Slow Development Research Articles

Mother's Experience of Caring for Children with Stunting in the Riverside of Banjar Regency

Introduction: Stunting is one of the most common impacts of chronic malnutrition in the world. Banjar Regency is one of the regencies in South Kalimantan that has experienced a significant increase in stunting cases. Mothers often act as the primary caregivers of children, thus all actions taken by mothers related to care including fulfilling nutritional needs can affect the health and nutritional status of their children. It is important for a mother to have good knowledge about fulfilling nutrition for children, fulfilling immunizations, maintaining sanitation and treating infectious diseases in children. One way to gain knowledge is from experience. Mothers with stunted children have experiences that can be lessons regarding the actions taken during treatment, the obstacles felt and how to prevent stunting in the next generation. Objective: This study aims to explore the experiences of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. Method: A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was used in this study. Data were collected using the in-depth interview method and analyzed using the sequence: transcribing, categorizing, using N-Vivo 12. The population in this study were all mothers who had stunted children in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. In this study, mothers who became participants were selected using a purposive sampling method, namely data was taken from information from health center officers in Banjar Regency with inclusion criteria having experience caring for children with stunting, being able to communicate well and being willing to be participants. Data saturation was obtained on the 16th participant. Result: The results of this study identified 5 themes, namely children's eating habits, children's conditions, mothers' efforts, mothers' difficulties and the role of fathers. Children's eating habits include incomplete menus, eating little, eating irregularly, eating without side dishes, and snacks before eating. The condition of stunted children in this study was slow development, frequent illness, and poor sleep quality. Mother’s efforts were to provide exclusive breastfeeding and routinely go to posyandu. The difficulties faced by mothers were difficulty in accessing health facilities, economic problems, children who did not want to be separated from their mothers, confusion in handling stunting and the presence of a closed mouth movement in children. The role of fathers included collaborating with mothers in parenting and being less involved in parenting. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained in this study was that 5 themes were obtained from the experience of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of Banjar Regency.

CNSC-04. UNDERSTANDING PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED LONG-TERM DEFICITS IN HIGH-ORDER NEUROCOGNITIVE AND SENSORIMOTOR FUNCTION

Abstract Because of major advancements in cancer treatment especially chemotherapy, 85% of children with cancer are predicted to survive for 5 years or more. However, chemotherapy can cause long-term health problems when childhood cancer survivors enter adulthood (known as late effects). The neurocognitive features of these late effects (chemobrain) include trouble in concentrating, memorizing, and decreased processing speed, and results in lower IQ and academic achievement, poor hand-eye coordination, and slower development over time. Despite such a negative impact on the quality of life of cancer-surviving children, the mechanism is poorly understood and there is no FDA-approved drug to prevent or cure these side effects. To gain a better understanding of the mechanism underlying chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments, we developed a pre-clinical model using carboplatin in juvenile mice to study long-term neurological defects. Carboplatin is commonly used chemotherapy drug in pediatric brain tumor patients. We have tested the capacity of different doses of carboplatin and its long-term effect on cognitive and sensorimotor function and performed single nuclear RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) of the hippocampus. Our preliminary data demonstrated dose-dependent deficits in executive and sensorimotor function 7-9 weeks after carboplatin administration in the mice of both sexes. snRNAseq of the hippocampus showed changes in the glial cell number as well as genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation and neurodegeneration at early and late time points. Bioenergetics using Seahorse in the brain synaptosomes revealed mitochondrial dysfunction in the form of decreased maximum respiratory capacity long after carboplatin treatment. This study established a preclinical model that can be leveraged to mechanistically understand the long-term neurocognitive side effects of brain tumor chemotherapy during childhood. Future studies will aim to identify potential targets to prevent and/or treat the neurotoxic effects of cancer treatment in pediatric patients.

Boosting MgO hydration through sodium bicarbonate: Enhancing the strength of MgO-calcined clay cementitious materials

The slow early strength development of MgO-calcined clay cementitious materials poses significant challenges in meeting industrial requirements, thereby limiting their large-scale application. To address this issue, this study employed 1 wt% of sodium bicarbonate to activate the MgO-calcined clay cementitious materials and compared its effectiveness with that of two commonly used early strength agents: calcium chloride and sodium sulfate. The results demonstrated that sodium bicarbonate promoted strength development more effectively than both calcium chloride and sodium sulfate. This enhanced performance was attributed to the superior ability of sodium bicarbonate to facilitate the dissolution of the Mg(OH)2 surface layer formed during the hydration of MgO. Consequently, the reactivity of MgO was improved, leading to the formation of more hydration products. This study provides a pathway for the activation and application of MgO-calcined clay cementitious materials.

Mechanical properties of steel fibre–UHPC interface: Experimental study and numerical simulation

The aim of this study was to investigate the interfacial mechanical attributes between steel fibre (SF) and an ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) matrix. Using both experimental testing and numerical simulation, a comprehensive analysis on the pull-out process of SF from the UHPC matrix was conducted. The effects of fibre embedment depth, fibre diameter and fibre embedment angle on the mechanical properties of the SF–UHPC interface were examined. In the fibre pull-out tests, the maximum pull-out force of the group of specimens with different embedment depths showed a trend of rapid rise and then slow development, and the pull-out work increased with an increase in embedment depth. The maximum pull-out force and pull-out work of the group with variable fibre diameters increased with an increase in fibre diameter. The maximum pull-out force and pull-out work of the group with different embedment angles increased first and then decreased with an increase in embedment angle. The maximum pull-out force was 72.5 N when the embedment angle was 45° and the maximum pull-out work was 214.4 N.mm when the embedment angle was 30°. The results of finite-element simulations were found to be in good agreement with the experimental results.

Growth factor dysregulation and placental dysfunction

The article is devoted to the study of angiogenic and antiangiogenic vascular growth factors in placental dysfunction, which is of great importance in obstetrics and perinatology. The study of growth factors as predictors of the development of placental dysfunction makes it possible to determine in advance the development of many obstetric pathologies, including preeclampsia and fetal growth retardation, which is of great practical importance. The authors conducted an immunological study of pregnant women with placental dysfunction and pregnant women with a physiological pregnancy. Purpose of the study: to study serum growth factors in women with placental dysfunction. We examined 47 pregnant women with a gestation period of 26-40 weeks, with a diagnosis of placental dysfunction, who were under observation in the obstetric department of the city maternity complex No. 3 of the city of Tashkent. The control group consisted of 35 women with a physiological pregnancy. All women underwent an immunological blood test: cellular and humoral immunity, as well as cytokines (VEGF-A, PlGF, sFlt-1, sFlt-1/PlGF) were studied. Based on the results obtained, the authors suggest that an increased level of soluble sFlt-1 and a simultaneous decrease in the levels of VEGF-A and PlGF in pregnant women at 26-40 weeks of gestation may portend the development of pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, and increase the risk of premature birth. Ddelivery due to impaired placental blood flow and oxygen deficiency for the fetus, lead to deterioration of microcirculation, and insufficient levels of VEGF-A and PlGF can contribute to vascular endothelial dysfunction, which can also contribute to the development of preeclampsia. The studied angiogenic and antiangiogenic vascular growth factors are important indicators and can serve as markers for predicting pregnancy complications for active medical intervention in maintaining the health of both mother and child.

Antibody blockade of the PSGL-1 immune checkpoint enhances T-cell responses to B-cell lymphoma.

Despite advancements in cancer immunotherapy, most lymphomas remain unresponsive to checkpoint inhibitors. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), recently identified as a promoter of T-cell exhaustion in murine melanoma models, has emerged as a novel immune checkpoint protein and promising immunotherapeutic target. In this study, we investigated the potential of PSGL-1 antibody targeting in B-cell lymphoma. Using allogeneic co-culture systems, we demonstrated that targeted antibody interventions against human PSGL-1 enhanced T-cell activation and effector cytokine production in response to lymphoma cells. Moreover, in vitro treatment of primary lymphoma cell suspensions with PSGL-1 antibody resulted in increased activation of autologous lymphoma-infiltrating T cells. Using the A20 syngeneic B-cell lymphoma mouse model, we found that PSGL-1 antibody treatment significantly slowed tumor development and reduced the endpoint tumor burden. This antitumoral effect was accompanied by augmented tumor infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and reduced infiltration of regulatory T cells. Finally, anti-PSGL-1 administration enhanced the expansion of CAR T cells previously transferred to mice bearing the aggressive Eμ-Myc lymphoma cells and improved disease control. These results demonstrate that PSGL-1 antibody blockade bolsters T-cell activity against B-cell lymphoma, suggesting a potential novel immunotherapeutic approach for treating these malignancies.

Clinical significance of serum FGF21 levels in diagnosing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease early

The endogenous FGF21 level is a potential target for diagnosing NAFLD. This study aimed to assess the clinical utility of FGF21 in diagnosing NAFLD and provide new ideas for predicting and preventing NAFLD. A total of 193 patients diagnosed with NAFLD based on diagnostic criteria and 64 healthy individuals were included in the NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups, respectively. Data on the participant names, sex, age, height, weight, blood pressure, serum FGF21 levels, liver function enzyme (AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT) levels, lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C) indicators, and blood glucose levels were collected. The data were statistically analyzed to assess the correlations between serum FGF21 levels and related biochemical markers in NAFLD patients. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of serum FGF21, lipids (TG + TC + HDL + LDL), and FGF21 combined with lipids for the diagnosis of NAFLD were compared. Compared with the non-NAFLD group, the NAFLD group presented significantly higher levels of FGF21. Serum FGF21 levels in the NAFLD group were positively correlated with the TG, TC, and LDL-C levels (P < 0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of serum FGF21 for the diagnosis of NAFLD was 0.832 (95% CI: 0.77–0.886, P < 0.001). The AUC of FGF21 combined with lipids (TG + TC + HDL + LDL) for the diagnosis of NAFLD was 0.910 (95% CI: 0.874–0.946, P < 0.001). There is a close association between elevated FGF21 levels and the development of NAFLD. The progression of NAFLD is complex and varied, and its pathogenesis is unclear. Early detection, prevention, and intervention may help slow NAFLD development or even reverse the disease. In this study, we found that the FGF21 level could be used as an auxiliary biological indicator for predicting NAFLD, and the role of FGF21 in the progression of NAFLD deserves to be investigated in the future.

Resistance of spring durum wheat varieties to stem rust on the background of natural infection

The scientific study presents the results and indicators of the cultivation of spring durum wheat in the world, the main varieties of spring durum wheat in the south-east of Kazakhstan, the development of stem rust on durum wheat varieties (Triticum durum Desf.), data on the stability of varieties in grain-bearing regions of the republic. Field experiments were conducted in the conditions of the foothill zone of the Almaty region in 2022. The object of research was 15 varieties of spring durum wheat of various origins: Gordeiforme 254, Nauryz 2, Nauryz 6, Seymour 17, Milana, Salauat, Zhakut 20 (Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing), Altyn dala, Asangali 20, Sharifa (Karabalyk Agricultural Station), Damsinskaya jubileinaya (A.I. Barayev Research and Production Centre for Grain Farming), Bezenchukskaya 182, Kanysh (Russia), Berillo (Italy), Kamillaroi (Australia).Under natural conditions, the manifestation of stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) on spring durum wheat varieties was late, in the phase of flowering and filling of plant grains. In the experience, many varieties of Kazakh and foreign breeding have shown moderate resistance and susceptibility to the disease. In the varieties Salauat and Zhakut 20, the initial and subsequent development of the disease did not exceed 20%, which is a sign of Slow rust development. With a strong lesion of the Nauryz 2 variety (60%), Gordeyforme 254, Milana, Nauryz 6, Damsinskaya jubileinaya, Altyn Dala, Asangali 20, Berillo and Kamillaroi were moderately susceptible. The Seymour 17, Sharifa and Kanysh varieties showed moderate resistance to stem rust.

Phonological whole-word measures in bilingual Arabic-English speaking children

ABSTRACT This study investigated phonological whole-word measures in bilingual Arabic-English speakers to explore how the target approximations influence children’s phonological development. To this end, fifteen bilingual Arabic-English speakers and nine monolingual Arabic-speaking children aged 36–48 months (mean = 42) participated in a parent–child conversation. The study calculated four measures: the phonological mean length of utterance (PMLU), the proportion of whole-word proximity (PWP), the proportion of whole-word correctness (PWC), and the percentage consonant accuracy (PCC). The findings revealed significant differences in each measure between bilinguals and monolinguals. It seems that bilinguals’ lower scores resulted from a decreased rate of language exposure, but not because of slow language acquisition and development.

The Residual Activity of Fatty Acyl-CoA Reductase Underlies Thermo-Sensitive Genic Male Sterility in Rice.

Photoperiod/thermo-sensitive genic male sterility (P/TGMS) is critical for rice two-line hybrid system. Previous studies showed that slow development of pollen is a general mechanism for sterility-to-fertility conversion of TGMS in Arabidopsis. However, whether this mechanism still exists in rice is unknown. Here, we identified a novel rice TGMS line, ostms16, which exhibits abnormal pollen exine under high temperature and fertility restoration under low temperature. In mutant, a single base mutation of OsTMS16, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR), reduced its enzyme activity, leading to defective pollen wall. Under high temperature, the mOsTMS16M549I couldn't provide sufficient protection for the microspores. Under low temperature, the enzyme activity of mOsTMS16M549I is closer to that of OsTMS16, so that the imperfect exine could still protect microspore development. These results indicated whether the residual enzyme activity in mutant could meet the requirement in different temperature is a determinant factor for fertility conversion of P/TGMS lines. Additionally, we previously found that res2, the mutant of a polygalacturonase for tetrad pectin wall degradation, restored multiple TGMS lines in Arabidopsis. In this study, we proved that the osres2 in rice restored the fertility of ostms16, indicating the slow development is also suitable for the fertility restoration in rice.

Evolution of water technology from a structural perspective

Rivers are cradles of human civilisations and continual innovations in water technologies are the key to sustainable human development. Yet, limited research has explored the interactive dynamics among different technologies, hindering our ability to effectively manage technological transition. This paper presents a framework that conceptualizes water technology as a complex adaptive system containing three interrelated sub-systems: water demand, water supply, and water management. The interactions among these sub-systems were measured using three network-based metrics: intensity, brokerage, and efficiency. Patents registered in the World Intellectual Property Organization from 1863 to 2020 were used as the data source. It was found that 40,304 patents from 44 countries were registered, with 40% of them belonging to the water management sub-system, followed by water supply (35%), and water demand (25%). Technological development in the three sub-systems presented linear growth over the past 160 years, focusing on water treatment, hydroelectric power, hydraulic engineering and water monitoring. The water-demand sub-system was identified as the structural “bottleneck” with the highest brokerage value, which was considered crucial for knowledge transfer between the other two sub-systems. Overall, the water technology system is characterized by slow development, skewed spatial coverage, categorical homogeneity, and structural imbalances, limiting our ability to address the escalating global water threats.

Efficacy of various herbicides for weed management in irrigated chickpea (Cicer arietinum)

Chickpea is a short-stature crop with slow initial growth and limited leaf area development due to which it is heavily infested with a wide spectrum of weeds. The menace of weeds has increased to such an extent that an ef- fective weed management schedule has become a necessity. A research study was conducted during the rabi season of 2021–22 at the Agronomy Research Farm, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana. Thirteen weed control treatments viz., pre-plant incorporation (PPI) and pre-emergence (PRE) pendimethalin at 1,000 g/ha, PPI imazethapyr at 75 g/ha and 100 g/ha, PRE imazethapyr at 75 g/ha and 100 g/ha, post-emergence (PoE) imazethapyr at 75 g/ha and 100 g/ha, PPI and PRE pendimethalin + imazethapyr Ready mix (RM) at 1,000 g/h and two hand hoeings at 30 and 50 DAS were compared with weedy check and weed free in a randomized block design and replicated thrice. Among the herbicides, lowest weed dry weight was observed un- der PPI and PRE pendimethalin + imazethapyr (RM) at 1,000 g/ha respectively. PoE application of imazethapyr displayed phytotoxicity symptoms like stunting, leaf crinkling, and chlorosis as indicated by phytotoxicity scale ranging from 1-5. Significantly higher seed yield was obtained by pendimethalin + imazethapyr (1,827 kg/ha) over other combinations. Therefore, the PRE-application of pendimethalin + imazethapyr (RM) at 1,000 g/ha was the most suitable herbicide for efficient weed management in chickpea as it not only controlled the diverse weed flora but also improved seed yield.

Effects of microbe-derived antioxidants on growth performance, hepatic oxidative stress, mitochondrial function and cell apoptosis in weaning piglets

BackgroundWeaning causes redox dyshomeostasis in piglets, which leads to hepatic oxidative damage. Microbe-derived antioxidants (MA) have great potential for anti-oxidation. This study aimed to investigate changes in hepatic redox system, mitochondrial function and apoptosis after weaning, and effects of MA on growth performance and liver health in weaning piglets.MethodsThis study consisted of 2 experiments. In the both experiments, piglets were weaned at 21 days of age. In Exp. 1, at 21 (W0), 22 (W1), 25 (W4), 28 (W7), and 35 (W14) days of age, 6 piglets were slaughtered at each timepoint. In Exp. 2, piglets were divided into 2 groups: one received MA gavage (MA) and the other received saline gavage (CON). At 25 days of age, 6 piglets from each group were sacrificed.ResultsIn Exp. 1, weaning caused growth inhibition and liver developmental retardation from W0 to W4. The mRNA sequencing between W0 and W4 revealed that pathways related to “regulation of apoptotic process” and “reactive oxygen species metabolic process” were enriched. Further study showed that weaning led to higher hepatic content of reactive oxygen species (ROS), H2O2 and O2−. Weaning enhanced mitochondrial fission and suppressed their fusion, activated mitophagy, thus triggering cell apoptosis. In Exp. 2, MA improved growth performance of piglets with higher average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI). The hepatic ROS, as well as products of oxidative damage malonaldehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the MA group decreased significantly than that of the CON group. The MA elevated mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (MRC) I and IV, enhanced mitochondrial fusion and reduced mitophagy, thus decreasing cell apoptosis.ConclusionsThe present study showed that MA improved the growth performance of weaning piglets and reversed weaning-induced oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. Our results suggested that MA had promising prospects for maintaining liver health in weaning piglets and provided a reference for studies of liver diseases in humans.Graphical

Uncommon Presentation Of A Giant Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma: A Peculiar Case Study

Introduction: Soft tissue sarcomas constitute less than 1% of all neoplasms, with approximately one-third of malignant tumors in the retroperitoneum being sarcomas. Among these, liposarcoma emerges as the most prevalent type. Retroperitoneal liposarcomas with intraperitoneal extension and extension into the inguinal canal are relatively uncommon, presenting a challenge for treatment due to their local aggressiveness and clinical nonspecificity. The clinical difficulty in managing these cases is exacerbated by patients often seeking medical attention late in the disease progression. The slow development and the scarcity of symptoms in the early stages contribute to delayed reporting. Consequently, these tumors are recognized for their capacity to reach enormous sizes before being diagnosed and addressed. Case Report: We present a case involving a 52-year-old man who underwent surgical resection for a massive, well-differentiated retroperitoneal liposarcoma. This tumor exhibited intraperitoneal extension and weighed a substantial 6.8 kilograms. Discussion: Retroperitoneal liposarcomas (RPS) frequently manifest as large, locally advanced lesions. The occurrence of RPS with intraperitoneal extension and extension into the inguinal canal is relatively uncommon. The clinical presentation is often delayed, attributed to the expansive nature of the retroperitoneal space. Evaluating these tumors necessitates a comprehensive, multimodal approach. Given that most RPS are characterized as low-grade, distant metastasis is infrequent, and the primary challenge lies in achieving effective local control and preventing recurrence. The preferred treatment involves radical resection of these tumors, incorporating en bloc resection of involved structures. In certain cases, the strategic use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies, tailored to specific tumor histologies, may enhance local control and overall survival. Conclusion: Effectively managing retroperitoneal liposarcomas necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, ideally conducted at high-volume centers that specialize in the treatment of patients facing these intricate malignancies. Existing data indicate that radical resection stands as the primary opportunity for a cure. In select cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may offer a survival benefit, underlining the importance of individualized treatment strategies based on the specific characteristics of the tumor and the patient

Mapping the Landscape of Obesity Effects on Male Reproductive Function: A Bibliometric Study.

Due to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits, the global population with obesity is increasing gradually, resulting in a significant rise in the number of individuals having obesity. Obesity is caused by an imbalance between energy intake and consumption, leading to excessive fat accumulation, which interferes with normal human metabolism. It is also associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, male reproductive endocrine regulation disorders, systemic and local inflammatory reactions, excessive oxidative stress, and apoptosis. All these factors can damage the internal environment for sperm generation and maturation, resulting in male sexual dysfunction, a decline in sperm quality, and lower fertility. This study analyzes the trends and priorities of the effects of obesity on male reproductive disorders from a bibliometric perspective. This study uses the Web of Science as the statistical source, covering all time spans. Tools like Web of Science, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace are used to analyze countries, institutions, authors, journals, and keywords in the field. Total publications, total citations, and average number of citations are selected for statistics. The results show that the research on the impact of obesity on male reproductive function can be roughly divided into three stages: the initial stage, the slow development stage, and the rapid development stage. Our statistical scope includes 463 highly relevant articles that we have screened. We found that the journal with the most publications in this field is Andrologia, and the institution with the highest total citations is the University of Utah. The most influential countries, institutions, and authors in this field are the United States, the University of Utah, and Carrell, Douglas. Currently, research related to the impact of obesity on male reproduction focuses mainly on three aspects: biochemistry, molecular biology, and reproductive biology. The keyword explosion results indicate that sperm, obesity, and male reproduction are at the forefront and trends of future research in this field. There has been a shift from basic biochemical and molecular research to research on molecular mechanisms relying on omics technologies. However, we have observed that the number of papers published in 2022 is lower than in 2021, indicating a growth interruption during this period. Considering that this deviation may be due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it may hinder the progress of certain experiments in 2022. In recent years, China has rapidly developed research in this field. However, the average citation rate is relatively low, indicating the need for Chinese scholars to improve the quality of their articles further. Based on our research and in the context of global obesity, men are at risk of increased infertility. Addressing this issue relies on our continued research into the mechanisms of obesity-related male reproductive disorders. Over the past forty-three years, with the contributions of scientists worldwide, research in this field has flourished. The impact of obesity on male reproductive disorders has been extensively studied. Currently, research in this field primarily focuses on male sperm function, sperm quality, and the effects or mechanisms of cells on male reproduction. Future trends in this field should concentrate on the relationship between male fertility and energy metabolism, as well as the endocrine function of adipose tissue. This study comprehensively analyzes the current research status and global trends in obesity and male reproductive disorders. We also discuss the future developments in this field, making it easier for researchers to understand its developmental history, current status, and trends, providing valuable reference for effective exploration in this area.

The impact of plant-derived fire management prescriptions on fire-responsive bird species.

In fire-prone regions, the occurrence of some faunal species is contingent on the presence of resources that arise through post-fire plant succession. Through planned burning, managers can alter resource availability and aim to provide the conditions required to promote biodiversity. Understanding how species occurrence changes at different spatial and temporal scales after fire is essential to achieve this goal. However, many fire prescriptions are guided primarily by the responses of fire-sensitive plants when setting tolerable fire intervals. This approach assumes that maintaining floristic diversity will satisfy the requirements of fauna. We surveyed bird species in two semi-arid vegetation types across an environmental gradient in south-eastern Australia. We conducted four surveys at each of 253 sites across a 75-year chronosequence of time since fire and used generalized additive mixed models to examine changes in the occurrence of birds in response to time since fire. Model predictions were compared to plant-derived fire prescriptions currently guiding fire management in the region. Time since fire was a significant predictor for 18 of 28 species modeled, in at least one vegetation type, over a gradient of 1.3° of latitude. We detected considerable variation in the responses of some species, both between vegetation types and geographically within a vegetation type. Our evaluation of plant-derived fire prescriptions suggests that the intervals considered acceptable for maintaining floristic diversity may not be sustainable for populations of birds requiring longer unburnt vegetation, with 6 of the 12 species assessed attaining a mean occurrence probability of 20.3% by the minimum tolerable fire interval, and 57.3% by the maximum tolerable fire interval, in their respective vegetation types. Our findings highlight the potential vulnerability of fire-responsive bird species if fire prescriptions are applied in a manner that fails to account for the slow development of habitat resources needed by some species, and the variation detected within the responses of species. This highlights the need for species-specific data collected at an appropriate spatial scale to inform management plans.

Comparative behavior of circular precast UHPC columns with hoops and spiral reinforcement

Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) offers outstanding mechanical properties that can greatly influence the future of our structures. Despite the remarkable durability and high tensile and compressive strength of UHPC, its widespread use in large structural applications remains limited. This limitation is attributed to several factors such as the relatively high cost of the material and the slow development of large-scale production technology and procedures. In light of these challenges, the objective of this research is two-fold: first, demonstrate the successful fabrication of four full precast UHPC columns using economic mixture and construction-scale production in a precast plant setting, and next, compare the axial behavior of the fabricated circular columns with different transverse reinforcement detailing. The study carefully considers the choice of lateral confinement and spacing along the height of the column (spiral and hoop reinforcement with 1.5 in and 3 in spacing). The paper presents the global and local behavior that include load capacity, stiffness, axial and reinforcement strains, and ductility. The spirally confined column with 1.5 in spacing showed 26 % higher ductility than the counter hoop reinforced column, while both configurations showed a significant increase in ductility of 34 % when the transverse reinforcement spacing is reduced from 3 to 1.5 in. The research shows that the ACI design reduction factor for conventional concrete (0.65) and the accidental eccentricity reduction factor (0.8) for hoops are unnecessarily conservative and might be increased to 0.75 and 0.85, respectively as for the spiral reinforcement in the case of UHPC columns.

Classic ketogenic diet-induced ketoacidosis in the treatment of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency: a case report and literature review

BackgroundAs a rare mitochondrial disorder, the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) deficiency is a rare inborn disease characterized with glucose metabolism defects, which leads to neurological dysfunction, serum lactic acid buildup and a resultant trend of metabolic acidosis. Although the ketogenic diet (KD) is the first-line treatment for PDC deficiency, there is currently no widely accepted consensus on specific implementation of KD for this condition. Due to the combined effect of pre-existing hyperlactacidemia and KD-induced ketoacidosis that can further exacerbate metabolic disturbances, maintaining metabolic homeostasis should be prioritized during the implementation of KD.Case presentationHerein, the authors present a 6-year-old boy with lactic acidosis, ataxia, hypotonia and neuromotor development retardation. The KD was started after the patient was diagnosed with PDC deficiency based on genetic testing. The initiation with classic KD resulted in severe non-diabetic ketoacidosis with elevated anion gap, which was promptly alleviated by dextrose supplementation and dietary modification to a less-restrictive KD. Long-term supervision demonstrated the efficacy of a modified KD in improving both clinical course and metabolic acidosis of the patient.ConclusionsThis rare case adds to the limited evidence of KD application in PDC deficiency, and provides valuable insights into the importance of reasonably lowering the ketogenic ratio of KD at the start of treatment to reduce the risk of metabolic acidosis.

Obesity in a patient with acromegaly: a case report

Acromegaly is a severe neuroendocrine disease characterized by excessive production of the growth hormone (GH). The slow development of symptoms increases the diagnostic search up to 15 years. Permanent effect of the growth hormone on the human body can cause structural and functional disorders of organs. The main complications of acromegaly include cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal system dysfunction, as well as impaired carbohydrate metabolism and an increased risk of developing neoplasms.Often, nonspecific symptoms of acromegaly can be masked by other pathologies or their complications, such as obesity. An increase in subcutaneous fat, increased blood pressure, joint pain, edema, and impaired carbohydrate and lipid metabolism are observed both in acromegaly and in obesity. An additional factor in the development of obesity as a complication of acromegaly is the development of sleep apnea, which triggers a series of pathological processes that ultimately lead to Pickwickian syndrome.We present a clinical case of a patient with acromegaly and obesity, discussing the effects of excess body weight on the course of the underlying disease, the presence of complications, and an individual approach to treatment.

Advancing the software development process through the development of technology-enabled dynamic capabilities in a project-based firm: insights from action design research

PurposeThis study aims to extend the dynamic capabilities (DCs) perspective to the project management context. The authors present supporting evidence for analyzing the creation process of DCs during the redesign of the software development process, and they examine the impact of those capabilities on organizational performance and transformation.Design/methodology/approachAn action design research approach, combined with simulation and qualitative analysis, is adopted to examine the emergence of technology-enabled DCs supported by their microfoundations and the modernization of the software development process in the target firm.FindingsAnalyzing the successful internal transformation of a software development company that was facing a slow and inconsistent product development process reveals the effectiveness of extending the DC perspective to a project-based setting. The implementation of a new project methodology and the introduction of an innovative document-handling system facilitated the renewal of the company's software development process. This led to improvements in lead time and total costs, resulting in enhanced project performance as well as customer and employee satisfaction.Practical implicationsThis study draws managerial attention to the microlevel activities of technology-enabled DC formation, such as precise calculations, external expert consultations and tool deployment.Originality/valueBy applying the sensing–seizing–transforming framework with concomitant microfoundations in a longitudinal way, this article explains the role that technology plays as the basis for DCs and analyzes the cost–benefit balance of DC development in project-based organizations.