bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of soil moisture on tunneling, survivorship, and food consumption of the Formosan and eastern subterranean termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: Richardson Steven , Sun Qian
Published: June 2023

Soil moisture is a critical environmental factor for the survival and behavior of subterranean termites (family Rhinotermitidae). The invasive Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the native eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), co-occur in the southeastern United States, while R. flavipes is distributed in a wider geoclimatic range. Previous studies showed that subterranean termites preferred higher soil moisture levels for tunneling and feeding; however, the impacts of constant moisture remained to be characterized to understand their moisture tolerance. In this study, we hypothesized that different soil moisture regimes can alter termite foraging and survival, and that the effects differ between the two species. The tunneling activity, survivorship, and food consumption of termites were documented for 28 days with different sand moisture conditions ranging from no moisture to full saturation (0%, 1%, 5%, 15%, 25%, and 30%). We found that there were no significant differences in the responses between C. formosanus and R. flavipes. In both species, termites did not survive or tunnel with 0% moisture. Termites performed tunneling with only 1% sand moisture, although they did not survive for 28 days. A minimal of 5% sand moisture was required for survival, and there were no significant differences in survivorship, tunneling activity, or food consumption among moisture contents of 5–30%. The results suggest that subterranean termites are resilient to moisture extremes. Colonies can tolerate low moisture conditions in their foraging environment for extended times, which may allow them to tunnel and find new moisture sources for colony survival.
Trade-Offs of Attending Better Schools: Achievement, Self-Perceptions and Educational Trajectories
Authors: Fabregas Raissa
Published: June 2023

This paper estimates the impacts of attending better middle schools on the test scores, on-time graduation, self-reported socio-emotional skills, aspirations and high school track choices of marginally admitted students. A regression discontinuity design comparing students just above and below the admission threshold to higher-achieving middle schools in Mexico shows some modest gains on externally graded tests, but adverse effects on grade point average and on-time graduation. By the end of middle school, marginally admitted students feel academically inferior to their peers, obtain worse scores on measures of conscientiousness, and are more likely to shift their aspirations and subsequent schooling choices from academic to vocational programmes. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that unfavourable peer comparisons, stemming from direct observation or subjective teacher assessments, can be sufficiently important to affect students’ educational trajectories.
Digest: Experimental evidence of gene flow impacts on host adaptation to a parasite
Authors: Mendelson Bonnie
Published: June 2023

Does gene flow disrupt or facilitate the evolution of parasite resistance in host populations? Lewis et al. use a host–parasite system consisting of Caenorhabditis elegans (host) and Serratia marcescens (parasite) to test the effect of gene flow on adaptation. They find that gene flow from parasite-resistant host populations with divergent genetic backgrounds promotes adaptation to parasites (increased resistance). Findings from this study can be used to address more complex cases of gene flow and can be applied in conservation efforts.
Digest: Habitat seasonality drives evolutionary change in plasticity in Bicyclus butterflies
Authors: van Bergen Erik , Oostra Vicencio
Published: June 2023

Can changes in plasticity evolve in populations in response to local conditions? Zhen et al. addressed this question using populations of Bicyclus butterflies from Cameroon. The results of the study suggest that local adaptation in these African butterflies involved changes in the degree of plasticity, such that stronger responses to temperature were found in populations from habitats with stronger seasonal fluctuations. Interestingly, differentiation in reaction norms occurred despite high levels of gene flow among populations, indicating a small number of loci contributing to evolved differences in plasticity.
Effect of subtherapeutic and therapeutic sulfamethazine concentrations on transcribed genes and translated proteins involved in Microbacterium sp. C448 resistance and degradation
Authors: Paris Laurianne , Devers-Lamrani Marion , Joly Muriel , Viala Didier , De Antonio Marie , Pereira Bruno , Rouard Nadine , Besse-Hoggan Pascale , Hébraud Michel , Topp Edward , Martin-Laurent Fabrice , Batisson Isabelle
Published: June 2023

Microbacterium sp. C448, isolated from a soil regularly exposed to sulfamethazine (SMZ), can use various sulphonamide antibiotics as the sole carbon source for growth. The basis for the regulation of genes encoding the sulphonamide metabolism pathway, the dihydropteroate synthase sulphonamide target (folP), and the sulphonamide resistance (sul1) genes, is unknown in this organism. In the present study, the response of the transcriptome and proteome of Microbacterium sp. C448 following exposure to subtherapeutic (33 µM) or therapeutic (832 µM) SMZ concentrations was evaluated. Therapeutic concentration induced the highest sad expression and Sad production, consistent with the activity of SMZ degradation observed in cellulo. Following complete SMZ degradation, Sad production tended to return to the basal level observed prior to SMZ exposure. Transcriptomic and proteomic kinetics were concomitant for the resistance genes and proteins. The abundance of Sul1 protein, 100-fold more abundant than FolP protein, did not change in response to SMZ exposure. Moreover, non-targeted analyses highlighted the increase of a deaminase RidA and a putative sulphate exporter expression and production. These two novel factors involved in the 4-aminophenol metabolite degradation and the export of sulphate residues formed during SMZ degradation, respectively, provided new insights into Microbacterium sp. C448 SMZ detoxification process.
Epigenetic and Metabolomic Biomarkers for Biological Age: A Comparative Analysis of Mortality and Frailty Risk
Authors: Kuiper Lieke M , Polinder-Bos Harmke A , Bizzarri Daniele , Vojinovic Dina , Vallerga Costanza L , Beekman Marian , Dollé Martijn E T , Ghanbari Mohsen , Voortman Trudy , Reinders Marcel J T , Verschuren W M Monique , Slagboom P Eline , van den Akker Erik B , van Meurs Joyce B J
Published: June 2023

Biological age captures a person’s age-related risk of unfavorable outcomes using biophysiological information. Multivariate biological age measures include frailty scores and molecular biomarkers. These measures are often studied in isolation, but here we present a large-scale study comparing them. In 2 prospective cohorts (n = 3 222), we compared epigenetic (DNAm Horvath, DNAm Hannum, DNAm Lin, DNAm epiTOC, DNAm PhenoAge, DNAm DunedinPoAm, DNAm GrimAge, and DNAm Zhang) and metabolomic-based (MetaboAge and MetaboHealth) biomarkers in reflection of biological age, as represented by 5 frailty measures and overall mortality. Biomarkers trained on outcomes with biophysiological and/or mortality information outperformed age-trained biomarkers in frailty reflection and mortality prediction. DNAm GrimAge and MetaboHealth, trained on mortality, showed the strongest association with these outcomes. The associations of DNAm GrimAge and MetaboHealth with frailty and mortality were independent of each other and of the frailty score mimicking clinical geriatric assessment. Epigenetic, metabolomic, and clinical biological age markers seem to capture different aspects of aging. These findings suggest that mortality-trained molecular markers may provide novel phenotype reflecting biological age and strengthen current clinical geriatric health and well-being assessment.
Early Development of Locomotion in the Term Piglet Model: Does Size Matter?
Authors: Aerts Peter , Mielke Falk , Vanden Hole Charlotte , Van Gorp Merel J W , Van Ginneken Chris
Published: June 2023

Synopsis

Intrauterine undernutrition in humans typically results in low birth weight ([small for gestational age] SGA) and delayed postnatal neuromotor maturation. Since SGA and intrauterine growth retardation are also common in domestic pigs, piglets are premised as models to study delayed motor development. Applied to the locomotor paradigm, however, questions emerge: (i) how to map the developmental time scale of the precocial model onto the altricial target species and (ii) how to distinguish size from maturation effects? Gait data were collected at self-selected voluntary walking speed during early development (0–96 hours postpartum; pp) for SGA- and normal ([appropriate for gestational age] AGA) piglets. Dimensionless spatiotemporal gait characteristics (according to dynamic similarity) become invariant already after 4 hours pp, suggesting rapid postnatal neuromotor maturation. Moreover, dimensionless gait data are largely identical for SGA- and AGA-siblings, indicating that primarily size effects explain absolute locomotor differences. This is further supported by (i) normalized force-generating capacity of limb muscles, (ii) joint kinematics (<10 hours pp), and (iii) normalized ground reaction forces (<5 days pp) being indifferent between SGA- and AGA- piglets. Furthermore, predictive modeling based on limb joint kinematics is unable to discern the majority of SGA- from AGA-piglets (<10 hours pp). All this leads to the conclusion that, although smaller than the AGA piglets in absolute terms, SGA-piglets mature (neuromechanically speaking) just like, and equally fast as their AGA littermates. Yet, it remains a fact that early SGA piglets are reported to be less mobile, less vital, and less competitive than their AGA siblings (even often die before day 3 pp). This conspicuous difference likely results from the energy level (blood glucose and glycogen) and its mobilization being considerably different between the piglet categories during early development.
Remaining safe conducting Field work While Black (FWB), and Tips for PIs, Universities, and Employers of Black Individuals
Authors: Troutman Alex
Published: June 2023

Synopsis

Field work is essential to the career of many biologists; however, when working in the field while black (FWB), everyday tasks conducted while in the field can be life-threatening. As a Black individual or as the principal investigator supervising Black individuals, safety in the field requires you to not only navigate weather and wildlife but also your fellow humans. In this article, I address some of the challenges faced by Black scientists in the field, as well as within conservation agencies, universities, and neighboring towns of field sites. I will also discuss how PIs, universities, and employers can ensure a safer, more inclusive experience for their Black friends, colleagues, and students while conducting fieldwork.
Avoiding Recursion in the Representation of Subsenses and Subentries in Dictionaries
Authors: Měchura Michal
Published: June 2023

Recursion, and recursion-like design patterns, are used in the entry schemas of dictionaries to model subsenses and subentries. Recursion occurs when elements of a given type, such as sense, are allowed to contain elements of the same or similar type, such as sense or subsense. This article argues that recursion unnecessarily increases the computational complexity of entries, making dictionaries less easily processable by machines. The article will show how entry schemas can be simplified by re-engineering subsenses and subentries as relations (like in a relational database) such that we only have flat lists of senses and entries, while the is-subsense-of and is-subentry-of relations are encoded using pairs of unique identifiers. This design pattern losslessly records the same information as recursion (including – importantly – the listing order of items inside an entry) but decreases the complexity of the entry structure and makes dictionary entries more easily machine-processable.
Simultaneous diagonalization of nearly commuting Hermitian matrices: do-one-then-do-the-other
Authors: Sutton Brian D
Published: June 2023

Commuting Hermitian matrices may be simultaneously diagonalized by a common unitary matrix. However, the numerical aspects are delicate. We revisit a previously rejected numerical approach in a new algorithm called ‘do-one-then-do-the-other’. One of two input matrices is diagonalized by a unitary similarity, and then the computed eigenvectors are applied to the other input matrix. Additional passes are applied as necessary to resolve invariant subspaces associated with repeated eigenvalues and eigenvalue clusters. The algorithm is derived by first developing a spectral divide-and-conquer method and then allowing the method to break the spectrum into, not just two invariant subspaces, but as many as safely possible. Most computational work is delegated to a black-box eigenvalue solver, which can be tailored to specific computer architectures. The overall running time is a small multiple of a single eigenvalue-eigenvector computation, even on difficult problems with tightly clustered eigenvalues. The article concludes with applications to a structured eigenvalue problem and a highly sensitive eigenvector computation.
Error analysis for the numerical approximation of the harmonic map heat flow with nodal constraints
Authors: Bartels Sören , Kovács Balázs , Wang Zhangxian
Published: June 2023

An error estimate for a canonical discretization of the harmonic map heat flow into spheres is derived. The numerical scheme uses standard finite elements with a nodal treatment of linearized unit-length constraints. The analysis is based on elementary approximation results and only uses the discrete weak formulation.
Non-asymptotic estimates for TUSLA algorithm for non-convex learning with applications to neural networks with ReLU activation function
Authors: Lim Dong-Young , Neufeld Ariel , Sabanis Sotirios , Zhang Ying
Published: June 2023

We consider nonconvex stochastic optimization problems where the objective functions have super-linearly growing and discontinuous stochastic gradients. In such a setting, we provide a nonasymptotic analysis for the tamed unadjusted stochastic Langevin algorithm (TUSLA) introduced in Lovas et al. (2020). In particular, we establish nonasymptotic error bounds for the TUSLA algorithm in Wasserstein-1 and Wasserstein-2 distances. The latter result enables us to further derive nonasymptotic estimates for the expected excess risk. To illustrate the applicability of the main results, we consider an example from transfer learning with ReLU neural networks, which represents a key paradigm in machine learning. Numerical experiments are presented for the aforementioned example, which support our theoretical findings. Hence, in this setting, we demonstrate both theoretically and numerically that the TUSLA algorithm can solve the optimization problem involving neural networks with ReLU activation function. Besides, we provide simulation results for synthetic examples where popular algorithms, e.g., ADAM, AMSGrad, RMSProp and (vanilla) stochastic gradient descent algorithm, may fail to find the minimizer of the objective functions due to the super-linear growth and the discontinuity of the corresponding stochastic gradient, while the TUSLA algorithm converges rapidly to the optimal solution. Moreover, we provide an empirical comparison of the performance of TUSLA with popular stochastic optimizers on real-world datasets, as well as investigate the effect of the key hyperparameters of TUSLA on its performance.
Effect and application of proline metabolism-related gene CgMCUR1 on stress tolerance of Candida glycerinogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Chu Chu , Zong Hong , Zhuge Bin , Lu Xinyao
Published: June 2023

Aims

To investigate the effect of CgMCUR1 on the phenotype of Candida glycerinogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Methods and results

Inhibition of CgMCUR1 expression reduced acetate, H2O2, and high temperature tolerance of C. glycerinogenes. Expression of CgMCUR1 resulted in better acetic acid, H2O2, and high temperature tolerance in recombinant S. cerevisiae. Meanwhile, CgMCUR1 was able to enhance intracellular proline accumulation. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that overexpression of CgMCUR1 affected proline metabolism in recombinant S. cerevisiae. The overexpression strain also showed reduced levels of cellular lipid peroxidation and an altered ratio of saturated fatty acid (SFA) to unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) in the cell membrane. The ethanol production of recombinant S. cerevisiae at high temperature was 30.9 g l−1, obtaining an increase of 12%, and the conversion rate was increased by 12%. In the undetoxified cellulose hydrolysate, the ethanol yield was 14.7 g l−1 at 30 h with an improvement of 18.5%, and the conversion rate was increased by 15.3%.

Conclusions

Overexpression of CgMCUR1 rendered the acetic acid, H2O2, and high temperature tolerant of recombinant S. cerevisiae and enhanced the ethanol fermentation performance of recombinant S. cerevisiae under high temperature stress and in undetoxified cellulose hydrolysate by improving intracellular proline accumulation and by changing cellular physiological metabolism.
Development and Antibacterial Investigation of Linezolid-Loaded SPIONs and HPLC Method Development for Quantitative Analysis of Linezolid
Authors: Warsi Musarrat Husain , Mohapatra Sharmistha , Asfer Mohammed , Yusuf Mohammad , Ali Abuzer , Rahman Mohammad Akhlaquer , Ali Amena , Qadir Abdul , Jain Gaurav K
Published: June 2023

Background

Linezolid (LNZ) is extremely prone to resistance. The development of resistance to LNZ should be taken into consideration when selecting this drug as a therapeutic option. It is well established that reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) could kill the infecting bacteria. So, we hypothesized the synergistic antibacterial effect of iron oxide nanoparticles and LNZ.

Objective

To study the release and antibacterial effects of LNZ-loaded superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) on Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Method

Ferrofluid containing SPIONs was synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method and stabilized by sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). SPIONs were then loaded with LNZ and characterized for particle size, FT-IR, XRD, and entrapment efficiency. Further antibacterial activity of SPIONs and LNZ-loaded SPIONs was investigated. For the in vitro release findings, HPLC analytical method development and validation were performed.

Results

Isolation of LNZ was accomplished on a C-18 column with methanol–TBHS (tetra butyl ammonium hydrogen sulphate, 50:50, v/v). The eluate was monitored at 247 nm with a retention time of 4.175 min. The MNP’s DLS measurement revealed monodispersed particles with an average size of 16.81 ± 1.07 nm and PDI 0.176 ± 0.012. In optimized formulation, 25 ± 1.75% (w/w) of the drug was found to be entrapped. XRD revealed uniform coating of oleic acid covering the entire magnetic particles’ surface with no change in its crystallinity. An effective antimicrobial activity was observed at the lowered dose of drug.

Conclusions

A robust HPLC method was developed to quantify the LNZ in MNPs, and outcomes showed that the reduced dose of LNZ incorporated in SPIONs was able to show similar activity as the marketed product.

Highlights

Successfully reduction of the dose of LNZ was established with the aid of biocompatible MNPs to attain the equivalent antibacterial activity.
Inter-domain interaction of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase important for the negative cooperativity by ferredoxin and NADP(H)
Authors: Kimata-Ariga Yoko , Shinkoda Rina , Abe Ryuya
Published: June 2023

Summary (Abstract)

Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) in plants receives electrons from ferredoxin (Fd) and converts NADP+ to NADPH. The affinity between FNR and Fd is weakened by the allosteric binding of NADP(H) on FNR, which is considered as a part of negative cooperativity. We have been investigating the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon and proposed that the NADP(H)-binding signal is transferred to the Fd-binding region across the two domains of FNR, NADP(H)-binding domain and FAD-binding domain. In this study, we analyzed the effect of altering the inter-domain interaction of FNR on the negative cooperativity. Four site-directed FNR mutants at the inter-domain region were prepared, and their NADPH-dependent changes in the Km for Fd and physical binding ability to Fd were investigated. Two mutants, in which an inter-domain hydrogen bond was changed to a disulfide bond (FNR D52C/S208C) and an inter-domain salt bridge was lost (FNR D104N), were shown to suppress the negative cooperativity by using kinetic analysis and Fd-affinity chromatography. These results showed that the inter-domain interaction of FNR is important for the negative cooperativity, suggesting that the allosteric NADP(H)-binding signal is transferred to Fd-binging region by conformational changes involving inter-domain interactions of FNR.
Effects of artificial diet rearing during all instars on silk secretion and gene transcription in Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae)
Authors: Yin Xingcan , Zhang Yuli , Yu Dongliang , Li Guoli , Wang Xilei , Wei Yuting , He Chunhui , Liu Yanwei , Li Yizhe , Xu Kaizun , Zhang Guizheng
Published: June 2023

Silkworms (Bombyx mori) reared on artificial diets during all instars have the advantages of simplicity and efficiency, year-round production, and reduced risk of poisoning. However, low silk yield remains a challenge, limiting its industrial application. To address this issue, the spinning behavior, nutrient absorption, and transcriptomics of silkworms were investigated. Compared with silkworms reared on mulberry leaves during all instars, those fed with artificial diets showed significantly lower cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight, cocoon shell rate, and silk gland tissue somatic index at the end of the fifth instar (P < 0.01). The spinning duration and crawling distance of silkworms reared on artificial diets were also significantly lower than those reared on mulberry leaves (P < 0.01). Regarding nutrient absorption, the dietary efficiency indexes of silkworms fed with artificial diets were significantly lower than those fed with mulberry leaves, except for the efficiency conversion of digesta to cocoon (P < 0.01). Further RNA-Seq analysis revealed 386 differentially transcribed genes between the 2 groups, with 242 upregulated and 144 downregulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that differential transcriptional genes were mainly enriched in organic acid metabolism, oxidation–reduction, and drug catabolism. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that differential transcriptional genes were mainly enriched in genetic information processing and metabolism pathways. Our findings provide new insights into the silk secretion and can serve as a reference for future research and application of silkworms fed with artificial diets.
Optimizing a rapid LAMP assay for discrimination of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from common drosophilids captured in monitoring traps from the Midwest, United States
Authors: Hong Zihan , Michel Andrew P , Long Elizabeth Y
Published: June 2023

Spotted-wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, is an economically important pest of small fruits worldwide. Currently, the timing of management strategies relies on detection of adult flies captured in baited monitoring traps; however, identifying D. suzukii in trap catch based on morphology can be challenging for growers. DNA-based diagnostic methods such as loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) have the potential to improve D. suzukii detection. This study evaluated a LAMP assay as a diagnostic tool to discriminate between D. suzukii and closely related drosophilid species found commonly in monitoring traps in the Midwestern United States. Targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, we found the LAMP assay accurately detected D. suzukii with as little as 0.1 ng/μl of DNA at 63 °C for 50 min. Under these optimal incubation conditions, D. suzukii could be discriminated from D. affinis and D. simulans consistently, when specimens collected from liquid monitoring traps were tested independently. Compared to other DNA-based diagnostic tools for D. suzukii, LAMP offers unique benefits: DNA extraction is not required, testing occurs at one temperature in less than 1 h, and positive results are visible as a colorimetric change from pink to yellow. The LAMP assay for D. suzukii can reduce reliance on morphological identification, enhance the adoption of monitoring tools, and improve accuracy of detection. Further optimization can be conducted to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of results when a mixture of DNA from both D. suzukii and congener flies are tested in a single LAMP reaction.
Marking Identity: The Debate on the Śrīvaiṣṇavas’ Forehead Marks
Authors: Akepiyapornchai Manasicha
Published: June 2023

Marking one’s forehead plays a role in identifying one’s identity in various sectarian traditions in India, from the premodern period to the modern day. One such tradition is the Śrīvaiṣṇava tradition, the most influential Vaiṣṇava tradition of South India, of which the practice of marking one’s forehead was well established since the premodern time. In this article, I investigate the meanings of forehead marks or the ūrdhvapuṇḍra within the Śrīvaiṣṇava tradition. In particular, I compare the premodern discussions in the Sanskrit texts from the time of the most influential Śrīvaiṣṇava ācārya, Rāmānuja (traditional dates ca. 1017–1137), to the time of one of the most significant post-Rāmānuja ācāryas, Vedāntadeśika (traditional dates ca. 1268­­–1369), and the contemporary positions presented by Prativādi Bhayaṅkaram Aṇṇaṅkarācārya (1891–1983) in his Satsaṃpradāyārthasāranidhi (1947). I argue that the premodern debate on the superiority of the ūrdhvapuṇḍra among the sectarian marks of the Vaiṣṇavas and Śaivas was transformed into the dispute between the two Śrīvaiṣṇava subcommunities, the Teṉkalais and Vaṭakalais, in the present context. Moreover, the arguments and authoritative sources of the premodern authors differ markedly from what we find in the modern text, the Satsaṃpradāyārthasāranidhi. Despite this difference, marking one’s forehead has always been a way for the Śrīvaiṣṇava tradition to indicate their religious identity and sectarian belonging from the past to the present.
Logical reduction of relations: From relational databases to Peirce’s reduction thesis
Authors: Koshkin Sergiy
Published: June 2023

We study logical reduction (factorization) of relations into relations of lower arity by Boolean or relative products that come from applying conjunctions and existential quantifiers to predicates, i.e. by primitive positive formulas of predicate calculus. Our algebraic framework unifies natural joins and data dependencies of database theory and relational algebra of clone theory with the bond algebra of C.S. Peirce. We also offer new constructions of reductions, systematically study irreducible relations and reductions to them and introduce a new characteristic of relations, ternarity, that measures their ‘complexity of relating’ and allows to refine reduction results. In particular, we refine Peirce’s controversial reduction thesis, and show that reducibility behaviour is dramatically different on finite and infinite domains.
Temperature influences lipid content in the red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus
Authors: Roeder Diane V , Remy Samantha , Roeder Karl A
Published: June 2023

Temperature is one of the most important environmental conditions affecting physiological processes in ectothermic organisms like ants. Yet, we often lack information on how certain physiological traits covary with temperature across time. Here, we test predictions on how one trait—lipid content—covaries with temperature using a conspicuous, ground-dwelling harvester ant. We focus on lipid content as fat bodies are metabolically active tissues that are important for storing and releasing energy in response to demand, which could be vital for survival under variable temperatures. From March to November, we extracted lipids from surface workers of 14 colonies while simultaneously recording ground temperature. We first assessed if lipid content was highest during cooler temperatures when ants were less active and less metabolically stressed. In doing so, we found that lipid content of ants declined almost 70% from cool months (November lipid content = 14.6%) to hot months (August lipid content = 4.6%). We next assessed if lipid levels from a group of ants collected at a single time point could change by placing individuals into environmental chambers set at 10, 20, and 30°C (i.e., the approximate span of average temperatures from March to November). Temperature again had a significant impact such that after 10 days, lipid content of ants in the hottest chamber (30°C) had decreased by more than 75%. While intraspecific variation in physiological traits often follows seasonal patterns, our results suggest fluctuations in temperature may account for a portion of the variance observed in traits like lipid content.
Prediction of secondary electron yield for metal materials using deep learning
Authors: Kusumi Masahiro , Inoue Bunta , Hirai Yoshihiko , Yasuda Masaaki
Published: June 2023

This article describes a neural network system for predicting the secondary electron yield of metallic materials. For bulk metals, experimental values are used as training data. Due to the strong correlation between the secondary electron yield and the work function, deep learning predicts the secondary electron yield with relatively high accuracy even with a small amount of training data. Our approach demonstrates the importance of the work function in predicting the secondary electron yield. For the secondary electron yield of thin metal films on metal substrates, deep learning predictions are generated using training data obtained by Monte Carlo simulations. The accuracy of the secondary yield predictions of thin films on substrates could be improved by adding experimental values of bulk metals to the training data.
Relative biological effectiveness for epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the linear accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system coupled to a solid-state lithium target
Authors: Nakamura Satoshi , Imamichi Shoji , Shimada Kenzi , Takemori Mihiro , Kanai Yui , Iijima Kotaro , Chiba Takahito , Nakayama Hiroki , Nakaichi Tetsu , Mikasa Shohei , Urago Yuka , Kashihara Tairo , Takahashi Kana , Nishio Teiji , Okamoto Hiroyuki , Itami Jun , Ishiai Masamichi , Suzuki Minoru , Igaki Hiroshi , Masutani Mitsuko
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to quantify the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system coupled to a solid-state lithium target. The experiments were performed in National Cancer Center Hospital (NCCH), Tokyo, Japan. Neutron irradiation with the system provided by Cancer Intelligence Care Systems (CICS), Inc. was performed. X-ray irradiation, which was assigned as the reference group, was also performed using a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) equipped in NCCH. The four cell lines (SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB) were utilized to quantify RBE value for the neutron beam. Before both of those irradiations, all cells were collected and dispensed into vials. The doses of 10% cell surviving fraction (SF) (D10) were calculated by LQ model fitting. All cell experiments were conducted in triplicate at least. Because the system provides not only neutrons, but gamma-rays, the contribution from the gamma-rays to the survival fraction were subtracted in this study. D10 value of SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB for the neutron beam was 4.26, 4.08, 5.81 and 2.72 Gy, respectively, while that acquired by the X-ray irradiation was 6.34, 7.21, 7.12 and 5.49 Gy, respectively. Comparison of both of the D10 values, RBE value of SAS, SCCVII, U87-MG and NB1RGB for the neutron beam was calculated as 1.7, 2.2, 1.3 and 2.5, respectively, and the average RBE value was 1.9. This study investigated RBE of the epithermal neutron beam contaminated with fast neutrons in the accelerator-based BNCT system coupled to a solid-state lithium target.
Confounding factors and biases involved in regional differences in the detection rate of thyroid cancer in the second-round Thyroid Ultrasound Examination: the Fukushima Health Management Survey
Authors: Shimura Hiroki , Yokoya Susumu , Suzuki Satoru , Iwadate Manabu , Suzuki Satoshi , Matsuzuka Takashi , Suzuki Shinichi , Hayashi Fumikazu , Nagao Masanori , Ohira Tetsuya , Yasumura Seiji , Ohto Hitoshi , Kamiya Kenji
Published: June 2023

In response to concerns about health due to radiation exposure, the Fukushima Prefecture launched the Thyroid Ultrasound Examination program for residents aged 0–18 years at the time of the earthquake. Herein, we considered the confounding factors involved in the regional differences in the development of thyroid cancer. In this study, the 242 065 individuals who participated in both first- and second-round surveys were classified into four groups by address according to their air radiation dose. The number of participants diagnosed as malignant or suspicious for malignancy by cytological examination were 17, 38, 10 and 4 with detection rates of 53.8, 27.8, 21.7 and 14.5 per 100 000 participants in Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Sex (P = 0.0400), age at the time of the primary examination (P < 0.0001) and interval between the first- and second-round surveys (P < 0.0001) were significantly different among the four regions, and these were suspected to be confounding factors affecting regional differences in malignant nodule detection rates. In addition, significant regional differences were observed in the participation rate in the confirmatory examination (P = 0.0037) and the fine needle aspiration cytology implementation rate (P = 0.0037), which could be potential biases. No significant regional differences in the detection of malignant nodules were found in the multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for the survey interval alone or for sex, age and survey interval. The confounding factors and biases identified in this study that may have important impacts on thyroid cancer detection rate should be fully considered in future studies.
Quasi-Newton updating for large-scale distributed learning
Authors: Wu Shuyuan , Huang Danyang , Wang Hansheng
Published: June 2023

Distributed computing is critically important for modern statistical analysis. Herein, we develop a distributed quasi-Newton (DQN) framework with excellent statistical, computation, and communication efficiency. In the DQN method, no Hessian matrix inversion or communication is needed. This considerably reduces the computation and communication complexity of the proposed method. Notably, related existing methods only analyse numerical convergence and require a diverging number of iterations to converge. However, we investigate the statistical properties of the DQN method and theoretically demonstrate that the resulting estimator is statistically efficient over a small number of iterations under mild conditions. Extensive numerical analyses demonstrate the finite sample performance.
Hasbara Revisited: Israel, the New Left, and Diaspora Jewry, 1967–1973
Authors: Elmaliach Tal
Published: June 2023

In the years between 1967 and 1973, the younger generation of Diaspora Jewry in the West was torn between its sympathy for the State of Israel and its identification with New Left politics and ideology. In response, Israel conducted a wide-ranging campaign of Hasbara—the Hebrew word for explaining the justice of the Israeli and Zionist cause—to this cohort in order to gain its support. Until now, scholarship on Israeli hasbara has not given any attention to how Israel grappled with the New Left in general and with its Jewish supporters in particular; similarly, studies of the encounter between Jews and the New Left lack any discussion of the role played by Israeli hasbara. This article connects the two, revealing the unknown history of the relationship between Israel, Diaspora Jewry, and the New Left. But it is of more than mere historical interest, as in the last decade Israel has been deeply concerned about leftists and liberals in the West (who today largely term themselves “progressives”), many of them are young Jews who have allied with pro-Palestinian forces, first and foremost the BDS movement. This article offers a possible model that could be used to mobilize these progressive Jews in support of Israel.
QPOML: a machine learning approach to detect and characterize quasi-periodic oscillations in X-ray binaries
Authors: Kiker Thaddaeus J , Steiner James F , Garraffo Cecilia , Méndez Mariano , Zhang Liang
Published: June 2023

Astronomy is presently experiencing profound growth in the deployment of machine learning to explore large data sets. However, transient quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) that appear in power density spectra of many X-ray binary (XRB) system observations are an intriguing phenomena heretofore not explored with machine learning. In light of this, we propose and experiment with novel methodologies for predicting the presence and properties of QPOs to make the first ever detections and characterizations of QPOs with machine learning models. We base our findings on raw energy spectra and processed features derived from energy spectra using an abundance of data from the NICER and Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer space telescope archives for two black hole low-mass XRB sources, GRS 1915+105 and MAXI J1535−571. We advance these non-traditional methods as a foundation for using machine learning to discover global inter-object generalizations between – and provide unique insights about – energy and timing phenomena to assist with the ongoing challenge of unambiguously understanding the nature and origin of QPOs. Additionally, we have developed a publicly available python machine learning library, QPOML, to enable further machine learning aided investigations into QPOs.
Ultracool dwarfs observed with the Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph – III. Dust grains in young L dwarf atmospheres are heavier
Authors: Suárez Genaro , Metchev Stanimir
Published: June 2023

Analysis of all archival 5–14 micron spectra of field ultracool dwarfs from the Infrared Spectrograph on the Spitzer Space Telescope has shown that absorption by silicates in the 8–11 micron region is seen in most L-type (1300 to 2200 K) dwarfs. The absorption is caused by silicate-rich clouds in the atmospheres of L dwarfs and is strongest at L4–L6 spectral types. Herein we compare averages of the mid-infrared silicate absorption signatures of L3–L7 dwarfs that have low (≲104.5 cm s−2) versus high (≳105 cm s−2) surface gravity. We find that the silicate absorption feature is sensitive to surface gravity, with young atmospheres having a broader, redder, and more asymmetric absorption profile. This indicates a difference in grain size and composition between dust condensates in young and old mid-L dwarfs. The mean silicate absorption profile of low-gravity mid-L dwarfs matches expectations for ∼1 micron-sized amorphous iron- and magnesium-bearing pyroxene (MgxFe1 − xSiO3) grains. High-gravity mid-L dwarfs have silicate absorption better represented by smaller (≲0.1 μm) and more volatile amorphous enstatite (MgSiO3) or SiO grains. This is the first direct spectroscopic evidence for gravity-dependent sedimentation of dust condensates in ultracool atmospheres. It confirms theoretical expectations for lower sedimentation efficiencies in low-gravity atmospheres and independently confirms their increased dustiness.
Detection of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation during the reflare of MAXI J1348−630
Authors: Kumar Raj , Bhatt Nilay , Bhattacharyya Subir
Published: June 2023

In this work, we report the detection of high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) in the black hole X-ray binary MAXI J1348−630 in its hard spectral state. MAXI J1348−630 went through a reflare during MJD 58634 to MJD 58674 after a 104 d long outburst which began on MJD 58509. During the reflare, the binary system evolved through a series of hard states of varying luminosity. We detected a high-frequency QPO at 98.3 Hz with a significance of 3.7σ in one of the NICER observations during its evolution. It was argued that the QPO frequency might be related to the Keplerian frequency of the accretion flow at the inner radius around a Kerr black hole.
Spectral type and geometric albedo of (98943) 2001 CC21, the Hayabusa2# mission target
Authors: Geem Jooyeon , Ishiguro Masateru , Granvik Mikael , Naito Hiroyuki , Akitaya Hiroshi , Sekiguchi Tomohiko , Hasegawa Sunao , Kuroda Daisuke , Oono Tatsuharu , Bach Yoonsoo P , Jin Sunho , Imazawa Ryo , Kawabata Koji S , Takagi Seiko , Yoshikawa Makoto , Djupvik Anlaug A , Gadeberg Julie Thiim , Pursimo Tapio , Pedros Oliver Durfeldt , Thomsen Jeppe Sinkbaek , Gray Zuri
Published: June 2023

We conducted optical polarimetry and near-infrared spectroscopy of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)’s Hayabusa2# mission target, (98943) 2001 CC21, in early 2023. Our new observations indicate that this asteroid has a polarimetric inversion angle of ∼20°, absorption bands around 0.9 and 1.9 μm, and a geometric albedo of 0.23 ± 0.04. All these features are consistent with those of S types but inconsistent with L types. Based on this evidence, we conclude that JAXA’s Hayabusa2# spacecraft will explore an S-type asteroid (more specifically, an L or LL chondrite-like object) with albedo and size (0.44–0.53 km when we assume the absolute magnitude of 18.8) similar to (25143) Itokawa.
The origin of an overpopulation of contact binary plutinos
Authors: Brunini Adrián
Published: June 2023

In the trans-Neptunian region, 10–25 per cent of binary objects are contact binaries. However, the amplitude of the light curves of a sample of plutinos indicates that this fraction could reach 50  per cent or even more. This remarkable difference cannot be explained by the single action of the Kozai cycles and tidal friction (KCTF), nor it can be assumed that it is due to a formation mechanism different from the one that gave rise to the binaries of the other hot populations. In this work, we present numerical simulations showing that a superabundance of contact binaries occurs as a natural consequence of the coupling between the dynamical evolution of the mutual orbit of the binaries subject to the action of KCTF and the variation of the heliocentric orbit of the binary centre of mass due to the perturbations of the giant planets. This same mechanism affects the other populations, but to a lesser extent, because the variations of the heliocentric orbits are much smaller for them than for objects that are within the 3:2 mean motion resonance with Neptune. This mechanism also increases the fraction of tight binaries in the plutino population, where it could reach $\sim 30~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$.
High serum IgA levels in patients with IgG4-related disease are associated with mild inflammation, sufficient disease-specific features, and favourable responses to treatments
Authors: Tsuge Shunsuke , Mizushima Ichiro , Horita Makoto , Kawahara Hiroyuki , Sanada Hajime , Yoshida Misaki , Takahashi Yoshinori , Zoshima Takeshi , Nishioka Ryo , Hara Satoshi , Suzuki Yasunori , Ito Kiyoaki , Kawano Mitsuhiro
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Although elevated serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels are thought to exclude a diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), IgG4-RD has been definitively diagnosed in some patients despite elevated serum IgA levels. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of elevated IgA levels in patients with IgG4-RD and to compare the clinical features of IgG4-RD patients with and without elevated IgA levels.

Methods

The clinical features of 169 IgG4-RD patients were retrospectively compared among those with and without elevated serum IgA levels.

Results

Of the 169 patients with IgG4-RD, 17 (10.1%) had elevated serum IgA levels. Those with elevated serum IgA levels showed higher serum C-reactive protein levels and lower prevalence of relapse than those without. Other clinical features did not differ significantly, including inclusion scores of the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria. Cox regression analysis showed that elevated serum IgA levels were associated with a lower incidence of relapse. Moreover, patients with elevated serum IgA levels showed prompt improvement in response to glucocorticoids in the IgG4-RD responder index.

Conclusions

Some patients diagnosed with IgG4-RD have high serum IgA levels. These patients may form a subgroup, characterized by good response to glucocorticoids, less frequent relapse, mildly elevated serum C-reactive protein levels, and possible complications of autoimmune diseases.
Triplet bismuthinidenes featuring unprecedented giant and positive zero field splittings
Authors: Wu Mengyuan , Chen Wang , Wang Dongmin , Chen Yizhen , Ye Shengfa , Tan Gengwen
Published: June 2023

Isolation of triplet pnictinidenes, which bear two unpaired electrons at the pnictogen centers, has long been a great challenge due to their intrinsic high reactivity. Herein, we report the syntheses and characterizations of two bismuthinidenes MsFluindtBu-Bi (3) and MsFluind*-Bi (4) stabilized by sterically encumbered hydrindacene ligands. They were facilely prepared through reductions of the corresponding dichloride precursors with 2 molar equivalents of potassium graphite. The structural analyses revealed that 3 and 4 contain a one-coordinate bismuth atom supported by a Bi–C single σ bond. As a consequence, the remaining two Bi 6p orbitals are nearly degenerate, and 3 and 4 possess triplet ground states. Experimental characterizations with multinuclear magnetic resonance, magnetometry and near infrared spectroscopy coupled to wavefunction based ab initio calculations concurred to evidence that there exist giant and positive zero field splittings (>4300 cm–1) in their S = 1 ground states. Hence even at room temperature the systems almost exclusively populate the lowest-energy nonmagnetic Ms = 0 level, which renders them seemingly diamagnetic.