bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial dynamics as a pathobiological mediator of clonal myeloid disorders
Authors: Hayashi Yoshihiro , Harada Hironori
Published: April 2023

Myeloid malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia, are a group of clonal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) diseases. The incidence increases with global population aging. Genome sequencing uncovered mutational profiles in patients with myeloid malignancies and healthy elderly individuals. However, the molecular and cellular basis of disease development remains unclear. Accumulating evidence shows mitochondrial involvement in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies, aging‐related HSC phenotypes, and clonal hematopoiesis. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that continuously undergo fission and fusion processes to maintain their function, integrity, and activity. Mitochondria could be a hub of various biological processes that underlie cellular and systemic homeostasis. Thus, mitochondrial dysfunction could directly lead to the disruption of cellular homeostasis and the development of various disorders, including cancer. Notably, emerging data have revealed that mitochondria dynamics also primarily affect not only mitochondrial function and activity but also cellular homeostasis, the aging process, and tumorigenesis. Here, by focusing on mitochondrial dynamics, we highlight the current understanding of mitochondrial roles as a pathobiological mediator of myeloid malignancies and aging‐related clonal hematopoiesis.
Christ's Love and Borders
Authors: Ramachandra Vinoth
Published: April 2023

This article is a keynote address given at the Global Ecumenical Theological Institute (GETI) held in Karlsruhe, Germany, August‐September 2022, on the theme “Christ's love (re)moves borders” and organized in conjunction with the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches. The article argues that around the world, political borders are being cemented by populist nationalisms even as pandemics, capital flows, and climate change ignore them. If Christians are to resist such ideologies, they must recover a robust incarnational theology and their fundamental identity as members of the worldwide body of Christ. Simultaneously, even as borders between people are being reinforced, the border between people and machines is blurred by transhumanist and posthumanist agendas. Such paradoxes will continue to abound in an intellectual landscape where what is distinctively human is obscured by technological hubris and philosophical naïveté.
Report of the Acting General Secretary to the 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches, Karlsruhe, 2022
Authors: Sauca Ioan
Published: April 2023

This is the text of the report on 31 August 2022 of the acting general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) to the WCC's 11th Assembly, which took place in Karlsruhe, Germany, from 31 August to 8 September 2022.
Effects of small hydropower dams on macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages in southern Brazil
Authors: Couto Thiago B. A. , Rezende Renan S. , de Aquino Pedro P. U. , Costa‐Pereira Raul , de Campos Gelso L. , Occhi Thiago V. T. , Vitule Jean R. S. , Espírito‐Santo Helder M. V. , Soares Yan F. F. , Olden Julian D.
Published: April 2023

Hydropower dams affect freshwater biodiversity by virtue of modifying flow regimes and degrading habitat conditions both above and below the water impoundment and diversion structure. In recent decades, there has been a global proliferation of Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) propelled by incentive policies and a general perception that small dams are less harmful to the environment. However, limited science is available on the effects of SHPs on freshwater biodiversity, which is concerning considering their sheer numbers and the high variability in the size and operation of dams classified as SHPs.

We investigated the ecological effects of 12 SHPs on macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages of the Chapecó River Basin, Brazil. Our study included sites located upstream of the SHPs and sites directly affected by their operations (i.e., reservoir, dewatering section and downstream of the powerhouse). This design allowed us to quantify shifts in taxonomic composition and examine the relative role of different SHP attributes (e.g., dam height, reservoir area, age) in explaining these changes.

Our results reveal that SHPs modify the composition of both macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages, but the magnitude of such changes vary widely among dams. Both assemblages exhibited directionality in taxonomic shifts, resulting in a gradual replacement of taxa associated with fast‐flowing habitats by other groups more commonly associated with standing waters. We also found that changes in assemblage structureare related to structural (dam height, reservoir area) and spatial attributes (distance from headwaters) of SHPs, although the predictive power of these attributes varied taxonomically and among reservoir, dewatering and downstream sites.

Overall, our results demonstrate that SHPs have important and heterogeneous effects on freshwater assemblages, which may manifest individually or cumulatively across the riverscape. This suggests that it is unlikely that a priori classifications of dams based on their structural attributes can replace site‐specific and cumulative impact assessments. The results also shed light on the need for better understanding of how SHP attributes shape their ecological effects, so that a full assessment of the potential environmental impacts of the wide range of "small" dams is possible.
A comprehensive resilience assessment of Mexican tree species and their relationship with drought events over the last century
Authors: Correa‐Díaz A. , Villanueva‐Díaz J. , Gómez‐Guerrero A. , Martínez‐Bautista H. , Castruita‐Esparza L. U. , Horwath W. R. , Silva L. C. R.
Published: April 2023

The resilience of forests to drought events has become a major natural resource sustainability concern, especially in response to climate change. Yet, little is known about the legacy effects of repeated droughts, and tree species ability to respond across environmental gradients. In this study, we used a tree‐ring database (121 sites) to evaluate the overall resilience of tree species to drought events in the last century. We investigated how climate and geography affected the response at the species level. We evaluated temporal trends of resilience using a predictive mixed linear modeling approach. We found that pointer years (e.g., tree growth reduction) occurred during 11.3% of the 20th century, with an average decrease in tree growth of 66% compared to the previous period. The occurrence of pointer years was associated with negative values of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI, 81.6%) and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI, 77.3%). Tree species differed in their resilience capacity, however, species inhabiting xeric conditions were less resistant but with higher recovery rates (e.g., Abies concolor, Pinus lambertiana, and Pinus jeffreyi). On average, tree species needed 2.7 years to recover from drought events, with extreme cases requiring more than a decade to reach pre‐drought tree growth rates. The main abiotic factor related to resilience was precipitation, confirming that some tree species are better adapted to resist the effects of droughts. We found a temporal variation for all tree resilience indices (scaled to 100), with a decreasing resistance (−0.56 by decade) and resilience (−0.22 by decade), but with a higher recovery (+1.72 by decade) and relative resilience rate (+0.33 by decade). Our results emphasize the importance of time series of forest resilience, particularly by distinguishing the species‐level response in the context of legacy of droughts, which are likely to become more frequent and intense under a changing climate.
Tracing the future of epidemics: Coincident niche distribution of host animals and disease incidence revealed climate‐correlated risk shifts of main zoonotic diseases in China
Authors: Cao Bo , Bai Chengke , Wu Kunyi , La Ting , Su Yiyang , Che Lingyu , Zhang Meng , Lu Yumeng , Gao Pufan , Yang Jingjing , Xue Ying , Li Guishuang
Published: April 2023

Climate has critical roles in the origin, pathogenesis and transmission of infectious zoonotic diseases. However, large‐scale epidemiologic trend and specific response pattern of zoonotic diseases under future climate scenarios are poorly understood. Here, we projected the distribution shifts of transmission risks of main zoonotic diseases under climate change in China. First, we shaped the global habitat distribution of main host animals for three representative zoonotic diseases (2, 6, and 12 hosts for dengue, hemorrhagic fever, and plague, respectively) with 253,049 occurrence records using maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling. Meanwhile, we predicted the risk distribution of the above three diseases with 197,098 disease incidence records from 2004 to 2017 in China using an integrated Maxent modeling approach. The comparative analysis showed that there exist highly coincident niche distributions between habitat distribution of hosts and risk distribution of diseases, indicating that the integrated Maxent modeling is accurate and effective for predicting the potential risk of zoonotic diseases. On this basis, we further projected the current and future transmission risks of 11 main zoonotic diseases under four representative concentration pathways (RCPs) (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5) in 2050 and 2070 in China using the above integrated Maxent modeling with 1,001,416 disease incidence records. We found that Central China, Southeast China, and South China are concentrated regions with high transmission risks for main zoonotic diseases. More specifically, zoonotic diseases had diverse shift patterns of transmission risks including increase, decrease, and unstable. Further correlation analysis indicated that these patterns of shifts were highly correlated with global warming and precipitation increase. Our results revealed how specific zoonotic diseases respond in a changing climate, thereby calling for effective administration and prevention strategies. Furthermore, these results will shed light on guiding future epidemiologic prediction of emerging infectious diseases under global climate change.
H. pylori predictors and outcomes among adults undergoing upper endoscopy at a Jamaican teaching hospital: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Dawkins Y. M. , Rowe‐Gardener S. , Guthrie‐Dixon N. , Thompson R. , Thompson T. , Lee M. G. , Cunningham‐Myrie C.
Published: April 2023

Background

Recent data on the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Jamaica are lacking. It is postulated that there has been a decline in the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its associated complications. We determined sociodemographic characteristics, prevalence of H. pylori infection and clinical outcomes among adults undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and histology at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) between May 2018 and December 2020.

Materials and methods

A cross‐sectional study of patients (≥18 years old), who underwent EGD and histological evaluation for H. pylori infection, was conducted. Associations of H. pylori positivity and gastric cancer with sociodemographic/clinical variables and endoscopic findings were determined by stepwise logistic regression using backward selection. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios with related 95% confidence intervals (Cis) were calculated for H. pylori positivity and gastric cancer status.

Results

There were 323 participants (mean age 58.6 ± 17.8 years, 54.2% females). H. pylori prevalence was 22.2% (n = 70 of 315), 5.6% had gastric neoplasia (GN), 15.5% gastric atrophy, 11.4% intestinal metaplasia and 3.7% dysplasia on histology. Mucositis (64.5%), gastric ulcer (14.9%), and duodenal ulcer (13.9%) were the most common endoscopic findings. Participants with peptic ulcer disease (PUD) (unOR = 4.0; p = .017), gastric cancer (unOR = 9.5; p = .003), gastric atrophy (unOR = 12.8; p < .001), and intestinal metaplasia (unOR = 5.0; p < .001) had a significantly higher odds of being H. pylori positive, but after multivariable analyses only gastric atrophy remained significant (aOR = 27.3; p < .001). Participants with mucositis had a significantly lower odds of gastric cancer (unOR 0.1; p = .035) while participants with dysplasia had significantly higher odds (unOR 8.0; p = .042), but these were no longer significant after multivariable analyses (aOR = 0.2; p = .156 and aOR = 18.9; p = .070, respectively).

Conclusions

Histology based prevalence of H. pylori infection is lower than previously reported in Jamaica. Gastric atrophy is a significant predictor of H. pylori positivity.
Microencapsulation of Lactobacillus casei in psyllium–gelatin gum enriched with selenium: effects on bacterial survival under gastrointestinal and storage conditions
Authors: Hashami Zahra , Sadeghi Ehsan , Ebrahimi Behzad , Zibaei Rezvan , Hasanvand Sara , Roshandel Zahra , de Toledo Guimarães Jonas , Mohammadi Reza
Published: April 2023

The current study aimed to evaluate the viability of microencapsulated Lactobacillus casei to simulated gastrointestinal digestion and storage after optimisation of the psyllium (PG) and gelatin (GE) gum mixtures (2:1, 1:2, 1:1, 0:1 and 1:0) enriched with selenium (Se). Our results exhibited that the size of spherical particles ranged from 643.9 ± 1.77 to 1151.5 ± 3.38 μm. The ratio of 2PG:1GE showed the highest encapsulation efficiency (89.8% ± 0.77) and selenium entrapment (6.92 ± 0.16 ppm). Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data exposed new spectra in the 2PG:1GE samples. Microencapsulated L. casei with 2PG:1GE were resistant to simulated gastric conditions (pH 1.8, 1 h) and bile solution (pH 7.4, 120 min), and during the storage period at room temperature, leading to significant (p < 0.05) higher survival in comparison with free cells. In short, this study optimised the concentrations of PG and GE to entrap Se and carry L. casei efficiently, providing significant protection during exposure to various aggressive conditions.
Leveraging transparency to shift capital‐labour relations in garment sector production: A critical analysis of the design and structure of the Bangladesh Accord
Authors: COLLINS Jenny , YATES Julian S.
Published: April 2023

Little attention has been given to examples of innovative structural designs in the private labour regulation of garment global production networks (GPNs). This article addresses this gap by examining the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, analysing its contested structural features, namely: (1) a legally binding basis, (2) a labour‐balanced executive board, (3) corporate critical mass and (4) transparency of functions. The authors’ findings contribute to the understanding of emerging hybrid governance mechanisms, combining multi‐organizational cooperative action with traditional capital‐labour dynamics to influence labour regulation in GPNs in new and contradictory ways.
The shadow economy and education in Uganda: Is there a long‐run relationship?
Authors: Esaku Stephen , Mugoda Salmon
Published: April 2023

Using time series data from Uganda covering the period from 1991 to 2017, this paper applies autoregressive distributed lag bounds testing approach to examine the long‐ and short‐run relationship between education and the shadow economy. We find evidence of the long‐run relationship. The results indicate that an increase in both primary and secondary school enrolment significantly reduce the size of the shadow economy in the long run, all else equal. The above relationship is robust to alternative specification and estimation methods. We also uncover bidirectional causal relationship between education and the shadow economy. In the short run, increased school enrolment reduces the shadow economy but in an insignificant manner. At the policy level, the existence of a negative relationship between education and the shadow economy suggests that mitigating informality requires reforming education system to address issues of quality. Additionally, addressing informality may require improving the economic and financial environment so that the needs and obstacles faced by individuals and or businesses are handled. Furthermore, reforming the political and institutional environment may go a long way into mitigating the expansion of the shadow economy in Uganda and Africa in general.
Against ‘Hate Speech’
Authors: Kindermann Dirk
Published: April 2023

This article argues against the term and concept of ‘hate speech’ and in favour of using the concept and term ‘discriminatory speech’. ‘Hate speech’ is a misnomer; we should name the harmful speech in question by what it in fact does: it discriminates. The article argues for this conceptual replacement claim by identifying a number of functions the concept ‘hate speech’ has been meant to serve and by arguing that extant concepts of hate speech have not served this function well. Roughly, they do not serve the functions well because of five properties of hate speech: hate centricity, perpetrator centricity, intention centricity, emotion centricity, and individual centricity. The article then proposes a definition of discriminatory speech and argues that it fulfils the conceptual functions better.
Full‐mouth rehabilitation in a completely digital workflow using partially adhesive monolithic zirconia restorations
Authors: Luna‐Domínguez Carlos Roberto , Luna‐Domínguez Jorge Humberto , Blatz Markus
Published: April 2023

Objective

This clinical case describes a completely digital workflow using current digital technologies for a full‐mouth adhesive rehabilitation with ultra‐translucent multilayer zirconia restorations.

Clinical Considerations

A healthy 60‐year‐old man with abfractions on all upper and lower molars and severe tooth wear underwent a full‐mouth rehabilitation with laminate veneers and partial adhesive restorations. A proper zirconia bonding protocol was realized to provide a durable bond between the ultra‐translucent zirconia and the resin cement. Furthermore, the implementation of a digital workflow enables the clinician to have an effective communication during treatment planning and simplify the clinical and laboratory procedures, providing the patient with long‐term esthetic treatment and functional results.

Conclusion

The implementation of a completely digital workflow and the use of ultra‐translucent multilayer zirconia for indirect adhesive restorations can be an alternative with simplified and predictable procedures for patients with dental wear and teeth discolorations.

Clinical Significance

The digital workflow described is intended to facilitate the planning and execution of a full‐mouth adhesive rehabilitation and demonstrates to clinicians a reliable zirconia bonding concept for minimally invasive anterior and posterior restorations.
A dementia positive, family‐centered question geriatricians can ask caregivers and persons living with dementia
Authors: Monin Joan K. , Valeika Sarah , Gil Heidi
Published: April 2023

This editorial comments on the article by Sideman et al. in this issue.
Regulating Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
Authors: Lam Wing Man Wynne , Seifert Jacob
Published: April 2023

This paper studies firms' data privacy and cybersecurity choices. We emphasise the strategic interdependence between these decisions and demonstrate that security in both the market equilibrium and the social optimum tends to be higher when data is shared. We also identify important market failures in the sense that firms tend to under‐invest in security and over‐share data. Our welfare analysis of a minimum security standard, disclosure and consumer education policies, liability rules and consumer mitigation strategies highlights the need for a co‐ordinated approach to regulation.
Psychological distress and the belief that oral behaviours put a strain on the masticatory system in relation to the self‐report of awake bruxism: Four scenarios
Authors: van Selms Maurits K. A. , Thymi Magdalini , Lobbezoo Frank
Published: April 2023

Background

It is assumed that other factors than masticatory muscle activity awareness could drive the self‐report of awake bruxism.

Objectives

To investigate the extent to which the report of awake bruxism is associated with psychological distress, and with the belief that oral behaviours put a strain on the masticatory system among TMD‐pain patients.

Materials and Methods

The study sample consisted of 1830 adult patients with reported function‐dependent TMD pain. Awake bruxism was assessed through six items of the Oral Behaviors Checklist. Psychological distress was assessed by means of somatic symptoms, depression and anxiety. Causal attribution belief was measured with the question ‘Do you think these behaviours put a strain on your jaws, jaw muscles, and/or teeth?’

Results

Mean age of all participants was 42.8 (±15.2) years, 78.2% being female. Controlled for sex, positive, yet weak, correlations were found between awake bruxism and somatic symptom severity (rs = 0.258; p < .001), depression (rs = 0.272; p < .001) and anxiety (rs = 0.314; p < .001): patients with the highest scores reported approximately twice as much awake bruxism compared to those with minimal scores. Controlled for age and sex, a positive, moderate correlation was found between awake bruxism and causal attribution belief (rs = 0.538; p < .001). Patients who believed that performing awake oral behaviours put ‘very much’ a strain on the masticatory system reported four times more awake bruxism than patients who did not believe that these behaviours are harmful.

Conclusions

Based on the results and relevant scientific literature, the theoretical background mechanisms of our findings are discussed in four scenarios that are either in favour of the use of self‐report of awake bruxism being a representation of masticatory muscle activity awareness, or against it.
More competition to alleviate poverty? A general equilibrium model and an empirical study
Authors: Ghazzai Hend , Hemissi Wided , Lahmandi‐Ayed Rim , Kefi Sana Mami
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we theoretically and empirically analyze the impact of competition on poverty. We consider a general equilibrium framework with vertical preferences and compare poverty in a Monopoly setting versus a Duopoly setting considering explicitly the ownership structure. Poverty is measured by the size of the population living below an absolute poverty line. Theoretical results show that the impact of competition on poverty is contingent to the ownership structure, the poverty line and the relative dispersion of the individuals with respect to their intensity of preference for quality and sensitivity to effort: competition can improve or worsen poverty depending on the model's parameters. Empirical findings for the three existing poverty lines ($1.9, $3.2, and $5.5) are consistent to a large extent with our theoretical results.
BITUMEN RESOURCES OF THE EAST SIBERIAN BASIN
Authors: Zuodong Liu , Blackbourn Graham , Zhixing Wen , Hongjun Wang , Zhengjun He , Feng Ma , Xiaobing Liu , Ruiying Chen , Haiguang Bian
Published: April 2023

The so‐called East Siberian “Basin” extends over an ancient continental block, the Siberian Platform, and is made up of a number of smaller‐scale basement arches and basins with a variable sedimentary cover of mostly Proterozoic and Palaeozoic ages. The basin hosts the oldest large‐scale petroleum systems known. Proterozoic (“Riphean”: 1650‐650 Ma) marine source rocks, which were deposited on the passive margins which surrounded much of the Platform, generated hydrocarbons as they were buried, folded and thermally matured during a series of mostly Late Proterozoic to Cambrian continental collisions, with the final collision taking place in the Early Cretaceous along the northeastern (Verkhoyan) margin. The hydrocarbons were transported by long‐distance migration to reservoirs in the sedimentary successions which drape basement uplifts, there forming giant oil and gas accumulations which were sealed by extensive Cambrian evaporites. Subsequent uplift and unroofing, especially in the north and east of the Platform where the seal is not present, led to degradation of the oil to leave giant accumulations of bitumen, defined here as petroleum with an API gravity of less than 10° which is immobile under reservoir conditions. A significantly younger petroleum system, which may still be active, is present in the Vilyui Basin in the NE of the Siberian Platform. This basin was initiated as a mid‐Devonian rift and has a later Palaeozoic and Mesozoic fill.

Bitumen accumulations in the East Siberian Basin occur mainly in Precambrian, Cambrian and Permian reservoir rocks, and began to form from precursor oils during the Permian. Around twenty‐five named fields have been described, many of which comprise portions of more extensive belts of bitumen occurrence. Although geological mapping of natural resources in the East Siberian Basin has been carried out since the 19th century, the region remains under‐explored and none of the bitumen accumulations has yet been developed.

An attempt is made in this paper to catalogue and map all recorded occurrences of bitumen throughout the East Siberian Basin. Regional geological studies have been conducted in order to understand the origin and habitat of each occurrence. So far as possible, data on the areal extent and stratigraphic thickness of each bitumen occurrence has been collated, together with data on bitumen saturations and quality. These data were used to calculate resource volumes for each accumulation from first principles. Thus the total bitumen resources within the East Siberian Basin have been calculated as 24,640 MM (million) tonnes. Disregarding accumulations regarded as either of insufficient resource‐density or too small to merit consideration, this figure has been reduced to 14,760 MM tonnes. Recoverable reserves, by analogy with comparable resources worldwide, are calculated as 6100 MM tonnes (approximately 33,900 MM brl)
Small RNAs: Efficient and miraculous effectors that play key roles in plant–microbe interactions
Authors: Jiang Chun‐Hao , Li Zi‐Jie , Zheng Li‐Yu , Yu Yi‐Yang , Niu Dong‐Dong
Published: April 2023

Plants' response to pathogens is highly complex and involves changes at different levels, such as activation or repression of a vast array of genes. Recently, many studies have demonstrated that many RNAs, especially small RNAs (sRNAs), are involved in genetic expression and reprogramming affecting plant–pathogen interactions. The sRNAs, including short interfering RNAs and microRNAs, are noncoding RNA with 18–30 nucleotides, and are recognized as key genetic and epigenetic regulators. In this review, we summarize the new findings about defence‐related sRNAs in the response to pathogens and our current understanding of their effects on plant–pathogen interactions. The main content of this review article includes the roles of sRNAs in plant–pathogen interactions, cross‐kingdom sRNA trafficking between host and pathogen, and the application of RNA‐based fungicides for plant disease control.
The expression of Runx2 in the pathogenesis of periodontitis
Authors: Wang Miaomiao , Xu Chunjiao , Wu Xiaoshan , He Xiufang , Guo Yiting , Zhang Wenrui , Sun Yumei
Published: April 2023

Objective

Runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) plays an important role in bone metabolism; however, the relationship between Runx2 and periodontitis remains unclear. We investigated Runx2 expression in the gingiva of patients to explore its role in periodontitis.

Methods

Gingival samples of patients were collected, including healthy samples (control group) and periodontitis samples (P group). Periodontitis samples were divided into three groups based on the periodontitis stage. Samples with stage I and grade B periodontitis were in the P1 group, stage II and grade B in the P2 group, and stage III or IV and grade B in the P3 group. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were performed to detect Runx2 levels. The probing (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded.

Results

Runx2 expression levels in the P and P3 groups were higher than those in the control group. In addition, Runx2 expression was positively correlated with CAL and PD (r1 = 0.435, r2 = 0.396).

Conclusion

The high expression level of Runx2 in the gingiva of patients with periodontitis may be correlated with the pathogenesis of periodontitis.
The classification of airborne LiDAR building point clouds based on multi‐scale and multi‐level cloth simulation
Authors: Liu Rufei , Wang Minye , Hou Guangqiang , Wu Wei , Zhao Changwei , Ge Qingjie
Published: April 2023

Building point clouds classification is an important task for a Smart City. This paper proposes a method based on multi‐scale and multi‐level cloth simulation to classify buildings in airborne LiDAR point clouds. First, the point clouds are preprocessed to denoise, filter ground and normalise height. The height distribution of point clouds in the whole area is then counted. Point clouds are segmented with similar heights on the top of the internal buildings by using the watershed algorithm based on height hierarchical labelling. Finally, the multi‐scale cloth simulation is used to crudely extract the seed points on the top of the buildings. These seed points are grown to realise the complete classification of airborne building point clouds. Multiple sets of data are selected for experimental verification. The results show that this method has higher classification accuracy and better applicability with a correct classification rate of 96.83%, 95.94% and 94.36%, and a recall rate of 98.18%, 96.32% and 92.33% in point level.
Inoculation of ACC deaminase‐producing endophytic bacteria down‐regulates ethylene‐induced pathogenesis‐related signaling in red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under salt stress
Authors: Roy Choudhury Aritra , Trivedi Pankaj , Choi Jeongyun , Madhaiyan Munusamy , Park Jung‐Ho , Choi Wonho , Walitang Denver I. , Sa Tongmin
Published: April 2023

Pathogenesis‐related (PR) signaling plays multiple roles in plant development under abiotic and biotic stress conditions and is regulated by a plethora of plant physiological as well as external factors. Here, our study was conducted to evaluate the role of an ACC deaminase‐producing endophytic bacteria in regulating ethylene‐induced PR signaling in red pepper plants under salt stress. We also evaluated the efficiency of the bacteria in down‐regulating the PR signaling for efficient colonization and persistence in the plant endosphere. We used a characteristic endophyte, Methylobacterium oryzae CBMB20 and its ACC deaminase knockdown mutant (acdS−). The wild‐type M. oryzae CBMB20 was able to decrease ethylene emission by 23% compared to the noninoculated and acdS− M. oryzae CBMB20 inoculated plants under salt stress. The increase in ethylene emission resulted in enhanced hydrogen peroxide concentration, phenylalanine ammonia‐lyase activity, β‐1,3 glucanase activity, and expression profiles of WRKY, CaPR1, and CaPTI1 genes that are typical salt stress and PR signaling factors. Furthermore, the inoculation of both the bacterial strains had shown induction of PR signaling under normal conditions during the initial inoculation period. However, wild‐type M. oryzae CBMB20 was able to down‐regulate the ethylene‐induced PR signaling under salt stress and enhance plant growth and stress tolerance. Collectively, ACC deaminase‐producing endophytic bacteria down‐regulate the salt stress‐mediated PR signaling in plants by regulating the stress ethylene emission levels and this suggests a new paradigm in efficient colonization and persistence of ACC deaminase‐producing endophytic bacteria for better plant growth and productivity.
Role of aquaporin 3 in reproductive performance of dairy goats after repeated estrus synchronization stimulation
Authors: Sun Shuang , Lv Ming , Niu Huimin , Luo Jun
Published: April 2023

This study explored the specific molecular mechanisms through which repeated estrus synchronization (ES) treatments reduce the reproductive performance of dairy goats. Ninety‐six goats (n = 24/group) were randomly assigned to two groups receiving ES treatments thrice every fortnight (3‐equine chorionic gonadotropin [eCG] and 3‐follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] groups) and two groups receiving one ES treatment (1‐eCG and 1‐FSH groups). ES treatments of 1‐ and 3‐eCG goats were performed via the intravaginal insertion of a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device containing 300 mg progesterone (P4), followed by 300 IU eCG injections 48 h before CIDR withdrawal. The 1‐ and 3‐FSH goats received CIDR for 10 days, followed by 50 IU FSH and 100 μg PGF2α within 12 h of CIDR withdrawal. Ovaries of three goats in estrus from both groups were harvested for analysis. Subsequently, all the goats in estrus were artificially inseminated twice. Consequently, 3‐eCG and 3‐FSH goats showed a considerably reduced estrus rate and litter size than 1‐eCG and 1‐FSH goats. AQP3 mRNA and protein expression were significantly higher in the 3‐eCG and 3‐FSH groups than in the 1‐eCG and 1‐FSH groups. AQP3 overexpression led to cell apoptosis and decreased steroid hormone secretion ability of ovarian granulosa cells. Moreover, it resulted in a decrease in maturation and cleavage rates after parthenogenetic activation and in vitro fertilization, respectively. AQP3 gene was involved in reducing the reproductive performance of repeated ES‐treated dairy goats. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the effective use of reproductive hormones in breeding techniques for livestock.
Learning to Live More Equitably
Authors: James Susan
Published: April 2023

Although seventeenth‐century societies fell far short of contemporary standards of justice, early modern philosophers thought deeply about what social justice consists in. At a theoretical level, they aimed to articulate distributive principles. At a practical level, they asked what qualities we need to possess in order to make just judgments. In the first part of this article, I discuss two interpretations of the conception of equity on which justice was held to rest. On either interpretation, I suggest, treating people equitably was held to be compatible with treating them in ways that we would consider radically unjust. This raises the practical question: What qualities was an equitable or just judge thought to need? The middle section of the article sketches a reply, drawing on a genre of early modern works about how to reason. As this section reveals, early modern thinkers were alive to the many ways in which we can fall short of justice and possessed many techniques for self‐improvement. Greater justice was not beyond the bounds of their imaginations; so, what prevented them from defending it? In the final section of the article, I propose a partial answer, as relevant to us as to our early modern forebears.
Personality Assessment Inventory suicidality scales: Suicidal Ideation (SUI), Suicide Potential Index (SPI), and S_Chron in an Afghanistan/Iraq‐era active and Veteran military sample
Authors: Shura R. D. , Miskey H. M. , McDonald S. , Rowland J. A. , Martindale S. L. , Wagner H. R. , Tupler L. A.
Published: April 2023

Introduction

This study validated Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Suicidal Ideation (SUI), Suicide Potential Index (SPI), and S_Chron scales against chronic and acute suicide risk factors and symptom validity measures.

Methods

Afghanistan/Iraq‐era active‐duty and Veteran participants completed a prospective study on neurocognition (N = 403) that included the PAI. The Beck Depression Inventory‐II (specifically item 9) administered at two time points assessed acute and chronic suicide risk; the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation item 20 identified history of suicide attempts. Major depressive disorder (MDD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were evaluated using structured interviews and questionnaires.

Results

All three PAI suicide scales were significantly related to independent indicators of suicidality, with the largest effect for SUI (AUC 0.837–0.849). All three suicide scales were significantly related to MDD (r = 0.36–0.51), PTSD (r = 0.27–0.60), and TBI (r = 0.11–0.30). The three scales were not related to suicide attempt history for those with invalid PAI protocols.

Conclusions

Although all three suicide scales do show significant relationships to other indicators of risk, SUI showed the highest association and greatest resistance to response bias.
Salicylic acid inhibits rice endocytic protein trafficking mediated by OsPIN3t and clathrin to affect root growth
Authors: Jiang Lihui , Yao Baolin , Zhang Xiaoyan , Wu Lixia , Fu Qijing , Zhao Yiting , Cao Yuxin , Zhu Ruomeng , Lu Xinqi , Huang Wuying , Zhao Jianping , Li Kuixiu , Zhao Shuanglu , Han Li , Zhou Xuan , Luo Chongyu , Zhu Haiyan , Yang Jing , Huang Huichuan , Zhu Zhengge , He Xiahong , Friml Jiří , Zhang Zhongkai , Liu Changning , Du Yunlong
Published: April 2023

Salicylic acid (SA) plays important roles in different aspects of plant development, including root growth, where auxin is also a major player by means of its asymmetric distribution. However, the mechanism underlying the effect of SA on the development of rice roots remains poorly understood. Here, we show that SA inhibits rice root growth by interfering with auxin transport associated with the OsPIN3t‐ and clathrin‐mediated gene regulatory network (GRN). SA inhibits root growth as well as Brefeldin A‐sensitive trafficking through a non‐canonical SA signaling mechanism. Transcriptome analysis of rice seedlings treated with SA revealed that the OsPIN3t auxin transporter is at the center of a GRN involving the coat protein clathrin. The root growth and endocytic trafficking in both the pin3t and clathrin heavy chain mutants were SA insensitivity. SA inhibitory effect on the endocytosis of OsPIN3t was dependent on clathrin; however, the root growth and endocytic trafficking mediated by tyrphostin A23 (TyrA23) were independent of the pin3t mutant under SA treatment. These data reveal that SA affects rice root growth through the convergence of transcriptional and non‐SA signaling mechanisms involving OsPIN3t‐mediated auxin transport and clathrin‐mediated trafficking as key components.
Whole blood derived and apheresis platelets: Opinions and preferences—the results of a national survey of blood collectors
Authors: Yazer Mark H. , Razatos Anna , Sayers Merlyn
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Currently greater than 94% of the US platelet supply is collected by apheresis. A survey to determine the attitudes of members of America's Blood Centers (ABC) toward whole blood derived (WBD) platelets was designed in light of current platelet supply issues.

Methods

An on‐line survey was distributed to medical directors of the 47 ABC members.

Results

Responses were received from 44/47 (94%) ABC members. There were 15/43 (35%) centers that are currently providing WBD platelets. Seventy percent of the respondents agreed or agreed strongly that WBD and apheresis platelets were clinically equivalent, with approximately 16% indicating that they did not have an opinion on their equivalency and 14% indicating that they were not clinically equivalent. Forty‐four percent of respondents felt that their customers would agree or strongly agree that these products are clinically equivalent, while 26% felt that their customers did not know or were neutral on clinical equivalency. The main barrier to WBD platelet implementation was logistic/inventory management issues, followed by bacterial contamination risk mitigation. There were 21/43 (49%) respondents who indicated they are not considering producing WBD platelets to mitigate shortages. Respondents indicated they might begin producing WBD platelets if there was evidence of increasing customer demand, increased reimbursement, inability to supply apheresis platelets, if pathogen reduction became available for WBD platelets, if the platelet shortage worsened.

Conclusions

The majority of blood collectors consider WBD platelets clinically equivalent to apheresis, however wider adoption of WBD platelets is still hindered by challenges with logistics and inventory management.
Evolutionary history of New World crakes (Aves: Rallidae) with emphasis on the tribe Laterallini
Authors: Depino Emiliano A. , Pérez‐Emán Jorge L. , Bonaccorso Elisa , Areta Juan I.
Published: April 2023

New World crakes are intriguing, poorly known birds with cursorial cryptic habits; they belong to two unrelated tribes: Laterallini and Pardirallini. Recent genetic studies contributed to the phylogenetic knowledge of these tribes, but a complete phylogenetic reconstruction is still missing. Here, we present the most taxonomically complete dated gene‐based phylogeny of New World crakes, with an emphasis on the Laterallini, including for the first time sequences ofCoturnicops notatus,Laterallus levraudi,L. jamaicensis tuerosiandL. xenopterus. We used multilocus (mtDNA + nucDNA) phylogenetic analyses and interpreted our results in light of the natural history of the group. Our novel results show that: (1)L. xenopterusis sister toL. leucopyrrhus; (2)L. j. tuerosiis sister toL. spilonota; (3)C. notatusis sister to the clade that groups the remaining New World black crakes (L. jamaicensis,L. j. tuerosi, L. rogersi,L. spilonotaandL. spilopterus); and (4)L. levraudiandL. melanophaiusconform a recently diverged clade. Thus, our results indicate polyphyly in this group, particularly forLaterallusand, for the first time, forCoturnicops. We show that some discrepancies with previous studies stem from misidentified samples or sequences ofL. leucopyrrhusandAnurolimnas fasciatus.Finally, we provide new preliminary insights into species limits of some taxa, specifically forL. levraudi,L. melanophaiusandL. j. tuerosi. Our results set the stage for integrative taxonomic assessments at the generic level in the Laterallini by incorporating phylogenetic (gene‐based) and natural history data.
Skeletal muscle adaptation to indirect electrical stimulation: divergence between microvascular and metabolic adaptations
Authors: Kissane Roger W. P. , Hauton David , Tickle Peter G. , Egginton Stuart
Published: April 2023

Exercise involves a complex interaction of factors influencing muscle performance, where variations in recruitment pattern (e.g., endurance vs. resistance training) may differentially modulate the local tissue environment (i.e., oxygenation, blood flow, fuel utilization). These exercise stimuli are potent drivers of vascular and metabolic change. However, their relative contribution to adaptive remodelling of skeletal muscle and subsequent performance is unclear. Using implantable devices, indirect electrical stimulation (ES) of locomotor muscles of rat at different pacing frequencies (4, 10 and 40 Hz) was used to differentially recruit hindlimb blood flow and modulate fuel utilization. After 7 days, ES promoted significant remodelling of microvascular composition, increasing capillary density in the cortex of the tibialis anterior by 73%, 110% and 55% for the 4 Hz, 10 and 40 Hz groups, respectively. Additionally, there was remodelling of the whole muscle metabolome, including significantly elevated amino acid turnover, with muscle kynurenic acid levels doubled by pacing at 10 Hz (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the fatigue index of skeletal muscle was only significantly elevated in 10 Hz (58% increase) and 40 Hz (73% increase) ES groups, apparently linked to improved capillary distribution. These data demonstrate that manipulation of muscle recruitment pattern may be used to differentially expand the capillary network prior to altering the metabolome, emphasising the importance of local capillary supply in promoting exercise tolerance.
Magnetoreception in cryptochrome enabled by one-dimensional radical motion
Authors: Ramsay Jessica L. , Kattnig Daniel R.
Published: April 2023

A popular hypothesis ascribes magnetoreception to a magnetosensitive recombination reaction of a pair of radicals in the protein cryptochrome. Many theoretical studies of this model have ignored inter-radical interactions, particularly the electron–electron dipolar (EED) coupling, which have a detrimental effect on the magnetosensitivity. Here, we set out to elucidate if a radical pair allowed to undergo internal motion can yield enhanced magneto-sensitivity. Our model considers the effects of diffusive motion of one radical partner along a one-dimensional reaction coordinate. Such dynamics could, in principle, be realized either via actual diffusion of a mobile radical through a protein channel or via bound radical pairs subjected to protein structural rearrangements and fluctuations. We demonstrate that the suppressive effect of the EED interactions can be alleviated in these scenarios as a result of the quantum Zeno effect and intermittent reduction of the EED coupling during the radical's diffusive excursions. Our results highlight the importance of the dynamic environment entwined with the radical pair and ensuing magnetosensitivity under strong EED coupling, where it had not previously been anticipated, and demonstrate that a triplet-born radical pair can develop superior sensitivity over a singlet-born one.
Time domain response of a piezoelectric layer
Authors: Yoritomo John Y. , Dzikowicz Benjamin R. , Tressler James F.
Published: April 2023

A number of one-dimensional models have been developed to inform the design of piezoelectric transducers. The majority of these models are in the frequency domain. In this paper, we develop a one-dimensional time-domain model for the mechanical response of a piezoelectric layer. Secondary effects, resulting from feedback between the acoustic and electric variables, are included in the model. Our approach utilizes Green's function for the Helmholtz equation with radiation boundary conditions and the methods of complex analysis. The model predictions are validated by comparison with a finite-difference time-domain numerical simulation of the governing acoustic equations in and outside the layer. This time-domain model enables efficient calculation of the secondary piezoelectric action effects and provides the mechanical response to an arbitrary electrical source.
Difference frequency coherent matched autoproduct processing for source localization in deep ocean
Authors: Yuan Ze , Niu Haiqiang , Li Zhenglin , Luo Wenyu
Published: April 2023

Matched autoproduct processing (MAP) refers to a matched field processing (MFP) style array signal processing technique for passive source localization, which interrogates frequency-difference autoproduct instead of genuine acoustic pressure. Due to frequency downshifting, MAP is less sensitive to environmental mismatch, but it suffers from low spatial resolution and a low peak-to-sidelobe ratio of ambiguity surface. These source localization metrics are herein improved with coherent approaches. Specifically, the coherent normalized MFP is extended to coherent matched autoproduct processing (CMAP), a difference frequency coherent algorithm that exploits correlations among the autoproducts at various difference frequencies and eliminates the phase factor of the source spectrum for passive source localization. Phase-only coherent matched autoproduct processing is a CMAP derivation technique that only uses phase information. Through simulations in a Munk sound-speed profile environment, sensitivity analysis in the South China Sea environment, and high signal-to-noise ratio experimental measurements, these two algorithms are validated as compared to the conventional MFP and incoherent MAP. Simulation investigations demonstrate that difference frequency coherent algorithms can suppress sidelobes while simultaneously enhancing the localization resolution and robustness. The experimental results generally support the findings of the simulations.