bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption among adults in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Laohasiriwong Wonga , Samphors Sim , Chamroen Pall , Pisey Vong , Dewey Rebecca S.
Published: August 2021

Background: Soft drinks are an attractive and popular drink, consumed by many people to fulfill their energy. However, soft drink consumption is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption among adults in Cambodia. 

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study with multi-stage random sampling was used to select 749 respondents from 12 communes across 5 districts in Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. A structured questionnaire was used to assess socioeconomic factors and soft drink consumption. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression. Crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confident intervals (CI) were calculated to show the strength of associations.

Results: The overall prevalence of soft drink consumption was 44.73% (95%CI: 41.16-48.30%) across the sample population. The final model of multiple logistic regression showed only four factors to be significantly associated with soft drink consumption: gender, age, family size and income. Respondents most likely to consume soft drinks were men (AOR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.10-2.00; p=0.009), those aged 31-59 years (AOR: 1.93, 95%CI: 1.98-4.62; p<0.001), those in a household of less than 5 individuals (AOR: 1.38, 95%CI: 1.44-3.19; p=0.036), and those earning <300$/month (AOR: 1.59, 95%CI: 1.10-2.31; p=0.003).

Conclusion: The prevalence of soft drink consumption in Cambodia is a major concern for public health. The predictive factors significantly associated with soft drink consumption identified by this study were gender, age, household size and income. Therefore, all stakeholders should contribute to social marketing and intervention focusing on reducing the consumption of soft drinks through advertising on social media, television and other popular media platforms. Furthermore, additional taxation of soft drinks should be considered.
A comparative study of red brick powder and lime as soft soil stabilizer
Authors: Salimah Aisyah , Hazmi Miftah , Fathur Rouf Hasan Muhammad , Agung Putera Agung Maha , Yelvi .
Published: August 2021

Background: Soil has an important role to play in planning buildings because it supports the loads above it. Different types of soil with poor mechanical properties require more attention. Therefore, it is necessary to put in more effort to stabilize soil in order to improve its properties. This study aimed to compare the potential of lime and brick powder as stabilizers based on the values of California bearing ratio (CBR). Soil stabilization can be defined as the process of stabilizing soil properties by chemical or physical means to improve its engineering efficiency. The main objectives of stabilizing soil are to increase the bearing capacity of soil, to increase its resistance to weathering processes, and its permeability.

Methods: In this work laboratory tests were done with disturbed and undisturbed soil samples. The proportions of lime or red brick powder additives mixed together are 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% of the original soil sample. From the results of the laboratory tests, the soil type obtained is MH soil based on the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). The MH soil type is a low plasticity silt soil.

Results: The study’s results showed that with the addition of lime and brick powder, the soil could be stabilized. In both soaked and unsoaked CBR tests, there was an increase in the CBR value for each proportion of the mixed additives. However, red brick powder had a significant increase of 15%.

Conclusions: This study found a very large range of variations because of the many material requirements for each test. We suggest other researchers perform the CBR test by reducing the range of variations in the additives to get firm data and using our experimental procedure in this study for further research.
Efficacy and risk of sexual orientation change efforts: a retrospective analysis of 125 exposed men
Authors: Sullins D. Paul , Rosik Christopher H. , Santero Paul
Published: August 2021

Background: Voluntary therapeutic interventions to reduce unwanted same-sex sexuality are collectively known as sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE).  Currently almost all evidence addressing the contested question whether SOCE is effective or safe consists of anecdotes or very small sample qualitative studies of persons who currently identify as sexual minority and thus by definition failed to change.  We conducted this study to examine the efficacy and risk outcomes for a group of SOCE participants unbiased by current sexual orientation.      

Methods: We examined a convenience sample of 125 men who had undergone SOCE for homosexual-to-heterosexual change in sexual attraction, identity and behavior, and for positive and negative changes in psychosocial problem domains (depression, suicidality, self-harm, self-esteem, social function, and alcohol or substance abuse).  Mean change was assessed by parametric (t-test) and nonparametric (Wilcoxon sign rank test) significance tests.  

Results: Exposure to SOCE was associated with significant declines in same-sex attraction (from 5.7 to 4.1 on the Kinsey scale, p <.000), identification (4.8 to 3.6, p < .000), and sexual activity (2.4 to 1.5 on a 4-point scale of frequency, p < .000). From 45% to 69% of SOCE participants achieved at least partial remission of unwanted same-sex sexuality; full remission was achieved by 14% for sexual attraction and identification, and 26% for sexual behavior.  Rates were higher among married men, but 4-10% of participants experienced increased same-sex orientation after SOCE.  From 0.8% to 4.8% of participants reported marked or severe negative psychosocial change following SOCE, but 12.1% to 61.3% reported marked or severe positive psychosocial change.  Net change was significantly positive for all problem domains.  

Conclusion: SOCE was perceived as an effective and safe therapeutic practice by this sample of participants.  We close by offering a unifying understanding of discrepant findings within this literature and caution against broad generalizations of our results.
Case Report: Case report: Mixed infection of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in a tertiary hospital
Authors: Al-Subaie Abeer M.
Published: August 2021

Mixed infections with two or more species of Plasmodium are frequently reported due to vector factors, parasite factors (formation of hypnozoites) and host factors (residing in endemic areas, travel to endemic areas, inadequately treated previous infection, lack of compliance to therapy). Here we report a case of a 33-year-old Saudi female who had a significant travel history, and a peripheral blood smear (PBS) revealed mixed infection with P. falciparum and P. vivax. The case was successfully treated with a combination therapy of artemisinin and primaquine with follow up testing at three, seven, 14, and 28 days.

Mixed malaria infections are especially reported in travelers to endemic areas. Hence, adequate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the cases contributes majorly to preventing relapse and controlling the disease. Travel consultations should be given to all travelers before their trips to endemic countries.
Oligodendrocytes, BK channels and remyelination
Authors: Rupnik Maddalena , Baker David , Selwood David L.
Published: August 2021

Oligodendrocytes wrap multiple lamellae of their membrane, myelin, around axons of the central nervous system (CNS), to improve impulse conduction. Myelin synthesis is specialised and dynamic, responsive to local neuronal excitation. Subtle pathological insults are sufficient to cause significant neuronal metabolic impairment, so myelin preservation is necessary to safeguard neural networks. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent demyelinating disease of the CNS. In MS, inflammatory attacks against myelin, proposed to be autoimmune, cause myelin decay and oligodendrocyte loss, leaving neurons vulnerable. Current therapies target the prominent neuroinflammation but are mostly ineffective in protecting from neurodegeneration and the progressive neurological disability. People with MS have substantially higher levels of extracellular glutamate, the main excitatory neurotransmitter. This impairs cellular homeostasis to cause excitotoxic stress. Large conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK channels) could preserve myelin or allow its recovery by protecting cells from the resulting excessive excitability. This review evaluates the role of excitotoxic stress, myelination and BK channels in MS pathology, and explores the hypothesis that BK channel activation could be a therapeutic strategy to protect oligodendrocytes from excitotoxic stress in MS. This could reduce progression of neurological disability if used in parallel to immunomodulatory therapies.
Contraceptive Use Dropout-adjusted Unmet Need for Family Planning
Authors: Utomo Budi , Hariyanti Hariyanti , Prasetyo Sabarinah , Magnani Robert , Rahayu Sukma
Published: August 2021

Background: In the last two decades, unmet need for family planning in Indonesia remains stagnant, and contraceptive discontinuation has increased. These two indicators describe the risk of unwanted pregnancy in a population. Therefore, this study aims to develop an accurate calculation of the unmet need for family planning in Indonesia. 

Method: The study uses 2017 IDHS data to compare unmet need at survey-time and five years preceding the survey, measured by contraceptive calendar data that measured history of contraceptive use within five years preceding the survey. Unmet need at five years preceding the survey is measured by calculating the proportion of months not using contraceptive to the duration of months exposed to pregnancy in a period of 69 months. The study population is married women in Indonesia, with a sample size of 35,681.  

Results: Unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation is higher than unmet need at survey-time. A difference of 3% concerns an additional of nearly 1.6 million unwanted pregnancies. This study proves that the high number of contraceptive discontinuations is directly proportional to higher unmet need with contraceptive calendar calculation. 

Conclusion: In Indonesia, with a relatively high contraceptive discontinuation rate, the calculation of unmet need using the calendar method is more precise than at survey-time method. The study results suggest the use of unmet need calendar for countries with high contraceptive discontinuation rate and provision of primary health care that is responsive to a potential unwanted pregnancy.
Current diagnosis and treatment of vestibular neuritis: a narrative review
Authors: Bae Chang Hoon , Na Hyung Gyun , Choi Yoon Seok
Published: August 2021

Vertigo is the sensation of self-motion of the head or body when no self-motion is occurring or the sensation of distorted self-motion during an otherwise normal head movement. Representative peripheral vertigo disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière disease, and vestibular neuritis. Vestibular neuritis, also known as vestibular neuronitis, is the third most common peripheral vestibular disorder after benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and Ménière disease. The cause of vestibular neuritis remains unclear. However, a viral infection of the vestibular nerve or ischemia of the anterior vestibular artery is known to cause vestibular neuritis. In addition, recent studies on immune-mediated mechanisms as the cause of vestibular neuritis have been reported. The characteristic clinical features of vestibular neuritis are abrupt true-whirling vertigo lasting for more than 24 hours, and no presence of cochlear symptoms and other neurological symptoms and signs. To accurately diagnose vestibular neuritis, various diagnostic tests such as the head impulse test, bithermal caloric test, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potential test are conducted. Various treatments for vestibular neuritis have been reported, which are largely divided into symptomatic therapy, specific drug therapy, and vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Symptomatic therapies include generalized supportive care and administration of vestibular suppressants and antiemetics. Specific drug therapies include steroid therapy, antiviral therapy, and vasodilator therapy. Vestibular rehabilitation therapies include generalized vestibular and customized vestibular exercises.
Mortals’ offering to the gods: Martin Heidegger’s interpretation of the thing.
Authors: Karakasis Georgios
Published: August 2021

The aim of this paper is to track out things’ thingness in Martin Heidegger’s The Thing. Departing from the ontological difference between a thing and an object, we will go on examining the way an everyday thing, a jug, through its symbolically being used, becomes something much more important than a mere tool of serving; namely, through the act of the outpouring as an offering to the gods, Heidegger radically changes our conception of the thing, via the latter’s becoming the space of the mortals’ being appropriated by the gods in the span between the earth and the sky, namely the “Fourfold”.
El sentido fenomenológico del lenguaje poético en el segundo Heidegger.
Authors: Pineda Saldaña César Alberto
Published: August 2021

Este trabajo busca mostrar que el peculiar estilo poético que Heidegger emplea en sus obras ontohistóricas no es arbitrario ni responde a un mero afán de excentricidad. Al contrario, el filósofo vio en el lenguaje poético una manera de ser más fiel a su concepción de la fenomenología. La tesis propuesta consiste en que la fenomenología practicada en Sein und Zeit no alcanzó a dar cuenta del estado de arrojado (Geworfenheit) del Dasein ni de la esencia de la verdad entendida como rehúso. Para ello sería necesaria una fenomenología igualmente arrojada, acontecida, que encuentra su modelo rector en la poesía..
Driver Surge Pricing
Authors: Garg Nikhil , Nazerzadeh Hamid
Published: August 2021

Ride-hailing marketplaces like Uber and Lyft use dynamic pricing, often called surge, to balance the supply of available drivers with the demand for rides. We study driver-side payment mechanisms for such marketplaces, presenting the theoretical foundation that has informed the design of Uber’s new additive driver surge mechanism. We present a dynamic stochastic model to capture the impact of surge pricing on driver earnings and their strategies to maximize such earnings. In this setting, some time periods (surge) are more valuable than others (nonsurge), and therefore trips of different time lengths vary in the induced driver opportunity cost. First, we show that multiplicative surge, historically the standard on ride-hailing platforms, is not incentive compatible in a dynamic setting. We then propose a structured, incentive-compatible pricing mechanism. This closed-form mechanism has a simple form and is well approximated by Uber’s new additive surge mechanism. Finally, through both numerical analysis and real data from a ride-hailing marketplace, we show that additive surge is more incentive compatible in practice than is multiplicative surge.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, revenue management and market analytics.
O TRABALHO E A EDUCAÇÃO NO EPICENTRO DO FURACÃO: A PRECARIZAÇÃO IMPIEDOSA CONTINUA
Authors: Sevilla João Camilo
Published: August 2021

O presente trabalho visa ao alargamento das discussões acerca da função social encarnada pela educação e pelo trabalho na sociedade contemporânea. É imperioso um olhar mais pormenorizado a respeito do panorama em que a população – sobretudo a brasileira – se vê mergulhada. As recentes disputas no seio da política nacional revelam um objeto precioso para desvendar, explicar e, principalmente, buscar a compreensão do caos deflagrado pelas discutíveis reformas cujos desdobramentos não apontam um horizonte alentador. A relação entre trabalho e educação é, inegavelmente, um ativo importante para reflexão do cenário profundamente enfermo ao qual a população assiste cada vez mais ‘conformada’. Este trabalho lançar-se-á em busca de um ponto de inflexão em relação à fragilidade, alienação e precarização de que são vítimas os conceitos concernentes ao trabalho e à educação, uma vez que ambos se veem gradativamente asfixiados pela lógica dominante do capital.
PROMOVENDO A PROFISSÃO DO CIENTISTA A PARTIR DE UM PROJETO DE EXTENSÃO UNIVERSITÁRIA.
Authors: Teixeira Larissa Marques Pires , Araujo Juliana Magalhães , Creed Joel Christopher
Published: August 2021

A ciência deve ser cada vez mais valorizada, incentivada e estar mais acessível a todos, dentro e fora do meio acadêmico. E o apoio da população em geral que, via de regra, não tem contato com a ciência no seu dia a dia, é fundamental nesse processo. Mas como apoiar aquilo que não se conhece? O presente projeto “Pra que Serve? O que faz um cientista que trabalha com o mar.” visa divulgar a profissão do pesquisador científico promovendo o diálogo entre a comunidade acadêmica e a comunidade externa, estimulando a reflexão e debate de ideias de forma lúdica e participativa, familiarizando o público com a rotina de um cientista que trabalha com o mar. Relatamos aqui a experiência vivenciada durante todo o processo de criação e aplicação da oficina. A metodologia do presente projeto é dividida em duas etapas. Na primeira, através de apresentação oral, nós mostramos o que é um cientista, o que faz um cientista quando vai para o campo, como é mergulhar no mar e quais materiais são utilizados. Na segunda etapa nós realizamos uma oficina prática, mostrando a rotina de trabalho de um cientista, como diferentes organismos marinhos são identificados, que organismos são esses e a importância do trabalho de um cientista. Os participantes podem vivenciar a rotina de trabalho de um cientista que trabalha com o mar, além de observar a importância dos ambientes marinhos e da profissão cientista. No final das apresentações os participantes recebem uma tirinha em quadrinho resumindo tudo o que foi aprendido. Até o presente momento o projeto foi realizado em turmas de educação infantil, e ensino básico tecnológico, ambos de escolas públicas e em eventos de divulgação científica em locais públicos. Por ser um projeto de divulgação científica, adaptado para diferentes públicos, pretendemos repetir as atividades aqui apresentadas em outras instituições de ensino e eventos de divulgação científica a fim de incentivar o interesse em relação aos temas científicos, desenvolver o pensamento crítico em relação ao status da ciência na sociedade e contribuir para a valorização da ciência e educação.
FEIRAS DE CIÊNCIAS: O QUE EMERGE SOBRE CONTROVÉRSIAS SOCIOCIENTÍFICAS E INTERDISCIPLINARIDADE NESSE ESPAÇO NÃO-FORMAL DE EDUCAÇÃO?
Authors: Araujo Rafaele Rodrigues de , Hauschild Mailin Elisabeth
Published: August 2021

O objetivo do trabalho foi investigar como o espaço não-formal de uma Feira de Ciências possibilita a emergência de temáticas voltadas às controvérsias sociocientíficas, na perspectiva interdisciplinar. A pesquisa se caracteriza por ser de cunho qualitativo, documental e interdisciplinar, sendo que ocorreu através da análise dos resumos publicados por estudantes da Educação Básica na terceira edição do projeto de extensão Feira de Ciências: Integrando Saberes no Cordão Litorâneo. Com o processo da análise documental realizada, encontramos duas categorias iniciais que dissertam sobre as relações das controvérsias sociocientíficas e os temas voltados ao comportamento humano e o meio ambiente, os quais emergem na Feira de Ciências e possibilitam reflexões, interações e o desenvolvimento de tecnologias. Com isso argumentamos que o espaço da Feira de Ciências promove a auto-eco-formação dos estudantes, por meio da interação entre os pares, com os professores e o meio ambiente.
AS ONDAS DA COMUNICAÇÃO COMUNITÁRIA NO BRASIL a partir da análise da Rede Mocoronga de Comunicação Popular
Authors: Tovar da Silva Marcella Rodrigues , Félix Carla Baiense
Published: August 2021

A Comunicação Comunitária trata-se de um processo de luta popular não só por espaços de fala, mas por transformação social e influência política. Tendo em vista os avanços tecnológicos e a apropriação popular dos aparelhos de telefone móveis, é necessário  refletir sobre as novas maneiras de comunicar. Este artigo tem como objeto de pesquisa a autorrepresentação audiovisual tensionada pela atuação da Rede Mocoronga de Comunicação Popular. Parte-se da hipótese de que, ao olhar para si e para o cotidiano de suas próprias comunidades, produz-se subjetividades, que constroem e circulam mensagens a partir “de dentro”. Utilizando como aporte teórico os conceitos da Comunicação Comunitária, fizemos uma análise a partir das ondas ou gerações em que se construiu esse campo de ação e reflexão. E traçamos um paralelo com o histórico da Rede. Recorremos, como técnicas de coleta de dados, à observação participante e à pesquisa bibliográfica.
CONSCIÊNCIA E PERSPECTIVA FEMININA NOS LAIS DE MARIA DE FRANÇA
Authors: Luz Gabriela Carlos
Published: August 2021

Maria de França foi uma poetisa medieval que escreveu em Francês Antigo no século XII. Sua obra mais conhecida, Lais, é uma recontagem de diversas histórias folclóricas orais conhecidas na época. As personagens femininas destes lais, no entanto, são apresentadas como mulheres com clara consciência de sua perspectiva feminina frente às adversidades da sociedade feudal. Lendo os Lais com uma visão feminina (e em certos casos feminista) podemos ver como a autora criticou ativamente o modelo da ordem social em sua época e como suas críticas condizem com o abuso das mulheres em seu século. Partindo primeiramente de cenas nos lais de “Guigemar”, “Yonec”, “Equitan” e “Milun” discutiremos como a autora criticou a sociedade machista na qual estava inserida. Demonstraremos também como suas palavras nos mostram um tom de condenação a uma sociedade que ditava que a mulher deveria ser inteiramente submissa a seus parentes masculinos e a seu marido. Utilizaremos os estudos de Georges Duby nos quais ele versou sobre o papel da mulher na sociedade conjugal da Idade Média para ilustrar a perspectiva feminina medieval que a autora expôs, além de vários outros autores e historiadores que estudaram a obra de Maria de França com a consciência do feminino em sua escrita.
The brain: our control system
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: August 2021

The largest and the most complex organ in the body is the brain. In this article, the healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) are introduced to the fundamental features that are associated with the anatomy of the brain.

The body's central nervous system is made up of the brain, along with the spinal cord. This is the main control system for the body's functions and abilities, allowing conscious communication with the body and automatic operation of the vital organs, for example, the heart.

In this article, specific functions of the brain are considered. The four lobes of the brain are reviewed and also the three coverings of the meninges. Having insight and understanding related to how the brain functions can help the HCA and AP offer people care that is founded on a sound knowledge base. A glossary of terms is provided and a short quiz has also been included.
Current Practice Trends in the Surgical Management of Patellofemoral Instability: A Survey of the Paediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society
Authors: VandenBerg Curtis D. , Sarkisova Natalya , Lee Pace J. , Rhodes Jason , Hidalgo Perea Sofia ,   PRiSM Patellofemoral Instability RIG Study Group, Green Daniel W.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Patellofemoral instability (PFI) in young athletes presents both diagnostic and management dilemmas for which consensus often does not exist. The purpose of this study was to identify trends in management of PFI in children and adolescents in the United States and nationwide.

Methods

A 27-question multiple choice survey was distributed in 2018 to the members of the Pediatric Research in Sports Medicine (PRiSM) Society regarding treatment of PFI in paediatric and adolescent patients.

Results

In all, 56 of the respondents who were orthopaedic surgeons that manage patellar instability in children and adolescents and had performed PFI surgery more than five times in the past year completed the entire survey. A total of 41% of respondents reported that surgery for fragment refixation or loose body removal was indicated when a loose body or osteochondral fragment was evident, regardless of fragment size. Overall, 74% reported that if surgery was performed for an osteochondral loose body, primary repair (36%) or reconstruction (38%) of medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) was also completed. A total of 89% of members reported MPFL reconstruction in the absence of alignment or rotational abnormalities, tibial tubercle lateralization or trochlear dysplasia in skeletally immature patients; 59% reported performing the MPFL reconstruction with hamstring allograft, while 30% prefer autograft (hamstring, quadriceps). For patients with significant trochlear dysplasia, 87% reported no surgical management of trochlea in first-time or in revision surgery.

Conclusion

There is a lack of consensus regarding optimal diagnostic and treatment algorithms in the management of PFI, however, consistent trends have emerged among paediatric sports medicine surgeons.

Level of Evidence

Level V – survey of expert opinion and experience
Predictors of persistent postoperative pain after surgery for idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Charalampidis Anastasios , Rundberg Lina , Möller Hans , Gerdhem Paul
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To identify factors contributing to persistent postoperative pain in patients treated surgically for idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods

In total, 280 patients aged ten through 25 years at surgery, were identified in the Swedish Spine registry; all having preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) for back pain scores. The patients were divided into a high and low postoperative pain group based on the reported postoperative VAS for back pain scores (by using 45 mm on the 0 mm to 100 mm VAS scale as a cut-off). The patient-reported questionnaire included VAS for back pain, the 3-level version of EuroQol 5-dimensional (EQ-5D-3L) instrument, the EuroQol VAS (EQ-VAS) and the Scoliosis Research Society 22r instrument (SRS-22r). Predictors of postoperative back pain were searched in the preoperative data.

Results

The 67 (24%) patients that reported high postoperative VAS back pain (> 45 mm) also reported lower postoperative EQ-5D-3L, EQ-VAS and SRS-22r than patients with low postoperative VAS back pain (all p < 0.001). Two preoperative variables were independently associated with postoperative pain; each millimetre increase in preoperative VAS back pain (on the 0 mm to 100 mm scale) was associated with a higher risk of being in the high postoperative back pain group (odds ratio (OR) 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 1.05) and each 1 point decrease on the preoperative SRS-22r mental health (scale from 1 to 5) was associated with a higher risk of being in the high postoperative back pain group (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.73).

Conclusion

High preoperative back pain and low preoperative mental health are independent predictors of back pain after surgery for idiopathic scoliosis.

Level of Evidence

III
Calibration and Experimental Validation of Contact Parameters for Oat Seeds for Discrete Element Method Simulations
Authors: Geng Lingxin , Zuo Jiewen , Lu Fuyun , Jin Xin , Sun Chenglong , Ji Jiangtao
Published: August 2021

Highlights

The static friction coefficient and rolling friction coefficient of oat seeds were calibrated by the discrete element method.

Two representative oat varieties were selected.

The hollow cylinder method and sidewall collapse method were used together to reduce the test error.

Abstract
. Hulless and shelled oat are two types of oat with major differences in physical appearance. To study the contact parameters between the two different oat seed types, these parameters were delineated with the discrete element method and graphic image processing technology. Using plexiglass as the contact material, the experiments used two different angle of repose measurement methods—hollow cylinder and collapse sidewall devices, to perform bench and simulation experiments on the two different oats. Under different measurement methods, bench experiments measured the angles of repose of the two oat seed types at 33.19°, 33.82° and 22.45°, 23.57°; the static friction coefficient and rolling friction coefficient were the experimental factors, and the angle of repose was the experimental indicator in the simulation. The steepest climbing experiment determined the optimal range of the experimental factor, and the regression equation between the static friction coefficient, rolling friction coefficient and angle of repose was established by a quadratic orthogonal rotation combination experiment. Finally, the angles of repose measured by the bench experiment with the two different measurement methods were treated as target values, the coefficient of static friction and the coefficient of rolling friction were solved; the coefficient of static friction between hulless oats was 0.36, and the coefficient of rolling friction between hulless oats was 0.052; the coefficient of static friction between shelled oats was 0.24, and the coefficient of rolling friction between shelled oats was 0.036. The obtained contact parameters between seeds were input into EDEM, the simulation and bench experiment results were verified. The difference between the simulation results and the actual values was within 3%. The angle of repose of oats after calibration was close to the actual situation, and the calibration results had high reliability and provided a referencefor the measurement of contact parameters between other agricultural crop seeds. Keywords: Calibration, Contact parameters, Discrete element method, Oat.
Odorous Compound Removal Performance and Water Properties of a Biotrickling Filter Installed in a Piggery
Authors: Yasuda Tomoko , Waki Miyoko , Fukumoto Yasuyuki , Saito Hiroaki , Yokojima Hiroki
Published: August 2021

Highlights

We evaluated the performance of a two-stage biotrickling filter in a pig facility.

A short empty bed residence time lowered the secondary filter removal efficiency for many odorous compounds.

The removal efficiency of some compounds increased when the pH in the secondary water tank decreased.

Low-odor-threshold compounds such as MT, n-BA, n-PA, and p-cresol were indicated as targets for optimization.

Abstract
. Odor is a major problem in pig production, and it is important to minimize odor emissions. To determine the factors influencing variations in odor removal efficiency, we analyzed the performance of a biotrickling filter installed in growing-finishing pig rooms on a commercial farm. Over 16 months, we conducted measurements of representative odorous compounds, namely sulfur compounds (hydrogen sulfide, methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide), volatile fatty acids (propanoic acid, 2-methylpropanoic acid, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, and pentanoic acid), and ammonia. The average removal efficiencies of methanethiol, dimethyl disulfide, volatile fatty acids, and ammonia were 83% to 89%, with 50% for hydrogen sulfide and 18% for dimethyl sulfide. For many, but not all, odorous compounds, removal efficiency declined significantly with decreasing empty bed residence time (EBRT). From an analysis of the correlations of odorous compounds’ removal efficiency with the properties of the trickling water, we hypothesized that water properties such as pH, free ammonia, free nitrous acid, ionic species (Na+, Ca2+) concentrations, temperature, electrical conductivity, and biological oxygen demand, in addition to EBRT, were associated with fluctuations in removal efficiency during full-scale operation. The pH in the secondary water tank was negatively correlated with the removal efficiencies of methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, butanoic acid, 3-methylbutanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and ammonia. Our identification of key odorous compounds indicates the importance of the secondary filter in odor treatment. Biotrickling filters for air in pig facilities could be further optimized by targeting low-odor-threshold compounds such as methanethiol, butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and p-cresol, in addition to ammonia. Keywords: Ammonia, Biotrickling filter, Pig facility odor, Sulfur compound, Trickling water, Volatile fatty acid.
Design and Preliminary Testing of a Pneumatic Prototype Machine to Control the Colorado Potato Beetle
Authors: Almady Saad , Khelifi Mohamed
Published: August 2021

Highlights

A pneumatic prototype machine to control the Colorado potato beetle (CPBs) was successfully designed, built, and tested in a potato field under real conditions.

The pneumatic prototype machine is effective in dislodging CPB larvae from potato plants.

ABSTRACT
. The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a real threat to potato crops when left uncontrolled. This insect pest is hard to control because it develops resistance to most chemical insecticides. To date, several alternatives including chemical, biological, and physical methods have been used to control CPB populations but have proven to be ineffective on their own. So far, the most reliable method at short and medium scales has been the use of chemicals, i.e., spraying insecticides onto potato plants at regular intervals throughout the life cycle of the CPB. However, the overuse of chemicals due to the resistance developed by the CPB can lead to serious health and environmental problems. The use of a pneumatic method to control the CPB seems to be a viable alternative compared to the use of chemicals. For this purpose, this research focused on engineering a pneumatic control device that could allow farmers to reduce their reliance on chemical insecticides. A pneumatic prototype machine using positive air pressure to dislodge CPBs from potato plant foliage was designed and built at the Department of Soils and Agri-Food Engineering of Université Laval. This prototype was tested in the field using three airflow velocities (31, 35, and 38 m/s) and two travel speeds (5 and 6 km/h). The results indicated that the airflow velocity and travel speed have no significant impact on dislodging the CPB (p = 0.0548 and 0.7033, respectively). However, the interaction between airflow velocities and the development stages of the CPB had a significant effect on dislodging the CPB (p = 0.0194). Overall, the most adequate airflow velocity that resulted in removing most of the CPB larvae from potato leaves was 35 m/s. Obtained results indicate that this pneumatic prototype machine could be efficiently used to control the CPB. However, extensive testing is required to confirm obtained results and investigate the effects of the pneumatic control on both the potato plant growth and the yield compared to other control means. Keywords: Airflow velocity, Colorado potato beetle, Pneumatic control, Potato, Travel speed.
Leveraging Crop Budgets to Assess the Environmental Impact of Agricultural Operations
Authors: Monhollon Luke E , Keshwani Deepak R
Published: August 2021

Highlights

Agriculture Extension Resources should be used for regional life cycle assessments of agriculture.

Fertilizer is the major contributing factor of environmental impact, when using a spatial functional unit.

Ecoinvent may under-estimate the environmental impact of maize production.

Abstract
. Current attempts to quantify the sustainability of agricultural operations are hampered by the lack of information to adequately address variation of farming operations. Differences in weather, soil, local consumers, and transportation pathways affect the agricultural operation of a given parcel of land. These differences may significantly influence life cycle assessments involving agricultural systems. Agricultural extension publications and human expertise may fill gaps present in commonly utilized databases for environmental impact calculations. A methodology was developed integrating information from Nebraska Crop Budgets with Ecoinvent 3.6 in OpenLCA, to investigate pesticide production contribution and compare environmental impacts on a per acre and per bushel basis. Seven budgets were selected, outlining no-till corn production under no-rotation, soybean/corn rotation, and ecofallow schemes. Of thirteen tested pesticides, only five were greater than 5% of the total impact relative to 19-Corn in at least one impact category. Pesticide contribution was greatest for products containing multiple active ingredients and with higher yearly applied amounts. Exclusion of pesticide production in agricultural life cycle assessments may not significantly impact results. Relative impacts between budgets were greater than 83% on a per acre and per bushel basis compared to Ecoinvent, demonstrating life cycle assessments can be impacted by operational differences within similar production systems. Per acre impacts were 4% less to 227% greater than published maize grain production in Ecoinvent 3.6 for the United States. Per bushel impacts were similar at 6% to 280% greater. Result differences are dependent on the crop budget used and impact category considered. Fertilizer was the greatest contributor toward all tested categories. Per acre calculations were defined by applied nitrogen while per bushel calculations followed nitrogen productivity. With simple integration and specificity granted with crop budgets, extension resources should be used for region-specific life cycle assessments of agricultural and bio-based products to replace general assumptions. Keywords: Crop production, Extension, Food energy water nexus, Life cycle assessment, Sustainability.
Impact of Delayed Harvest on Corn Yield and Harvest Losses
Authors: Turner Aaron P , Jackson Joshua J , Sama Michael P , Montross Michael D
Published: August 2021

Highlights

Changes in yield, losses, and quality due to delayed harvest were evaluated.

No significant changes in potential yield were observed over three years.

Observed yield decreased late season with lodging present.

Losses at the combine head represented largest fraction of measured loss.

Abstract
. Potential changes in yield and harvest losses that can occur while field drying corn are key considerations when evaluating harvest timing and energy costs associated with artificial drying. This study presents a three-year evaluation of corn harvest in Kentucky. Potential yield, observed yield, measured losses, and quality changes were monitored in a single field at multiple points over the harvest season to assess changes with respect to time and moisture. Measured losses were typically less than 1% of the potential yield in a good standing crop, consistent with results from cooperator combines (0.8% to 2.4%). When lodging was present, variability increased, and measured losses increased to between 5.3% and 9.1% of the potential yield, primarily as a result of ears missed by the combine head. No significant changes in potential yield were found, indicating potential yield was stable over the period examined. In two of the three seasons evaluated, extended delays resulted in an increase in lodging, and the observed yield was significantly reduced by up to 42.5%. Allowing the grain to field dry generally improved test weight; however, there was a trend of increased mold and other damage with prolonged field drying in one season. Keywords: Combines, Grain quality, Harvest loss, Maize, Preharvest loss.
Broadband of linear-to-linear and double-band of linear-to-circular polarization converter based on a graphene sheet with a π-shaped hollow array
Authors: Qiao Qi , Wang Yueke , Yang Guofeng , Fu Yu , Liu Yongqi
Published: August 2021

In this manuscript, we propose a tunable multifunctional reflection polarization converter based on a graphene sheet, which is decorated by a π-shaped carved-hollow array. Our design can achieve the linear-to-linear (LTL) polarization conversion with 3.58 THz bandwidth and two linear-to-circular (LTC) polarization conversion bands with opposite handedness, which originates from the excitation of the three graphene surface plasmons (GSPs) modes. The LTL polarization converter can be switched to the LTC polarization converter by only changing the medium height. The performances of this multifunctional reflection polarization converter under different geometric parameters, incident angles, and electron scattering time of graphene are investigated. Besides, it is found that the broadband of LTL and double bands of LTC have the blue shift with increasing the Fermi energy (Ef) of graphene. Especially, the conversion between line-to-left-circular and line-to-right-circular polarization converter can be achieved by changing Ef. All the simulation results are conducted by finite element method, and our design has potential applications in integrated terahertz systems.
Impact of IRS: Four-years of entomological surveillance of the Indian Visceral Leishmaniases elimination programme
Authors: Deb Rinki , Singh Rudra Pratap , Mishra Prabhas Kumar , Hitchins Lisa , Reid Emma , Barwa Arti Manorama , Patra Debanjan , Das Chandrima , Sukla Indranil , Srivastava Ashish Kumar , Raj Shilpa , Mishra Swikruti , Swain Madhuri , Mondal Swapna , Mandal Udita , Foster Geraldine M. , Trett Anna , Garrod Gala , McKenzie Laura , Ali Asgar , Morchan Karthick , Chaudhuri Indrajit , Roy Nupur , Gill Naresh K. , Singh Chandramani , Agarwal Neeraj , Sharma Sadhana , Stanton Michelle C. , Hemingway Janet , Srikantiah Sridhar , Coleman Michael
Published: August 2021

Background

In 2005, Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as a public health problem. The approach to this was through improved case detection and treatment, and controlling transmission by the sand fly vector Phlebotomus argentipes, with indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticide. Initially, India applied DDT with stirrup pumps for IRS, however, this did not reduce transmission. After 2015 onwards, the pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin was applied with compression pumps, and entomological surveillance was initiated in 2016.

Methods

Eight sentinel sites were established in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. IRS coverage was monitored by household survey, quality of insecticide application was measured by HPLC, presence and abundance of the VL vector was monitored by CDC light traps, insecticide resistance was measured with WHO diagnostic assays and case incidence was determined from the VL case register KAMIS.

Results

Complete treatment of houses with IRS increased across all sites from 57% in 2016 to 70% of houses in 2019, rising to >80% if partial house IRS coverage is included (except West Bengal). The quality of insecticide application has improved compared to previous studies, average doses of insecticide on filters papers ranged from 1.52 times the target dose of 25mg/m2 alpha-cypermethrin in 2019 to 1.67 times in 2018. Resistance to DDT has continued to increase, but the vector was not resistant to carbamates, organophosphates or pyrethroids. The annual and seasonal abundance of P. argentipes declined between 2016 to 2019 with an overall infection rate of 0.03%. This was associated with a decline in VL incidence for the blocks represented by the sentinel sites from 1.16 per 10,000 population in 2016 to 0.51 per 10,000 in 2019.

Conclusion

Through effective case detection and management reducing the infection reservoirs for P. argentipes in the human population combined with IRS keeping P. argentipes abundance and infectivity low has reduced VL transmission. This combination of effective case management and vector control has now brought India within reach of the VL elimination targets.
Genetic diversity in two leading Plasmodium vivax malaria vaccine candidates AMA1 and MSP119 at three sites in India
Authors: Kale Sonal , Pande Veena , Singh Om P. , Carlton Jane M. , Mallick Prashant K.
Published: August 2021

Plasmodium vivax, a major contributor to the malaria burden in India, has the broadest geographic distribution and shows higher genetic diversity than P. falciparum. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity of two leading P. vivax vaccine candidate antigens, at three geographically diverse malaria-endemic regions in India. Pvama1 and Pvmsp119 partial coding sequences were generated from one hundred P. vivax isolates in India (Chennai n = 28, Nadiad n = 50 and Rourkela n = 22) and ~1100 published sequences from Asia, South America, North America, and Oceania regions included. These data were used to assess the genetic diversity and potential for vaccine candidacy of both antigens on a global scale. A total of 44 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) were identified among 100 Indian Pvama1 sequences, including 10 synonymous and 34 nonsynonymous mutations. Nucleotide diversity was higher in Rourkela and Nadiad as compared to Chennai. Nucleotide diversity measures showed a strong balancing selection in Indian and global population for domain I of Pvama1, which suggests that it is a dominant target of the protective immune response. In contrast, the Pvmsp119 region showed highly conserved sequences in India and across the Oceania, South America, North America and Asia, demonstrating low genetic diversity in the global population when compared to Pvama1. Results suggest the possibility of including Pvmsp119 in a multivalent vaccine formulation against P. vivax infections. However, the high genetic diversity seen in Pvama1 would be more challenging for vaccine development.
Home delivery practice and its predictors in South Ethiopia
Authors: Hailu Dejene , Tadele Henok , Tadesse Birkneh Tilahun , Alemayehu Akalewold , Abuka Teshome , Woldegebriel Fitsum , Gedefaw Abel , Mengesha Selamawit , Haji Yusuf
Published: August 2021

Background

Institutional delivery is one of the key interventions to reduce maternal death. It ensures safe birth, reduces both actual and potential complications, and decreases maternal and newborn death. However, a significant proportion of deliveries in developing countries like Ethiopia are home deliveries and are not attended by skilled birth attendants. We investigated the prevalence and determinants of home delivery in three districts in Sidama administration, Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

Between 15–29 October 2018, a cross sectional survey of 507 women who gave birth within the past 12 months was conducted using multi-stage sampling. Sociodemographic and childbirth related data were collected using structured, interviewer administered tools. Univariate and backward stepwise multivariate logistic regression models were run to assess independent predictors of home delivery.

Results

The response rate was 97.6% (495). In the past year, 22.8% (113), 95% confidence interval (CI) (19%, 27%) gave birth at home. Rural residence, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 13.68 (95%CI:4.29–43.68); no maternal education, aOR = 20.73(95%CI:6.56–65.54) or completed only elementary school, aOR = 7.62(95% CI: 2.58–22.51); unknown expected date of delivery, aOR = 1.81(95% CI: 1.03–3.18); being employed women (those working for wage and self-employed), aOR = 2.79 (95%CI:1.41–5.52) and not planning place of delivery, aOR = 26.27, (95%CI: 2.59–266.89) were independently associated with place of delivery.

Conclusion

The prevalence of institutional delivery in the study area has improved from the 2016 Ethiopian Demography Health Survey report of 26%. Uneducated, rural and employed women were more likely to deliver at home. Strategies should be designed to expand access to and utilization of institutional delivery services among the risky groups.