bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the teaching mode of industrial design in local universities in China: from the perspective of professional ability appreciation
Authors: Wang Han-you , Pan Qin-tao , Yu Xing-zhao
Published: October 2023

Focusing on local non-“Double First-Class” higher colleges in China, this study aims to explore the effects of classroom teaching, integration of industry and education, classroom involvement, interdisciplinary awareness and abilities, as well as teacher-student investment, on the increment of professional abilities of industrial design students, and explore effective teaching modes. Organizing questionnaire survey data, constructing a multiple linear regression model, and using the analytical method of sheaf coefficient found that student investment has the most decisive influence on low-order and high-order professional abilities, while other variables have their focuses. Teacher investment only has a direct impact on partial high-order professional capacities. The analysis of interactive effect regression models found that the interactive effects of significant influencing variables only mutually reinforce partial high-order professional abilities. The second-order factor structural equation modeling found that the professional capacities of industrial design have a strong endogeneity. The core mission of teachers is to promote “student-centered” teaching and integration of production and education and encourage students’ investment to improve their professional ability. This study provides an empirical basis for optimizing and reconstructing the conceptual framework of low-order and high-order professional capacities in higher education.
Linguistic Knowledge and Language Use
Authors: Leclercq Benoît
Published: October 2023

One of the key challenges in linguistics is to account for the link between linguistic knowledge and our use of language in a way that is both descriptively accurate and cognitively plausible. This pioneering book addresses these challenges by combining insights from Construction Grammar and Relevance Theory, two influential approaches which until now have been considered incompatible. After a clear and detailed presentation of both theories, the author demonstrates that their integration is possible, and explains why this integration is necessary, in order to understand exactly how meaning comes about. A new theoretical model is offered that provides ground-breaking insights into the semantics-pragmatic interface, and addresses a variety of topics including the nature of lexical and grammatical concepts, procedural meaning, coercion and idiom processing. This title is part of the Flip it Open Programme and may also be available Open Access. Check our website Cambridge Core for details.
Variability in changes in physician outpatient antibiotic prescribing from 2019 to 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Tandon Pranav , Brown Kevin A. , Daneman Nick , Langford Bradley J. , Leung Valerie , Friedman Lindsay , Schwartz Kevin L.
Published: October 2023

Objective:

To evaluate inter-physician variability and predictors of changes in antibiotic prescribing before (2019) and during (2020/2021) the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of physicians in Ontario, Canada prescribing oral antibiotics in the outpatient setting between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021 using the IQVIA Xponent data set. The primary outcome was the change in the number of antibiotic prescriptions between the prepandemic and pandemic period. Secondary outcomes were changes in the selection of broad-spectrum agents and long-duration (>7 d) antibiotic use. We used multivariable linear regression models to evaluate predictors of change.

Results:

There were 17,288 physicians included in the study with substantial inter-physician variability in changes in antibiotic prescribing (median change of −43.5 antibiotics per physician, interquartile range −136.5 to −5.0). In the multivariable model, later career stage (adjusted mean difference [aMD] −45.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] −52.9 to −37.8, p < .001), family medicine (aMD −46.0, 95% CI −62.5 to −29.4, p < .001), male patient sex (aMD −52.4, 95% CI −71.1 to −33.7, p < .001), low patient comorbidity (aMD −42.5, 95% CI −50.3 to −34.8, p < .001), and high prescribing to new patients (aMD −216.5, 95% CI −223.5 to −209.5, p < .001) were associated with decreases in antibiotic initiation. Family medicine and high prescribing to new patients were associated with a decrease in selection of broad-spectrum agents and prolonged antibiotic use.

Conclusions:

Antibiotic prescribing changed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with overall decreases in antibiotic initiation, broad-spectrum agents, and prolonged antibiotic courses with inter-physician variability. These findings present opportunities for community antibiotic stewardship interventions.
Overlapping Science in Radiation and Sulfur Mustard Exposures of Skin and Lung: Consideration of Models, Mechanisms, Organ Systems, and Medical Countermeasures: Overlapping science in radiation and sulfur mustard injuries to lung and skin
Authors: Satyamitra Merriline M. , Andres Devon K. , Bergmann Julie N. , Hoffman Corey M. , Hogdahl Thomas , Homer Mary J. , Hu Tom C. , Rios Carmen I. , Yeung David T. , DiCarlo Andrea L.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

To summarize presentations and discussions from the 2022 trans-agency workshop titled “Overlapping science in radiation and sulfur mustard (SM) exposures of skin and lung: Consideration of models, mechanisms, organ systems, and medical countermeasures.”

Methods:

Summary on topics includes: (1) an overview of the radiation and chemical countermeasure development programs and missions; (2) regulatory and industry perspectives for drugs and devices; 3) pathophysiology of skin and lung following radiation or SM exposure; 4) mechanisms of action/targets, biomarkers of injury; and 5) animal models that simulate anticipated clinical responses.

Results:

There are striking similarities between injuries caused by radiation and SM exposures. Primary outcomes from both types of exposure include acute injuries, while late complications comprise chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction, which can culminate in fibrosis in both skin and lung organ systems. This workshop brought together academic and industrial researchers, medical practitioners, US Government program officials, and regulators to discuss lung-, and skin- specific animal models and biomarkers, novel pathways of injury and recovery, and paths to licensure for products to address radiation or SM injuries.

Conclusions:

Regular communications between the radiological and chemical injury research communities can enhance the state-of-the-science, provide a unique perspective on novel therapeutic strategies, and improve overall US Government emergency preparedness.
Recommendations for Placement of Bleeding Control Kits in Public Spaces—A Simulation Study
Authors: Steins Krisjanis , Goolsby Craig , Grönbäck Anna-Maria , Charlton Nathan , Anderson Kevin , Dacuyan-Faucher Nicole , Prytz Erik , Andersson Granberg Tobias , Jonson Carl-Oscar
Published: October 2023

Objective:

Bleeding control measures performed by members of the public can prevent trauma deaths. Equipping public spaces with bleeding control kits facilitates these actions. We modeled a mass casualty incident to investigate the effects of public bleeding control kit location strategies.

Methods:

We developed a computer simulation of a bomb exploding in a shopping mall. We used evidence and expert opinion to populate the model with parameters such as the number of casualties, the public’s willingness to aid, and injury characteristics. Four alternative placement strategies of public bleeding control kits in the shopping mall were tested: co-located with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) separated by 90-second walking intervals, dispersed throughout the mall at 10 locations, located adjacent to 1 exit, located adjacent to 2 exits.

Results:

Placing bleeding control kits at 2 locations co-located with AEDs resulted in the most victims surviving (18.2), followed by 10 kits dispersed evenly throughout the mall (18.0). One or 2 kit locations placed at the mall’s main exits resulted in the fewest surviving victims (15.9 and 16.1, respectively).

Conclusions:

Co-locating bleeding control kits with AEDs at 90-second walking intervals results in the best casualty outcomes in a modeled mass casualty incident in a shopping mall.
Political audience and non-linear securitisation: Revisiting Israel–Iran relations and the making of the 1979 Islamic Revolution
Authors: Ben Aharon Eldad
Published: October 2023

The 1979 Islamic Revolution was a tectonic change that influenced the geopolitics of the Middle East to this day. This article highlights the necessity of re-examining the events of 1979 from a securitisation perspective. Through an investigation of Ayatollah Khomeini's pivotal role, I challenge the methodological nationalism often found in the study of Israel–Iran relations. Despite his unconventional position in security matters, Khomeini played a crucial role in the securitisation of the 1979 revolution. Drawing on Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives, secondary sources, elite interviews, and Khomeini's theological speeches, this article re-examines the intricate stages of securitisation and counter-securitisation spanning 16 years. Khomeini effectively mobilized the political audience (Iranian people) to support the revolution, aiming to overthrow the Shah and remove Israel’s presence from Iran. I argue that a non-linear securitisation process was employed, characterised by Khomeini's ability to establish informal authority among the opposition. This process ultimately led to him gaining legitimacy from the Iranian people and culminated in the successful securitisation act of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Introduction to A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections In Acute-Care Hospitals: 2022 Updates
Authors: Yokoe Deborah S. , Advani Sonali D. , Anderson Deverick J. , Babcock Hilary M. , Bell Michael , Berenholtz Sean M. , Bryant Kristina A. , Buetti Niccolò , Calderwood Michael S. , Calfee David P. , Deloney Valerie M. , Dubberke Erik R. , Ellingson Katherine D. , Fishman Neil O. , Gerding Dale N. , Glowicz Janet , Hayden Mary K. , Kaye Keith S. , Kociolek Larry K. , Landon Emily , Larson Elaine L. , Malani Anurag N. , Marschall Jonas , Meddings Jennifer , Mermel Leonard A. , Patel Payal K. , Perl Trish M. , Popovich Kyle J. , Schaffzin Joshua K. , Septimus Edward , Trivedi Kavita K. , Weinstein Robert A. , Maragakis Lisa L.
Published: October 2023

Since the initial publication of A Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals in 2008, the prevention of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) has continued to be a national priority. Progress in healthcare epidemiology, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship, and implementation science research has led to improvements in our understanding of effective strategies for HAI prevention. Despite these advances, HAIs continue to affect ∼1 of every 31 hospitalized patients,1 leading to substantial morbidity, mortality, and excess healthcare expenditures,1 and persistent gaps remain between what is recommended and what is practiced.

The widespread impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on HAI outcomes2 in acute-care hospitals has further highlighted the essential role of infection prevention programs and the critical importance of prioritizing efforts that can be sustained even in the face of resource requirements from COVID-19 and future infectious diseases crises.3

The Compendium: 2022 Updates document provides acute-care hospitals with up-to-date, practical expert guidance to assist in prioritizing and implementing HAI prevention efforts. It is the product of a highly collaborative effort led by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and The Joint Commission, with major contributions from representatives of organizations and societies with content expertise, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society (PIDS), the Society for Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), the Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM), the Surgical Infection Society (SIS), and others.
Feasibility and impact of a monoclonal antibody infusion program in reaching vulnerable underserved communities
Authors: Mena Lora Alfredo J. , Echeverria Stephanie L. , Lindsey Brenna , Li Ella , Sanchez Lawrence , Truesdell Tiffany , Takhsh Eden , Lavani Romeen , Burgos Rodrigo
Published: October 2023

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Equitable access to therapeutics is key to addressing health disparities. We established a monoclonal infusion program in the emergency department of a safety-net hospital. Our program successfully reached underserved BIPOC communities and was sustained throughout the pandemic.
Mean-field dynamo due to spatio-temporal fluctuations of the turbulent kinetic energy
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Kishore , Singh Nishant K.
Published: October 2023

In systems where the standard$\alpha$effect is inoperative, one often explains the existence of mean magnetic fields by invoking the ‘incoherent$\alpha$effect’, which appeals to fluctuations of the mean kinetic helicity at a mesoscale. Most previous studies, while considering fluctuations in the mean kinetic helicity, treated the mean turbulent kinetic energy at the mesoscale as a constant, despite the fact that both these quantities involve second-order velocity correlations. The mean turbulent kinetic energy affects the mean magnetic field through both turbulent diffusion and turbulent diamagnetism. In this work, we use a double-averaging procedure to analytically show that fluctuations of the mean turbulent kinetic energy at the mesoscale (giving rise to$\eta$-fluctuations at the mesoscale, where the scalar$\eta$is the turbulent diffusivity) can lead to the growth of a large-scale magnetic field even when the kinetic helicity is zero pointwise. Constraints on the operation of such a dynamo are expressed in terms of dynamo numbers that depend on the correlation length, correlation time and strength of these fluctuations. In the white-noise limit, we find that these fluctuations reduce the overall turbulent diffusion, while also contributing a drift term which does not affect the growth of the field. We also study the effects of non-zero correlation time and anisotropy. Turbulent diamagnetism, which arises due to inhomogeneities in the turbulent kinetic energy, leads to growing mean-field solutions even when the$\eta$-fluctuations are statistically isotropic.
Long-Term Camelid Husbandry and Agricultural Intensification in the Southern Nasca Region, Peru: Insight from Faunal Isotopes
Authors: Eerkens Jelmer W. , Vaughn Kevin J. , Linares-Grados Moises , Beckham Christopher
Published: October 2023

We examined stable isotopes (δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S) of camelid, cavid, and cervid remains from Upanca, an archaeological site located in the Southern Nasca Region on the south coast of Peru. Occupation at the site began in the Middle Archaic (around 3200–3000 BC) and continued through the Nasca period (AD 100–650). Remains predating 2500 BC show low δ13C and δ15N values, whereas remains after this time show increasing and especially more variable isotopic values. We interpret this pattern as marking both a process of agricultural intensification and camelid husbandry diversification. Agricultural intensification began first with C3 plants in fertilized fields, beginning around 2200 cal BC, followed by an increasing use of C4 plants (maize, kiwicha, or both), particularly after 800 cal BC. By the beginning of the first millennium, people were using a diverse range of strategies to raise llamas and alpacas, including feeding them wild or cultivated C3 plants, feeding them cultivated C4 plant foods, mixing C3 and C4 plant foods, foddering some in natural coastal environments, and acquiring still other camelids by hunting wild stocks (guanaco, vicuña). Data also suggest that cavids were consuming at least some C4 products after 1000 cal BC and that the use of C4 plants increased over time.
Salvemini, militant historian, and his publications on Fascism
Authors: Grasso Mirko
Published: October 2023

This essay analyses Salvemini's major works on Fascism, namely The Fascist Dictatorship in Italy (1927), Mussolini Diplomate (1932) and Under the Axe of Fascism (1936). The focus of this analysis is twofold: to explore both Salvemini's methodology and the events leading to the publication of these works. In The Fascist Dictatorship in Italy, Salvemini examines the origins and the rise of Mussolini's movement, highlighting the complicity of the monarchy, the army, and industrial magnates. In Mussolini Diplomate, he analyses Fascist foreign policy from 1922 to 1932, in which Salvemini is unable to identify a consistent strategy, but only a propagandistic approach aiming to foster diplomatic relations. In Under the Axe of Fascism, Salvemini dissects Fascist economics, debunking the idea that the corporate state was an original and equitable compromise in the conflict between capital and labour, as was being portrayed abroad. An analysis of these three volumes brings into focus some noteworthy aspects of Salvemini's so-called ‘historiographical workshop’, which have hitherto been overlooked by historians (such as his adept use of sources and his endeavour to combine social sciences and economics), as well as underscoring his ability to forge cultural and intellectual networks, an essential element for undertaking such a complex task.
Fish personality: meta-theoretical issues, personality dimensions, and applications to neuroscience and psychopathology
Authors: Luchiari Ana Carolina , Maximino Caio
Published: October 2023

While the field of personality neuroscience has extensively focused on humans and, in a few cases, primates and rodents, a wide range of research on fish personality has emerged in the last decades. This research is focused mainly on the ecological and evolutionary causes of individual differences and also aimed less extensively at proximal mechanisms (e.g., neurochemistry or genetics). We argue that, if consistent and intentional work is made to solve some of the meta-theoretical issues of personality research both on fish and mammals, fish personality research can lead to important advances in personality neuroscience as a whole. The five dimensions of personality in fish (shyness-boldness, exploration-avoidance, activity, aggressiveness, and sociability) need to be translated into models that explicitly recognize the impacts of personality in psychopathology, synergizing research on fish as model organisms in experimental psychopathology, personality neuroscience, and ecological-ethological approaches to the evolutionary underpinnings of personality to produce a powerful framework to understand individual differences.
Does Victim Gender Matter for Justice Delivery? Police and Judicial Responses to Women’s Cases in India
Authors: JASSAL NIRVIKAR
Published: October 2023

Are women disadvantaged whilst accessing justice? I chart, for the first time, the full trajectory of accessing justice in India using an original dataset of roughly half a million crime reports, subsequently merged with court files. I demonstrate that particular complaints can be hindered when passing through nodes of the criminal justice system, and illustrate a pattern of “multi-stage” discrimination. In particular, I show that women's complaints are more likely to be delayed and dismissed at the police station and courthouse compared to men. Suspects that female complainants accuse of crime are less likely to be convicted and more likely to be acquitted, an imbalance that persists even when accounting for cases of violence against women (VAW). The application of machine learning to complaints reveals—contrary to claims by policymakers and judges—that VAW, including the extortive crime of dowry, are not “petty quarrels,” but may involve starvation, poisoning, and marital rape. In an attempt to make a causal claim about the impact of complainant gender on verdicts, I utilize topical inverse regression matching, a method that leverages high-dimensional text data. I show that those who suffer from cumulative disadvantage in society may face challenges across sequential stages of seeking restitution or punitive justice through formal state institutions.
Molecular and morphological screening of Podocotyle spp. (Trematoda: Opecoelidae) sheds light on their diversity in Northwest Pacific and eastern European Arctic
Authors: Sokolov S. , Shchenkov S. , Frolov E. , Denisova S. , Gordeev I.
Published: October 2023

Podocotyle is a genus of marine opecoelid digeneans that parasitize a wide variety of fish as adults. We present the first phylogenetic analysis of several Podocotyle isolates using nuclear 28S rDNA and mitochondrial cox1 DNA regions. New sequences were obtained for Podocotyle specimens from fish caught in the Sea of Okhotsk and the White Sea. Based on morphological and molecular data, eight Podocotyle lineages of species rank were revealed. However, this diversity is poorly formalized within the current taxonomic model of the genus. As a result, we identified Podocotyle cf. angulata, Podocotyle cf. atomon, Podocotyle cf. reflexa, Podocotyle atomon of Sokolov et al., 2019, Podocotyle sp. of Denisova et al., 2023, Podocotyle sp. 1, Podocotyle sp. 2 and Podocotyle sp. 3. We also highlight the unresolved question of the life cycles of representatives of Podocotyle whose intramolluscan stages parasitize the intertidal snails Littorina spp.
Usage events and constructional knowledge: A study of two variants of the introductory-it construction
Authors: Suethanapornkul Sakol , Supasiraprapa Sarut
Published: October 2023

Usage-based theories hold that mental representation of language is shaped by a lifetime of usage. Both input to which first language (L1) and second language (L2) users are exposed and their own language production affect their construction learning and entrenchment. The present study investigates L2 users’ knowledge of two introductory-it variants, Adj-that (e.g., it is clear that …) and Adj-to (e.g., it is difficult to …). We probed the extent to which adjective–variant associations in an academic section of COCA and L2 users’ engagement with academic writing affected learners’ generation of adjectives distinctively attracted to the two variants. An analysis of cue-outcome contingency was conducted to establish adjective–variant associations, and an elicitation task was carried out, probing L2 users’ ability to generate adjectives when prompted with the variants (e.g., it is [blank] to). The participants were 84 graduate students in the United States, 44 from L1 English and 40 from L1 Thai backgrounds. The results indicated that the adjective–variant associations predicted L2 users’ generation of adjectives. However, academic writing engagement did not affect learners’ performance. The findings suggest that statistical information in the input affects L2 users’ constructional representation.
The Universalism of Mathematics and its Detractors: Relativism and Radical Equalitarianism Threaten STEM Disciplines in the US
Authors: Klainerman Sergiu
Published: October 2023

This is a modest personal attempt to understand the ideology behind the current antiscientific trends in STEM, and more specifically in mathematics. In simplified terms, these trends can be traced back to a growing imbalance between the old ideal of fairness based on individual merit and the increasingly predominant, unrealistic expectations of equality of outcomes in all areas of human activities. I draw on specific examples and various scientific studies to show how these trends undermine the teaching of science in the US and, increasingly, research in STEM disciplines.
Biases and Feedbacks in the Knowledge System: from Academia to the Public and Back
Authors: Dubi Yonatan
Published: October 2023

In the philosophy of science, there are multiple concepts trying to answer the question of how scientists ‘know’ things, all circling around the notion of observation, thesis, falsification and corroboration – namely, the usual concepts of scientific practice. However, a whole different question is ‘how does the public know things?’. Understanding the answer to this question is crucial, since (at least in Western democracies) the public is the entity which funds, and through funding directs to a certain extent, the course of science. Here I discuss ‘the knowledge system’, a concept (proposed by the American writer Alex Epstein), which can generally be thought of as the set of institutions and processes which take part in the way the public becomes knowledgeable about certain (scientific) topics. I argue that the ‘knowledge system’ contains two inherent flaws, namely (i) the accumulation of biases; and (ii) strong feedback loops, which are almost unavoidable. I demonstrate these flaws with some examples and show how these flaws can (and already do) lead to policy suggestions that de-facto abolish academic freedom. Finally, I discuss possible ways to overcome – or at least minimize – the effect of these flaws on science and the scientific community.
Resistance to Critiques in the Academic Literature: An Example from Physics Education Research
Authors: Reichhardt Charles , Small Alex , Nisoli Cristiano , Reichhardt Cynthia
Published: October 2023

Research framed around issues of diversity and representation in STEM is often controversial. The question of what constitutes a valid critique of such research, or the appropriate manner of airing such a critique, thus has a heavy ideological and political subtext. Here, we outline an attempt to comment on a paper recently published in the research journal Physical Review – Physics Education Research (PRPER). The article in question claimed to find evidence of ‘whiteness’ in introductory physics from analysis of a six-minute video. We argue that even if one accepts the rather tenuous proposition that ‘whiteness’ is sufficiently well defined to observe, the study lacks the proper controls, checks and methodology to allow for confirmation or disconfirmation of the authors’ interpretation of the data. The authors of the whiteness study, however, make the stunning claim that their study cannot be judged by standards common in science. We summarize our written critique and its fate, along with a brief description of its genesis as a response to an article in which senior officers of the American Physical Society (which publishes PRPER) explained that the appropriate venue for addressing issues with the paper at hand is via normal editorial processes.
Targeting beliefs and behaviours in misophonia: a case series from a UK specialist psychology service
Authors: Gregory Jane , Graham Tom , Hayes Brett
Published: October 2023

Background:

Misophonia, a disorder of decreased sound tolerance, can cause significant distress and impairment. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) may be helpful for improving symptoms of misophonia, but the key mechanisms of the disorder are not yet known.

Aims:

This case series aimed to evaluate individual, formulation-driven CBT for patients with misophonia in a UK psychology service.

Method:

A service evaluation of one-to-one therapy for patients with misophonia (n=19) was conducted in a specialist psychology service. Patients completed an average of 13 hours of therapy with a focus on the meaning applied to their reactions to sounds and associated behaviours. Primary outcome measures were the Misophonia Questionnaire (MQ) and the Amsterdam Misophonia Scale (A-MISO-S). Repeated measures t-tests were used to compare scores from pre-treatment to follow-up, and reliable and clinically significant change on the MQ was calculated.

Results:

Scores significantly improved on both misophonia measures, with an average of 38% change on the MQ and 40% change on the A-MISO-S. From pre-treatment to follow-up, 78% of patients showed reliable improvement on the MQ and 61% made clinically significant change.

Conclusions:

Limitations included a lack of control group, small sample size, and the use of an outcome measure that had not been thoroughly validated for a treatment-seeking sample. These results suggest that one-to-one, formulation-driven CBT for misophonia is worth exploring further using experimental design. Potential mechanisms to explore further include feared consequences of escalating reactions, the role of safety-seeking behaviours and the impact of early memories associated with reactions to sounds.
Morpho-molecular exploration and selection of elite genotypes from indigenous Syzygium cumini L. Skeels (jamun) diversity of North-Western Indian Himalayas
Authors: Sharma Vikas Kumar , Sharma Dheeraj , Sharma Rahul , Sharma Som Dev , Dhiman Karuna , Murkute Ashutosh A.
Published: October 2023

Efficiently distinguishing various Syzygium cumini L. Skeels (jamun) accessions holds practical significance for selection purposes. This study concentrated on 15 superior genotypes of jamun from the North Western Indian Himalayas, selected for their pivotal horticultural traits. Drawn from a pool of 82 collected genotypes and assessed across two consecutive years (2019 and 2020), these genotypes underwent morphological evaluations utilizing a randomized block design replicated thrice. Concurrently, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were employed for molecular analysis. Substantial variations surfaced among genotypes, both in morphological traits and fruit biochemistry. Notably, tree 43 exhibited promise across multiple horticultural facets, encompassing fruit weight, length, pulp weight, pulp-to-seed ratio and pulp percentage. Conversely, tree 49 excelled in elevated levels of total soluble solids, total sugar and reducing sugar. While principal component analysis and cluster analysis unveiled modest genetic variability, RAPD and ISSR markers unveiled pronounced molecular-level polymorphism. Agglomerative hierarchical clustering delineated the genotypes into five distinct clusters. Cluster I encompassed two genotypes, cluster II embraced five while the largest group, cluster III, included six genotypes. Clusters IV and V highlighted individual genotypes, trees 43 and 54 respectively. In the molecular analysis, UPGMA clustering yielded two primary clusters, spotlighting the noteworthy similarity between genotypes trees 49 and 52 whereas, trees 40, 43, 44 and 48 stood distinct. The observed genetic diversity stands as a valuable resource with substantial potential to enrich diverse breeding initiatives. These salient genetic variations underscore the richness within the studied population, offering a valuable asset for focused future pursuits.
(How) Do Information Campaigns Influence Migration Decisions?
Authors: Morgenstern Sandra
Published: October 2023

One European policy response to the so-called migration crisis is an accelerated implementation of information campaigns in potential origin countries. Whether and how these campaigns can influence decisions about irregular migration, however, remains under explored. I argue that information campaigns reduce intentions to migrate irregularly and expect the effects to be more substantial when anxiety-inducing messages are used. Based on a field experimental randomized control trial study (N = 1,500) of an actual European information campaign in Nigeria, I provide supportive evidence for this expectation: the information campaign reduced respondents’ intentions to migrate irregularly with a more decisive effect when using an anxiety-triggering campaign message.
Efficient Tropical Cyclone Scenario Selection Based on Cumulative Likelihood of Potential Impacts
Authors: Sohrabi Meraj , Moftakhari Hamed , Moradkhani Hamid
Published: October 2023

The incidence of climate‐related disasters is on the rise, which makes it imperative to intensify anticipatory action. Tropical cyclones (TC) bring extreme precipitation and storm surge to coastal areas. This poses a compound flood risk to coastal communities due to the coincidence/concurrence of multiple flood drivers. In the absence of sufficient spatiotemporal coverage of historic TC data, appropriate characterization of compound flood risk mainly relies on running a large number of synthetic scenarios with the hope that it covers the wide range of potential threats posed to a coastal community. Such an approach requires huge computational resources that make it infeasible in many cases. Here, we propose a dependence‐informed sampling scheme that helps reduce the dimensionality of the problem and systematically select a handful of scenarios with the largest Cumulative Likelihood of Potential Impact (CLPI). The CLPI is a compound flood index that ranks the candidate storms with the potential to cause compound flooding based on the regional dependencies between forcing (wind and rainfall) and coastal flooding drivers (storm surge and runoff). The analysis of historic TC records near the coast of Texas, USA shows the usefulness of CLPI in improving the efficiency of hazard risk assessment and providing reliable information at a lower cost. The proposed CLPI successfully ranks candidate hurricane scenarios based on their potential impact and filters out the less relevant scenarios without the need for detailed hydrodynamic simulation.
Plasma Properties in the Earth's Magnetosheath Near the Subsolar Magnetopause: Implications for Geocoronal Density Estimates
Authors: Fuselier S. A. , Petrinec S. M. , Trattner K. J. , LLera K. , Burch J. L. , Gershman D. J. , Dayeh M. A. , Schwadron N. , Funsten H. O. , McComas D. J.
Published: October 2023

Combined in situ ion measurements and remote sensing of energetic neutral atoms are used to determine the geocoronal Hydrogen density at large (∼10 RE) distances from the Earth. This method for determining the geocoronal density requires global magnetospheric modeling. Observations in the Earth's subsolar magnetosheath from the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission are used to determine the accuracy of using global models to predict the geocoronal density. On average, gas dynamic and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models and observations are in reasonable agreement, with differences <25%. In addition, the MHD model subsolar magnetopause is about 0.5 RE sunward of the observed location. However, variations around averages are large (up to a factor of 2), indicating that global models introduce relatively large uncertainties in geocoronal density estimates. Finally, the critical ion flux in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer IBEX‐Hi energy range is often minimally affected by fluctuations of a factor of 2 in the density.
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing in detecting pathogens in pediatric oncology patients with suspected bloodstream infections
Authors: Wu Jing , Song Wenting , Yan Hui , Luo Chengjuan , Hu Wenting , Xie Li , Shen Nan , Cao Qing , Mo Xi , An Kang , Tao Yue
Published: October 2023

Background

Studies on mNGS application in pediatric oncology patients, who are at high risk of infection, are quite limited.

Methods

From March 2020 to June 2022, a total of 224 blood samples from 195 pediatric oncology patients who were suspected as bloodstream infections were enrolled in this study. Their clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively reviewed, and the diagnostic performance of mNGS was assessed.

Results

Compared to the reference tests, mNGS showed significantly higher sensitivity (89.8% vs 32.5%, P < 0.001) and clinical agreement (76.3% vs 51.3%, P < 0.001) in detecting potential pathogens and distinguishing BSI from non-BSI. Especially, mNGS had an outstanding performance for virus detection, contributing to 100% clinical diagnosed virus. Samples from patients with neutropenia showed higher incidence of bacterial infections (P = 0.035). The most identified bacteria were Escherichia coli, and the overall infections by gram-negative bacteria were significantly more prevalent than those by gram-positive ones (90% vs 10%, P < 0.001). Overall, mNGS had an impact on the antimicrobial regimens’ usage in 54.3% of the samples in this study.

Conclusions

mNGS has the advantage of rapid and effective pathogen diagnosis in pediatric oncology patients with suspected BSI, especially for virus.

Impact

Compared with reference tests, mNGS showed significantly higher sensitivity and clinical agreement in detecting potential pathogens and distinguishing bloodstream infections (BSI) from non-BSI.

mNGS is particularly prominent in clinical diagnosed virus detection.

The incidence of bacterial infection was higher in patients with neutropenia, and the overall infection rate of Gram-negative bacteria was significantly higher than that of Gram-positive bacteria.

mNGS affects the antimicrobial regimens’ usage in more than half of patients.
Inherited myogenic abilities in muscle precursor cells defined by the mitochondrial complex I-encoding protein
Authors: Motohashi Norio , Minegishi Katsura , Aoki Yoshitsugu
Published: October 2023

Skeletal muscle comprises different muscle fibers, including slow- and fast-type muscles, and satellite cells (SCs), which exist in individual muscle fibers and possess different myogenic properties. Previously, we reported that myoblasts (MBs) from slow-type enriched soleus (SOL) had a high potential to self-renew compared with cells derived from fast-type enriched tibialis anterior (TA). However, whether the functionality of myogenic cells in adult muscles is attributed to the muscle fiber in which they reside and whether the characteristics of myogenic cells derived from slow- and fast-type fibers can be distinguished at the genetic level remain unknown. Global gene expression analysis revealed that the myogenic potential of MBs was independent of the muscle fiber type they reside in but dependent on the region of muscles they are derived from. Thus, in this study, proteomic analysis was conducted to clarify the molecular differences between MBs derived from TA and SOL. NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) iron-sulfur protein 8 (Ndufs8), a subunit of NADH dehydrogenase in mitochondrial complex I, significantly increased in SOL-derived MBs compared with that in TA-derived cells. Moreover, the expression level of Ndufs8 in MBs significantly decreased with age. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that Ndufs8 expression in MBs promoted differentiation, self-renewal, and apoptosis resistance. In particular, Ndufs8 suppression in MBs increased p53 acetylation, followed by a decline in NAD/NADH ratio. Nicotinamide mononucleotide treatment, which restores the intracellular NAD+ level, could decrease p53 acetylation and increase myogenic cell self-renewal ability in vivo. These results suggested that the functional differences in MBs derived from SOL and TA governed by the mitochondrial complex I-encoding gene reflect the magnitude of the decline in SC number observed with aging, indicating that the replenishment of NAD+ is a possible approach for improving impaired cellular functions caused by aging or diseases.
Frontal cortex activity during the production of diverse social communication calls in marmoset monkeys
Authors: Zhao Lingyun , Wang Xiaoqin
Published: October 2023

Vocal communication is essential for social behaviors in humans and non-human primates. While the frontal cortex is crucial to human speech production, its role in vocal production in non-human primates has long been questioned. It is unclear whether activities in the frontal cortex represent diverse vocal signals used in non-human primate communication. Here we studied single neuron activities and local field potentials (LFP) in the frontal cortex of male marmoset monkeys while the animal engaged in vocal exchanges with conspecifics in a social environment. We found that both single neuron activities and LFP were modulated by the production of each of the four major call types. Moreover, neural activities showed distinct patterns for different call types and theta-band LFP oscillations showed phase-locking to the phrases of twitter calls, suggesting a neural representation of vocalization features. Our results suggest important functions of the marmoset frontal cortex in supporting the production of diverse vocalizations in communication.
De novo genome assembly depicts the immune genomic characteristics of cattle
Authors: Li Ting-Ting , Xia Tian , Wu Jia-Qi , Hong Hao , Sun Zhao-Lin , Wang Ming , Ding Fang-Rong , Wang Jing , Jiang Shuai , Li Jin , Pan Jie , Yang Guang , Feng Jian-Nan , Dai Yun-Ping , Zhang Xue-Min , Zhou Tao , Li Tao
Published: October 2023

Immunogenomic loci remain poorly understood because of their genetic complexity and size. Here, we report the de novo assembly of a cattle genome and provide a detailed annotation of the immunogenomic loci. The assembled genome contains 143 contigs (N50 ~ 74.0 Mb). In contrast to the current reference genome (ARS-UCD1.2), 156 gaps are closed and 467 scaffolds are located in our assembly. Importantly, the immunogenomic regions, including three immunoglobulin (IG) loci, four T-cell receptor (TR) loci, and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) locus, are seamlessly assembled and precisely annotated. With the characterization of 258 IG genes and 657 TR genes distributed across seven genomic loci, we present a detailed depiction of immune gene diversity in cattle. Moreover, the MHC gene structures are integrally revealed with properly phased haplotypes. Together, our work describes a more complete cattle genome, and provides a comprehensive view of its complex immune-genome.
A silicon transporter gene required for healthy growth of rice on land
Authors: Mitani-Ueno Namiki , Yamaji Naoki , Huang Sheng , Yoshioka Yuma , Miyaji Takaaki , Ma Jian Feng
Published: October 2023

Silicon (Si) is the most abundant mineral element in the earth’s crust. Some plants actively accumulate Si as amorphous silica (phytoliths), which can protect plants from stresses. Here, we report a gene (SIET4) that is required for the proper accumulation and cell-specific deposition of Si in rice and show that it is essential for normal growth. SIET4 is constitutively expressed in leaves and encodes a Si transporter. SlET4 polarly localizes at the distal side of epidermal cells and cells surrounding the bulliform cells (motor cells) of the leaf blade, where Si is deposited. Knockout of SIET4 leads to the death of rice in the presence but not absence of Si. Further analysis shows that SIET4 knockout induces abnormal Si deposition in mesophyll cells and the induction of hundreds of genes related to various stress responses. These results indicate that SIET4 is required for the proper export of Si from leaf cells to the leaf surface and for the healthy growth of rice on land.
Epidemiology of Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale spp. in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Sendor Rachel , Banek Kristin , Kashamuka Melchior M. , Mvuama Nono , Bala Joseph A. , Nkalani Marthe , Kihuma Georges , Atibu Joseph , Thwai Kyaw L. , Svec W. Matthew , Goel Varun , Nseka Tommy , Lin Jessica T. , Bailey Jeffrey A. , Emch Michael , Carrel Margaret , Juliano Jonathan J. , Tshefu Antoinette , Parr Jonathan B.
Published: October 2023

Reports suggest non-falciparum species are an underappreciated cause of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa but their epidemiology is ill-defined, particularly in highly malaria-endemic regions. We estimated incidence and prevalence of PCR-confirmed non-falciparum and Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections within a longitudinal study conducted in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 2015-2017. Children and adults were sampled at biannual household surveys and routine clinic visits. Among 9,089 samples from 1,565 participants, incidences of P. malariae, P. ovale spp., and P. falciparum infections by 1-year were 7.8% (95% CI: 6.4%-9.1%), 4.8% (95% CI: 3.7%-5.9%) and 57.5% (95% CI: 54.4%-60.5%), respectively. Non-falciparum prevalences were higher in school-age children, rural and peri-urban sites, and P. falciparum co-infections. P. falciparum remains the primary driver of malaria in the DRC, though non-falciparum species also pose an infection risk. As P. falciparum interventions gain traction in high-burden settings, continued surveillance and improved understanding of non-falciparum infections are warranted.
Kinetics of the xanthophyll cycle and its role in photoprotective memory and response
Authors: Short Audrey , Fay Thomas P. , Crisanto Thien , Mangal Ratul , Niyogi Krishna K. , Limmer David T. , Fleming Graham R.
Published: October 2023

Efficiently balancing photochemistry and photoprotection is crucial for survival and productivity of photosynthetic organisms in the rapidly fluctuating light levels found in natural environments. The ability to respond quickly to sudden changes in light level is clearly advantageous. In the alga Nannochloropsis oceanica we observed an ability to respond rapidly to sudden increases in light level which occur soon after a previous high-light exposure. This ability implies a kind of memory. In this work, we explore the xanthophyll cycle in N. oceanica as a short-term photoprotective memory system. By combining snapshot fluorescence lifetime measurements with a biochemistry-based quantitative model, we show that short-term memory arises from the xanthophyll cycle. In addition, the model enables us to characterize the relative quenching abilities of the three xanthophyll cycle components. Given the ubiquity of the xanthophyll cycle in photosynthetic organisms the model described here will be of utility in improving our understanding of vascular plant and algal photoprotection with important implications for crop productivity.
Robotized indoor phenotyping allows genomic prediction of adaptive traits in the field
Authors: Bouidghaghen Jugurta , Moreau Laurence , Beauchêne Katia , Chapuis Romain , Mangel Nathalie , Cabrera‐Bosquet Llorenç , Welcker Claude , Bogard Matthieu , Tardieu François
Published: October 2023

Breeding for resilience to climate change requires considering adaptive traits such as plant architecture, stomatal conductance and growth, beyond the current selection for yield. Robotized indoor phenotyping allows measuring such traits at high throughput for speed breeding, but is often considered as non-relevant for field conditions. Here, we show that maize adaptive traits can be inferred in different fields, based on genotypic values obtained indoor and on environmental conditions in each considered field. The modelling of environmental effects allows translation from indoor to fields, but also from one field to another field. Furthermore, genotypic values of considered traits match between indoor and field conditions. Genomic prediction results in adequate ranking of genotypes for the tested traits, although with lesser precision for elite varieties presenting reduced phenotypic variability. Hence, it distinguishes genotypes with high or low values for adaptive traits, conferring either spender or conservative strategies for water use under future climates.