bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Treatment Together: a protocol for a multi-phase, community-based participatory, and co-design project to improve youth opioid treatment service experiences in British Columbia
Authors: Marchand Kirsten , Tallon Corinne , Katan Christina , Fairbank Jill , Fogarty Oonagh , Pellatt Katrina Marie , Turuba Roxanne , Mathias Steve , Barbic Skye
Published: August 2021

Background

Opioid use is one of the most critical public health issues as highly potent opioids contribute to rising rates of accidental opioid-related toxicity deaths. This crisis has affected people from all age groups, including youth (ages 15–24) who are in a critical developmental period where the stakes of opioid use are especially high. Efforts to reduce the significant harms of opioid use have focused on the expansion of evidence-based treatments, including medications for opioid use disorder (e.g. buprenorphine). While these treatments are unequivocally life saving, recent evidence suggests that they may not align with youths’ needs. Accordingly, the ‘Improving Treatment Together’ (ITT) project has been designed with the aim to improve youths’ opioid treatment service experiences and outcomes by co-developing, implementing, and measuring youth-centred opioid use treatment service innovations. This manuscript describes the protocol for this multi-phase project.

Methods

The ITT project follows community-based participatory research (CBPR) and strategically integrates co-design processes throughout its four phases. Upon establishing a project partnership between national, provincial and community-based organizations, Phase 1 follows four core elements of human-centred co-design (empathy, needs identification, ideation, prototyping) in nine separate workshops. These workshops will be held in four diverse communities with youth, caregivers and service providers who have accessed or delivered opioid treatment services. Phase 1 will culminate in the co-production of opioid treatment service innovations to be considered by the project’s partners for further co-development, pilot testing, and wider implementation during the remaining phases of the project. Throughout each phase, the project will collect and analyse both qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation data to determine the project’s impact.

Discussion

This protocol provides a detailed description of the ITT project, with an emphasis on the project’s application of co-design and CBPR processes, the planned research and implementation procedures, and the establishment of a unique partnership. To our knowledge, this is one of the first projects to integrate these participatory processes to the design, implementation and measurement of youth-centred opioid treatment services. Embedding these processes throughout each phase of the project will strengthen the relevance and feasibility of the project’s service delivery innovations.
Synthesis, characterization, and antioxidant activity in vitro of selenium-Euryale ferox Salisb. polysaccharide
Authors: Dong Fang , Zheng Hu-Zhe , Jeong Woo-Sik , Chung Shin-Kyo , Qu Zhong-Yuan , Zou Xiang , Liu Chen , Xiang Qiong , Feng Feng
Published: August 2021

In order to obtain and explore selenide composed of selenium and polysaccharide, three parameters were selected to optimize the synthesis process of selenium-Euryale ferox Salisb. polysaccharide (Se-ESPS) by Box-Behnken design. Furthermore, ESPS-B1 separated from ESPS was selenitized to Se-ESPS-B1 by the optimal synthesis process, then the characterization, and antioxidant activity in vitro of Se-ESPS-B1 were explored. The result manifested that the Se content of Se-ESPS was (2.915  ±  0.03) mg/g according to the optimal synthesis process of Se-ESPS (reaction time at 5 h, reaction temperature at 81 ℃, weight ratio of Na2SeO3 to ESPS at 0.9 g/g). A series of detection results indicated that the characterizations of Se-ESPS-B1 were apparently distinguished from that of ESPS-B1. Moreover, the antioxidant experiments in vitro demonstrated that Se-ESPS-B1 could exert antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH, ABTS,·OH, and increasing reduction ability. In conclusion, the synthesis process is an effective approach to harvest selenium-polysaccharide, and Se-ESPS-B1 may be utilized as a potential antioxidant or selenium nutritional supplement.
Animal-borne acoustic data alone can provide high accuracy classification of activity budgets
Authors: Thiebault Andréa , Huetz Chloé , Pistorius Pierre , Aubin Thierry , Charrier Isabelle
Published: August 2021

Background

Studies on animal behaviour often involve the quantification of the occurrence and duration of various activities. When direct observations are challenging (e.g., at night, in a burrow, at sea), animal-borne devices can be used to remotely record the movement and behaviour of an animal (e.g., changing body posture and movement, geographical position) and/or its immediate surrounding environment (e.g., wet or dry, pressure, temperature, light). Changes in these recorded variables are related to different activities undertaken by the animal. Here we explored the use of animal-borne acoustic recorders to automatically infer activities in seabirds.

Results

We deployed acoustic recorders on Cape gannets and analysed sound data from 10 foraging trips. The different activities (flying, floating on water and diving) were associated with clearly distinguishable acoustic features. We developed a method to automatically identify the activities of equipped individuals, exclusively from animal-borne acoustic data. A random subset of four foraging trips was manually labelled and used to train a classification algorithm (k-nearest neighbour model). The algorithm correctly classified activities with a global accuracy of 98.46%. The model was then used to automatically assess the activity budgets on the remaining non-labelled data, as an illustrative example. In addition, we conducted a systematic review of studies that have previously used data from animal-borne devices to automatically classify animal behaviour (n = 61 classifications from 54 articles). The majority of studies (82%) used accelerometers (alone or in combination with other sensors, such as gyroscopes or magnetometers) for classifying activities, and to a lesser extent GPS, acoustic recorders or pressure sensors, all potentially providing a good accuracy of classification (> 90%).

Conclusion

This article demonstrates that acoustic data alone can be used to reconstruct activity budgets with very good accuracy. In addition to the animal’s activity, acoustic devices record the environment of equipped animals (biophony, geophony, anthropophony) that can be essential to contextualise the behaviour of animals. They hence provide a valuable alternative to the set of tools available to assess animals’ behaviours and activities in the wild.
The relation of orthorexia with lifestyle habits: Arabic versions of the Eating Habits Questionnaire and the Dusseldorf Orthorexia Scale
Authors: Hallit Souheil , Barrada Juan Ramón , Salameh Pascale , Sacre Hala , Roncero María , Obeid Sahar
Published: August 2021

Background

Some of the commonly used tools to assess orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) do not allow a meaningful interpretation of the scores or yield mixed results about the dimensions needed to represent orthorexia. Since no advancement in the theoretical knowledge can be made without a thorough examination of the measurement aspects, this study aimed to evaluate the correlation between orthorexia nervosa (OrNe) and lifestyle habits, notably alcohol drinking, cigarette and waterpipe smoking, and physical exercise, and to validate and assess the psychometric properties of the Arabic versions of the Eating Habits Questionnaire (EHQ) and Düsseldorf Orthorexia Scale (DOS).

Methods

A total of 456 adult participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Exploratory structural equation models were used to test the internal structure of the instruments. Shorter and more explicit versions were proposed for instruments. Pearson and partial correlations were computed between orthorexia scores and healthy behaviors scores.

Results

Regarding the internal structure of both EHQ and DOS, evidence favored the bi-dimensional construct of orthorexia. Both tools presented two theoretically clearly interpretable factors (OrNe and Healthy Orthorexia—HeOr—). The two questionnaires presented a high convergent validity, as dimensions with the same interpretation were correlated around 0.80. While OrNe was positively correlated with the use of unhealthy substances (higher alcohol use disorder, cigarette, and waterpipe dependence), HeOr was negatively associated with these behaviors.

Conclusion

Our results emphasize the idea that further attention should be paid to the multidimensional structure of orthorexia, as OrNe and HeOr present an opposite pattern of associations with healthy behaviors. An OrNe etiopathogenesis common to eating disorders can explain these differences.
A parallelization model for performance characterization of Spark Big Data jobs on Hadoop clusters
Authors: Ahmed N. , Barczak Andre L. C. , Rashid Mohammad A. , Susnjak Teo
Published: August 2021

This article proposes a new parallel performance model for different workloads of Spark Big Data applications running on Hadoop clusters. The proposed model can predict the runtime for generic workloads as a function of the number of executors, without necessarily knowing how the algorithms were implemented. For a certain problem size, it is shown that a model based on serial boundaries for a 2D arrangement of executors can fit the empirical data for various workloads. The empirical data was obtained from a real Hadoop cluster, using Spark and HiBench. The workloads used in this work were included WordCount, SVM, Kmeans, PageRank and Graph (Nweight). A particular runtime pattern emerged when adding more executors to run a job. For some workloads, the runtime was longer with more executors added. This phenomenon is predicted with the new model of parallelisation. The resulting equation from the model explains certain performance patterns that do not fit Amdahl’s law predictions, nor Gustafson’s equation. The results show that the proposed model achieved the best fit with all workloads and most of the data sizes, using the R-squared metric for the accuracy of the fitting of empirical data. The proposed model has advantages over machine learning models due to its simplicity, requiring a smaller number of experiments to fit the data. This is very useful to practitioners in the area of Big Data because they can predict runtime of specific applications by analysing the logs. In this work, the model is limited to changes in the number of executors for a fixed problem size.
Densification of agro-residues for sustainable energy generation: an overview
Authors: Ibitoye Segun E. , Jen Tien-Chien , Mahamood Rasheedat M. , Akinlabi Esther T.
Published: August 2021

The global demand for sustainable energy is increasing due to urbanization, industrialization, population, and developmental growth. Transforming the large quantities of biomass resources such as agro-residues/wastes could raise the energy supply and promote energy mix. Residues of biomass instituted in the rural and industrial centers are enormous, and poor management of these residues results in several indescribable environmental threats. The energy potential of these residues can provide job opportunities and income for nations. The generation and utilization of dissimilar biomass as feedstock for energy production via densification could advance the diversity of energy crops. An increase in renewable and clean energy demand will likely increase the request for biomass residues for renewable energy generation via densification. This will reduce the environmental challenges associated with burning and dumping of these residues in an open field. Densification is the process of compacting particles together through the application of pressure to form solid fuels. Marketable densification is usually carried out using conventional pressure-driven processes such as extrusion, screw press, piston type, hydraulic piston press, roller press, and pallet press (ring and flat die). Based on compaction, densification methods can be categorized into high-pressure, medium-pressure, and low-pressure compactions. The common densification processes are briquetting, pelletizing, bailing, and cubing. They manufacture solid fuel with desirable fuel characteristics—physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, and combustion characteristics. Fuel briquettes and pellets have numerous advantages and applications both in domestic and industrial settings. However, for biomass to be rationally and efficiently utilized as solid fuel, it must be characterized to determine its fuel properties. Herein, an overview of the densification of biomass residues as a source of sustainable energy is presented.
Performance evaluation of water-repellent combat uniforms using a static manikin and human subjects under a rainfall tower system
Authors: Kwon Juyoun , Kim Kijoon , Ju Jeongkyun , Lee Joo-Young
Published: August 2021

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the water-repellent properties of newly-developed combat uniforms using a rainfall tower system. Two types of water-repellent- combat uniforms with an identical level of water repellency through textile tests (WR_M and WR_T) were compared with an untreated-combat uniform (Control). A static manikin was used to evaluate water-repellent properties in a standing position and eight male subjects participated to test walking effects under artificial rainfall. The results showed that it took to saturate the upper body was longer for WR_T than WR_M and Control in the standing position for both normal and heavy rain conditions (P < 0.05). The lower body in WR_T was rarely wet in the standing position after 60 min, whereas the lower body was partially wet while walking within 30 min. Changes in clothing weight after the rainfall test were 729 ± 21, 256 ± 36 and 137 ± 25 g per trial for Control, WR_M, and WR_T, respectively (P < 0.001). Subjects expressed better tactile, less colder, less heavier, and less humid sensations and less uncomfortable feeling for WR_T than Control or WR_M (P < 0.05), while WR_M was better only for tactile sensation and heaviness than Control (P < 0.05). Ten-time-washes had not impaired the water-repellent properties of WR_M or WR_T. These results indicated that the rainfall tower test is valid to verify water-repellent property of clothing ensemble and suggest a possibility of classifying the water repellency of clothing ensemble into sub-levels of an excellent and a fair class. Further studies on wider range of experimental conditions to validate the current results are required.
Estimating potential range shift of some wild bees in response to climate change scenarios in northwestern regions of Iran
Authors: Rahimi Ehsan , Barghjelveh Shahindokht , Dong Pinliang
Published: August 2021

Background

Climate change is occurring rapidly around the world, and is predicted to have a large impact on biodiversity. Various studies have shown that climate change can alter the geographical distribution of wild bees. As climate change affects the species distribution and causes range shift, the degree of range shift and the quality of the habitats are becoming more important for securing the species diversity. In addition, those pollinator insects are contributing not only to shaping the natural ecosystem but also to increased crop production. The distributional and habitat quality changes of wild bees are of utmost importance in the climate change era. This study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on distributional and habitat quality changes of five wild bees in northwestern regions of Iran under two representative concentration pathway scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5). We used species distribution models to predict the potential range shift of these species in the year 2070.

Result

The effects of climate change on different species are different, and the increase in temperature mainly expands the distribution ranges of wild bees, except for one species that is estimated to have a reduced potential range. Therefore, the increase in temperature would force wild bees to shift to higher latitudes. There was also significant uncertainty in the use of different models and the number of environmental layers employed in the modeling of habitat suitability.

Conclusion

The increase in temperature caused the expansion of species distribution and wider areas would be available to the studied species in the future. However, not all of this possible range may include high-quality habitats, and wild bees may limit their niche to suitable habitats. On the other hand, the movement of species to higher latitudes will cause a mismatch between farms and suitable areas for wild bees, and as a result, farmers will face a shortage of pollination from wild bees. We suggest that farmers in these areas be aware of the effects of climate change on agricultural production and consider the use of managed bees in the future.
Metabolomics affirms traditional alcoholic beverage raksi as a remedy for high-altitude sickness
Authors: Majumder Soumya , Ghosh Arindam , Chakraborty Sourav , Saha Sumedha , Bhattacharya Malay
Published: August 2021

Raksi, a fermented distilled alcoholic beverage, is an ethnic drink consumed in high altitude regions of Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas and in adjoining high altitude places in Nepal, northern and north eastern part of India and Tibetan plateau. Likejaanr,tongba,nigar,chhyang, and other fermented ethnic beverages,raksiis considered as an element of ethnopharmacology of high altitude with claims of medicinal properties. An ethnobiological survey was done in the study area prior to collection and identification ofraksisamples. In this research, tworaksisamples (khokim raksiandchimphing raksi) of Singalila Ridge of the Himalayas were investigated by metabolite profiling using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Results of the experiment showed presence of several respiratory protective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant components which have properties to prevent various high altitude illnesses. Moreover, large quantities of bioactive terpenoids, fatty acid derivatives, coumarins, and peptides were detected whose chemotaxonomy and biosynthesis pathways were further studied. This metabolomics investigation not only affirmedRaksias a remedy for high-altitude sickness but also helped in understanding the importance of this type of ethnic foods in high altitude ethnoecology. This research onraksiin the fields of ethnobiology and metabolomics is a cumulative approach which has opened the door for in-depth investigations on similar ethnic foods. However, further experiments onraksiare surely needed in ethnobiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and food technology.
Fruit size control by a zinc finger protein regulating pericarp cell size in tomato
Authors: Zhao Fangfang , Zhang Jiajing , Weng Lin , Li Meng , Wang Quanhua , Xiao Han
Published: August 2021

Fruit size is largely defined by the number and size of cells in the fruit. Endoreduplication – a specialized cell cycle – is highly associated with cell expansion during tomato fruit growth. However, how endoreduplication coupled with cell size is regulated remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a zinc finger geneSlPZF1(SolanumlycopersicumPERICARP-ASSOCIATEDZINCFINGER PROTEIN1) that was highly expressed in the pericarp of developing fruits. Plants with alteredSlPZF1expression produced smaller fruits due to the reduction in cell size associated with weakened endoreduplication. OverexpressingSlPZF1delayed cell division phase by enhancing early expression of several key cell cycle regulators includingSlCYCD3;1and two plant specific mitotic cyclin-dependent protein kinase (SlCDKB1andSlCDKB2) in the pericarp tissue. Furthermore, we identified 14 putative SlPZF1 interacting proteins (PZFIs) via yeast two hybrid screening. Several PZFIs, including Pre-mRNA-splicing factor (SlSMP1/PZFI4), PAPA-1-like conserved region family protein (PZFI6), Fanconi anemia complex components (PZFI3 and PZFI10) and bHLH transcription factor LONESOME HIGHWAY (SlLHW/PZFI14), are putatively involved in cell cycle regulation. Our results demonstrate that fruit growth in tomato requires balanced expression of the novel cell size regulatorSlPZF1.
Determinants and Outcomes Associated With Urinary Calcium Excretion in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Liu Jing , Tio Maria Clarissa , Verma Ashish , Schmidt Insa M , Ilori Titilayo O , Knauf Felix , Mc Causland Finnian R , Waikar Sushrut S
Published: August 2021

Context

Abnormalities in calcium metabolism are common in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diminished urinary calcium excretion may promote vascular calcification and increased urinary calcium excretion may lead to nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis, conditions associated with CKD.

Objective

To study predictors of urinary calcium excretion and its association with adverse clinical outcomes in CKD.

Design, Setting and Patients

This study assessed 3768 nondialysis participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study from April 2003 to September 2008. Participants were followed up to October 2018.

Exposure

Clinically plausible predictors of urinary calcium excretion and 24-h urinary calcium excretion at baseline.

Main Outcome Measures

Urinary calcium excretion; incident end stage kidney disease (ESKD), CKD progression [50% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline or incident ESKD], all-cause mortality, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events.

Results

eGFR was positive correlated with 24-h urinary calcium excretion. The variables most strongly associated with 24-h urinary calcium excretion in males and females were 24-h urinary sodium (β = 0.19 and 0.28, respectively), serum parathyroid hormone (β = −0.22 and −0.20, respectively), loop diuretics (β = 0.36 and 0.26, respectively), thiazide diuretics (β = −0.49 and −0.53, respectively), and self-identified black race (β = −0.23 and −0.27, respectively). Lower urinary calcium excretion was associated with greater risks of adverse outcomes, but these associations were greatly attenuated or nullified after adjustment for baseline eGFR.

Conclusion

Urinary calcium excretion is markedly lower in individuals with CKD compared to the general population. Determinants of urinary calcium excretion differed between sexes and levels of CKD. Associations between urinary calcium excretion and adverse clinical events were substantially confounded by eGFR.
The Unfavorable Impact of DR9/DR9 Genotype on the Frequency and Quality of Partial Remission in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Chen Yan , Xia Ying , Xie Zhiguo , Zhong Ting , Tang Rong , Li Xia , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: August 2021

Context

Partial remission (PR) is a specific stage in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II loci are the strongest genetic determinants in T1D, the relationship between PR and HLA remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association between PR status and HLA genotypes in patients with T1D.

Methods

A total of 237 patients with T1D were included. PR was defined according to C-peptide ≥300 pmol/L. The frequency of PR and peak C-peptide levels during remission phase were compared according to HLA status. Clinical characteristics including age of onset and diabetes autoantibodies were collected. All analyses were duplicated when subjects were divided into childhood- and adult-onset T1D.

Results

The median follow-up time was 24 months, 65.8% (156/237) of patients with T1D went into PR. DR9/DR9 carriers had a lower PR rate (44.2% vs 70.6%, P = .001) and were less likely to enter PR (OR = 0.218, 95% CI 0.098-0.487, P < .001) than the non-DR9/DR9 carriers, observed in both childhood- and adult-onset T1D. Besides, the peak C-peptide level during PR phase was also lower in DR9/DR9 carriers, and more notable in adult-onset T1D. When compared with non-DR9/DR9 carriers, T1D with DR9/DR9 genotype presented an older age of onset and a lower positivity of zinc transporter 8 antibody (ZnT8A), and the lower trend of ZnT8A was only found in adult-onset T1D (P = .049).

Conclusion

Patients with T1D carrying susceptible DR9/DR9 are less prone to undergo PR. Additionally, the recovery extent of β-cell function during the PR phase tends to be lower in adults carrying DR9/DR9, which might be associated with ZnT8A.
Associations of Endogenous Hormones With HDL Novel Metrics Across the Menopause Transition: The SWAN HDL Study
Authors: El Khoudary Samar R , Nasr Alexis , Billheimer Jeffrey , Brooks Maria M , McConnell Dan , Crawford Sybil , Orchard Trevor J , Rader Daniel J , Matthews Karen A
Published: August 2021

Context

Novel metrics of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (subclasses, lipid content, and function) may improve characterization of the anti-atherogenic features of HDL. In midlife women, changes in these metrics vary by time relative to the final menstrual period (FMP), supporting a contribution of estradiol (E2) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Objective

We tested associations of endogenous E2 and FSH with novel HDL metrics and assessed whether these associations varied by time relative to FMP.

Methods

This study was a longitudinal analysis from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN) HDL study, using a community-based cohort of 463 women, baseline mean age 50.2 (2.7) years. The main outcome measures were HDL cholesterol efflux capacity (HDL-CEC), HDL phospholipids (HDL-PL), HDL triglycerides (HDL-Tg), HDL particles (HDL-P), HDL size, and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C).

Results

In multivariable analyses, E2 was positively associated with HDL size, large HDL-P, HDL-CEC, and HDL-Tg, but negatively with medium HDL-P (P values < 0.05). The positive association between E2 and HDL-Tg was stronger 2 years post-FMP than before, (interaction P = 0.031). FSH was positively related to total and medium HDL-P, but negatively to HDL size, large HDL-P, and HDL-CEC per particle (P values < 0.05). Associations of higher FSH with greater total HDL-P and smaller HDL size were only evident at/after menopause (interaction P values < 0.05).

Conclusion

Some of the associations linking E2 and FSH with novel HDL metrics were vulnerable to time relative to menopause onset. Whether a late initiation of hormone therapy relative to menopause could have a detrimental effect on lipid content of HDL particles should be tested in the future.
Maternal Body Mass Index, Early-Pregnancy Metabolite Profile, and Birthweight
Authors: Wahab Rama J , Jaddoe Vincent W V , Voerman Ellis , Ruijter George J G , Felix Janine F , Marchioro Linda , Uhl Olaf , Shokry Engy , Koletzko Berthold , Gaillard Romy
Published: August 2021

Context

Maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) has a strong influence on gestational metabolism, but detailed metabolic alterations are unknown.

Objective

First, to examine the associations of maternal prepregnancy BMI with maternal early-pregnancy metabolite alterations. Second, to identify an early-pregnancy metabolite profile associated with birthweight in women with a higher prepregnancy BMI that improved prediction of birthweight compared to glucose and lipid concentrations.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Prepregnancy BMI was obtained in a subgroup of 682 Dutch pregnant women from the Generation R prospective cohort study.

Main Outcome Measures

Maternal nonfasting targeted amino acids, nonesterified fatty acid, phospholipid, and carnitine concentrations measured in blood serum at mean gestational age of 12.8 weeks. Birthweight was obtained from medical records.

Results

A higher prepregnancy BMI was associated with 72 altered amino acids, nonesterified fatty acid, phospholipid and carnitine concentrations, and 6 metabolite ratios reflecting Krebs cycle, inflammatory, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolic processes (P-values < 0.05). Using penalized regression models, a metabolite profile was selected including 15 metabolites and 4 metabolite ratios based on its association with birthweight in addition to prepregnancy BMI. The adjusted R2 of birthweight was 6.1% for prepregnancy BMI alone, 6.2% after addition of glucose and lipid concentrations, and 12.9% after addition of the metabolite profile.

Conclusions

A higher maternal prepregnancy BMI was associated with altered maternal early-pregnancy amino acids, nonesterified fatty acids, phospholipids, and carnitines. Using these metabolites, we identified a maternal metabolite profile that improved prediction of birthweight in women with a higher prepregnancy BMI compared to glucose and lipid concentrations.
Production of 11-Oxygenated Androgens by Testicular Adrenal Rest Tumors
Authors: Schröder Mariska A M , Turcu Adina F , O’Day Patrick , van Herwaarden Antonius E , Span Paul N , Auchus Richard J , Sweep Fred C G J , Claahsen-van der Grinten Hedi L
Published: August 2021

Context

Testicular adrenal rest tumors (TART) are a common complication in males with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). TART are likely to contribute to the androgen excess in 21OHD patients, but a direct quantification of steroidogenesis from these tumors has not been yet done.

Objective

We aimed to define the production of 11-oxygenated 19-carbon (11oxC19) steroids by TART.

Methods

Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, steroids were measured in left (n = 7) and right (n = 4) spermatic vein and simultaneously drawn peripheral blood (n = 7) samples from 7 men with 21OHD and TART. For comparison, we also measured the peripheral steroid concentrations in 5 adrenalectomized patients and 12 age- and BMI-matched controls. Additionally, steroids were quantified in TART cell– and adrenal cell–conditioned medium, with and without adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation.

Results

Compared with peripheral blood from 21OHD patients with TART, the spermatic vein samples displayed the highest gradient for 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11OHT; 96-fold) of the 11oxC19 steroids, followed by 11-ketotestosterone (47-fold) and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione (11OHA4; 29-fold), suggesting production of these steroids in TART. TART cells produced higher levels of testosterone and lower levels of A4 and 11OHA4 after ACTH stimulation compared with adrenal cells, indicating ACTH-induced production of testosterone in TART.

Conclusion

In patients with 21OHD, TART produce 11oxC19 steroids, but in different proportions than the adrenals. The very high ratio of 11OHT in spermatic vs peripheral vein blood suggests the 11-hydroxylation of testosterone by TART, and the in vitro results indicate that this metabolism is ACTH-sensitive.
The Problem of the Ultimate in the Philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead
Authors: Veken Jan Va der
Published: August 2021

Different contemporary philosophical and theological authors try to disconnect the problem of being and the problem of God.  For Whitehead, the immanence of God is not yet complete: God is not yet "all in all."
We are in the World and the World is in us
Authors: Teixeira Maria Teresa
Published: August 2021

Existence must always be some form of togetherness.
On Particularism and Peculiarities Within
Authors: Singh Shweta
Published: August 2021

This paper aims at examining the meta-ethical doctrine of particularism in light of its constant tension with ethical absolutism.
Giriftzen Asım Bey’e ait Hicaz ve Ethem Bey’e ait Uşşak eserlerin, Callisto Guatelli tarafından yapılan armonizasyonlarının analizi; müzik tarihi ve müzik teorisi kapsamında değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Durmuş Sadık Uğraş
Published: August 2021

Musika-i Hümâyûn’un kurulmasıyla 19. yüzyılın ikinci çeyreğinden itibaren Batı müziğinin Osmanlı kültüründe etkinliği artmaya başlamış ve daha geniş kesimlerce kabul görmüştür. Giuseppe Donizetti’nin vefatının ardından bu kurumda çalışmaya başlayan Callisto Guatelli, devletin farklı katmanlarında şeflik, eğitmenlik ve müzisyenlik alanlarında katkı sağlamış ve bu süreçte Batı müziği ve Türk müziği kültüründen izler taşıyan eserler bestelemiştir. Türk müziği literatüründen seçmiş olduğu bazı makamsal eserleri armonize ederek, literatüre kazandırmıştır. Batı müziği ve Türk müziği elementlerinin bir araya getirilmesi ile inşa edilen ve melez bir karakter ile örülü olan bu yapıtlar, tarih, müzik estetiği ve müzik teorisi ekseninde bazı soruların doğmasına da neden olmuştur. Bu çalışmada, bestecinin armonizasyonlarından seçilen iki parçanın armonik analizinin yapılmasının yardımı ile makamsal eserleri çokseslendirme tekniğinde izlenen yöntem eleştirel bir bakış açısıyla ele alınmış ve makamların bu süreçte yaşadıkları kimlik değişimlerinin olası neden ve sonuçlarına odaklanılmıştır.
Nota yazımı ile icrası arasında uyuşmazlık bulunan türkü motifleri -Muğla örneği
Authors: Dönmez Ali Orhan
Published: August 2021

Türk halk müziğinin, dünya etnografik araştırmalar paralelinde, cumhuriyetin ilk yıllarından itibaren yapılan çalışmalarla derlenmeye başladığı bilinmekte, günümüzde de bu çalışmaların devam ettiği görülmektedir. Oldukça zahmetli olan bu araştırma ve derleme gezileri sonunda, nota yazılarıyla icra arasında bazı küçük motif uyuşmazlıklarının ortaya çıktığı görülmüştür. Bu çalışmada; nota yazımı ile icra arasında, uyuşmazlık ve farklılık görülen türkülerin tespiti yapılmıştır. Bunun için Muğla yöresine ait TRT Repertuvarında kayıtlı sözlü 73 türkü incelenmiş, ses kayıtlarına ulaşılabilen 13 türkü örneklem olarak seçilmiştir. Seçilen bu türkülerde, nota yazımı ve icrada farklılık gösteren nota motiflerinin, önce asıl notaları verilmiş, ardından TRT sanatçıları ve koroları tarafından seslendirildikleri biçimiyle yazılan notaları verilmiştir.
First Case of Gynandromorphism in the Orchid-Bee Eulaema meriana (Olivier) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Pazmiño-Palomino Alex , De Oliveira Marcio Luiz
Published: August 2021

The discovery of the first case of gynandromorphism in Eulaema meriana (Olivier) is described and illustrated. A specimen from Los Ríos, western Ecuador, discovered in the Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (MECN) collection, exhibits mostly male features on the left and female features on the right, except for the jugal comb of the hind wing and terminalia. This finding is compared to other reported cases in orchid bees.
Bees from an Island in the Delta of the Americas (Maranhão state, Brazil) and their Floristic Interactions
Authors: Neves Jr. Carlos Luis , Correa Barros Harryson , Rodrigues Diniz Maira , Freire Correia Bruna Emanuele , Chaves Ferreira Luciano André , Guimarães Silva Albeane , Bezerra de Almeida Jr. Eduardo , Correa Rêgo Márcia Maria
Published: August 2021

Surveys of the bee fauna on islands are scarce due to the difficult access to the study area. Thus, the current study intended to establish the species of bees present in an island of the Delta of the Americas, called Grande do Paulino, Tutóia, Maranhão. Together with the bees, the plants visited by these insects were recorded, in order to document the relationships between these organisms. Between July 2017 and June 2018, once a month, 1,095 individuals, distributed in 16 tribes, 30 genera, and 48 species, were collected with active (entomological net) and passive (bowl traps) sampling methods. Data from plants and their visiting bees are presented in an interaction network in the form of a bipartite graph, showing Xylocopa cearensis as the most collected bee species, and Chamaecrista ramosa as the most visited plant by bees. In addition to providing information about the bee fauna of the state of Maranhão and, consequently, from the Brazilian northeast, this study explores the apifauna of a place never before explored and, because it is an island, of difficult access, also providing information about the floristic interactions of these insects.
Effect of Protein Supplementation in the Bee Apis mellifera L. Exposed to the Agrochemical Fipronil
Authors: Moreira Iloran do Rosário Corrêa , Barros Daniel Cavalcante Brambila de , Lunardi Juliana Sartori , Orsi Ricardo de Oliveira
Published: August 2021

Inadequate quantity and quality of proteins in honey bee diet can cause weakening of their colonies and damage their resistance to agrochemical contamination, such as fipronil, which is highly toxic to bees. Thus, we tested the hypothesis if protein supplementation would improve longevity and locomotion of honeybees exposed to fipronil pesticide. Colonies of Apis mellifera Africanized were distributed into Control Group without protein supplementation and Supplemented Group with 25% crude protein provided as a paste form at 100 g per week. After four weeks, frames with sealed brood were removed and kept in an incubator until the emergence of worker bees, which were marked, returned to their hives and recaptured six days later to measure protein concentration in the hemolymph. The bee population development was measured by evaluating frames containing the queen’s oviposition from each colony. Also, nursing bees were recaptured exposed by contact to fipronil LD50% (0.009 ± 0.003 μg/bee), and the longevity and motor activity were measured. The results showed that the bee swarms protein supplementation promoted a significant increase in the sealed brood area. However, it did not promote changes in the protein content of the hemolymph. Protein supplementation of bee swarms did not influence the survival of bees exposed to fipronil in the locomotion tests; however, fipronil was toxic to bees and promoted changes in the locomotion of bees.
Do Odontomachus brunneus nestmates request for help and are taken care of when caught?
Authors: Santos Junior Luiz Carlos , Silva Emerson Pereira , Antonialli-Junior William Fernando
Published: August 2021

In social insects, situations can arise that threaten an individual or an entire colony. When the call for help goes out, different behavioral responses are elicited by signals emitted from nestmates. In ants, the response can be one of redemptive behavior by the worker receiving it. However, little is known about the evolution of this behavior and in which group of ants it manifests. Therefore, this study investigates whether workers of Odontomachus brunneus Patton can act as rescuers, able to detect and respond to calls for help from nestmates. Laboratory experiments were carried out in which the legs of ants were trapped by tape, simulating capture by a predator. Nearby were nestmates able to receive and respond to a request for help. Two experiments were performed: 1. Calls for help were made at different distances, in order to test the response latency. 2. Evaluation of whether rescuers would respond differently to calls for help from nestmates, non-nestmates of the same species, and ants of another species. Finally, evaluation was made of the behaviors of the rescuers when they responded to requests for help from nestmates and ants of another species. It could be concluded from the results that O. brunneus workers respond to signals emitted by workers who may have been captured by a potential predator, prompting the performance of behaviors related to rescue attempts. The signals involved appear to have an optimal range and are species-specific. When exposed to a capture situation, this species transmits audible signals by stridulation, so it is possible that this type of signal may be involved, in addition to chemical signaling.
Nest Architecture and Animals Associated with Neoponera verenae (Forel) (Formicidae, Ponerinae)
Authors: Moleiro Hugo Ribeiro , Da Silva-Melo Adolfo , Giannotti Edilberto
Published: August 2021

The nests of ants Neoponera have chambers that can also be occupied by other species of organisms that can be tenants, visitors or prey. However, few studies have considered the assemblage of the associated species and described their composition. This study aimed to describe the architecture and catalog the visitors and prey species found in Neoponera verenae nests. Talcum powder was pumped inside eight nests to mark the chambers and tunnels. The nests were then excavated to describe the architecture and obtain measurements of chambers. The associated species encountered in the nests were collected and identified allowing us to obtain new records of visiting (Linepithema sp., cryptodesmid millipedes and Neotropacarus sp.) and prey taxa (membracids, apid bees and springtails) of N. verenae. Generally, nests had a single entrance hole and a depth of up to 42 cm. Nest chambers were found with three basic forms, elliptical, hangers and boot. Although studies show that this species can occupy abandoned nests of leaf-cutting ants, we found that the nests of N. verenae were more similar to those of Ectatomma ants. Indeed, we found one of the N. verenae nests was attached to a Ectatomma edentatum nest, leading us to suggest that N. verenae may occupy abandoned nests or displace other ants to occupy them.
Structure of ant-diaspore networks and their functional outcomes in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Laviski Bianca Ferreira da Silva , Mayhé-Nunes Antonio José , Nunes-Freitas André Felippe
Published: August 2021

Ants are able to interact with fruits and seeds that are not adapted for ant seed dispersal. In Brazil, several studies show interactions of ants with non-myrmecochorous diaspores; however, few of them have studied the structure of ant-fruit networks. The use of the network approach allows visualising multiple interactions between partners and how they are shaped by the community context. Our study aims to investigate ant-fruit networks as well as quantitative and qualitative dispersal components in a fragment of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We investigated the structure of interaction networks, diaspore removal rates, diaspore destination and dispersal distance over two years of observation. We constructed three interaction networks: dry season, rainy season and total, with the latter comprising the two formers. The diaspore removal rate, dispersal distance and diaspore destination experiments were performed for the plant species Miconia calvescens, Miconia prasina, Psychotria leiocarpa and Inga edulis. We recorded a large number of interactions, with diaspore cleaning being more frequent than removal. Ant-diaspore networks were nested, non-modular and little specialized. M. calvescens, M. prasina and I. edulis showed higher diaspore removal rates. Diaspore removal distances were the same among M. calvescens, M. prasina and I. edulis. In M. calvescens and I. edulis, the main diaspore destination was the ant’s nest. Our study shows that diaspore cleaning is the most common behavior in ant-diaspore interactions and there are no differences in the organization of interaction networks over the seasons. These results have implications for the future structure of plant communities, considering that a small part of the diaspores is removed, and that most of them are cleaned, favouring germination at the deposition site.
First Record of the Inquiline Ant Leptothorax kutteri Buschinger, 1965 from Turkey
Authors: Kiran Kadri , Karaman Celal , Heinze Jürgen
Published: August 2021

We report on the occurrence of the ant Leptothorax kutteri Buschinger, 1965 in two sites in Northern and Eastern Turkey. Leptothorax kutteri is a workerless inquiline living in the colonies of L. acervorum (Fabricius, 1793) so far known from various parts of Northern and Central Europe. Our findings greatly increase the range of this small and rare ant.
International Curriculum Comparison in Vocational Education and Training: A Collaborative Development of an Analysis Instrument
Authors: Chen Pujun , Goncharova Anastasia , Pilz Matthias , Frommberger Dietmar , Li Junmin , Romanova Olga , Lin Yueru
Published: August 2021

Context: International comparative research on Vocational Education and Training (VET) is gaining importance, as global cooperation and mutual learning in VET grows.  However, it is characterized by a high degree of complexity, due on one hand, to the heterogeneity of the VET sector, and on the other hand to the unique challenges of international comparisons.  In addition, comparative research projects are increasingly conducted in the form of cross-border collaborations, which have their own particular organizational and methodological considerations, opportunities, and challenges. This paper presents an example of a cooperative research process, aimed at investigating the complex phenomenon of the competence-based approach in Russian and Chinese VET. In providing an example of developing an instrument for curriculum analysis and comparison, we discuss and reflect on the methodological and organizational peculiarities and challenges of the research process conducted collaboratively by an international team. 
Method: The instrument for analysis and comparison of curricular documents, was developed in an iterative multi-stage process, combining deductive and inductive steps. The embeddedness of the elements of a competence-based approach in curricular documents is investigated, using qualitative content analysis. To develop a coding frame, we started with a comprehensive partially systematic literature review of international, Russian and Chinese discourses on competence-based curricula. The frame was built on the selected model of competence-based education, and on accumulated results of the literature analysis of national discourses. Furthermore, during the first coding process, an iterative adaptation of the developed instrument took place.
Results: The result of this process was the development of an analysis instrument which, on the one hand, is well-adapted to each national context and, on the other hand, allows a comparison of results along the same dimensions of analysis, in our case, elements of the competence-based approach in curriculum. 
Conclusion: Developing an analysis framework for a cross-cultural comparative investigation of such a diffuse and heterogeneous construct as the competence-based approach, can pose a methodological challenge for an international team of researchers. However, an effective application of own team resources such as proficiency in different languages, insider and outsider perspectives, along with continuous intensive communication and a flexible, iterative research process, allows development of a well-adapted analysis instrument for international comparison.
Efficient electro-optical modulation on thin-film lithium niobate: erratum
Authors: Jin Mingwei , Chen Jiayang , Sua Yongmeng , Kumar Prajnesh , Huang Yuping
Published: August 2021

In this erratum, we correct the corresponding results of our Letter [Opt. Lett. 46, 1884 (2021)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.419597] due to the wrong impedance setting of the arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). The Letter still represents the significant advance despite the change of results.
Reporting Asia: Courtesy of Australian philanthropy
Authors: Murrell Colleen
Published: August 2021

The sudden entrance onto the Australian media scene three years ago of a philanthropist bearing AUD 100 million was an innovative fillip for an embattled industry. The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas (JNI) has since announced some bold initiatives to strengthen reporting, including of international newsgathering in the Asia Pacific region. The JNI has enabled The Australian Financial Review to reopen its Jakarta bureau, Guardian Australia to hire a Pacific editor and develop a network of Pacific journalists, and The Australian to produce features on the Chinese diaspora. COVID-19 has caused significant challenges, but results indicate they have been successful in what they set out to achieve – to carry out more international newsgathering from Asia. Other criteria, such as ‘the impact’ of this reporting, are harder to gauge. This article employs qualitative interviewing and content analysis to examine if these three case studies have been successful, according to the ‘five core principles’ of the JNI.