bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nighttime light data reveal lack of full recovery after hurricanes in Southern US
Authors: Barton-Henry Kelsey , Wenz Leonie
Published: October 2022

As the climate warms, many areas of the world are experiencing more frequent and extreme weather events. Hurricanes carry some of the costliest short-term socioeconomic repercussions via economic losses and people displaced. There is, however, little quantitative evidence regarding medium- to long-term effects, nor factors moderating recovery. Here we show that areas affected by hurricanes of category 4 or 5 in the southern US between 2014 and 2020 generally do not demonstrate full recovery in the longer term. Utilizing Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite nighttime light (NTL) data as a proxy for economic activity and population density, we build a timeline of recovery via NTL radiance levels. We exploit the difference in the eligibility for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to apply a quasi-experimental method to identify changes in NTL radiance attributable to hurricanes. We find that after three years, affected areas demonstrate a reduction in NTL radiance levels of between 2% and 14% compared to the pre-disaster period. Combining these results with machine learning techniques, we are able to investigate those factors that contribute to recovery. We find counties demonstrating smaller reductions in NTL radiance levels in the months following the hurricane are buoyed by the amount of FEMA aid received, but that this aid does not foster a longer-term return to normal radiance levels. Investigating areas receiving FEMA aid at the household and individual level, we find age and employment are more important than other demographic factors in determining hurricane recovery over time. These findings suggest that aid may be more important in motivating short-term recovery for public entities than for individuals but is not sufficient to guarantee complete recovery in the longer term.
All noncommutative spaces of κ-Poincaré geodesics
Authors: Ballesteros Angel , Gutierrez-Sagredo Ivan , Herranz Francisco J
Published: October 2022

Noncommutative spaces of geodesics provide an alternative way of introducing noncommutative relativistic kinematics endowed with quantum group symmetry. In this paper we present explicitly the seven noncommutative spaces of time-, space- and light-like geodesics that can be constructed from the time-, space- and light-versions of the κ-Poincaré quantum symmetry in (3 + 1) dimensions. Remarkably enough, only for the light-like (or null-plane) κ-Poincaré deformation the three types of noncommutative spaces of geodesics can be constructed, while for the time-like and space-like deformations both the quantum time-like and space-like geodesics can be defined, but not the light-like one. This obstruction comes from the constraint imposed by the coisotropy condition for the corresponding deformation with respect to the isotropy subalgebra associated to the given space of geodesics, since all these quantum spaces are constructed as quantizations of the corresponding classical coisotropic Poisson homogeneous spaces. The known quantum space of geodesics on the light cone is given by a five-dimensional homogeneous quadratic algebra, and the six nocommutative spaces of time-like and space-like geodesics are explicitly obtained as six-dimensional nonlinear algebras. Five out of these six spaces are here presented for the first time, and Darboux generators for all of them are found, thus showing that the quantum deformation parameter κ
−1 plays exactly the same algebraic role on quantum geodesics as the Planck constant ℏ plays in the usual phase space description of quantum mechanics.
Production of an electrolyte drink from the use of tamarind fruit (Tamarindus indica L.)
Authors: Vidal-Tovar C.R. , Gordon-Hernández Y. , Fragoso-Castilla P. J. , Gutierrez De Piñeres C.A. , Angulo-Blanquicett G. E.
Published: October 2022

The tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.), is from the legume family and is native to the tropics. The fruit is curved, which the shell is bright brown and its flattened oval seeds, joined together by fibers. It is a highly rustic fruit tree, since it can thrive in poor or marginalized soils, with little or no irrigation and minimal care, in relation to other tropical fruit trees. The objective of this work was to establish the formulation process to obtain a hydrating drink based on Tamarindus indica L., To obtain the drink, the following formulations were made; formulation 1 (6% tamarind pulp - 94% H2O), formulation 2 (9% tamarind pulp - 91% H2O) and formulation 3 (12% tamarind pulp - 88% H2O), keeping the amounts of electrolytes and carbohydrates constant added to the formulation. As the main result for the formulation of the drink, there is the following sequence: Harvesting of the fruit, Selection and classification of the raw material, Pulping, Storage of the pulp, Formulation, Mixing, Pasteurization, Packaging and Storage.
Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis of San José de Cúcuta, Colombia
Authors: Flórez-Góngora C H , Sereno-Vargas B S , Lozano-Lozano C F
Published: October 2022

This work evaluated the probabilistic seismic hazard of San José de Cúcuta (Colombia) using the methodology developed by Hanks and Cornell. Seismic hazard curves were obtained using a set of ground movement prediction equation which relate the average annual rate of earthquake exceedance against maximum acceleration values, assuming that the occurrence of the events presented in the area within the time period analyzed follows a Poisson´s distribution. Additionally, the average maximum acceleration values were calculated for a set of return periods, which were compared against the effective peak ground acceleration value for the city established in the current anti-seismic design code in Colombia. For the return period of 475 years, maximum acceleration values greater than those defined in the regulation were obtained with two of the soil movement prediction equations. With the results obtained, the level of high seismic threat in which the city is located has been corroborated and it is proposed to increase the maximum horizontal acceleration for anti-seismic design code from 0.35g to 0.40g.
Machine Learning algorithms to predict desertion in the faculty of Engineering Sciences at the Corporación Universitaria Antonio José de Sucre.
Authors: Pineda-Pertuz C M , Martinez Y. , Diaz I.
Published: October 2022

Desertion can be understood as the withdrawal and subsequent abandonment of school activity by students, due to different family, economic, social and other factors. All educational levels are affected by this scourge, being the university one of the most affected, especially during this time of pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV 19 virus. Due to the complexity of this problem, and the great impact it has generated at the educational level, many universities have proposed different intervention strategies to reduce dropout rates. The difficulty is that many of these strategies lack effectiveness, since they do not take into account the different causes, which are different for each case. On the other hand, it is important to have accurate and reliable information to determine the population in order to identify possible cases of dropout, and to take preventive actions to reduce the student dropout rate. In this sense, the purpose of this study is to analyze different predictive algorithms based on Machine Learning that enable early detection of possible cases of desertion in the Faculty of Engineering at the Corporación Universitaria Antonio José De Sucre. Among such algorithms we can mention decision trees, logistic regression and support vector machines. These will be trained with historical data and then tested to determine their performance, to finally choose the most appropriate within the context of the current problem.
Research methodology to pineapple fiber reinforcement effect in polylactic material
Authors: Cárdenas-Arias C G , Zuza-Hernández E , Quiroga-Méndez J E , Sandoval-Rodriguez C L , Rincón-Quintero A D , Castillo-León N Y
Published: October 2022

Researching new materials that are environment friendly has become a global purpose. Given the current contamination situation, mainly due to plastic, the using pineapple waste option as a bio composite production source is presented. The methodology used in this project is presented to achieve the material’s development, the problems presented and the results obtained in the work progress.
Study on rheological properties of warm mix large proportion recycled asphalt
Authors: Li Zhenxia , Guo Tengteng , Chen Yuanzhao , Bian Xuewei , Jiang Xiaoxiao , Hao Menghui , Zhao Xu , Liu Jinyuan
Published: October 2022

In order to explore the rheological properties of high content warm mix recycled asphalt binder, recycled asphalt was added into warm mix asphalt to prepare warm mix recycled asphalt. The optimum content of regenerant and Sasobit REDUX was determined by asphalt basic performance test and temperature scanning test. The chemical composition of recycled asphalt was studied by FITR. The rheological properties and low temperature crack resistance of warm mix recycled asphalt were analyzed by DSR and BBR tests, and the optimum content of recycled asphalt was determined. The results show that when the content of regenerant is 10%, its basic performance recovers to the level of base asphalt. Sasobit REDUX can reduce the high temperature viscosity of asphalt, and the optimum content is 1%. With the increase of recycled asphalt content, the shear modulus and phase angle of warm mix recycled asphalt gradually decrease, and its high temperature stability gradually increases. Under low frequency and high temperature conditions, warm mix recycled asphalt with 50% content has better high temperature deformation resistance. Under the action of stress, the strain accumulation decreases with the increase of the content of recycled asphalt. When the content of recycled asphalt is 50%, the ability of warm mix recycled asphalt to resist load deformation and temperature sensitivity in the middle temperature zone is similar to that of matrix asphalt, and it has good deformation resistance and low temperature crack resistance. Comprehensive analysis of the best content of recycled asphalt should be 50%, then warm mix recycled asphalt mixture has excellent road performance.
Ferroelectric-like behavior in HfO2/Al2O3/AlN metal-insulator-semiconductor capacitor through AlN thermal stress
Authors: Kao Min-Lu , Lin Yuan , Weng You-Chen , Dee Chang-Fu , Chang Edward Yi
Published: October 2022

By modulating the thermal stress during film growth, the strained aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films with ferroelectric-like behavior were successfully grown by metal organic chemical vapor phase deposition (MOCVD) on silicon (Si) (111) substrate. The capacitors with strained AlN were fabricated and experimentally demonstrated, the linear to ferroelectric-like behavior on the fabricated AlN capacitors was observed, and the behavior was explained in terms of residual strains in the film. This work reports the ferroelectric-like properties of AlN film grown under specific deposition conditions for the first time.
Virtual and real-world implementation of deep-learning-based image denoising model on projection domain in digital tomosynthesis and cone-beam computed tomography data
Authors: Jin David Shih-Chun , Chang Li-Sheng , Wang Yu-Hong , Chen Jyh-Cheng , Tseng Snow H , Liu Tse-Ying
Published: October 2022

Reducing the radiation dose will cause severe image noise and artifacts, and degradation of image quality will also affect the accuracy of diagnosis. To find a solution, we comprise a 2D and 3D concatenating convolutional encoder-decoder (CCE-3D) and the structural sensitive loss (SSL), via transfer learning (TL) denoising in the projection domain for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), radiography, and tomosynthesis. The simulation and real-world practicing results show that many of the figures-of-merit (FOMs) increase in both projections (2–3 times) and CT imaging (1.5–2 times). From the PSNR and structural similarity index of measurement (SSIM), the CCE-3D model is effective in denoising but keeps the shape of the structure. Hence, we have developed a denoising model that can be served as a promising tool to be implemented in the next generation of x-ray radiography, tomosynthesis, and LDCT systems.
Use of 2-Stage Modeling to Identify How Colorectal Cancer Risk Changes With Period and Cohort
Authors: DeYoreo Maria , Rutter Carolyn M , Lee Sarita D
Published: October 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates have decreased among adults aged 50 years or older while increasing in adults under age 50 years. Understanding these trends is challenging because of the multiple related time scales of age, diagnosis period, and birth cohort. We analyzed incidence rates of rectal, distal colon, and proximal colon cancer for individuals aged 20 years or more from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program for diagnosis years 1978–2017. We used a 2-stage generalized linear model to determine age, period, and cohort effects for CRC incidence. We first estimated birth cohort effects among people under age 45 years. We used these results to specify prior distributions for cohort effects in a Bayesian model to estimate period effects among people aged 45 years or more. There was no evidence of period effects for people under age 45 years. Risks of rectal and distal colon cancer increased for later birth cohorts. Compared with the 1943–1952 birth cohort, the 1983–1992 birth cohort had 2.2 times the risk of rectal cancer, 1.9 times the risk of distal colon cancer, and 1.3 times the risk of proximal colon cancer. For people aged ≥45 years, period effects showed declines in CRC risk that were attributable to screening.
β-sitosterol from Clinacanthus nutans Lindau enhances osteoblastogenic activity via upregulation of differentiation related genes and proteins
Authors: Nguyen Huyen T T , Ngo Quang V , Le Duong T T , Nguyen Minh T H , Nguyen Phuong T M
Published: October 2022

β-sitosterol derived from Clinacanthus nutans Lindau was tested for its in vitro osteogenic activity using MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts. Our results indicated that β-sitosterol was non-toxic to the cells cultured at a concentration <20 µg/mL. Treatment of the cells with β-sitosterol significantly enhanced the alkaline phosphatase activity up to 210 and 204.6% at 5 and 10 µg/mL, respectively (P < .05). Similarly, the mineralization activity of the β-sitosterol treated cells was elevated up to 134, 168, 118% at a concentration of 2.5, 5, and 10 µg/mL, respectively (P < .05). In addition, this compound up-regulated several marker genes for osteoblast differentiation, including runx2, osx and col I to 2, 2.5 and 5.6 folds at 10 µg/mL, respectively (P < .05). The expression of p38 and ERK proteins involved in the MAPK signal pathway related to mineralization and differentiation was also enhanced. Thus, the osteoblastogenic activity of β-sitosterol was fully illustrated for the first time.
The Productivity Puzzle in Invasion Science: Declining but Persisting Gender Imbalances in Research Performance
Authors: Campbell Sara E , Simberloff Daniel
Published: October 2022

We analyzed 27,234 publications published since the rise of the field of invasion science in 1980 to evaluate the presence of gender differences in research productivity, the extent of collaboration, and the research impact of those differences. Our analysis revealed significantly fewer female than male authored publications, both per capita and as a group, and the underrepresentation of women as first and single authors persists despite improvements in the gender gap. At the current rate of increase, gender parity in first authorship will not be achieved until 2100, and men will continue to constitute the principal voice of first or single authors in invasion science. Women collaborate with fewer coauthors and are cited less frequently than men, on average, which may influence recruitment and retention to more senior academic positions. These gender disparities in this aspect of research performance suggest that, although the gender gap is lessening, women experience barriers in invasion science.
Investigational Study of DASATINIB N-Oxide Impurity in Different Diluents
Authors: Prasad Ketha Naga Venkata Durga , Kolli Deepti
Published: October 2022

Dasatinib is an aminopyrimidine used as an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases in two different formulations an immediate-release tablet and a powder for oral suspension. It shows a very low pH-dependent solubility in aqueous solutions and higher solubility in organic solvents. The solubility plays an essential role in analytical methodology to establish the purity, potency, safety and efficacy of any drug product as a diluent. Also, extraction of active drug substance with a suitable diluent from matrix composition is crucial for any analytical method development. However, a diluent optimization study during the method development of related substances for the drug product reveals that the Piperazine ring presented in Dasatinib is susceptible to oxidation and forms an N-oxide impurity. The impurity formation is due to the micro oxidic properties of the solvent used as a diluent which is inducing an oxidation reaction. Therefore, a comprehensive investigative study was conducted to optimize the diluent by limiting N-Oxide generation.
KinMod database: a tool for investigating metabolic regulation
Authors: Haddadi Kiandokht , Ahmed Barghout Rana , Mahadevan Radhakrishnan
Published: October 2022

The ability of current kinetic models to simulate the phenotypic behaviour of cells is limited since cell metabolism is regulated at different levels including enzyme regulation. The small molecule regulation network (SMRN) enables cells to respond rapidly to environmental fluctuations by controlling the activity of enzymes in metabolic pathways. However, SMRN is not as well studied relative to metabolic networks. The main contributor to the lack of knowledge on this regulatory system is the sparsity of experimental data and the absence of a standard framework for representing available information. In this paper, we introduce the KinMod database that encompasses more than 2 million data points on the metabolism and metabolic regulation network of 9814 organisms KinMod database employs a hierarchical data structure to: (i) signify relationships between kinetic information obtained through in-vitro experiments and proteins, with an emphasis on SMRN, (ii) provide a thorough insight into available kinetic parameters and missing experimental measurements of this regulatory network and (iii) facilitate machine learning approaches for parameter estimation and accurate kinetic model construction by providing a homogeneous list of linked omics data. The hierarchical ontology of the KinMod database allows flexible exploration of data attributes and investigation of metabolic relationships within- and cross-species. Identifying missing experimental values suggests additional experiments required for kinetic parameter estimation. Linking multi-omics data and providing data on SMRN encourages the development of novel machine learning techniques for predicting missing kinetic parameters and promotes accurate kinetic model construction of cells metabolism by providing a comprehensive list of available kinetic measurements. To illustrate the value of KinMod data, we develop six analyses to visualize associations between data classes belonging to separate sections of the metabolism. Through these analyses, we demonstrate that the KinMod database provides a unique framework for biologists and engineers to retrieve, evaluate and compare the functional metabolism of species, including the regulatory network, and discover the extent of available and missing experimental values of the metabolic regulation.

Database URL: https://lmse.utoronto.ca/kinmod/KINMOD.sql.gz
Chromosome-level genome assembly for the Aldabra giant tortoise enables insights into the genetic health of a threatened population
Authors: Çilingir F Gözde , A'Bear Luke , Hansen Dennis , Davis Leyla R , Bunbury Nancy , Ozgul Arpat , Croll Daniel , Grossen Christine
Published: October 2022

Background

The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is one of only two giant tortoise species left in the world. The species is endemic to Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles and is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (v2.3) due to its limited distribution and threats posed by climate change. Genomic resources for A. gigantea are lacking, hampering conservation efforts for both wild and ex situpopulations. A high-quality genome would also open avenues to investigate the genetic basis of the species’ exceptionally long life span.

Findings

We produced the first chromosome-level de novo genome assembly of A. gigantea using PacBio High-Fidelity sequencing and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture. We produced a 2.37-Gbp assembly with a scaffold N50 of 148.6 Mbp and a resolution into 26 chromosomes. RNA sequencing–assisted gene model prediction identified 23,953 protein-coding genes and 1.1 Gbp of repetitive sequences. Synteny analyses among turtle genomes revealed high levels of chromosomal collinearity even among distantly related taxa. To assess the utility of the high-quality assembly for species conservation, we performed a low-coverage resequencing of 30 individuals from wild populations and two zoo individuals. Our genome-wide population structure analyses detected genetic population structure in the wild and identified the most likely origin of the zoo-housed individuals. We further identified putatively deleterious mutations to be monitored.

Conclusions

We establish a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for A. gigantea and one of the most complete turtle genomes available. We show that low-coverage whole-genome resequencing, for which alignment to the reference genome is a necessity, is a powerful tool to assess the population structure of the wild population and reveal the geographic origins of ex situ individuals relevant for genetic diversity management and rewilding efforts.
Effect of Vegetable Host Plant Type on Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Nymphal Development
Authors: Formella Adam , McIntyre Kelly , Kuhar Thomas P
Published: October 2022

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), is an invasive pest introduced to North America in the mid-1990’s that has caused economic losses to a wide range of commodities. In vegetables, H. halys feeding damage has been well described, but the effect of different vegetable hosts on H. halys fitness is less understood. We caged 2nd instar H. halys on different vegetable hosts (e.g., tomato, sweet corn, eggplant, bell pepper, and snap bean) and monitored their development until adulthood to compare the effects of vegetable host type on H. halys nymph survival and development time. Experiments were replicated nine times over a two-year period. Survival of 2nd instars from F1 generation (early-season) eggs was low (<30%) on all vegetables resulting in no significant treatment effect. However, H. halys nymphs collected from F2 generation (late-season) eggs had higher survivorship on all vegetables except tomato. The percentage of H. halys 2nd instars that reached adulthood was greatest on corn (53%) and pepper (45%), followed by snap bean (24%), and significantly lower on eggplant (9%) and tomato (2%). Total development time from 2nd instar to adult was fastest on corn and slowest on peppers, although tomatoes were not tested due to the low survival. Trends in development rate were not seasonally-dependent. Our study compares H. halys survivability on several vegetable commodities, and provides insights into H. halys developmental success and dependence on various host plants over the season.
Protection of Potatoes and Mortality of Wireworms (Agriotes obscurus) With Various Application Methods of Broflanilide, a Novel Meta-Diamide Insecticide
Authors: van Herk Willem G , Vernon Robert S , Goudis Lindsey , Mitchell Terisha
Published: October 2022

Wireworms are primary pests of potatoes in Canada. Presently, the highly toxic organophosphate phorate (i.e., Thimet 20G) is the only effective insecticide in use in Canada. As such, there is an urgent need for novel alternative treatments that provide competitive tuber blemish protection and wireworm reduction with a safer human and environmental portfolio. Herein we evaluated broflanilide, a novel meta-diamide insecticide for both tuber protection and wireworm mortality. When evaluated in field trials in Agassiz, British Columbia over 6 yr, broflanilide applied as a seed piece treatment (SPT) to mother tubers at 1.5–2.0 g AI/100 kg seed (approx. 50 g AI/ha), or as an in-furrow spray (IFS) at 0.23–0.25 g AI/100 m row (approx. 25 g AI/ha) was as effective at reducing blemishes to daughter tubers by wireworms (Agriotes obscurus) as phorate (Thimet 20G at 3230 g AI/ha), bifenthrin (Capture 2EC IFS at 300 g AI/ha) and clothianidin (Titan ST at 312.5 g AI/ha). In addition, broflanilide SPT and IFS applied at the above rates reduced resident wireworms (in the field at the time of planting) by 95.4–99.0% and neonate wireworms (produced from eggs laid during the growing season) by 98.1–100%. Similar results were obtained when broflanilide IFS (nonsystemic) was paired with clothianidin SPT (systemic) for broad-spectrum potato insect pest control. Strategies for the use of broflanilide on wheat (e.g., Teraxxa F4) in rotation with potatoes (Cimegra), both registered in Canada in 2020 are discussed.
Can foundational economy save regions in crisis?
Authors: Martynovich Mikhail , Hansen Teis , Lundquist Karl-Johan
Published: October 2022

We perform, to our best knowledge, the first systematic mapping of the foundational economy (FE) at the sub-national level by looking at the FE employment in Swedish regions between 2007 and 2016. We show that the FE itself not only suffered less than traded activities from employment decline during the Great Recession of 2007–2009 but was also a domain of substantial job creation in the post-crisis recovery. At the same time, regions with higher dependence on foundational employment were hit harder during the crisis in terms of overall labour market performance. We demonstrate that it is specific compositions of foundational and traded activities in the regional employment mix that relate differently to regional employment growth in times of crisis and recovery. Jointly, these findings allow us to contribute to the literatures on the FE and regional resilience.
Alternatives to Pyrethroid Resistance: Combinations of Cymbopogon nardus and Ocimum americanum Essential Oils Improve the Bioefficiency Control Against the Adults’ Populations of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)
Authors: Balboné Mahamoudou , Diloma Soma Dieudonné , Fogné Drabo Samuel , Namountougou Moussa , Konaté Hamadou , Benson Meda Georges , Sawadogo Ignace , Romba Rahim , Bilgo Etienne , Nebié Roger C H , Bassolé Imaël H N , Dabire Roch K , Gnankine Olivier
Published: October 2022

Dengue vector control strategies are mostly based on chemicals use against Aedes aegypti populations. The current study aimed at investigating the insecticidal effects of essential oils (EOs) obtained from five plant species, Cymbopogon citrates (D. C.) Stapf. (Poaceae), Cymbopogon nardus (Linn.) Rendle (Poaceae), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Linn. (Myrtaceae), Lippia multiflora Moldenke (Verbenaceae), and Ocimum americanum Linn. Lamiaceae, and combinations of Cymbopogon nardus and Ocimum americanum on Ae. aegypti populations from Bobo-Dioulasso. For this purpose, adults of the susceptible and field strains of Ae. aegypti were tested in WHO tubes with EO alone and binary combinations of O. americanum (OA) and C. nardus (CN; scored from C1 to C9). The extraction of the essential oils was done by hydrodistillation, and their components were determined by GC/MS. Among the 5 EOs tested, L. multiflora essential oil was the most efficient, with KDT50 values below 60 min on all Ae. aegypti strains tested, and also with a rate of mortality up to 100 and 85% for Bora Bora and Bobo-Dioulasso strains, respectively. This efficacy may be due to its major compounds which are with major compounds as β-caryophyllene, p-cymene, thymol acetate, and 1.8 cineol. Interestingly, on all strains, C8 combination showed a synergistic effect, while C2 showed an additive effect. These combinations exhibit a rate of mortality varying from 80 to 100%. Their toxicity would be due to the major compounds and the putative combined effects of some major and minor compounds. More importanly, L. multiflora EO and combinations of C. nardus and O. americanum EO, may be used as alternatives against pyrethroid resistant of Ae. aegypti.
Addressing the Machine: Victorian Working-Class Poetry and Industrial Machinery
Authors: Blair Kirstie
Published: October 2022

This article explores the representation of machinery by industrial workers in the Victorian period, and argues that their writings have a qualitatively different literary approach to machinery than that found in the work of established Victorian authors. It uses little-known poems by Scottish and Northern working-class writers to investigate how they use language and form to reflect upon the place of machinery in their working lives.
A Rare Case of Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction in a Premature Infant Caused by a Passive Anti-Jka Antibody
Authors: Yang Liyan , Wang Haijuan , Jiang Yongmei , Chen Jian , Zhao Hong , Feng Jing
Published: October 2022

Hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) is an important type of transfusion-associated reaction and usually occurs after alloimmunization to red blood cell antigens. The HTRs caused by passively transferred Kidd blood group antibodies are not well documented. Here, we report about a premature infant who developed HTR owing to a passive anti-Jka antibody transfer following fresh frozen plasma transfusion. Anti-Jka antibody was detected in the infant’s plasma and was also found in the donor plasma with a titer of 1:128. We reported this case to the local blood center, and they subsequently began testing for irregular antibodies of donor plasma, which is recommended but not mandated in China. This case reveals an unusual cause of HTR and emphasizes a possible need to screen donor plasma for antibodies to minimize risks to recipients.
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Military Physician Residency Websites
Authors: Chunn Raegan A , Clark Delaney E S , Ozcan Maj Meghan C H
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Medical physician residency program websites often serve as the first contact for any prospective applicant. No analysis of military residency program websites has yet been conducted, in contrast to their civilian counterparts. This study evaluated all military residency programs certified by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) 2021-2022 to determine program website comprehensiveness and accessibility and identify areas for improvement.

Materials and Methods

A list of military residency programs in the USA was compiled using Defense Health Agency Graduate Medical Education resources together with the ACGME database. A total of 15 objective website criteria covering education and recruitment content were assessed by two independent evaluators. Accessibility was also scored. Programs’ website scores were compared by geographic location, specialty affiliation, type of institution partnership, and program size. Analysis was performed with descriptive statistics and comparison via an unpaired t-test or Kruskal–Wallis analysis, as appropriate.

Results

A total of 124 military residency program websites were evaluated with a range of scores from 0 to 15 out of 15 possible points. Six programs had no identifiable website. All three services were represented with 43% joint-service programs. Content concerning physician education and development was more widely available than content directed toward the recruitment of applicants. The number of residency program websites reporting each content criterion varied greatly, but overall, no single service had a significantly higher score across their residencies’ websites. Significant variation occurred among individual specialties (P < .05) but there was no significant difference in surgical and nonsurgical specialties. Civilian-associated programs (18 programs, 14.5%) were associated with significantly greater website comprehensiveness scored best on informatics measures for recruitment and performed 64% better than military-only programs overall.

Conclusions

Program information in an accessible website platform allows prospective applicants to gain comprehensive perspectives of programs during the application process without reliance on personal visits and audition rotations. Limitations to in-person experiences, such as those caused by reductions in travel and concern for student safety during the global pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, may be alleviated by accessible virtual information. Our results indicate that there is opportunity for all military residency programs to improve their websites and better recruit applicants through understanding their audience and optimizing their reach online.
Miniature Inverted-repeat Transposable Elements Drive Rapid MicroRNA Diversification in Angiosperms
Authors: Guo Zhonglong , Kuang Zheng , Tao Yihan , Wang Haotian , Wan Miaomiao , Hao Chen , Shen Fei , Yang Xiaozeng , Li Lei
Published: October 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are fast evolving endogenous small RNAs that regulate organism function and behavior in both animals and plants. Although models for de novo miRNA biogenesis have been proposed, the genomic mechanisms driving swift diversification of the miRNA repertoires in plants remain elusive. Here, by comprehensively analyzing 21 phylogenetically representative plant species, ranging from green algae to angiosperms, we systematically identified de novo miRNA events associated with 8,649 miRNA loci. We found that 399 (4.6%), 466 (5.4%), and 1,402 (16.2%) miRNAs were derived from inverted gene duplication events, long terminal repeats of retrotransposons, and miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs), respectively. Among the miRNAs of these origins, MITEs, especially those belonging to the Mutator, Tc1/Mariner, and PIF/Harbinger superfamilies, were the predominant genomic source for de novo miRNAs in the 15 examined angiosperms but not in the six non-angiosperms. Our data further illustrated a transposition–transcription process by which MITEs are converted into new miRNAs (termed MITE-miRNAs) whereby properly sized MITEs are transcribed and therefore become potential substrates for the miRNA processing machinery by transposing into introns of active genes. By analyzing the 58,038 putative target genes for the 8,095 miRNAs, we found that the target genes of MITE-miRNAs were preferentially associated with response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, suggesting that MITE-miRNAs are pertinent to plant adaptation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that molecular conversion of MITEs is a genomic mechanism leading to rapid and continuous changes to the miRNA repertoires in angiosperm.
Investigation Around Cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever—Mauritania, 2022
Authors: Boushab Boushab Mohamed , Yanogo Pauline K , Barry Djibril , Benane Hacen Ahmed , El Bara Ahmed , Abdellah Moussa , Basco Leonardo K , Meda Nicolas
Published: October 2022

Background

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic arbovirosis. Humans are infected by tick bites or contact with blood of infected animals. CCHF can be responsible for severe outbreaks due to human-to-human transmission. Our aims were to increase awareness and promote the search for risk factors and disease monitoring to prevent CCHF epidemic, capacity building, appropriate measures to treat patients, and information for the local population.

Methods

During the outbreak of hemorrhagic fever from February to May 2022, blood samples were collected from 88 patients suspected to be infected with the virus. Diagnosis was established by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

CCHF was confirmed by RT-PCR in 7 of 88 (8%) patients. Ticks were found in cattle, sheep, or goats in the areas where the subjects resided, with the exception of 1 CCHF-positive patient in close contact with fresh animal meat. Exposure to potential risk factors was found in all patients. The interval between the onset of symptoms and hospital admission was 2–3 days. All 7 patients were admitted to our hospital and treated promptly by blood transfusion. Two patients died.

Conclusions

Mortality is high in patients with the hemorrhagic form of CCHF. Disease prevention is necessary by strengthening vector control, avoiding contact and consumption of organic products from diseased animals, and vaccinating animals in areas where the disease is endemic. Furthermore, it is essential to establish management procedures for patients infected with CCHF virus.
The role of oceanographic conditions and colony size in shaping the spatial structure ofPyrosoma atlanticumin the NW Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Pastor-Prieto Marina , SabatÉs Ana , Raya Vanesa , Canepa Antonio , Parraguez TomÁs I , Gili Josep-Maria
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the role of winter oceanographic conditions on the horizontal and vertical spatial structure of Pyrosoma atlanticum at different ontogenetic stages. Data were obtained on two oceanographic cruises (February 2017 and 2018) in the NW Mediterranean. Small colonies were exceptionally abundant in 2017, linked to an earlier development of spring conditions and the subsequent seasonal phytoplankton bloom. The mesoscale distribution of P. atlanticum differed depending on the colony size. Large colonies (≥7 mm) were found on the slope all along the density front, whereas small (<4 mm) and medium colonies (4–6.9 mm) extended their distribution over the shelf because of instabilities of the front, and were mostly absent in the cold, low-salinity coastal waters. The analysis of their vertical distribution showed that at night colonies of all sizes remained close to the surface, where chlorophyll-a levels were high, whereas during the day they migrated to deeper layers, reaching greater depths as the colony size increased. The migratory behaviour started when colonies were 4–6.9 mm long. The relative importance of the species in the downward carbon transport is discussed. Our results highlight the need to further study the ecology of this efficient filter feeder in the Mediterranean.
ThePhytophthora sojaenuclear effector PsAvh110 targets a host transcriptional complex to modulate plant immunity
Authors: Qiu Xufang , Kong Liang , Chen Han , Lin Yachun , Tu Siqun , Wang Lei , Chen Zhiyuan , Zeng Mengzhu , Xiao Junhua , Yuan Peiguo , Qiu Min , Wang Yan , Ye Wenwu , Duan Kaixuan , Dong Suomeng , Wang Yuanchao
Published: October 2022

Plants have evolved sophisticated immune networks to restrict pathogen colonization. In response, pathogens deploy numerous virulent effectors to circumvent plant immune responses. However, the molecular mechanisms by which pathogen-derived effectors suppress plant defenses remain elusive. Here, we report that the nucleus-localized RxLR effector PsAvh110 from the pathogen Phytophthora sojae, causing soybean (Glycine max) stem and root rot, modulates the activity of a transcriptional complex to suppress plant immunity. Soybean like-heterochromatin protein 1-2 (GmLHP1-2) and plant homeodomain finger protein 6 (GmPHD6) form a transcriptional complex with transcriptional activity that positively regulates plant immunity against Phytophthora infection. To suppress plant immunity, the nuclear effector PsAvh110 disrupts the assembly of the GmLHP1-2/GmPHD6 complex via specifically binding to GmLHP1-2, thus blocking its transcriptional activity. We further show that PsAvh110 represses the expression of a subset of immune-associated genes, including BRI1-associated receptor kinase 1-3 (GmBAK1-3) and pathogenesis-related protein 1 (GmPR1), via G-rich elements in gene promoters. Importantly, PsAvh110 is a conserved effector in different Phytophthora species, suggesting that the PsAvh110 regulatory mechanism might be widely utilized in the genus to manipulate plant immunity. Thus, our study reveals a regulatory mechanism by which pathogen effectors target a transcriptional complex to reprogram transcription.
ZAXINONE SYNTHASE 2 regulates growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice
Authors: Ablazov Abdugaffor , Votta Cristina , Fiorilli Valentina , Wang Jian You , Aljedaani Fatimah , Jamil Muhammad , Balakrishna Aparna , Balestrini Raffaella , Liew Kit Xi , Rajan Chakravarthy , Berqdar Lamis , Blilou Ikram , Lanfranco Luisa , Al-Babili Salim
Published: October 2022

Carotenoid cleavage, catalyzed by CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASEs (CCDs), provides signaling molecules and precursors of plant hormones. Recently, we showed that zaxinone, a apocarotenoid metabolite formed by the CCD ZAXINONE SYNTHASE (ZAS), is a growth regulator required for normal rice (Oryza sativa) growth and development. The rice genome encodes three OsZAS homologs, called here OsZAS1b, OsZAS1c, and OsZAS2, with unknown functions. Here, we investigated the enzymatic activity, expression pattern, and subcellular localization of OsZAS2 and generated and characterized loss-of-function CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and associated protein 9)-Oszas2 mutants. We show that OsZAS2 formed zaxinone in vitro. OsZAS2 was predominantly localized in plastids and mainly expressed under phosphate starvation. Moreover, OsZAS2 expression increased during mycorrhization, specifically in arbuscule-containing cells. Oszas2 mutants contained lower zaxinone content in roots and exhibited reduced root and shoot biomass, fewer tillers, and higher strigolactone (SL) levels. Exogenous zaxinone application repressed SL biosynthesis and partially rescued the growth retardation of the Oszas2 mutant. Consistent with the OsZAS2 expression pattern, Oszas2 mutants displayed a lower frequency of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. In conclusion, OsZAS2 is a zaxinone-forming enzyme that, similar to the previously reported OsZAS, determines rice growth, architecture, and SL content, and is required for optimal mycorrhization.
Botrytis hypersensitive response inducing protein 1 triggers noncanonical PTI to induce plant cell death
Authors: Jeblick Tanja , Leisen Thomas , Steidele Christina E , Albert Isabell , Müller Jonas , Kaiser Sabrina , Mahler Florian , Sommer Frederik , Keller Sandro , Hückelhoven Ralph , Hahn Matthias , Scheuring David
Published: October 2022

According to their lifestyle, plant pathogens are divided into biotrophic and necrotrophic organisms. Biotrophic pathogens exclusively nourish living host cells, whereas necrotrophic pathogens rapidly kill host cells and nourish cell walls and cell contents. To this end, the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea secretes large amounts of phytotoxic proteins and cell wall-degrading enzymes. However, the precise role of these proteins during infection is unknown. Here, we report on the identification and characterization of the previously unknown toxic protein hypersensitive response-inducing protein 1 (Hip1), which induces plant cell death. We found the adoption of a structurally conserved folded Alternaria alternata Alt a 1 protein structure to be a prerequisite for Hip1 to exert its necrosis-inducing activity in a host-specific manner. Localization and the induction of typical plant defense responses by Hip1 indicate recognition as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern at the plant plasma membrane. In contrast to other secreted toxic Botrytis proteins, the activity of Hip1 does not depend on the presence of the receptor-associated kinases BRI1-associated kinase 1 and suppressor of BIR1-1. Our results demonstrate that recognition of Hip1, even in the absence of obvious enzymatic or pore-forming activity, induces strong plant defense reactions eventually leading to plant cell death. Botrytis hip1 overexpression strains generated by CRISPR/Cas9 displayed enhanced infection, indicating the virulence-promoting potential of Hip1. Taken together, Hip1 induces a noncanonical defense response which might be a common feature of structurally conserved fungal proteins from the Alt a 1 family.
Revised microbial and photochemical triple-oxygen isotope effects improve marine gross oxygen production estimates
Authors: Sutherland Kevin M , Johnston David T , Hemingway Jordon D , Wankel Scott D , Ward Collin P
Published: October 2022

The biogeochemical fluxes that cycle oxygen (O2) play a critical role in regulating Earth’s climate and habitability. Triple-oxygen isotope (TOI) compositions of marine dissolved O2 are considered a robust tool for tracing oxygen cycling and quantifying gross photosynthetic O2 production. This method assumes that photosynthesis, microbial respiration, and gas exchange with the atmosphere are the primary influences on dissolved O2 content, and that they have predictable, fixed isotope effects. Despite its widespread use, there are major elements of this approach that remain uncharacterized, including the TOI dynamics of respiration by marine heterotrophic bacteria and abiotic O2 sinks such as the photochemical oxidation of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). Here, we report the TOI fractionation for O2 utilization by two model marine heterotrophs and by abiotic photo-oxidation of representative terrestrial and coastal marine DOC. We demonstrate that TOI slopes associated with these processes span a significant range of the mass-dependent domain (λ = 0.499 to 0.521). A sensitivity analysis reveals that even under moderate productivity and photo-oxidation scenarios, true gross oxygen production may deviate from previous estimates by more than 20% in either direction. By considering a broader suite of oxygen cycle reactions, our findings challenge current gross oxygen production estimates and highlight several paths forward to better understanding the marine oxygen and carbon cycles.