bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro seed germination of local red pummelo (Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.) from Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi
Authors: Tuwo M , Tambaru E , Izzah N
Published: December 2022

South Sulawesi is one of the centers of citrus development in Indonesia. Potential production centers are in Pangkep Regency. One of the cultivars that are cultivated and become a commercial farm is the red pummelo. Red pummelo has higher total phenolic and carotenoid content, so it is a good source of antioxidants and has the potential to become a superior functional food. The aim of this study was to obtain the optimal concentration of benzyl amino purine (BAP) hormone on in vitro germination of red pummelo. Planting material used in this study was seeds extracted from fruit obtained from citrus plantations in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. After sterilization, the seeds were planted on MS media with the treatment of BAP 0; 0.5; 1; 1.5; 2; and 2.5 ppm. Observations were made for 8 weeks with the parameters of the number of shoots, number of leaves and number of roots. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test at the 5% level, and if there was a significant effect, it was continued with the Mann-Whitney test. The results showed that the BAP had a significant effect on the parameters of the number of roots with a value of 0.11 and the number of shoots with a value of 0.16. The results of the Mann-Whitney further test showed that there was a significant difference between the 2.5 ppm and 0 ppm BAP treatments on the number of roots and the 2.5 ppm and 1.5 ppm BAP treatments on the number of shots.
Yield potential and agro-morphological characteristic of garlic (Allium sativum L.) varieties grown at the tropical highland of Sembalun, Indonesia
Authors: Hadiawati L , Nazam M , Widiastuti E , Suriadi A
Published: December 2022

Vegetative propagation is the most common garlic cultivation methods in Indonesia due to unsuitable tropical environment conditions for garlic to develop seed. Sembalun highland of West Nusa Tenggara Province is one of national bulb seed production center established in 2017. This study aimed to evaluate the agro-morphological characteristics of five garlic varieties grown at Sembalun Highland. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with six replication at Sembalun Bumbung Village from June to October 2018. All varieties were characterized from eighteens samples at a mature stage for plant weight and height, number of leaves, leaf length and shape, pseudostem diameter, bulb weight, polar and equatorial diameter of the bulb, number of cloves per bulb, the average weight of 10 cloves, plant habitus, the shape of mature bulb, bulb structure type, shape of the compound bulb in horizontal section, yield per hectare, and number of days to mature. All varieties were characterized by their morphological characteristics. Tawangmangu Baru and Lumbu kuning were morfologically close to Sangga Sembalun that native from Sembalun. The average yield of Sangga Sembalun was the highest (11.52 t/ha), followed by Lumbu Kuning (9.93 t/ha) and Tawangmangu Baru (9.89 t/ha), Lumbu Hijau (8.66 t/ha), and the lowest was Lumbu Putih (5.74 t/ha).
Length-weight relationship of seven Apogonidae species in Lembeh Strait
Authors: Yalindua F Y , Faricha A , Ibrahim P S , Huwae R
Published: December 2022

The weight length relationship (LWR) and condition factors can be an indicator of fish growth and environmental suitability. This study aims to calculate the length-weight relationships and condition factor of six Apogonidae species and compare them with Pterapogon kauderni as an introduced species in the same area and condition. The sample is collected monthly from January to December 2020 using a trap net in the Lembeh Strait area of North Sulawesi. A total of 699 specimens from sampling obtained seven species from the Apogonidae family, with the most specimen belonging to Pterapogon kauderni (33%) and the lowest being Pristicon trimaculatus (4.4%). The results indicated that almost all species exhibited a negative allometric growth pattern with the b value ranging from 2.49 to 2.98, except for Ostorhinchus hartzfeldii resulted in a positive allometric growth pattern (3.24). The condition factor ranges are 0.89-1.32 from all the seven species, with only Apogonichthyoides melas, Pterapogon kauderni, and Ostorhinchus sealei values below one and significantly different from the other group (p<0.05). This result can be caused by various factors and need to be investigated further. This data is useful in establishing a management and monitoring system for Pterapogon kauderni in its introduced area.
Invaders of Langat River: Introduction of varied vermiculated sailfin catfish, Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus
Authors: Anand Prakash S P , Mohamed N A , Azmai M N A , Abu Bakar A , Othman R , Abdul Ghani I F
Published: December 2022

Globally and locally, invasive aquatic species pose a major threat towards aquatic ecosystems. Among the most successful of these aquatic invaders in Malaysian freshwater river systems is the vermiculated sailfin catfish or Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus. The study is conducted in Langat River, a subsidiary of the Selangor River basin which flows through the capital and high population density areas of the country. The impact of the species can be seen through its overpopulation and high density in the river due to the absence of natural predators and extremely high fecundity. This study provides the first report on the occurrence of introduced vermiculated sailfin catfish, P. disjunctivus, from Langat River, where the P. pardalis had been previously reported. In this study, random sampling exercises were conducted by using gill nets in a stretch of the Langat River. Out of 24 samples of Pterygoplichthys obtained, 11 were of P. pardalis. This was further confirmed by the morphometric and meristic characters as well as the patterns on the fish. Furthermore, during the sampling, we also described a new body pattern Pterygoplichthys, which does not fit both P. pardalis and P. disjunctivus entirely. The new body pattern of Pterygoplichthys, could be the result of hybridization between both species or variation patterns within the same species. However, a deeper study is necessary to be conducted to confirm this claim.
Prevention of Vibriosis using whole cell microalgae on tiger shrimp hatcheries
Authors: Nurbaya  , Kadriah Ince Ayu K. , Atmomarsono Muharijadi , Muliani  , Anshary Hilal
Published: December 2022

In this study, a trial was conducted to use whole cell microalgae Porphyridium sp and Porphyridium aerugineum as an alternative material for preventing Vibriosis. This study used three treatments with three replications each. Treatment A was Control without microalgae administration, Treatment B was given Porphyridium aerugineum and treatment C was given Porphyridium sp. The microalgae were given in Zoea1, Mysis1, PL 2, PL 6, and PL 10 phases with the density of microalgae at the time of stocking was 105 - 106 cells/mL. Larval rearing was carried out for 19 days until Post Larva 12. The parameters observed were the density of microalgae in the rearing container and the density of Vibrio bacteria. Sampling for microalgae density observations was carried out every day from the zoea phase 2 to PL 10. Sampling of bacterial density was carried out at every phase change along with observing water quality parameters. At the end of the fry rearing period (PL 12), a challenge test was performed using V. parahaemolyticus bacteria with a density of 107 CFU/mL. Shrimp survival during the challenge test was observed every day until the fifth day. In addition, the density of Vibrio bacteria was also observed. The results showed that the administration of P. aerugineum could suppress the population of Vibrio bacteria and the ratio of Vibrio bacteria to common bacteria was better than the control. On the other hand, the highest survival rate for shrimp was treated with Porphyridium sp. After the challenge test, the best survival results were also obtained in the treatment with Porphyridium sp.
Nutritional values of Sargassum sp., Ulva sp., and Padina sp. from South East Molluca Island waters
Authors: Jasmadi  , Kusnadi Agus , Kumayanjati Bayu , Triandiza Teddy , Pesilette Rosmi Nuslah , Ainarwowa Ahmad , Yamko Abdul Kadir , Pary Bikri Rahman , Kurnianto Dedy
Published: December 2022

Seaweed is a food source that comes from the sea. Seaweed has many nutrients that are important for humans. Indonesia has many seaweed species, but only a few are used industrially. Most of them come from red seaweeds of the genera Gracilaria, Gelidium, and Eucheuma. This study aims to determine the nutritional value and amino acid content as the basis for determining the potential of brown and green seaweed as food ingredients. Three species of seaweed samples were taken from different locations in Southeast Molluca waters. The tested samples were Sargassum sp. and Padina sp., which are types of brown algae, and Ulva sp., which is a type of green algae. The parameters tested were the amino acid content and proximate content of each sample. The seaweed samples tested had a range of dietary fibre content, from 46.62 to 64.23%. The highest value of the dietary fibre was reached by Ulva sp. (64 23%). The protein content in this study ranged from 3.48% to 13.08%, with Sargassum sp. having the higher protein content. Carbohydrate content has a value range of 24.42 - 39.63%. Padina is a type of seaweed that has the highest carbohydrate content. Sargassum has a complete amino acid content than the other species. The amino acid content in Sargassum is histidine, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, and valine. The conclusion from this research is that the three types of seaweed have the potential to be developed as a food source based on proximate analysis and amino acid content. Sargassum is the most potential seaweed for further development into food.
Regeneration of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed resulting from the transformation of the PaCs gene (Citrate Synthase) to increase resistance to environmental congestion in floating net cages in Pangkep water
Authors: Suryati Emma , Tenriulo Andi , Rosmiati  , Parenrengi Andi , HM Sri Rejeki
Published: December 2022

The PaCs (Citrate Synthase) gene of the seaweed K. alvarezii has effectively undergone in vitro transformation. To improve the survival of the transformation of the Citrate Synthase seaweed gene, it is carried out: (1) Regeneration of the results of transformation in culture chamber in the laboratory; (2) Acclimatization in green net (MS 100 μm) size 50x50x50 cm, density 200 explants maintained for 2 weeks, transferred to the blue net with a size of 50x50x50 cm (MS 200 μm) density 200 explants maintained for 4 weeks, then maintenance by the longline method using a double rope with a distance of 15 Cm on floating net cages. At intervals of two weeks, measurements of size, length, and water quality are made. Analysis of PaCs gene integration with PCR using Primary PaCS-F and PaCS-R. The results showed that the long DGR in the culture chamber was 0.11% to 0.18%/day, weight growth rate 0.62-1.30%/day, Acclimatization on green nets indicates a long growth rate of 2.28-2.3%/day, weight grow rate of 0.62 to 1.3% / day, and on blue nets, increases long grow rate 3-5%/day and weight 1.15-2.18%/day. Seaweed enlargement using the longline method shows a long growth rate of 5.3-9%/day and weight growth range from 1,23-3.2%/day. The band was located in the CaMV 35S vector at a place corresponding to the 1630 bp PaCS-F and PaCS-R promoter segments, according to the results of the integration of the Citrate Synthase gene in seaweed. Based on these findings, the seaweed K. alvarezii has successfully received the PaCS gene insertion.
The possibility of replacing corn meal with coconut waste on the growth performance of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)
Authors: Abdul Hadi M.F. , Othman R. , Ahmad D. , Marwah M.K. , Hashim E.F. , Abdul Ghani I.F.
Published: December 2022

In Malaysia, the development of aquaculture industry faces general feed cost problems. Feed cost is about 70% to 80% of total production. One of the reason is the usage of corn meal which is expensive. Thus, the alternative way is by using plant waste. This idea develop interest towards the aquaculture industry. Hence, this study investigated the replacement of corn meal with coconut waste in different percentages and assess the growth development of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. The study design used 5 feed treatments with 3 replications treatments each. The percentage replacement of corn meal to coconut waste become the variables and labelled the treatments by P1 (10% replacement), P2 (20% replacement), P3 (30% replacement) P4 (40% replacement) and control treatment (0% replacement). The suitability of coconut waste feed product had been determine by using the growth performance based on the survival rate of the fish, absolute body weight gains, feed conversion rate and specific growth rate of the fish. Proximate analysis of the formulated feeds was also conducted. Result shows that formulated feed using 30% of coconut waste could possibly replace the corn meal and increase the growth of juvenile African catfish.
Quality and safety of fresh squid (Loligo forbesii) sold in Daya Traditional Market, Makassar, Indonesia
Authors: Kasmiati K , Syahrul S , Fahrul F , Amir N , Karsidi S , Rahmi M H
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to determine the quality and food safety of squid (Loligo forbesii) sold at Daya Traditional Market, Makassar, Indonesia. The research was conducted from January to March 2021 by collecting the sample in the morning around 09.00 - 10.00 AM with a frequency of three times a week for three weeks at different squid sellers. Organoleptic testing, TVB, and formalin were observed at a laboratory in the center for application and testing of fishery product quality, South Sulawesi, while the determination of pH and temperature of the squids was done on-site just after sampling. The data obtained were analyzed descriptively and presented in the form of tables. The results showed that the squids sold at the traditional market were still in fresh condition and of good quality with an average value of organoleptic 7.2; pH 6.77; and temperature of 20.32°C. The Indonesian National Standard/SNI (01-2729.1-2013) regarding the safety of fresh fishery products sold at the Traditional Market in Makassar was categorized as fresh with a TVB value of 16.30 mg-N/100g. However, 33.3% of the samples contained formalin which indicated that the squids were in fresh condition but did not meet the safety standards of fishery products.
Morphological discrimination of tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon between female and male based on traditional and truss morphometric analyses
Authors: Parenrengi A , Tenriulo A , Suryati E , Lante S , Nawang A , Rosmiati R
Published: December 2022

The morphological difference of tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon from Aceh waters is limited to explore for female and male discrimination using morphometric analyses. The study aimed to evaluate the morphological characters between female and male tiger shrimp using traditional and truss measurements. A total of 57 samples (39 females and 18 males) were analysed using 9 characters for traditional morphometric and 40 characters for truss morphometric. Multivariate analyses were applied to reveal the morphometric variation between male and female populations. The result of principal component analysis indicated that 4 characters, i.e: carapace length (CL), carapace width (CW), rostrum length (RL), and sixth segment length (SL6), were significantly different (P<0.05), while three truss morphological characters, i.e: distance between anterior and posterior carapace, distance between ventral posterior sixth segment to telson end, and distance between anterior and posterior second segment, were significantly discriminated (P<0.05) between female and male of tiger shrimp. Overall, 94.9% of the male and 88.9% of the female individuals were assigned to their native populations using traditional morphometric analysis, while truss morphometric was 87.2% and 88.9%, respectively. The individual proportion of 93.0% was properly classified into their original population group for traditional morphometric and 87.7% for truss morphometric characters.
Effect of bacteria probiotics on maintaining water quality in the super alkaline shrimp pond water
Authors: Atmomarsono M , Tampangallo B R , Nurbaya  , Kamariah
Published: December 2022

This study was aimed at finding out whether bacteria probiotics could work properly in super alkaline pond water. Eight extensive ponds of about 0.5 ha in size located in Lanrisang district of Pinrang regency were used in this experiment. After pond preparation, 20,000 pcs of tiger prawn postlarvae were reared in each pond. Water quality of the pond and the bacterial count (total Vibrio and total bacteria) were monitored every two weeks and analyzed at the Research Institute for Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries Extension Laboratory in Maros, South Sulawesi. Three bacteria probiotics applied here were Pseudoalteromonas sp Edeep-1 BL542, Brevibacillus laterosporus BT951, and Serratia marcescens MY1112. The powder form (A) and the liquid form (B) of bacteria probiotics were tested with four repetitions in each treatment. After 75 days of culture, both forms of bacteria probiotic had no significant differences on maintaining water quality since pond water pH sometimes increased up to 10.2. Bacteria probiotic could not work properly in super alkaline pond water. Consequently, the production and survival rate of the cultured shrimp were much lower than those of the average South Sulawesi brackishwater ponds.
Use of Sonneratia alba leaf extract solution for White Spot Syndrome Virus prevention in tiger shrimp postlarvae
Authors: Nurhidayah  , Muliani  , Nurbaya  , Atmomarsono M
Published: December 2022

White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is one of the leading causes of mass mortality in tiger shrimp culture. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of different immersion times in 1% Sonneratia alba extract on the ability of WSSV infected tiger shrimp to survive as post-larvae. Eight treatments were used in this study, with three replications for each. The treatments were as follows: A) 12 hours of immersion; B) 24; C) 36; D) 48; E) 60; F) 72; G) Positive control (infected with WSSV but without mangrove extract); and H) Negative control (without WSSV infection and mangrove extract). with three replications in each treatment. Tiger prawn post-larvae were stocked at a density of 20 squares per jar. At a rate of 20% of the daily biomass, they were being fed three times per day. Tiger shrimp post-larvae mortality was examined every day for eight days. At the beginning and conclusion of the study, analyses of water quality such as Total Organic Matter, NH3-N, and NO2-N, were made. The findings revealed that treatment F seemed to have the best survival rate (85.0%) and positive control had the lowest survival rate (0%). (treatment G). The shrimp were more resistant to WSSV due to the longer immersion in the herbal extracts.
Optimization of survival rate and growth performance of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in integrated rice-fish farming system with application of fentine acetate as molluscicide
Authors: Setijaningsih L , Taufik I , Puspaningsih D
Published: December 2022

Fentin acetate is used as a pesticide in rice fields to eradicate pests. Research with physiological factors approach is expected to increase the survival rate and growth performances of tilapia. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different concentrations of fentin acetate on the biological performance and hematological characteristics of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The research used 16 rice fields with a 30 m2 each (6 x 5 m). The research design used a completely randomized design with four treatments and three replications: A. 0.00 g L−1, B. 0.375 g L−1, C. 0.75 g L−1 and D. 1.5 g L−1. The results showed that treatment C resulted in the best growth of tilapia. It was noted that absolute weight gain, daily growth rate and productivity were significantly different (P<0.05) with treatments A, B and D. The highest value in treatment C were 20.53 g (absolute weight gain), 5.43 (daily growth rate) and 501.58 g (productivity). The survival rate in treatments B and C were not significantly different (P>0.05) as well as treatments A and D. The concentration of molluscicide fentin acetate at a dose of 0.75 g/L affected the decrease in the hematological characteristics of tilapia.
Contributions of roads to surface temperature: evidence from Southern California
Authors: Engel Ruth A , Millard-Ball Adam , Turner V Kelly
Published: December 2022

Planners often regard streets as targets for mitigating urban heat across cities by virtue of being abundant, publicly-owned, low-albedo, low-vegetation surfaces. Few studies, however, have assessed the role streets play in contributing to urban heat, and the scale of their effect relative to the built environment around them. We examine the relationship between road area and land surface temperature across a variety of biophysical regions through the urban areas of Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties in Southern California. Our results show that wide streets have no consistent, detectable effect on urban heat. Rather, vegetation is the primary cooling mechanism for urban areas. In the absence of trees, concrete highways are the coolest surfaces, though particular hot or cool pockets (e.g., airports, industrial centers, parks) can dominate neighborhood temperature signatures. In considering LST mitigation strategies, these hotspots might outweigh the cumulative effects of road surface changes.
Stability of structure-aware Taylor methods for tents
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Jay , Sun Zheng
Published: December 2022

Structure-aware Taylor (SAT) methods are a class of timestepping schemes designed for propagating linear hyperbolic solutions within a tent-shaped spacetime region. Tents are useful to design explicit time marching schemes on unstructured advancing fronts with built-in locally variable timestepping for arbitrary spatial and temporal discretization orders. The main result of this paper is that an

s
s

-stage SAT timestepping within a tent is weakly stable under the time step constraint

Δ
t
≤
C

h

1
+
1

/

s

\Delta t \leq Ch^{1+1/s}

, where

Δ
t

\Delta t

is the time step size and

h
h

is the spatial mesh size. Improved stability properties are also presented for high-order SAT time discretizations coupled with low-order spatial polynomials. A numerical verification of the sharpness of proven estimates is also included.
Increased risk of type 3c diabetes mellitus after acute pancreatitis warrants a personalized approach including diabetes screening
Authors: Walker Alexander , O’Kelly James , Graham Catriona , Nowell Sian , Kidd Doug , Mole Damian J
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a frequent cause of hospitalization with long-term health consequences, including type 3c diabetes mellitus (DM). The incidence and risk factors for new-onset morbidities after AP need to be clarified to inform a personalized medicine approach.

Methods

Using a longitudinal electronic healthcare record-linkage analysis, all patients admitted to hospital in Scotland with a first episode of AP between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2012 and followed for a minimum of 5 years after their index AP admission were identified. All new-onset morbidity with specific focus on type 3c DM were analysed and, using time-split multiple regression.

Results

A total of 2047 patients were included. AP requiring critical care was followed by 2 years of heightened risk (HR 5.24) of developing type 3c DM, increased risk of new-onset cardiac disease (HR 1.61), and renal disease (HR 2.96). The additional risk conferred by critical care AP had a negative interaction with time, whereas additional risk associated with male sex and a non-gallstone aetiology was long lasting.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, a personalized approach to include type 3c DM screening for a minimum of 2 years for individuals who required critical care when hospitalized with AP is recommended.
Indocyanine green for radical lymph node dissection in patients with sigmoid and rectal cancer: randomized clinical trial
Authors: Wan Jinliang , Wang Shijie , Yan Botao , Tang Yuting , Zheng Jixiang , Ji Hongli , Hu Yaowen , Zhuang Baoxiong , Deng Haijun , Yan Jun
Published: December 2022

Background

D3 lymph node dissection is recommended for patients with advanced sigmoid and rectal cancer in Japan. This trial aimed to investigate the feasibility of indocyanine green (ICG) as a tracer to increase the nodal harvest during D3 lymph node dissection in patients with sigmoid and rectal cancer.

Methods

This prospective randomized clinical trial was performed between May 2021 and April 2022. The inclusion criteria were patients with stage I–III sigmoid or rectal cancer eligible for laparoscopic resection. Patients were 1: 1 randomized to either the ICG group (endoscopic ICG injection at the tumour site and intraoperative imaging to guide dissection) or the control group (routine laparoscopic white-light imaging). All patients were treated with D3 dissection, and the primary outcome was the number of harvested lymph nodes at the D3 level.

Results

Out of 210 patients screened, a total of 66 patients were enrolled and randomized. Patients in the two groups presented similar ages and clinical stages (ICG group versus control group, median age of 58.0 versus 58.5 years; stage III 36.4 per cent versus 36.4 per cent, whereas the rate of rectal cancer was 27.3 per cent versus 48.5 per cent respectively). ICG imaging was helpful for completely dissecting D3 lymph nodes and could identify a median of more than 2 (range 1–6) D3 lymph nodes neglected by routine laparoscopic white-light imaging during surgery. The median number of D3 lymph nodes harvested in the ICG group was significantly higher than that in the control group (7.0 versus 5.0, P = 0.003); however, there was no significant difference in the median numbers of positive D1, D2, and D3 lymph nodes between the two groups.

Conclusion

ICG is safe and feasible to guide D3 lymph node dissection and can increase the number of harvested D3 lymph nodes in patients with sigmoid and rectal cancer.

Registration number: NCT04848311 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Novel correlative analysis identifies multiple genomic variations impacting ASD with macrocephaly
Authors: Fu Chen , Ngo Justine , Zhang Shanshan , Lu Leina , Miron Alexander , Schafer Simon , Gage Fred H , Jin Fulai , Schumacher Fredrick R , Wynshaw-Boris Anthony
Published: December 2022

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display both phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity, impeding the understanding of ASD and development of effective means of diagnosis and potential treatments. Genes affected by genomic variations for ASD converge in dozens of gene ontologies (GOs), but the relationship between the variations at the GO level have not been well elucidated. In the current study, multiple types of genomic variations were mapped to GOs and correlations among GOs were measured in ASD and control samples. Several ASD-unique GO correlations were found, suggesting the importance of co-occurrence of genomic variations in genes from different functional categories in ASD etiology. Combined with experimental data, several variations related to WNT signaling, neuron development, synapse morphology/function and organ morphogenesis were found to be important for ASD with macrocephaly, and novel co-occurrence patterns of them in ASD patients were found. Furthermore, we applied this gene ontology correlation analysis method to find genomic variations that contribute to ASD etiology in combination with changes in gene expression and transcription factor binding, providing novel insights into ASD with macrocephaly and a new methodology for the analysis of genomic variation.
Osteopontin (OPN)/SPP1: from its biochemistry to biological functions in the innate immune system and the central nervous system (CNS)
Authors: Lin Elliot Yi-Hsin , Xi Wen , Aggarwal Nupur , Shinohara Mari L
Published: December 2022

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein, initially identified in osteosarcoma cells with its role of mediating osteoblast adhesion. Later studies revealed that OPN is associated with many inflammatory conditions caused by infections, allergic responses, autoimmunity and tissue damage. Many cell types in the peripheral immune system express OPN with various functions, which could be beneficial or detrimental. Also, more recent studies demonstrated that OPN is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in microglia during CNS diseases and development. However, understanding of mechanisms underlying OPN’s functions in the CNS is still limited. In this review, we focus on peripheral myeloid cells and CNS-resident cells to discuss the expression and functions of OPN.
Stomatal conductance in rice leaves and panicles responds differently to abscisic acid and soil drought
Authors: Zhang Qiangqiang , Tang Wei , Xiong Zhuang , Peng Shaobing , Li Yong
Published: December 2022

Improvement of photosynthesis in non-foliar green tissues is beneficial for enhancing crop yield. Recently, we have demonstrated that panicle stomatal conductance is a major limiting factor for photosynthesis. However, mechanisms underlying the responses of panicle stomatal conductance (gs,panicle) and photosynthesis (Apanicle) to environmental stimuli remain unknown. In the present study, the responses of gs,panicle and leaf stomatal conductance (gs,leaf) to exogenous application of abscisic acid and step-changes in vapor pressure deficit were investigated at the anthesis stage in pot-grown rice plants. Furthermore, the effects of drought on Apanicle and leaf photosynthesis (Aleaf) were examined. Smearing and xylem feeding of abscisic acid significantly decreased gs,leaf. In contrast, while smearing of abscisic acid substantially increased gs,panicle, its xylem feeding dramatically decreased gs,panicle. In addition, both gs,leaf and gs,panicle effectively responded to step changes in vapor pressure deficit. Furthermore, both Aleaf and Apanicle were sensitive to plant dehydration; however, given the lower sensitivity of panicle water potential than leaf water potential to drought, Apanicle was less sensitive to soil drought than Aleaf. These findings indicate that gs,panicle is hydropassively regulated, while panicle photosynthesis is less sensitive to drought.
Race, Politics, and Irish America
Authors: Burke Mary M.
Published: December 2022

Figures from the Scots-Irish Andrew Jackson to the Caribbean-Irish Rihanna, as well as literature, film, caricature, and beauty discourse, convey how the Irish racially transformed multiple times: in the slave-holding Caribbean, on America’s frontiers and antebellum plantations, and along its eastern seaboard. This cultural history of race and centuries of Irishness in the Americas examines the forcibly transported Irish, the eighteenth-century Presbyterian Ulster Scots, and post-1845 Famine immigrants. Their racial transformations are indicated by the designations they acquired in the Americas: ‘Redlegs,’ ‘Scots-Irish’, and ‘black Irish’. In literature by Fitzgerald, O’Neill, Mitchell, Glasgow, and Yerby (an African-American author of Scots-Irish heritage), the Irish are both colluders and victims within America’s racial structure. Depictions range from Irish encounters with Native and African Americans to competition within America’s immigrant hierarchy between the ‘Saxon’ Scots-Irish and ‘Celtic’ post-Famine Irish Catholic. Irish-connected presidents feature, but attention to queer and multiracial authors, public women, beauty professionals, and performers complicates the ‘Irish whitening’ narrative. Thus, ‘Irish Princess’ Grace Kelly’s globally broadcast ascent to royalty paves the way for ‘America’s royals’, the Kennedys. The presidencies of the Scots-Irish Jackson and Catholic-Irish Kennedy signalled their respective cohorts’ assimilation. Since Gothic literature particularly expresses the complicity that attaining power (‘whiteness’) entails, subgenres named ‘Scots-Irish Gothic’ and ‘Kennedy Gothic’ are identified: in Gothic by Brown, Poe, James, Faulkner, and Welty, the violence of the colonial Irish motherland is visited upon marginalized Americans, including, sometimes, other Irish groupings. History is Gothic in Irish-American narrative because the undead Irish past replays within America’s contexts of race.
International Dimensions of Anti-Nuclear Activism
Authors: Peterson Christian Philip , Harvey Kyle , Knoblauch William M.
Published: December 2022

This chapter explores how opposition to nuclear weapons has evolved since 1945. Looking at local, national, and international efforts of anti-nuclear activists, it investigates the various ways civil society has lobbied, educated, and protested as they advocated solutions to the dangers of the development, testing, and potential use of nuclear weapons. This is a history rooted in the national and international politics of the Cold War; yet the impact of nuclear weapons extends to the present. Canvassing national and transnational activism in the United States, western Europe, India, New Zealand, and Australia, this chapter considers how individuals, organizations, and campaigns engaged in various forms of activism as they sought different solutions to the dangers of nuclear weapons. It looks at how campaigners explored the political, diplomatic, military, economic, technological, and social influences that shape how nuclear weapons have been perceived around the world, and how solutions to their control have been campaigned for, dissected, and abandoned. Over time, individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds have explored how to confront the world’s nuclear powers; largely, thus far, most have been unable to dismantle our nuclear arsenals.
What Was James’s Theory of Truth?
Authors: Donaldson Tom
Published: December 2022

In Pragmatism, William James promised his readers a theory of truth. However, many of his readers (even those sympathetic with other parts of James’s work) have concluded that his “theory” was little more than a tangle of mistakes. This chapter begins with a presentation of the standard objections to James’s discussion. It is then argued that James did have a coherent theory of truth, which must be understood in combination with his metaphysics of pure experience. James’s pluralism about truth is emphasized. It is concluded that (while James’s metaphysical views will not appeal to the typical reader today) his theory of truth is not refuted by the standard objections.
Optimal allocation of vaccines in a pandemic
Authors: Gans Joshua S
Published: December 2022

This paper provides an overview of approaches to the allocation of scarce vaccine doses during a pandemic. Price and non-price methods are outlined to determine whom to prioritize. It is argued that depending on viral and vaccine properties, it may be superior to use epidemiological criteria than health risk criteria for prioritization. The paper concludes by noting that the key trade-offs between health risk and epidemiological properties have received too little study to systematically inform allocation during a public health emergency. Moreover, the evaluation criteria for vaccines themselves need to be adjusted to take potential short-term scarcity into account.
Reserve system design for allocation of scarce medical resources in a pandemic: some perspectives from the field
Authors: Pathak Parag , Persad Govind , Sönmez Tayfun , Utku Ünver M
Published: December 2022

Reserve systems are a tool to allocate scarce resources when stakeholders do not have a single objective. This paper introduces some basic concepts about reserve systems for pandemic medical resource allocation. At the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, we proposed that reserve systems can help practitioners arrive at compromises between competing stakeholders. More than a dozen states and local jurisdictions adopted reserve systems in initial phases of vaccine distribution. We highlight several design issues arising in some of these implementations. We also offer suggestions about ways practitioners can take advantage of the flexibility offered by reserve systems.
A plea for standardisation in the duration of training in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine across Europe
Authors: Scudellari Alessandro , Bubenek Serban , Goldik Zeev , Bilotta Federico
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND

Anaesthesiologists and intensive care doctors have become progressively more mobile across Europe. The standardisation of training systems has been recommended by the European Union of Medical Specialist (UEMS) to facilitate the mutual recognition of professionals.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to assess the level of compliance with the 2018 European training requirements (ETR) for the specialty of anaesthesiology, pain and intensive care medicine.

METHODS

An electronic questionnaire on the duration of the training and assessment methods in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine was circulated via e-mail to the National Anaesthesia Societies Committee (NASC) representatives of all 41 European countries as defined by the WHO.

RESULTS

All 41 countries replied. The average duration of training was 4.7 years; in 29% of the countries, it was less than 5 years. In 78% of the countries, a mandatory written examination was required, and the most common form was a national test (44%), with only 27% using the European Diploma of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care. In the subgroup of the 26 EU countries investigated, the average duration of the training was 5 years and in 19% was less than 5 years. In the subgroup of the 15 non-EU countries, the average duration of training was 4.25 years, with 46% of the countries having a duration shorter than 5 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey highlighted the diversity in the training in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine in Europe despite the recommendations advocated by the EBA-UEMS. The findings on the duration of training demonstrated that the target of 5 years has not been universally achieved yet with a substantial difference between EU and non-EU countries. The presented evidence suggests the need for initiatives dedicated to implement compliance with the advocated duration and competence requirements reported in the European Training Requirement for anaesthesiology and intensive care by UEMS.
Coronary artery disease among patients admitted with atrial fibrillation and chest pain
Authors: Perelshtein Brezinov Olga , Vorotilina Natalya , Vasilenko Lubov , Kogan Yonatan , Lev Eli I , Laish-Farkash Avishag
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Patients who present to the emergency department with chest pain during an episode of atrial fibrillation (AF) impose a clinical challenge regarding the source of pain – being coronary artery disease (CAD) or AF in origin. The aim of this study was to identify clinical, imaging or laboratory markers which can predict significant CAD among patients with an AF episode and chest pain.

Methods

We included 57 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital with AF and chest pain. All patients underwent coronary evaluation. Significant CAD was defined as >50% stenosis in a major coronary artery by coronary angiography or cardiac CT. We compared CAD and non-CAD groups and analyzed risk factorsby regression analysis.

Results

Twenty-four patients (42%) were diagnosed with- and 33 patients (58%) without obstructive CAD. In a multivariate analysis of regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA), elevated troponin and hypertension were found to be predictors for CAD [odds ratio (OR), 22.4 (confidence interval (CI), 1.8–272.4; P = 0.02); OR, 5.6 (CI, 1–31.0; P = 0.05) and OR, 21.4 (CI, 1.6–284.6; P = 0.02), respectively]. There were no significant differences regarding the rate of typical chest pain at presentation in the CAD vs. the non-CAD group [13 (54%) vs. 20 (60%), P = 0.374], or in ECG ST-changes [12 (50%) vs.9 (27%), respectively; P = 0.08].

Conclusion

In patients who present acutely with chest pain and AF, troponin elevation and RWMA appear to be highly predictive of obstructive CAD, whereas clinical symptoms and ECG changes are not predictive. These findings may be helpful for guiding the management of patients admitted with AF and chest pain.
The Association of Depression With QT Duration: A Comparison Between Individuals Younger or Older Than 65 Years
Authors: Theofilis Panagiotis , Oikonomou Evangelos , Lazaros George , Vogiatzi Georgia , Niarchou Panagioula , Goliopoulou Athina , Anastasiou Maria , Mistakidi Vasiliki Chara , Tsalamandris Sotirios , Fountoulakis Petros , Papamikroulis George A. , Tousoulis Dimitris
Published: December 2022

Objective

The electrocardiogram-derived corrected QT (QTc) interval is an indicator of cardiac autonomic activity that has been proposed as a biological measure to investigate the interplay between depression and cardiovascular diseases. This study assesses whether depression is associated with a longer QTc interval across age groups.

Methods

Assessment of depressive symptoms was performed in 1637 participants of the cross-sectional Corinthia study with the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale in those younger than 65 years (group 1) and with the Geriatric Depression Scale in elderly individuals (≥65 years, group 2). The QT interval was obtained from electrocardiogram recordings and corrected for heart rate (QTc).

Results

Individuals in group 1 with depression were predominantly women and had a higher prevalence of coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus. Group 1 individuals with depression had longer QTc duration (no depression versus depression, 389.3 [27.0] versus 401.1 [32.9] milliseconds; p < .001) and percentage of abnormal QTc (no depression versus depression, 2.0% versus 10.8%; p = .001) compared with those without depression. Elderly individuals (group 2) had similar values of QTc and percentage of abnormal QTc irrespective of depression status. Even after adjustment for known QT-prolonging factors, the presence of depression in younger individuals was associated with an increased QTc by 11.1 milliseconds and with an approximately 10.6-fold higher prevalence of abnormal QTc duration.

Conclusions

Depression was associated with a longer QTc interval especially in individuals younger than 65 years. These findings may indicate an interrelationship between depression and autonomic dysregulation as potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac death.
Symptom Perception in Pathological Illness Anxiety: Tactile Sensitivity and Bias
Authors: Wolters Carolin , Slotta Timo , Ratayczak Judith , Witthöft Michael , Gerlach Alexander L. , Pohl Anna
Published: December 2022

Objective

Symptom perception in pathological illness anxiety (PIA) might be biased so that somatic signals are overreported. In the somatic signal detection task (SSDT), performance in detecting weak tactile stimuli gives information on overreporting or underreporting of stimuli. This task has not yet been applied in PIA.

Methods

Participants with PIA (n = 44) and healthy controls (n = 40) underwent two versions of the SSDT in randomized order. In the original version, tactile and auxiliary light-emitting diode (LED) stimuli were each presented in half of the trials. In the adapted version, illness or neutral words were presented alongside tactile stimuli. Participants also conducted a heartbeat mental tracking task.

Results

We found significantly higher sensitivity and a more liberal response bias in LED versus no-LED trials, but no significant differences between word types. An interaction effect showed a more pronounced increase of sensitivity from no LED to LED trials in participants with PIA when compared with the adapted SSDT and control group (F(1,76) = 5.34, p = .024, η
2 = 0.066). Heartbeat perception scores did not differ between groups (BF01 of 3.63).

Conclusions

The increase in sensitivity from no LED to LED trials in participants with PIA suggests stronger multisensory integration. Low sensitivity in the adapted SSDT indicates that attentional resources were exhausted by processing word stimuli. Word effects on response bias might have carried over to the original SSDT when the word version was presented first, compromising group effects regarding bias.

Trial Registration

The study was preregistered on OSF (https://osf.io/sna5v/).
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) as a Source of Liver Grafts: Honouring the Ultimate Gift
Authors: Ray Samrat , Torres-Hernandez Alejandro , Bleszynski Michael Sean , Parmentier Catherine , McGilvray Ian , Sayed Blayne Amir , Shwaartz Chaya , Cattral Mark , Ghanekar Anand , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Tsien Cynthia , Selzner Nazia , Lilly Leslie , Bhat Mamatha , Jaeckel Elmar , Selzner Markus , Reichman Trevor W.
Published: December 2022

Objective:

To report the clinical outcomes of liver transplants from donors after medical assistance in dying (MAiD) versus donors after cardiac death (DCD) and deceased brain death (DBD).

Summary Background Data:

In North America, the number of patients needing liver transplants exceeds the number of available donors. In 2016, MAiD was legalized in Canada.

Methods:

All patients undergoing deceased donor liver transplantation at Toronto General Hospital between 2016 and 2021 were included in the study. Recipient perioperative and postoperative variables and donor physiological variables were compared among 3 groups.

Results:

Eight hundred seven patients underwent deceased donor liver transplantation during the study period, including DBD (n=719; 89%), DCD (n=77; 9.5%), and MAiD (n=11; 1.4%). The overall incidence of biliary complications was 6.9% (n=56), the most common being strictures (n=55;6.8%), highest among the MAiD recipients [5.8% (DBD) vs. 14.2% (DCD) vs. 18.2% (MAiD); P=0.008]. There was no significant difference in 1 year (98.4% vs. 96.4% vs. 100%) and 3-year (89.3% vs. 88.7% vs. 100%) (P=0.56) patient survival among the 3 groups. The 1- and 3- year graft survival rates were comparable (96.2% vs. 95.2% vs. 100% and 92.5% vs. 91% vs. 100%; P=0.37).

Conclusion:

With expected physiological hemodynamic challenges among MAiD and DCD compared with DBD donors, a higher rate of biliary complications was observed in MAiD donors, with no significant difference noted in short-and long-term graft outcomes among the 3 groups. While ethical challenges persist, good initial results suggest that MAiD donors can be safely used in liver transplantation, with results comparable with other established forms of donation.
First evidence of hemiclitores in snakes
Authors: Folwell Megan J. , Sanders Kate L. , Brennan Patricia L. R. , Crowe-Riddell Jenna M.
Published: December 2022

Female genitalia are conspicuously overlooked in comparison to their male counterparts, limiting our understanding of sexual reproduction across vertebrate lineages. This study is the first complete description of the clitoris (hemiclitores) in female snakes. We describe morphological variation in size and shape (
n
= 9 species, 4 families) that is potentially comparable to the male intromittent organs in squamate reptiles (hemipenes). Dissection, diffusible iodine contrast-enhanced micro-CT and histology revealed that, unlike lizard hemiclitores, the snake hemiclitores are non-eversible structures. The two individual hemiclitores are separated medially by connective tissue, forming a triangular structure that extends posteriorly. Histology of the hemiclitores in Australian death adders (
Acanthophis antarcticus
) showed erectile tissue and strands/bundles of nerves, but no spines (as is found in male hemipenes). These histological features suggest the snake hemiclitores have functional significance in mating and definitively show that the hemiclitores are not underdeveloped hemipenes or scent glands, which have been erroneously indicated in other studies. Our discovery supports that hemiclitores have been retained across squamates and provides preliminary evidence of differences in this structure among snake species, which can be used to further understand systematics, reproductive evolution and ecology across squamate reptiles.