bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Demonstration ofin vivoengineered tandem duplications of varying sizes using CRISPR and recombinases inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Loehlin David W. , McClain Georgia L. , Xu Manting , Kedia Ria , Root Elise
Published: January 2023

Tandem gene duplicates are important parts of eukaryotic genome structure, yet the phenotypic effects of new tandem duplications are not well-understood, in part owing to a lack of techniques to build and modify them. We introduce a method, Recombinase-Mediated Tandem Duplication (RMTD), to engineer specific tandem duplicationsin vivousing CRISPR and recombinases. We describe construction of four different tandem duplications of theAlcohol Dehydrogenase(Adh) gene inDrosophila melanogaster, with duplicated block sizes ranging from 4.2 kb to 20.7 kb. Flies with theAdhduplications show elevated ADH enzyme activity over unduplicated single copies. This approach to engineering duplications is combinatoric, opening the door to systematic study of the relationship between the structure of tandem duplications and their effects on expression.
EngineeringEscherichia colito produce aromatic chemicals from ethylene glycol
Authors: Panda Smaranika , Zhou Jie Fu J , Feigis Michelle , Harrison Emma , Ma Xiaoqiang , Yuen Vincent Fung Kin , Mahadevan Radhakrishnan , Zhou Kang
Published: January 2023

Microbial overproduction of aromatic chemicals has gained considerable industrial interest and various metabolic engineering approaches have been employed in recent years to address the associated challenges. So far, most studies have used sugars (mostly glucose) or glycerol as the primary carbon source. In this study, we used ethylene glycol (EG) as the main carbon substrate. EG could be obtained from the degradation of plastic and cellulosic wastes. As a proof of concept,Escherichia coliwas engineered to transform EG into L-tyrosine, a valuable aromatic amino acid. Under the best fermentation condition, the strain produced 2 g/L L-tyrosine from 10 g/L EG at approximately 50% of the theoretical yield, outperforming glucose (the most common sugar feedstock) in the same experimental conditions. To prove the concept that EG can be converted into different aromatic chemicals,E. coliwas further engineered with a similar approach to synthesize other valuable aromatic chemicals, L-phenylalanine andp-coumaric acid. Finally, waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were degraded using acid hydrolysis and the resulting monomer EG was transformed into L-tyrosine using the engineeredE. coli, yielding a comparable titer to that obtained using commercial EG. The strains developed in this study should be valuable to the community for producing valuable aromatics from EG.
Epigenetically silenced DACT3 promotes tumor growth via affecting Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and supports chidamide plus azacitidine therapy in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Jiang Duanfeng , Mo Qiuyu , Shao Haigang , Meng Jie , Zhong Ruilan , Ji Xunxiu , Liang Changjiu , Lin Wenyuan , Chen Fangping , Dong Min
Published: January 2023

Background

DACT gene is a potential Wnt antagonist and tumor suppressor gene. However, the expression of DACT gene in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its role are still unknown.

Methods

In this study, we first multidimensionally analyzed the expression of DACT gene in AML through RNA seq, qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis as well as TCGA database analysis. Then DACT3 was identified as playing a critical role in AML, and its clinical significance was further explored. The molecular mechanism of DACT3 down-regulation in AML from aspects of DNA methylation and histone acetylation were inquired. Finally, the biological functions of DACT3 in AML were investigated by cell modelsin vitroand animal experimentsin vivo.

Results

Compared with DACT1 and DACT2, DACT3 was the most differentially expressed DACT family member in AML, suggesting that DACT3 plays the major role. The mRNA and protein expression levels of DACT3 were significantly decreased and positively correlated in AML. Moreover, low expression of DACT3 is associated with no remission disease status and poor prognosis in AML patients. In addition, down-regulation of DACT3 in AML was not completely dependent on promoter methylation, but also affected by histone deacetylation. We found that loss of DACT3 in AML is related to activation of Wnt signaling pathway. Furthermore, DACT3 inhibits the growth of AML cellsin vitroand in severe immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Importantly, DACT3 improved the sensitivity of adriamycin in treating AML cells. Further research showed that co-treatment of chidamide and azacytidine up-regulates DACT3 expression and promotes cell apoptosis via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling in AML, suggesting a promising therapeutic prospects in FLT3-mutant AML.

Conclusion

This is the first study revealing the epigenetic regulatory molecular mechanism of the down regulated expression of DACT3 in AML. Our data also shows that DACT3 is a candidate gene for therapeutic target and targeting DACT3 has the potential to validate the combination therapy of DNMT inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors.
Acute psilocybin enhances cognitive flexibility in rats
Authors: Pacheco Alejandro Torrado , Olson Randall J. , Garza Gabriela , Moghaddam Bita
Published: January 2023

Psilocybin has been shown to improve symptoms of depression and anxiety when combined with psychotherapy or other clinician-guided interventions. To understand the neural basis for this pattern of clinical efficacy, experimental and conceptual approaches that are different than traditional laboratory models of anxiety and depression are needed. A potential novel mechanism is that acute psilocybin improves cognitive flexibility, which then enhances the impact of clinician-assisted interventions. Consistent with this idea, we find that acute psilocybin robustly improves cognitive flexibility in male and female rats using a task where animals switched between previously learned strategies in response to uncued changes in the environment. Psilocybin did not influence Pavlovian reversal learning, suggesting that its cognitive effects are selective to enhanced switching between previously learned behavioral strategies. The serotonin (5HT) 2A receptor antagonist ketanserin blocked psilocybin’s effect on set-shifting, while a 5HT2C-selective antagonist did not. Ketanserin alone also improved set-shifting performance, suggesting a complex relationship between psilocybin’s pharmacology and its impact on flexibility. Further, the psychedelic drug 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-iodoamphetamine (DOI) impaired cognitive flexibility in the same task, suggesting that this effect of psilocybin does not generalize to all other serotonergic psychedelics. We conclude that the acute impact of psilocybin on cognitive flexibility provides a useful behavioral model to investigate its neuronal effects relevant to its positive clinical outcome.
Measurement of the spin-wave stiffness and energy gap in the magnon spectrum of amorphous ferromagnets by small-angle scattering of polarized neutrons
Authors: Azarova Liubov Aleksandrovna , Pshenichniy Kirill Aleksandrovich , Grigoriev Sergey Valentinovich
Published: January 2023

This work studies the magnetic excitations of amorphous ferromagnetic alloys (Fe40Ni40P14
11B6 and Fe48Ni34P18) by small-angle polarized neutron scattering in the geometry when the magnetic field is inclined towards the neutron beam direction. Polarized neutrons are used in order to extract the scattering arising from the spin waves only. In this case, the energy-integrated neutron cross section contains a component which depends on neutron polarization and has a left–right asymmetry in the plane determined by the directions of the field and the neutron beam. Small-angle polarized neutron scattering measurements on spin waves in amorphous iron–nickel alloys were performed at different values of the external magnetic field H and neutron wavelength λ. The spin-wave spectrum is quadratic in terms of the momentum transfer and contains both a field gap and an inherent gap Δ of a non-field nature: E

q
= Aq
2 + gμB
H + Δ. Only by measuring simultaneously two dependencies of the cut-off angle θc – on the applied magnetic field and on the neutron wavelength – is it possible to obtain reliable information about the spin-wave stiffness and the spin-wave gap in these amorphous ferromagnetic systems.
2023 update of template tables for reporting biomolecular structural modelling of small-angle scattering data
Authors: Trewhella Jill , Jeffries Cy M. , Whitten Andrew E.
Published: January 2023

In 2017, guidelines were published for reporting structural modelling of small-angle scattering (SAS) data from biomolecules in solution that exemplified best-practice documentation of experiments and analysis. Since then, there has been significant progress in SAS data and model archiving, and the IUCr journal editors announced that the IUCr biology journals will require the deposition of SAS data used in biomolecular structure solution into a public archive, as well as adherence to the 2017 reporting guidelines. In this context, the reporting template tables accompanying the 2017 publication guidelines have been reviewed with a focus on making them both easier to use and more general. With input from the SAS community via the IUCr Commission on SAS and attendees of the triennial 2022 SAS meeting (SAS2022, Campinas, Brazil), an updated reporting template table has been developed that includes standard descriptions for proteins, glycosylated proteins, DNA and RNA, with some reorganization of the data to improve readability and interpretation. In addition, a specialized template has been developed for reporting SAS contrast-variation (SAS-cv) data and models that incorporates the additional reporting requirements from the 2017 guidelines for these more complicated experiments. To demonstrate their utility, examples of reporting with these new templates are provided for a SAS study of a DNA–protein complex and a SAS-cv experiment on a protein complex. The examples demonstrate how the tabulated information promotes transparent reporting that, in combination with the recommended figures and additional information best presented in the main text, enables the reader of the work to readily draw their own conclusions regarding the quality of the data and the validity of the models presented.
Ligand dose‐dependent activation of signaling pathways through the gustatory receptor NlGr11 linked to feeding efficacy in Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Chen Wei‐Wen , Lin Kai , Lv Jun , Su Qin , Zhang Meng‐Yi , Kang Kui , Zhang Wen‐Qing
Published: January 2023

Insects often face both conditions with sufficient nutrients and conditions of undernutrition in the field. Through gustatory receptors, insects sense nutrients and regulate their physiological functions such as feeding and reproduction. However, it remains unclear whether signaling pathways activated by gustatory receptors depend on the concentration of nutrients and whether the difference in signaling pathways directly affects insects’ physiological functions. Herein, we found that a sugar gustatory receptor, NlGr11, from the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, activated G protein‐coupled signaling and ionotropic pathways when bound to high galactose concentration. BPHs subsequently demonstrated longer feeding times, feeding loads, and higher vitellogenin (NlVg) expression than BPHs exposed to high galactose concentrations, which only activated the ionotropic pathway. For the first time, our findings link plant nutrient conditions, signaling pathways activated by nutrients, and their gustatory receptors, and nutrient dose‐dependent feeding efficacy and vitellogenin (Vg) expression in an insect. This will help us to better understand the molecular mechanism for insect feeding strategies on plants at different stages of nutritional conditions.
Reference gene selection for normalizing gene expression using quantitative real‐time PCR in Haemaphysalis longicornis
Authors: Park Ye Eun , Kim YeongHo , Goh Gyuhyeong , Lee Si Hyeock , Choi Kwang Shik , Kim Young Ho
Published: January 2023

The Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, the dominant species of Ixodidae in Korea, has a wide distribution in East Asia, far‐East Russia, and Western Pacific countries, and has recently been discovered in the Eastern states of the United States of America. H. longicornis transmits various pathogens, including Babesia ovate, Rickettsia japonica, and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Considering its medical importance, in order to understand the physiology of H. longicornis, it is crucial to determine the expression of the genes of interest. Although quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) has been widely used to analyze gene expression, stably‐expressed internal reference genes across samples of different conditions should be selected for the accurate normalization of target gene expression levels. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the expression levels of five candidate reference genes, namely ACT, RPP0, RPL23, TUB, and GAPDH, in H. longicornis under different conditions, including different collection months, developmental stages, and SFTSV infection status. Using four software programs, namely, NormFinder, BestKeeper, geNorm, and RefFinder, their expression stabilities were evaluated. Subsequently, a single gene between RPL23 and RPP0 was validated, which was found to be most stable reference gene after comparing the expression levels of HSP70 determined using different normalization methods.
But it came from a food pantry: Product stigma and quality perceptions of food pantry offerings
Authors: Byrne Anne T. , Just David R. , Barrett Christopher B.
Published: January 2023

Among the millions of food insecure people in high income countries, only a modest fraction uses food pantries. Stigma is commonly cited as a barrier to use and may arise due to the perceived low product quality of pantry offerings. This study tests the hypothesis that “product stigma” is present among prospective pantry clients. In an online experimental survey of low‐income respondents, we ask participants to evaluate food items under four different treatments. In a two‐by‐two randomized design, in one dimension they are told the food is from a grocery store or from a food pantry, and in the other dimension they are or are not provided with photos of the food items, in some cases indicating a popular brand. The study finds that respondents exhibit a negative perception of the quality of food from a pantry, but that perception is largely offset when they are shown an informative visual depiction of that food. The effect of brand information is explored in a second online experimental survey and found to be an important component of consumer perception, partly mitigating the product stigma effect of food pantry offerings, but less so than a photo does. Results suggest that food banks and food pantries may combat product stigma through marketing that uses photos, brand names, or both to depict the quality of the products they offer. Such interventions may encourage current users to visit more frequently and needy non‐users to visit at all.
Entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: The case of Kyrgyz agricultural cooperatives
Authors: Beishenaly Nazik , Dufays Frédéric
Published: January 2023

The article discusses the development of agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan from an entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE) perspective. Agricultural development priorities explain cooperatives’ importance in Kyrgyz government's policies, but cooperatives still fail at countering the challenges of the smallholder economy. Considering agricultural cooperatives as a form of rural entrepreneurship, this paper aims to contribute to the discussion of the factors that support cooperatives in developing countries adapting the EE framework to cooperative entrepreneurship. Using a content analysis method, we analysed and coded textual data from documentary and archival publications on the agricultural cooperatives in Kyrgyzstan published by the government, cooperatives and their unions and the reports of international organizations. We identify five main dimensions of the cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystem for cooperatives: (1) policy and regulatory framework; (2) education and skills; (3) market environment; (4) culture; (5) networks. We found that even if the overall structure of cooperatives’ EE can be comparable to conventional enterprises, its sub‐elements significantly differ for cooperative enterprises. Despite its exploratory character and single‐case research design, this article contributes to the theoretical discussion on cooperative entrepreneurial ecosystems in post‐socialist developing contexts and offers a framework of analysis for cooperative development policies and practices.
Artificial intelligence based left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal strain in cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Cotella Juan I. , Slivnick Jeremy A. , Sanderson Emily , Singulane Cristiane , O'Driscoll Jamie , Asch Federico M. , Addetia Karima , Woodward Gary , Lang Roberto M.
Published: January 2023

Background

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) plays a key role in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis (CA). However, manual measurements are time consuming and prone to variability. We aimed to assess whether fully automated artificial intelligence (AI) calculation of LVEF and GLS provide similar estimates and can identify abnormalities in agreement with conventional manual methods, in patients with pre‐clinical and clinical CA.

Methods

We identified 51 patients (age 80 ± 10 years, 53% male) with confirmed CA according to guidelines, who underwent echocardiography before and/or at the time of CA diagnosis (median (IQR) time between observations 3.87 (1.93, 5.44 years). LVEF and GLS were quantified from the apical 2‐ and 4‐chamber views using both manual and fully automated methods (EchoGo Core 2.0, Ultromics). Inter‐technique agreement was assessed using linear regression and Bland‐Altman analyses and two‐way ANOVA. The diagnostic accuracy and time for detecting abnormalities (defined as LVEF ≤ 50% and GLS ≥ −15.1%, respectively) using AI was assessed by comparisons to manual measurements as a reference.

Results

There were no significant differences in manual and automated LVEF and GLS values in either pre‐CA (p = .791 and p = .105, respectively) or at diagnosis (p = .463 and p = .722). The two methods showed strong correlation on both the pre‐CA (r = .78 and r = .83) and CA echoes (r = .74 and r = .80) for LVEF and GLS, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AI‐derived indices for detecting abnormal LVEF were 83% and 86%, respectively, in the pre‐CA echo and 70% and 79% at CA diagnosis. The sensitivity and specificity of AI‐derived indices for detecting abnormal GLS was 82% and 86% in the pre‐CA echo and 100% and 67% at the time of CA diagnosis. There was no significant difference in the relationship between LVEF (p = .99) and GLS (p = .19) and time to abnormality between the two methods.

Conclusion

Fully automated AI‐calculated LVEF and GLS are comparable to manual measurements in patients pre‐CA and at the time of CA diagnosis. The widespread implementation of automated LVEF and GLS may allow for more rapid assessment in different disease states with comparable accuracy and reproducibility to manual methods.
Transgenerational transmission of suffering: State violence, memory, and aspiration for alternative intimate lives in contemporary China
Authors: Zhao Shanni
Published: January 2023

In constructing a socialist order, Chinese state‐raised political movements inflicted violence on families. Drawing on anthropological studies of violence, memory, haunting, affect, and transgenerational transmission, along with ethnographic investigation in Shanghai and Hunan, China, I demonstrate that individual experiences of political suffering will not be self‐contained but inevitably be bequeathed to the offspring, shaping both intergenerational relationship and youth knowledge of intimacies. While most anthropologists have explained contemporary Chinese family intimacy through neoliberal cultures, economic privatization, and the one‐child policy, I unravel a political history of affective undercurrents and its potential for generating a desire for nonnormative intimacy among the younger generation. I argue that generational relationships in the postviolence era are tripartite not bipartite; families’ aspirations and reproductive practices respond to an unfulfilled state‐family reciprocity. This tripartite relationship further suggests that desire formation in socialist nuclear families differs from that in Freudian bourgeois families.
Bladder training and Kegel exercises on urinary symptoms in female patients with multiple sclerosis
Authors: ÖZEN Şükrü , POLAT Ülkü
Published: January 2023

This study was designed to determine the effects of bladder training and Kegel exercises on urinary symptoms and the quality of life in female patients with multiple sclerosis. A pretest‐posttest quasi‐experimental study was conducted. The study was composed of 37 participants from two different hospitals in Turkey. The data collection tools included a Patient Information Form, Expanded Disability Status Scale, Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life Scale‐54, King's Health Questionnaire, and a bladder diary. Participants were followed through phone consultation seven times during a 3 month period. The participants showed a significant improvement in both the physical and mental health of their quality of life scores compared to the baseline regarding the King's Health Questionnaire Scale, there was an increase in patients' general health perception compared to the baseline. There was reduction in the frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence compared to the baseline at much level of symptoms odds. In this sample, bladder training and Kegel exercises improved quality of life in female patients with MS. These techniques increased the patients'general health perception of their urinary symptoms.
Trends in emergency department visits associated with cannabis use among older adults in California, 2005–2019
Authors: Han Benjamin H. , Brennan Jesse J. , Orozco Mirella A. , Moore Alison A. , Castillo Edward M.
Published: January 2023

Background

The use of cannabis among older adults is increasing in the United States. While cannabis use has been suggested to help alleviate chronic symptoms experienced by older adults, its potential adverse effects may lead to unintended consequences, including increased acute healthcare utilization related to its use. The objective of this study was to examine trends in cannabis‐related emergency department (ED) visits in California.

Methods

Using data from the Department of Healthcare Access and Information, we conducted a trend analysis of cannabis‐related ED visits from all acute care hospitals in California from 2005 to 2019. For each calendar year, we determined the cannabis‐related ED visit rate per 100,000 ED visits for adults aged ≥65 utilizing primary or secondary diagnosis codes. We estimated the absolute and relative changes in overall cannabis‐related visit rates during the study period and by subgroup, including age (65–74, 75–84, ≥85), race/ethnicity, sex, payer/insurance, Charlson comorbidity index score, and cannabis‐related diagnosis code.

Results

The cannabis‐related ED visit rate increased significantly for adults aged ≥65 and all subgroups (p < 0.001). The overall rate increased from 20.7 per 100,000 visits in 2005 to 395.0 per 100,000 ED visits in 2019, a 1804% relative increase. By race/ethnicity, older Black adults had the highest ED visit rate in 2019 and the largest absolute increase while older males had a higher ED visit rate in 2019 and a greater absolute increase than older women. Older adults with a higher Charlson score had a higher ED visit rate in 2019 and a larger absolute increase during the study period.

Conclusion

Cannabis‐related ED visits are increasing among older adults in California and are an adverse effect of cannabis use. Asking about cannabis use and providing education about its use should be a part of routine medical care for older adults.
Lipofibromatosis‐like neural tumors: Report of a case and review of 73 reported cases
Authors: Ulschmid Caden M. , Singam Vivek , Segura Annette , Gourlay David M. , Chiu Yvonne E.
Published: January 2023

Lipofibromatosis‐like neural tumors (LPF‐NTs) are a recently discovered group of spindle cell tumors defined by the presence of a lipofibromatosis‐like pattern, CD34 and/or S100 reactivity, and frequent neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (NTRK1) gene rearrangements. As new cases emerge, the spectrum of features observed in LPF‐NTs continues to evolve. Here we describe the case of an 11‐year‐old with LPF‐NT with a dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans‐like honeycomb pattern, CD34 and S100 co‐expression, and an NTRK1 rearrangement. We also review the clinical and molecular features of the 73 cases of LPF‐NT previously described in the literature.
Spatiotemporal analysis of Phytophthora infestans population diversity and disease risk in Great Britain
Authors: Torro‐Galiana Araceli , Cooke David E. L. , Skelsey Peter
Published: January 2023

Phytophthora infestans (causal agent of potato late blight) populations are mainly clonal in Great Britain (GB), but sexual reproduction of the pathogen leads to the emergence of novel (non‐clonal) genotypes that may have traits such as new virulence or fungicide insensitivity that can make them more challenging to control. In this study, spatiotemporal variation in diversity of P. infestans across GB was mapped and investigated using ArcGIS software. Analysis of >2000 late blight outbreaks during 2006–2018 revealed 169 non‐clonal outbreaks in different postcode districts across GB. Statistically significant hot and cold spots of diversity were identified, as well as areas with an increasing trend in the occurrence of high diversity through time. These analyses provide the first quantitative evidence of space–time clustering of non‐clonal outbreaks of late blight in GB. The results will be used to guide future efforts to identify the drivers associated with increased genetic diversity of the late blight pathogen and improve management programmes for late blight in GB.
To the summit and beyond: Tracing the process and impact of collaborative performance summits
Authors: Douglas Scott , Ansell Chris
Published: January 2023

Interactive routines such as collaborative performance summits are thought to help collaborating organizations assess and improve their performance. However, there is little systematic evidence to substantiate this claim. This study leverages a longitudinal dataset to examine the summit process and identify the difference between summits that have an impact on performance and those that do not. The study explicates the assumed causal process and traces 18 partnerships as they prepare, conduct, and follow‐up a summit. The analysis provides evidence for the positive impact of summits, but also shows that the process unfolds differently than expected. Neither the range of performance issues that actors bring to the summit nor the intentions for change they formulate at the end of the meeting are key differentiators. The hallmark of impactful summits emerges to be a large share of participants gaining comprehensive insights. These findings have implications for collaborative performance management research and practice.
National Question: Attack on Life and School in Nigeria
Authors: Okwelum C. O.
Published: January 2023

Insecurity in Nigeria during the Buhari administration has got so high that the administration has become suspect. The target of school children and students of tertiary institutions only goes to establish the confessed aim of Boko Haram insurgency as being anti-western education. Thus when Deborah Samuel was murdered by Boko Haram extremists who claimed to have been appalled by her posting of an alleged blasphemous text-message denigrating Holy Prophet Mohammed on her 200 level Home Economics WhatsApp Platform at Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State, curiosity for this paper arose. This study which employs the doctrinal method surveyed the critical issues involved in the kidnap of school children and the negative impact it has had on the future of education particularly in the north. It observes that the vulnerability of the schools and the student is a soft target and a sure way to undermine the integrity of the Nigerian State in its constitutional role to protect lives and property and advance the right to education of the Nigerian child. It finds that both the State and the International community have been unable to put their acts together and the dangers posed are tremendous. It concludes that until the Buhari administration leaves office in 2023, the danger posed by insecurity to the territorial integrity of the country may not be curbed as the administration appears to be die-in-wool with the insurgents, bandits and terrorists.
Impact of passive heat stress and passive heat acclimation on circulating extracellular vesicles: An exploratory analysis
Authors: Ravanelli Nicholas , Barry Hadiatou , Bain Anthony R. , Vachon Laurent , Martel Catherine , Gagnon Daniel
Published: January 2023

This retrospective exploratory analysis aimed to improve our understanding of the effect of passive heat stress and subsequent heat acclimation on the circulating concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Healthy young adults (four females and six males, 25 ± 4 years of age, 1.72 ± 0.08 m in height and weighing 71.6 ± 9.0 kg) were heated with a water‐perfused suit before and after seven consecutive days of hot water immersion. Pre‐acclimation, participants were heated until oesophageal temperature increased to ∼1.4°C above baseline values. Post‐acclimation, participants were heated until oesophageal temperature reached the same absolute value as the pre‐acclimation visit (∼38.2°C). Venous blood samples were obtained before and at the end of passive heating to quantify plasma concentrations of EVs from all cell types (CSFE+), all cell types except erythrocytes (CSFE+MHCI+), platelets (CSFE+MHCI+CD41+), endothelial cells (CSFE+MHCI+CD62e+), red blood cells (CSFE+CD235a+) and leucocytes (CSFE+MHCI+CD45+) via flow cytometry. Passive heat stress increased the concentration of CFSE+EVs (46,150,000/ml [3,620,784, 88,679,216],P = 0.036), CFSE+MHCI+EVs (28,787,500/ml [9,851,127, 47,723,873],P = 0.021) and CSFE+MHCI+CD41+EVs (28,343,500/ml [9,637,432, 47,049,568],P = 0.008). The concentration of CSFE+MHCI+CD62e+EVs (94,230/ml [−55,099, 243,559],P = 0.187), CSFE+CD235a+EVs (−1,414/ml [−15,709, 12,882],P = 0.403) or CSFE+MHCI+CD45+EVs (−192,915/ml [−690,166, 304,336],P = 0.828) did not differ during heat stress. The change in circulating EVs during passive heat stress did not differ after heat acclimation (thermal state × acclimation interactions, allP ≥ 0.180). These results demonstrate that passive heat stress increases the circulating concentration of total and platelet EVs and that passive heat acclimation does not alter this increase.
Pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange during prolonged exercise in humans: Influence of dehydration, hyperthermia and sympathoadrenal activity
Authors: González‐Alonso José , Calbet José A. L. , Mora‐Rodríguez Ricardo , Kippelen Pascale
Published: January 2023

The mechanisms driving hyperthermic hyperventilation during exercise are unclear. In a series of retrospective analyses, we evaluated the impact of combined versus isolated dehydration and hyperthermia and the effects of sympathoadrenal discharge on ventilation and pulmonary gas exchange during prolonged intense exercise. In the first study, endurance‐trained males performed two submaximal cycling exercise trials in the heat. On day 1, participants cycled until volitional exhaustion (135 ± 11 min) while experiencing progressive dehydration and hyperthermia. On day 2, participants maintained euhydration and core temperature (Tc) during a time‐matched exercise (control). At rest and during the first 20 min of exercise, pulmonary ventilation (), arterial blood gases, CO2 output and O2 uptake were similar in both trials. At 135 ± 11 min, however, was elevated with dehydration and hyperthermia, and this was accompanied by lower arterial partial pressure of CO2, higher breathing frequency, arterial partial pressure of O2, arteriovenous CO2 and O2 differences, and elevated CO2 output and unchanged O2 uptake despite a reduced pulmonary circulation. The increased was closely related to the rise in Tc and circulating catecholamines (R2 ≥ 0.818, P ≤ 0.034). In three additional studies in different participants, hyperthermia independently increased to an extent similar to combined dehydration and hyperthermia, whereas prevention of hyperthermia in dehydrated individuals restored to control levels. Furthermore, adrenaline infusion during exercise elevated both Tc and . These findings indicate that: (1) adjustments in pulmonary gas exchange limit homeostatic disturbances in the face of a blunted pulmonary circulation; (2) hyperthermia is the main stimulus increasing ventilation during prolonged intense exercise; and (3) sympathoadrenal activation might partly mediate the hyperthermic hyperventilation.
Origami With Rotational Symmetry: A Review on Their Mechanics and Design
Authors: Lu Lu , Leanza Sophie , Zhao Ruike Renee
Published: January 2023

Origami has emerged as a powerful mechanism for designing functional foldable and deployable structures. Among various origami patterns, a large class of origami exhibits rotational symmetry, which possesses the advantages of elegant geometric shapes, axisymmetric contraction/expansion, and omnidirectional deployability, etc. Due to these merits, origami with rotational symmetry has found widespread applications in various engineering fields such as foldable emergency shelters, deformable wheels, deployable medical stents, and deployable solar panels. To guide the rational design of origami-based deployable structures and functional devices, numerous works in recent years have been devoted to understanding the geometric designs and mechanical behaviors of rotationally symmetric origami. In this review, we classify origami structures with rotational symmetry into three categories according to the dimensional transitions between their deployed and folded states as three-dimensional to three-dimensional, three-dimensional to two-dimensional, and two-dimensional to two-dimensional. Based on these three categories, we systematically review the geometric designs of their origami patterns and the mechanical behaviors during their folding motions. We summarize the existing theories and numerical methods for analyzing and designing these origami structures. Also, potential directions and future challenges of rotationally symmetric origami mechanics and applications are discussed. This review can provide guidelines for origami with rotational symmetry to achieve more functional applications across a wide range of length scales.
Baseline Sequencing Surveillance of Public Clinical Testing, Hospitals, and Community Wastewater Reveals Rapid Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern in Arizona, USA
Authors: Smith Matthew F. , Holland Steven C. , Lee Mihyun B. , Hu James C. , Pham Nghia C. , Sullins Regan A. , Holland LaRinda A. , Mu Tianchen , Thomas Alexis W. , Fitch Remington , Driver Erin M. , Halden Rolf U. , Villegas-Gold Michelle , Sanders Sheri , Krauss Jennifer L. , Nordstrom Lora , Mulrow Mary , White Michael , Murugan Vel , Lim Efrem S.
Published: January 2023

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve new variants throughout the pandemic. However, the temporal dynamics of how SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge to become the dominant circulating variant is not precisely known.
Genome Sequence of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Detected in Indonesia in 2022
Authors: Zainuddin Nuryani , Susila Edy Budi , Wibawa Hendra , Daulay Rosmalina Sari Dewi , Wijayanti Putriani Endah , Fitriani Dini , Hidayati Dewi Noor , Idris Syafrison , Wadsworth Jemma , Polo Noemi , Hicks Hayley M. , Mioulet Valerie , Knowles Nick J. , King Donald  P.
Published: January 2023

During 2022, outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were reported across the islands of Indonesia, a country that had previously maintained an FMD-free (without vaccination) status since 1990. This report describes the near-complete genome sequence of a representative FMD virus collected from these cases belonging to the O/ME-SA/Ind-2001e lineage.
Knockout of Targeted Plasmid-Borne β-Lactamase Genes in an Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Strain: Impact on Resistance and Proteomic Profile
Authors: Jaén-Luchoro Daniel , Karlsson Roger , Busquets Antonio , Piñeiro-Iglesias Beatriz , Karami Nahid , Marathe Nachiket P. , Moore Edward R. B.
Published: January 2023

The critical situation regarding antibiotic resistance requires a more in-depth effort for understanding underlying mechanisms involved in antibiotic resistance, beyond just detecting resistance genes. The methodology presented in this work provides a framework for knocking out selected resistance factors, to study the adjustments of the bacterium in response to a particular antibiotic stress, elucidating the genetic response and proteins that are mobilized.
Alcubierre warp drive in spherical coordinates with some matter configurations
Authors: Abellán Gabriel , Bolivar Nelson , Vasilev Ivaylo
Published: January 2023

In this work we introduce the Alcubierre warp metric using spherical symmetry. In this way we write the Einstein equations for a perfect fluid and for an anisotropic fluid with cosmological constant. Analysing the energy conditions for both cases, we find that these cases are flexible enough to allow them to be satisfied. We also find that in the time-independent case of the warp bubble, the metric admits a timelike Killing vector and all the energy conditions are satisfied except for the strong energy condition. Moreover, in the time-independent case a barotropic equation of state known from cosmological models naturally arises.
The application of hyperspectral core imaging for oil and gas
Authors: Linton Paul , Kosanke Tobi , Greene James , Porter Benjamin
Published: January 2023

Hyperspectral core imaging as a commercial technology is fairly new to the oil and gas industry, providing a rapid and non-destructive method for mapping mineralogy of drill core and cuttings. The technology makes use of infrared spectrometers that collect imagery across the visible, near infrared, short-wave infrared and thermal (long-wave) infrared range that contains information related to a variety of mineral species, and in some cases including mineral chemistry and texture. In this paper we illustrate how the mineralogical information can be used directly for a variety of applications relevant to reservoir quality, including mineral mapping, sedimentological mapping and upscaling of micro information to the well scale. Statistical analysis allows the data to be used to segment cores into different rock types, and via calibration to quantitative mineralogical techniques, the data can be used to construct continuous curves of quantitative mineralogy, total organic content and production parameters.
IFDS-based Context Debloating for Object-Sensitive Pointer Analysis
Authors: He Dongjie , Lu Jingbo , Xue Jingling
Published: January 2023

Object-sensitive pointer analysis, which separates the calling contexts of a method by its receiver objects, is known to achieve highly useful precision for object-oriented languages such as Java. Despite recent advances, all object-sensitive pointer analysis algorithms still suffer from the scalability problem due to the combinatorial explosion of contexts in large programs. In this article, we introduce a new approach,
Conch
, that can be applied to debloat contexts for
all
object-sensitive pointer analysis algorithms, thereby improving significantly their efficiency while incurring a negligible loss of precision. Our key insight is to approximate a recently proposed set of two necessary conditions for an object in a program to be context-sensitive, i.e., context-dependent (whose precise verification is undecidable) with a set of three linearly verifiable conditions in terms of the number of edges in the pointer assignment graph (PAG) representation of the program. These three linearly verifiable conditions, which turn out to be almost always necessary in practice, are synthesized from three key observations regarding context-dependability for the objects created and used in real-world object-oriented programs. To develop a practical implementation for
Conch
, we introduce an IFDS-based algorithm for reasoning about object reachability in the PAG of a program, which runs linearly in terms of the number of edges in the PAG. By debloating contexts for three representative object-sensitive pointer analysis algorithms, which are applied to a set of representative Java programs,
Conch
can speed up these three baseline algorithms substantially at only a negligible loss of precision (less than 0.1%) with respect to several commonly used precision metrics. In addition,
Conch
also improves their scalability by enabling them to analyze substantially more programs to completion than before (under a time budget of 12 hours).
Conch
has been open-sourced (http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~corg/tools/conch), opening up new opportunities for other researchers and practitioners to further improve this research. To demonstrate this, we introduce one extension of
Conch
to accelerate further the three baselines without losing any precision, providing further insights on extending
Conch
to make precision-efficiency tradeoffs in future research.
Analysis of Germination Curves of Cinchona officinalis L. (Rubiaceae) Using Sigmoidal Mathematical Models
Authors: Quiñones-Huatangari Lenin , Huaccha-Castillo Annick Estefany , Fernandez-Zarate Franklin Hitler , Morales-Rojas Eli , Marrufo-Jiménez Jenny Del Milagro , Mejía-Córdova Leslie Lizbeth
Published: January 2023

Seed germination is the fundamental phenomenon that determines the successful growth and development of each plant species, even more so in Cinchona officinalis, which is a forest species that stands out for its medicinal importance. The objective of this work was to determine the best sigmoidal mathematical model describing the germination of C. officinalis. For the germination test, a completely randomized design was used with six treatments and three replicates per treatment; 100°C. officinalis seeds were used per replicate, and 1800 seeds were needed in the trial. Gompertz sigmoidal, logistic, and von Bertalanffy models were used to analyse the germination curves of C. officinalis. The results of these adjustments were analysed based on the graphic representation and statistical criteria (Akaike’s value (

A
I
C

),

R

2

, and

R

a
i

2

). The results suggest that the Gompertz and logistic models have a better graphic representation, showing values close to those observed, while the von Bertalanffy model shows negative germination values. According to the statistical criteria, the lowest AIC and the highest were obtained.

R

2

and

R

a
i

2

with the Gompertz model, followed by the logistic model and von Bertalanffy. It is concluded that the Gompertz model can represent the shape of the germination curves of C. officinalis for the six treatments of the test.
Linkages between Investment Potential and Quality of Educational Institutions: Evidence from India
Authors: Prakash Puneet
Published: January 2023

Using disparate datasets, one on the quality of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India comprising 348 HEIs that were accredited over the years 2004–2008, and another on the investment potential of states based on four indicators, we fail to find a correlation between the investment potential of a state and the mean efficiency of its HEIs computed using nonparametric data envelopment analysis (DEA). However, interactions of investment potential indicators with HEI scores on seven quality assessment criteria exhibit a significant impact on efficiency scores thereby suggesting a latent moderating effect. We conclude that the investment potential moderates the quality assessment of HEIs, but these indicators do not affect the efficiency of HEIs. A direct policy implication of the study is a latent link between HEI quality and investment potential of a state but not an overt one. Moreover, a state’s infrastructure interacts with teaching and learning to affect HEI efficiency positively, whereas research output and good political governance interact to affect efficiency positively and significantly.
Cervical Cancer Stage at Diagnosis and Survival among Women ≥65 Years in California
Authors: Cooley Julianne J.P. , Maguire Frances B. , Morris Cyllene R. , Parikh-Patel Arti , Abrahão Renata , Chen Hui A. , Keegan Theresa H.M.
Published: January 2023

Background:

Through adequate screening and follow-up, cervical cancer can be prevented or detected at early-stage (stage I), which is related to excellent survival. Current guidelines recommend discontinuing screening for women ≥65 years with history of normal Pap and/or HPV tests, potentially leaving this age group vulnerable. This study examined late-stage disease in a population-based cohort.

Methods:

Using California Cancer Registry data, we identified 12,442 patients ages ≥21 years with a first primary cervical cancer diagnosed during 2009–2018. Proportions of late-stage disease (stages II–IV) and early- and late-stage 5-year relative survival are presented by the age group. Among patients ages ≥65 years, multivariable logistic regression estimated associations of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with late-stage cervical cancer.

Results:

Nearly one fifth of patients (n = 2,171, 17.4%) were ≥65 years. More women ages ≥65 years (71%) presented with late-stage disease than younger women (48% in patients ages <65). Late-stage 5-year relative survival was lower for women ≥65 years (23.2%–36.8%) compared with patients <65 (41.5%–51.5%). Characteristics associated with late-stage cervical cancer in women ≥65 years included older age [odds ratio (OR), 1.02; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–1.04; each year], non-adenocarcinoma histologic subtypes, and comorbidities (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.21–2.08).

Conclusions:

There remains a significant burden of advanced cervical cancer in women ≥65.

Impact:

Efforts should be made to better understand how the current screening paradigm is failing women of 65 years and older. Future work should focus on determining past screening history, lapses in follow-up care, and non-invasive testing approaches.