bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene Exhumation in the Nima Area, Central Tibet: Implications for Development of Low Relief Topography of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xue Weiwei , Najman Yani , Hu Xiumian , Persano Cristina , Stuart Finlay M. , Li Wei , Ma Anlin , Wang Ying
Published: March 2022

Much of the interior of the Tibetan Plateau is characterized by internal drainage, low relief topography, and high altitude. How and when this landscape formed is controversial. In this study, we use new zircon U‐Pb data and low‐temperature thermochronological data (apatite and zircon [U‐Th/He], apatite fission track [AFT]) from the Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic Nima Basin sedimentary rocks and Xiabie granite in the adjacent Muggar Thrust hanging wall (part of the regional Shiquanhe‐Gaize‐Amdo thrust system), to determine the paleodrainage and timing of exhumation in the region. Individual AHe and ZHe cooling ages range from 9 to 60 Ma and 58 to 118 Ma, and the AFT ages range from 30 to 90 Ma. The thermal history derived from the Northern Nima Basin sediments and Xiabie granite require a period of exhumation between 70 and 40 Ma in the thrust fault hanging wall, and 40 and 30 Ma in the Nima Basin. Across the region, this event was followed by low rates of exhumation and the deposition of locally sourced sediment, lacustrine, and evaporitic deposits that are indicative of an internal drainage system. We suggest that the exhumation event is associated with development of thrust‐elevated relief that may have disrupted the drainage network favoring the development of an endorheic system. This system, sediment accumulation, and/or post‐30 Ma tectonic quiescence led to the generation of low relief topography.
Magnetic Local Time and Latitude Distribution of Ionospheric Large‐Spatial‐Scale EMIC Wave Events: Swarm Observations
Authors: Wang Hui , Sun Luyuan , Lühr Hermann , Liu Yiwen , He Yangfan
Published: March 2022

In the present work, the magnetic local time and latitude (MLT and MLat) distributions of ionospheric large‐spatial‐scale (>20° MLat) electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves were investigated using high‐resolution 50‐Hz geomagnetic field data from Swarm A and B satellites. Both parallel and transverse waves were studied in a comparative manner for different geomagnetic activities and seasons. Frequent occurrences of large‐spatial‐scale waves in the South Atlantic Anomaly and North America, where the parallel waves propagate over the longest distance, were observed. Waves appear mostly in the 02–10 MLT sector wherein the pre‐noon parallel waves propagate farthest in latitudinal range. With the enhancement of geomagnetic activity, both transverse and parallel waves increase in occurrence. The dayside occurrence rate is higher during weak geomagnetic activity, whereas the situation is reversed on the nightside and duskside. The dayside waves are located outside the mid‐latitude trough, and the nightside waves are located near (inside) the equatorward boundary of the mid‐latitude trough. Large‐spatial‐scale waves tend to occur at the equinoxes when the absolute value of the dipole tilt angle is less than 10°, while the long‐distance transmission in the waveguide occurs in the pre‐noon in summer. Parallel waves propagate in the region where the electron density is higher than that of the transverse waves. There is a close relationship between EMIC wave and electron density oscillation.
Pivotal role of O-antigenic polysaccharide display in the sensitivity against phage tail-like particles in environmental Pseudomonas kin competition
Authors: Heiman Clara Margot , Maurhofer Monika , Calderon Sandra , Dupasquier Mélanie , Marquis Julien , Keel Christoph , Vacheron Jordan
Published: March 2022

Environmental pseudomonads colonize various niches including insect and plant environments. When invading these environments, bacteria are confronted with the resident microbiota. To oppose with closely related strains, they rely on narrow-spectrum weaponry such as tailocins, i.e., phage tail-like particles. Little is known about the receptors for these tailocins especially among phylogenetically closely related species. Here, we studied the interaction between an R-tailocin from Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 and a targeted kin, Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5. Using genome-wide transposon insertion sequencing, we identified that lipopolysaccharides are involved in the sensitivity of Pf-5 towards the tailocin of CHA0. By generating Pf-5 lipopolysaccharide mutants and exposing them to extracted tailocin, we specified the two O-antigenic polysaccharides (O-PS) targeted by the tailocin. We affirmed the role of these O-PS through competition assays in vitro as well as in insects. Further, we demonstrate that O-PS are double-edge swords that are responsible for the sensitivity of P. protegens towards tailocins and phages produced by their kin, but shield bacteria from the immune system of the insect. Our results shed light on the trade-off that bacteria are confronted with, where specific O-PS decorations can both be of benefit or disadvantage depending on the host environment and its bacterial inhabitants.
Insidious Insights: Implications of viral vector engineering for pathogen enhancement
Authors: Sandbrink Jonas B. , Alley Ethan C. , Watson Matthew C. , Koblentz Gregory D. , Esvelt Kevin M.
Published: March 2022

Optimizing viral vectors and their properties will be important for improving the effectiveness and safety of clinical gene therapy. However, such research may generate dual-use insights relevant to the enhancement of pandemic pathogens. In particular, reliable and generalizable methods of immune evasion could increase viral fitness sufficient to cause a new pandemic. High potential for misuse is associated with (1) the development of universal genetic elements for immune modulation, (2) specific insights on capsid engineering for antibody evasion applicable to viruses with pandemic potential, and (3) the development of computational methods to inform capsid engineering. These risks may be mitigated by prioritizing non-viral delivery systems, pharmacological immune modulation methods, non-genetic vector surface modifications, and engineering methods specific to AAV and other viruses incapable of unassisted human-to-human transmission. We recommend that computational vector engineering and the publication of associated code and data be limited to AAV until a technical solution for preventing malicious access to viral engineering tools has been established.
Structure of the decoy module of human glycoprotein 2 and uromodulin and its interaction with bacterial adhesin FimH
Authors: Stsiapanava Alena , Xu Chenrui , Nishio Shunsuke , Han Ling , Yamakawa Nao , Carroni Marta , Tunyasuvunakool Kathryn , Jumper John , de Sanctis Daniele , Wu Bin , Jovine Luca
Published: March 2022

Glycoprotein 2 (GP2) and uromodulin (UMOD) filaments protect against gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections by acting as decoys for bacterial fimbrial lectin FimH. By combining AlphaFold2 predictions with X-ray crystallography and cryo-EM, we show that these proteins contain a bipartite decoy module whose new fold presents the high-mannose glycan recognized by FimH. The structure rationalizes UMOD mutations associated with kidney diseases and visualizes a key epitope implicated in cast nephropathy.
A chiral binaphthyl-based coordination polymer as an enantioselective fluorescence sensor
Authors: Thoonen Shannon , Tay Hui Min , Hua Carol
Published: March 2022

A new coordination polymer has been designed as a chiral fluorescence sensor, which demonstrated enantioselectivity ratios up to 2.61 in the sensing of chiral analytes.
Synthesis of bis(2-pyridylthio)methyl zinc hydride and catalytic hydrosilylation and hydroboration of CO2
Authors: Shlian Daniel G. , Amemiya Erika , Parkin Gerard
Published: March 2022

The zinc hydride compound, [Bptm]ZnH, is a catalyst for hydroboration of CO2 and carbonyl compounds.
Sponge-like hierarchical porous carbon decorated by Fe atoms for high-efficiency sodium storage and diffusion
Authors: Huang Wen-Huan , Chen Zhuo , Wang Hao-Yang , Wang Lei , Zhang Hua-Bin , Wang Hong
Published: March 2022

A sponge-like 3D hierarchical porous Fe-doped carbon with a continuous distribution of micro/meso/macro-pores greatly enhanced the storage and diffusion of Na+ ions and displayed brilliant high-rate capability and cycling stability.
Ilaps – python software for data reduction and imaging with LA-ICP-MS
Authors: Faltusová Veronika , Vaculovič Tomáš , Holá Markéta , Kanický Viktor
Published: March 2022

In the past couple of years, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has been widely used for trace element analysis in solid samples and the study of their distribution.
Mechanism of halide exchange in reactions of CpRu(PPh3)2Cl with haloalkanes
Authors: Rich Benjamin S. , Bissonnette Noah B. , Duran Balsa Alejandra , Yang Mulan , Meikle Hope , Chintala Nithin , Dong Sijia S. , Kirss Rein U.
Published: March 2022

Kinetic measurements of the reaction between CpRu(PPh3)2Cl (1a) and 1-bromobutane reveal a nearly first order dependence on the concentration of haloalkane and a negative entropy of activation, ΔS† < 0.
Construction of metal (Mn, Ce, Eu)-containing species in CN nanocomposites with photo-responsive oxidase-mimicking activity for multi-antioxidant discrimination
Authors: Du Fan , Zhou Xiaojie , Bai Yilian , Tang Qing , Cai Yunfei , Tang Yurong
Published: March 2022

On the basis of three M-CN nanocomposites with photo-oxidase activity, a colorimetric sensor is proposed for the pattern recognition of antioxidants.
Cationic complex directed thiostannate layers with excellent proton conduction and photocatalytic properties
Authors: Liu Kai-Li , Luo Ming-Bu , Zhou Xuechou , Lin Qipu
Published: March 2022

Three isostructural thiostannatesSnS–M(M = Fe, Mn and Zn) have been fabricated using metal–amine complex cations as structure-directing agents.
Path loss modelling based on path profile in urban propagation environments
Authors: Juang Rong‐Terng
Published: March 2022

This paper presents a path loss model based on path profile in urban propagation environments for 5G systems. Although deep learning approaches are indeed powerful in tasks involving prediction or classification, they often lack transparency and suffer from high computational complexity. The proposed model combines the log‐distance path loss model for line‐of‐sight propagation scenarios and a machine‐learning‐based model for non‐line‐of‐sight (NLOS) cases. This paper uses the principal component analysis algorithm to extract relevant features out of some selected attributes of the path profile for NLOS cases. Then, the path loss model can be constructed based on the approach of polynomial regression. Simulation results show that the proposed model outperforms the conventional models when operating in the 3.5 GHz frequency band. The standard deviation of prediction error was reduced by about 22.2–37.2% dB when compared to the conventional models. Furthermore, the prediction performance was also evaluated in a non‐standalone 5G New Radio network in the urban environment of Taipei city. The real‐world measurements show that the standard deviation of prediction error can be reduced by 3.33–6.13 dB when compared to the conventional models.
Concentration and Cavitation in the Vanishing Pressure Limit of Solutions to a 3 × 3 Generalized Chaplygin Gas Equations
Authors: Zhang Yu , Fan Shuai , Zhang Yanyan
Published: March 2022

The phenomena of concentration and cavitation are identified and analyzed by studying the vanishing pressure limit of solutions to the 3x3 isentropic compressible Euler equations for generalized Chaplygin gas (GCG) with a small parameter. It is rigorously proved that, any Riemann solution containing two shocks and possibly one-contact-discontinuity of the GCG equations converges to a delta-shock solution of the same system as the parameter decreases to a certain critical value. Moreover, as the parameter goes to zero, that is, the pressure vanishes, the limiting solution is just the delta-shock solution of the pressureless gas dynamics (PGD) model, and the intermediate density between the two shocks tends to a weighted δ-measure that forms the delta shock wave; any Riemann solution containing two rarefaction waves and possibly one contact-discontinuity tends to a two-contact-discontinuity solution of the PGD model, and the nonvacuum intermediate state in between tends to a vacuum state. Finally, some numerical results are presented to exhibit the processes of concentration and cavitation as the pressure decreases.
Effect of 12-wk Training in Ovariectomised Rats on PGC-1α, NRF-1 and Energy Substrates
Authors: Pejon Taciane Maria Melges , Faria Vinicius Silva , Gobatto Claudio Alexandre , Manchado-Gobatto Fúlvia Barros , Scariot Pedro Paulo Menezes , Cornachione Anabelle Silva , Beck Wladimir Rafael
Published: March 2022

Metabolic diseases are associated with hypoestrogenism owing to their lower energy expenditure and consequent imbalance. Physical training promotes energy expenditure through PGC-1α and NRF-1, which are muscle proteins of the oxidative metabolism. However, the influence of physical training on protein expression in individuals with hypoestrogenism remains uncertain. Thus, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of 12 weeks of moderate-intensity swimming training on the muscle expression of PGC-1α, NRF-1, glycogen and triglyceride in ovariectomised rats. OVX and OVX+TR rats were subjected to ovariectomy. The trained animals swam for 30 minutes, 5 days/week, at 80% of the critical load intensity. Soleus was collected to quantify PGC-1α and NRF-1 expressions, while gastrocnemius and gluteus maximus were collected to measure glycogen and triglyceride. Blood glucose was also evaluated. Whereas ovariectomy decreased PGC-1α expression (p<0.05) without altering NRF-1 (p=0.48), physical training increased PGC-1α (p<0.01) and NRF-1 (p<0.05). Ovariectomy reduced glycogen (p<0.05) and triglyceride (p<0.05), whereas physical training increased glycogen (p<0.05) but did not change triglyceride (p=0.06). Ovariectomy increased blood glucose (p<0.01), while physical training reduced it (p<0.01). In summary, 12 weeks of individualized and moderate-intensity training were capable of preventing muscle metabolic consequences caused by ovariectomy.
Stocking density and distribution in relation to vegetation in a biodiverse semi-arid pastoral system in South Africa
Authors: Samuels M. Igshaan , Allsopp Nicky , Hoffman M. Timm
Published: March 2022

The spatial heterogeneity of vegetation in a communal grazing system provides pastoralists with a range of grazing sites to select for their livestock. When fencing spatially constrains herds, there is reduced access to ecological heterogeneity, which may have a negative impact on livestock and the grazing resource. This study investigated temporal and spatial changes in stocking densities and distribution within the six major vegetation types of the Leliefontein pastoral area in Namaqualand, South Africa. This semi-arid, biodiverse area of about 2000 km2 supports a spatially-constrained mobile pastoral system based on small stock production. Over the data period from 1999 to 2006, the location of 256 small stock herds, their temporal occupancy and herd size were used to determine stocking densities within the daily grazing radius of herds. These grazing radii were overlaid using GIS to produce stocking density distributions over the landscape. The density and location of herds were unevenly distributed when assessed monthly and annually. Parts of the study area were consistently overstocked whereas others remained ungrazed. We argue that the recommendation of fixed stocking rates within this variable environment is inappropriate because forage availability and quality fluctuate within and between years and within drought cycles. We conclude that development interventions should rather focus on reducing stocking densities during and after drought periods. This would benefit pastoralists through reduced livestock mortalities and the vegetation would recover more quickly from the impacts of drought.
Brain computation by assemblies of neurons
Authors: Papadimitriou Christos H. , Vempala Santosh S. , Mitropolsky Daniel , Collins Michael , Maass Wolfgang
Published: March 2022

Assemblies are large populations of neurons believed to imprint memories, concepts, words, and other cognitive information. We identify a repertoire of operations on assemblies. These operations correspond to properties of assemblies observed in experiments, and can be shown, analytically and through simulations, to be realizable by generic, randomly connected populations of neurons with Hebbian plasticity and inhibition. Assemblies and their operations constitute a computational model of the brain which we call the Assembly Calculus, occupying a level of detail intermediate between the level of spiking neurons and synapses and that of the whole brain. The resulting computational system can be shown, under assumptions, to be, in principle, capable of carrying out arbitrary computations. We hypothesize that something like it may underlie higher human cognitive functions such as reasoning, planning, and language. In particular, we propose a plausible brain architecture based on assemblies for implementing the syntactic processing of language in cortex, which is consistent with recent experimental results.
Ethnolinguistic diversity and urban agglomeration
Authors: Eberle Ulrich J. , Henderson J. Vernon , Rohner Dominic , Schmidheiny Kurt
Published: March 2022

Significance

Urbanization and agglomeration of economic activity are key drivers of economic development. Many factors underlying city sizes and locations continue to be well studied. However, a key factor has so far been generally ignored: the role of the ethnolinguistic composition of local populations. We address this gap, drawing on a very detailed dataset on local urban agglomeration and ethnolinguistic diversity. We find that, in multiethnic areas, social tensions arise more easily, discouraging the move to bigger cities. Ethnolinguistically diverse regions feature less urbanization and agglomeration, with potentially profound economic consequences.
Endogenous cannabinoids are required for MC4R-mediated control of energy homeostasis
Authors: Yong Yu , Cakir Isin , Lining Pan Pauline , Biddinger Jessica E. , Bluett Rebecca J. , Mackie Ken , Bingham Nathan , Patel Sachin , Ghamari-Langroudi Masoud
Published: March 2022

Significance

Cannabis is well known to regulate food intake, and cannabinoids increase the value of caloric and non-caloric rewards, while also regulating homeostatic feeding. Here, we show that tonic endogenous cannabinoid signaling regulates the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) expressing paraventricular hypothalamic neurons through modulation of their presynaptic inhibitory inputs in an energy state–dependent manner. Specifically, this tonic 2-AG signal is maximal during fasting and collapses in satiation. Impairing 2-AG synthetic capacity from MC4R neurons reduces body weight and confers resistance to diet-induced obesity via increased energy expenditure and reduced food intake. This mode of regulation of MC4R neurons could offer a new therapeutic avenue to modulate food intake and energy metabolism.
Oxygen hole content, charge-transfer gap, covalency, and cuprate superconductivity
Authors: Kowalski Nicolas , Dash Sidhartha Shankar , Sémon Patrick , Sénéchal David , Tremblay André-Marie
Published: March 2022

Significance

Modern theoretical methods solve a long-standing mystery of cuprate high-temperature superconductivity, identifying crucial quantities that optimize the transition temperature. Superconducting cuprates have very different transition temperatures, and even if the optimal value of the superconducting transition temperature is obtained for a given parent compound by varying doping, there is no correlation between optimal doping and transition temperature. Instead, it has been found experimentally that the optimal transition temperature is controlled by oxygen hole content or by the size of the charge-transfer gap. Our calculations show that these two quantities are correlated and that together with covalency they lead to an effective superexchange interaction between copper atoms that ultimately controls the optimal superconducting order parameter.
Coupling characteristics of laterally coupled gratings with slots
Authors: Tian Kun , Zou Yonggang , Shi Linlin , Zhang He , Xu Yingtian , Fan Jie , Tang Hui , Ma Xiaohui
Published: March 2022

Laterally-coupled ridge-waveguide distributed feedback lasers fabricated without epitaxial regrowth steps have the advantages of process simplification and low cost. We present a laterally coupled grating with slots. The slots etched between the ridge and grating area are designed to suppress the lateral diffusion of carriers and to reduce the influence of the aspect-ratio-dependent-etching effect on the grating morphology in the etching process. Moreover, the grating height in this structure can be decreased to lower the aspect ratio significantly, which is advantageous over the conventional laterally coupled ridge waveguide gratings. The effects of five main structural parameters on the coupling characteristics of gratings are studied by MODE Solutions. It is found that varying the lateral width of the grating can be used as an effective way to tune the coupling strength; narrow slots (100 nm and 300 nm) and wide ridge (2 μm–4 μm) promote the stability of grating coupling coefficient and device performance. It is important to note that the grating bottom should be fabricated precisely. The comparative study of carrier distribution and mode field distribution shows that the introduction of narrow slots can strengthen the competitive advantage and stability of the fundamental mode.
Numerical simulation of fueling pellet ablation and transport in the EAST H-mode discharge
Authors: Chen Wan-Ting , Sun Ji-Zhong , Gao Fang , Peng Lei , Wang De-Zhen
Published: March 2022

To understand the effect of injected deuterium (D) pellets on background plasma, the ablation of D pellets and the transport of D species in both atomic and ionic states in the EAST device are simulated using a modified dynamic neutral gas shield model combined with the edge plasma code SOLPS-ITER. The simulation results show that there is a phenomenon of obvious atomic deposition in the scrape-off layer (SOL) after pellet injection, which depends strongly on the injection velocity. With increasing injection velocity, the atomic density in the SOL decreases evidently and the deposition time is relatively shortened. Possible effects for triggering of edge localized modes (ELMs) by D and Li pellets are also discussed. With the same pellet size and injection velocity, the maximum perturbation pressure caused by D pellets is obviously higher. It is found that the resulting maximum perturbed pressure is remarkably enhanced when the injection velocity is reduced from 300 m/s to 100 m/s for a pellet with a cross section of 1.6 mm, which indicates that the injection velocity is important for ELM pacing. This work can provide reasonable guidance for choosing pellet parameters for fueling and ELM triggering.
Clinically-derived oscillatory biomarker predicts optimal subthalamic stimulation for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Rao Akshay T , Lu Charles W , Askari Asra , Malaga Karlo A , Chou Kelvin L , Patil Parag G
Published: March 2022

Objective. Choosing the optimal electrode trajectory, stimulation location, and stimulation amplitude in subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) for Parkinson’s disease remains a time-consuming empirical effort. In this retrospective study, we derive a data-driven electrophysiological biomarker that predicts clinical DBS location and parameters, and we consolidate this information into a quantitative score that may facilitate an objective approach to STN DBS surgery and programming. Approach. Random-forest feature selection was applied to a dataset of 1046 microelectrode recordings (MERs) sites across 20 DBS implant trajectories to identify features of oscillatory activity that predict clinically programmed volumes of tissue activation (VTAs). A cross-validated classifier was used to retrospectively predict VTA regions from these features. Spatial convolution of probabilistic classifier outputs along MER trajectories produced a biomarker score that reflects the probability of localization within a clinically optimized VTA. Main results. Biomarker scores peaked within the VTA region and were significantly correlated with percent improvement in postoperative motor symptoms (Part III of the Movement Disorders Society revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, R = 0.61, p = 0.004). Notably, the length of STN, a common criterion for trajectory selection, did not show similar correlation (R = −0.31, p = 0.18). These findings suggest that biomarker-based trajectory selection and programming may improve motor outcomes by 9 ± 3 percentage points (p = 0.047) in this dataset. Significance. A clinically defined electrophysiological biomarker not only predicts VTA size and location but also correlates well with motor outcomes. Use of this biomarker for trajectory selection and initial stimulation may potentially simplify STN DBS surgery and programming.
On the Influence of Viscosity and Density of a Liquid Medium on Efficiency of Magnetophoresis. Role of Temperature
Authors: Sandulyak Anna A , Sandulyak Alexander V , Ershova Vera A , Sandulyak Darya A , Pamme Nicole , Sleptsov Vladimir V
Published: March 2022

Significant, but usually insufficiently disclosed and analyzed, parameters of magnetophoresis of magnetoactive particles of liquid-dispersed media are the dynamic viscosity and density of the medium, as well as its temperature, which usually significantly affects the viscosity. The role of viscosity and density is analyzed using the example of such a variant of magnetophoresis as filtration magnetic separation (FMS). This role is reflected in the basic expressions for filtration efficiency and rate limiting. To legalize the role of temperature in these expressions, an approach was used to obtain phenomenological temperature dependences of the viscosity of a number of liquid media by identifying these dependences (or their characteristic sections), amenable to quasi-linearization in semi-logarithmic coordinates. Thus, the possibility of their description by functions of the logarithmic and exponential form is shown, and therefore - an alternative representation of expressions for the efficiency and limiting speed of FMS.
BOD5, COD, and Surfactants in Discharge Water in the Vicinity of a Tannery in Salcedo, Ecuador
Authors: Urrutia-Goyes Ricardo , Molina Clara , Moscoso Daniela , Montaluisa Katherine
Published: March 2022

Water is one of the most important resources in the world, but its contamination has remained a serious environmental problem due to advances in industrialization, agriculture, urbanization and overpopulation. The present work is focused on recognizing environmental parameters in the sewage of a tannery industry located in Salcedo, Ecuador and hopefully avoid the effects that could be caused by it in the future. A total of 20 water samples were collected and transported according to Ecuadorian standards and regulations. Three different sampling points were chosen (located approximately 100 m apart) as well as three different days and two different times as factors for the experimental design. Water samples were transported to an independent laboratory for analysis. Parameters COD, BOD5, dissolved oxygen, and surfactants were analyzed by volumetry techniques and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Parameters pH, flow and temperature were measured in situ. Analysis of variance was run on the resulting data (95% confidence). It was concluded that all parameters exceed official Ecuadorian thresholds, except for temperature and flow. This information is expected to be used as an alert for local regulators.
A Scientometric Review of The Impacts of Global Climate Change Towards Marine Biodiversity Research: The Rise and Progress
Authors: Azra Mohamad Nor , Noor Mohd Iqbal Mohd , Rasdi Nadiah Wan , Ghaffar Mazlan Abd
Published: March 2022

Marine biodiversity contains various unique life in the sea, from taxa to the ecosystem and provides valuable food sources and ecosystem services to humans and the environment. Climate change impacts towards marine biodiversity and ecosystem services have been done previously by various authors and countries. However, there is limited evidence on its impacts, especially in the form of scientometric study. The current study aimed to give an overview on the impact of climate change towards global marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. A scientometric methodology was implemented using the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database for the period from January 1970 to May 2021. Based on articles retrieved from the WoS, we found that the search query retrieved 2161 documents within the research area climate change, marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. A total of 60,051 times cited the total publication (i.e. 2161) with the h-index of 104 (i.e. 104 publications have received a minimum of 104 citations each) and an average of 27.79 citation per article (i.e. item). Research on this area has seen contributions from 3159 organisations worldwide with a huge number of authors involved, 10,319 in total.
Changes in Bacterial Community Structure in Wastewaters in the presence of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Benzalkonium Chloride
Authors: Žorža L , Kalniņš M , Gudrā D , Megnis K , Fridmanis D , Rapoport A , Muter O
Published: March 2022

The benefit of bioaugmentation of activated sludge (AS) with yeasts was tested using AS and wastewaters (WW) that originated from the chemical industry, as well as synthetic WW. A stimulating effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microbial respiration intensity in AS was shown. The added yeast biomass maintained viability in AS, an inhibitory effect of BAC on Bacilli was found; however, the addition of yeasts to AS reduced this effect.
Prospects for the Sustainable Development of Modern Architecture in the Coastal Cities of Algeria
Authors: Bulakh Irina
Published: March 2022

Sustainable development is one of the main topics of world research, including in the aspect of further transformation of modern architecture. From this point of view, the study of the rich architectural heritage of Algeria - one of the countries that for millennia has developed and accumulated experience of “passive” resistance to the hot and dry climate of the region with architectural and urban planning means and techniques - is relevant in terms of global trends in climate change. The article discusses and analyses the traditional methods of urban planning and architecture, as well as provides recommendations for their further development. Particular attention is paid to the organization of residential development in the coastal cities of Algeria, the revival and transformation of energy-efficient architectural techniques, landscaping and the use of water resources for the integrated provision of sustainable development of the region.
Study of the Competence of Cadets of Military Universities in the Organization of Rational Water Use and Water Management
Authors: Kosolapova L A , Mosina M A , Selezneva O V , Pastukhova L A , Kuzyaev I Z
Published: March 2022

The development of environmental and professional competence of future officers is becoming increasingly important along with the improvement of technologies and technical capabilities for the protection and rational use of water resources. The article reveals the methodology and results of the study of the competence of cadets of military universities of the Russian Federation on the issues of ensuring the safety of water bodies by military personnel and ensuring the rational use of water bodies. The relevance of this work is associated with the insufficient implementation of the didactic principle of communication between the theoretical foundations of military ecology taught at the university and practical situations of military service requiring the implementation of measures to ensure environmental safety. Theoretical and empirical research was carried out on the basis of two higher military educational institutions. In the course of the theoretical research, it was found that the environmentalization of education is the leading pedagogical means of forming an environmentally responsible worldview and professional competencies among cadets, which are necessary to effectively ensure the safety of water bodies. The conducted empirical research has established the effectiveness of the environmental education system, built on the basis of a methodological model for the implementation of environmental management principles. The introduction of the proposed model into the education system in higher military educational institutions contributes to the environmentalization of the educational environment of the educational institution; the inclusion of cadets in the most diverse types of environmental activities; preparation for ensuring environmental safety in the performance of official duties; implementation of measures for the protection and rational use of water resources. This article may be of interest not only for teachers of military universities and commanders who carry out educational work with personnel, but also for teachers of technical universities interested in the issues of environmentalization higher education, as well as for technosphere safety specialists for educational and other informational work.
Palliative care for older people with dementia—we need a paradigm shift in our approach
Authors: Timmons Suzanne , Fox Siobhan , Drennan Jonathan , Guerin Suzanne , Kernohan W George
Published: March 2022

Older people with dementia have multiple palliative care needs, with pain, agitation, dyspnoea, aspiration and pressure ulcers being common and persistent in advanced dementia. Anticipating the person’s possible symptoms requires knowledge of the whole person, including the type of dementia, which is problematic when the dementia type is often not documented.

A palliative care approach to dementia should look at symptoms across the four pillars of palliative care, but in reality, we tend to over-focus on physical and psychological symptoms, while spiritual and emotional needs can be overlooked, especially around the time of diagnosis, where such needs may be significant.

Advance care planning (ACP) is a central tenet of good dementia palliative care, as the person may lose their ability to communicate and make complex decisions over time. Despite this, care planning is often approached too late, and with the person’s family rather than with the person; much of the literature on ACP in dementia is based on proxy decision-making for people in residential care.

Thus, we need a paradigm shift in how we approach dementia, beginning with timely diagnosis that includes the dementia type, and with services able to assess and meet emotional and spiritual needs especially around the time of diagnosis, and with timely ACP as an integral part of our overall approach.
Relationships among Alcohol Drinking Patterns, Macronutrient Composition, and Caloric Intake: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–2018
Authors: Joseph Paule V , Zhou Yingjie , Brooks Brianna , McDuffie Christian , Agarwal Khushbu , Chao Ariana M
Published: March 2022

Background

Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with poor diet. Mixed reports in literature, so far, emphasize on the detailed understanding of relationships between diet composition and binge drinking at different drinking thresholds.

Objective

We examined the association of alcohol consumption thresholds with macronutrient composition, caloric intake and anthropometric measures from the NHANES 2017–2018 dataset.

Methods

A total of 2320 participants’ data were analyzed. Energy and nutrient content from daily food and beverage intake were assessed via two dietary recall interviews. Physical examination and Alcohol Use Questionnaire including details about lifetime and current usage patterns were obtained. Correlations were evaluated using the Rao-Scott F Adjusted Chi-square statistic and Wald F-test. Sample-weighted multiple linear regression models were built to analyze the associations among volume of alcohol consumed, weight history and macronutrient intake.

Results

Waist circumference was significantly higher in 0– < 4 drinks/episode (low-quantity) drinkers than 4–7 drinks/episode (medium-quantity) and 8–11 drinks/episode (high-quantity) drinkers. High-quantity drinkers consumed significantly more kilocalories (2569.91) compared with low-quantity drinkers (2106.73). Low-quantity drinkers consumed more energy from carbohydrate and fat than medium and high-quantity drinkers. Very high-quantity drinkers (12+ drinks/episode) consumed less fiber (12.81 g) than low-quantity drinkers (16.67 g).

Conclusions

We observed an association between high alcohol intake and differences in eating habits and body composition. The findings suggest a need to compare more specific drinking patterns and their impact on nutrient intake. Although some results conflicted with previous studies, the mechanisms underlying alcohol’s effect on ingestive and digestive metabolic pathways are still unclear and require further investigation.
Recovering the Lost Dream of the Past: Historical Memory and the Present in Carmen Boullosa’s Texas: The Great Theft
Authors: Waltrip Preston
Published: March 2022

Carmen Boullosa’s historical novel, Texas: The Great Theft (2012), is set in the Brownsville-Matamoros region of the US-Mexico borderlands in 1859. Through the fictionalization of historical lynchings of Mexican Texans and an often anachronistic and magical realist historical revision of the First Cortina War (1859–1860), the novel depicts how the cultural imaginaries that served to justify racialized violence in the Texas borderlands left a persistent ideological residue that continues to exist in the present. Drawing upon Ken Gonzales-Day’s concept of the wonder gaze and Alexander G. Weheliye’s critique of biopolitical discourses, I claim that the novel’s representation of lynching illustrates and interrupts how lynchings of Mexican Texans served not only as concrete acts of racialized violence against individuals, but also symbolically perpetuated and justified future violence against other Mexican subjects. I suggest, however, that although Boullosa draws a seemingly bleak causal connection between present and past colonial attitudes, the novel argues against the overdetermination of necropolitics through the character of Lázaro Rueda, who responds to lynching by affirming his life and upholding modes of being and memory that evade historical erasure and racialized violence.

For Boullosa, the colonial ideology of the mid-nineteenth-century borderlands is causally connected to the twenty-first-century ideology that proposes border walls, encourages white Americans to criminalize nonwhite subjects, and permits events like the maquiladora murders.
Borders of Affect: Mobilizing Border Imagery as Civic Engagement
Authors: Risam Roopika
Published: March 2022

This article discusses how aesthetic representations of immigrant detention generate affects and empathy in U.S. college students. It describes a qualitative study that suggests that aesthetic representations provoke affective responses and, to some degree, empathy for migrants, in turn contributing to these students’ civic engagement. These responses speak to the presence of what I term “border affects,” a dimension of affective cartography that is produced by and, in turn, reproduces a cultural imaginary that situates the citizen’s relationship to migration and has the power to both override and promote empathy. These affects suggest that the southern border is not an ontological category that is implicitly known, extant, or eternal but a cognitive phenomenon filtered through experience.
DEV-ETA: An Interpretable Detection Framework for Encrypted Malicious Traffic
Authors: Yang Luming , Fu Shaojing , Wang Yongjun , Liang Kaitai , Mo Fan , Liu Bo
Published: March 2022

Traffic encrypted technology enables Internet users to protect their data secrecy, but it also brings a challenge to malicious package detection. To tackle this issue, researchers have investigated into encrypted traffic analysis (ETA) in recent years. Existing works, however, only focus on the accuracy of malicious flow identification. Using ETA as a technical black box, they pay little attention to the internal details and explanation of models. In this paper, we, for the first time, introduce interpretable machine learning into ETA. We aim to provide a reasonable explanation for detection results, so as to enable one to understand and further trust network security analysts. We develop a complete analysis framework, named DEV-ETA (detection, explanation and verification of ETA). DEV-ETA applies post hoc interpretation methods to explain the detection results and verify the explanation using the joint distribution of support features on the dataset. We run thorough experiments to explain the detection result using three popular explanation approaches, namely SHAP, LIME and MSS, and we verify the explanation via the feature distribution plot. The experimental results show that our design can interpret the detection result of ETA model instead of just simply treating the model as a black box.
HPVMD-C: a disease-based mutation database of human papillomavirus in China
Authors: Yang Zhenyu , Yi Wenjing , Tao Jin , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhang Michael Q , Chen Guiqian , Dai Qi
Published: March 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause condyloma acuminatum and cervical cancer. Some mutations of these viruses are closely related to the persistent infection of cervical cancer and are ideal cancer vaccine targets. Several databases have been developed to collect HPV sequences, but no HPV mutation database has been published. This paper reports a Chinese HPV mutation database (HPVMD-C), which contains 149 HPV genotypes, 468 HPV mutations, 3409 protein sequences, 4727 domains and 236 epitopes. We analyzed the mutation distribution among HPV genotypes, domains and epitopes. We designed a visualization tool to display these mutations, domains and epitopes and provided more detailed information about the disease, region and related literature. We also proposed an HPV genotype prediction tool, which can predict HPV carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risk genotypes. We expect that HPVMD-C will complement the existing database and provide valuable resources for HPV vaccine research and cervical cancer treatment. HPVMD-C is freely available at

Database URL: http://bioinfo.zstu.edu.cn/hpv.
Six-month preclinical results of novel vascular anastomosis device intended to facilitate open aortic and arch vessel reconstruction
Authors: Shafi Bilal M , Wheatley Grayson H , Kerendi Faraz , Szeto Wilson Y
Published: March 2022

The surgical repair of type A aortic dissection often involves prosthetic proximal aortic and arch reconstruction. Hypothermic circulatory arrest is typically used in these complex surgeries given the required prolonged ischaemia and the associated morbidity and mortality. A novel vascular anastomoses device (Device) has been developed to rapidly connect a native vessel to a polyester graft. This study describes deployment of the Device in the ovine model (n = 3; 6 carotid arteries). Anastamoses were created rapidly, and brain ischaemia time was limited to 6 min in all but one vessel. All vessels remained fully patent with normal blood flow and thrombus-free transitions through 6 months. Results thus suggest that this Device has the potential to reduce anastomosis time versus conventional suturing techniques and thereby reduce hypothermic circulatory arrest time.
Succession of the wheat seed-associated microbiome as affected by soil fertility level and introduction ofPenicilliumandBacillusinoculants in the field
Authors: Nunes Inês , Hansen Veronika , Bak Frederik , Bonnichsen Lise , Su Jianqiang , Hao Xiuli , Raymond Nelly Sophie , Nicolaisen Mette Haubjerg , Jensen Lars Stoumann , Nybroe Ole
Published: March 2022

During germination, the seed releases nutrient-rich exudates into the spermosphere, thereby fostering competition between resident microorganisms. However, insight into the composition and temporal dynamics of seed-associated bacterial communities under field conditions is currently lacking. This field study determined the temporal changes from 11 to 31 days after sowing in the composition of seed-associated bacterial communities of winter wheat as affected by long-term soil fertilization history, and by introduction of the plant growth-promoting microbial inoculants Penicillium bilaiae and Bacillus simplex. The temporal dynamics were the most important factor affecting the composition of the seed-associated communities. An increase in the relative abundance of genes involved in organic nitrogen metabolism (ureC and gdhA), and in ammonium oxidation (amoA), suggested increased mineralization of plant-derived nitrogen compounds over time. Dynamics of the phosphorus cycling genes ppt, ppx and cphy indicated inorganic phosphorus and polyphosphate cycling, as well as phytate hydrolysis by the seed-associated bacteria early after germination. Later, an increase in genes for utilization of organic phosphorus sources (phoD, phoX and phnK) indicated phosphorus limitation. The results indicate that community temporal dynamics are partly driven by changed availability of major nutrients, and reveal no functional consequences of the added inoculants during seed germination.
Group-Based Interventions for Carers of People With Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: McLoughlin Bethany
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

It is well documented that caring for someone with dementia is associated with many negative mental health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and a reduction in quality of life. Group-based interventions are one strategy for improving well-being for carers, but previous systematic reviews have reported inconsistent findings about the efficacy of group-based interventions for carers of people with dementia.

Research Design and Methods

This systematic review investigates the qualitative and quantitative evidence for the effectiveness of group-based interventions and identifies targets for future research. Narrative synthesis was used to analyze the data.

Results

A comprehensive search of 4 databases revealed 117 potentially relevant studies, 19 of which met the full inclusion criteria. Five studies investigated group cognitive behavioral therapy, 8 investigated psycho-educational interventions, and 6 investigated support groups. The effectiveness of the interventions varied widely, even within subcategories. No type of intervention was consistently shown to improve well-being, though qualitative data and data about participant satisfaction was generally very positive.

Discussion and Implications

Based on the quality and quantity of the evidence currently available, there is not enough evidence to reach firm conclusions about the impact of group-based interventions on well-being. In order to establish the effectiveness of group-based interventions there needs to be more high-quality studies with larger sample sizes about this topic. Future research may benefit from the use of mixed methods data collection to explore the disparity between qualitative and quantitative findings in the literature.