bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personality processes of everyday moral courage
Authors: Baumert Anna , Mentrup Fabian Ezra , Klümper Lisa , Sasse Julia
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Moral courage manifests in acts intended to intervene to stop or redress witnessed moral norm violations, despite the risk of negative consequences for the intervener. We investigate moral courage in everyday life and ask what personality processes are involved. Based on an extended process model of moral courage, we derived hypotheses on cognitive and emotional processes that should facilitate or hinder intervention. Further, we identified candidate personality dispositions that should shape these processes and thereby predict who tends to intervene against others' norm violations and who does not.

Methods

Using a quota‐based sample of the German population (N = 1108), we conducted a personality assessment, followed by a 7‐day experience sampling during which participants reported norm violations witnessed in their daily life as well as their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions.

Results

In total, 678 participants reported 1965 norm violations and intervened against 32% of them. Dispositional self‐efficacy facilitated intervention by increasing a sense of efficacy when confronted with others' norm violations. Conversely, dispositional moral disengagement hindered intervention by reducing perceived own responsibility.

Discussion

Our findings provide novel insights into the situations affording moral courage in everyday life, and the personality processes that uniquely guide this behavior.
Transabdominal ultrasound of rectal diameter in healthy infants: a prospective cohort study during the first year of life
Authors: Gatzinsky Cathrine , Sillén Ulla , Borg Helena , Boström Håkan , Abrahamsson Kate , Sjöström Sofia
Published: May 2023

Aim

Transabdominal rectal ultrasound (TRU) is used to measure transverse rectal diameter (TRD) in order to diagnose functional constipation (FC) and megarectum, and to evaluate treatment. The proposed cut‐off value is 3.0 cm. Currently, no standardised values exist for children below the age of 4. We used repeated TRUs to establish reference TRD values in healthy infants and to describe rectal diameter in infants with FC.

Methods

This prospective observational cohort study enrolled healthy term babies from a maternity department. TRD measurements were taken at 2 and 12 months of age, and questionnaires completed in interviews helped diagnose FC according to Rome III criteria.

Results

Two hundred TRUs were performed on 110 infants (62 males). In infants without FC anytime, the mean TRD at 2 months was 1.56 (SD 0.32) cm and at 12 months 1.78 (0.47) cm, while the 95th percentiles were 2.26 and 2.64 cm, respectively. In 77 infants with two TRUs, the mean increase was 0.21 cm (95% confidence interval: 0.099–0.318). Thirteen infants were diagnosed with FC during the study period. At 2 and 12 months of age, there was no difference in TRD between infants with and without FC.

Conclusion

TRD increased from 2 to 12 months. We suggest 2.3 cm as an upper limit for normal TRD at 2 months and 2.6 cm at 12 months. Infants diagnosed with FC did not have a greater TRD than infants without, either before or after treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of TRU in infants with FC or megarectum.
Prevalence and risk factors for common respiratory pathogens within a cohort of pet cats in the UK
Authors: Chan I. , Dowsey A. , Lait P. , Tasker S. , Blackwell E. , Helps C. R. , Barker E. N.
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Feline herpesvirus (FHV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and Chlamydia felis are common causes of upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in cats. Their prevalence in the UK pet cat population has not been reported and little is known regarding the risk factors for their oral carriage.

Methods

Total nucleic acid was extracted from owner‐collected buccal swabs (n=600) from cats enrolled in a self‐selected longitudinal cohort study. Duplex quantitative PCRs for the detection of FHV and C. felis genomic DNA and reverse‐transcriptase quantitative PCRs for the detection of FCV genomic RNA were performed. Duplicates, swabs with insufficient host DNA/RNA, and cats with missing data were excluded. Selected epidemiological data were interrogated using univariable and multi‐variable logistic regression modelling to identify risk factors.

Results

Data from 430 cats were included in the final statistical model. Of these, 2.1% (n=9/430; 95% CI 1.0% to 3.9%) were positive for FHV, 13.3% (n=57/430; 95% CI 10.2% to 16.8%) positive for FCV and 1.2% (n=5/430; 95% CI 0.4% to 2.7%) positive for C. felis. FCV co‐infection was present in five (44%) FHV‐positive cats and three (60%) C. felis‐positive cats. FCV carriage was more frequent in purebred cats (odds ratio 2.48; 95% CI 1.37 to 4.49) and in cats with current or historical clinical signs compatible with URTD (odds ratio 2.98; 95% CI 1.22 to 7.27).

Clinical Significance

FCV was the most frequently encountered URTD pathogen in this sample of cats; this should be noted for disinfectant choice. In cats suspected of having FHV or C. felis infection, assessment for co‐infection with FCV is recommended.
Efficacy of microplastic depuration on two commercial oyster species from the west coast of Ireland
Authors: Paul Ann Tracy , Hannon Colin , Švonja Mateja , Connellan Iarfhlaith , Frias João
Published: May 2023

Studies investigating microplastics (MPs) in marine species have been published over recent decades, including studies on depuration efficacy on aquaculture products. This preliminary study investigates the depuration efficacy of MPs in two commercial oyster species from Ireland. The innovative aspects are the sampling size (n = 50 per species) and the experiment duration (up to 96 h). The case study organisms are the Pacific oyster (Magallana gigas) and the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis). Prior to depuration, the mean MP concentration on M. gigas edible tissue was 0.6 MP g−1 while for O. edulis was 0.4 MP g−1. Significant differences in mean MP concentrations were identified after 96‐h for M. gigas 0.2 MP g−1 (p = 0.014) and O. edulis, 0.1 MP g−1 (p = 0.003). Additionally, no significant correlation was established between MP concentrations and edible tissue weight. Polymer identification revealed that 51.6% were fibers of natural origin. Preliminary results show that increasing depuration times beyond 72‐h can significantly reduce MPs in selected oyster species, which is what is being recommended with this baseline study. Further investigation on commercial conditions at adequate depuration facilities is required. Given the relevance of low‐trophic aquaculture species for local economies, this preliminary study provides important baseline information for stakeholders.
METTL3‐mediated ALDH m6A methylation regulates the malignant behavior of BMI1+HNSCC stem cells
Authors: Chen Zhi , Chen Jie , Xu Xiaohong , Li Qiuli , Zhang Caihua , Li Shuai , Liu Lianlian , Cao Congyuan , Chen Demeng , He Qianting
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To reveal the effect and mechanism of methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3) on cancer stem cells (CSCs) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials and Methods

First, we analyzed 14‐HNSCC‐patients’ scRNA‐seq dataset and TCGA dataset of HNSCC. Then, Mettl3 knockout or overexpression mice models were studied via tracing and staining technologies. In addition, we took flow cytometry sorting and sphere formation assays to observe tumorigenicity and used cell transfection and western blotting to verify target protein expression levels. Furthermore, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP‐seq) and MeRIP‐quantitative real‐time PCR (MeRIP‐qPCR) were taken to identify the mechanism of Mettl3 regulating Bmi1+ CSCs in HNSCC.

Results

Due to SOX4 transcriptional regulation, METTL3 regulated the malignant behavior of BMI1+ HNSCC stem cells through cell division pathway. The progression and malignancy of HNSCC were decreased after Mettl3 knocked‐out, while increased after Mettl3 knocked‐in in Bmi1+ CSCs in vivo. Knockdown of Mettl3 inhibited stemness properties of CSCs in vitro. Mechanically, Mettl3 mediated the m6A modification of ALDH1A3 and ALDH7A1 mRNA in Bmi1+ HNSCC CSCs.

Conclusion

Regulated by SOX4, METTL3‐mediated ALDH m6A methylation regulates the malignant behavior of BMI1+ HNSCC CSCs through cell division pathway.
Spatio‐temporal variation in plant–pollinator interactions: a multilayer network approach
Authors: Hervías‐Parejo Sandra , Colom Pau , Beltran Mas Rafel , E. Serra Pau , Pons Sam , Mesquida Vanessa , Traveset Anna
Published: May 2023

Despite the dynamic nature of communities, most research typically treated interaction networks as static entities, and only a few analysed the spatial and the temporal scales simultaneously. Here, we used spatial and temporal multilayer networks to explore the persistence of species and interactions in space and time, as well as the variation of species role (centrality) according to biotic factors. We further investigated, for the first time, the spatio‐temporal variation in multilayer network structure. Species exhibited substantial turnover across time mainly due to differences in species phenology. In contrast, interaction turnover was more pronounced across habitats, which seems to be a common strategy of pollinators to adjust interactions spatially to different ecological scenarios. Plant species were comparatively more important to the cohesiveness of spatial than temporal networks, whereas the centrality of pollinators correlated between scales. The importance of plant species fluctuated temporally due mainly to changes in flower density, whereas that of pollinators fluctuated in space and time according to their relative abundance. Module composition was highly unstable in time. Species were highly capable of changing partners and module affiliation across both scales. We conclude that plant–pollinator interactions are highly dynamic in space and time, and that there are differences between plants and pollinators in their use of resources across habitats and subseasons with implications for the understanding of functional connectivity and multilayer structure.
Effective health communication for age‐related macular degeneration: An exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Wang Elisa , Kalloniatis Michael , Ly Angelica
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss globally. Patients with AMD may not always understand or retain the information about AMD communicated by their eyecare practitioner. This study aims to explore the characteristics of effective health communication for AMD, from both patients' and eyecare practitioners' perspectives. The purpose is to provide a foundation for understanding how health communication for AMD could potentially be improved in the future.

Methods

A total of 10 focus groups involving 17 patients with AMD and 17 optometrists were conducted via web conferencing. Each session was audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using the Grounded Theory Methodology.

Results

The five themes identified are as follows: (1) materials' quality, (2) materials' relevance, (3) contextualising for the individual, (4) contextualising for the disease and (5) support network. Participants expressed concern about the unrealistic yet common depiction of vision loss in AMD as a black patch overlying common visual scenes. They also preferred education materials tailored to a specific disease stage and the regular opportunity to ask or answer questions. Longer appointment durations and peer support (from family, friends or others with AMD) were also valued.

Conclusion

Optometrists are encouraged to focus on three over‐arching dimensions when counselling patients with AMD in routine clinical practice: (1) curating and using disease and stage‐specific, impactful education materials, (2) their chairside verbal communication techniques and (3) AMD‐specific opportunities for care coordination among patient family and friends, peers and other multidisciplinary members of the care support team.
Characteristics of pediatric recurrent acute mastoiditis: A case–control study
Authors: Gelbart Miri , Bilavsky Efraim , Scheurman Oded , Chodick Gabriel , Gelbart Maoz , Ashkenazi‐Hoffnung Liat
Published: May 2023

Background

Data on pediatric recurrent acute mastoiditis are lacking, despite its morbidity and clinical significance. Our aim was to describe the incidence, characteristics, and associated factors of recurrent mastoiditis in hospitalized children.

Methods

Using a case–control design, analyzing electronic data of hospitalized children with acute mastoiditis between June 2011 and December 2018, children with recurrent mastoiditis were compared to children with a single episode at the time of hospitalization. Recurrent episodes of mastoiditis were compared to the first episodes. Recurrent acute mastoiditis was defined as recurring mastoiditis ≥4‐weeks after a completely resolved event.

Results

Of 347 children hospitalized with acute mastoiditis, 22 (6.3%) had recurrent mastoiditis; the median interval between episodes was 3 months (range: 1–36). The mean ± SD age was 2.3 ± 2.25 years. A comparison of first episodes in recurring cases to single episodes by univariate and multivariate analysis, showed no differences in the pre‐admission management or in the isolated pathogens; however, a history of atopic dermatitis and percutaneous abscess drainage were more frequent in first episodes of recurring cases (27.3% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.001, and 27.3% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.026, respectively). The second episode of acute mastoiditis was characterized by a milder clinical course and shorter durations from symptoms to hospitalization, intravenous antibiotic therapy, and length of hospital stay. Linear regression showed that an increased interval from symptoms to hospitalization significantly increased length of hospital stay (regression coefficient of 0.215 [95% CI: 0.114‐0.317], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Recurrent episodes of mastoiditis were clinically milder, with shorter length of hospital stay compared to first episodes, possibly because of early admission.
Kripkean conceivability and epistemic modalities
Authors: Morato Vittorio
Published: May 2023

In this article, I show that (i) from what I call a “Kripkean” account of the relations between conceivability and metaphysical necessities, (ii) an apparently plausible principle relating conceivability and epistemic modality, and (iii) the duality of epistemic modalities, one can show the utterly anti‐Kripkean result that every metaphysical necessity is an epistemic necessity. My aim is to present and diagnose the problem and evaluate the costs of some possible Kripkean reactions. In particular, I will evaluate the consequences and theoretical costs of rejecting the main ingredients of the argument, namely that we cannot genuinely conceive the negations of metaphysical necessities, that there is no postulated relation between conceivability and epistemic possibility (actually, between unconceivability and epistemic impossibility), and that epistemic possibility and necessity are not dualities.
CircRNA‐406918 enhances the degradation of advanced glycation end products in photoaged human dermal fibroblasts via targeting cathepsin D
Authors: Qu Yingying , Wang Mengyao , Lan Jingjing , Huang Xianyin , Huang Jingxi , Li Hongpeng , Zheng Yue , Xu Qingfang
Published: May 2023

Background

Lysosomal cathepsin D (CTSD) can degrade internalized advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in dermal fibroblasts. CTSD expression is decreased in photoaged fibroblasts, which contributes to intracellular AGEs deposition and further plays a role in AGEs accumulation of photoaged skin. The mechanism under downregulated CTSD expression is unclear.

Objective

To explore possible mechanism of regulating CTSD expression in photoaged fibroblasts.

Methods

Dermal fibroblasts were induced into photoaging with repetitive ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were constructed to predict candidate circRNAs or miRNAs related with CTSD expression. AGEs‐BSA degradation by fibroblasts was studied with flow cytometry, ELISA, and confocal microscopy. Effects of overexpressing circRNA‐406918 via lentiviral transduction on CTSD expression, autophagy, AGE‐BSA degradation were analyzed in photoaged fibroblasts. The correlation between circRNA‐406918 and CTSD expression or AGEs accumulation in sun‐exposed and sun‐protected skin was studied.

Results

CTSD expression, autophagy, and AGEs‐BSA degradation were significantly decreased in photoaged fibroblasts. CircRNA‐406918 was identified to regulate CTSD expression, autophagy, and senescence in photoaged fibroblasts. Overexpressing circRNA‐406918 potently decreased senescence and increased CTSD expression, autophagic flux, and AGEs‐BSA degradation in photoaged fibroblasts. Moreover, circRNA‐406918 level was positively correlated with CTSD mRNA expression and negatively associated with AGEs accumulation in photodamaged skin. Further, circRNA‐406918 was predicted to mediate CTSD expression through sponging eight miRNAs.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that circRNA‐406918 regulates CTSD expression and AGEs degradation in UVA‐induced photoaged fibroblasts and might exert a role in AGEs accumulation in photoaged skin.
Hume's skeptical philosophy and the moderation of pride
Authors: Goldhaber Charles
Published: May 2023

Hume describes skeptical philosophy as having a variety of desirable effects. It can counteract dogmatism, produce just reasoning, and promote social cohesion. When discussing how skepticism may achieve these effects, Hume typically appeals to its effects on pride. I explain how, for Hume, skeptical philosophy acts on pride and how acting on pride produces the desirable effects. Understanding these mechanisms, I argue, sheds light on how, why, when, and for whom skeptical philosophy can be useful. It also illuminates the value of skeptical philosophy for a humanistic education, giving us a reason to include Hume in curricula.
Dynamics of reactive oxygen species and lignin biosynthesis during leaf spot disease of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Authors: Kumar P. , Singh B. , Rajak S. , Pandey S. , Pati P. K.
Published: May 2023

Withania somnifera is an important medicinal plant, however, its cultivation and quality are compromised through infestation by leaf spot disease caused by the fungus, Alternaria alternata. To find suitable strategies against this disease, studies on post‐infectional changes are important. ROS are critical as they interact with other defence signalling pathways. We analyzed ROS‐generating and scavenging systems in healthy and diseased leaf samples of W. somnifera and ROS‐driven downstream defence pathways.

We used DAB and NBT assays for ROS detection, spectrophotometry and in‐gel assays for ROS scavenging enzymes, a thioglycolic acid (TGA) based assay, histochemical staining for lignin, and qRT‐PCR for transcript‐level expression.

Leaf spot infection in W. somnifera increased NADPH oxidase activity and ROS accumulation in infected leaves, together with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity. Leaf spot‐infected leaves had increased lignin content and higher expression of lignin biosynthesis genes. In addition, transcript levels of defence‐related genes, NPR1 and PR, were also upregulated.

The present work provides insights into responses to leaf spot disease through defence‐related signalling in W. somnifera. It demonstrates crosstalk between ROS and lignin biosynthesis. This work identified potential targets for developing strategies to confer disease resistance against A. alternata in W. somnifera.
The politics of supply chain regulations: Towards foreign corporate accountability in the area of human rights and the environment?
Authors: Gustafsson Maria‐Therese , Schilling‐Vacaflor Almut , Lenschow Andrea
Published: May 2023

In recent years, binding regulations in the “home states” of corporations have emerged mainly in the Global North with the aim of holding corporations accountable for human rights and environmental impacts throughout their supply chains. However, we still need a better understanding about to what extent such regulations contribute to enhance “foreign corporate accountability (FCA).” This article introduces a special issue that theorizes and empirically investigates foreign accountability dynamics. We do so by advancing an analytical framework that conceptualizes FCA and identify important contextual conditions that help to explain accountability dynamics. Applying this framework, we show that the drafting, implementation, and enforcement of such regulations are highly political processes, wherein competing ideas embedded within unequal actor constellations and institutional environments shape the possibilities to achieve more transformative change. By theorizing and empirically investigating FCA dynamics, we contribute to advance debates about the sustainability governance of global supply chains.
International or national implementers—Who is better? Evidence from a framing experiment
Authors: Kaplan Lennart C. , Kuhnt Jana , Richert Katharina
Published: May 2023

Behavioral economics has shown that changing small features in framing a context or action may drastically change behavior. A key factor characterizing most development interventions is the salience of either a local or an international implementer. Using the setup of an intervention conducted in Indonesia, we show that the study population in the Acehnese context exhibits higher levels of support for the project if the participation of international actors is highlighted. We find that previous experience with the respective actor is pivotal. Qualitative evidence suggests that internationals' perceived skills drive results, highlighting the importance of strengthened local capacities for positive experiences with local implementers. Overall, the study underlines the benefits of linking framing experiments to the actual experiences of respondents to generate insights into the real world.
Individual differences in patterns of developmental opportunity and constraint during COVID‐19: Implications for longitudinal well‐being
Authors: Hamm Jeremy M. , Shane Jacob , Pierce Matthew J. , Duggan Katherine A.
Published: May 2023

Individual differences in sociodemographic characteristics and trait‐like perceptions of opportunities and constraints may shape how people respond to adversities such as the COVID‐19 pandemic. However, little is known about how these factors combine to form multifaceted profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint or the implications of such profiles for longitudinal well‐being following major life stressors. Using 1‐year data from a national sample of U.S. adults (n = 293), we identified profiles based on relevant sociodemographic characteristics (age, socioeconomic status, chronic conditions, functional status) and trait‐like perceptions of opportunity and constraints (perceived mastery, perceived constraints). Results of latent profile analyses showed that three common profiles emerged at pandemic onset (veridical opportunity, perceived constraints, perceived opportunity). Subsequent latent growth models showed that, despite reporting more sociodemographic constraints, the perceived opportunity profile exhibited better 1‐year emotional well‐being (positive and negative affect) during the pandemic than the perceived constraints profile. Findings advance the literature by identifying multifaceted individual differences in profiles of developmental opportunity and constraint and by showing these profiles have consequences for longitudinal well‐being following the pandemic onset.
Cultural traits or social norms? Both responsibilism and norms linked to accepting COVID‐19 vaccine
Authors: English Alexander S. , Wang Shuang , Zhang Qionghan , Talhelm Thomas
Published: May 2023

We studied the factors that influence attitudes toward the COVID‐19 vaccine by testing 1872 people across 29 provinces in China. We investigated an individual trait (responsibilism) and two situational factors (a descriptive norm and an injunctive norm). Responsibilism is a version of collectivism that emphasizes tight social ties and responsibilities in close relationships. Responsibilism and perceptions of strong social norms predicted acceptance of the COVID‐19 vaccine. The data also revealed an interplay between responsibilism and social norms. People high in responsibilism accepted the vaccine regardless of social norms. But people low in responsibilism were wary of the vaccine, unless they perceived strong injunctive norms. These findings contribute to the research on psychological factors behind vaccine hesitancy. The findings could help provide a roadmap for public health efforts to encourage vaccines.
Does partisan media make a pawn of mistrust? Institutional trust and preventive COVID‐19 health behaviors in a polarized pandemic
Authors: Dawson Andrew J. , Wang Wan , Taylor Marin M. , Ingram Brooklyn , Gibson Shane , Wilson Anne E.
Published: May 2023

In a rapidly developing crisis such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, people are often faced with contradictory or changing information and must determine what sources to trust. Across five time points (N = 5902) we examine how trust in various sources predicts COVID‐19 health behaviors. Trust in experts and national news predicted more engagement with most health behaviors from April 2020 to March 2022 and trust in Fox news, which often positioned itself as counter to the mainstream on COVID‐19, predicted less engagement. However, we also examined a particular public health behavior (masking) before and after the CDC announcement recommending masks on 3 April 2020 (which reversed earlier expert advice discouraging masks for the general public). Prior to the announcement, trust in experts predicted less mask‐wearing while trust in Fox News predicted more. These relationships disappeared in the next 4 days following the announcement and reversed in the 2 years that follow, and emerged for vaccination in the later time points. We also examine how the media trusted by Democrats and Republicans predicts trust in experts and in turn health behaviors. Broadly we consider how the increasingly fragmented epistemic environment has implications for polarization on matters of public health.
“Diorama, Path and Project” to Understanding Everyday Life and Urban Space in Transitional Chinese Cities
Authors: Zhang Yan , Chai Yanwei
Published: May 2023

”Diorama, path and project” by Torsten Hägerstrand is one of the most important contributions to the development of time geography. It introduced the diorama approach along the lines of “the live corporeality of humans and society”, and it still enduringly inspires the study of everyday life and urban space in a space–time integrative framework. This article revisits the classic article and reflects on certain key ideas, such as the “thereness” of diorama and the continuity and corporeality of project realization. Specifically, we will stress the applicability and the usefulness of the diorama approach to understanding everyday life and urban space in transitional Chinese cities. Finally, we discuss the enduring power, some methodological issues, as well as research agendas on urban geography and planning research in Chinese cities based on the diorama approach in time geography.
Insights from DataFest point to new opportunities for undergraduate statistics courses: Team collaborations, designing research questions, and data ethics
Authors: Noll Jennifer , Tackett Maria
Published: May 2023

As the field of data science evolves with advancing technology and methods for working with data, so do the opportunities for re‐conceptualizing how we teach undergraduate statistics and data science courses for majors and non‐majors alike. In this paper, we focus on three crucial components for this re‐conceptualization: Developing research questions, professional ethics, and team collaborations. We share vignettes from two teams of undergraduate statistics or data science majors at two different stages of their development (novice and expert) while they worked on a DataFest data challenge. These vignettes shed light on opportunities for re‐conceptualizing introductory courses to give more attention to issues of the process of developing focused research questions when given a complex data set, professional ethics and bias, and how to collaborate effectively with others. We provide some implications for teaching and learning as well as an example activity for educators to use in their courses.
Multi‐omics atlas of combinatorial abiotic stress responses in wheat
Authors: Da Ros Letitia , Bollina Venkatesh , Soolanayakanahally Raju , Pahari Shankar , Elferjani Raed , Kulkarni Manoj , Vaid Neha , Risseuw Eddy , Cram Dustin , Pasha Asher , Esteban Eddi , Konkin David , Provart Nicholas , Nambara Eiji , Kagale Sateesh
Published: May 2023

Field‐grown crops rarely experience growth conditions in which yield can be maximized. Environmental stresses occur in combination, with advancements in crop tolerance further complicated by its polygenic nature. Strategic targeting of causal genes is required to meet future crop production needs. Here, we employed a systems biology approach in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to investigate physio‐metabolic adjustments and transcriptome reprogramming involved in acclimations to heat, drought, salinity and all combinations therein. A significant shift in magnitude and complexity of plant response was evident across stress scenarios based on the agronomic losses, increased proline concentrations and 8.7‐fold increase in unique differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) observed under the triple stress condition. Transcriptome data from all stress treatments were assembled into an online, open access eFP browser for visualizing gene expression during abiotic stress. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis revealed 152 hub genes of which 32% contained the ethylene‐responsive element binding factor‐associated amphiphilic repression (EAR) transcriptional repression motif. Cross‐referencing against the 31 DETs common to all stress treatments isolated TaWRKY33 as a leading candidate for greater plant tolerance to combinatorial stresses. Integration of our findings with available literature on gene functional characterization allowed us to further suggest flexible gene combinations for future adaptive gene stacking in wheat. Our approach demonstrates the strength of robust multi‐omics‐based data resources for gene discovery in complex environmental conditions. Accessibility of such datasets will promote cross‐validation of candidate genes across studies and aid in accelerating causal gene validation for crop resiliency.
Auxin biosynthesis gene FveYUC4 is critical for leaf and flower morphogenesis in woodland strawberry
Authors: Lu Rui , Pi Mengting , Liu Zhongchi , Kang Chunying
Published: May 2023

Auxin plays an essential role in plant growth and development, particularly in fruit development. The YUCCA (YUC) genes encode flavin monooxygenases that catalyze a rate‐limiting step in auxin biosynthesis. Mutations that disrupt YUC gene function provide useful tools for dissecting general and specific functions of auxin during plant development. In woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca), two ethyl methanesulfonate mutants, Y422 and Y1011, have been identified that exhibit severe defects in leaves and flowers. In particular, the width of the leaf blade is greatly reduced, and each leaflet in the mutants has fewer and deeper serrations. In addition, the number and shape of the floral organs are altered, resulting in smaller fruits. Mapping by sequencing revealed that both mutations reside in the FveYUC4 gene, and were therefore renamed as yuc4‐1 and yuc4‐2. Consistent with a role for FveYUC4 in auxin synthesis, free auxin and its metabolites are significantly reduced in the yuc4 leaves and flowers. This role of FveYUC4 in leaf and flower development is supported by its high and specific expression in young leaves and flower buds using GUS reporters. Furthermore, germline transformation of pYUC4::YUC4, which resulted in elevated expression of FveYUC4 in yuc4 mutants, not only rescued the leaf and flower defects but also produced parthenocarpic fruits. Taken together, our data demonstrate that FveYUC4 is essential for leaf and flower morphogenesis in woodland strawberry by providing auxin hormone at the proper time and in the right tissues.
Novel computational methods on electronic health record yields new estimates of transfusion‐associated circulatory overload in populations enriched with high‐risk patients
Authors: Wang Michelle , Goldgof Gregory M. , Patel Ayan , Whitaker Barbee , Belov Artur , Chan Brian , Phelps Evan , Rubin Benjamin , Anderson Steven , Butte Atul J.
Published: May 2023

Background

Transfusion‐associated circulatory overload (TACO) is a severe adverse reaction (AR) contributing to the leading cause of mortality associated with transfusions. As strategies to mitigate TACO have been increasingly adopted, an update of prevalence rates and risk factors associated with TACO using the growing sources of electronic health record (EHR) data can help understand transfusion safety.

Study Design and Methods

This retrospective study aimed to provide a timely and reproducible assessment of prevalence rates and risk factors associated with TACO. Novel natural language processing methods, now made publicly available on GitHub, were developed to extract ARs from 3178 transfusion reaction reports. Other patient‐level data were extracted computationally from UCSF EHR between 2012 and 2022. The odds ratio estimates of risk factors were calculated using a multivariate logistic regression analysis with case‐to‐control matched on sex and age at a ratio of 1:5.

Results

A total of 56,208 patients received transfusions (total 573,533 units) at UCSF during the study period and 102 patients developed TACO. The prevalence of TACO was estimated to be 0.2% per patient (102/total 56,208). Patients with a history of coagulopathy (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.04–1.79) and transplant (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.48–2.68) were associated with increased odds of TACO.

Discussion

While TACO is a serious AR, events remained rare, even in populations enriched with high‐risk patients. Novel computational methods can be used to find and continually surveil for transfusion ARs. Results suggest that patients with history or presence of coagulopathy and organ transplant should be carefully monitored to mitigate potential risks of TACO.
Standing in the canine precision medicine knowledge gap: Improving annotation of canine cancer genomic biomarkers through systematic comparative analysis of human cancer mutations in COSMIC
Authors: Sakthikumar Sharadha , Facista Salvatore , Whitley Derick , Byron Sara A. , Ahmed Zeeshan , Warrier Manisha , Zhu Zhanyang , Chon Esther , Banovich Kathryn , Haworth David , Hendricks William P. D. , Wang Guannan
Published: May 2023

The accrual of cancer mutation data and related functional and clinical associations have revolutionised human oncology, enabling the advancement of precision medicine and biomarker‐guided clinical management. The catalogue of cancer mutations is also growing in canine cancers. However, without direct high‐powered functional data in dogs, it remains challenging to interpret and utilise them in research and clinical settings. It is well‐recognised that canine and human cancers share genetic, molecular and phenotypic similarities. Therefore, leveraging the massive wealth of human mutation data may help advance canine oncology. Here, we present a structured analysis of sequence conservation and conversion of human mutations to the canine genome through a ‘caninisation’ process. We applied this analysis to COSMIC, the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer, the most prominent human cancer mutation database. For the project's initial phase, we focused on the subset of the COSMIC data corresponding to Cancer Gene Census (CGC) genes. A total of 670 canine orthologs were found for 721 CGC genes. In these genes, 365 K unique mutations across 160 tumour types were converted successfully to canine coordinates. We identified shared putative cancer‐driving mutations, including pathogenic and hotspot mutations and mutations bearing similar biomarker associations with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic utility. Thus, this structured caninisation of human cancer mutations facilitates the interpretation and annotation of canine mutations and helps bridge the knowledge gap to enable canine precision medicine.
Revealing cryptic diversity and population divergence in subtropical aphids throughDNAbarcoding
Authors: Li Qiang , Liu Qian , Yu Yuhua , Lin Xiaolan , He Xueyou , Huang Xiaolei
Published: May 2023

Aphids are worldwide distributed pests, which feed on plant sap and cause serious losses to agricultural and forestry industries. Relatively few comprehensive studies have been conducted on aphid diversity in subtropics, although these regions may harbour hidden aphid diversity due to high plant diversity. In this study, we conducted DNA barcoding analysis for aphids in subtropical regions based on a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library including 5821 sequences and related ecological information (e.g. geography, host plant) of 379 morphospecies. In the reference library, 2140 sequences and related data of 151 morphospecies belonging to 77 genera and 11 subfamilies were newly produced by the current study. The average Kimura 2‐parameter distances within species, genera and subfamilies were 0.92%, 3.55% and 8.3%, respectively. The minimum interspecific distances were greater than the maximum intraspecific distances in 79.8% species, suggesting that barcode gaps existed in most aphid species. Automatic barcode gap discovery, Barcode Index Number, Bayesian Poisson tree processes and generalized mixed Yule‐coalescent revealed 419, 401, 462 and 455 single species‐representing clusters, respectively. A total of 32 morphospecies were assigned to more than one subclade respectively, suggesting geography or host plant‐mediated divergences and the existence of cryptic diversity. This study demonstrates that subtropical regions should have a higher species diversity of aphids, and cryptic species in certain morphospecies indicated in this study need to be investigated based on integrative taxonomic practices in the future. The DNA barcode reference library constructed herein provides a robust baseline data set to support future research in taxonomy, phylogenetics, ecology and evolution of aphids.
Detection of Potential Viral Sequence from Next Generation Sequencing Data Using Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Lim Xin Ying , Lim Jia Yee , Chan Weng Howe , Nies Hui Wen
Published: May 2023

Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a modern sequencing technology that can determine the sequences of RNA and DNA faster and at lower cost. The availability of NGS data has sparked numerous efforts in bioinformatics, especially in the study of genetic variation and viral sequence detection. Viral sequence detection has been one of the important processes in studying virus-induced diseases. Common methods in detecting viral sequences involve alignment of the sequence with existing databases, which remains limited as these databases might be incomplete and difficult to detect highly divergent viruses. Thus, machine learning and deep learning have been used in this regard, to unveil the patterns that distinguish viral sequences through learning from the NGS data. This study focuses on viral sequence detection using convolutional neural network (CNN). This study intended to investigate how CNN model can be used for analysis of NGS data and develop a CNN model for detecting potential viral sequences from NGS data. The CNN architecture used for this study is based on an existing design that divided into two branches namely pattern and frequency branch that cater for extracting different aspects of information from the data and lastly combined into a full model. This study further implemented slightly modified architecture that includes additional convolution layer and pooling layer. Then, parameter tuning is implemented to identify near optimal parameters for the CNN to elucidate the performance impact. The evaluation of the optimized CNN model is done using a dataset with 18,445 DNA sequences. The results show that the CNN model in this study achieved a better performance compared with existing in terms of area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) for full model (+0.1434).
Dental Service System into Blockchain Environment
Authors: Ismail Razi Azrie , Abdul Wahab Nur Haliza , A. Kadir Khairunnisa , H S. Zaleha , Sunar Noorhazirah , Ariffin Sharifah H. S. , Hasan Nor Shahida , Wong Keng Yinn
Published: May 2023

A platform that enables users to schedule appointments and connect with dentists is called the Dental Services System. The bulk of appointment slot orders are placed through more traditional channels, such phone calls, texts, or clinic entrances, prior to obtaining treatment. When staff members are unable to alter their status or take too long to provide information, schedule a time, or complete an assignment, this might be troublesome. Blockchain technology is a distributed ledger system that makes use of mathematics, algorithms, encryption, and financial factors. Blockchain's high-security design makes it safe, and the immutability of the data stored there helps to increase public confidence. Data storage databases that use blockchain technology and include security features that permit the exploitation of exposed user data are the main subject of the study. The blockchain may be integrated into a dental service system because of its excellence. The goal of this implementation of blockchain technology into a Dental Service System is to guarantee complete confidentiality while enabling authorized users to quickly create and get permanent records when paired with an application layer. The goal of this project is to create a tool that allows users to schedule appointments while utilizing a blockchain for safe data storage. In the end, this application will facilitate user appointment scheduling while limiting third parties' access to user data.
Fitting Time-varying Coefficients SEIRD Model to COVID-19 Cases in Malaysia
Authors: Zulkarnain Norsyahidah , Abdul Hadi Muhammad Salihi , Mohammad Nurul Farahain , Shogar Ibrahim
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes a compartmental Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered-Death (SEIRD) model for COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. This extended model is more relevant to describe the disease transmission than the SIRD model since the exposed (E) compartment represents individuals in the disease's incubation period. The mathematical model is a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with time-varying coefficients as opposed to the conventional model with constant coefficients. This time dependency treatment is necessary as the epidemiological parameters such as infection rate β, recovery rate γ, and death rate μ usually change over time. However, this feature leads to an increasing number of unknowns needed to be solved to fit the model with the actual data. Several optimization algorithms under Python’s LMfit package, such as Levenberg-Marquardt, Nelder-Mead, Trust-Region Reflective and Sequential Linear Squares Programming; are employed to estimate the related parameters, in such that the numerical solution of the ODEs will fit the data with the slightest error. Nelder-Mead outperforms the other optimization algorithm with the least error. Qualitatively, the result shows that the proportion of the quarantine rule-abiding population should be maintained up to 90% to ensure Malaysia successfully reaches disease-free or endemic equilibrium.
Cidadania, Participação e Direitos Humanos
Authors: Mioto dos Santos Rodrigo , Bastos Junior Luiz Magno Pinto
Published: May 2023

Este artigo objetiva defender a tese segundo a qual, no Brasil, a educação de qualidade passa por uma educação em direitos humanos voltada ao preparo para o exercício da cidadania, ao mesmo tempo que demonstra as linhas-mestras do projeto Cidadania, Participação e Direitos Humanos, concebido pelo Projeto de Extensão Educação em Direitos Humanos, da Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, que visa desenvolver em vinte e uma escolas de educação básica uma eleição simulada cujas diferentes fases envolvem o enfrentamento de diversos aspectos relacionados à experiência democrática e aos desafios de implementação dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) no plano local. Após justificativa sobre a indispensabilidade do tratamento dos temas do projeto pela educação básica, o artigo apresenta a dinâmica de trabalho com suas respectivas fundamentações: teórica (pautada especialmente na pedagogia crítica), normativa (alicerçada no processo de densificação do art. 205 da Constituição brasileira de 1988) e metodológica (na perspectiva da primazia de metodologias ativas como a da aprendizagem baseada em projetos). O método de construção do argumento é preponderantemente dedutivo, na medida em que após apresentar o quadro teórico e normativo (que integram o campo do dever ser), confronta esses elementos prescritivos com determinados dados da realidade educacional brasileira (desinteresse dos jovens pela política), para, ao final, apresentar a proposta metodológica com vistas à construção outro modelo educacional. A conclusão caminha no sentido de que a educação de qualidade passa por metodologias ativas transversais que ofereçam aos estudantes instrumentos, tanto teóricos, quanto práticos, que lhes permitam compreender o contexto democrático no qual vivem de forma significativa para, querendo, transformá-lo.
The Dynamic Energy-Momentum Tensor and the Logarithmic Singularity of a Generally Accelerating Edge Dislocation
Authors: Ni Luqun , Markenscoff Xanthippi
Published: May 2023

The near-field logarithmic singularities in the field quantities associated with the acceleration of an arbitrarily moving edge dislocation are calculated based on a conservation law involving the dynamic energy-momentum tensor integrated over a domain enclosed by a multi-scale contour (an annulus of inner radius ϵ02 and outer radius ϵ0). The existence of the logarithmic singularities is obtained solely from the conservation law and the leading 1/r terms in the near fields of the stress and the velocity (which are those of the steady-state motion with velocity the instantaneous velocity in the accelerating motion). From the equations of motion and the symmetry in the second partial derivatives of the displacements for y≠0 we obtain that all six logarithmic terms of the near-field expansions are independent of the angle in the polar coordinates. All logarithmic terms in the near-field expansion of the strains and velocity in an arbitrarily moving edge dislocation (subsonically) are evaluated.
Hybrid quantum singular spectrum decomposition for time series analysis
Authors: Postema J. J. , Bonizzi P. , Koekoek G. , Westra R. L. , Kokkelmans S. J. J. M. F.
Published: May 2023

Classical data analysis requires computational efforts that become intractable in the age of Big Data. An essential task in time series analysis is the extraction of physically meaningful information from a noisy time series. One algorithm devised for this very purpose is singular spectrum decomposition (SSD), an adaptive method that allows for the extraction of narrow-banded components from non-stationary and non-linear time series. The main computational bottleneck of this algorithm is the singular value decomposition (SVD). Quantum computing could facilitate a speedup in this domain through superior scaling laws. We propose quantum SSD by assigning the SVD subroutine to a quantum computer. The viability for implementation and performance of this hybrid algorithm on a near term hybrid quantum computer is investigated. In this work, we show that by employing randomized SVD, we can impose a qubit limit on one of the circuits to improve scalibility. Using this, we efficiently perform quantum SSD on simulations of local field potentials recorded in brain tissue, as well as GW150914, the first detected gravitational wave event.