bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formal education and training for conservation agriculture in Africa.
Authors: Mkomwa Saidi , Mloza-Banda Henry , Mutai Weldone
Published: January 2022

This chapter examines the role of formal education, training and skills development in Conservation Agriculture (CA) in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in the context of the region's agricultural transformation systems. It explores nascent literature on potential reforms that include development of CA educational programmes and linkages that are more strategically attuned to national agriculture development aspirations. The chapter highlights theoretical grounds and practical examples for the multi-level strategies with complementary relationships aimed at facilitating systemic CA-related education, training and skills development to accelerate and expand its uptake in Africa. The chapter has advocated educational institutions and the university in particular to orchestrate the CA innovation value chain through 'internal' alignment of actors at institutional level (i.e. intra-organizational mainstreaming). The success of an innovation also depends on its 'external' viability. This was illustrated by proposing inter-organizational mainstreaming and a triple helix model where government and industry, respectively, are the principal actors towards increase in sociotechnical viability of the CA innovation system. There are obvious hurdles related to the interactions and coordination between stakeholders, as well as the integration of value complementarities across the value chain. Probable corrective strategies have been exhaustively interrogated and they are, for instance, manifested through technical and organizational adaptations as they summarize and compare systematically their contributions, arguments, assumptions and limitations in the process of creating and harnessing economies of scope in innovation. There may not be any ideal model for demand-led, CA-related education, training and skills development. A number of strategic options present themselves and, in a dynamic world, all strategies are relatively short-lived but must yield outcomes that contribute to longer-term goals. The educational institutions should find appropriate themes and avenues worthy of support in their own right, and projects that invite collaboration on their own terms.
Conservation agriculture innovation systems build climate resilience for smallholder farmers in South Africa.
Authors: Kruger Erna , Smith Hendrik , Ngcobo Phumzile , Dlamini Mazwi , Mathebula Temakholo
Published: January 2022

Introduction of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and associated climate-resilient agriculture practices within an innovation system approach, and using farmer-level experimentation and learning groups as the primary learning and social empowerment processes, has created a sustainable and expanding farming alternative for smallholders that is improving their resilience to climate change substantially. Through a knowledge co-creation process, smallholder farmers in the programme have adapted and incorporated a wide range of practices into their farming system, including minimum soil disturbance, close spacing, improved varieties, judicious use of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides, crop diversification, intercropping and crop rotation as well as fodder production and livestock integration. They have organized themselves into learning groups, local savings and loan associations, water committees, farmer centres and cooperatives and in so doing have created innovation platforms for local value chain development. They have built ongoing relationships with other smallholders, NGOs, academic institutions, government extension services and agribusiness suppliers, and have promoted CA tirelessly within their local communities and social networks. To date, this is the most successful model for implementation of CA in smallholder farming in South Africa and, through networking and upscaling activities, is being promoted nationally as a strategic approach to smallholder adaptation and mitigation programming, in line with the Africa climate smart agriculture (CSA) Vision 25×25 (NEPAD, Malabo, June 2014).
On-farm experimentation for scaling-out conservation agriculture using an innovation systems approach in the north west province, South Africa.
Authors: Smith Hendrik J. , Trytsman Gerhardus , Nel Andre A.
Published: January 2022

A project under the Farmer Innovation Programme (FIP) that aimed to adapt Conservation Agriculture (CA) among grain farmers in South Africa was implemented in a commercial farming area of the North West Province. The following on-farm, collaborative-managed trials produced key findings concerning: (i) plant population densities (high versus low) under CA; (ii) conventional crop systems versus CA crop systems; (iii) the testing and screening of cover crops; (iv) green fallow systems for soil restoration; and (v) livestock integration. Key results from these trials were that the yield of maize was significantly higher under high-density no-till (NT) systems compared to the normal NT systems. The yield of maize in local conventional systems was lower than the yield in NT systems tested on three farmer-managed trials. The screening trial assisted in testing and learning the suitability and the different attributes of a range of cover crops in that area. Cover crop mixtures used as a green fallow system with livestock showed that CA can facilitate the successful restoration of degraded soil.
Conservation agriculture for smallholder farmers in rainfed and irrigated systems in the eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain: lessons learned.
Authors: Haque Md Enamul , Bell Richard W. , Jahiruddin Mohammad
Published: January 2022

Conservation Agriculture (CA), which delivers multiple benefits for crop cultivation, is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. However, CA is not a single, ready-made or simple technology that can be adopted everywhere without necessary farm-level refinement. The CA practitioners may need to incorporate changes in practices and each needs a few years of experience to fully learn how to optimize the technology on a particular crop on each farm. Implementation of CA is challenging in resource-limited, intensively cropped and rice-based smallholder farms. This chapter is a reflection on lessons learned during the last two decades of research, farmers' adoption and service providers' (LSP) feedback on CA practice in rainfed and irrigated systems where farmers grow three crops per year including at least one transplanted rice crop. The researchers review smallholder farmers and LSP affordable and preferred CA planters, and the performance of CA in crop establishment and management, weed management, role and involvement of farmers' groups, farm level benefits, rice and upland crops. Case studies are also presented on the benefits of CA practice including resources optimization, long-term trends of crop yield and profit margin, soil organic carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) implications. These lessons may be useful for new practitioners, extensionists, researchers, teachers, students and policy planners to implement CA in smallholder regions considering food security, soil health and livelihoods and their contribution to mitigation of global warming.
Longitudinal waning of mRNA vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 detected by an LFIA rapid test
Authors: Wang Qiao , Feng Lili , Zhang Haohai , Gao Juehua , Mao Changchuin , Landesman-Bollag Esther , Mostoslavsky Gustavo , Lunderberg Justin M , Zheng Weina , Hao Shushun , Gao Wenda
Published: January 2022

Although mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 were highly efficacious against severe illness and hospitalization, they seem to be less effective in preventing infection months after vaccination, especially with the Delta variant. Breakthrough infections might be due to higher infectivity of the variants, relaxed protective measures by the general public in “COVID-19 fatigue”, and/or waning immunity post-vaccination. Determining the neutralizing antibody levels in a longitudinal manner may address this issue, but technical complexity of classic assays precludes easy detection and quick answers. We developed a lateral flow immunoassay NeutraXpress™ (commercial name of the test kit by Antagen Diagnostics, Inc.) and tested fingertip blood samples of subjects receiving either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines at various time points. With this device, we confirmed the reported clinical findings that mRNA vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies quickly wane after 3–6 months. Thus, using rapid tests to monitor neutralizing antibody status could help identify individuals at risk, prevent breakthrough infections, and guide social behavior to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
Mixed pollination system and floral signals ofPaepalanthus(Eriocaulaceae): insects and geitonogamy ensure high reproductive success
Authors: Martins Junior Edivaldo Rodrigues , da Costa Ana Carolina Galindo , Milet-Pinheiro Paulo , Navarro Daniela , Thomas William Wayt , Giulietti Ana Maria , Machado Isabel Cristina
Published: January 2022

Background and Aims

Eriocaulaceae exhibit a great variety of floral traits associated with insect (e.g. nectariferous structures) and wind pollination (unisexual flowers, exposed sexual organs and small pollen grains), as well as the ‘selfing syndrome’ (small flowers, short distance between stigma and anthers, and temporal overlap of male and female phases). Paepalanthus bifidus, P. subtilis and P. tortilis are related species that differ in form, size and colour of floral structures. We aimed to investigate the pollination and reproductive biology of these three species.

Methods

We analysed the floral biology, floral visitors, pollinator behaviour, and the contribution of insects, wind and spontaneous geitonogamy to fruit set. We also evaluated the floral colour and scent of the species. Colour reflectance of capitula of each species was measured and plotted in models of insect vision. Floral scent samples were extracted and the compounds were compared to vegetative scent samples.

Key Results

In all species, the staminate and pistillate flowers are arranged in alternating cycles with a temporal overlap between these phases. Ants were the most frequent floral visitors and were effective pollinators in P. bifidus and P. tortilis, while flies were occasional pollinators in P. tortilis. Floral visitors were not observed in P. subtilis. In all species, fruits were produced by spontaneous geitonogamy, with no evidence of wind pollination. According to the models of insect vision, the colours of the capitula of P. bifidus and P. subtilis are the most inconspicuous for ants and flies. We found no difference between the emission of volatiles of inflorescences and vegetative structures.

Conclusions

This study suggests that ant pollination might be more widespread in Eriocaulaceae than currently assumed. Furthermore, for small monocarpic plants, mixed mating strategies are most favourable, by ensuring reproduction either by outcrossing when pollinators are abundant or by spontaneous geitonogamy when pollinations are scarce/absent.
Compensation and the Scope of Proportionality
Authors: Eggert Linda
Published: January 2022

This paper examines whether the prospect of compensation may render otherwise disproportionate harms proportionate. It argues that we should reject this possibility. Instead, it distinguishes duties of compensation as a requirement of rectificatory justice from a harm’s degree of compensability, and argues that only the latter is relevant to proportionality. On this view, failing to compensate constitutes a distinct wrong, while harms that are not adequately compensable carry extra weight in proportionality calculations. This explains how the prospect of compensation affects permissions to harm, without relying on the dubious assumption that disproportionate harms may be rendered proportionate by future compensation.
Biomedical data, computational methods and tools for evaluating disease–disease associations
Authors: Xiang Ju , Zhang Jiashuai , Zhao Yichao , Wu Fang-Xiang , Li Min
Published: January 2022

In recent decades, exploring potential relationships between diseases has been an active research field. With the rapid accumulation of disease-related biomedical data, a lot of computational methods and tools/platforms have been developed to reveal intrinsic relationship between diseases, which can provide useful insights to the study of complex diseases, e.g. understanding molecular mechanisms of diseases and discovering new treatment of diseases. Human complex diseases involve both external phenotypic abnormalities and complex internal molecular mechanisms in organisms. Computational methods with different types of biomedical data from phenotype to genotype can evaluate disease–disease associations at different levels, providing a comprehensive perspective for understanding diseases. In this review, available biomedical data and databases for evaluating disease–disease associations are first summarized. Then, existing computational methods for disease–disease associations are reviewed and classified into five groups in terms of the usages of biomedical data, including disease semantic–based, phenotype-based, function-based, representation learning–based and text mining–based methods. Further, we summarize software tools/platforms for computation and analysis of disease-disease associations. Finally, we give a discussion and summary on the research of disease–disease associations. This review provides a systematic overview for current disease association research, which could promote the development and applications of computational methods and tools/platforms for disease–disease associations.
Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Prescriptions in the United States—A Time-Series Analysis
Authors: Huang Ya Lin A , Zhu Weiming , Wiener Jeffrey , Kourtis Athena P , Hall H Irene , Hoover Karen W
Published: January 2022

Background

Uptake of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been increasing in the United States since its FDA approval in 2012; however, the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected this trend. Our objective was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on PrEP prescriptions in the United States.

Methods

We analyzed data from a national pharmacy database from January 2017 through March 2021 to fit an interrupted time-series model that predicted PrEP prescriptions and new PrEP users had the pandemic not occurred. Observed PrEP prescriptions and new users were compared with those predicted by the model. Main outcomes were weekly numbers of PrEP prescriptions and new PrEP users based on a previously developed algorithm. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was quantified by computing rate ratios and percentage decreases between the observed and predicted counts during 15/3/2020–31/3/2021.

Results

In the absence of the pandemic, our model predicted that there would have been 1 058 162 PrEP prescriptions during 15/3/2020–31/3/2021. We observed 825 239 PrEP prescriptions, a 22.0% reduction (95% CI: 19.1–24.8%) after the emergency declaration. The model predicted 167 720 new PrEP users during the same period; we observed 125 793 new PrEP users, a 25.0% reduction (95% CI: 20.9–28.9%). The COVID-19 impact was greater among younger persons and those with commercial insurance. The impact of the pandemic varied markedly across states.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted an increasing trend in PrEP prescriptions in the United States, highlighting the need for innovative interventions to maintain access to HIV-prevention services during similar emergencies.
An emigrant economist in the tropics: Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen on Brazilian inflation and development
Authors: de Carvalho André Roncaglia , Suprinyak Carlos Eduardo
Published: January 2022

Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen was a ‘travelling economist’ in a double sense: after emigrating from Romania in the late 1940s, he became involved with the economic problems of the developing world through his engagement in Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Program in Economic Development. One of his missions brought him multiple times to Brazil between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s, leading to an article on the complicated dynamics between inflation and economic growth in developing countries – his sole incursion into the field of monetary economics. In this paper, we will set Georgescu-Roegen’s contribution against the background of the lively debates about inflation taking place in Brazil during the 1960s. Relatedly, we will show how he anticipated important aspects of later arguments about the perverse distributive effects of inflation. Finally, we will discuss why Georgescu-Roegen’s arguments had only limited influence, despite his prestige and connections within the Brazilian community of economists.
Component Fault Diagnosis and Fault Tolerance of Alternating Group Graphs
Authors: Huang Yanze , Lin Limei , Cheng Eddie , Xu Li
Published: January 2022

Reliability of a multiprocessor system becomes an important issue for parallel computing. Component diagnosability and component connectivity of a graph play crucial roles in assessing the vulnerability of an interconnection network, which are two significant indicators for the reliability and fault tolerance of a multiprocessor system. Until now, only a little knowledge of results have been known on $r$-component diagnosability and $r$-component connectivity. In this paper, we first propose the $r$-component diagnosability of $n$-dimensional alternating group graph $AG_{n}$ under PMC model. And then we promote our research on $AG_{n}$ by a fairly good construction for general $r$-component connectivity of $AG_{n}$, where $6\leq r\leq n-1$. The theoretical analysis and simulation show that the general $r$-component connectivity of $AG_{n}$ is larger than those of $Q_{n}$, $D_n$ and $FQ_{n}$.
The role of immunoglobulin E and mast cells in hypertension
Authors: Ge Weipeng , Guo Xiaoxiao , Song Xiaomin , Pang Junling , Zou Xuan , Liu Yonglin , Niu Yongliang , Li Zhengqing , Zhao Hongmei , Gao Ran , Wang Jing
Published: January 2022

Aims

Hypertension is the major cause of cardiovascular diseases and global mortality. Immunoglobulin E (IgE), which plays crucial roles in allergic diseases, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular and cardiac remodelling via its receptor (FcεR1). In this study, we aimed to reveal the role of IgE and FcεR1 in hypertension.

Methods and results

Herein, we reported that IgE levels were significantly increased in hypertensive patients as well as in hypertensive mice induced by angiotensin II (Ang II). Ang II-induced vascular remodelling and hypertension were significantly alleviated in FcεR1 genetic knockout mice or in mice treated with anti-IgE monoclonal antibody. Similarly, treatment with omalizumab (a clinical IgE antagonist) also markedly inhibited Ang II-induced hypertension. Furthermore, the cellular contribution of IgE–FcεR1 in hypertension was evaluated in mice with FcεR1 conditional knockout in mast cell (MC), smooth muscle cell (SMC), or endothelial cell (EC). Our data revealed that IgE-mediated hypertension is largely dependent on FcεR1 in MCs but not SMCs and ECs. Finally, RNA-seq and signalling pathway analyses of mouse bone marrow-derived MCs suggested that interleukin 6 (IL-6) is one of critical mediators in IgE-mediated hypertension. IL-6 derived from IgE-stimulated MCs promoted reactive oxygen species production and decreased the levels of phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase in ECs, leading to endothelial dysfunction.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal that IgE contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension, at least partially through activating the IgE–FcεR1 signalling in MCs. Thus, IgE may represent a new therapeutic target for IgE-mediated hypertension.
The Effect of Synergistic Compounds on the Susceptibility of Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Chrysodeixis includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Pyrethroids
Authors: Boff Jéssica S , Reis Alexandre C , Patricia da S Gubiani , Pretto Venicius E , Garlet Cínthia G , Melo Adriano A , Bernardi Oderlei
Published: January 2022

The Neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (F.), and the soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker), are key pests of soybean in South America. Low susceptibility to pyrethroids has been reported for both species in Brazil. Here, we evaluate the addition of synergistic compounds piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and diethyl maleate (DEM) to manage E. heros and C. includens with resistance to λ-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin. The LD50 of technical grade and commercial products containing λ-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin decreased against field-collected E. heros exposed to PBO and DEM relative to unexposed insects; synergistic ratios up to 4.75-fold. The mortality also increased when E. heros were exposed to commercial formulations containing λ-cyhalothrin (from 4 to 44%) and bifenthrin (from 44 to 88%) in the presence of synergists. There was also a higher susceptibility of field-collected C. includens to technical grade λ-cyhalothrin when PBO was used; synergistic ratio of 5.50-fold. High lethally of technical grade λ-cyhalothrin was also verified in the presence of PBO, with mortality increasing from 6 to 57%. Our findings indicate the potential utility of synergists in reversing the resistance to λ-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin in E. heros and C. includens and suggest a significant role of metabolic mechanisms underlying the detoxification of both pyrethroids.
Can the covid bailouts save the economy?
Authors: Elenev Vadim , Landvoigt Tim , Van Nieuwerburgh Stijn
Published: January 2022

The covid-19 crisis has led to a sharp deterioration in firm and bank balance sheets. The government has responded with a massive intervention in corporate credit markets. We study equilibrium dynamics of macroeconomic quantities and prices, and how they are affected by this policy response. The interventions prevent a much deeper crisis by reducing corporate bankruptcies by about half and short-circuiting the doom loop between corporate and financial sector fragility. The additional fiscal cost is zero since programme spending replaces what would otherwise have been spent on financial sector bailouts. An alternative intervention that targets aid to firms at risk of bankruptcy prevents more bankruptcies at much lower fiscal cost, but only enjoys marginally higher welfare. Finally, we study longer-run consequences for firm leverage and intermediary health when pandemics become the new normal.
Parental smoking and young adult offspring psychosis, depression and anxiety disorders and substance use disorder
Authors: Sarala Marian , Mustonen Antti , Alakokkare Anni-Emilia , Salom Caroline , Miettunen Jouko , Niemelä Solja
Published: January 2022

Background

To study the associations between maternal smoking during pregnancy and paternal smoking before pregnancy and adult offspring psychiatric disorders.

Methods

Prospective general population cohort study in Northern Finland, with people from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986: 7259 subjects (77% of the original sample). Data on parental smoking were collected from parents during pregnancy using questionnaires. Outcomes were offspring’s register-based diagnoses: any psychiatric disorder, any non-organic psychosis, mood disorder, anxiety disorder and substance use disorder (SUD) until the age of 29–30 years. Maternal smoking during pregnancy and paternal smoking before pregnancy were pooled to three-class variables: (i) none; (ii) 1–9 and (iii) ≥10 cigarettes/day. Information regarding both parents’ alcohol use during pregnancy and at offspring age 15–16 years, maternal education level, family structure, parental psychiatric diagnoses and offspring gender, smoking, intoxication frequency and illicit substance use at the age of 15–16 years were investigated as covariates.

Results

In the multivariable analyses, maternal smoking during pregnancy did not associate with the studied outcomes after adjusting for offspring smoking and other substance use at offspring age 15–16 years and parental psychiatric disorders. However, paternal smoking ≥10 cigarettes/day before pregnancy [hazard ratio (HR) = 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7–11.2, P < 0.001] and paternal psychiatric disorders (HR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1–2.8, P = 0.028) associated with offspring SUD after adjustments.

Conclusions

Information across the offspring life course is essential in exploring the association between parental smoking and offspring psychiatric disorders. Paternal smoking before pregnancy and paternal psychiatric disorders may act as modifiers in elevating the risk of substance-use-related problems among offspring.
Inhibition of sulfate-reducing bacteria with formate
Authors: Voskuhl L , Brusilova D , Brauer V S , Meckenstock R U
Published: January 2022

Despite hostile environmental conditions, microbial communities have been found in µL-sized water droplets enclosed in heavy oil of the Pitch Lake, Trinidad. Some droplets showed high sulfate concentrations and surprisingly low relative abundances of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a previous study. Hence, we investigated here whether sulfate reduction might be inhibited naturally. Ion chromatography revealed very high formate concentrations around 2.37 mM in 21 out of 43 examined droplets. Since these concentrations were unexpectedly high, we performed growth experiments with the three sulfate-reducing type strains Desulfovibrio vulgaris, Desulfobacter curvatus, and Desulfococcus multivorans, and tested the effects of 2.5, 8, or 10 mM formate on sulfate reduction. Experiments demonstrated that 8 or 10 mM formate slowed down the growth rate of D. vulgaris and D. curvatus and the sulfate reduction rate of D. curvatus and D. multivorans. Increasing formate concentrations delayed the onsets of growth and sulfate reduction of D. multivorans, which were even inhibited completely while formate was added constantly. Contrary to previous studies, D. multivorans was the only organism capable of formate consumption. Our study suggests that formate accumulates in the natural environment of the water droplets dispersed in oil and that such levels are very likely inhibiting sulfate-reducing microorganisms.
Ambient noise tomography in the Cerro Prieto Basin, Baja California, Mexico from laterally constrained surface wave inversion
Authors: Cruz-Hernández Favio , Gallardo Luis A , Calò Marco , Castro Raúl R , Romo-Jones José M
Published: January 2022

We apply a new technique for a laterally constrained surface wave inversion (LCSWI) to estimate the 3-D sedimentary structure of the Cerro Prieto Basin, Baja California, Mexico. The basin contains the Cerro Prieto geothermal field, which is considered one of the most productive in the world. The data used consist of group velocity measurements of Rayleigh waves extracted from cross-correlations of ambient noise registered at 12 stations distributed in an 18 × 12 km area. We estimated an S-wave velocity model that clearly shows three relatively homogeneous geoseismic units that correlate with the stratigraphic column reported in previous studies. The deepest geoseismic unit is the most heterogeneous and shows low-velocity zones likely associated with fluids. The resulting velocity model shows similarity with the conceptual geological model of the geothermal field reported in the literature and recent geophysical studies that suggest the potential existence of another deeper reservoir west of the current exploitation area.
The Multiple Waves of COVID-19 in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Temporal Trend Analysis
Authors: Kaplan Gilaad G , Underwood Fox E , Coward Stephanie , Agrawal Manasi , Ungaro Ryan C , Brenner Erica J , Gearry Richard B, , Kissous-Hunt Michele , Lewis James D , Ng Siew C , Rahier Jean-Francois , Reinisch Walter , Steinwurz Flavio , Zhang Xian , Kappelman Michael D , Colombel Jean-Frederic
Published: January 2022

Background

Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have emerged in discrete waves. We explored temporal trends in the reporting of COVID-19 in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.

Methods

The Surveillance Epidemiology of Coronavirus Under Research Exclusion for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (SECURE-IBD) is an international registry of IBD patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The average percent changes (APCs) were calculated in weekly reported cases of COVID-19 during the periods of March 22 to September 12, September 13 to December 12, 2020, and December 13 to July 31, 2021.

Results

Across 73 countries, 6404 cases of COVID-19 were reported in IBD patients. COVID-19 reporting decreased globally by 4.2% per week (95% CI, −5.3% to −3.0%) from March 22 to September 12, 2020, then climbed by 10.2% per week (95% CI, 8.1%-12.3%) from September 13 to December 12, 2020, and then declined by 6.3% per week (95% CI, −7.8% to −4.7%). In the fall of 2020, weekly reporting climbed in North America (APC, 11.3%; 95% CI, 8.8-13.8) and Europe (APC, 17.7%; 95% CI, 12.1%-23.5%), whereas reporting was stable in Asia (APC, −8.1%; 95% CI, −15.6-0.1). From December 13, 2020, to July 31, 2021, reporting of COVID-19 in those with IBD declined in North America (APC, −8.5%; 95% CI, −10.2 to −6.7) and Europe (APC, −5.4%; 95% CI, −7.2 to −3.6) and was stable in Latin America (APC, −1.5%; 95% CI, −3.5% to 0.6%).

Conclusions

Temporal trends in reporting of COVID-19 in those with IBD are consistent with the epidemiological patterns COVID-19 globally.
Tofacitinib Inhibits Leukocyte Trafficking Across the Intestinal Endothelial Barrier in a Specific Cohort of Ulcerative Colitis Patients
Authors: Massimino Luca , Spanò Salvatore , Lamparelli Luigi Antonio , Fuggetta Davide , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent , Sileri Pierpaolo , Danese Silvio , D’Alessio Silvia , Ungaro Federica
Published: January 2022

Lay Summary

The JAK/STAT inhibitor tofacitinib, recently approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, is found to modulate the intestinal endothelial barrier functions in directing the leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in ulcerative colitis patients displaying high levels of endothelial STAT3/STAT6 phosphorylation.
Zouglou Visions of Transitional Justice
Authors: Kouadio Lyn J -V
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACT∞

This article argues that through Zouglou music, Ivorian youths have defined what it means to deliver justice in the wake of violence by positioning Zouglou and Zouglou-Nouchi “ways of being” as an inescapable means of political legitimation. Beginning with the turn from Houphouët’s single party rule to multiparty politics in 1990, to the 2002–2007 and 2010–2011 eras of violent conflict, Zouglou artists, themselves youths, have shaped the terms of democratic transition. They have crafted a space wherein to discuss the meanings of violent conflict and justice as well as opened possibilities for youths to shape what the Ivorian democratic future should be. In doing so, youths have prescribed new ways of political legitimation. As a result, in Côte d’Ivoire politicians do not only vie for the presidential seat but also engage with Zouglou and Zouglou-Nouchi “ways of being” to gain popular affection.
Nonparametric regression on low-dimensional manifolds using deep ReLU networks: function approximation and statistical recovery
Authors: Chen Minshuo , Jiang Haoming , Liao Wenjing , Zhao Tuo
Published: January 2022

Real-world data often exhibit low-dimensional geometric structures and can be viewed as samples near a low-dimensional manifold. This paper studies nonparametric regression of Hölder functions on low-dimensional manifolds using deep Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) networks. Suppose $n$ training data are sampled from a Hölder function in $\mathcal{H}^{\ s,\alpha }$ supported on a $d$-dimensional Riemannian manifold isometrically embedded in $\mathbb{R}^D$. A deep ReLU network architecture is designed to estimate the underlying function from the training data. The mean squared error of the empirical estimator is proved to converge in the order of $n^{-\frac{2(s+\alpha )}{2(s+\alpha ) + d}}\log ^3 n$. This result shows that deep ReLU networks give rise to a fast convergence rate depending on the data intrinsic dimension $d$, which is usually much smaller than the ambient dimension $D$. It therefore demonstrates the adaptivity of deep ReLU networks to low-dimensional geometric structures in data and partially explains the power of deep ReLU networks in tackling high-dimensional data with low-dimensional geometric structures.
Development of genomic predictions for Angus cattle in Brazil incorporating genotypes from related American sires
Authors: Campos Gabriel Soares , Cardoso Fernando Flores , Gomes Claudia Cristina Gulias , Domingues Robert , de Almeida Regitano Luciana Correia , de Sena Oliveira Marcia Cristina , de Oliveira Henrique Nunes , Carvalheiro Roberto , Albuquerque Lucia Galvão , Miller Stephen , Misztal Ignacy , Lourenco Daniela
Published: January 2022

Genomic prediction has become the new standard for genetic improvement programs, and currently, there is a desire to implement this technology for the evaluation of Angus cattle in Brazil. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of evaluating young Brazilian Angus (BA) bulls and heifers for 12 routinely recorded traits using single-step genomic BLUP (ssGBLUP) with and without genotypes from American Angus (AA) sires. The second objective was to obtain estimates of effective population size (Ne) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the Brazilian Angus population. The dataset contained phenotypic information for up to 277,661 animals belonging to the Promebo breeding program, pedigree for 362,900, of which 1,386 were genotyped for 50k, 77k, and 150k single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panels. After imputation and quality control, 61,666 SNPs were available for the analyses. In addition, genotypes from 332 American Angus (AA) sires widely used in Brazil were retrieved from the AA Association database to be used for genomic predictions. Bivariate animal models were used to estimate variance components, traditional EBV, and genomic EBV (GEBV). Validation was carried out with the linear regression method (LR) using young-genotyped animals born between 2013 and 2015 without phenotypes in the reduced dataset and with records in the complete dataset. Validation animals were further split into progeny of BA and AA sires to evaluate if their progenies would benefit by including genotypes from AA sires. The Ne was 254 based on pedigree and 197 based on LD, and the average LD (±SD) and distance between adjacent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across all chromosomes were 0.27 (±0.27) and 40743.68 bp, respectively. Prediction accuracies with ssGBLUP outperformed BLUP for all traits, improving accuracies by, on average, 16% for BA young bulls and heifers. The GEBV prediction accuracies ranged from 0.37 (total maternal for weaning weight and tick count) to 0.54 (yearling precocity) across all traits, and dispersion (LR coefficients) fluctuated between 0.92 and 1.06. Inclusion of genotyped sires from the AA improved GEBV accuracies by 2%, on average, compared to using only the BA reference population. Our study indicated that genomic information could help us to improve GEBV accuracies and hence genetic progress in the Brazilian Angus population. The inclusion of genotypes from American Angus sires heavily used in Brazil just marginally increased the GEBV accuracies for selection candidates.
Soil Invertebrates Generate Microplastics From Polystyrene Foam Debris
Authors: Helmberger Maxwell S , Miesel Jessica R , Tiemann Lisa K , Grieshop Matthew J
Published: January 2022

To fully understand microplastics' impact on soil ecosystems, one must recognize soil organisms as not just passively enduring their negative effects, but potentially contributing to microplastics' formation, distribution, and dynamics in soil. We investigated the ability of four soil invertebrates, the cricket Gryllodes sigillatus Walker (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), the isopod Oniscus asellus L. (Isopoda: Oniscidae), larvae of the beetle Zophobas morio Fabricius (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), and the snail Cornu aspersum Müller (Stylommatophora: Helicidae) to fragment macroscopic pieces of weathered or pristine polystyrene (PS) foam. We placed invertebrates into arenas with single PS foam pieces for 24 h, then collected and assessed the microplastic content of each invertebrate's fecal material, its cadaver, and the sand substrate of its arena via hydrogen peroxide digestion, filtration, and fluorescent staining. All taxa excreted PS particles, though snails only to a tiny extent. Beetle larvae produced significantly more microplastics than snails, and crickets and isopods fragmented the weathered PS foam pieces more than the pristine pieces, which they left untouched. A follow-up experiment with pristine PS foam assessed the effect of different treatments mimicking exposure to the elements on fragmentation by isopods. PS foam pieces soaked in a soil suspension were significantly more fragmented than untreated pieces or pieces exposed to UV light alone. These findings indicate that soil invertebrates may represent a source of microplastics to the environment in places polluted with PS foam trash, and that the condition of macroplastic debris likely affects its palatability to these organisms.
Case of resected small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct
Authors: Sugita Hiroaki , Maeda Kazuya , Nishikawa Satoshi , Doden Kenji , Hashizume Yasuo
Published: January 2022

Neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) arising from the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) are extremely rare, and their preoperative diagnosis is difficult. A small number of resected cases of EHBD NECs has been reported, and their prognosis is usually poor. A 62-year-old man presented with obstructive jaundice and liver disease. Radiological imaging revealed wall thickness and stricture of the distal common bile duct (CBD); however, lymph node or distant metastasis was not detected. Adenocarcinoma was detected on biopsy, and surgery was performed with a preoperative diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma of the distal CBD. Pathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma of the CBD mucosa (20%) and NEC of the CBD wall (80%). The final pathological diagnosis was small-cell NEC of the EHBD. His post-operative course was good, and there was no recurrence for 4 months after surgery. Herein, we report a case of resected EHBD NEC and a literature review.
Urinary MMP-7: A Predictive, Noninvasive Early Marker for Chronic Kidney Disease Development in Patients with Hypertension
Authors: Sarangi RajLaxmi , Tripathy Krishna Padarabinda , Bahinipati Jyotirmayee , Gupta Partisha , Pathak Mona , Mahapatra Srikrushna , Mohapatra Soumya R
Published: January 2022

Objective

Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) is associated with hypertension and kidney fibrosis, which can progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Currently, kidney fibrosis is only detectable by an invasive procedure. Therefore, we set out to determine whether MMP-7 can act as a noninvasive biomarker in patients with hypertension to enable early detection of kidney fibrosis.

Materials and Methods

Diagnosed patients with hypertension and control patients were sampled. We diagnosed CKD using clinical and laboratory parameters. Serum urea, creatinine, urinary microalbumin, the albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and urinary MMP-7 were analyzed.

Results

The 195 patients with hypertension had significantly elevated MMP-7. Of these patients, 166 had MMP-7 >25.8 μg/L, whereas only 29 had MMP-7 <25.8 μg/L. Thirty-two patients with hypertension showed features of CKD, all of whom had urinary MMP-7 >25.8 μg/L. However, the urinary MMP-7 level did not differ with the severity of CKD or with the duration of hypertension.

Conclusion

Elevated urinary MMP-7 can be a potential noninvasive, early indicator in patients with hypertension progressing to CKD, thus enabling early therapeutic intervention.
Forward modelling the O3(a+b) GW transient mass distributions with bpass by varying compact remnant mass and SNe kick prescriptions
Authors: Ghodla Sohan , van Zeist Wouter G J , Eldridge J J , Stevance Héloïse F , Stanway Elizabeth R
Published: January 2022

We present forward modelling from the bpass code suite of the population of observed gravitational wave (GW) transients reported by the LIGO/VIRGO consortium (LVC) during their third observing run, O3(a+b). Specifically, we predict the expected chirp mass and mass ratio distributions for GW transients, taking account of detector sensitivity to determine how many events should have been detected by the current detector network in O3(a+b). We investigate how these predictions change by alternating between four different remnant mass estimation schemes and two supernovae (SNe) kick prescriptions. We find that none of the model populations resulting from these variations accurately match the whole O3(a+b) GW transient catalogue. However, agreement from some models to part of the catalogue suggests ways to achieve a more complete fit. These include reducing the number of low-mass black holes (BHs) close to the mass gap, while also increasing the number of higher mass BHs below the pair-instability SN limit. Finally, we find that the interaction between the value of the remnant mass from a stellar model and the choice of SN kick is complex and different kick prescriptions may be required depending on whether a neutron star or BH is formed.
Eukaryotic stress–induced mutagenesis is limited by a local control of translesion synthesis
Authors: Masłowska Katarzyna H , Villafañez Florencia , Laureti Luisa , Iwai Shigenori , Pagès Vincent
Published: January 2022

The DNA damage response (DDR) preserves the genetic integrity of the cell by sensing and repairing damages after a genotoxic stress. Translesion Synthesis (TLS), an error-prone DNA damage tolerance pathway, is controlled by PCNA ubiquitination. In this work, we raise the question whether TLS is controlled locally or globally. Using a recently developed method that allows to follow the bypass of a single lesion inserted into the yeast genome, we show that (i) TLS is controlled locally at each individual lesion by PCNA ubiquitination, (ii) a single lesion is enough to induce PCNA ubiquitination and (iii) PCNA ubiquitination is imperative for TLS to occur. More importantly, we show that the activation of the DDR that follows a genotoxic stress does not increase TLS at individual lesions. We conclude that unlike the SOS response in bacteria, the eukaryotic DDR does not promote TLS and mutagenesis.
CT-FOCS: a novel method for inferring cell type-specific enhancer–promoter maps
Authors: Hait Tom Aharon , Elkon Ran , Shamir Ron
Published: January 2022

Spatiotemporal gene expression patterns are governed to a large extent by the activity of enhancer elements, which engage in physical contacts with their target genes. Identification of enhancer–promoter (EP) links that are functional only in a specific subset of cell types is a key challenge in understanding gene regulation. We introduce CT-FOCS (cell type FOCS), a statistical inference method that uses linear mixed effect models to infer EP links that show marked activity only in a single or a small subset of cell types out of a large panel of probed cell types. Analyzing 808 samples from FANTOM5, covering 472 cell lines, primary cells and tissues, CT-FOCS inferred such EP links more accurately than recent state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, we show that strictly cell type-specific EP links are very uncommon in the human genome.
Sublithosphere Mantle Crystallization and Immiscible Sulfide Melt Segregation in Continental Basalt Magmatism: Evidence from Clinopyroxene Megacrysts in the Cenozoic Basalts of Eastern China
Authors: Sun Pu , Niu Yaoling , Guo Pengyuan , Duan Meng , Wang Xiaohong , Gong Hongmei
Published: January 2022

This study explores the effects of high-pressure crystallization and immiscible sulfide melt segregation under mantle conditions on the compositional variation of basaltic magmas, using clinopyroxene megacrysts in the Cenozoic basalts of eastern China. These clinopyroxene megacrysts are large (up to >10 cm in size) and homogeneous at the grain scale. They were crystallized from variably evolved parental magmas and then captured by their host basalts. The large and systematic variations of [Sm/Yb]N, Lu/Hf, Fe/Mn, Sc/La, Ni and Cu with Mg# in the clinopyroxene megacrysts suggest their co-precipitation with garnet and with immiscibility between sulfide and silicate melts. This is consistent with the appearance of garnet megacrysts in the host basalts and abundant sulfide globules in the clinopyroxene megacrysts. The covariation between Ni contents of sulfide globules and Mg# of the clinopyroxene megacrysts suggests a genetic relationship between sulfide globules and clinopyroxene megacrysts. High-pressure crystallization of clinopyroxene and garnet results in decrease of Mg# and concentrations of CaO, MnO and heavy rare earth elements (e.g. Yb) and increase of Fe/Mn and [Sm/Yb]N in the residual melts. Therefore, geochemical characteristics of low Mg#, low CaO and MnO contents and high Fe/Mn and [Sm/Yb]N in basalts do not necessarily indicate a pyroxenite mantle source. In addition, caution is needed when applying the olivine addition method to infer the primary compositions of alkali basalts without considering the effects of high-pressure crystallization of clinopyroxene and garnet. The calculated pressure (P) and temperature (T) conditions of the clinopyroxene megacrysts are close to those of the lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary (LAB) beneath eastern China, and the low primitive [Sm/Yb]N (~4.0) of melts parental to the clinopyroxene megacrysts suggests final equilibration at relatively low pressures most likely beneath the LAB. Hence, a melt-rich layer is expected close beneath the LAB. Melt pools in this melt-rich layer provide a stable and closed environment for the growth of compositionally homogeneous clinopyroxene megacrysts. As a result, melts in these melt pools are compositionally evolved with low and variable Mg#. Subsequent pulses of melt aggregation/supply from depths with primitive compositions and high Mg# will disturb these melt pools, cause magma mixing and trigger the eruption of magmas carrying clinopyroxene and garnet megacrysts.
The R2R3-MYB transcription factor FaMYB63 participates in regulation of eugenol production in strawberry
Authors: Wang Shuaishuai , Shi Mengyun , Zhang Yang , Pan Zhifei , Xie Xingbin , Zhang Linzhong , Sun Peipei , Feng Huan , Xue Hao , Fang Congbing , Zhao Jing
Published: January 2022

The biosynthetic pathway of volatile phenylpropanoids, including 4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol (eugenol), has been investigated in petunia (Petunia hybrida). However, the regulatory network for eugenol accumulation in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit remains unclear. Here, an R2R3-type MYB transcription factor (TF; FaMYB63) was isolated from strawberry by yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) screening using the promoter of the FaEGS1 (eugenol synthase 1 [EGS 1]) gene, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the last step in eugenol biosynthesis. FaMYB63 is phylogenetically distinct from other R2R3-MYB TFs, including FaEOBІІ (EMISSION OF BENZENOID II [EOBII]), which also participates in regulating eugenol biosynthesis in strawberry receptacles. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays showed that the expression of FaMYB63 was tissue-specific and consistent with eugenol content through strawberry fruit development, was repressed by abscisic acid, and was activated by auxins (indole-3-acetic acid). Overexpression and RNA interference-mediated silencing of FaMYB63 resulted in marked changes in the transcript levels of the biosynthetic genes FaEGS1, FaEGS2, and FaCAD1 (cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase 1 [CAD1]) and, thereby, the accumulation of eugenol. Electrophoretic mobility shift, Y1H, GUS activity, and dual-luciferase activity assays demonstrated that the transcript levels of FaEOBІІ and FaMYB10 were regulated by FaMYB63, but not the other way around. Together, these results demonstrate that FaMYB63 directly activates FaEGS1, FaEGS2, FaCAD1, FaEOBІІ, and FaMYB10 to induce eugenol biosynthesis during strawberry fruit development. These findings deepen the understanding of the regulatory network that influences eugenol metabolism in an edible fruit crop.