bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical modeling of a self-propelled dolphin jump out of water
Authors: Bergmann Michel
Published: September 2022

A computational model is developed to investigate the jump of a self-propelled dolphin out of water. This model relies on the Navier–Stokes equations, where a fictitious domain approach with the volume penalization method is used for fluid-structure coupling, and the continuous surface force approach is used to model the water–air interface, the latter being tracked in a level-set framework. The dolphin's geometry is based on freely available data from the literature. While body deformation is imposed, the leading linear and angular displacements are computed from Newton’s laws. Numerical simulations show that it is necessary to generate large propulsives forces to allow the jump out of water. When the dolphin is out of water, its trajectory follows a purely ballistic one.
Characteristics of human thermal stress in South Asia during 1981–2019
Authors: Ullah Safi , You Qinglong , Wang Guojie , Ullah Waheed , Sachindra D A , Yan Yechao , Bhatti Asher Samuel , Abbas Adnan , Jan Mushtaq Ahmad
Published: September 2022

Climate change has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of human thermal stress, with relatively more severe impacts than those of pure temperature extremes. Despite its major threats to public health, limited studies have assessed spatiotemporal changes in human thermal stress in densely populated regions, like South Asia (SAS). The present study assessed spatiotemporal changes in human thermal stress characteristics in SAS, based on daily minimum, maximum, and mean Universal Thermal Climate Indices (i.e. UTCImin, UTCImax, and UTCImean) using the newly developed high-spatial-resolution database of the thermal-stress Indices over South and East Asia for the period 1981–2019. This study is the first of its kind to assess spatiotemporal changes in UTCI indices over the whole of SAS. The study also carried out extreme events analysis of the UTCI indices and explored their nexus with El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) index. Results revealed a significant increase in heat stress in SAS, with the highest human thermal stress in western Afghanistan, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and southeastern, and central parts. The extreme event analysis showed that the study region is likely to observe more frequent and intense heat extremes in the coming decades. The correlation of UTCI indices with ENSO exhibited a robust positive coherence in southeastern and central India, southern Pakistan, and northwestern Afghanistan. The findings of the study are critical in understanding human thermal stress and adopting effective risk reduction strategies against heat extremes in SAS. To better understand the dynamic mechanism of thermal extremes, the study recommends a detailed investigation of the underlying drivers of UTCI variability in SAS.
Are vegetation influences on Arctic–boreal snow melt rates detectable across the Northern Hemisphere?
Authors: Kropp Heather , Loranty Michael M , Rutter Nick , Fletcher Christopher G , Derksen Chris , Mudryk Lawrence , Todt Markus
Published: September 2022

The timing and rate of northern high latitude spring snowmelt plays a critical role in surface albedo, hydrology, and soil carbon cycling. Ongoing changes in the abundance and distribution of trees and shrubs in tundra and boreal ecosystems can alter snowmelt via canopy impacts on surface energy partitioning. It is unclear whether vegetation-related processes observed at the ecosystem scale influence snowmelt patterns at regional or continental scales. We examined the influence of vegetation cover on snowmelt across the boreal and Arctic region across a ten-year reference period (2000–2009) using a blended snow water equivalent (SWE) data product and gridded estimates of surface temperature, tree cover, and land cover characterized by the dominant plant functional type. Snow melt rates were highest in locations with a late onset of melt, higher temperatures during the melt period, and higher maximum SWE before the onset of melt. After controlling for temperature, melt onset, and the maximum SWE, we found snow melt rates were highest in evergreen needleleaf forest, mixed boreal forest, and herbaceous tundra compared to deciduous needleleaf forest and deciduous shrub tundra. Tree canopy cover had little effect on snowmelt rate within each land cover type. While accounting for the influence of vegetative land cover type is necessary for predictive understanding of snowmelt rate variability across the Arctic–Boreal region. The relationships differed from observations at the ecosystem and catchment scales in other studies. Thus highlighting the importance of spatial scale in identifying snow-vegetation relationships.
Increased forest coverage will induce more carbon fixation in vegetation than in soil during 2015–2060 in China based on CMIP6
Authors: Zhang Mengyu , He Honglin , Zhang Li , Ren Xiaoli , Wu Xiaojing , Qin Keyu , Lv Yan , Chang Qingqing , Xu Qian , Liu Weihua , Feng LiLi
Published: September 2022

As components of terrestrial carbon sinks, vegetation and soil carbon pools are important for offsetting CO2 emissions. However, differences in their carbon sequestration capacities and their responses to global change in the future are poorly understood. This study assessed the changes in vegetation and soil carbon and their ratios and drivers under the SSP126 scenario from 2015 to 2060, using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 simulations in China, a major carbon sink region in global terrestrial ecosystems. The content of vegetation carbon (29 ± 1 PgC) was observed to be lower than that of soil carbon (113 ± 23 PgC), and the ratio of vegetation to soil carbon was the highest in the subtropical-tropical monsoon climatic region (0.55 ± 0.12). Moreover, the total stock of vegetation and soil carbon increased by 10 ± 1 PgC during the study period, and the increase in vegetation carbon was 4.31 times that of soil carbon, because the responses of vegetation carbon stocks to increased forest coverage and atmospheric CO2 were greater than that of soil carbon stocks, especially in the subtropical-tropical and temperate monsoonal climatic regions. However, bare land encroachment on grasslands reduced their increments in the temperate monsoonal and high-cold Tibetan Plateau climatic regions. Furthermore, compared with SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, vegetation and soil carbon sinks can offset a greater amount of carbon emissions in 2060 under the SSP126 scenario, accounting for 53% of all carbon emissions, offsetting 60%–79% of carbon emissions from China under its policy of increasing forest coverage. The study revealed the important role of afforestation in increasing ecosystem carbon stocks, additionally, grassland conservation and deep reductions in carbon emissions cannot be ignored in the future. This study provides a basis for determining the response of vegetation and soil carbon to environmental factors and the realization of net-zero emissions globally.
Critical method needs in measuring greenhouse gas fluxes
Authors: Bastviken David , Wilk Julie , Duc Nguyen Thanh , Gålfalk Magnus , Karlson Martin , Neset Tina-Simone , Opach Tomasz , Enrich-Prast Alex , Sundgren Ingrid
Published: September 2022

Reaching climate goals depends on appropriate and accurate methods to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes and to verify that efforts to mitigate GHG emissions are effective. We here highlight critical advantages, limitations, and needs regarding GHG flux measurement methods, identified from an analysis of >13 500 scientific publications regarding three long-lived GHGs, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). While existing methods are well-suited for assessing atmospheric changes and local fluxes, they are expensive and have limited accessibility. Further, we are typically forced to choose between methods for very local GHG sources and sinks and their regulation (m2-scaled measurements), or methods for aggregated net fluxes at >ha or km2 scales measurements. The results highlight the key need of accessible and affordable GHG flux measurement methods for the many flux types not quantifiable from fossil fuel use, to better verify inventories and mitigation efforts for transparency and accountability under the Paris agreement. The situation also calls for novel methods, capable of quantifying large scale GHG flux patterns while simultaneously distinguishing local source and sink dynamics and reveal flux regulation, representing key knowledge for quantitative GHG flux modeling. Possible strategies to address the identified GHG flux measurement method needs are discussed. The analysis also generated indications of how GHG flux measurements have been distributed geographically and across flux types, which are reported.
From noncommutative geometry to random matrix theory
Authors: Hessam Hamed , Khalkhali Masoud , Pagliaroli Nathan , Verhoeven Luuk S
Published: September 2022

We review recent progress in the analytic study of random matrix models suggested by noncommutative geometry. One considers fuzzy spectral triples where the space of possible Dirac operators is assigned a probability distribution. These ensembles of Dirac operators are constructed as toy models of Euclidean quantum gravity on finite noncommutative spaces and display many interesting properties. The ensembles exhibit spectral phase transitions, and near these phase transitions they show manifold-like behavior. In certain cases one can recover Liouville quantum gravity in the double scaling limit. We highlight examples where bootstrap techniques, Coulomb gas methods, and Topological Recursion are applicable.
Nonlinear dynamics of an epidemic compartment model with asymptomatic infections and mitigation
Authors: Görtz Maurice , Krug Joachim
Published: September 2022

A significant proportion of the infections driving the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic are transmitted asymptomatically. Here we introduce and study a simple epidemic model with separate compartments comprising asymptomatic and symptomatic infected individuals. The linear dynamics determining the outbreak condition of the model is equivalent to a renewal theory approach with exponential waiting time distributions. Exploiting a nontrivial conservation law of the full nonlinear dynamics, we derive analytic bounds on the peak number of infections in the absence and presence of mitigation through isolation and testing. The bounds are compared to numerical solutions of the differential equations.
Criticism of the organoleptic examination for the diagnosis of oral halitosis
Authors: Aydin Murat
Published: September 2022

Due to the fact that only a human can judge the objectionability of an odor, organoleptic examination (sniffing and scoring oral odor) was used as a reference standard of oral halitosis measurement. However, there are several problems that make the diagnostic value of organoleptic examination questionable. There is no universally accepted, precise definition, standardization or calibration in organoleptic examination, including scoring, scaling or safety protocols. Standardization, calibration, reproducibility, reliability, objectivity, specificity, accuracy and sensitivity of organoleptic measurements are doubtful. It is extremely subjective, emotional, instinctive, intuitive, speculative, hedonic and highly flexible. In addition, it is found to be repulsive, primitive and moreover even shame is experienced by patients and examiners. Non-standard protocols on pre-measurement, scoring, scaling, and training processes may cause misinterpretation or misdiagnosis since it depends on the examiner’s emotional mood, gender, ethnicity, odor detection spectrum, threshold and even climatic conditions. It is not the gold standard, and not even considered standard. It is difficult to recognize, identify or focus on a particular gas among thousands in the breath. Organoleptic examination may not be necessary due to it not being a good diagnostic tool for halitosis. There may be an infection risk for sniffers or patients. Moreover, female examiners may have disadvantages in olfactory accuracy during organoleptic examination since menstruation, pregnancy and menopause may alter their odor sensation. In addition, age limits the reliability of examiners due to age-related smell loss. According to the psychophysics laws, the human nose can recognize odors logarithmically. There is no reason to think that scoring the oral malodor by sniffing the mouth of the patients obtains sufficient evidence for the diagnosis of halitosis. Portable multi-gas detectors and electronic noses, can be suggested as an alternative instead of sniffing patients. This is the first paper in the literature to criticize organoleptic examination, revalue its health risks and inconsistencies in assessment protocols.
Secured Optimal Path to Identify the Networking Model using Cold Chain Logistics in Hospital Environment
Authors: Vijaiprabhu G. , Pandia Rajammal P. , Rema Devi S. , Karthika P.
Published: September 2022

Logistics refers to moving commodities from one location to another, typically from a manufacturing facility to a client. A logistics network is a collection of activities that include product creation, production, and distribution. Chain of custody Logistics are items that must be carried chilled from the manufacturing facility to the customer. Because of work with logistics networks, a secure networking model is required. This post will look at an intelligent secured networking model for determining the best route for cold chain logistics to a hospital setting. The best and shortest path between points A and B is found using the optimal pathfinder. It also takes traffic and transportation costs into account. Medicines and vaccines that must store at a specific temperature are part of the cold chain logistics for the hospital environment. As a result, path optimization is more important in cold chain logistics than in other types of logistics in the hospital environment. The Bee-Ant Optimization Algorithm (BAOA) is proposed in this study to perform intelligent transportation to a healthcare setting. The suggested approach is compared to the Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Bee Colony Optimization (BCO), and Neural Network Model algorithms already in use. According to the data, the proposed algorithm has a 98.83% accuracy rate for delivering logistics to the hospital environment.
The global landscape of approved antibody therapies
Authors: Lyu Xiaochen , Zhao Qichao , Hui Julia , Wang Tiffany , Lin Mengyi , Wang Keying , Zhang Jialing , Shentu Jiaqian , Dalby Paul A , Zhang Hongyu , Liu Bo
Published: September 2022

Antibody therapies have become an important class of therapeutics in recent years as they have exhibited outstanding efficacy and safety in the treatment of several major diseases including cancers, immune-related diseases, infectious disease and hematological disease. There has been significant progress in the global research and development landscape of antibody therapies in the past decade. In this review, we have collected available data from the Umabs Antibody Therapies Database (Umabs-DB, https://umabs.com) as of 30 June 2022. The Umabs-DB shows that 162 antibody therapies have been approved by at least one regulatory agency in the world, including 122 approvals in the US, followed by 114 in Europe, 82 in Japan and 73 in China, whereas biosimilar, diagnostic and veterinary antibodies are not included in our statistics. Although the US and Europe have been at the leading position for decades, rapid advancement has been witnessed in Japan and China in the past decade. The approved antibody therapies include 115 canonical antibodies, 14 antibody-drug conjugates, 7 bispecific antibodies, 8 antibody fragments, 3 radiolabeled antibodies, 1 antibody-conjugate immunotoxin, 2 immunoconjugates and 12 Fc-Fusion proteins. They have been developed against 91 drug targets, of which PD-1 is the most popular, with 14 approved antibody-based blockades for cancer treatment in the world. This review outlined the global landscape of the approved antibody therapies with respect to the regulation agencies, therapeutic targets and indications, aiming to provide an insight into the trends of the global development of antibody therapies.
Constitutional Design and the Point of Constitutional Law
Authors: Casey Conor
Published: September 2022

This essay offers an account of the diverse range of rich insights Professor Finnis’s work offers for several perennial questions of constitutional theory: such as what valuable moral ends constitutional law serves, how best to approach the design of constitutional arrangements and institutions, and how to best approach constitutional interpretation. I proceed in four parts. The first two parts begin by looking at Finnis’s treatment of the purpose of law as a social practice and then, more specifically, the point or purpose of channeling political power through constitutional law. Having outlined the point or purpose of constitutional law and constitutional institutions, I then probe what Finnis has to say about questions of constitutional design. Finally, I give an account of how Finnis’s work approaches constitutional interpretation.
Caution on Using Tetrahydrofuran for Processing Crystalline Silica Samples From Engineered Stone for XRD Analysis
Authors: Qi Chaolong , Thompson Drew , Amy Feng H
Published: September 2022

We conducted laboratory experiments to investigate a suspected effect of tetrahydrofuran (THF) on quantifying crystalline silica in samples collected from working with engineered stone when THF is used to process samples prior to the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Two groups of samples from grinding either engineered stone or granite were simultaneously taken from a laboratory testing system, with one group of samples using THF for processing and another group using muffle furnace for ashing. For each stone type, we also tested four levels of respirable dust loading on the samples by varying the grinding time from 1 to 8 min. Statistical analysis of the experimental results on crystalline silica contents of the two groups of samples showed that the difference between the two methods was not significant (P ≥ 0.05) for the granite at all four levels of respirable dust loading and for the engineered stone at the two levels of respirable dust loading greater than 0.5 mg. However, the crystalline silica content from using THF processing was significantly lower (P = 0.001) than that from using muffle furnace ashing for engineered stone when the respirable dust loading levels were less than 0.5 mg. For the engineered stone dust samples with grinding times of 1 and 2 min, the average respirable dust loading was about 0.19 and 0.34 mg, respectively; while the crystalline silica content from using THF processing was 30.9 and 21.5% lower than that from using muffle furnace ashing, respectively. Since most full-shift samples from field assessments in this industry are expected to have respirable dust loading less than 0.5 mg, muffle furnace or radio frequency plasma ashing should be specified as the preferred sample processing method instead of the THF processing method for quantification of crystalline silica when engineered stone is expected to present to avoid artificially reduced silica content values, which are likely caused by the reactions between THF and the resins in engineered stone.
Enhancing Deep-Learning Based Side-Channel Analysis Through Simultaneously Multi-Byte Training
Authors: Jin Chengbin , Zhou Yongbin
Published: September 2022

Preparing a large number of physical traces is an important first step in Side-Channel Analysis, especially in Deep-Learning based Side-Channel Analysis (DL-SCA). With sufficient training data and a proper modeling algorithm, the secret key of cryptographic devices can be successfully recovered with a small number of attacking data. However, in reality, it may be impossible or difficult, in some threat models, to collect sufficient data due to various resource constraints. In this case, the performance of DL-SCA will be severely decreased. In this work, we propose an easy-to-implement method to achieve an efficient DL-SCA with a small number of training data in the scenario of software-based cryptographic implementations. Our simultaneously multi-byte training method, which trains the model with side-channel leakage characteristics of different byte intermediate values, significantly enhances the robustness and performance of DL-SCA. The simulated experiment shows that our method achieves more robust profiling. The success rate of recovering a secret AES key can be improved by 250% with the same collected data. The results of attacking real-world COTS USIM cards are consistent with the ones of simulation-based counterparts. Compared with state-of-the-art data-augmentation techniques, our results show that the proposed method can achieve the same or even better performance without additional generated training data.
Infants’ Use of Iconicity in the Early Periods of Sign/Spoken Word-Learning
Authors: Fuks Orit
Published: September 2022

The aim of this research was to analyze the use of iconicity during language acquisition of Israeli Sign language and spoken Hebrew. Two bilingual-bimodal infants were observed in a longitudinal study between the ages of 10–26 months. I analyzed infants’ production of iconic words, signs, and gestures. The results showed that infants’ use of vocal iconicity reached its peak between the ages of 16–20 months. The proportion of imagic iconic signs in the infants’ lexicon was also high during that period. In contrast, the infants’ use of iconic gestures gradually increased during the study period, as well as their co-production with lexical items. The results suggest that infants’ use of lexical and gestural iconicity scaffold the learning of novel labels and fill the gap in their expressive repertoire. It was concluded that teachers/therapists should use iconicity and encourage their students to use it in pedagogical settings.
Factors associated with an unsuccessful fast-track course following minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair
Authors: Van Praet Karel M , Kofler Markus , Hirsch Solveig , Akansel Serdar , Hommel Matthias , Sündermann Simon H , Meyer Alexander , Jacobs Stephan , Falk Volkmar , Kempfert Jörg
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVES

Analyses of fast-track (FT) processes demonstrated that low-risk cardiac surgical patients require minimal intensive care, with a low incidence of mortality or morbidity. We investigated perioperative factors and their association with fast-track failure (FTF) in a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve surgery.

METHODS

Patients undergoing minimally invasive surgical mitral valve repair for Carpentier type I or type II mitral regurgitation between 2014 and 2020 were included in the study. The definition of FTF consisted of >10 h mechanical ventilation, >24 h intensive care unit stay, reintubation after extubation and re-admission to the intensive care unit. Multivariable logistic regression analysis enabled the identification of factors associated with FTF.

RESULTS

In total, 491 patients were included in the study and were analysed. Two hundred and thirty-seven patients (48.3%) failed the FT protocol. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a New York Heart Association classification ≥III [odds ratio (OR) 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38–3.08; P < 0.001], pre-existing chronic kidney disease (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.14–3.70; P = 0.018), coronary artery disease (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.13–3.23; P = 0.016), postoperative bleeding requiring surgical revision (OR 8.36; 95% CI 2.81–36.01; P < 0.001) and procedure time (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.01–1.01; P < 0.001) were independently associated with FTF.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with FTF in patients with Carpentier type I and II pathologies undergoing minimally invasive mitral valve repair are a New York Heart Association classification III–IV at baseline, pre-existing chronic kidney disease and coronary artery disease. Postoperative bleeding requiring rethoracotomy and procedure time were also identified as important factors associated with failed FT.
Phenotype microarray analysis reveals the biotransformation of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici influenced by Bacillus subtilis PBE-8 metabolites
Authors: Mishra Aradhana , Bhattacharya Arpita , Chauhan Priyanka , Pandey Shipra , Dwivedi Ashish
Published: September 2022

Herein, Bacillus subtilis PBE-8′s biocontrol efficacy was evaluated through physiological and metabolic approaches against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL). The study elaborates on PBE-8′s cell-free filtrate (CFF) antifungal activity through mycelial growth inhibition, metabolite profiling, and substrates utilization patterns. Additionally, under different CFF concentrations, reduction in spore count (94%–55%), biomass (50%), and cytoplasmic bulbous protrusions in mycelia were also observed. Furthermore, the effect of bacterial CFF on FOL metabolism was confirmed through GC-MS. CFF suppresses the concentration of aliphatic amino acids like L-valine, L-leucine, L-Isoleucine, glycine, and fatty acids such as linoleic acid and α- linolenic acid during the co-culturing conditions, which are essential for pathogenicity and resistance against host's systemic acquired resistance. The phenotype microarray assay revealed that CFF-treated FOL shows phenotype loss in 507 (56.58%) out of 896 substrates. Among 507, twenty-seven substrates showed significant phenotype loss, among which four substrates such as L-glutamic acid, L-glutamine, ammonia, and L-arginine are common in different crucial metabolic pathways of FOL, like alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, arginine and proline, carbon metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism, amino-acyl tRNA synthesis, and biosynthesis of amino acids. The results suggest that PBE-8 CFF has certain antifungal metabolites that hinder the fungal metabolic pathways.
Impact of environmental conditions and gut microbiota on the in vitro germination and growth of Clostridioides difficile
Authors: Martinez Elisa , Rodriguez Cristina , Crèvecoeur Sébastien , Lebrun Sarah , Delcenserie Véronique , Taminiau Bernard , Daube Georges
Published: September 2022

Clostridioides difficile is a spore-forming anaerobic Gram-positive bacterium responsible for a broad spectrum of intestinal symptoms and healthcare-associated diarrhoea. The hypothesis of this work was that different in vitro conditions, notably pH and human faecal microbiota composition, impact the germination and/or the growth of C. difficile. This study aimed to correlate growth kinetics of the bacterium with these two physiochemical parameters by using a static in vitro model. To better understand the initial gut colonisation, several growth curve assays were carried out to monitor the behaviour of the spores and vegetative forms of C. difficile strain 078 under different conditions mimicking the gut environment. When the faeces were added, no spore germination or growth was observed, but C. difficile spores germinated in vitro when the pH was maintained between 6.6 and 6.9 for four different faeces donors. The evolution of microbiota studied by 16S rDNA profiling showed high proportions of Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli/Shigella when C. difficile grew, regardless of the inoculated faeces. This model helped us to understand that the germination and growth of C. difficile are strongly pH dependent, and further research is needed to evaluate the potential impact of the gut microbiota composition on C. difficile.
Effects of different carbon sources on the oxidative stress tolerance of Aspergillus niger HY2 isolated from spoiled paddies
Authors: Tan Song , Xu Yuancheng , Wu Hongying , Niu Ajuan , Yin Xiaoyu , Wang Guangyu , Qiu Weifen
Published: September 2022

Fungi often experience oxidative stress in response to the environment during growth. In this study, Aspergillus niger HY2, whose presence easily results in paddy mildew, was used to investigate the effects of different carbon sources on morphological development, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolites, and antioxidant enzymes activities. Morphological development mainly includes the changes in conidial production and colony diameter. ROS metabolites production include the content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion (O2·−), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results indicated that A. niger HY2 adapted to H2O2 exposure by decreasing growth and increasing the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Different carbon sources also affected the expression of the developmental-specific gene flbA and the oxidative stress tolerance-related gene cat. When incubated with glucose, sucrose, and xylose as carbon sources, A. niger exhibited stronger oxidative stress tolerance, but when incubated with maltose as a carbon source, A. niger exhibited relatively poor oxidative stress tolerance. Our results can provide a theoretical basis for further understanding mechanisms of metabolic adaptation and developing targeted strategies to control the spoilage caused by A. niger.
VvSUN may act in the auxin pathway to regulate fruit shape in grape
Authors: Zheng Huan , Dong Yang , Nong Huilan , Huang Liyuan , Liu Jing , Yu Xin , Zhang Yaguan , Yang Lina , Hong Ben , Wang Wu , Tao Jianmin
Published: September 2022

Fruit shape is an essential agronomic feature in many crops. We identified and functionally characterized an auxin pathway-related gene, VvSUN. VvSUN, which belongs to the SUN/IQ67-DOMAIN (IQD) family, localizes to the plasma membrane and chloroplast and may be involved in controlling fruit shape through auxin. It is highly expressed in the ovary, and the expression level 1 week before the anthesis stage is positively correlated with the fruit shape index. Functional analyses illustrated that VvSUN gene overexpression in tomato and tobacco plants changed fruit/pod shape. The VvSUN promoter directly bound to VvARF6 in yeast and activated ß-glucuronidase (GUS) activity by indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) treatments in grapevine leaves, indicating that VvSUN functions are in coordination with auxin. Further analysis of 35S::VvSUN transgenic tomato ovaries showed that the fruit shape changes caused by VvSUN were predominantly caused by variations in cell number in longitudinal directions by regulating endogenous auxin levels via polar transport and/or auxin signal transduction process variations. Moreover, enrichment of the 35S::VvSUN transgenic tomato differentially expressed genes was found in a variety of biological processes, including primary metabolic process, transmembrane transport, calcium ion binding, cytoskeletal protein binding, tubulin binding, and microtubule-based movement. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we confirmed that this plant hormone signal transduction may play a crucial role in controlling fruit shape. As a consequence, it is possible that VvSUN acts as a hub gene, altering cellular auxin levels and the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, which plays a role in cell division patterns, leading to anisotropic growth of the ovary and, ultimately, an elongated fruit shape.
Size-Dependent Scaling of Stingless Bee Flight Metabolism Reveals an Energetic Benefit to Small Body Size
Authors: Duell Meghan E , Klok C Jaco , Roubik David W , Harrison Jon F
Published: September 2022

Synopsis

Understanding the effect of body size on flight costs is critical for the development of models of aerodynamics and animal energetics. Prior scaling studies that have shown that flight costs scale hypometrically have focused primarily on larger (>100 mg) insects and birds, but most flying species are smaller. We studied the flight physiology of 13 stingless bee species over a large range of body sizes (1–115 mg). Metabolic rate during hovering scaled hypermetrically (scaling slope = 2.11). Larger bees had warm thoraxes, while small bees were nearly ecothermic; however, even controlling for body temperature variation, flight metabolic rate scaled hypermetrically across this clade. Despite having a lower mass-specific metabolic rate during flight, smaller bees could carry the same proportional load. Wingbeat frequency did not vary with body size, in contrast to most studies that find wingbeat frequency increases as body size decreases. Smaller stingless bees have a greater relative forewing surface area, which may help them reduce the energy requirements needed to fly. Further, we hypothesize that the relatively larger heads of smaller species may change their body pitch in flight. Synthesizing across all flying insects, we demonstrate that the scaling of flight metabolic rate changes from hypermetric to hypometric at ∼58 mg body mass with hypermetic scaling below (slope = 1.2) and hypometric scaling (slope = 0.67) >58 mg in body mass. The reduced cost of flight likely provides selective advantages for the evolution of small body size in insects. The biphasic scaling of flight metabolic rates and wingbeat frequencies in insects supports the hypothesis that the scaling of metabolic rate is closely related to the power requirements of locomotion and cycle frequencies.
Relationship between Plasma Zinc and Red Blood Cell Zinc Levels in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Rodic Stefan , McCudden Christopher , van Walraven Carl
Published: September 2022

Background

Patient zinc stores are quantified with plasma or red blood cell (RBC) measures. The relationship between these 2 measures of zinc status has not been determined in a broad population of hospitalized patients.

Methods

Both plasma zinc and RBC zinc were prospectively collected and measured in 252 consenting patients admitted urgently to hospital. Plasma and RBC zinc levels were measured within 48 h of admission. We collected demographic, vitals, and laboratory data for use in multivariate regression models that included markers of acute disease severity and systemic inflammation.

Results

Plasma zinc and RBC zinc levels were low in 63% and 10% of hospitalized patients, respectively. Categorized zinc levels based on normal intervals for plasma and RBC zinc values were not related (χ2 0.47 [2 df] P = 0.79). The Pearson correlation coefficient between plasma zinc and RBC zinc was −0.09 (P = 0.15). After adjustments for multiple clinical covariates, the correlation coefficient remained insignificant (r = −0.11, P = 0.08). Plasma zinc was inversely associated with markers of inflammation including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and temperature.

Conclusions

Patient-specific plasma and RBC zinc are unrelated in hospitalized patients, possibly due to decreased values with acute illness seen in the former but not the latter. Future studies are required to determine which of these measures best predicts outcomes in hospitalized patients.
Bureaucrats and Policies in Equilibrium Administrations
Authors: Forand Jean Guillaume , Ujhelyi Gergely , Ting Michael M
Published: September 2022

We develop a model of policy making with an endogenous bureaucracy. Parties choose platforms and ideologically differentiated citizens decide whether to enter the public sector, anticipating the platforms that they may be asked to implement. Bureaucrats prefer to work on policies closer to their ideal, and voters judge the performance of an administration taking both politicians’ and bureaucrats’ actions into account. The model provides an equilibrium framework to study the emergence of partisan or neutral bureaucracies and their consequences for government performance. It shows how bureaucratic partisanship can develop in modern civil service systems; why political polarization and bureaucratic partisanship reinforce each other; why bureaucratic neutrality is associated with competitive elections; and why partisanship lowers government efficiency and increases output fluctuations. Our results yield a number of policy implications regarding political appointments, public sector wages, seniority benefits, and recruiting measures that raise the intrinsic motivation of bureaucrats.
Ecological Predictors of Zoonotic Vector Status Among Dermacentor Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): A Trait-Based Approach
Authors: Martin Jessica T , Fischhoff Ilya R , Castellanos Adrian A , Han Barbara A
Published: September 2022

Increasing incidence of tick-borne human diseases and geographic range expansion of tick vectors elevates the importance of research on characteristics of tick species that transmit pathogens. Despite their global distribution and role as vectors of pathogens such as Rickettsia spp., ticks in the genus Dermacentor Koch, 1844 (Acari: Ixodidae) have recently received less attention than ticks in the genus Ixodes Latreille, 1795 (Acari: Ixodidae). To address this knowledge gap, we compiled an extensive database of Dermacentor tick traits, including morphological characteristics, host range, and geographic distribution. Zoonotic vector status was determined by compiling information about zoonotic pathogens found in Dermacentor species derived from primary literature and data repositories. We trained a machine learning algorithm on this data set to assess which traits were the most important predictors of zoonotic vector status. Our model successfully classified vector species with ~84% accuracy (mean AUC) and identified two additional Dermacentor species as potential zoonotic vectors. Our results suggest that Dermacentor species that are most likely to be zoonotic vectors are broad ranging, both in terms of the range of hosts they infest and the range of ecoregions across which they are found, and also tend to have large hypostomes and be small-bodied as immature ticks. Beyond the patterns we observed, high spatial and species-level resolution of this new, synthetic dataset has the potential to support future analyses of public health relevance, including species distribution modeling and predictive analytics, to draw attention to emerging or newly identified Dermacentor species that warrant closer monitoring for zoonotic pathogens.
Extended surgical resection for nonfunctioning duodenal neuroendocrine tumor
Authors: Lucandri Giorgio , Fiori Giulia , Lucchese Sara , Pende Vito , Farina Massimo , Giordano Marco , Santoro Emanuele
Published: September 2022

Duodenal neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) account for <3% of all gastrointestinal NET. Most lesions are small-sized and are located in the first or second duodenal part. Tumoral grading, evaluated by Ki67 index, strongly influences patient’s outcome. Endoscopic resection is recommended for lesions measuring <2 cm, while pancreaticoduodenectomy should be the treatment of choice for large duodenal NET; Whipple procedure should be preferred in case of duodenal origin and contiguity with gastric antrum. Involvement of surrounding structures, as well as the presence of resectable liver metastases, does not contraindicate surgical resection. Herein we report a case of a 68-year-old male, presenting with an extensive mass of the descending pre-ampullary duodenal part, with involvement of the right colon and the presence of a pericholecystic single liver metastasis. In spite of such advanced disease, surgery on the patient was successful, with an uneventful postoperative outcome.
A Universal Travel Risk Assessment Questionnaire: Travel Assessment During COVID-19 Pandemic and Endemicity
Authors: Mothershead Jerry L , Dembek Zygmunt F , Hadeed Steven J , Schwartz-Watjen Kierstyn T , Broadway Katherine M , Tigabu Bersabeh , Woodards Ashley J , Owens Akeisha N , Chekol Tesema , Wu Aiguo
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Throughout the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, military commanders have been challenged with providing appropriate travel guidance for their military and civilian personnel and dependents. This guidance, where promulgated, lacks uniformity. Travel aids and computer applications similarly differ and are not updated as often as jurisdictional travel health guidance is changed. Given the ever-evolving Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants with differing degrees of infectivity, COVID-19 travel guidance will remain relevant for military travelers during the transition from pandemic to endemic phases and for the foreseeable future.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed all germane travel guidance promulgated by the U.S, Department of Defense; the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and other federal, state, and international agencies. From these materials, we identified and delineated applicable universal components for COVID-19 travel risk and created a universal Travel Risk Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ).

Results

We present a universal TRAQ that identifies and allows for a graded most-appropriate response to known travel risk assessment factors including travel restrictions, travel mode, travel time, travel party size, trip duration, COVID-19 incidence rate at travel destination, lodging, planned activities, personal interaction level, vaccination coverage at destination, travel location, traveler’s vaccination status, previous COVID-19 infection, mask wear compliance, mask type, and work environment, along with additional considerations and post-travel COVID-19 questions. We provide examples of the use of this questionnaire that describe low, medium, and high risk to the traveler for contracting COVID-19.

Conclusion

Our TRAQ provides an easy-to-use format that can enable military, business, or personal travelers to more completely assess their likelihood of COVID-19 exposure and help them to reduce their potential for contracting COVID-19 during travel and subsequently transmitting it to others upon return. It should help commanders and traveling personnel to better assess COVID-19 travel risks through application of known travel risk factors.
Diamonds That on Rocks Do Grow
Authors: McKendry Scott
Published: September 2022

This chapter explores the contexts and subtexts of a single anonymous nineteenth-century ballad. Set among the hills overlooking the town, ‘Belfast Mountains’ was revised and republished by a host of English and Scottish printers throughout the late-Georgian era. Although, on the face of it, the song tells a maudlin tale of a ‘maid’ and her ‘inconstant’ lover, close analyses of its many editions—engaging with political concerns around commoditization, language standardization, gender, and the Irish nation—reveal a subtle but potent set of historical undercurrents. In demonstrating how its lyrics subtly retain memories from the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and converse with the wider colonial history of the region, this chapter makes the case that this Belfast song be regarded as an invaluable artefact.
Relationships Between Types of Protective Eyewear and Eye Lens Dose Within Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
Authors: Nakajima Erika , Sato Hitoshi
Published: September 2022

In this study, variations in eye lens dose across different types of protective operator eyewear as well as the most appropriate protective methods when conducting endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography were evaluated. The eye lens doses of 10 types of commercially available protective eyewear were compared. The ratio of the measured value near the eye to the measured value at the eye lens position ranged from 0.65 to 5.40 and it varied according to the mounting position of the dosemeter as well as the type of protective eyewear. Thus, the eye lens dose may have been overestimated or underestimated. Regardless of the working conditions, a face shield type of protective eyewear is recommended to reduce the eye lens dose. Moreover, it is preferable to attach a lens dosemeter near the eye to measure and evaluate the eye lens dose.
Abstract 29 Unprecedented Experience of Cord Blood Banking in Ukraine During Russian Invasion in 2022
Authors: Makhinia Andrii , Nasadiuk Khrystyna , Martynenko Serhii
Published: September 2022

Introduction

On February 24, 2022, Russia started the unprovoked and unjustified attack on the entire territory of Ukraine. Besides tremendous human losses, the war caused the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Approximately 7 million people fled the country; women, some pregnant, and children made 90% of them. Cord blood (CB) banking appeared to be an industry especially sensitive to these unprecedented conditions.

Objective

The objective of this study was to analyze the experience of CB banking in Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.

Methods

Thematic analysis was performed.

Results

Despite the scarce number of hematopoietic stem cell (SC) transplants for blood malignancies performed there, Ukraine has been a country with a developed regenerative medicine program, with dozens of clinical trials applying perinatal tissues SC. Access to SC therapy was one of the main purposes of medical tourists in Ukraine. The Ukraine’s first CB bank launched in 2003 at the Institute of Cell Therapy LLC and was the main supplier of cell and tissue products to state medical institutions in the country. Thus, the consequences of war, such as disrupted logistics (24,000 km of roads and 300 bridges were destroyed during the first 100 days), ruination of hospitals including maternity clinics (almost 700 health facilities were damaged as of June 9, 2022), lack of human staff (men were mobilized for army and women fled the country), and lack of petroleum, made the successful implementation of contracts on CB storage and SC therapy for both Ukrainian and foreign patients sometimes impossible. The lack of liquid nitrogen experienced during the beginning of the war endangered at least 40,000 CB samples stored at Ukrainian CB banks, as well as biological material at fertility clinics.

Discussion

The unprecedented experience of CB bank operation during the war showed that, for safety reasons, CB banking facilities should be located distantly from strategic objects (eg, railways, airports, and military bases), and should have significant reserve storages of liquid nitrogen, generation reserves, bomb shelter. However, having dedicated personnel was the most important factor allowing for the enterprise functioning in force-majeure events.
CircRNA High Mobility Group At-hook 2 regulates cell proliferation, metastasis and glycolytic metabolism of nonsmall cell lung cancer by targeting miR-331-3p to upregulate High Mobility Group At-hook 2
Authors: Li Shenke , Zhao Jun , Wen Song , Li Min , Yu Faming , Wang Wenhui , Shao Huamin , Jiang Dongliang
Published: September 2022

Increasing circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as pivotal players in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study will explore the function and mechanism of circRNA High Mobility Group AT-hook 2 (circHMGA2) in NSCLC. The circHMGA2, microRNA-331-3p (miR-331-3p) and HMGA2 expression analyses were performed via quantitative real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed via Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays. Transwell migration/invasion assays were used for measuring cell metastasis. Glucose consumption and lactate production were determined for glycolytic evaluation. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of HMGA2 and glycolytic markers. Target analysis was performed by dual-luciferase reporter, RNA immunoprecipitation and RNA pull-down assays. Xenograft tumor assay in mice was conducted for the investigation of circHMGA2 in vivo. CircHMGA2 was overexpressed in NSCLC, and high circHMGA2 level might be related to NSCLC metastasis and poor prognosis. In-vitro assays suggested that NSCLC cell growth, metastasis and glycolysis were retarded by downregulation of circHMGA2. Upregulation of HMGA2 was shown to return the anticancer response of circHMGA2 knockdown in NSCLC cells. Through interacting with miR-331-3p, circHMGA2 could regulate the expression of HMGA2. In addition, circHMGA2/miR-331-3p and miR-331-3p/HMGA2 axes were affirmed in NSCLC regulation. In-vivo analysis indicated that circHMGA2 inhibition also reduced tumorigenesis and glycolysis of NSCLC via the miR-331-3p/HMGA2 axis. This study disclosed the oncogenic role of circHMGA2 and the regulatory circHMGA2/miR-331-3p/HMGA2 axis in NSCLC.