bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consistent responses of yield and resistance of wheat cultivars to the root‐lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, in the Australian northern subtropical region, but not in the temperate southern region
Authors: Owen Kirsty J. , Fanning Joshua P. , Reeves Karyn L. , Hollaway Grant J.
Published: June 2021

To understand the yield response of cereal cultivars to Pratylenchus thornei, eight experiments were conducted within the subtropical northern, and temperate southern grain‐producing regions of Australia. Wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) ranging from susceptible to moderately resistant to P. thornei were grown in Year 1 to establish a range of population densities. In Year 2 before sowing, P. thornei was quantified in each plot and six cereal cultivars were each grown on a similar range of population densities (average minimum to maximum of 3.4–60.6 P. thornei/g soil); P. thornei was quantified again at harvest. In the four experiments in the northern region there was a significant, negative logarithmic response of yield of the three most intolerant/susceptible cultivars as P. thornei population densities increased (yield decreased 172–479 kg/ha per unit increase in loge‐transformed P. thornei/g soil). The responsiveness of yield to increasing P. thornei population densities diminished as the tolerance and resistance of the cultivars improved. In the southern region, there was no relationship between yield and P. thornei in three experiments and minor, positive increases in one experiment (1.6 kg/ha per unit increase in P. thornei/g soil). Across both regions, the change in P. thornei population densities from sowing to harvest was logarithmic and positive, and generally greatest in the northern region. The contrast of responses of cereal cultivars between the regions, despite similar population densities of P. thornei, is indicative of the influence of the environment particularly on tolerance, therefore management with a regional focus is essential.
Improving houses in the Bolivian Chaco increases effectiveness of residual insecticide spraying against infestation with Triatoma infestans, vector of Chagas disease
Authors: Gonçalves Raquel , Landivar Daniel , Grover Sañez Liendo Edson , Mamani Fernandez Janet , Ismail Hanafy M. , Paine Mark J. I. , Courtenay Orin , Bern Caryn
Published: June 2021

Objective

Failure to control domestic Triatoma infestans in the Chaco is attributed to vulnerable adobe construction, which provides vector refuges and diminishes insecticide contact. We conducted a pilot to test the impact of housing improvement plus indoor residual spraying (IRS) on house infestation and vector abundance in a rural community in the Bolivian Chaco.

Methods

The intervention included three arms: housing improvement + IRS [HI], assisted IRS [AS] in which the team helped to clear the house pre‐IRS and routine IRS [RS]. HI used locally available materials, traditional construction techniques and community participation. Vector parameters were assessed by Timed Manual Capture for 2 person‐hours per house at baseline and medians of 114, 173, 314, 389 and 445 days post‐IRS‐1. A second IRS round was applied at a median of 314 days post‐IRS‐1.

Results

Post‐intervention infestation indices and abundance fell in all three arms. The mean odds of infestation was 0.29 (95% CL 0.124, 0.684) in the HI relative to the RS arm. No difference was observed between AS and RS. Vector abundance was reduced by a mean 44% (24.8, 58.0) in HI compared to RS, with no difference between AS and RS. Median delivered insecticide concentrations per house were lower than the target of 50 mg/m2 in >90% of houses in all arms.

Conclusion

Housing improvement using local materials and community participation is a promising strategy to improve IRS effectiveness in the Bolivian Chaco. A larger trial is needed to quantify the impact on reinfestation over time.
Effect of Compressibility on Velocity Profile and Friction Factor of Gaseous Laminar Flows in a Microtube
Authors: Murakami Shintaro , Kaoru Toyoda , Asako Yutaka
Published: June 2021

Laminar flow of nitrogen gas in a microtube was simulated numerically to obtain velocity profile and Fanning friction factor in a quasi-fully developed region. The numerical procedure based on Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian method solved two-dimensional compressible momentum and energy equations. The computations were performed for a wide range of Reynolds number in laminar flow regime with adiabatic wall condition. It was found that the velocity profile deviates from the parabola as Mach number increases, and the product of Fanning friction factor and Reynolds number is not a constant but a function of only Mach number. To explain the compressibility effect, a new theoretical flow model which gives the velocity profile of gaseous laminar flows in a microtube was proposed under the assumption of purely axial flow. The theoretical velocity profile is taking radial-direction density change into account, and coincides with the numerically obtained velocity profile. The proposed flow model also shows that the Fanning friction factor of a compressible flow in a microtube is expressed by a quadratic function of Mach number. The coefficient of the Mach squared term is 40% of the numerically obtained correlation. The compressibility effect on friction factor of gaseous laminar flows in a microtube partly results from velocity profile change which must occur to keep the mass velocity profile when density changes in radial direction. The remainder of the compressibility effect can be considered to result from actual mass transfer in the radial direction whose existence was demonstrated by the numerical results.
A New Medical Device Modeling Framework for Predicting the Performance of Indwelling Continence Care Devices and Improving Patient Care
Authors: Bodner Jeff , Baxter Walt , Leung Christina , Falkner Phillip
Published: June 2021

A computational model of the human torso has been developed to study the stability of implanted leads that are part of a sacral nerve stimulation system. The model was built using presegmented anatomies that were themselves built from imaging of human patients. The sacral leads are represented using beam elements, and their interaction with the tissue is defined using a function that relates frictional force to the amount of slip between the lead and tissue. Displacements to the skin in the sacral region are applied to simulate activities of daily living, and the resulting displacement of the tip of the lead is indicative of its tendency to dislodge in real patients. Validation of the model was performed using experimental results collected in human cadavers. In these experiments, analogous displacements of the skin were applied after implantation of the leads per normal implant procedures. The displacement of the distal tip of the lead was measured using computed tomography (CT) imaging, allowing direct comparison to the predictions of the model. Recognizing that many model inputs were informed by sparse literature values, a novel application of uncertainty quantification methodology was developed wherein all model inputs were treated as uncertain intervals. This allowed an optimization approach to be used for estimating the uncertain interval for the model outputs. The computational model and cadaver results were used to study the performance of a new sacral lead design, relative to a predicate product. The results showed that the reduction in lead axial stiffness in the new design leads to less lead tip displacement, such that the lead is more likely to remain near the therapeutic target in patients.
The Effect of Serpent 2 Calculation Parameters on Evaluated Spent Nuclear Fuel Source Term
Authors: Tuominen Riku , Valtavirta Ville
Published: June 2021

The estimation of spent nuclear fuel source term (decay heat, reactivity, nuclide inventory, etc.) has several sources of uncertainty such as uncertainties in nuclear data, uncertainties in the operation history, and choice of calculation parameters. In this work the effect of calculation parameters is studied by estimating the source term with the built-in burnup capability of serpent. The effect of the following parameters is considered: depletion zone division, burnup steps, unresolved resonance probability table sampling, Doppler-Broadening Rejection Correction (DBRC) and energy-dependent branching ratios. As a test case, a 2D Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) fuel assembly was modeled by first running a burnup calculation followed by a decay calculation. The following source term components were considered when investigating the effect of the studied parameters: total decay heat, photon emission rate and spontaneous fission rate. In general, the differences resulting from the use of different parameter variations were small for all three studied source term components. For the decay heat largest absolute relative difference was approximately 0.6% and for the photon emission rate approximately 1.1%. For the spontaneous fission rate maximum absolute relative difference of nearly 8% was observed. For all three components the variation of the depletion zone division resulted in the largest relative differences. Clear differences were also observed for burnup step length and DBRC variations. The use of unresolved resonance probability table sampling and energy-dependent branching ratios had an insignificant effect on the studied source term components.
Superphénix Benchmark Part I: Results of Static Neutronics
Authors: Ponomarev Alexander , Mikityuk Konstantin , Zhang Liang , Nikitin Evgeny , Fridman Emil , Álvarez-Velarde Francisco , Romojaro Otero Pablo , Jiménez-Carrascosa Antonio , García-Herranz Nuria , Lindley Ben , Baker Una , Seubert Armin , Henry Romain
Published: June 2021

In the paper, the specification of a new neutronics benchmark for large sodium cooled fast reactor (SFR) core and results of modeling by different participants are presented. The neutronics benchmark describes the core of the French sodium cooled reactor Superphénix at its startup configuration, which in particular was used for experimental measurement of reactivity characteristics. The benchmark consists of the detailed heterogeneous core specification for neutronic analysis and the results of the reference solution. Different core geometries and thermal conditions from the cold “as fabricated” up to full power were considered. The reference Monte Carlo (MC) solution of serpent 2 includes data on multiplication factor, power distribution, axial and radial reaction rates distribution, reactivity coefficients and safety characteristics, control rods worth, kinetic data. The results of modeling with seven other solutions using deterministic and MC methods are also presented and compared to the reference solution. The comparisons results demonstrate appropriate agreement of evaluated characteristics. The neutronics results will be used in the second phase of the benchmark for the evaluation of transient behavior of the core.
Basics of CANDU Reactor Physics
Authors: Shen Wei , Rouben Benjamin
Published: June 2021

Nuclear fission is the splitting of a (large) nucleus, with the release of energy. The nuclei of some heavy elements, such as U-238, do exhibit spontaneous fission in nature. However, the rate of such fissions is extremely low. The half-life of uranium is longer than 100 million years, and most of its decay is by alpha emission, so spontaneous fission is not a practical source of energy. Spontaneous fission is not of much use to us as an energy source!
Regional/Neutron Overpower Protection (ROP/NOP)
Authors: Shen Wei , Rouben Benjamin
Published: June 2021

There are independent, separate, and diverse ROP/NOP systems for the two SDS. Each ROP/NOP system consists of a number of flux detectors (see Section 5.4.3) which provide prompt measurements of neutron flux throughout the core. The detectors are mounted inside assemblies that penetrate the core, perpendicular to the fuel channels, vertically or horizontally. The system for SDS1 uses vertical detectors, the one for SDS2 uses horizontal detectors. Detectors are judiciously distributed to monitor the neutron flux throughout the core. In the CANDU 6, a total of 58 ROP detectors are used: 34 for SDS1 and 24 for SDS2. The number and location of detectors in the core are selected in an analysis whose objective is to ensure that as small a number of detectors as possible protect the reactor by tripping a SDS when local high powers threaten reactor safety from any flux shape that could arise in the operating reactor, while at the same time providing adequate margin-to-trip (MTT) to avoid possible restrictions on reactor operating power.
Focus ring geometry influence on wafer edge voltage distribution for plasma processes
Authors: Xiao Yuhua , Du Yao , Smith Carl , Nam Sang Ki , Lee Hoki , Lee Jang-Yeob , Shannon Steven
Published: June 2021

Capacitively coupled wafer-bearing cathodes are widely used in etching and deposition processes. Uniform electric field and plasma density across the wafer surface are necessary for process control all the way to the edge of the wafer. Terminating structures at the wafer edge such as focus rings are used to improve uniformity and minimize costly edge exclusion. The focus ring can be viewed as an arbitrary impedance element at the wafer edge that balances the sheath voltage above it and the region above the wafer, minimizing field variation at the wafer edge. To validate this assumption, a one-dimension circuit model with focus rings was developed. The simulations were compared to experimental results measured using hairpin probe, VI probe, and a retarding field energy analyzer (Impedans RFEA). It was found that the focus ring coupling acts as a voltage divider only in high voltage cases, and the sheath voltage drop over the focus ring will increase in low voltage cases and does not rigorously follow the voltage divider model typically used.
Polarized endosome dynamics engage cytoplasmic Par-3 that recruits dynein during asymmetric cell division
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Garcia Jason Q. , Tong Kai , Chen Xingye , Yang Bin , Li Qi , Dai Zhipeng , Shi Xiaoyu , Seiple Ian B. , Huang Bo , Guo Su
Published: June 2021

In vivo imaging and expansion microscopy reveal a new role of cytosolic Par-3 in polarized transport of Notch signaling endosome.
A microbial eukaryote with a unique combination of purple bacteria and green algae as endosymbionts
Authors: Muñoz-Gómez Sergio A. , Kreutz Martin , Hess Sebastian
Published: June 2021

A eukaryote with two contrasting intracellular photosymbionts has a unique combination of physiological properties.
Evaluating the long-term effect of space radiation on the reproductive normality of mammalian sperm preserved on the International Space Station
Authors: Wakayama Sayaka , Ito Daiyu , Kamada Yuko , Shimazu Toru , Suzuki Tomomi , Nagamatsu Aiko , Araki Ryoko , Ishikawa Takahiro , Kamimura Satoshi , Hirose Naoki , Kazama Kousuke , Yang Li , Inoue Rei , Kikuchi Yasuyuki , Hayashi Erika , Emura Rina , Watanabe Ren , Nagatomo Hiroaki , Suzuki Hiromi , Yamamori Tohru , Tada Motoki N. , Osada Ikuko , Umehara Masumi , Sano Hiromi , Kasahara Haruo , Higashibata Akira , Yano Sachiko , Abe Masumi , Kishigami Satoshi , Kohda Takashi , Ooga Masatoshi , Wakayama Teruhiko
Published: June 2021

The effect of space radiation on offspring was evaluated using mouse freeze-dried spermatozoa preserved on the Space Station.
Nitrate Removal by a Novel Lithoautotrophic Nitrate-Reducing, Iron(II)-Oxidizing Culture Enriched from a Pyrite-Rich Limestone Aquifer
Authors: Jakus Natalia , Blackwell Nia , Osenbrück Karsten , Straub Daniel , Byrne James M. , Wang Zhe , Glöckler David , Elsner Martin , Lueders Tillmann , Grathwohl Peter , Kleindienst Sara , Kappler Andreas
Published: June 2021

Removal of nitrate by microbial denitrification in groundwater is often limited by low concentrations of organic carbon. In these carbon-poor ecosystems, nitrate-reducing bacteria that can use inorganic compounds such as Fe(II) (NRFeOx) as electron donors could play a major role in nitrate removal.
Pathogen and Surrogate Survival in Relation to Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Freshwater Mesocosms
Authors: Baker Christopher A. , Almeida Giselle , Lee Jung Ae , Gibson Kristen E.
Published: June 2021

Contamination of fresh produce via agricultural water is well established. This research demonstrates that survival of fecal indicator bacteria, pathogenic microorganisms, and other bacterial and viral surrogates in freshwater differs by sample type (sediment/water) and season.
Evaluation of Strain Variability in Inactivation of Campylobacter jejuni in Simulated Gastric Fluid by Using Hierarchical Bayesian Modeling
Authors: Koyama Kento , Ranta Jukka , Takeoka Kohei , Abe Hiroki , Koseki Shige
Published: June 2021

Since microbial strains vary in their growth and activation patterns in food materials, it is important to accurately predict these patterns for quantitative microbial risk assessment. However, most previous studies in this area have used highly resistant strains, which could lead to inaccurate predictions.
PsaF Is a Membrane-Localized pH Sensor That Regulates
psaA
Expression in
Yersinia pestis
Authors: Quinn Joshua D. , Weening Eric H. , Miller Virginia L.
Published: June 2021

Yersinia pestis
is a bacterial pathogen that causes bubonic plague in humans. As
Y. pestis
cycles between fleas and mammals, it senses the environment within each host to appropriately control gene expression.
Edwardsiella piscicida
interferes with classical endocytic trafficking and replicates in a specialized replication-permissive niche in non-phagocytic cells
Authors: Zhang Lingzhi , Jiang Jiatiao , Zhang Jin , Liu Xiaohong , Yang Dahai , Zhang Yuanxing , Liu Qin
Published: June 2021

Edwardsiella piscicida
(
E. piscicida
) is an intracellular pathogen within a broad spectrum of hosts. Essential to
E. piscicida
virulence is its ability to invade and replicate inside host cells, yet the survival mechanisms and the nature of the replicative compartment remain unknown. Here, we characterized its intracellular lifestyle in non-phagocytic cells and showed that intracellular replication of
E. piscicida
in non-phagocytic cells is dependent on its type III secretion system but not type VI secretion system. Following internalization,
E. piscicida
is contained in vacuoles that transiently mature into early endosomes but subsequently bypasses the classical endosome pathway and fusion with lysosomes which depend on its T3SS. Following a rapid escape from the degradative pathway,
E. piscicida
was found to create a specialized replication-permissive niche characterized by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) markers. Furthermore, we found that a T3SS effector EseJ is responsible for intracellular replication of
E. piscicida
by preventing endosome/lysosome fusion.
In vivo
experiments also confirmed that EseJ is necessary for bacterial colonization of
E. piscicida
in the epithelial layer followed by systemic dissemination both in zebrafish and mice. Thus, this work elucidates the tactics used by
E. piscicida
to survive and proliferate within host non-phagocytic cells.

IMPORTANCE

E. piscicida
is a facultative intracellular bacterium associated with septicemia and fatal infections in many animals, including fish and humans. However, little is known about its intracellular life, which is important for successful invasion of the host. The present study is the first comprehensive characterization of
E. piscicida
’s intracellular life-style in host cells. Upon internalization,
E. piscicida
is transiently contained in Rab5-positive vacuoles, but the pathogen prevents further endosome maturation and fusion with lysosomes by utilizing a T3SS effector EseJ. In addition, the bacterium creates a specialized replication niche for rapid growth via an interaction with the ER. Our study provides new insights into the strategies used by
E. piscicida
to successfully establishes an intracellular lifestyle that contributes to its survival and dissemination during infection.
Elevated HIV Infection of CD4 T Cells in MRKAd5 Vaccine Recipients Due to CD8 T Cells Targeting Adapted Epitopes
Authors: Qin Kai , Boppana Sushma , Carlson Jonathan M. , Fiore-Gartland Andrew , Files Jacob , Zeng Jie , Edberg Jeffrey , Mailliard Robbie B. , Ochsenbauer Christina , Bansal Anju , Goepfert Paul
Published: June 2021

Despite the well-established contribution of CD8 T cells in HIV control, prior CD8 T cell-based HIV vaccines have failed to demonstrate any efficacy in preventing viral infection. One such vaccine, known as the MRKAd5 vaccine, showed a potential increased risk of viral infection among vaccine recipients.
NAP1L1 and NAP1L4 Binding to Hypervariable Domain of Chikungunya Virus nsP3 Protein Is Bivalent and Requires Phosphorylation
Authors: Dominguez Francisco , Shiliaev Nikita , Lukash Tetyana , Agback Peter , Palchevska Oksana , Gould Joseph R. , Meshram Chetan D. , Prevelige Peter E. , Green Todd J. , Agback Tatiana , Frolova Elena I. , Frolov Ilya
Published: June 2021

Cellular proteins play critical roles in the assembly of alphavirus replication complexes (vRCs). Their recruitment is determined by the viral nonstructural protein 3 (nsP3).
Potent Killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by an Antibody-Antibiotic Conjugate
Authors: Kajihara Kimberly K. , Pantua Homer , Hernandez-Barry Hilda , Hazen Meredith , Deshmukh Kiran , Chiang Nancy , Ohri Rachana , Castellanos Erick R. , Martin Lynn , Matsumoto Marissa L. , Payandeh Jian , Storek Kelly M. , Schneider Kellen , Smith Peter A. , Koehler Michael F. T. , Tsai Siao Ping , Vandlen Richard , Loyet Kelly M. , Nakamura Gerald , Pillow Thomas , Seshasayee Dhaya , Kapadia Sharookh B. , Hazenbos Wouter L. W.
Published: June 2021

Antibiotic treatment of life-threatening
P. aeruginosa
infections is associated with low clinical success, despite the availability of antibiotics that are active in standard microbiological
in vitro
assays, affirming the need for new therapeutic approaches. Antibiotics often fail in the preclinical stage due to insufficient efficacy against
P. aeruginosa
.
The Breadth and Molecular Basis of Hcp-Driven Type VI Secretion System Effector Delivery
Authors: Howard Sophie A. , Furniss R. Christopher D. , Bonini Dora , Amin Himani , Paracuellos Patricia , Zlotkin David , Costa Tiago R. D. , Levy Asaf , Mavridou Despoina A. I. , Filloux Alain
Published: June 2021

The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is an effective weapon used by bacteria to outgrow or kill competitors. It can be used by endogenous commensal microbiota to prevent invasion by pathogens or by pathogens to overcome resident flora and successfully colonize a host or a specific environmental niche.
Molecular Features of the Measles Virus Viral Fusion Complex That Favor Infection and Spread in the Brain
Authors: Mathieu Cyrille , Bovier Francesca T. , Ferren Marion , Lieberman Nicole A. P. , Predella Camilla , Lalande Alexandre , Peddu Vikas , Lin Michelle J. , Addetia Amin , Patel Achchhe , Outlaw Victor , Corneo Barbara , Dorrello N. Valerio , Briese Thomas , Hardie Diana , Horvat Branka , Moscona Anne , Greninger Alexander L. , Porotto Matteo
Published: June 2021

Measles virus (MeV) infection can cause serious complications in immunocompromised individuals, including measles inclusion body encephalitis (MIBE). In some cases, MeV persistence and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), another severe central nervous system (CNS) complication, develop even in the face of a systemic immune response.
Staphylococcal Protein A Induces Leukocyte Necrosis by Complexing with Human Immunoglobulins
Authors: Fox Proinnsias G. , Schiavetti Francesca , Rappuoli Rino , McLoughlin Rachel M. , Bagnoli Fabio
Published: June 2021

Staphylococcus aureusis one of the largest health care threats faced by humankind, with a reported mortality rate within the United States greater than that of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis combined. One of the defining features ofS. aureusas a human pathogen is its ability to evade and impair the human immune response through expression of staphylococcal protein A.
Chromosomal Location Determines the Rate of Intrachromosomal Homologous Recombination in Salmonella
Authors: Garmendia Eva , Brandis Gerrit , Guy Lionel , Cao Sha , Hughes Diarmaid
Published: June 2021

Bacterial chromosomes frequently carry multiple copies of genes at separate chromosomal locations. In
Salmonella
, these include the 7
rrn
operons and the duplicate
tuf
genes.
Composition and Associations of the Infant Gut Fungal Microbiota with Environmental Factors and Childhood Allergic Outcomes
Authors: Boutin Rozlyn C. T. , Sbihi Hind , McLaughlin Ryan J. , Hahn Aria S. , Konwar Kishori M. , Loo Rachelle S. , Dai Darlene , Petersen Charisse , Brinkman Fiona S. L. , Winsor Geoffrey L. , Sears Malcolm R. , Moraes Theo J. , Becker Allan B. , Azad Meghan B. , Mandhane Piush J. , Subbarao Padmaja , Turvey Stuart E. , Finlay B. Brett
Published: June 2021

Recent evidence suggests an immunomodulatory role for commensal fungi (mycobiota) in the gut, yet little is known about the composition and dynamics of early-life gut fungal communities. In this work, we show for the first time that the composition of the gut mycobiota of Canadian infants changes dramatically over the course of the first year of life, is associated with environmental factors such as geographical location, diet, and season of birth, and can be used in conjunction with knowledge of a small number of key early-life factors to predict inhalant atopy status at age 5 years.
Accessible and Validated Processing of SARS-CoV-2 from Wastewater
Authors: Rondeau Nicole C. , Rose Oliver J. , Ariyan Lina A. , Mailloux Brian J. , Miranda JJ L.
Published: June 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is shed into wastewater. Accessible methods are necessary for processing samples in a myriad of contexts. We optimized a protocol for extracting viral RNA for downstream experiments. Our pipeline was validated with SARS-CoV-2 itself as a matrix recovery and quantitative measurement control.
Metagenome Sequencing to Explore Phylogenomics of Terrestrial Cyanobacteria
Authors: Ward Ryan D. , Stajich Jason E. , Johansen Jeffrey R. , Huntemann Marcel , Clum Alicia , Foster Brian , Foster Bryce , Roux Simon , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Varghese Neha , Mukherjee Supratim , Reddy T. B. K. , Daum Chris , Copeland Alex , Chen I.-M. A. , Ivanova Natalia N. , Kyrpides Nikos C. , Shapiro Nicole , Eloe-Fadrosh Emiley A. , Pietrasiak Nicole
Published: June 2021

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous microorganisms with crucial ecosystem functions, yet most knowledge of their biology is from aquatic taxa. We have constructed metagenomes for 50 taxonomically well-characterized terrestrial cyanobacterial cultures. These data will support phylogenomic studies of evolutionary relationships and gene content among these unique algae and their aquatic relatives.
Complete Genome Sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae Podophage Pone
Authors: Lo Johnathan , Lessor Lauren , Clark James , Le Tram , Gill Jason J. , Liu Mei
Published: June 2021

Klebsiella pneumoniaeis a Gram-negative pathogen that has become increasingly antibiotic resistant. Phage therapy is potentially a useful approach to control this pathogen. Here, we present the genome sequence of the phiKMV-likeK. pneumoniaepodophage Pone.
Closed Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica Serotype Senftenberg Strain Carrying the
mcr-9
Gene Isolated from Broken Chicken Eggshells in Trinidad and Tobago
Authors: Maguire Meghan , Khan Anisa S. , Adesiyun Abiodun A. , Georges Karla , Gonzalez-Escalona Narjol
Published: June 2021

Salmonella enterica
is a highly important foodborne pathogen worldwide. We report the complete genome sequence of a sequence type 14
Salmonella enterica
serotype Senftenberg strain carrying the
mcr-9
gene in a plasmid isolated from broken chicken eggshells in Trinidad and Tobago, obtained by using a combination of long- and short-read sequencing.
Collateral Sensitivity to β-Lactam Drugs in Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Is Driven by the Transcriptional Wiring of BlaI Operon Genes
Authors: Trigos A. S. , Goudey B. W. , Bedő J. , Conway T. C. , Faux N. G. , Wyres K. L.
Published: June 2021

Tuberculosis remains a significant cause of global mortality, with strains resistant to classical drug treatment considered a major health concern by the World Health Organization. Challenging treatment regimens and difficulty accessing drugs in low-income communities have led to a high prevalence of strains resistant to multiple drugs, making the development of alternative therapies a priority.
Inhibition of Three Potato Pathogens by Phenazine-Producing
Pseudomonas
spp. Is Associated with Multiple Biocontrol-Related Traits
Authors: Biessy Adrien , Novinscak Amy , St-Onge Renée , Léger Geneviève , Zboralski Antoine , Filion Martin
Published: June 2021

Plant-beneficial phenazine-producing
Pseudomonas
spp. are effective biocontrol agents, thanks to the broad-spectrum antibiotic activity of the phenazine antibiotics they produce. These bacteria have received considerable attention over the last 20 years, but most studies have focused only on the ability of a few genotypes to inhibit the growth of a limited number of plant pathogens.
A PorX/PorY and σ
P
Feedforward Regulatory Loop Controls Gene Expression Essential for Porphyromonas gingivalis Virulence
Authors: Jiang Chizhou , Yang Dezhi , Hua Tangsiyuan , Hua Zichun , Kong Wei , Shi Yixin
Published: June 2021

The anaerobic bacterium
Porphyromonas gingivalis
is not only the major etiologic agent for chronic periodontitis, but also prevalent in some common noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. We present genetic, biochemical, and biological results to demonstrate that the PorX/PorY two-component system and sigma factor σ
P
build a specific regulatory network to coordinately control transcription of the genes encoding the type IX secretion system, and perhaps also other virulence factors.
Evaluating and Improving Small Subunit rRNA PCR Primer Coverage for Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryotes Using Metagenomes from Global Ocean Surveys
Authors: McNichol Jesse , Berube Paul M. , Biller Steven J. , Fuhrman Jed A.
Published: June 2021

PCR amplification and sequencing of marker genes are a low-cost technique for monitoring prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities across space and time but will work optimally only if environmental organisms match PCR primer sequences exactly. In this study, we evaluated how well primers match globally distributed short-read oceanic metagenomes.
Turning a Turner to a twin mother
Authors: Rajsekher Monishaa , Narayanan Palaniappan
Published: June 2021

Women with Turner syndrome (TS) are subfertile due to premature ovarian insufficiency. Most women require hormone replacement therapy for attaining menarche and assisted reproductive technology (ART) using donor oocytes, autologous oocytes or in-vitro fertilisation for conception. Irrespective of the karyotype, monosomy X (45, X) or mosaic pattern, women with TS hold a very high risk for pregnancy due to high mortality rate secondary to aortic dissection and severe pre-eclampsia. Such high-risk pregnancies mandate extensive prepregnancy counselling, the need for multidisciplinary teams, close surveillance and follow-up to attain a successful outcome. In this article, we report one such case of pregnancy in a woman with TS carrying a twin gestation following ART with donor oocyte.
Graves’-induced prothrombotic state and the risk of early-onset myocardial infarction
Authors: Dixey Meilyr , Barnes Alice , Fadhlillah Fiqry
Published: June 2021

Hyperthyroidism represents a state of hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis, which predisposes an individual to the increased risk of thromboembolism. We present a case of a 25-year-old patient presenting with an acute myocardial infarction secondary to plaque rupture with thrombotic occlusion of proximal left anterior descending artery, in a patient known to have Graves’ disease. She had a sudden ventricular fibrillation arrest and a precordial thump given and cardiopulmonary resuscitation started. She successfully underwent cardiac catheterisation. Subsequent thyroid function tests showed she was in active thyrotoxicosis.
Epidemic preparedness: Prenatal Zika virus screening during the next epidemic
Authors: Qiao Luxi , Martelli Celina M Turchi , Raja Amber I , Sanchez Clemente Nuria , de Araùjo Thalia Velho Barreto , Ximenes Ricardo Arraes de Alencar , Miranda-Filho Demócrito de Barros , Ramond Anna , Brickley Elizabeth B
Published: June 2021

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a vectorborne infectious agent of global public health significance due to its potential to cause severe teratogenic outcomes. The question of whether health systems should consider adopting screening programmes for ZIKV infections during pregnancy warrants consideration. In this analysis, we apply the Wilson-Jungner framework to appraise the potential utility of a prenatal ZIKV screening programme, outline potential screening strategies within the case-finding pathway, and consider other epidemiological factors that may influence the planning of such a screening programme. Our evaluation of a potential prenatal ZIKV screening programme highlights factors affirming its usefulness, including the importance of Congenital Zika Syndrome as a public health problem and the existence of analogous congenital prenatal screening programmes for STORCH agents (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, others (eg, human immunodeficiency virus, varicella-zoster virus, parvovirus B19), rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus). However, our assessment also reveals key barriers to implementation, such as the need for more accurate diagnostic tests, effective antiviral treatments, increased social service capacity, and surveillance. Given that the reemergence of ZIKV is likely, we provide a guiding framework for policymakers and public health leaders that can be further elaborated and adapted to different contexts in order to reduce the burden of adverse ZIKV-related birth outcomes during future outbreaks.
Quasi-experimental evaluation of Kenya’s pictorial health warnings versus Zambia’s single text-only warning: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Project
Authors: Kaai Susan Cherop , Sansone Genevieve , Meng Gang , Ong’ang’o Jane Rahedi , Goma Fastone , Ikamari Lawrence , Quah Anne C K , Fong Geoffrey T
Published: June 2021

Background

Population studies in mostly high-income countries have shown that pictorial health warnings (PHWs) are much more effective than text-only warnings. This is the first quasi-experimental evaluation of the introduction of PHWs in Africa, comparing the change from text-only to PHWs in Kenya to the unchanged text-only health warning in Zambia.

Methods

Data were from International Tobacco Control (ITC) Surveys in Kenya (n=1495), and Zambia (n=1628), cohort surveys of nationally representative samples of adult smokers in each country. The ITC Kenya Survey was conducted in 2012 and 2018 (2 years after the 2016 introduction of three PHWs). The ITC Zambia Survey was conducted in 2012 and 2014 with no change to the single text-only warning. Validated indicators of health warning effectiveness (HWIs) (salience: noticing, reading; cognitive reactions: thinking about health risks, thinking about quitting; and behavioural reactions: avoiding warnings; forgoing a cigarette because of the warnings), and a summary measure—the Labels Impact Index (LII)—measured changes in warning impact between the two countries.

Results

PHWs implemented in Kenya led to a significant increase in all HWIs and the LII, compared with the text-only warning in Zambia. The failure to implement PHWs in Zambia led to a substantial missed opportunity to increase warning effectiveness (eg, an estimated additional 168 392 smokers in Zambia would have noticed the warnings).

Conclusions

The introduction of PHWs in Kenya substantially increased the effectiveness of warnings. These results provide strong empirical support for 34 African countries that still have text-only warnings, of which 31 are Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and are thus obligated to implement PHWs.
Fitting growth models to otolith increments to reveal time-varying growth
Authors: Essington Timothy E. , Matta Mary Elizabeth , Black Bryan A. , Helser Thomas E. , Spencer Paul D.
Published: June 2021

Identifying changes in fish growth is important for accurate scientific advice used for fisheries management, because environmental change is affecting fish growth and size-at-age is a critical component of contemporary stock assessment methods. Growth-increment biochronologies are time series of growth-increments derived from hard parts of marine organisms that may reveal dynamics of somatic fish growth. Here we use time series of otolith increments of two fish stocks to fit and compare a biologically derived growth model and a generalized statistical model. Both models produced similar trajectories of annual growth trends, but the biologically based one was more precise and predicted smaller interannual fluctuations than the statistical model. The biologically based model strongly indicated covariance between anabolic and catabolic rates among individuals. Otolith size-at-age did not closely match fish length-at-age, and consequently the growth model could not accurately hindcast observed fish length-at-age. For these reasons, fitted growth dynamics from otolith biochronologies may best suited to identify growth rate fluctuations, understand past drivers of growth dynamics, and improve ecological forecast in the face of rapid environmental change.
Analysis of a bistable climate toy model with physics-based machine learning methods
Authors: Gelbrecht Maximilian , Lucarini Valerio , Boers Niklas , Kurths Jürgen
Published: June 2021

We propose a comprehensive framework able to address both the predictability of the first and of the second kind for high-dimensional chaotic models. For this purpose, we analyse the properties of a newly introduced multistable climate toy model constructed by coupling the Lorenz ’96 model with a zero-dimensional energy balance model. First, the attractors of the system are identified with Monte Carlo Basin Bifurcation Analysis. Additionally, we are able to detect the Melancholia state separating the two attractors. Then, Neural Ordinary Differential Equations are applied to predict the future state of the system in both of the identified attractors.
Periodic-wave solutions and asymptotic properties for a (3+1)-dimensional generalized breaking soliton equation in fluids and plasmas
Authors: Chen Rui-Dong , Gao Yi-Tian , Yu Xin , Jia Ting-Ting , Deng Gao-Fu , Liu Fei-Yan
Published: June 2021

In this paper, a (3+1)-dimensional generalized breaking soliton equation is investigated. Based on the one- and two-dimensional Riemann theta functions, one- and two-periodic-wave solutions are derived. We observe that the one-periodic wave is one-dimensional and is viewed as a superposition of the overlapping waves, placed one period apart. With certain parameters, the symmetric feature appears in the two-periodic wave, and the two-periodic wave degenerates to the one-periodic wave. With the series expansions, we explore the relations between the soliton and periodic-wave solutions. According to those relations, asymptotic properties for the periodic-wave solutions to approach to the soliton solutions under certain amplitude conditions are derived.
Structure of principal one-sided ideals
Authors: East James
Published: June 2021

We give a thorough structural analysis of the principal one-sided ideals of arbitrary semigroups, and then apply this to full transformation semigroups and symmetric inverse monoids. One-sided ideals of these semigroups naturally occur as semigroups of transformations with restricted range or kernel.
Response of gene regulatory networks after infection of H3N2 virus
Authors: Deng Shiguo , Yuan Qianshun , Zhang Jing , Yang Huijie
Published: June 2021

Viral infection is a complicated dynamic process, in which viruses intrude into cells to duplicate themselves and trigger succeeding biological processes regulated by genes. It may lead to a serious disaster to human’s health. A scheme is proposed to monitor the response of cells after being infected by viruses. Co-expression levels of genes measured at successive time points form a gene expression profile sequence, which is mapped to a temporal gene regulatory network. The fission and fusion of the communities of the networks are used to find the active parts. We investigated an experiment of injection of flu viruses into a total of 17 healthy volunteers, which develop into an infected group and a survival group. The survival group is much more chaotic, i.e. there occur complicated fissions and fusions of communities over the whole network. For the infected group, the most active part of the regulatory network forms a single community, but it is included in one of the large communities and completely conservative in the survival group. There are a total of six and seven genes in the active structure that take part in the Parkinson’s disease and the ribosome pathways, respectively. Actually, a total of 30 genes (covering [Formula: see text]) of the genes in the active structure participate in the neuro-degeneration and its related pathways. This scheme can be extended straightforwardly to extract characteristics of trajectories of complex systems.
Dead-Zone ESO Based Sensorless Force/Position Control for Dynamic Contact Systems
Authors: Wang Mingchao , Yuan Yuan , Yuan Huanhuan
Published: June 2021

In this paper, the sensorless force/position control problem is investigated for a general class of dynamic contact systems with both motion sensor noise and unknown kinetic friction by designing a force observer-based controller. Firstly, in order to suppress the effect of motion sensor noise, a dead-zone extended state observer (ESO) is introduced, and the contact force is estimated. Then, based on the force estimate, a controller is designed to realize force/position tracking control, where the parameters of the observer and controller are obtained by a linear matrix inequality (LMI) method. The sufficient conditions are provided to ensure the stability of the closed-loop system in terms of LMIs. Finally, a numerical simulation is carried out to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method.
Joining of Carbon Nanotube Fiber by the Meniscus-Confined Electrochemical Deposited Silver
Authors: Zhang Qian , Li Yang , Wang Yecheng , Manladan Sunusi Marwana , Ao Sansan , Luo Zhen
Published: June 2021

To use carbon nanotube fibers (CNT) extensively in a wide range of electrical and electronic applications, an essential key step is to produce a low-resistance, high-strength and reliable connection between the CNT fibers and other live parts in the circuit. In this study, meniscus-confined electrochemical deposition (ECD) process with silver was proven to be a practical way of joining CNT fibers together head-to-head. The whole ECD process was stable. The shape of the joints was found to depend on the shape of the tips of the CNT fibers. The deposited silver exhibited a dense and uniform microstructure and it was tightly bound to the CNT fibers, with a distinct interface between them. In the ECD process, the original morphology of the CNT network was maintained. The lowest electrical resistance of the CNT fibers joints was measured to be 8.72[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], which is 45% lower than that of the original CNT fibers. The deposited joint sustained a fracture load of 7.5cN with an elongation of 0.4%.
A Comparison Study on the Carbon Corrosion Reaction under Saturated and Low Relative Humidity Conditions via Transmission Line Model-Based Electrochemical Impedance Analysis
Authors: Kwon JunHwa , Choi Pilsoo , Eom KwangSup
Published: June 2021

In this work, we study the dependence of water content on the carbon corrosion reaction by applying an external potential (1.4 V vs RHE) under saturated and low (30%) relative humidity (RH) conditions via a transmission line model (TLM)-based impedance analysis in a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). High potentials inducing carbon corrosion reaction cause electrode thinning, make the supporting carbon structure less porous, decrease the electrochemical surface area (ECSA), and dehydrate the ionomer, leading to fast performance decay in the cell. Particularly, in this work, we discuss the main cause of performance decay in PEMFCs in view of the structural deformation of supporting carbon using the ionic resistance and double layer capacitance in non-faradaic impedance and charge transfer resistance in faradaic impedance to elucidate the different degradation behaviors of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) under saturated and low humidity (RH 30%) conditions. As a result, it is confirmed that carbon corrosion severely changes the structural properties of the supporting carbon, such as pore depth and circumference, and the specific pore deformation with the evolution of oxygen-containing functional groups on the carbon surfaces subordinately induces the severe degradation in cell performance with the water drainage issues, namely, flooding.
Periodic and Fixed Points for Caristi-Type
G
-Contractions in Extended
b
-Gauge Spaces
Authors: Zikria Nosheen , Samreen Maria , Kamran Tayyab , Yeşilkaya Seher Sultan
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we introduce extended

b

-gauge spaces and the extended family of generalized extended pseudo-

b

-distances. Moreover, we define the sequential completeness and construct the Caristi-type

G

-contractions in the framework of extended

b

-gauge spaces. Furthermore, we develop periodic and fixed point results in this new setting endowed with a graph. The obtained results of this paper not only generalize but also unify and improve the existing results in the corresponding literature.
The Defects and Improvements of the Internal Control Audit in Chinese Universities with respect to the Probabilistic Hesitant Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Zhu Jingjuan , Xu Ling , Liu Yunzhong , Zhu Dawei , Chen Liangliang
Published: June 2021

This paper analyzes the survey data and qualitative evaluation information of the internal control audit of some universities directly under the Ministry of Education of China (MEC) by using the principal component analysis. The qualitative evaluation information is given by experts and presented by the probabilistic hesitant fuzzy elements. The analysis results show that the internal control audit system and process are not perfect, the professional knowledge and skills of internal auditors in universities are not very adaptable to internal control audit, and the effectiveness of internal control audit management conducted by external firms is not good. These are the three most serious defects of the current internal control audit in universities. The most critical factors influencing the quality of internal control audit in universities are, in order, the difficulty of rational use of the results of internal control audit by universities, the poor support of the leadership for internal control audit, and the insufficient professional knowledge and skills of internal auditors to conduct internal control audit. Thus, this paper proposes that the optimization suggestions for the internal control audit of universities are to establish and improve their internal control audit system and process to continually promote the application of internal control audit results, to increase the degree of attention of the leadership, and to strengthen the construction of the internal audit teams.