bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Administrative Problems Facing the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in Implementing Extension Activities and Ways to Address Them
Authors: Ramadan Noor Al-Huda Talal , Lafta Ahmed Hamdan 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The extension service is one of the vital services that farmers in general and farmers in particular desperately need because it takes care of them and focuses on meeting their needs as well as developing solutions to their agricultural problems. Therefore, the research aimed to identify the administrative problems of extension and agricultural training in the process of implementing extension activities and ways to address them from the point of view of agricultural extension agents in the governorates of the central region. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, the questionnaire was designed for the purpose of identifying administrative problems in the process of implementing extension activities first, and then developing treatments as a second goal by identifying the opinions of agricultural extension agents, relying on the literature related to the subject of specialized experts. The questionnaire was presented in its initial form to a group of experts to seek their views on the design components (fields, paragraphs) and verify its validity. The results showed that the percentage of agreement (75%) of the experts’ opinions was obtained by all the axes and paragraphs of the questionnaire. The research community included all the agricultural extension workers working at the headquarters of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department and its formations in the governorates of the central region. The number of those included in the research was (118) agricultural extension agents. Then treat all the data received statistically where there was (weight percentile, weighted mean). The final research results showed that all the administrative problems that were put in the design of the questionnaire are real problems facing the Agricultural Extension and Training Department, as it obtained a weighted mean greater than the imposed mean in the scale of approval ratings used in the research. As for the results of the second objective, the results showed that the topic of interest in the participants’ reactions came in the first place as a real treatment of the administrative problems of the Agricultural Extension and Training Department in the implementation of extension activities. The research recommended improving the administrative process and dealing with the principle of flexibility when drawing up the department’s policies in general, as well as working on the issue of authorizing powers for agricultural extension workers during implementation operations in order to increase the effectiveness of the extension activities implemented.
Impact of Polytherapy on Memory Functioning in Patients With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: The Role of Attention and Executive Functions
Authors: Lozano-García Alejandro , Catalán-Aguilar Judit , Tormos-Pons Paula , Hampel Kevin G , Villanueva Vicente , Cano-López Irene , González-Bono Esperanza 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Objective
The aim was to examine the effect of polytherapy (i.e., the number of administered anti-seizure medications (ASMs)) on memory, and whether the interaction between the number of ASMs and attentional/executive functioning affect presurgical memory functioning and postsurgical memory changes in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Methods
Two studies were carried out. Study 1 consisted of a presurgical assessment of 125 adult patients, in which attention/executive function (EpiTrack screening tool) and memory were assessed (cross-sectional study). Of them, 72 patients underwent a second postsurgical evaluation, in which memory was assessed (Study 2). Patients were distributed into groups based on EpiTrack performance and number of ASMs.

Results
The interaction between the number of ASMs and the attentional/executive functioning significantly affected presurgical memory, with patients with impaired EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs having poorer scores than patients with intact EpiTrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p &lt; .0001). This interaction also affected postsurgical memory changes, with patients with impaired Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs having higher postsurgical decline than those with intact Epitrack performance taking three-four ASMs (for all, p &lt; .005). No differences were found in patients taking two ASMs. Furthermore, the number of ASMs was associated with presurgical memory performance and postsurgical memory changes only in patients with impaired EpiTrack performance (for all, p &lt; .05).

Conclusions
Our findings underline the utility of EpiTrack, together with the clinical information on the number of prescribed ASMs, to corroborate the impact of polytherapy on memory and to optimize the prediction of postsurgical memory changes.
Inheritance of environment-induced phenotypic changes through epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Tando Yukiko , Matsui Yasuhisa 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that epigenetic changes through various parental environmental factors alter the phenotypes of descendants in various organisms. Environmental factors, including exposure to chemicals, stress and abnormal nutrition, affect the epigenome in parental germ cells by different epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modification as well as small RNAs via metabolites. Some current remaining questions are the causal relationship between environment-induced epigenetic changes in germ cells and altered phenotypes of descendants, and the molecular basis of how the abnormal epigenetic changes escape reprogramming in germ cells. In this review, we introduce representative examples of intergenerational and transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic changes through parental environmental factors and the accompanied epigenetic and metabolic changes, with a focus on animal species. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms of epigenomic inheritance and their possible biological significance.
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and quality of life in patients with heart failure: a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Oriecuia Chiara , Tomasoni Daniela , Sala Isabella , Bonfioli Giovanni Battista , Adamo Marianna , Gussago Cristina , Lombardi Carlo Mario , Pagnesi Matteo , Savarese Gianluigi , Metra Marco , Specchia Claudia 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are one of the cornerstones of heart failure (HF) therapy. While benefits in terms of HF hospitalizations and death are well established, their impact on quality-of-life (QoL) has not been systematically investigated.

Objective
This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the impact of SGLT2i treatment on QoL in patients with HF, by analysing data from randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Methods
We identified a total of 23 RCTs that investigated the role of SGLT2i on quality of life in patients with HF, irrespective of their left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). RCTs that used Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall summary score (KCCQ-OSS) to assess QoL and had a minimum follow-up of 3 months were included. The difference in mean change of the KCCQ-OSS between the SGLT2i group and the standard of care (SOC) group at 3 and 6 months from baseline was considered as the outcome measure.

Findings
Fourteen RCTs (21 737 patients) were included in the analysis. A significant improvement in KCCQ-OSS over time (p &lt; 0.001) was observed in both patients receiving SOC and those receiving SGLT2i in addition. The pooled estimate showed a significant improvement of 1.94 points [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.41–2.46] in KCCQ-OSS mean change at 3 months and of 2.18 points (95% CI, 1.13–3.24) at 6 months from baseline, with SGLT2i compared to SOC alone, irrespective of LVEF. A greater improvement in KCCQ-OSS was observed among patients with a recent episode of worsening HF compared to those with chronic stable HF.

Conclusions
Among patients with HF, irrespective of their LVEF and clinical status, the addition of SGLT2i to SOC demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life as early as at 3-month follow-up.
Surgical training of minimally invasive mitral valve repair on a patient-specific simulator improves surgical skills
Authors: Wang Christina , Karl Roger , Sharan Lalith , Grizelj Andela , Fischer Samantha , Karck Matthias , De Simone Raffaele , Romano Gabriele , Engelhardt Sandy 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Minimally invasive mitral valve repair (MVR) is considered one of the most challenging operations in cardiac surgery and requires much practice and experience. Simulation-based surgical training might be a method to support the learning process and help to flatten the steep learning curve of novices. The purpose of this study was to show the possible effects on learning of surgical training using a high-fidelity simulator with patient-specific mitral valve replicas.

METHODS
Twenty-five participants were recruited to perform MVR on anatomically realistic valve models during different training sessions. After every session their performance was evaluated by a surgical expert regarding accuracy and duration for each step. A second blinded rater similarly assessed the performance after the study. Through repeated documentation of those parameters, their progress in learning was analysed, and gains in proficiency were evaluated.

RESULTS
Participants showed significant performance enhancements in terms of both accuracy and time. Their surgical skills showed sizeable improvements after only 1 session. For example, the time to implant neo-chordae decreased by 24.64% (354 s-264 s, P &lt; 0.001) and the time for annuloplasty by 4.01% (54 s-50 s, P = 0.165), whereas the number of irregular stitches for annuloplasty decreased from 52% to 24%.
The significance of simulation-based surgical training as a tool for acquiring and training surgical skills was reviewed positively.

CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that simulation-based surgical training is a valuable and effective method for learning reconstructive techniques of minimally invasive MVR and overall general dexterity.
The novel learning and training options should be implemented in the surgical traineeship for systematic teaching of various surgical skills.
Low price-to-book ratios and bank dividend payouts: economic policy implications
Authors: Gambacorta Leonardo , Oliviero Tommaso , Shin Hyun Song 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Banks with a low price-to-book ratio (PBR) have a greater propensity to pay out dividends. This propensity is especially marked for banks with a PBR below a threshold of 0.7, a situation that characterizes many banks in recent years, especially in the euro area. We demonstrate these features using data for 271 advanced economy banks in 29 jurisdictions. Dividend payouts as a proportion of profits rise in a non-linear way as the PBR falls below 0.7. In a hypothetical exercise with fixed balance sheet ratios, we find that a suspension of bank dividends in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic would have added, under different stress scenarios and parametrizations, an additional US$0.2–1.1 trillion of bank lending capacity in our sample, equivalent to 0.3–1.6% of total GDP.
Predicting net growth rates in boreal forests using Landsat time series and permanent sample plot data
Authors: Morin-Bernard Alexandre , Coops Nicholas C , White Joanne C , Achim Alexis 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIncreasing temperature and changes in water dynamics are bringing uncertainty regarding the future productivity of boreal forests, even in the absence of stand-replacing disturbances. There is accumulating evidence that water deficits caused by warmer summer temperatures are linked to decreases in the growth rate of boreal tree species in some regions. In this context, it is essential to provide forest professionals with a means of monitoring net forest growth rates in undisturbed areas and at the scale of a management unit in order to determine where and when changes in growth are taking place. This is challenging using conventional forest inventory approaches. In this study, we use Landsat time series and data from permanent sample plots (PSP) to develop spatially explicit estimates of annual net basal area growth at a 30-m spatial resolution for a forest management unit in Canada. An ordinary least square regression model was developed using data from 120 PSPs and validated on an independent set of 60 PSPs, with R2 values of 0.61 and 0.58, respectively. Applying the model over a 586 607-ha study area revealed considerable temporal and spatial variability in the predicted growth rates and their evolution through time. There was an overall decline in predicted growth rates over time, with this trend corroborated by the PSP data and attributed to the ageing demographics of the forests in the study area. This variability was related to forest development stage, species composition, and structural attributes derived from light detection and ranging (LiDAR). The information generated by the suggested approach can help to improve yield predictions, optimize rotation lengths, and allow for the identification of target areas where silvicultural interventions aimed at maintaining or enhancing growth could be conducted.
The undiminished constituent: Afterword to the Foreword by Sergio Verdugo
Authors: Christodoulidis Emilios 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This Afterword is a response to Sergio Verdugo’s Foreword. It provides a defense of the notion of constituent power as a necessary element of the constitutional imaginary and ineradicable dimension of any credible account of democratic constitutionalism. It takes issue with what Verdugo identifies as the ‘conventional’ approach to constituent power, and argues that the collapse of constituent power into constituted power comes, philosophically and politically, at a significant cost. It concludes with a discussion of the recent irruption of constituent power in the constitutional situation in Chile.
The player, the programmer and the AI: a copyright odyssey in gaming
Authors: Farmaki Despoina 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The advancement of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technology has fundamentally altered the production and ownership of works, including video games. That is because, with the development of AI systems, machines are now capable of not only producing works that are similar to existing ones but also creating works that are truly original and creative. The question of how such works should be protected under copyright law is a complex and evolving one. It is crucial to take into account the numerous approaches that have been proposed in this regard for the copyright protection of AI-generated works alongside related criticisms. Regardless of the approach employed, the issue of copyright protection for AI-generated works becomes more complicated if one considers the exclusive rights copyright holders enjoy, such as the communication to the public right via video game streaming. It will be feasible to create a framework for the protection of AI-generated works that is fair, effective and responsive to the requirements of both creators and users by carefully examining the legal and practical challenges involved.
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for Varicella-Zoster Virus Exposure in High-Risk Children
Authors: Shteynberg Emily , Sun Shan , Jhaveri Ravi , Patel Sameer J 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) with varicella immunoglobulin is recommended to minimize risk of varicella complications for high-risk children. However, providers frequently use alternatives like acyclovir or intravenous immunoglobulin.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted of PEP for varicella in children from January 2009 to December 2019. Data were provided by 47 children’s hospitals who participate in the Pediatric Health Information Systems database. Patients with clinical encounters for varicella exposure were reviewed. Choice of varicella PEP regimens, including differences by underlying condition and institution, and incidence of varicella disease were determined.

Results
A total of 1704 patients with first clinical encounters for varicella met inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 509 (29.9%) were prescribed PEP after varicella exposure, and 65 (3.8%) ultimately had a subsequent encounter for varicella disease. Of 509 patients who received PEP, acyclovir was most frequently prescribed (n = 195, 38.3%), followed by varicella immunoglobulin (n = 146, 28.7%), IVIG (n = 115, 22.6%), and combination therapy (n = 53, 10.4%). The highest proportion of varicella immunoglobulin use (10/20, 50%) was amongst children with diagnoses of rheumatological/gastrointestinal conditions. The highest proportion of acyclovir use (29/684, 4.2%) was amongst children with diagnoses of oncology/stem cell transplant conditions. The proportion of patients who subsequently had clinical encounters for varicella disease was highest for Acyclovir (30/195, 15.4%) followed by varicella immunoglobulin (5/146, 3.4%), combination therapy (2/53, 3.8%), and intravenous immunoglobulin alone (0/115) (P &lt; .0001).

Conclusions
Varicella PEP in high-risk children was highly varied among children’s hospitals. In our dataset, use of acyclovir was associated with a higher rate of subsequent encounters for Varicella disease.
AtIAR1 is a Zn transporter that regulates auxin metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Gate Thomas , Hill Lionel , Miller Anthony J , Sanders Dale 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Root growth in Arabidopsis is inhibited by exogenous auxin–amino acid conjugates, and mutants resistant to one such conjugate [indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)–Ala] map to a gene (AtIAR1) that is a member of a metal transporter family. Here, we test the hypothesis that AtIAR1 controls the hydrolysis of stored conjugated auxin to free auxin through zinc transport. AtIAR1 complements a yeast mutant sensitive to zinc, but not manganese- or iron-sensitive mutants, and the transporter is predicted to be localized to the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi in plants. A previously identified Atiar1 mutant and a non-expressed T-DNA mutant both exhibit altered auxin metabolism, including decreased IAA–glucose conjugate levels in zinc-deficient conditions and insensitivity to the growth effect of exogenous IAA–Ala conjugates. At a high concentration of zinc, wild-type plants show a novel enhanced response to root growth inhibition by exogenous IAA–Ala which is disrupted in both Atiar1 mutants. Furthermore, both Atiar1 mutants show changes in auxin-related phenotypes, including lateral root density and hypocotyl length. The findings therefore suggest a role for AtIAR1 in controlling zinc release from the secretory system, where zinc homeostasis plays a key role in regulation of auxin metabolism and plant growth regulation.
The Hidden Enemy: Mal de Débarquement Syndrome and Its Impact on Military Operations
Authors: Hughes Charlotte K , Eliason Michael J , Matsuoka Akihiro J 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT
Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a poorly understood vestibular disorder that frequently affects military personnel exposed to motion during transportation and deployment. It is characterized by a persistent sensation of motion often experienced after disembarking from a ship or other mode of transportation. It can significantly affect a service member’s balance, coordination, attention, and focus, which can then substantially impact their quality of life, ability to perform their military duties, and overall mission readiness. Despite its potential impact, comprehensive studies on MdDS are scarce, especially within the military. The unique conditions of military service, including frequent travel, long flights, maritime deployments, and high-stress environments, make the military well suited to study MdDS. Increased awareness and understanding of MdDS is crucial for everyone in the military—from medical personnel responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of MdDS to commanders who must consider the operational impact of impaired personnel.
Optical emission model for Binary Black Hole merger remnants travelling through discs of Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Rodríguez-Ramírez J C , Bom C R , Fraga B , Nemmen R 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT
Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have been proposed as plausible sites for hosting a sizable fraction of the binary black hole (BBH) mergers measured through gravitational waves (GWs) by the LIGO–Virgo–Kagra (LVK) experiment. These GWs could be accompanied by radiation feedback due to the interaction of the BBH merger remnant with the AGN disc. We present a new predicted radiation signature driven by the passage of a kicked BBH remnant throughout a thin AGN disc. We analyse the situation of a merger occurring outside the thin disc, where the merger is of second or higher generation in a merging hierarchical sequence. The coalescence produces a kicked BH remnant that eventually plunges into the disc, accretes material, and inflates jet cocoons. We consider the case of a jet cocoon propagating quasi-parallel to the disc plane and study the outflow that results when the cocoon emerges from the disc. We calculate the transient emission of the emerging cocoon using a photon diffusion model typically employed to describe the light curves of supernovae. Depending on the parameter configuration, the flare produced by the emerging cocoon could be comparable to or exceed the AGN background emission at optical, and extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. For instance, in AGNs with central engines of ∼5 × 106 M⊙, flares driven by BH remnants with masses of ∼100 M⊙ can appear in about ∼[10–100] d after the GW, lasting for few days.
RNA G-quadruplex folding is a multi-pathway process driven by conformational entropy
Authors: Ugrina Marijana , Burkhart Ines , Müller Diana , Schwalbe Harald , Schwierz Nadine 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The kinetics of folding is crucial for the function of many regulatory RNAs including RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s). Here, we characterize the folding pathways of a G-quadruplex from the telomeric repeat-containing RNA by combining all-atom molecular dynamics and coarse-grained simulations with circular dichroism experiments. The quadruplex fold is stabilized by cations and thus, the ion atmosphere forming a double layer surrounding the highly charged quadruplex guides the folding process. To capture the ionic double layer in implicit solvent coarse-grained simulations correctly, we develop a matching procedure based on all-atom simulations in explicit water. The procedure yields quantitative agreement between simulations and experiments as judged by the populations of folded and unfolded states at different salt concentrations and temperatures. Subsequently, we show that coarse-grained simulations with a resolution of three interaction sites per nucleotide are well suited to resolve the folding pathways and their intermediate states. The results reveal that the folding progresses from unpaired chain via hairpin, triplex and double-hairpin constellations to the final folded structure. The two- and three-strand intermediates are stabilized by transient Hoogsteen interactions. Each pathway passes through two on-pathway intermediates. We hypothesize that conformational entropy is a hallmark of rG4 folding. Conformational entropy leads to the observed branched multi-pathway folding process for TERRA25. We corroborate this hypothesis by presenting the free energy landscapes and folding pathways of four rG4 systems with varying loop length.