bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide association mapping for seedling and adult resistance to powdery mildew in barley
Authors: Guo Jie , Zhao Chenchen , Gupta Sanjiv , Platz Greg , Snyman Lisle , Zhou Meixue
Published: February 2024

Key message

Two new major QTL were identified for powdery mildew resistance. We confirmed that the QTL on 7HS contributed mainly to the adult-plant resistance, while another one on chromosome arm 1HS made a significant contribution to the seedling resistance.

Powdery mildew (PM), caused by Blumeria hordei, can occur at all post emergent stages of barley and constantly threatens crop production. To identify more genes for effective resistance to powdery mildew for use in breeding programs, 696 barley accessions collected from different regions of the world were evaluated for PM resistance at seedling and adult growth stages in three different states of Australia. These barley accessions were genotyped using DArTSeq with over 18,000 markers for a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Using the FarmCPU model, 54 markers showed significant associations with PM resistance scored at the seedling and adult-plant stages in different states of Australia. Another 40 markers showed tentative associations (LOD > 4.0) with resistance. These markers are distributed across all seven barley chromosomes. Most of them were grouped into eleven QTL regions, coinciding with the locations of most of the reported resistance genes. Two major MTAs were identified on chromosome arms 3HS and 5HL, with one on 3HS contributing to adult plant resistance and the one on 5HL to both seedling and adult plant resistance. An MTA on 7HS contributed mainly to the adult-plant resistance, while another one on chromosome arm 1HS made a significant contribution to the seedling resistance.
Preparation of trivalent rare-earth element-substituted bioactive glass robocast scaffolds for osteosarcoma treatment: structural, morphological, mechanical, drug delivery, and biological properties
Authors: Deliormanlı Aylin M. , Ensoylu Mertcan , Atmaca Harika
Published: February 2024

In this study, trivalent rare-earth ion (Eu3+, Gd3+, and Yb3+)-substituted silicate-based bioactive glass scaffolds were prepared by robocasting method using sol–gel-derived bioactive glass powders for tissue engineering applications and cancer therapy. The structural, morphological, and mechanical properties of the prepared scaffolds as well as their in vitro bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) were investigated in detail. In addition, an anticancer drug (5-FU) adsorption and release behavior of the scaffolds was studied as a function of time. In vitro, cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase activity were investigated using human skin fibroblast BJ and osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells. Results showed that using lanthanide ion-containing (0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt%) sol–gel-derived bioactive glass powders it was possible to successfully fabricate periodic, mesh-like patterned robocast glass scaffolds. All of the scaffolds prepared in the study sintered at 675 °C showed an amorphous structure. The compressive strength of scaffolds was in the range of 8.8 MPa to 13.6 MPa and the highest strength values were obtained in the Yb3+-containing scaffolds. Hydroxyapatite formation was obtained for the scaffolds immersed in SBF for 28 days. The fluorouracil adsorption amount was calculated to be ~ 25% for all types of scaffolds and the cumulative drug release was in the range of 20–25% depending on the dopant concentration. Results of the in vitro cell culture experiments revealed that all of the scaffolds fabricated in the study were not cytotoxic to fibroblast and osteosarcoma cells for up to 7 days under in vitro conditions. An increase was obtained for the ALP activities for both types of cells as the incubation time was increased.
Environmental potential of recycling of plastic wastes in Australia based on life cycle assessment
Authors: Soenmez Can , Venkatachalam Venkateshwaran , Spierling Sebastian , Endres Hans-Josef , Barner Leonie
Published: February 2024

Plastic consumption in Australia is steadily increasing and is estimated to reach 8.8 million tonnes by 2050. Alongside plastic consumption, plastic waste management (PWM) faces rising environmental challenges in Australia as most of them are currently landfilled. Therefore, the Australian government has published a policy to transition to a circular economy as well as a new strategy for PWM with higher recycling rates. To understand the implications of the policy changes and the environmental impacts of End-of-Life (EoL) options, life cycle thinking is necessary. This study evaluates and compares the environmental impacts of the Australian PWM for 2018–2019 to the policy envisaged for 2030 that includes higher recycling rates and waste export bans from a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective. From the results, it can be seen that the current PWM is majorly linear (take, make, use and dispose) as most of the wastes gets landfilled and exported to other countries but the future PWM strategy for 2030 results in higher resource recovery and significant reduction in the environmental impacts. There is a reduction in Global Warming Potential (GWP) by a factor of almost 10, if the recycling rates increase from 13 to 70%. The state and the federal governments along with other stakeholders need to implement stringent measures to recover plastic wastes if a transition to a circular economy is to happen by 2030.
A Practical Approach to the Management of Residual Cardiovascular Risk: United Arab Emirates Expert Consensus Panel on the Evidence for Icosapent Ethyl and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Authors: Sabbour Hani , Bhatt Deepak L. , Elhenawi Yaser , Aljaberi Asma , Bennani Layal , Fiad Tarek , Hasan Khwaja , Hashmani Shahrukh , Hijazi Rabih A. , Khan Zafar , Shantouf Ronney
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Patients with hyperlipidemia treated with statins remain at a residual cardiovascular (CV) risk. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids hold the potential to mitigate the residual CV risk in statin-treated patients, with persistently elevated triglyceride (TG) levels.

Method

We reviewed the current evidence on the use of icosapent ethyl (IPE), an omega-3 fatty acid yielding a pure form of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Results

REDUCE-IT reported a significant 25% reduction in CV events, including the need for coronary revascularization, the risk of fatal/nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, hospitalization for unstable angina, and CV death in patients on IPE, unseen with other omega-3 fatty acids treatments. IPE was effective in all patients regardless of baseline CV risk enhancers (TG levels, type-2 diabetes status, weight status, prior revascularization, or renal function). Adverse events (atrial fibrillation/flutter) related to IPE have occurred mostly in patients with prior atrial fibrillation. Yet, the net clinical benefit largely exceeded potential risks. The combination with other omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular DHA, eliminated the effect of EPA alone, as reported in the STRENGTH and OMEMI trials. Adding IPE to statin treatment seems to be cost-effective, especially in the context of secondary prevention of CVD, decreasing CV event frequency and subsequently the use of healthcare resources.

Conclusion

Importantly, IPE has been endorsed by 20 international medical societies as a statin add-on treatment in patients with dyslipidemia and high CV risk. Robust medical evidence supports IPE as a pillar in the management of dyslipidemia.
Expression of CGRP in the Trigeminal Ganglion and Its Effect on the Polarization of Macrophages in Rats with Temporomandibular Arthritis
Authors: Tao Junli , Wang Xiaohui , Xu Jie
Published: February 2024

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is synthesized and secreted by trigeminal ganglion neurons, and is a key neuropeptide involved in pain and immune regulation. This study investigates the expression of CGRP in the trigeminal ganglion (TG) and its regulatory role in the polarization of macrophages in rats with temporomandibular arthritis. A rat model of temporomandibular arthritis was established using CFA. Pain behavior was then observed. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the TG were collected, and immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence (IF) staining, and RT-qPCR were used to examine the expression of CGRP and macrophage-related factors. To investigate the impact of CGRP on macrophage polarization, both CGRP and its antagonist, CGRP 8-37, were separately administered directly within the TG. Statistical analysis revealed that within 24 h of inducing temporomandibular arthritis using CFA, there was a significant surge in CD86 positive macrophages within the ganglion. These macrophages peaked on the 7th day before beginning their decline. In this context, it’s noteworthy that administering CGRP to the trigeminal ganglion can prompt these macrophages to adopt the M2 phenotype. Intriguingly, this study demonstrates that injecting the CGRP receptor antagonist (CGRP 8-37) to the ganglion counteracts this shift towards the M2 phenotype. Supporting these in vivo observations, we found that in vitro, CGRP indeed fosters the M2-type polarization of macrophages. CGRP can facilitate the conversion of macrophages into the M2 phenotype. The phenotypic alterations of macrophages within the TG could be instrumental in initiating and further driving the progression of TMJ disorders.
Scoring Six Detrending Methods on Timing, Lead-Lag Relations, and Cycle Periods: An Empirical Study of US and UK Recessions 1977–2020
Authors: Seip Knut Lehre , Zhang Dan
Published: February 2024

This study evaluates six commonly used detrending methods and discuss how detrending may change the timing of events, the identification of lead-lag relations between GDP and employment, and the identification of cycle periods. The detrending methods examined includes linear detrending, polynomial detrending, the first-order differencing, locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (LOESS), Hodrick–Prescott filter, and the Hamilton filter. We apply the detrending methods to the United States and United Kingdom gross domestic product (GDP) from 1977 to 2020. We find that for the GDP series the first-order differencing score best on all three criteria, however, it also shows more false recessions than the other detrending methods. A linear, a polynomial, and a LOESS trend all scored well. The three methods miss-specified the timing of the recessions with less than one quarter and all three gave results that would comply with stylized facts in macroeconomics. The Hodrick–Prescott (HP) filter and Hamilton filter did not achieve high scores on one or two of the criteria and scored worst on average performance.
Plant species richness increase across crop field–dry grassland edges masks diverging patterns in generalists and specialists
Authors: Schöpke Benito , Wesche Karsten , Tschan Georg F. , Wulf Monika
Published: February 2024

Context

There is an urgent need to stop the biodiversity loss in European agricultural landscapes. These landscapes, due to their fragmentation, include a lot of edges, many of them between habitats of different quality in terms of biodiversity.

Objectives

Here, we ask how plant species richness is distributed from the interior of protected semi-natural grassland into the interior of adjacent crop fields, and which species groups determine the observed patterns.

Methods

At grassland–crop field interfaces in two German landscapes, we sampled the vegetation along transects extending 32 m into both habitats. Based on theory, we fitted different models to visualize the species richness curve along transects and selected the best model via AIC.

Results

The best fitting model for all species was monotone over the interface with a minimum in the field and a maximum in the grassland. This shape was driven by the generalists, showing the same pattern, while grassland specialists showed a sigmoid curve with an increase only in the grassland. Arable specialists had a peak at the field edge and decreased towards the grassland. Curves for Ellenberg indicator values for moisture, nutrients and light showed the same shape as the overall species curve, yet with an inverse pattern for light.

Conclusions

This is the first study revealing gradual responses of plant species richness at the grassland–crop field interface with a high spatial resolution. As these adjacent habitats influence each other far into their neighbourhood, attention should be given when conserving biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, particularly in case of often small and scattered protected areas.
Testing for synergistic effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbance on ecological communities at a landscape scale
Authors: Lloren Jed I. , McCune J. L.
Published: February 2024

Context

Anthropogenic and natural disturbances may interact synergistically, magnifying their individual effects on biodiversity. However, few studies have measured responses of ecological communities to multiple stressors at landscape scales.

Objectives

We use a long-term dataset to test for synergistic effects of anthropogenic and natural disturbance on plant community diversity and composition in a large protected area.

Methods

We quantified changes in plant communities over two decades in 98 plots in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada. Fifty-three plots burned in a wildfire in the interim. We modeled the effects of wildfire, proximity to trails or roads, and their interaction on changes in species richness, community composition, relative abundance of disturbance-associated species, and colonization by exotic species.

Results

Interactions between wildfire and proximity to roads and trails affected all metrics except species richness. Only one interaction was synergistic: the relative abundance of disturbance-associated species following wildfire was magnified closer to recreational corridors. The other community metrics showed unexpected patterns. For example, plots with no exotic species in the baseline survey that burned in the wildfire were more likely to gain exotic species than unburned plots only when they were distant from recreational corridors.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates interactive effects of natural and anthropogenic disturbance at landscape scales within a protected area. Plant community response to wildfire was influenced by proximity to recreational corridors, sometimes in surprising ways. As the frequency and severity of anthropogenic and natural disturbances both continue to rise, documenting the prevalence and magnitude of interactions between them is key to predicting long-term effects and designing mitigation strategies.
Automatic 3D-display-friendly scene extraction from video sequences and optimal focusing distance identification
Authors: Chlubna Tomáš , Milet Tomáš , Zemčík Pavel
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a method for an automatic detection of 3D-display-friendly scenes from video sequences. Manual selection of such scenes by a human user would be extremely time consuming and would require additional evaluation of the result on 3D display. The input videos can be intentionally captured or taken from other sources, such as films. First, the input video is analyzed and the camera trajectory is estimated. The optimal frame sequence that follows defined rules, based on optical attributes of the display, is then extracted. This ensures the best visual quality and viewing comfort. The following identification of a correct focusing distance is an important step to produce a sharp and artifact-free result on a 3D display. Two novel and equally efficient focus metrics for 3D displays are proposed and evaluated. Further scene enhancements are proposed to correct the unsuitably captured video. Multiple image analysis approaches used in the proposal are compared in terms of both quality and time performance. The proposal is experimentally evaluated on a state-of-the-art 3D display by Looking Glass Factory and is suitable even for other multi-view devices. The problem of optimal scene detection, which includes the input frames extraction, resampling, and focusing, was not addressed in any previous research. Separate stages of the proposal were compared with existing methods, but the results show that the proposed scheme is optimal and cannot be replaced by other state-of-the-art approaches.
Performance Comparison of Different HTM-Spatial Pooler Algorithms Based on Information-Theoretic Measures
Authors: Sanati Shiva , Rouhani Modjtaba , Hodtani Ghosheh Abed
Published: February 2024

Hierarchical temporal memory (HTM) is a promising unsupervised machine-learning algorithm that models key principles of neocortical computation. One of the main components of HTM is the spatial pooler (SP), which encodes binary input streams into sparse distributed representations (SDRs). In this paper, we propose an information-theoretic framework for the performance comparison of HTM-spatial pooler (SP) algorithms, specifically, for quantifying the similarities and differences between sparse distributed representations in SP algorithms. We evaluate SP's standalone performance, as well as HTM's overall performance. Our comparison of various SP algorithms using Renyi mutual information, Renyi divergence, and Henze–Penrose divergence measures reveals that the SP algorithm with learning and a logarithmic boosting function yields the most effective and useful data representation. Moreover, the most effective SP algorithm leads to superior HTM results. In addition, we utilize our proposed framework to compare HTM with other state-of-the-art sequential learning algorithms. We illustrate that HTM exhibits superior adaptability to pattern changes over time than long short term memory (LSTM), gated recurrent unit (GRU) and online sequential extreme learning machine (OS-ELM) algorithms. This superiority is evident from the lower Renyi divergence of HTM (0.23) compared to LSTM6000 (0.33), LSTM3000 (0.38), GRU (0.41), and OS-ELM (0.49). HTM also achieved the highest Renyi mutual information value of 0.79, outperforming LSTM6000 (0.73), LSTM3000 (0.71), GRU (0.68), and OS-ELM (0.62). These findings not only confirm the numerous advantages of HTM over other sequential learning algorithm, but also demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed information-theoretic approach as a powerful framework for comparing and evaluating various learning algorithms.
Radiocarbon dating, eruptive dynamics, and hazard implications of four Holocene Plinian-type eruptions recorded in Manizales city, Colombia
Authors: Picón Karla , Herrera Katherin , Avellán Denis-Ramón , Murcia Hugo , Botero-Gómez Luis Alvaro , Gómez-Arango Johana
Published: February 2024

Urban centers settled under the influence of volcanic activity are common in the Colombian Andes, particularly those such as Manizales city (ca. 400,000 inhabitants) and other smaller towns on the western flank of the Central Cordillera. Several pumice-rich tephra layers widely dispersed beneath the city suggest multiple Plinian-type eruptions have occurred nearby. From this geological record, the four youngest, thickest, and most persistent layers in the region are the most representative of this activity. This work uses mapping, physical descriptions, radiocarbon dating, and calculation of physical parameters to: (1) define and characterize the tephra sequence, (2) determine the age of the eruptions, (3) define the source and eruptive dynamics associated with each of the events, and (4) give insights into the volcanic hazard for Manizales city. The deposits were named in this study as Lower Manizales (Lm), Middle-lower Manizales (Mlm), Middle-upper Manizales (Mum) and Upper Manizales (Um) tephra layers, together forming the “Manizales tephra sequence”. Mapping of the deposits revealed the lower layer originated from the little known Plazuela volcano (~ 15 km east of Manizales), while the others originated in the Cerro Bravo volcano (~ 25 km east of Manizales). The radiometric analysis indicates that the lowest tephra layer originated at 7879.5 ± 55.5 cal. years BP, while the three overlying layers were deposited at 7730 ± 55 cal. years BP, 5294 ± 19 cal. years BP, and 2759 ± 20 cal. years BP. All of these deposits were formed by Plinian-type eruptions, with column heights varying between 18 and 29 km. The minimum tephra volume emitted by each eruption was between 0.21 and 0.38 km3, and the emission rate 21.6 × 107 kg/s for the Lm layer, 3.38 × 107 kg/s for the Mlm layer, 6.27 × 107 kg/s for the Mum layer, and 5.16 × 107 kg/s for the Um layers. The results suggest that the region is strongly threatened by pyroclastic falls associated with several active volcanoes located in the Central Cordillera.
Independence Results for Finite Set Theories in Well-Founded Locally Finite Graphs
Authors: Balogun Funmilola , Löwe Benedikt
Published: February 2024

We consider all combinatorially possible systems corresponding to subsets of finite set theory (i.e., Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory without the axiom of infinity) and for each of them either provide a well-founded locally finite graph that is a model of that theory or show that this is impossible. To that end, we develop the technique of axiom closure of graphs.
Coordinated ifs and theories of conditionals
Authors: Klinedinst Nathan
Published: February 2024

This paper concerns the semantics of coordinated if-clauses, as in (1)-(2). It is argued that the meanings of such sentences are explained straightforwardly on theories of conditionals that tie their non- monotonic behaviour to the if-clause itself (e.g. Schlenker 2004, but not theories that tie it to a (covert) modal operator (e.g. Kratzer 1981; 1991). Coordinated if-clauses are revealing of the fine-grained compositional semantics of conditionals.
A New Dataset and a Distractor-Aware Architecture for Transparent Object Tracking
Authors: Lukežič Alan , Trojer Žiga , Matas Jiří , Kristan Matej
Published: February 2024

Performance of modern trackers degrades substantially on transparent objects compared to opaque objects. This is largely due to two distinct reasons. Transparent objects are unique in that their appearance is directly affected by the background. Furthermore, transparent object scenes often contain many visually similar objects (distractors), which often lead to tracking failure. However, development of modern tracking architectures requires large training sets, which do not exist in transparent object tracking. We present two contributions addressing the aforementioned issues. We propose the first transparent object trackingtraining datasetTrans2k that consists of over 2k sequences with 104,343 images overall, annotated by bounding boxes and segmentation masks. Standard trackers trained on this dataset consistently improve by up to 16%. Our second contribution is a new distractor-aware transparent object tracker (DiTra) that treats localization accuracy and target identification as separate tasks and implements them by a novel architecture. DiTra sets a new state-of-the-art in transparent object tracking and generalizes well to opaque objects.
Alles eine Frage des Bundeslandes? Eine mehrebenenanalytische Betrachtung der eingeschränkten Vergleichbarkeit von Schulnoten
Authors: Hübner Nicolas , Jansen Malte , Stanat Petra , Bohl Thorsten , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: February 2024

Schulnoten werden seit jeher kontrovers diskutiert, insbesondere in Bezug auf ihre Bedeutung und Vergleichbarkeit. Dies wird in unterschiedlichen Publikationen deutlich, die zum Teil bis in das 19. Jahrhundert zurückreichen, deren kritische Anmerkungen aber bis heute nicht an Aktualität verloren haben. Auch in jüngster Zeit finden immer wieder bildungspolitische Debatten statt, die im Kern auf Widersprüche zwischen der unklaren Aussagekraft von Schulnoten und ihrer gleichzeitig großen Bedeutung für Selektions- und Allokationsprozesse verweisen. Einen besonderen Schwerpunkt in diesen jüngeren Diskursen bildet die Kritik an der mangelnden Vergleichbarkeit von Schulnoten aus unterschiedlichen Bundesländern, die letztlich, so die vielfach vorgetragene Argumentation, insbesondere durch eine Auflösung föderaler Strukturen und eine nationale Bildungsstrategie überwunden werden könne. Der vorliegende Beitrag nimmt diese Diskussion zum Anlass, die Vergleichbarkeit von Schulnoten genauer zu untersuchen. Hierzu erfolgt eine systematische Aufschlüsselung der Beiträge unterschiedlicher Ebenen (innerhalb von Schulen, zwischen Schulen, zwischen Bundesländern) zur mangelnden Vergleichbarkeit von Schulnoten. Grundlage der Untersuchung bilden repräsentative Daten von N = 55.002 Schülerinnen und Schülern aus den IQB-Bildungstrends 2015 und 2018 (Jahrgangsstufe 9). Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Schülerinnen und Schüler mit gleichen Schulnoten substantiell unterschiedliche Kompetenzen aufweisen und dies auch umgekehrt gilt. Ferner zeigte sich, dass die Unterschiede zu einem erheblichen Maß durch Unterschiede zwischen Schulen innerhalb von Bundesländern erklärt werden konnten und deutlich weniger durch Bundeslandunterschiede. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass die Debatte zur eingeschränkten Vergleichbarkeit von Schulnoten ihr Augenmerk nicht nur auf die Ebene der Bundesländer, sondern auch auf die Mechanismen der Notengebung und Ursachen von Schulnotenunterschieden zwischen Schulen innerhalb von Bundesländern richten sollte.
Whether Weather Matters with Migraine
Authors: Denney Delora Elizabeth , Lee Jane , Joshi Shivang
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

Many patients with migraine report their attacks are triggered by various weather anomalies. Studies have shown mixed results regarding the association of migraine to weather changes. The purpose of the current review is to compile the most up-to-date research studies on how weather may affect migraine. In addition, we explore the association between weather and other inflammatory disease states as well as neurotransmitters.

Recent Findings

Migraine attacks can be related to weather variables such as barometric pressure, humidity, and wind. However, the results of recent studies are inconsistent; weathers’ effect on migraine attacks is around 20%. However, very strong weather factors have a more significant effect on migraine attack variables.

Many individuals identify weather as a migraine attack trigger, yet we see no causative relationship between weather and migraine patterns. The outcomes of studies indicate mixed results and reflect individual variation in how weather can impact migraine patterns. Similar relationships can be seen with other rheumatologic and pain conditions in general. Overall, the combination of weather plus other factors appears to be a more significant migraine trigger.
Von der individuellen Nachfragemacht zur kollektiven Teilhabemacht
Authors: Mielich Sinah , Kunstreich Timm
Published: February 2024

Die Autor_innen argumentieren, dass die aktuelle Jugendhilfe defizitorientiert ist und sich auf individuelle Hilfen konzentriert, anstelle eine „gemeinsame Aufgabenbewältigung“ zu fördern. Sie schlagen vor, den Fokus von kompensatorischer Hilfe auf die Schaffung einer demokratischen Sozialgenossenschaft zu verlagern. Genossenschaften basieren auf folgenden vier Prinzipien: Förderung, Identität, Demokratie und Solidarität. Als Beispiel wird die Stadtteilgenossenschaft Horn vorgestellt, die darauf abzielt, die soziale Infrastruktur zu verbessern und die Teilhabe der Bewohner_innen zu fördern. Die Autor_innen betonen die Bedeutung des Codes ‚mit‘, bei dem alle Beteiligten zusammenarbeiten, um gemeinsame Probleme zu lösen und die kollektive Teilhabemacht zu stärken. Sie plädieren für eine neue Jugendhilfe, die die Bildung und Beteiligung von Kindern und Jugendlichen in den Mittelpunkt stellt und darauf orientiert, die Subjektrechte junger Menschen zu stärken.
Lebende Stromkabel mit überraschender Arbeitsteilung
Authors: Schramm Andreas
Published: February 2024

Centimeter-long, multicellular bacteria that form electric wires as good as semiconductors? That split their energy-conserving redox reaction into two half reactions, performed in distant parts of their filamentous “body”, so some cells “eat” while other cells “breathe”? Sounds like science fiction, doesn’t it? And yet that’s what “cable bacteria” do. Here’s their story, from their surprise discovery 12 years ago to the selection of the candidate genus Electronema as Microbe of the Year 2024.
Mikrosporidien-Genome als Fenster zu deren Evolution
Authors: Angst Pascal , Ebert Dieter
Published: February 2024

Genomics is a powerful toolkit for unravelling how evolutionary processes drive organisms’ small- and large-scale genetic variation. Several outstanding questions remain concerning the evolution of genome size and architecture, especially in intracellular parasites. Microsporidia became a model for this field of study as they exhibit genome size variation of more than an order of magnitude. Here, we discuss evolution in the large-genome microsporidium Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis, a parasite of a water flea.
Makroporöse Silikonschwämme zur Erforschung unbekannter Mikroben
Authors: Meisch Laura , Martín Marta Velaz , Rabe Kersten S. , Niemeyer Christof M.
Published: February 2024

Microorganisms are the most abundant living organisms on Earth and are essential for the functioning of ecosystems. However, more than 99 percent of them are uncharacterized and are referred to as microbial dark matter (MDM). Their discovery is limited partly due to the lack of suitable cultivation methods. A novel cultivation method using a macroporous silicon matrix addresses this problem. Its applicability has been demonstrated in the laboratory with model organisms and in three natural environments.
Der Zellkern als Vorbild für zukünftige DNA-Computerchips?
Authors: Hilbert Lennart
Published: February 2024

Transcription factories are dynamic structures located in the cell nucleus, which bring multiple genes and genomic control elements into proximity. Our research group explores these factories as inspiration for the design of high-performance DNA-based computer hardware. Potential applications range from innovative cell-based cancer therapy to advanced metabolic monitoring systems.
RNA-bindende Proteine als Regulatoren des Stammzellstoffwechsels
Authors: Tamura Norito , Huppertz Ina
Published: February 2024

Differentiation of embryonic stem cells requires the coordinated regulation of their metabolism, which is characterised by a shift from glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. While the regulation of metabolic pathways has traditionally been attributed to proteins involved in differential transcription, there is increasing evidence that post-transcriptional control can play a crucial role in metabolism. Here we discuss the involvement of RNA-binding proteins in the metabolic rewiring during stem cell differentiation.
Cerebellar Volumetry in Ataxias: Relation to Ataxia Severity and Duration
Authors: Ferreira Mónica , Schaprian Tamara , Kügler David , Reuter Martin , Deike-Hoffmann Katharina , Timmann Dagmar , Ernst Thomas M. , Giunti Paola , Garcia-Moreno Hector , van de Warrenburg Bart , van Gaalen Judith , de Vries Jeroen , Jacobi Heike , Steiner Katharina Marie , Öz Gülin , Joers James M. , Onyike Chiadi , Povazan Michal , Reetz Kathrin , Romanzetti Sandro , Klockgether Thomas , Faber Jennifer
Published: February 2024

Cerebellar atrophy is the neuropathological hallmark of most ataxias. Hence, quantifying the volume of the cerebellar grey and white matter is of great interest. In this study, we aim to identify volume differences in the cerebellum between spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), SCA3 and SCA6 as well as multiple system atrophy of cerebellar type (MSA-C). Our cross-sectional data set comprised mutation carriers of SCA1 (N=12), SCA3 (N=62), SCA6 (N=14), as well as MSA-C patients (N=16). Cerebellar volumes were obtained from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images. To compare the different atrophy patterns, we performed a z-transformation and plotted the intercept of each patient group’s model at the mean of 7 years of ataxia duration as well as at the mean ataxia severity of 14 points in the SARA sum score. In addition, we plotted the extrapolation at ataxia duration of 0 years as well as 0 points in the SARA sum score. Patients with MSA-C demonstrated the most pronounced volume loss, particularly in the cerebellar white matter, at the late time intercept. Patients with SCA6 showed a pronounced volume loss in cerebellar grey matter with increasing ataxia severity compared to all other patient groups. MSA-C, SCA1 and SCA3 showed a prominent atrophy of the cerebellar white matter. Our results (i) confirmed SCA6 being considered as a pure cerebellar grey matter disease, (ii) emphasise the involvement of cerebellar white matter in the neuropathology of SCA1, SCA3 and MSA-C, and (iii) reflect the rapid clinical progression in MSA-C.
Shell Money
Authors: Fauvelle Mikael
Published: February 2024

Where, when, and under what circumstances did money first emerge? This Element examines this question through a comparative study of the use of shells to facilitate trade and exchange in ancient societies around the world. It argues that shell money was a form of social technology that expanded political-economic capacities by enabling long-distance trade across boundaries and between strangers. The Element examines several cases in which shells and shell beads permeated throughout daily life and became central to the economic functioning of the societies that used them. In several of these cases, it argues that shells were used in ways that meet all the standard definitions of modern money. By examining the wide range of uses of shell money in ancient economic systems around the world, this Element explores the diversity of forms that money has taken throughout human history. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Industrial Policy
Authors: Coulter Steve
Published: February 2024

Well-designed industrial policies can improve a nation's economic performance. Using a range of tools, such as subsidies, tax incentives, infrastructure development, protective regulations, and R&D support, governments are able to support specific industries or economic activities.

Steve Coulter examines the patterns of industrial policymaking across late capitalist societies. Drawing on case studies from a range of countries, each with different growth models, national capabilities, policy traditions, and political/welfare state regimes, he is able to offer a nuanced comparative assessment of states' responses to specific economic challenges. The book draws broad conclusions about the trajectories of industrial policy and highlights key technical and political drivers that policymakers consider when addressing whether best practice should centre on general or nationally-specific approaches. The book also focuses on fresh challenges and opportunities for industrial policy and questions the sustainability of current policy practice.
Long-term Rural Settlement Continuity and Land Use during the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Northern Franconian Low Mountain Range
Authors: Seregély Timo , Kothieringer Katja , Jansen Doris , Fuchs Markus , Kolb Thomas , Schäfer Andreas
Published: February 2024

In this article, the authors present the salient archaeological results of a diachronic, interdisciplinary research project on rural settlement and land use in a region of low mountains in southern Germany. Despite clear locational disadvantages, in particular great distances to drinking water sources, archaeological excavations and an extensive dating programme document an unexpectedly long continuity of prehistoric settlement in the area.
Impact of infectious diseases consultation for hospitalized patients with Clostridioides difficile infection
Authors: Cranis Mara , Elamin Azza , Hatch-Vallier Brianna , Collins Curtis D. , Malani Anurag N.
Published: February 2024

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. This study described outcomes associated with mandatory infectious diseases (ID) consultation in hospitalized patients with CDI. ID consultation was associated with increased appropriate concomitant antibiotic use, however longer courses of concomitant antibiotics were administered.
Influence of parametric forcing on Marangoni instability
Authors: Ignatius I.B. , Dinesh B. , Dietze G.F. , Narayanan R.
Published: February 2024

We study a thin, laterally confined heated liquid layer subjected to mechanical parametric forcing without gravity. In the absence of parametric forcing, the liquid layer exhibits the Marangoni instability, provided the temperature difference across the layer exceeds a threshold. This threshold varies with the perturbation wavenumber, according to a curve with two minima, which correspond to long- and short-wave instability modes. The most unstable mode depends on the lateral confinement of the liquid layer. In wide containers, the long-wave mode is typically observed, and this can lead to the formation of dry spots. We focus on this mode, as the short-wave mode is found to be unaffected by parametric forcing. We use linear stability analysis and nonlinear computations based on a reduced-order model to investigate how parametric forcing can prevent the formation of dry spots. At low forcing frequencies, the liquid film can be rendered linearly stable within a finite range of forcing amplitudes, which decreases with increasing frequency and ultimately disappears at a cutoff frequency. Outside this range, the flow becomes unstable to either the Marangoni instability (for small amplitudes) or the Faraday instability (for large amplitudes). At high frequencies, beyond the cutoff frequency, linear stabilization through parametric forcing is not possible. However, a nonlinear saturation mechanism, occurring at forcing amplitudes below the Faraday instability threshold, can greatly reduce the film surface deformation and therefore prevent dry spots. Although dry spots can also be avoided at larger forcing amplitudes, this comes at the expense of generating large-amplitude Faraday waves.
Causal Agnosticism About Race: Variable Selection Problems in Causal Inference
Authors: Tolbert Alexander Williams
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a novel view in the the philosophy of race & causation literature known as “causal agnosticism” about race. Causal agnosticism about race implies that it is reasonable to refrain from making judgments about whether race is a cause. The paper’s thesis asserts that certain conditions must be met to infer that something is a cause, according to the fundamental assumptions of causal inference. However, in the case of race, these conditions are often violated. By advocating for causal agnosticism, the paper suggests a more modest approach to understanding the role of race in causal relationships.
Adherence to Mediterranean diet is inversely associated with depressive symptoms in older women: findings from the NutBrain Study
Authors: Conti Silvia , Perdixi Elena , Bernini Sara , Jesuthasan Nithiya , Severgnini Marco , Prinelli Federica
Published: February 2024

Data on the association of the Mediterranean diet (MD) with depressive symptoms in older people at high risk of depression are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association of the adherence to the MD and its components with depressive symptoms in an Italian cohort of older men and women. A total of 325 men and 473 women aged 65–97 years (2019–2023) answered a 102-item semi-quantitative FFQ, which was used to calculate the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale; subjects with a score of 16 or more were considered to have depression. Multivariable logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. The occurrence of depressive symptoms was 19·8 % (8·0 % men, 27·9 % women). High adherence to MDS (highest tertile) significantly reduced the odds of having depressive symptoms by 54·6 % (OR 0·454, 95 % CI 0·266, 0·776). In sex-stratified analysis, the reduction was evident in women (OR 0·385, 95 % CI 0·206, 0·719) but not in men (OR 0·828, 95 % CI 0·254, 2·705). Looking at the association of MDS components with depressive symptoms, we found an inverse significant association with fish consumption and the MUFA:SFA ratio above the median only in women (OR 0·444, 95 % CI 0·283, 0·697 and OR 0·579, 95 % CI 0·345, 0·971, respectively). High adherence to the MDS, and a high fish intake and MUFA:SFA ratio were associated with lower depressive symptoms in women only. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and to explore the underlying biological mechanisms.
Functional properties of cream and butter oil from milk of Holstein cows abomasally infused with increasing amounts of high-oleic sunflower fatty acids
Authors: Ortiz Gonzalez Gerardo , Perkins Edward G. , Schmidt Shelly J. , Drackley James K.
Published: February 2024

This research paper addresses the hypothesis that there is an optimal amount of intestinally available oleic acid (provided via abomasal infusion) to produce higher-oleic acid milk fat with satisfactory functional characteristics of cream and butter oil. A control and four increasing doses of free fatty acids from high oleic sunflower oil (HOSFA) were infused into the abomasum of four lactating dairy cows in a crossover experimental design with 7-d periods. Treatments were: (1) control (no HOSFA infused), (2) HOSFA (250 g/d), (3) HOSFA (500 g/d), (4) HOSFA (750 g/d), and (5) HOSFA (1000 g/d). All treatments included meat solubles and Tween 80 as emulsifiers. Viscosity, overrun and whipping time as well as foam firmness and stability were evaluated in whipping creams (33% fat). Solid fat content (from 0 to 40°C), melting point and firmness were determined in butter oil. Whipping time of cream increased linearly and viscosity decreased linearly as infusion of HOSFA increased. Overrun displayed a quadratic response, decreasing when 500 g/d or more was infused. Foam firmness and stability were not affected significantly by HOSFA. For butter oil, melting point, firmness, and solid fat content decreased as HOSFA infusion increased. Changes in 21 TG fractions were statistically correlated to functional properties, with 6–10 fractions showing the highest correlations consistently. Decisions on the optimal amount of HOSFA were dependent on the dairy product to which milk fat is applied. For products handled at commercial refrigeration temperatures, such as whipping cream and butter oil, the 250 g/d level was the limit to maintain satisfactory functional qualities. Palmitic acid needed to be present in at least 20% in milk fat to keep the functional properties for the products.
Trivelpiece–Gould modes and low-frequency electron–ion instability of non-neutral plasma
Authors: Yeliseyev Yuriy N.
Published: February 2024

The frequency spectra of the Trivelpiece–Gould modes of a waveguide partially filled with non-neutral plasma are determined numerically by solving the dispersion equation. The modes having azimuthal number

$m = 1$

are considered. The results are presented for the entire acceptable range of electron densities, magnetic field strengths, for different values of the charge neutralization coefficient. The Cherenkov resonance condition of an ion with a diocotron mode having a finite value of the longitudinal wave vector was studied. The characteristics of resonant low-frequency electron–ion instability caused by relative azimuth motion of electrons and ions in crossed fields and by the anisotropy of the distribution function of ions are discussed. Ions are created by ionization of residual gas in the plasma volume. Due to the anisotropy, instability occurs not only in the vicinity of the resonance, but also outside it. For typical values of plasma parameters in experiments, estimations of the frequency growth rate are given. A conclusion is drawn that this instability can be the cause of the low-frequency oscillations observed in linear devices with non-neutral plasma produced in an electron beam channel.
First record of Ramari's beaked whale Mesoplodon eueu (Cetacea: Ziphiidae) for Uruguay
Authors: Valdivia Meica , Frones Lucía , Rossini Emilia , Laporta Paula , Carroll Emma L. , McGowen Michael R. , Marx Felix G. , Ríos Néstor
Published: February 2024

We report the first record of Ramari's beaked whale (Mesoplodon eueu) from the temperate Southwestern Atlantic. Our analysis is based on an adult female and a plausibly associated calf/juvenile that stranded on the coast of Canelones Department, Uruguay. The species of the two individuals was identified via a combination of morphometric and molecular mitochondrial data and provide new insights into the Ramari's beaked whale, including previously unknown polymorphisms in the mitochondrial genome and a re-estimated date of divergence from Mesoplodon mirus at 2.5902 Mya.
Frequency-dependent alterations of global signal topography in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Yang Chengxiao , Biswal Bharat , Cui Qian , Jing Xiujuan , Ao Yujia , Wang Yifeng
Published: February 2024

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated not only with disorders in multiple brain networks but also with frequency-specific brain activities. The abnormality of spatiotemporal networks in patients with MDD remains largely unclear.

Methods

We investigated the alterations of the global spatiotemporal network in MDD patients using a large-sample multicenter resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging dataset. The spatiotemporal characteristics were measured by the variability of global signal (GS) and its correlation with local signals (GSCORR) at multiple frequency bands. The association between these indicators and clinical scores was further assessed.

Results

The GS fluctuations were reduced in patients with MDD across the full frequency range (0–0.1852 Hz). The GSCORR was also reduced in the MDD group, especially in the relatively higher frequency range (0.0728–0.1852 Hz). Interestingly, these indicators showed positive correlations with depressive scores in the MDD group and relative negative correlations in the control group.

Conclusion

The GS and its spatiotemporal effects on local signals were weakened in patients with MDD, which may impair inter-regional synchronization and related functions. Patients with severe depression may use the compensatory mechanism to make up for the functional impairments.
War and the adoption of family allowances
Authors: Obinger Herbert , Schmitt Carina
Published: February 2024

Many Western countries first introduced family allowances around the Second World War. We argue that this clustering is not coincidental and put pronatalist policies related to war preparation and the socioeconomic and demographic ramifications of the Second World War at the center of our explanation. To test this, we first conduct brief case studies of France, Germany, Italy, and Japan to detail how war preparation influenced the introduction of such family allowances. Second, a panel regression of 18 Western countries investigates the different factors contributing to the timing of introduction of such policies and shows that war and its aftershocks have been an important causal factor in the introduction of family allowances. It was not so much the destructiveness of and the involvement in the war that played a role, but rather a general wartime crisis that affected belligerent and non-belligerent countries in similar ways.