bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of acid–base disorders in an ICU cohort using a computer script
Authors: Forsal Innas , Bodelsson Mikael , Wieslander Anders , Nilsson Anders , Pouchoulin Dominique , Broman Marcus
Published: April 2022

Background/aims

Acid–base status is important for understanding pathophysiology, making a diagnosis, planning effective treatment and monitoring progress of critically ill patients. Manual calculations are cumbersome, easily result in wrong conclusions. We wanted to develop an automated assessment of acid–base status.

Methods

A simplified adaptive MATLAB script processing all available theory to date was created, evaluated and used on blood gas analyses drawn immediately after admission to ICU. The script was compared to golden standard, calculating manually by two experienced ICU physicians.

Results

Results from the script correlated completely with detailed manual calculations of randomly chosen 100 blood gas results and it was able to deliver complex data on cohort level with advanced graphics. The initial blood gas analyses from 8875 admissions constituted the cohort, of which 4111 (46.3%) were normal. Respiratory acidosis was the primary disturbance in 2753 (31.0%) and metabolic acidosis in 464 (5.2%). Respiratory alkalosis was the primary disturbance in 1501 (17.0%) and metabolic alkalosis in 46 (0.5%). Of the disturbances 74.7% were mixed with two and 2.1% with three simultaneous disturbances. Acidoses were less compensated compared to alkaloses.

Conclusions

Acid–base theories are developed on ideal models and not on critical care patients, they require inputs that might not be available, and therefore, estimations are needed. In our cohort, it was difficult to develop a working script based on Stewart, whereas Boston/Copenhagen worked better. Acidoses were more common and more deviated compared to alkaloses.
Circulating serogroups of Leptospira in swine from a 7-year study in France (2011–2017)
Authors: Naudet Jeanne , Crespin Laurent , Cappelle Julien , Kodjo Angeli , Ayral Florence
Published: April 2022

Background

Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenicLeptospiraand is responsible for significant economic porcine livestock losses. Knowledge ofLeptospiraserogroups and their distributions is important for evaluation of the relevance of leptospirosis management measures, including use of the prophylactic vaccine that was recently made available in France. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationships between different circulatingLeptospiraserogroups. Pigs from across France presenting clinical signs suggestive of leptospirosis were tested with the microagglutination test (MAT) between 2011 and 2017. We used weighted averages to determine serogroup distributions according to MAT results and considering cross-reactions.

Results

A total of 19,395 pig sera, mostly from Brittany, were tested, and 22.7% were found to be positive for at least oneLeptospiraserogroup. Analysis of the 4,346 seropositive results for which the putative infective serogroup could be defined, revealed that two out of ten serogroups were much more frequent than the others: Australis (48.5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (38.2%). Other serogroups, including Autumnalis, Panama, Ballum, Tarassovi, Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Bataviae, and Pomona, were less common.

Conclusions

Although diagnostic laboratory data cannot be extrapolated to infer the distribution ofLeptospiraserogroups at the nationwide scale in France, the analysis of such data can provide an overview of the relationship between circulatingLeptospiraserogroups in space and time. During the last decade, protection against the serogroups Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae would have prevented most of the clinical porcine leptospirosis cases in the large number of farms that we studied. In the future, epidemiological information related to circulatingLeptospiraserogroups should be extracted from data with a standardized approach for use in nationwide or international surveillance and prophylactic strategy support.
Race and sameness: on the limits of beyond race and the art of staying with the trouble
Authors: M’charek Amade
Published: April 2022

In this commentary I argue that rather than going beyond race, we need to ‘stay with the trouble’ of race (Haraway 2016). Race, I want to suggest, is precisely ‘trouble’ because it is produced and sustained in everyday practices. To make this more tangible, I will zoom in on one specific case, a homicide case, that was eventually solved through forensic technologies and attend to the impact of the case on society. Analyzing responses in the media to the identification of suspect, I focus on the sense of community that emerged, and unravel how race came to play a role. To push the point that we need to attend to the intricacies of race, I will switch focus from an analysis of race in relation to difference, to race in relation to sameness. As I argue, while difference tends to be politicized, sameness has been viewed as curiously apolitical and thus functions as the baseline. Here I suggest to differentiate between sameness asothernessand sameness asus-ness. My analyses is aimed at inviting us to stay curious about what race is made to be in practice, how it manifests and what politics it does.
Multi-parametric PET/MRI for enhanced tumor characterization of patients with cervical cancer
Authors: Ahangari Sahar , Littrup Andersen Flemming , Liv Hansen Naja , Jakobi Nøttrup Trine , Berthelsen Anne Kiil , Folsted Kallehauge Jesper , Richter Vogelius Ivan , Kjaer Andreas , Espe Hansen Adam , Fischer Barbara Malene
Published: April 2022

Aim

The concept of personalized medicine has brought increased awareness to the importance of inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity for cancer treatment. The aim of this study was to explore simultaneous multi-parametric PET/MRI prior to chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer for characterization of tumors and tumor heterogeneity.

Methods

Ten patients with histologically proven primary cervical cancer were examined with multi-parametric 68Ga-NODAGA-E[c(RGDyK)]2-PET/MRI for radiation treatment planning after diagnostic 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Standardized uptake values (SUV) of RGD and FDG, diffusion weighted MRI and the derived apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and pharmacokinetic maps obtained from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with the Tofts model (iAUC60, Ktrans, ve, and kep) were included in the analysis. The spatial relation between functional imaging parameters in tumors was examined by a correlation analysis and joint histograms at the voxel level. The ability of multi-parametric imaging to identify tumor tissue classes was explored using an unsupervised 3D Gaussian mixture model-based cluster analysis.

Results

Functional MRI and PET of cervical cancers appeared heterogeneous both between patients and spatially within the tumors, and the relations between parameters varied strongly within the patient cohort. The strongest spatial correlation was observed between FDG uptake and ADC (median r =  − 0.7). There was moderate voxel-wise correlation between RGD and FDG uptake, and weak correlations between all other modalities. Distinct relations between the ADC and RGD uptake as well as the ADC and FDG uptake were apparent in joint histograms. A cluster analysis using the combination of ADC, FDG and RGD uptake suggested tissue classes which could potentially relate to tumor sub-volumes.

Conclusion

A multi-parametric PET/MRI examination of patients with cervical cancer integrated with treatment planning and including estimation of angiogenesis and glucose metabolism as well as MRI diffusion and perfusion parameters is feasible. A combined analysis of functional imaging parameters indicates a potential of multi-parametric PET/MRI to contribute to a better characterization of tumor heterogeneity than the modalities alone. However, the study is based on small patient numbers and further studies are needed prior to the future design of individually adapted treatment approaches based on multi-parametric functional imaging.
Current-induced control of the polarization state in a polar-metal–based heterostructure SnSe/WTe2
Authors: Orlova N. N. , Timonina A. V. , Kolesnikov N. N. , Deviatov E. V.
Published: April 2022

The concept of a polar metal suggests a new approach to current-induced polarization control for ferroelectrics. We fabricate SnSe/WTe2 heterostructure to experimentally investigate charge transport between two ferroelectric van der Waals materials with different polarization directions. WTe2 is a polar metal with out-of-plane ferroelectric polarization, while SnSe ferroelectric semiconductor is polarized in-plane, so one should expect complicated polarization structure at the SnSe/WTe2 interface. We study

curves, which demonstrate sharp symmetric drop to zero

differential conductance at some threshold bias voltages

, which are nearly symmetric with respect to the bias sign. While the gate electric field is too small to noticeably affect the carrier concentration, the positive and negative threshold positions are sensitive to the gate voltage. Also, SnSe/WTe2 heterostructure shows re-entrant transition to the low-conductive

state for abrupt change of the bias voltage even below the threshold values. This behavior cannot be observed for single SnSe or WTe2 flakes, so we interpret it as a result of the SnSe/WTe2 interface coupling. In this case, some threshold value of the electric field at the SnSe/WTe2 interface is enough to drive a 90° change of the initial SnSe in-plane polarization in the overlap region. The polarization mismatch leads to the significant interface resistance contribution, analogously to the scattering of the charge carriers on the domain walls. Thus, we demonstrate polarization state control by electron transport through the SnSe/WTe2 interface.
The interaction of Type Ia supernovae with their circumstellar medium
Authors: Χιωτέλλης Αλέξανδρος
Published: April 2022

Οι υπερκαινοφανείς εκρήξεις Τύπου Ια προκαλούνται από τη θερμοπυρηνική καύση λευκών νάνων, μέλη διπλών και αλληλεπιδρώντων αστρικών συστημάτων. Όπως, παρ’ όλη την έρευνα δεκαετιών, η φύση του συνοδού αστέρα, η εξελικτική διαδρομή του διπλού αστρικού συστήματος και ο μηχανισμός έκρηξης παραμένουν σε μεγάλο βαθμό άγνωστα. Μία υποσχόμενη μέθοδος ικανή να παράσχει σημαντικές πληροφορίες σχετικά με τη φύση των υπερκαινοφανών εκρήξεων Τύπου Ια είναι η αναζήτηση και μελέτη πιθανών ιχνών που προκύπτουν από την αλληλεπίδραση της υπερκαινοφανούς εκρήξεως με περιβάλλουσες περιαστρικές δομές. Η βασική ιδέα πίσω από αυτή τη μέθοδο, είναι ότι διαφορετικές αστρικές εξελικτικές διαδρομές σχηματίζουν γύρω τους διαφορετικές περιαστρικές δομές. Επακόλουθα, κατά την έκρηξη του λευκού νάνου, το εκτινασσόμενο υλικό θα αλληλεπιδράσει με το ήδη τροποποιημένο περιβάλλον μέσο και τα αποτελέσματα αυτής της αλληλεπίδρασης αντανακλώνται στις προκύπτουσες ιδιότητες της υπερκαινοφανούς εκρήξεως και αρκετά αργότερα στο σχηματιζόμενο υπόλειμμα υπερκαινοφανούς εκρήξεως. Συνεπώς, αντιστρέφοντας αυτή τη λογική ακολουθία, η ταυτοποίηση ιχνών περιαστρικής αλληλεπίδρασης στις παρατηρούμενες ιδιότητες των υπερκαινοφανών εκρήξεων και των υπολειμμάτων αυτών, μπορεί να παράσχει σημαντική πληροφορία σχετικά με τις ιδιότητες του περιβάλλοντος μέσου γύρω από το σημείο της έκρηξης και κατά συνέπεια σχετικά με τη φύση και την εξέλιξη του αστρικού προγεννήτορα. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει στην παραπάνω μέθοδο, όπου και μελετάται ένα πλήθος νέων υπολειμμάτων υπερκαινοφανών εκρήξεων, που προκύπτουν από εκρήξεις τύπου Ια, και εμφανίζουν ενδείξεις αλληλεπίδρασης με περιαστικές δομές. Μέσω λεπτομερών υδροδυναμικών προσομοιώσεων, επιχειρείται η αποκωδικοποίηση της πληροφορίας που περιέχεται στις σχετικές παρατηρήσεις και η εξαγωγή συμπερασμάτων σχετικά με τη φύση των προγγενητόρων τους. Η διατριβή αποτελείται από πέντε κεφάλαια:1: Εισαγωγή, 2: Το αποτύπωμα ενός συμβιωτικού διπλού συστήματος στις ιδιότητες του υπολείμματος της υπερκαινοφανούς εκρήξεως του Kepler. 3: Μοντελοποιώντας την αλληλεπίδραση υπολειμμάτων θερμοπυρηνικών εκρήξεων με περιαστρικές δομές: Η περίπτωση του υπολείμματος υπερκαινοφανούς εκρήξεως του Τycho. 4: Οι πολλές όψεις του RCW 86: μία υπερκαινοφανής έκρηξη που εξελίσσεται εντός της περιοχής αστρικού ανέμου του προγεννήτορα. 5: Πρώιμη ακτινοβολία ακτίνων Χ από τις υπερκαινοφανείς εκρήξεις Τύπου Ια που προκύπτουν από συμβιωτικά αστρικά συστήματα και επαναλαμβανόμενους καινοφανείς αστέρες. Τα κεφάλαια 2-5 έχουν δημοσιευτεί σε επιστημονικά περιοδικά με κριτές.
Ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα προπτυχιακών φοιτητών: η σχέση της με τη συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη και την ακαδημαϊκή κινητοποίηση
Authors: Βάσιου Αικατερίνη , Καλδή Σταυρούλα , Ξαφάκος Ευστάθιος
Published: April 2022

H ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα φαίνεται ότι επηρεάζεται και από μη γνωστικούς παράγοντες, όπως οι συναισθηματικές ικανότητες και τα κίνητρα μάθησης. Σκοπός της μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της σχέσης ανάμεσα στην ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα, στη συναισθηματική νοημοσύνη και στην ακαδημαϊκή κινητοποίηση. Οι συμμετέχοντες ήταν 108 προπτυχιακοί φοιτητές του τμήματος Δημοτικής Εκπαίδευσης του Πανεπιστημίου Δυτικής Μακεδονίας. Συμπλήρωσαν ερωτηματολόγιο με τις κλίμακες Procrastination Assessment Scale for Students, Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale και Academic Motivation Scale. Τα αποτελέσματα ανέδειξαν αρνητική σχέση ανάμεσα σε όλες τις ικανότητες συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης και στην ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα και επιπλέον αρνητική σχέση ανάμεσα στην αυτόνομη κινητοποίηση και στην ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα. Ειδικότερα, η κατανόηση των συναισθημάτων του εαυτού, η χρήση των συναισθημάτων για ενίσχυση της επίδοσης και η εσωτερική ρύθμιση προβλέπουν χαμηλότερα επίπεδα ακαδημαϊκής αναβλητικότητας. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας υποστηρίζουν τις ευεργετικές επιδράσεις της συναισθηματικής νοημοσύνης και της αυτόνομης κινητοποίησης στην ακαδημαϊκή αναβλητικότητα και θα μπορούσαν να συμβάλουν στον τρόπο με τον οποίο τα πανεπιστημιακά τμήματα οργανώνουν το πρόγραμμα σπουδών τους αλλά και στην ανάδειξη του αντικειμένου σπουδών από τους ίδιους τους πανεπιστημιακούς δασκάλους, ώστε να ενισχυθούν οι ακαδημαϊκές επιδόσεις των φοιτητών.
La reforma laboral de 2021: un análisis de la norma reformadora.
Authors: Rodríguez-Piñero Royo Miguel
Published: April 2022

España está viviendo un proceso de reformas sin precedentes, por su alcance y amplitud, pero también por la forma en que se está produciendo, por medio de una sucesión de intervenciones legislativas en materias concretas, precedidas en la mayor parte de los casos por procesos de diálogo social. En este marco se produce la firma por los interlocutores sociales del acuerdo de 23 de diciembre de 2021, que se implementó mediante el Real Decreto Ley 32/2021 de medidas urgentes para la reforma laboral, la garantía de la estabilidad en el empleo y la transformación del mercado de trabajo. El objetivo de este trabajo es doble: por un lado, se procede a analizar el RDL 32/2021 desde una perspectiva formal, centrándose en su redacción, técnica legislativa, estructura e imbricación con el resto del ordenamiento jurídico. Por el otro, se enmarcará esta norma dentro del proceso de reformas en que se encuadra. El RDL 32/2021 supone un desarrollo adecuado del Componente 23 del Pan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia. Afecta a las instituciones centrales del Derecho de Trabajo español, modificando un número importante de disposiciones legales y generando la necesidad de un importante desarrollo reglamentario. Su técnica legislativa es más correcta que la de normas anteriores, y se detecta un esfuerzo para conseguir un lenguaje neutral desde un punto de vista de género. En una valoración global merece un juicio positivo desde la perspectiva desde la que en este trabajo se le ha analizado.
La reforma de la contratación temporal coyuntural en el rdl 32/2021.
Authors: Calvo Gallego Fco. Javier
Published: April 2022

: En el presente trabajo se analiza la reforma de la contratación temporal causal y de las reglas destinadas a evitar su utilización abusiva en el Real Decreto-ley 32/2021. Tras una contextualización histórica, se aborda la desaparición del contrato de obra o servicio, analizando los problemas transitorios y su posible renacer en el ámbito público. Finalmente, se aportan algunos datos sobre el posible impacto de esta medida. Desde esta perspectiva se estudian las posibles vías o puertos que podrían utilizarse ante esta derogación. destacando la nueva regulación del contrato por circunstancias de la producción –en especial en los supuestos de necesidades ocasionales pero previsibles, singularmente importantes para el sector agrícola; el nuevo contrato indefinido adscrito a obra en el sector de la construcción; o el contrato fijo discontinuo para las empresas de servicios o cuya actividad consista básicamente en la subcontratación empresarial. Con estas premisas se analizan las reformas de estas modalidades, así como las nuevas reglas en materia de sucesión de contratos o de rotación de trabajadores en el mismo puesto de trabajo, así como la sobrecotización para contratos temporales inferiores a treinta días. Ya por último se analizan los nuevos derechos de la representación legal de los trabajadores y de la negociación colectiva.
La reforma de la subcontratación: una reforma de mínimos.
Authors: Pérez Guerrero María Luisa
Published: April 2022

Una de las instituciones afectadas por la Reforma laboral ha sido la de las contratas y subcontratas. El Real Decreto-Ley 32/2021, ha modificado el artículo 42 del Estatuto de los trabajadores para introducir cambios en la materia referida al convenio colectivo aplicable a los trabajadores de las empresas contratistas y subcontratistas. En el presente estudio analizaremos los aspectos reformados, su alcance y consecuencias; pero también los aspectos que precisan una reforma y sobre los que probablemente veamos cambios en un futuro. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es, por tanto, analizar los antecedentes de la reforma; las expectativas de los agentes sociales y las propuestas del Gobierno español; la evolución jurisprudencial que ha ido determinando el cambio a seguir; y las propuestas de futuro planteadas por la doctrina.
Negociación colectiva, impasse negocial y convenio colectivo tras el RDL 32/2021.
Authors: Morales Ortega José Manuel
Published: April 2022

Las modificaciones operadas por el Real Decreto Ley 32/2021 en materia de negociación colectiva y de convenio colectivo han sido, en términos cuantitativos, escasas. Sin embargo, en términos cualitativos, han sido profundas, ya que han estado orientadas, principalmente, a reestablecer el equilibrio de fuerzas entre las partes negociadoras, perdido con la Reforma de 2012; y que, entre otros efectos, ha tenido la vertiginosa pauperización de la clase trabajadora. Aunque se configura como el objetivo principal de la Reforma de 2021, no ha sido el único; por ello, en este trabajo, se ha abordado, junto al análisis de las dos medidas estrellas en materia de negociación colectiva, todo el conjunto de materias que, con mayor o menor rigor técnico, se han visto afectadas o alteradas; alguna de las cuales, merecen una especial y particular atención como es el procedimiento previsto ante situaciones de impasse negocial. En definitiva, un recorrido por esta norma, a fin de diseccionar sus aciertos y desaciertos en aras a la consecución de un sistema de negociación colectiva respetuoso con los intereses y necesidades de todas las partes implicadas, así como, pese a su dificultad, garante de la equidad e igualdad de las mismas.
Operational Strategies for Distributing Durable Goods in the Base of the Pyramid
Authors: Calmon Andre P. , Jue-Rajasingh Diana , Romero Gonzalo , Stenson Jackie
Published: April 2022

Problem definition: Novel life-improving products, such as solar lanterns and energy-efficient cookstoves address essential needs of consumers in the base of the pyramid (BOP). However, their profitable distribution is often difficult because BOP customers are risk-averse, their ability to pay (ATP) is lower than their willingness to pay, and they face uncertainty regarding these products’ value. Academic/practical relevance: We examine two practical strategies from distributors in the BOP: (1) improving the product’s affordability through a discount and (2) increasing awareness of the product’s value. Our results identify BOP-specific operational trade-offs in implementing these strategies. We also propose strategies to manage these trade-offs that can increase consumer surplus in the BOP. Methodology: We introduce a supply chain model for the BOP and analyze the distributor’s pricing problem with refunds as well as the distributor’s optimal budget allocation between strategies (1) and (2). Results: We find that, in the BOP, the distributor’s profit-maximizing budget allocation often yields the lowest consumer surplus. This misalignment between profits and consumer surplus disappears if customers’ ATP is high. Moreover, the misalignment can be resolved if the distributor offers free product returns and commits to a maximum retail price. We confirm the robustness of our results through numerical simulations. Managerial implications: Best operations strategy practices in the BOP can differ significantly from developed markets. Furthermore, BOP customers’ limited ATP and high risk aversion generate a BOP-specific misalignment between profits and consumer surplus. Operational commitments, such as free returns, reduce this misalignment and can serve as a signal to investors of a social enterprise’s focus on consumer surplus.
A Case of Spontaneous Renal Haemorrhage (Wunderlich Syndrome) in an Anticoagulated Patient
Authors: Giovini Manuela , Poggiali Erika , Zocchi Piervito , Bianchi Esterina , Antonucci Elio , Barbera Mario
Published: April 2022

Spontaneous renal haemorrhage is a rare but severe condition known as Wunderlich syndrome (WS). The classic presentation includes sudden-onset flank pain, a palpable flank mass and hypovolaemic shock (Lenk’s triad). WS can be due to neoplasms, vascular diseases, cystic rupture, coagulopathies and infections. A contrast-enhanced CT scan of the abdomen is mandatory for diagnosis. Surgery is reserved for haemodynamically unstable patients and those with neoplastic disease. We describe a case of WS in an anticoagulated patient with chronic atrial fibrillation, diabetes mellitus type 2 and hypertension, who developed acute renal failure and severe anaemia, that completely resolved with conservative treatment and discontinuation of anticoagulation therapy.
The possibilities of artificial intelligence in automatic musical transcription of the Tatar folk song
Authors: Borodovskaya Liliya , Yavgildina Ziliya , Dyganova Elena , Maykovskaya Larisa , Medvedeva Irina
Published: April 2022

This article is relevant due to the loss of the carriers of folk music that needs to be recorded in digital audio formats and requires music transcription for the subsequent creation of collections for the purposes of scientific research by ethnomusicologists. The study aims at determining the need to use software for the automatic music transcription of audio recordings of folk music. The main research method is the comparative analysis of the music transcription of the Tatar Kryashen songs performed by people and three AI-powered programs (Celemony Melodyne, AudioScore Ultimate and Cubase). Then we compared the scores we prepared and the visual data of three programs: wave, spectral, “piano roll” and traditional music scores. According to five evaluation parameters (the accuracy of displaying a melody, rhythm, key, time signature and subjective assessment), the Cubase program was recognized as the most user-friendly. It is still controversial whether to use artificial intelligence for the music transcription of folk songs since music researchers decide for themselves. The undoubted benefit of the automatic music transcription of folk music is the rapid analysis of audio recordings, the ability to create more music notations in a shorter time, assist in the analysis of fragments that are difficult to hear by ear and restore damaged audio recordings.
Muallim İsmail Hakkı Bey hakkında düzeltme
Authors: Güçtekin Nuri
Published: April 2022

Rast Müzikoloji Dergisi Cilt II, Sayı 2 (2014), s.1-18’deki “İsmail Hakkı Bey ve Osmanlı Devleti’nde İlk Özel Mûsikî Okulu Mûsikî Osmanî Mektebi (1910-1920)” ve Rast Müzikoloji Dergisi Cilt III, Sayı 1 (2015), s.42-58 “İlk Türk Mûsikî Cemiyeti Dârülmûsikî-i Osmanî Cemiyeti (Mektebi) ve Faaliyetleri (1908-1914)” isimli makalelerinde İsmail Hakkı Bey ile ilgili düzeltmedir.
Virtual Evaluation of Insecticidal Potential of Fused Vip3Aa and Garlic Lectin against Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)
Authors:   Institute of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 4030, Castrosanto Melvin A. ,   Institute of Plant Breeding, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 4030, Alviar Karen B. ,   Institute of Weed Science, Entomology and Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines 4030, Jitonnom Jitrayut ,   Unit of Excellence in Computational Molecular Science and Catalysis, University of Phayao, Thailand, 56000,   Division of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Phayao, Thailand, 56000
Published: April 2022

The use of transgenic crops to combat insect infestation has been proven to be an effective and environment-friendly approach. However, insecticidal proteins with a single mode of action are prone to the development of insect resistance. Researchers are now interested in combining insecticidal proteins to acquire multiple modes of action to address that problem. Here, we have performed a virtual evaluation of a fusion protein that was in silico constructed by combining the vegetative insecticidal protein (Vip3Aa) of Bacillus thurengensis and the garlic leaf lectin of Allium sativum (ASAL) with a fl exible peptide linker (GGGGS)3. Two fusion modes were conducted, one with ASAL as the N-terminus (AV) and the other where Vip3Aa is the N-terminus (VA) of the fusion construct. Molecular dynamics simulation of the fusion constructs (AV and VA) revealed their differences in conformational changes and compactness, with VA being more stable and favorable. Protein-protein docking studies against the fall armyworm aminopeptidase-N of S. frugiperda resulted in the identifi cation of interacting residues at the interface. A novel fusion protein proposed in this study would be valuable for rational design of potent insecticidal proteins with multiple modes of action.
A Review of Naturally Occuring Food Allergens and Their Impact on Health
Authors: Chittoor Renu Indhikkattu , Saraswath Harikumaran Thampi Balakrishnan
Published: April 2022

Allergic reactions to foods influence a remarkable amount of population and are related with significant wellbeing results. It is one of the most significant issues that have expanding consideration. Current comprehension of the turn of events and utilization of allergenic capability of certain types of food proteins is restricted. In spite of the fact that there is a selection of in vivo models for assessing hypersensitivity, none of the current models has been approved, is prescient, or generally acknowledged with respect to their allergen explicit inhibitors. Hence, there is a proceeded with enthusiasm on the knowledge recovery based on food allergy so as to give more enlightening way to the current research field. In this paper, the current status of purification, characterization, and types of food allergens and their impacts is thoroughly reviewed. The present available methods for the allergen assessment (in view of animal, cell and clinical methodologies) are emphasized.
In Silico Analysis of Off-Target Effects of Ivermectin Drug
Authors: Walia Simran , Sharma Poonam
Published: April 2022

Researchers all across the world are repurposing medications to fight the coronavirus, but they come with a plethora of negative side effects. Ivermectin, a common repurposed medicine, binds to the importin protein in Covid-19 patients and suppresses viral replication. Ivermectin also binds to pentameric ligand-gated ion channels, increasing cell membrane ion permeability and triggering cell hyperpolarization. In this study, in silico analysis of non-target proteins of ivermectin and protein interactions was performed to better understand its off-target effects on other biological processes. Detailed information on the drug, its target and non-target proteins, their properties, protein-protein interactions, and pathways involved was analysed using databases such as DrugBank, NCBI Gene Database, BLAST, UCSC Gene Sorter, GeneMANIA, STRING, Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway Database, and Reactome. Due to structural similarities and protein interactions with pentameric ligand-gated ion channels like α1β2γ2L GABA (A) receptors, GLRA-3 receptor, α7 nAChR, P2X4 cation channel, and IMPα/β1, ivermectin was found to bind to non-target protein families, GLR, GABA, nAChR, 5-HT receptors and, P2XR and ZACN, IPO5, RANBP6, TNPO1 and, TNPO2 proteins. These non-target proteins include neurotransmitter-gated ion channels, nuclear receptors, and transporter proteins, and they can interfere with signal transmission and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, as well as alter the function of proteins that interact with these target proteins indirectly. Off-target effects of ivermectin can be hypotension, visual hallucinations, loss of coordination and balance, depression, and neurological disorders. These findings highlight the need for a comprehensive evaluation of all repurposing drugs for their off-target effects before public use.
Adsorption of Azo Dyes Using Biochar Prepared from Regional Crop Waste Material
Authors: K. Jadhav Shridhar , R. Thorat Sanjaykumar
Published: April 2022

Adsorption of dyes and a colorant using biochar is an emerging technology with environment-friendly and cost-effective applications. In this study, we investigated the adsorption isotherms of Brilliant Blue (BB) and Congo Red (RR) using Biochars prepared from regional plant waste of the Musa acuminata stem at 4500C (BSB 450). A batch experiment study for BB and CR with its initial concentration (1-240 mg/l) contact time (30—240 min) pH (3-10) and dose range (25-450 mg/l) at temperature 303K was carried out. The experimental data follows the Freundlich isotherm for BB and Langmuir isotherm for CR. As per our results adsorption isotherm equilibrium data shows the highest adsorption of BB onto BSB 450 is 175.57 mg/g and CR is 135.15 mg/g in Dubinin–Radushkevich model. The study also shows that BSB 450 is a cost-effective and environment-friendly adsorbent that was used for the treatment of dyes containing effluents like a tannery, textile, and dye waste producing industries.
Estimating the Parameters of Covid-19 Cases in South Africa
Authors: Madan Surbhi , Garg Poonam , Arora Ritu , Kumar Singh Dhiraj
Published: April 2022

In this paper we employ SIR model to study the Covid-19 data of South Africa for a chosen period. This model is solved using three numerical methods, namely, Differential Transform Method (DTM), Multistage Differential Transform Method (MsDTM), Repeated Multistage Differential Transform Method (RMsDTM) to obtain approximations of the number of susceptible, active infected and recovered in South Africa for 60 days starting from June 1, 2021. The proximity of the solution of the RMsDTM to the actual data in comparison to solutions using the other two methods was observed. MsDTM is an improvement over DTM as it uses updated values of the variables as new initial conditions at each iteration of the method. RMsDTM, in which the values of parameters are also changed at suitable intervals of time, besides using updated values of variables is a further improvement over both these methods.
Comparison of early outcomes of arthroscopic labral repair or debridement
Authors: Holleyman Richard James , Lyman Stephen , Bankes Marcus J. K. , Board Tim Nicholas , Conroy Jonathan Lee , McBryde Callum Wilson , Andrade Antonio Jose , Malviya Ajay , Khanduja Vikas
Published: April 2022

Aims

This study uses prospective registry data to compare early patient outcomes following arthroscopic repair or debridement of the acetabular labrum.

Methods

Data on adult patients who underwent arthroscopic labral debridement or repair between 1 January 2012 and 31 July 2019 were extracted from the UK Non-Arthroplasty Hip Registry. Patients who underwent microfracture, osteophyte excision, or a concurrent extra-articular procedure were excluded. The EuroQol five-dimension (EQ-5D) and International Hip Outcome Tool 12 (iHOT-12) questionnaires were collected preoperatively and at six and 12 months post-operatively. Due to concerns over differential questionnaire non-response between the two groups, a combination of random sampling, propensity score matching, and pooled multivariable linear regression models were employed to compare iHOT-12 improvement.

Results

A total of 2,025 labral debridements (55%) and 1,659 labral repairs (45%) were identified. Both groups saw significant (p < 0.001) EQ-5D and iHOT-12 gain compared to preoperative scores at 12 months (iHOT-12 improvement: labral repair = +28.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 26.4 to 30.9), labral debridement = +24.7 (95% CI 22.5 to 27.0)), however there was no significant difference between procedures after multivariable modelling. Overall, 66% of cases achieved the minimum clinically important difference (MCID) and 48% achieved substantial clinical benefit at 12 months.

Conclusion

Both labral procedures were successful in significantly improving early functional outcome following hip arthroscopy, regardless of age or sex. Labral repair was associated with superior outcomes in univariable analysis, however there was no significant superiority demonstrated in the multivariable model. Level of evidence: III Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(4):291–301.
Changes in Viability of Bifidobacterium lactis and Quality Properties on Pudding With Grain-Added Yogurt During Cold Storage
Authors: Lim Seung-Yong
Published: April 2022

This research aims to investigate pudding with grain-added yogurt for its quality characteristics and viability during cold storage. The yogurt was fermented until its pH was 5.10±0.05 after inoculating the probiotic strain (Bifidobacterium lactis, BB-12) into the milk base containing grains. The yogurt was added to prepare probiotic puddings. During cold storage of the puddings at 4±1°C for 4 week, the quality characteristics (pH, acidity, texture) and the viability of BB-12 in pudding were determined and compared to control (only milk base). As a result, MR had a significantly lower pH and higher acidity than those of other samples. In texture properties, including hardness, gumminess, and chewiness, MSIR showed the significantly highest value, and the pudding with inulin was significantly higher than rice flour in all textures. For the viability of BB-12, pudding with milk was significantly lower than pudding containing milk and soymilk, suggesting that soymilk helps maintain viability. MR showed significantly higher viability than MI in the milk-based pudding, indicating that rice flour is more effective than inulin. Therefore, the addition of soymilk, inulin, and rice can maintain quality characteristics and viability of BB-12 in the pudding.
A historical narrative on pandemic Patterns of behavior and belief
Authors: Khan Gazala , Parwez Sazzad
Published: April 2022

Given the fractured reality of pandemic, the people’s history needs to be written and understood. This paper provides a historical narrative on pandemics based on a literature review and makes inferences from the past and present. This narrative also reflects the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the world and India. The narratives provide a novel perspective to understand public health practices in a global context. It suggests the need for a more synchronized health response in pandemics while highlighting the uncertainties and challenges of using historical diseases as comparisons for the COVID-19 pandemic. The emphasis is on learning from historical evidence and ascertaining how these retrospective diagnoses help make arguments about health and illness in our present moment.
The sheep’s revolution: Paradox of democratic consolidation and environmental regulations in post-transition Nigeria
Authors: Aduloju Ayodeji Anthony , Adedoyin Temitayo Adedeji
Published: April 2022

Over the last 20 years of uninterrupted democratic dispensation in Nigeria, the military regime has left the post-transition era with certain characteristics such as a low level of participation away from the center. While many have blamed the central authorities for the constantly increasing environmental threats, this study argues that the dwindling impact of civil society organizations (CSOs) on environmental regulation policies remains the missing link between policy formulation and implementation in Nigeria. This paper investigated the involvement of environmental CSOs within our democratic space, reflecting on the level of compliance with environmental regulation laws and the implications of this for environmental sustainability. This paper adopts both primary and secondary sources of information, and data were analyzed using a descriptive survey. The study reveals that the Nigerian government sees the CSOs as partners in ensuring environmental sustainability rather than deploying the CSOs as delivery agents to enforce environmental regulations and sustainability within the extractive and non-extractive contexts. This study concludes that, to tackle environmental degradation in Nigeria, much attention should be placed on environmental securitization advocacies through independent and effective environmental CSOs.
Foreign space activities in Argentina: Geopolitical imaginaries on the role of China and Europe in the national press (2007–2016)
Authors: Blinder Daniel
Published: April 2022

This article endeavors to understand the construction of a geopolitical imaginary over the People’s Republic of China deep space station on Bajada del Agrio, Province of Neuquén, from the perspective of geopolitics. This paper introduces a comparative perspective: the Chinese space facilities are not a unique case within the borders of this sovereign state: there is a similar space installation called Deep Space Antenna under European Union flag in Malargüe, Province of Mendoza. In order to track the construction of such geopolitical imagination, this article analyzes the discourses offered in newspapers of national circulation in the South American country: Clarín, La Nación, and Página/12 from 2007 to 2016. This work also describes and analyzes domestic and foreign political discourses, and the sources of information the media selects to explain the issues the facilities raise. Argentina is a state of the Global South with an autonomous track of space development. Acquiring technology from a rising power could be disruptive, generating tensions with the core states, which were former exclusive partners and clients.
The Binary Path of Risks in Pension Systems and Political Pressure
Authors: Wolf Ishay
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we offer an explanation for cyclical reforms to pension systems, based on the experience of countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) over the last three decades. We conclude that in making the transition to funded pension design, governments not only transfer longevity and fiscal risks to the individual but also absorb risks transferred from the public, with each market actor transferring undiversifiable risks to the other. This pathway of hidden risks, which has not previously been discussed in the literature, stems from a public expectation that citizens will enjoy risk premiums and adequate old-age benefits, an expectation that evolves into political pressure. The outcomes of this risk path are realized in financial transfers, such as means-tested social security and minimum pension guarantees. Consequently, funded pension designs converge naturally into a new landscape paradigm of risk-sharing, with intergenerational and intragenerational components. Financial crises such as the one accompanying the recent COVID-19 pandemic foster the convergence process.
From Belgrade to Beijing
Authors: Boer Roland
Published: April 2022

This study offers a comparative analysis of economic reforms in Eastern Europe and China. Some CMEA countries—especially Yugoslavia and Hungary—undertook reforms in the 1960s, while China launched its reform and opening-up in 1978. In light of the lessons learned—concerning planning, markets, ownership of means of production and liberation of productive forces, and the interaction of relations and forces of production during socialist construction—it is possible to provide a systematic comparison. After providing background to the reforms, the comparison has four steps: (1) de-linking a market economy from a capitalist system, and the concomitant de-linking of a planned economy from a socialist system; (2) whether a market economy is a neutral instrument usable in any system, or whether it is a component shaped by the system of which it is a part; (3) planning and markets within a socialist system; (4) the relationship between ownership of the means of production (and control over the forces of production) and liberation of productive forces in the process of socialist construction. The fourth topic leads to the more foundational question of the dialectical interactions between relations and forces of production, since on this matter the economic definition of socialism turns.
Elements For a Coherent Theory of Rent
Authors: Flamant Christian
Published: April 2022

The question of rent in economic theory is rather complicated, even at the level of its definition. This article attempts to get back to basics in order to clear things up and present a complete and correct theory of rent. Starting with the classical definition of rent, as an income earned by the owner of non-produced inputs, it clarifies first the definitions of the different kinds of rent: differential rent, absolute rent. It then uses a step-by-step approach to show the effect of these various kinds of rents on a price system. The article also addresses the issue of type II differential rent, corresponding to the use of different techniques with a homogeneous input. This helps to explain the effect of rent on the distribution of the product. The question of urban land rent is also clarified: it is shown that it obeys mechanisms that are clearly different from those governing agricultural land rent.
A Shift From the Problematic of “Transformation”
Authors: Cockshott Paul , Zachariah David
Published: April 2022

We examine the paradigm shift from that of the transformation model to that of stochastic profit models. Some of the anomalies undermining the transformation model are given graphically. In the last two sections we present volume II of Capital as an alternative starting point for thinking about the relation between value and price.
Enterprise Reforms and Innovation as Key Drivers of The Socialism With Chinese Characteristics
Authors: Gabriele Alberto
Published: April 2022

This article synthetically presents the key arguments and finding of a recent book of mine (Enterprises, Industry and Innovation in the People’s Republic of China: Questioning Socialism from Deng to the Trade and Tech War, Springer, 2020) on the gradual evolution of enterprise forms since the inception of rural and industrial reforms and the development of a modern innovation system in China. The book focuses mainly on the multi-causal processes of change occurring in the underlying socioeconomic relations of production and exchange, which cannot be adequately interpreted as a pure manifestation of the simple State–Market opposition. In fact, the complex and evolutionary interactions between state-led industrial and other development-oriented policies, on the one hand, and (relatively) automatic market mechanisms working in a quasi-by-default manner, on the other hand, constitute the essence of China’s distinctive economic model. From an epistemological perspective, the conceptual foundations of my work are those of the Classics and of the Marxian tradition, with the twin categories of the mode of production and socioeconomic formation as basic starting points. I try to partly re-interpreted these foundations taking into account the lessons of historical experience, as tools that can help—along with other ones—to understand twenty-first-century complex socioeconomic systems.
Photoacoustic microscopy of vascular adaptation and tissue oxygen metabolism during cutaneous wound healing
Authors: Sun Naidi , Bruce Anthony C. , Ning Bo , Cao Rui , Wang Yiming , Zhong Fenghe , Peirce Shayn M. , Hu Song
Published: April 2022

Cutaneous wounds affect millions of people every year. Vascularization and blood oxygen delivery are critical bottlenecks in wound healing, and understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of these processes may lead to more effective therapeutic strategies to accelerate wound healing. In this work, we applied multi-parametric photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) to study vascular adaptation and the associated changes in blood oxygen delivery and tissue oxygen metabolism throughout the hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferation, and early remodeling phases of wound healing in mice with skin puncture wounds. Multifaceted changes in the vascular structure, function, and tissue oxygen metabolism were observed during the 14-day monitoring of wound healing. On the entire wound area, significant elevations of the arterial blood flow and tissue oxygen metabolism were observed right after wounding and remained well above the baseline over the 14-day period. On the healing front, biphasic changes in the vascular density and blood flow were observed, both of which peaked on day 1, remained elevated in the first week, and returned to the baselines by day 14. Along with the wound closure and thickening, tissue oxygen metabolism in the healing front remained elevated even after structural and functional changes in the vasculature were stabilized. On the newly formed tissue, significantly higher blood oxygenation, flow, and tissue metabolism were observed compared to those before wounding. Blood oxygenation and flow in the new tissue appeared to be independent of when it was formed, but instead showed noticeable dependence on the phase of wound healing. This PAM study provides new insights into the structural, functional, and metabolic changes associated with vascular adaptation during wound healing and suggests that the timing and target of vascular treatments for wound healing may affect the outcomes.
Capacity analysis of underwater visible light communication systems over a lossy channel in the presence of noises
Authors: Matta Gunjan , Pandey Priya , Agrawal Monika , Bahl Rajendar
Published: April 2022

Absorption and scattering losses due to impurities and turbidity in the water affect the transmission quality of underwater visible light communication links, restricting the channel capacity. For the first time to our knowledge, this paper analytically studies the channel capacity of a point-to-point underwater visible light communication link in the presence of input-independent and -dependent noises along with absorption and scattering losses. This way, novel lower and upper bound expressions on channel capacity are derived when average and peak-intensity constraints are imposed on the channel input. Our proposed upper and lower bounds are tight at high optical signal-to-noise ratio. The derived analytic expression of capacity also helps to evaluate the available data rate in the presence of different types of noise and water. From the results, we can say that input-dependent noise causes more system capacity degradation than input-independent noise. The results show that good water quality is crucial for high-capacity communication links. Furthermore, it is shown that the attenuation of the optical signal is more in water when compared to air as a medium, and channel capacity decreases as the link range increases. The results reported in this paper provide valuable insight into the design of underwater visible light communication systems.