cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Global Bovine and Ovine Fascioliasis, UK Management Strategies, and the Immunological Response of an Intermediate Host to Infection with Fasciola hepatica.
Creators: name: Buckner, Alice
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2024
Subjects: D320 - Animal health
D330 - Veterinary public health

description: Fasciola hepatica, one of the causative agents of fascioliasis, infects animals and humans globally causing mass morbidity and expansive drains on the agricultural economy. Its complex lifecycle, requiring an intermediate snail host, makes it difficult to control with levels of resistance to the drugs used to treat it increasing. This research aimed to provide a global overview of F. hepatica prevalence, its distribution and how it is managed in the UK, and an insight into the reaction of an intermediate host to infection. The meta-analysis of global bovine and ovine fascioliasis prevalence indicated higher levels in temperate areas with moderate levels of precipitation, decreasing prevalence over time, and a higher infection rate in sheep than cattle. However high heterogeneity within the dataset means these conclusions must be interpreted with care. The questionnaire and accompanying livestock faecal egg count test for UK farmers indicated that many of the suggested control strategies are being used, such as rotating flukicides, targeting treatment, and limiting livestock access to areas of pasture at high-risk of infection. The presence of snail habitats, with these used as a drinking source, and grazing animals at high fluke risk periods during the year were the most suitable predictors of fluke presence on the farm, with a predicted prevalence of 24.42%.In addition, it was also observed that F. hepatica infection risk increased the further west the farm was located. When looking at the response of an intermediate host of F. hepaticato infection, namely Lymnaea stagnalis, both protein and phenoloxidase levels were downregulated with infection, with no effect of treatment on longevity, egg laying capacity, nitrate concentration, or haemocyte count. The prevalence study reiterates the importance of surveillance with an integrated approach of monitoring resistance and prevalence, feeding back the best methods of control to those with livestock, and the collaboration of parasitologists and climate change scientists required to help control this increasing burden. To successfully control this disease the interactions between the snail host and the parasite is required, with the immunological study carried out here aiming to kick-start this research. Novel control mechanisms are required which can only be developed with enough knowledge of this complex snail-trematode interaction. With climate change and drug resistance exacerbating the global fascioliasis problem it is imperative that research continues into the surveillance, management, and control of this parasites at all stages of its life cycle.
Old trees in our time: glimpses from the lower Gangetic Delta, India
Creators: name: Ray, Rajasri
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Ecology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Cancer
subject: Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Old trees are ubiquitous but ignored living heritage in productive anthropogenic landscapes. Their intricate association with humans is interwoven into a diverse social, cultural, and religious milieu. This exploratory research on old trees across the eastern state of India has hitherto recorded a large number of old trees and uncovered a multitude of socio-religious connections with impending challenges and probable way-outs.
Socioeconomic Metrics for the Water-Smartness Assessment Framework
Creators: name: Gomes, Carla
name: Oliveira, Rosário
name: Schmidt, Luísa
name: Melo, Marcella
name: Rebelo, Margarida
name: Strehl, Clemens
name: Schmuck, Alexandra
name: Munaretto, Stefania
name: Damman, Sigrid
name: Sarti, Sofía Tirado
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021

description: This deliverable offers a preliminary proposal of socioeconomic metrics for assessing the status of the B-WaterSmart Living Labs (LL) towards a ‘water-smart society’. This deliverable is a result from the task "Analysis of drivers and barriers for implementation and acceptance of water-smart solutions". Part of this task involves providing inputs to the ongoing work for the water-smartness assessment framework.

According to the architecture set for the assessment framework, the metrics herein proposed are aligned with specific assessment criteria, which derive from the B-WaterSmart definition of a water-smart society (see section 2) and from the strategic objectives defined for the six LL of the project: Alicante, Bodø, East Frisia, Flanders, Lisbon and Venice.

We start by explaining the methodology followed the metrics proposed. This is meant to serve as a supporting guide to read and interpret the metrics list, which is compiled in Annex 2. Section 4 sums up the key challenges and recommendations across the dimensions of society, governance and policy, towards a framework that can best support the implementation of a water-smart society and circular economy (CE), in Europe and beyond.
MyGene2 automated match report: AHI1
Creators: name: Team, The MyGene2
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: 110311 Medical Genetics (excl. Cancer Genetics)
subject: FOS: Basic medicine

description: MyGene2.org is free, public, searchable & browsable website. Families with rare genetic conditions, clinicians, and researchers families who are interested in sharing health and genetic information can create MyGene2 profiles and use these to connect with other families, clinicians, and researchers who may have or be studying the same condition. If multiple MyGene2 profiles potentially match on a shared gene of interest, MyGene2 automatically generates a match report summarizing the information in these profiles. This automated match report is shared publicly to help facilitate further research and/or connections between the submitters of the MyGene2 profiles and other interested parties. This is an automated match report for AHI1.
Global Bovine and Ovine Fascioliasis, UK Management Strategies, and the Immunological Response of an Intermediate Host to Infection with Fasciola hepatica.
Creators: name: Author, Unknown
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: D320 - Animal health
D330 - Veterinary public health

description: Fasciola hepatica, one of the causative agents of fascioliasis, infects animals and humans globally causing mass morbidity and expansive drains on the agricultural economy. Its complex lifecycle, requiring an intermediate snail host, makes it difficult to control with levels of resistance to the drugs used to treat it increasing. This research aimed to provide a global overview of F. hepatica prevalence, its distribution and how it is managed in the UK, and an insight into the reaction of an intermediate host to infection. The meta-analysis of global bovine and ovine fascioliasis prevalence indicated higher levels in temperate areas with moderate levels of precipitation, decreasing prevalence over time, and a higher infection rate in sheep than cattle. However high heterogeneity within the dataset means these conclusions must be interpreted with care. The questionnaire and accompanying livestock faecal egg count test for UK farmers indicated that many of the suggested control strategies are being used, such as rotating flukicides, targeting treatment, and limiting livestock access to areas of pasture at high-risk of infection. The presence of snail habitats, with these used as a drinking source, and grazing animals at high fluke risk periods during the year were the most suitable predictors of fluke presence on the farm, with a predicted prevalence of 24.42%.In addition, it was also observed that F. hepatica infection risk increased the further west the farm was located. When looking at the response of an intermediate host of F. hepaticato infection, namely Lymnaea stagnalis, both protein and phenoloxidase levels were downregulated with infection, with no effect of treatment on longevity, egg laying capacity, nitrate concentration, or haemocyte count. The prevalence study reiterates the importance of surveillance with an integrated approach of monitoring resistance and prevalence, feeding back the best methods of control to those with livestock, and the collaboration of parasitologists and climate change scientists required to help control this increasing burden. To successfully control this disease the interactions between the snail host and the parasite is required, with the immunological study carried out here aiming to kick-start this research. Novel control mechanisms are required which can only be developed with enough knowledge of this complex snail-trematode interaction. With climate change and drug resistance exacerbating the global fascioliasis problem it is imperative that research continues into the surveillance, management, and control of this parasites at all stages of its life cycle.
Implementing and Investigating Refractoriness in LGMD Neural Networks
Creators: name: Mu, Hua
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2024
Subjects: I100 - Computer science

description: Collision can be threatening for animals including human beings. Thus, reliable and accurate collision perception is vital in plenty of aspects. Taking inspiration from nature, the computational methods of lobula giant movement detectors (LGMDs) identified in flying locust’s visual pathways have positively demonstrated impacts on addressing this problem. However, collision perception methods based on visual cues are still challenged by several factors in physical world including ultra-fast approaching linear velocity and noisy signals. The current visual-cue-based LGMD neural networks could show ineffectiveness or generate false positive, especially when objects approach at fast velocity and when the video signals are polluted by noises. Hence, how ultra-fast approaching object in a colliding way can be detected remains to be further improved. Neural refractoriness, also known as refractory period (RP), a common mechanism inside animals’ neural system studied for decades, though it has been considered to play a significant role in stabilising a neuron, has not been researched in the aforementioned LGMD neural networks for accurate and reliable collision perception. In this thesis, a novel method phenomenologically simulating neural refractoriness inside animals’ neural systems is proposed and is further investigated on its functionality and efficacy when it is combined with the classic LGMD1 and LGMD2 neuronal networks for collision perception. Our systematically experimental results demonstrate that, mimicking refractoriness not only enhances the LGMD1 models in terms of reliability and stability when facing ultra-fast approaching objects, but also improves its performance against visual stimuli polluted by Gaussian or Salt & Pepper noise. Potential proof of LGMD2 neural network’s reliability and its capability to adapt to cluttered physical world is also provided. This research shows that, modelling of refractoriness can be effective and benefiting in collision perception neuronal networks, and be promising to address the aforementioned challenges for collision perception.
Implementing and Investigating Refractoriness in LGMD Neural Networks
Creators: name: Author, Unknown
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: I100 - Computer science

description: Collision can be threatening for animals including human beings. Thus, reliable and accurate collision perception is vital in plenty of aspects. Taking inspiration from nature, the computational methods of lobula giant movement detectors (LGMDs) identified in flying locust’s visual pathways have positively demonstrated impacts on addressing this problem. However, collision perception methods based on visual cues are still challenged by several factors in physical world including ultra-fast approaching linear velocity and noisy signals. The current visual-cue-based LGMD neural networks could show ineffectiveness or generate false positive, especially when objects approach at fast velocity and when the video signals are polluted by noises. Hence, how ultra-fast approaching object in a colliding way can be detected remains to be further improved. Neural refractoriness, also known as refractory period (RP), a common mechanism inside animals’ neural system studied for decades, though it has been considered to play a significant role in stabilising a neuron, has not been researched in the aforementioned LGMD neural networks for accurate and reliable collision perception. In this thesis, a novel method phenomenologically simulating neural refractoriness inside animals’ neural systems is proposed and is further investigated on its functionality and efficacy when it is combined with the classic LGMD1 and LGMD2 neuronal networks for collision perception. Our systematically experimental results demonstrate that, mimicking refractoriness not only enhances the LGMD1 models in terms of reliability and stability when facing ultra-fast approaching objects, but also improves its performance against visual stimuli polluted by Gaussian or Salt & Pepper noise. Potential proof of LGMD2 neural network’s reliability and its capability to adapt to cluttered physical world is also provided. This research shows that, modelling of refractoriness can be effective and benefiting in collision perception neuronal networks, and be promising to address the aforementioned challenges for collision perception.
title: A rare case of ovotesticular DSD (true hermaphroditism)
Creators: name: Talukdar, Baloy Jyoti
Publisher: name: EURORAD
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Uroradiology & genital male imaging
subject: Genital / Reproductive system female
subject: Genital / Reproductive system male
subject: MR
subject: Ultrasound
subject: Congenital
subject: Clinical Case

description: Clinical History: A 38-year-old individual came with complaints of left iliac fossa pain for 15 days and was found to have ambiguous external genitalia during examination. The patient identified as male. However, there was a history of menarche at 14 years of age.

On physical examination, there was clitoromegaly with no palpable gonads present in either labioscrotal region. A palpable mass in the right inguinal region was found. Mild breast development seen. 

Hormone levels revealed normal male range of testosterone and oestradiol with raised luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. Karyotyping showed XY genotype.

description: 38 years, male
Molecular genetic dissection to improve seedling drought tolerance in winter wheat using QTL mapping
Creators: name: Sallam, Ahmed
name: Hussain, Waseem
name: Belamker, Vikas
name: P. Stephen Baenziger
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Plant Biology
subject: 60412 Quantitative Genetics (incl. Disease and Trait Mapping Genetics)

description: The genetic architecture of seedling drought tolerance is complex and needs to be better understood. To address this challenge, a population of 145 recombinant inbred lines (F9) derived from crossing between a wheat cultivar, ‘Harry’ (seedling drought tolerant) and ‘Wesley’ (seedling drought susceptible) was used to study the genetic variation for seedling drought tolerance and identify genomic regions associated with seedling drought tolerance in winter wheat. At the seedling stage, all genotypes were sown in three replications with a randomized complete block design under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Seven traits were scored and grouped into tolerance traits (days to wilting, wilting score, and stay green) and survival traits (days to regrowth, regrowth, drought survival rate, and recovery after drought). Three selection indices were calculated (1) tolerance index, (2) survival index, and (3) drought tolerance index (DTI). In addition, the same lines were evaluated in two well-watered and two dry locations for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. A high genetic variation was found between all genotypes for all seedling traits scored in this study. No or weak significant correlations were found between tolerance and survival traits. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.53 to 0.88. DTI showed high significant phenotypic and genotypic correlation with all seedling traits scored in this study. The QTL analysis revealed 14 QTL associated with drought tolerance. Two QTLs showed a pleotropic effect. We concluded the tolerance and survival traits are controlled by different genes. Only one genotype showed a high seedling drought tolerance and a high yield under drought, low-rainfall environments
Molecular genetic dissection to improve seedling drought tolerance in winter wheat using QTL mapping
Creators: name: Sallam, Ahmed
name: Hussain, Waseem
name: Belamker, Vikas
name: P. Stephen Baenziger
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2016
Subjects: subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Plant Biology
subject: 60412 Quantitative Genetics (incl. Disease and Trait Mapping Genetics)

description: The genetic architecture of seedling drought tolerance is complex and needs to be better understood. To address this challenge, a population of 145 recombinant inbred lines (F9) derived from crossing between a wheat cultivar, ‘Harry’ (seedling drought tolerant) and ‘Wesley’ (seedling drought susceptible) was used to study the genetic variation for seedling drought tolerance and identify genomic regions associated with seedling drought tolerance in winter wheat. At the seedling stage, all genotypes were sown in three replications with a randomized complete block design under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Seven traits were scored and grouped into tolerance traits (days to wilting, wilting score, and stay green) and survival traits (days to regrowth, regrowth, drought survival rate, and recovery after drought). Three selection indices were calculated (1) tolerance index, (2) survival index, and (3) drought tolerance index (DTI). In addition, the same lines were evaluated in two well-watered and two dry locations for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. A high genetic variation was found between all genotypes for all seedling traits scored in this study. No or weak significant correlations were found between tolerance and survival traits. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.53 to 0.88. DTI showed high significant phenotypic and genotypic correlation with all seedling traits scored in this study. The QTL analysis revealed 14 QTL associated with drought tolerance. Two QTLs showed a pleotropic effect. We concluded the tolerance and survival traits are controlled by different genes. Only one genotype showed a high seedling drought tolerance and a high yield under drought, low-rainfall environments
Bilan annuel de la surveillance et observation de la contamination chimique dans les eaux littorales du bassin Seine-Normandie
Creators: name: Menet, Florence
name: Grouhel, Anne
Publisher: name: Ifremer
Year: 2023

description: La surveillance du ROCCH est répartie sur 21 points situés sur le littoral normand. Les prélèvements sont réalisés une fois par an en février sur des moules, des huîtres et des coques, et 144 substances sont recherchées selon la stratégie appliqué au point (DCE, DCSMM, OSPAR, Sanitaire). Ce rapport présente les chroniques des concentrations mises à jour pour 2022, ainsi qu’une comparaison des médianes 2020-2022 à la médiane nationale.
Economic Viability of Industrial Hemp in the United States: A Review of State Pilot Programs
Creators: name: Mark, Tyler
name: Shepherd, Jonathan
name: Olson, David
name: Snell, William
name: Proper, Susan
name: Thornsbury, Suzanne
name: Mark, Tyler
name: Shepherd, Jonathan
name: Olson, David
name: Snell, William
name: Proper, Susan
name: Thornsbury, Suzanne
Publisher: name: Unknown
Year: 2020
Subjects: subject: Agribusiness
subject: Industrial Organization
subject: International Development
subject: Production Economics
subject: hemp
subject: cannabidiol
subject: CBD
subject: pilot program
subject: infant industry
subject: Farm Bill

description: After a hiatus of almost 45 years, the Agricultural Act of 2014, Public Law 113-79 (the 2014 Farm Bill) reintroduced industrial hemp production in the United States through State pilot programs. U.S. industrial hemp acreage reported by State pilot programs increased from 0 in 2013 to over 90,000 acres in 2018, the largest U.S. hemp acreage since the 146,200 acres grown in 1943. While the U.S. hemp industry grew rapidly and commercial hemp production was legalized again by the 2018 Farm Bill, the industry’s long-term economic viability is uncertain. This study documents outcomes and lessons learned from the State pilot programs and examines legal, agronomic, and economic challenges that may affect the transition from the pilot programs to economically viable commercial production. Competition with alternative crops for acreage, global competitiveness, market transparency, and the ability to manage regulatory and market risks will determine patterns of development in the emerging U.S. hemp industry.
Technological indicators for water-smartness
Creators: name: Shahvi, Shervin
name: Tscheikner-Gratl, Franz
name: Muthanna, Tone Merete
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021

description: This deliverable presents the development a set of technical indicators for assessing water smartness within the B-WaterSmart framework. The deliverable includes an in-depth literature review of previous and on-going work on defining technical indicators suitable for assessing sustainability and in extension water smartness across different contexts. The literature review was then combined with feedback from each of the six Living Labs (LL) in B-WaterSmart broadening the focus with input from water utilities, water boards and municipalities with very different infrastructures (both existing and planned), challenges and possibilities. This review with each of the LL ensured alignment with the varying current situation and challenges faced in each of the LLs spread out across Europe. Technical indicators need to be seen in the context of those challenges faced by the water sector, in which they will be used both for benchmarking present states and future development scenarios.

Coupled with the B-WaterSmart framework strategic objectives and assessment criteria and building on previously conducted work in the Deliverable 6.1 of the B-WaterSmart project, which delivered a definition for water smartness, this deliverable proposes a set of metrices and indicators for Water-Smart societies. These indicators will be a building block for the assessment of Water smartness in the B-WaterSmart project and feed into a holistic framework.
Anti-Racist Educator's Starting Guides
Creators: name: Community, CSUEB
name: Sumner, Nicole
name: Chin-Newman, Christina
name: Haft, Nina
name: Coskran, Shannon
name: Lee, Michael
name: Pollock, Ian
name: Pakpour, Nazzy
name: Guiton, Pascale
Publisher: name: QUBES Educational Resources
Year: 2020

description: The Alliance for the Black Community (ABC) has worked diligently to create the attached anti-racist starting guides for our faculty and staff at CSUEB and on other higherEd campuses.
Evaluation de l'état chimique DCE des masses d'eau littorales du bassin Seine-Normandie
Creators: name: Menet-Nedelec, Florence
name: Grouhel-Pellouin, Anne
Publisher: name: IFREMER
Year: 2019
Subjects: Etat des Lieux
Directive Cadre sur l’Eau (DCE)
Etat chimique
ROCCH
Mollusques
Sédiment
Tendances.

description: Ce rapport fait pour la première fois la synthèse de l’évaluation de l’Etat chimique des masses d’eau littorales du bassin Seine-Normandie. Cette évaluation a été réalisée dans le cadre de la mise à jour de l’Etat des Lieux 2019 pour la Directive Cadre sur l’Eau. A partir des données du Réseau d’Observation de la Contamination Chimique du littoral (ROCCH), les données ont été traitées selon le Guide relatif aux règles d’évaluation de l’état des eaux littorales dans le cadre de la DCE (2018). L’évaluation a pris en compte les substances obligatoires de ce guide, des substances complémentaires disposant d’un critère d’évaluation d’OSPAR dans les moules et dans le sédiment. Les résultats montrent que la baie de Seine reste contaminée par les PCB dans les moules et huîtres et le sédiment, ainsi qu’en HAP et métaux lourds (mercure, plomb) dans le sédiment. Sans les substances ubiquistes, seules les masses d’eau de l’estuaire de la Seine (HT01 et HT03) restent classées en MAUVAIS ETAT. Ce rapport présente aussi le résultat de la comparaison des évaluations de l’état chimiques pour la DCE présentée ici, et du D8 de la DCSMM en 2018.
Design and Implementation of Certificateless Cryptography for IoT Applications
Creators: name: Fares, Neam
Publisher: name: Manara - Qatar Research Repository
Year: 2024
Subjects: classificationCode: 40
subject: Engineering

description: The widespread adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has revolutionized the way we live and work, but it has also introduced new security vulnerabilities. To address these challenges, hardware-based cryptography has emerged as a promising solution for achieving robust security without compromising performance or energy efficiency. This research proposes a project aimed at building four core cryptographic modules for data confidentiality, message integrity, message authentication, and secure communication channels. The research demonstrates the feasibility and advantages of hardware-based cryptography for IoT devices, particularly in terms of improved performance. Furthermore, the research discusses the advantages of using Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) for IoT security and explores its various operations, coordinate systems, and combinations with other crypto-graphic algorithms. This research has successfully implemented ECC in Verilog, specifically the BLS12-381 curve, and provided insights into the performance of different methods of scalar multiplication in ECC that involves a series of computationally expensive point additions and doublings. The research also provides a detailed performance analysis for Verilog modules implementing SHA256, AES128-CBC encryption and decryption, and AES128-GCM encryption algorithms, demonstrating their suitability for digital systems requiring cryptographic functionalities. Furthermore, the implementation of the Hash to Curve operation and the pairing operation for the BLS12-381 digital signature scheme and session key agreement protocol were also demonstrated.The Hash to Curve operation maps a message to a point on the BLS12-381 curves, while pairing is a fundamental operation that takes two points on the curve and returns an element in a finite field. The performance of the Hash to Curve operation, scalar multiplication and pairing operation have a significant impact on the overall performance of the digital signature scheme and session key agreement protocol. The BLS12-381 digital signature scheme was found to be a reliable and widely used cryptographic algorithm that provides secure and efficient digital signatures, with the module for signing messages taking 0.76 seconds, and the module for verifying signatures taking 7.35 seconds using 10MHz clock frequency. The parallel scalar multiplication method was found to be the most efficient, with a time of 0.48 seconds for \uD835\uDD3E1 and 1.92 seconds for \uD835\uDD3E2. The pairing operation which consist of two main steps, the miller loop and final exponentiation takes around 3.68s to pair two points. Moreover, the module for generating a session key on a node’s side takes around 4.03 seconds. Overall, this research emphasizes the importance of addressing the security risks associated with IoT devices and the potential of hardware-based cryptography for achieving robust security in these devices.
Using Cognition to Assess the Welfare of Wild Birds
Creators: name: Willcox, Kathryn
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2024
Subjects: D328 - Animal welfare

description: Cognitive bias tasks have been used effectively to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of captive settings. However, they have not yet been used to assess the welfare of wild animals, which is increasingly influenced by human activity. Therefore, I aimed to develop a cognitive bias task for use in the wild. I adapted the standard judgement bias paradigm to test free living woodland birds, with the prediction that birds in more fear-inducing habitats would show a cognitive bias by making more pessimistic judgements of an ambiguous stimulus. To assess the influence of a naturally variable environment on wild birds’ welfare, an area of woodland was mapped in order to identify areas expected to induce a high level of fear (further away from cover, closer to paths) and areas expected to induce a lower level of fear (close to cover, further away from paths and open areas). Free standing bird feeders were placed at 15 ‘high-fear’ and 15 ‘low-fear’ locations, as inferred from the map. At the feeders, a foraging-based judgement bias task was presented; the stimuli were artificial dough ‘worms’ of different colours – red and yellow. Following habituation, the red worms were made unpalatable by coating them with a Bitrex (denatonium benzoate) solution, and the birds’ learning of the colour discrimination was measured by recording the removal of worms over time. Finally, intermediate orange worms were introduced, to assess the birds’ judgement of an ambiguous stimulus. Location had a significant effect on the number of worms takenthroughout the stages of the task, with consistently more being taken from the low-fear feeders. This difference in foraging behaviour suggests that the habitat map successfully identified locations that induced different affective states for birds, further evidencing the impact of understory cover and human disturbance on birds’ welfare. However, discrimination training was unsuccessful as the colour of the worms did not significantly affect how many were taken, potentially due to insufficient training presentations, or Bitrex not being an adequate deterrent. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed that the birds perceived the intermediate stimulus as ambiguous. This study highlights the potential advantages and challenges associated with using cognitive measures in the wild. Anthropogenic activity is increasingly impacting the welfare of wild animals, therefore, further developments of alternative methods for assessing the welfare of wild animals should be considered a research priority.
Higher Numbers = More Important? Social Media Metrics and Their Agenda-Cueing Effects in Anti-Secondhand Smoke Persuasion
Creators: name: Dong, Yujie
name: Li, Wu
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Neuroscience
subject: Evolutionary Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: Social media metrics can exert persuasive influences. Integrating the agenda-cueing effect into the influence of presumed influence framework, the study explores how social media metrics influence individuals’ perceptions of others’ agendas, which further contribute to individuals’ engagement outcomes in the context of anti-secondhand smoke (SHS) health persuasion campaigns. A between-subject online experiment investigating three types of social media metrics (i.e., “views,” “likes,” and “shares and comments”) was conducted in China (N = 415). Results showed that higher “views” significantly increased perceived issue importance to important others, which consistently correlated with social media engagement but significantly correlated with anti-SHS policy support only among participants who ever smoked. “Likes” and “shares and comments” primarily impacted perceived issue importance to social media users, which was positively associated with anti-SHS policy support. Theoretically, this study unravels the nuances of social media metrics as agenda cues and differentiates perceived issue importance to two referent units. Practically, the findings suggest the utility of fostering sharing and commenting behavior in social media health campaigns and highlighting certain normative information during anti-SHS message tailoring.
The Story My Friend Told Me: Examining the Interplay of Message Format and Relational Closeness in Misinformation Correction
Creators: name: Wang, Weirui
name: Kashian, Nicole
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: Narrative messages have been considered a potentially useful tool for correcting misinformation. However, prior research has found that the effect of narrative condition is often moderated by other communication characteristics. On social media, the relational closeness to an information endorser may serve as a heuristic cue to the endorser’s trustworthiness, ultimately influencing the acceptance of the endorsed information. In the current study, a 2 (message format: narrative vs. non-narrative) × 2 (relational closeness: distant vs. close friend) between-subjects online experiment tested the effects of narrative communication in correcting misinformation related to nicotine replacement therapy, conditioned by relational closeness to the person endorsing the correction on social media. The effects of the correction messages and relational closeness to the endorsers were assessed in an immediate test (T1) and a one-week delayed test (T2). When the correction was imagined to be endorsed by a close friend, narrative correction was more effective in increasing perceived trustworthiness of the correction endorser, leading to more favorable persuasion outcomes including T1 beliefs, T1 attitude, T2 beliefs, and T2 attitude. The indirect effect was not significant if participants imagined the correction was endorsed by a distant friend.
Using Cognition to Assess the Welfare of Wild Birds
Creators: name: Author, Unknown
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: D328 - Animal welfare

description: Cognitive bias tasks have been used effectively to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of captive settings. However, they have not yet been used to assess the welfare of wild animals, which is increasingly influenced by human activity. Therefore, I aimed to develop a cognitive bias task for use in the wild. I adapted the standard judgement bias paradigm to test free living woodland birds, with the prediction that birds in more fear-inducing habitats would show a cognitive bias by making more pessimistic judgements of an ambiguous stimulus. To assess the influence of a naturally variable environment on wild birds’ welfare, an area of woodland was mapped in order to identify areas expected to induce a high level of fear (further away from cover, closer to paths) and areas expected to induce a lower level of fear (close to cover, further away from paths and open areas). Free standing bird feeders were placed at 15 ‘high-fear’ and 15 ‘low-fear’ locations, as inferred from the map. At the feeders, a foraging-based judgement bias task was presented; the stimuli were artificial dough ‘worms’ of different colours – red and yellow. Following habituation, the red worms were made unpalatable by coating them with a Bitrex (denatonium benzoate) solution, and the birds’ learning of the colour discrimination was measured by recording the removal of worms over time. Finally, intermediate orange worms were introduced, to assess the birds’ judgement of an ambiguous stimulus. Location had a significant effect on the number of worms takenthroughout the stages of the task, with consistently more being taken from the low-fear feeders. This difference in foraging behaviour suggests that the habitat map successfully identified locations that induced different affective states for birds, further evidencing the impact of understory cover and human disturbance on birds’ welfare. However, discrimination training was unsuccessful as the colour of the worms did not significantly affect how many were taken, potentially due to insufficient training presentations, or Bitrex not being an adequate deterrent. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed that the birds perceived the intermediate stimulus as ambiguous. This study highlights the potential advantages and challenges associated with using cognitive measures in the wild. Anthropogenic activity is increasingly impacting the welfare of wild animals, therefore, further developments of alternative methods for assessing the welfare of wild animals should be considered a research priority.
The Impact of Communication Methods on Online Cooperative Play with Non-Familiar Co-Players
Creators: name: Wakefield, Thomas DA
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2024
Subjects: I100 - Computer science

description: Multiplayer play is commonplace within contemporary digital games, with many requiring collaboration or cooperation between multiple players to effectively achieve gameplay objectives. Often noted as an integral part of successful cooperative play is communication, with commercial online games most commonly featuring some permutation or implementation of mediated vocal communication (Voice Chat), or written communication (Text Chat).This thesis explores the influence of the method of communication available to players over several facets of player experience and player behaviour within the context of online multiplayer play between non-co-located non-familiar co-players. Through this we broaden the understanding of the interplay between communication and player experience and to inform the design of future commercial multiplayer games.In fulfilment of these research aims, we conduct a participant study using an experimental online multiplayer 3D puzzle-platform game artefact, designed under the influence of a taxonomy of collaborative multiplayer game design elements. This study tasks pairs of non-familiar participants to complete a series of cooperative challenges, each focusing of differing gameplay elements, using one of either Voice Chat or Predefined-Text Chat, before evaluating their play experiences through validated questionnaires and interviews.From this research we find that different facets of player experience are influenced to differing extents; the immersion facet of player experience is not influenced by the communication used, whilst the degree of social presence that was experienced is significantly greater for participants using Voice Chat. This research also indicates several influences on player behaviour, both strategically and socially, that are associated with the use of differing communication methods.
The Impact of Communication Methods on Online Cooperative Play with Non-Familiar Co-Players
Creators: name: Author, Unknown
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2023
Subjects: I100 - Computer science

description: Multiplayer play is commonplace within contemporary digital games, with many requiring collaboration or cooperation between multiple players to effectively achieve gameplay objectives. Often noted as an integral part of successful cooperative play is communication, with commercial online games most commonly featuring some permutation or implementation of mediated vocal communication (Voice Chat), or written communication (Text Chat).This thesis explores the influence of the method of communication available to players over several facets of player experience and player behaviour within the context of online multiplayer play between non-co-located non-familiar co-players. Through this we broaden the understanding of the interplay between communication and player experience and to inform the design of future commercial multiplayer games.In fulfilment of these research aims, we conduct a participant study using an experimental online multiplayer 3D puzzle-platform game artefact, designed under the influence of a taxonomy of collaborative multiplayer game design elements. This study tasks pairs of non-familiar participants to complete a series of cooperative challenges, each focusing of differing gameplay elements, using one of either Voice Chat or Predefined-Text Chat, before evaluating their play experiences through validated questionnaires and interviews.From this research we find that different facets of player experience are influenced to differing extents; the immersion facet of player experience is not influenced by the communication used, whilst the degree of social presence that was experienced is significantly greater for participants using Voice Chat. This research also indicates several influences on player behaviour, both strategically and socially, that are associated with the use of differing communication methods.
Metabolic Engineering of Acinetobacter baylyiADP1 for Protein Production
Creators: name: Bushby, Jessica
Publisher: name: University of Lincoln
Year: 2024
Subjects: B230 - Pharmacy

description: Vaccinations are a crucial preventative measure to stop the spread of a disease. However, due to the need to follow a cold chain procedure, the cost of transport for keeping the vaccine at +2 °C to +8 °C temperature at all times to avoid any loss of efficiency can become a hindrance in supplying vaccines. In an effort to be able to transport these essential vaccines, a new transport method is needed. By creating a new system for transport, it is hoped vaccines can be more readily available to everyone.This aim of this research was to develop a new production system to produce an additive for modifying the formulation of proteinaceous drugs to enable thermostability. This system would increase the thermostable range of vaccinations. The protein Mannosylglycerate, MG, from Rhodothermus marinus, has the potential to work in this type of system. By isolating the mgs gene which produces this compound, a genetically modified Acinetobacter bayliiADP1strain can be produced. Using this gene and the metabolic pathway of metZ in ADP1, a microbial factory capable of biosynthesising MG can be developed. The protein could then be purified and added to a vaccination mixture and make it more thermostable in hotter temperatures.Several different methods were used throughout the research, mainly bacterial cell culture and plasmid manipulation. Batch culture was used to observe the growth of a plasmid-containing bacterial cell culture at high and optimum temperatures, one with the mgs gene present and one without, to allow the thermostable properties of MG to be seen. This experiment produced inconclusive results as the organism containing the plasmid with the mgs gene did not grow as expected.Following this, a shuttle vector of PCR Blunt and metZ was constructed using restriction enzyme BglII and ligation methods. This construct was planned as a base in which further plasmid manipulation was to be performed to insert the mgs gene. However, when the kanamycin resistance cassette was ligated into this shuttle vector with BamHI and BglII restriction enzymes, a crossover event occurred, and the shuttle vector had to be changed to pUC19.A new plasmid construct of pUC19 and metZ was created using the restriction enzyme EcoRI and ligation methods, and blue/white screening was used to isolate the plasmids containing the correct insert after ligation. This new vector showed promise but due to time constraints the research was not completed. However, this did highlight the potential for using the metabolic pathway of metZ in Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 to insert the mgs gene for the production of MG.
Laboratory evaluation of nanoparticle penetration efficiency in a cylindrical counter flow denuder for non-specific removal of trace gases
Creators: name: Hagino, Hiroyuki
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Space Science
subject: 29999 Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: Medicine
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Ecology
subject: 60506 Virology

description: This article presents a cylindrical counter-current flow diffusion denuder with high efficiency penetration of nanoparticles, for non-specific removal of trace gases from an air flow. The denuder was designed to exchange gases in the sample flow by diffusion to the purge flow across a cylindrical microporous glass tube. Laboratory test results indicated that removal efficiencies of gases increased with a lower sample flow rate and a higher sample to purge flow rate ratio. Additionally, the pore size of the microporous glass did not affect gas removal efficiency and particle penetration following optimization of sample and purge flow rate conditions. Significantly high particle penetration was obtained for the counter flow denuder technique (94% penetration for 20 nm of polystyrene latex particle [PSL]) that agreed with theoretical estimation attributed to diffusion loss. Copyright © 2017 American Association for Aerosol Research
Using Emojis That Alter the Meaning of Written Messages to Communicate Interpersonal Relations
Creators: name: Caspi, Avner
name: Raz, Guy
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy
subject: Computational Biology

description: Three studies tested the prevalence of usage and interpretation of messages in which a text and an emoji convey incongruent meaning. Self-reports (Study 1, N = 723) and an experiment that manipulated interlocutor relationships and scenario valence (Study 2, N = 309) revealed that incongruent messages are sent relatively infrequently, in instances in which the text alone may threaten interpersonal relationships. Study 3 (N = 296) confirmed that incongruent messages are less comprehensible and that their perceived valence is shifted from the text valence toward the valence of the emoji. Furthermore, participants correctly inferred the relationships between the communicators, especially when the messages involved close relationships and were congruent with the emoji. We conclude that in incongruent message, the text communicates the intended message, while the emoji serves interpersonal pragmatics.