bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GABAergic synapses suppress intestinal innate immunity via insulin signaling in
Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Zheng Zhongfan , Zhang Xiumei , Liu Junqiang , He Ping , Zhang Shan , Zhang Yongning , Gao Jie , Yang Shengmei , Kang Na , Afridi Muhammad Irfan , Gao Shangbang , Chen Chunhong , Tu Haijun
Published: May 2021

Significance

GABAergic signaling is crucial for the physiological function and the pathological onset of neuropsychiatric disorder, but its roles in innate immunity remain unknown. Here, we reveal that pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infection up-regulates the expression of synaptic components and enhances synaptic strength at GABAergic neuromuscular junctions, induces insulin-like peptide INS-31 in the muscles, and ultimately suppresses innate immunity in the intestine of
C. elegans
. This signaling axis of synapse–muscular insulin–intestinal innate immunity may play an important role in the maintenance of immunological homeostasis to promote host survival.
Hot carrier multiplication in plasmonic photocatalysis
Authors: Zhou Linan , Lou Minhan , Bao Junwei Lucas , Zhang Chao , Liu Jun G. , Martirez John Mark P. , Tian Shu , Yuan Lin , Swearer Dayne F. , Robatjazi Hossein , Carter Emily A. , Nordlander Peter , Halas Naomi J.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Photochemical processes on the surfaces of illuminated metallic nanoparticles have shown outstanding efficiencies and may provide new, light-based strategies for inducing chemical transformations that consume far less energy than do conventional heat-driven catalysts. Energetic, or “hot” electrons, play an important role in these types of processes, although their short lifetime has made this interpretation somewhat controversial. In this work, we report a photochemical reaction with an unusually high efficiency that points toward thermalized hot carriers as being the driving force. This study broadens our interpretation of hot-electron–mediated chemical processes and may pave the way for even higher efficiencies in this emerging field of chemistry.
Summer warmth of the past six interglacials on Greenland
Authors: Cluett Allison A. , Thomas Elizabeth K.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Recurring glacial retreat and advance eroded most sedimentary records of pre-Holocene interglacials around Greenland, hindering development of long terrestrial paleoclimate records and leading to questions about what climate conditions caused past Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) retreat. We infer changes in summer temperature on Greenland from terrestrial biomarkers preserved in marine sediments through the past six interglacials. We find that exceptionally warm summers occurred during MIS5e when the GrIS remained relatively large, in contrast with moderate warmth through MIS11, when the GrIS was likely substantially reduced. Our results suggest that sustained summer warmth, a likely future if anthropogenic carbon emissions are not dramatically reduced, will be more detrimental to future stability of the GrIS than a brief period of exceptional warmth.
Maximizing power and velocity of an information engine
Authors: Saha Tushar K. , Lucero Joseph N. E. , Ehrich Jannik , Sivak David A. , Bechhoefer John
Published: May 2021

Significance

Around 100 y ago, Szilard imagined how to raise a weight without doing any work, just using the information gained by “looking” at a single gas molecule bouncing inside a box. Here, we designed an engine that stores energy by raising a bead against gravity, driven purely by information about the bead position. No work is done directly on the bead; instead, all dissipation occurs in the measuring apparatus. By choosing the right size of bead and through careful design, we improved information-engine performance by more than a factor of 10 over the best previous designs. We achieve a maximum velocity of 190 μm/s and maximum power of

1

0

3

 

k

B

T
/
s

, numbers comparable to those measured in microorganisms.
Weak selection on synonymous codons substantially inflatesdN/dSestimates in bacteria
Authors: Rahman Shakibur , Kosakovsky Pond Sergei L. , Webb Andrew , Hey Jody
Published: May 2021

Significance

The ratio of the nonsynonymous codon-substitution rate to that for synonymous codons(dN/dS)is widely used to estimate the strength and direction of selection. However, many synonymous changes are under selection, particularly in genes with high expression levels. We developed a model to include both neutral and selected synonymous substitutions and applied it to a large order of bacteria. The analysis revealed that the conventional estimate ofdSis usually well below the strictly neutral rate (80% on average). It follows that conventionaldN/dSestimates that are less than 1 substantially underestimate the level of negative selection and that cases of apparent positive selection (dN/dS> 1), as well as other applications ofdN/dS, should be reconsidered.
Mucosal acidosis elicits a unique molecular signature in epithelia and intestinal tissue mediated by GPR31-induced CREB phosphorylation
Authors: Cartwright Ian M. , Dowdell Alexander S. , Lanis Jordi M. , Brink Kathryn R. , Mu Andrew , Kostelecky Rachael E. , Schaefer Rachel E. M. , Welch Nichole , Onyiah Joseph C. , Hall Caroline H. T. , Gerich Mark E. , Tabor Jeffrey J. , Colgan Sean P.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Tissue acidification is commonly associated with active inflammation, including within the intestinal mucosa. It remains unclear how such acidification impacts cellular function and adaptation to these changes within the tissue. In the present work, we utilized unbiased gene expression profiling to identify pathways elicited by extracellular acidification. Results from these studies identify a prominent role for cyclic AMP response element-binding protein signaling in the molding of gene expression in intestinal epithelia. This acidification-induced phenotype is translatable from in vitro cell culture systems to in vivo murine models and through to patients with active intestinal inflammation.
Resetting proteostasis with ISRIB promotes epithelial differentiation to attenuate pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Watanabe Satoshi , Markov Nikolay S. , Lu Ziyan , Piseaux Aillon Raul , Soberanes Saul , Runyan Constance E. , Ren Ziyou , Grant Rogan A. , Maciel Mariana , Abdala-Valencia Hiam , Politanska Yuliya , Nam Kiwon , Sichizya Lango , Kihshen Hermon G. , Joshi Nikita , McQuattie-Pimentel Alexandra C. , Gruner Katherine A. , Jain Manu , Sznajder Jacob I. , Morimoto Richard I. , Reyfman Paul A. , Gottardi Cara J. , Budinger G. R. Scott , Misharin Alexander V.
Published: May 2021

Significance

Disordered epithelial proteostasis is strongly implicated in the pathobiology of pulmonary fibrosis. We found that a small molecule that specifically restores protein translation by EIF2B during activation of the integrated stress response, ISRIB, attenuated the severity of pulmonary fibrosis in young adult and old mice. Our data support a multicellular model of fibrosis in which relieving a block to epithelial differentiation induced by activation of the integrated stress response slows the recruitment of profibrotic monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages to attenuate pulmonary fibrosis. A loss of proteostasis resilience in aging would further slow repair, perhaps explaining the increased risk of fibrosis in the elderly.
Just 2% of SARS-CoV-2−positive individuals carry 90% of the virus circulating in communities
Authors: Yang Qing , Saldi Tassa K. , Gonzales Patrick K. , Lasda Erika , Decker Carolyn J. , Tat Kimngan L. , Fink Morgan R. , Hager Cole R. , Davis Jack C. , Ozeroff Christopher D. , Muhlrad Denise , Clark Stephen K. , Fattor Will T. , Meyerson Nicholas R. , Paige Camille L. , Gilchrist Alison R. , Barbachano-Guerrero Arturo , Worden-Sapper Emma R. , Wu Sharon S. , Brisson Gloria R. , McQueen Matthew B. , Dowell Robin D. , Leinwand Leslie , Parker Roy , Sawyer Sara L.
Published: May 2021

Significance

We analyzed data from saliva-based COVID-19 screening deployed on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. Our dataset is unique in that all SARS-CoV-2−positive individuals reported no symptoms at the time of saliva collection, and therefore were infected but asymptomatic or presymptomatic. We found that 1) the distribution of viral loads observed in our asymptomatic college population was indistinguishable from what has been reported in hospitalized populations; 2) regardless of symptomatic status, approximately 50% of individuals who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 seem to be in noninfectious phases of the infection; and 3) just 2% of infected individuals carry 90% of the virions circulating within communities, serving as viral “supercarriers” and likely also superspreaders.
Normalization of cholesterol metabolism in spinal microglia alleviates neuropathic pain
Authors: Navia-Pelaez Juliana M. , Choi Soo-Ho , dos Santos Aggum Capettini Luciano , Xia Yining , Gonen Ayelet , Agatisa-Boyle Colin , Delay Lauriane , Gonçalves dos Santos Gilson , Catroli Glaucilene F. , Kim Jungsu , Lu Jenny W. , Saylor Benjamin , Winkels Holger , Durant Christopher P. , Ghosheh Yanal , Beaton Graham , Ley Klaus , Kufareva Irina , Corr Maripat , Yaksh Tony L. , Miller Yury I.
Published: May 2021

Neuroinflammation is a major component in the transition to and perpetuation of neuropathic pain states. Spinal neuroinflammation involves activation of TLR4, localized to enlarged, cholesterol-enriched lipid rafts, designated here as inflammarafts. Conditional deletion of cholesterol transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 in microglia, leading to inflammaraft formation, induced tactile allodynia in naive mice. The apoA-I binding protein (AIBP) facilitated cholesterol depletion from inflammarafts and reversed neuropathic pain in a model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in wild-type mice, but AIBP failed to reverse allodynia in mice with ABCA1/ABCG1–deficient microglia, suggesting a cholesterol-dependent mechanism. An AIBP mutant lacking the TLR4-binding domain did not bind microglia or reverse CIPN allodynia. The long-lasting therapeutic effect of a single AIBP dose in CIPN was associated with anti-inflammatory and cholesterol metabolism reprogramming and reduced accumulation of lipid droplets in microglia. These results suggest a cholesterol-driven mechanism of regulation of neuropathic pain by controlling the TLR4 inflammarafts and gene expression program in microglia and blocking the perpetuation of neuroinflammation.
DNMT3A haploinsufficiency causes dichotomous DNA methylation defects at enhancers in mature human immune cells
Authors: Lim Jung-Yeon , Duttke Sascha H. , Baker Turner S. , Lee Jihye , Gambino Kristyne J. , Venturini Nicholas J. , Ho Jessica Sook Yuin , Zheng Simin , Fstkchyan Yesai S. , Pillai Vinodh , Fajgenbaum David C. , Marazzi Ivan , Benner Christopher , Byun Minji
Published: May 2021

DNMT3A encodes an enzyme that carries out de novo DNA methylation, which is essential for the acquisition of cellular identity and specialized functions during cellular differentiation. DNMT3A is the most frequently mutated gene in age-related clonal hematopoiesis. As such, mature immune cells harboring DNMT3A mutations can be readily detected in elderly persons. Most DNMT3A mutations associated with clonal hematopoiesis are heterozygous and predicted to cause loss of function, indicating that haploinsufficiency is the predominant pathogenic mechanism. Yet, the impact of DNMT3A haploinsufficiency on the function of mature immune cells is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that DNMT3A haploinsufficiency impairs the gain of DNA methylation at decommissioned enhancers, while simultaneously and unexpectedly impairing DNA demethylation of newly activated enhancers in mature human myeloid cells. The DNA methylation defects alter the activity of affected enhancers, leading to abnormal gene expression and impaired immune response. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of immune dysfunction associated with clonal hematopoiesis and acquired DNMT3A mutations.
Absence of long-range magnetic order in lithium-containing honeycombs in the Li–Cr–Sb(Te)–O phases
Authors: Mandujano H Cein , Gonzalez Sandra L , Episcopo Nathan , Sitharaman Uma , Poudel Narayan , Gofryk Krzysztof , Garay Yahir E , Lopez Jorge A , Zhang Qiang , Calder Stuart , Nair Harikrishnan S
Published: May 2021

Li3((LiCr)(Te/Sb))O6 compounds where Cr atoms along with Li and Te or Sb are part of a honeycomb and are studied using magnetic susceptibility, specific heat, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and neutron diffraction. The oxides stoichiometries as determined from the neutron diffraction studies are Li4.47Cr0.53TeO6 and Li3.88Cr1.12SbO6 with a stable oxidation state of +3 for Cr. Both the compounds crystallize in space group C2/m with intermixing of cations at the 4g sites leaving the 2a sites preferentially for Te or Sb. Again, the Li+ ions alone predominantly occur in the interlayer sites. Both the compounds show a broad anomaly in specific heat at 8 K, which is robust against 8 T. A corresponding anomaly is absent in the magnetic susceptibility but recovers from its derivative, dχ(T)/dT. We ascertain the magnetic anomaly temperatures (T

a
) of Li4.47Cr0.53TeO6 and Li3.88Cr1.12SbO6 as 5.9 K and 6.7 K respectively from specific heat. Although the physical properties indicated a low temperature anomaly, neutron diffraction data did not reveal a magnetic signal or a structural anomaly down to 1.5 K. This rules out a conventional long-range ordered magnetic ground state in either compounds. Combining the results from specific heat, neutron diffraction and electron paramagnetic resonance, we put forth a scenario of depleted honeycomb lattice of Cr3+ with predominant short-range magnetic correlations as the magnetic ground states of the title compounds.
Effect of transport current on suppression of superconductivity with ultrashort laser pulse
Authors: Kartsev P F , Kuznetsov I O
Published: May 2021

We study the suppression of superconductivity with ultrashort laser pulse in the presence of transport current. The theoretical model is based on the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer relations for the superconducting state coupled with kinetic equations for nonequilibrium Bogoliubov quasiparticles and phonons. The results of numerical simulation for picosecond and femtosecond laser pulses of optical and infrared ranges are given. We discuss the effects of main problem parameters, including the current density.
Multi-layer graphene pirani pressure sensors
Authors: Romijn Joost , Dolleman Robin J , Singh Manvika , van der Zant Herre S J , Steeneken Peter G , Sarro Pasqualina M , Vollebregt Sten
Published: May 2021

The operating principle of Pirani pressure sensors is based on the pressure dependence of a suspended strip’s electrical conductivity, caused by the thermal conductance of the surrounding gas which changes the Joule heating of the strip. To realize such sensors, not only materials with high temperature dependent electrical conductivity are required, but also minimization of the suspended strip dimensions is essential to maximize the responsivity and minimize the power consumption. Due to this, nanomaterials are especially attractive for this application. Here, we demonstrate the use of a multi-layer suspended graphene strip as a Pirani pressure sensor and compare its behavior with existing models. A clear pressure dependence of the strip’s electrical resistance is observed, with a maximum relative change of 2.75% between 1 and 1000 mbar and a power consumption of 8.5 mW. The use of graphene enables miniaturization of the device footprint by 100 times compared to state-of-the-art. Moreover, miniaturization allows for lower power consumption and/or higher responsivity and the sensor’s nanogap enables operation near atmospheric pressure that can be used in applications such as barometers for altitude measurement. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the sensor response depends on the type of gas molecules, which opens up the way to selective gas sensing applications. Finally, the graphene synthesis technology is compatible with wafer-scale fabrication, potentially enabling future chip-level integration with readout electronics.
Activation energies during glass transition and fragility of the As30Te64Ga6 chalcogenide glass
Authors: Hassan R M , Neffati R , Abd-Elnaiem A M , Dahshan A
Published: May 2021

Glass transition features of chalcogenides are important for the broad and increasing industrial applications of these glassy semiconductors. Hence, differential scanning calorimetry was applied at different scanning rates on As30Te64Ga6 prepared by conventional melt quenching technique in order to study their glass transition and fragility. The Kauzmann temperature was estimated to about 136 K while its glass transition is about 397 K at 10 K min−1. Different experimental evaluation methods gave the same fragility index m = 25 or D = 71 which is typical of a strong liquid corresponding to the prepared glass. Four iso-conversional methods were then applied to monitor the change in the activation energy for the temperature range corresponding to the transition from glass to liquid. All methods give a small monotonic decrease of the activation energy during transition from 108 to 99 kJ mol−1 confirming the strong character.
Foraging Ecology of Birds in Mudflat Area of Tanjung Laboh, Johor
Authors: Fauzi N A , Norazlimi N A
Published: May 2021

Tanjung Laboh is located in one out of three Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Johor called South West Johor Coast which is very crucial foraging ground for resident and migratory shorebirds. However, the airfield development plan located in the area have been an issue as it might disturbed the foraging ecology of the shorebirds. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the food resources present and the foraging behaviour of the shorebirds in order to determine the effect of disturbance towards the shorebirds’ foraging behaviour. Thus, a study was conducted for a month (July to August 2018) in the mudflat area of Tanjung Laboh to identified the time spent of foraging, food selection and foraging technique of shorebirds by using direct observation method. A total of 212 observations were recorded during sampling period. No significant differences were found in time spent foraging between the bird species, (F = 0.18, p = 0.946). A Spearman Rank Correlation proved that there is no significant relationship between the time spent of foraging and the number of preys taken by each species (R = 0.436, p > 0.05). Based on observation, fish is the most preferred diet choice among bird species which counts a total of 57% followed by unknown (20%), worm (19%) and bivalve (4%). Significant correlation was found between the abundance of bird and the frequency of disturbances (humans, dogs and vehicles) (p < 0.05) while human contribute to a higher percentage in disruptions towards the species studied (57.7%). The responses of the birds towards the disturbances were varied in this study, however the birds tend to choose foraging ground far from disturbance area as the disturbances might chase birds’ prey away thus reduce their feeding rate. By understanding how the shorebirds response toward disturbance, the conservation action can be enforced in the future.
Antioxidant Activities in Different Parts of Pulasan (Nephelium mutabile Blume) from East Borneo
Authors: Hairunisa I , Mentari I A , Julianti T , Wikantyasning E R , Cholisoh Z , Ningsih S C , Muslim M R F
Published: May 2021

Nephelium mutabileBlume (Traditionally known as Pulasan or Kapulasan) is a plant resembling the rambutan fruit that grows mostly on the islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Pulasan has a unique characteristic, the skin of this fruit was hairless and had very bright color. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of different parts of the Pulasan, including the peels, seeds and leaves. Antioxidant activity was determined by IC50values using the DPPH method (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) with Vitamin C as a positive control. Each part of the plant was extracted using 96% ethanol then the total phenolic compound was tested using a gallic acid as the standard. The results showed that ethanol extract of pulasan leaves had the highest antioxidant activity with the value 20.99 µg/mL (very strong antioxidant), while the seeds and peels of pulasan showed antioxidant activity of 520.68 µg/mL and >1000 µg/mL (not active as antioxidants) respectively. This result shows that ethanol extract from the leaves of Pulasan has potential to be developed as a source of natural antioxidants.
The development of risk management elements (APR) for Forest-Friendly Pedagogy (PERIMBA) as a guide for indigenous school teacher
Authors: Haron M N , Wahab N B A , Kasim R , Abdullah N , Bohari N M
Published: May 2021

The Forest-friendly pedagogy (PERIMBA) refers to the implementation of outdoor learning session by using forest elements as the learning aid and site. In promoting meaningful learning especially to the indigenous school, PERIMBA’s introduces a risk-taking approach that will offer the opportunities for teachers and pupils to engage in risky activities during learning session. The input on risk and risk perception will be an added value to teachers to implement PERIMBA in their teaching and learning sessions. However, PERIMBA’s needs further research and study especially in the field of risk. These concepts then lead to risk perception that, in turn, influenced risk management. The purpose of this study is to identify risk management element for forest-friendly pedagogy (PERIMBA) at Indigenous School. To achieve this goal, this study is conducted qualitative in the form of analysis document. A few of previous document, survey report, conference proceeding, and journal had been referred as literature study, and analysed with data gathered use schedule matric. The finding shows that there are three elements which are risk identification, risk assessment and risk control.
Mitochondrial Barcodes of Dragonflies and Damselflies Originated from Taman Negara Endau Rompin, Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Lam Y T , Kamarudin K R , Zakaria M Z , Omar M S S , Tokiman L , Jahari P N S , Mohd Salleh F
Published: May 2021

Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonates) are important biological indicators in freshwater ecosystems. However, identification among Odonates is often challenging due to their similar morphological features. Therefore, the incorporation of morphological identification by taxonomists and validation using mitochondrial barcodes such as cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) can be a more reliable approach to enhance the accuracy in species identification. In this study, four COI barcodes for Malaysian dragonflies (Neurothemis fluctuans) and damselflies (Neurobasis chinensis, Aristocypha fenestrella and Sundacypha petiolata) were generated. Three of the generated barcodes (D2 COI, D4 COI and D5 COI) supported the species identified by taxonomists meanwhile D3 COI deduced that the damselfly species was misidentified due to the very similar morphology between the same genus of damselfly. All of the COI barcodes are now available in the GenBank with the accession numbers of MT266926.1 (D2 COI), MT266925.1 (D3 COI), MT269676.1 (D4 COI) and MT266924.1 (D5 COI).
Effect of different banana pseudostem parts on their starch yield, morphology and thermal properties
Authors: Mohd Ali N A , Abdullah N , Jong S H , Muhammad N , Tan M C
Published: May 2021

Since banana tree cannot produce fruit twice, there is an abundance of pseudostem left as abandoned crop waste and this leads to environmental pollution. This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of different parts of banana pseudostem on the yield, morphology and thermal properties of the starch. The pseudostem was divided into three parts, which are the outer part of pseudostem (OPS), inner part of pseudostem (IPS) and the whole part of pseudostem (WPS). The starch yield from different parts was evaluated. The morphological and thermal properties of each starch were determined by scanning electron microscopy and thermoanalytical technique, respectively. The result shows that yield of starch obtained were 0.08 % higher in OPS compared to IPS. The yield of starch obtained range from 0.12-0.20 %. The iodine test had confirmed the presence of starch obtain from the pseudostem. All the starch showed irregular and spherical shape based on morphology observation. The gelatinization temperature of starch was between 71.15°C-76.50°C. The gelatinization temperature of starch obtained from IPS is 3.6 % higher compared to OPS and WPS. The results from this finding show that the starch obtained from pseudostem could be a potential source of starch that can be commercialized, and thus increase the sources of starch in the food industry.
Evaluating physiological responses of Butterfly pea, Clitoria ternatea L. var. Pleniflora to salt stress
Authors: Mohd Nasim N A , Pa’ee F
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, proportions of agriculture land had become saline. Many plants and herbs have evolved series of defences to mitigate against salinity. There were critical appraisal studies on salinity using the butterfly pea, Clitoria ternatea var Pleniflora that analysed their potential role as salt tolerant legume. However, study on the physiological responses of Clitoria ternatea is still lacking. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to introduce and evaluate the growth traits of Clitoria ternatea var Plenifora with regards to the number of branches and leaves, plant’s height, fresh and dry weight of plant parts (stem, leaves and roots) during the exposure to six different doses of NaCl (0, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 mM). In addition, controlled growth environment was watered daily with equal NaCl-supplemented distilled water. The results from this study had revealed that all of the test growth traits: the number of branches and leaves, height of plants, fresh weight of leaves and dry weight of stem, leaves and roots were the highest under 200 mM of NaCl. In conclusion, 200 mM of NaCl can improve the overall growth of Clitoria ternatea var Pleniflora.
Development of Etlingera elatior pearl for drinks and cocktail
Authors: Muhamad A N , Kormin F , Zainol-Abidin N A , Mohamed-Anuar N A F , Zainol-Abidin N A
Published: May 2021

Herbs such as Etlingera elatior (torch ginger flower) is well known in Malaysia and one of the main sources of phytochemicals with strong antioxidant activity. A recent study is done to develop herbs into new confectionery products, pearls in drinks and cocktails. In this research, the screening process is done to select the best pearl formulation, which described the desired viscosity and pH. The mixture variables are different types of starch (xanthan gum, modified cassava flour, hanjeli flour, and modified suweg flour). Five out of 20 pearl formulations are chosen for texture profile, antioxidant analysis, and sensory analysis. The result shows pearl formulation 2 (467.62 g force) has the highest hardness of the pearl, while the stickiest is pearl formulation 4 (-9.24 g force). The pearl formulation 2 has the highest antioxidant capacity when tested with TPC (6.61 μgGAE/ml), TFC (177.42 μgRE/ml) and ABTS (56.74 %). Contradict to this result, the highest DPPH antioxidant properties are pearl formulation 1 (69.98 %). The sensory analysis by 9-point hedonic scale result shows that the average mean of overall acceptance is formulation 2.
Dinomyrmex gigas (Latreille, 1802): A Potential Icon for Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin
Authors: Muhammad Shafiq H , Maryati M
Published: May 2021

Dinomyrmex gigas (Latreille, 1802) is one of the largest ants in the world and the largest in Southeast Asia. It is also more commonly known as the giant forest ant. This large charismatic ant can be found in the forests of Southeast Asia, however it is not often sighted by the public due to its predominant nocturnal nature. Despite being considerably well studied compared to its smaller counterparts, most people know little about the giant forest ant beyond its large size. Most studies on this species focus on the populations found in Malaysia and Brunei characterizing many aspects of the natural history and biology of this species including its foraging behaviour, diet, territoriality, reproduction and colony structure. While much is known about the biology of this species, fragmented forest habitats may have an impact on the viability and behaviour of this majestic giant ant of the forest. This study involved insects’ viability observation and sampling of ant specimens. The results of observations showed that D. gigas is viable in Endau Rompin Johor National Park (TNJER). Then, various ecological aspects of D. gigas was investigated through field studies and secondary information. Due to its size and uniqueness this species has a potential to be developed into a nature tourism product for Malaysia. The present study elaborated to further discover its daily activity, nesting and defence behaviour which could be useful in developing it into a nature tourism product. As the species is also limited in distribution to undisturbed forest, the issue of its survival is discussed with relation to conservation of the tropical rainforest.
Exploring Tourists’ Knowledge, Perceptions and Willingness to Pay on Biodiversity Conservation: Insights from Kinabalu Park, Borneo
Authors: Musa F , Ahmad Nasir N S , Jaunis O , Mohd Hamdan D D
Published: May 2021

The richness of biodiversity and ecotourism development in Malaysia has contributed to economic growth and human well-being. In this context, Kinabalu Park, Borneo, offers the uniqueness of biodiversity as the main attraction to local and foreign tourists. However, the economic value of biodiversity is difficult to quantify due to the non-existent market for these resources. This study explored the tourists’ knowledge and perception regarding the biodiversity issues and estimated the Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Kinabalu Park’s biodiversity conservation using the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). A total of 250 questionnaires with five bid prices were distributed to local (RM3, RM6, RM9, RM12, and RM15) and international tourists (RM15, RM30, RM45, RM60, and RM75). This study reported that more than half of the respondents are willing to pay for the conservation of biodiversity. Most local and international tourists are willing to pay RM5 and RM84.05 per person, respectively. The Principle Component Analysis (PCA) in Factor Analysis showed that the “environmental” factor had the highest eigenvalue compared to the “social” factor. This finding shows that tourism has a very significant environmental attitude and preferences towards the conservation of biodiversity. The financial planning management can help the stakeholders in biodiversity conservation programs at Kinabalu Park for better governance in the future.
Potential Dopant in Photocatalysis Process for Wastewater Treatment-A Review
Authors: Razali N A , Othman S A
Published: May 2021

Nowadays, too much pollution has happened around us, and one of them is water pollution, which each day has become more severe and worse. One of the sources of water pollution comes from the industry that has used dyes either excessively or not. In case of that, the wastewater needs to be treated before released to the river or environment. In this paper, a review of the wastewater treatment using dopants such as nitrogen and magnesium, will be discussed.
The Potential of Oleaginous Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Soil of Baturraden Botanical Garden, Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Rizki M A A H , Ilmi M
Published: May 2021

The present paper introduces potential oleaginous filamentous fungi that have been isolated from the soils of Baturraden Botanical Garden, Central Java, Indonesia. Several types of filamentous fungi were isolated randomly from Baturraden Botanical Garden soils and were screened for their lipid production. Quantitative screening was done using semisynthetic mediums that contain glucose. The potential lipid producers were identified molecularly. The fatty acid profile of three isolates with high lipid content were identified using GC-MS. In the present study, four of nineteen screened fungi accumulated lipid more than 20% of dry cell mass. The lipid content found in BR.2.2, BR.2.3, BR.3.3 and BR.4.4 were 28.44%, 21.06%, 21.76% and 28.27%, respectively. Further analysis showed that three isolates with high lipid content were identified as unclassified strain (BR.2.2), Brevistachys sp. (BR.3.3) and Cerrena sp. (BR.4.4) based on ITS sequence. Isolate BR.2.2 contains 60.47% saturated fatty acid (SFA), 21.12% monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and 5.0% polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Isolate BR.3.3 contains 36.85% SFA, 17.47% MUFA and 1.59% PUFA. Isolate BR.4.4 contains 70.48% SFA, 19.62% MUFA and 0.56% PUFA. It concludes that lipid produced from isolates BR.2.2, BR.3.3 and BR.4.4 are suitable and have potential for biodiesel production. Further studies to optimize the lipid production are suggested.
Development of immobilized matrix from durian rind waste in cultivation of microalgae for biofertilizer production
Authors: Roshidi A A , Mohamad-Fuzi S F , Matias-Peralta H M , Zaidan N L , Hailan I M , Kormin F , Abu-Bakar M F , Sabran S F
Published: May 2021

Conventional fertilizers have a negative impact on environment and are not economically efficient. This is because the fertilizers are lost by volatilization in the atmosphere, leaching into the groundwater or fixation in the soil. The aim of this project is to produce a new generation of biofertilizers, using an eco-friendly coating based on biomass and biopolymers derived from pectin. In this study, pectin from durian rind was obtained after a treatment with an acidified solution followed by purification through alcohol precipitation. The durian pectin was found to be 3.22 ± 0.065% of methoxyl content which is classified as a low methoxyl pectin. Therefore, it is suitable to be used as a biopolymeric matrix to produce a slow-release soil fertilizer added with microalgal (Scenedesmus sp.) biomass residue. The incorporation of sodium alginate as a gelling mixture was found to enhance the formation of rigid bead structure. The morphology of encapsulated Scenedesmus-beads were then examined using scanning electron microscopy and the growth of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra plant) was observed for its potential use as biofertilizer. The results obtained for the morphology of the beads shows that the beads have a porous structure. In just two weeks, the significant growth of plant treated with biofertilizer was shown by having a much greater height (7.17 + 1.04 cm), number (4 leaves) and size of leaves (3.67 ± 0.32 cm) compared to the control (5.17 + 0.35 cm high, 3 leaves, and 2.67 ± 0.20 cm in size, respectively). However, further research is needed on the optimal biofertilizer concentration and dosage as well as on the kinetic study of the release compounds from the beads. Overall, this article exhibits a good perspective for alternative fertilizer for agriculture applications and represent an innovative solution for durian rind final disposal.
Introduction of Biological Parameters for Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) Classification for Permanent Forest Reserve: A Case Study Based on Small Vertebrates’ Assessments in Selangor
Authors: Shahfiz M A , Munian K , Ruzman N H A , Zakaria N A , Fauzi N F M
Published: May 2021

Environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) is vital for seeking the balance between biodiversity conservation and land use planning based on the concept of sustainable development. However, the classification of ESA in Malaysia grounded on physical attributes and the biological elements neglected. Therefore, the aim of the study is to propose a new approach of ESA for permanent forest reserve classification by integrating biological parameters based on small vertebrates with the existing physical attribute of ESA classification. Three forest reserves in northern Selangor selected and four taxa of small vertebrate e.g. small mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles assessed to develop the biological parameters. Forty potential biological parameters were listed which were thoroughly screened and examined before final ten parameters were finalised. These parameters were composed of four categories including species diversity, trophic composition, origin of species and conservation status. An initial threshold values for each biological parameter were determined. The finding indicates the parameters are promising and the research need to further fine-tuned by conducting verification tests in various landscapes or regions before being integrated with physical attributes to enhance the existing classification of ESA in Malaysia.
Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) Certification Progress for Independent Smallholders in Malaysia
Authors: Yap P , Rosdin R , Abdul-Rahman A A A , Omar A T , Mohamed M N , Rahami M S
Published: May 2021

Oil palm sector is one of the major contributors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Malaysia. In 2019, with oil palm area of 5.90 million hectares, exports of oil palm have contributed RM64.84 billion to the country’s income. Indirectly, it helps the economic growth and socioeconomic of independent smallholders which occupy over 16% of total oil palm planted area in Malaysia. Despite the significant contribution to the economy, Malaysian palm oil industries has been heavily pressurized by the western communities for causing environmental problems such as deforestation and loss of biodiversity. Hence, the mandatory implementation of Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) starting 1st January 2020 is important for the palm oil industries to ensure their commitment towards sustainability, including smallholders. Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), a government agency has been tasked to assist independent smallholders in implementing MSPO certification. As of 31st May 2020, 24.3% of independent smallholders with 239,692.34 hectares of oil palm areas have been certified with MSPO. Therefore, implementation of MSPO among smallholders provides competitive advantages for Malaysian palm oil and promotes Malaysian sustainable product worldwide.
Back to the fields? Increased agricultural land greenness after a COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Hammad A T , Falchetta G , Wirawan I B M
Published: May 2021

In response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, policymakers worldwide adopted unprecedented measures to limit disease spread, with major repercussions on economic activities and the environment. Here we provide empirical evidence of the impact of a lockdown policy on satellite-measured agricultural land greenness in Badung, a highly populated regency of Bali, Indonesia. Using machine learning and satellite data, we estimate what the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) of cropland would have been without a lockdown. Based on on this counterfactual, we estimate a significant increase in the EVI over agricultural land after the beginning of the lockdown period. The finding is robust to a placebo test. Based on evidence from official reports and international press outlets, we suggest that the observed increase in EVI might be caused by labour reallocation to agriculture from the tourism sector, hardly hit by the lockdown measures. Our results show that machine learning and satellite data can be effectively combined to estimate the effects of exogenous events on land productivity.
Achieving a sub-10 nm nanopore array in silicon by metal-assisted chemical etching and machine learning
Authors: Chen Yun , Chen Yanhui , Long Junyu , Shi Dachuang , Chen Xin , Hou Maoxiang , Gao Jian , Liu Huilong , He Yunbo , Fan Bi , Wong Ching-Ping , Zhao Ni
Published: May 2021

Solid-state nanopores with controllable pore size and morphology have huge application potential. However, it has been very challenging to process sub-10 nm silicon nanopore arrays with high efficiency and high quality at low cost. In this study, a method combining metal-assisted chemical etching and machine learning is proposed to fabricate sub-10 nm nanopore arrays on silicon wafers with various dopant types and concentrations. Through a SVM algorithm, the relationship between the nanopore structures and the fabrication conditions, including the etching solution, etching time, dopant type, and concentration, was modeled and experimentally verified. Based on this, a processing parameter window for generating regular nanopore arrays on silicon wafers with variable doping types and concentrations was obtained. The proposed machine-learning-assisted etching method will provide a feasible and economical way to process high-quality silicon nanopores, nanostructures, and devices.
Authentication based on electrocardiography signals and machine learning
Authors: Albuquerque Silas L , Miosso Cristiano J , da Rocha Adson F , Gondim Paulo R L
Published: May 2021

Among the information security problems involved in Telemedicine Information Systems (TMIS), the authentication area of the various entities involved has been extensively discussed in recent years and shown a wide range of possibilities. The problems caused by the application of inadequate authentication processes may lead to the death of patients who depend on Mobile Healthcare (M-Health) services. User authentication can be based on several physiological traits (e.g., iris, retina, and fingerprint) for biometric recognition, including electrocardiography (ECG) signals. Some ECG patterns are relatively robust to daily changes associated with normal heart rate variability. In fact, the relative lengths of PQ, QR, and RS intervals, as well as Q, R, and S relative amplitudes constitute individual traits. A few studies have succeeded in using ECG signals as an accurate authentication input and offered some advantages in comparison to biometrics traditional approaches. ECG-based user authentication can be built on Machine Learning (ML) models, used for classification purposes and reductions in distortions caused by misinterpretation of ECG data. Among the ML models adopted for ECG signals classification, ensembles have shown a good research opportunity. Random Under-Sampling Boosting (RUSBoost), a boosting algorithm not yet explored (to the best of our knowledge) for such a problem, can achieve comparatively high performance after a supervised training stage, even from relatively few training examples. This manuscript reports on a comparison of RUSBoost with Nearest Neighbour Search (NNS) regarding the classification of ECG signals for biometric authentication applications. The two ML techniques were compared by a random subsampling technique that considers four analysis metrics, namely accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and F1-score. The experimental results showed the better performance of RUSBoost regarding accuracy (97.4%), sensitivity (96.1%) and F1-score (97.4%). On the other hand, NNS provided better precision (99.5%).
Global Pandemic and Plastic Surgery Residency Match: Can Social Media Fill the Void?
Authors: Duque Sofia , Riccelli Vincent , Mulqueen Sydney , Zhang Andrew Y
Published: May 2021

Background

The type of content that influences plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) residency program selection and attracts applicants is continually changing and not clearly understood. Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major yet undetermined impact on residency selection.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the type of PRS social media (SM) content that drives prospective applicants’ interest in a residency program, and the degree of SM influence on applicants, especially in the context of COVID-19.

Methods

Prospective PRS residency applicants were surveyed anonymously.

Results

An average of 60% of respondents reported that PRS SM content influenced their perception of a program. Fifty-eight percent reported that resident lifestyle content made them more interested in a program. Separately, 32% reported that resident lifestyle content influenced them to rank a program higher. Seventy-two percent of respondents claimed SM content did not make them lose interest in a program. Rarely posting, outdated content, and lack of engagement were cited as factors for loss of interest in a program. A majority of respondents (53%) reported wanting to see more resident life and culture content on SM. Of the existing PRS SM content, respondents were most interested in resident lifestyle, followed by clinical and program-specific content.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the importance of SM PRS residency selection. Resident lifestyle content was consistently indicated as more likely to make respondents gain interest in a program, rank a program higher, and as the most desired content. PRS programs will benefit from highlighting resident camaraderie, quality of life, hobbies, and lifestyle to attract applicants.
In silico prediction of in vitro protein liquid–liquid phase separation experiments outcomes with multi-head neural attention
Authors: Raimondi Daniele , Orlando Gabriele , Michiels Emiel , Pakravan Donya , Bratek-Skicki Anna , Van Den Bosch Ludo , Moreau Yves , Rousseau Frederic , Schymkowitz Joost
Published: May 2021

Motivation

Proteins able to undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in vivo and in vitro are drawing a lot of interest, due to their functional relevance for cell life. Nevertheless, the proteome-scale experimental screening of these proteins seems unfeasible, because besides being expensive and time-consuming, LLPS is heavily influenced by multiple environmental conditions such as concentration, pH and temperature, thus requiring a combinatorial number of experiments for each protein.

Results

To overcome this problem, we propose a neural network model able to predict the LLPS behavior of proteins given specified experimental conditions, effectively predicting the outcome of in vitro experiments. Our model can be used to rapidly screen proteins and experimental conditions searching for LLPS, thus reducing the search space that needs to be covered experimentally. We experimentally validate Droppler’s prediction on the TAR DNA-binding protein in different experimental conditions, showing the consistency of its predictions.

Availability and implementation

A python implementation of Droppler is available at https://bitbucket.org/grogdrinker/droppler

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.