Beneficial Contribution Research Articles

Chemo- and Regioselective Anionic Fries Rearrangement Promoted by Lithium Amides under Aerobic Conditions in Sustainable Reaction Media.

A straightforward and efficient protocol to promote the metalation/anionic Fries rearrangements of O-aryl carbamates, using for the first time a lithium amide as metalating agent under aerobic/ambient-friendly reaction conditions, is reported. This approach enables the sustainable preparation of salicylamide derivatives with high levels of chemoselectivity within ultrafast reaction times, working at room temperature in the presence of air/moisture, and using environmentally responsible cyclopentyl methyl ether as a solvent. Furthermore, the regioselective manipulation of O-2-tolyl carbamates has been accomplished using interchangeably alkyllithiums or lithium amides, with an unexpected beneficial contribution from the employment of biorenewable protic eutectic mixtures as non-innocent reaction media.

Mechanistic insights on burdock (Arctium lappa L.) extract effects on diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 is amongst the most common chronic diseases, being responsible for various problems in humans and contributing to increased mortality rates worldwide. Fructooligosaccharide, which can be produced from the roots of burdock (Arctium lappa L.), has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological proprieties, including antiviral, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic effects. Moreover, burdock also contains chlorogenic acid, which has been used in traditional medicine as an antioxidant. Considering its natural origin and minimal toxicity, burdock fructooligosaccharides (BFO) has gained considerable attention from researchers owing its wide, efficient, and beneficial action against DM. Although the effectiveness of fructooligosaccharide and chlorogenic acid has been extensively discussed, limited information is available on the application of burdock for DM treatment. In this review, we discuss the beneficial contributions, and the recent in vitro and in vivo analytical findings on A. lappa extract as DM therapy.

Beneficial contribution of the microalga Odontella aurita to the growth, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and hepatic health of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)

Under specific culture conditions, the marine diatom Odontella aurita can accumulate chrysolaminarin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions, to improve immunity and regulating lipid metabolism. The current study investigated the use of chrysolaminarin-rich O. aurita as an immunostimulant in the diet of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus. Three experimental diets containing 0%, 1% and 5% O. aurita were used to feed T. ovatus for 6-week. The results indicated that diet supplementation with O. aurita powder boosted the growth of T. ovatus by decreasing the feed conversion ratio, increasing the activities of lipase and pepsin in the intestine, and improving intestinal villi structure. Supplementation with 5% O. aurita promoted its antioxidant capacity by stimulating the Nrf2-ARE signal pathway and enhancing the total antioxidant capacity and activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase. It also exerted hepatoprotective effects by inhibiting lipid deposition and downregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-related genes, as well as improving the nonspecific immune response by increasing the expression levels of c-type lysozyme and complement 4. Therefore, a diet supplemented with 5% O. aurita is recommended to enhance the growth, antioxidant ability, and immunity of T. ovatus.

Double Life of Methanol: Experimental Studies and Nonequilibrium Molecular-Dynamics Simulation of Methanol Effects on Methane-Hydrate Nucleation.

We have investigated systematically and statistically methanol-concentration effects on methane-hydrate nucleation using both experiment and restrained molecular-dynamics simulation, employing simple observables to achieve an initially homogeneous methane-supersaturated solution particularly favorable for nucleation realization in reasonable simulation times. We observe the pronounced “bifurcated” character of the nucleation rate upon methanol concentration in both experiments and simulation, with promotion at low concentrations and switching to industrially familiar inhibition at higher concentrations. Higher methanol concentrations suppress hydrate growth by in-lattice methanol incorporation, resulting in the formation of “defects”, increasing the energy of the nucleus. At low concentrations, on the contrary, the detrimental effect of defects is more than compensated for by the beneficial contribution of CH3 in easing methane incorporation in the cages or replacing it altogether.

The inactivated infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) vaccine used as booster in layer hens influences the breadth of protection against challenge with IBV variants

ABSTRACT To achieve long term protection of laying and breeding hens against aberrant egg production caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a vaccination programme incorporating both live-attenuated and inactivated IBV vaccines is required. High quality IBV vaccines of both types are widely available, but the number of IBV variants of global importance continues to increase and it is not possible to develop vaccines against each one of them. Therefore, it is desirable to perform studies under controlled conditions to determine which IBV vaccine(s) provide the best protection for laying hens against different IBV challenges. Previous vaccination and challenge studies have shown that it is possible to obtain relevant data in a small number of laying hens housed under conditions of strict isolation. The present work extends this finding by investigating the efficacy, against challenge with five IBV strains of global importance, of an IBV vaccination programme including two live-attenuated IBV vaccines (Massachusetts and 793B types) and three different commercially available inactivated vaccines each containing antigen against at least one IBV strain. The results reported here confirm the importance of IBV vaccination for laying hens, show that efficient live priming makes a beneficial contribution to this protection and confirm that inactivated IBV vaccines contribute significantly to effective protection against at least the five IBV challenge strains used here. Furthermore, we provide data to support the “protectotype concept”, long-established using different live-attenuated IBV vaccines in young chickens, is valid in broadening protection against IBV challenges in laying birds. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS IBV vaccination is essential as an aid in protecting laying hens against IBV infection. Live priming is a beneficial part of the IBV vaccination programme. IBV inactivated vaccine improves IBV protection. Heterologous IBV protection is confirmed in laying hens.

Impact of the Norwegian Agreement for a More Inclusive Working Life on diagnosis-specific sickness absence in young adults: a difference-in-difference analysis

BackgroundThe Norwegian Agreement for a More Inclusive Working Life (the IA Agreement) aims to reduce sickness absence (SA) and increase work participation. Potential impacts of the IA Agreement have not been thoroughly evaluated. The study aimed to estimate the impact of the IA Agreement on musculoskeletal and psychological SA prevalence and duration among young adult men and women, and to identify whether the impact was modified by economic activity or SA grade.MethodsData from national registries were combined for 372,199 individuals born in Norway 1967–1976. ICPC-2 codes identified musculoskeletal (L) and psychological (P) diagnoses. A difference-in-difference method compared prevalence and mean duration of first SA > 16 days between 2000 and 2005 separately for men and women working in IA companies relative to non-IA companies. Analyses were adjusted for mean company size and stratified by economic activity and SA grade (full/graded). Average marginal change was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsThe impacts of the IA Agreement on SA prevalence were mixed as the direction and size of marginal changes varied according to diagnosis, gender, and economic activity. However, there was a general tendency towards reduced mean SA duration for both diagnosis groups, and in particular men with musculoskeletal SA (− 16.6 days, 95% CI -25.3, − 7.9). Individuals with full SA in IA companies had greater reductions in mean SA duration. Only the wholesale and retail economic activity indicated a beneficial contribution of the IA Agreement for both SA prevalence and duration, in both diagnoses and genders.ConclusionsPotential impacts of the IA Agreement on SA in young men and women varied according to diagnosis and economic activity. However, results indicated that the IA Agreement could reduce SA duration. Further research should identify reasons for gender and economic activity differences.

Consumers’ Benefit—Risk Perception on Pesticides and Food Safety—A Survey in Greece

Pesticides are widely used to protect agricultural products from pests and diseases. Although a strict regulatory framework exists in the EU, concerns about pesticide residues in food are retained among consumers. This study represents the first large sample (N = 1846) attempt to identify the main predictors influencing Greek consumers’ attitude concerning the benefits—risks ratio of pesticide use. After a principal components analysis and a bivariate logistic regression were performed, it was found that Greek consumers express high concerns from pesticide residues in food regarding their loved ones and their own health. At the same time, however, they recognize to a significant extent beneficial contributions of the use of pesticides to food security and the national economy, as well. Several significant predictors of consumer’s attitude towards benefit—risks perception of pesticide use was identified, concerning personal values, pesticide user status, gender, confidence in controlling and certification procedures, and received information. Our results suggest that efforts for risk communication are needed to address food safety issues targeting the general public.

Emissivity of hot-dip galvanized surfaces in future development of EN 1993-1-2

PurposeThis study aims to propose a new design value, based on experimental and numerical studies, for surface emissivity of zinc hot-dip galvanized members exposed to fire.Design/methodology/approachThe paper sums up experiments, used specimens and also shows results. Four experiments were performed in a horizontal furnace and one test in a fire compartment of the experimental building. Several tests were carried out for determination of the surface emissivity of galvanized steel structures in fire. The experimental and numerical studies were used for preparation of new generation of the structural steel fire standard Eurocode EN 1993-1-2:2025.FindingsHot-dip galvanizing is one of the most widely used processes for corrosion protection of steel products. The new design value for surface emissivity of zinc hot-dip galvanized members exposed to fire is determined using experimental results as 0.35. The value is proposed for next generation of EN 1993-1-2:2025. If hot-dip galvanization additionally can contribute beneficially to the fire resistance of unprotected steel members, it would be a huge economic advantage.Originality/valueExperimental studies in the past years have indicated the influence of hot-dip galvanizing on the heating of steel members. This study suggests 50% reduction of the surface emissivity of a carbon steel member. This amendment will be incorporated in future versions of Eurocodes 3 and 4 and has already been implemented in some fire design tools for steel members in order to consider the beneficial contribution of hot-dip galvanized for fire-resistance requirements of less than 60 min.

Crack Detection Based on Generative Adversarial Networks and Deep Learning

This paper proposes a novel crack detection method using the three-stages detection model. Deep learning technology has been a focus of attention in the field of crack detection; however, it needs big data to train the corresponding network model. More training samples and the combination of multiple deep learning algorithms help to improve the detection performance. Therefore, this paper employed a generative adversarial network (GAN) model to generate abundant virtual crack images with similar features to real images, these virtual images are used to train the CNN classifier and DeepLab_v3+ respectively, and then the real images are used to evaluate the performance of the three-stages detection method. The results show that the proposed three-stages detection method has excellent detection effect on the crack detection is better than that of the control experiment (the NI_MIoU, NI_Accuracy, NI_F-score and NI_MCC are increased by 22.1%–55.6%, 5.2%–9.8%, 37.4%–40.0% and 6.2%–11.1% respectively)). These results demonstrate that the three-stages detection model has made a beneficial contribution to the crack detection.

Capable deliberators: towards inclusion of minority minds in discourse practices

ABSTRACT It is widely assumed that severe mental disabilities prevent relevant deliberative capacities from developing or persisting. Accordingly, excluding many people with mental disabilities from discourse practices seems justified. Against this common assumption I wish to show that the general exclusion is not justified and amounts to a form of epistemic injustice, as theorised by Miranda Fricker. The received norm of capable deliberators is connected to a specific model of deliberation. I introduce an alternative model of deliberation, which I dub the joint effort model. According to this model, people with minority minds (as I call them) add valuable cognitive diversity to the process of deliberation, which is a relevant element of epistemic improvement. In this part of the argument I rely on empirically informed theoretical work by Hélène Landemore. I scrutinise the minimal requirements of capable deliberators from the perspective of a joint effort model of deliberation, and I highlight specific beneficial contributions people with minority minds can make to discourse practices. I will argue that people with minority minds can be presumptively deemed capable deliberators and that therefore their general exclusion is unjustified.

Influence of scour protection layers on the lateral response of monopile in dense sand

The scour protection layers are usually installed around the monopiles to prevent the formation of scour hole. While extensive studies have been performed on the effectiveness of scour protection layer as mitigation measure, no study to date has been found to quantify the influence of scour protection layer on the lateral response of monopiles. In this study, centrifuge tests and numerical analyses were performed to examine explicitly the influence of the scour protection layer on the monopile response under lateral load in sand. It was found that a scour protection layer with a diameter of 5 times the diameter of the monopile (5D) and equivalent surcharge pressure of 15 kPa can increase the foundation lateral capacity by more than 30% and significantly decrease the accumulation of deflection by more than 100% in dense sand. Numerical analyses suggested that the beneficial contribution is attributed to the densification of sand and the increase of effective stress around the pile, which increased the stiffness and ultimate resistance of the soil reaction curve (i.e., p-y curve). Numerical parametric studies suggested that the beneficial effect of scour protection layer is also applicable to monopile in loose sand and by considering the contribution of the scour protection layer, the embedment length of the monopile can be reduced by 10%.

Decrease of Hospitalizations and Length of Hospital Stay in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders or Bipolar Disorder Treated in a Mobile Mental Health Service in Insular Greece

In recent years serious mental health issues, such as schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder, have been treated in the community by community-based mental health services. In the present study our goal was to estimate the modification in the number of hospitalizations and duration of admissions in either psychotic patients or patients with bipolar disorder, treated by a Mobile Mental Health Unit in the islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca (MMHU-KZI). Data were collected from a total of 108 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and bipolar disorder. For each patient comparison was made for the same time interval prior and after engagement to treatment with the MMHU-KZI and not for the total hospitalizations that patients had in their history. There was a statistically significant reduction (45.9%) in hospitalizations after treatment engagement with the MMHU-KZI, as the Wilcoxon signed ranks test indicated. Furthermore, a major decrease (54.5%) of hospitalization days was noted after treatment engagement with the unit. This pattern of mental health provision may be beneficial for the reduction of the number and duration of psychiatric hospitalizations. Despite the beneficial contribution of community-based mental health units, hospital based treatment should always be available, since severe relapses are better treated in inpatient setting.

Carbon nanotube-polyoxometalate nanohybrids as efficient electro-catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction

Electroactive hybrid nanomaterials were assembled by non-covalent, layer-by-layer deposition of tungsten-based polyoxometalates on carbon nanotubes. Chemical functionalization permitted access to nanotubes densely and homogeneously covered with polyoxometalates. Electrochemical characterisation of the nanohybrids highlighted the beneficial contribution of the nanotube platform to the overall stability of the immobilized POM species, and to the enhancement of their catalytic performances when applied to the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Aksiologi Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Manfaatnya Bagi Manusia

In zama then until now the study of philosophy has many orientations that are still abstract, but social life is a reality of life or facts that naturally occur and must be lived byhumans. The purpose of this research is to provide support to other scientific progress processes and try to find answers to human problems arising from rapid technological advances. The answer to science to human needs is the benefits of science for humans. writing this article uses the method of literature research study (Library Research),in addition to using the development ofliteracy and subsequent reading analysis using the method of content analysis (Contect Analyisis). Science is essentially neutral depending on humans. Axiologically, humans can determine and give judgments about the usefulness or absence of a science. Therefore, in the axiological side, science must make a more beneficial contribution to human life. This journal seeks to explain how axiology as one of the main pillars of philosophy reveals the benefits of science for humans

Aksiologi Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Manfaatnya Bagi Manusia

In zama then until now the study of philosophy has many orientations that are still abstract, but social life is a reality of life or facts that naturally occur and must be lived byhumans. The purpose of this research is to provide support to other scientific progress processes and try to find answers to human problems arising from rapid technological advances. The answer to science to human needs is the benefits of science for humans. writing this article uses the method of literature research study (Library Research),in addition to using the development ofliteracy and subsequent reading analysis using the method of content analysis (Contect Analyisis). Science is essentially neutral depending on humans. Axiologically, humans can determine and give judgments about the usefulness or absence of a science. Therefore, in the axiological side, science must make a more beneficial contribution to human life. This journal seeks to explain how axiology as one of the main pillars of philosophy reveals the benefits of science for humans

Traditional water bodies and cultural ecosystem services: Experiences from rural West Bengal, India

One of the major challenges in the world today is to recognize, maintain and/or enhance beneficial contributions of nature to people with minimum distortions to the local ecology. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods and a context-specific perspective, the present study identifies and assesses various cultural ecosystem services people obtain from traditional water bodies in West Bengal, India. The study also explores the ways to incorporate cultural ecosystem services in management initiatives of traditional water bodies at local level. It is found that people obtain a variety of non-material benefits from the traditional water bodies which include artistic inspiration, cultural heritage, social relationship, and various services relating to religious, spiritual, aesthetic, recreational and environmental aspects. The cultural ecosystem services are often not documented in empirical studies and are declining due to socio-cultural and environmental changes in the region. It is observed that use of these cultural ecosystem services by households vary significantly with their cultural practices, socio-economic (e.g. wealth and social status of households) and demographic characteristics (e.g. age, gender and education level of household head). Thus, mainstreaming cultural ecosystem services that are generally not amenable to biophysical and/or monetary matrices can play a crucial role in sustainable use and management of traditional water bodies.

Articulating Spatial Statistics and Spatial Optimization Relationships: Expanding the Relevance of Statistics

Both historically and in terms of practiced academic organization, the anticipation should be that a flourishing synergistic interface exists between statistics and operations research in general, and between spatial statistics/econometrics and spatial optimization in particular. Unfortunately, for the most part, this expectation is false. The purpose of this paper is to address this existential missing link by focusing on the beneficial contributions of spatial statistics to spatial optimization, via spatial autocorrelation (i.e., dis/similar attribute values tend to cluster together on a map), in order to encourage considerably more future collaboration and interaction between contributors to their two parent bodies of knowledge. The key basic statistical concept in this pursuit is the median in its bivariate form, with special reference to the global and to sets of regional spatial medians. One-dimensional examples illustrate situations that the narrative then extends to two-dimensional illustrations, which, in turn, connects these treatments to the spatial statistics centrography theme. Because of computational time constraints (reported results include some for timing experiments), the summarized analysis restricts attention to problems involving one global and two or three regional spatial medians. The fundamental and foundational spatial, statistical, conceptual tool employed here is spatial autocorrelation: geographically informed sampling designs—which acknowledge a non-random mixture of geographic demand weight values that manifests itself as local, homogeneous, spatial clusters of these values—can help spatial optimization techniques determine the spatial optima, at least for location-allocation problems. A valuable discovery by this study is that existing but ignored spatial autocorrelation latent in georeferenced demand point weights undermines spatial optimization algorithms. All in all, this paper should help initiate a dissipation of the existing isolation between statistics and operations research, hopefully inspiring substantially more collaborative work by their professionals in the future.

Fires and Pychotrauma: Experience of Psychological Care for Victims of the Petersen Market Fire in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: In Senegal, fires in public markets have become more and more frequent since 2013, sometimes with loss of life. These fires are generally experienced by traders as painful and traumatic. The objectives of our study were to assess the impact of the Petersen market fire on the mental health of the victims and to show the beneficial contributions of immediate and post immediate psychological care. Methods: The study is cross-sectional and descriptive. It focused on sixteen shopkeepers, owners, tenants and employees of the shops ravaged by the fire. The study took place in the Plateau Health District on 23 March 2019 following a collective debriefing session. Results: Among the victims, the prevalence of psychotraumatic symptoms was 50%, all categories of physical and psychological signs combined. Signs of revivification and neurovegetative activation (insomnia, anorexia, amnesia, irritability) were found in proportions of 12.5% and 87.5% respectively. All victims received a debriefing session. Some subjects continue their treatment in the form of direct individual psychotherapy and at a distance by telephone. Conclusion: The phenomenon of fire in public markets in Senegal has become a matter of concern for the country’s political and administrative leaders. However, the victims often do not receive sufficient attention from those involved, especially in the absence of human losses. Immediate psychological care is necessary as it allows for early diagnosis and has crucial effects on the future of those involved.

Role of integrated crop-livestock systems in improving agriculture production and addressing food security – A review

Integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can be productive, sustainable, and climate-resilient agricultural systems compared to specialized and intensive systems. This review explores the beneficial traits and contributions of ICLS to food security, social and economic benefits, and resilience, and proposes strategies to adopt ICLSs in low-, medium-, and high-income countries. Currently, global food security faces two main challenges. First, one in nine people do not have sufficient protein and energy in their diet, of those 50% are smallholder subsistence farmers and 20% are landless families in the low-and medium-income countries (LMICs). Second, specialized intensive agricultural practices often cause soil and environmental degradation. ICLS is an agricultural practice that could play a significant role in mitigating these challenges. The diversified cropping systems in ICLS can improve the productivity of the principal crop as well as enhance food security through increasing nutritional indicators such as food consumption score and household dietary diversity especially for rural households. An ICLS, therefore, could be a key for achieving food and nutritional security and environmental sustainability both in short and long-terms. While ICLS practices have increased over time, there are still adoption challenges due to lack of investment, sustainable awareness, lack of skills by the producers, and market competition. In LMICs, successful implementation of ICLS requires organizational and/or institutional support to create new marketing opportunities and adoption of ICLS can be improved if government policies provide capital, markets, and educational services to subsistence farmers. These government policies can also increase the producer's knowledge, change farmer's attitudes and enhance trust in organic matter management for sustainable soil management. Therefore, agricultural scientists are challenged to provide fundamental and credible information to integrate crop and livestock production systems so that worldwide adoption of ICLS can be used to increase the agricultural production compatible with food and nutrition security. • Diversified cropping systems in ICLS can improve the productivity of the principal crop as well as enhance food security. • Successful implementation of ICLS requires organizational and/or institutional support to create new marketing opportunities. • Livestock in the ICLS plays a key role in the functioning of the farm through providing animal source foods. • Practicing ICLS would avoid negative consequences of agricultural production such as the loss of biodiversity.

Can Multiple-Choice Questions Replace Constructed Response Test as an Exam Form in Business Courses? Evidence from a Business School

The discussion of whether multiple-choice questions can replace the traditional exam with essays and constructed questions in introductory courses has just started in Norway. There is not an easy answer. The findings depend on the pattern of the questions. Therefore, one must be careful in drawing conclusions. In this research, one will explore a selected business course where 30 percent of the test is comprised of multiple-choice items. There obviously are some similarities between the two test methods. Students who perform well on writing essays tend also to achieve good results when answering multiple- choice questions. The result reveals a gender gap where multiple-choice based exam seems to favor the male students. There are some challenges in how to measure the different dimensions of knowledge. This study confirms this. Hence, it is too early to conclude that a multiple-choice score is a good predictor of the outcome of an essay exam. This paper will provide a beneficial contribution to the debate in Norway, but it needs to be followed up with more research. Keywords: multiple choice test, constructed response questions, business school, gender, regression model.