bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction to Geographical Indications with a Focus on Africa
Authors: Schneider Marius , Ho Tu Nam Nora
Published: May 2024

This chapter offers an introduction to geographical indications (GIs) with a focus on Africa. This chapter touches on the history behind the creation of the GI system and the role played by Africa. It sets out the opposing views on how to protect distinctive signs that link the quality and reputation of a product to its place or area of production, highlighting the difference between the New World and the Old World. The chapter discusses the link between GIs and development and GI as traditional knowledge. The chapter reviews the possible benefits of GIs on rural communities, highlighting positive examples on the African continent. The impediments to achieving higher level of socio-economic developments are also discussed. The chapter ends by analysing the common goals of GI and traditional knowledge.
Geographical Indications and Trade Marks
Authors: Schneider Marius , Ho Tu Nam Nora
Published: May 2024

This chapter describes various possible situations of overlap and conflict between trade marks and geographical indications (GIs). The problematic situations include the registration of a trade mark incorporating a prior registered GI for similar or dissimilar goods and the registration of a sign first as a trade mark and, later in time, the registration of a GI reproducing or containing the said sign. The chapter looks at the various solutions brought forward to solve these conflicts between trade marks and GIs, discussing the ‘First in Time, First in Right’ principle, the superiority of GIs and the coexistence principle. The chapter further looks at signs registered as GIs in one country but considered generic in others, and homonymous GIs. The chapter highlights the existence of uncertainty and the difficulty to find a unanimous solution satisfying both proponents of GIs and trade marks for all conflicting scenarios.
Morocco
Authors: Schneider Marius , Ho Tu Nam Nora
Published: May 2024

This chapter looks at Morocco, which is located in the Maghreb region in North West Africa. Morocco is a party to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Trade Marks (Madrid System) since October 1999 and to the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration of 1958 since October 1958. Morocco is also a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It is possible in Morocco to register geographical indications (GIs), Appellations d’origine (designations of origin), and labels agricoles (agricultural labels). The chapter discusses in more details the registration of GIs and designations of origin, the registrability of names, the procedure and requirements for registration, the term of protection, the rights of the owner against infringers and customs enforcement. The chapter ends by looking at whether there are any bilateral agreements regarding GIs to which Morocco is a party.
South Africa
Authors: Schneider Marius , Ho Tu Nam Nora
Published: May 2024

This chapter talks about South Africa, which is located at the southern tip of Africa. South Africa has no specific geographical indication (GI) legislation but adopts a common law approach of using various statutes to protect its noteworthy agricultural products. These statutes are the Merchandise Marks Act (MMA), the Agricultural Product Standards Act (APSA), the Trade Marks Act (TMA), and the Liquor Products Act (LPA). The chapter discusses the various means of protection for GIs under these various acts. The chapter outlines the registrability of names, the procedure and requirements for registration, the term of protection, the rights of the owner against infringers and customs enforcement. The chapter ends by looking at the bilateral agreements regarding GIs to which South Africa is a party.
Conclusion
Authors: Schneider Marius , Ho Tu Nam Nora
Published: May 2024

This chapter recounts the first international agreements on the protection of the name of products having characteristics linked to their geographical origin administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTP Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) made it compulsory for all WTO members to protect geographical indications (GIs) in their national legislation. This chapter outlines the advantages and disadvantages of protecting GIs under a sui generis system or by using the trade mark system. The chapter highlights the need for African states to choose the most appropriate system, taking into account the cost and type of products to be protected. The chapter further highlights the necessity to go beyond mere registration of GIs to fully benefit from the advantages associated with a GI.
The Goldberg Variations Deconstructed
Authors: Knyt Erinn E
Published: May 2024

This chapter documents single-author arrangements, transcriptions, and re-compositions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations from 1930 to 2020. It shows that the piece began to be performed regularly in the mid-twentieth century in historically informed manners on the harpsichord and piano. Transcriptions, arrangements, and re-compositions proliferated again around the late 1980s, but this time for a diversity of instruments. Although the piece continues to be performed in historically informed manners on harpsichord and piano to the present, there is more openness to subjective interpretation than in the mid-twentieth century. In the process of documenting these changes, this chapter contributes to ongoing discourse about the evolution of Werktreue and changing perceptions of the musical-work concept in relation to performance practices of Bach’s keyboard compositions. In so doing, it reveals changing attitudes about textual fidelity and the role of the interpreter in the twenty-first century.
The Goldberg Variations Revisited
Authors: Knyt Erinn E
Published: May 2024

This chapter provides the first overview of multi-author compositions based on Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Instead of creating a single work that is the culmination of a lifetime of achievement and experience, as Bach did, several composers collectively present diverse contemporary perspectives on the music and techniques of Bach. Although multi-composer re-compositions might not display the same type of structural unity as Bach’s original, the pieces nevertheless explore and capitalize on aspects of stylistic variety that are inherent in Bach’s composition. Many of the multi-author collaborations, which are not usually simple direct reinterpretations of an authoritative text or a composer’s intentions, can also be seen as encompassing circular textual dialogues as Bach’s music becomes generative and an infinite or open text in which multiple people, including subsequent (re)-composers and performers enter into mutual textual conversations about the pieces.
Bach as Machine/Bach as Human
Authors: Knyt Erinn E
Published: May 2024

This chapter provides the first detailed overview of quotations of Bach’s Goldberg Variations in soundtracks. It shows that the first decade of the twenty-first century featured more quotations of the piece in movie and documentary soundtracks than all previous decades combined and traces the evolution of the composition’s symbolic uses in relation to plots and extra-musical images. Film scores frequently complicate notions of the musical work when they quote from or allude to music of the past by creating a circular nexus between not only a composer, a score, interpreters, and an audience, but also the director and any quoted authors. This chapter explores these issues in relation to the numerous recent quotations of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. It also analyzes how these quotations are put in dialogue with explicit narratives, images, and other extra-musical ideas that convey ever-changing meanings about Bach and his music.
The Goldberg Variations as Protest and Tragedy
Authors: Knyt Erinn E
Published: May 2024

This chapter provides the first overview of the Goldberg Variations in pieces for theater and opera. In particular, the variations appeared in four works in German-speaking lands between 1974 and 2016. This chapter analyzes layers of intertextual meanings conveyed through the adaptations of Bach’s music for these new theatrical contexts. In particular, it shows how Bach’s composition is imbricated in more recent historical events through the addition of the sociological and political situations addressed in the theatrical works, such as protests of poor conditions for the working class, and critical commentary about the suffering produced by the Holocaust. In turn, these recent stage works reflect new intertextual meanings back onto Bach’s piece. These circular relationships, in turn, raise additional questions about the musical work concept and the role of adaptations, quotations, and allusions in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
Identification of “modified OPDA (mo-OPDA)” as a Michael adduct of cis-OPDA
Authors: Nishizato Yuho , Muraoka Yuki , Morikawa Mai , Saito Rina , Kaji Takuya , Ueda Minoru
Published: May 2024

cis-(+)-12-Oxo-phytodienoic acid (cis-OPDA) is a significant plant oxylipin, known as a biosynthetic precursor of the plant hormone jasmonoyl-l-isoleucine (JA-Ile), and a bioactive substance in plant environmental stresses. A recent study showed that a plant dioxygenase, Jasmonate Induced Dioxygenase 1 (JID1), converts cis-OPDA into an unidentified metabolite termed “modified-OPDA (mo-OPDA)” in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quad mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) experiment, the chemical identity of “mo-OPDA” was demonstrated and identified as a conjugate between cis-OPDA and 2-mercaptoethanol (cis-OPDA-2ME), an artifact produced by Michael addition during the JID1 digestion of cis-OPDA. However, previous reports demonstrated a decreased accumulation of cis-OPDA in the JID1-OE line, suggesting the existence of an unknown JID1-mediated mechanism regulating the level of cis-OPDA in A. thaliana.
BERT-TFBS: a novel BERT-based model for predicting transcription factor binding sites by transfer learning
Authors: Wang Kai , Zeng Xuan , Zhou Jingwen , Liu Fei , Luan Xiaoli , Wang Xinglong
Published: May 2024

Transcription factors (TFs) are proteins essential for regulating genetic transcriptions by binding to transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in DNA sequences. Accurate predictions of TFBSs can contribute to the design and construction of metabolic regulatory systems based on TFs. Although various deep-learning algorithms have been developed for predicting TFBSs, the prediction performance needs to be improved. This paper proposes a bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT)-based model, called BERT-TFBS, to predict TFBSs solely based on DNA sequences. The model consists of a pre-trained BERT module (DNABERT-2), a convolutional neural network (CNN) module, a convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and an output module. The BERT-TFBS model utilizes the pre-trained DNABERT-2 module to acquire the complex long-term dependencies in DNA sequences through a transfer learning approach, and applies the CNN module and the CBAM to extract high-order local features. The proposed model is trained and tested based on 165 ENCODE ChIP-seq datasets. We conducted experiments with model variants, cross-cell-line validations and comparisons with other models. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and generalization capability of BERT-TFBS in predicting TFBSs, and they show that the proposed model outperforms other deep-learning models. The source code for BERT-TFBS is available at https://github.com/ZX1998-12/BERT-TFBS.
DeepSS2GO: protein function prediction from secondary structure
Authors: Song Fu V , Su Jiaqi , Huang Sixing , Zhang Neng , Li Kaiyue , Ni Ming , Liao Maofu
Published: May 2024

Predicting protein function is crucial for understanding biological life processes, preventing diseases and developing new drug targets. In recent years, methods based on sequence, structure and biological networks for protein function annotation have been extensively researched. Although obtaining a protein in three-dimensional structure through experimental or computational methods enhances the accuracy of function prediction, the sheer volume of proteins sequenced by high-throughput technologies presents a significant challenge. To address this issue, we introduce a deep neural network model DeepSS2GO (Secondary Structure to Gene Ontology). It is a predictor incorporating secondary structure features along with primary sequence and homology information. The algorithm expertly combines the speed of sequence-based information with the accuracy of structure-based features while streamlining the redundant data in primary sequences and bypassing the time-consuming challenges of tertiary structure analysis. The results show that the prediction performance surpasses state-of-the-art algorithms. It has the ability to predict key functions by effectively utilizing secondary structure information, rather than broadly predicting general Gene Ontology terms. Additionally, DeepSS2GO predicts five times faster than advanced algorithms, making it highly applicable to massive sequencing data. The source code and trained models are available at https://github.com/orca233/DeepSS2GO.
Connectome reorganization associated with temporal lobe pathology and its surgical resection
Authors: Larivière Sara , Park Bo-yong , Royer Jessica , DeKraker Jordan , Ngo Alexander , Sahlas Ella , Chen Judy , Rodríguez-Cruces Raúl , Weng Yifei , Frauscher Birgit , Liu Ruoting , Wang Zhengge , Shafiei Golia , Mišić Bratislav , Bernasconi Andrea , Bernasconi Neda , Fox Michael D , Zhang Zhiqiang , Bernhardt Boris C
Published: May 2024

Network neuroscience offers a unique framework to understand the organizational principles of the human brain. Despite recent progress, our understanding of how the brain is modulated by focal lesions remains incomplete. Resection of the temporal lobe is the most effective treatment to control seizures in pharmaco-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), making this syndrome a powerful model to study lesional effects on network organization in young and middle-aged adults. Here, we assessed the downstream consequences of a focal lesion and its surgical resection on the brain’s structural connectome, and explored how this reorganization relates to clinical variables at the individual patient level.

We included adults with pharmaco-resistant TLE (n = 37) who underwent anterior temporal lobectomy between two imaging time points, as well as age- and sex-matched healthy controls who underwent comparable imaging (n = 31). Core to our analysis was the projection of high-dimensional structural connectome data—derived from diffusion MRI tractography from each subject—into lower-dimensional gradients. We then compared connectome gradients in patients relative to controls before surgery, tracked surgically-induced connectome reconfiguration from pre- to postoperative time points, and examined associations to patient-specific clinical and imaging phenotypes.

Before surgery, individuals with TLE presented with marked connectome changes in bilateral temporo-parietal regions, reflecting an increased segregation of the ipsilateral anterior temporal lobe from the rest of the brain. Surgery-induced connectome reorganization was localized to this temporo-parietal subnetwork, but primarily involved postoperative integration of contralateral regions with the rest of the brain. Using a partial least-squares analysis, we uncovered a latent clinical imaging signature underlying this pre- to postoperative connectome reorganization, showing that patients who displayed postoperative integration in bilateral fronto-occipital cortices also had greater preoperative ipsilateral hippocampal atrophy, lower seizure frequency and secondarily generalized seizures.

Our results bridge the effects of focal brain lesions and their surgical resections with large-scale network reorganization and interindividual clinical variability, thus offering new avenues to examine the fundamental malleability of the human brain.
Hippocampal excitation-inhibition balance underlies the 5-HT2C receptor in modulating depressive behaviours
Authors: Shi Hu-Jiang , Xue Yi-Ren , Shao Hua , Wei Cheng , Liu Ting , He Jie , Yang Yu-Hao , Wang Hong-Mei , Li Na , Ren Si-Qiang , Chang Lei , Wang Zhen , Zhu Li-Juan
Published: May 2024

The implication of 5-hydroxytryptamine 2C receptor (5-HT2CR) activity in depression is a topic of debate, and the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. Here, we elucidate how hippocampal excitation-inhibition (E/I) balance underlies the regulatory effects of 5-HT2CR in depression.

Molecular biological analyses showed that chronic mild stress (CMS) reduced the expression of 5-HT2CR in hippocampus. We revealed that inhibition of 5-HT2CR induced depressive-like behaviours, reduced GABA release and shifted the E/I balance towards excitation in CA3 pyramidal neurons using behavioural analyses, microdialysis coupled with mass spectrometry and electrophysiological recordings. Moreover, 5-HT2CR modulated the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS (CAPON) interaction by influencing intracellular Ca2+ release, as determined by fibre photometry and coimmunoprecipitation. Notably, disruption of nNOS-CAPON with the specific small molecule compound ZLc-002 or AAV-CMV-CAPON-125C-GFP abolished 5-HT2CR inhibition-induced depressive-like behaviours, as well as the impairment in soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly-mediated GABA vesicle release and consequent E/I imbalance. Importantly, optogenetic inhibition of CA3 GABAergic neurons prevented the effects of AAV-CMV-CAPON-125C-GFP on depressive behaviours in the presence of a 5-HT2CR antagonist.

Conclusively, our findings disclose the regulatory role of 5-HT2CR in depressive-like behaviours and highlight hippocampal nNOS-CAPON coupling-triggered E/I imbalance as a pivotal cellular event underpinning the behavioural consequences of 5-HT2CR inhibition.
Detached From Humanity: Artificial Gestation and the Christian Dilemma
Authors: Rodger Daniel , Blackshaw Bruce P
Published: May 2024

The development of artificial womb technology (AWT) is continuing to proceed and raises important ethical and theological questions for Christians. While there has been extensive secular discourse on artificial wombs in recent years, there has been minimal Christian engagement with this topic. There are broadly two primary uses of artificial womb technology: first, ectogestation, which is a form of enhanced neonatal care, where only some of the gestation period takes place in an artificial womb, and second, ectogenesis, where the entire period of gestation occurs in an artificial womb. It is plausible that some form of ectogestation in the latter weeks or months of pregnancy could be possible within a decade or so, while ectogenesis for humans remains far more speculative. Ectogestation is likely to significantly reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, and so there is a strong prima facie case for supporting its development. Ectogenesis, however, may bring several challenges, including the further commodification of children, and the potential pathologizing of pregnancy and childbirth. Its long-term effects on those created through this process are also unknown. If it becomes ubiquitous, we may also find the central theological significance of pregnancy and birth diminished. The dilemma for Christians is that the development of seemingly unproblematic ectogestation is likely to normalize the use of artificial gestation, and, in time, pave the way for ectogenesis.
Factors influencing farmers’ adoption of solar water-pumping systems in Gujarat
Authors: Sathish Kumar M , Lad Y A , Pundir R S
Published: May 2024

Agriculture has played an important role in the growth of the Indian economy. Water and electricity are essential inputs for agriculture today. India produces the third-largest amount of electricity in the world, behind China and the USA. As an incentive to increase production, most states provide free electricity to farmers. Free electricity has decreased groundwater levels and increased electricity consumption. The objective of this study was to find out the factors that influenced farmers to adopt a solar water-pumping system in Gujarat. The samples were randomly selected. This study examined the entire state of Gujarat. One hundred and fifty farmers who adopted solar water-pumping systems were interviewed, including 50 banana farmers, 50 cotton farmers and 50 groundnut farmers. Primary data were collected through an interview. The adoption of solar water-pumping systems by farmers was identified using factor analysis. SPSS software was used to analyse the data collected. In this study, only two factors contributed to the variance of 59.469%. The adoption of solar water pumps by farmers was influenced by government policy and economic benefits. An economic benefit variance of 33.20% was found, while a government policy variance was 26.27%. A solar water-pumping system has low initial costs, flexible credit policies motivate adoption, solar water-pumping systems can save electricity, and maintenance and repair costs are affordable. Government policy that includes solar water-pumping systems is motivated by awareness, subsidies for adoption and a fair price to sell energy surpluses. Farmers are recommended to adopt a solar water-pumping system in conjunction with a drip irrigation system to receive additional income. The successful scheme will be recommended to other states in India for implementation.
Techno–economic and environmental impact analysis of electric two-wheeler batteries in India
Authors: Gupta Aman , Bose Ditipriya , Tiwari Sandeep , Sharma Vikrant , Prakash Jai
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive techno–economic and environmental impact analysis of electric two-wheeler batteries in India. The technical comparison reveals that sodium-ion (Na-ion) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries outperform lead–acid batteries in various parameters, with Na-ion and Li-ion batteries exhibiting higher energy densities, higher power densities, longer cycle lives, faster charge rates, better compactness, lighter weight and lower self-discharge rates. In economic comparison, Na-ion batteries were found to be ~12–14% more expensive than Li-ion batteries. However, the longer lifespans and higher energy densities of Na-ion and Li-ion batteries can offset their higher costs through improved performance and long-term savings. Lead–acid batteries have the highest environmental impact, while Li-ion batteries demonstrate better environmental performance and potential for recycling. Na-ion batteries offer promising environmental advantages with their abundance, lower cost and lower toxic and hazardous material content. Efficient recycling processes can further enhance the environmental benefits of Na-ion batteries. Overall, this research examines the potential of Na-ion batteries as a cheaper alternative to Li-ion batteries, considering India’s abundant sodium resources in regions such as Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and others.
Anomaly Metrics on Class Variations For Face Anti-Spoofing
Authors: Liu Weihua , Gong Bing , Che Kai , Ma Jieming , Pan Yushan
Published: May 2024

In face anti-spoofing tasks, distinguishing between live and spoof faces across different data domains presents challenges due to inter-class similarities, intra-class variations and unknown spoof patterns. This hampers generalization in real-world applications. To address this, we propose a novel convolutional neural network framework that utilizes spatial-frequency cues for 2D and 3D attacks. Furthermore, we introduce compact anomaly metrics and design three anomaly metrics-based supervisions from the perspective of Reed-Xiaoli anomaly detection, aiming to tackle the challenge posed by unknown attacks. Thanks to our proposed spatial frequency factorization network and its frequency-related supervisions, the spoofing cues are significantly enhanced, resulting in remarkable improvements in our experimental results. These outcomes demonstrate that our proposed framework achieves state-of-the-art performance on both monocular and multi-spectral benchmark datasets.
In the Name of Mazu: The Use of Religion by China to Intervene in Taiwanese Elections
Authors: Sher Chien-Yuan , Pien Chung-Pei , O'Reilly Colin , Liu Yu-Hsi
Published: May 2024

Foreign policy objectives can be achieved through religious institutions as a form of soft power. However, empirical evidence on this form of soft power is limited. In this study, we provide rigorous empirical evidence of electoral influence through the channel of religious institutions. To test the efficacy of this channel of influence, we study the Chinese government’s attempts to influence Taiwanese elections through religious institutions. By leveraging spatial regression methods, we demonstrate that Mazu temples influence electoral behavior through a localized process. The density of urban Mazu temples in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, which are subject to influence from China, is associated with an increase in vote share for the pro-China party in their neighborhoods. However, the influence on voters in urban and village areas is not homogeneous. In contrast to urban temples, the relationship between village Mazu temples and the electoral results is insignificant.
Political Regimes and Refugee Entries: The Preferences and Decisions of Displaced Persons and Host Governments
Authors: Higashijima Masaaki , Woo Yujin
Published: May 2024

Abstracts

What drives refugee movements? Focusing on host countries' domestic political institutions, we argue that refugee entry is determined by the political regimes that shape the incentives of both host governments and displaced persons. Specifically, we theorize that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between political regimes and the volume of refugee entries. When the host country is autocratic, refugee volume becomes smaller due to displaced persons’ unwillingness to risk the high uncertainty of life under such regimes, and when the host country is democratic, refugee volume is similarly curbed due to democratic constraints on the host government. Consequently, a majority of refugees are clustered into anocratic regimes. Using a global dataset, a series of statistical analyses found strong evidence in support of our theoretical expectations regarding not only the hypothesized correlation between regime type and refugee movements but also the preferences of host governments and displaced persons that we theorize underlie this relationship.
The End of the Beginning? Temporality and Bioagency in Pandemic Research
Authors: Mbali Mandisa
Published: May 2024

This paper deals with the ways in which the intellectual and political history of AIDS can assist in the chronological conceptualization of a pandemic such as COVID-19 as it is unfolding. It problematizes the idea of pandemic “beginnings” and “ends” to show that such definitions are shaped by the disciplinary location and thematic foci of relevant scholars. Central to this analysis is the notion that ethical and political contexts affect research on a pandemic in different ways at national and global levels at various points in its trajectory. The article develops this argument in relation to two main themes: firstly, with reference to the history of AIDS research in South Africa; secondly, with the philosophical concept of bioagency to understand the ways in which viruses and humans co-shape the course of epidemics over time. I first make the case for the development of historically informed, long-term ethnographic studies of COVID-19. Using bioagency as a point of departure to consider viruses as social actors, the essay then critiques the notion of bioinformationalism as catalyzing the widening accessibility of biomedical research. Instead, I discuss the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries as protagonists in the operation of biocapital. I argue that the history of AIDS in South Africa can provide methodological and theoretical insights into how to interpret an unfolding epidemic, outlining an ambitious transdisciplinary research agenda for thinking about the temporality of a pandemic spanning the different, interconnected, scales of life.
Mind the gap: new records of Caenolestes in the Western Andes of Colombia challenge its current biogeographic patterns
Authors: González Baltazar , Ferro-Muñoz Natalia , Calvache-Sánchez Cristian , Rojas Danny , Martin Gabriel M
Published: May 2024

The genus Caenolestes is the most species-rich of the marsupial order Paucituberculata. Two species inhabit Colombia (and also occur in Ecuador) with a discontinuous distribution that has not been accounted for in previous studies—Caenolestes fuliginosus known from the Central and Eastern Andes, and C. convelatus restricted to the Western Andes. Here, we present new and noteworthy records of Caenolestes from the Western Andes at the distributional gap of C. convelatus, and outside the known range of C. fuliginosus. We present detailed comparisons using discrete and continuous diagnostic morphological characters, with type material and additional specimens collected nearby, to assess the identity of the new specimens. We performed statistical analyses at species and subspecies levels, and used a principal components analysis to explore the ordination of the new specimens in morphological space. We found that although these specimens are from the Western Andes, they present traits similar to C. fuliginosus and show great overlap with the morphospace of that species. The new records did not differ statistically with C. fuliginosus or any of its subspecies, but they differed in 20 craniodental measurements from C. convelatus. We also report differences at subspecies level within and between species. Based on these observations, we identified these records as C. fuliginosus, expanding its known distribution to the midportion of the Western Andes, across de Cauca valley. We discuss the biogeography of these 2 species in light of the new data and the context of high Andean habitats, especially regarding the contrasting biogeographical patterns found in other taxa in the Northern Andes. Finally, we discuss the need for a new and exhaustive review of the systematics and biogeography of the genus.
The abundance and distribution of sandflies (with emphasis on Phlebotomus pedifer) (Diptera: Psychodidae) along the altitudinal gradient in Kindo Didaye district, Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia
Authors: Alemayehu Bereket , Koroto Negese , Tomas Temesgen , Matusala Teshome , Megaze Aberham , Leirs Herwig
Published: May 2024

Understanding the distribution patterns of medically significant sandflies is crucial for effective vector and disease control planning. This study focused on investigating the abundance and distribution of phlebotomine sandflies, specifically emphasizing Phlebotomus pedifer (Diptera: Psychodidae), the vector of Leishmania aethiopica responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis in the highlands of southern Ethiopia. The study employed CDC light traps and sticky paper traps in various habitats, including human houses, farm fields, and rock cliffs, with and without the presence of hyraxes. The study was conducted along an altitudinal gradient in Kindo Didaye district, Wolaita Zone. A total of 7,994 sandflies belonging to 2 genera, Phlebotomus (26.1%) and Sergentomyia (73.9%), were collected. In the genus Phlebotomus, P. pedifer (74.1%) was the most abundant, followed by P. alexandri (18.05%) and P. gibiensis (7.85%). Altitude showed a strong positive association with the density and distribution of P. pedifer and a negative association with those of P. alexandri, P. gibiensis, and Sergentomyia spp. Furthermore, the study revealed distinct habitat preferences, with P. pedifer showing the highest mean density in hyrax dwellings, followed by human houses, and the lowest in farm fields. These findings provide valuable insights for planning targeted control measures against P. pedifer in both indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in the highland and midland areas of the study region.
Actualizing decolonization: a case for anticolonizing and Indigenizing the curriculum
Authors: Sefa Dei George J , Cacciavillani Alessia
Published: May 2024

Calls to decolonize education systems cannot be removed from broader social struggles. Scholars have engaged in theoretical discussions on what decolonization entails, emphasizing the need for transforming thoughts, beliefs, and practices. However, the lack of sustained engagement and widespread resistance to decolonizing the curriculum remain evident, underscoring the urgency to envision new futures and explore relationalities between educators and students.

In this article, we delve into the evolving terminologies surrounding decolonization, anticolonization, and Indigenization, emphasizing their pivotal roles in the broader project of educational decolonization. We argue that a reassertion of Indigenous resistance and futurity in higher education forms the cornerstone of this transformative process. Through an examination and understanding of these terminologies, we aim to contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding educational decolonization and envision inclusive, equitable, and anticolonial learning environments that centre on Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
Perianal endometrioma presented as perianal abscess: report of two cases
Authors: Zafirovikj Elena , Nikolovski Andrej , Nane Nikola , Krsteska Blagica
Published: May 2024

Perianal endometriosis is a rare clinical presentation of the extrauterine appearance of endometrium reported in <1% of the cases. The condition is accompanied by perianal cyclic pain and a palpable mass. If diagnosed by physical examination only, the condition may be easily misinterpreted as a perianal abscess and treated improperly with incision, thus resulting in “abscess recurrence.” Additional diagnostic imaging such as endoanal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging should be mandatory to provide an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment resulting in low recurrence rates. We present two cases of perianal endometriomas initially diagnosed and treated as perianal abscesses.
Gas-phase formation of fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations
Authors: Wu Yin , Hu Xiaoyi , Zhen Junfeng , Yang Xuejuan
Published: May 2024

In interstellar environment, fullerene species readily react with large molecules (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs and their derivatives) in the gas phase, which may be the formation route of carbon dust grains in space. In this work, the gas-phase ion–molecule collision reaction between fullerene cations (${\rm C}_{n}\, ^+$, n = 32, 34,…, 60) and functionalized PAH molecules (9-hydroxyfluorene, C13H10O) are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The experimental results show that fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations are efficiently formed, leading to a series of large fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations (e.g. [(C13H10O)C60]+, [(C13H10O)3C58]+, and [(C26H18O)(C13H10O)2C48]+). The binding energies and optimized structures of typical fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations were calculated. The bonding ability plays a decisive role in the cluster formation processes. The reaction surfaces, modes, and combination reaction sites can result in different binding energies, which represent the relative chemical reactivity. Therefore, the geometry and composition of fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations are complicated. In addition, there is an enhanced chemical reactivity for smaller fullerene cations, which is mainly attributed to the newly formed deformed carbon rings (e.g. 7 C-ring). As part of the co-evolution network of interstellar fullerene chemistry, our results suggest that ion–molecule collision reactions contribute to the formation of various fullerene/9-hydroxyfluorene cluster cations in the interstellar medium, providing insights into different chemical reactivity caused by oxygenated functional groups (e.g. hydroxyl, OH, or ether, C-O-C) on the cluster formations.
Strength in numbers: A multiphase wind model with multiple cloud populations
Authors: Nikolis C , Gronke M
Published: May 2024

Galactic outflows have a multiphase nature making them challenging to model analytically. Many previous studies have tried to produce models that come closer to reality. In this work, we continue these efforts and describe the interaction of the hot wind fluid with multiple cold cloud populations, with their number density determined by different probability density functions. To do so, we introduced realistic cloud-wind interaction source terms and a time varying cooling area. We find that the model reproduces well results from small-scale hydrodynamic simulations, but exhibits a general destructive behaviour both for a single cloud population as well as multiple ones. We show that including multiple cloud populations can alter the evolution of the wind drastically. We also compare our model to observations and show that the differential acceleration of multiple clouds can lead to a non-negligible velocity ‘dispersion’ relevant for down-the-barrel studies. Furthermore, we compute the emitted cooling surface brightness and find it generally too faint to explain observed Lyman α haloes.
Structural basis of chorismate isomerization by Arabidopsis ISOCHORISMATE SYNTHASE1
Authors: Su Zihui , Niu Chengqun , Zhou Sicong , Xu Guolyu , Zhu Pingchuan , Fu Qiang , Zhang Yuelin , Ming Zhenhua
Published: May 2024

Salicylic acid (SA) plays a crucial role in plant defense against biotrophic and semibiotrophic pathogens. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), isochorismate synthase 1 (AtICS1) is a key enzyme for the pathogen-induced biosynthesis of SA via catalytic conversion of chorismate into isochorismate, an essential precursor for SA synthesis. Despite the extensive knowledge of ICS1-related menaquinone, siderophore, and tryptophan (MST) enzymes in bacteria, the structural mechanisms for substrate binding and catalysis in plant isochorismate synthase (ICS) enzymes are unknown. This study reveals that plant ICS enzymes catalyze the isomerization of chorismate through a magnesium-dependent mechanism, with AtICS1 exhibiting the most substantial catalytic activity. Additionally, we present high-resolution crystal structures of apo AtICS1 and its complex with chorismate, offering detailed insights into the mechanisms of substrate recognition and catalysis. Importantly, our investigation indicates the existence of a potential substrate entrance channel and a gating mechanism regulating substrate into the catalytic site. Structural comparisons of AtICS1 with MST enzymes suggest a shared structural framework with conserved gating and catalytic mechanisms. This work provides valuable insights into the structural and regulatory mechanisms governing substrate delivery and catalysis in AtICS1, as well as other plant ICS enzymes.
Effect of acupuncture for temporomandibular disorders: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Liu Lu , Chen Qiuyi , Lyu Tianli , Zhao Luopeng , Miao Quan , Liu Yuhan , Nie Limin , Fu Feiyu , Li Shuting , Zeng Chenxi , Zhang Yixin , Peng Peiyue , Wang Woyu , Lin Ying , Li Bin
Published: May 2024

Background

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are the leading cause of pain and disability among frequently occurring facial pain and the second leading cause of musculoskeletal conditions.

Aim

We examined whether acupuncture could alleviate pain intensity in patients with TMD.

Design and methods

Sixty participants with TMD were randomly assigned (ratio 1:1) to receive three acupuncture or sham acupuncture sessions weekly for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the mean weekly pain intensity from baseline to week 4. Secondary and exploratory outcomes included proportion of participants with ≥30% or ≥50% reduction in pain intensity, change in jaw opening and movement, graded chronic pain scale, jaw functional limitations scale-20-item, depression, anxiety and stress scales-21, Pittsburgh sleep quality index at week 4 and 8, and the pressure pain threshold and surface electromyography at week 4.

Results and conclusion

The acupuncture group showed significantly reduced pain intensity compared to the sham group at week 4 (−1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −2.32 to −0.65; P < 0.001) and week 8 (−1.23, 95% CI: −2.11 to −0.54; P = 0.001). Acupuncture’s effectiveness surpassed sham’s at 4 weeks and lasted 8 weeks. Participants in the acupuncture group experienced significantly greater improvements in the 30% and 50% response rate, jaw opening and movement, GCPS, JFLS-20, DASS-21 and PSQI than those in the sham acupuncture group. There were no significant between-group differences in PPT and sEMG. In summary, acupuncture provided marked pain relief and improvement in physical and emotional function for patients with TMD compared with sham acupuncture.
Inhibitory Activities of Five Fungicides on Alternaria suffruticosae and Their Field Control Efficacy Against Tree Peony Black Spot
Authors: Hou Ying , Guo Yuwei , Cheng Zejun , Liu Shaodan , Yang Yingying , Li Yihao , Liu Shengming , Hou Xiaogai , Xu Jianqiang
Published: May 2024

Tree peony black spot (TPBS), mainly caused by Alternaria suffruticosae, is a common leaf disease on the ornamental peony, which poses a great threat to the flower buds in the current year and the flowering quality in the next year. However, there is only one fungicide registered for the control of this disease, difenoconazole. In order to avoid the severe problem of pathogen resistance caused by long-term use of difenoconazole, it is necessary to screen more chemical fungicides for the prevention and control of TPBS. In this study, the biological activities of flutolanil, phenamacril, pyraclostrobin, and boscalid on mycelial growth, conidial germination, germ tube elongation, and sporulation quantity of A. suffruticosae were determined, and the field control efficacy was tested to evaluate the preventive and therapeutic activities. Difenoconazole was used as a control simultaneously. The results showed that pyraclostrobin had the strongest inhibitory effects on the conidial germination, mycelium growth, germ tube elongation, and sporulation quantity, with the average EC50 values of 0.0517, 0.5343, 0.0008, and 0.8068 μg/ml, respectively. The inhibitory activity of flutolanil on the four developmental stages of A. suffruticosae was weaker than that of the other three fungicides. Compared with flutolanil, boscalid, the other succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor, had more strong inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth and sporulation quantity, with the average EC50 values of 3.8603 and 1.4760 μg/ml, respectively. Phenamacril had a moderate inhibitory level and had more inhibitory activity on conidial germination and germ tube elongation, with the average EC50 values of 31.5349 and 5.2597 μg/ml, respectively. All of the four fungicides had no significant effects on the shape of spores and germ tubes. The control fungicide difenoconazole had the strongest inhibitory activity on mycelial growth, and the average EC50 value was only 0.3297 μg/ml. However, its inhibitory activity on the other three growth stages was not high. In the field trials, pyraclostrobin had high control efficacy on TPBS even at low concentrations, reaching a minimum of 62.6293%, which was higher than that of difenoconazole. The other three fungicides had higher control efficacy at high concentrations but decreased significantly at low concentrations. Considering the dosage and control efficacy, pyraclostrobin was the first choice for the control of TPBS. Pyraclostrobin is the preferred alternative fungicide to difenoconazole for the prevention and control of TPBS in production.
Chitosan-Coated Fosetyl-Al Nanocrystals’ Efficacy on Nicotiana tabacum Colonized by Xylella fastidiosa
Authors: Tatulli Giuseppe , Baldassarre Francesca , Schiavi Daniele , Tacconi Stefano , Cognigni Flavio , Costantini Francesca , Balestra Giorgio Mariano , Dini Luciana , Pucci Nicoletta , Rossi Marco , Scala Valeria , Ciccarella Giuseppe , Loreti Stefania
Published: May 2024

Xylella fastidiosa ( Xf) is a quarantine plant pathogen capable of colonizing the xylem of a wide range of hosts. Currently, there is no cure able to eliminate the pathogen from a diseased plant, but several integrated strategies have been implemented for containing the spread of Xf. Nanotechnology represents an innovative strategy based on the possibility of maximizing the potential antibacterial activity by increasing the surface-to-volume ratio of nanoscale formulations. Nanoparticles based on chitosan and/or fosetyl-Al have shown different in vitro antibacterial efficacy against Xf subsp. fastidiosa ( Xff) and pauca ( Xfp). This work demonstrated the uptake of chitosan-coated fosetyl-Al nanocrystals (CH-nanoFos) by roots and their localization in the stems and leaves of Olea europaea plants. Additionally, the antibacterial activity of fosetyl-Al, nano-fosetyl, nano-chitosan, and CH-nanoFos was tested on Nicotiana tabacum cultivar SR1 (Petite Havana) inoculated with Xff, Xfp, or Xf subsp. multiplex ( Xfm). The bacterial load was evaluated with qPCR, and the results showed that CH-nanoFos was the only treatment able to reduce the colonization of Xff, Xfm, and Xfp in tobacco plants. Additionally, the area under the disease progress curve, used to assess symptom development in tobacco plants inoculated with Xff, Xfm, and Xfp and treated with CH-nanoFos, showed a reduction in symptom development. Furthermore, the twitching assay and bacterial growth under microfluidic conditions confirmed the antibacterial activity of CH-nanoFos.