pediatric echocardiography reporting definite age, of which 246 were interventional and 146 were observational. Drug interventions were the most commonly studied (32.9%). The most applied area of pediatric echocardiography was congenital heart disease, followed by hemodynamics of preterm or neonatal infants, cardiomyopathy, inflammatory heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and cardio-oncology. According to the primary completion data, 54.9% of the trials were completed before August 2020. 34.2% of the trials had been published within 24 months. Union countries and quadruple masking were more likely to be published.

Conclusion

Echocardiography is rapidly evolving in pediatric clinical applications, including anatomic imaging and functional imaging. Novel speckle tracking techniques have also been pivotal in the assessment of cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction. A small number of clinical trials in pediatric echocardiography are published in a timely fashion. Concerted efforts are needed to promote trial transparency.
Mitochondria: It is all about energy
Authors: Casanova Amaloha , Wevers Anne , Navarro-Ledesma Santiago , Pruimboom Leo
Published: April 2023

Mitochondria play a key role in both health and disease. Their function is not limited to energy production but serves multiple mechanisms varying from iron and calcium homeostasis to the production of hormones and neurotransmitters, such as melatonin. They enable and influence communication at all physical levels through interaction with other organelles, the nucleus, and the outside environment. The literature suggests crosstalk mechanisms between mitochondria and circadian clocks, the gut microbiota, and the immune system. They might even be the hub supporting and integrating activity across all these domains. Hence, they might be the (missing) link in both health and disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction is related to metabolic syndrome, neuronal diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and infectious diseases, and inflammatory disorders. In this regard, diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and chronic pain are discussed. This review focuses on understanding the mitochondrial mechanisms of action that allow for the maintenance of mitochondrial health and the pathways toward dysregulated mechanisms. Although mitochondria have allowed us to adapt to changes over the course of evolution, in turn, evolution has shaped mitochondria. Each evolution-based intervention influences mitochondria in its own way. The use of physiological stress triggers tolerance to the stressor, achieving adaptability and resistance. This review describes strategies that could recover mitochondrial functioning in multiple diseases, providing a comprehensive, root-cause-focused, integrative approach to recovering health and treating people suffering from chronic diseases.
Regulation of the iron-deficiency response by IMA/FEP peptide
Authors: Tabata Ryo
Published: April 2023

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, participating in many significant biological processes including photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen fixation. Although abundant in the earth’s crust, most Fe is oxidized and difficult for plants to absorb under aerobic and alkaline pH conditions. Plants, therefore, have evolved complex means to optimize their Fe-acquisition efficiency. In the past two decades, regulatory networks of transcription factors and ubiquitin ligases have proven to be essential for plant Fe uptake and translocation. Recent studies in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) suggest that in addition to the transcriptional network, IRON MAN/FE-UPTAKE-INDUCING PEPTIDE (IMA/FEP) peptide interacts with a ubiquitin ligase, BRUTUS (BTS)/BTS-LIKE (BTSL). Under Fe-deficient conditions, IMA/FEP peptides compete with IVc subgroup bHLH transcription factors (TFs) to interact with BTS/BTSL. The resulting complex inhibits the degradation of these TFs by BTS/BTSL, which is important for maintaining the Fe-deficiency response in roots. Furthermore, IMA/FEP peptides control systemic Fe signaling. By organ-to-organ communication in Arabidopsis, Fe deficiency in one part of a root drives the upregulation of a high-affinity Fe-uptake system in other root regions surrounded by sufficient levels of Fe. IMA/FEP peptides regulate this compensatory response through Fe-deficiency-triggered organ-to-organ communication. This mini-review summarizes recent advances in understanding how IMA/FEP peptides function in the intracellular signaling of the Fe-deficiency response and systemic Fe signaling to regulate Fe acquisition.
Mobile robotics platform for strawberry temporal–spatial yield monitoring within precision indoor farming systems
Authors: Ren Guoqiang , Wu Hangyu , Bao Anbo , Lin Tao , Ting Kuan-Chong , Ying Yibin
Published: April 2023

Plant phenotyping and production management are emerging fields to facilitate Genetics, Environment, & Management (GEM) research and provide production guidance. Precision indoor farming systems (PIFS), vertical farms with artificial light (aka plant factories) in particular, have long been suitable production scenes due to the advantages of efficient land utilization and year-round cultivation. In this study, a mobile robotics platform (MRP) within a commercial plant factory has been developed to dynamically understand plant growth and provide data support for growth model construction and production management by periodical monitoring of individual strawberry plants and fruit. Yield monitoring, where yield = the total number of ripe strawberry fruit detected, is a critical task to provide information on plant phenotyping. The MRP consists of an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) and a multilayer perception robot (MPR), i.e., MRP = the MPR installed on top of the AMR. The AMR is capable of traveling along the aisles between plant growing rows. The MPR consists of a data acquisition module that can be raised to the height of any plant growing tier of each row by a lifting module. Adding AprilTag observations (captured by a monocular camera) into the inertial navigation system to form an ATI navigation system has enhanced the MRP navigation within the repetitive and narrow physical structure of a plant factory to capture and correlate the growth and position information of each individual strawberry plant. The MRP performed robustly at various traveling speeds with a positioning accuracy of 13.0 mm. The temporal–spatial yield monitoring within a whole plant factory can be achieved to guide farmers to harvest strawberries on schedule through the MRP’s periodical inspection. The yield monitoring performance was found to have an error rate of 6.26% when the plants were inspected at a constant MRP traveling speed of 0.2 m/s. The MRP’s functions are expected to be transferable and expandable to other crop production monitoring and cultural tasks.
Governance in the metropolitan area of Valencia (Spain): an unfinished business
Authors: Zornoza-Gallego Carmen , Pitarch-Garrido Maria Dolores , Romero-González Juan
Published: April 2023

Metropolitan government is still an unfinished business in Spain. An example of this is the metropolitan area of Valencia. The aim of this article is to learn about the process that has led to the current situation of a lack of metropolitan government and to propose actions that will help to make it a reality in the not-too-distant future. To this end, it analyses the history and the current regulations, and it is completed with the opinions and contributions of academics and politicians. The result is that, although there is no political will to include the consolidation of a metropolitan government in Valencia in the current political agenda, it is possible to set in motion initiatives of different types, on the part of local administrations and civil society, which can take advantage of the existing governance structures to advance toward a metropolitan government in the medium term.
Quantifying the tuneable interactions between colloid supported lipid bilayers
Authors: Giakoumatos Emma C. , Gumí Audenis Berta , González García Álvaro , van Hazendonk Laura S. , Friedrich Heiner , Tuinier Remco , Voets Ilja K.
Published: April 2023

Colloid supported lipid bilayers (CSLBs) are formed via the rupture and fusion of lipid vesicles to coat spherical colloidal particles. CSLBs are an emerging vector for the controlled self-assembly of colloids due to the ability to include additives into the bilayer, which influence the (a)specific interactions between particles. To evaluate the specificity of CSLB assembly, first a fundamental study on the tunability of the colloidal interaction and resulting colloidal stability of CSLBs without specific interactions is reported here. It was found that both fluid and gel CSLBs showed significant clustering and attraction, while the addition of steric stabilizers induced a profound increase in stability. The interactions were rendered attractive again by the introduction of depletion forces via the addition of free non-adsorbing polymers. The compositions of fluid and gel CSLBs with 5% membrane stabiliser were concluded to be optimal for further studies where both colloidal stability, and contrasting membrane fluidity are required. These experimental findings were confirmed semi-quantitatively by predictions using numerical self-consistent mean-field theory lattice computations.
Change in antimicrobial susceptibility of Listeria spp. in response to stress conditions
Authors: Wang Haoqiu , Feng Mengyao , Anwar Tanveer Muhammad , Chai Wenqin , Ed-Dra Abdelaziz , Kang Xiamei , Rantsiou Kalliopi , Kehrenberg Corinna , Yue Min , Li Yan
Published: April 2023

Listeria species are exposed to various stressors throughout the food chain, which are crucial for microbe mitigation strategy in the food industry. However, the survival capabilities and development of antimicrobial resistance by Listeria spp. under different food processing environments (FPEs) stressors are not yet well understood. Hence, this study aims to determine the difference in survivability and antimicrobial susceptibility of L. monocytogenes (Lm) and other Listeria species (non-Lm) strains exposed to different FPEs stressors, including heat, acidic and alkaline pH, UV irradiation, and osmotic stress. For this, a collection of 11 Lm and 10 non-Lm strains were used to conduct experiments. This study showed that Lm strains were relatively more tolerant to environmental stresses than non-Lm strains (p > 0.05). Additionally, the evaluation of stress-induced resistance toward antimicrobials showed that anaerobic incubation, after exposition to environmental stresses, rendered Lm and non-Lm more resistant to antimicrobial agents than aerobic incubation. Furthermore, the study observed that different stressors induced an increase in minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of certain antimicrobials. Specifically, heat stress persuaded an increase in MICs of tetracycline under aerobic incubation, and gentamicin and ciprofloxacin under anaerobic incubation. Acidic/alkaline pH induced an increase in MICs of gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, especially under anaerobic incubation. However, UV stress induced increase in MICs of tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole under aerobic incubation and gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole under anaerobic incubation. Additionally, osmotic stress induced an increase in MICs of tetracycline and ampicillin under aerobic incubation and gentamicin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole under anaerobic incubation. Collectively, this study highlights that stress tolerance may contribute to the predominance of Listeria species among FPEs and induce the development of antimicrobial resistance even without antibiotic selection pressure. The findings of this study may guide updated strategies to mitigate Listeria species in the food industry.
Characterisation of antimicrobial usage in Danish pigs in 2020
Authors: Moura Pedro , Sandberg Marianne , Høg Birgitte Borck , Niza-Ribeiro João , Nielsen Elisabeth Okholm , Alban Lis
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Denmark is one of the world’s largest exporters of pigs and pig meat, so the sector plays an important role in the national antimicrobial use (AMU). The Danish government has run antimicrobial stewardship programs in collaboration with the pig industry for more than 25 years. These have resulted in substantial overall reductions in total AMU and limiting the use of fluoroquinolones, the 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporines and the polymyxin colistin. To understand where further reductions in AMU could take place, it is necessary to investigate which antimicrobials are being used, how, and for which reasons.

Materials and methods

We characterized the AMU in the Danish pig sector in 2020, providing new analytical insights based on data retrieved from the VetStat database. The AMU data were segmented into classes, routes of administration, treatment indications and age groups, and interpreted as an outcome of the interventions taken. We evaluated the current AMU regarding choice of antimicrobial class. Moreover, we discussed how to further improve the antimicrobial stewardship in Danish pig production to achieve additional reductions without jeopardizing animal welfare. Where relevant, two pig veterinary specialists were consulted.

Results

In 2020, 43.3 mg antimicrobials per population correction unit (PCU) were ascribed to the Danish pig sector. There was practically no use of fluoroquinolones, 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and polymyxins. Weaners related to 45% of the total AMU in pigs when measured in tonnes and 81% when measured in defined animal daily doses, of these 76% were ascribed to gastrointestinal indications and overall, 83% were administered perorally.

Conclusion

To enable further reductions in AMU, it should be investigated how and when to replace group treatments (e.g., all animals in section or a pen) with individual treatments. Moreover, prevention of disease and promotion of animal health should be prioritized, e.g., through focus on feed, vaccination, biosecurity, and disease eradication.
Perfectionism in Children and Adolescents with Eating-Related Symptoms: A Systematic Review and a Meta-Analysis of Effect Estimates
Authors: Livet Audrey , Navarri Xavier , Pomerleau Philippe Pétrin , Champagne Sébastien , Yunus Fakir Md , Chadi Nicholas , McVey Gail , Conrod Patricia
Published: April 2023

Background: Over 40 years of research implicates perfectionism in eating disorders in childhood and adolescence. However, the nature of this relationship remains understudied. To address this gap, we performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis to quantify the magnitude of the associations between perfectionism (i.e., unidimensional perfectionism, perfectionistic strivings, and perfectionistic concerns) and eating-related symptoms during childhood and adolescence. Methods: The literature search was conducted using five electronic databases in accordance with PRISMA guidelines: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete, APA PsycINFO, and EMB Reviews. A total of 904 studies were identified; a total of 126 were included in the systematic review, and 65 in the meta-analysis (N = 29,268). Sensitivity analyses were also carried out to detect potential differences in age and clinical status. Results: All the associations we investigated were both significant and positive. Small effect sizes were found between eating global scores and unidimensional perfectionism, perfectionistic strivings, and perfectionistic concerns (res = 0.19, res = 0.21, res = 0.12, respectively) and remained significant in each age group in both clinical and community samples. Perfectionistic concerns were moderately associated with all eating measures, especially in community samples and samples with a mean age under 14. Conclusions: Psychological interventions specially designed to target perfectionistic concerns in the early stages of development may help prevent the onset or reduce the intensity of eating-related symptoms during childhood and adolescence.
Assessing Grain Yield and Achieving Enhanced Quality in Organic Farming: Efficiency of Winter Wheat Mixtures System
Authors: Hoang Trong Nghia , Konvalina Petr , Kopecký Marek , Ghorbani Mohammad , Amirahmadi Elnaz , Bernas Jaroslav , Ali Shahzaib , Nguyen Thi Giang , Murindangabo Yves Theoneste , Tran Dang Khoa , Shim Sangin
Published: April 2023

Organic agriculture is gaining prominence nowadays; however, the quantity and quality of organic products are still a matter of discussion, and various methods are being tested to fill these gaps. A three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of winter wheat varieties and their mixtures in grain yield and quality. Four single croppings of winter wheat cultivars and eight mixed cropping systems sown with mixed or alternative rows of two cultivars were compared. There was no significant difference between different mixtures with regard to grain yield, but the protein content (PC) was increased in the mixture for a low-quality variety, such as Vanessa. The highest wet gluten (WG) (18%) and falling number (FN) (268 s) were obtained in Butterfly-Lorien and Butterfly-Vanessa, respectively. Water absorption (WA) in Butterfly solely and all of its combinations showed the best results. The Illusion-Vanessa mixture showed the highest stability (7.19 min). The difference in the sowing method in mixtures did not influence the grain yield and grain quality, except for the dough stability. The potential for grain quality improvement elucidated in this study may apply to further research; however, one needs to consider if it depends on greater wheat variety, input materials, and their interaction, simultaneously with the expected overall benefits from this approach.
Temporal Trends and Future Projections of Accumulated Temperature Changes in China
Authors: Li Xuan , Yang Qian , Bao Lun , Li Guangshuai , Yu Jiaxin , Chang Xinyue , Gao Xiaohong , Yu Lingxue
Published: April 2023

The Fifth IPCC Assessment Report indicates that climate change will affect crop growth and threaten the stability of food systems. Accumulated temperature, which is closely related to vegetation phenology and cropping systems, is an important indicator of heat in a region. Studying the history and future accumulated temperature changes can provide scientific reference for the change of crop phenology and cropping system, which is important for the improvement of grain production in China. Based on the MK trend test, MK abrupt change test and interpretable machine learning model, this study analyzes the spatial and temporal variation of accumulated temperature in China from 1979 to 2018, predicts its future variation based on CMIP6, and investigates the dominant influencing factors among different agricultural regions. The study found that (1) the accumulated temperature belt shows a northward shift and retreat trend toward higher altitudes, and the area of the high accumulated temperature belt increases year by year, leading to the narrowing of the area of the low accumulated temperature belt year by year, and the trend remains unchanged under the future scenario; meanwhile, the northward shift trend of the accumulated temperature belt is greatly mitigated and curbed under the SSP126 scenario. (2) The changes of accumulated temperature belt are mainly influenced by the increase of accumulated temperature duration days, and secondarily by the increase of temperature. The contribution brought by the first day of accumulated temperature from 1979 to 2018 is greater than that brought by the last day of accumulated temperature, while in the future scenario, on the contrary, changes in vegetation phenology delay should be given more attention.
‘I Believe What I’m Saying More Than the Test’: The Complicated Place of Rapid, Point-of-Care Tests in Veterinary Diagnostic Practice
Authors: Bard Alison M. , Hinchliffe Stephen , Chan Kin Wing , Buller Henry , Reyher Kristen K.
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health and development threat, with calls for the optimisation of antimicrobial use (AMU) in the treatment of both humans and animals prevalent across national and international policy. Rapid, low-cost and readily available diagnostics that specifically identify pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles have been identified as essential parts of this optimisation process, yet questions over the assumed utility of novel rapid technology as a cornerstone of tackling agricultural AMU still exist. To understand whether this technology may support the optimisation of AMU in the treatment of animal disease, this study qualitatively examines the discourse between veterinarians, laboratory representatives, veterinary researchers and (cattle) farmers within three participatory events concerning diagnostic testing on UK farms, to offer a critical examination of the interaction between veterinary diagnostic practice and agricultural AMU. Veterinarian-led discussion suggested that veterinary rationales for engaging with diagnostic testing are nuanced and complex, where veterinarians (i) were driven by both medical and non-medical motivators; (ii) had a complex professional identity influencing diagnostic-test engagement; and (iii) balanced a multitude of situated contextual factors that informed “gut feelings” on test choice and interpretation. In consequence, it is suggested that data-driven diagnostic technologies may be more palatable for veterinarians to promote to their farm clients in the pursuit of better and more sustainable AMU, whilst also being in synergy with the emerging preventative role of the farm veterinarian.