bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Fruit and Vegetable Waste as Laundry Liquid Waste Treatment
Authors: Risqi Lucyanita Bayu , Budiastuti M T S , Rosariastuti Retno
Published: April 2023

The laundry industry is one of the largest producers of wastewater and contains high concentrations of chemicals that are not environmentally friendly. Fruit and vegetable waste can be reused through recycling to produce products with higher use and economic value. One of the steps to utilize fruit and vegetable waste is to convert it into eco-enzyme through a simple fermentation technology. This research aims to study the eco-enzyme stability in treating liquid laundry waste. This research is an experiment in a laboratory. The treatments are eco-enzyme raw materials made from fruit oranges waste (E1), vegetables kale waste (E2), and fruits oranges and vegetables kale waste (E3). Then the dilution is carried out with the ratio of eco-enzyme: laundry liquid waste = 1:40. The results showed that: E1 eco-enzyme fruit (orange) can process laundry wastewater phosphate (PO4) of 41.81%, pH of 6.66, BOD of 23.53%, COD of 23.54%, and a TSS of 32.95%. Phosphate (PO4) and pH values have met the quality standards of the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2014 concerning Wastewater Quality Standards for Business and/or Industrial Activities of Soaps, Detergents, and Vegetable Oil Products.
Recycle Strategy for Processing Waste of the Sanan Tempeh Industrial Centre: Prevention of Air Pollution
Authors: Kalumbang Yuventia Prisca , Saputra Hanley Yunanda , Yulfa Ramadhani Ihsani , Azzahra Keyla , Saputra Arya Yudha
Published: April 2023

The Sanan tempeh industrial center community, located in Malang, East Java, has a special strategy to maintain environmental resilience in the area. 500 SMEs inhabit and produce tempeh in an area of 20 hectares. Each SME processes around 100 kg of soybeans on average into tempeh. In fact, the production of tempeh, of course, produces a lot of waste. The waste generated is boiled water and peeled soybean seeds. Therefore, it can be imagined the environmental burden of supporting the Sanan community from any tempeh production waste that is produced. If they don’t have an adequate waste management strategy, it can pollute the environment in the Sanan area. To anticipate environmental pollution, especially air pollution from boiled soybeans, the residents of Sanan carry out a waste recycling cycle to minimize waste disposal. The research method was carried out through qualitative approaches, such as interviewing the management of community associations as representatives of the Sanan community and observing & documenting several Sanan residents’ homes in managing the waste of Sanan tempeh production. The results of the research show that the waste recycling strategy is manifested in several activities: boiled wastewater and remaining soybean husks have been used as cattle feed, while since 2018 cow dung from the Sanan farm has been used as biogas as energy for burning stoves for tempeh production. The benefit of this strategy is that there is no strong odor generated from the tempeh production process and it strengthens the Sanan’s environmental sustainability.
Sustainability Assessment through Emergy Evaluation Analysis: Agricultural Waste Utilization for Pulp Production Case Study
Authors: Putra Agusta Samodra , Anita Yulia
Published: April 2023

The concern for reducing environmental impacts in pulp and paper industries can be supported with the tools to measure the environmental impacts quantitatively, such as life cycle assessment (LCA) and Emergy Evaluation Analysis (EMA). The sources of potential agricultural wastes for pulp production in Indonesia include oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, rice straw, and banana stem. In this study, the first attempt at EFB-based pulp production’s EMA has been done. The main tool for conducting this study was based on EMA and was supported by the LCA framework. The foreground data and model used in this study were based on literature related to pulp production from EFB. In addition, the background data was obtained from the life cycle inventory database. The EMA of EFB-based pulp production was based on emergy yield ratio (EYR), environmental loading ratio (ELR) and emergy sustainability index (ESI). The result shows that EFB-based pulp production has 1.23, 4.43 and 0.28 of EYR, ELR and ESI, respectively.
Assessing Malaysian Firms’ Intention to Use Recombinant Collagen-Like Protein in Collagen Products
Authors: Duasa Jarita , Radzman Nurhasya Adibah Mohd , Thaker Mohamed Asmy Mohd Thas
Published: April 2023

The study aims to assess the prospect of using recombinant collagen-like protein (RCLP) from producers’ point of view. Using cross-sectional data from a survey, the study attempts to validate the proposed hypothesis within Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by using the Partial Least Square (PLS) path modeling approach (a variance-based SEM technique). Results show a direct positive and significant relations between ‘perceive ease of use’ and ‘attitude toward’, ‘perceived ease of use’ and ‘perceived usefulness’, ‘attitude toward’ and ‘behavioural intention’, and ‘perceived usefulness’ and ‘behavioural intention’ of producing collagen products sourced from recombinant collagen-like protein among firms. The results imply the high potential end collagen products to be marketed using this alternative source of collagen which is environmentally friendly and promotes sustainable development.
Assessment of coastal change detection on an urban coastline: A case study in metropolitan Manila, Philippines
Authors: Limbo-Dizon James Eduard , Dagamac Nikki Heherson A.
Published: April 2023

The coastal zone around the urban coastline of Metro Manila is said to be suffering major environmental difficulties due to fast population growth and urbanization. This study uses remote sensing and GIS techniques to (i) examine changes in land use/land cover and (ii) detect coastal changes. Between 1992 and 2020, four Landsat map images were obtained to create land-use/land-cover (LULC) maps to detect shoreline changes. Each dataset is subjected to an accuracy assessment, with an average LULC mapping accuracy of roughly 90%. The northern part of the study area, which is in Navotas City was composed of trees and grasslands but as the years went by it was converted into fishponds while the critically important Ramsar site, LPPCHEA, have maintained the preservation of its natural mangrove forest. In a 30-year period, the urban coastline of Metro Manila decreased by around 1.5 kilometers. This study can be used to design a long-term plan and environmental management strategy of Metro Manila.
Application of Amendment and Irrigation toward Soil Moisture and Corn Productivity in Alfisols Jumantono, Indonesia
Authors: Ariyanto Dwi Priyo , Syaifudin Ekhsan , Sumani  , Suyana Jaka
Published: April 2023

The use of amendments and irrigation will improve soil characteristics, increase land productivity, and corn crops. This research aims to find out the best type of amendment and irrigation volume to get optimal moisture for corn in Alfisol. The study was conducted at Jumantono, Karanganyar District, Central Java, Indonesia. The design of the study used a Factorial Complete Randomized Block Design (RCBD) with 2 treatment factors. The design of this study on the first treatment factor giving amendments with cow manure 5 tons/ha, biochar rice husk 5 tons/ha, zeolite 5 tons/ha and control, as well as the treatment factor of irrigation volume 50% x ETc, 100% x ETc, and 150% x ETc. The ETc value is obtained from the daily evapotranspiration value of corn. The results show that amendment and irrigation treatment could increase soil moisture content and soil organic matter. The addition of a single factor of irrigation affects the soil porosity, soil pH, soil moisture and soil organic matter. Corn crop productivity has also increased due to the provision of appropriate and efficient irrigation.
The Use of Adaptive Rice Varieties against Lodging in Yogyakarta Irrigated Low Land, Indonesia
Authors: Widyayanti Setyorini , Pustika Arlyna Budi
Published: April 2023

Lodging of some rice fields in irrigated low land of Yogyakarta has been usually occured during wet season, which seem as the impact of climate change. To overcome this problem, Indonesia has been produced many new rice varieties which are adaptive to the abiotic stress such as flooding and lodging condition. On the other side, the use of bio inoculant and chemical seed dressing were suggested to increase rice yield under the abiotic stress. This research was aimed to determine the effect of new rice varieties and bio inoculant as well as chemical seed dressing to the rice growth and yield in Yogyakarta. Research was conducted on the wet season 2021/2022 at irrigated low land of rice agro ecosystem in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The research trial was designed in randomized block with 2 factors and 4 replications. Factor 1 was variety while factor 2 was bio inoculant and chemical seed dressing usage. Results showed that both variety and bioinoculant or chemical seed dressing gave positive effect to the plant height, numbers of tiller, weight of 100 grains, and root weight. Unfortunately, lodging was occurred at variety Inpari 45 Dirgahayu during the high rain intensity combine with strong wind, resulted non optimal yield obtained. However, bio inoculant of bacterium and fungi consorsia resulted higher yield, while the best yield was obtained from variety Inpari 32 HDB. As conclusion, the use of Inpari 32 HDB and Inpari 48 as new variety was promising to overcome lodging and increase the yield of Yogyakarta rice.
Impact of Bauxite Mining on Soil Chemical Properties at Several Depths
Authors: Sulakhudin  , Sukirno  , Abdilla Andi Massoeang
Published: April 2023

Bauxite is one of the mining commodities that have high economic value as a contributor to the country’s foreign exchange with a potential of 349.61 million tons. The potential for bauxite is large enough to cause soil damage at the beginning of mining because to get bauxite ore, it has to move the layer of soil above it. Soil damaged by the bauxite mining process was improve with reclamation activities, which is one of the PT ANTAM obligations after the extraction of bauxite ore is complete. The soil in the reclamation area after bauxite mining has some very low soil chemical properties, for example the nutrient content of N, K, Ca, Mg and Na. In addition, the cation exchange capacity is very low, each ranging from 2.56 - 5.82 Cmol(+).kg−1, while base saturation is between 6.53 – 12.45%. Soil pH values ranged from 4.32 to 5.11 which was classified as very acidic to acidic. There is a tendency in the deeper soil layers some soil properties to decrease, such as pH, CEC, base saturation and C-organic content.
Soybean Response to Organic Fertilizer Types in Pine Stand-Based Agroforestry System
Authors: Budiastuti M T S , Purnomo D , Pujiasmanto B , Supriyono  , Wahidurromdloni F , Setyaningrum D
Published: April 2023

The agricultural sector currently produces about 18.4% of the total emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. This impact causes a decrease in the quality and quantity of agricultural products such as soybeans. One of the efforts to increase soybean production is by agroforestry systems. This research to examine the response of soybeans to organic fertilizers from various agricultural wastes in a pine-based agroforestry system. The research design used a completely randomized block design with one treatment fertilization with four levels, namely chemical fertilizers;Indigofera tinctoriacompost; corn cobs compost; peanut green manure. The type of organic fertilizer affects plant height, total chlorophyll, plant biomass, number of pods planted, and seed yield per hectare. Peanut green manure showed the highest seed yield per hectare at 1.4887 tons.ha−1. The highest plant height in peanut green manure. Meanwhile, with corncob compost, the highest number of pods planted was 14.60 pods. Total chlorophyll reached 1.912931 cd.m−2in the treatment of corn cobs compost. Chlorophyll a was positively correlated with chlorophyll, while plant fresh weight was positively correlated with seed weight per hectare. Agricultural waste can be used as organic fertilizer supporting soybean growth and yield in pine stands-based agroforestry systems.
An algebraic treatment of the Pastro polynomials on the real line
Authors: Chea Vutha Vichhea , Vinet Luc , Zaimi Meri , Zhedanov Alexei
Published: April 2023

The properties of the Pastro polynomials on the real line are studied with the help of a triplet of

q
q

-difference operators. The

q
q

-difference equation and recurrence relation these polynomials obey are shown to arise as generalized eigenvalue problems involving the triplet of operators, with the Pastro polynomials as solutions. Moreover, a discrete biorthogonality relation on the real line for the Pastro polynomials is obtained and is then understood using adjoint operators. The algebra realized by the triplet of

q
q

-difference operators is investigated.
Improved regularity of second derivatives for subharmonic functions
Authors: Fernández-Real Xavier , Tione Riccardo
Published: April 2023

In this note, we prove that if a subharmonic function

Δ
u
≥
0

\Delta u\ge 0

has pure second derivatives

∂

i
i

u

\partial _{ii} u

that are signed measures, then their negative part

(

∂

i
i

u

)
−

(\partial _{ii} u)_-

belongs to

L
1

L^1

(in particular, it is not singular). We then show that this improvement of regularity cannot be upgraded to

L
p

L^p

for any

p
>
1

p > 1

. We finally relate this problem to a natural question on the one-sided regularity of solutions to the obstacle problem with rough obstacles.
Fourier decay for curved Frostman measures
Authors: Dasu Shival , Demeter Ciprian
Published: April 2023

We investigate Fourier decay for Frostman measures supported on curves with nonzero curvature. We combine decoupling with known lower bounds for Furstenberg sets to extend the main result of Orponen [Ann. Fenn. Math. 48 (2023), pp. 113–139].
Essential positivity
Authors: Perälä Antti , Virtanen Jani
Published: April 2023

We define essentially positive operators on Hilbert space as a class of self-adjoint operators whose essential spectra is contained in the non-negative real numbers and describe their basic properties. Using Toeplitz operators and the Berezin transform, we further illustrate the notion of essential positivity in the Hardy space and the Bergman space.
𝑊^{1,𝑝} approximation of the Moser–Trudinger inequality
Authors: Hashizume Masato , Ioku Norisuke
Published: April 2023

We propose a power type approximation of the Moser–Trudinger functional and show that its concentration level converges to the Carleson–Chang limit.
Rational ruled surfaces as symplectic hyperplane sections
Authors: Kwon Myeonggi , Oba Takahiro
Published: April 2023

We study embeddability of rational ruled surfaces as symplectic hyperplane sections into closed integral symplectic manifolds. From this we obtain results on Stein fillability of Boothby–Wang bundles over rational ruled surfaces.
Solutions of spinorial Yamabe-type problems on 𝑆^{𝑚}: Perturbations and applications
Authors: Isobe Takeshi , Xu Tian
Published: April 2023

This paper is part of a program to establish the existence theory for the conformally invariant Dirac equation
\[

D
g

ψ
=
f
(
x
)

|

ψ

|

g

2

m
−
1

ψ

D_g\psi =f(x)|\psi |_g^{\frac 2{m-1}}\psi

\]
on a closed spin manifold

(
M
,
g
)

(M,g)

of dimension

m
≥
2

m\geq 2

with a fixed spin structure, where

f
:
M
→

R

f:M\to \mathbb {R}

is a given function. The study on such nonlinear equation is motivated by its important applications in Spin Geometry: when

m
=
2

m=2

, a solution corresponds to an isometric immersion of the universal covering

M
~

\widetilde M

into

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

with prescribed mean curvature

f
f

; meanwhile, for general dimensions and

f
≡
c
o
n
s
t
a
n
t

f\equiv constant

, a solution provides an upper bound estimate for the Bär-Hijazi-Lott invariant.

Comparing with the existing issues, the aim of this paper is to establish multiple existence results in a new geometric context, which have not been considered in the previous literature. Precisely, in order to examine the dependence of solutions of the aforementioned nonlinear Dirac equations on geometrical data, concrete analyses are made for two specific models on the manifold

(

S
m

,
g
)

(S^m,g)

: the geometric potential

f
f

is a perturbation from constant with

g
=

g

S
m

g=g_{S^m}

being the canonical round metric; and

f
≡
1

f\equiv 1

with the metric

g
g

being a perturbation of

g

S
m

g_{S^m}

that is not conformally flat somewhere on

S
m

S^m

. The proof is variational: solutions of these problems are found as critical points of their corresponding energy functionals. The emphasis is that the solutions are always degenerate: they appear as critical manifolds of positive dimension. This is very different from most situations in elliptic PDEs and classical critical point theory. As corollaries of the existence results, multiple distinct embedded spheres in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

with a common mean curvature are constructed, and furthermore, a strict inequality estimate for the Bär-Hijazi-Lott invariant on

S
m

S^m

,

m
≥
4

m\geq 4

, is derived, which is the first result of this kind in the non-locally-conformally-flat setting.
𝑈_{𝑞}(𝑠𝑙(2))-quantum invariants from an intersection of two Lagrangians in a symmetric power of a surface
Authors: Anghel Cristina
Published: April 2023

In this paper we show that coloured Jones and coloured Alexander polynomials can both be read off from the same picture provided by two Lagrangians in a symmetric power of a surface. More specifically, the

N

t
h

N^{th}

coloured Jones and

N

t
h

N^{th}

coloured Alexander polynomials are specialisations of a graded intersection between two explicit Lagrangian submanifolds in a symmetric power of the punctured disc. The graded intersection is parametrised by the intersection points between these Lagrangians, graded in a specific manner using the diagonals of the symmetric power. As a particular case, we see the original Jones and Alexander polynomials as two specialisations of a graded intersection between two Lagrangians in a configuration space, whose geometric supports are Heegaard diagrams.
Frobenius splitting, strong F-regularity, and small Cohen-Macaulay modules
Authors: Hochster Melvin , Yao Yongwei
Published: April 2023

Let

M
M

be a finitely generated module over an (F-finite local) ring

R
R

of prime characteristic

p
>
0

p >0

. Let

e

M

{}^e\!M

denote the result of restricting scalars using the map

F
e

:
R
→
R

F^e\colon R \to R

, the

e

e\,

th iteration of the Frobenius endomorphism. Motivated in part by the fact that in certain circumstances the splitting of

e

M

{}^e\!M

as

e
e

grows can be used to prove the existence of small (i.e., finitely generated) maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules, we study splitting phenomena for

e

M

{}^e\!M

from several points of view. In consequence, we are able to prove new results about when one has such splittings that generalize results previously known only in low dimension, we give new characterizations of when a ring is strongly F-regular, and we are able to prove new results on the existence of small maximal Cohen-Macaulay modules in the multi-graded case. In addition, we study certain corresponding questions when the ring is no longer assumed F-finite and purity is considered in place of splitting. We also answer a question, raised by Datta and Smith, by showing that a regular Noetherian domain, even in dimension 2, need not be very strongly F-regular.
Multiple tethers of organelle contact sites are involved in α-synuclein toxicity in yeast
Authors: Del Vecchio Mara , Amado Lucia , Cogan Alexandra P. , Meert Els , Rosseels Joelle , Franssens Vanessa , Govers Sander K. , Winderickx Joris , Montoro Ayelén González
Published: April 2023

Budding yeast is used to address the toxicity mechanism of α-synuclein, a protein involved in neurodegenerative diseases. The loss of several different proteins that tether organelles makes cells resistant to α-synuclein, revealing that organelle communication via contact sites plays a key role in its toxicity.
Glutamylation is a negative regulator of microtubule growth
Authors: Chen Jiayi , Roll-Mecak Antonina
Published: April 2023

Glutamylation, a tubulin modification prevalent in the nervous system, is associated with stable microtubule structures in cells. Unexpectedly, it is found that glutamylation depresses microtubule growth and increases the frequency with which microtubules switch from a state of growth to one of depolymerization. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that deglutamylases CCP1 and 5 synergize for maximal activity on soluble tubulin. Thus, glutamylation homeostasis is maintained through the asymmetric action of forward and reverse enzymes on microtubules and tubulin, respectively.
Use of a Statistical Adaptive Treatment Strategy Approach for Emulating Randomized Controlled Trials Using Observational Data: The Example of Blood-Pressure Control Strategies for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events Among Individuals With Hypertension at High Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Jiao Tianze , Platt Robert W , Douros Antonios , Filion Kristian B
Published: April 2023

Statistical approaches to adaptive treatment strategies (ATS) can be used to mimic the sequential decision-making inherently found in clinical practice. To illustrate the use of a statistical ATS approach, we emulated a target trial of different blood pressure (BP) control plans for the prevention of cardiovascular events among individuals with hypertension at high cardiovascular risk, inspired by the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). We included 103,708 patients with hypertension and a “QRISK3” estimated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease of ≥20% who initiated an antihypertensive drug between 1998 and 2018. Dynamic marginal structural models estimated the comparative effects of treating patients with intensive (target BP: 130/80 mm Hg), standard (140/90 mm Hg), and conservative (150/90 mm Hg) BP control strategies. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the intensive versus standard strategy were 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92, 1.00) for major adverse cardiovascular events and 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.97) for death from cardiovascular causes. For the conservative versus standard strategy, they were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.10) and 1.08 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.13), respectively. These results are largely compatible with SPRINT. ATS can be used to emulate randomized controlled trials of complex treatment strategies in an observational setting and represents an alternative approach for situations where randomized controlled trials are not feasible.
Interactions of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs and Aspirin and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Osteoarthritis
Authors: Wei Jie , Zeng Chao , Lane Nancy E , Li Xiaoxiao , Lei Guanghua , Zhang Yuqing
Published: April 2023

Nonsteroidal antiinf lammatory drugs (NSAIDs) remain the mainstay of the pharmacologic management for relieving osteoarthritis pain, and low-dose aspirin is often prescribed to osteoarthritis patients who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We conducted cohort studies using data from The Health Improvement Network (THIN) database (2000–2019) to assess whether the relationship of initiation of naproxen or ibuprofen vs. initiation of other NSAIDs (excluding both naproxen and ibuprofen), respectively, to the risk of CVD was modified by coprescription of low-dose aspirin among the participants with osteoarthritis. Among participants without coprescription of aspirin, the risk of CVD was lower in naproxen initiators (10.3/1000 person-years) than in other NSAIDs initiators (13.2/1000 person-years; hazard ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval: 0.60, 0.85). Among participants with coprescription of aspirin, however, the risk of CVD was higher among naproxen initiators (36.9/1000 person-years) than that among other NSAIDs initiators (34.8/1000 person-years; hazard ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.12, 1.84). The association was significantly modified by coprescription of aspirin (P < 0.001). Similar findings were observed in the association of initiation of ibuprofen vs. other NSAIDs with the risk of CVD, which was significantly modified by coprescription of aspirin (P < 0.001). These findings suggest that osteoarthritis patients and clinicians should be aware of the potential CVD risk of concurrently taking naproxen or ibuprofen and low-dose aspirin.
Causal Effects of Stochastic PrEP Interventions on HIV Incidence Among Men Who Have Sex With Men
Authors: Sewak Ainesh , Lodi Sara , Li Xiaojuan , Shu Di , Wen Lan , Mayer Kenneth H , Krakower Douglas S , Young Jessica G , Marcus Julia L
Published: April 2023

Antiretroviral preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but uptake has been limited and inequitable. Although interventions to increase PrEP uptake are being evaluated in clinical trials among men who have sex with men (MSM), those trials cannot evaluate effects on HIV incidence. Estimates from observational studies of the causal effects of PrEP-uptake interventions on HIV incidence can inform decisions about intervention scale-up. We used longitudinal electronic health record data from HIV-negative MSM accessing care at Fenway Health, a community health center in Boston, Massachusetts, from January 2012 through February 2018, with 2 years of follow-up. We considered stochastic interventions that increased the chance of initiating PrEP in several high-priority subgroups. We estimated the effects of these interventions on population-level HIV incidence using a novel inverse-probability weighted estimator of the generalized g-formula, adjusting for baseline and time-varying confounders. Our results suggest that even modest increases in PrEP initiation in high-priority subgroups of MSM could meaningfully reduce HIV incidence in the overall population of MSM. Interventions tailored to Black and Latino MSM should be prioritized to maximize equity and impact.
Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams are pivotal corridors for aquatic and terrestrial animals
Authors: Sánchez-Montoya María Mar , Datry Thibault , Ruhi Albert , Carlson Stephanie M , Corti Roland , Tockner Klement
Published: April 2023

Rivers are efficient corridors for aquatic animals, primarily under the assumption of perennial flow. However, the recognition that river drying is a common and widespread phenomenon requires reexamining animal movement through river networks. Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams have been overlooked when studying animal movement, even though approximately 60% of the global river network dries. In the present article, we extend the current focus of river ecology by integrating the effects of drying on the movement of aquatic and terrestrial animals. Moreover, we introduce a conceptual model that challenges the current bias, which is focused on perennial waterways, by encompassing animal movement across hydrologic phases (nonflowing, flowing, dry, rewetting) and habitats (aquatic, terrestrial). We discuss their corridor function in conservation and restoration planning and identify emerging research questions. We contend that a more comprehensive and inclusive view of animal movement in dry channels will advance ecological understanding of river networks and respective conservation efforts.
So overt it's covert: Wildlife coloration in the city
Authors: Kreling Samantha E S
Published: April 2023

With novel human–wildlife interaction, predation regimes, and environmental conditions, in addition to often fragmented and smaller populations, urban areas present wildlife with altered natural selection parameters and genetic drift potential compared with nonurban regions. Plumage and pelage coloration in birds and mammals has evolved as a balance between avoiding detection by predator or prey, sexual selection, and thermoregulation. However, with altered mutation rates, reduced predation risk, increased temperatures, strong genetic drift, and increased interaction with people, the evolutionary contexts in which these colorations arose are radically different from what is present in urban areas. Regionally alternative color morphs or leucistic or melanistic individuals that aren't typical of most avian or mammalian populations may become more frequent as a result of adaptive or neutral evolution. Therefore, I conceptualize that, in urban areas, conspicuous color morphologies may persist, leading to an increase in the frequency of regionally atypical pelage coloration. In the present article, I discuss the potential for conspicuous color morphs to arise and persist in urban mammalian and avian populations, as well as the mechanisms for such persistence, as a result of altered environmental conditions and natural selection pressures.
Robotic and laparoscopic colectomy: propensity score-matched outcomes from a national cancer database
Authors: Emile Sameh Hany , Horesh Nir , Garoufalia Zoe , Gefen Rachel , Zhou Peige , Strassman Victor , Wexner Steven D
Published: April 2023

Background

Laparoscopic and robotic approaches to colonic cancer surgery appear to provide similar outcomes. The present study aimed to compare short-term and survival outcomes of laparoscopic and robotic colectomy for colonic cancer.

Methods

This retrospective review of patients with stage I–III colonic cancer who underwent laparoscopic or robotic colonic resection was undertaken using data from the National Cancer Database (2013–2019). Patients were matched using the propensity score matching method. The primary outcome was 5-year overall survival. Secondary outcomes included conversion to open surgery, duration of hospital stay, 30- and 90-day mortality, unplanned readmission, and positive resection margins.

Results

The original cohort included 40 457 patients with stage I–III colonic adenocarcinoma, with a mean(s.d.) age of 67.4(12.9) years. Some 33 860 (83.7 per cent) and 6597 (17.3 per cent) patients underwent laparoscopic and robotic colectomy respectively. After matching, 6210 patients were included in each group. Robotic colectomy was associated with marginally longer overall survival for women, and patients with a Charlson score of 0, stage II–III disease or left-sided tumours. The robotic group had a significantly lower rate of conversion (6.6 versus 11 per cent; P < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay (median 3 versus 4 days) than the laparoscopic group. The two groups had similar rates of 30-day mortality (1.3 versus 1 per cent for laparoscopic and robotic procedures respectively), 90-day mortality (2.1 versus 1.8 per cent), 30-day unplanned readmission (3.7 versus 3.8 per cent), and positive resection margins (2.8 versus 2.5 per cent).

Conclusion

In this study population, robotic colectomy was associated with less conversion to open surgery and a shorter hospital stay compared with laparoscopic colectomy.
Regional spreading pattern is associated with clinical phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Maranzano Alessio , Verde Federico , Colombo Eleonora , Poletti Barbara , Doretti Alberto , Bonetti Ruggero , Gagliardi Delia , Meneri Megi , Maderna Luca , Messina Stefano , Corti Stefania , Morelli Claudia , Silani Vincenzo , Ticozzi Nicola
Published: April 2023

Increasing evidence shows that disease spreading in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) follows a preferential pattern with more frequent involvement of contiguous regions from the site of symptom onset. The aim of our study was to assess if: (i) the burden of upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) involvement influences directionality of disease spreading; (ii) specific patterns of disease progression are associated with motor and neuropsychological features of different ALS subtypes (classic, bulbar, primary lateral sclerosis, UMN-predominant, progressive muscular atrophy, flail arm, flail leg); and (iii) specific clinical features may help identify ALS subtypes, which remain localized to the site of onset for a prolonged time (regionally entrenching ALS).

A single-centre, retrospective cohort of 913 Italian ALS patients was evaluated to assess correlations between directionality of the disease process after symptom onset and motor/neuropsychological phenotype. All patients underwent an extensive evaluation including the following clinical scales: Penn Upper Motor Neuron Score (PUMNS), MRC Scale for Muscle Strength and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS).

The most frequent initial spreading pattern was that towards adjacent horizontal regions (77.3%), which occurred preferentially in patients with lower MRC scores (P = 0.038), while vertical diffusion (21.1%) was associated with higher PUMNS (P < 0.001) and with reduced survival (P < 0.001). Non-contiguous disease spreading was associated with more severe UMN impairment (P = 0.003), while contiguous disease pattern with lower MRC scores. Furthermore, non-contiguous disease spreading was associated with more severe cognitive impairment in both executive and visuospatial ECAS domains. Individuals with regionally entrenching ALS were more frequently female (45.6% versus 36.9%; P = 0.028) and had higher frequencies of symmetric disease onset (40.3% versus 19.7%; P < 0.001) and bulbar phenotype (38.5% versus 16.4%; P < 0.001).

Our study suggests that motor phenotypes characterized by a predominant UMN involvement are associated with a vertical pattern of disease progression reflecting ipsilateral spreading within the motor cortex, while those with predominant LMN involvement display more frequently a horizontal spreading from one side of the spinal cord to the other. These observations raise the hypothesis that one of the mechanisms underlying disease spreading in ALS pathology is represented by diffusion of toxic factors in the neuron microenvironment. Finally, it is possible that in our cohort, regionally entrenching ALS forms are mainly observed in patients with atypical bulbar phenotypes, characterized by a slowly progressive course and relatively benign prognosis.
Incremental significance of myocardial oedema for prognosis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Xu Ziqian , Wang Jie , Cheng Wei , Wan Ke , Li Weihao , Pu Lutong , Xu Yuanwei , Sun Jiayu , Han Yuchi , Chen Yucheng
Published: April 2023

Aims

To explore the prognosis of myocardial oedema measured by T2 mapping in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Methods and results

A total of 674 patients with HCM (age: 50 ± 15 years, 60.5% males) who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance were prospectively enrolled from 2011 to 2020. One hundred healthy controls (age: 48 ± 19 years, 58.0% males) were included for comparison. Myocardial oedema was quantitatively measured by T2 mapping in both global and segmental myocardium. The endpoints were defined as a combination of cardiovascular death and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge. During a median follow-up of 36 months (interquartile range: 24–60 months), 55 patients (8.2%) had cardiovascular events. Patients with cardiovascular events had a higher T2 max, T2 min, and T2 global values (all P < 0.001) than patients who remained event free. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with HCM with late gadolinium enhancement [LGE(+)] and T2 max ≥44.9 ms had a higher risk of developing cardiovascular events (P < 0.001). A multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that T2 max, T2 min, and T2 global provided significant prognostic value to predict cardiovascular events (all P < 0.001). According to the C-index (0.825, 0.814), net reclassification index (0.612, 0.536, both P < 0.001), and integrative discrimination index (0.029, 0.029, both P < 0.05), T2 max or T2 min significantly increased the predictive performance of established risk factors, including extensive LGE.

Conclusion

Patients with HCM with LGE(+) and higher T2 had worse prognosis than those with LGE(+) and lower T2.
Cardiovascular risk profiles in patients with inflammatory bowel disease differ from matched controls from the general population
Authors: Sleutjes Jasmijn A M , van der Woude C Janneke , Verploegh P J Pepijn , Aribas Elif , Kavousi Maryam , Roeters van Lennep Jeanine E , de Vries Annemarie C
Published: April 2023

Aims

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We compared cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and 10-year risk in IBD patients to the general population.

Methods and results

In this cross-sectional study, consecutive IBD patients ≥45 years were included. History of ASCVD and CVD risk factors (smoking, hypertension, overweight, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome) were assessed. The Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE2) algorithm was used to estimate 10-year CVD risk. One to four age/sex-matched controls were derived from the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study cohort. In total, 235 IBD patients were included {56% women, median age 59 years [interquartile range (IQR) 51–66]} and matched to 829 controls [56% women, median age 61 years (IQR 56–67)]. Inflammatory bowel disease patients experienced ASCVD events more often compared with matched controls [odds ratio (OR) 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23–3.27], specifically heart failure (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.02–4.01) and coronary heart disease (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.7–3.13). Inflammatory bowel disease patients showed lower odds of overweight (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.35–0.66) and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31–0.65) and higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.19–2.32), as well as higher waist circumference (+4 cm, P = 0.006) and triglyceride levels (+0.6 mmol/L, P < 0.001) as compared with controls. Mean 10-year CVD risk was 4.0% [standard deviation (SD) ±2.6] in 135 IBD patients vs. 6.0% (SD ±1.6) in 506 controls.

Conclusion

The increased CVD risk in IBD is discrepant with the 10-year CVD risk estimate. Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation may underestimate CVD risk in IBD patients due to differing CVD risk profiles compared with the general population, including a lower prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia and overweight and a higher prevalence of hypertension, abdominal obesity, and hypertriglyceridaemia.
Parallel evolution of behavior, physiology, and life history associated with altitudinal shifts in forest type inHeliconiusbutterflies
Authors: Rivas-Sánchez David F , Melo-Flórez Lina , Aragón Andrea , Pardo-Díaz Carolina , Salazar Camilo , Montgomery Stephen H , Merrill Richard M
Published: April 2023

Parallel evolution of morphological traits is widely reported, providing evidence for the role of local conditions in driving adaptive divergence. Comparatively, fewer studies have tested for parallelism in behavior, and it is less clear to what extent heritable behavioral shifts contribute to adaptive divergence. We exploit repeated incipient speciation across altitudinal gradients to explore behavior and physiology in Heliconius butterflies adapted to high-elevation. We performed common garden experiments with H. chestertonii, a high-altitude specialist from the Colombian Cordillera Occidental, and H. erato venus, a low-elevation proxy for the ancestral population, and compared our results to existing data for an equivalent Ecuadorian taxa-pair. Using broad-scale climatic data, we show that both pairs diverge across similar ecological gradients, confirmed using localized data loggers in the ranges of H. chestertonii and H. e. venus. We further show that H. chestertonii and H. e. venus have divergent activity patterns, attributable to different responses to microclimate, and life histories. Finally, we provide evidence for parallelism in these traits with H. himera and H. e. cyrbia. We propose that this is a result of selection associated with independent colonizations of high-altitude forests, emphasizing the importance of heritable behavioral and physiological adaptations during population divergence and speciation.
Cryptic male mate choice for high-quality females reduces male postcopulatory success in future matings
Authors: Anastasio Olivia E , Sinclair Chelsea S , Pischedda Alison
Published: April 2023

Cryptic male mate choice occurs when males differentially allocate resources to females during or after copulation. When male resources are limited, males may benefit by strategically allocating more resources toward higher-quality females. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, males mate for longer and may transfer more sperm and more seminal proteins when they mate with larger females compared with smaller females. It is unclear, however, whether this increased investment in large females has any impact on the males’ later matings. We mated D. melanogaster males sequentially to females of large or small body size in all possible combinations to test whether cryptic male mate choice for large females is costly to the males’ subsequent matings. Second matings were shorter for males compared with their first matings, but there were no differences in fecundity between females mated first or second by a male. Interestingly, male success at defensive sperm competition declined between his first and second matings only when his first mating had been with a large female. This suggests that the higher initial investment in large females reduced male postcopulatory success in their subsequent matings. Cryptic male mate choice may carry underappreciated costs to males that could limit their reproductive potential.
Travels with Metschnikowia
Authors: Lachance Marc-André
Published: April 2023

For over four decades, I have explored hotspots of biodiversity in search of yeasts that could increase our understanding of the meaning of species as the concept applies to yeasts. This led to the discovery, description, and characterization of many Metschnikowia and other species. What published species descriptions do not report is the context of their discoveries, the people and the places involved. This is an abridged account of some of the paths I followed in making these yeast discoveries and some of the wonderful people that have made them possible. Selected memories about education, serendipity, boots, dress trousers, pantyhose, t-shirts, hugs, magic, friendships, symbioses, beetles, morning glories, missing nuclei, love, and loss.
Continuity and change in human rights appropriation: The case of Turkey
Authors: Çalı Başak , Demir-Gürsel Esra
Published: April 2023

This article analyzes the political and legal dynamics of continuity and change in the appropriation of human rights in Turkey against the backdrop of growing authoritarian practices. Human rights appropriation in Turkey has traditionally focused on the interpretation of human rights favoring national security and secular sensibilities to determine who has human rights and to what extent. The recent decade is a case of continuity and change. While the secularist frame has been replaced by a religious frame defining authentic human rights holders as members of the “pious” Turkish Muslim family and society, the national security frame has remained a continuous source of human rights appropriation. The article first offers an account of the dynamics of old forms of human rights appropriation in Turkey. It then analyzes the new actors, strategies, and transnational dimensions of new forms of human rights (mis)appropriation.
Antiretroviral Therapy Ameliorates Simian Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Myocardial Inflammation by Dampening Interferon Signaling and Pathogen Response in the Heart
Authors: Robinson Jake A , Niu Meng , Fox Howard S , Burdo Tricia H
Published: April 2023

People with human immunodeficiency virus have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. RNA-Seq was performed on hearts from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)–infected rhesus macaques with or without antiretroviral therapy (ART). SIV infection led to high plasma viral load with very little myocardial viral RNA. SIV infection promoted an inflammatory environment in the heart through interferon and pathogen signaling, in the absence of myocardial viral RNA. While ART dampened interferon and cytokine response in the heart, SIV-infected animals receiving ART had deficits in the expression of genes directly involved in fatty acid metabolism relative to SIV-uninfected animals.
When Connection Turns to Anger: How Consumer–Brand Relationship and Crisis Type Moderate Language on Social Media
Authors: Mosley Buffy , Schweidel David A , Zhang Kunpeng
Published: April 2023

Social media offers brands the ability to gauge consumer reactions to marketing and brand crises. While social media listening has focused on aggregate patterns, consumers differ in how they react to a crisis faced by a particular brand. Analyzing consumer behavior for 39 brands pertaining to 77 brand crises through the lens of consumer posts on brands’ Facebook pages, we find that consumers’ prior online interactions with the brand and the nature of the brand crisis moderate the language they employ in their posts. Specifically, these factors affect the extent to which consumers express anger and the familiarity of their language. While consumers who have not engaged with the brand previously employ more familiar language and self-referencing following values-related crises compared to consumers who have interacted with the brand, these individuals express more anger after performance-related crises. In contrast, consumers who have previously interacted with the brand express more anger in the wake of values-related crises. We discuss the implications of our findings for brand managers using social media posts as a means of monitoring consumer perceptions.
Life-table parameters, functional response, flight ability, and cross-generational effects of matrine demonstrate its safety to Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: Liu Jiamei , Liu Yangtian , Liu Bing , Dai Changchun , Wang Peiling , Lu Yanhui
Published: April 2023

In Xinjiang’s cotton growing area of China, previous studies have shown that matrine is a selective botanical insecticide, with high toxicity to Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and low toxicity to its dominant natural enemy, Hippodamia variegata Goeze (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). However, lethal effects alone are not sufficient evidence to justify introducing matrine into local IPM strategies. In this context, we systematically evaluated the safety of matrine to H. variegata by investigating the effects of contact and stomach toxicity of matrine on the lady beetle’s life-table parameters, predatory ability, flight ability of parental adults, and cross-generational effects on life-table parameters of the predator’s offspring. We found that matrine at 2,000 mg/l did not have any significant negative effects to adult fecundity, longevity, or the predatory capacity of parental adults of H. variegata. Moreover, it is the same for cross-generational effects of matrine on H. variegate. The contact toxicity of matrine significantly reduced the flight time of H. variegata males, but did not significantly affect flight time and average velocity. Our results support the view that matrine is safe to H. variegata and can be recommended for use in the local IPM strategy for control of A. gossipii.