bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Вивчення української мови на матеріалах культурної спадщини України як потужний чинник у збагаченні світогляду та покращенні адаптації іноземних студентів
Authors:   Чернівецький відділ Всеукраїнська громадська організація Союзу Українок, Роман Лілія Анатоліївна
Published: October 2021

У статті висвітлено необхідність володіння державною мовою іноземними студентами для їх успішної адаптації та подальшої соціалізації в українському суспільстві в процесі навчання в ЗВО України. Показано переваги при залученні студентівіноземців до феномену української національної культури через вивчення історії, звичаїв та традицій, ментальності українського народу. Підсумовано, що такий підхід сприятиме самоосвіті, професійному самовдосконаленню та оперативній орієнтації іноземних студентів в культурному, науковому та політичному житті українського суспільства. Ключові слова: методика викладання іноземних мов, українська мова як іноземна, іноземні студенти, українські звичаї та традиції, культурна спадщина України.
Інноваційні технології в іншомовному освіту
Authors:   Інститут міжнародної освіти Одеського національного університету ім. І .І. Мечникова, Черновалюк Ірина Володимирівна
Published: October 2021

У статті розглядається роль інноваційних технологій у сфері освіти.Інформаційно-комунікаційні технології визначають розвиток всіх сфер діяльності людини, включаючи сферу освіти. Відзначено роль інформаційних технологій в підвищенні якості мовної підготовки іноземних студентів. Питання організації ефективного процесу навчання іноземних студентів, високої якості освітніх послуг і ефективної реалізації сучасних концептцій викладання розглядаються в руслі сучасної концепції іншомовної освіти. Ключові слова: інноваційні технології, інформаційно-комунікаційні технології, іншомовна освіта, концепція навчання.
The Form and Meaning of Gondang Si Boru Nauli Basa in Batak Toba Traditional Ceremony
Authors: Pandiangan Robert Paulus , Pulumun Peterus Ginting  , Wiflihani
Published: October 2021

This study aims to determine the form and meaning of the gondang Siboru Nauli Basa in traditional ceremonies of the Toba Batak people in the village of Salaon Tonga-tonga. The theoretical basis in this study discusses about gondang, gondang siboru nauli basa, gondang hasapi, traditional ceremonies, the form of gondang siboru nauli basa, the meaning of gondang siboru nauli basa. November 2020 to December 2020. This study determined the population of the Community who attended the hahomion ceremony in the village of Salaon Tonga-tonga, and set a sample of 7 people. The data collection techniques used in this study included observation, library research, interviews, documentation, and analysis. with data reduction techniques, data presentation, drawing conclusions. From this study, the results obtained include: The form of gondang siboru nauli basa, served using musical instruments hasapi, garantung, sullim, sarune hetek, hesek, and gondang siboru nauli basa is an instrumental music played to summon the spirits of deceased ancestors, this event still carried out until now (2020) especially in the silalahi clan as a tradition in the Toba Batak tribe, the function of the gondang siboru nauli basa in the hahomion ceremony is as a function of emotional expression, a function of cultural continuity, and an entertainment function.
Feeding frequency on the growth and production of endemic near-threatened Ompok pabda (Hamilton 1822) in pond setup
Authors: Islam Md Ashraful , Samad Md Abdus , Paul Dipankar , Asif Abdulla Al , Hossain Amir
Published: October 2021

Growth and production of near threatened Ompok pabda (Hamilton) were examined at different feeding frequencies in the present study. The experiment was conducted for four months in three earthen ponds from 1st April to 31st July 2018 at Tanore Upazila in Rajshahi district, Bangladesh. The experiment was performed using pabda, (Ompok pabda) fingerling (average) to study the effect of feeding frequency on growth performance. The study carried out considering three treatments, namely T1, T2, and T3; while the feeding frequency was two times per day in treatment T1, three times per day in treatment T2, and four times per day in treatment T3. Fish were fed considering three-stage of life span; these were fingerling stage, early growing stage, and growing stage. In the fry stage, the fishes were fed 20% feed, in the fingerlings stage the fish were fed 10% feed and in the growing stage, the fish were fed 8% feed of the body weight. The mean water temperature ranged between 27.13±2.10 and 27.29±2.16 °C among treatments, while water transparency ranged between 31.91±1.58 and 29.96±1.84 cm. pH ranged between 7.62±0.14 and 7.70±0.19; while the mean dissolved oxygen was ranged between 5.35±0.11 and 5.56±0.14 among treatments. The final weight gain was found to be highest (56.36±0.01) in the treatment T2 and lowest (38.23±0.01) in the treatment T3. The SGR value was higher (3.94±0.01) in the treatments T2 followed by treatments T1 and T3. Net weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in feeding frequency three (56.36±0.1), followed by feeding frequency four (38.23±0.1) and feeding frequency two (40.67±0.73). The FCR value ranged between 1.90 and 2.87 among treatments. The growth performance and specific growth rate were significantly (p<0.05) higher in feeding frequency three. The highest (4049.1±0.1 kg/ha/120 days) production was observed in T2. Best cost benefit ratio was gained in treatment T2.
Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2021, 6 (2), 89-102
Credit and investment factors of economic growth of regions of Ukraine in conditions of financial and economic turbulence
Authors:   SI “Institute of regional research named after M. I. Dolishniy of the NAS of Ukraine, STORONIANSKA Iryna , BENOVSKA Liliya ,   SI "Institute of Regional Reseach named after M. I. Dolishniy jf the NAS of Ukraine"
Published: October 2021

The important problem of regional development is the strengthening of interregional disparities due to the concentration of financial capital in some of the most economically developed and investment-attractive regions and its outflow from economically weaker regions. The purpose of the article is to analyze the spatial distribution of the processes of credit activity and capital investment in conditions of financial and economic turbulence, to assess their impact on the economic growth of the regions of Ukraine. The following methods were used for the study: abstract-logical, comparative analysis, graphical visualization, statistical. The article identifies trends and problems of spatial distribution of credit activity, capital investment and highlights the features of credit and investment development of regions in crisis conditions; the influence of credit and investment factors on the economic growth of the regions is estimated. It has been found that in Ukraine a high concentration of capital investment in highly developed regions does not always guarantee them high investment productivity. Regional development under the COVID-19 quarantine restrictions was often influenced by behavioral factors and a number of irrational decisions by economic entities. During 2020, the share of public capital investments increased, but these investments were often financed by international funds. However, unlike most developed countries, the main objects of investment were not the health care system (including its increased capacity to fight the pandemic) or the digitalisation of public services, but the objects of hard infrastructure. The article identifies the risks of economic growth of regions, in particular: the risk of delayed effect of economic growth in the short term, the risk of deepening imbalances in economic development of Ukraine, the risk of low productivity of public investment, the risk of increasing irrationality of consumer behavior in the short term.
Att utveckla snabbhet i matematik
Authors: Samuelsson Joakim
Published: October 2021

I den första kursplanen för matematik var övning av de grundläggande talkombinationerna tydligt framskrivna (Lgr 62). Skrivningar som att ”Grundliga övningar i såväl addition som subtraktion inom talområdet 1-10 är mycket viktiga” illustrerar den betydelse denna typ av kunskap ansågs ha. Idag skrivs dessa kunskaper fram på ett annat sätt. Det handlar mer om att förstå och kunna använda metoder för beräkningar i olika situationer (LpO 11). Inget specifikt är uttalat om de grundläggande talkombinationerna, vilket kan ha påverkat att dessa kunskaper inte fokuseras lika mycket i skolan idag som tidigare. Betydelsen av grundläggande talkombinationer och hur man kan utveckla dessa fokuseras i detta projekt.
Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of Cyrtotrachelus buqueti and Mining of Its Specific Genes
Authors: Fu Chun , Long WenCong , Luo ChaoBing , Nong Xiong , Xiao XiMeng , Liao Hong , Li YuanQiu , Chen Ying , Yu JiaXin , Cheng SiXuan , Baloch Saira , Yang YaoJun
Published: October 2021

Background:The most severe insect damage to bamboo shoots is the bamboo-snout beetle (Cyrtotrachelus buqueti). Bamboo is a perennial plant that has significant economic value.C. buquetialso plays a vital role in the degradation of bamboo lignocellulose and causing damage. The genome sequencing and functional gene annotation ofC. buquetiare of great significance to reveal the molecular mechanism of its efficient degradation of bamboo fiber and the development of the bamboo industry.

Results:The size ofC. buquetigenome was close to 600.92 Mb by building a one paired-end (PE) library and k-mer analysis. Then, we developed nine 20-kb SMRTbell libraries for genome sequencing and got a total of 51.12 Gb of the original PacBio sequel reads. Furthermore, after filtering with a coverage depth of 85.06×, clean reads with 48.71 Gb were obtained. The final size ofC. buquetigenome is 633.85 Mb after being assembled and measured, and the contig N50 ofC. buquetigenome is 27.93 Mb. The value of contig N50 shows that the assembly quality ofC. buquetigenome exceeds that of most published insect genomes. The size of the gene sequence located on chromosomes reaches 630.86 Mb, accounting for 99.53% of the genome sequence. A 1,063 conserved genes were collected at this assembled genome, comprising 99.72% of the overall genes with 1,066 using the Benchmark Uniform Single-Copy Orthology (BUSCO). Moreover, 63.78% of theC. buquetigenome is repetitive, and 57.15% is redundant with long-term elements. A 12,569 protein-coding genes distributed on 12 chromosomes were acquired after function annotation, of which 96.18% were functional genes. The comparative genomic analysis results revealed thatC. buquetiwas similar toD. ponderosae.Moreover, the comparative analysis of specific genes inC. buquetigenome showed that it had 244 unique lignocellulose degradation genes and 240 genes related to energy production and conversion. At the same time, 73P450genes and 30GSTgenes were identified, respectively, in theC. buquetigenome.

Conclusion:The high-qualityC. buquetigenome has been obtained in the present study. The assembly level of this insect’s genome is higher than that of other most reported insects’ genomes. The phylogenetic analysis ofP450andGSTgene family showed thatC. buquetihad a vital detoxification function to plant chemical components.
Interactions Between the Kleptoplastidic Dinoflagellate Shimiella gracilenta and Several Common Heterotrophic Protists
Authors: Park Sang Ah , Jeong Hae Jin , Ok Jin Hee , Kang Hee Chang , You Ji Hyun , Eom Se Hee , Park Eun Chong
Published: October 2021

The newly described dinoflagellate, Shimiella gracilenta, is known to survive for approximately 1 month on the plastids of ingested prey cells during starvation, indicating kleptoplastidy. To understand the population dynamics of this dinoflagellate in marine planktonic food webs, its growth and mortality rate due to predation should be assessed. Thus, we investigated the feeding occurrence of eight common heterotrophic protists on S. gracilenta. We also determined the growth and ingestion rates of Oxyrrhis marina and the naked ciliate, Rimostrombidium sp. on S. gracilenta as a function of the prey concentration. The common heterotrophic dinoflagellates (HTDs) Gyrodinium dominans, O. marina, and Pfiesteria piscicida and a naked ciliate Rimostrombidium sp. were able to feed on S. gracilenta; whereas the HTDs Aduncodinium glandula, Gyrodinium jinhaense, Oblea rotunda, and Polykrikos kofoidii were not. Shimiella gracilenta supported positive growth of O. marina and Rimostrombidium sp. but did not support that of G. dominans and P. piscicida. With increasing prey concentrations, the growth and ingestion rates of O. marina and Rimostrombidium sp. on S. gracilenta increased and became saturated. The maximum growth rates of O. marina and Rimostrombidium sp. on S. gracilenta were 0.645 and 0.903 day−1, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum ingestion rates of O. marina and Rimostrombidium sp. on S. gracilenta were 0.11 ng C predator day−1 (1.6 cells predator−1 day−1) and 35 ng C predator day−1 (500 cells predator−1 day−1), respectively. The maximum ingestion rate of O. marina on S. gracilenta was lower than that on any other algal prey reported to date, although its maximum growth rate was moderate. In conclusion, S. gracilenta had only a few common heterotrophic protist predators but could support moderate growth rates of the predators. Thus, S. gracilenta may not be a common prey species for diverse heterotrophic protists but may be a suitable prey for a few heterotrophic protists.
Assessment of the Carrying Capacity of Integrated Pond Aquaculture of Portunus trituberculatus at the Ecosystem Level
Authors: Dong Shipeng , Wang Fang , Zhang Dongxu , Yu Liye , Pu Weijia , Xu Xian , Xie Yicheng
Published: October 2021

In recent years, integrated pond aquaculture under controlled management has been crucial in improving the supply of aquatic products and ensuring food security. This study constructed two trophic models of integrated pond aquaculture ecosystems of Portunus trituberculatus–Penaeus japonicus (PP) and P. trituberculatus–P. japonicus–Sinonovacula constricta (PPS) using Ecopath with Ecosim software. The energy flows, ecosystem properties, and carrying capacities of the two ecosystems were analyzed and evaluated. The results showed that the ecotrophic efficiency values in the PP and PPS ecosystems were 0.962 and 0.954 for P. trituberculatus and P. japonicus and 0.952 for S. constricta. The effective trophic levels of P. trituberculatus and P. japonicus were 2.065 and 2.027 in the PP system, and those of P. trituberculatus, P. japonicus, and S. constricta were 2.057, 2.018, and 2.010 in the PPS system. The primary productivities of the PP and PPS ecosystems were 2623.79 and 2781.48 g/m2/240 days, with 2.13 and 37.83% of the energy flowing to trophic level II and 97.87 and 62.17% flowing to the detritus, respectively. The total energy of the detritus group was 2900.89 and 2372.98 g/m2/240 days, with 931.02 and 1505.35 g/m2/240 days flowing to trophic level II, respectively. The total primary production/total respiration ratio of the PPS ecosystem (1.632) was lower than that of the PP ecosystem (4.824), indicating that the former had a greater degree of exploitation. At the current feeding level, the carrying capacities of P. trituberculatus and P. japonicus were 65.15 and 47.62 g/m2 in the PP ecosystem, and those of P. trituberculatus, P. japonicus, and S. constricta were 64.96, 48.06, and 100.79 g/m2 in the PPS ecosystem, respectively. At adequate feeding levels, the carrying capacities of P. trituberculatus and P. japonicus were 83.76 and 48.52 g/m2 in the PP ecosystem and 81.82 and 53.44 g/m2 in the PPS ecosystem. The ecotrophic efficiency values and energy flow parameters of the two integrated pond aquaculture ecosystems indicated that S. constricta was a suitable collocation culture species for P. trituberculatus and P. japonicus, and there is room for further improvement in yields of this integrated aquaculture ecosystem.
Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score for Prediction of Mortality of Patients With Rhabdomyolysis Following Exertional Heatstroke: A Longitudinal Cohort Study in Southern China
Authors: Wu Ming , Wang Conglin , Liu Zheying , Liu Zhifeng
Published: October 2021

Background: Heatstroke is a medical emergency that causes multi-organ injury and death without intervention, but limited data are available on the illness scores in predicting the outcomes of exertional heat stroke (EHS) with rhabdomyolysis (RM). The aim of our study was to investigate the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in predicting mortality of patients with RM after EHS.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed, which included all patients with EHS admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU) of General Hospital of Southern Theater Command of Peoples Liberation Army from January 2008 to June 2019. RM was defined as creatine kinase (CK) > 1,000 U/L. Data, including the baseline data at admission, vital organ function indicators, and 90-day mortality, were reviewed.

Results: A total of 176 patients were enrolled; among them, 85 (48.3%) had RM. Patients with RM had a significantly higher SOFA score (4.0 vs. 3.0, p = 0.021), higher occurrence rates of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (53.1 vs. 18.3%, p < 0.001) and acute liver injury (ALI) (21.4 vs. 5.5%, p = 0.002) than patients with non-RM. RM was positively correlated with ALI and DIC, and the correlation coefficients were 0.236 and 0.365, respectively (both p-values <0.01). Multivariate logistics analysis showed that the SOFA score [odds ratio (OR) 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.6, p = 0.024] was the risk factor for 90-day mortality in patients with RM after EHS, with the area under the curve (AUC) 0.958 (95% CI 0.908–1.000, p < 0.001) and the optimal cutoff 7.5 points.

Conclusions: Patients with RM after EHS have severe clinical conditions, which are often accompanied by DIC or ALI. The SOFA score could predict the prognosis of patients with RM with EHS. Early treatment strategies based on decreasing the SOFA score at admission may be pivotal to reduce the 90-day mortality of patients with EHS.
Studying the Structures of Relaxed and Fuzzy Interactions: The Diverse World of S100 Complexes
Authors: Ecsédi Péter , Gógl Gergő , Nyitray László
Published: October 2021

S100 proteins are small, dimeric, Ca2+-binding proteins of considerable interest due to their associations with cancer and rheumatic and neurodegenerative diseases. They control the functions of numerous proteins by forming protein–protein complexes with them. Several of these complexes were found to display “fuzzy” properties. Examining these highly flexible interactions, however, is a difficult task, especially from a structural biology point of view. Here, we summarize the available in vitro techniques that can be deployed to obtain structural information about these dynamic complexes. We also review the current state of knowledge about the structures of S100 complexes, focusing on their often-asymmetric nature.
Project BESPOKE (Integrated Bio-Behavioral Assessment of HIV and STI Among Young Tertiary Student Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nairobi, Kenya): A Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey Protocol
Authors: Mwaniki Samuel Waweru , Mugo Peter Mwangi , Palanee-Phillips Thesla
Published: October 2021

Introduction: Globally, men who have sex with men (MSM) are a key population for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Among MSM, young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, there is a dearth of research and interventions targeting HIV/STI prevention among YMSM. In Kenya, there is paucity of knowledge on the burden of HIV/STI and related factors among YMSM, including tertiary student men who have sex with men (TSMSM). The barriers TSMSM experience in accessing and utilizing health services in their learning institutions have seldom been explored. In the context of healthcare providers (HCP) working in tertiary institutions, little is known about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward providing services to TSMSM.

Methods: The aims of the study are to: estimate prevalence and correlates of HIV/STI among TSMSM; estimate population size of TSMSM; explore experiences of TSMSM with access and utilization of health services; and assess HCP knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices in provision of services to TSMSM. A mixed-methods approach will be used in three phases: Phase I—formative qualitative research will be conducted to understand TSMSM social networks, select “seeds”, and explore strategies for implementing a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) survey. Interviews will be conducted with at least three staff who work in community based/non-governmental organizations (CBO/NGO) that serve MSM and at least 10 TSMSM. Phase II—an integrated bio-behavioral assessment (IBBA) will be conducted, where 200 TSMSM recruited by RDS will be offered HIV/STI testing, complete a behavioral survey, and provide information for population size estimation (PSE). Phase III—in-depth interviews will be held with 20 TSMSM selected from 200 TSMSM in phase II, to explore their experiences with access and utilization of healthcare services. Focus group discussions (FGD) will be conducted with HCP working in tertiary institutions to assess their knowledge of, attitudes toward, and practices in providing services to TSMSM. Data collection started in September 2020 and is expected to end by September 2021.

Discussion: Findings from this study will be useful in informing HIV/STI prevention programming for TSMSM, by policy makers such the Kenyan ministries of health and education, tertiary education institutions, service providers, advocacy groups, and other interested stakeholders.
A Predictive and Preventive Model for Onset of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Singhania Udit , Tripathy Balakrushna , Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Anumbe Noble C. , Alboaneen Dabiah , Ahmed Fatima Rayan Awad , Ahmed Thowiba E. , Nour Manasik M. Mohamed
Published: October 2021

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative irreversible brain disorder that gradually wipes out the memory, thinking skills and eventually the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. The amount of AD patients is rapidly increasing due to several lifestyle changes that affect biological functions. Detection of AD at its early stages helps in the treatment of patients. In this paper, a predictive and preventive model that uses biomarkers such as the amyloid-beta protein is proposed to detect, predict, and prevent AD onset. A Convolution Neural Network (CNN) based model is developed to predict AD at its early stages. The results obtained proved that the proposed model outperforms the traditional Machine Learning (ML) algorithms such as Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree Classifier, and K Nearest Neighbor algorithms.
Emphasizing the Role of Neurosurgery Within Global Health and National Health Systems: A Call to Action
Authors: Lartigue Jean Wilguens , Dada Olaoluwa Ezekiel , Haq Makinah , Rapaport Sarah , Sebopelo Lorraine Arabang , Ooi Setthasorn Zhi Yang , Senyuy Wah Praise , Sarpong Kwadwo , Vital Anchelo , Khan Tariq , Karekezi Claire , Park Kee B.
Published: October 2021

Background:Worldwide, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years lost and the second leading cause of death. Despite global health capacity-building efforts, each year, 22.6 million individuals worldwide require neurosurgeon's care due to diseases such as traumatic brain injury and hydrocephalus, and 13.8 million of these individuals require surgery. It is clear that neurosurgical care is indispensable in both national and international public health discussions. This study highlights the role neurosurgeons can play in supporting the global health agenda, national surgical plans, and health strengthening systems (HSS) interventions.

Methods:Guided by a literature review, the authors discuss key topics such as the global burden of neurosurgical diseases, the current state of neurosurgical care around the world and the inherent benefits of strong neurosurgical capability for health systems.

Results:Neurosurgical diseases make up an important part of the global burden of diseases. Many neurosurgeons possess the sustained passion, resilience, and leadership needed to advocate for improved neurosurgical care worldwide. Neurosurgical care has been linked to 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thus highlighting the tremendous impact neurosurgeons can have upon HSS initiatives.

Conclusion:We recommend policymakers and global health actors to: (i) increase the involvement of neurosurgeons within the global health dialogue; (ii) involve neurosurgeons in the national surgical system strengthening process; (iii) integrate neurosurgical care within the global surgery movement; and (iv) promote the training and education of neurosurgeons, especially those residing in Low-and middle-income countries, in the field of global public health.
Nomogram for Predicting Risk of Esophagogastric Junction (EGJ) Resection During Laparoscopic Resection of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in EGJ: A Retrospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Xu Yuting , Luo Lijie , Feng Xingyu , Zheng Yensheng , Chen Tao , Zhou Rui , Li Yong , Li Guoxin , Wang Wei , Xiong Wenjun
Published: October 2021

Background: The established criteria for determining whether to excise the cardia during laparoscopic surgery for gastrointestinal stromal tumors in the esophagogastric junction (EGJ-GISTs) remain controversial. This retrospective multicenter study was conducted to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of the cardia excision during laparoscopic surgery for EGJ-GISTs.

Material and Methods: We reviewed data from 2,127 gastric-GISTs (g-GISTs) patients without distant metastases in four hospital between June 2012 and June 2020. Of those, according to the including criteria, 184 patients [Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine (n = 81), Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University (n = 60), Guangdong General Hospital (n = 34), and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (n = 9)] with EGJ-GISTs were identified and included in this study. Factors contributing to risk of cardia excision were identified and used to create a nomogram. Nomogram performance was assessed using a bootstrapped concordance index (c-index) and calibration plots.

Results: According to the multivariate analysis, the distance from the margin of the tumor to the esophagogastric line (EG-line) (cm) (OR = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.00001~0.056, P = 0.001) and tumor size (cm) (OR = 14.969, 95% CI: 1.876~119.410, P = 0.011) were significantly related to likelihood of cardia structure excision in laparoscopic surgery for EGJ-GISTs. These two factors were used to generate a nomogram for predicting risk of cardia excision using a logistic regression model; a bootstrapped C-index of 0.988 (calibrated C-index = 0.987) indicated strong predictive ability, with broad calibration.

Conclusions: This nomogram based on distance from tumor margin to EG-line and tumor size may serve as a tool for predicting risk of cardia damage during laparoscopic removal of EGJ-GISTs to aid in selection of surgical methods and preoperative neoadjuvant therapy.
Advocating for Greater Inclusion of Marginalized and Forgotten Populations in COVID19 Vaccine Rollouts
Authors: Farina Mirko , Lavazza Andrea
Published: October 2021

Objectives: Many countries recently approved a number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. There is therefore growing optimism around the world about their future availability and effectiveness. However, supplies are likely to be limited and restricted to certain categories of individuals, at least initially. Thus, governments have suggested prioritization schemes to allocate such limited supplies. The majority of such schemes are said to be developed to safeguard the weakest sections of society; that is, healthcare personnel and the elderly.

Methods: In this work, we analyse three case studies (incarcerated people; homeless people, asylum seekers and undocumented migrants). We propose a bioethical argument that frames the discussion by describing the salient facts about each of the three populations and then argue that these characteristics entail inclusion and prioritization in the queue for vaccination in their country of residence.

Results: Through an analysis informed by ethical considerations revolving around the concepts of fairness and equality, we try to raise awareness of these important issues among decision makers.

Conclusion: Our goal is to advocate for the development of more inclusive policies and frameworks in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine allocation and, in general, in all scenarios in which there is a shortage of optimal care and treatments.
Effects of Exogenous Calcium on Adaptive Growth, Photosynthesis, Ion Homeostasis and Phenolics of Gleditsia sinensis Lam. Plants under Salt Stress
Authors: Guo Yun , Liu Yang , Zhang Yan , Liu Jia , Gul Zarmina , Guo Xiao-Rui , Abozeid Ann , Tang Zhong-Hua
Published: October 2021

Salinity is the main environmental factor responsible for limited plant growth in many areas of the world. Gleditsia sinensis Lam. is a shelter forest tree species that does not require high-quality soil and can even grow in mild saline soil. This study mainly explored the tolerance of G. sinensis to salt and the effect of exogenous calcium addition on the growth of G. sinensis in a salinized soil. The concentrations of NaCl were set as 0 mmol/L, 100 mmol/L, and 200 mmol/L. Compared with the control, under the NaCl treatment of 200 mmol/L, it was observed that the leaves of G. sinensis turned yellow, the electrical conductivity significantly increased, and the water content and the chlorophyll content significantly decreased, which is probably unfavorable for growth. Our study showed that the addition of 10 mmol/L exogenous calcium chloride under salt stress had a positive effect on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of G. sinensis. Moreover, the addition of exogenous calcium attenuated the cytotoxicity caused by Na+ under salt stress and promoted the equilibrium of ion homeostasis. More importantly, the addition of exogenous calcium ions was beneficial for the survival of G. sinensis plants on salinized land and the increase of effective active ingredient content including phenolic compounds, which is of direct significance for improving environmental problems such as desertification of saline-alkali land. In conclusion, we investigated the effect of salt treatment on G. sinensis, as well as the positive effects of exogenous calcium on the survival and growth of G. sinensis in salt environment, which provided a scientific basis for the targeted cultivation of G. sinensis in salinized land and the effective utilization of salinized and alkaline land.
Coupled Effects of Reduced Chemical Fertilization and Biochar Supplementation on Availability and Transformations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Vegetable Farmland Soil: An In Situ Study in Southern China
Authors: Yu Xiongsheng , Liu Yong , Zhang Mu , Ai Shaoying , Wang Rongping , Zhu Li’an , Zhang Huihua , Li Ting , Zhu Yaqi , Tu Chao , Yang Qihao , Zhang Zili , Liu Minglong
Published: October 2021

Reduced fertilization technology is an eco-friendly strategy to minimize nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) surpluses and losses in vegetable production. However, little is known about the performance of chemical fertilizer reduction when supplemented with palm silk biochar (PSB) in subtropical acid soils. A short-term (60 d) field investigation under conditions of in situ incubation was conducted in vegetable farmland in southern China. The treatments included no fertilization (Control), 100% conventional fertilization (CF100), 90% conventional fertilization plus 10% PSB-based fertilization (CF90B10), 85% conventional fertilization plus 15% PSB-based fertilization (CF85B15), and 80% conventional fertilization plus 20% PSB-based fertilization (CF80B20). The CF90B10, CF85B15, and CF80B20 treatments had the same inputs of total N and P as the CF100 treatment. Reduced chemical fertilization generally decreased the soil NH4+-N regardless of the PSB substitution rate (10%, 15%, or 20%), incubation condition (top-covered or top-open: preventing or allowing the leaching process, respectively), and sampling time (1 day or 60 days). Conversely, compared with the CF100 treatment, both the CF85B15 and CF80B20 treatments did not lead to a significant decrease in the NO3−-N concentration in soil under top-open incubation conditions, but significantly (p < 0.05) increased soil NO3−-N under top-covered incubation conditions. The CF80B20 treatment significantly (p < 0.05) decreased soil Olsen-P in comparison with the CF100 treatment, regardless of the incubation condition and sampling time. After applying chemical fertilizer in combination with PSB, soil net ammonification and N mineralization tended to be reduced considerably, with substantial reductions of 39–76% and 24–45%, respectively; reversely, soil net nitrification was stimulated by an increased PSB substitution rate. As the rate of chemical fertilization decreased, the trends in NH4+-N and NO3−-N losses from the soil were similar to the trends observed in soil net ammonification and net nitrification, respectively. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the soil net P mineralization and Olsen-P loss between chemical fertilization alone and in combination with PSB application. Generally, the partial substitution of chemical fertilizer with PSB at a low application rate may not substantially reduce plant-available NO3−-N and Olsen-P. It can also contribute to the sustainable availability of N and P in vegetable farmland soil via a variety of transformation processes, such as mineralization, immobilization, and loss.
Amendment of Livestock Manure with Natural Zeolite-Clinoptilolite and Its Effect on Decomposition Processes during Composting
Authors: Šubová Eva , Sasáková Naďa , Zigo František , Mindžáková Ingrid , Vargová Mária , Kachnič Ján , Laktičová Katarína Veselitz
Published: October 2021

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of amendment of cow manure with natural zeolite-clinoptilolite and hydrated lime on decomposition processes over the period of 90 days. Two static piles of amended substrates were constructed consisting of cow manure with an addition of bulking material (2.5% by weight): (1) manure mixed with zeolite (S1); manure mixed with zeolite and lime (S2). Third amendment-free pile served as a control (C). During the experiment, pH level, temperature (T), dry matter (DM), ash, organic matter (OM), C/N ratio, ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4+) and total nitrogen (Nt) were determined. We also determined the counts of total coliform and faecal coliform bacteria and faecal streptococci as indicators of the hygiene level of compost. A significant increase (p < 0.001) in temperature to 53 °C was observed in S2 compared to C. In S2 we observed a significantly reduced release of N-NH4+ from the composting substrate compared to C (p < 0.05). The significant differences were in Nt content in C and S2 (p < 0.001) and between S1 and S2 (p < 0.05). The concentration of Nt increased and caused decrease in the C/N ratio. The content of Nt in the substrates with zeolite increased by 44% in S1 and 45% in S2 compared to C. The differences in counts of coliform and faecal coliform bacteria between C and S2 were significant (p < 0.001). This experiment showed that amendment with zeolite and lime decreased nitrogen losses during composting and indicated sorption effects of zeolite.
Effects of Fertilisation Using Organic Waste Products with Mineral Complementation on Sugarcane Yields and Soil Properties in a 4 Year Field Experiment
Authors: Feder Frédéric
Published: October 2021

Sugarcane cultivation is suitable for the exploitation of organic waste products. However, minimum complementary mineral input is necessary for optimal fertilisation. Control mineral fertilisation treatments with mulch (MCM) or without mulch (MC) were compared with two organic waste treatments, a pig slurry with mulch (PSM) and without mulch (PS), and a sugarcane vinasse with mulch (SVM) and without mulch (SV) on a Nitisol in French Reunion Island. The sugarcane yields obtained with the different treatments differed each year. However, no trend was observed and no significant and recurrent effect of the presence of mulch or of the different treatments was identified over the course of the 4 year experiment. Soil pHw and pH KCl measured in the different treatments increased from year 3 in with the treatments including organic waste products (PS, PSM, SV and SVM) but remained constant with the treatments including only mineral fertilisation (MC and MCM). With the exception of PS and PSM, which were significantly higher in year 4, soil organic carbon content was not modified by the treatments. Soil cation exchange capacity increased only slightly with the PS and PSM treatments from year 3 on. The differences in yields and soil properties can be explained by the nature of the organic waste products, the accumulation of nutrients after several applications, and the specific characteristics of the sugarcane crop. The improvement in soil properties from the third year on was not reflected in the yield of sugarcane because it was too weak, and the crop explores a much larger volume of soil.
Rhizosphere Microbiome Regulates the Growth of Mustard under Organic Greenhouse Cultivation
Authors: Liu Ting-Chung , Peng Hui-Mei , Wollney Seth , Shen Chang-Hui
Published: October 2021

Organic cultivation can improve soil fertility and biodiversity through the preservation of soil organic matter. Meanwhile, greenhouse cultivation can provide a controlled environment and therefore enables the management of every aspect of plant growth. In recent years, the combination of organic and greenhouse cultivation has slowly become a popular option in tropical regions to prevent the unpredictable impact of weather. Although it is known that organic cultivation significantly increases the density and species of microorganisms, the impact of soil microbiome on short-term vegetable growth under organic greenhouse cultivation is still not elucidated. In this study, we examined soil physiochemical properties as well as the rhizosphere microbiome from healthy and diseased mustard plants under organic greenhouse cultivation. Through next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis, our results revealed that the rhizosphere microbiome structure of healthy mustard plants was significantly different from those of the diseased mustard plants under organic greenhouse cultivation. Our findings suggest that soil microbiome composition can influence the growth of the vegetable significantly. As such, we have shown the impact of soil microbiome on vegetable growth under organic greenhouse cultivation and provide a possible strategy for sustainable agriculture.
Parthenocarpy and Self-Incompatibility in Mandarins
Authors: Montalt Rafael , Vives María Carmen , Navarro Luis , Ollitrault Patrick , Aleza Pablo
Published: October 2021

Citrus reproductive biology is complex. One of its characteristic features is parthenocarpy that enables seedless fruit production. Citrus parthenocarpy and self-incompatibility knowledge is only partial and sometimes discrepant. Increasing such knowledge is relevant for better managing cultivated varieties and improving the selection of parents in breeding strategies to recover seedless varieties such as mandarins. This work develops an efficient protocol to characterize self-incompatibility and different parthenocarpy types based on emasculation, hand self-pollination, and hand cross-pollination. It analyzes fruit setting and seed production coupled with histological pollen performance observations. We analyzed the reproductive behavior of nine mandarin varieties with relevant characteristics as parents for seedless mandarin breeding. ‘Clemenules’ clementine and ‘Moncada’ mandarins were strictly self-incompatible with facultative and vegetative parthenocarpy; ‘Imperial’ mandarin and ‘Ellendale’ tangor displayed no strict self-incompatibility associated with facultative and vegetative parthenocarpy; ‘Fortune’ mandarin was self-incompatible with facultative and stimulative parthenocarpy; ‘Campeona’ and ‘Salteñita’ mandarins were self-compatible with vegetative parthenocarpy; ‘Serafines’ satsuma was associated with male sterility together with facultative and vegetative parthenocarpy; and ‘Monreal’ clementine was self-compatible and nonparthenocarpic. Our protocol can be applied for screening of mandarin germplasm and to characterize new parents. Reproductive behavior knowledge is important for optimizing seedless mandarin breeding programs based on diploidy, triploidy, or induced mutagenesis.
Design of and Experiment with Seedling Selection System for Automatic Transplanter for Vegetable Plug Seedlings
Authors: Wen Yongshuang , Zhang Leian , Huang Xuemei , Yuan Ting , Zhang Junxiong , Tan Yuzhi , Feng Zhongbin
Published: October 2021

In the process of vegetable plug seedling cultivation, packaging, and transportation, there may be missing, unhealthy or injured seedlings in the tray, which results in a missed planting or a low seedling survival rate after automatic transplanting. In this study, a seedling selection system with the function of seedlings identification, week seedlings elimination, and missing seedlings supplement was developed for an automatic transplanter. A plug seedling identification system based on a machine vision was used to detect vegetable plug seedlings based on the area characteristics of plug seedlings, stem leaves and plug bodies. The identification results were transmitted to a programmable logic controller (PLC), which controlled a nozzle to eliminate the unqualified seedlings from the conveyor belt lattice. When the empty conveyor belt lattice reaches the seedling throwing funnel, the rear conveyor belt lattice with the plug seedling is accelerated to ensure the continuity of seedlings supply. The adaptive fuzzy PID control algorithm was used to control the stepper motor of the conveyor belt to realize accurate seedling conveying and a seedling supplement. Using 30 days pepper plug seedlings as experimental seedlings, a comparative field experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of the seedling selection system. The results showed that when the seedling selection system was turned on and the seedling extracting frequencies were 60, 80, and 100 plants/min, the success rates of plug seedling identification were 98.84%, 98.38%, and 96.99%, and the robust seedling rates were 98.05%, 97.78%, and 95.83%. The robust seedling rates were increased by 15.64%, 16.07%, and 13.89%, respectively, in contrast to turning off the seedling selection system.
Effects of Climate Change on the Distribution of Key Native Dung Beetles in South American Grasslands
Authors: Maldaner Maria Eduarda , Sobral-Souza Thadeu , Prasniewski Victor Mateus , Vaz-de-Mello Fernando Z.
Published: October 2021

Climate change is a serious threat, and it is necessary to prepare for the future climate conditions of grazing areas. Dung beetle species can help mitigate global warming by contributing to intense nutrient cycling and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions caused by cattle farming. Additionally, dung beetles increase soil quality through bioturbation and reduce nematodes and hematophagous flies’ abundance in grasslands areas. There are several dung beetle species inhabiting South American pastures, however, the effects of climate change on their spatial distribution are still unknown. Here, we aimed to predict the potential effects of future climate change on the geographical spatial distribution of the four most important (“key”) pastureland dung beetle species that are native to South America. We used niche-based models and future climate simulations to predict species distribution through time. Our findings show radical reduction in the spatial range of dung beetle species, especially in recently opened areas, e.g., the Amazon region. We suggest that the consequences of these species’ spatial retraction will be correlated with ecosystem services depletion under future climate conditions, urgently necessitating pasture restoration and parasite control, as the introduction of new alien species is not encouraged.
Morphology of the Spleen in Oreochromis niloticus: Splenic Subregions and the Blood-Spleen Barrier
Authors: He Yang , Wang Erlong , Wang Kaiyu , Wang Jun , Fan Wei , Chen Defang , Yang Qian
Published: October 2021

The spleen is a separate organ of the teleost, playing an essential role in immune reactions. The morphology of the spleen is different from the fish species. Little knowledge about the spleen structure and the blood splenic barrier (BSB) in Nile tilapia has been reported. To address this issue, we studied the histology of the spleen and the BSB in healthy Nile tilapia. The morphology of the spleen was observed, then H&E staining, modified Jame’s staining, and ultrastructural techniques were performed to portion the spleen into three subregions and analyze the location of components and fibers. Thereafter, vital staining of Nile tilapia with Trypan blue was conducted to elucidate the composition and function of BSB. Histologically, the spleen could be divided into three subregions (inner, middle, and outer). The venules, clumps of lymphocytes, and vessels were separately characterized features of the outer, middle, and inner layers. Post injection, Trypan blue was intercepted in the endotheliocytes of ellipsoids in the middle layer (i.p.) or was deposited to the reticular fibers surrounding the ellipsoids (i.v.). Additionally, the amount of Trypan blue was shown to be positively correlated to that of the Acid phosphatase expressed. In conclusion, the spleen could be portioned into three subregions, and the BSB lay in the middle layer, composed of the cuboidal-shaped endotheliocytes and the surrounding reticular fibers of the ellipsoid capillaries. The present study enriched the research of immune tissues and system in tilapia and provided reference for the study of spleen in other fish species.
Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Imaging and Acoustic Emission Monitoring of Hydraulic Fractures in Tight Sandstone
Authors: Zhu Wei , Wang Shangxu , Chang Xu , Zhai Hongyu , Wu Hezhen
Published: October 2021

Hydraulic fracturing is an important means for the development of tight oil and gas reservoirs. Laboratory rock mechanics experiments can be used to better understand the mechanism of hydraulic fracture. Therefore, in this study we carried out hydraulic fracturing experiments on Triassic Yanchang Formation tight sandstone from the Ordos Basin, China. Sparse tomography was used to obtain ultrasonic velocity images of the sample during hydraulic fracturing. Then, combining the changes in rock mechanics parameters, acoustic emission activities, and their spatial position, we analyzed the hydraulic fracturing process of tight sandstone under high differential stress in detail. The experimental results illuminate the fracture evolution processes of hydraulic fracturing. The competition between stress-induced dilatancy and fluid flow was observed during water injection. Moreover, the results prove that the “seismic pump” mode occurs in the dry region, while the “dilation hardening” and “seismic pump” modes occur simultaneously in the partially saturated region; that is to say, the hydraulic conditions dominate the failure mode of the rock.