bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production of Glucoamylase from Novel Strain of Alternaria Alternata under Solid State Fermentation
Authors: Nayab Durr-e- , Akhtar Shamim , Bangash Nazneen , Nisa Waqar-un- , Hayat Malik Tahir , Zulfiqar Awais , Niaz Mubashar , Qayyum Abdul , Syed Asad , Bahkali Ali H. , Elgorban Abdallah M.
Published: October 2022

Glucoamylase has an essential role as biocatalyst in various important industries of Pakistan. It is synthesized by using various fungal and bacterial strains, and different ecocultural conditions are applied under solid substrate fermentation method (SSF) to get the highest yield of glucoamylase. Alternaria alternata is an important fungus that can grow on industrial raw material like wheat bran, dried potato powder, tea leaves, rice husk, and sugar cane peel which are used as substrate. Among all, dried potato powder (10g) proved the best fermentation media for growth of fungal strain as well as maximum glucoamylase producer. Moreover, several chemical and physical states were also explored through solid substrate fermentation technique on glucoamylase yield. The highest glucoamylase production was recorded after 72 hours incubation in incubation chamber with 10g raw substrate, 1ml inoculum spore solution, 30°C temperature, and 5 pH. Further, phosphate buffer (5 pH) as moistening agent, 5% starch concentration and media additive as nitrogen (yeast extract), and carbon source (maltose) were screened for maximum glucoamylase titer (17.3 ± 0.05a°U/ml/min) and the highest specific activity (39.2U/mg). These cultural conditions were most appropriate for growth of A. alternata on solid media and production of highest glucoamylase under solid state fermentation procedure that could be utilized for commercial synthesis of glucoamylase.
Nontarget Metabolites of Rhizomes of Edible Sacred Lotus Provide New Insights into Rhizome Browning
Authors: Hao Chenyang , Yu Yuetong , Zhang Xueting , Dong Gangqiang , Liu Yan , Chen Sha
Published: October 2022

The “edible rhizome” variant of Nelumbo nucifera with various cultivars has a long history of use as a food in East Asia. In this study, 48 target metabolites were untargeted and identified in 212 rhizome cultivars (tropical and temperate types) using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry; among these, 32 compounds were newly reported in the rhizome. Combined with the browning phenotype of 212 lotus rhizomes, (epi) catechin, norarmepavine, and N-feruloyl-3-methoxytyramine were used as predominant chemical markers to separate different degrees of lotus rhizome browning. p-Coumaroyltyramine and N-trans-feruloyltyramine were selected as predominant chemical markers to investigate the differential expression between tropical and temperate lotus using principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. Shared and unique structure plots were used to compare the outcomes of the ecotype and browning OPLS model, showing that variation in tropical lotus rhizome browning is not obvious; this will be of great importance for genetic improvement by providing a hereditary basis.
Smartphone Control Mobile Robot for Education and Research
Authors: Ikpeze Onyinye , Ejidokun Temitayo , Onibonoje Moses
Published: October 2022

In this digital age there is a growing interest in robotics by students in basically all age grades beginning from the toy robot cars used by preschoolers, to hi-tech robots used by teenagers and youths such as Sphero BOLT, Grillbot, and many others available in the market. In other to spark interest of youngsters in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and also for robotics enthusiasts without making learning complex but simple and intuitive this cost-effective mobile robot called IKPEZE Robot was designed and developed. This can be used for education and research purposes in laboratories; knowledge gathered from this approach can also be applied to wider ranges of robotics. IKPEZE Robots has an added vision and audio capability, which provides surveillance of its immediate environment. Our main goal was to develop a low-cost mobile robot, which is cheaper than most commercial robots sold today and can find application not only in education and research, but also in other applications. This mobile robot was developed by designing and implementing a chassis having a Raspberry Pi controller programmed in C language in a Debian Linux-based OS that was used to control the chassis remotely via a Wi-Fi network. A mobile application was loaded into an Android smartphone with an easy-to-use graphical user Interface (GUI). Captured footages are sent wirelessly via Wi-Fi to the Android smartphone and it is stored in the local memory of the smartphone.
Research on Multiobjective Optimal Operation Strategy for Wind-Photovoltaic-Hydro Complementary Power System
Authors: Zhao Guo , Wan Chenxi , Zuo Wanqing , Zhang Kefei , Shu Xinyi
Published: October 2022

To address the problems of wind and solar generation volatility and lose of wind and photovoltaic resources, on the basis of the complementary property of wind-solar-water, the topology structure of the wind-solar-water synergy power generation system is constructed. Taking the minimum grid fluctuation index, the minimum wind-photovoltaic-hydro discard rate and the greatest economic effectiveness of the power station as the goal functions and considering various constraints of the wind, photovoltaic, and hydrostation units, a triobjective optimization running model of the wind-photovoltaic-water synergy system is established. Meanwhile, this essay suggests an IMOSSA on the basis of tent chaotic sequence and random wandering strategy to settle the described triobjective optimization issue. Taking Hubei Pankou as an example for simulation analysis, after choosing the best scheme, IMOSSA compared with MOSSA, MOGWO, and NSGA-II, the volatility of sunny days is reduced by 12.39%, 19.5%, and 36.71%, respectively; the wind-photovoltaic abandonment rate is reduced by 11.17%, 22.5%, and 38.03%, respectively, while in the rainy days the volatility is reduced by 8.09%, 18.34%, and 47.03%, respectively; the wind-photovoltaic abandonment rate is reduced by 14.84%, 16.86%, and 40%, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to demonstrate the validity of the proposed three-objective model and the efficiency of the IMOSSA in solving the issue. The efficiency of the optimization operation approach suggested in this research is confirmed by the case study, providing a new idea for the large-scale consumption of new energy in high-proportion hydropower grids.
An Unsupervised Deep Learning-Based Model Using Multiomics Data to Predict Prognosis of Patients with Stomach Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Chen Sizhen , Zang Yiteng , Xu Biyun , Lu Beier , Ma Rongji , Miao Pengcheng , Chen Bingwei
Published: October 2022

Object. This study is aimed at constructing a deep learning architecture of the autoencoder to integrate multiomics data and identify the risk of patients with stomach adenocarcinoma. Methods. Patients (363 in total) with stomach adenocarcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort were included. An autoencoder was constructed to integrate the RNA sequencing, miRNA sequencing, and methylation data. The features of the bottleneck layer were used to perform the

k

-means clustering algorithm to obtain different subgroups for evaluating the prognosis-related risk of stomach adenocarcinoma. The model’s robustness was verified using a 10-fold cross-validation (CV). Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression was used to estimate hazard risk. The model was validated in three independent cohorts with different endpoints. Results. The patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups according to the

k

-means clustering algorithm. The high-risk group had a significantly higher risk of poor survival (log-rank

P

value =

2.80
e
−
06

;

adjusted
 
hazard
 
ratio
=
2.386

, 95% confidence interval: 1.607~3.543), a concordance index (C-index) of 0.714, and a Brier score of 0.184. The model performed well both in the 10-fold CV procedure and three independent cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Conclusions. A robust and generalizable model based on the autoencoder was proposed to integrate multiomics data and predict the prognosis of patients with stomach adenocarcinoma. The model demonstrates better performance than two alternative approaches on prognosis prediction. The results might provide the grounds for further exploring the potential biomarkers to predict the prognosis of patients with stomach adenocarcinoma.
A Lower HCC Incidence in Chronic HBV-Infected Patients Recovered from Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yin Jianhua , Xu Xiang , Pu Rui , Su Haibin , Wang Junxue , Liu Wenbin , Tong Jingjing , Chen Jing , Chen Xi , Mu Xiuying , Zhang Hongwei , Zhai Xingran , Liu Xiaoyan , Pang Fei , Wang Yu , Wang Huifen , Cao Guangwen , Hu Jinhua
Published: October 2022

Background. Activation of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). However, the effect of HBV-ACLF episode on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence remains largely unknown. Methods. A total of 769 HBV-ACLF patients and 2114 HBV-related chronic liver disease (HBV-CLD) patients diagnosed between August 1998 and December 2011 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. Of the HBV-CLD patients, 380 received lifetime antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogues. Propensity score matching was applied to reduce baseline differences between HBV-ACLF and HBV-CLD cohorts. Results. The survival rate of HBV-ACLF patients was 53.6%, 50.3%, 47.8%, and 46.2% at 90-day, 1-year, 5-year, and 10-year, respectively. The cumulative incidence of HCC was lower in HBV-ACLF cohort with 369 eligible patients survived for >90 days than in HBV-CLD cohort with the 380 patients (5.77/1,000 vs. 9.78/1,000 person-years,

p
=
0.0497

). HBV-ACLF episode decreased HCC risk regardless of liver cirrhosis, and in patients without family history of HCC. Multivariate Cox analyses indicated that male, increasing age, liver cirrhosis, and platelet count (≤100 × 109/L) increased, whereas HBV-ACLF episode decreased, HCC risk independently. In the propensity score-matched cohorts, HBV-ACLF episode reduced HCC incidence (10.20/1,000 vs. 4.66/1,000 person-years,

p
=
0.0326

). The area under curve of nomogram was 0.812 for 3-year HCC probability. Conclusions. HBV-ACLF episode decreases HCC occurrence in chronic HBV patients. Older age and liver cirrhosis independently increased HCC occurrence. A nomogram-enrolled episode of ACLF reliably predicts the occurrence of HCC.
Operation Energy Consumption Estimation Method of Electric Bus Based on CNN Time Series Prediction
Authors: Xing Yan , Li Yachao , Liu Weidong , Li Wenqing , Meng Lingxuan
Published: October 2022

In order to further improve the accuracy of electric bus energy consumption estimation and reduce the complexity of using data, the paper proposes a new method for estimating electric bus energy consumption based on a deep learning approach with a data-driven model. The method can estimate the single-trip energy consumption of an electric bus by employing CNN (convolutional neural network) to time series prediction, which takes into account easily accessible trip data of electric buses, including initial SOC (state of charge), average speed, average temperature. First, we need to convert the raw data into a trip dataset by preprocessing the collected real-world trip data of an electric bus. Then, the single trip of the bus from the original station to the terminal station is considered the basic unit for energy consumption estimation, and the trip data are processed in a quasi-time series. Following that, the trip data were modified so that the subsequent convolutional operations more closely matched the interactions between adjacent trips, and a time series prediction method based on CNN was used instead of the regression analysis methods used in traditional data-driven models. Finally, single-trip operation energy consumption estimation of electric buses is achieved with time series prediction based on CNN, and this method is compared and analysed with the LSTM (long-short term memory) time series prediction method and multivariate nonlinear regression prediction methods in traditional data-driven models. The results show that the energy consumption estimation model for electric buses developed in this paper has a higher prediction accuracy, which can improve by 3.68 percent over the traditional multivariate nonlinear regression prediction method and by 1.32 percent over the LSTM time series prediction method.
Spinal Epidural Lipoma on the Ventral Dura Side and Intervertebral Foramen Causing Lumbar Radiculopathy
Authors: Noguchi Hiroshi , Koda Masao , Abe Tetsuya , Funayama Toru , Takahashi Hiroshi , Miura Kousei , Mataki Kentaro , Kono Mamoru , Eto Fumihiko , Shibao Yosuke , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: October 2022

A 56-year-old obese man with a body mass index of 30.9 kg/m2 presented with left sciatica and intermittent claudication. Computed tomography scans showed a posterior vertebral scalloping change in L3, L4, and L5. Meanwhile, magnetic resonance imaging revealed epidural mass posterior to the L3, L4, and L5 vertebral bodies. The solitary mass was isosignal to subcutaneous fat and asymmetrically compressed to the left side of the dural sac and L4 nerve root, as observed on axial T1- and T2-weighted images. To the best of our knowledge, there have been few reports of a solitary epidural lipoma causing lumbar radiculopathy. The patient underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion at L4–L5, and his symptoms then resolved. Thus, we recommend decompression and fixation as appropriate management for lumbar radiculopathy caused by epidural lipoma located on the ventral side of the dura and intervertebral foramen.
Establishment of a Coal Mine Roadway Model Based on Point Cloud Feature Matching
Authors: Yang Jianjian , Luo Wenjie , Zhang Yuchen , Chang Boshen , Zheng Ruiliang , Wu Miao
Published: October 2022

A coal mine roadway is a longitudinally limited space with curves and branches, low illumination and high humidity, a large amount of dust, and an unstructured terrain environment. Traditional ICP algorithms have the defects of slow convergence speed and it is easy to fall into local optimums. While the NDT algorithm in the NDT + ICP algorithm has high registration efficiency, poor stability, and low registration accuracy, which are not suitable for point clouds with noise and a large amount of data. By calculating the FPFH value, the detailed description of the point cloud will be greatly increased to increase the robustness and accuracy Therefore, a feature registration method based on the FPFH + ICP algorithm is proposed to reduce the modeling error of excavation roadways and meet the requirements of intelligent excavation. First, outliers caused by dust are treated by the Euclidean clustering point cloud segmentation method, and then the calculation of the normal vector in the FPFH feature descriptor is optimized based on extracting key points from the roadway structure. The surface normal vector of each key point and its neighborhood point is estimated according to the measured point and its neighborhood point. The initial coordinate transformation matrix of a point cloud of an excavated roadway is obtained by the SAC-IA algorithm and transferred to the ICP algorithm. Finally, KD-tree is introduced into the ICP algorithm to accelerate the search speed of corresponding point pairs, and the Gauss–Newton method is used to optimize the solution of the nonlinear objective function of the algorithm to complete accurate registration of point clouds in an excavation roadway.
The Relationship between Uric Acid and the Development, Complication, and Prognosis of Atrial Fibrillation: The Views from a Clinical Study
Authors: Yang Jian , Lou Lian , Zhang Xuan , Chen Yuxiao , Zhou Weier , Zhang Chi , Guo Xiaogang , Hu Shenjiang
Published: October 2022

A large number of studies suggest that uric acid (UA) is related to the occurrence, complications, and prognosis of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the guidelines did not clearly elaborate on this issue. The current research results need to be summarized to analyze the association between UA and AF. This study found that in the current clinical research on the relationship between UA and AF, studies mainly focus on the development or complications of AF. A lot of repetitive work does not deepen awareness of this question. In contrast, studies investigating the effects of UA-lowering therapy on the management of AF are limited. The only reports deny the protective effect of UA-lowering therapy. For now, we suggest that UA is close to the occurrence and progression of AF; therefore, it may have important significance as a clinical marker. The role of UA-lowering therapy in the management of AF is one of the next key issues to be explored. It will be a meaningful topic to focus on the latest research on AF ablation and to conduct a secondary analysis to explore the prognostic impact of UA on the latest treatment methods for AF. Multiomics techniques may allow us to have a deeper understanding of the role of UA in AF management in the future.
Senescence Rewires Microenvironment Sensing to Facilitate Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Chen Hsuan-An , Ho Yu-Jui , Mezzadra Riccardo , Adrover Jose M. , Smolkin Ryan , Zhu Changyu , Woess Katharina , Bernstein Nicholas , Schmitt Georgia , Fong Linda , Luan Wei , Wuest Alexandra , Tian Sha , Li Xiang , Broderick Caroline , Hendrickson Ronald C. , Egeblad Mikala , Chen Zhenghao , Alonso-Curbelo Direna , Lowe Scott W.
Published: October 2022

Cellular senescence involves a stable cell-cycle arrest coupled to a secretory program that, in some instances, stimulates the immune clearance of senescent cells. Using an immune-competent liver cancer model in which senescence triggers CD8 T cell–mediated tumor rejection, we show that senescence also remodels the cell-surface proteome to alter how tumor cells sense environmental factors, as exemplified by type II interferon (IFNγ). Compared with proliferating cells, senescent cells upregulate the IFNγ receptor, become hypersensitized to microenvironmental IFNγ, and more robustly induce the antigen-presenting machinery—effects also recapitulated in human tumor cells undergoing therapy-induced senescence. Disruption of IFNγ sensing in senescent cells blunts their immune-mediated clearance without disabling the senescence state or its characteristic secretory program. Our results demonstrate that senescent cells have an enhanced ability to both send and receive environmental signals and imply that each process is required for their effective immune surveillance.

Significance:

Our work uncovers an interplay between tissue remodeling and tissue-sensing programs that can be engaged by senescence in advanced cancers to render tumor cells more visible to the adaptive immune system. This new facet of senescence establishes reciprocal heterotypic signaling interactions that can be induced therapeutically to enhance antitumor immunity.

See the interview with Direna Alonso-Curbelo, PhD, recipient of the inaugural Cancer Discovery Early Career Award: https://vimeo.com/992987447

See related article by Marin et al., p. 410.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 247
Anti-Epileptic Drug Target Perturbation and Intracranial Aneurysm Risk: Mendelian Randomization and Colocalization Study
Authors: Bakker Mark K. , van Straten Tijmen , Chong Michael , Paré Guillaume , Gill Dipender , Ruigrok Ynte M.
Published: October 2022

Background:

In a genome-wide association study of intracranial aneurysms (IA), enrichment was found between genes associated with IA and genes encoding targets of effective anti-epileptic drugs. Our aim was to assess if this pleiotropy is driven by shared disease mechanisms that could potentially highlight a treatment strategy for IA.

Methods:

Using 2-sample inverse-variance weighted Mendelian randomization and genetic colocalization analyses we assessed: (1) if epilepsy liability in general affects IA risk, and (2) whether changes in gene- and protein-expression levels of anti-epileptic drug targets in blood and arterial tissue may causally affect IA risk.

Results:

We found no overall effect of epilepsy liability on IA. Expression of 21 genes and 13 proteins corresponding to anti-epileptic drug targets supported a causal effect (
P
<0.05) on IA risk. Of those genes and proteins, genetic variants affecting
CNNM2
levels showed strong evidence for colocalization with IA risk (posterior probability>70%). Higher
CNNM2
levels in arterial tissue were associated with increased IA risk (odds ratio, 3.02; [95% CI, 2.32–3.94];
P
=3.39×10
−
16
). CNNM2 expression was best proxied by rs11191580. The magnitude of the effect of this variant was greater than would be expected if systemic blood pressure was the sole IA-causing mechanism in this locus.

Conclusions:

CNNM2
is a driver of the pleiotropy between IA and anti-epileptic drug targets. Administration of the anti-epileptic drugs phenytoin, valproic acid, or carbamazepine may be expected to decrease
CNNM2
levels and therefore subsequently decrease IA risk.
CNNM2
is therefore an important target to investigate further for its role in the pathogenesis of IA.
Interactional Competence in the Heritage Language during a Study Abroad Service-Learning Program: A Case Study
Authors: Tocaimaza-Hatch C. Cecilia , Koike Dale A.
Published: October 2022

This case study describes the interactional competence of one U.S. Spanish heritage language learner (HLL), during a five-week study abroad program in Spain that included service-learning. Data were drawn primarily from audiotapes, reflection essays, and an exit interview. The audiotapes included “Mía’s” conversations at the service-learning site, a summer camp for young children. The three resource categories in Young’s (2019) model of Practice Theory of identity, linguistic, and interactional resources facilitated the analysis of Mía’s intercultural competence.

The qualitative analysis describes, first, Mía’s resources during discursive practices with children and peer teachers at the camp, reflecting the construction of her identity as an educator. Second, we examine possible connections between Mía’s resources and her Spanish learning history. We show that the linguistic and interactional resources observed in her interactions are congruent with her HLL background, as seen in her lexical choices and flexibility interacting with diverse interlocutors. These findings of one HLL’s linguistic activity shed light on her interactional competence in this context, thus contributing to the literature on HLL s in study abroad.
Traditional and Religious Approaches as Psychosocial Support in the Reintegration of Former Girl Soldiers in South Sudan
Authors: Jangaling Lujang John , Sidhu Jatswan S.
Published: October 2022

The major cause of the conflict in South Sudan was power struggles among the political elites who manipulated ethnic differences along tribal lines. In the case of defunct Gbudue State both Sudan People Liberation Army in Opposition (SPLAIO) and South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) massively recruited girl soldiers into their ranks. After the conflict, the girl soldiers returned home with deep psychosocial effects. The conflict has brought to fore existence of rich knowledge of traditional and religious approaches in reintegration process. This article attempts to examine the significance of traditional approaches used as psychosocial support during reintegration of former girl soldiers and analyse the extent of religion as dominant approach during the reintegration of former girl child soldiers in South Sudan. The article was guided by Instrumentalist theory: Elite Perspective. The study revealed both traditional approaches and religion in form of prayers helped psychologically to reintegrate former girl soldiers into the communities. The study also revealed that reintegration is a process that aims to reintegrate former girl soldiers within their families, economically and socially. From a methodological point of view, this article is a phenomenologically designed with findings include discussions about themes and patterns discovered during data analysis.
A Theological Case for Ukraine’s European Integration: Deconstructing the Myth of “Holy Russia” versus “Decadent Europe”
Authors: Searle Joshua T.
Published: October 2022

The overall aim of this article is to make a theological case for Ukraine’s integration into the European family of nations. I build this case by pursuing two primary lines of argument: firstly, by demonstrating the implausibility of the common assumptions (held by many Ukrainian Christians) that Russia is more ‘spiritual’ and ‘Christian’ than ‘secular’ and ‘godless’ Europe. Secondly, I seek to make a positive case for why principles, such as human dignity and human rights, cultural diversity, democracy, justice, fairness, equality and the rule of law, are much more appropriate indicators of Christian values than nominal allegiance to religious institutions among a certain population. This article is divided into three parts. Part One identifies and critiques the salient features of the “Holy Russia” myth with illustrations drawn from various representative figures. Part Two is devoted to the defence of the European tradition in which I advance the counterintuitive argument that secular liberalism is more in continuity with orthodox Christianity than Christian nationalism. In Part Three, I apply these general points to the specific issue of Ukraine and its fate as a European nation.
The Case for Removing the Security Council’s Powers from the International Criminal Court
Authors: Yigzaw Destaw A.
Published: October 2022

The Singapore compromise was the basis for the role of the United Nations Security Council (unsc) in the operations of the International Criminal Court (icc). The compromise was meant to enlist the support of superpowers. Yet, three of the five permanent members of the unsc; namely, China, Russia, and the United States have not only stayed out of the Rome Statute system but also have taken turns in undermining the icc. Thus, the political power they enjoy over the icc– an institution they refuse to recognize–defies elementary requirements of legitimacy. Crucially, the lack of consensus in the unsc due to growing big power confrontations means that it has been unable to make referrals for over a decade. The price the icc pays in terms of its independence and legitimacy due to its association with the unsc is thus for little gain.
The Personal is Political
Authors: Annin Felicia
Published: October 2022

In this article, I posit that Ngũgĩ’s oeuvre presents numerous instances of love, betrayal, and adultery. While love and adultery are limited to personal spaces, betrayal occurs in both the personal and political spheres in Ngũgĩ’s works. In the novel A Grain of Wheat, betrayals in the personal sphere are juxtaposed with betrayals in the political sphere. The betrayal within the political sphere has implications for the personal relations of the characters. Political ideals are betrayed by the complex and divided characters in Ngũgĩ’s narratives. The characters are not spared betrayal on personal and political levels. The personal and political betrayals thus are conflated and make it a critical area of study. This study seeks to emphasise that both forms of betrayal are crucial and the relationship between them is inseparable. The personal betrayal in Ngũgĩ’s A Grain of Wheat (1967) occurs in romantic relationships; more specifically, the betrayal is represented by adultery in marriage, while the political betrayal emerges as betraying one’s country.
The Fabrics of Home: Remembering the Indo-European Repatriation in Contractpensions-Djangan Loepah!
Authors: Arps Arnoud
Published: October 2022

When a large group of Indo-Europeans had to repatriate to a country many had never set foot in, they set in motion an unforeseen culture of remembrance. The subsequent narratives of forced migration – or rather narratives of belonging – deal with memories of home. Whereas first-generation repatriates predominantly used literature to document their memories, the second-generation remembers the past in the cinematic field of the cultural imaginary. Focusing on the documentary Contractpensions by a second-generation Indo-European, this article explores representations of the repatriate Indo-European experience and the relation between the current country in which they reside and the homeland of earlier generations. Of particular significance are the tensions between geographical attachment, their repatriate identity, and a brittle Dutch nationality. The article argues that the idea of home is central to these tensions, and that place, belonging and citizenship are the threads of home that weave Indo-European repatriate culture and identity into being.
Civic Service and the Question of Extra-Military Missions of the Army in Franco-Ivorian Military Relations (1960–1970)
Authors: Banga Arthur
Published: October 2022

With a negotiated decolonisation and a steadfast friendship between Félix Houphouët-Boigny and General Charles de Gaulle, Côte d’Ivoire, which had become independent, maintained excellent relations with France, its former colonial power. These close relations allowed it to benefit, within the framework of the Franco-Ivorian cooperation agreements, from French military assistance in setting up its armed forces. With this help, the Ivorian Army and Gendarmerie were thus taking their first steps under France’s military leadership. But divergences appeared at certain levels and the question of extra-military tasks or, more precisely, the importance granted to them in the missions of the Ivorian Armed Forces was the subject of heated debates between the two partners. The crux of the issue was the establishment and development of the Ivorian Civic Service, for which Abidjan had turned to Israel in the belief that this would not jeopardise French influence in the Ivorian defence establishment. This article revisits this issue by highlighting the intricacies and challenges in the creation of the Ivorian Civic Service.
Preliminary Exploration of Training, Perspectives, and Mental Health Program Awareness in Slaughter Plant Workers Who Perform Stunning as Part of Their Job
Authors: Edwards-Callaway Lily N. , Mijares Sage H. , Simpson Hailey M. , Cramer Mary Caitlin , Román-Muñiz Ivette Noa , Stallones Lorann
Published: October 2022

Stunning livestock (rendering them unconscious) is a necessary component of initiating humane slaughter, thus it is important to provide support to individuals performing this job. The objective of this study was to identify worker perspectives, training methods, and resources available to workers performing stunning. An online survey was distributed to industry association listservs or direct emails of slaughter plants in the United States of America. An additional survey was administered at an industry conference to increase participation. Twenty respondents completed the slaughter survey. Respondents were commonly trained using an in-person, in-house trainer. Respondents indicated feeling confident in performing stunning after training (18, 90%) and that “stunning animals has become easier the more times they did it” (17, 85%). Only 2 (10%) respondents said there were aware of programs to promote mental health, but most (17, 85%) felt “supported by peers in their workplace.” This preliminary survey identified interest in more training and limited awareness of supportive resources.
Croton (Euphorbiaceae) of the Brazilian state of Paraná: an annotated checklist, species distribution, and identification key
Authors: PEREIRA AMANDA DA PAIXÃO NORONHA , RIINA RICARDA , CARUZO MARIA BEATRIZ ROSSI
Published: October 2022

Croton is a megadiverse pantropical genus with about 1200 species. The genus can be easily recognized by a set of characters that include indumentum of stellate or lepidote trichomes, colored or clear latex, leaves often with nectary glands, and terminal inflorescences. We focus on the State of Paraná in southern Brazil, where we identified a gap in knowledge of Croton. This study was based on fieldwork and herbarium surveys that allowed us to document all Croton species occurring in the state. We recognize 41 species for the state and provide an identification key, taxonomic notes, and distribution maps for all species. We also include photographs and carry out lectotypifications when necessary. We expect this work will contribute to a better understanding of Croton diversity and distribution in southern Brazil.
Saussurea talungensis (Asteraceae), a new synonym of S. roylei
Authors: LI TIAN , CHEN YOU-SHENG
Published: October 2022

Based on critical observations on herbarium specimens (including type materials) and living plants in the wild from its type locality, we demonstrate that Saussurea talungensis, recently described from Talung valley of Humla district, Nepal, is readily distinguishable from S. lanata by an array of morphological characters but is actually conspecific with S. roylei, a species with its type locality from northwestern India. We therefore reduce S. talungensis to the synonymy of S. roylei herein.
Rediscovery of Artemisia nortonii (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and clarification of its type locality and geographical distribution
Authors: GUO XIN-QIANG , WANG LONG , YANG QIN-ER
Published: October 2022

Rediscovery of Artemisia nortonii (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) from Dinggyê county in Xizang (Tibet), China, is reported. The type locality of A. nortonii is determined to be Tingri in southwestern Xizang, a county closely neighboring with Dinggyê, not Gyaca county in southeastern Xizang. Consultation of literature and survey of herbarium specimens indicate that this species is currently known only from Dinggyê and Tingri in the Mount Everest (Zhu Mu Lang Ma Feng) region in southwestern Xizang, not occurring in eastern and southern Xizang as previously recorded. A full morphological description, a distribution map, and color photographs are provided for A. nortonii.
Navigating Alcogenic Brand Environment: Exploring How Young Nigerians Negotiate and Make Sense of Alcohol Brand Preferences
Authors: Dumbili Emeka W. , Uwa-Robinson Kelechi
Published: October 2022

No previous research has examined how and why Nigerians choose their alcohol brands. Using qualitative data, this study explored brand preference and the reasons for brand choice among 18 to 24 year-old Nigerians who use alcohol. Participants were divided into three categories based on their beer, spirit, and wine preferences. While most men preferred beer and spirits, many women chose traditional and recently developed flavoured beers and spirit-based drinks, which the alcohol industry promotes as women-friendly alcoholic drinks. Some participants chose low-strength brands to avoid heavy drinking and intoxication, while others preferred high-strength brands for immediate bodily thrills/intoxication. Some participants preferred expensive brands to cheaper beverages to construct social identity and portray an affluent lifestyle, while others used the consumption of ‘foreign’ or uncommon brands to enact distinction. Alcohol advertising and peer influence significantly impacted brand awareness and preferences. Interventions should focus on reducing alcohol/brand availability and accessibility in Nigeria.
Radiographic assessment of the impact of sex and the circadian rhythm-dependent behaviour on gastrointestinal transit in the rat
Authors: Gálvez-Robleño Carlos , López-Tofiño Yolanda , López-Gómez Laura , Bagüés Ana , Soto-Montenegro María Luisa , Abalo Raquel
Published: October 2022

Relatively little is known about the influence of sex and the circadian rhythm on gastrointestinal transit. However, these factors could have an important impact on aspects such as digestion, oral absorption of drugs or the clinical manifestation of gastrointestinal diseases, among others. Remarkably, preclinical models have scarcely taken these factors into consideration. In this study, we assessed the gastrointestinal transit of young adult Wistar Han rats of both sexes, under normal and inverted light cycle. To do this, serial radiographs were taken for 24 h (T0–T24) after intragastric barium administration and subsequently analysed to construct transit curves for each gastrointestinal region. Under a normal light cycle, transit curves were similar, except for a slower transit in females compared with males from T8 to T24. Under the inverted cycle, there was a significant acceleration in stomach emptying (similar in both sexes), emptying of the small intestine (even faster in females) and filling of the caecum and colon (which was also even faster in females). This study confirms, using X-ray non-invasive methods for the first time, that both sex and circadian rhythm (probably through its effect on behaviour) influence gastrointestinal transit in laboratory animals.
Regressive revenue sourcing by local governments
Authors: Le Thai V , Young Matthew M
Published: October 2022

Emerging work in fiscal sociology examines the intersection of race/ethnicity, inequality and taxation, and suggests that localities are increasingly turning to nontax alternatives such as fines, fees and forfeitures to fill revenue gaps and service demands. These revenue sources are regressive and discriminatory as they disproportionately affect low-income racially/ethnically minoritised groups. We assess the extent to which local municipalities in California are more dependent on regressive nontax revenue sources, and if increases are correlated with a city’s racial/ethnic composition. We use fixed-effects estimators on panel fiscal data from the California State Controller Office’s Cities Annual Reports between 2002 and 2016 for our analysis. We further exploit our time period to determine how fiscal crises like the Great Recession compound race/ethnicity-driven finance disparities. Our results suggest the proportion of Latinx/Hispanic in a city’s population is positively and statistically associated with an increase in a city’s reliance on fines, fees and forfeitures. These results suggest concerns of discriminatory and regressive revenue sourcing by local governments that further perpetuate racial inequality and poverty. In aggregate, relative to other years in our analysis, the growth rate of fines, fees and forfeitures as a portion of total own-source revenue saw higher increases during the Great Recession, a time of heightened financial insecurity among low-income, Latinx/Hispanic and Black households.
Airbnb Experiences: Travelers’ Purchase Behavior and Word-of-Mouth
Authors: Purohit Sonal , Arora Rakhi , Nunkoo Robin , Goolaup Sandhiya , Das Manish
Published: October 2022

This research examines travelers purchase behavior of “Airbnb experiences” by developing a model based on the stimulus organism response theory. Motivation, conceptualized as hedonic and utilitarian, is proposed to influence attitudes toward “Airbnb experiences.” The model is tested using data collected from two separate empirical studies on Indian domestic travelers. Empirical findings from both studies demonstrate a significant influence of perceived authenticity, perceived enjoyment, and service quality on travelers’ attitudes toward “Airbnb experiences.” The results from the two studies also converge with respect to the influence of attitudes on purchase intention and word-of-mouth. Both studies suggest a moderating effect of trend affinity on the relationship between attitudes and word-of-mouth. The research presents scholars with a theoretically robust model with the motivational attributes that positively impacts on travelers’ attitudes toward “Airbnb experiences” and the latter’s influence on purchase intention and word-of-mouth. We discuss the practical implications and limitations of the research.
Development of the whole tomato and olive-based food supplement enriched with anti-platelet aggregating nutrients
Authors: Pulcinelli Fabio , Curreli Mariaignazia , Natali Pier Giorgio , Quaresima Virginia , Imberti Luisa , Piantelli Mauro
Published: October 2022

Background

Platelet dysfunctions are shared by cardiovascular diseases and a wide range of inflammatory diseases.

Aims

To determine the ability of a new whole tomato-based food supplement (WTBFS) containing carotenoid and olive polyphenols to inhibit platelet aggregation.

Methods

Aggregation was evaluated in platelet-rich plasma using microtiter plates and a plate reader.

Results

Platelets treated with WTBFS showed a >70% reduction of 5 µM adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation; at 10 µM of ADP, the inhibitory effect of WTBFS was reduced of about 50%. Similarly, 78% and 48% reduction were obtained using 5 µg/mL and 10 µg /mL of collagen as an agonist

Conclusion

Since the compounds in WTBFS share the ability to inhibit STAT3, the inhibition of its signaling pathway may represent the mechanism underlying the antiplatelet activities. The activity of a lipophilic solution prepared from WTBS was in vitro tested on the platelet aggregation in response to ADP agonists and Collagen.
Implementation of a Mathematical Model for the Prediction of the Future Condition Rating for Bridge Components
Authors: Jayathilaka Sameera Tharanga , Phares Brent M. , Liu Zhengyu
Published: October 2022

Bridges are continuously exposed to environmental changes and dynamic loading effects caused by moving loads. As a result, bridge deterioration is a critical problem in the U.S.A. The National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database contains historical bridge condition information for bridges in the U.S.A. and currently it is the best available database for describing the historical condition of bridges in the U.S.A. The objective of this paper is to develop a mathematical model that can be used to predict the future condition ratings of each bridge component and, more specifically, to estimate the probability of each bridge component being at any condition rating at any future year. Two different types of future condition rating prediction models, namely the current practice model (CPM) and the deterioration prediction model (DPM), were developed. The CPM is capable of simulating the effects of historical maintenance activities when predicting the future condition rating probabilities, whereas the DPM does not consider the effects of historical maintenance activities when predicting the future condition rating probabilities. Both models were illustrated and validated using most current NBI data. The performance of both models was evaluated on hundreds of bridges in the states of Iowa and Wisconsin. The results indicated that the CPMs tend to converge to condition rating 6 within 15 years, whereas the DPMs tend to converge to condition rating 4 with 15 years. This suggests that conducting current maintenance activities helps to keep the nation’s bridges in at least “satisfactory condition.” However, a lack of performing any maintenance could lead to bridges being structurally deficient within 15 years.
Unpacking the Tibial Tubercle–Trochlear Groove Distance: Evaluation of Rotational Factors, Trochlear Groove and Tibial Tubercle Position, and Role of Trochlear Dysplasia
Authors: Pace J. Lee , Drummond Mauricio , Brimacombe Michael , Cheng Chris , Chiu David , Luczak S. Brandon , Shroff Jeffrey B. , Zeng Francine , Kanski Greg M. , Kakazu Rafael , Cohen Andrew
Published: October 2022

Background:

The tibial tubercle to trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance is often utilized for determining the surgical treatment for patients with patellar instability (PI). It is thought to directly represent the position of the TT on the tibia. Recent work has shown that the measurement of the TT-TG distance is multifactorial.

Purpose:

To investigate the relationship between relative tibial external rotation (rTER) and trochlear dysplasia (TD), as well as the location of the TG and TT in patients with and without PI, and to correlate these and other anatomic measurements with the TT-TG distance.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 89 patients with PI who underwent magnetic resonance imaging were identified with 92 matched control patients. A standardized measurement protocol on axial magnetic resonance imaging determined rTER, the proximal and distal TG lateralization (pTGL and dTGL, respectively) ratios, and the TT lateralization (TTL) ratio. Other measures of interest included the lateral trochlear inclination angle, sulcus angle, and lateral patellar inclination angle. Univariate regression was used to determine the associations of TD (lateral trochlear inclination angle, sulcus angle) with rTER and the TG position, and multivariate regression was used to model associations among all the variables with the proximal and distal TT-TG distances.

Results:

rTER was significantly higher in the study group ( P < .001), and univariate regression showed a significant association between dysplasia measures and rTER ( P < .001). The pTGL ratio was lower in the study group ( P = .025), but there was no difference in the dTGL ratio ( P = .090) or the TTL ratio ( P = .098) between the groups. There were no associations between dysplasia measures and the pTGL and dTGL ratios ( P > .05). Multivariate regression showed that the proximal TT-TG distance is predicted by the sulcus angle, pTGL ratio, rTER, and TTL ratio ( P < .05) and that the distal TT-TG distance is predicted by the lateral patellar inclination angle, dTGL ratio, sulcus angle, rTER, and TTL ratio ( P < .05).

Conclusion:

rTER had a significant association with TD. The position of the proximal TG was more medial in patients with PI. There was no significant difference in the TTL ratio between patients with and without PI. The TT-TG distance was associated with multiple anatomic measures and was not solely predicated on the position of the TT.