bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro mutagenesis of pruacan (Pimpinella pruatjan Molk): effect of chemical mutagen EMS and lethal dose determination
Authors: Ajijah N , Darwati I
Published: June 2021

Pruacan is a rare medicinal plant endemic to the Dieng Plateau of the Central Java, Indonesia which has properties as an aphrodisiac. Increasing genetic variability ofthis plant in order to support the breeding programs and increase the productivity and active ingredients of this plant is important. This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of chemical mutagen EMS on the growth and development of in vitro culture of pruacan and lethal dose determination. Embryogenic callus were soaked in 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7% EMS for 2 hours and then cultured on regeneration medium containing DKW basal salt medium + IBA 5 mg/l. EMS suppressed the growth and development of pruacan somatic embryos culture. The lowest explant fresh weight, percentage of explants forming plantlets and number of plantlets per explant were obtained from 0.7 % EMS (2.38 g, 91.67 % and 6.22, respectively). Lethal dose 50 was obtained from EMS 0.61, 0.645 and 0.53% based on the explants fresh weight, the percentage of explants forming plantlets. And the number of plantlets per explant, respectively. EMS 0.53% can then be applied to induce mutation in the in vitro culture of pruacan.
Study on the electromagnetic properties and microwave absorbing mechanism of flaky FeSiAl alloy based on annealing and phosphate coating
Authors: Li Ze , Wang Jianjiang , Zhao Fang
Published: June 2021

A low-frequency composite absorbing material with high permeability and low permittivity in low frequency was prepared after the flaky FeSiAl alloy powder was annealed in N2 atmosphere and modified with zinc-based phosphate solution. The effects of annealing temperature and phosphating time on the phase composition, morphology and static magnetic properties of the flaky FeSiAl alloy were investigated with x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). With the aid of vector network analyzer (VNA), the electromagnetic properties and absorbing performance of the powder treated in two ways were studied. The results showed that after annealing in N2 atmosphere, the crystallization degree of FeSiAl powder increased, the crystal type underwent a phase transition of A2-A2/B2-A2/B2/D03, the permittivity decreased, and the permeability was greatly improved. After phosphating, the phosphating reaction products were deposited on the surface of FeSiAl particles, the permittivity was significantly reduced, the low-frequency impedance matching and low-frequency absorption performance were improved. The causes and frequency changes of electromagnetic wave absorption peaks were analyzed with the λ/4 interference cancellation theory, the interface reflection model and the impedance matching principle.
Micro-structural analysis on stress displacement and crack evolution of porous asphalt mixture based on DEM
Authors: Wang Yabo , Zhang Haitao , Zhao Qi
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore the micro-structure evolution and failure mechanism of porous asphalt mixture under stress. The micro-structural parameters of specimen section are imported into PFC2D, and the change of aggregate displacement is verified by discrete element modeling. Through digital image processing technology, a series of quantitative information of micro structure of mixture section is obtained, and these micro parameters are statistically analyzed, and the statistical results are compared with the macro test. Under the action of stress, porous asphalt mixture produces different degrees of strain. By comparing the meso structural parameters under different strains, the displacement of aggregate and the change process of voids are determined. The results show that with the increase of stress and strain, the specimen is gradually compacted, the aggregate displaces in different degrees, the cracks are gradually generated at the junction of aggregate and cracks, and the specimen is gradually destroyed. The change of void area, void number and void length width ratio can directly show the development process of fracture.
Thermal and wear properties of sansevieria trifasciata green fiber–carbon fiber polymer hybrid composite
Authors: Borukati Sandhya Rani , Prasad B Durga , Ramesh A , Anbumani K
Published: June 2021

The composites of the recent era have replaced the conventional materials which are widely used in the aerospace industry and safety applications. These application areas require high strength and tough structural materials. Hybridization of natural and synthetic fibers reduces cost, weight, and environmental effects caused by synthetic fiber composites without compromising its strength. In the present study Sansevieria Trifasciata Fiber (S.T.F) and Carbon Fiber (cf) reinforced hybrid composite materials were developed and subjected to wear analysis, Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (T.G.A), Differential Thermo Gravimetric (DTG) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (S.E.M.) for micro structure . The hybrid composites were prepared through the manual hand layup process with different percentages of S.T.F. and cf T.G.A test was performed on the 63.5 × 12.7 × 3 mm3 samples. 30% S.T.F. and 70% cf hybrid epoxy composites under TGA reveals to have the content of 30.9% fiber loss, 67.8% resin loss and 2.2% ash content. 40% STF and 60% CF hybrid composite reveal to have 11.9% fiber loss, 87.2% resin loss and 1% ash content. Similarly 30% STF and 70% CF hybrid composite have the content of 25.8% fiber loss, 72.7% resin loss and 1.5% ash content. Specific wear index of approximately 0.0028062 mm3/N-m was recorded for a sample of 40% STF and 60% CF and the minimum specific wear rate is 0.0010964 mm3/N-m, recorded for a sample of 30% STF and 70% CF at 15 N. TGA contour confirmed that the fiber was solid below 250 °C with the highest cellulose decomposition temperature of 375 °C. DTG confirmed that the crystallization temperature of the fiber was found to be 480.5 °C and the decomposition of lignin was found to be 810 °C temperature.
Behavioral Intervention Components Associated With Cost-effectiveness: A Comparison of Six Domains
Authors: Beard E , Lorencatto F , Gardner B , Michie S , Owen L , Shahab L
Published: June 2021

Background

To help implement behavior change interventions (BCIs) it is important to be able to characterize their key components and determine their effectiveness.

Purpose

This study assessed and compared the components of BCIs in terms of intervention functions identified using the Behaviour Change Wheel Framework (BCW) and in terms of their specific behavior change techniques (BCTs) identified using the BCT TaxonomyV1, across six behavioral domains and the association of these with cost-effectiveness.

Methods

BCIs in 251 studies targeting smoking, diet, exercise, sexual health, alcohol and multiple health behaviors, were specified in terms of their intervention functions and their BCTs, grouped into 16 categories. Associations with cost-effectiveness measured in terms of incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) upper and lower estimates were determined using regression analysis.

Results

The most prevalent functions were increasing knowledge through education (72.1%) and imparting skills through training (74.9%). The most prevalent BCT groupings were shaping knowledge (86.5%), changing behavioral antecedents (53.0%), supporting self-regulation (47.7%), and providing social support (44.6%). Intervention functions associated with better cost-effectiveness were those based on training (βlow = −15044.3; p = .002), persuasion (βlow = −19384.9; p = .001; βupp = −25947.6; p < .001) and restriction (βupp = −32286.1; p = .019), and with lower cost-effectiveness were those based on environmental restructuring (β = 15023.9low; p = .033). BCT groupings associated with better cost-effectiveness were goals and planning (βlow = −8537.3; p = .019 and βupp = −12416.9; p = .037) and comparison of behavior (βlow = −13561.9, p = .047 and βupp = −30650.2; p = .006). Those associated with lower cost-effectiveness were natural consequences (βlow = 7729.4; p = .033) and reward and threat (βlow = 20106.7; p = .004).

Conclusions

BCIs that focused on training, persuasion and restriction may be more cost-effective, as may those that encourage goal setting and comparison of behaviors with others.
Methylscaper: an R/Shiny app for joint visualization of DNA methylation and nucleosome occupancy in single-molecule and single-cell data
Authors: Knight Parker , Gauthier Marie-Pierre L , Pardo Carolina E , Darst Russell P , Kapadia Kevin , Browder Hadley , Morton Eliza , Riva Alberto , Kladde Michael P , Bacher Rhonda
Published: June 2021

Differential DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility are associated with disease development, particularly cancer. Methods that allow profiling of these epigenetic mechanisms in the same reaction and at the single-molecule or single-cell level continue to emerge. However, a challenge lies in jointly visualizing and analyzing the heterogeneous nature of the data and extracting regulatory insight. Here, we present methylscaper, a visualization framework for simultaneous analysis of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility landscapes. Methylscaper implements a weighted principal component analysis that orders DNA molecules, each providing a record of the chromatin state of one epiallele, and reveals patterns of nucleosome positioning, transcription factor occupancy, and DNA methylation. We demonstrate methylscaper’s utility on a long-read, single-molecule methyltransferase accessibility protocol for individual templates (MAPit-BGS) dataset and a single-cell nucleosome, methylation, and transcription sequencing (scNMT-seq) dataset. In comparison to other procedures, methylscaper is able to readily identify chromatin features that are biologically relevant to transcriptional status while scaling to larger datasets.

Availability and implementation

Methylscaper, is implemented in R (version > 4.1) and available on Bioconductor: https://bioconductor.org/packages/methylscaper/, GitHub: https://github.com/rhondabacher/methylscaper/, and Web: https://methylscaper.com.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
NPT520-34 improves neuropathology and motor deficits in a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Khan Asma , Johnson Robert , Wittmer Carrie , Maile Michelle , Tatsukawa Keith , Wong Julian L , Gill Martin B , Stocking Emily M , Natala Srinivasa R , Paulino Amy D , Bowden-Verhoek Jon K , Wrasidlo Wolfgang , Masliah Eliezer , Bonhaus Douglas W , Price Diana L
Published: June 2021

NPT520-34 is a clinical stage, small molecule being developed for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. The therapeutic potential of NPT520-34 was first suggested by findings from cell-based assays of alpha-synuclein clearance. As reported here, NPT520-34 was subsequently evaluated for therapeutically relevant actions in a transgenic animal model of Parkinson’s disease that overexpresses human alpha-synuclein and in an acute lipopolysaccharide-challenge model using wild-type mice.

Daily administration of NPT520-34 to mThy1-alpha-synuclein (Line 61) transgenic mice for 1 or 3 months resulted in reduced alpha-synuclein pathology, reduced expression of markers of neuroinflammation, and improvements in multiple indices of motor function. In a lipopolysaccharide-challenge model using wild-type mice, a single dose of NPT520-34 reduced lipopolysaccharide-evoked increases in the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in plasma.

These findings demonstrate the beneficial effects of NPT520-34 on both inflammation and protein-pathology end points, with consequent improvements in motor function in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. These findings further indicate that NPT520-34 may have two complementary actions: (i) to increase the clearance of neurotoxic protein aggregates; and (ii) to directly attenuate inflammation. NPT520-34 treatment may thereby address two of the predominate underlying pathophysiological aspects of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Person-Based Similarity Index for Cognition and Its Neural Correlates in Late Adulthood: Implications for Cognitive Reserve
Authors: West Anna , Hamlin Noah , Frangou Sophia , Wilson Tony W , Doucet Gaelle E
Published: June 2021

Healthy aging is typically associated with some level of cognitive decline, but there is substantial variation in such decline among older adults. The mechanisms behind such heterogeneity remain unclear but some have suggested a role for cognitive reserve. In this work, we propose the “person-based similarity index” for cognition (PBSI-Cog) as a proxy for cognitive reserve in older adults, and use the metric to quantify similarity between the cognitive profiles of healthy older and younger participants. In the current study, we computed this metric in 237 healthy older adults (55–88 years) using a reference group of 156 younger adults (18–39 years) taken from the Cambridge Center for Ageing and Neuroscience dataset. Our key findings revealed that PBSI-Cog scores in older adults were: 1) negatively associated with age (rho = −0.25, P = 10−4) and positively associated with higher education (t = 2.4, P = 0.02), 2) largely explained by fluid intelligence and executive function, and 3) predicted more by functional connectivity between lower- and higher-order resting-state networks than brain structural morphometry or education. Particularly, we found that higher segregation between the sensorimotor and executive networks predicted higher PBSI-Cog scores. Our results support the notion that brain network functional organization may underly variability in cognitive reserve in late adulthood.
The Impact of Current Opioid Agonist Therapy on Hepatitis C Virus Treatment Initiation Among People Who Use Drugs From the Direct-acting Antiviral (DAA) Era: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Bartlett Sofia R , Wong Stanley , Yu Amanda , Pearce Margo , MacIsaac Julia , Nouch Susan , Adu Prince , Wilton James , Samji Hasina , Clementi Emilia , Velasquez Hector , Jeong Dahn , Binka Mawuena , Alvarez Maria , Wong Jason , Buxton Jane , Krajden Mel , Janjua Naveed Z
Published: June 2021

Background

Evidence that opioid agonist therapy (OAT) is associated with increased odds of hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among people who use drugs (PWUD) is emerging. The objective of this study was to determine the association between current OAT and HCV treatment initiation among PWUD in a population-level linked administrative dataset.

Methods

The British Columbia Hepatitis Testers Cohort was used for this study, which includes all people tested for or diagnosed with HCV in British Columbia, linked to medical visits, hospitalizations, laboratory, prescription drug, and mortality data from 1992 until 2019. PWUD with injecting drug use or opioid use disorder and chronic HCV infection were identified for inclusion in this study. HCV treatment initiation was the main outcome, and subdistribution proportional hazards modeling was used to assess the relationship with current OAT.

Results

In total, 13 803 PWUD with chronic HCV were included in this study. Among those currently on OAT at the end of the study period, 47% (2704/5770) had started HCV treatment, whereas 22% (1778/8033) of those not currently on OAT had started HCV treatment. Among PWUD with chronic HCV infection, current OAT was associated with higher likelihood of HCV treatment initiation in time to event analysis (adjusted hazard ratio 1.84 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.50, 2.26]).

Conclusions

Current OAT was associated with a higher likelihood of HCV treatment initiation. However, many PWUD with HCV currently receiving OAT have yet to receive HCV treatment. Enhanced integration between substance use care and HCV treatment is needed to improve the overall health of PWUD.
Decreasing glucocorticoid levels towards the expansion front suggest ongoing expansion in a terrestrial mammal
Authors: Azevedo Alexandre , Bailey Liam , Bandeira Victor , Fonseca Carlos , Wauters Jella , Jewgenow Katarina
Published: June 2021

Understanding the causes of range expansions in abundant species can help predict future species distributions. During range expansions, animals are exposed to novel environments and are required to cope with new and unpredictable stressors. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are mediators of the hormonal and behavioural mechanisms allowing animals to cope with unpredictable changes in the environment and are therefore expected to differ between populations at expansion edge and the historic range. However, to date, very few studies have evaluated the relationship between GCs and range expansion. The Egyptian mongoose has been rapidly expanding its range in Portugal over the past 30 years. In this study, we applied an information theoretic approach to determine the most important spatial and environmental predictors of hair GCs (hGCs) in the population, after controlling for normal patterns of hGC variation in the species. We observed a decrease in hGC as distance from the historic range increased (i.e. closer to the expansion front). This distance term was present in all of the top models and had a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) that did not overlap with zero, strongly supporting its influence on hGC. We estimated a 0.031 pg/mg (95% CI: −0.057, −0.004) decrease in hGCs for each kilometre distance to the Tagus River, which was once the limit of the species’ distribution. Our results indicate that the species’ expansion is unlikely to be limited by mechanisms related to or mediated by the physiological stress response. The decrease in hGC levels towards the expansion edge coupled with limited evidence of a negative effect of human population density suggests that the species’ northward expansion in Portugal could continue.
Effects of human disturbance on postnatal growth and baseline corticosterone in a long-lived bird
Authors: Watson Hannah , Monaghan Pat , Heidinger Britt J , Bolton Mark
Published: June 2021

Prolonged or repeated episodes of environmental stress could be especially detrimental for developing young, via impaired growth or development. Despite this, most studies investigating the effects of human recreational and tourism activities have focused on adults. An increasing demand for nature-based tourism in remote locations means that many seabirds, which have evolved largely in the absence of predators and humans, are being exposed to novel pressures. The slow-growing semi-precocial nestlings of the European storm petrel Hydrobates pelagicus experience higher mortality rates in nests exposed to human recreational disturbance. Here, we examine whether surviving nestlings reared in disturbed areas are also affected via changes in growth trajectories and baseline circulating glucocorticoids. Nestlings reared in high-disturbance areas displayed delayed mass growth, and we found weak evidence for slower rates of mass gain and tarsus growth, compared with nestlings reared in undisturbed areas. There were no differences in wing growth, consistent with prioritization of long wings, important for post-fledging survival. A tendency for a less marked age-related decline in corticosterone (CORT) in disturbed nestlings offers limited evidence that changes in growth trajectories were mediated by baseline CORT. However, disturbed nestlings could have experienced overall higher GC exposure if the acute GC response was elevated. ‘Catch-up’ growth enabled high-disturbance nestlings to overcome early constraints and achieve a similar, or even larger, asymptotic body size and mass as low-disturbance nestlings. While catch-up growth has been shown to carry costs for parents and offspring, the effects of disturbance were slight and considerably smaller than growth alterations driven by variation in environmental conditions between years. Nonetheless, effects of human recreational activities could be exacerbated under higher levels of human disturbance or in the presence of multiple pressures, as imposed by present rapid rates of environmental change.
Isolation and characterization of two highly insecticidal, endophytic strains of Bacillus thuringiensis
Authors: García-Suárez Rosalina , Verduzco-Rosas Luis A , Ibarra Jorge E
Published: June 2021

Recent discovery of endophytic strains of Bacillus thuringiensis significantly improves the knowledge on its ecology. It also may be a new source for the isolation of insecticidal strains. This report shows the characterization of two endophytic, highly insecticidal strains of B. thuringiensis. Strains LBIT-1250L and LBIT-1251P were isolated from lavender and Poinsettia sap, respectively. Their parasporal crystals were very similar in morphology to those shown by serotypes israelensis and kurstaki, respectively. Bioassays on Aedes aegypti fourth instar larvae and on Manduca sexta first instar larvae, respectively, showed significantly higher levels of toxicity than those of their standard counterparts, IPS-82 (israelensis) and HD-1 (kurstaki) strains, respectively. Characterization of both strains included the sequencing of flagellin (hag) gene, plasmid and Bc Rep-PCR patterns and crystal protein content. All four characterization features indicated that LBIT1250L is highly related to the IPS-82 standard (serotype H-14: israelensis); while the LBIT-1251P was highly related to the HD-1 standard (serotype H-3a3b3c kurstaki). These results indicate that endophytic strains of B. thuringiensis may be a new source of potential insecticidal strains and opens more in-depth studies about the role of this bacterium in such a specialized habitat.
Long Reads Are Revolutionizing 20 Years of Insect Genome Sequencing
Authors: Hotaling Scott , Sproul John S , Heckenhauer Jacqueline , Powell Ashlyn , Larracuente Amanda M , Pauls Steffen U , Kelley Joanna L , Frandsen Paul B
Published: June 2021

The first insect genome assembly (Drosophila melanogaster) was published two decades ago. Today, nuclear genome assemblies are available for a staggering 601 insect species representing 20 orders. In this study, we analyzed the most-contiguous assembly for each species and provide a “state-of-the-field” perspective, emphasizing taxonomic representation, assembly quality, gene completeness, and sequencing technologies. Relative to species richness, genomic efforts have been biased toward four orders (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola, and Phasmatodea), Coleoptera are underrepresented, and 11 orders still lack a publicly available genome assembly. The average insect genome assembly is 439.2 Mb in length with 87.5% of single-copy benchmarking genes intact. Most notable has been the impact of long-read sequencing; assemblies that incorporate long reads are ∼48× more contiguous than those that do not. We offer four recommendations as we collectively continue building insect genome resources: 1) seek better integration between independent research groups and consortia, 2) balance future sampling between filling taxonomic gaps and generating data for targeted questions, 3) take advantage of long-read sequencing technologies, and 4) expand and improve gene annotations.
Milk, Yogurt, and Cheese Intake Is Positively Associated With Cognitive Executive Functions in Older Adults of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Tessier Anne-Julie , Presse Nancy , Rahme Elham , Ferland Guylaine , Bherer Louis , Chevalier Stéphanie
Published: June 2021

Background

Dairy products provide essential nutrients such as calcium and vitamins B12 and D, and include bioactive peptides and fermented products, which may be beneficial for cognition, especially in older adults. Yet, few studies of large contemporary cohorts have investigated this relationship using sensitive domain-specific cognitive tests.

Method

In community-dwelling older adults of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (2011–2015), we examined cross-sectional associations between total and specific dairy product intake and performance in 3 cognitive domains (executive functions, memory, and psychomotor speed). Cheese, milk, yogurt, regular-fat, low-fat, and fermented dairy product intake frequencies were estimated using a food frequency questionnaire; participants were classified into quartiles. Multivariate analyses of covariance models were applied to estimate differences.

Results

In 7 945 participants (65–86 years, 49% women, 97% Caucasian), the mean dairy product intake was 1.9 (1.1) times/d. Total dairy product, cheese, and low-fat dairy product intakes were positively associated with the executive function domain and yogurt intake with the memory domain (all p < .05), independently of important covariates including age, gender, education, and diet quality. Intakes of total dairy product, cheese, and low-fat dairy product were associated with verbal fluency specifically (all p < .05). Participants with a dairy product intake >2.5 times/d had a higher score compared to those consuming less. No associations were found with psychomotor speed.

Conclusions

This large cohort study suggests a specific role for dairy components in executive function phonemic verbal fluency and memory. Dairy product intake, a modifiable factor, may be targeted in cognitive health-promoting interventions.
Residential Street Block Disorder and Biological Markers of Aging in Older Adults: The National Health and Aging Trends Study
Authors: Roberts Lavigne Laken C , Tian Jing , Hladek Melissa , LaFave Sarah E , Szanton Sarah L , Samuel Laura J
Published: June 2021

Background

Residential environments are associated with older adults’ health, but underlying physiologic causal mechanisms are not well understood. As adults age, street blocks are likely more relevant to their health than the larger neighborhood environment. This study examined the effects of adverse street block conditions on aging biomarkers among older adults.

Methods

We included community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged 67 and older with 2017 biomarker data from the nationally representative National Health and Aging Trends Study (n = 4357). Street block disorder in 2016 was measured using interviewer report of any trash/glass/litter, graffiti, or vacant buildings on participants’ blocks. Propensity score models were used to create balanced groups with regard to multiple 2015 participant characteristics, including demographic, socioeconomic, residence, and early-life characteristics. Linear regressions modeled street block disorder as a predictor of 4 aging biomarkers, hemoglobin A1C, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and cytomegalovirus antibodies, before and after applying propensity score weighting.

Results

Adjusting for participant sociodemographic characteristics and applying propensity score weights, living on a block with any disorder was associated with 2% higher mean hemoglobin A1C levels (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002–0.03), 13% higher C-reactive protein (95% CI: 0.03–0.23), 10% higher interleukin-6 (95% CI: 0.02–0.19), and 19% more cytomegalovirus antibodies (95% CI: 0.09–0.29) compared to living on a block with no disorder.

Conclusions

Street block disorder predicted subsequent aging biomarkers after applying a propensity score approach to account for confounding among a national sample of older adults. Targeting street-level residential contexts for intervention may reduce the risk for poor health in older adults.
Are start-ups funded by public venture capital different? New cross-country evidence from micro-data
Authors: Breschi Stefano , Johnstone Nick , Menon Carlo
Published: June 2021

Given the sizeable amount of public investments in venture capital (VC) in many countries, an emerging empirical literature investigates the impact of government venture funds on firm performance. We reassess the key findings of this literature using a new database on innovative start-ups and VC investments, which is unprecedented for granularity and comprehensiveness and covers a longer, more recent time period. Our analysis confirms the established finding that start-ups backed by government VC underperform start-ups backed by private investors. Differently from the extant literature, instead, we do not find that mixed public–private investments in the first stage are associated with additional private investments in later funding rounds. We interpret this as evidence that public VC is bounded to fail without an ongoing commitment throughout the process of development and growth of new ventures.
Localized states in coupled Cahn–Hilliard equations
Authors: Frohoff-Hülsmann Tobias , Thiele Uwe
Published: June 2021

The classical Cahn–Hilliard (CH) equation corresponds to a gradient dynamics model that describes phase decomposition in a binary mixture. In the spinodal region, an initially homogeneous state spontaneously decomposes via a large-scale instability into drop, hole or labyrinthine concentration patterns of a typical structure length followed by a continuously ongoing coarsening process. Here, we consider the coupled CH dynamics of two concentration fields and show that non-reciprocal (or active or non-variational) coupling may induce a small-scale (Turing) instability. At the corresponding primary bifurcation, a branch of periodically patterned steady states emerges. Furthermore, there exist localized states that consist of patterned patches coexisting with a homogeneous background. The branches of steady parity-symmetric and parity-asymmetric localized states form a slanted homoclinic snaking structure typical for systems with a conservation law. In contrast to snaking structures in systems with gradient dynamics, here, Hopf instabilities occur at a sufficiently large activity, which results in oscillating and travelling localized patterns.
To Hell with the Cell: The Case for Immersive Statecraft Education
Authors: Bell Arvid , Bollfrass Alexander
Published: June 2021

Current wargaming techniques are effective training and research instruments for military scenarios with fixed tools and boundaries on the problem. Control cells composed of officiants adjudicating and evaluating moves enforce these boundaries. Real-world crises, however, unfold in several dimensions in a chaotic context, a condition requiring decision-making under deep uncertainty. In this article, we assess how pedagogical exercises can be designed to effectively capture this level of complexity and describe a new framework for developing deeply immersive exercises. We propose a method for designing crisis environments that are dynamic, deep, and decentralized (3D). These obviate the need for a control cell and enhance the usefulness of exercises in preparing military and policy practitioners by better replicating real-world decision-making dynamics. This paper presents the application of this 3D method, which integrates findings from wargame and negotiation simulation design into immersive crisis exercises. We share observations from the research, design, and execution of “Red Horizon,” an immersive crisis exercise held three times at Harvard University with senior civilian and military participants from multiple countries. It further explores connections to contemporary trends in international relations scholarship.
Vehicle Currency Pricing and Exchange Rate Pass-Through
Authors: Chen Natalie , Chung Wanyu , Novy Dennis
Published: June 2021

Using detailed firm-level transactions data for UK imports, we find that invoicing in a vehicle currency is pervasive, with more than half of the transactions in our sample invoiced in neither sterling nor the exporter’s currency. We then study the relationship between invoicing currencies and the response of import unit values to exchange rate changes. We find that for transactions invoiced in a vehicle currency, import unit values are much more sensitive to changes in the vehicle currency than in the bilateral exchange rate. Pass-through therefore substantially increases once we account for vehicle currencies. This result helps to explain why UK inflation turned out higher than expected when sterling depreciated during the Great Recession and after the Brexit referendum. Finally, within a conceptual framework, we show why bilateral exchange rates are not suitable for capturing exchange rate pass-through under vehicle currency pricing. Overall, our results help to clarify why the literature often finds a disconnect between exchange rates and prices when vehicle currencies are not accounted for.
Insect Succession and Decomposition Pattern on Pig Carrion During Warm and Cold Seasons in Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa
Authors: Tembe Danisile , Mukaratirwa Samson
Published: June 2021

With the aim of identifying insects with potential value as indicator species in postmortem interval (PMI), the location or season of death of human or monogastric animals, two medium-sized large white pigs were used for the study during cold and warm seasons. Five stages of decomposition and their durations were observed and described in the pig carcasses during both seasons. Carcasses were first colonized by flies from seven taxa during fresh stage. Chrysomya marginalis (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Chrysomya albiceps, (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Musca domestica (Walker) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were recorded as the overall dominant adult flies found on the carcasses in both seasons. Colonization by beetles began during the bloated stage in the warm season and active stage in the cold season. Dermestes maculatus (De Geer) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) and Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Cleridae) were the most abundant beetles in both seasons. Flies and beetles were generally abundant during the warm seasons as compared to the cold season. However, the difference was only significant for beetles. The highest number of flies were recorded in the bloated stage for both seasons, however they were reduced in the active stage which coincided with the introduction of predatory beetles. The arrival time of the different arthropod species and their association with different stages of decomposition during both seasons pointed to their value in estimating the PMI in forensic investigations in the locality of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Consequently, they can potentially be useful in the estimation of PMI and other cases of criminal investigations.
Inter-State Communication under ICERD: From ad hoc Conciliation to Collective Enforcement?
Authors: Tamada Dai
Published: June 2021

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) contains the inter-State communication procedure within which the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) received the following three communications in 2018: Qatar v Saudi Arabia, Qatar v the United Arab Emirates, and Palestine v Israel. In these cases, CERD characterized this procedure as relating to collective enforcement, analogous to the inter-State application procedure within the order/regime of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). However, unlike the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), ICERD does not refer to ‘collective enforcement’, but merely contains ad hoc conciliation, that is a bilateral means for reaching a mutually agreed solution to a dispute. This article aims, rather critically, to assess whether, and to which extent, it is justified to view the CERD ad hoc conciliation procedure as a means of collective enforcement.
Plant neighbour-modulated susceptibility to pathogens in intraspecific mixtures
Authors: Pélissier Rémi , Buendia Luis , Brousse Andy , Temple Coline , Ballini Elsa , Fort Florian , Violle Cyrille , Morel Jean-Benoit
Published: June 2021

As part of a trend towards diversifying cultivated areas, varietal mixtures are subject to renewed interest as a means to manage diseases. Besides the epidemiological effects of varietal mixtures on pathogen propagation, little is known about the effect of intraspecific plant–plant interactions and their impact on responses to disease. In this study, genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa) or durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) were grown with different conspecific neighbours and manually inoculated under conditions preventing pathogen propagation. Disease susceptibility was measured together with the expression of basal immunity genes as part of the response to intra-specific neighbours. The results showed that in many cases for both rice and wheat susceptibility to pathogens and immunity was modified by the presence of intraspecific neighbours. This phenomenon, which we term ‘neighbour-modulated susceptibility’ (NMS), could be caused by the production of below-ground signals and does not require the neighbours to be infected. Our results suggest that the mechanisms responsible for reducing disease in varietal mixtures in the field need to be re-examined.
Red light-induced kumquat fruit coloration is attributable to increased carotenoid metabolism regulated by FcrNAC22
Authors: Gong Jinli , Zeng Yunliu , Meng Qiunan , Guan Yajie , Li Chengyang , Yang Hongbin , Zhang Yingzi , Ampomah-Dwamena Charles , Liu Ping , Chen Chuanwu , Deng Xiuxin , Cheng Yunjiang , Wang Pengwei
Published: June 2021

Carotenoids play vital roles in the coloration of plant tissues and organs, particularly fruits; however, the regulation of carotenoid metabolism in fruits during ripening is largely unknown. Here, we show that red light promotes fruit coloration by inducing accelerated degreening and carotenoid accumulation in kumquat fruits. Transcriptome profiling revealed that a NAC (NAM/ATAF/CUC2) family transcription factor, FcrNAC22, is specifically induced in red light-irradiated fruits. FcrNAC22 localizes to the nucleus, and its gene expression is up-regulated as fruits change color. Results from dual luciferase, yeast one-hybrid assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicate that FcrNAC22 directly binds to, and activates the promoters of three genes encoding key enzymes in the carotenoid metabolic pathway. Moreover, FcrNAC22 overexpression in citrus and tomato fruits as well as in citrus callus enhances expression of most carotenoid biosynthetic genes, accelerates plastid conversion into chromoplasts, and promotes color change. Knock down of FcrNAC22 expression in transiently transformed citrus fruits attenuates fruit coloration induced by red light. Taken together, our results demonstrate that FcrNAC22 is an important transcription factor that mediates red light-induced fruit coloration via up-regulation of carotenoid metabolism.
Mitigating SARS-CoV-2 in the Deployed Environment
Authors: O’Donnell Mary T , Kucera John , Mitchell Christopher A , Gurney Jennifer M
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Unlike other communal living environments (universities, boarding schools, and camps) that have been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, the deployed military force must continue its mission. Early challenges in the 2020 deployed environment included limited availability of living and quarantine space and limited testing capacity. This is a brief report of stringent quarantine strategies employed to newly arriving cohorts at a NATO and U.S. military base to prevent release of SARS-CoV-2 into a larger base population.

Methods

With awareness of the worldwide pandemic, beginning in late February 2020, all personnel arriving to the Hamid Karzai International Airport NATO base were quarantined for 14 days to prevent interaction with the wider base population. Testing capacity was limited. Names, locations, and dates of those within quarantine were tracked to improve contact tracing. Between February and April 2020, the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were diagnosed on a military base in Afghanistan within quarantine.

Results

Within quarantine, 11 males became PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 during April 2020. Five of the 11 were PCR tested for symptoms of fever, cough, or loss of taste. A sixth individual, who had been asymptomatic upon leaving the base after completion of quarantine, later developed symptoms and tested positive. Another five asymptomatic individuals were found with antibody testing just before planned release from 14 days of quarantine post-exposure and confirmed with PCR testing. All PCR-positive individuals were diagnosed before being released into the general population of the base because of strict screening, quarantine, and exit criteria.

Conclusion

Quarantine creates significant strain on resources in a deployed environment. Group quarantine facilities where social distancing is limited allow for the possibility for intra-quarantine transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Ideally, PCR testing is done upon entry into quarantine and upon exit. With the possibility of false-negative PCR or limited PCR testing, we recommend daily symptom screening, pulse oximetry, temperature checks, and small quarantine groups that must “graduate” together—all meeting exit criteria. Any introduction of new individual, even with negative testing, to a group increases risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Upon exit of quarantine, testing should be performed, regardless of entry testing. If PCR is limited, serology testing should be done, followed by PCR, if positive. Serology testing can be combined with clinical judgment to conserve PCR testing for quarantine release of asymptomatic individuals.
Clumpiness of observed and simulated cold circumgalactic gas
Authors: Augustin Ramona , Péroux Céline , Hamanowicz Aleksandra , Kulkarni Varsha , Rahmani Hadi , Zanella Anita
Published: June 2021

Determining the clumpiness of matter around galaxies is pivotal to a full understanding of the spatially inhomogeneous, multiphase gas in the circumgalactic medium (CGM). We combine high spatially resolved 3D observations with hydrodynamical cosmological simulations to measure the cold circumgalactic gas clumpiness. We present new adaptive-optics-assisted VLT/MUSE observations of a quadruply lensed quasar, targeting the CGM of 2 foreground z ∼ 1 galaxies observed in absorption. We additionally use zoom-in FOGGIE simulations with exquisite resolution (∼0.1 kpc scales) in the CGM of galaxies to compute the physical properties of cold gas traced by Mg ii absorbers. By contrasting these mock-observables with the VLT/MUSE observations, we find a large spread of fractional variations of Mg ii equivalent widths with physical separation, both in observations and simulations. The simulations indicate a dependence of the Mg ii coherence length on the underlying gas morphology (filaments versus clumps). The zabs = 1.168 Mg ii system shows coherence over ≳6 kpc and is associated with an [O ii] emitting galaxy situated 89 kpc away, with SFR ≥ 4.6 ± 1.5 $\rm M_{\odot }$ yr−1 and M* = 109.6 ± 0.2M⊙. Based on this combined analysis, we determine that the absorber is consistent with being an inflowing filament. The zabs = 1.393 Mg ii system traces dense CGM gas clumps varying in strength over ≲2 kpc physical scales. Our findings suggest that this absorber is likely related to an outflowing clump. Our joint approach combining 3D-spectroscopy observations of lensed systems and simulations with extreme resolution in the CGM put new constraints on the clumpiness of cold CGM gas, a key diagnostic of the baryon cycle.
Improving parametric mass modelling of lensing clusters through a perturbative approach
Authors: Beauchesne Benjamin , Clément Benjamin , Richard Johan , Kneib Jean-Paul
Published: June 2021

We present a new method to model the mass distribution of galaxy clusters that combines a parametric and a free-form approach to reconstruct cluster cores with strong lensing constraints. It aims at combining the advantages of both approaches, by keeping the robustness of the parametric component with an increased flexibility thanks to a free-form surface of B-spline functions. We demonstrate the capabilities of this new approach on the simulated cluster Hera, which has been used to evaluate lensing codes for the analysis of the Frontier Fields clusters. The method leads to better reproduction of the constraints, with an improvement by a factor of ∼3–4 on the root mean square error on multiple-image positions, when compared to parametric-only approaches. The resulting models show a better accuracy in the reconstruction of the amplitude of the convergence field while conserving a high fidelity on other lensing observables already well reproduced. We make this method publicly available through its implementation in the lenstool software.
The KMOS galaxy evolution survey (KGES): the angular momentum of star-forming galaxies over the last ≈10 Gyr
Authors: Tiley Alfred L , Gillman S , Cortese L , Swinbank A M , Dudzevičiūtė U , Harrison C M , Smail I , Obreschkow D , Croom S M , Sharples R M , Puglisi A
Published: June 2021

We present the KMOS Galaxy Evolution Survey (KGES), a K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph (KMOS) study of the H α and [N ii] emission from 288 K-band-selected galaxies at 1.2 ≲ z ≲ 1.8, with stellar masses in the range $\log _{10}(M_{*}/\rm {M}_{\odot })\approx 9$ – 11.5. In this paper, we describe the survey design, present the sample, and discuss the key properties of the KGES galaxies. We combine KGES with appropriately matched samples at lower redshifts from the KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS) and the SAMI Galaxy Survey. Accounting for the effects of sample selection, data quality, and analysis techniques between surveys, we examine the kinematic characteristics and angular momentum content of star-forming galaxies at z ≈ 1.5, ≈1, and ≈0. We find that stellar mass, rather than redshift, most strongly correlates with the disc fraction amongst star-forming galaxies at z ≲ 1.5, observing only a modest increase in the prevalence of discs between z ≈ 1.5 and z ≈ 0.04 at fixed stellar mass. Furthermore, typical star-forming galaxies follow the same median relation between specific angular momentum and stellar mass, regardless of their redshift, with the normalization of the relation depending more strongly on how disc-like a galaxy’s kinematics are. This suggests that massive star-forming discs form in a very similar manner across the ≈10 Gyr encompassed by our study and that the inferred link between the angular momentum of galaxies and their haloes does not change significantly across the stellar mass and redshift ranges probed in this work.
Museomics Dissects the Genetic Basis for Adaptive Seasonal Coloration in the Least Weasel
Authors: Miranda Inês , Giska Iwona , Farelo Liliana , Pimenta João , Zimova Marketa , Bryk Jarosław , Dalén Love , Mills L Scott , Zub Karol , Melo-Ferreira José
Published: June 2021

Dissecting the link between genetic variation and adaptive phenotypes provides outstanding opportunities to understand fundamental evolutionary processes. Here, we use a museomics approach to investigate the genetic basis and evolution of winter coat coloration morphs in least weasels (Mustela nivalis), a repeated adaptation for camouflage in mammals with seasonal pelage color moults across regions with varying winter snow. Whole-genome sequence data were obtained from biological collections and mapped onto a newly assembled reference genome for the species. Sampling represented two replicate transition zones between nivalis and vulgaris coloration morphs in Europe, which typically develop white or brown winter coats, respectively. Population analyses showed that the morph distribution across transition zones is not a by-product of historical structure. Association scans linked a 200-kb genomic region to coloration morph, which was validated by genotyping museum specimens from intermorph experimental crosses. Genotyping the wild populations narrowed down the association to pigmentation gene MC1R and pinpointed a candidate amino acid change cosegregating with coloration morph. This polymorphism replaces an ancestral leucine residue by lysine at the start of the first extracellular loop of the protein in the vulgaris morph. A selective sweep signature overlapped the association region in vulgaris, suggesting that past adaptation favored winter-brown morphs and can anchor future adaptive responses to decreasing winter snow. Using biological collections as valuable resources to study natural adaptations, our study showed a new evolutionary route generating winter color variation in mammals and that seasonal camouflage can be modulated by changes at single key genes.