bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of compressive strength of concrete by using sugarcane baggase ash
Authors: Solanke Shrikant S , Pawade P Y
Published: June 2021

Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is widely as a construction material in the entire world. Since silica and lime being the basic components of the ordinary Portland cement therefore many industrial waste materials comprising of these elements are used as supplementary product in OPC. Sugarcane Bagasse ash is one such material which has high silica (SiO2) content that results in formation of C-S-H bond when operated with free lime. The basic idea behind the utilization of industrial waste is to reduce its abundance in nature and also to minimize the cost of concrete. The present study focusses on making a sustainable concrete and assessing its performance by using sugarcane baggase ash (SCBA) as replacement of cement with different percentages (0%,5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). For the same M25 & M30 grade of concrete with water cement ratio of 0.45 was prepared by using this composition cube casted for testing purpose. The curing of these specimen was done in different environments and the strength was analyzed at various concrete ages i.e. 7, 28, 56, and 90 days. The study provided the evidence that utilization of SCBA as replacement with cement is highly advantageous up to an optimal limit without causing any reduction in strength. In addition, it revealed that SCBA concrete performs better when subjected to aggressive environment as compared to OPC even at later stage.
Anti-cancer inhibition studies of naturally occurring Terpenes using in-vitro technique
Authors: Ramteke A , Ganatra S , Gour P , Jasudkar D , Tulankar A
Published: June 2021

Solvent extractions of shade dried seeds of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Pithecellobium dulce and Coriandrum sativum plants were executed using organic solvents. The obtained extracted crudes were subjected to the chemical analysis followed by instrumental analysis using standard procedures to identify the naturally occurring phytochemicals [1, 2, 3,]. Limonene, Oleanolic acid and Linalool were obtained from ethanol extracts of Cyamopsistetragonoloba, methanol extract of Pithecellobium dulce and acetone extract of Coriandrumsativum respectively. The compound identification were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and Mass spectroscopy [4]. The anti-cancer activity of the extracted terpenes determined using in-vitro analysis on HeLa-Human cervix cell lines. The obtained IC50 value of Oleanolic acid shows better biological activity against HeLa cell lines. It was also found that there is no cell lysis in HeLa cell lines in case of Limonene with concentration less than 30 μg. However, biological activity of Linalool is better in case of HeLa cell line. This suggests that Oleanolic acid and Linalool is good anti-cancer agent as reported from in vitro studies against Hela-Human cervix cell line.
Review on the proportional study of segmentation techniques for iris acknowledgment
Authors: Divya C D , Rajendra A B
Published: June 2021

Biometrics is one of the fields that are emerging now a days, Iris biometrics was found to yield better consequences on account of persistency, accuracy and security. Iris is a thin, annular arrangement that is existing in the eye, which is colored slice of the eye that controls the extent of the pupil. In this paper we are going to review different techniques that are applied to segment the iris region from the eye along with the available databases using which we will be able to fetch the image of the iris from different categories.
Analysis of Deteriorating Inventory Work (2016-2019)
Authors: Shekhawat Santosh , Rathore Himanshu , Sharma Kalpna
Published: June 2021

In the present review paper, we are presenting comprehensive information about the advances and recent researches made in the field of inventory supply chain for deteriorating items. This paper studied some characteristics which are playing important role in management area of deteriorating inventory supply chains. We have categorize our reviewed papers according to the keywords like demand rate, deterioration rate, two warehouses dispatching policy, green supply chain, permissible delay in payments and some strategies like vendor managed inventory (VMI), Stackelberg Game, sale, discount, effects of dynamic pricing of deteriorating items on income and deterioration, unexpected deterioration identification etc. The research work which is tabulated in this paper offer clear information about the inventory supply chain of deteriorating items. We have also provided future research directions in this area.
The Analytic Invariants of Spherically Symmetric Space-time in V
Authors: Bagde P. O. , Thomas K. T. , Ghumde R. G.
Published: June 2021

In this paper we studied the analytic invariants of spherically symmetric space-time by considering the various quadruples of orthogonal unit vectors αi
, βi
and then some results have been developed there upon. Further it is noticed that, for Kspsq
= Krprq
= Krsrs
= Kpqpq
= 0, p ≠ q ≠ r ≠ s and p, q, r, s = 1, 2, 3,4, the quadruple (αp, αq, αr, βs
) and (αs, βp, βq, βr
) of the orthogonal unit vector αi
and βi
yield the flat geometry of the space-time if and only if ρ
5 = 0. Also for Krprq
= Kspsq
= Kpqps
= 0 and gqqKpsps
+ gssKpqpq
= 0; p ≠ q ≠ r ≠ s, p, q, r, s = 1; 2; 3; 4, the quadruple (αp, αq, αr, βs
) and (αs, βp, βq, βr
) of the orthogonal unit vector αi
and βi
yield ρ
4 = constant, which leads to the well known theorem of Schur concerning the space of constant curvature.
Experimental investigation of milling process under optimum lubricant use
Authors: Sahare Shilpa B , Untawale Sachin P , Kamble Prashant D , Chaudhari S S , Balvir Trupati
Published: June 2021

Performance of the machining and the efficiency of milling operation depend on several process variables among which hardness of work material is of great significant. In this study, experimentation was carried out to investigate the effect of work hardness on end milling process. Workpiece material hardness is used as a noise factor. Input parameters used are spindle speed, feed; depth of cut and tool diameter.

The experiments performed under wet and minimum Quantity lubrication and results of both compared. further for getting optimal lubricant conditions the experiments performed for various levels of flow rates of minimum quantity lubrication to get the best optimal setting. Output parameters are surface roughness, material removal rate, cutting force and tool wear. Design of Experiment (DOE) with Taguchi L27 Orthogonal Array (OA) has been explored to produce 27 specimens on Al2024 aluminium by end milling operation at three different levels of hardness of material. The experiments performed under wet and minimum quantity lubrication condition and results compared. Further For optimal lubricant condition the experiments performed at various flow rate of Minimum Quantity Lubrication and “best” optimal setting is identified.
A factor analytical study of scores obtained by B.Ed. students of Nagpur region in theory papers
Authors: Vaidya Nalini V , Uparkar Satyajit S , Lokhande Kalpana G
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the study will be conducted to examine whether there is any communality among the marks obtained by B.Ed. examinees in various papers of this course since there are three major streams into which B.Ed. students are channelized.[1,2] The marks obtained by the examinees in three streams will be studied separately. The three streams are Arts, Commerce and Science even though the B.Ed. courses are open to all University graduates including B.Sc., Agriculture, B.E., B. Tech, M.B.B.S. However, there are few instances all over the country where B.E., B. Tech, M.B.B.S. degree holders seek and get admission in B.Ed. courses. Thus the marks obtained by B.Ed. examinees belonging to the three streams in 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 in R T M Nagpur University were subjected to factor analysis. While discussing the scope of the present work, it is essential to mention that the factor analysis is one of the advanced procedures of statistical analysis of the data. The marks obtained by the examinees in each of the said streams for every year separately are factorially analyzed and interpreted.
Modelling to find Rank of Matrix when rows are similar / in form of scalar multiple
Authors: Pidurkar Smita R , Singh Dileep Kumar , Vaidya Nalini , Deshpande Archana
Published: June 2021

Here formulas are formed to calculate rank of matrix. By applying it to the problems we can reduce the steps so it save time for calculations. After reducing the matrix to its upper triangular form, the case may occur that we get, row equivalent matrix / rows in the form of scalar multiple of each other, in such case formula (1) is used to find the rank of matrix. Or it may possible that without reduced the matrix to upper triangular form, we get the matrix whose rows are identical or in form of scalar multiple of each other in such case formula (2) is used. In this paper, the problems are solved for computation of rank by different methods and results were compared.
Instant messaging using xmpp
Authors: Gupta D , Shivankar J , Gugulothu S
Published: June 2021

This paper discusses a web based instant messaging application based on XMPP protocol. This application can be used from any platform to send and receive texts and also be used for push notifications and broadcast news across the clients. The paper discusses the client server architecture in a single server system that can be used in smaller organization for secure message delivery. The clients can also use group chats or multi user chat rooms other than individual chats. The scope of the proposed application can be expanded to and not limited to file sharing system to share files(.pdf, .ppt, .docx) and multimedia files(.jpeg, .jpg). A daily task list or timesheet can also be added so that employees can use this application to add or remove daily work reminders.
Experimental mix design approach of reactive powder concrete to recognize compressive strength through non-destructive test
Authors: Sonkusare Hemantkumar G , Pawade Prashant Y , Pujara Hardik P
Published: June 2021

Rapid industrialization in concrete industry dominates the infrastructural development globally. Where, the crowded places, old structures, monuments gets maintain and rehabilitate to strengthen then we use high grade concrete. For this purpose we use reactive powder concrete and without destroying the structure know its strength parameters. This investigation mainly focus on mix proportion of different ingredients of reactive powder concrete and check the freshly prepared specimen for non destructive test as per codal provision. Ultrasonic pulse velocity test gives the idea about the uniformity of material, dense particle and homogeneity.

Higher the pulse velocity or wavelength which passes through specimen higher is the compression strength. In this examination specimen were prepared from silica fumes, silica sand and steel fiber to achieve the durability. Here, RPC M30 and RPC M60 cubes were prepared and tested after 3, 7, 14, 28 and 90days. The specimen was cured and age by accelerated curing and conventional curing to see increment in compression strength. The accelerated curing temperature was kept 600C with relative humidity 60% and conventional curing at 250C i.e. on room temperature ±20C. In reactive powder concrete there is a less cement use because of silica fume which was again by product of SiO2 i.e. silicon dioxide. This is resulting into less significant greenhouse effects to improve sustainable development goal.

This paper gives sufficient idea about the wavelength and its characteristics. Uses of silica sand in study of RPC and structural changes occur in compression strength. In this paper linear relationship was establish with the help of regression analysis for compactness of material and studying the wavelength. The R2 value is ranges 0.8 to 0.99 means the relationship was good and material is homogeneous. Plasticizer and water cement ratio plays an important role in case of workability and cement binder ratio.
A high-accuracy and non-intermittent frequency measurement method for Larmor signal of optically pumped cesium magnetometer
Authors: Dong H. , Xue L. , Luo W. , Ge J. , Liu H. , Yuan Z. , Zhang H. , Zhu J.
Published: June 2021

The optically pumped cesium magnetometer is a quantum magnetometer based on the Zeeman effect. The frequency of the output Larmor signal is proportional to the magnetic field intensity.
Therefore, improving the measurement accuracy of the Larmor frequency can make the magnetic field measurement more accurate.
However, the Larmor signal is easily coupled with various randomly distributed noises, which will generate an unavoidable trigger error.
To address the above problem, we propose a multi-gate and equal-precision fusion method. In this method, the trigger error is averaged into the count of each small gate through the multi-gate structure to improve the frequency measurement accuracy and the continuous sampling performance.
We implemented this method on the FPGA and conducted indoor and outdoor experiments. The experimental results show that this method not only improves the measurement accuracy by three times of the traditional method, but also enhances the stability and noise suppression ability of the system, and can provide technical and instrumental support for magnetic field measurement projects.
Attenuation of electromagnetic radiation in Nuclear Track Detectors
Authors: Bhattacharyya R. , Maulik A. , Adak R.P. , Roy S. , Bhattacharya T.S. , Biswas S. , Das S. , Dey S. , Ghosh S.K. , Palodhi K. , Raha S. , Singha A. , Syam D.
Published: June 2021

A systematic study of the attenuation (absorption) of electromagnetic radiation in Nuclear Track Detectors (NTDs) is carried out. The attenuation of gamma rays, X-rays, UV and visible radiations in NTDs are investigated using NaI(Tl) detector, Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) detector and UV-Vis spectrophotometer respectively.
The values of some important parameters (e.g., mass attenuation coefficient, optical depth) of three commercially available NTDs (PET, Makrofol® and CR-39®), at the relevant regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, are determined. The details of the experimental techniques and the results are also presented in this report.
Climate change denial is associated with diminished sensitivity in internalizing environmental externalities
Authors: Berger Sebastian , Wyss Annika M
Published: June 2021

espite a strong scientific consensus about the existence of anthropogenic climate change, widespread scepticism in the general population continues to exist. Past research has largely relied on self-reported behaviours or behavioural intentions when investigating downstream ‘behavioural’ consequences of climate change denial. As a consequence, there remains a large gap in the literature about how belief in climate change interacts with the pursuit of self-interested, environmentally harmful behaviours. To fill that gap, the present research uses a novel, experimental economic paradigm that allows to attach true environmental consequences to laboratory decisions. Based on ∼56 000 pollution decisions from 2273 participants in more than 30 countries, we find that belief in climate change meaningfully affects decision-making. Our results show that climate change scepticism predicts self-interested choices and showcases that sceptics have an insensitive acceptance of emissions, reaping benefits no matter how large the climate cost are or how small the personal benefits become. Therefore, our results critically augment meta-analytic evidence arguing that downstream behavioural consequences are small to medium in their effect size. We discuss the use of experimental economic paradigms as a crucial innovation tool for psychological research addressing people’s willingness to engage in climate action.
Streamflow stationarity in a changing world
Authors: Yang Yuting , Roderick Michael L , Yang Dawen , Wang Zhengrong , Ruan Fangzheng , McVicar Tim R , Zhang Shulei , Beck Hylke E
Published: June 2021

Whether river flows remain stationary is of great concern to hydrologists, water engineers, and society in general, yet is subject to substantial debate. Here we provide the first comprehensive assessment of the long-term stationarity of annual streamflow for 11 069 catchments globally. Our observation-based evidence shows that the long-term annual streamflow remains stationary in 79% of catchments with minimal human disturbance, indicating that historical climate change alone has not led to non-stationarity in annual streamflow series in most catchments. In direct contrast, we found streamflow has remained stationary in only 38% of those catchments where substantial human interventions have occurred. These results demonstrate the scale of the human impact on the freshwater system, and highlight the ongoing need for dealing with the impacts of direct human interventions to ensure successful water management into the future.
Air purifiers could spread viruses in confined spaces
Authors: Dumé Isabelle
Published: June 2021

Air purifiers in confined spaces such as lifts could increase the spread of airborne virus droplets.
Damage forces neutron research reactor shutdown
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: June 2021

A US neutron research facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been forced to close after elevated radiation levels were discovered in the reactor’s confinement building.
The future of learned-society publishing
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: June 2021

Steven Hall, who stepped down last month after 10 years as managing director of IOP Publishing, talks to Matin Durrani about the challenges that learned-society publishers face
Changing bad exam habits
Authors: Elias Paolo
Published: June 2021

Paolo Elias says that the COVID-19 pandemic offers the chance to revamp how we assess physics students at school and college
Crisis in a lockdown
Authors: Crease Robert P
Published: June 2021

Robert P Crease describes how news of a radiation leak at a US neutron facility was handled in today’s online, networked and locked-down world
The right balance
Authors: Davies Geoff , Metcalf Bill
Published: June 2021

In response to Matin Durrani’s editorial “Entangled thoughts” (March p21) in which he discusses the level at which Physics World articles are pitched to be informative and entertaining to their audience.
Growth of aluminum nitride on a silicon nitride substrate for hybrid photonic circuits
Authors: Terrasanta G , Müller M , Sommer T , Geprägs S , Gross R , Althammer M , Poot M
Published: June 2021

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is an emerging material for integrated quantum photonics with its excellent linear and nonlinear optical properties. In particular, its second-order nonlinear susceptibility χ
(2) allows single-photon generation. We have grown AlN thin films on silicon nitride (Si3N4) via reactive DC magnetron sputtering. The thin films have been characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), optical reflectometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy. The crystalline properties of the thin films have been improved by optimizing the nitrogen to argon ratio and the magnetron DC power of the deposition process. XRD measurements confirm the fabrication of high-quality c-axis oriented AlN films with a full width at half maximum of the rocking curves of 3.9° for 300 nm-thick films. AFM measurements reveal a root mean square surface roughness below 1 nm. The AlN deposition on SiN allows us to fabricate hybrid photonic circuits with a new approach that avoids the challenging patterning of AlN.
Allometric scaling of biomass with nitrogen and phosphorus above- and below-ground in herbaceous plants varies along water-salinity gradients
Authors: Liu An Na , Zhang Yang , Hou Zhu Feng , Hui Lü Guang
Published: June 2021

Biomass allocation affects the ability of plants to acquire resources and nutrients; a limited allocation of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, affects ecological processes. However, little research has been conducted on how plant allocation patterns change and on the trade-offs involved in allocation strategies when microhabitat gradients exist. We selected a 3.6 km transect in the Ebinur Lake Wetland Natural Reserve of Xinjiang, China, to investigate the relationships between plant traits (biomass and N and P concentrations) of herbaceous plants and environmental factors (soil moisture, salinity and nutrient content), and to determine the allometric scaling of biomass and stoichiometric traits between the above- and below-ground plant parts. The results show that the biomass and stoichiometric traits of plants reflected both the change of micro-environment and the natural characteristics of plants. With a decrease of the soil water availability and salinity, above- and below-ground N and P concentrations decrease gradually; scaling relationships exist between above- and below-ground plant parts, for biomass and N and P concentrations. Biomass allocation is influenced by soil nutrient ratios, and the allocation strategy tended to be conserved for N and variable for P. Second, the scaling relationships also show interspecific differences; all scaling exponents of Suaeda prostrata are larger than for other species and indicate a ‘tolerance’ strategy, while other species tend to increase the below-ground biomass and N and P concentrations, i.e. a ‘capture’ strategy.
Effect of nutritional education intervention to reduce anaemia during pregnancy in Dodoma City, Tanzania: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Munyogwa Mariam J , Gibore Nyasiro S , Ngowi Agatha F , Mwampagatwa Ipyana H
Published: June 2021

The objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of community-based nutritional intervention in reducing the burden of anaemia during pregnancy. Study design will be a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Study setting will be peri-urban wards of Dodoma City. The study will have two arms (the interventional and the control arms). A total of 400 pregnant women at second trimester will be recruited. The study will consist of four phases in four months for both the interventional and the control arms namely: baseline, first and second follow-up and end-line surveys. During each phase, participants from both arms will be measured for haemoglobin concentration and assessed for gestational age, dietary practices and knowledge about anaemia. Furthermore, all participants will receive iron and folic acid supplements, sulphadoxinepyrimethamine and mebendazole tablets throughout the entire period of the study. Nutritional education will be provided to the interventional arm only during each phase. Main outcomes of the study will be changes in haemoglobin concentration, nutritional knowledge and dietary practices at each phase after the baseline survey in the interventional compared to the control arm. Descriptive statistics will be used to describe the participants. Independent and paired t-tests will be performed to make comparisons between and within groups. P-values less than 0.05 will be considered statistically significant.

Trial registration PACTR Registry, PACTR202007617885299. Registered on 28 May 2020.
Convergence of Social Strategies in Carrion Breeding Insects
Authors: Charabidze Damien , Trumbo Stephen , Grzywacz Andrzej , Costa James T , Benbow Mark E , Barton Philip S , Matuszewski Szymon
Published: June 2021

Carrion is a highly ephemeral and nutrient rich resource, characterized by extreme biotic and abiotic stressors. We hypothesized that specific constraints of the carrion ecosystem, and especially its nutrient richness, ephemerality, and competition with microbes, have promoted the evolution of social behaviors in necrophagous insects. We show that group living is prevalent among early succession carrion breeding insects, suggesting that this trait has emerged as an adaptation to facilitate survival in the highly competitive environment of fresh carrion. We then highlight how developmental niche construction allows larvae to compete with microbes, efficiently feed on fresh cadavers, and rapidly reach maturity. We observed that larval societies and parental care are two different strategies responding to similar competitive and environmental constraints. We conclude that intra and interspecific competition on carrion are mitigated by social behavior.
Geographic Variation in Photoperiodic Response for Induction of Pseudopupal Diapause in Epicauta gorhami (Coleoptera: Meloidae)
Authors: Terao Misato , Tokuda Makoto , Shintani Yoshinori
Published: June 2021

Geographical variations in the threshold of environmental cues for diapause induction are important in understanding the life history strategy of insects. Larvae of the bean blister beetle, Epicauta gorhami (Coleoptera: Meloidae), feed on grasshopper eggs and undergo hypermetamorphosis. They normally enter diapause as a pseudopupa (fifth instar). However, when the larvae are reared under long-day and high-temperature conditions, they do not enter pseudopupal diapause but pupate directly from the fourth instar. In addition, this insect is known to modify its photoperiodic response for induction of pseudopupal diapause depending on food availability for larvae. In this study, the larval photoperiodic responses for diapause induction were examined for three populations of E. gorhami collected from the northernmost (Morioka, 39.7°N), central (Kazo, 36.1°N), and southernmost (Takanabe, 32.1°N) parts of its distribution range, and the responses were examined under both fully fed and food-deprived (FD) conditions. Diapause incidence decreased in FD larvae for all populations in long-day conditions, and the critical day-lengths for the diapause incidence were calculated as 14.81, 13.97, and 13.99 h in the Morioka, Kazo, and Takanabe populations, respectively. The results indicate the presence of a geographical variation in larval photoperiodic response, in which diapause is induced earlier in higher latitudinal areas. From these results, together with data for developmental threshold temperature and thermal constant, the Morioka and Kazo populations were suggested to have a partial bivoltine life cycle under the conditions of extremely early oviposition season, a sufficient summer temperature, and poor larval food availability.
The relationship between job components, neighbourhood walkability and African academics' physical activity: a post-COVID-19 context
Authors: Asiamah Nestor , Opuni Frank Frimpong , Muhonja Faith , Danquah Emelia , Agyemang Simon Mawulorm , Agyemang Irene , Omisore Akinlolu , Mensah Henry Kofi , Hatsu Sylvester , Baffoe Rita Sarkodie , Eku Eric , Manu Christiana Afriyie
Published: June 2021

Research to date suggests that physical activity (PA) among academics is insufficient globally. Academics in many African countries were recently required to resume work while observing social distancing protocols. Physical inactivity (PI) was, therefore, expected to increase in such academics. Interestingly, walkable neighbourhoods are resources that could discourage excessive sitting and PI in this situation. This study, therefore, assessed the moderating role of neighbourhood walkability in the relationship between core job components (i.e. on-site teaching, online teaching, research and student assessment) and PA among academics. The study adopted a cross-sectional design that utilized an online survey hosted by Google Forms to gather data. Participants were volunteer full-time academics in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. A total of 1064 surveys were analysed, with a sensitivity analysis utilized to select covariates for the ultimate hierarchical linear regression model. After controlling for the ultimate covariates (e.g. gender, education and income), PA was found to be positively associated with the job component 'research work’ but negatively associated with student assessment. Neighbourhood walkability increased the positive relationship of research work with PA and reduced the negative relationship of student assessment with PA. The non-significant negative relationship between ‘teaching online’ and PA was made positively significant by neighbourhood walkability. We conclude that research as a job component is positively associated with PA, but online teaching is negatively associated with PA among African academics in a post-COVID-19 context.
Development of a model to predict dietary metabolizable energy from digestible energy in beef cattle
Authors: Seo Seongwon , Kang Kyewon , Jeon Seoyoung , Lee Mingyung , Jeong Sinyong , Tedeschi Luis
Published: June 2021

Understanding the utilization of feed energy is essential for precision feeding in beef cattle production. We aimed to assess whether predicting the metabolizable energy (ME) to digestible energy (DE) ratio (MDR), rather than a prediction of ME with DE, is feasible and to develop a model equation to predict MDR in beef cattle. We constructed a literature database based on published data. A meta-analysis was conducted with 306 means from 69 studies containing both dietary DE and ME concentrations measured by calorimetry to test whether exclusion of the y-intercept is adequate in the linear relationship between DE and ME. A random coefficient model with study as the random variable was used to develop equations to predict MDR in growing and finishing beef cattle. Routinely measured or calculated variables in the field (body weight, age, daily gain, intake, and dietary nutrient components) were chosen as explanatory variables. The developed equations were evaluated with other published equations. The no-intercept linear equation was found to represent the relationship between DE and ME more appropriately than the equation with a y-intercept. The y-intercept (−0.025 ± 0.0525) was not different from 0 (P = 0.638), and Akaike and Bayesian information criteria of the no-intercept model were smaller than those with the y-intercept. Within our growing and finishing cattle data, the animal’s physiological stage was not a significant variable affecting MDR after accounting for the study effect (P = 0.213). The mean (±SE) of MDR was 0.849 (±0.0063). The best equation for predicting MDR (n = 106 from 28 studies) was 0.9410 ( ± 0.02160) +0.0042 ( ± 0.00186) × DMI (kg) – 0.0017 ( ± 0.00024) × NDF(% DM) – 0.0022 ( ± 0.00084) × CP(% DM). We also presented a model with a positive coefficient for the ether extract (n = 80 from 22 studies). When using these equations, the observed ME was predicted with high precision (R2 = 0.92). The model accuracy was also high, as shown by the high concordance correlation coefficient (>0.95) and small root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), <5% of the observed mean. Moreover, a significant portion of the RMSEP was due to random bias (> 93%), without mean or slope bias (P > 0.05). We concluded that dietary ME in beef cattle could be accurately estimated from dietary DE and its conversion factor, MDR, predicted by the dry matter intake and concentration of several dietary nutrients, using the 2 equations developed in this study.
Experimental design of preclinical experiments: number of PDX lines vs subsampling within PDX lines
Authors: Eckel-Passow Jeanette E , Kitange Gaspar J , Decker Paul A , Kosel Matthew L , Burgenske Danielle M , Oberg Ann L , Sarkaria Jann N
Published: June 2021

Background

Appropriately designed preclinical patient-derived xenograft (PDX) experiments are important to accurately inform human clinical trials. There is little experimental design guidance regarding choosing the number of PDX lines to study, and the number of mice within each PDX line.

Methods

Retrospective data from IDH-wildtype glioblastoma preclinical experiments evaluating a uniform regimen of fractionated radiation (RT), temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy, and concurrent RT/TMZ across 27 PDX lines were used to evaluate experimental designs and empirically estimate statistical power for ANOVA and Cox regression.

Results

Increasing the number of PDX lines resulted in more precise and reproducible estimates of effect size. To achieve 80% statistical power using ANOVA, experiments using a single PDX line required subsampling of 6 mice per PDX for each treatment group to detect a difference in survival of 135 days, and 9 mice per PDX to detect a difference of 100 days. Alternatively, a design that used 10 PDX lines had greater than 80% power to detect a difference of 135 days with a single mouse per PDX per treatment group, a difference of 100 days with 2 mice per PDX per treatment, and 35 days with more than 10 mice per PDX per treatment. Power for Cox regression was slightly smaller than ANOVA for very small experiments regardless of effect size and slightly higher than ANOVA for detecting a smaller effect size of 35 days difference in survival for moderate-to-large experiments.

Conclusions

Experimental designs using few mice across many PDX lines can provide robust results and account for inter-tumor variability.
Intracranial Hypotensive Crisis From an Insidious Spinal Cerebrospinal Fluid-Venous Fistula: A Case Report
Authors: Carlstrom Lucas P , Oushy Soliman , Graffeo Christopher S , Perry Avital , Wijdicks Eelco F , Bydon Mohamad , Van Gompel Jamie , Piepgras David G
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE

Progressive episodic spells of altered levels of consciousness, often advancing to include paroxysmal autonomic instability, may be indicative of a diencephalic dysfunction underlying spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). A rare, and often indolent, etiology may be spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak—an elusive diagnosis, especially in cases of CSF-venous fistula (CVF) that are often missed on routine computed tomography (CT) myelography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

We report an unusual case of a 50-yr-old woman who presented with rapidly progressive cyclical, self-resolving episodes of altered mentation and decreased arousal later in the day. Scrutiny of serial brain MRIs led to a diagnosis of SIH, with severe downward diencephalic and brain stem displacement—resulting in cerebral aqueduct occlusion with obstructive hydrocephalus. Initial clinical improvement occurred with CSF diversion, but the patient quickly deteriorated—developing diencephalic spells, including extensor posturing and severely depressed levels of consciousness. Clinical improvement was seen with stopping CSF diversion and Trendelenburg-positioning. After intensive spinal imaging, dynamic CT myelography identified a left T10 nerve root diverticula and CSF-venous fistula. Surgical obliteration resulted in rapid, profound neurological improvement, and ultimately full neurological recovery by 1 yr.

CONCLUSION

In our patient, worsening episodes of confusion, postural headaches, and autonomic instability developed due to SIH, which induced profound downward displacement and compression of the diencephalon and brain stem, and accompanied by subsequent obstructive hydrocephalus. Diagnostic persistence identified the CVF, which had caused the complex multifold pathophysiology and clinical presentation. If suspicion remains high for CVF, persistent spinal imaging, particularly with dynamic myelography, may be crucial.
How effective are digital interventions in increasing flu vaccination among pregnant women? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Parsons Jo , Griffiths Sarah E , Thomas Nicky , Atherton Helen
Published: June 2021

Background

Flu can have serious consequences for pregnant woman and unborn babies. Vaccination provides safe and effective protection, yet uptake among pregnant women is below national targets. Digital interventions are effective at increasing adherence to health interventions.

Aims

This review aimed to establish whether digital interventions are effective at increasing rates of flu vaccination among pregnant women, and to determine the overall effect size.

Method

Systematic searches identified digital intervention trials, aiming to increase rate of flu vaccination among pregnant women. Random-effects meta-analysis provided a combined effect size and examined which mode of digital interventions had the largest effects on flu vaccination.

Results

Ten studies were included in the review. The majority of digital interventions were more effective at increasing rates of flu vaccination (7–81.3% uptake) than usual care or non-digital interventions (7.3–47.1% uptake). When meta-analysed, digital interventions had a small, non-significant effect (odds ratio [OR] = 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71, 2.31), P = 0.40. Text messages (OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.58, 2.67), P = 0.57 appeared less effective than other digital interventions (OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.46), P = 0.04.

Conclusions

Overall, there is a lack of high-quality studies reporting the effectiveness of digital interventions at increasing flu vaccination during pregnancy. Future interventions may benefit from using video or social media to communicate messages for maximum success in targeting an increase in rates of flu vaccination in pregnancy.
Depressive symptoms and social context modulate oxytocin’s effect on negative memory recall
Authors: Wong Shiu F , Cardoso Christopher , Orlando Mark A , Brown Christopher A , Ellenbogen Mark A
Published: June 2021

Oxytocin promotes social affiliation across various species, in part by altering social cognition to facilitate approach behaviour. However, the effects of intranasal oxytocin on human social cognition are mixed, perhaps because its effects are context dependent and subject to inter-individual differences. Few studies have included explicit manipulations of social context to test this supposition. We examined oxytocin’s effects on autobiographical memory recall in two contexts, with and without social contact, and evaluated whether these effects were moderated by depressive symptoms. Two non-clinical samples (Study 1, n = 48; Study 2, n = 63) completed randomised, placebo-controlled, within-subject experiments. We assessed autobiographical memory recall across two sessions (intranasal oxytocin or placebo) and two contexts (memories elicited by an experimenter or by computer). Overall, intranasal oxytocin increased ratings of the vividness of recalled memories during the social context only. Individuals with elevated depressive symptoms also recalled memories that were more negative following oxytocin relative to placebo only in the non-social context across the two studies. Findings highlight the negative consequences of increasing oxytocin bioavailability in vulnerable persons in the absence of social contact. Contextual factors such as social isolation among depressed populations may complicate the clinical use of oxytocin.
Biological Activity of Pyraclostrobin Against Coniella granati Causing Pomegranate Crown Rot
Authors: Yang Xue , Gu Chun-Yan , Sun Jia-Zhi , Bai Yang , Zang Hao-Yu , Chen Yu
Published: June 2021

Pomegranate crown rot caused by Coniella granati is one of the most severe diseases of pomegranate. No fungicides have been registered for controlling this disease in China. Pyraclostrobin, belonging to strobilurin fungicides, has a broad spectrum of activity against many phytopathogens. In this study, based on the mycelial growth and conidial germination inhibition methods, we investigated the biological activity of pyraclostrobin against C. granati in the presence of 50 μg/ml of salicylhydroxamic acid using 80 isolates collected from different orchards in China from 2012 to 2018. The EC50 (50% effective concentration) values ranged from 0.040 to 0.613 μg/ml for mycelial growth and 0.013 to 0.110 μg/ml for conidium germination. Treated with pyraclostrobin, the hyphae morphology changed and conidial production of C. granati decreased significantly. The result of transmission electron microscope showed that treatment of pyraclostrobin could make the cell wall thinner and lead to ruptured cell membrane and formation of intracellular organelle autophagosomes. The pyraclostrobin showed good protective and curative activities against C. granati on detached pomegranate fruits. In field trials, pyraclostrobin showed excellent control efficacy against this disease, in which the treatment of 25% pyraclostrobin EC 1,000× provided 92.25 and 92.58% control efficacy in 2019 and 2020, respectively, significantly higher than that of other treatments. Therefore, pyraclostrobin could be a candidate fungicide for the control of pomegranate crown rot.
Cadophora sabaouaesp. nov. andPhaeoacremoniumSpecies Associated with Petri Disease on Grapevine Propagation Material and Young Grapevines in Algeria
Authors: Aigoun-Mouhous Wassila , Mahamedi Alla Eddine , León Maela , Chaouia Cherifa , Zitouni Abdelghani , Barankova Katerina , Eichmeier Ales , Armengol Josep , Gramaje David , Berraf-Tebbal Akila
Published: June 2021

A field survey conducted on asymptomatic grapevine propagation material from nurseries and symptomatic young grapevines throughout different regions of Algeria yielded a collection of 70 Phaeoacremonium-like isolates and three Cadophora-like isolates. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data of β-tubulin (tub2) and actin, five Phaeoacremonium species were identified including Phaeoacremonium minimum (22 isolates), Phaeoacremonium venezuelense (19 isolates), Phaeoacremonium parasiticum (17 isolates), Phaeoacremonium australiense (8 isolates), and Phaeoacremonium iranianum (4 isolates). The latter two species (P. australiense and P. iranianum) were reported for the first time in Algeria. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses (internal transcribed spacer, tub2, and translation elongation factor 1-α) and morphological features, allowed the description of the three isolates belonging to the genus Cadophora (WAMC34, WAMC117, and WAMC118) as a novel species, named Cadophora sabaouae sp. nov. Pathogenicity tests were conducted on grapevine cuttings cultivar Cardinal. All the identified species were pathogenic on grapevine cuttings.
Disordered regions as regulators of phase transitions in multivalent proteins
Authors: Pappu Rohit V.
Published: June 2021

This talk will present a synthesis of findings from theory, computation, and experiment highlighting the roles of intrinsically disordered regions as regulators and modulators of phase transitions for linear multivalent proteins. These phase transitions determine the organization, dynamics, and functions of membraneless organelles and other biomolecular condensates. The insights obtained are paving the way for designing condensates with bespoke sequence‐encoded phase behavior and material properties.

Support or Funding Information

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Human Frontier Science Program, and the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Research Collaborative.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Promoting hypothesis‐driven thinking in the undergraduate biochemistry lab
Authors: Craig Paul A.
Published: June 2021

We have developed a Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE), which is built on a combination of traditional wet lab techniques (protein expression, chromatography, electrophoresis, protein and activity assays) and bioinformatics tools (sequence and structure alignment, visualization and molecular docking). Two major factors have led to this project ‐ the initiative of students and the influence of collaborators. Students in our research groups at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Dowling College developed the ProMOL plugin for PyMOL, which enabled us to perform active site alignments between two enzymes. They then enhanced ProMOL to include a library of one thousand enzyme active site templates, which they used to predict functions for unannotated protein structures in the Protein Data Bank. They added sequence and backbone alignments to our bioinformatics approach, then insisted on moving into the wet lab to validate the functions they had predicted. In this process, we saw our students make such remarkable strides as scientists that we decided to replicate this approach in an undergraduate biochemistry teaching lab. The project, which we call BASIL, for Biochemistry Authentic Scientific Inquiry Lab, now involves thirteen faculty members teaching the lab on eight campuses. We are now engaged in a longer term assessment and evaluation of student growth as scientists in this teaching lab setting.

Support or Funding Information

This work is supported by the National Science Foundation under Awards #1503811 and #1709170, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under Award #78077, and the campuses represented in the BASIL project.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Selective imaging of internalized proteopathic α‐synuclein seeds in primary neurons reveals mechanistic insight into transmission of synucleinopathies
Authors: Karpowicz Richard J. , Haney Conor M. , Mihaila Tiberiu S. , Sandler Raizel M. , Petersson E. James , Lee Virginia M.‐Y.
Published: June 2021

Direct cell‐to‐cell transmission of proteopathic alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) aggregates is thought to underlie the progression of neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. However, the specific intracellular processes governing this transmission remain unclear because currently‐available model systems are limited. For example, in cell culture models of α‐syn–seeded aggregation, it is difficult to discern intracellular from extracellular exogenously applied α‐syn seed species. Herein, we employed fluorescently labeled α‐syn preformed fibrils (pffs) in conjunction with the membrane‐impermeable fluorescence quencher trypan blue to selectively image internalized α‐syn seeds in cultured primary neurons and to quantitatively characterize the concentration dependence, time course, and inhibition of pff uptake. To study the long‐term fates of exogenous α‐syn pffs in neurons, we developed a pff species labeled at amino acid residue 114 with the environmentally insensitive fluorophore BODIPY or the pH‐sensitive dye pHrodo red. We found that pffs are rapidly trafficked along the endolysosomal pathway where most of the material remains for days. We also found that brief pharmacological perturbation of lysosomes shortly after the pff treatment causes aberrations in intracellular processing of pff seeds concomitant with an increased rate of inclusion formation via recruitment of endogenous α‐syn to a relatively small number of exogenous seeds. Our results validate a quantitative assay for pff uptake in primary neurons, implicate lysosomal processing as the major fate of internalized proteopathic seeds, and suggest lysosomal integrity as a significant rate‐determining step in the transmission of α‐syn pathology. Further, lysosomal processing of transmitted seeds may represent a new therapeutic target to combat the spread of synucleinopathies.

Support or Funding Information

This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NS053488‐08 to VMYL and NIH NS081033 to EJP), the Ofer Nemirovsky Family Fund, as well as the University of Pennsylvania. Instruments supported by the National Science Foundation include: CD spectrometer (NSF DMR05‐20020) and MALDI MS (NSF MRI‐0820996). CMH is supported by an Age Related Neurodegenerative Disease Training Grant fellowship (NIH T32AG000255).

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.