bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying environmental factors affecting the microbial community composition on outdoor structural timber
Authors: Schrader Lauritz , Trautner Jochen , Tebbe Christoph C.
Published: March 2024

Timber wood is a building material with many positive properties. However, its susceptibility to microbial degradation is a major challenge for outdoor usage. Although many wood-degrading fungal species are known, knowledge on their prevalence and diversity causing damage to exterior structural timber is still limited. Here, we sampled 46 decaying pieces of wood from outdoor constructions in the area of Hamburg, Germany; extracted their DNA; and investigated their microbial community composition by PCR amplicon sequencing of the fungal ITS2 region and partial bacterial 16S rRNA genes. In order to establish a link between the microbial community structure and environmental factors, we analysed the influence of wood species, its C and N contents, the effect of wood-soil contact, and the importance of its immediate environment (city, forest, meadow, park, respectively). We found that fungal and bacterial community composition colonising exterior timber was similar to fungi commonly found in forest deadwood. Of all basidiomycetous sequences retrieved, some, indicative for Perenniporia meridionalis, Dacrymyces capitatus, and Dacrymyces stillatus, were more frequently associated with severe wood damage. Whilst the most important environmental factor shaping fungal and bacterial community composition was the wood species, the immediate environment was important for fungal species whilst, for the occurrence of bacterial taxa, soil contact had a high impact. No influence was tangible for variation of the C or N content. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that wood colonising fungal and bacterial communities are equally responsive in their composition to wood species, but respond differently to environmental factors.

Key points

• Perenniporia meridionalis and Dacrymyces are frequently associated with wood damage

• Fungal community composition on timber is affected by its surrounding environment

• Bacterial community composition on structural timber is affected by soil contact
The serine/threonine protein kinase MpSTE1 directly governs hyphal branching in Monascus spp.
Authors: Duan Yali , Chen Xizhu , Wang Tingya , Li Mu
Published: March 2024

Monascus spp. are commercially important fungi due to their ability to produce beneficial secondary metabolites such as the cholesterol-lowering agent lovastatin and natural food colorants azaphilone pigments. Although hyphal branching intensively influenced the production of these secondary metabolites, the pivotal regulators of hyphal development in Monascus spp. remain unclear. To identify these important regulators, we developed an artificial intelligence (AI)–assisted image analysis tool for quantification of hyphae-branching and constructed a random T-DNA insertion library. High-throughput screening revealed that a STE kinase, MpSTE1, was considered as a key regulator of hyphal branching based on the hyphal phenotype. To further validate the role of MpSTE1, we generated an mpSTE1 gene knockout mutant, a complemented mutant, and an overexpression mutant (OE::mpSTE1). Microscopic observations revealed that overexpression of mpSTE1 led to a 63% increase in branch number while deletion of mpSTE1 reduced the hyphal branching by 68% compared to the wild-type strain. In flask cultures, the strain OE::mpSTE1 showed accelerated growth and glucose consumption. More importantly, the strain OE::mpSTE1 produced 9.2 mg/L lovastatin and 17.0 mg/L azaphilone pigments, respectively, 47.0% and 30.1% higher than those of the wild-type strain. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that MpSTE1 directly phosphorylated 7 downstream signal proteins involved in cell division, cytoskeletal organization, and signal transduction. To our best knowledge, MpSTE1 is reported as the first characterized regulator for tightly regulating the hyphal branching in Monascus spp. These findings significantly expanded current understanding of the signaling pathway governing the hyphal branching and development in Monascus spp. Furthermore, MpSTE1 and its analogs were demonstrated as promising targets for improving production of valuable secondary metabolites.

Key points

• MpSTE1 is the first characterized regulator for tightly regulating hyphal branching

• Overexpression of mpSTE1 significantly improves secondary metabolite production

• A high-throughput image analysis tool was developed for counting hyphal branching
Acute myeloid leukemia with rare recurring translocations—an overview of the entities included in the international consensus classification
Authors: Rørvik Synne D. , Torkildsen Synne , Bruserud Øystein , Tvedt Tor Henrik Anderson
Published: March 2024

Two different systems exist for subclassification of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification and the International Consensus Classification (ICC) of myeloid malignancies. The two systems differ in their classification of AML defined by recurrent chromosomal abnormalities. One difference is that the ICC classification defines an AML subset that includes 12 different genetic abnormalities that occur in less than 4% of AML patients. These subtypes exhibit distinct clinical traits and are associated with treatment outcomes, but detailed description of these entities is not easily available and is not described in detail even in the ICC. We searched in the PubMed database to identify scientific publications describing AML patients with the recurrent chromosomal abnormalities/translocations included in this ICC defined patient subset. This patient subset includes AML with t(1;3)(p36.3;q21.3), t(3;5)(q25.3;q35.1), t(8;16)(p11.2;p13.3), t(1;22)(p13.3;q13.1), t(5;11)(q35.2;p15.4), t(11;12)(p15.4;p13.3) (involving NUP98), translocation involving NUP98 and other partner, t(7;12)(q36.3;p13.2), t(10;11)(p12.3;q14.2), t(16;21)(p11.2;q22.2), inv(16)(p13.3q24.3) and t(16;21)(q24.3;q22.1). In this updated review we describe the available information with regard to frequency, biological functions of the involved genes and the fusion proteins, morphology/immunophenotype, required diagnostic procedures, clinical characteristics (including age distribution) and prognostic impact for each of these 12 genetic abnormalities.
Activated carbon cloth electrodes for capacitive deionization: a neutron imaging study
Authors: Butcher Tim A. , Prendeville Lucy , Rafferty Aran , Trtik Pavel , Boillat Pierre , Coey J. M. D.
Published: March 2024

Neutron imaging was employed to track the uptake of Gd$$^{3+}$$

3
+

ions by the sub 2 nm micropores of charged activated carbon cloth electrodes from an aqueous Gd(NO$$_3$$

3

)$$_3$$

3

 solution. The transmitted neutron intensity evinces the persistent presence of Gd$$^{3+}$$

3
+

in the micropores during the discharge cycle, which is caused by the adsorption of oppositely charged ions. The charge efficiency of the activated carbon cloth system was determined by direct comparison with the imaged Gd$$^{3+}$$

3
+

concentration changes, with which the influence of ion swapping and resistive losses on capacitive deionization cells can be ascertained.
Efforts to improve outcomes among neonates with complex intestinal atresia: a single-center low-income country experience
Authors: Okello Innocent , Stephens Caroline Q. , Kakembo Nasser , Kisa Phyllis , Nimanya Stella , Yap Ava , Wesonga Anne S. , Naluyimbazi Rovine , Kayima Peter , Ssewanyana Yasin , Ozgediz Doruk , Sekabira John
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Intestinal obstruction caused by intestinal atresia is a surgical emergency in newborns. Outcomes for the jejunal ileal atresia (JIA), the most common subtype of atresia in low-income countries (LIC), are poor. We sought to assess the impact of utilizing the Bishop–Koop (BK) approach to JIA in improving outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on children with complex JIA (Type 2–4) treated at our national referral hospital from 1/2018 to 12/2022. BK was regularly used starting 1/1/2021, and outcomes between 1/2021 and 12/2022 were compared to those between 1/2018 and 12/2020. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

A total of 122 neonates presented with JIA in 1/2018–12/2022, 83 of whom were treated for complex JIA. A significant decrease (p = 0.03) was noted in patient mortality in 2021 and 2022 (n = 33, 45.5% mortality) compared to 2018–2020 (n = 35, 71.4% mortality). This translated to a risk reduction of 0.64 (95% CI 0.41–0.98) with the increased use of BK.

Conclusion

Increased use of BK anastomoses with early enteral nutrition and decreased use of primary anastomosis improves outcomes for neonates with severe JIA in LIC settings. Implementing this surgical approach in LICs may help address the disparities in outcomes for children with JIA.
BOKU Wasserbaulabor – von der Idee bis zur Umsetzung
Authors: Habersack H.
Published: March 2024

Der Beginn der permanent genutzten Wasserbaulabore liegt ca. 125 Jahre zurück. In dieser Zeit konnten signifikante Fortschritte im Verständnis wasserbaulicher Fragestellungen und der mathematischen Beschreibung der verschiedensten Prozesse erzielt werden. Diese dienten dann als Basis für die steigende Nutzung numerischer Modelle, sodass die Bedeutung der physikalischen Modelle zurückzugehen schien. Es zeigte sich aber auch, dass vor allem Ansätze, die in sehr kleinen Modellmaßstäben entwickelt wurden, signifikante Unterschiede zur Natur ergeben können. Damit steigt die Bedeutung von großmaßstäblichen Versuchen bis zu 1:1, welche Turbulenz, kohärente Strukturen, Sedimenttransport, Morphodynamik, aber auch Maßnahmen in den Bereichen Wasserkraft, Schifffahrt oder Hochwasserrisikomanagement naturnäher abbilden können. Auch die Interaktion der Vegetation mit der Strömung oder dem Sedimenttransport, die Auswirkung von wasserbaulichen Maßnahmen auf Fische oder die Abdriftgefährdung von Menschen bei Hochwasser sind in kleinen Maßstäben gar nicht oder nur sehr eingeschränkt untersuchbar. Das neue BOKU Wasserbaulabor ermöglicht daher Versuche bis zu 1:1 über einen Freispiegeldurchfluss von bis zu 10 m3/s durch die Wasserspiegeldifferenz zwischen Donau und Donaukanal von 3 bis 3,5 m. Gemeinsam mit Modellversuchen in kleinerem Maßstab mit Klarwasser ergibt sich eine Skalenfamilie, die vertiefte Einblicke in Prozesse, aber auch deren mathematische Beschreibung erlaubt. Dieser Artikel stellt die Entwicklung des BOKU Wasserbaulabors von der Idee 2009 bis zur Umsetzung und Eröffnung 2023 dar und zeigt das Potenzial und erste Ergebnisse anhand von Beispielen auf, die in weiteren Beiträgen in diesem Heft erläutert werden.
Hydrological investigation of climate change impact on water balance components in the agricultural terraced watersheds of Yemeni highland
Authors: AL-Falahi Ali H. , Saddique Naeem , Spank Uwe , Pluntke Thomas , Gebrechorkos Solomon H. , Mauder Matthias , Bernhofer Christian
Published: March 2024

Hydrological models serve as valuable instruments for assessing the impact of climate change on water resources and agriculture as well as for developing adaptation measures. In Yemen, climate change and variability are imposing a significant impact on the most important sectors such as agriculture and economy. The current study evaluates the influence of future climate on hydrology and water balance components in Yemen’s highlands using a semi-distributed physical-based hydrologic model Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and employing high-resolution climate projections. The SWAT was calibrated and verified using observed streamflow data from 1982 to 2000 in three large catchments. Ground data from 24 stations and statistically downscaled future climate data for the period 2010–2100 under RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 are used. SWAT performance was assessed using multiple statistical methods, which revealed the commendable performance of SWAT during the calibration (average NSE = 0.80) and validation (NSE = 0.72) periods. The outcome indicates an increase in future seasonal and annual rainfall, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature in the 2020s and the 2080s under both RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios. This projected increase in the rainfall and the local temperature will result in increased averages of surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil water, and groundwater recharge in the representative three catchments up to 6.5%, 21.1%, 7.6%, and 6.4%, respectively. Although, the projected increase in the water balance components will benefit the agriculture and water sector, specific adaptation measures will be crucial to mitigate potential flood impacts arising from the increased precipitations as well as to minimize the consequences of the increased temperature. Likewise, demand for supplementary irrigation is expected to increase to offset the higher evapotranspiration rates in the future.
Habitat suitability and connectivity modelling predict a latitudinal-driven expansion in the Mediterranean basin for a historically introduced reptile
Authors: Serva Davide , Cittadino Viviana , Bernabò Ilaria , Biondi Maurizio , Iannella Mattia
Published: March 2024

Species introductions outside their native ranges, often driven by trade and other anthropogenic activities, present significant ecological challenges. Reptiles, frequently traded as pets for their attractiveness, are particularly susceptible to such introductions, leading to shifts in distribution patterns and potential ecological impacts. The common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon), which has been historically introduced in several European countries, is such an example, yet no overall assessments are available to date for this species. In this study, we used ecological niche models to assess habitat suitability for the common chameleon in the Mediterranean basin for current and future scenarios. Concurrently, circuit theory techniques were employed to evaluate habitat connectivity in two historically introduced areas. We identified areas of high habitat suitability and dispersal corridors in introduced regions. Our results reveal a latitudinal gradient in habitat suitability changes, with the species facing both expansion and decline in different parts of its range, depending on the ecozone considered. Severe declines are noted in southeastern Spain, Tunisia, and Israel, while habitat suitability increases westwards in Portugal, Morocco, and Southern Italy. These insights contribute to a better understanding of the common chameleon’s ecological dynamics, providing a foundation for targeted management and conservation efforts. Our study highlights the importance of integrating ecological niche modelling and circuit theory techniques to predict habitat suitability and identify critical dispersal corridors for effective conservation strategies. Considering the ongoing challenges posed by human-mediated dispersals for the common chameleon, our research establishes a foundation for future studies to enhance our understanding of this elusive species.
Pre-Aksumite and Aksumite Agricultural Economy at Ona Adi, Tigrai (Ethiopia): First look at a 1000-Year History
Authors: Meresa Yemane , Ruiz-Giralt Abel , Beldados Alemseged , Lancelotti Carla , D’Andrea A. Catherine
Published: March 2024

Archaeobotanical investigations at the site of Ona Adi in Tigrai were conducted during the 2013–2015 field seasons within the framework of the Eastern Tigrai Archaeological Project (ETAP). The site occupation spanned the Middle/Late Pre-Aksumite period (ca. 750/600 BCE) to the fall of the Aksumite Kingdom (ca. 700 CE), including the Pre-Aksumite to Aksumite transition (ca. 400 BCE–CE 1). The main objective of the study was to examine the agricultural economy in Eastern Tigrai during these periods and to evaluate the impact of social and cultural developments on the agricultural practices at Ona Adi. Recovered macrobotanical remains included wheat, barley, linseed, noog, lentil, and wild/weedy plants. In addition, evidence of finger millet was recovered along with tentative identifications of t’ef. The phytolith record shows evidence of grass processing, including morphotypes associated with Chloridoideae, Panicoideae, and Pooideae grasses. Results indicate that plants of both African and Southwest Asian origins were present in the region from the mid-eighth century BCE to the eighth century CE, but their relative importance varied throughout time in relation to socio-political changes at the regional level. Our data demonstrate a significant degree of continuity in the local agricultural economy, which remained largely unchanged even after the decline of Aksumite state.
Does landscape composition influence the diets of feral cats in agroecosystems?
Authors: Nottingham Catherine M. , Buckley Hannah L. , Case Bradley S. , Glen Alistair S. , Stanley Margaret C.
Published: March 2024

Habitat fragmentation can influence the diet of mammalian predators, potentially increasing their impact on prey species. Agroecosystems are fragmented landscapes that often have high densities of invasive mammalian predators. Feral cats are generalist predators that have successfully adapted to living in agricultural landscapes. Feral cats are known to eat rabbits, rodents, and birds, but it is unclear how landscape characteristics affect prey consumption. Here, we tested whether feral cat diet in New Zealand agroecosystems was affected by landscape composition and spatial configuration. We examined the contents of 112 feral cat gastrointestinal tracts collected from agroecosystems in different New Zealand regions over a 3-year period. We related prey richness and composition to the landscape composition and spatial configuration in a 500-ha area within which each cat was caught. Dietary analysis showed that feral cats were consuming invertebrates, birds, rodents, and rabbits, and that there were some regional and seasonal effects. No significant differences in prey richness or composition of the diet were associated with variation in landscape composition or spatial configuration. This study confirms feral cats as generalist predators that feed on a wide range of prey types in New Zealand agroecosystems, including some native species. Our study highlights the importance of further research for understanding how current conservation interventions in New Zealand, which include revegetation and rodent control, interact with feral cat populations and behaviours to impact on future biodiversity outcomes.
Evinacumab Reduces Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins in Patients with Hyperlipidemia: A Post-Hoc Analysis of Three Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Rosenson Robert S. , Rader Daniel J. , Ali Shazia , Banerjee Poulabi , McGinniss Jennifer , Pordy Robert
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Natural selection (Mendelian randomization) studies support a causal relationship between elevated triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This post-hoc analysis assessed the efficacy of evinacumab in reducing TRLs in patient cohorts from three separate clinical trials with evinacumab.

Methods

Patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 70 mg/dL were enrolled in a phase III trial (R1500-CL-1629; NCT03399786). Patients diagnosed with refractory hypercholesterolemia, with LDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL or ≥ 100 mg/dL for those with or without ASCVD, respectively, were enrolled in a phase II trial (R1500-CL-1643; NCT03175367). Patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia (fasting TGs ≥ 500 mg/dL) were enrolled in a phase II trial (R1500-HTG-1522; NCT03452228). Patients received evinacumab intravenously (5 or 15 mg/kg) every 4 weeks, or subcutaneously (300 or 450 mg) every week or every 2 weeks. Efficacy outcomes included change in TRLs (calculated as total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol minus LDL-C) and other lipid parameters from baseline to 12, 16, or 24 weeks for trial 1522, 1643, and 1629, respectively.

Results

At baseline, TRL levels were higher for patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia entering the 1522 trial vs. other cohorts. Reductions in TRLs were observed across all studies with evinacumab, with > 50% reduction from baseline observed at the highest doses evaluated in patients with HoFH or refractory hypercholesterolemia. Within all three trials, evinacumab was generally well tolerated.

Conclusions

Despite limitations in direct comparisons between study groups, these data indicate that TRL levels could be a future target for lipid-lowering therapies.
Emotions, worry, efficacy, and climate change–related sustainability behaviors among a representative sample of Texas and Florida residents
Authors: Garfin Dana Rose , Zernick Michelle V. , Wong-Parodi Gabrielle
Published: March 2024

Uptake and support of sustainable technologies that decrease greenhouse gas emissions are critical to mitigating climate change. Engagement in individual (e.g., eating less meat, electric car use) and collective (e.g., petition signing, donating money to environmental causes) sustainability behaviors may correlate with psychological factors including emotions, worry about climate change and natural hazards, and response efficacy. However, little research has explored these relationships in representative samples at high risk for climate-related hazard exposures (e.g., hurricanes, heatwaves, flooding). We assessed climate change-related sustainability behaviors in an ongoing, probability-based representative survey of 1479 Texas and Florida residents repeatedly exposed to climate-related hazards including hurricanes, heatwaves, flooding, and tornadoes. Controlling for demographics, behavior-related positive and negative emotions correlated with engagement in performing a greater number of collective-level sustainability behaviors (positive emotions: IRR = 2.06, p < .001; negative emotions: IRR = 1.46, p = .030).  However, negative emotions were mediated by natural hazard worry, which in turn was mediated by climate change worry. Positive emotions were mediated by response efficacy. Individual-level sustainability behaviors were associated with positive emotions (IRR = 1.18, p < .001), which were again mediated by response efficacy. In adjusted analyses unpacking the relationship between discrete emotions and sustainability behaviors, hope was associated with individual- and collective-level sustainability behaviors (all ps < .05). Results suggest general climate change worry may be adaptive and that feelings of hope, relative to other emotions (both positive and negative), may help encourage sustainability behaviors that address climate change. Scalable interventions should explore leveraging these psychological experiences to promote uptake of sustainable technology-related behaviors more broadly.
Environmental assymetry between the pillars of the CAP: the case of Spain
Authors: Poblete Carmelo Díaz , Valero Juan Sebastián Castillo , Garcia-Cortijo María Carmen
Published: March 2024

The Common Agricultural Policy, which is both dynamic and systemic, has aimed to adapt with its various Reforms to the environmental challenges faced by agriculture in Europe. The 2013 Reform brought the greenest CAP and, for the first time, Pillar 1 included measures that coexisted with, and complemented, those of Pillar 2. The purpose of this study is to determine which pillar is most effective in the fight against climate change because, even though the environmental effects of the CAP have been widely studied, there have not been sufficient studies in the literature that deal simultaneously with Pillars 1 and 2. We have drawn up an environmental equation for Spain, estimated using the Driscoll-Kraay technique which is the most suitable for panel data with cross-sectional and time dependence. The model shows that the best results were achieved with the second pillar, indicating that the adaptations and changes in environmental measures under the first pillar were not satisfactory for farmers and did not achieve their full potential.
Non-family Living Arrangements Among Young Adults in the United States
Authors: Jeffers Kristen , Esteve Albert , Batyra Ewa
Published: March 2024

The share of young adults living in married-couple family households in the USA has declined in recent decades. Research on alternative living arrangements focuses on cohabitation among unmarried couples and parent–adult child coresidence. Less is known about trends in non-family living arrangements and the characteristics of young adults living with non-relatives. This study documents trends over time in non-family living arrangements among young adults in the USA and examines the sociodemographic profile of those living with non-relatives. Using pooled US Census and American Community Survey microdata from 1990 to 2019, the authors document age patterns in non-family living arrangements over time and use logistic regression to estimate the likelihood of living with non-family based on individual-level characteristics. Results indicate that non-family living among young adults has increased over time, and that the arrangement is associated with markers of both advantage and disadvantage. Differences across age groups explain some of these mixed results. Trends among younger groups are linked to socioeconomic patterns around family formation. Among older groups, the demographic and labor force characteristics of the foreign born and constraints of their kin availability may be driving trends. The exploratory analysis provides relevant evidence around an increasingly common living arrangement in the USA and also identifies several areas for future research on living arrangements among young adults and the implications of these trends.
Curvature bounds on length-minimizing discs
Authors: Lytchak Alexander , Wagner Sophia
Published: March 2024

We show that a length-minimizing disk inherits the upper curvature bound of the target. As a consequence we prove that harmonic discs and ruled discs inherit the upper curvature bound from the ambient space.
Cusped Borel Anosov representations with positivity
Authors: Lee Gye-Seon , Zhang Tengren
Published: March 2024

We show that if a cusped Borel Anosov representation from a lattice $$\Gamma \subset \textsf{PGL}_2({{\,\mathrm{\mathbb {R}}\,}})$$

Γ
⊂

PGL
2

(

R

)

to $$\textsf{PGL}_d({{\,\mathrm{\mathbb {R}}\,}})$$

PGL
d

(

R

)

contains a unipotent element with a single Jordan block in its image, then it is necessarily a (cusped) Hitchin representation. We also show that the amalgamation of a Hitchin representation with a cusped Borel Anosov representation that is not Hitchin is never cusped Borel Anosov.
Morphometric analysis of wild potato leaves
Authors: Diaz-Garcia Gabriela , Lozoya-Saldaña Hector , Bamberg John , Diaz-Garcia Luis
Published: March 2024

To catalog and promote the conservation and use of crop wild relatives, comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic information must be available. Plant genotyping has the power to resolve the phylogenetic relationships between crop wild relatives, quantify genetic diversity, and identify marker-trait associations for expedited molecular breeding. However, access to cost-effective genotyping strategies is often limited in underutilized crops and crop wild relatives. Potato landraces and wild species, distributed throughout Central and South America, exhibit remarkable phenotypic diversity and are an invaluable source of resistance to pests and pathogens. Unfortunately, very limited information is available for these germplasm resources, particularly regarding phenotypic diversity and potential use as trait donors. In this work, more than 150 accessions corresponding to 12 species of wild and cultivated potatoes, collected from different sites across the American continent, were analyzed using computer vision and morphometric methods to evaluate leaf size and shape. In total, more than 1100 leaves and leaflets were processed and analyzed for nine traits related to size, shape, and color. The results produced in this study provided a visual depiction of the extensive variability among potato wild species and enabled a precise quantification of leaf phenotypic differences, including shape, color, area, perimeter, length, width, aspect ratio, convexity, and circularity. We also discussed the application and utility of inexpensive but comprehensive morphometric approaches to catalog and study the diversity of crop wild relatives. Finally, this study provided insights for further experimental research looking into the potential role of leaf size and shape variation in plant–insect interactions, agronomic productivity, and adaptation.
Intolerance of Uncertainty and Anxiety (but not Alexithymia) Mediate the Association Between Autistic Traits and Quality of Life
Authors: Lin Yeju , Mason David , Hirsch Colette , Happé Francesca
Published: March 2024

Previous research has indicated that autistic individuals report lower quality of life (QoL) than non-autistic people. It is unclear whether it is the autism traits themselves or co-occurring thinking styles or mental health difficulties that most impair QoL. This study tested a hypothesised model to explore how ‘intolerance of uncertainty’ (IU), alexithymia (difficulty in identifying and describing own emotions), and anxiety play into the association between autistic traits and QoL. Online survey data were analysed from 116 autistic and 51 non-autistic adults who completed six standardised questionnaires measuring autistic traits, alexithymia, IU, anxiety and QoL (physical health, psychological health, social relations, and environment domains). The autistic group reported higher scores for alexithymia, IU and anxiety, and lower scores for QoL across domains, compared to the non-autistic group. Across the entire sample, autistic traits, alexithymia, IU and anxiety were positively correlated with one another, and negatively related to the four domains of QoL. Finally, IU and anxiety partially serially mediated the pathways from autistic traits to physical health and environment domains of QoL, and fully mediated the pathways from autistic traits to psychological health and social relations domains of QoL, across the full sample. The lower QoL experienced by autistic people may be explained in part by the mediating effect of both IU and anxiety (but not alexithymia). This study highlights the need for evidence-based interventions to address both IU and anxiety to improve QoL for autistic people/those with high levels of autistic traits.
First Language Lexical Attrition in a First Language Setting: A Multi-Measure Approach Testing Teachers of English
Authors: Ma Yueqingzhou , Vanek Norbert
Published: March 2024

Research on first language (L1) attrition typically focuses on immigrant populations in their second language (L2) environment, yet we know comparably little about L1 attrition in the L1 setting. This study used two lexical tasks to test L1 attrition, a time-sensitive word decision task and a video retelling. Chinese teachers of English vs. Chinese teachers of other subjects (N = 25/group) were recruited at a secondary school in China. The aim was to provide an exploratory basis of the L2 influence on L1 lexical attrition in the L1 environment, both on the level of lexical comprehension and production. Mixed-effects models were used to analyse multiple measures including response accuracy and reaction times in comprehension, and lexical diversity, density, sophistication, and accuracy in production. The results showed Chinese teachers’ L1 lexical attrition in the form of longer response times to high-frequency Chinese words compared to non-English Chinese teachers, and the use of significantly fewer sophisticated words in their retellings. Also, teachers of English were faster and more accurate in decisions about Chinese borrowings from English, suggesting L2-driven influence on their mental lexicon. Considering participants’ background information, analyses showed that increased L2 exposure and frequency of use can predict L1 lexical attrition.
Inhibition of BMP signaling pathway induced senescence and calcification in anaplastic meningioma
Authors: Yokogami Kiyotaka , Watanabe Takashi , Yamashita Shinji , Mizuguchi Asako , Takeshima Hideo
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Meningiomas are the most common type of brain tumors and are generally benign, but malignant atypical meningiomas and anaplastic meningiomas frequently recur with poor prognosis. The metabolism of meningiomas is little known, so few effective treatment options other than surgery and radiation are available, and the targets for treatment of recurrence are not well defined. The Aim of this paper is to find the therapeutic target.

Methods

The effects of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signal inhibitor (K02288) and upstream regulator Gremlin2 (GREM2) on meningioma’s growth and senescence were examined. In brief, we examined as follows: 1) Proliferation assay by inhibiting BMP signaling. 2) Comprehensive analysis of forced expression GREM2.3) Correlation between GREM2 mRNA expression and proliferation marker in 87 of our clinical samples. 4) Enrichment analysis between GREM2 high/low expressed groups using RNA-seq data (42 cases) from the public database GREIN. 5) Changes in metabolites and senescence markers associated with BMP signal suppression.

Results

Inhibitors of BMP receptor (BMPR1A) and forced expression of GREM2 shifted tryptophan metabolism from kynurenine/quinolinic acid production to serotonin production in malignant meningiomas, reduced NAD + /NADH production, decreased gene cluster expression involved in oxidative phosphorylation, and caused decrease in ATP. Finally, malignant meningiomas underwent cellular senescence, decreased proliferation, and eventually formed psammoma bodies. Reanalyzed RNA-seq data of clinical samples obtained from GREIN showed that increased expression of GREM2 decreased the expression of genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, similar to our experimental results.

Conclusions

The GREM2-BMPR1A-tryptophan metabolic pathway in meningiomas is a potential new therapeutic target.
FEASE: Feature Selection and Enhancement Networks for Action Recognition
Authors: Zhou Lu , Lu Yuanyao , Jiang Haiyang
Published: March 2024

Reinforcement of motor features is necessary in action recognition tasks. In this work, we propose an efficient feature reinforcement model, termed as Feature Selection and Enhancement Networks (FEASE-Net). The core of our FEASE-Net is the use of the FEASE module to adaptively capture input features at multi-scales and reinforce them globally. FEASE module is composed of two sub-module, Feature Selection (FS) and Feature Enhancement (FE). The FS focuses on adaptive attention and selection of input features through a multi-scale structure with an attention mechanism, and FE employs channel attention to enhance the global useful feature information. To assess the effectiveness of FEASE-Net, we undertake a series of extensive experiments on two benchmark datasets, namely Kinetics 400 and Something-Something V2. Our proposed FEASE-Net can achieve a competitive performance compared with previous state-of-the-art methods that use similar backbones.
CEEMDAN-Based Hybrid Machine Learning Models for Time Series Forecasting Using MARS Algorithm and PSO-Optimization
Authors: Garai Sandip , Paul Ranjit Kumar , Yeasin Md , Paul A. K.
Published: March 2024

Accurate prediction of time series data is crucial for informed decision-making and economic development. However, predicting noisy time series data is a challenging task due to their irregularity and complex trends. In the past, several attempts have been made to model complex time series data using both stochastic and machine learning techniques. This study proposed a CEEMDAN-based hybrid machine learning algorithm combined with stochastic models to capture the volatility of weekly potato price in major markets of India. The smooth decomposed component is predicted using stochastic models, while the coarser components, selected using MARS, are fitted into two different machine learning algorithms. The final predictions for the original series are obtained using optimization techniques such as PSO. The performance of the proposed algorithm is measured using various metrics, and it is found that the optimization-based combination of models outperforms the individual counterparts. Overall, this study presents a promising approach to predict price series using a hybrid model combining stochastic and machine learning techniques, with feature selection and optimization techniques for improved performance.
HF-YOLO: Advanced Pedestrian Detection Model with Feature Fusion and Imbalance Resolution
Authors: Pan Lihu , Diao Jianzhong , Wang Zhengkui , Peng Shouxin , Zhao Cunhui
Published: March 2024

Pedestrian detection is crucial for various applications, including intelligent transportation and video surveillance systems. Although recent research has advanced pedestrian detection models like the YOLO series, they still face limitations in handling diverse pedestrian scales, leading to performance challenges. To address these issues, we propose HF-YOLO, an advanced pedestrian detection model. HF-YOLO tackles the complexities of pedestrian detection in complex scenes by addressing scale variations and occlusions among pedestrians. In the feature fusion stage, our algorithm leverages both shallow localization information and deep semantic information. This involves fusing P2 layer features and adding a high-resolution detection layer, significantly improving the detection of small-scale pedestrians and occluded instances. To enhance feature representation, HF-YOLO incorporates the HardSwish activation function, introducing more non-linear factors and strengthening the model’s ability to represent complex and discriminative features. Additionally, to address regression imbalance, a balance factor is introduced to the CIoU loss function. This modification effectively resolves the imbalance problem and enhances pedestrian localization accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm. HF-YOLO achieves notable improvements, including a 3.52% increase in average precision, a 1.35% boost in accuracy, and a 4.83% enhancement in recall. Moreover, the algorithm maintains real-time performance with a detection time of 8.5ms, meeting the stringent requirements of real-time applications.
DE3TC: Detecting Events with Effective Event Type Information and Context
Authors: Liu Boyang , Rao Guozheng , Wang Xin , Zhang Li , Cong Qing
Published: March 2024

Event Detection (ED) is a crucial information extraction task that aims to identify the event triggers and classify them into predefined event types. However, most existing methods did not perform well when processing events with implicit triggers. And most methods considered ED as a sentence-level task, lacking effective context for event semantics. Moreover, how to maintain good performance under low resource conditions still needs further study. To address these problems, we propose a novel end-to-end ED model called DE3TC, which Detects Events with Effective Event Type Information and Context. We construct an event type-specific Clue to capture the interaction between event type name and trigger words, providing event type information for implicit triggers. For accessing the effective context of event semantics for sentence-level ED, we consider the correlations between types and select similar types’ descriptions as context. With contextualized representation from a contextual encoder, DE3TC learns the event type information for all events including implicit ones. And it performs sentence-level ED efficiently with effective contexts. The empirical results on ACE 2005 and MAVEN datasets show that: (i) DE3TC obtains state-of-the-art performance compared with previous methods. (ii) DE3TC is also excelled under low-resource conditions.
On a Problem of Conrad on Riesz Space Structures
Authors: Lenzi Giacomo
Published: March 2024

This paper is concerned with Riesz space structures on a lattice ordered abelian group, continuing a line of research conducted by the author and the collaborators Antonio Di Nola and Gaetano Vitale. First we prove a statement in a paper of Paul Conrad (given without proof) that every non-archimedean totally ordered abelian group has at least two Riesz space structures, if any. Then, as a main result, we prove that there is a non-archimedean lattice ordered abelian group with strong unit having only one Riesz space structure. This gives a solution to a problem posed in a paper of Conrad dating back to 1975. Then we combine these results and the categorial equivalence between lattice ordered abelian groups with strong unit and MV-algebras (due to Daniele Mundici) and the one between Riesz spaces with strong unit and Riesz MV-algebras (due to Di Nola and Ioana Leustean). By combining these tools, we prove that every non-semisimple totally ordered MV-algebra has at least two Riesz MV-algebra structures, if any, and that there is a non-semisimple MV-algebra with only one Riesz MV-algebra structure.
Temporary growth cessation of wheat roots following defoliation
Authors: Han Eusun , Kirkegaard John A. , Thorup-Kristensen Kristian
Published: March 2024

Background and aims

Defoliation triggers the remobilisation of root reserves to generate new leaves which can affect root growth until the shoot resumes net assimilation. However, the duration of root growth cessation and its impact on resource uptake potential is uncertain.

Methods

Winter wheat was established in a 4 m high outdoor rhizobox facility equipped with imaging panels, sensors, and access points for tracer-labelling. The wheat was defoliated in autumn at early tillering and roots were imaged at a high-time resolution and analyzed by deep learning segmentation. The water and nitrogen (N) uptake were measured using time-domain reflectometer (TDR) sensors and 2H and 15N isotopes.

Results

Root penetration of wheat paused for 269 °C days (20 days) following defoliation after which it resumed at a similar rate to un-defoliated plants (1.8 mm °C days−1). This caused a substantial decrease in root density with an associated reduction in water and N uptake at maturity, especially from deeper soil layers (>2 m).

Conclusions

Our results have significant implications for managing the grazing of dual-purpose crops to balance the interplay between canopy removal and the capacity of deep roots to provide water and N for yield recovery.
Variations on the Kripke Trick
Authors: Rybakov Mikhail , Shkatov Dmitry
Published: March 2024

In the early 1960s, to prove undecidability of monadic fragments of sublogics of the predicate modal logic

$$\textbf{QS5}$$

QS
5

that include the classical predicate logic

$$\textbf{QCl}$$

QCl

, Saul Kripke showed how a classical atomic formula with a binary predicate letter can be simulated by a monadic modal formula. We consider adaptations of Kripke’s simulation, which we call the Kripke trick, to various modal and superintuitionistic predicate logics not considered by Kripke. We also discuss settings where the Kripke trick does not work and where, as a result, decidability of monadic modal predicate logics can be obtained.
Accelerating the detection of DNA differentially methylated regions using multiple GPUs
Authors: Reaño Carlos , Olanda Ricardo , Baydal Elvira , Pérez Mariano , Orduña Juan M.
Published: March 2024

DNA methylation analysis has become an important topic in the study of human health. In previous work, we developed a suite of tools to perform this analysis. It includes HPG-Dhunter, a web-based tool for automatic detection of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) between different samples. The back-end of that tool receives an undefined number of simultaneous requests to detect DMRs on different datasets. Currently, simultaneous requests are queued and processed one at a time. This paper proposes a parallel architecture where multiple daemons serve requests simultaneously. Daemons can also share the same physical GPUs. A scheduler manages requests and forwards them to daemons. The number of daemons per GPU is configurable, thus adapting the architecture to the available hardware. Results show that the proposed parallel architecture hugely reduces the execution time. Furthermore, the speedup increases proportionally to the number of available GPUs (up to 7.47x in our experimental setup).
MIB Guides: Measuring the Immunoreactivity of Radioimmunoconjugates
Authors: Delaney Samantha , Grimaldi Camilla , Houghton Jacob L. , Zeglis Brian M.
Published: March 2024

Immunoglobulins, both full-length antibodies and smaller antibody fragments, have long been regarded as effective platforms for diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals. The construction of radiolabeled immunoglobulins (i.e., radioimmunoconjugates) requires the manipulation of the biomolecule through the attachment of a radiohalogen or the bioconjugation of a chelator that is subsequently used to coordinate a radiometal. Both synthetic approaches have historically relied upon the stochastic modification of amino acids within the immunoglobulin, a process which poses a risk to the structural and functional integrity of the biomolecule itself. Not surprisingly, radioimmunoconjugates with impaired antigen binding capacity will inevitably exhibit suboptimal in vivo performance. As a result, the biological characterization of any newly synthesized radioimmunoconjugate must include an assessment of whether it has retained its ability to bind its antigen. Herein, we provide straightforward and concise protocols for three assays that can be used to determine the immunoreactivity of a radioimmunoconjugate: (1) a cell-based linear extrapolation assay; (2) a cell-based antigen saturation assay; and (3) a resin- or bead-based assay. In addition, we will provide a critical analysis of the relative merits of each assay, an examination of the inherent limitations of immunoreactivity assays in general, and a discussion of other approaches that may be used to interrogate the biological behavior of radioimmunoconjugates.
Nodal Heterogeneity can Induce Ghost Triadic Effects in Relational Event Models
Authors: Juozaitienė Rūta , Wit Ernst C.
Published: March 2024

Temporal network data is often encoded as time-stamped interaction events between senders and receivers, such as co-authoring scientific articles or communication via email. A number of relational event frameworks have been proposed to address specific issues raised by complex temporal dependencies. These models attempt to quantify how individual behaviour, endogenous and exogenous factors, as well as interactions with other individuals modify the network dynamics over time. It is often of interest to determine whether changes in the network can be attributed to endogenous mechanisms reflecting natural relational tendencies, such as reciprocity or triadic effects. The propensity to form or receive ties can also, at least partially, be related to actor attributes. Nodal heterogeneity in the network is often modelled by including actor-specific or dyadic covariates. However, comprehensively capturing all personality traits is difficult in practice, if not impossible. A failure to account for heterogeneity may confound the substantive effect of key variables of interest. This work shows that failing to account for node level sender and receiver effects can induce ghost triadic effects. We propose a random-effect extension of the relational event model to deal with these problems. We show that it is often effective over more traditional approaches, such as in-degree and out-degree statistics. These results that the violation of the hierarchy principle due to insufficient information about nodal heterogeneity can be resolved by including random effects in the relational event model as a standard.