bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel PV array configuration for enhancing maximum power from PV array
Authors: Narne Dharani Kumar , Ramesh Kumar T A , Alla Rama Koteswara Rao
Published: December 2022

Partial shading conditions (PSC) are unavoidable and are the main reason for the reduction in power from a photovoltaic (PV) array. With proper arrangement, the impact of PSC can be somewhat mitigated. There are distinct types of configurations, including series, parallel, series-parallel (SP), honeycomb, total cross-tied (TCT), etc. This article presents a novel SP–TCT configuration to maximize output power from PV panels under different shading conditions. The proposed configuration performance has been examined considering a 4 × 4 PV array under long-narrow and long-wide, short-narrow, short-wide and uniform shading conditions. The results of the proposed configurations are compared with existing configurations in terms of performance measures such as maximum power, fill factor, efficiency and mismatch losses. In all the cases, performance of the proposed configuration is nearer to the TCT configuration performance. The percentage improvement in terms of efficiency for the proposed novel SP–TCT configuration and TCT configuration is nearly 1.6% compared to other methods.
The viability of using gasoline-integrated biodiesel–diesel mixtures in engines as a solution to greenhouse gas emissions: a review
Authors: Zandie Mohammad , Ng Hoon Kiat , Gan Suyin , Said Mohd Farid Muhamad , Cheng Xinwei
Published: December 2022

The implementation of alternative fuels, such as biodiesel, in engines has been shown to be a feasible strategy to control greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The blending of biodiesel with diesel can reduce emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide and reduce soot formation. Nonetheless, biodiesel combustion comes with low thermal efficiency, elevated emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon deposition issues. Recently, the addition of gasoline to diesel–biodiesel blends has been proposed to compensate for the downsides of biodiesel combustion. In the current review, the viability of using this ternary fuel blend in engines is thoroughly reviewed. The review first assesses the environmental and health issues caused by conventional fuels, mitigation schemes to control GHG emissions and alternative fuels as a decarbonizing technology. The combustion and emissions characteristics of diesel–biodiesel–gasoline mixtures are discussed in detail. Finally, the status, challenges and prospects of applying the alternative fuel mixture in engines are appraised. This work has revealed that the mixing of gasoline with diesel–biodiesel blends brings about elongated ignition delay, increased heat release rate and in-cylinder pressure at high loads. Additionally, by adding gasoline, the combustion duration is shortened and soot, CO and unburned hydrocarbon emissions are suppressed, while NOx emissions are slightly increased. Combustion stability is found to be partially disrupted in the presence of gasoline whereas fuel economy (at medium and high loads) is improved by the addition of gasoline. To support the wider deployment and commercialization of this fuelling strategy in the transportation sector, favourable legislation and/or fiscal incentives are needed in countries around the world. This would encourage researchers, fuel producers and engine manufacturers alike to solve challenges such as biodiesel feedstock costs, fuel quality, fuel storage management and engine warranty issues.
An efficient energy-management strategy for a DC microgrid powered by a photovoltaic/fuel cell/battery/supercapacitor
Authors: Abbas Furqan A , Obed Adel A , Qasim Mohammed A , Yaqoob Salam J , Ferahtia Seydali
Published: December 2022

The outcome of this paper is to suggest an efficient energy-management strategy (EMS) for a direct-current (DC) microgrid (MG). The typical MG is composed of two renewable energy sources [photovoltaic (PV) systems and fuel cells (FCs)] and two energy-storage elements (lithium-ion battery and supercapacitor). An EMS was proposed to ensure optimal bus voltage with a power-sharing arrangement between the load and the sources. As a result, in the suggested DC MG, non-linear flatness control theory was used instead of the traditional proportional-integral control approach. The suggested EMS is intended to supply high power quality to the load under varying load conditions with fluctuating solar irradiation while considering the FC status. To validate and prove the effectiveness of the proposed EMS, a MATLAB® environment was used. In addition, the output power of the PV system was maximized using the particle swarm optimization algorithm as a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique to track the MPP of the 3000-W PV system under different irradiance conditions. The results show that the suggested EMS delivers a stable and smooth DC bus voltage with minimum overshoot value (0.1%) and improved ripple content (0.1%). As a result, the performance of the DC MG was enhanced by employing the flatness control theory, which provides higher power quality by stabilizing the bus voltage.
Theoretical evaluation of dielectric materials for lightning energy harvesting system
Authors: Uddin Saad , Gu Jinan , Ajmal Muhammad
Published: December 2022

This study describes the hypothetical approach to system design to collect and store electrical energy present in a flash of lightning. The system’s operations include the attraction and handling of the electrical charge obtained from lightning flashes. Performance differences arise from three different dielectric materials (rutile, mica and quartz) and the results define the estimated response of the storage system, including charge storage. All the results in this article were obtained through simulation or demonstrated mathematically showing the estimated outcomes of the system. The findings demonstrate that each dielectric material has its own advantages and disadvantages that influence the efficiency of the storage system. Through analysing the distinction of the three materials, it is observed that mica is the most suitable dielectric material, as it has the greatest dielectric strength, which is the main factor in the handling of charge.
Reactivating ordinal position information from auditory sequence memory in human brains
Authors: Fan Ying , Luo Huan
Published: December 2022

Retaining a sequence of events in their order is a core ability of many cognitive functions, such as speech recognition, movement control, and episodic memory. Although content representations have been widely studied in working memory (WM), little is known about how ordinal position information of an auditory sequence is retained in the human brain as well as its coding characteristics. In fact, there is still a lack of an efficient approach to directly accessing the stored ordinal position code during WM retention. Here, 31 participants performed an auditory sequence WM task with their brain activities recorded using electroencephalography (EEG). We developed new triggering events that could successfully reactivate neural representations of ordinal position during the delay period. Importantly, the ordinal position reactivation is further related to recognition behavior, confirming its indexing of WM storage. Furthermore, the ordinal position code displays an intriguing “stable-dynamic” format, i.e. undergoing the same dynamic neutral trajectory in the multivariate neural space during both encoding and retention (whenever reactivated). Overall, our results provide an effective approach to accessing the behaviorally-relevant ordinal position information in auditory sequence WM and reveal its new temporal characteristics.
Preparation of Ferrofluid from Adipic Acid Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles and Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent Used in Dispersive Micro-Solid-Phase Extraction: Application for the Pre-Concentration and Determination of Clozapine in Biological Samples
Authors: Nia Negar Nooraee , Hadjmohammadi Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2022

The aim of the present study is the preparation of a novel magnetic ferrofluid (FF) based on a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (DES), which is used for the extraction of trace quantities of clozapine from biological samples. For this purpose, a highly stable FF was prepared through the combination of adipic acid-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) plus tetraethylammonium chloride/thymol hDES without an additional stabilizer. These solvents were synthesized by the available and less-toxic materials, which is the appropriate option to support the solvents for the preparation of FF. In this study, a water-immiscible DES acts simultaneously as a carrier and stabilizer for the MNPs. In addition, the strong interactions between clozapine and magnetic FF could increase the extraction efficiency. The fractional factorial design was used for screening the experimental parameters. Then, the effective factors were optimized using the Box–Behnken design. The optimum extraction conditions were the following: pH of the sample solution: 8, the volume of the desorption solvent: 200 μL and desorption time: 5 min. Moreover, the suggested method exhibited low limits of detection in the range of 2.8–3.1 μg L−1. The linear range was 10.0–500.0 μg L−1 for human plasma and urine samples with acceptable recoveries greater than 91.4%. In addition, the proposed method is convenient, sensitive, effective, rapid and environmentally friendly.
Curcumin-Melamine For Solid-Phase Microextraction of Volatile Organic Compounds from Aqueous Samples
Authors: Mohammadi Ali Ahmad , Davarani Saied Saeed Hosseiny , Jafari Mostafa , Mehdinia Ali
Published: December 2022

The hybrid coating of curcumin and melamine was prepared by a simple electrochemical method. Some physical and chemical properties of the fiber were studied by several methods such as FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The fiber was stable at the inlet of a gas chromatograph at temperatures up to 280°C. The fiber has been used for the extraction of ethylbenzene, toluene and xylenes (ETX). Some parameters of headspace solid-phase microextraction, including extraction time, temperature and salt amount, were optimized. Under the optimized situation, the detection limits were 0.15–0.21 μg L −1 and the linear ranges were within the range of 0.5–1,000 μg L−1 (r2 ≥ 0.99). The intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were 10.2–13.7 and 13.0–15.6%, respectively, at a concentration level of 10 μg L−1 from each compound by applying a single fiber. The method was used to successfully analyze wastewater and pool water samples.
Age and Cancer Incidence in 5.2 Million People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): The South African HIV Cancer Match Study
Authors: Ruffieux Yann , Muchengeti Mazvita , Olago Victor , Dhokotera Tafadzwa , Bohlius Julia , Egger Matthias , Rohner Eliane
Published: December 2022

Background

Old age is an important risk factor for developing cancer, but few data exist on this association in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

The South African HIV Cancer Match study is a nationwide cohort of PWH based on a linkage between HIV-related laboratory records from the National Health Laboratory Service and cancer diagnoses from the National Cancer Registry for 2004–2014. We included PWH who had HIV-related tests on separate days. Using natural splines, we modeled cancer incidence rates as a function of age.

Results

We included 5 222 827 PWH with 29 580 incident cancer diagnoses—most commonly cervical cancer (n = 7418), Kaposi sarcoma (n = 6380), and breast cancer (n = 2748). In young PWH, the incidence rates for infection-related cancers were substantially higher than for infection-unrelated cancers. At age 40 years, the most frequent cancer was cervical cancer in female and Kaposi sarcoma in male PWH. Thereafter, the rates of infection-unrelated cancers increased steeply, particularly among male PWH, where prostate cancer became the most frequent cancer type at older age. Whereas Kaposi sarcoma rates peaked at 34 years (101/100 000 person-years) in male PWH, cervical cancer remained the most frequent cancer among older female PWH.

Conclusions

Infection-related cancers are common in PWH in South Africa, but rates of infection-unrelated cancers overtook those of infection-related cancers after age 54 years in the overall study population. As PWH in South Africa live longer, prevention and early detection of infection-unrelated cancers becomes increasingly important. Meanwhile, control strategies for infection-related cancers, especially cervical cancer, remain essential.
Elite philanthropy and applied economics: the Rockefeller Foundation’s role in post-war research direction
Authors: Vogel Ann , Shipman Alan
Published: December 2022

This essay investigates how, why and with what results the Rockefeller Foundation (RF) influenced the development of UK economics between 1930 and 1950. It shows the extent to which the RF, as the major sponsor of the newly emerging ‘applied economics’ research in the US and Europe, shaped the conversion of newly emerging macroeconomic theory into policy and research, and steered the fast expanding ‘applied’ economics in an econometric direction based on newly available national accounts data. The RF played a decisive role in selecting the economists retained for applied research when World War 2 ended, and with it the type of work funded. We argue that the RF’s preference for financing stand-alone institutes restrained the initial expansion of England’s applied economics research despite a head-start on national income accounting and business-focused research. Drawing on unpublished correspondence between John Maynard Keynes (1883–1946) and senior RF officers, we show how the difficulty in obtaining start-up funding conditioned the turn towards econometrics in the early choice of leadership and research plans at the University of Cambridge’s Department of Applied Economics, narrowing its earlier vision for a ‘realistic approach’ consonant with that of Keynes. Covering the path-dependent nature of applied economics in its formative phase, the essay demonstrates the role of philanthropic elite organisations in knowledge formation that led to the making of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Factors Associated With Fecal Calprotectin Sample Collection Compliance: An IBD Center Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Fenton David , Choi Natalie K , Garcia Nicole M , Dyer Emma C , Cohen Nathaniel A , Rubin David T
Published: December 2022

Background

Fecal calprotectin (Fcal) is a noninvasive, inexpensive biomarker of disease activity. However, patient compliance with this test is variable and incompletely described. We assessed compliance rates with Fcal tests and identified factors associated with noncompliance.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who had a Fcal test ordered through our center between August 2021 and December 2021 was conducted. Demographic, clinical, disease, and test-related information were recorded. Patients with incomplete Fcal orders were sent a survey to better understand their reasons for noncompliance. Simple statistical analysis and and multivariable logistic regression modeling were performed.

Results

Of 303 patients, 165 (54.4%) had an order for Fcal. Of the Fcal tests ordered, 55 (33.3%) were not completed. Remission of IBD, no prior Fcal completion, and tests ordered at a distant site were all associated with test noncompletion. A multivariable logistic regression revealed that history of a prior completed Fcal test is associated with subsequent test completion (odds ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.9–35.5, P = .004). Patients who did not complete the test described the pandemic and third-party testing center issues as the most common reasons for noncompliance.

Conclusions

In this single center experience with Fcal testing in patients with IBD, we identified that a history of incomplete Fcal testing and distant location of lab testing were significantly associated with noncompletion of the test. We provide practical guidance for future utilization and compliance, including the impact of home-based testing.
Cardiac xenotransplantation: from concept to clinic
Authors: Reichart Bruno , Cooper David K C , Längin Matthias , Tönjes Ralf R , Pierson Richard N , Wolf Eckhard
Published: December 2022

For many patients with terminal/advanced cardiac failure, heart transplantation is the most effective, durable treatment option, and offers the best prospects for a high quality of life. The number of potentially life-saving donated human organs is far fewer than the population who could benefit from a new heart, resulting in increasing numbers of patients awaiting replacement of their failing heart, high waitlist mortality, and frequent reliance on interim mechanical support for many of those deemed among the best candidates but who are deteriorating as they wait. Currently, mechanical assist devices supporting left ventricular or biventricular heart function are the only alternative to heart transplant that is in clinical use. Unfortunately, the complication rate with mechanical assistance remains high despite advances in device design and patient selection and management, and the quality of life of the patients even with good outcomes is only moderately improved. Cardiac xenotransplantation from genetically multi-modified (GM) organ-source pigs is an emerging new option as demonstrated by the consistent long-term success of heterotopic (non-life-supporting) abdominal and life-supporting orthotopic porcine heart transplantation in baboons, and by a recent ‘compassionate use’ transplant of the heart from a GM pig with 10 modifications into a terminally ill patient who survived for 2 months. In this review, we discuss pig heart xenotransplantation as a concept, including pathobiological aspects related to immune rejection, coagulation dysregulation, and detrimental overgrowth of the heart, as well as GM strategies in pigs to prevent or minimize these problems. Additional topics discussed include relevant results of heterotopic and orthotopic heart transplantation experiments in the pig-to-baboon model, microbiological and virologic safety concepts, and efficacy requirements for initiating formal clinical trials. An adequate regulatory and ethical framework as well as stringent criteria for the selection of patients will be critical for the safe clinical development of cardiac xenotransplantation, which we expect will be clinically tested during the next few years.
High association strengths are linked to phenotypic similarity, including plumage color and patterns, of participants in mixed-species bird flocks of southwestern China
Authors: Zhou Liping , Mammides Christos , Chen Youfang , Zhou Wenyi , Dai Wenzhang , Braun Edward L , Kimball Rebecca T , Liu Yang , Robinson Scott K , Goodale Eben
Published: December 2022

Participants in mixed-species bird flocks (MSFs) have been shown to associate with species that are similar in body size, diet, and evolutionary history, suggesting that facilitation structures these assemblages. In addition, several studies have suggested that species in MSFs resemble each other in their plumage, but this question has not been systematically investigated for any MSF system. During the nonbreeding season of 2020 and 2021, we sampled 585 MSFs on 14 transects in 2 habitats of Tongbiguang Nature Reserve in western Yunnan Province, China. We performed social network analysis and the Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure to evaluate the effect of 4 species traits (body size, overall plumage color, distinctive plumage patterns, and diet) and evolutionary history on species association strength at the whole-MSF and within-MSF levels. All 41 significant relationships showed that species with stronger associations were more similar in their various traits. Body size had the strongest effect on association strength, followed by phylogeny, plumage patterns, and plumage color; diet had the weakest effect. Our results are consistent with the hypotheses that the benefits of associating with phenotypically similar species outweigh the potential costs of interspecific competition, and that trait matching can occur in plumage characteristics, albeit more weakly than in other traits. Several explanations exist as to why similarities in plumage may occur in MSFs, including that they could reduce predators’ ability to target phenotypically “odd” individuals. Whether trait matching in plumage occurs through assortative processes in ecological time or is influenced by co-evolution requires further study.
Implementation of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy: learning curve of a single high-volume center
Authors: Stuart Sanne K , Kuypers Toon J L , Martijnse Ingrid S , Heisterkamp Joos , Matthijsen Robert A
Published: December 2022

Open esophagectomy is considered to be the main surgical procedure in the world for esophageal cancer treatment. Implementing a new surgical technique is associated with learning curve morbidity. The objective of this study is to determine the learning curve based on anastomotic leakage (AL) after implementing minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (MI-ILE) in January 2015. All 257 patients who underwent MI-ILE in a single high-volume center between January 2015 and December 2020 were retrospectively included in this study. The learning curve was evaluated using the standard CUSUM analysis with an expected AL rate of 11%. Secondary outcome parameters were postoperative complications, textbook outcome, and lymph node yield divided by the year of operation. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis was used to check for potential confounding variables. The CUSUM analysis showed a learning curve of 179 cases. The mean AL rate decreased from 33.3% in 2015 to 9.5% in 2020 (P = 0.007). There was an increase in the mean lymph node yield from 21 in 2018 to 28 in 2019 (P < 0.001) and textbook outcome from 37.3% in 2015 to 66.7% in 2020 (P = 0.005). A newly implemented MI-ILE has a learning curve of 179 patients based on a reference AL rate of 11% using the CUSUM method. Whether future generation surgeons will show similar learning curve numbers, implicating continuous development of different introduction programs of new techniques, will have to be the focus of future research.
A Hepatocyte Nuclear FactorBtabHNF4Mediates Desiccation Tolerance and Fecundity in Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
Authors: Wang Kui , Yang Zhifang , Li Xiang , Liu Shunxiao , Wang Liuhao , Zhang Hongwei , Yu Hao
Published: December 2022

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) is essential for glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism in insects. However, little is known about the role of HNF4 in whiteflies. In the present study, we identified a hepatocyte nuclear factor protein from Bemsia tabaci (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and named it BtabHNF4. The full-length of BtabHNF4 was 3,006 bp, encoding a sequence of 434 amino acids that contains a conserved zinc-finger DNA-binding domain (DBD) and a well-conserved ligand-binding domain (LBD). The temporal and spatial expression showed that BtabHNF4 was highly expressed in the female adult stage and abdominal tissues of B. tabaci. A leaf-mediated RNA interference method was used to explore the function of BtabHNF4 in whiteflies. Our results showed that the knockdown of BtabHNF4 influences the desiccation tolerance, egg production, and egg hatching rate of whiteflies. Additionally, BtabHNF4 silencing significantly inhibited the expression level of vitellogenin. These results expand the function of HNF4 and pave the way for understanding the molecular mechanisms of HNF4 in regulating multiple physiological processes.
Polygenic risk scores for the prediction of cardiometabolic disease
Authors: O’Sullivan Jack W , Ashley Euan A , Elliott Perry M
Published: December 2022

Cardiometabolic diseases contribute more to global morbidity and mortality than any other group of disorders. Polygenic risk scores (PRSs), the weighted summation of individually small-effect genetic variants, represent an advance in our ability to predict the development and complications of cardiometabolic diseases. This article reviews the evidence supporting the use of PRS in seven common cardiometabolic diseases: coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, hypertension, heart failure and cardiomyopathies, obesity, atrial fibrillation (AF), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data suggest that PRS for CAD, AF, and T2DM consistently improves prediction when incorporated into existing clinical risk tools. In other areas such as ischaemic stroke and hypertension, clinical application appears premature but emerging evidence suggests that the study of larger and more diverse populations coupled with more granular phenotyping will propel the translation of PRS into practical clinical prediction tools.
Prevention of cardiorenal damage: importance of albuminuria
Authors: Ruilope Luis M , Ortiz Alberto , Lucia Alejandro , Miranda Blanca , Alvarez-Llamas Gloria , Barderas Maria G , Volpe Massimo , Ruiz-Hurtado Gema , Pitt Bertram
Published: December 2022

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is projected to become a leading global cause of death by 2040, and its early detection is critical for effective and timely management. The current definition of CKD identifies only advanced stages, when kidney injury has already destroyed >50% of functioning kidney mass as reflected by an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or a urinary albumin/creatinine ratio >six-fold higher than physiological levels (i.e. > 30 mg/g). An elevated urinary albumin-excretion rate is a known early predictor of future cardiovascular events. There is thus a ‘blind spot’ in the detection of CKD, when kidney injury is present but is undetectable by current diagnostic criteria, and no intervention is made before renal and cardiovascular damage occurs. The present review discusses the CKD ‘blind spot’ concept and how it may facilitate a holistic approach to CKD and cardiovascular disease prevention and implement the call for albuminuria screening implicit in current guidelines. Cardiorenal risk associated with albuminuria in the high-normal range, novel genetic and biochemical markers of elevated cardiorenal risk, and the role of heart and kidney protective drugs evaluated in recent clinical trials are also discussed. As albuminuria is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and renal disease, starting from levels not yet considered in the definition of CKD, the implementation of opportunistic or systematic albuminuria screening and therapy, possibly complemented with novel early biomarkers, has the potential to improve cardiorenal outcomes and mitigate the dismal 2040 projections for CKD and related cardiovascular burden.
Fluorescencein situhybridization and polymerase chain reaction to detect infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices
Authors: Just Isabell Anna , Barthel Frank , Moter Annette , Kikhney Judith , Friedrich Aljona , Wloch Alexa , Falk Volkmar , Starck Christoph , Schoenrath Felix
Published: December 2022

Aims

In patients with infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), the identification of causative pathogens is complicated by biofilm formations and previous antibiotic therapy. In this work, the impact of an additional fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), in combination with polymerase chain reaction and sequencing (FISHseq) was investigated.

Methods and results

In 36 patients with CIED infections, FISHseq of explanted devices was performed and compared with standard microbiological cultivation of preoperative and intraoperative samples. The mean age was 61.9 (±16.2) years; 25 (69.4%) were males. Most patients (62.9%) had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Infections occurred as endoplastits (n = 26), isolated local generator pocket infection (n = 8), or both (n = 2); CIED included cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (n = 17), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (n = 11), and pacemaker (n = 8) devices. The overall positive FISHseq detection rate was 97%. Intraoperatively, pathogens were isolated in 42 vs. 53% in standard cultivation vs. FISHseq, respectively. In 16 of 17 FISHseq-negative patients, the nucleic acid strain DAPI (4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) indicated inactive microorganisms, which were partially organized in biofilms (n = 4) or microcolonies (n = 2). In 13 patients in whom no pathogen was identified preoperatively, standard cultivation and FISHseq identified pathogens in 3 (23%) vs. 8 (62%), respectively. For the confirmation of preoperatively known bacteria, a combined approach was most efficient.

Conclusion

Fluorescence in situ hybridization sequencing is a valuable tool to detect causative microorganisms in CIED infections. The combination of FISHseq with preoperative cultivation showed the highest efficacy in detecting pathogens. Additional cultivation of intraoperative tissue samples or swabs yielded more confirmation of pathogens known from preoperative culture.
Active packaging of poly(lactic acid) nanofibers and essential oils with antifungal action on table grapes
Authors: Brandão Rafaela Magalhães , Batista Luís Roberto , de Oliveira Juliano Elvis , Ferreira Vanuzia Rodrigues Fernandes , Lunguinho Allan da Silva , Nelson David Lee , Cardoso Maria das Graças
Published: December 2022

The table grape is a non-climateric fruit that is very susceptible to fungal contamination, in addition to suffering an accelerated loss of quality during storage. The in vitro and in grape antifungal and antiocratoxigenic effects of the essential oils from Alpinia speciosa and Cymbopogon flexuosus against Aspergillus carbonarius and Aspergillus niger were studied. The oils were encapsulated in poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers as a potential active packaging to be applied to control the degradation of grapes stored during the post-harvest period. Fungal proliferation and ochratoxin A synthesis in A. carbonarius and A. niger decreased in the presence of the active packaging. However, the nanofiber containing the essential oil from C. flexuosus was more efficient in providing a fungicidal effect against A. carbonarius (10% and 20%) and A. niger (20%). In addition, weight loss and color changes were controlled and the parameters of acidity, °Brix, softening and the texture of the grape were maintained. A very small mass loss of the essential oils encapsulated in nanofibers was observed by thermogravimetric analysis, showing that the nanofiber was efficient in enabling the controlled release. The quality and safety of table grapes were maintained for longer periods of storage in the presence of active packaging, so the incorporation of these oils in nanofibers can be a promising way to increase the shelf life of grapes.
A New Hope: A Hermaphroditic Nematode Enables Analysis of a Recent Whole Genome Duplication Event
Authors: Wighard Sara S , Athanasouli Marina , Witte Hanh , Rödelsperger Christian , Sommer Ralf J
Published: December 2022

Whole genome duplication (WGD) is often considered a major driver of evolution that leads to phenotypic novelties. However, the importance of WGD for evolution is still controversial because most documented WGD events occurred anciently and few experimental systems amenable to genetic analysis are available. Here, we report a recent WGD event in the hermaphroditic nematode Allodiplogaster sudhausi and present a comparison with a gonochoristic (male/female) sister species that did not undergo WGD. Self-fertilizing reproduction of A. sudhausi makes it amenable to functional analysis and an ideal system to study WGD events. We document WGD in A. sudhausi through karyotype analysis and whole genome sequencing, the latter of which allowed us to 1) identify functional bias in retention of protein domains and metabolic pathways, 2) show most duplicate genes are under evolutionary constraint, 3) show a link between sequence and expression divergence, and 4) characterize differentially expressed duplicates. We additionally show WGD is associated with increased body size and an abundance of repeat elements (36% of the genome), including a recent expansion of the DNA-hAT/Ac transposon family. Finally, we demonstrate the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to generate mutant knockouts, whereby two WGD-derived duplicate genes display functional redundancy in that they both need to be knocked out to generate a phenotype. Together, we present a novel experimental system that is convenient for examining and characterizing WGD-derived genes both computationally and functionally.
Gender Differences in Depressive Symptoms Following Child Death in Later Life
Authors: Mellencamp Kagan A
Published: December 2022

Objectives

This study examined short- and long-term psychological adjustment to parental bereavement in later life for mothers and fathers.

Methods

Using 9 waves of data from the United States (1998–2014 Health and Retirement Study), I estimated trajectories of mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms surrounding child death in later life, highlighting gender differences in adjustment. Moderation analyses were performed to uncover heterogeneous trajectories across parental characteristics.

Results

Mothers were more likely to experience child death and reported higher depressive symptoms prior to parental bereavement than fathers. Mothers and fathers who lost a child reported an increase in depressive symptoms that diminished over time. The short-term elevation in depressive symptoms was marginally greater for mothers than fathers, but depressive symptoms declined at a faster rate for mothers than fathers in the years following the death. These counterbalancing changes resulted in mothers and fathers returning to their respective prebereavement levels of depressive symptoms between 2 and 4 years postbereavement. Parental age moderated trajectories distinctly by gender, and the presence of surviving children buffered the impact of child death on depressive symptoms for mothers but not fathers.

Discussion

Mothers more often experience child death in later life and their adjustment process differs from that of fathers, underscoring the salience of gender in shaping how older parents respond to the death of a child. Older parents and mothers without surviving children are vulnerable to prolonged elevations in depressive symptoms following the death of a child in later life.
Isolation or Replenishment? The Case of Partner Network Exclusivity and Partner Loss in Later Life
Authors: Sun Haosen , Schafer Markus H
Published: December 2022

Objectives

People’s partners and spouses often provide a wide range of essential emotional and practical support. As crucial as they may be, a nontrivial segment of the older population appears to limit close discussions to their partner alone, a phenomenon we term “partner network exclusivity.” This network structure could leave people vulnerable to partner losses and subsequent social isolation. The present research has 3 aims: (a) examine the prevalence of partner-exclusive networks among European older adults; (b) consider who is most likely to inhabit such networks; and (c) investigate whether and how individuals in such precarious networks rebalance them in case of partner losses.

Methods

The analysis uses Wave 4 (2011) and Wave 6 (2015) of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to perform logistic regression on one’s possession of partner-exclusive networks and the addition of core ties.

Results

More than a quarter of partnered respondents (28.1%) are in partner-exclusive core networks. Men, childless individuals, and those with financial difficulties are most likely to occupy such networks. Individuals in partner exclusivity are especially likely to enlist additional ties upon partner loss. Nevertheless, men and individuals at early old age are relatively unlikely to rebalance their core networks in case of partner death.

Discussion

This study provides new evidence that network replenishment following relationship disruptions is plausible even for those from precarious network settings. Nevertheless, widowhood produces patterns of vulnerability for a subset of older adults in partner-exclusive core networks.
Geodynamic predictions of seismic structure and discontinuity topography of the mantle transition zone
Authors: Papanagnou Isabel , Schuberth Bernhard S A , Thomas Christine
Published: December 2022

The mantle transition zone (TZ) is expected to influence vertical mass flow between upper and lower mantle as it hosts a complex set of mineral phase transitions and an increase in viscosity with depth. Still, neither its seismic structure nor its dynamic effects have conclusively been constrained. The seismic discontinuities at around 410 and 660 km depth (‘410’ and ‘660’) are classically associated with phase transitions between olivine polymorphs, the pressure of which is modulated by lateral temperature variations. Resulting discontinuity topography is seismically visible and can thus potentially provide insight on temperature and phase composition at depth. Besides the olivine phase changes, the disassociation of garnet may additionally impact the 660 at higher temperatures. However, the volume of material affected by this garnet transition and its dynamic implications have not yet been quantified. This study presents hypothetical realizations of TZ seismic structure and major discontinuities based on the temperature field of a published 3-D mantle circulation model for a range of relevant mineralogies, including pyrolite and mechanical mixtures (MM). Systematic analysis of these models provides a framework for dynamically informed interpretations of seismic observations and gives insights into the potential dynamic behaviour of the TZ. Using our geodynamic-mineralogical approach we can identify which phase transitions induce specific topographic features of 410 and 660 and quantify their relative impact. Areal proportions of the garnet transition at the 660 are ∼3 and ∼1 per cent for pyrolite and MM, respectively. This proportion could be significantly higher (up to ∼39 per cent) in a hotter mantle for pyrolite, but remains low (<2 per cent) for MM. In pyrolite, both slabs and plumes are found to depress the 660—with average deflections of 14 and 6 km, respectively—due to the influence of garnet at high temperatures indicating its complex dynamic effects on mantle upwellings. Pronounced differences in model characteristics for pyrolite and MM, particularly their relative garnet proportions and associated topography features, could serve to discriminate between the two scenarios in Earth.
A unified numerical model for two-phase porous, mush and suspension flow dynamics in magmatic systems
Authors: Wong Ying-Qi , Keller Tobias
Published: December 2022

Magmatic systems in the Earth’s mantle and crust contain multiple phases including solid crystals, liquid melt and low viscosity fluids. Depending on depth, tectonic setting and chemical composition, magmatic systems can range from partially molten rock at low melt fraction to magma mushes at intermediate melt fraction to magmatic suspensions at high melt fraction. However, the theories underpinning most process-based models of magmatic systems describe magma as a single-phase fluid, or as a two-phase mixture either in the porous flow regime at low melt fractions or in the suspension flow regime at high melt fractions. Connections between the two-phase end-member theories are poorly established and hinder investigations into the dynamics of mush flows at intermediate phase fractions, leaving a significant gap in bridging trans-crustal magma processing from source to surface. To address this knowledge gap and unify two-phase magma flow models, we develop a 2-D system-scale numerical model of the fluid mechanics of an n-phase system at all phase proportions, based on a recent theoretical model for multiphase flows in igneous systems. We apply the model to two-phase, solid-liquid mixtures by calibrating transport coefficients to theory and experiments on mixtures with olivine-rich rock and basaltic melt using a Bayesian parameter estimation approach. We verify the model using the method of manufactured solutions and test the scalability for high resolution modelling. We then demonstrate 1-D and 2-D numerical experiments across the porous, mush and suspension flow regimes. The experiments replicate known phenomena from end-member regimes, including rank-ordered porosity wave trains in 1-D and porosity wave breakup in 2-D in the porous flow regime, as well as particle concentration waves in 1-D and mixture convection in 2-D in the suspension flow regime. By extending self-consistently into the mush regime, the numerical experiments show that the weakening solid matrix facilitates liquid localization into liquid-rich shear bands with their orientation controlled by the solid stress distribution. Although the present model can already be used to investigate three-phase mixtures using conceptually derived transport coefficients, more rigorous calibration to experiments and end-member theories is needed to ensure accurate timescales and mechanics. With a self-consistent way to examine multiphase mixtures at any phase proportion, this new model transcends theoretical limitations of existing multiphase numerical models to enable new investigations into two-phase or higher magma mush dynamics.
Performance and limits of a shallow-water model for landslide-generated tsunamis: from laboratory experiments to simulations of flank collapses at Montagne Pelée (Martinique)
Authors: Poulain P , Friant A Le , Mangeney A , Viroulet S , Fernandez-Nieto E , Castro Diaz M , Peruzzetto M , Grandjean G , Bouchut F , Pedreros R , Komorowski J-C
Published: December 2022

We investigate the dynamics and deposits of granular flows and the amplitude of landslide-generated water waves using the HySEA depth-averaged shallow-water numerical model, both at laboratory and field scales. We evaluate the different sources of error by quantitatively comparing the simulations with (i) new laboratory experiments of granular collapses in different conditions (dry, immersed, dry flow entering water) and slope angles and (ii) numerical simulations made with the SHALTOP code that describes topography effects better than most depth-averaged landslide-tsunami models. For laboratory configurations, representing the limits of the shallow-water approximation in such models, we show that topography and non-hydrostatic effects are crucial. When topography effects are accounted for empirically—by artificially increasing the friction coefficient and performing non-hydrostatic simulations—the model is able to reproduce the granular mass deposit and the waves recorded at gauges located at a distance of more than two to three times the characteristic dimension of the slide with an error ranging from 1 to 25 per cent depending on the scenario, without any further calibration. Taking into account this error estimate, we simulate landslides that occurred on Montagne Pelée volcano, Martinique, Lesser Antilles as well as the generated waves. Multiple collapse simulations support the assumption that large flank collapses on Montagne Pelée likely occurred in several successive subevents. This result has a strong impact on the amplitude of the generated waves and thus on the associated hazards. In the context of the ongoing seismic volcanic unrest at Montagne Pelée volcano, we calculate the debris avalanche and associated tsunamis for two potential flank-collapse scenarios.
Azimuthal amplitude difference inversion constrained by azimuth velocity anisotropy
Authors: Ji Lixiang , Zong Zhaoyun , Yang Yaming
Published: December 2022

Amplitude variation with incident angle and azimuth (AVAZ) inversion is usually used for estimating subsurface medium properties from azimuthal stacked seismic data for fracture prediction. And weak anisotropy parameters play an important role in the fracture prediction of shale reservoirs. However, the low contribution of the anisotropic parameters to the reflection coefficient and too many condition numbers of forward solver lead to insufficient inversion stability of the anisotropic parameters. Therefore, a new azimuthal-amplitude-difference inversion method with the azimuth-velocity-anisotropic constraints is proposed to improve the stability of inversion and obtain a reasonable estimation of anisotropic parameters. The azimuthal amplitude difference AVAZ forward solver in the anisotropic medium is initially established from a rewritten approximate reflectivity equation and variable substitution. Sensitivity analysis of estimated parameters of the rewritten approximate reflectivity indicates that our approach is sufficiently suitable for seismic inversion of anisotropic parameters. Furthermore, an azimuthal amplitude difference Bayesian AVAZ inversion approach with azimuth-velocity-anisotropic constraint is developed to improve the stability of the inversion. We add Gaussian noise to the synthetic seismic records and assume the Cauchy distributions as a prior constraint on the model parameters. The anisotropic information obtained from the azimuth-velocity-anisotropic inversion is utilized as a constraint for improving the stability of inversion. Synthetic data tests reveal that the anisotropic parameters can be estimated stably even with moderate noise. Field data tests illustrate the feasibility and reliability of the presented inversion method for estimating anisotropic parameters in a shale reservoir with vertical or near-vertical fractures.
Parkin regulates neuronal lipid homeostasis through SREBP2-lipoprotein lipase pathway—implications for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Tang Willcyn , Thundyil John , Lim Grace Gui Yin , Tng Teddy J W , Yeow Sean Qing Zhang , Nair Aditya , Chai Chou , Yao Tso-Pang , Lim Kah-Leong
Published: December 2022

Abnormal lipid homeostasis has been observed in the brain of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients and experimental models, although the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is unclear. Notably, previous studies have reported that the PD-linked protein Parkin functionally interacts with important lipid regulators, including Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Proteins (SREBPs) and cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36). Here, we demonstrate a functional relationship between Parkin and lipoprotein lipase (LPL), a triglyceride lipase that is widely expressed in the brain. Using a human neuroblastoma cell line and a Parkin knockout mouse model, we demonstrate that Parkin expression level positively correlates with neuronal LPL protein level and activity. Importantly, our study identified SREBP2, a major regulator of sterol and fatty acid synthesis, as a potential mediator between Parkin and LPL. Supporting this, SREBP2 genetic ablation abolished Parkin effect on LPL expression. We further demonstrate that Parkin-LPL pathway regulates the formation of intracellular lipid droplets, and that this pathway is upregulated upon exposure to PD-linked oxidative stress induced by rotenone. Finally, we show that inhibition of either LPL or SREBP2 exacerbates rotenone-induced cell death. Taken together, our findings reveal a novel pathway linking Parkin, SREBP2 and LPL in neuronal lipid homeostasis that may be relevant to the pathogenesis of PD.