bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
History of Wildlife Tracking Technologies
Authors: Whitney Kristoffer
Published: March 2022

Technologies for wildlife tracking in a systematic way by scientists and other naturalists have their origins in the mid-19th century. Tagging and banding systems for fish and birds are exemplary of this: Both were used by late-19th- and early 20th-century biologists to gather data on the populations and migrations of a wide variety of species considered commercially useful or scientifically interesting. These tracking systems were deployed by networks of professional and amateur naturalists, working with a number of institutions integral to natural history work at the time: government agencies, birding and hunting groups, zoos, museums, and universities. By the mid- to late 20th century, wildlife tracking had expanded to include a wider array of species for a number of reasons. Technologically, electronic surveillance equipment from early radio telemetry to modern satellite tracking allowed for more animals to be tracked in ever more precise ways. Culturally and politically, the environmental movement and endangered species programs brought more attention to the plight of nongame or non-commercially valuable species. In the process, traditional biological disciplines were reshaped, and new subfields such as movement and acoustic ecology have emerged. And although the plethora of knowledge generated about wildlife in the past century and a half may prove to be a key component in environmental conservation in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, there are a number of ethical issues emerging from the history of wildlife tracking technologies to be addressed as well.
Diagnostic Impact of Next-Generation Sequencing Panels for Lymphoproliferative Neoplasms on Small-Volume Biopsies
Authors: Fei Fei , Natkunam Yasodha , Zehnder James L , Stehr Henning , Gratzinger Dita
Published: March 2022

Objectives

We investigated the feasibility and utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS)–based targeted somatic mutation panels and IG/TR gene rearrangement assays in the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) in small-volume biopsies.

Materials

We performed a retrospective, single-institution review of all NGS assays requested over a 3-year period by hematopathologists for diagnostic purposes on small-volume biopsies.

Results

We identified 59 small-volume biopsies. The TR assay was most commonly requested (42 [71%]), followed by the somatic mutation panel (32 [54%]) and IG assay (26 [44%]). NGS studies were associated with a change in the diagnostic line in about half of cases (28 [47%]) and in a change in the likelihood of a diagnosis in a further 16 cases (27%); there was no diagnostic impact of NGS testing in 15 cases (25%).

Conclusions

Implementation of NGS panel somatic mutation or IG/TR gene rearrangement assays on small-volume biopsies contributes to the diagnosis of LPDs in the majority of select cases for diagnostic purposes. The molecular diagnosis is considered in the context of the clinical, histologic, and immunophenotypic findings and does not by itself lead to a definitive diagnosis in small-volume biopsies.
Trainee-led collaborative research: the future present
Authors:   The European Vascular Research Collaborative, Ancetti Stefano , de Borst Gert J , Busch Albert , Domingos Liliana , Enzmann Florian , Sousa Joel Ferreira , Gratl Alexandra , Hinchliffe Robert , Jongkind Vincent , Lareyre Fabien , Meecham Lewis , Nederhoed Hilian , Staniszewska Aleksandra , Teraa Martin , Weiss Salome , Zlatanovic Petar
Published: March 2022

Research collaboratives are a compelling addition to traditional academic institution-led research; highly motivated individuals connected across national and international networks are able to access huge populations and huge voluntary workforces very quickly to deliver high-quality research that has the potential to be more representative of the global healthcare environment. It is essential that the surgical community embraces, encourages, and supports these organizations to advance the acquisition of knowledge at a pace that was not seen in the past.
Biometric Bordering and Automatic Gender Recognition: Challenging Binary Gender Norms in Everyday Biometric Technologies
Authors: Quinan C L , Hunt Mina
Published: March 2022

With the rise of advanced biometric technologies, the surveilling of populations who do not match racial and gender norms has increased. Modern-day biometrics make assumptions about gender and race based on skin color, facial structure, body type, and body parts, which are encoded in predictive algorithms and other AI-driven systems. Growing empirical evidence points to the obstacles this poses for trans and non-binary individuals in several spheres, including border security, healthcare, and social media. Drawing on autoethnographic vignettes, semi-structured interviews, and survey responses, we look to the increased use of binary-based biometric technologies and automatic gender recognition (AGR), which rely on outmoded understandings of gender as static, measurable, and physiological. Our ethnographic data demonstrate how trans and non-binary bodies are forced to bend to these systems; meanwhile these technologies and algorithms increasingly extract data on trans and non-binary users, which may then be used as challenge sets to refine their accuracy.
Plant growth, physiological variation and homological relationship of Cyclocarya species in ex situ conservation
Authors: Feng Ying , Zheng Kailing , Lin Xiulian , Huang Junpo
Published: March 2022

Natural forests of Cyclocarya paliurus have been seriously damaged because of the extreme demand for leaf medicinal uses, making conservation of this valuable, medicinal woody species necessary. Because of geographical differentiation and diverse adaptability, in this study we analysed the variations in plant growth and physiological response to environmental factors at a resource plantation of ex situ conservation and determined the homological relationships between local provenance (from Fujian Province, FJ) and introduced provenances showing high-survival rate and better growth (from Zhejiang, Hubei, Guizhou and Jiangxi Province). Our results suggested the following: (i) Plant growth: FJ had the highest plant height but not the largest basal diameter in comparison to that of other provenances. (ii) Physiological responses during the growth periods: water content in leaf of FJ had similar change with that of other provenances, except for the provenance from Guizhou Province; total soluble sugar content in leaf of FJ was more than that of other provenances; calcium content in leaf of all provenances was higher as compared to K, Mg and Na; the highest activity among four kinds of antioxidant enzymes in all provenances was superoxide dismutase, then was polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, finally was catalase; and total flavonoid among three kinds of secondary metabolites in all provenances showed the greatest content, followed by polysaccharides and total triterpenoid. (iii) Relation analysis: plant growth and physiological responses related with environmental factors, especially temperature and precipitation. (iv) Homological relationships: leaf characteristics among six provenances varied in colour, area and common petiole length, but not the shape of leaf base or apex. Cyclocarya paliurus distributed in Fujian Province showed a very close homological relationship with that distributed in Zhejiang Province by simple sequence repeat. These findings will provide knowledge on physiological response to environmental factors and aid to select suitable provenances for Cyclocarya cultivation.
Spatial and single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals changes in gene expression in response to drug perturbation in rat kidney
Authors: Onoda Naoki , Kawabata Ayako , Hasegawa Kumi , Sakakura Megumi , Urakawa Itaru , Seki Masahide , Zenkoh Junko , Suzuki Ayako , Suzuki Yutaka
Published: March 2022

The kidney is a complex organ that consists of various types of cells. It is occasionally difficult to resolve molecular alterations and possible perturbations that the kidney experiences due to drug-induced damage. In this study, we performed spatial and single-cell transcriptome analysis of rat kidneys and constructed a precise rat renal cell atlas with spatial information. Using the constructed catalogue, we were able to characterize cells of several minor populations, such as macula densa or juxtaglomerular cells. Further inspection of the spatial gene expression data allowed us to identify the upregulation of genes involved in the renin regulating pathway in losartan-treated populations. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist drug, and the observed upregulation of the renin pathway-related genes could be due to feedback from the hypotensive action of the drug. Furthermore, we found spatial heterogeneity in the response to losartan among the glomeruli. These results collectively indicate that integrated single-cell and spatial gene expression analysis is a powerful approach to reveal the detailed associations between the different cell types spanning the complicated renal compartments.
The impact of non-response weighting in health surveys for estimates on primary health care utilization
Authors: Jensen Heidi Amalie Rosendahl , Lau Cathrine Juel , Davidsen Michael , Feveile Helene Birgitte , Christensen Anne Illemann , Ekholm Ola
Published: March 2022

Background

Low response rates in health surveys may affect the representativeness and generalizability of results if non-response is systematically related to the indicator of interest. To account for such potential bias, weighting procedures are widely used with an overall aim to obtain less biased estimates. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of applying calibrated weights on prevalence estimates of primary health care utilization among respondents compared to the entire sample of a representative Danish survey of adults aged ≥16 years.

Methods

Registry-based 1-year prevalence data on health care utilization of chiropractor/physiotherapist, dentist and psychologist in 2016 were linked to the entire sample (n = 312 349), including respondents (n = 183 372), from the Danish National Health Survey in 2017. Calibrated weights, which applied information on e.g. sex, age, ethnic background, education and overall health service use were used to assess their impact on prevalence estimates among respondents.

Results

Across all included types of health care, weighting for non-response decreased prevalence estimates among respondents, which resulted in less biased estimates. For example, the overall 1-year prevalence of chiropractor/physiotherapist, dentist and psychologist utilization decreased from 19.1% to 16.9%, 68.4% to 62.5% and 1.9% to 1.8%, respectively. The corresponding prevalence in the entire sample was 16.5%, 59.4% and 1.7%.

Conclusions

Applying calibrated weights to survey data to account for non-response reduces bias in primary health care utilization estimates. Future studies are needed to explore the possible impact of weighting on other health estimates.
Chromosome-Level Reference Genomes for Two Strains of Caenorhabditis briggsae: An Improved Platform for Comparative Genomics
Authors: Stevens Lewis , Moya Nicolas D. , Tanny Robyn E. , Gibson Sophia B. , Tracey Alan , Na Huimin , Chitrakar Rojin , Dekker Job , Walhout Albertha J.M. , Baugh L. Ryan , Andersen Erik C.
Published: March 2022

The publication of the Caenorhabditis briggsae reference genome in 2003 enabled the first comparative genomics studies between C. elegans and C. briggsae, shedding light on the evolution of genome content and structure in the Caenorhabditis genus. However, despite being widely used, the currently available C. briggsae reference genome is substantially less complete and structurally accurate than the C. elegans reference genome. Here, we used high-coverage Oxford Nanopore long-read and chromosome-conformation capture data to generate chromosome-level reference genomes for two C. briggsae strains: QX1410, a new reference strain closely related to the laboratory AF16 strain, and VX34, a highly divergent strain isolated in China. We also sequenced 99 recombinant inbred lines generated from reciprocal crosses between QX1410 and VX34 to create a recombination map and identify chromosomal domains. Additionally, we used both short- and long-read RNA sequencing data to generate high-quality gene annotations. By comparing these new reference genomes to the current reference, we reveal that hyper-divergent haplotypes cover large portions of the C. briggsae genome, similar to recent reports in C. elegans and C. tropicalis. We also show that the genomes of selfing Caenorhabditis species have undergone more rearrangement than their outcrossing relatives, which has biased previous estimates of rearrangement rate in Caenorhabditis. These new genomes provide a substantially improved platform for comparative genomics in Caenorhabditis and narrow the gap between the quality of genomic resources available for C. elegans and C. briggsae.
Exploration of a Swedish community-based family-oriented setting for promoting healthy food habits: professionals’ experiences
Authors: Mulkerrins Isabelle , Gripeteg Lena , Berg Christina
Published: March 2022

Health is created in everyday life and settings, where food literacy (FL) and health literacy (HL) are recognized as important for autonomy over one’s own health. Though it is acknowledged that bridging the gap between healthcare settings and community settings may be necessary to reach those requiring extra support. Open preschool (OP) is a low threshold community setting which parents with their young children can visit voluntarily, where the various activities offered can be opportunities to address topics related to food and health. The aim of this study is to explore preschool teachers and health practitioners’ thoughts and experience of OP as a setting for health promotion, with focus on food and eating. The study is localized to OP’s in a multicultural district in Gothenburg, Sweden. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three preschool teachers and seven health practitioners (one dental hygienist, three dietitians and three public health strategists). With an inductive approach, data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. From the perspective of teachers and health practitioners, the findings indicate that OP can be a setting for mutual learning in a supportive environment. OP provides various possibilities for improved FL and HL by linking health practitioners with families, providing the opportunity to socialize and by eating together. The results also reveal that language barriers can sometimes hinder communication, and that OP does not reach all families. Continuous collaboration between OP and health organizations and practitioners along with regular use of intercultural mediators is recommended by the professionals.
Radical surgery for a mitral valve intimal sarcoma: serial patch repair of the annulus and atrium
Authors: Matsuzaki Kanji , Mitomi Kisato , Imai Akito , Watanabe Yasunori
Published: March 2022

We report the rare case of a 48-year-old woman with a cardiac intimal sarcoma occupying the mitral valve and the left atrial roof. We resected the tumour in one block without residual lesions. The anterior mitral annulus and left atrial roof were serially repaired with the bovine pericardium, and a mechanical prosthesis was implanted in the reconstructed mitral annulus. The patient remains alive without recurrence for more than 1 and a half years postoperatively. We performed radical surgery for a mitral valve intimal sarcoma, and serial patch repair of the anterior mitral annulus and left atrial roof was a useful technique.
A 1D linearization–based MILP–NLP method for short-term hydrothermal operation
Authors: Kang Chuanxiong , Wu Shaofei , Gul Eid , Yu Xiang , Ren Pingan
Published: March 2022

The scheduling and optimization of short-term hydrothermal operation utilize the water resources efficiently and magnify the benefits of hydro energy while reducing the fuel and operation cost of thermal power plants. Short-term hydrothermal operation is a complex non-linear and non-convex optimization problem, which reflects thermal valve point effects, load balances, generation bounds and water transport delay. It is highly important and significant to figure out these problems to maximize the benefits of hydrothermal joint operation for energy saving, emission reduction and efficient resources management. This article presents a 1D linearization technique to deal with the non-linear function of two variables, a combined mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and non-linear programming (NLP) method to solve this problem. The applied method introduces integer variables to linearize the original model into a MILP one; the solution by MILP is then corrected and re-optimized to formulate a feasible solution to warm start NLP. The 1D linearization method is efficient for MILP as it avoids the coupled relationships of integer variables, and the NLP local search is used to correct the influence of linearization errors and search further. The case studies show that the result derived by the 1D linearization–based MILP–NLP method is superior to that of previous works. The method is tested with different linearization accuracy, and the results demonstrate that the method is stable. The presented technique is promising for real-world hydrothermal operation and related problems.
Word Measures on Symmetric Groups
Authors: Hanany Liam , Puder Doron
Published: March 2022

Fix a word $ w $ in a free group $ \textbf {F}$ on $r$ generators. A $w$-random permutation in the symmetric group $S_{N}$ is obtained by sampling $r$ independent uniformly random permutations $ \sigma _{1},\ldots ,\sigma _{r}\in S_{N}$ and evaluating $w\left (\sigma _{1},\ldots ,\sigma _{r}\right )$. In [39, 40], it was shown that the average number of fixed points in a $w$-random permutation is $1+\theta \left (N^{1-\pi \left (w\right )}\right )$, where $ \pi \left (w\right )$ is the smallest rank of a subgroup $H\le \textbf {F}$ containing $w$ as a non-primitive element. We show that $ \pi \left (w\right )$ plays a role in estimates of all stable characters of symmetric groups. In particular, we show that for all $t\ge 2$, the average number of $t$-cycles is $ \frac {1}{t}+O\left (N^{-\pi \left (w\right )}\right )$. As an application, we prove that for every $s$, every $ \varepsilon>0$ and every large enough $r$, Schreier graphs with $r$ random generators depicting the action of $S_{N}$ on $s$-tuples, have 2nd eigenvalue at most $2\sqrt {2r-1}+\varepsilon $ asymptotically almost surely. An important ingredient in this work is a systematic study of not necessarily connected Stallings core graphs.
Counterexamples for High-Degree Generalizations of the Schrödinger Maximal Operator
Authors: An Chen , Chu Rena , Pierce Lillian B
Published: March 2022

In 1980 Carleson posed a question on the minimal regularity of an initial data function in a Sobolev space $H^s({\mathbb {R}}^n)$ that implies pointwise convergence for the solution of the linear Schrödinger equation. After progress by many authors, this was recently resolved (up to the endpoint) by Bourgain, whose counterexample construction for the Schrödinger maximal operator proved a necessary condition on the regularity, and Du and Zhang, who proved a sufficient condition. Analogues of Carleson’s question remain open for many other dispersive partial differential equations. We develop a flexible new method to approach such problems and prove that for any integer $k\geq 2$, if a degree $k$ generalization of the Schrödinger maximal operator is bounded from $H^s({\mathbb {R}}^n)$ to $L^1(B_n(0,1))$, then $s \geq \frac {1}{4} + \frac {n-1}{4((k-1)n+1)}.$ In dimensions $n \geq 2$, for every degree $k \geq 3$, this is the first result that exceeds a long-standing barrier at $1/4$. Our methods are number-theoretic, and in particular apply the Weil bound, a consequence of the truth of the Riemann Hypothesis over finite fields.
The bla and mec families of β-lactam resistance genes in the genera Macrococcus, Mammaliicoccus and Staphylococcus: an in-depth analysis with emphasis on Macrococcus
Authors: Schwendener Sybille , Perreten Vincent
Published: March 2022

β-Lactamases (Bla) and low-affinity penicillin-binding proteins (PBP2A) are responsible for β-lactam resistance in the genera Macrococcus, Mammaliicoccus and Staphylococcus. These resistance mechanisms are in most species acquired through mobile genetic elements that carry a blaZ-like β-lactamase gene for penicillin resistance and/or a mec gene (mecA, mecB, mecC,mecD) encoding a PBP2A for resistance to virtually all classes of β-lactams. The mecA and mecC genes can be acquired through staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) elements in Staphylococcus and Mammaliicoccus. The mecB and mecD genes are found in Macrococcus on SCCmec elements, as well as on unrelated mecD-carrying Macrococcus resistance islands (McRImecD) and large mecB-carrying plasmids. This review provides a phylogenetic overview of Macrococcus, Mammaliicoccus and Staphylococcus species and an in-depth analysis of the genetic structures carrying bla and mec genes in these genera. Native bla genes were detected in species belonging to the novobiocin-resistant Staphylococcus saprophyticus group and Mammaliicoccus. The evolutionary relatedness between Macrococcus and Mammaliicoccus is illustrated on the basis of a similar set of intrinsic PBPs, especially, the presence of a second class A PBP. The review further focuses on macrococcal elements carrying mecB and mecD, and compares them with structures present in Staphylococcus and Mammaliicoccus. It also discusses the different recombinases (ccr of SCCmec) and integrases (int of McRI) that contribute to the mobility of methicillin resistance genes, revealing Macrococcus as an important source for mobilization of antibiotic resistance genes within the family of Staphylococcaceae.
Insecticide Resistance and Control Failure Likelihood Analysis in Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) Populations From Taiwan
Authors: Pudasaini Rameshwor , Chou Ming-Yi , Wu Tsung-Jung , Dai Shu-Mei
Published: March 2022

The status of insecticide resistance levels is important for applying suitable pest management approaches. The present study investigated the insecticide resistance of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) populations from five major cruciferous growing areas in Taiwan. The surveyed locations were distributed from central to southern Taiwan and included Taichung, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi, and Kaohsiung. High levels of resistance to spinosad, indoxacarb, metaflumizone, and chlorantraniliprole were recorded among the surveyed populations except in Taichung. The resistance ratios ranged from 2.376 to 1,236-fold for spinosad and 24.63–1,511-fold for indoxacarb. Similarly, those for metaflumizone and chlorantraniliprole, were 2.563–76.21- and 4.457–683.0-fold, respectively. However, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. aizawai, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, emamectin benzoate, and diafenthiuron were still relatively effective against most field populations of P. xylostella. After approximately 10 generations of being maintained in the laboratory without exposure to insecticides, the resistance ratios of the Kaohsiung and Changhua populations declined to approximately 1.4–10-fold, and insecticides with control failure likelihood also began to show a negligible risk of control failure. Although spinosad, indoxacarb, metaflumizone, and chlorantraniliprole have lost their effectiveness in most field populations of P. xylostella in Taiwan, their effectiveness may be recovered in the absence of insecticide-selection pressure for approximately 10 generations. Therefore, we suggest that a constant survey of insecticide resistance and well-designed insecticide rotation based on the survey results are necessary for the effective control and insecticide resistance management of P. xylostella.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Potential Candidate Pathways and Genes Involved in Toxin Biosynthesis in True Toads
Authors: Firneno Thomas J , Ramesh Balan , Maldonado Jose A , Hernandez-Briones Alejandro I , Emery Alyson H , Roelke Corey E , Fujita Matthew K
Published: March 2022

Synthesized chemical defenses have broadly evolved across countless taxa and are important in shaping evolutionary and ecological interactions within ecosystems. However, the underlying genomic mechanisms by which these organisms synthesize and utilize their toxins are relatively unknown. Herein, we use comparative transcriptomics to uncover potential toxin synthesizing genes and pathways, as well as interspecific patterns of toxin synthesizing genes across 10 species of North American true toads (Bufonidae). Upon assembly and annotation of the 10 transcriptomes, we explored patterns of relative gene expression and possible protein–protein interactions across the species to determine what genes and/or pathways may be responsible for toxin synthesis. We also tested our transcriptome dataset for signatures of positive selection to reveal how selection may be acting upon potential toxin producing genes. We assembled high-quality transcriptomes of the bufonid parotoid gland, a tissue not often investigated in other bufonid-related RNAseq studies. We found several genes involved in metabolic and biosynthetic pathways (e.g., steroid biosynthesis, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, isoquinoline biosynthesis, and glucosinolate biosynthesis) that were functionally enriched and/or relatively expressed across the 10 focal species that may be involved in the synthesis of alkaloid and steroid toxins, as well as other small metabolic compounds that cause distastefulness in bufonids. We hope that our study lays a foundation for future studies to explore the genomic underpinnings and specific pathways of toxin synthesis in toads, as well as at the macroevolutionary scale across numerous taxa that produce their own defensive toxins.
Water Rights Struggles in Johannesburg and Detroit Revisited: Looking Beyond Courts at the Politics and Power of Rights-Based Legal Mobilization in a Neoliberal Global Order: A ‘Powerpack’ Analysis
Authors: Dugard Jackie
Published: March 2022

Responding to the limits of court-based analyses and top-down position-taking in prevailing legal mobilization scholarship, this article goes beyond the courtroom to explore the value of rights-based legal mobilization from the perspective of those engaged in the campaigns to challenge racialized water disconnection in Johannesburg (2004–9) and Detroit (2014–). Against the backdrop of the ‘losing’ cases of Mazibuko and Lyda, the article finds evidence in the feedback from protagonists, of the relevance of rights-based mobilization notwithstanding the judicial defeats. The value of legal mobilization ascribed by affected communities and their allies aligns with the understanding of law as a form of political power in a dialectical relationship between structure and agency (Crawford and Andreassen 2013: 8–9). Using an expanded version of the ‘power cube’ (Gaventa 2006 and 2005), referred to here as the ‘powerpack’, the article engages in a bottom-up nuanced analysis of the multi-dimensional power of legal mobilization. In doing so, it contributes towards a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of rights-based mobilization for egalitarian socio-economic change.
Ecocide — Puzzles and Possibilities
Authors: Robinson Darryl
Published: March 2022

Popular interest in a new crime of ‘ecocide’ has recently surged. The proposed crime seeks to repudiate and stigmatize the most egregious environmental wrongdoing and would complement other efforts to curb the ongoing destruction. In June 2021, an international panel proposed a definition of the crime. Initial academic commentaries, many of them critical, reflect entirely understandable first reactions. However, combining international criminal law (ICL) and environmental law raises fascinating new issues that are not initially obvious. In this article, I survey the main issues in defining ecocide. For example, is a crime of ecocide a worthy idea? Is the best approach to amend the ICC Statute or to start with a smaller group of supportive states? I also introduce the main drafting options and controversies. The hardest puzzle, by far, is how to align ecocide with environmental law. Some seemingly simple solutions would entail rejecting environmental law; I argue that there are principled, normative, and strategic reasons why a crime of ecocide should reflect environmental law, not reject it. I show that each available solution invites plausible concerns. Thus, a conversation about defining ecocide must be a nuanced one about which options are least problematic. I outline possible future directions for exploration; with further deliberation, more elegant criteria may yet be found.
Caffeic acid regulates glucose homeostasis and inhibits purinergic and cholinergic activities while abating oxidative stress and dyslipidaemia in fructose-streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Salau Veronica F , Erukainure Ochuko L , Ijomone Omamuyovwi M , Islam Md. Shahidul
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The antidiabetic potential of caffeic acid in fructose/streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats was examined in this study.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were supplied with 10% fructose solution for 14 days followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg bw streptozotocin to induce type 2 diabetes (T2D). Rats were treated with both low (150 mg/kg bw) and high (300 mg/kg bw) doses of caffeic acid for 5 weeks, while the positive control group was treated with metformin (200 mg/kg bw).

Key findings

Treatment with caffeic acid significantly decreased blood glucose levels and elevated serum insulin levels while improving glucose tolerance, pancreatic β-cell function and morphology. It also led to a significant reduction of serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, ALT, AST, creatinine, urea and uric acid levels, while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Caffeic acid significantly (P < 0.05) elevated hepatic glycogen level, serum and pancreatic glutathione level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities with a concomitant decrease in malondialdehyde level, α-amylase, lipase, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (ENTPDase), 5ʹ-nucleotidase (5ʹ-NTD) and acetylcholinesterase activities.

Conclusion

The results suggest caffeic acid as a potent natural product with therapeutic effects against T2D. Further molecular and clinical studies are, however, required to ascertain these findings.
Building Peshawar: Labor, Security, and Infrastructure at the Edge of Empire
Authors: Lanzillo Amanda
Published: March 2022

This article focuses on the recruitment and organization of labor for projects of colonial state infrastructure in the city of Peshawar between 1849 and 1947. Providing access to the Khyber Pass—and thus Afghanistan—Peshawar was an urban center from which the colonial state sought to organize security on the Indo-Afghan frontier. Peshawari laborers, recruited to support the city’s large colonial military cantonment, railways, jail, and other infrastructure projects, were regulated according to colonial narratives about the security threats posed by the city’s geography and ethnic composition. This article contributes to our understanding of the labor of colonial security and border-making by uncovering the circular logic that connected security and labor in colonial-era Peshawar. The colonial state sought to build physical infrastructure to protect the city from the perceived threats posed by the Indo-Afghan frontier. But to build this infrastructure of security, colonial administrators relied on a porous border. Through the porous border they recruited labor from regional populations who they characterized as intrinsically prone to violence or difficult to discipline, spurring a continuous expansion of security infrastructure. Therefore, though an analysis of how laborers were recruited for state projects, the article argues that the colonial regime reified ethnic and social hierarchies within the city.
In situpod growth rate reveals contrasting diurnal sensitivity to water deficit inPhaseolus vulgaris
Authors: Merchant Andrew , Smith Millicent R , Windt Carel W
Published: March 2022

The development of reproductive tissues determines plant fecundity and yield. Loading of resources into the developing reproductive tissue is thought to be under the co-limiting effects of source and sink strength. The dynamics of this co-limitation are unknown, largely due to an inability to measure the flux of resources into a developing sink. Here we use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensors to measure sink strength by quantifying rates of pod dry matter accumulation (pod loading) in Phaseolus vulgaris at 13-min intervals across the diel period. Rates of pod loading showed contrasting variation across light and dark periods during the onset of water deficit. In addition, rates of pod loading appeared decoupled from net photosynthetic rates when adjusted to the plant scale. Combined, these observations illustrate that the rate of pod development varies under water limitation and that continuous, non-invasive methodologies to measure sink strength provide insight into the governing processes that determine the development of reproductive tissues.
A model-guided holistic review of exploiting natural variation of photosynthesis traits in crop improvement
Authors: Yin Xinyou , Gu Junfei , Dingkuhn Michael , Struik Paul C
Published: March 2022

Breeding for improved leaf photosynthesis is considered as a viable approach to increase crop yield. Whether it should be improved in combination with other traits has not been assessed critically. Based on the quantitative crop model GECROS that interconnects various traits to crop productivity, we review natural variation in relevant traits, from biochemical aspects of leaf photosynthesis to morpho-physiological crop characteristics. While large phenotypic variations (sometimes >2-fold) for leaf photosynthesis and its underlying biochemical parameters were reported, few quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified, accounting for a small percentage of phenotypic variation. More QTL were reported for sink size (that feeds back on photosynthesis) or morpho-physiological traits (that affect canopy productivity and duration), together explaining a much greater percentage of their phenotypic variation. Traits for both photosynthetic rate and sustaining it during grain filling were strongly related to nitrogen-related traits. Much of the molecular basis of known photosynthesis QTL thus resides in genes controlling photosynthesis indirectly. Simulation using GECROS demonstrated the overwhelming importance of electron transport parameters, compared with the maximum Rubisco activity that largely determines the commonly studied light-saturated photosynthetic rate. Exploiting photosynthetic natural variation might significantly improve crop yield if nitrogen uptake, sink capacity, and other morpho-physiological traits are co-selected synergistically.
High and low Sérsic index bulges in Milky Way- and M31-like galaxies: origin and connection to the bar with TNG50
Authors: Gargiulo Ignacio D , Monachesi Antonela , Gómez Facundo A , Nelson Dylan , Pillepich Annalisa , Pakmor Rüdiger , Grand R J J , Fragkoudi Francesca , Hernquist Lars , Lovell Mark , Marinacci Federico
Published: March 2022

We study bulge formation in MW/M31-like galaxies in a Λ-cold dark matter scenario, focusing on the origin of high- and low-Sersic index bulges. For this purpose, we use TNG50, a simulation of the IllustrisTNG project that combines a resolution of ∼8 × 104 M⊙ in stellar particles with a cosmological volume 52 cMpc in extent. We parametrize bulge surface brightness profiles by the Sérsic index and the bulge-to-total (B/T) ratio obtained from two-component photometric decompositions. In our sample of 287 MW/M31-like simulated galaxies, $17.1{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of photometric bulges exhibit high-Sérsic indices and $82.9{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ show low-Sérsic indices. We study the impact that the environment, mergers and bars have in shaping the surface brightness profiles. We find no correlation between bulge properties and the environment where they reside. Simulated galaxies with higher Sérsic indices show, on average, a higher fraction of ex situ stars in their kinematically selected bulges. For this bulge population, the last significant merger (total mass ratio msat/mhost > 0.1) occurs, on average, at later times. However, a substantial fraction of low-Sérsic index bulges also experience a late significant merger. We find that bars play an important role in the development of the different types of photometric bulges. The fraction of simulated galaxies with bars is smaller for the high- than for the low-Sérsic index population, reaching differences of $20{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at z > 1. Simulated galaxies with high fractions of ex situ stars in the bulge do not develop strong bars. Conversely, simulated galaxies with long-lived strong bars have bulges with ex situ fractions, fex situ < 0.2.
Observational constraints and dynamical analysis of Kaniadakis horizon-entropy cosmology
Authors: Hernández-Almada A , Leon Genly , Magaña Juan , García-Aspeitia Miguel A , Motta V , Saridakis Emmanuel N , Yesmakhanova Kuralay , Millano Alfredo D
Published: March 2022

We study the scenario of Kaniadakis horizon-entropy cosmology, which arises from the application of the gravity-thermodynamics conjecture using the Kaniadakis modified entropy. The resulting modified Friedmann equations contain extra terms that constitute an effective dark energy sector. We use data from cosmic chronometers, Type Ia supernova, H ii galaxies, strong lensing systems, and baryon acoustic oscillation observations, and we apply a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo analysis to construct the likelihood contours for the model parameters. We find that the Kaniadakis parameter is constrained around 0, namely around the value where the standard Bekenstein–Hawking is recovered. Concerning the normalized Hubble parameter, we find $h=0.708^{+0.012}_{-0.011}$, a result that is independently verified by applying the $\mathbf {\mathbb {H}}0(z)$ diagnostic and, thus, we conclude that the scenario at hand can alleviate the H0 tension problem. Regarding the transition redshift, the reconstruction of the cosmographic parameters gives $z_{\rm T}=0.715^{+0.042}_{-0.041}$. Furthermore, we apply the Akaike, Bayesian, and deviance information criteria, and we find that in most data sets the scenario is statistical equivalent to Λ cold dark matter one. Moreover, we examine the big bang nucleosynthesis, and we show that the scenario satisfies the corresponding requirements. Additionally, we perform a phase-space analysis, and we show that the Universe past attractor is the matter-dominated epoch, while at late times the Universe results in the dark-energy-dominated solution. Finally, we show that Kaniadakis horizon-entropy cosmology accepts heteroclinic sequences, but it cannot exhibit bounce and turnaround solutions.
Galactic angular momentum in the IllustrisTNG simulation – I. Connection to morphology, halo spin, and black hole mass
Authors: Rodriguez-Gomez Vicente , Genel Shy , Fall S Michael , Pillepich Annalisa , Huertas-Company Marc , Nelson Dylan , Pérez-Montaño Luis Enrique , Marinacci Federico , Pakmor Rüdiger , Springel Volker , Vogelsberger Mark , Hernquist Lars
Published: March 2022

We use the TNG100 simulation of the IllustrisTNG project to investigate the stellar specific angular momenta (j*) of ∼12 000 central galaxies at z = 0 in a full cosmological context, with stellar masses (M*) ranging from 109 to $10^{12} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$. We find that the j*–M* relations for early-type and late-type galaxies in IllustrisTNG are in good overall agreement with observations, and that these galaxy types typically ‘retain’ ∼10–20 and ∼50–60 per cent of their host haloes’ specific angular momenta, respectively, with some dependence on the methodology used to measure galaxy morphology. We present results for kinematic as well as visual-like morphological measurements of the simulated galaxies. Next, we explore the scatter in the j*–M* relation with respect to the spin of the dark matter halo and the mass of the supermassive black hole (BH) at the galactic centre. We find that galaxies residing in faster spinning haloes, as well as those hosting less massive BHs, tend to have a higher specific angular momentum. We also find that, at fixed galaxy or halo mass, halo spin and BH mass are anticorrelated with each other, probably as a consequence of more efficient gas flow towards the galactic centre in slowly rotating systems. Finally, we show that halo spin plays an important role in determining galaxy sizes – larger discs form at the centres of faster rotating haloes – although the trend breaks down for massive galaxies with $M_{\ast } \gtrsim 10^{11} \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, roughly the mass scale at which a galaxy’s stellar mass becomes dominated by accreted stars.
New XMM–Newton observations of faint, evolved supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Kavanagh P J , Sasaki M , Filipović M D , Points S D , Bozzetto L M , Haberl F , Maggi P , Maitra C
Published: March 2022

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) hosts a rich population of supernova remnants (SNRs), our knowledge of which is the most complete of any galaxy. However, there remain many candidate SNRs, identified through optical and radio observations where additional X-ray data can confirm their SNR nature and provide details on their physical properties. In this paper, we present XMM–Newton observations that provide the first deep X-ray coverage of ten objects, comprising eight candidates and two previously confirmed SNRs. We perform multifrequency studies using additional data from the Magellanic Cloud Emission Line Survey (MCELS) to investigate their broad-band emission and used Spitzer data to understand the environment in which the objects are evolving. We confirm seven of the eight candidates as bona-fide SNRs. We used a multifrequency morphological study to determine the position and size of the remnants. We identify two new members of the class of evolved Fe-rich remnants in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs), several SNRs well into their Sedov-phase, one SNR likely projected towards a H ii region, and a faint, evolved SNR with a hard X-ray core which could indicate a pulsar wind nebula. Overall, the seven newly confirmed SNRs represent a ∼10-per cent increase in the number of LMC remnants, bringing the total number to 71, and provide further insight into the fainter population of X-ray SNRs.
Probing the parameters of the intergalactic medium using quasars
Authors: Dalton Tony , Morris Simon L , Fumagalli Michele , Gatuzz Efrain
Published: March 2022

We continue our series of papers on intergalactic medium (IGM) tracers using quasi-stellar objects (QSOs), having examined gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and blazars in earlier studies. We have estimated the IGM properties of hydrogen column density ($\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$), temperature, and metallicity using XMM–Newton QSO spectra over a large redshift range, with a collisional ionization equilibrium model for the ionized plasma. The $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ parameter results were robust with respect to intrinsic power laws, spectral counts, reflection hump, and soft excess features. There is scope for a luminosity bias given both luminosity and $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ scale with redshift, but we find this unlikely given the consistent IGM parameter results across the other tracer types reviewed. The impact of intervening high-column density absorbers was found to be minimal. The $\mathit {N}\small {\rm HXIGM}$ from the QSO sample scales as (1 + z)1.5 ± 0.2. The mean hydrogen density at z = 0 is n0 = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10−7 cm−3, the mean IGM temperature over the full redshift range is log(T/K) =6.5 ± 0.1, and the mean metallicity is [X/H] = −1.3 ± 0.1(Z ∼ 0.05). Aggregating with our previous GRB and blazar tracers, we conclude that we have provided evidence of the IGM contributing substantially and consistently to the total X-ray absorption seen in the spectra. These results are based on the necessarily simplistic slab model used for the IGM, due to the inability of current X-ray data to constrain the IGM redshift distribution.
The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey – XVII. PSR J1325−6253, a low eccentricity double neutron star system from an ultra-stripped supernova
Authors: Sengar R , Balakrishnan V , Stevenson S , Bailes M , Barr E D , Bhat N D R , Burgay M , Bernadich M C i , Cameron A D , Champion D J , Chen W , Flynn C M L , Jameson A , Johnston S , Keith M J , Kramer M , Morello V , Ng C , Possenti A , Stappers B , Shannon R M , van Straten W , Wongphechauxsorn J
Published: March 2022

The observable population of double neutron star (DNS) systems in the Milky Way allow us to understand the nature of supernovae and binary stellar evolution. Until now, all DNS systems in wide orbits (Porb > 1 d) have been found to have orbital eccentricities, e > 0.1. In this paper, we report the discovery of pulsar PSR J1325−6253: a DNS system in a 1.81-d orbit with a surprisingly low eccentricity of just e = 0.064. Through, 1.4 yr of dedicated timing with the Parkes radio telescope we have been able to measure its rate of advance of periastron, $\dot{\omega }=0{_{.}^{\circ}}138\pm 0{_{.}^{\circ}}002\, \mathrm{yr}^{-1}$. If this induced $\dot{\omega }$ is solely due to general relativity then the total mass of the system is, Msys = 2.57 ± 0.06 M⊙. Assuming an edge-on orbit the minimum companion mass is constrained to be Mc, min > 0.98 M⊙ which implies the pulsar mass is Mp, max < 1.59 M⊙. Its location in the P–$\dot{P}$ diagram suggests that, like other DNS systems, PSR J1325−6253 is a recycled pulsar and if its mass is similar to the known examples (>1.3 M⊙), then the companion neutron star is probably less than ∼1.25 M⊙ and the system is inclined at about 50°–60°. The low eccentricity along with the wide orbit of the system strongly favours a formation scenario involving an ultra-stripped supernova explosion.
Cosmological implications of the full shape of anisotropic clustering measurements in BOSS and eBOSS
Authors: Semenaite Agne , Sánchez Ariel G , Pezzotta Andrea , Hou Jiamin , Scoccimarro Roman , Eggemeier Alexander , Crocce Martin , Chuang Chia-Hsun , Smith Alexander , Zhao Cheng , Brownstein Joel R , Rossi Graziano , Schneider Donald P
Published: March 2022

We present the analysis of the full shape of anisotropic clustering measurement from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS) quasar sample together with the combined galaxy sample from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), re-analysed using an updated recipe for the non-linear matter power spectrum and the non-local bias parameters. We obtain constraints for flat Lambda cold dark matter cosmologies, focusing on the cosmological parameters that are independent of the Hubble parameter h. Our recovered value for the Root Mean Square (RMS) linear perturbation theory variance as measured on the scale of $12\, {\rm Mpc}$ is σ12 = 0.805 ± 0.049, while using the traditional reference scale of $8\, h^{-1}\, {\rm Mpc}$ gives σ8 = 0.815 ± 0.044. We quantify the agreement between our measurements and the latest cosmic microwave background data from Planck using the suspiciousness metric, and find them to be consistent within 0.64 ± 0.03σ. Combining our clustering constraints with the 3 × 2pt data sample from the Dark Energy Survey Year 1 release slightly degrades this agreement to the level of 1.54 ± 0.08σ, while still showing an overall consistency with Planck. We furthermore study the effect of imposing a Planck – like prior on the parameters that define the shape of the linear matter power spectrum, and find significantly tighter constraints on the parameters that control the evolution of density fluctuations. In particular, the combination of low-redshift data sets prefers a value of the physical dark energy density ωDE = 0.335 ± 0.011, which is 1.7σ higher than the one preferred by Planck.