bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutritional composition of smoked skipjack produced in Ambon
Authors: Rieuwpassa F , Tapotubun A M , Matrutty Th E A A , Nanlohy H , Savitri I K E
Published: July 2023

Smoked skipjack is very popular processed fish product in Ambon with a very acceptable taste and flavor, and so much pleasure to be consume. Smoked skipjack is produced traditionally by the method of hot smoking process. Skipjack is good production through the year in Maluku included Ambon, so it ideal as a raw material in smoked fish production. As a popular product in Ambon, smoked skipjack nutritional facts are appropriately to be identified. This study was purposed to determine the proximate composition of smoked skipjack using exploratory method. The product samples were collected from smoked skipjack processing sites at the three producing center villages. The laboratory analysis carried out to determine the nutritional (proximate) composition. The result showed that traditional smoked skipjack in Ambon has a good nutritional composition of 60.34% moisture, 31.97% protein, 4.38% fat, 1.46% carbohydrate (by difference), 1.69% total ash and energy 173 calories.
Analysis of investment and international trade on the Gross Domestic Product of the fisheries sector in Indonesia: evidence from the Panel Vector Autoregressive (P-VAR) Model
Authors: Sulistijowati R , Yuliati Lilis , Komariyah Siti
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study is to identify the dynamics of Gross Domestic Product growth in the Indonesian fisheries and marine sector. This is important to study considering that Indonesia is a country that has abundant marine wealth but faces several challenges such as production quality, investment growth, global uncertainty, and the international trade cycle. Thus, this study considers several variables, namely the GDP of the fisheries and marine sector, domestic investment, foreign direct investment, imports and exports of the fishery sector, and the volume of production in the fisheries sector. The research method used is a panel vector autoregression (P-VAR) model involving impulse response functions and variance decomposition tests. The results of the P-VAR estimation suggest that the variables that have a significant impact on the GDP of the Indonesian fishery sector are the GDP of the fishery sector itself, domestic investment, foreign direct investment, exports of the fishery sector, and the volume of production in the fishery sector. The results of the study indicate the need for implementing policies that are in accordance with the dynamics of the marine economy through coordination of all upstream and downstream sectors; developing and advancing the industrialization of fishery products; fulfilling international product standards; increasing the quantity and quality of environmentally friendly production; improving fishermen’s welfare; and implementing related policies in international trade.
Effect of Mesh Size and Hanging Ratio Gillnet to the Local Marketable Size of Giant Trevally Caranx ignobilis
Authors: Haruna  , Tupamahu A , Silooy F D , Hehanussa K G
Published: July 2023

Gillnets are widely used by small-scale fishermen to catch giant travelly Caranx ignobilis in coastal waters, the dominant fish caught are small in size not according to market size. The parameters of gillnet such as mesh size and hanging ratio can optimize the target size. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of mesh size and hanging ratio of gillnets on the size of the local marketable size for C ignobilis. The fishing experiment was carried out in floating net cages at the Ambon Fisheries Training and Extension Center (BPPP) from June to August 2022. A Simple randomized experimental designed with a factorial pattern was used as the experimental model. The different mesh size were used as treatments, and they are 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 inches (3 factors) and the hanging ratio consisted of 70%, 50% and 30% (3 factors). The population of C ignobilis that was used in this study with the middle of the class ranged from 24.5 to 29.5 cm total length. There is an effect of mesh size factor on the size of the target market for C ignobilis, where the mesh size of 3.0 inches is more effective than the others. In addition, the hanging ratio value affects the catch size of the local target market, where the hanging ratio value of 30% is more effective than the hanging ratio value of 70%. .
Assessment of habitat and reef fish population characteristics in Pari Island cluster waters Seribu Archipelago Indonesia
Authors: Syam A R , Hartati S T , Mujiyanto  , Sugianti Y , Nastiti A S , Sulardiono B
Published: July 2023

The Pari Island Cluster, located on the Southside of the Seribu Archipelago, is bordered by Jakarta and Tangerang Regency is covered Pari, Kudus, and Tikus Islands. The Pari Island cluster has potential ecosystems, such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangrove. The presentation of this article is an overview of the results of research conducted by the Research Institute for Marine Fisheries and the Research Institute for Fisheries Enhancement, The Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources. This study aims to present and describe habitat and reef fish populations. The assessment result shows that the criteria for the coral reefs’ health were poor to good, mostly moderate, the best in the southeast and northeast waters, which had been designated MPAs. Reef fish population density on the criteria was very rare or low at all observation sites. The dominant group was Caesio cuning, Cephalopholis boenak, Scarus ghobban (target group), and Chaetodon octofasciatus (indicator group). The implementation hopes Pari Island Cluster waters would expand to be designated MPAs due to the large number of care areas used for fishing territories.
Characteristics of clamshell flour Donax sp from Sapola sub-village of Seram Island
Authors: Lalopua V , Sukisman A H
Published: July 2023

Clam meat is consumed by the people of Sapola sub-village on Seram Island, and the shells are processed into flour by roasting and soaking in a husk ash solution. This traditional method, with its simple and inexpensive equipment, causes pollution. Another method of producing shell flour that uses NaOH as a solvent has resulted in shell flour with high mineral content. The objective of this study was to compare the physical and chemical properties ofDonaxsp shell flour using the traditional method and the chemical method with NaOH solution. Laboratory analysis was used as the research method in this study. The process included examinations on shape, size, color, and yield of the shell flour, as well as the water content and mineral content of CaCO3, MgO, SiO2, and sulphur. The results revealed differences in the physical properties and mineral content of clam shell flour when using traditional and chemical methods.Donaxsp shell flour obtained by soaking purplish-white NaOH, powder form size 18 mesh size, CaCO3 content of 96.60%, MgO 0.03%, SiO2 0.33%, Sulphur 0.02%, water 0.27%, yield 41.67%, while clam shell flour obtained by burning silver white, powder form size 18, CaCO3 content of 85.92%, MgO 0.06%, SiO2 0.33%, Sulphur 0.01%
How I diagnose myeloid neoplasms with germline predisposition
Authors: Patel Nisha , Calvo Katherine R
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Pathologists play a crucial role in the initial diagnosis of germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasia and subsequent surveillance for disease progression. The diagnostic workup can be challenging, particularly if clinical history, laboratory testing, or genetic studies are incomplete or unavailable.

Methods

Through case-based examples, we illustrate common diagnostic challenges and pitfalls encountered during bone marrow examination of patients being evaluated for myeloid malignancy with potential germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasia.

Results

Lack of familial disease, the absence of syndromic manifestations, and late-onset hematologic malignancy do not exclude an underlying germline predisposition syndrome. Targeted myeloid sequencing panels can help identify potential germline alterations but may not detect large deletions or insertions, noncoding, or novel variants. Confirmation of the germline nature of an alteration detected in the peripheral blood or bone marrow ideally requires genetic testing using nonhematopoietic germline DNA to definitively distinguish between germline and somatic alterations. The ideal tissue source for germline testing is cultured skin fibroblasts. Certain germline predisposition syndromes can contain characteristic baseline bone marrow dysplastic-appearing features associated with cytopenias without constituting myelodysplastic syndrome.

Conclusion

Recognizing germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasia is critical for proper disease management. This recognition is particularly important for patients who will undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to screen potential related donors. Integration of the clinical history, bone marrow findings, cytogenetic studies, and specialized laboratory and molecular genetic testing is often essential for accurate diagnosis and subsequent disease monitoring.
BRAF testing modalities in histiocytic disorders: Comparative analysis and proposed testing algorithm
Authors: Acosta-Medina Aldo A , Abeykoon Jithma P , Go Ronald S , Goyal Gaurav , Ravindran Aishwarya , Schram Susan M , Rech Karen L
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Understanding of histiocytic disorders has been revolutionized by demonstration of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway mutations, most commonly BRAFV600E. The optimal testing strategy to assess BRAFV600E is unknown. We aimed to compare performance of testing modalities, to propose a framework for evaluation of BRAFV600E mutation status in histiocytic disorders.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed patients with histiocytic disorders and BRAF mutation testing on a lesional tissue specimen.

Results

In 120 patients, BRAF assessment included immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 97 (80.2%), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 35 (28.9%), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 62 (51.2%). Forty-five underwent both NGS and IHC. With NGS as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of IHC were 82.4% and 96.4%. Three false negatives were observed in biopsy specimens with low BRAFV600E variant allele frequency or decalcified tissue. One false-positive IHC was observed in a lung biopsy specimen, likely due to antibody cross-reactivity with respiratory cilia. Among 14 with successful NGS and PCR, a single discordance was observed. Two PCR-to-IHC discrepancies were observed, including one other false-positive IHC.

Conclusions

Immunohistochemistry was highly specific for detection of BRAFV600E. Main caveats were false negatives and lack of detection of non-BRAFV600E mutations. We propose the use of IHC as initial screening in general practice with reflex molecular testing if negative.
Standing Blood Pressure and Risk of Falls, Syncope, Coronary Heart Disease, and Mortality
Authors: Kondo Jordan K , Earle William B , Turkson-Ocran Ruth-Alma N , Ngo Long H , Cluett Jennifer L , Lipsitz Lewis A , Daya Natalie R , Selvin Elizabeth , Lutsey Pamela L , Coresh Josef , Windham Beverly Gwen , Kendrick Karla N , Juraschek Stephen P
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

ACC/AHA guidelines caution against the use of antihypertensive therapy in the setting of low standing systolic BP (SBP) < 110 mm Hg due to unclear benefits.

METHODS

The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study measured supine and standing SBP in adults aged 45–64 years between 1987 and 1989. We used Cox regression to evaluate the associations of low standing SBP (<110 mm Hg) with risk of falls, syncope, coronary heart disease (CHD), and mortality through December 31, 2019. Falls and syncope were ascertained by hospitalization and outpatient claims; CHD events were adjudicated. Associations were examined overall and in strata of hypertension stage, 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, age, and sex.

RESULTS

Among 12,467 adults followed a median of 24 years (mean age at enrollment 54.1 ± 5.8 years, 55% women, 26% Black adults), 3,000 (24%) had a standing SBP < 110 mm Hg. A standing SBP < 110 mm Hg compared to standing SBP ≥ 110 mm Hg was not significantly associated with falls or syncope, and was associated with a lower risk of CHD events and mortality with HRs of 1.02 (95% CI 0.94, 1.11), 1.02 (0.93, 1.11), 0.88 (0.80, 0.97), and 0.91 (0.86, 0.97), respectively. There were no clinically meaningful differences when stratified by hypertension stage, 10-year ASCVD risk, age, and sex.

CONCLUSIONS

In this community-based population, low standing SBP was common and not significantly associated with falls or syncope, but was associated with a lower risk of CHD and mortality. These findings do not support screening for low standing BP as a risk factor for adverse events.
Identification of bolegrevilol B and C as novel antioxidant compounds in Suillus grevillei mushroom
Authors: Shimagami Maho , Sugaya Maho , Kimura Hinako , Shindo Kazutoshi
Published: July 2023

Suillus grevillei is a popular species of mushroom available worldwide. In this study, we isolated compounds, bolegrevilol B and bolegrevilol C, from the mushroom and observed their potent lipid peroxidation-inhibiting activity. The structures of bolegrevilol B and bolegrevilol C were elucidated as 3-geranylgeranyl-1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and 3-geranylgeranyl-1,2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzene, respectively, through high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (-) and 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Bolegrevilol B and C inhibited lipid peroxidation and exhibited IC50 values of 2.0 ± 0.29 µm and 1.0 ± 0.13 µm, respectively. Furthermore, bolegrevilol B and C demonstrated potent neuroprotective activities in neuronal hybridoma N18-RE-105 cells against L-glutamate toxicity (EC50 of 1.8 ± 1.7 n m and 7.2 ± 6.9 n m, respectively). Bolegrevilol B was found in nature for the first time, and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the antioxidant activities of bolegrevilol B and C.
Deep transfer learning for clinical decision-making based on high-throughput data: comprehensive survey with benchmark results
Authors: Toseef Muhammad , Olayemi Petinrin Olutomilayo , Wang Fuzhou , Rahaman Saifur , Liu Zhe , Li Xiangtao , Wong Ka-Chun
Published: July 2023

The rapid growth of omics-based data has revolutionized biomedical research and precision medicine, allowing machine learning models to be developed for cutting-edge performance. However, despite the wealth of high-throughput data available, the performance of these models is hindered by the lack of sufficient training data, particularly in clinical research (in vivo experiments). As a result, translating this knowledge into clinical practice, such as predicting drug responses, remains a challenging task. Transfer learning is a promising tool that bridges the gap between data domains by transferring knowledge from the source to the target domain. Researchers have proposed transfer learning to predict clinical outcomes by leveraging pre-clinical data (mouse, zebrafish), highlighting its vast potential. In this work, we present a comprehensive literature review of deep transfer learning methods for health informatics and clinical decision-making, focusing on high-throughput molecular data. Previous reviews mostly covered image-based transfer learning works, while we present a more detailed analysis of transfer learning papers. Furthermore, we evaluated original studies based on different evaluation settings across cross-validations, data splits and model architectures. The result shows that those transfer learning methods have great potential; high-throughput sequencing data and state-of-the-art deep learning models lead to significant insights and conclusions. Additionally, we explored various datasets in transfer learning papers with statistics and visualization.
Factors associated with recurrent appendicitis after successful treatment with antibiotics
Authors: Flum David R ,   writing group for the CODA Collaborative, Rosen J E , Voldal E C , Davidson G H , Monsell S E , Fannon E E C , Lawrence S O , Krishnadasan A , Talan D A , Bizzell B , Heagerty P J , Comstock B A , Lavallee D C , Kessler L G , Thompson C M , Self W H , Evans H , Kao L S , Dodwad S , Sabbatini A K , Hemmila M , Sangji N , Gibbons M M , Saltzman D , Kaji A H , DeUgarte D A , Mandell K A , Siparsky N , Price T P , Villegas C , Winchell R , Wisler J , Victory J , Jones A , Kutcher M , Hatch Q , Holihan J , Liang M K , Cuschieri J , Patton J H , Fischkoff K , Drake F T , Sanchez S E , Flum D R
Published: July 2023

Background

As more patients with appendicitis are treated with antibiotics, factors associated with recurrence may help inform individualized prognostication and decision-making.

Methods

This cohort study, using data from the Comparison of Outcomes of Antibiotic Drugs and Appendectomy trial, examined patients treated with antibiotics who did not undergo appendicectomy in the first 30 days. Patients who had appendicectomy between 30 days and 1 year were compared with those who did not. Marginalized logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted risk differences (RDs) to estimate the association between baseline patient factors and the risk of undergoing an appendicectomy between 30 days and 1 year.

Results

Of 601 patients treated with antibiotics who did not undergo appendicectomy within 30 days (mean age 38.0 years; 217 women (36.1 per cent)), 144 had an appendicectomy and 56 were lost to follow-up between 30 days and 1 year. The estimated rate of appendicectomy between 30 days and 1 year was 28.6 (95 per cent c.i. 25.0 to 32.8) per cent. After adjustment for other factors, nausea, vomiting, or anorexia at baseline presentation was associated with an increased rate of appendicectomy between 30 days and 1 year (adjusted RD 17.52, 95 per cent c.i. 8.64 to 26.40). The presence of an appendicolith (adjusted RD 3.64, −6.08 to 13.36), or an abscess, perforation, or fat stranding on initial imaging (adjusted RD −7.23, −17.41 to 2.95) was not strongly associated with appendicectomy between 30 days and 1 year.

Conclusion

Most factors commonly associated with appendicitis severity were not strongly associated with an increased risk of undergoing appendicectomy in the longer term after treatment with antibiotics.
Surrounded by concrete: genetic isolation of Tillandsia recurvata L. in an urban landscape in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Quail Megan Rhianne , Ramos Flavio Nunes , Dallimore Thom , Ashton Paul , Clayton-Brown Jennifer , Provan Jim , Batke Sven Peter
Published: July 2023

Increasing urban expansion has resulted in the decline of many natural and seminatural communities globally. However, the connectivity and genetic structure of species that survive in these urban landscapes have received little attention, especially with regard to epiphytic plants. This study aimed to describe and evaluate the connectivity and genetic structure of populations of Tillandsia recurvata, a highly abundant and widely distributed atmospheric epiphyte, amongst urban green spaces within a city. A total of 288 T. recurvata individuals were sampled across 65 trees throughout the city of Alfenas in South-East Brazil. We designed seven novel microsatellite markers and used four cross-amplified loci to determine the basic genetic structure of T. recurvata. All populations showed high global spatial genetic structure, which indicated low connectivity between urban populations. The findings of this study, as well as evidence from previous assessments of T. recurvata genetic structure, suggest that the combined effects of genetic drift, breeding system, and dispersal may have dictated the connectivity of these urban populations. This study represents an important step towards understanding epiphyte population structure within urban landscapes. Low connectivity across urban landscapes is likely to benefit epiphytes such as T. recurvata, due to their adaptability and high tolerance; this suggests a bleak future for many other more sensitive epiphytic species under predicted urbanization globally.
3D synaptic organization of layer III of the human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortex
Authors: Cano-Astorga Nicolás , Plaza-Alonso Sergio , DeFelipe Javier , Alonso-Nanclares Lidia
Published: July 2023

The human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortices have been proposed as highly connected nodes involved in high-order cognitive functions, but their synaptic organization is still basically unknown due to the difficulties involved in studying the human brain. Using Focused Ion Beam/Scanning Electron Microscopy (FIB/SEM) to study the synaptic organization of the human brain obtained with a short post-mortem delay allows excellent results to be obtained. We have used this technology to analyze layer III of the anterior cingulate cortex (Brodmann area 24) and the temporopolar cortex, including the temporal pole (Brodmann area 38 ventral and dorsal) and anterior middle temporal gyrus (Brodmann area 21). Our results, based on 6695 synaptic junctions fully reconstructed in 3D, revealed that Brodmann areas 24, 21 and ventral area 38 showed similar synaptic density and synaptic size, whereas dorsal area 38 displayed the highest synaptic density and the smallest synaptic size. However, the proportion of the different types of synapses (excitatory and inhibitory), the postsynaptic targets, and the shapes of excitatory and inhibitory synapses were similar, regardless of the region examined. These observations indicate that certain aspects of the synaptic organization are rather homogeneous, whereas others show specific variations across cortical regions.
Connectome-based fingerprint of motor impairment is stable along the course of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rabini Giuseppe , Pierotti Enrica , Meli Claudia , Dodich Alessandra , Papagno Costanza , Turella Luca
Published: July 2023

Functional alterations in brain connectivity have previously been described in Parkinson’s disease, but it is not clear whether individual differences in connectivity profiles might be also linked to severity of motor-symptom manifestation. Here we investigated the relevance of individual functional connectivity patterns measured with resting-state fMRI with respect to motor-symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease, through a whole-brain, data-driven approach (connectome-based predictive modeling). Neuroimaging and clinical data of Parkinson’s disease patients from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative were derived at baseline (session 1, n = 81) and at follow-up (session 2, n = 53). Connectome-based predictive modeling protocol was implemented to predict levels of motor impairment from individual connectivity profiles. The resulting predictive model comprised a network mainly involving functional connections between regions located in the cerebellum, and in the motor and frontoparietal networks. The predictive power of the model was stable along disease progression, as the connectivity within the same network could predict levels of motor impairment, even at a later stage of the disease. Finally, connectivity profiles within this network could be identified at the individual level, suggesting the presence of individual fingerprints within resting-state fMRI connectivity associated with motor manifestations in Parkinson’s disease.
Sticky and Stuck: The Lift as a Vehicle in the Production of Social Space in Livi Michael’sUnder a Thin Moonand Loretta Ramkissoon’s “Which Floor?”
Authors: Hampton Sophie
Published: July 2023

This essay analyzes Livi Michael’s novel Under a Thin Moon (1992) and Loretta Ramkissoon’s short memoir “Which Floor?” (2019) to examine representations of female experience of living in high-rise social housing. My analysis draws on the work of Henri Lefebvre and Doreen Massey to investigate the production of the tower block as a social space. The lift is employed as a lens to study the structuring and shaping of the high-rise narrative and explore how fiction can both reinforce and challenge dominant mythologies of social housing. The lift’s role is considered through themes of gendered experiences of disgust (stickiness) and mobilities (getting stuck). In Under a Thin Moon, the tower block lift embodies the narrative of the failure of the utopian solutions to the postwar housing crisis in the UK and its consequences. In “Which Floor?,” although the lift is a space inherent in the facilitation and nurturing of community, it nevertheless similarly captures a narrative of the immobility of high-rise life.
Why do hybrids turn down sex?
Authors: Fyon Frédéric , Berbel-Filho Waldir Miron , Schlupp Ingo , Wild Geoff , Úbeda Francisco
Published: July 2023

Asexual reproduction is ancestral in prokaryotes; the switch to sexuality in eukaryotes is one of the major transitions in the history of life. The study of the maintenance of sex in eukaryotes has raised considerable interest for decades and is still one of evolutionary biology’s most prominent question. The observation that many asexual species are of hybrid origin has led some to propose that asexuality in hybrids results from sexual processes being disturbed because of incompatibilities between the two parental species’ genomes. However, in some cases, failure to produce asexual F1s in the lab may indicate that this mechanism is not the only road to asexuality in hybrid species. Here, we present a mathematical model and propose an alternative, adaptive route for the evolution of asexuality from previously sexual hybrids. Under some reproductive alterations, we show that asexuality can evolve to rescue hybrids’ reproduction. Importantly, we highlight that when incompatibilities only affect the fusion of sperm and egg’s genomes, the two traits that characterize asexuality, namely unreduced meiosis and the initiation of embryogenesis without the incorporation of the sperm’s pronucleus, can evolve separately, greatly facilitating the overall evolutionary route. Taken together, our results provide an alternative, potentially complementary explanation for the link between asexuality and hybridization.
Spatiotemporal modelling of Greenland halibut maturation across the Northwest Atlantic
Authors: Yan Yuan , Cantoni Eva , Field Chris , Treble Margaret , Benoît Hugues P , Rideout Rick M , Flemming Joanna Mills
Published: July 2023

Modelling life history trait variation at appropriate spatial and temporal scales is crucial for understanding population dynamics and developing effective fisheries management strategies. However, most efforts to model life history traits ignore spatial correlations and make a priori assumptions about the spatial structuring of populations, potentially clouding the ability to recognize true spatial structure. Here we develop spatiotemporal maturation models for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) in the Northwest Atlantic, a species with large-scale movement patterns that can lead to uncertainty regarding effective stock boundaries. Our analysis using data from three Fisheries and Oceans Canada survey regions, Baffin Bay and Davis Strait in the eastern Canadian Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence (GSL), is the first at such a large spatial scale. We also extend the traditional binary maturity status to a multinomial one that accounts for seasonal changes in maturation. Results show a decreasing temporal trend in size at maturity across the entire area. Spatial results regarding size at maturity provide new insight linking Greenland halibut south of Newfoundland (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Subdivision 3Ps) to the GSL stock rather than the NL stock. Results also highlight parts of the Davis Strait area, where size at maturity is smaller than in waters both north and south. Multinomial model results identify areas in GSL and Davis Strait that may be important for reproductive development in the summer and fall. Our analyses also reveal constraints on size at maturity that correspond with the well-known positive association between fish length and bottom depth. Broad-scale analyses of high resolution spatial patterns in life history traits, such as those performed here for Greenland halibut maturation, may identify recurrent patterns of association with environmental or habitat characteristics that might not otherwise be evident on a stock- or survey-specific basis.
Talking to the State: Interviewing the Elites about What’s Not to Be Said
Authors: Markiewicz Tadek
Published: July 2023

How can researchers conduct interviews about sensitive topics the interlocutors are unwilling to discuss? This article contributes to the ongoing debates on interviewing. While we are observing a growing interest in this research method among international relations scholars, we lack formalized advanced practices for overcoming interview-related challenges. Drawing on elite interviews conducted in Israel and the UK, the article introduces two research techniques particularly useful in discussing controversial or sensitive matters: in-situ texts and adaptable self-presentation practices. It first presents the types of challenges I faced seeking answers as to why secure and powerful states like the UK and Israel employ narratives of vulnerability in wartime public communication. Then it analyses how the use of in-situ texts during interviews assists in introducing sensitive topics into the interview. I illustrate how they allow me to quickly establish the importance of the research phenomenon as well as to facilitate more open conversations. Finally, I show the benefits of the adaptable self-presentation technique. The goal of this practice is to conduct a responsive interview. One in which the researcher builds trust with the participant by bringing out its own biographical aspects that emphasize either its outsider or insider status.
Relationships between body- and udder-related type traits with somatic cell counts and potential use for an early selection method for water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)
Authors: Zhang Xinxin , Niu Kaifeng , Wang Wei , Shaukat Aftab , Zhao Xuhong , Yao Zhiqiu , Liang Aixin , Yang Liguo
Published: July 2023

Water buffalo milk is a reliable source of high-quality nutrients; however, the susceptibility of mastitis in buffaloes must be taken into consideration. An animal with somatic cell count (SCC) of greater than 250,000 cells/mL is reported to be likely to have mastitis which has serious adverse effects on animal health, reproduction, milk yield, and milk quality. Type traits (TTs) of water buffalo can affect SCC in animal milk to some extent, but few reports on the correlation between SCC and TTs are available. In this study, a total of 1908 records collected from 678 water buffaloes were investigated. The general linear model was used to identify factors associated with phenotypic variation of the somatic cell score (SCS) trait, including parity, lactation length, calving year, and calving season as fixed effects. Using PROC CORR analysis method, taking calving year and lactation length as covariates, the correlation co-efficient between TT and SCS was obtained. Our results showed that correlation co-efficients between the 45 TTs with SCS ranged from 0.003 to 0.443 (degree of correlation). The correlation between udder traits and SCS was greater than that between body structure traits and SCS. Among udder traits, distance between teats (including front and rear teat distance [r = 0.308], front teat distance [r = 0.211], and teat crossing distance [r = 0.412]) and teat circumference (r = 0.443) had the highest correlation with SCS, followed by the leg traits including rear leg height (r = −0.354) and hock bend angle (r = −0.170). Animal with high rear legs (>48 cm) and short teat crossing distance (<17 cm), and narrow teat circumference (<11 cm) exhibited low SCS. Using four nonlinear models (Von Bertalanffy, Brody, Logistic, and Gompertz), the optimal growth curves of the TTs highly correlated with the SCS (rear leg height and teat crossing distance) were fitted, and the correction co-efficients of these two TTs rear leg height and teat crossing distance of animal from young age (2 mo old) to first lactation (35 mo old) were attained for establishment of early selection method for water buffaloes with low SCS. This study provides theoretical support for early selection of low-SCS water buffaloes and lays a foundation for improving milk quality and promoting healthy development of water buffalo’s dairy industry.
Weak evidence base for bee protective pesticide mitigation measures
Authors: Straw Edward A , Stanley Dara A
Published: July 2023

Pesticides help produce food for humanity’s growing population, yet they have negative impacts on the environment. Limiting these impacts, while maintaining food supply, is a crucial challenge for modern agriculture. Mitigation measures are actions taken by pesticide users, which modify the risk of the application to nontarget organisms, such as bees. Through these, the impacts of pesticides can be reduced, with minimal impacts on the efficacy of the pesticide. Here we collate the scientific evidence behind mitigation measures designed to reduce pesticide impacts on bees using a systematic review methodology. We included all publications which tested the effects of any pesticide mitigation measure (using a very loose definition) on bees, at any scale (from individual through to population level), so long as they presented evidence on the efficacy of the measure. We found 34 publications with direct evidence on the topic, covering a range of available mitigation measures. No currently used mitigation measures were thoroughly tested, and some entirely lacked empirical support, showing a weak evidence base for current recommendations and policy. We found mitigation measure research predominantly focuses on managed bees, potentially failing to protect wild bees. We also found that label-recommended mitigation measures, which are the mitigation measures most often applied, specifically are seldom tested empirically. Ultimately, we recommend that more, and stronger, scientific evidence is required to justify existing mitigation measures to help reduce the impacts of pesticides on bees while maintaining crop protection.
Exploring the proteins and metabolites associated with male antennae responses to female exposure of Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) moths
Authors: Wang Guobao , Ji Xiang , Nie Lei , Xu Ruirui
Published: July 2023

Detection of sex pheromones of insects relies on the antennae. The female pheromone signal transmission in the male antennae ultimately initiates the courtship and mating behaviors of males. To investigate the proteins and metabolites involved in this neural transduction, integrative proteomics and metabolomics analysis including tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomic quantification and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based metabolomics was adopted for comparing proteomic and metabolic changes between the antennae of male moths following stimulation by females and the non-stimulated males of Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville, Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in this study. A total of 92 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) containing 52 upregulated and 40 downregulated proteins and 545 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) including 218 upregulated and 327 downregulated metabolites were identified from the antennae of female-stimulated male moths based on the proteome and metabolome data, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis was performed for the 45 DEPs and 160 DEMs, including Gene Ontology (GO), Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and Kyoto Encylopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) annotation. A number of DEPs and DEMs related to neural transmission of female pheromone signals in the male antennae of A. pernyi were screened, including tyrosine hydroxylase, cryptochrome-1, tachykinin, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase, cadherin-23, glutathione S-transferase delta 3, tyramine, tryptamine, n-oleoyl dopamine, n-stearoyl dopamine, and n-stearoyl tyrosine. The altered expression levels of those proteins or metabolites were speculated involved in regulating the neuron activity for enhanced transmission of neural impulses and continuous perception, reception, and transduction of female pheromone signals. Our findings yielded novel insights into the potential mechanisms in the antennae of male A. pernyi responding to female attraction.
Crossing experiments detect partial reproductive isolation among populations ofTriatoma longipennis(Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)
Authors: Martínez-Ibarra José Alejandro , Nogueda-Torres Benjamín , Meraz-Medina Tzintli , Goicochea del Rosal Gumercindo
Published: July 2023

Chagas disease is an important vector-borne disease endemic in Mexico. Of the 33 triatomine species found in Mexico, Triatoma longipennis (Usinger) is considered among the most important because of its infection indices, capacity for transmitting Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas), and its distribution areas. Here, we describe the results of a reproductive isolation analysis among 5 populations of T. longipennis collected from representative areas of Mexico. Fertility and segregation of morphological characteristics were examined in two generations of hybrids. The percentage of pairs with (fertile) offspring varied from 30% to 100% in the parental crosses, while these values varied from 0 to 100% in the intersite crosses. Our results indicate partial reproductive isolation among these populations. These findings shed light on the potential presence of a cryptic species complex of T. longipennis in Mexico.
Prediction sets adaptive to unknown covariate shift
Authors: Qiu Hongxiang , Dobriban Edgar , Tchetgen Tchetgen Eric
Published: July 2023

Predicting sets of outcomes—instead of unique outcomes—is a promising solution to uncertainty quantification in statistical learning. Despite a rich literature on constructing prediction sets with statistical guarantees, adapting to unknown covariate shift—a prevalent issue in practice—poses a serious unsolved challenge. In this article, we show that prediction sets with finite-sample coverage guarantee are uninformative and propose a novel flexible distribution-free method, PredSet-1Step, to efficiently construct prediction sets with an asymptotic coverage guarantee under unknown covariate shift. We formally show that our method is asymptotically probably approximately correct, having well-calibrated coverage error with high confidence for large samples. We illustrate that it achieves nominal coverage in a number of experiments and a data set concerning HIV risk prediction in a South African cohort study. Our theory hinges on a new bound for the convergence rate of the coverage of Wald confidence intervals based on general asymptotically linear estimators.
Cohabitant protection on relationship breakdown in Ireland: A lesson in illusory justice?
Authors: O’Sullivan Kathryn
Published: July 2023

The issue of how best to respond to the needs of cohabitants on relationship breakdown continues to generate significant discussion. Law reform and parliamentary bodies in jurisdictions as disparate as England and Wales, Scotland, New Zealand, and Alberta, Canada have each recently reflected on their laws in this regard, advancing proposals for reform. Almost all of these international bodies considered the statutory cohabitation scheme adopted in Ireland. However, despite being in place for over a decade, there has been no thorough examination of emerging case law under its Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 nor any investigation into the effectiveness of the system in protecting vulnerable cohabitants on relationship breakdown. Relying on the latest jurisprudence and available data, this article takes the first step in addressing this lacuna in the literature. Having identified serious limitations in the regime, particularly its stringent eligibility requirements, it presents the first meaningful research to tease out how the Irish scheme could be improved and presents a proposal for reform.
Applying Appreciative Education to Undergraduate Music Therapy Supervision
Authors: Ravaglioli Raquel C
Published: July 2023

Music therapy is by nature an interdisciplinary profession, focusing on the triangulation of the client, the therapist, and the music. This complex relationship creates the necessity for specialized supervision practices. As part of the training for this profession, it is required that students are supervised by board-certified music therapists during practicum placements. Music therapy supervision has incorporated theories grounded in the field of psychology to inform supervision practices. However, recent work in the field suggests Appreciative Education theory may be a more useful approach for supervision. Appreciative education is “a framework that provides an intentional and positive approach to bettering educational enterprises by focusing on the strengths and potential of individuals and organizations to accomplish co-created goals” (Bloom, J., Hutson, B., He, Y., & Konkle, E. 2013). Appreciative education. New Directions for Student Services, 143, 5–6). This paper discusses examples of the appreciative education approach and how to best integrate these practices within the context of undergraduate music therapy supervision. For this article, the primary approach discussed will be the 6D framework developed (Bloom, J. L., Hutson, B. L., & He, Y. (2008). The appreciative advising revolution. Stipes Publishing). The purpose of this practical application is for music therapy supervisors to integrate this framework into their supervisory practices.
Intramuscular and abdominal fat measured by computed tomography and mortality of hemodialysis patients
Authors: Kojima Sho , Usui Naoto , Shigetake Masato , Uehata Akimi , Inatsu Akihito , Ando Shuji , Matsuzawa Ryota , Suzuki Yusuke , Nakata Junichiro , Tsuchiya Takahiko , Hisadome Hideki , Mawatari Takayuki , Tsubaki Atsuhiro
Published: July 2023

Background

In hemodialysis patients, high body mass index is associated with low mortality while abdominal obesity relates to increased mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between muscle mass, intramuscular fat and abdominal fat measured by abdominal computed tomography (CT), and mortality in this patients population.

Methods

This two-center retrospective cohort study included hemodialysis patients who underwent abdominal CT between January 2013 and December 2018. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), muscle radiation attenuation (MRA) as an index of intramuscular fat, and visceral fat to subcutaneous fat ratio (VSR) were calculated using CT images at the third lumbar vertebral level. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the independent predictors of all-cause, cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortalities.

Results

The study included 344 patients (median age 71.0 years; female 33.7%), among whom 145 died during a median follow-up of 4.9 years—46 and 99 from cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular causes, respectively. Lower MRA [hazard ratio (HR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58–0.87, P = .001] and higher VSR (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.37, P = .04) were independently associated with higher all-cause mortality but not with lower SMI (HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.68–1.11, P = .26). Lower MRA (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.35–0.73, P < .001) and higher VSR (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09–1.54, P = .003) were also associated with cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality, respectively.

Conclusions

Intramuscular fat and abdominal fat as measured using abdominal CT in hemodialysis patients are stronger independent predictors of mortality than muscle mass.
Prevalence and diversity of malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) in the imperiled Saltmarsh Sparrow are greater at northern sites
Authors: Neuhaus Alyssa P , Lane Oksana P , Kovach Adrienne I , Conway Meaghan , Kneeland Michelle R , Martinsen Ellen S
Published: July 2023

Malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) are important agents of infectious disease in birds and multiple factors, including warming temperatures and environmental contamination, may act to increase their geographic and host ranges. Here, we examined the role of geographical variation and environmental mercury exposure in malaria parasite infection dynamics in an imperiled songbird species with high mercury exposition, the Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacutus). Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, we screened 280 Saltmarsh Sparrows from across their breeding range for malaria parasite infection. We detected malaria parasites in 17% of sampled birds and a total of 6 Plasmodium lineages. Prevalence of infection and diversity of parasite lineages varied across the breeding range of the Saltmarsh Sparrow and increased at more northern latitudes. Although mercury is a known immunosuppressant and has been documented to alter an individual’s susceptibility to pathogens, we did not find a significant difference in blood mercury levels between infected and not infected birds, perhaps due to sampling methods and/or small sample sizes. As a specialist of coastal wetlands, the Saltmarsh Sparrow is an excellent indicator species for ecological health, and the patterns of malaria parasite infection with host distribution and mercury suggest that birds at northern latitudes are at greater risk of disease and should be priorities for conservation, habitat, and pathogen monitoring.
Mobilizing the Shy and Closed-Minded into Politics: The Mediating Role of Political Trust for Conventional Participation in the Americas
Authors: Cawvey Matthew
Published: July 2023

Political participants tend to be extraverted and open to experience, but we know virtually nothing about the exceptions to the rule. Why do individuals low in extraversion and openness sometimes engage in public affairs? The answer to this question has implications for political equity in the expression and representation of public opinion, regardless of personality traits. To address my query, I turn to political trust as a mediator of the relationship between personality and political participation. I argue that extraverts often feel disappointed about the impersonal nature of public affairs and thus possess a lower level of political trust than introverts; meanwhile, people high in openness value progress and ideals, likely perceive a disconnect between their political preferences and political reality, and thus may be more likely to distrust government than the closed-minded. For the trust–participation link, I contend that trusting citizens will be inclined to perpetuate the status quo through conventional behaviors such as voting, attending government meetings, and contacting government officials. Using mediation analysis of AmericasBarometer survey data from North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean, I find that introverted and closed-minded individuals tend to be more politically engaged—through their higher levels of political trust.