bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometric and physical configurations of meta‐atoms for advanced metasurface holography
Authors: Kim Joohoon , Yang Younghwan , Badloe Trevon , Kim Inki , Yoon Gwanho , Rho Junsuk
Published: May 2021

Metasurfaces consisting of subwavelength structures, so‐called meta‐atoms, have steadily attracted considerable attention for advanced holography due to their advantages in terms of high‐resolution holographic images, large field of view, and compact device volume. In contrast to conventional holographic displays using bulky conventional diffractive optical elements, metasurface holography enables arbitrary complex wavefront shaping with a much smaller footprint. In this review, we classify metasurface holography according to the meta‐atom design methodologies, which can further expand hologram functionalities. We describe light‐matter interactions, particularly in metasurface systems, using the relevant the Jones matrix to rigorously explain modulations of the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light. Six different types of meta‐atoms are presented, and the corresponding achievable wavefronts that form the holographic images in the far‐field are also provided. Such a simple classification will give a straightforward approach to design and further realize advanced metasurface holographic devices.

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Comparative efficacy of resorbable fiber wraps loaded with gentamicin sulfate or gallium maltolate in the treatment of osteomyelitis
Authors: Buie Taneidra W. , Whitely Michael , McCune Joshua , Lan Ziyang , Jose Anupriya , Balakrishnan Annika , Wenke Joseph , Cosgriff‐Hernandez Elizabeth
Published: May 2021

The high incidence of osteomyelitis associated with critical‐sized bone defects raises clinical challenges in fracture healing. Clinical use of antibiotic‐loaded bone cement as an adjunct therapy is limited by incompatibility with many antimicrobials, sub‐optimal release kinetics, and requirement of surgical removal. Furthermore, overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial modifications that increase efflux, decrease binding, or cause inactivation of the antibiotics. Herein, we compared the efficacy of gallium maltolate, a new metal‐based antimicrobial, to gentamicin sulfate released from electrospun poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic) acid (PLGA) wraps in the treatment of osteomyelitis. In vitro evaluation demonstrated sustained release of each antimicrobial up to 14 days. A Kirby Bauer assay indicated that the gentamicin sulfate‐loaded wrap inhibited the growth of osteomyelitis‐derived isolates, comparable to the gentamicin sulfate powder control. In contrast, the gallium maltolate‐loaded wrap did not inhibit bacteria growth. Subsequent microdilution assays indicated a lower than expected sensitivity of the osteomyelitis strain to the gallium maltolate with release concentrations below the threshold for bactericidal activity. A comparison of the selectivity indices indicated that gentamicin sulfate was less toxic and more efficacious than gallium maltolate. A pilot study in a contaminated femoral defect model confirmed that the sustained release of gentamicin sulfate from the electrospun wrap resulted in bacteria density reduction on the surrounding bone, muscle, and hardware below the threshold that impedes healing. Overall, these findings demonstrate the efficacy of a resorbable, antimicrobial wrap that can be used as an adjunct or stand‐alone therapy for controlled release of antimicrobials in the treatment of osteomyelitis.
Tailoring circulation type classification outcomes
Authors: Hansen Felicitas , Belušić Danijel
Published: May 2021

Efforts to intercompare many existing circulation type classification (CTC) methods have found no consistency in their outcomes. Therefore, when confronted with a task to classify atmospheric circulation types, it is difficult to find clear guidelines. This study explores the ways of increasing consistency between existing methods and obtaining physically meaningful and practically useful results. By applying a range of CTC methods to sea‐level pressure fields over a Scandinavian domain, it is shown that CTC methods using the same similarity measure (pattern correlation (CORR) or Euclidean distance (DIST)) have higher consistency. It is further shown that CTC outcomes can be tailored towards specific user requirements by properly manipulating the input data. Using unprocessed input data in DIST‐based CTC methods frequently results in classes containing physically inconsistent members because the classification procedure is obfuscated by circulation‐irrelevant information in the data. Using spatially standardized data in DIST‐based methods leads to considerably improved agreement with CORR‐based methods and brings high physical consistency within the individual classes. However, standardizing the input data removes too much of the circulation‐relevant information and results in no clear improvement in partitioning dependent variables such as precipitation. Best performance is achieved with DIST‐based methods using the input data with the spatial mean removed. This simple procedure focuses the CTC methods to use only the circulation‐relevant information and hence results both in physically consistent classes and in optimally performing partitioning of dependent variables. Consequently, the recommended guideline would be to use DIST‐based methods with spatial‐mean‐removed input data as the generally most effective classification approach.
S100P acts as a target of miR‐495 in pancreatic cancer through bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification
Authors: Jiang Peng‐Fei , Zhang Xiu‐Ju , Song Cai‐Yun , Zhang Yan‐Xi , Wu Yan
Published: May 2021

S100 calcium binding protein P (S100P) and miR‐495 are aberrantly expressed and exert essential roles in cancers. However, the mechanisms of miR‐495‐S100P in pancreatic cancer are yet to be illustrated. Thus, we explored the regulatory functions of miR‐495‐S100P axis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells growth and invasion. In this study, we identified that S100P was upregulated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma by bioinformatics analysis of the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus database) microarray dataset (GSE16515). Western blotting and luciferase reporter gene analysis exhibited that miR‐495 negatively determined the level of S100P via binging to its 3′‐untranslated regions (3′‐UTRs). A series of functional experiments indicated that upregulation of miR‐495 or S100P knockdown suppressed pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells proliferation, invasion, and promoted apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of S100P was negatively associated with the level of miR‐495 in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pancreatic adenocarcinoma case‐cohort. Besides, reintroduction of S100P debilitated the anti‐cancer action of miR‐495 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Our data indicated that miR‐495 performed suppressive roles in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through targeting S100P.
Does FLASH deplete oxygen? Experimental evaluation for photons, protons, and carbon ions
Authors: Jansen Jeannette , Knoll Jan , Beyreuther Elke , Pawelke Jörg , Skuza Raphael , Hanley Rachel , Brons Stephan , Pagliari Francesca , Seco Joao
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To investigate experimentally, if FLASH irradiation depletes oxygen within water for different radiation types such as photons, protons, and carbon ions.

Methods

This study presents measurements of the oxygen consumption in sealed, 3D‐printed water phantoms during irradiation with x‐rays, protons, and carbon ions at varying dose rates up to 340 Gy/s. The oxygen measurement was performed using an optical sensor allowing for noninvasive measurements.

Results

Oxygen consumption in water only depends on dose, dose rate, and linear energy transfer (LET) of the irradiation. The total amount of oxygen depleted per 10 Gy was found to be 0.04% atm ‐ 0.18% atm for 225 kV photons, 0.04% atm ‐ 0.25% atm for 224 MeV protons, and 0.09% atm ‐ 0.17% atm for carbon ions. Consumption depends on dose rate by an inverse power law and saturates for higher dose rates because of self‐interactions of radicals. Higher dose rates yield lower oxygen consumption. No total depletion of oxygen was found for clinical doses.

Conclusions

FLASH irradiation does consume oxygen, but not enough to deplete all the oxygen present. For higher dose rates, less oxygen was consumed than at standard radiotherapy dose rates. No total depletion was found for any of the analyzed radiation types for 10 Gy dose delivery using FLASH.
Improving phase‐based conductivity reconstruction by means of deep learning–based denoising of phase data for 3T MRI
Authors: Jung Kyu‐Jin , Mandija Stefano , Kim Jun‐Hyeong , Ryu Kanghyun , Jung Soozy , Cui Chuanjiang , Kim Soo‐Yeon , Park Mina , van den Berg Cornelis A. T. , Kim Dong‐Hyun
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To denoise phase using a deep learning method for phase‐based in vivo electrical conductivity reconstruction in a 3T MR system.

Methods

For phase deep‐learning denoising, a convolutional neural network (U‐net) was chosen. Training was performed on data sets from 10 healthy volunteers. Input data were the real and imaginary components of single averaged spin‐echo data (SNR = 45), which was used to approximate the phase. For label data, multiple signal‐averaged spin‐echo data (SNR = 128) were used. Testing was performed on in silico and in vivo data. Reconstructed conductivity maps were derived using phase‐based conductivity reconstructions. Additionally, we investigated the usability of the network to various SNR levels, imaging contrasts, and anatomical sites (ie, T1, T2, and proton density–weighted brain images and proton density–weighted breast images. In addition, conductivity reconstructions from deep learning–based denoised data were compared with conventional image filters, which were used for data denoising in electrical properties tomography (ie, the Gaussian filtering and the Savitzky‐Golay filtering).

Results

The proposed deep learning–based denoising approach showed improvement for phase for both in silico and in vivo experiments with reduced quantitative error measures compared with other methods. Subsequently, this resulted in an improvement of reconstructed conductivity maps from the denoised phase with deep learning.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the proposed approach can be used as an alternative preprocessing method to denoise maps for phase‐based conductivity reconstruction without relying on image filters or signal averaging.
Environmental Variation and Habitat Use Affect Blue Catfish Low-Frequency Electrofishing Catch Rates
Authors: Moran Zachary S. , Stoeckel Joseph N. , Peoples Brandon K.
Published: May 2021

The Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus is a popular sport fish in its native range and a prolific invasive species in its nonnative range. Low-frequency electrofishing (LFE) is effective for sampling Blue Catfish, and development of standardized LFE protocols for sampling Blue Catfish is critical for monitoring and management of their populations. However, standardized sampling for Blue Catfish can be difficult because their habitat use is variable among seasons and habitats, and LFE is affected by a suite of abiotic factors. To quantify this variation, our objectives were to determine how Blue Catfish LFE catch (1) differs during spring and summer sampling seasons, (2) is affected by environmental variables, and (3) relates to their habitat use. To do so, we conducted a telemetry study and systematic random LFE sampling in Lake Dardanelle, Arkansas, in the spring and summer of 2016. We compared the numbers, capture rates, and size structure (proportional size distribution index of quality-size fish) of telemetry-located and LFE-captured Blue Catfish in distinct habitats and found that habitat use was heterogeneous but capture rates were proportional to habitat use. Blue Catfish catch increased with conductivity and decreased with flow velocity; catch also differed among habitat types, among reservoir zones, and between seasons (spring/summer). Understanding how spatiotemporal differences in habitat use contextualize the effects of LFE catch will improve sampling protocols for Blue Catfish.
Effect of surface modification of nickel oxide hole‐transport layer via self‐assembled monolayers in perovskite solar cells
Authors: Singh Neha , Tao Yu‐Tai
Published: May 2021

Self‐assembled monolayers of para‐substituted phenylphosphonic acids were used to modify the surface of nickel oxide layer, which served as the hole‐transport layer in the fabrication of inverted perovskite solar cells. The monolayer was installed to modulate the work function of NiOx based on their electron‐withdrawing or electron‐donating substituent, while the perovskite film morphology and quality were not significantly altered due to analogous hydrophilic nature of the modified surfaces. The modification impacted the device performance such that the best‐performing device was observed with electron‐withdrawing cyano‐substituted phosphonic acid modification, with a maximum power conversion efficiency of 18.45% obtained. The effect of modification on parameters such as open‐circuit voltage, short‐circuit current, and field factor are discussed.
Biopolymer based three‐dimensional biomimetic micro/nanofibers scaffolds with porous structures via tailored charge repulsions for skin tissue regeneration
Authors: Pedram Rad Zahra , Mokhtari Javad , Abbasi Marjan
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, the fabrication of three‐dimensional (3D) fibrous scaffolds that mimic the natural skin tissue in microstructure and composition is still a challenge. 3D nanocomposite scaffolds combining biopolymers (e.g., proteins and polysaccharides) are promising candidates for skin tissue engineering. For this purpose, nano‐microfibers and nanofibers/net 3D scaffolds based on zein, gum arabic (GA), Calendula officinalis (C. officinalis) extract, and poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) were successfully fabricated via electrospinning technique. The morphological observation of scaffolds indicated cone‐like construction. 3D structures were formed based on repulsions between adjacent fibers and high relative humidity. The results confirmed interconnected porous structure for the sintered 3D scaffolds. Physicochemical and biological properties of the fibrous scaffolds such as mechanical behavior, water sorption capacity, weight loss, porosity, and biocompatibility were studied. The 3D scaffolds revealed significant hydrophilicity and high porosity (ca. 94% porosity) with an average pore size >9 μm. In vitro biological evaluation indicated that PCL/Zein/GA/C. officinalis 3D scaffold with nanofibers/net morphology provided outstanding cell proliferation and attachment. The results confirmed that these nanofibers/net scaffolds with 3D structures could be potentially used in repairing skin defects.
Study of mechanical, flame, and water stability of phenolic resin / carbon fiber / nanosilica composites
Authors: Bakhshi Behzad , Heydarian Meysam
Published: May 2021

Phenolic resin‐carbon fiber composites are used in various industries due to their high flame resistance, high strength to weight ratio, and high thermal stability as an insulator. In this study, to expand the applications of this composite in marine structures, phenolic resin‐carbon fiber‐nanosilica composites were fabricated with eight layers of twill carbon fibers and 0, 1, 2, and 3 wt% of nanosilica then flexural and flame resistance was investigated. To evaluate the stability of the composites in seawater, the samples were placed in seawater for 30, 60, and 90 days then the flexural test was performed and the percentage of strength reduction was calculated. Thermogravimetric analyzer test was performed on a sample that had the highest strength after 90‐day immersion. Finally, it was found that nanosilica particles had a significant effect on increasing the flexural strength and flame resistance of samples so that the sample with 3 wt% silica had flexural strength and burning rate of 690 MPa, 0.098 g/s, respectively.
Integrating chemical profiling and network pharmacology analysis based on anti‐inflammatory effects for quality control of Scutellaria barbata
Authors: Li Tong , Yang Wen‐Zhi , Song Tong‐Xin , Liu Cheng‐Juan , Jiang Miao‐Miao
Published: May 2021

Introduction

With the wide application of Scutellaria barbata D. Don for hepatitis and mastitis, its quality control issues have also received increasing attention. Based on the multi‐component and multi‐target characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine, there is an urgent need to establish a quality evaluation system.

Objectives

This study intends to integrate the “quality–activity–quantification” strategy and establish an activity‐related quality control method to ensure the safety and effectiveness of S. barbata.

Material and methods

Ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography/ion mobility–quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/IM‐QTOF‐MS) was used to characterize the chemical components of S. barbata, and network pharmacological analysis was carried out on the identified components. The index components were determined on the basis of comprehensive activity prediction results and content information. At the same time, the contents of 16 batches of S. barbata from different origins were determined.

Results

A total of 94 compounds were identified according to mass spectrometric data, 12 of which were isolated and structure‐confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance technology. Network pharmacological analysis was applied to predict their key targets and the major pathways mediating their anti‐inflammatory effects. On the basis of comprehensive activity prediction and content information, five components were chosen as crucial quality indicators of S. barbata, including scutellarin, scutellarein, luteolin, apigenin, and hispidulin.

Conclusion

In this study, 16 different S. barbata batches were compared, and five quality indicators were determined on the basis of qualitative and activity results. The present study provides useful information for evaluating the quality of S. barbata in different areas, and also provides a new basis for the development of quality evaluation methods.
Hollow CoS2 Nanobubble Prisms Derived from ZIF‐67 through Facile Two‐Step Self‐Engaged Method for Electromagnetic Wave Absorption
Authors: Zeng Fanzhen , Li Lei , Liu Chenyu , Lin Zhan
Published: May 2021

Morphological structure, other than chemical composition is of great significance to design and fabricate superior electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption materials. Hollow CoS2 nanobubble prisms with hierarchical porous structure are well preserved via a subsequent sulfuration process from hollow nanorods‐like ZIF‐67 as a precursor. The hollow CoS2 nanobubble prisms provide advanced microwave absorbing property. With a low filler loading of 25 wt%, the minimum reflection loss of hollow CoS2 nanobubble prisms reaches −54.9 dB at 5 GHz, while the effective absorption frequency band is 14.2 (3.8–18) GHz. Moreover, the microwave absorbing mechanism of porous architecture and chemical component is discussed systematacially. This work elaborates the importance in investigating porous architectures for microwave absorption in the possible field of future, providing an excellent example to study and develop advanced microwave absorbers.
Three‐dimensional echocardiography and cardiac strain imaging in women with gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Company Calabuig A. M. , Nunez E. , Sánchez A. , Nicolaides K. H. , Charakida M. , De Paco Matallana C.
Published: May 2021

Objectives

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with premature cardiovascular disease and adverse cardiovascular outcome in the mother. Subclinical cardiac functional changes in the left ventricle have been reported during pregnancy in women with GDM using conventional echocardiography, but results are inconsistent. The aims of the current study were to assess whether GDM is associated with biventricular systolic dysfunction in the mother and whether these cardiac changes can be detected using the novel echocardiographic modalities of strain imaging and three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study in women with GDM and controls examined at 26–40 weeks of gestation. All women underwent echocardiography, and 3D volumes of the left and right ventricles and left atrium were collected. Ejection fraction and left ventricular mass were measured using 3D echocardiography. Left ventricular mass was indexed to body surface area. Speckle‐tracking echocardiography was used to assess global longitudinal strain of the left and right ventricles and strain of the left atrium.

Results

The study population included 123 women with GDM and 246 controls. Women with GDM, compared to controls, were older (35.1 ± 5.2 vs 32.4 ± 5.5 years; P < 0.001), had higher body mass index (30.6 (interquartile range (IQR), 26.2–35.2) vs 27.5 (IQR, 24.7–30.7) kg/m2; P < 0.001) and had higher systolic blood pressure (119.9 ± 11.2 vs 116.4 ± 12.0 mmHg; P = 0.007). In all women with GDM, there was good glycemic control. In women with GDM, compared to controls, there was lower global longitudinal strain of the left ventricle (−19.3% (IQR, −21.4 to −17.6%) vs −20.1% (IQR, −22.1 to −18.7%); P = 0.002) and right ventricle (−22.2% (IQR, −26.1 to −19.8%) vs −24.1% (IQR, −27.0 to −21.9%); P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in ejection fraction, left ventricular mass, diastolic function assessed by left atrial strain, or 3D functional indices.

Conclusions

Women with GDM, compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancy, have lower left and right ventricular myocardial deformation. Volumetric assessment using 3D echocardiography does not provide additional information about maternal cardiac function. Strain imaging is a sensitive echocardiographic modality to detect early cardiac functional changes in women with GDM. Further studies are needed to assess the pattern of deterioration of cardiac function with advancing age in women with a history of GDM. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Assessment of country readiness for drug development: A qualitative study in Indonesia
Authors: Siagian Ria C. , Ayuningtyas Dumilah , Soewondo Prastuti , Thabrany Hasbullah , Achadi Anhari , Bachtiar Novilia S.
Published: May 2021

Over a 5‐year period ending in 2019, 200 pharmaceutical industries in Indonesia were encouraged to transform from generic to research‐based ones. This study aimed to assess the country's readiness for change, to predict the policy impact on drug development in Indonesia. Issues concerning the perceptions of pharmaceutical industries and government institutions on the pursuit of drug development readiness were explored in a qualitative explorative study, employing elements of key levers predicting drug development. Data from interviews and an open‐ended survey of a number of top‐level managers in pharmaceutical industries and relevant government institutions revealed that Indonesia was only partially ready to develop drugs. Drug characteristics, push and pull factors, government resources, and the national program were identified as drivers but failed to deliver any impact. Regulations, pharma capacity, market opportunities, regulatory‐pull factors, key actors, and policy value were among the commonly stated barriers to development.
Important Issues in Planning a Proteomics Experiment: Statistical Considerations of Quantitative Proteomic Data
Authors: Schork Karin , Podwojski Katharina , Turewicz Michael , Stephan Christian , Eisenacher Martin
Published: May 2021

Mass spectrometry is frequently used in quantitative proteomics to detect differentially regulated proteins. A very important but unfortunately oftentimes neglected part in detecting differential proteins is the statistical analysis. Data from proteomics experiments are usually high-dimensional and hence require profound statistical methods. It is especially important to already correctly design a proteomic experiment before it is conducted in the laboratory. Only this can ensure that the statistical analysis is capable of detecting truly differential proteins afterward. This chapter thus covers aspects of both statistical planning as well as the actual analysis of quantitative proteomic experiments.
Introduction
Authors: Kirchhelle Claas
Published: May 2021

This chapter introduces readers to the animal welfare campaigner Ruth Harrison. It highlights her importance for the development of farm animal welfare and discusses the usefulness of a biographic approach to analyse the wider evolution of twentieth-century welfare activism, politics, and science. It also examines the reasons underlying the relative neglect of Harrison and her long-term campaigning career in existing scholarship.
Between Physiology and Psychology—Ethology and Animal Feelings
Authors: Kirchhelle Claas
Published: May 2021

This chapter explores scientific thinking about animal behaviour and welfare from the late nineteenth century onwards. After a period of unsystematic investigations of animal cognition and feelings (affective states), many researchers abandoned allegedly anthropomorphic approaches in favour of new mechanistic behaviourist models. Interest in the evolutionary roots and purpose of behaviour was gradually revived by ethologists from the interwar period onwards. While senior continental ethologists shied away from research on animal feelings, a growing number of Anglo-American ethologists questioned supposed divides between animal and human cognition and anthropomorphic taboos associated with studying affective states. In post-war Britain, the University Federation of Animal Welfare and ethologists Julian Huxley and William Homan Thorpe used research on behaviour and stress to call for improved welfare. Their actions were strongly influenced by Edwardian concepts of science as a progressive force for the moral and spiritual improvement of human society.
Molecular Approaches for Disease Resistance in Rice
Authors: Jamaloddin Mohammed , Mahender Anumalla , Gokulan C. Guru , Balachiranjeevi Chintavaram , Maliha A. , Patel Hitendra Kumar , Ali Jauhar
Published: May 2021

Rice production needs to be sustained in the coming decades, with changing climatic conditions becoming more conducive to the prevalence of disease outbreaks. Major rice diseases collectively cause enormous economic damage and yield instability. Breeding for disease-resistant rice varieties could be one of the best options to counter these disease outbreaks. Disease-screening protocols and newer technologies are essential for effective phenotyping and would aid in gene discovery and function. Understanding the genetics of disease mechanisms and stacking of broad-spectrum disease-resistance genes could lead to faster development of rice varieties with multiple disease resistance. New molecular breeding approaches are discussed for the development of these varieties. The molecular biology of disease resistance is now better understood and could be well manipulated for improved resilience. Transgenic approaches for disease resistance are discussed. Genome-editing tools for the development of disease-resistant rice varieties are thoroughly discussed. The use of bioinformatics tools to speed up the process and to obtain a better understanding of molecular genetics mechanisms of disease resistance is explained.
Molecular Approaches for Insect Pest Management in Rice
Authors: Bentur Jagadish S. , Sundaram R. M. , Mangrauthia Satendra Kumar , Nair Suresh
Published: May 2021

This chapter focuses on the progress made in using molecular tools in understanding resistance in rice to insect pests and breeding rice for multiple and durable insect resistance. Currently, molecular markers are being extensively used to tag, map, introgress, and clone plant resistance genes against gall midge, planthoppers, and leafhoppers. Studies on cloned insect resistance genes are leading to a better understanding of plant defense against insect pests under different feeding guilds. While marker-assisted breeding is successfully tackling problems in durable and multiple pest resistance in rice, genomics of plants and insects has identified RNAi-based gene silencing as an alternative approach for conferring insect resistance. The use of these techniques in rice is in the developmental stage, with the main focus on brown planthopper and yellow stem borer. CRISPR-based genome editing techniques for pest control in plants has just begun. Insect susceptibility genes (negative regulators of resistance genes) in plants are apt targets for this approach while gene drive in insect populations, as a tool to study rice-pest interactions, is another concept being tested. Transformation of crop plants with diverse insecticidal genes is a proven technology with potential for commercial success. Despite advances in the development and testing of transgenic rice for insect resistance, no insect-resistant rice cultivar is now being commercially cultivated. An array of molecular tools is being used to study insect-rice interactions at transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, mitogenome, and metagenome levels, especially with reference to BPH and gall midge, and such studies are uncovering new approaches for insect pest management and for understanding population genetics and phylogeography of rice pests. Thus, it is evident that the new knowledge being gained through these studies has provided us with new tools and information for facing future challenges. However, what is also evident is that our attempts to manage rice pests cannot be a one-time effort but must be a continuing one.
Biofortification of Rice Grains for Increased Iron Content
Authors: Matres Jerlie Mhay , Arcillas Erwin , Cueto-Reaño Maria Florida , Sallan-Gonzales Ruby , Trijatmiko Kurniawan R. , Slamet-Loedin Inez
Published: May 2021

Dietary iron (Fe) deficiency affects 14% of the world population with significant health impacts. Biofortification is the process of increasing the density of vitamins and minerals in a crop, through conventional breeding, biotechnology approaches, or agronomic practices. This process has recently been shown to successfully alleviate micronutrient deficiency for populations with limited access to diverse diets in several countries (https://www.harvestplus.org/). The Fe breeding target in the HarvestPlus program was set based on average rice consumption to fulfil 30% of the Estimated Average Requirement of Fe in women and children. In this review, we present the reported transgenic approaches to increase grain Fe. Insertion of a single or multiple genes encoding iron storage protein, metal transporter, or enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of metal chelator in the rice genome was shown to be a viable approach to significantly increase grain-Fe density. The most successful approach to reach the Fe breeding target was by overexpression of multiple genes. Despite this success, a significant effort of 8–10 years needs to be dedicated from the proof of concept to varietal release. This includes large-scale plant transformation, event selection, collection of data for premarket safety assurance, securing biosafety permits for consumption and propagation, and collection of data for variety registration.
Advances in Two-Line Heterosis Breeding in Rice via the Temperature-Sensitive Genetic Male Sterility System
Authors: Ali Jauhar , Dela Paz Madonna , Robiso Christian John
Published: May 2021

Hybrid rice technology is a viable strategy to increase rice production and productivity, especially in countries with limited cultivable land for agriculture and irrigation water, along with costlier chemical inputs. The three-line hybrid rice technology adoption rate is slowing down because of restricted heterosis per se, the availability of better combining ability in cytoplasmic male sterile lines, lower hybrid seed reproducibility, and limited market acceptability of hybrids. Two-line heterosis breeding could overcome these shortcomings. However, the wide-scale adoption and use of two-line hybrid rice technology are possible through systematic research and breeding efforts to develop temperature-sensitive genetic male sterile (TGMS) lines with low (<24 °C) critical sterility temperature point, which is discussed in this chapter. Research on the genetics, breeding, grain quality, and resistance to insect pests and diseases for TGMS line development and physiological characterization is also discussed. In addition, the identification and validation of natural sites for TGMS self-seed multiplication and hybrid rice seed production through GIS mapping and climatic data analytical tools are also tackled. The development of high-yielding two-line rice hybrids and improvement in hybrid rice seed reproducibility could help in their wide-scale adoption.
Genetics and Breeding of Heat Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Ye Changrong , Li Xiaolin , Redoña Edilberto , Ishimaru Tsutomu , Jagadish Krishna
Published: May 2021

Extreme weather events, especially heat waves, have become more frequent with global warming. High temperature significantly affects world food security by decreasing crop yield. Rice is intensively planted in tropical and subtropical areas in Asia, where high temperature has become a major factor affecting rice production. Rice is sensitive to high temperature, especially at booting and flowering stages. Rice varieties tolerant of high temperature are rare, and only a few heat-tolerant rice varieties have been identified. High temperature at booting and flowering stages causes sterile pollen, decreased pollen shedding, and poor pollen germination, which finally lead to a yield decrease. Heat-tolerant QTLs have been identified in different studies, but new breeding lines with considerable heat tolerance have not been bred using identified heat-tolerance donors and QTLs. Research on heat-tolerant donor identification, QTL mapping, gene cloning, and large-scale phenotyping technology is important for developing heat-tolerant rice varieties.
Genetics and Breeding of Low-Temperature Stress Tolerance in Rice
Authors: Najeeb Sofi , Mahender Anumalla , Anandan Annamalai , Hussain Waseem , Li Zhikang , Ali Jauhar
Published: May 2021

Low-temperature stress (LTS) is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect crop growth and ultimately decrease grain yield. The development of rice varieties with low-temperature stress tolerance has been a severe challenge for rice breeders for a long time. The lack of consistency of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) governing LTS tolerance for any given growth stage over different genetic backgrounds of mapping populations under different low-temperature stress conditions remains a crucial barrier for adopting marker-assisted selection (MAS). In this review, we discuss the ideal location and phenotyping for agromorphological and physiological parameters as indicators for LTS tolerance and also the traits associated with QTLs that were identified from biparental mapping populations and diverse rice accessions. We highlight the progress made in the fields of genome editing, genetic transformation, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance in rice. The stage-specific QTLs and candidate genes for LTS tolerance brought out valuable information toward identifying and improving LTS tolerance in rice varieties. We showed 578 QTLs and 38 functionally characterized genes involved in LTS tolerance. Among these, 29 QTLs were found to be colocalized at different growth stages of rice. The combination of stage-specific QTLs and genes from biparental mapping populations and genome-wide association studies provide potential information for developing LTS-tolerant rice varieties. The identified colocalized stage-specific LTS-tolerance QTLs will be useful for MAS and QTL pyramiding and for accelerating mapping and cloning of the possible candidate genes, revealing the underlying LTS-tolerance mechanisms in rice.
Arsenic Stress Responses and Accumulation in Rice
Authors: Murugaiyan Varunseelan , Zeibig Frederike , Anumalla Mahender , Siddiq Sameer Ali , Frei Michael , Murugaiyan Jayaseelan , Ali Jauhar
Published: May 2021

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the world’s most vital staple grains, and 90% of it is produced and consumed in Asia alone. It plays a significant role in the entry of mineral nutrients into the food chain. Arsenic (As) is a toxic heavy metal that threatens the major rice-growing regions in the world, particularly in Asia. Arsenic is ubiquitously present in moderate concentrations in the environment because of natural geological processes and anthropogenic impacts. However, rapid industrialization and excessive use of arsenic-rich groundwater are further fueling the increased arsenic concentration in agricultural topsoil. Arsenic accumulation in rice plants has a significant adverse effect on plant, human, and livestock health. Although arsenic contamination in rice is well documented, its interaction and accumulation in rice are poorly understood. So far, no candidate genes or QTLs associated with arsenic interaction are used in breeding programs for the development of low-arsenic-accumulating rice varieties. The development and adaptation of new low-arsenic-accumulating rice cultivars resilient to arsenic toxicity constitute safe ways to mitigate arsenic contamination in rice. Recent scientific advances in rice genetics, genomics, and physiology have opened up new opportunities to speed up the process of developing low-arsenic-accumulating rice cultivars for the rapidly growing human population.
Three Rationales for a Legal Right to Mental Integrity
Authors: Douglas Thomas , Forsberg Lisa
Published: May 2021

Many states recognize a legal right to bodily integrity, understood as a right against significant, nonconsensual interference with one’s body. Recently, some have called for the recognition of an analogous legal right tomentalintegrity: a right against significant, nonconsensual interference with one’smind. In this chapter, we describe and distinguish three different rationales for recognizing such a right. The first appeals to case-based intuitions to establish a distinctive duty not to interfere with others’ minds; the second holds that, if we accept a legal right to bodily integrity, then we must, on pain of philosophical inconsistency, accept a case for an analogous right over the mind; and the third holds that recent technological developments create a need for a legal right to mental integrity.
Protection and Consolidation of Stone Heritage by Bacterial Carbonatogenesis
Authors: Jroundi Fadwa , Gonzalez-Muñoz Maria Teresa , Rodriguez-Navarro Carlos
Published: May 2021

For millennia, artists and architects around the world used natural stone for the carving of sculptures and the construction of monuments, such as Roman, Greek, and Maya temples, the European cathedrals, and the Taj Mahal, just to name a few. Currently, the survival of these irreplaceable cultural and historical assets is under threat due to their continued degradation caused by various biotic and abiotic weathering processes that affect not only the aesthetic appearance of these structures, but also their durability and survival. The natural precipitation of calcium carbonate minerals by bacteria has been proposed for conservative interventions in monument restoration. This chapter reviews the application of biomineralization by (indigenous) bacterial carbonatogenesis as a novel technology for the protection and consolidation of altered ornamental materials. Carbonatogenesis is based on the ability of some bacteria to induce calcium carbonate precipitation. Laboratory and in situ results support the efficacy of bacterial carbonatogenesis, since remarkable protection and consolidation are achieved on the surface and in depth, without alterations in color or porosity, and without fostering the development of microbiota that could be harmful to the stone material. A discussion on the advantages of this novel biotechnology is provided. Challenges and future work on bioconsolidation of stone artifacts are also outlined.
Microbiota and Biochemical Processes Involved in Biodeterioration of Cultural Heritage and Protection
Authors: Gu Ji-Dong , Katayama Yoko
Published: May 2021

The world cultural heritage sites face new challenges for an effective protection and management because of destruction and damage initiated by both natural and anthropogenic causes. Fresh rock and sandstone surfaces of buildings are quickly colonized and covered by a layer of microorganisms, including phototrophs, lithotrophs, and heterotrophs to form a biofilm that alters the local conditions of the stone surfaces, especially under the favorable tropical climate conditions for autotrophic microorganisms and plants. Biofilms had been studied with indigenous or pure cultures of isolated microorganisms, but the selective ones that contribute to deterioration of the cultural heritage cannot be confirmed easily. Currently, high-throughput sequencing and metegenomics analyses are capable of obtaining microbial community and composition in great depth, but they also suffer from similar weakness unable to identify the culprits in the community. With these as background, this article presents a different approach by focusing on the biochemical processes and the responsible microorganisms involved to reveal the destruction processes for management and protection. Among these different functional groups of microorganisms, lichens are known as pioneering rock-decomposing microorganisms, and both sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and fungi participate in the decomposition of sandstone via sulfur cycling and initiation of salt attack of the stone afterward, resulting in defoliation and cracking of stone. Other microorganisms including ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea, especially the latter, have been recently detected on sandstone monuments providing evidence on the new organisms involved in the deterioration of cultural heritage and buildings. In addition, fungi can colonize the surfaces of the matured biofilms and play a new role in the removal of them, which has a potential biotechnological application in conservation of cultural heritage. The new proposed approach by focusing the microorganisms with identified biochemical function is more productive than a description of the community composition and assembly when assessing cultural heritage biodeterioration, and this provides basic and useful information for effective protection strategies and management.
Extreme Colonizers and Rapid Profiteers: The Challenging World of Microorganisms That Attack Paper and Parchment
Authors: Pinzari Flavia , Gutarowska Beata
Published: May 2021

Microorganisms form the backbone of life on Earth. Over billions of years, they have colonized and shaped every possible niche on the planet. Microbes have modelled both the land and the sea, and have created favourable conditions for multicellular organisms to thrive in. Our understanding of how microbial diversity is distributed across natural environments and how microbes affect ecosystems is constantly evolving as public databases are set up and new techniques based on massive sequencing are developed. The microbiome found in a particular anthropogenic environment is generally much less complex than those found in natural ones: there is less competition and the main actors are often linked to survival mechanisms regulated by a few limiting factors. Despite this simplicity, it is very difficult to link cause and effect when seeking to identify the role of individual organisms. In the case of biodeterioration of paper and parchment, even when analysing the individual components of a simple phenomenon, it is not always easy to understand the mechanisms at play. Works of art are unique objects and the elements that determine the arrival and establishment of one or more microorganisms and the direction that the biodeterioration process takes are always different. In some cases, however, there are common denominators and predictable mechanisms. The variables that come into play are examined below.
Green Mitigation Strategy for Cultural Heritage Using Bacterial Biocides
Authors: Caldeira Ana Teresa
Published: May 2021

The microbiota present in cultural heritage objects, made by diverse inorganic and organic materials and inserted into particular environment, represents a complex and dynamic ecosystem composed by bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi, algae and lichens, which can induce decay by biological mechanisms. To control the microbial growth several methods are being applied such as mechanical and physical processes and chemical biocides. However, these methods have several weaknesses like be dangerous to handle, material incompatibility or produce environmental and health hazards. Therefore, the identification of effectively biodeteriogenic agents and the design of mitigation strategies directed to these agents without prejudice to historical materials, to the environment and to operators, taking into account the microbial community’s dynamics, is an important challenge to control biodeterioration of cultural heritage. Bacteria, in particular Bacillus spp. are worth for the creation of new green biocides solutions because they produce a great variety of secondary metabolites including ribosomally and non-ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides, known to possess antagonistic activities against many biodeteriogenic fungi and bacteria. The discovery of new safe active compounds and green nanotechnology for direct application in cultural heritage safeguard can in a close future contribute to potentiate a new generation of biocides and safe sustainable methods for cultural heritage.
Reparametrization modes in 2d CFT and the effective theory of stress tensor exchanges
Authors: Nguyen Kevin
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We study the origin of the recently proposed effective theory of stress tensor exchanges based on reparametrization modes, that has been used to efficiently compute Virasoro identity blocks at large central charge. We first provide a derivation of the nonlinear Alekseev-Shatashvili action governing these reparametrization modes, and argue that it should be interpreted as the generating functional of stress tensor correlations on manifolds related to the plane by conformal transformations. In addition, we demonstrate that the rules previously prescribed with the reparametrization formalism for computing Virasoro identity blocks naturally emerge when evaluating Feynman diagrams associated with stress tensor exchanges between pairs of external primary operators. We make a few comments on the connection of these results to gravitational theories and holography.
Cardiac regenerative capacity: an evolutionary afterthought?
Authors: Nguyen Phong D. , de Bakker Dennis E. M. , Bakkers Jeroen
Published: May 2021

Cardiac regeneration is the outcome of the highly regulated interplay of multiple processes, including the inflammatory response, cardiomyocyte dedifferentiation and proliferation, neovascularization and extracellular matrix turnover. Species-specific traits affect these injury-induced processes, resulting in a wide variety of cardiac regenerative potential between species. Indeed, while mammals are generally considered poor regenerators, certain amphibian and fish species like the zebrafish display robust regenerative capacity post heart injury. The species-specific traits underlying these differential injury responses are poorly understood. In this review, we will compare the injury induced processes of the mammalian and zebrafish heart, describing where these processes overlap and diverge. Additionally, by examining multiple species across the animal kingdom, we will highlight particular traits that either positively or negatively affect heart regeneration. Last, we will discuss the possibility of overcoming regeneration-limiting traits to induce heart regeneration in mammals.