bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Livin' la vida local: philopatry results in consistent patterns of annual space use in a long‐lived lizard
Authors: Stalker J. B. , Jones J. L. , Hromada S. J. , Nussear K. E. , Vandergast A. G. , Wood D. A. , Tracy C. R. , Gienger C. M.
Published: October 2023

For animals exhibiting range residency, the home range is a useful framework to quantify space use. Some reptiles can live decades in the wild and experience extreme environmental variation that influences patterns of habitat use. Individuals may modify their use of space over time, reducing the utility of single‐year home range estimates. Very high frequency (VHF) telemetry data were collected for Gila monsters (Heloderma suspectum) at three Mojave Desert sites in Clark County, Nevada, and home range utilization distributions were calculated using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Home range size was consistent within individuals and populations, and home range size did not vary across years at any site. To measure home range fidelity (year‐to‐year reuse), we calculated Bhattacharyya's coefficient (BC) for each combination of years in which an individual was tracked and averaged estimates across individuals and populations. The average BC score was 0.86 (scale from 0 to 1; 0 = no overlap and 1 = complete overlap) and did not vary among populations. We modeled home range area accumulation to estimate the minimum sample size needed for asymptotic stability and found home range accumulation to be dynamic and variable within and across years and individuals. Analysis of the frequency of movement by individuals, average distance traveled per movement, and cumulative distance traveled per active season revealed that movement patterns vary considerably by year. Heterogeneity of space use among populations and individuals suggests that individual and local environmental variation, rather than annual variation in resource availability, may drive home range size and movement patterns of Gila monsters in southern Nevada. Annual variability in movement patterns did not translate to variability in home range size or location, and the species exhibits extremely high philopatry, using the same areas for periods of at least 3–5 years.
Influence of environmental settings in geographically distinct ports on the protein profiles of cultivable bacteria using MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry
Authors: Khandeparker Lidita , Gardade Laxman , Anil Arga Chandrashekar
Published: October 2023

The protein profiles of bacteria are useful markers in their identification. In this study, we examined the influence of environmental settings on the protein profiles of culturable bacteria using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF MS). We compared the protein profiles of bacteria collected from geographically distinct port environments (Kolkata, a freshwater port, and Kandla, a marine port) from India. The results indicated that bacterial species were distinctly different between the two ports, except for a few bacteria, that were common, such as Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. putida, P. stutzeri, P. mosselii and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Mass spectra of these common bacterial species, a few pathogenic among them, differed in their protein profiles and relative intensity of peaks. These variations point out that environmental settings/factors have a significant role in the protein expression and can result in differentiated virulence of pathogens. Identifying these risk factors is crucial in developing appropriate environmental port management practices.
Lack of host specialization despite selective host use in brood parasitic cuckoo catfish
Authors: Reichard Martin , Koblmüller Stephan , Blažek Radim , Zimmermann Holger , Katongo Cyprian , Bryjová Anna , Bryja Josef
Published: October 2023

Host–parasite dynamics involve coevolutionary arms races, which may lead to host specialization and ensuing diversification. Our general understanding of the evolution of host specialization in brood parasites is compromised by a restricted focus on bird and insect lineages. The cuckoo catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus) is an obligate parasite of parental care of mouthbrooding cichlids in Lake Tanganyika. Given the ecological and taxonomic diversity of mouthbrooding cichlids in the lake, we hypothesized the existence of sympatric host‐specific lineages in the cuckoo catfish. In a sample of 779 broods from 20 cichlid species, we found four species parasitized by cuckoo catfish (with prevalence of parasitism of 2%–18%). All parasitized cichlids were from the tribe Tropheini, maternal mouthbrooders that spawn over a substrate (rather than in open water). Phylogenetic analysis based on genomic (ddRAD sequencing) and mitochondrial (Dloop) data from cuckoo catfish embryos showed an absence of host‐specific lineages. This was corroborated by analyses of genetic structure and co‐ancestry matrix. Within host species, parasitism was not associated with any individual characteristic we recorded (parent size, water depth), but was costly as parasitized parents carried smaller clutches of their own offspring. We conclude that the cuckoo catfish is an intermediate generalist and discuss costs, benefits and constraints of host specialization in this species and brood parasites in general.
Annotated checklist of Indonesian Impatiens (Balsaminaceae)
Authors: Utami Nanda , Damayanto I Putu Gede P.
Published: October 2023

Impatiens is a genus of flowering plants widely distributed in Indonesia, with a high level of endemism. Some studies about on Impatiens have been conducted in Indonesia and several new species have recently been proposed, however, a list of all Indonesian Impatiens species has never been provided. Here, such a checklist of the Indonesian Impatiens species is presented to provide a comprehensive and up‐to‐date inventory of this genus in the region. There are 52 species, plus 3 subspecies and 7 varieties, of Impatiens in Indonesia. Most of the species are distributed in Sumatra, some in Java, Sulawesi, Kalimantan (Borneo), Lesser Sunda Islands, Maluku and Papua. Sumatra has the highest number of Impatiens species in Indonesia (45 species), while the Maluku region has the least (two species). Most of the species are native (50 species) and endemic (46 species), with Sumatra being the endemic hotspot (39 species). Some Impatiens species, such as I. dewildeana, have expanded their distribution to new areas. The conservation status of Impatiens species in Indonesia has not been assessed previously, therefore, we follow IUCN, as a reference for determining the status of Impatiens in Indonesia, especially those endemic to Sumatra. It is concluded that a majority of the species is threatened, and several may already be extinct.
ZmELF3.1 integrates the RA2‐TSH4 module to repress maize tassel branching
Authors: Xie Yurong , Zhao Yongping , Chen Lihong , Wang Yanli , Xue Weicong , Kong Dexin , Li Changyu , Zhou Linyu , Li Huiru , Zhao Yanfeng , Wang Baobao , Xu Miaoyun , Zhao Binbin , Bilska‐Kos Anna , Wang Haiyang
Published: October 2023

Tassel branch number (TBN) is a key agronomic trait for adapting to high‐density planting and grain yield in maize. However, the molecular regulatory mechanisms underlying tassel branching are still largely unknown.

Here, we used molecular and genetic studies together to show that ZmELF3.1 plays a critical role in regulating TBN in maize.

Previous studies showed that ZmELF3.1 forms the evening complex through interacting with ZmELF4 and ZmLUX to regulate flowering in maize and that RA2 and TSH4 (ZmSBP2) suppresses and promotes TBN in maize, respectively. In this study, we show that loss‐of‐function mutants of ZmELF3.1 exhibit a significant increase of TBN. We also show that RA2 directly binds to the promoter of TSH4 and represses its expression, thus leading to reduced TBN. We further demonstrate that ZmELF3.1 directly interacts with both RA2 and ZmELF4.2 to form tri‐protein complexes that further enhance the binding of RA2 to the promoter of TSH4, leading to suppressed TSH4 expression and consequently decreased TBN.

Our combined results establish a novel functional link between the ELF3‐ELF4‐RA2 complex and miR156‐SPL regulatory module in regulating tassel branching and provide a valuable target for genetic improvement of tassel branching in maize.
Intraspecific variation in seed size is mediated by seed dispersal modes and animal dispersers – evidence from a global‐scale dataset
Authors: Zhang Jinyu , Wang Bo
Published: October 2023

Seed dispersal mechanisms play a crucial role in driving evolutionary changes in seed and fruit traits. While previous studies have primarily focussed on the mean or maximum values of these traits, there is also significant intraspecific variation in them. Therefore, it is pertinent to investigate whether dispersal mechanisms can explain intraspecific variations in these traits.

Taking seed size as a case study, we compiled a global dataset comprising 3424 records of intraspecific variation in seed size (IVSS), belonging to 691 plant species and 131 families. We provided the first comprehensive quantification of dispersal mechanism effects on IVSS.

Biotic‐dispersed species exhibited a larger IVSS than abiotic‐dispersed species. Synzoochory species had a larger IVSS than endozoochory, epizoochory, and myrmecochory species. Vertebrate‐dispersed species exhibited a larger IVSS than invertebrate‐dispersed species, and species dispersed by birds exhibited a larger IVSS than mammal‐dispersed species. Additionally, a clear negative correlation was detected between IVSS and disperser body mass.

Our results prove that the IVSS is associated with the seed dispersal mechanism. This study advances our understanding of the dispersal mechanisms' crucial role in seed size evolution, encompassing not only the mean value but also the variation.
Revealing biogeographic patterns in genetic diversity of native and invasive plants and their association with soil community diversity in the Chinese coast
Authors: Liu Lele , Guo Yaolin , Wu Yiming , Yin Meiqi , Guo Xiao , Eller Franziska , Richards Christina L. , Brix Hans , Ju Rui‐Ting , Guo Weihua
Published: October 2023

Within‐species genetic diversity is shaped by multiple evolutionary forces within the confines of geography, and has cascading effects on the biodiversity of other taxa and levels. Invasive species are often initially limited in genetic diversity but still respond rapidly to their new range, possibly through ‘pre‐adapted' genotypes or multiple sources of genetic diversity, but little is known about how their genetic structure differs from that of native species and how it alters the genetic‐species diversity relationship. Here, we selected a widespread native species Phragmites australis and its co‐occurring invasive competitor Spartina alterniflora as our model plant species. We investigated the genetic structure of P. australis using two chloroplast fragments and ten nuclear microsatellites in 13 populations along the Chinese coastal wetlands. We discovered a distinct geographical differentiation, showing that the northern and southern populations harbored unique genotypes. We also found a significant increase in genetic diversity (allelic richness and expected heterozygosity) from south to north. Combined with previous studies of S. alterniflora, the Mantel tests revealed a significant correlation of genetic distances between P. australis and S. alterniflora even when controlling for geographic distance, suggesting that the invasive species S. alterniflora might exhibit a phylogeographic pattern similar to that of the native species to some extent. Furthermore, our results suggest that the S. alterniflora invasion has altered the relationship between the genetic diversity of the dominant native plant and the associated species richness of soil nematodes. The reason for the alteration of genetic‐species diversity relationship might be that the biological invasion weakens the environmental impact on both levels of biodiversity. Our findings contribute to understanding the latitudinal patterns of intraspecific genetic diversity in widespread species. This work on the genetic diversity analysis of native species also provides significant implications for the invasion stage and ecological consequences of biological invasions.
4. Painful diabetic polyneuropathy
Authors: Zuidema Xander , de Galan Bastiaan , Brouwer Brigitte , Cohen Steven P. , Eldabe Sam , Argoff Charles E. , Huygen Frank , Van Zundert Jan
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Pain as a symptom of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) significantly lowers quality of life, increases mortality and is the main reason for patients with diabetes to seek medical attention. The number of people suffering from painful diabetic polyneuropathy (PDPN) has increased significantly over the past decades.

Methods

The literature on the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic polyneuropathy was retrieved and summarized.

Results

The etiology of PDPN is complex, with primary damage to peripheral nociceptors and altered spinal and supra‐spinal modulation. To achieve better patient outcomes, the mode of diagnosis and treatment of PDPN evolves toward more precise pain‐phenotyping and genotyping based on patient‐specific characteristics, new diagnostic tools, and prior response to pharmacological treatments. According to the Toronto Diabetic Neuropathy Expert Group, a presumptive diagnosis of “probable PDPN” is sufficient to initiate treatment. Proper control of plasma glucose levels, and prevention of risk factors are essential in the treatment of PDPN. Mechanism‐based pharmacological treatment should be initiated as early as possible. If symptomatic pharmacologic treatment fails, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) should be considered. In isolated cases, where symptomatic pharmacologic treatment and SCS are unsuccessful or cannot be used, sympathetic lumbar chain neurolysis and/or radiofrequency ablation (SLCN/SLCRF), dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRGs) or posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) may be considered. However, it is recommended that these treatments be applied only in a study setting in a center of expertise.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of PDPN evolves toward pheno‐and genotyping and treatment should be mechanism‐based.
DGW1, encoding an hnRNP‐like RNA binding protein, positively regulates grain size and weight by interacting with GW6 mRNA
Authors: Li Lingfeng , Li Jijin , Liu Keke , Jiang Chenglong , Jin Wenhu , Ye Jiangkun , Qin Tierui , Luo Binjiu , Chen Zeyu , Li Jinzhao , Lv Fuxiang , Li Xiaojun , Wang Haipeng , Jin Jinghua , Deng Qiming , Wang Shiquan , Zhu Jun , Zou Ting , Liu Huainian , Li Shuangcheng , Li Ping , Liang Yueyang
Published: October 2023

Grain size and weight determine rice yield. Although numerous genes and pathways involved in regulating grain size have been identified, our knowledge of post‐transcriptional control of grain size remains elusive. In this study, we characterize a rice mutant, decreased grain width and weight 1 (dgw1), which produces small grains. We show that DGW1 encodes a member of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family protein and preferentially expresses in developing panicles, positively regulating grain size by promoting cell expansion in spikelet hulls. Overexpression of DGW1 increases grain weight and grain numbers, leading to a significant rise in rice grain yield. We further demonstrate that DGW1 functions in grain size regulation by directly binding to the mRNA of Grain Width 6 (GW6), a critical grain size regulator in rice. Overexpression of GW6 restored the grain size phenotype of DGW1‐knockout plants. DGW1 interacts with two oligouridylate binding proteins (OsUBP1a and OsUBP1b), which also bind the GW6 mRNA. In addition, the second RRM domain of DGW1 is indispensable for its mediated protein‐RNA and protein–protein interactions. In summary, our findings identify a new regulatory module of DGW1‐GW6 that regulates rice grain size and weight, providing important insights into the function of hnRNP‐like proteins in the regulation of grain size.
Efficacy of using oral methotrexate with phototherapy in the treatment of vitiligo in comparison with single phototherapy treatment: A double‐blinded randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lajevardi Vahide , Hosseini Zahra Sadat Seyed , Heidari Sama
Published: October 2023

Background

Vitiligo is an acquired skin disease with a worldwide prevalence of 0.5%–2% and a tendency to involve both genders. Although the exact pathologic mechanism is unknown, there is some evidence for the role of autoimmunity in this disease. Based on this theory, various immunosuppressive agents, such as topical or systemic corticosteroids and phototherapy (including narrowband ultraviolet B), are used. Methotrexate is another immunosuppressant that has recently become popular as a single treatment for vitiligo; however, the synergistic effect and its superiority over other treatments are two crucial factors that are still obscure. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of methotrexate+ NB‐UVB versus placebo+ NB‐UVB in vitiligo patients.

Methods

In this double‐blinded, randomized controlled trial, 42 patients were randomly allocated into two groups: the first group received three times weekly NB‐UVB plus placebo, and the second group was treated with three times weekly NB‐UVB in combination with a weekly dose of 12.5 mg MTX. The total duration of treatment was 6 months, patients were followed up every 2 months, and the assessment tools were VASI (repigmentation indicator) and VIDA (disease activity indicator) scores.

Results

Both treatment groups showed improvement in VASI and VIDA scores during 6‐month follow‐up, but no statistical significance was found between the two treatment methods.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that both treatment modalities were equally effective, and further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of MTX with other medications with longer follow‐up and a larger sample size.
Type of infertility and prevalence of congenital malformations
Authors: Basso Olga , Shapiro Gabriel D. , Gagnon Robert , Tamblyn Robyn , Platt Robert W.
Published: October 2023

Background

Children conceived with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) or after a long waiting time have a higher prevalence of congenital malformations, but few studies have examined the contribution of type of infertility.

Objectives

To quantify the association between causes of infertility and prevalence of malformations.

Methods

We compared the prevalence at birth of all and severe malformations diagnosed up to age 2 between 6656 children born in 1996–2017 to parents who had previously been assessed for infertility a an academic fertility clinic (“exposed”) and 10,382 children born in the same period to parents with no recent medical history of infertility (“reference”). We estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and prevalence differences (PD), by infertility status, type of treatment (non‐ART, ART), and infertility diagnosis, in all children and among singletons.

Results

Compared with children of parents with no infertility, children of parents with infertility had a higher prevalence of malformations (both definitions), particularly following ART conceptions. After accounting for treatment, ovulatory disorders were associated with a higher prevalence of both all (PR 1.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15, 1.93; PD 3.8, 95% CI 1.0, 6.6) and severe (PR 1.53, 95% CI 1.02, 2.29; PD 1.8, 95% CI −0.2, 3.7) malformations (the estimates refer to exposed children conceived without treatment). Unexplained and male factor infertility were associated with all and severe malformations, respectively. Estimates among singletons were similar. A diagnosis of ovulatory disorders was associated with all malformations also in analyses restricted to exposed children, regardless of treatment (we did not examine severe malformations, due to limited power).

Conclusions

In this study, ovulatory disorders were consistently associated with a higher prevalence of congenital malformations (including severe malformations) among live births, regardless of mode of conception.
Concentration of suspended solids in superintensive culture of the Pacific white shrimpLitopenaeus vannameiwith biofloc technology (BFT): A review
Authors: Schveitzer Rodrigo , Baccarat Roberto Fábio Conway , Gaona Carlos Augusto Prata , Wasielesky Wilson , Arantes Rafael
Published: October 2023

Microbial flocs (bioflocs) present in the water of intensive culture tanks are formed by a variety of microorganisms and other kinds of particulate organic matter, such as faeces and uneaten feed. During shrimp culture, biofloc concentrations increase. It has been reported that some level of control over biofloc levels, which can be quantified by the concentration of total suspended solids (TSS), is necessary for the adequate performance of the system. Some authors suggest that TSS concentrations below 600 mg L−1are more appropriate for the superintensive culture of the Pacific white shrimpLitopenaeus vannameiin biofloc technology (BFT). However, subsequent research results contradict some of the arguments supporting the suggested solids limits, for example, the impact of increased solids on gill obstruction and subsequent shrimp survival. Recent studies have also shown the relationship between the control of solids and other important aspects of the system not considered so far, such as the control of opportunistic bacteria. Therefore, this topic seems worthy of revisiting, and it will be helpful to find new guidance toward understanding the levels of bioflocs that should be kept inL. vannameiculture tanks. In this review, we addressed the reasons that led to the establishment and limitations of the current biofloc levels forL. vannameiculture. The effects of maintaining low and high levels of bioflocs on both shrimp performance and the culture system are also analysed. Finally, perspectives on the management of biofloc levels are discussed, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed strategy.
Information sharing and communication in management of large for gestational age babies in non‐diabetic mothers
Authors: Kahlon Gurnaaz , Relph Sophie , Yoong Wai
Published: October 2023

Key content

There is no specific UK guideline on how to identify or manage large for gestational age (LGA) fetuses in non‐diabetic mothers.

There is conflicting evidence with regard to the optimal mode and timing of delivery in such women and babies in order to minimise the possible risks.

Pre‐delivery patient–clinician discussion on management and mode of delivery in LGA babies can be challenging due to the lack of conclusive evidence and guidance for both screening and interventions, but it is crucial in order to facilitate information sharing, counselling and collaborative decision making.

Decision‐making tools could help to facilitate these discussions and ensure ‘material risks’ are discussed.

Learning objectives

To be aware of the limitations of available methods for screening for LGA fetuses, specifically symphyseal fundal height and ultrasound estimation of fetal weight.

To understand the lack of robust evidence for obstetric interventions, which makes it difficult to convey clear information in a practical and useful way.

To consider the use of decision‐making tools (such as BRAIN and iDECIDE), which can provide a framework for shared decision making, particularly when the evidence is limited or conflicting. These tools offer a structure which empowers patients to weigh up information as well as assist clinicians in determining what is considered ‘material risk’ when counselling in line with the Montgomery ruling.

Ethical issues

The Montgomery ruling advises that doctors must discuss any ‘material risks’ involved in a proposed treatment and offer other reasonable alternatives.

Clinicians, therefore, have a duty to be transparent about the lack of strong evidence to recommend one mode of birth over another but at the same time acknowledge that individual preference and perceptions need to be explored to enable personalised decision making.
Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pregnant and postpartum women
Authors: Richmond Anna , Siddiqui Farah , Sampson Caroline , Charlton Matthew
Published: October 2023

Key points

Extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced life support technique used in cases of respiratory and cardiovascular failure when conventional intensive care supportive therapies have been exhausted.

ECMO has been used to support pregnant and postpartum women and people presenting with several cardiac and respiratory pathologies; it has gained wider recognition among the obstetric community owing to the COVID‐19 pandemic.

It is important for clinicians to understand the difference between veno‐venous and veno‐arterial ECMO and the different purposes of these configurations.

It is important to consider such dilemmas in the provision of care as when to deliver and monitoring the fetus.

Management of pregnant women on ECMO is complex and requires MDT discussions, repeated regularly when the clinical situation, including when gestation crosses stages of viability, changes.

Learning objectives

To learn about the different types, aim and risks of ECMO.

To understand the benefit and risks of delivery of the fetus.

To be aware of the management of critically ill antenatal and post‐partum patients being considered for ECMO or whilst receiving ECMO support.
Mechanisms underlying the health benefits of intermittent hypoxia conditioning
Authors: Burtscher Johannes , Citherlet Tom , Camacho‐Cardenosa Alba , Camacho‐Cardenosa Marta , Raberin Antoine , Krumm Bastien , Hohenauer Erich , Egg Margit , Lichtblau Mona , Müller Julian , Rybnikova Elena A. , Gatterer Hannes , Debevec Tadej , Baillieul Sebastien , Manferdelli Giorgio , Behrendt Tom , Schega Lutz , Ehrenreich Hannelore , Millet Grégoire P. , Gassmann Max , Schwarzer Christoph , Glazachev Oleg , Girard Olivier , Lalande Sophie , Hamlin Michael , Samaja Michele , Hüfner Katharina , Burtscher Martin , Panza Gino , Mallet Robert T.
Published: October 2023

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is commonly associated with pathological conditions, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea. However, IH is also increasingly used to enhance health and performance and is emerging as a potent non‐pharmacological intervention against numerous diseases. Whether IH is detrimental or beneficial for health is largely determined by the intensity, duration, number and frequency of the hypoxic exposures and by the specific responses they engender. Adaptive responses to hypoxia protect from future hypoxic or ischaemic insults, improve cellular resilience and functions, and boost mental and physical performance. The cellular and systemic mechanisms producing these benefits are highly complex, and the failure of different components can shift long‐term adaptation to maladaptation and the development of pathologies. Rather than discussing in detail the well‐characterized individual responses and adaptations to IH, we here aim to summarize and integrate hypoxia‐activated mechanisms into a holistic picture of the body's adaptive responses to hypoxia and specifically IH, and demonstrate how these mechanisms might be mobilized for their health benefits while minimizing the risks of hypoxia exposure.

image
A Physics-Informed General Convolutional Network for the Computational Modeling of Materials With Damage
Authors: Janssen Jake A. , Haikal Ghadir , DeCarlo Erin C. , Hartnett Michael J. , Kirby Matthew L.
Published: October 2023

Despite their effectiveness in modeling complex phenomena, the adoption of machine learning (ML) methods in computational mechanics has been hindered by the lack of availability of training datasets, limitations on the accuracy of out-of-sample predictions, and computational cost. This work presents a physics-informed ML approach and network architecture that addresses these challenges in the context of modeling the behavior of materials with damage. The proposed methodology is a novel physics-informed general convolutional network (PIGCN) framework that features (1) the fusion of a dense edge network with a convolutional neural network (CNN) for specifying and enforcing boundary conditions and geometry information, (2) a data augmentation approach for learning more information from a static dataset that significantly reduces the necessary data for training, and (3) the use of a CNN for physics-informed ML applications, which is not as well explored as graph networks in the current literature. The PIGCN framework is demonstrated for a simple two-dimensional, rectangular plate with a hole or elliptical defect in a linear-elastic material, but the approach is extensible to three dimensions and more complex problems. The results presented in this article show that the PIGCN framework improves physics-based loss convergence and predictive capability compared to ML-only (physics-uninformed) architectures. A key outcome of this research is the significant reduction in training data requirements compared to ML-only models, which could reduce a considerable hurdle to using data-driven models in materials engineering where material experimental data are often limited.
Effect Mechanism of Ambient Air Parameters on the Thermal Performance for Cooling Towers
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhou Jun , Zuo Simeng , An Guangyao , Lang Jinhua , Yuan Wei
Published: October 2023

As the volume of natural draft wet cooling towers (NDWCTs) continues to increase, the influence of ambient air on the thermal performance of the NDWCT is not clear. Therefore, the main parameters such as gas–water ratio, circulating water temperature difference, and heat transfer in each zone were calculated, and the temperature field and humidity field were also investigated. The results showed that the ambient temperature had the greatest influence on the cooling capacity of the NDWCT and the increase of ambient temperature led the circulating water temperature difference decreases the most, which was 7.63 °C (74.15%). The increase of relative humidity and atmospheric pressure led to an increase in convective heat transfer and the decrease in evaporative mass transfer, while both the convective heat transfer and evaporative mass transfer reduced with the decreasing temperature. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for optimizing of the thermal performance and energy-saving design of NDWCTs.
Lithium-compatible and air-stable vacancy-rich Li
9
N
2
Cl
3
for high–areal capacity, long-cycling all–solid-state lithium metal batteries
Authors: Li Weihan , Li Minsi , Chien Po-Hsiu , Wang Shuo , Yu Chuang , King Graham , Hu Yongfeng , Xiao Qunfeng , Shakouri Mohsen , Feng Renfei , Fu Bolin , Abdolvand Hamidreza , Fraser Adam , Li Ruying , Huang Yining , Liu Jue , Mo Yifei , Sham Tsun-Kong , Sun Xueliang
Published: October 2023

Attaining substantial areal capacity (>3 mAh/cm
2
) and extended cycle longevity in all–solid-state lithium metal batteries necessitates the implementation of solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) capable of withstanding elevated critical current densities and capacities. In this study, we report a high-performing vacancy-rich Li
9
N
2
Cl
3
SSE demonstrating excellent lithium compatibility and atmospheric stability and enabling high–areal capacity, long-lasting all–solid-state lithium metal batteries. The Li
9
N
2
Cl
3
facilitates efficient lithium-ion transport due to its disordered lattice structure and presence of vacancies. Notably, it resists dendrite formation at 10 mA/cm
2
and 10 mAh/cm
2
due to its intrinsic lithium metal stability. Furthermore, it exhibits robust dry-air stability. Incorporating this SSE in Ni-rich LiNi
0.83
Co
0.11
Mn
0.06
O
2
cathode-based all–solid-state batteries, we achieve substantial cycling stability (90.35% capacity retention over 1500 cycles at 0.5 C) and high areal capacity (4.8 mAh/cm
2
in pouch cells). These findings pave the way for lithium metal batteries to meet electric vehicle performance demands.
Slow-light silicon modulator with 110-GHz bandwidth
Authors: Han Changhao , Zheng Zhao , Shu Haowen , Jin Ming , Qin Jun , Chen Ruixuan , Tao Yuansheng , Shen Bitao , Bai Bowen , Yang Fenghe , Wang Yimeng , Wang Haoyu , Wang Feifan , Zhang Zixuan , Yu Shaohua , Peng Chao , Wang Xingjun
Published: October 2023

Silicon modulators are key components to support the dense integration of electro-optic functional elements for various applications. Despite numerous advances in promoting the modulation speed, a bandwidth ceiling emerges in practices and becomes an obstacle toward Tbps-level throughput on a single chip. Here, we demonstrate a compact pure silicon modulator that shatters present bandwidth ceiling to 110 gigahertz. The proposed modulator is built on a cascade corrugated waveguide architecture, which gives rise to a slow-light effect. By comprehensively balancing a series of merits, the modulators can benefit from the slow light for better efficiency and compact size while remaining sufficiently high bandwidth. Consequently, we realize a 110-gigahertz modulator with 124-micrometer length, enabling 112 gigabits per second on-off keying operation. Our work proves that silicon modulators with 110 gigahertz are feasible, thus shedding light on its potentials in ultrahigh bandwidth applications such as optical interconnection and photonic machine learning.
Remote epitaxial interaction through graphene
Authors: Chang Celesta S. , Kim Ki Seok , Park Bo-In , Choi Joonghoon , Kim Hyunseok , Jeong Junseok , Barone Matthew , Parker Nicholas , Lee Sangho , Zhang Xinyuan , Lu Kuangye , Suh Jun Min , Kim Jekyung , Lee Doyoon , Han Ne Myo , Moon Mingi , Lee Yun Seog , Kim Dong-Hwan , Schlom Darrell G. , Hong Young Joon , Kim Jeehwan
Published: October 2023

The concept of remote epitaxy involves a two-dimensional van der Waals layer covering the substrate surface, which still enable adatoms to follow the atomic motif of the underlying substrate. The mode of growth must be carefully defined as defects, e.g., pinholes, in two-dimensional materials can allow direct epitaxy from the substrate, which, in combination with lateral epitaxial overgrowth, could also form an epilayer. Here, we show several unique cases that can only be observed for remote epitaxy, distinguishable from other two-dimensional material-based epitaxy mechanisms. We first grow BaTiO
3
on patterned graphene to establish a condition for minimizing epitaxial lateral overgrowth. By observing entire nanometer-scale nuclei grown aligned to the substrate on pinhole-free graphene confirmed by high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy, we visually confirm that remote epitaxy is operative at the atomic scale. Macroscopically, we also show variations in the density of GaN microcrystal arrays that depend on the ionicity of substrates and the number of graphene layers.
Compendium of the Lichens and Associated Fungi of Alaska
Authors: Spribille Toby , Fryday Alan M , Hampton-Miller Celia J , Ahti Teuvo , Dillman Karen L , Thor Göran , Tønsberg Tor , Schirokauer David
Published: October 2023

Publications on the lichens of Alaska go back 182 years, but a modern, comprehensive review of literature on the diversity of Alaskan lichens has been lacking. The authors present a compendium of 2126 accepted taxa fully referenced with published reports from Alaska and their exact localities. Of these 2126 taxa, 1827 are lichen fungi, 277 are lichen-associated fungi and 22 are putatively saprotrophic fungi usually treated in lichenological studies. Nearly half of all species have been first reported since 1997. A total of 1594 names are treated as synonyms or misapplications, and 140 further taxa are excluded as erroneous or doubtful.
Eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A) inhibits
Siniperca chuatsi
rhabdovirus (SCRV) infection through two distinct mechanisms
Authors: Meng Xian-Yu , Jiang Qi-Qi , Yu Xue-Dong , Zhang Qi-Ya , Ke Fei
Published: October 2023

Rhabdoviruses are single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses with broad host range, several of which are important pathogens. Compared with the rhabdoviruses infecting mammals, host factors involved in aquatic rhabdovirus infection have remained largely unknown. In the present study, we report the roles of host eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A) on the infection of
Siniperca chuatsi
rhabdovirus (SCRV, genus
Siniperhavirus
), which is an important pathogen of mandarin fish. eEF1A was identified from SCRV nucleoprotein (N)-based affinity purified proteins. Further protein interaction and mutation assays proved that eEF1A interacted not only with the N protein but also the virus matrix protein (M), which relied on the N-terminal of eEF1A. SCRV infection and overexpression of N or M all stimulated the promoter activity of the eEF1A gene and, thus, upregulated its expression, whereas the upregulated eEF1A inhibited the transcription of SCRV genome. Mechanistically, eEF1A impaired the interactions between N and phosphoprotein (P), or N and N, which are important for the efficient transcription and replication of rhabdovirus. Meanwhile, eEF1A promoted the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of the M protein, which relied on lysine 48 (K48) of ubiquitin. In addition, we showed that the ubiquitination degradation of M protein relied on C-terminal domain of eEF1A, but inhibition of the N-P or N-N interactions needs its entire length. Collectively, these results revealed two different mechanisms used by eEF1A to resist a fish rhabdovirus, which provided novel insights into the role of eEF1A in rhabdovirus infection and new information for antiviral research.

IMPORTANCE

Although a virus can regulate many cellular responses to facilitate its replication by interacting with host proteins, the host can also restrict virus infection through these interactions. In the present study, we showed that the host eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (eEF1A), an essential protein in the translation machinery, interacted with two proteins of a fish rhabdovirus,
Siniperca chuatsi
rhabdovirus (SCRV), and inhibited virus infection via two different mechanisms: (i) inhibiting the formation of crucial viral protein complexes required for virus transcription and replication and (ii) promoting the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of viral protein. We also revealed the functional regions of eEF1A that are involved in the two processes. Such a host protein inhibiting a rhabdovirus infection in two ways is rarely reported. These findings provided new information for the interactions between host and fish rhabdovirus.
Leptospira
transcriptome sequencing using long-read technology reveals unannotated transcripts and potential polyadenylation of RNA molecules
Authors: Xu Ruijie , Prakoso Dhani , Salvador Liliana C. M. , Rajeev Sreekumari
Published: October 2023

Leptospirosis, caused by the spirochete bacteria
Leptospira
, is an emerging zoonosis that causes life-threatening disease in humans and animals. However, a comprehensive understanding of leptospiral RNA profiles is limited. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the transcriptome of multiple
Leptospira
strains using Oxford Nanopore Technologies’ direct cDNA and direct RNA sequencing methods. We identified new operons, RNA molecules, and evidence of potential posttranscriptional polyadenylation in
Leptospira
transcriptomes. Some RNA molecules that had not been previously annotated could be potential sRNA or noncoding RNA molecules that play a role in gene expression regulation in
Leptospira
. Interestingly, the majority of the new RNA molecules identified in this study were not detected in the nonpathogenic
Leptospira
, suggesting potential virulence-related functions for these molecules. Overall, our study highlights the utility of Oxford Nanopore Technologies’s sequencing in studying prokaryotic transcriptome profiles and offers a tool to improve our understanding of prokaryotic RNA landscapes and polyadenylation. Nonetheless, the findings from our study also warrant that the presence of homopolymers of adenine bases in the transcripts may interfere with the interpretation of bacterial transcriptome profiles. Carefully designed experiments are needed to explore the role of the features described in this study in
Leptospira
virulence and pathogenesis.

IMPORTANCE

Leptospirosis, caused by the spirochete bacteria
Leptospira
, is a zoonotic disease of humans and animals, accounting for over 1 million annual human cases and over 60,000 deaths. We have characterized operon transcriptional units, identified novel RNA coding regions, and reported evidence of potential posttranscriptional polyadenylation in the
Leptospira
transcriptomes for the first time using Oxford Nanopore Technology RNA sequencing protocols. The newly identified RNA coding regions and operon transcriptional units were detected only in the pathogenic
Leptospira
transcriptomes, suggesting their significance in virulence-related functions. This article integrates bioinformatics, infectious diseases, microbiology, molecular biology, veterinary sciences, and public health. Given the current knowledge gap in the regulation of leptospiral pathogenicity, our findings offer valuable insights to researchers studying leptospiral pathogenicity and provide both a basis and a tool for researchers focusing on prokaryotic molecular studies for the understanding of RNA compositions and prokaryotic polyadenylation for their organisms of interest.
Sacral ependymoma presents 20 years after initial posterior fossa lesion
Authors: Nicely Lynden Guy , Baxter Mark , Banerjee Sourav , Lord Hannah
Published: October 2023

Posterior fossa ependymomas (PFEs) are designated histologically as low-grade neoplasms. Despite being characterised as benign, cases of metastasis have been reported only a few times with the patients concurrently diagnosed with the primary tumour. Interval drop metastasis or spontaneous second distal tumours are extremely rare and, in most cases, are diagnosed within a few months of primary tumour resection. Here, we report a patient with a grade 2 paediatric PFE exhibiting a 20-year interval to a second sacral ependymoma. The patient was initially diagnosed with a PFE at the age of 10 years and underwent tumour resection and postoperative radiotherapy. In their late 20s, the patient presented with basilar artery occlusion complicated by life-threatening epistaxis. Post-thrombolysis, the patient presented with a large sacral grade 1 myxopapillary ependymoma with cauda equina syndrome-like symptoms. Here, we present a rare case of two ependymomas with a 20-year interval in the same patient with compounding comorbidities.
Prevention of child sexual abuse in the USA: a scoping review protocol of US legislative policies
Authors: Helpingstine Claire E , Murphy Catherine A , Merrick Melissa T , Klika J Bart
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Child sexual abuse (CSA) poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of children in the USA and globally. Many states have introduced or implemented policies to address and prevent CSA, but little research has linked the effects of this legislation on the reduction of adult-perpetrated CSA. The objective of this scoping review is to identify US policies which aim to prevent CSA, explain the components of these types of legislation, review evidence of effectiveness, describe the populations included in the literature, and identify barriers and facilitators to the implementation of said policies.

Methods and analysis

This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and will use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews Checklist. Sources of peer-reviewed evidence from January 2000 to July 2023 will be included. Relevant publications will first be searched in PubMed/MEDLINE database, then 25 other databases. The reference lists of included studies and high-yield journals will be hand searched. Articles which focus on the types of CSA prevention policies and their effects will be included. Studies must clearly demonstrate a connection between policies and CSA outcomes. Title, abstract, full-text screening and extraction will be completed by a team of three researchers. Critical appraisal of the included studies will be performed. Extracted data will be displayed in tabular form and a narrative summary will describe the results of the review.

Ethics and dissemination

This scoping review will provide an extensive overview of legislative policies which aim to prevent CSA in the USA. Results of this review will inform future CSA prevention policies in the USA, particularly regarding policy development, evaluation and implementation. Results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.
Risk factors and health consequences of experiencing reproductive coercion: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Saldanha Susan , LaGrappe Desireé , Botfield Jessica R , Mazza Danielle
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Reproductive coercion (RC) describes behaviours that interfere with an individual’s reproductive autonomy and decision-making. RC can be a form of intimate partner violence and overlaps with other forms of gender-based violence, such as sexual violence. Health settings are well placed to identify and intervene to support patients experiencing RC, however, the lack of conceptual clarity on RC means that health providers are not easily able to identify those at risk of experiencing RC. To facilitate appropriate identification and development of interventions, there is a need to understand the risk factors related to experiencing RC and associated health consequences.

Aim

To assess the current scope of evidence in relation to risk factors and health consequences of experiencing RC.

Methods and analysis

Eligible articles for inclusion in the scoping review will be original peer-reviewed literature that describe risk factors and health consequences of any type of RC. Studies on humans published in English since 2010 will be included. The proposed scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the JBI Methodology. This protocol is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. Five electronic databases, OVID Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, PsychINFO and Embase, will be searched for relevant literature from 1 January 2010 to 23 January 2023. Two reviewers will individually screen and review articles for eligibility, and conflicts will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be charted and reported using a tool developed for the purpose of this review.

Ethics and dissemination

Findings will be disseminated in publications and presentations to relevant stakeholders. Ethical approval is not required as data from publicly available literature sources will be used. Available evidence will be mapped across the breadth of eligible studies to identify associated risk factors and health consequences of RC.