bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The experiences and needs of unpaid family caregivers for persons living with dementia in rural settings: A qualitative systematic review
Authors: Campbell-Enns Heather J. , Bornstein Stephen , Hutchings Veronica M. M. , Janzen Maya , Kampen Melanie , O’Brien Kelli , Rieger Kendra L. , Stewart Tara , Zendel Benjamin Rich , Doupe Malcolm B.
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Unpaid family caregivers provide extensive support for community-dwelling persons living with dementia, impacting family caregivers’ health and wellbeing. Further, unpaid family caregiving in rural settings has additional challenges because of lower access to services. This systematic review examines qualitative evidence to summarize the experiences and needs of rural unpaid family caregivers of persons living with dementia.

Methods

CINAHL, SCOPUS, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsychINFO, ProQuest, and Medline were searched for articles investigating the experience and needs of rural family caregivers of persons living with dementia. Eligibility criteria were: 1) original qualitative research; 2) written in the English language; 3) focused on the perspectives of caregivers of community-dwelling persons with dementia; 4) focused on rural settings. Study findings were extracted from each article and a meta-aggregate process was used to synthesize the findings.

Findings

Of the 510 articles screened, 36 studies were included in this review. Studies were of moderate to high quality and produced 245 findings that were analyzed to produce three synthesized findings: 1) the challenge of dementia care; 2) rural limitations; 3) rural opportunities.

Conclusions

Rurality is perceived as a limitation for family caregivers in relation to the scope of services provided but can be perceived as a benefit when caregivers experience trustworthy and helpful social networks in rural settings. Implications for practice include establishing and empowering community groups to partner in the provision of care. Further research must be conducted to better understand the strengths and limitations of rurality on caregiving.
Diagnostic accuracy of the Copenhagen Index in ovarian malignancy: A meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Huiling , Ma Shouye , Chen Xiaohong , Wu Huifang , Wang Rongrong , Du Mengmeng , Nie Xiazi
Published: June 2023

Objective

To assess the diagnostic value of the Copenhagen index for ovarian malignancy.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, CBM, CNKI, and WanFang databases were searched throughout June 2021. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 12, Meta-DiSc, and RevMan 5.3. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were calculated, the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn, and the area under the curve was calculated.

Results

Ten articles, including 11 studies with a total of 5266 patients, were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio were 0.82 [95% CI (0.80–0.83)], 0.88 [95% CI (0.87–0.89)], and 57.31 [95% CI (32.84–100.02)], respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristics curve and the Q index were 0.9545 and 0.8966, respectively.

Conclusion

Our systematic review shows that the sensitivity and specificity of the Copenhagen index are high enough for it to be used in a clinical setting to provide accurate ovarian cancer diagnosis without considering menopausal status.
PTPN22 intron polymorphism rs1310182 (c.2054-852T>C) is associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus in patients of Armenian descent
Authors: Žak Robert , Navasardyan Lusine , Hunák Ján , Martinů Jiřina , Heneberg Petr
Published: June 2023

Protein tyrosine phosphatase, nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22), is an archetypal non-HLA autoimmunity gene. It is one of the most prominent genetic contributors to type 1 diabetes mellitus outside the HLA region, and prevalence of its risk variants is subject to enormous geographic variability. Here, we address the genetic background of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus of Armenian descent. Armenia has a population that has been genetically isolated for 3000 years. We hypothesized that two PTPN22 polymorphisms, rs2476601 and rs1310182, are associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus in persons of Armenian descent. In this association study, we genotyped the allelic frequencies of two risk-associated PTPN22 variants in 96 patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and 100 controls of Armenian descent. We subsequently examined the associations of PTPN22 variants with the manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus and its clinical characteristics. We found that the rs2476601 minor allele (c.1858T) frequency in the control population was very low (q = 0.015), and the trend toward increased frequency of c.1858CT heterozygotes among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus was not significant (OR 3.34, 95% CI 0.88–12.75; χ2 test p > 0.05). The control population had a high frequency of the minor allele of rs1310182 (q = 0.375). The frequency of c.2054-852TC heterozygotes was significantly higher among the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.35–4.24; χ2 test p < 0.001), as was the frequency of the T allele (OR 4.82, 95% CI 2.38–9.76; χ2 test p < 0.001). The rs2476601 c.1858CT genotype and the T allele correlated negatively with the insulin dose needed three to six months after diagnosis. The rs1310182 c.2054-852CC genotype was positively associated with higher HbA1c at diagnosis and 12 months after diagnosis. We have provided the first information on diabetes-associated polymorphisms in PTPN22 in a genetically isolated Armenian population. We found only a limited contribution of the prototypic gain-of-function PTPN22 polymorphism rs2476601. In contrast, we found an unexpectedly close association of type 1 diabetes mellitus with rs1310182.
Agricultural production diversity, child dietary diversity and nutritional status in poor, rural Gansu Province of China
Authors: Liu Xinghua , Liu Chengfang , Chen Kevin
Published: June 2023

Research has shown mixed findings on the link between production diversity and household dietary diversity. The question is whether this link holds for children. In this study we examine the relationship between household’s agricultural production diversity and child dietary diversity, and between production diversity and child nutritional status. Smallholder farm households (n = 1067) and children (n = 1067) aged 3–16 years from two then nationally designated poverty counties in Gansu Province of China were interviewed in 2019. Production diversity was assessed with the production richness score and production diversity score. Production diversity was calculated from agricultural production data covering a period of 12 months. Child dietary diversity was assessed with food variety score (FVS) and dietary diversity score (DDS). DDS was calculated based on 9 food groups using a 30-day recall method. Data were analysed using Poisson and Probit regression models. We find that both agricultural production richness score and revenue generated from selling agricultural products are positively associated with food variety score, with the relationship being stronger for the latter. Moreover, production diversity score is positively associated with children’s dietary diversity score whereas negatively associated with their probability of being stunted, but not with their probabilities of being wasted or zinc deficient. Household social economics status were also positively associated with child dietary diversity.
Learned pseudo-random number generator: WGAN-GP for generating statistically robust random numbers
Authors: Okada Kiyoshiro , Endo Katsuhiro , Yasuoka Kenji , Kurabayashi Shuichi
Published: June 2023

Pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are software algorithms generating a sequence of numbers approximating the properties of random numbers. They are critical components in many information systems that require unpredictable and nonarbitrary behaviors, such as parameter configuration in machine learning, gaming, cryptography, and simulation. A PRNG is commonly validated through a statistical test suite, such as NIST SP 800-22rev1a (NIST test suite), to evaluate its robustness and the randomness of the numbers. In this paper, we propose a Wasserstein distance-based generative adversarial network (WGAN) approach to generating PRNGs that fully satisfy the NIST test suite. In this approach, the existing Mersenne Twister (MT) PRNG is learned without implementing any mathematical programming code. We remove the dropout layers from the conventional WGAN network to learn random numbers distributed in the entire feature space because the nearly infinite amount of data can suppress the overfitting problems that occur without dropout layers. We conduct experimental studies to evaluate our learned pseudo-random number generator (LPRNG) by adopting cosine-function-based numbers with poor random number properties according to the NIST test suite as seed numbers. The experimental results show that our LPRNG successfully converted the sequence of seed numbers to random numbers that fully satisfy the NIST test suite. This study opens the way for the “democratization” of PRNGs through the end-to-end learning of conventional PRNGs, which means that PRNGs can be generated without deep mathematical know-how. Such tailor-made PRNGs will effectively enhance the unpredictability and nonarbitrariness of a wide range of information systems, even if the seed numbers can be revealed by reverse engineering. The experimental results also show that overfitting was observed after about 450,000 trials of learning, suggesting that there is an upper limit to the number of learning counts for a fixed-size neural network, even when learning with unlimited data.
BayesGmed: An R-package for Bayesian causal mediation analysis
Authors: Yimer Belay B. , Lunt Mark , Beasley Marcus , Macfarlane Gary J. , McBeth John
Published: June 2023

Background

The past decade has seen an explosion of research in causal mediation analysis. However, most analytic tools developed so far rely on frequentist methods which may not be robust in the case of small sample sizes. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian approach for causal mediation analysis based on Bayesian g-formula, which will overcome the limitations of the frequentist methods.

Methods

We created BayesGmed, an R-package for fitting Bayesian mediation models in R. The application of the methodology (and software tool) is demonstrated by a secondary analysis of data collected as part of the MUSICIAN study, a randomised controlled trial of remotely delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (tCBT) for people with chronic pain. We tested the hypothesis that the effect of tCBT would be mediated by improvements in active coping, passive coping, fear of movement and sleep problems. We then demonstrate the use of informative priors to conduct probabilistic sensitivity analysis around violations of causal identification assumptions.

Result

The analysis of MUSICIAN data shows that tCBT has better-improved patients’ self-perceived change in health status compared to treatment as usual (TAU). The adjusted log-odds of tCBT compared to TAU range from 1.491 (95% CI: 0.452–2.612) when adjusted for sleep problems to 2.264 (95% CI: 1.063–3.610) when adjusted for fear of movement. Higher scores of fear of movement (log-odds, -0.141 [95% CI: -0.245, -0.048]), passive coping (log-odds, -0.217 [95% CI: -0.351, -0.104]), and sleep problem (log-odds, -0.179 [95% CI: -0.291, -0.078]) leads to lower odds of a positive self-perceived change in health status. The result of BayesGmed, however, shows that none of the mediated effects are statistically significant. We compared BayesGmed with the mediation R- package, and the results were comparable. Finally, our sensitivity analysis using the BayesGmed tool shows that the direct and total effect of tCBT persists even for a large departure in the assumption of no unmeasured confounding.

Conclusion

This paper comprehensively overviews causal mediation analysis and provides an open-source software package to fit Bayesian causal mediation models.
IMPACT smoking cessation support for people with severe mental illness in South Asia (IMPACT 4S): A protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial of a combined behavioural and pharmacological support intervention
Authors: Mazumdar Papiya , Zavala Gerardo , Aslam Faiza , Muliyala Krishna Prasad , Chaturvedi Santosh Kumar , Kandasamy Arun , Nizami Asad , Ul Haq Baha , Kellar Ian , Jackson Cath , Thomson Heather , McDaid David , Siddiqi Kamran , Hewitt Catherine , Siddiqi Najma , Gilbody Simon , Murthy Pratima , Dadirai Mdege Noreen
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The prevalence of smoking is high among people living with severe mental illness (SMI). Evidence on feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of smoking cessation interventions among smokers with SMI is lacking, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We aim to test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering an evidence-based intervention,i.e., the IMPACT smoking cessation support for people with severe mental illness in South Asia (IMPACT 4S) intervention that is a combination of behavioural support and smoking cessation pharmacotherapies among adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. We will also test the feasibility and acceptability of evaluating the intervention in a randomised controlled trial.

Methods

We will conduct a parallel, open label, randomised controlled feasibility trial among 172 (86 in each country) adult smokers with SMI in India and Pakistan. Participants will be allocated 1:1 to either Brief Advice (BA) or the IMPACT 4S intervention. BA comprises a single five-minute BA session on stopping smoking. The IMPACT 4S intervention comprises behavioural support delivered in upto 15 one-to-one, face-to-face or audio/video, counselling sessions, with each session lasting between 15 and 40 minutes; nicotine gum and/or bupropion; and breath carbon monoxide monitoring and feedback. Outcomes are recruitment rates, reasons for ineligibility/non-participation/non-consent of participants, length of time required to achieve required sample size, retention in study and treatments, intervention fidelity during delivery, smoking cessation pharmacotherapy adherence and data completeness. We will also conduct a process evaluation.

Results

Study will address- uncertainty about feasibility and acceptability of delivering smoking cessation interventions, and ability to conduct smoking cessation trials, among adult smokers with SMI in low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusions

This is to inform further intervention adaptation, and the design and conduct of future randomised controlled trials on this topic. Results will be disseminated through peer-review articles, presentations at national, international conferences and policy-engagement forums.

Trial registration

ISRCTN34399445 (Updated 22/03/2021), ISRCTN Registry https://www.isrctn.com/.
Low knowledge of antiretroviral treatments for the prevention of HIV among precarious immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in the greater Paris area: Results from the Makasi project
Authors: Coulibaly Karna , Gosselin Anne , Carillon Severine , Taéron Corinne , Mbiribindi Romain , Desgrées Du Loû Annabel ,   on behalf of the Makasi study group
Published: June 2023

Introduction

In France, combination prevention tools, particularly antiretroviral treatment for HIV prevention has been available for several years. We described the knowledge of these antiretroviral treatments among immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, who are particularly affected by HIV, and the factors associated with this knowledge.

Methods

The data come from the Makasi study, which was conducted between 2019 and 2020 among precarious immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa recruited through a community-based outreach approach in the greater Paris area (n = 601). We described levels of knowledge of HIV treatment effectiveness (HTE), treatment as prevention (TasP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), by sex with chi2 test. We investigated factors associated with their knowledge with logistic regressions adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, living conditions and sexual behaviors (p≤0.2).

Results

Respondents were mostly men (76%), from West Africa (61%), in precarious situation: 69% were unemployed, 74% were undocumented and 46% had no health coverage. Among this population, knowledge of HIV preventive treatments was heterogeneous. While HTE was well known (84%); TasP was known by only half of the respondents (46%), and PEP and PrEP were hardly known: 6% and 5%, respectively. Multivariate regressions models showed that these antiretroviral treatments for the prevention of HIV was better known by people with a higher level of education (PEP: aOR = 3.33 [1.09–10.20], p = 0.03; HTE: aOR = 4.33 [1.87–10.04], p<0.001), those who had a social network in France (TasP: aOR = 1.90, [1.33–2.73], p<0.001), those who had access to the health system and those who were exposed to sexual risks (TasP: aOR = 3.17, [1.03–9.69], p = 0.04; PrEP: aOR = 2.60 [0.72–9.34], p = 0.14).

Conclusions

There is a need for specific communication on antiretroviral treatment for HIV prevention that targets sub-Saharan immigrants, particularly those who have no access to the health-care system and those who are less educated.
Una teoría para la mejora sistémica de la educación en América Latina
Authors: Rivas Axel
Published: June 2023

El estudio de la mejora de los sistemas educativos tiene un escaso desarrollo en la tradición de la investigación en América Latina. La aparición de las evaluaciones estandarizadas, que permiten la comparación en el tiempo de los logros, ha generado interpretaciones sesgadas o simplistas sobre las causas de los resultados de aprendizajes. La propuesta de una teoría de la mejora sistémica parte de estas advertencias y busca generar un marco que escape a los sesgos de las evaluaciones con una actitud pragmática que pueda interpretarlas y usarlas para consolidar una visión de la complejidad de los sistemas educativos.
La teoría fundamentada que se presenta está basada en múltiples investigaciones previas y se organiza en base a cuatro ejes analíticos combinados: 1-la gobernanza sistémica, 2-la expansión de capacidades de los actores del sistema, 3-la alineación de la rendición de cuentas y 4-la coherencia en la traducción curricular. Estos ejes requieren entrar en la caja negra del funcionamiento de los sistemas educativos y advertir las múltiples capas que median entre las políticas y las prácticas de enseñanza. Para lograr avanzar en esta dirección se plantean una serie de derivaciones metodológicas que favorezcan testeos empíricos de la propuesta teórica. Finalmente, se aborda el problema epistemológico y político de la definición de los procesos de “mejora sistémica” y la necesidad de usar y al mismo tiempo ir más allá de las evaluaciones estandarizadas.
Effect of intraductal drug delivery of orexin receptor antagonists into lactating rat mammary gland on milk cholesterol metabolism by regulating Fas and Hmgcr genes
Authors: Zandieh Shima Jafari , Khazali Homayoun
Published: June 2023

In recent years, many studies have demonstrated that the system of orexin plays a pivotal role in regulating lipogenesis enzymes. However, its effect on the mammary glands is not entirely known. This study answers the question of whether intra-ductal injection of orexin antagonists (OX1RA and OX2RA) into the mammary glands can result in the expression of fatty acid synthase (Fas) and HMG-CoA reductase (Hmgcr) genes and the secretion of cholesterol in lactating female rats or not. To this end, 42 Lactating rats were randomly divided into experimental groups including a control group and groups receiving OX1RA and OX2RA intraductal (with doses of 5, 10, and 20 µg/kg, i.duc). Milk samples were collected for cholesterol testing. Using specific primers for each gene, the target genes were measured via real-time PCR. Data differences were considered significant with P <0.05. PCR exhibited that the injection of orexin antagonists significantly reduced Fas and Hmgcr gene expression. Moreover, the injection of antagonists significantly reduced milk cholesterol. Intra-mammary injection of orexin antagonists reduces milk cholesterol levels by affecting the expression of Fas and Hmgcr genes.
The Contemporary Public Sphere-Habermas’ Perspective
Authors: Almuqren Abdullah
Published: June 2023

Undoubtedly, the contribution of public opinion and involvement is a critical aspect in shaping and influencing the political, social, and democratic courses within a nation. The concept of the public sphere acknowledges the presence and studies the initiation of integral discourses conducted by the public. Indeed, the German philosopher, Jürgen Habermas, instigated and established the understanding of such a concept. He critically highlights that the presence and participatory nature of the public sphere is crucial for a democracy. His theory, espoused in his 1985 Theory of Communicative Action, is predicated upon the principle that how we communicate, affects the content of that communication in the reasonable discourse of a mature democracy (Lock and Strong, 2010, p. 78). Nevertheless, it is evident that the development of technology and the internet has led to immense changes in the manner in which the public is able to become involved in such activities. Unquestionably, newspapers, writing letters, television and public meetings are no longer the only public sphere sources of the communication of information and the rise of social media and the virtual world provides many new sorts of opportunities for the exchange of views (Masip et al, 2019). Jürgen Habermas’ theory was established over a decade before the advent of social media, which raises critical questions as to the placement of the public sphere in the context of the realm of social media. The public sphere has been fundamentally developed by digital communication and the emergence of the immediacy of opinion making via social media platforms, introducing a less personally interactive but much broader participatory base, increasingly sophisticated and more contentious (Mahlouly, 2013). This paper will examine the nature of communication in the contemporary public sphere and verify whether the rise of social media and the virtual world extends the public sphere or diminishes the level of rational conversation through exploring the public sphere; and monitor his structure, function and places of work, according to Habermas’ theoretical vision. Moreover, to explain its components in the political and social field in the lifeworld. Also, to what extent of the contemporary sphere's applicability to Habermas' communicative theory. While Habermas' vision of the public sphere and communication was emphasized, it has been argued the perspective of Hannah Arendt and her “public realm”. In addition, many contemporary thinkers, particularly Fraser, argued about the concept of the contemporary public sphere in the postmodern.
Semi-analytical method for solving stresses in slope under general loading conditions
Authors: Wu Ping , Sun Xuejun , Zhu Dayong Zhu
Published: June 2023

Assessing the stress distribution within the slope in geotechnical engineering is critical. Despite the widely available numerical methods, no analytical solutions are available for determining the stress distribution within a slope under general loading conditions. This study presents a method of analytically approximating elastic stresses within a slope of arbitrary inclination subject to general surcharges and supporting forces. The prototype model of this problem is equivalent to a superposition of two sub-models: a half-plane body subjected to an initial earth stress field as well as surcharges on the crest (Model I) and a slope loaded by the release stresses caused by excavation, together with supporting forces on its inclined surface and bottom (Model II). The former stresses can be calculated analytically using Flamant’s solution, and the latter stresses can be further thought of as being composed of two additional components: one in an infinite plane with a half-infinite hole loaded by virtual tractions upon hole’s boundary (Model II1), which can be analytically approximated, and the other in a half-plane subjected to virtual tractions along the ground surface (Model II2), which can be calculated analytically as well. The two sets of virtual tractions that lead to stresses in Model II are calculated using an iterative process. The current approach provides analytical approximations of elastic stress solutions for slopes that are sufficiently close to the exact ones as accurate as much. A case study demonstrates that such solutions are in good agreement with those of the finite-element method’s over the entire region, the stresses within the region up to 10−11 times the slope’s height away from the slope toe can also be accurately determined using the current method. With this method, contour plots of stresses within a slope inclined at various angles are presented, which can be applied directly in practical engineering.
Rare presentation of double-clonal Waldenström macroglobulinemia with pulmonary embolism: A case report
Authors: Sun Yan , Meng Fan-Jun , Huang Jun-Xia , Yan Xue-Shen , Zhao Xia , Zhou Jing-Jing , Gao Yan
Published: June 2023

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) rarely leads to pulmonary embolism. Due to its low incidence, the underlying pathophysiology, prognosis, and optimal treatment remain largely unexplored and uninvestigated. In this study, a patient with a double-clonal WM, a rare subtype, presented with pulmonary embolism. The patient had a small number of plasma cells without morphological abnormalities, and an effective therapeutic response was observed. Nonetheless, the clinical prognosis requires a long-term follow-up.
DEM-based analysis of tectonic geomorphologic characteristics and tectonic activity intensity of the Dabanghe River Basin in South China Karst
Authors: Yao Wei , Xiong Kangning , Fan Yunlong , Lyu Xiaoxi
Published: June 2023

The Dabanghe River Basin, in the west of Guizhou Plateau, consists of numerous prominent geological structural features, such as the Shuicheng–Wangmo, Yadu–Ziyun, and Yongningzhen Faults, the Huangguoshu Waterfall, and the Guanjiao Knickpoint. The topographic conditions and structural systems are highly complex, making this a suitable area to study neotectonics. However, research on the geomorphology of the region is lacking. Combined with geomorphic parameters, quantitative exploration of tectonic geomorphic and tectonic activity in the Dabanghe River Basin is of great significance to reveal the formation of the Huangguoshu Waterfall, the development of landforms in western Guizhou, and the regularity of uplift of Guizhou Plateau. Therefore, based on a Digital Elevation Model, GIS software extracted and calculated six geomorphic parameters of the basin: Hypsometric Integral, Asymmetry Factor, Basin Shape Ratio, Stream-Gradient, and Valley Floor Width–Valley Height Ratio (VF) indexes. The tectonic geomorphic characteristics of the Dabanghe River Basin were analyzed, combined with the tectonic activity level classification method, and the Index of Relative Active Tectonics (IAT) of each sub-catchment was calculated. The geomorphic parameters of the basin were found to indicate its geomorphic characteristics well. The tectonic activity in the study area midstream is the most active, and the geomorphic evolution of some upstream and downstream reaches is affected by lithology, topography, and structure. The tectonic geomorphology of the basin is significantly affected by the fault system. Under the control of the Yadu–Ziyun Fault, the tectonic activity in the basin gradually weakens from west to east, and the differential tectonic activity (strong in the mid-reach and eastwards decrease) is consistent with observed seismic intensity. It is confirmed that our research results are consistent with the regional geological background and geomorphic characteristics through field geological survey. Therefore, this study confirms that the use of tectonic geomorphic parameters to classify active tectonics can be an important method to evaluate the stability of the crust in the region and further extends the application of geomorphic parameters in tectonics.
Survival analysis using deep learning with medical imaging
Authors: Morrison Samantha , Gatsonis Constantine , Eloyan Ani , Steingrimsson Jon Arni
Published: June 2023

There is widespread interest in using deep learning to build prediction models for medical imaging data. These deep learning methods capture the local structure of the image and require no manual feature extraction. Despite the importance of modeling survival in the context of medical data analysis, research on deep learning methods for modeling the relationship of imaging and time-to-event data is still under-developed. We provide an overview of deep learning methods for time-to-event outcomes and compare several deep learning methods to Cox model based methods through the analysis of a histology dataset of gliomas.
NKG2020 transformation: An updated transformation between dynamic and static reference frames in the Nordic and Baltic countries
Authors: Häkli Pasi , Evers Kristian , Jivall Lotti , Nilsson Tobias , Himle Sveinung , Kollo Karin , Liepiņš Ivars , Paršeliūnas Eimuntas , Vestøl Olav , Lidberg Martin
Published: June 2023

Coordinates in global reference frames are becoming more and more common in positioning whereas most of the geospatial data are stored in registries in national reference frames. It is therefore essential to know the relation between global and national coordinates, i.e., the transformation, as accurately as possible. Officially provided pan-European transformations do not account for the special conditions in the Nordic and Baltic countries, namely crustal deformations caused by Glacial Isostatic Adjustment. Therefore, they do not fulfill the demands for the most accurate applications like long-term reference frame maintenance. Consequently, the Nordic Geodetic Commission (NKG) has developed customized and accurate transformations from the global ITRF to the national ETRS89 realizations for the Nordic and Baltic countries. We present the latest update, called the NKG2020 transformation, with several improvements and uncertainty estimates. We also discuss its significance and practical implementation for geodetic and geospatial communities.
Are Radical Realists Hypocrites about Intuition-Dependence?
Authors: Cross Ben
Published: June 2023

Radical realists criticise the role that moral intuitions play in moralist political philosophy. However, radical realists may also rely on certain epistemic intuitions when making use of their theories of ideology critique. Hence, one might wonder whether radical realists’ criticism of moralists’ intuition-dependence is hypocritical. Call this the intuition asymmetry objection. My aim in this article is to show that the intuition asymmetry objection fails. After examining the basis of objections by radical realists to the role of moral intuitions in moralist political philosophy, I show that the presence of intuitions in radical realist theories of ideology critique is consistent with their criticism of moralism.
Black pepper (Piper nigrum Lam) as a natural feed additive and source of beneficial nutrients and phytochemicals in chicken nutrition
Authors: Ogbuewu Ifeanyichukwu Princewill , Mbajiorgu Christian Anayo
Published: June 2023

Tropical countries are rich in medicinal herbs that have the potentials to improve poultry productivity and health by increasing digestive enzyme activity, immune responses, and modulation of gut microbiota composition through the action of their bioactive constituents. Presently, black pepper (BP), one of such tropical herbs is gaining popularity as a substitute for antibiotics in poultry production, which have been found to promote the development of anti-resistant strains of bacteria and incorporation of drug residues in animal products. BP belongs to the genus - Piper, species – nigrum, and family - Piperaceae. The leaves, fruits, and seeds of BP are moderate in essential nutrients such as minerals and vitamins, but low in anti-nutritional factors. It is also high in important bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids. These bioactive compounds play important roles in regulating the normal physiological functions of animals such as growth, egg production, and immune responses. Therefore, the aim of this review is to pool evidence on the chemical composition of BP that acts as feed additives and their mode of action in enhancing performance and product quality, as well as the reasons for the inconsistent results among authors on the feed additive value of BP in chicken nutrition.
Testing and Characterization of the Freeze–Thawing Effect on the Morphology of Quartz Sand
Authors: Liu Qi , Zhang Ze , Zhang Shengrong , Brouchkov Anatoli , Meng Xiangxi , Melnikov Andrey , Gagarin Leonid
Published: June 2023

This research aimed to investigate the morphological changes of sandy soils with a varying number of freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs). The primary objective was to characterize the changes in particle morphology and establish the relationship between the number of FTCs and these changes. Two variables, namely the amount of variation and the coefficient of variation, were introduced as parameters to characterize the morphological changes of sandy soils. Statistical analysis was performed using the PIP9.1 particle dynamic image analyzer to quantify the morphological characteristics of sandy soil particles. The results showed that the five morphological characteristic parameters of sandy soil particles conformed to a normal distribution. The particle shape was primarily blocky, and sandy soil particles appeared more broken and regular in shape with an increase in the number of FTCs. The coefficients of variation of particle filling exhibit “conjugate” changes with other indicators, and the coefficients of variation of each indicator decrease gradually with an increase in the number of FTCs. Principal component analysis was employed to integrate information on sandy soil particle shape, resulting in a new index that established the relationship between the index and the number of FTCs. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of the morphological changes in sandy soils under freeze–thaw conditions and offer insight into the stability of sandy soils under these conditions.
Plasticity of Dopaminergic Phenotype and Locomotion in Larval Zebrafish Induced by Brain Excitability Changes during the Embryonic Period
Authors: Bataille Sandrine , Jalaber Hadrien , Colin Ingrid , Remy Damien , Affaticati Pierre , Froc Cynthia , Levraud Jean-Pierre , Vernier Philippe , Demarque Michaël
Published: June 2023

During the embryonic period, neuronal communication starts before the establishment of the synapses with alternative forms of neuronal excitability, called here embryonic neural excitability (ENE). ENE has been shown to modulate the unfolding of development transcriptional programs, but the global consequences for developing organisms are not all understood. Here, we monitored calcium (Ca2+) transients in the telencephalon of zebrafish embryos as a proxy for ENE to assess the efficacy of transient pharmacological treatments to either increase or decrease ENE. Increasing or decreasing ENE at the end of the embryonic period promoted an increase or a decrease in the numbers of dopamine (DA) neurons, respectively. This plasticity of dopaminergic specification occurs in the subpallium (SP) of zebrafish larvae at 6 d postfertilization (dpf), within a relatively stable population of vMAT2-positive cells. Nondopaminergic vMAT2-positive cells hence constitute an unanticipated biological marker for a reserve pool of DA neurons that can be recruited by ENE. Modulating ENE also affected larval locomotion several days after the end of the treatments. In particular, the increase of ENE from 2 to 3 dpf promoted hyperlocomotion of larvae at 6 dpf, reminiscent of zebrafish endophenotypes reported for attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHDs). These results provide a convenient framework for identifying environmental factors that could disturb ENE as well as to study the molecular mechanisms linking ENE to neurotransmitter specification.
The inhibition of Wnt signaling attenuates RANKL-induced osteoclastogenic macrophage activation
Authors: Yamanouchi Dai , Igari Kimihiro
Published: June 2023

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) have been linked to the activation of osteoclastogenic macrophages. Reports have suggested that Wnt signaling has a dual effect of proliferation and differentiation during osteoclastogenesis. The Wnt/β-Catenin pathway is a critical regulator of cell pluripotency, cell survival, and cell fate decisions. It regulates cell proliferation and differentiation through transcriptional co-activators, CBP, and p300, respectively. The inhibition of β-catenin suppresses proliferation but induces differentiation of osteoclast precursor cells. This study aimed to examine the effect of ICG-001, a β-catenin/CBP-specific Wnt signaling inhibitor, on osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting proliferation without inducing differentiation. To induce osteoclastogenesis, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with a soluble receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). The effect of Wnt signaling inhibition was examined by treating macrophages with or without ICG-001 during RANKL stimulation. The activation and differentiation of macrophages were examined through western blotting, quantitative PCR, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphate (TRAP) staining in vitro. The relative expression level of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells cytoplasmic 1 protein was significantly suppressed by ICG-001 treatment. The relative expression levels of mRNA of TRAP, cathepsin K, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 were significantly lower in the ICG-001-treated group. The number of TRAP-positive cells decreased in the ICG-001-treated group relative to the non-treated group. The inhibition of Wnt signaling pathway via ICG-001 suppressed osteoclastogenic macrophage activation. Our previous studies have shown the importance of osteoclastogenic macrophage activation in AAA. Further research to examine the therapeutic potential of ICG-001 on AAA is warranted.
Effects of thermal modification on mechanical and swelling properties and color change of lumber killed by mountain pine beetle
Authors: Cai Jiabin , Cai Liping
Published: June 2023

To extend the application of mountain pine beetle (MPB) killed lumber for decking, siding, and landscaping materials, it is essential to improve its dimensional stability. Thermal treatment is one of the well-established processes used to improve wood stability by modifying chemical compounds and masking blue-stains by darkening the fibre color. In this study, the MPB lumber was subjected to thermal treatment at three temperatures (195, 205, or 215°C) and three exposure times (1.5, 2, or 3 h). Based on Duncan’s multiple range test, the results indicated that the volumetric swelling after thermal treatment, either from oven-dry to air-conditioned or from oven-dry to water-saturated, was significantly reduced after thermal treatment. Modulus of elasticity was increased when specimens were treated at a temperature of 195°C, and then decreased as the temperature increased. Modulus of rupture was significantly reduced as treatment temperature increased. The hardness of lumber thermal-treated at 195°C was significantly increased compared to that of the untreated lumber. At higher temperatures, hardness started to decrease slightly. With the treatment temperature increasing to 215°C for 3 h, the color difference between stained and clear wood was reduced by 75%. As a result, the blue-stains vanished gradually.
Effect of high-pressure steam treatment on enzymatic saccharification of oil palm empty fruit bunches
Authors: Baharuddin Azhari Samsu , Md Yunos Noor Seribainun Hidayah , Nik Mahmud Nik Anis , Zakaria Rabitah , Md Yunos Khairul Faezah
Published: June 2023

The effectiveness of high-pressure steam treatment (HPST) with various treatment temperatures (170, 190, 210, and 230 °C) on the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) was successfully investigated. Analysis of the compositions of raw and treated OPEFB showed that significant changes occurred after the HPST was performed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the treated OPEFB gave better results in removing the silica bodies as compared to the untreated OPEFB. This analysis was in agreement with FTIR results, which revealed a significant decrease in the content of hemicelluloses after HPST. During saccharification, the amount of sugar produced was higher for treated OPEFB than untreated OPEFB. Thus, the results suggest that HPST can be applied as an alternative treatment method for the alteration of OPEFB structure and to enhance the digestibility of the biomass, therefore improving enzymatic hydrolysis.
Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies of lead (II) biosorption on sesame leaf
Authors: Liu Li-e , Liu Jindun , Li Hongping , Zhang Haoqin , Liu Jie , Zhang Hongquan
Published: June 2023

Sesame leaf, an agricultural solid waste, was used as low cost adsorbent for removal of Pb(II) from aqueous solution in batch mode. The biosorbent was characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The influences of phase contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentrations were investigated to optimize the conditions for maximum adsorption. The experimental data were analyzed by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Koble-Corrigan isotherm models. The Koble-Corrigan and Langmuir isotherms best represented the measured biosorption data. According to an evaluation using the Langmuir equation, the adsorption capacity of the biosorbent was found to be 279.86 mg g-1, which was higher or comparable to the adsorption capacity of various adsorbents reported in the literature. The kinetics of adsorption of Pb(II) was evaluated by pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models. The experimental data fitted very well with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The intra-particle diffusion model is not a dominant rate controlling mechanism in the sorption of Pb(II). Thermodynamic analysis showed that the adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The results indicated that sesame leaf can be used as an effective biosorbent for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions.
Effects of water-borne rosin on the fixation and decay resistance of copper-based preservative treated wood
Authors: Nguyen Thi Thanh Hien , Li Jian , Li Shujun
Published: June 2023

A rosin sizing agent designed to impregnate wood and immobilize copper in wood cells for protection against decay was investigated. Poplar (Populus ussuriensis) wood was impregnated with combinations of 3% CuSO4 solution and 1%, 2%, or 4% rosing sizing agent. The decay resistance of treated wood blocks was measured by a soil-block culture method. After a 12-week decay test, the weight losses of untreated control blocks were 70.45% by Trametes versicolor and 61.84% by Gloeophyllum trabeum. The wood decay resistance was also slightly improved by the treatment with only the rosin sizing agent. However, after being treated with the rosin sizing agent and CuSO4, the wood had great decay resistance. The average weight losses of the samples degraded by fungi were less than 4%. Notably, the leached wood blocks had a weight loss of less than 3%. After leaching, the copper content in the leachates was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results showed that the amount of copper ions released from the samples treated with the copper-rosin solutions was half those from the samples treated with copper alone. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) proved that the copper element was still in the cell lumens of leached wood blocks, which is consistent with the results of AAS analysis. This signifies that the rosin sizing agent is very helpful to fix the copper preservative in wood.
Production of fermentable sugars from oil palm empty fruit bunch using crude cellulase cocktails with Trichoderma asperellum UPM1 and Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2 for bioethanol production
Authors: Abu Bakar Nurul Kartini , Zanirun Zuraidah , Abd-Aziz Suraini , Ghazali Farinazleen Mohd , Hassan Mohd Ali
Published: June 2023

Utilization of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) for bioethanol production with crude cellulase cocktails from locally isolated fungi was studied. Enzymatic saccharification of alkaline pretreated OPEFB was done using different cellulase enzyme preparations. Crude cellulase cocktails from Trichoderma asperellum UPM1 and Aspergillus fumigatus UPM2 produced 8.37 g/L reducing sugars with 0.17 g/g yield. Production of bioethanol from OPEFB hydrolysate using Baker’s yeast produced approximately 0.59 g/L ethanol, corresponding to 13.8% of the theoretical yield. High reducing sugars concentration in the final fermentation samples resulted from accumulation of non-fermentable sugars such as xylose and cellobiose that were not consumed by the yeast. The results obtained support the possible utilization of OPEFB biomass for bioethanol production in the future.
Torrefaction of cellulose: Validity and limitation of the temperature/duration equivalence
Authors: Lv Pin , Almeida Giana , Perré Patrick
Published: June 2023

During torrefaction of biomass, equivalence between temperature and residence time is often reported, either in terms of the loss of mass or the alternation of properties. The present work proposes a rigorous investigation of this equivalence. Cellulose, as the main lignocellulosic biomass component, was treated under mild pyrolysis for 48 hours. Several couples of T-D (temperature-duration) points were selected from TGA curves to obtain mass losses of 11.6%, 25%, 50%, 74.4%, and 86.7%. The corresponding residues were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for analysis. According to the FTIR results, a suitably accurate match to global T-D equivalence is exhibited up to 50% mass loss: in this domain, mass loss is well correlated to the treatment intensity (molecular composition of the residue) except for slight differences in the production of C=C and C=O. For mass loss levels of 74.4% and 86.7%, distinct degradation mechanisms take place at different combinations of temperature and duration, and the correlation fails. Compared to the mass loss at 220°C and 250°C, the equivalent molecular composition can be achieved through treatment at 280°C with shorter treatment time and less depolymerization and oxidation. The main conclusion drawn is that mass loss can be used as a synthetic indicator of the treatment intensity in the temperature range of 220°C to 280°C up to a mass loss of 50%.
Wood color changes by ammonia fuming
Authors: Miklečić Josip , Španić Nikola , Jirouš-Rajković Vlatka
Published: June 2023

This paper studies the influence of ammonia gas on wood color changes in response to an increasing demand for dark colored wood specimens. The darker wood color in ammonia fuming is accomplished through chemical reactions between ammonia gas and wood compounds. We exposed oak, maple, spruce, and larch wood samples to ammonia gas for 16 days. During fuming, the color changes were studied using CIE L*a*b* parameters. After fuming, the changes in extractives content, tannin, and nitrogen content were analyzed. The chemical changes of wood and residues of wood extractives after fuming were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy. Oak wood reacted intensively with ammonia gas in a very short time, and the darkening was prominent for all the investigated wood species. It was established that tannin had no major influence on color changes of maple and larch wood in the ammonia-fuming process. The FTIR spectra of fumed wood indicated involvement of carbonyl groups, and the FTIR spectra of wood extractives indicated involvement of carbonyl, aromatic, and alcohol groups in reaction with ammonia gas.