bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Psychology
Authors: Yu Chong Ho
Published: October 2023

In 2019, the United States established a national task force for coordinating AI strategies across the federal government, industry, and academia in order to promote scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and national security. In addition, the 2023 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s report indicates that AI has become a global competition. Hence, AI is here to stay and this trend is too important to ignore or downplay. From the incubation and development of AI, the relationship between AI and psychology is symbiotic. As cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists gain more insight into how the brain works, AI has been developed by mimicking human neural pathways. On the other hand, insights derived from AI research can be applied to a variety of subfields in psychology, whereas new social issues emerged from AI applications, such as AI bias, echo chambers, and misuse of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT and Midjourney), led to new research topics in psychology. Further, several schools of thought of AI, such as the connectionist, symbolic, and analogist approaches, heavily borrowed ideas from psychological research. For example, in an attempt to build structural intelligence, connectionists draw an analogy between human neural networks and artificial neural networks. Moreover, AI symbolists subscribe to the notion that the human mental process is a logical production system. Furthermore, prior psychological research indicates that analogical thinking is commonly employed for problem-solving, and this notion became the foundation of example-based machine learning. Similarly, reinforcement learning in AI was inspired by behavioral psychology. Additionally, in line with the findings of developmental psychology that a child learns best through spontaneous discovery, AI researchers believe that setting the deep learning system free will be the most promising research direction. A vast number of pioneers of AI research who devoted efforts to the preceding research agendas are psychologists or received training in psychology, such as Frank Rosenblatt, Allen Newell, John Anderson, David Rumelhart, and Geoffrey Hinton, whereas some were inspired by cognitive science or neuroscience, such as Fei-Fei Li, Demis Hassabis, and Yann LeCun. In addition, in their work Artificial Psychology: Psychological Modeling and Testing of AI Systems (cited under Artificial Psychology) Crowder and his colleagues examined the bidirectional relationship between artificial intelligence and psychology, focusing on cognitive architectures and artificial emotions. The authors proposed comprehensive mathematical models for cognitive architectures, envisioning an AI system capable of reasoning about emotions, adapting to humans, and constructing knowledge representations based on experiences.
Urban Sustainability
Authors: Chang Heejun , Pallathadkha Arun
Published: October 2023

Urban sustainability has become increasingly important due to climate change and ongoing urban development. Together with shifting demographics, with more than 50 percent of the population living in urban areas, the combined stressors of global change further necessitate diverse urban stakeholders to engage in dialogues of urban sustainability. Additionally, due to income inequality between the Global South and North and within cities, many urban regions are grappling with achieving urban sustainability; efforts include the boom of local climate action, energy and mobility transitions, and food sovereignty movements. Different dialogues of urban sustainability discussion currently exist. In Western societies, collaborative governance and socioeconomic conditions promote a particular form of urban sustainability, while the roles of class and elite are often emphasized for promoting urban sustainability in developing countries. In general, the field of urban sustainability has evolved from purely ecological aspects of sustainability to coupled social and ecological systems to a social-ecological-technological systems (SETS) approach. The role of infrastructure and its interaction with other social and ecological dimensions (e.g., nature-based solutions) have recently been discussed in urban sustainability. Additionally, there is an increasing interest in addressing justice, diversity, and equity issues for the underserved population as a part of this discussion. The three pillars of urban sustainability—social, ecological, and technological—thus need to be considered together in order to achieve urban sustainability across generations and neighborhoods.
The Landscape of US and Global Rare Tumor Research Programs: A Systematic Review
Authors: Vivelo Christina , Reilly Karlyne M , Widemann Brigitte C , Wedekind Mary Frances , Painter Corrie , O’Neill Allison F , Mueller Sabine , Elemento Olivier , Gross Andrea M , Sandler Abby B
Published: October 2023

Rare cancers and other rare nonmalignant tumors comprise 25% of all cancer diagnoses and account for 25% of all cancer deaths. They are difficult to study due to many factors, including infrequent occurrence, lack of a universal infrastructure for data and/or tissue collection, and a paucity of disease models to test potential treatments. For each individual rare cancer, the limited number of diagnosed cases makes it difficult to recruit sufficient patients for clinical studies, and rare cancer research studies are often siloed. As a result, progress has been slow for many of these cancers. While rare cancer research efforts have increased over time, the breadth of the research landscape is not known. A recent literature search revealed a sharp increase in rare tumor, and rare cancer publications began in the early 2000s. To identify rare cancer research efforts being conducted in the US and globally, we conducted an online search of rare tumor/rare cancer research programs and identified 76 programs. To gain a deeper understanding of these programs, we composed and conducted a survey to ask programs for details about their research efforts. Of the 42 programs contacted to complete the survey, 23 programs responded. Survey results show most programs are collecting clinical data, molecular data, and biospecimens, and many are conducting molecular analyses. This landscape analysis demonstrates that multiple rare cancer research efforts are ongoing, and the rare cancer community may benefit from collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate research and improve patient outcomes.
Stretched grid? Managing data center energy demand and grid capacity
Authors: Mytton David , Ashtine Masaō , Wheeler Scot , Wallom David
Published: October 2023

Data centers are a crucial component of information technology systems because they provide a cost-effective, reliable, and secure location for the computer equipment that powers most, if not all, the services we use daily. However, their load-heavy utilization profile combined with a concentration of data centers within a few geographic areas is placing pressure on available electricity distribution network operator capacity, making it difficult to balance varying stakeholder needs. As more data centers are built, competing with other users like housing projects and electric vehicle (EV) charging, how should the energy system change to accommodate these evolving uses?
Migration and Industry
Authors: Tumbe Chinmay
Published: October 2023

This chapter discusses the role of immigration in fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and diaspora networks from a historical perspective, with specific case studies drawn from four sectors—textiles, construction, diamonds, and information technology. Immigration has been crucial in creating and sustaining several industries while transnational connections have enabled the diffusion of industries across the world and facilitated international and intra-industry trade. Migration networks and histories, preferences of native workers, demographic shifts, and legislations are important factors that explain why some industries have a higher share of immigrants than others. Immigration is also prone to political backlash based on cultural and economic anxieties that often pit governments against industries in governing international mobility. Immigration is thus closely linked with industry dynamics in major destination countries such as the US, Western Europe, and the Persian Gulf countries, as well as major source regions such as India and China.
Beyond heat waves: Unlocking epigenetic heat stress memory in Arabidopsis
Authors: Nishio Haruki , Kawakatsu Taiji , Yamaguchi Nobutoshi
Published: October 2023

Plants remember their exposure to environmental changes and respond more effectively the next time they encounter a similar change by flexibly altering gene expression. Epigenetic mechanisms play a crucial role in establishing such memory of environmental changes and fine-tuning gene expression. With the recent advancements in biochemistry and sequencing technologies, it has become possible to characterize the dynamics of epigenetic changes on scales ranging from short term (minutes) to long term (generations). Here, our main focus is on describing the current understanding of the temporal regulation of histone modifications and chromatin changes during exposure to short-term recurring high temperatures and reevaluating them in the context of natural environments. Investigations of the dynamics of histone modifications and chromatin structural changes in Arabidopsis after repeated exposure to heat at short intervals have revealed the detailed molecular mechanisms of short-term heat stress memory, which include histone modification enzymes, chromatin remodelers, and key transcription factors. In addition, we summarize the spatial regulation of heat responses. Based on the natural temperature patterns during summer, we discuss how plants cope with recurring heat stress occurring at various time intervals by utilizing 2 distinct types of heat stress memory mechanisms. We also explore future research directions to provide a more precise understanding of the epigenetic regulation of heat stress memory.
Golgi apparatus-localized CATION CALCIUM EXCHANGER4 promotes osmotolerance of Arabidopsis
Authors: Kanamori Kazuki , Nishimura Kohji , Horie Tomoaki , Sato Masa H , Kajino Takuma , Koyama Takashi , Ariga Hirotaka , Tanaka Keisuke , Yotsui Izumi , Sakata Yoichi , Taji Teruaki
Published: October 2023

Calcium (Ca2+) is a major ion in living organisms, where it acts as a second messenger for various biological phenomena. The Golgi apparatus retains a higher Ca2+ concentration than the cytosol and returns cytosolic Ca2+ to basal levels after transient elevation in response to environmental stimuli such as osmotic stress. However, the Ca2+ transporters localized in the Golgi apparatus of plants have not been clarified. We previously found that a wild-type (WT) salt-tolerant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) accession, Bu-5, showed osmotic tolerance after salt acclimatization, whereas the Col-0 WT did not. Here, we isolated a Bu-5 background mutant gene, acquired osmotolerance-defective 6 (aod6), which reduces tolerance to osmotic, salt, and oxidative stresses, with a smaller plant size than the WT. The causal gene of the aod6 mutant encodes CATION CALCIUM EXCHANGER4 (CCX4). The aod6 mutant was more sensitive than the WT to both deficient and excessive Ca2+. In addition, aod6 accumulated higher Ca2+ than the WT in the shoots, suggesting that Ca2+ homeostasis is disturbed in aod6. CCX4 expression suppressed the Ca2+ hypersensitivity of the csg2 (calcium sensitive growth 2) yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mutant under excess CaCl2 conditions. We also found that aod6 enhanced MAP kinase 3/6 (MPK3/6)-mediated immune responses under osmotic stress. Subcellular localization analysis of mGFP-CCX4 showed GFP signals adjacent to the trans-Golgi apparatus network and co-localization with Golgi apparatus-localized markers, suggesting that CCX4 localizes in the Golgi apparatus. These results suggest that CCX4 is a Golgi apparatus-localized transporter involved in the Ca2+ response and plays important roles in osmotic tolerance, shoot Ca2+ content, and normal growth of Arabidopsis.
Detection and editing of the updated Arabidopsis plastid- and mitochondrial-encoded proteomes through PeptideAtlas
Authors: van Wijk Klaas J , Bentolila Stephane , Leppert Tami , Sun Qi , Sun Zhi , Mendoza Luis , Li Margaret , Deutsch Eric W
Published: October 2023

Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ecotype Col-0 has plastid and mitochondrial genomes encoding over 100 proteins. Public databases (e.g. Araport11) have redundancy and discrepancies in gene identifiers for these organelle-encoded proteins. RNA editing results in changes to specific amino acid residues or creation of start and stop codons for many of these proteins, but the impact of RNA editing at the protein level is largely unexplored due to the complexities of detection. Here, we assembled the nonredundant set of identifiers, their correct protein sequences, and 452 predicted nonsynonymous editing sites of which 56 are edited at lower frequency. We then determined accumulation of edited and/or unedited proteoforms by searching ∼259 million raw tandem MS spectra from ProteomeXchange, which is part of PeptideAtlas (www.peptideatlas.org/builds/arabidopsis/). We identified all mitochondrial proteins and all except 3 plastid-encoded proteins (NdhG/Ndh6, PsbM, and Rps16), but no proteins predicted from the 4 ORFs were identified. We suggest that Rps16 and 3 of the ORFs are pseudogenes. Detection frequencies for each edit site and type of edit (e.g. S to L/F) were determined at the protein level, cross-referenced against the metadata (e.g. tissue), and evaluated for technical detection challenges. We detected 167 predicted edit sites at the proteome level. Minor frequency sites were edited at low frequency at the protein level except for cytochrome C biogenesis 382 at residue 124 (Ccb382-124). Major frequency sites (>50% editing of RNA) only accumulated in edited form (>98% to 100% edited) at the protein level, with the exception of Rpl5-22. We conclude that RNA editing for major editing sites is required for stable protein accumulation.
DNA methylation regulates biosynthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acids during growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: He Xinyu , Chen Yiwen , Xia Yuting , Hong Xinyu , You Huaqian , Zhang Rui , Liang Zongsuo , Cui Qi , Zhang Shuncang , Zhou Ming , Yang Dongfeng
Published: October 2023

DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a valuable Chinese herbal medicine commonly used to treat cardiovascular diseases; its active ingredients are tanshinones and phenolic acids, which primarily accumulate in roots. Here, we conducted a targeted metabolic analysis of S. miltiorrhiza roots at 3 distinct growth stages: 40 d old (r40), 60 d old (r60), and 90 d old (r90). The contents of tanshinones (cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and rosmariquinone) and phenolic acids (rosmarinic acid and salvianolic acid B) gradually increased during plant development. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing of roots at the 3 growth stages revealed an increased level of DNA methylation in the CHH context (H represents A, T, or C) context at r90 compared with r40 and r60. Increased DNA methylation levels were associated with elevated expression of various genes linked to epigenetic regulations, including CHROMOMETHYLASE2 (SmCMT2), Decrease in DNA Methylation 1 (SmDDM1), Argonaute 4 (SmAGO4), and DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 1 (SmDRM1). Moreover, expression levels of many genes involved in tanshinone and salvianolic acid biosynthesis, such as copalyldiphosphate synthase 5 (SmCPS5), cytochrome P450-related enzyme (SmCYP71D464), geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGGPPS1), geranyl diphosphate synthase (SmGPPS), hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (SmHPPR), and hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (SmHPPD), were altered owing to hyper-methylation, indicating that DNA methylation plays an important role in regulating tanshinone and phenolic acid accumulation. Our data shed light on the epigenetic regulation of root growth and the biosynthesis of active ingredients in S. miltiorrhiza, providing crucial clues for further improvement of active compound production via molecular breeding in S. miltiorrhiza.
Arabidopsis reticulons inhibit ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE3 to form a stable tubular endoplasmic reticulum network
Authors: Wang Weina , Zheng Huanquan
Published: October 2023

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a network of interconnected tubules and sheets stretching throughout the cytoplasm of plant cells. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), ROOT HAIR DEFECTIVE3 (RHD3) mediates ER tubule fusion, while reticulon proteins induce ER membrane curvature to produce ER tubules. However, it is unclear if and how RHD3–reticulon interplay during the formation of the interconnected tubular ER network. We discovered that RHD3 physically interacts with Arabidopsis reticulon proteins, including reticulon-like protein subfamily B3 (RTNLB3), on ER tubules and at 3-way junctions of the ER. The RTNLB3 protein is widely expressed in Arabidopsis seedlings and localizes to ER tubules. Although the growth of knockout rtnlb3 mutant plants was relatively normal, root hairs of rtnlb3 were shorter than those of wild type. The ER in mature mutant cells was also more sheeted than that in wild type. rhd3 is known to have short roots and root hairs and less branched ER tubules in cells. Interestingly, rtnlb3 genetically antagonizes rhd3 in plant root development and in ER interconnectivity. We show that reticulons including RTNLB3 inhibit the ER fusion activity of RHD3, partly by interfering with RHD3 dimerization. We conclude that reticulon proteins negatively regulate RHD3 to balance its ER fusion activity for the formation of a stable tubular ER network in plant cell growth.
Scaling behavior for electric vehicle chargers and road map to addressing the infrastructure gap
Authors: Wadell Alexius , Guttenberg Matthew , Kempes Christopher P , Viswanathan Venkatasubramanian
Published: October 2023

Enabling widespread electric vehicle (EV) adoption requires a substantial build-out of charging infrastructure in the coming decade. We formulate the charging infrastructure needs as a scaling analysis problem and use it to estimate the EV infrastructure needs of the USA at a county-level resolution. We find that gasoline and EV charging stations scale sub-linearly with their respective vehicle registrations, recovering the sub-linear scaling typical of infrastructure. Surprisingly, we find that EV charging stations scale super-linearly with population size within counties, deviating from the sub-linear scaling of gasoline stations. We discuss how this demonstrates the infancy of both EVs and EV infrastructure while providing a framework for estimating future EV infrastructure demands. By considering the power delivery of existing gasoline stations, and appropriate EV efficiencies, we estimate the EV infrastructure gap at the county level, providing a road map for future EV infrastructure expansion.
The ATTRACT study: screening for the early identification of axial psoriatic arthritis in a cohort of Italian psoriatic patients
Authors: Luchetti Gentiloni Michele Maria , Paci Valentino , Cimaroli Ilaria , Agostinelli Alice , Giannoni Melania , Campanati Anna , Diotallevi Federico , Carotti Marina , Sessa Francesco , Sordillo Raffaella , Macchini Cristina , Fiorini Federico , Massaccesi Leonardo , Ciferri Monia , Gigli Marco , Marconi Valentina , Perini Lucia , Marani Andrea , Giovagnoni Andrea , Polonara Gabriele , Offidani Anna Maria , Benfaremo Devis , Proft Fabian , Poddubnyy Denis , Moroncini Gianluca
Published: October 2023

Objective

There is growing interest in the early identification of patients with axial PsA (axPsA). We aimed to evaluate whether a dermatology-based screening strategy could help to identify axPsA patients.

Methods

The dermatologist-centred screening (DCS) questionnaire was administrated by dermatologists to consecutive patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria [(i) age ≥18 years and (ii) clinical diagnosis of psoriasis made by a dermatologist] to identify patients eligible (affirmative answers 1–3c of the DCS) for rheumatological evaluation. Clinical, laboratory, genetic and imaging data were collected from all referred patients.

Results

Among the 365 patients screened, 265 fulfilled the inclusion criteria and 124/265 (46.8%) were eligible for rheumatological referral. Diagnosis of axPsA, with or without peripheral PsA (pPsA), was made in 36/124 (29.0%) patients; pPsA without axial involvement was found in 21/124 (16.9%) patients. Back pain at screening was recorded in 174 (66%) patients, with 158 (60%) reporting a back pain duration longer than 3 months and 140 (53%) reporting back pain onset before the age of 45 years. Active inflammatory and/or structural post-inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joints and/or spine were observed in all axPsA patients. Patients with PsA showed a numerically longer duration of back pain and higher CRP levels in comparison with patients with psoriasis without PsA.

Conclusion

The DCS tool proved to be a valuable screening strategy for detecting and characterizing patients with axPsA in a real-life cohort of psoriasis patients in a dermatological setting and helped to identify a substantial number of patients affected by undiagnosed pPsA.
Multilevel innovation policy mix: impact of regional, national, and European R&D grants
Authors: Acebo Enrique , Miguel-Dávila José-Ángel
Published: October 2023

Research and Development (R&D) grants are one of the most commonly employed programmes by regional, national, and European governments to promote innovation at the firm level. This study contributes to the existing literature on innovation policy mix by investigating whether combinations of the three funding sources can yield positive effects on various measurements of innovation outcomes. Using a panel of 10,045 Spanish firms from 2004 to 2016 and a flexible conditional difference-in-differences approach, our findings reveal that R&D grants funded by European sources exert the most substantial positive impact on firms’ product and process innovations. Conversely, national funding demonstrates this impact on new-to-market innovations and patent applications. Notably, the positive effect on innovation outcomes is evident only when considering the combination of all three distinct funding schemes and the amalgamation of regional and national R&D grants. These results reject the possibility of substitutive effects among different funding schemes, particularly between regional and national institutions.
River Drainage Reorganization and Reticulate Evolution in the Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) Species Complex
Authors: Pierson Todd W , Kozak Kenneth H , Glenn Travis C , Fitzpatrick Benjamin M
Published: October 2023

The origin and eventual loss of biogeographic barriers can create alternating periods of allopatry and secondary contact, facilitating gene flow among distinct metapopulations and generating reticulate evolutionary histories that are not adequately described by a bifurcating evolutionary tree. One such example may exist in the two-lined salamander (Eurycea bislineata) species complex, where discordance among morphological and molecular datasets has created a “vexing taxonomic challenge.” Previous phylogeographic analyses of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) suggested that the reorganization of Miocene paleodrainages drove vicariance and dispersal, but the inherent limitations of a single-locus dataset precluded the evaluation of subsequent gene flow. Here, we generate triple-enzyme restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (3RAD) data for > 100 individuals representing all major mtDNA lineages and use a suite of complementary methods to demonstrate that discordance among earlier datasets is best explained by a reticulate evolutionary history influenced by river drainage reorganization. Systematics of such groups should acknowledge these complex histories and relationships that are not strictly hierarchical. [Amphibian; hybridization; introgression; Plethodontidae; stream capture.]
Morphological and Molecular Characterization of a New Root-Knot Nematode, Meloidogyne limonae n. sp. (Nematoda: Meloidogynidae), Parasitizing Lemon in China
Authors: Sun Yangfang , Jiang Ru , Peng Deliang , Zhang Yan , Peng Huan , Long Haibo
Published: October 2023

Root-knot nematodes of the genus Meloidogyne parasitize the roots of thousands of plants and can cause severe damage and yield losses. Here, we report a new root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne limonae n. sp., parasitizing “lemon” (Citrus limon) in Hainan Province, South China. Lemon trees infected by the root-knot nematode showed poor-quality lemons, chlorosis of foliage, weak growth, and numerous root galls with white females and egg masses protruding outside. Phylogenetic trees of sequences within the ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA demonstrated that this species differs clearly from other previously described root-knot nematodes. Morphologically, the new species is characterized by an oval-shaped perineal pattern and the lateral field marked by a ridge of cuticle on one or both sides; the dorsal arch is low, with fine to coarse, smooth cuticle striae; the vulva slit is centrally located at the unstriated area; the spicules of males are arcuate and curved ventrally; the gubernaculum is distinct and curved; the labial disc of second-stage juveniles is prominent and dumbbell shaped; stylet knobs are oval and sloping backwardly; pharyngeal glands are not filling the body cavity and overlapping the intestine ventrally; and the conical tail is gradually tapering. Phylogenetic trees based on the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, D2-D3 of the 28S rDNA, and COI and COII-16S rRNA genes of the mtDNA showed that M. limonae n. sp. belongs to an undescribed root-knot nematode lineage that is separated from other species with the resemblance in morphology, such as M. floridensis, M. hispanica, M. acronea, and M. paranaensis.
Behavior and Use of Quaternary Ammonium-Based Disinfectants in Biosafety Protocols Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Race 1 and Tropical Race 4
Authors: Arango-Palacio Laura , Pinzón-Núñez Andrés M. , Hoyos-Carvajal Lilliana , Ospina-Galeano Daniel F. , Feria-Gómez Diego F. , Izquierdo-García Luisa F. , Betancourt-Vásquez Mónica , Zapata-Henao Sebastián
Published: October 2023

The banana is one of Colombia’s main export products. However, production is seriously affected by Fusarium wilt of banana, which is the most destructive disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense tropical race 4 (Foc TR4). Currently, management strategies focus on containment and biosecurity protocols to prevent its spread to territories that are free of this disease. This study aimed to evaluate nine quaternary ammonium-based disinfectants (i.e., quaternary ammonium compounds [QACs]) in vitro in Colombia on reproductive (microconidia and macroconidia) and resistance structures (chlamydospores) of Foc race 1 (R1) and tropical race 4 (TR4), with and without soil, to determine the influence of organic matter and soil texture on the action of QACs. A method for inhibiting the action of QACs was standardized and evaluated at 1,200 ppm with a contact time of ≤30 s while evaluating the soil–inoculum and soil–disinfectant interactions. In the soil–inoculum interaction, the efficacy of QACs was 100% in the reproductive and resistance structures of Foc R1 and TR4 without soil. However, in the soil–disinfectant interaction, only QAC4 controlled the pathogen at 100%. The presence of organic matter influenced the biocidal action of the QACs, and fine textures had a greater reducing effect on the concentration. The soil decreased the efficacy of the QACs and, therefore, must be removed from contaminated boots before treatments are applied.
Incidence of Sheath Blight in Irrigated Rice and Associated Yield Losses in Northern India
Authors: Ahamad Faheem , Khan Mujeebur Rahman
Published: October 2023

Rice-growing districts in Uttar Pradesh, India, were surveyed during the months of July and October to record the frequency of occurrence and disease incidence of sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani in paddy. A total of 180 paddy fields were surveyed at the block level of 21 districts, where almost all the rice varieties were found highly susceptible to R. solani and exhibited severe yield loss compared with low-infested fields. The district Muzaffarnagar had the highest rate of disease occurrence, while maximum disease severity was recorded in the district Saharanpur. This district also had the highest soil population of R. solani, followed by Mathura, Muzaffarnagar, Barabanki, Aligarh, Sultanpur, Mainpuri, and Rampur. The greatest relative yield loss attributed to sheath blight infestation was recorded in Mathura (40%). The yield loss was linearly correlated with soil population of R. solani and disease incidence. Disease occurrence, incidence, severity, and yield loss to paddy were all significantly greater in the area which experienced relatively higher temperatures (25 to 38°C) and relative humidity (49 to 100%) during the months of June to August. Furthermore, the fields applied with a total dose of 250 to 280 kg nitrogen/ha exhibited higher disease severity (2.9 to 3.3 score) compared with fields that received a moderate dose of 140 to 180 kg N/ha (0.9 to 1.8 disease severity score). The rice nursery fields were found almost free from the sheath blight, but the disease was quite prevalent in the paddy fields with 7.2 to 38.9% disease incidence which resulted in 14.3 to 39.7% yield loss to rice.
Sex-Based Differences in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Sundel Margaret H. , Newland John J. , Blackburn Kyle W. , Vesselinov Roumen M. , Eisenstein Samuel , Bafford Andrea C. ,   On Behalf of the NSQIP IBD Collaborative
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND:

Although there are discrepancies in the development and progression of inflammatory bowel disease based on biologic sex, little is known about differences in postoperative outcomes between men and women undergoing surgery for this condition.

OBJECTIVE:

Our objective was to compare rates of anastomotic leaks, wound complications, and serious adverse events between men and women undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease.

DESIGN:

This was a retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS:

Data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Inflammatory Bowel Disease Collaborative database, which includes 15 high-volume inflammatory bowel disease surgery centers.

PATIENTS:

All adult patients undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease were included. Subjects with missing data for exposure or outcome variables were excluded.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Rates of anastomotic leaks, wound complications, and serious adverse events were compared between women and men.

RESULTS:

A total of 3143 patients were included. There was a significant association between sex and body mass index, inflammatory bowel disease type, and preoperative medication use. Women had decreased odds of serious adverse events compared to men (OR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.55-0.96), but there was no significant association between sex and anastomotic leaks or wound complications. Inflammatory bowel disease type was found to be an effect measure modifier of the relationship between sex and serious adverse events. Among ulcerative colitis patients, women had a 54% decrease in the odds of serious adverse events compared to men, while there was no significant difference between women and men with Crohn’s disease.

LIMITATIONS:

This study was limited by capturing only 30 days of postoperative outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Women undergoing surgery for ulcerative colitis had decreased odds of serious adverse events compared to men. Understanding sex-based differences in outcomes allows clinicians to make patient-centered decisions regarding surgical planning and perioperative management for inflammatory bowel disease patients..
A Strategy for Rescuing a Child From Clonazepam Poisoning: A Case Study
Authors: Zhao Xuemei , Zhang Rui , Li Wenjing
Published: October 2023

Background:

This report describes the successful rescue of a 12-year-old girl who ingested large quantities of clonazepam tablets.

Methods:

The patient was promptly treated with flumazenil and hemoperfusion to alleviate the symptoms of central depression. Therapeutic drug monitoring was used to evaluate detoxification efficacy. The authors analyzed the rescue protocol for clonazepam poisoning based on the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, and pharmacokinetics of clonazepam overdose.

Results:

The patient responded well to the treatment and was discharged from the hospital without adverse events.

Conclusions:

This case study demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of combining flumazenil with hemoperfusion as a treatment for clonazepam poisoning. This study aimed to provide insights into more effective methods for treating clonazepam overdose and contribute to the ongoing issue of managing this condition.
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Medicine Curriculum for Postgraduate Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant and Nurse Practitioner Fellows
Authors: Kerstan Karissa , Elli Megan , Belcher Anne E. , Beuning Alex
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Within physician assistant (PA) education, the inclusion of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is mandatory. Despite existing literature on EBM training methodologies for PA students and emergency medicine (EM) physician residents, there exists a dearth of published data concerning EBM instruction within postgraduate PA EM programs. A pilot study is described providing an overview of implementation of an EBM curriculum in a single-institution postgraduate physician assistant and nurse practitioner emergency medicine fellowship.

Methods

Quantitative data using pre-curriculum and post-curriculum surveys were collected. The curriculum included statistical concept screencasts, required attendance at a journal club with assigned topics for discussion, and used a critical appraisal tool designed to help fellows better analyze and understand the articles being reviewed. Upon graduation, fellows participated in structured interviews to collect qualitative data about the curriculum and application of learned concepts to the clinical setting.

Results

There was a statistically significant improvement in fellows' reported confidence in discussing the medical literature with practicing providers (P = .02). However, there was no difference in prescores and postscores on EBM knowledge questions or on fellows' feelings of importance of EBM to clinical practice. Qualitative data revealed several themes, including helpfulness of tools provided in the curriculum, appreciation of curricular changes made secondary to fellow suggestions, and reports of improvement in reviewing medical literature and comfort in participation in local journal clubs upon graduation from the fellowship program.

Discussion

Limitations, including small sample size and validity concerns, are discussed. Positive changes were made to the curriculum based on qualitative data collected. The authors advocate for subsequent investigations into this subject within a multi-institutional and multispecialty context, thereby enhancing the breadth of the findings. Nevertheless, this study furnishes the initial accessible substantiation of the viability of introducing an EBM curriculum within this specific demographic.
Fetal Anomaly: Family Experiences and Preferences for Care
Authors: Theroux Rosemary , Violette Cathy
Published: October 2023

Background:

The prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly is unexpected, creating a family crisis. Expectant parents are at an increased risk for perinatal depression and traumatic stress. Prior reviews examined parents' experiences when terminating but not continuing the pregnancy. This review synthesized qualitative research to describe the experiences, emotional responses, and needs of families continuing their pregnancy.

Methods:

An integrative review was performed using the Whitemore and Knafl methodology and PRISMA guidelines. A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2200 on the experiences of fetal anomaly was performed using 5 databases. Eligible articles included qualitative studies describing families' experiences with a fetal anomaly diagnosis who elected to continue their pregnancy. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Critical Skills Appraisal Program checklist.

Results:

Of the 678 article results, 16 met inclusion criteria. There were 298 participants from 5 countries. The major overarching theme of Response to the Diagnosis of Fetal Anomaly was identified. The major categories were emotional response, coping strategies, influences, health care experiences, and family needs. Uncertainty and grief were the most common emotions.

Discussion:

Parents choosing to continue pregnancy benefit from compassionate, sensitive care, and accurate, concise information, provided in tailored instruction using multiple styles.
EVIDENCE FROM FATAL COVID-19 FOR TARGETING THE BRADYKININ METABOLISM—A SINGLE-CENTER COHORT STUDY
Authors: Zinn Sebastian , Talbot Steven R. , Rajapakse Dammith , Ruskowski Katharina , Neb Holger , Adam Elisabeth H. , von Knethen Andreas , Zacharowski Kai , Heinicke Ulrike
Published: October 2023

Background: Severe progression of COVID-19 to critical illness, with pulmonary failure, multiple organ failure, and death, is driven by systemic inflammatory responses with overproduction of inflammatory cytokines. In the past years, the potential role of bradykinin, leading to inappropriate immune responses in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, has been raised in a so-called bradykinin storm. However, clinical investigations of bradykinin, its metabolite des-Arg9-bradykinin, or substance P, are rare or completely lacking during intensive care of COVID-19 patients. A prospective prolonged cohort study was conducted, including 44 COVID-19 patients (09/2020–02/2021, prevalent wildtype SARS-CoV-2) from the intensive care unit. Plasma levels of bradykinin, des-Arg9-bradykinin, and substance P were measured daily by ELISA in survivors (n = 21) and nonsurvivors (n = 23) of COVID-19 from admission until discharge or death. Results: We found significantly higher plasma levels of des-Arg9-bradykinin in survivors and nonsurvivors of COVID-19 compared with healthy controls. In addition, plasma des-Arg9-bradykinin levels were higher (P < 0.001, effect size = 0.79) in nonsurvivors compared with survivors of COVID-19 and correlated significantly with disease worsening, and clinical parameters of inflammation, like leukocyte count, IL-6 or lactate dehydrogenase, and outcome. Consequently, compared with healthy controls, bradykinin and substance P plasma levels were significantly reduced in survivors and nonsurvivors of COVID-19. Furthermore, plasma substance P levels were significantly reduced (P < 0.001, effect size = 0.7) in nonsurvivors compared with survivors of COVID-19, whereas plasma bradykinin levels did not significantly differ between survivors and nonsurvivors of COVID-19. Conclusion: Our data demonstrates that des-Arg9-bradykinin is significantly elevated in COVID-19 intensive care unit patients and is associated with disease severity, clinical inflammatory parameters, and survival. These results indicate that des-Arg9-bradykinin, not bradykinin, is one of the pivotal peptides of concern for the lethal COVID-19 aggravation and outcome. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate whether des-Arg9-bradykinin exhibits potent blood biomarker properties in COVID-19 and offer new treatment approaches.
GENIPOSIDE IMPROVES CLP-INDUCED SEPSIS MODEL PROGNOSIS BY UPREGULATING PPARγ TO MODULATE MONOCYTE PHENOTYPE AND CYTOKINE NETWORK
Authors: Zhang Dewen , He Jian , Ding Xian , Wang Rui , Chen Wei
Published: October 2023

Background: We explored the efficacy and main biological mechanism of geniposide intervention in sepsis. Methods: A sepsis model was established in male BALB/c mice through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Different doses of geniposide (20 or 40 mg/kg) were administered intravenously at 0 and/or 24 h after CLP surgery. The survival rate of different groups was observed. In addition, the expression levels of CD16 and major histocompatibility complex class II in monocytes were assessed using flow cytometry. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the serum were measured by ELISA. We also observed the biological effects of geniposide on CD16 and MHC-II expression levels in RAW264.7 cells, as well as the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 cell model. The PPARγ levels were determined using western blot analysis. Results: Intravenous administration of 40 mg/kg of geniposide at 0 h after CLP significantly improved the survival outcomes in the septic mouse model, with no significant benefits from low dosing (20 mg/kg) or delayed administration (24 h). The effective dose of geniposide significantly decreased the serum cytokine TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations in septic mice (P < 0.05). Notably, in vitro assays showed that geniposide specifically increased the IL-10 level. Geniposide significantly reduced the CD16 expression (P < 0.05) and increased MHC-II expression in monocytes (P < 0.05). In addition, geniposide elevated the PPARγ level in monocytes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: High-dose early-stage geniposide administration significantly improved the survival rate in a CLP mouse sepsis model by modulating the monocyte phenotype and regulating the cytokine network (IL-6/IL-10 levels). The pharmacological mechanism of geniposide action might be exerted primarily through PPARγ upregulation.
Immobilization protects enzymes from plasma-mediated inactivation
Authors: Dirks Tim , Yayci Abdulkadir , Klopsch Sabrina , Krewing Marco , Zhang Wuyuan , Hollmann Frank , Bandow Julia E.
Published: October 2023

Non-thermal plasmas are used in various applications to inactivate biological agents or biomolecules. A complex cocktail of reactive species, (vacuum) UV radiation and in some cases exposure to an electric field together cause the detrimental effects. In contrast to this disruptive property of technical plasmas, we have shown previously that it is possible to use non-thermal plasma-generated species such as H
2
O
2
as cosubstrates in biocatalytic reactions. One of the main limitations in plasma-driven biocatalysis is the relatively short enzyme lifetime under plasma-operating conditions. This challenge could be overcome by immobilizing the enzymes on inert carrier materials. Here, we tested whether immobilization is suited to protect proteins from inactivation by plasma. To this end, using a dielectric barrier discharge device (PlasmaDerm), plasma stability was tested for five enzymes immobilized on ten different carrier materials. A comparative analysis of the treatment times needed to reduce enzyme activity of immobilized and free enzyme by 30% showed a maximum increase by a factor of 44. Covalent immobilization on a partly hydrophobic carrier surface proved most effective. We conclude from the study, that immobilization universally protects enzymes under plasma-operating conditions, paving the way for new emerging applications.
The role of hydrodynamics in collective motions of fish schools and bioinspired underwater robots
Authors: Ko Hungtang , Lauder George , Nagpal Radhika
Published: October 2023

Collective behaviour defines the lives of many animal species on the Earth. Underwater swarms span several orders of magnitude in size, from coral larvae and krill to tunas and dolphins. Agent-based algorithms have modelled collective movements of animal groups by use ofsocial forces, which approximate the behaviour of individual animals. But details of how swarming individuals interact with the fluid environment are often under-examined. How do fluid forces shape aquatic swarms? How do fish use their flow-sensing capabilities to coordinate with their schooling mates? We propose viewing underwater collective behaviour from the framework offluid stigmergy, which considers both physical interactions and information transfer in fluid environments. Understanding the role of hydrodynamics in aquatic collectives requires multi-disciplinary efforts across fluid mechanics, biology and biomimetic robotics. To facilitate future collaborations, we synthesize key studies in these fields.
Let's put a smile on that face—A positive facial expression improves aesthetics of portrait photographs
Authors: Valuch Christian , Pelowski Matthew , Peltoketo Veli-Tapani , Hakala Jussi , Leder Helmut
Published: October 2023

In today's age of social media and smartphones, portraits—such as selfies or pictures of friends and family—are very frequently produced, shared and viewed images. Despite their prevalence, the psychological factors that characterize a ‘good’ photo—one that people will generally like, keep, and think is especially aesthetically pleasing—are not well understood. Here, we studied how a subtle change in facial expression (smiling) in portraits determines their aesthetic image value (beyond a more positive appearance of the depicted person). We used AI-based image processing tools in a broad set of portrait photographs and generated neutral and slightly smiling versions of the same pictures. Consistent across two experiments, portraits with a subtle smile increased both spontaneous aesthetic preferences in a swiping task as well as improving more explicit aesthetic ratings after prolonged viewing. Participants distinguished between aspects associated with image beauty and the depicted person's attractiveness, resulting in specific interactions between variables related to participant traits, image content, and task. Our study confirms that a subtle—and in this case fully artificial—smile reliably increases the aesthetic quality of portraits, illustrating how current image processing methods can target psychologically important variables and thereby increase the aesthetic value of photographs.
Bacterial mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial and antifungal activities against drug-resistant pathogens
Authors: Huq Md. Amdadul , Khan Azmat Ali , Alshehri Jamilah M. , Rahman Md. Shahedur , Balusamy Sri Renukadevi , Akter Shahina
Published: October 2023

In the healthcare sector, the production of bioactive silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with antimicrobial properties is of great importance. In this study, a novel bacterial strain,
Paenibacillus
sp. MAHUQ-63, was identified as a potential candidate for facile and rapid biosynthesis of AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs were used to control the growth of human pathogens,
Salmonella
Enteritidis and
Candida albicans
. The bacterial culture supernatant was used to synthesize the nanoparticles (NPs). Field emission transmission electron microscope examination showed spherical-shaped NPs with 15–55 nm in size. Fourier transform-infrared analysis identified various functional groups. The synthesized AgNPs demonstrated remarkable activity against
S.
Enteritidis and
C. albicans
. The zones of inhibition for 100 µl (0.5 mg ml
−1
) of AgNPs against
S.
Enteritidis and
C. albicans
were 18.0 ± 1.0 and 19.5 ± 1.3 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were 25.0 and 12.5 µg ml
−1
against
S.
Enteritidis and
C. albicans
, respectively. Additionally, the minimum bactericidal concentrations were 25.0 µg ml
−1
against both pathogenic microbes. The field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the treatment of AgNPs caused morphological and structural damage to both
S.
Enteritidis and
C. albicans
. Therefore, these AgNPs can be used as a new and effective antimicrobial agent.