bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of nanopowders in industrial production of mixed feed
Authors: Chkalova M , Shahov V , Pavlidis V , Solovyov S
Published: March 2020

One of the main directions of the feed manufacturing industry development is the improvement of the output product quality that ensures its efficacy in modern agricultural production. Some international experience in using the essential microelements in the form of nanopowders in the diets of farm animals has been gained. The article is devoted to the development and justification of a technical solution to the problem of dispensing ultrafine (nano) powders in the industrial production of combined feeds. The authors carried out theoretical and experimental studies of the influence of the conditions of functioning of industrial-technological equipment on the properties of several nanopowders of micro metals. The parametric model of the proposed pneumatic dispenser of bulk nanomaterials allows taking into account various structural and technological changes in the dosing process during the preparation of feed mixtures. The author presents a methodology for calculating the oscillatory system of a pneumatic dispenser, including an annular membrane with fixed edges, based on the equivalent replacement of a system with distributed parameters (membrane) with a system with lumped parameters, which allows replacing the oscillatory model with a translational motion model. An engineering-mathematical model that describes forced membrane oscillations, the dispenser oscillation system and the behaviour of the ultrafine material in the working chamber was constructed on its basis. Practical implementation of the results made it possible to obtain a prototype of bulk ultrafine materials dispenser.
Determinants factors toward the performance of the employee in the crude palm oil industry in West Sumatera, Indonesia
Authors: Tannady Hendy , Andry Johanes Fernandes , Nurprihatin Filscha
Published: March 2020

Human resources are the most important part in achieving organisational goals and improving organisational performance, in completing its work human resources require an adequate working environment and compensation as a reward for providing maximum work results. The purpose of this study is to examine and analyse the effect of compensation (X1) and work environment (X2) on employee performance (Y), especially in the crude palm oil industry in West Sumatra. Observations were made on three companies, research conducted in March to June 2019 showed that between compensation and work environment has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. With the structural equation modelling approach and Lisrel 8.8 application assistance, the coefficient of estimated of compensation toward performance is 0.37 while the estimated coefficient of work environment toward performance is 0.42. Compensation and work environment simultaneously have a positive influence on employee performance of 0.65.
The effect of composition on hardness and wear resistance of rice plant fiber reinforced composite as a material of brake lining
Authors: Darmawan Agung Setyo , Purboputro Pramuko Ilmu , Febriantoko Bambang Waluyo
Published: March 2020

Asbestos type brake lining is widely circulating at a cheap price and guarantees the durability of brake shoes, but the result of friction powder in the form of small particles is very dangerous for human health. The study is based on the investigation of hardness and wear resistance in rice plant fiber reinforced composite which is fabricated with polyester resin, fiberglass, and addition of aluminium powder. The composite is hardness tested by using durometer shore D hardness tester. The composite is also wearing resistance tested. The result showed that the mechanical properties were improved due to the increasing of the rice plant fiber composition. The more composition of the rice plant fiber, the harder and the higher wear resistance of the composite. An increase in the composition of the rice plant fiber from 20% to 40% resulted in an increase in hardness of 23% and a decrease in wear by 9%
Environmental effects on hardness and wear resistance of composites reinforced by rice plant fiber as a material of brake lining
Authors: Purboputro Pramuko Ilmu , Darmawan Agung Setyo , Febriantoko Bambang Waluyo
Published: March 2020

The environment has an important role in determining the mechanical properties of composites. This study aims to investigate the effect of in-service environment on composite wear resistance in its use as a brake lining. Composites made from a mixture of rice plant fiber, fiberglass, aluminum powder and polyester resin are produced into brake linings. The brake lining is then tested for wear resistance using a friction machine. The test environment is dry, water, salt-water and brake oil. The highest wear is shown by the brake lining in the salt-water environment, while the lowest wear is shown when the brake lining is working in the brake oil environment.
Probing momentum-indirect excitons by near-resonance photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy in WS2 monolayer
Authors: Bao Di , del Águila Andrés Granados , Thu Ha Do T , Liu Sheng , Pei Jiajie , Xiong Qihua
Published: March 2020

Coulomb-bound electron-hole pairs (excitons) dominate the optical response of atomically-thin transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) semiconductors. The photoluminescence spectrum in W-based TMDs monolayers (i.e. WS2 and WSe2) at low temperature exhibits much richer features than Mo-based TMDs monolayers, whose origin is currently not well understood. Herein, by using near-resonant photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy, we probe the scattering events between excitons and phonons with large

k
ˆ

-momentum, which provides strong evidence for the momentum-indirect nature of the optical bandgap in monolayer WS2. The scattering between carriers and zone-edge phonons creates excitons at different valleys, among which, the lowest-energy is momentum-indirect. Our findings highlight that more efforts are required to solve the current debate on the inherent bandgap nature of TMD monolayers and the complex photoluminescence spectrum reported on W-based compounds.
Structural, morphological and optical characterization of Ti-doped ZnO nanorod thin film synthesized by spray pyrolysis technique
Authors: Rajasekaran M , Arunachalam A , Kumaresan P
Published: March 2020

Thin films of pure and Ti metal ion doped ZnO were grown on glass substrate by spray pyrolysis for various doping ratios keeping the temperature at 400 °C. Impact of Ti doping on morphological, optical and structural properties of ZnO was investigated. Structural confirmation of the thin-film was analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies and it concluded the successful growth of standard thin films of hexagonal wurtzite structure which was polycrystalline in nature. The morphological studies carried out using Scanning Electronic microscope (SEM), endorsed a uniform distribution of grain that are spherical in nature. Composition analysis by energy dispersive spectroscopy showed the presence of Ti, Zn and O in the films. Average grain size was estimated using Scherrer formula and obtained to be in the range of 35 to 50 nm. Atomic force microscopy was used to provide the surface roughness that had increased with the increase of Ti concentration. In the visible region, these films were found to be highly transparent and the average transmittance was obtained to be 85%. Photoluminescence spectral analysis showed a near band edge emission at 397 nm.
Effect of annealing process on the abnormal grain growth behavior during carburizing of 20CrMnTi steel
Authors: Jia Tao , Huang Jian , Wang Haojie , Wang Zhaodong
Published: March 2020

Abnormal grain growth (AGG) as an important physical metallurgical behavior is to be avoided during carburizing due to its adverse effect on properties such as fatigue, impact toughness and the quenching distortion. In this work, two types of annealing process which produce different morphology of precipitated particles were conducted to investigate its effect on the subsequent austenite grain growth behavior during carburizing of 20CrMnTi steel. Calculation from Humphreys’ model exhibited a good agreement with experimental observations, which indicates the large sized particle from high temperature annealing led to the locally insufficient pinning force for the blockage of grain boundary migration and is therefore responsible for the AGG. The isothermal precipitation kinetics for TiC particles is able to be described by the diffusional growth and LSW coarsening models with reasonable accuracy provided with the transition time from growth to coarsening stage. Design of microalloying and pre-treatment processing to suppress AGG can be assisted with the combinatory application of Humphrey’s model and precipitation kinetics model.
Synthesis of praseodymium-and molybdenum- sulfide nanoparticles for dye-photodegradation and near-infrared deep-tissue imaging
Authors: Wu Ye , Ou Pengfei , Song Jun , Zhang Ling , Lin Yingcheng , Song Pengfei , Xu Jian
Published: March 2020

Development of nanoparticles with multi-functionalities is of great importance. In this study, praseodymium sulfide (Pr2S3) and molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) nanoparticles were synthesized. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the as-obtained products were investigated by XRD, XPS, TEM, UV–vis-NIR spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Pr2S3 is found to be used in selective photodegradation of fluorescein sodium salt. MoS2 can be utilized for selective photodegradation of rhodamine B. In the mixture of rhodamine B, fluorescein sodium salt and rhodamine 6 G, most of rhodamine B and part of fluorescein sodium salt are optically degraded by Pr2S3. In the mixture of rhodamine B, fluorescein sodium salt and rhodamine 6 G, part of fluorescein sodium salt and most of rhodamine B is degraded by MoS2. Moreover, they emit near-infrared fluorescence (800–1100 nm) when excited by the 785 nm light. Deep tissues imaging with high-contrast is shown, utilizing a nanoparticle-filled centrifuge tube covered with animal tissues (pig Bacon meat). Maximum imaging depth below the tissue surface of 1 cm is achieved. Our work provides a rapid yet efficient procedure to make nanoparticles for dual-application-potential in dye-photodegradation and near-infrared deep tissue imaging.
Gupta-Feynman based Quantum Field Theory of Einstein’s Gravity
Authors: Plastino A , Rocca M C
Published: March 2020

This paper is an application to Einstein’s gravity (EG) of the mathematics developed in (Plastino and Rocca 2018 J. Phys. Commun.
2, 115029). We will quantize EG by appeal to the most general quantization approach, the Schwinger-Feynman variational principle, which is more appropriate and rigorous that the functional integral method, when we are in the presence of derivative couplingsWe base our efforts on works by Suraj N. Gupta and Richard P. Feynman so as to undertake the construction of a Quantum Field Theory (QFT) of Einstein Gravity (EG). We explicitly use the Einstein Lagrangian elaborated by Gupta (Gupta, Proc. Pys. Soc. A, 65, 161) but choose a new constraint for the theory that differs from Gupta’s one. In this way, we avoid the problem of lack of unitarity for the S matrix that afflicts the procedures of Gupta and Feynman. Simultaneously, we significantly simplify the handling of constraints. This eliminates the need to appeal to ghosts for guarantying the unitarity of the theory. Our ensuing approach is obviously non-renormalizable. However, this inconvenience can be overcome by appealing tho the mathematical theory developed by (Bollini et al Int. J. of Theor. Phys.
38, 2315, Bollini and Rocca Int. J. of Theor. Phys.
43, 1909, Bollini and Rocca Int. J. of Theor. Phys.
43, 59, Bollini et al, Int. J. of Theor. Phys.
46, 3030, Plastino and Rocca J. Phys. Commun.
2, 115029) Such developments were founded in the works of Alexander Grothendieck (Grothendieck Mem. Amer. Math Soc.
16 and in the theory of Ultradistributions of Jose Sebastiao e Silva Math. Ann.
136, 38) (also known as Ultrahyperfunctions). Based on these works, we have constructed a mathematical edifice, in a lapse of about 25 years, that is able to quantize non-renormalizable Field Theories (FT). Here we specialize this mathematical theory to treat the quantum field theory of Einsteins’s gravity (EG). Because we are using a Gupta-Feynman inspired EG Lagrangian, we are able to evade the intricacies of Yang-Mills theories.
SMILES-X: autonomous molecular compounds characterization for small datasets without descriptors
Authors: Lambard Guillaume , Gracheva Ekaterina
Published: March 2020

There is more and more evidence that machine learning can be successfully applied in materials science and related fields. However, datasets in these fields are often quite small (from tens to several thousands of samples). This means the most advanced machine learning techniques remain neglected, as they are considered to be applicable to big data only. Moreover, materials informatics methods often rely on human-engineered descriptors, that should be carefully chosen, or even created, to fit the physicochemical property that one intends to predict. In this article, we propose a new method that tackles both the issue of small datasets and the difficulty of developing task-specific descriptors. The SMILES-X is an autonomous pipeline for molecular compounds characterisation based on a {Embed-Encode-Attend-Predict} neural architecture with a data-specific Bayesian hyper-parameters optimisation. The only input to the architecture—the SMILES strings—are de-canonicalised in order to efficiently augment the data. One of the key features of the architecture is the attention mechanism, which enables the interpretation of output predictions without extra computational cost. The SMILES-X achieves state-of-the-art results in the inference of aqueous solubility (

RMSE

¯

test

≃
0.57
±
0.07

mols/L), hydration free energy (

RMSE

¯

test

≃
0.81
±
0.22

kcal/mol, which is ∼24.5% better than molecular dynamics simulations), and octanol/water distribution coefficient (

RMSE

¯

test

≃
0.59
±
0.02

for LogD at pH 7.4) of molecular compounds. The SMILES-X is intended to become an important asset in the toolkit of materials scientists and chemists. The source code for the SMILES-X is available at github.com/GLambard/SMILES-X.
Step by step evolution of Indeterminate Domain (IDD) transcriptional regulators: from algae to angiosperms
Authors: Prochetto Santiago , Reinheimer Renata
Published: March 2020

Introduction

The Indeterminate Domain (IDD) proteins are a plant-specific subclass of C2H2 Zinc Finger transcription factors. Some of these transcription factors play roles in diverse aspects of plant metabolism and development, but the function of most of IDD genes is unknown and the molecular evolution of the subfamily has not been explored in detail.

Methods

In this study, we mined available genome sequences of green plants (Viridiplantae) to reconstruct the phylogeny and then described the motifs/expression patterns of IDD genes.

Key Results

We identified the complete set of IDD genes of 16 Streptophyta genomes. We found that IDD and its sister clade STOP arose by a duplication at the base of Streptophyta. Once on land, the IDD genes duplicated extensively, giving rise to at least ten lineages. Some of these lineages were lost in extant non-vascular plants and gymnosperms, but all of them were retained in angiosperms, duplicating profoundly in dicots and monocots and acquiring, at the same time, surprising heterogeneity in their C-terminal regions and expression patterns.

Conclusions

IDDs were present in the last common ancestor of Streptophyta. On land, IDDs duplicated extensively, leading to ten lineages. Later, IDDs were recruited by angiosperms where they diversified greatly in number, C-terminal and expression patterns. Interestingly, such diversification occurred during the evolution of novel traits of the plant body. This study provides a solid framework of the orthology relationships of green land plant IDD transcription factors, thus increasing the accuracy of orthologue identification in model and non-model species and facilitating the identification of agronomically important genes related to plant metabolism and development.
Resolving single-cell heterogeneity from hundreds of thousands of cells through sequential hybrid clustering and NMF
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Meenakshi , Chetal Kashish , Schnell Daniel J , Atluri Gowtham , Salomonis Nathan
Published: March 2020

Motivation

The rapid proliferation of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-Seq) technologies has spurred the development of diverse computational approaches to detect transcriptionally coherent populations. While the complexity of the algorithms for detecting heterogeneity has increased, most require significant user-tuning, are heavily reliant on dimension reduction techniques and are not scalable to ultra-large datasets. We previously described a multi-step algorithm, Iterative Clustering and Guide-gene Selection (ICGS), which applies intra-gene correlation and hybrid clustering to uniquely resolve novel transcriptionally coherent cell populations from an intuitive graphical user interface.

Results

We describe a new iteration of ICGS that outperforms state-of-the-art scRNA-Seq detection workflows when applied to well-established benchmarks. This approach combines multiple complementary subtype detection methods (HOPACH, sparse non-negative matrix factorization, cluster ‘fitness’, support vector machine) to resolve rare and common cell-states, while minimizing differences due to donor or batch effects. Using data from multiple cell atlases, we show that the PageRank algorithm effectively downsamples ultra-large scRNA-Seq datasets, without losing extremely rare or transcriptionally similar yet distinct cell types and while recovering novel transcriptionally distinct cell populations. We believe this new approach holds tremendous promise in reproducibly resolving hidden cell populations in complex datasets.

Availability and implementation

ICGS2 is implemented in Python. The source code and documentation are available at http://altanalyze.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Brewery: deep learning and deeper profiles for the prediction of 1D protein structure annotations
Authors: Torrisi Mirko , Pollastri Gianluca
Published: March 2020

Motivation

Protein structural annotations (PSAs) are essential abstractions to deal with the prediction of protein structures. Many increasingly sophisticated PSAs have been devised in the last few decades. However, the need for annotations that are easy to compute, process and predict has not diminished. This is especially true for protein structures that are hardest to predict, such as novel folds.

Results

We propose Brewery, a suite of ab initio predictors of 1D PSAs. Brewery uses multiple sources of evolutionary information to achieve state-of-the-art predictions of secondary structure, structural motifs, relative solvent accessibility and contact density.

Availability and implementation

The web server, standalone program, Docker image and training sets of Brewery are available at http://distilldeep.ucd.ie/brewery/.

Contact

gianluca.pollastri@ucd.ie
Connected Carabids: Network Interactions and Their Impact on Biocontrol by Carabid Beetles
Authors: De Heij Stefanie E , Willenborg Christian J
Published: March 2020

Carabid beetles can greatly contribute to biocontrol in agroecosystems, reducing both insect pests and weed seeds. However, insect foraging and feeding behavior can be highly dependent on the interaction network and spatial structure of the environment, which can make their biocontrol contributions variable. In the present article, we explore how the interaction network of carabids can affect their behavior and how spatial vegetation structure and specific agronomy practices can, in turn, affect the strength of interactions in their network. We suggest that research on carabid biocontrol should move toward an approach in which the network of interactions among pests, carabids, and other organisms within its spatial structure is evaluated, with equal focus on direct and indirect interactions, and provide examples of tools to do so. Overall, we believe this approach will improve our knowledge of carabid networks, help to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of biocontrol, and lay the foundation for future biocontrol strategies.
Mate Choice Behavior of Female Field Crickets Is Not Affected by Exposure to Heterospecific Calling Songs
Authors: Kuriwada Takashi , Kawasaki Rintaro , Kuwano Akifumi , Reddy Gadi V P
Published: March 2020

Many animals produce acoustic signals to mark territories and attract mates. When different species produce acoustic signals simultaneously, the signals create a noisy environment, with potential acoustic interference between species. Theoretical studies suggest that such reproductive interference may have strong effects on species interaction. For example, the inferior resource competitor can survive if its disadvantage is counterbalanced by superiority in reproductive interference. Two field cricket species, Teleogryllus occipitalis (Audinet-Serville) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) and Loxoblemmus equestris Saussure (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), cooccur in the same habitat. A previous study has shown that L. equestris is an inferior species to T. occipitalis in terms of resource competition. Therefore, we predicted that mate location and choice behavior of female T. occipitalis would be negatively affected by the acoustic signals of L. equestris and tested this with a series of playback experiments. The mate choice behavior of female T. occipitalis was not significantly affected by the calling song of L. equestris. Our results suggest that the acoustic interference does not explain the cooccurrence of the two species in the same habitat.
Multimodality imaging in cardiac amyloidosis: a primer for cardiologists
Authors: Jurcuţ Ruxandra , Onciul Sebastian , Adam Robert , Stan Claudiu , Coriu Daniel , Rapezzi Claudio , Popescu Bogdan A
Published: March 2020

Amyloidosis is a systemic infiltrative disease, in which unstable proteins misfold, form aggregates and amyloid fibrils which can deposit in various organs: heart, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, nervous system structures, lungs, or soft tissue. Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) diagnosis requires awareness, high level of clinical suspicion and expertise in integrating clinical, electrocardiographic, and multimodality imaging data. The overall scenario is complex and no single test emerges over the others, but different techniques are useful at various stages of the diagnostic workup. After a clinical suspicion of CA is raised by various non-imaging red-flags, eligible patients should undergo complete echocardiography and multiparametric cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Even though the clinical suspicion of CA is confirmed by cardiac imaging, the accurate differentiation between the two most frequent and treatable amyloid types, i.e. light chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR) requires further work-up including phosphate scintigraphy. This article reviews the latest and essential data on multimodality imaging of patients with suspected or confirmed CA in a useful and practical manner for the general and imaging cardiologists.
Long-term dental stability after orthognathic surgery: a systematic review
Authors: Mulier Delphine , Gaitán Romero Lesly , Führer Alberto , Martin Catalina , Shujaat Sohaib , Shaheen Eman , Politis Constantinus , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: March 2020

Background

Long-term dental stability is one of the main objectives following combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment. It is influenced by multiple factors such as surgical, patient-related, and orthodontic aspects. While recent reviews mainly focus on short-term dental changes (0.5–2 years), longer follow-up dental stability remains hardly reviewed.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term stability of dental and dentolabial changes following combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment with a minimum follow-up period of 5 years.

Search methods

A systematic search was conducted up to December 2019 using Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central.

Selection criteria

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs), prospective and retrospective cohort studies, and case series with a minimum of 10 patients, which reported long-term dental stability following combined orthodontic and orthognathic treatment, were included.

Data collection and analysis

Long-term changes were assessed for overjet, overbite, maxillary, and mandibular incisors’ position and relationship of lip position to maxillary and mandibular incisors. Risk of bias was assessed according to the Cochrane Handbook.

Results

Following the screening of 3178 articles, 11 studies were included (2 RCT, 9 retrospective) with a postoperative follow-up period ranging from 5 to 15 years. A decrease in overjet was observed for patients with skeletal class III malocclusion, whereas overjet increased in class II patients at long-term follow-up. Overbite increased in class II patients, whereas class III showed variable results. The lower incisor position was more stable vertically than horizontally; the latter showing more outcome variability. Dentolabial changes corresponded to the normal ageing process and results were not clinically significant after long-term follow-up.

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests variability of dental and dentolabial stability in both skeletal class II and III patients. Further prospective studies are required to develop guidelines for long-term follow-up assessment using computer tomography or cone-beam computed tomography imaging, before final conclusions can be drawn.

Registration

The protocol for this systematic review (CRD42020133844) was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO).
The origin of extracellular DNA in bacterial biofilm infectionsin vivo
Authors: Alhede Maria , Alhede Morten , Qvortrup Klaus , Kragh Kasper Nørskov , Jensen Peter Østrup , Stewart Philip Shook , Bjarnsholt Thomas
Published: March 2020

Extracellular DNA (eDNA) plays an important role in both the aggregation of bacteria and in the interaction of the resulting biofilms with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) during an inflammatory response. Here, transmission electron and confocal scanning laser microscopy were used to examine the interaction between biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and PMNs in a murine implant model and in lung tissue from chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients. PNA FISH, DNA staining, labeling of PMN DNA with a thymidine analogue and immunohistochemistry were applied to localize bacteria, eDNA, PMN-derived eDNA, PMN-derived histone H3 (H3), neutrophil elastase (NE) and citrullinated H3 (citH3). Host-derived eDNA was observed surrounding bacterial biofilms but not within the biofilms. H3 localized to the lining of biofilms while NE was found throughout biofilms. CitH3, a marker for neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) was detected only sporadically indicating that most host-derived eDNA in vivo was not a result of NETosis. Together these observations show that, in these in vivo biofilm infections with P. aeruginosa, the majority of eDNA is found external to the biofilm and derives from the host.
An update on the diversity, ecology and biogeography of the Saccharomyces genus
Authors: Alsammar Haya , Delneri Daniela
Published: March 2020

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most extensively studied yeast and, over the last century, provided insights on the physiology, genetics, cellular biology and molecular mechanisms of eukaryotes. More recently, the increase in the discovery of wild strains, species and hybrids of the genus Saccharomyces has shifted the attention towards studies on genome evolution, ecology and biogeography, with the yeast becoming a model system for population genomic studies. The genus currently comprises eight species, some of clear industrial importance, while others are confined to natural environments, such as wild forests devoid from human domestication activities. To date, numerous studies showed that some Saccharomyces species form genetically diverged populations that are structured by geography, ecology or domestication activity and that the yeast species can also hybridize readily both in natural and domesticated environments. Much emphasis is now placed on the evolutionary process that drives phenotypic diversity between species, hybrids and populations to allow adaptation to different niches. Here, we provide an update of the biodiversity, ecology and population structure of the Saccharomyces species, and recapitulate the current knowledge on the natural history of Saccharomyces genus.
Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Isolates Provide Insight into the Pathoadaptation of Aeromonas
Authors: Talagrand-Reboul Emilie , Colston Sophie M , Graf Joerg , Lamy Brigitte , Jumas-Bilak Estelle
Published: March 2020

Aeromonads are ubiquitous aquatic bacteria that cause opportunistic infections in humans, but their pathogenesis remains poorly understood. A pathogenomic approach was undertaken to provide insights into the emergence and evolution of pathogenic traits in aeromonads. The genomes of 64 Aeromonas strains representative of the whole genus were analyzed to study the distribution, phylogeny, and synteny of the flanking sequences of 13 virulence-associated genes. The reconstructed evolutionary histories varied markedly depending on the gene analyzed and ranged from vertical evolution, which followed the core genome evolution (alt and colAh), to complex evolution, involving gene loss by insertion sequence-driven gene disruption, horizontal gene transfer, and paraphyly with some virulence genes associated with a phylogroup (aer, ser, and type 3 secretion system components) or no phylogroup (type 3 secretion system effectors, Ast, ExoA, and RtxA toxins). The general pathogenomic overview of aeromonads showed great complexity with diverse evolution modes and gene organization and uneven distribution of virulence genes in the genus; the results provided insights into aeromonad pathoadaptation or the ability of members of this group to emerge as pathogens. Finally, these findings suggest that aeromonad virulence-associated genes should be examined at the population level and that studies performed on type or model strains at the species level cannot be generalized to the whole species.
Epigenetic Modifications of GABAergic Interneurons Contribute to Deficits in Adult Hippocampus Neurogenesis and Depression-Like Behavior in Prenatally Stressed Mice
Authors: Zhong Haiquan , Rong Jing , Zhu Chunting , Liang Min , Li Yingchun , Zhou Rong
Published: March 2020

Background

Prenatal stress (PRS) is considered a risk factor for depressive disorder. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is believed to play a role in the regulation of affective behaviors. GABAergic interneuron is a key modulator in adult hippocampal neurogenesis. Growing evidence indicates that PRS has adverse effects on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and DNA epigenetic modifications of the GABAergic system. The aim of this study was to investigate whether epigenetic GABAergic dysfunction participates in the negative impact of PRS on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and related emotional behaviors.

Methods

Behavioral tests were used to explore PRS-induced depression-like behaviors of adult female mice. Immunohistochemistry staining, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were employed to detect adult neurogenesis and epigenetic changes of the GABAergic system in the hippocampus of PRS mice.

Results

PRS mice developed a depression phenotype accompanied by the inhibited maturation of hippocampal newborn neurons. Compared with control mice, PRS mice showed decreased expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 at the mRNA and protein levels. GABAA receptor agonist phenobarbital could rectify the decrease of 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine/neuronal nuclei double-positive (BrdU+/NeuN+) cells in PRS mice. PRS mice also showed increased expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 and increased binding of DNA methyltransferase 1 to glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 promoter region. The treatment with DNA methyltransferase 1 inhibitor 5-aza-deoxycytidine restored the decrease of BrdU+/NeuN+ cells and depression-like behaviors in PRS mice via improving GABAergic system.

Conclusions

The present results indicate that epigenetic changes of the GABAergic system are responsible for adult hippocampus neurogenesis and depression-like behaviors in PRS mice.
Re-visioning International Studies: Innovation and Progress
Authors: Sandal Nukhet , Whitten-Woodring Jenifer
Published: March 2020

The 2019 theme for the International Studies Association's sixtieth annual convention was “Re-visioning International Studies: Innovation and Progress.” This theme challenged scholars to reflect on and overcome the methodological and theoretical differences that threaten to cloister international studies scholarship into silos. Communicating across these divides will not only facilitate progress in international studies scholarship but will also help to convey scholarly findings to policy circles and to have a positive impact on how local and global orders are constructed. The articles in this special issue identify opportunities to reenvision established theoretical and methodological assumptions, find common ground across different perspectives, and propose ways to incorporate and unify diverse approaches to international studies.
Mobile apps for real-world evidence in health care
Authors: Milne-Ives Madison , van Velthoven Michelle Helena , Meinert Edward
Published: March 2020

The use of real-world evidence for health care research and evaluation is growing. Mobile health apps have often-overlooked potential to contribute valuable real-world data that are not captured by other sources and could provide data that are more cost-effective and generalizable than can randomized controlled trials. However, there are several challenges that must be overcome to realize the potential value of patient-used mobile health app real-world data, including data quality, motivation for long-term use, privacy and security, methods of analysis, and standardization and integration. Addressing these challenges will increase the value of data from mobile health apps to inform real-world evidence and improve patient empowerment, clinical management, disease research, and treatment development.
Rapid response to COVID-19: health informatics support for outbreak management in an academic health system
Authors: Reeves J Jeffery , Hollandsworth Hannah M , Torriani Francesca J , Taplitz Randy , Abeles Shira , Tai-Seale Ming , Millen Marlene , Clay Brian J , Longhurst Christopher A
Published: March 2020

Objective

To describe the implementation of technological support important for optimizing clinical management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods

Our health system has confirmed prior and current cases of COVID-19. An Incident Command Center was established early in the crisis and helped identify electronic health record (EHR)-based tools to support clinical care.

Results

We outline the design and implementation of EHR-based rapid screening processes, laboratory testing, clinical decision support, reporting tools, and patient-facing technology related to COVID-19.

Discussion

The EHR is a useful tool to enable rapid deployment of standardized processes. UC San Diego Health built multiple COVID-19-specific tools to support outbreak management, including scripted triaging, electronic check-in, standard ordering and documentation, secure messaging, real-time data analytics, and telemedicine capabilities. Challenges included the need to frequently adjust build to meet rapidly evolving requirements, communication, and adoption, and to coordinate the needs of multiple stakeholders while maintaining high-quality, prepandemic medical care.

Conclusion

The EHR is an essential tool in supporting the clinical needs of a health system managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discovery of Parasitoids of Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) and Their Seasonal Abundance in China Using Sentinel Host Eggs and Larvae
Authors: Li Fei , Zhang Yan-long , Wang Xiao-yi , Cao Liang-ming , Yang Zhong-qi , Gould Juli R , Duan Jian J
Published: March 2020

Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky), is a high-risk invasive forest pest worldwide. We surveyed Asian longhorned beetle parasitoid guilds and their seasonal abundance using field-deployed sentinel host logs infested with Asian longhorned beetle eggs or newly hatched (early-instar) larvae in three different sites of China (Beijing City, Shanghai City, and Jilin Province) from 2015 to 2018. Our survey detected 12 species of hymenopteran parasitoids (four Pteromalidae, three Braconidae, two Eupelmidae, one Eurytomidae, one Ichneumonidae, and one Bethylidae) attacking sentinel Asian longhorned beetle larvae or eggs deployed in these sites. Total parasitism by all the parasitoid species varied with different sites and across different years of the survey (averaging 7–16% in Beijing, 4–11% in Shanghai, and 0–0.2% in Jilin Province). In addition, the seasonal pattern of parasitism also differed among different sites, with parasitism peaking in July in the northern site (Beijing, 19%) and June in the southern site (Shanghai, 16%). Among all the parasitoid species recovered, Oxysychus sp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was the most abundant parasitoid species in both Beijing and Shanghai (with 42–66% relative abundance and an average of 6% Asian longhorned beetle parasitism). The second most abundant species was Bracon planitibiae Yang, Cao et Gould (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), which accounted for 35% of the species collected and caused an average of 5% Asian longhorned beetle parasitism. Relevance of our findings to Asian longhorned beetle biocontrol is discussed.
Efficacies of Two Nano-Formulations of Tasmanian Blue Gum Essential Oil to Control Callosobruchus maculatus
Authors: Ya-Ali Pegah , Yarahmadi Fatemeh , Mehrnia Mohammad Amin
Published: March 2020

Botanical insecticides, including essential oils (EOs), can be considered as appropriate alternatives to synthetic insecticides for controlling stored product pests. In this study, potential of nano-formulations of the Tasmanian blue gum (TBG) EO to control Callosobruchus maculatus Fabricius (Coleoptera, Bruchidae) were evaluated under laboratory condition. Two nano-emulsion formulations of the EO were provided using gum Arabic and Span 80 as surfactants. Contact as well as fumigant toxicities of the formulations to the beetle adults were compared with the bulk EO in 1, 2, and 3 d after treatment. Results showed that all formulations were toxic to the adults. After 1, 2, and 3 d of treatment, the estimated LC50 values in contact and fumigant applications varied from 1.37 to 8.53 ppm and 0.05 to 0.44 ppm for various formulations. Both nano-formulations cause significant stability enhancement of the EO. Moreover, the EO had significant repellent and ovicidal effects on the insect. The insecticidal effects of the EO in nano-formulations were significantly greater than in the bulk form. The EO constituted 22 compounds, from 5 classes. Eucalyptol (43.79%) is the main constituent of the TBG EO.
Trade Credit and Product Pricing: The Role of Implicit Interest Rates
Authors: Amberg Niklas , Jacobson Tor , von Schedvin Erik
Published: March 2020

We empirically investigate the proposition that firms charge premia on cash prices in transactions involving trade credit. Using a comprehensive panel data set on product-level transaction prices and firm characteristics, we relate trade credit issuance to price setting. In a recession characterized by tightened credit conditions, we find that prices increase significantly more on products sold by firms issuing more trade credit, in response to higher opportunity costs of liquidity and counterparty risks. Our results thus demonstrate the importance of trade credit for price setting and show that trade credit issuance induces a channel through which financial conditions affect prices.
Housing Wealth or Collateral: How Home Value Shocks Drive Home Equity Extraction and Spending
Authors: Andersen Henrik Yde , Leth-Petersen Søren
Published: March 2020

We examine whether unanticipated changes in home values drive spending and mortgage-based equity extraction. To do this, we use longitudinal survey data with subjective information about current and expected future home values to calculate unanticipated home value changes. We link this information at the individual level to high quality administrative records containing information about mortgage borrowing as well as savings in various financial instruments. We find that the marginal propensity to increase mortgage debt is 3%–5% of unanticipated home value gains. We find no adjustment to other components of the portfolio, and we find that mortgage extraction leads to an increase in spending. The effect is driven by young households with high loan-to-value ratios, which is consistent with the effect being driven by collateral constraints. Further, we find that the effect is driven by home owners who actively take out a new mortgage. The price effect is magnified among fixed rate mortgage (FRM) borrowers who have an incentive to refinance their loans to lock in a lower market rate. These results point to the importance of the mortgage market in transforming price increases into spending and suggest that monetary policy can play an important role in transforming housing wealth gains into spending by affecting interest rates on mortgage loans.
Probing delayed-end reionization histories with the 21-cm LAE cross-power spectrum
Authors: Weinberger Lewis H , Kulkarni Girish , Haehnelt Martin G
Published: March 2020

We model the 21-cm signal and Lyman-α emitter (LAE) population evolution during the epoch of reionization in order to predict the 21-cm LAE cross-power spectrum. We employ high-dynamic-range simulations of the intergalactic medium to create models that are consistent with constraints from the cosmic microwave background, Lyman-α forest, and LAE population statistics. Using these models we consider the evolution of the cross-power spectrum for a selection of realistic reionization histories and predict the sensitivity of current and upcoming surveys to measuring this signal. We find that the imprint of a delayed end to reionization can be observed by future surveys, and that strong constraints can be placed on the progression of reionization as late as z = 5.7 using a Subaru–SKA survey. We make predictions for the signal-to-noise ratios achievable by combinations of Subaru/PFS (Prime Focus Spectrograph) with the MWA, LOFAR, HERA, and SKA interferometers for an integration time of 1000 h. We find that a Subaru–SKA survey could measure the cross-power spectrum for a late reionization at z = 6.6 with a total signal-to-noise ratio greater than 5, making it possible to constrain both the timing and bubble size at the end of reionization. Furthermore, we find that expanding the current Subaru/PFS survey area and depth by a factor of three would double the total signal-to-noise ratio.
RELICS: spectroscopy of gravitationally lensed z ≃ 2 reionization-era analogues and implications for C iii] detections at z > 6
Authors: Mainali Ramesh , Stark Daniel P , Tang Mengtao , Chevallard Jacopo , Charlot Stéphane , Sharon Keren , Coe Dan , Salmon Brett , Bradley Larry D , Johnson Traci L , Frye Brenda , Avila Roberto J , Ogaz Sara , Zitrin Adi , Bradač Maruša , Lemaux Brian C , Mahler Guillaume , Paterno-Mahler Rachel , Strait Victoria , Andrade-Santos Felipe
Published: March 2020

Recent observations have revealed the presence of strong C iii] emission (EW$_{\rm {C\,{\small III}]}}\gt 20$ Å) in z > 6 galaxies, the origin of which remains unclear. In an effort to understand the nature of these line emitters, we have initiated a survey targeting C iii] emission in gravitationally lensed reionization-era analogues identified in Hubble Space Telescope imaging of clusters from the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey. Here, we report initial results on four galaxies selected to have low stellar masses (2–8 × 107 M⊙) and J125-band flux excesses indicative of intense [O iii] + H β emission (EW$_{\rm {[O\,{\small III}]+H\,\beta }}$ = 500–2000 Å), similar to what has been observed at z > 6. We detect C iii] emission in three of the four sources, with the C iii] EW reaching values seen in the reionization era (EW$_{\rm {C\,{\small III}]}}\simeq 17\!-\!22$ Å) in the two sources with the strongest optical line emission (EW$_{\rm {[O\,{\small III}]+H\,\beta }}\simeq 2000$ Å). We have obtained a Magellan/FIRE (Folded-port InfraRed Echellette) near-infrared spectrum of the strongest C iii] emitter in our sample, revealing gas that is both metal poor and highly ionized. Using photoionization models, we are able to simultaneously reproduce the intense C iii] and optical line emission for extremely young (2–3 Myr) and metal-poor (0.06–0.08 Z⊙) stellar populations, as would be expected after a substantial upturn in the star formation rate of a low-mass galaxy. The sources in this survey are among the first for which C iii] has been used as the primary means of redshift confirmation. We suggest that it should be possible to extend this approach to z > 6 with current facilities, using C iii] to measure redshifts of objects with IRAC excesses indicating EW$_{\rm {[O\,{\small III}]+H\,\beta }}\simeq 2000$ Å, providing a method of spectroscopic confirmation independent of Ly α.
Evolution of primordial black hole spin due to Hawking radiation
Authors: Arbey Alexandre , Auffinger Jérémy , Silk Joseph
Published: March 2020

Near extremal Kerr black holes (BHs) are subject to the Thorne limit $a\lt a^*_{\rm lim}=0.998$ in the case of thin disc accretion, or some generalized version of this in other disc geometries. However, any limit that differs from the thermodynamics limit a* < 1 can in principle be evaded in other astrophysical configurations, and in particular if the near extremal BHs are primordial and subject to evaporation by Hawking radiation only. We derive the lower mass limit above which Hawking radiation is slow enough so that a primordial black hole with a spin initially above some generalized Thorne limit can still be above this limit today. Thus, we point out that the observation of Kerr BHs with extremely high spin should be a hint of either exotic astrophysical mechanisms or primordial origin.
FRB coherent emission from decay of Alfvén waves
Authors: Kumar Pawan , Bošnjak Željka
Published: March 2020

We present a model for fast radio bursts (FRBs) where a large-amplitude Alfvén wave packet is launched by a disturbance near the surface of a magnetar, and a substantial fraction of the wave energy is converted to coherent radio waves at a distance of a few tens of neutron star radii. The wave amplitude at the magnetar surface should be about 1011 G in order to produce an FRB of isotropic luminosity 1044 erg s−1. An electric current along the static magnetic field is required by Alfvén waves with non-zero component of transverse wave vector. The current is supplied by counter-streaming electron–positron pairs, which have to move at nearly the speed of light at larger radii as the plasma density decreases with distance from the magnetar surface. The counter-streaming pairs are subject to two-stream instability, which leads to formation of particle bunches of size of the order of c/ωp, where ωp is the plasma frequency. A strong electric field develops along the static magnetic field when the wave packet arrives at a radius where electron–positron density is insufficient to supply the current required by the wave. The electric field accelerates particle bunches along the curved magnetic field lines, and that produces the coherent FRB radiation. We provide a number of predictions of this model.