bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trichinella spiralismtDNA: A Nematode Mitochondrial Genome That Encodes a Putative ATP8 and Normally Structured tRNAs and Has a Gene Arrangement Relatable to Those of Coelomate Metazoans
Authors: Lavrov Dennis V , Brown Wesley M 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of the nematode Trichinella spiralis has been amplified in four overlapping fragments and 16,656 bp of its sequence has been determined. This sequence contains the 37 genes typical of metazoan mtDNAs, including a putative atp8, which is absent from all other nematode mtDNAs examined. The genes are transcribed from both mtDNA strands and have an arrangement relatable to those of coelomate metazoans, but not to those of secernentean nematodes. All protein genes appear to initiate with ATN codons, typical for metazoans. Neither TTG nor GTT start codons, inferred for several genes of other nematodes, were found. The 22 T. spiralis tRNA genes fall into three categories: (i) those with the potential to form conventional “cloverleaf” secondary structures, (ii) those with TΨC arm + variable arm replacement loops, and (iii) those with DHU-arm replacement loops. Mt-tRNA(R) has a 5′-UCG-3′ anticodon, as in most other metazoans, instead of the very unusual 5′-ACG-3′ present in the secernentean nematodes. The sequence also contains a large repeat region that is polymorphic in size at the population and/or individual level.
Genetic Mapping of Quantitative Trait Loci Governing Longevity of Caenorhabditis elegans in Recombinant-Inbred Progeny of a Bergerac-BO × RC301 Interstrain Cross
Authors: Ayyadevara Srinivas , Ayyadevara Rajani , Hou Sen , Thaden John J , Reis Robert J Shmookler 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Recombinant-inbred populations, generated from a cross between Caenorhabditis elegans strains Bergerac-BO and RC301, were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting nematode longevity. Genotypes of young controls and longevity-selected worms (the last-surviving 1% from a synchronously aged population) were assessed at dimorphic transposon-specific markers by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The power of genetic mapping was enhanced, in a novel experimental design, through map expansion by accrual of recombinations over several generations, internally controlled longevity selection from a genetically heterogeneous, homozygous population, and selective genotyping of extremely long-lived worms. Analysis of individual markers indicated seven life-span QTL, situated near markers on chromosomes I (tcbn2), III (stP127), IV (stP13), V (stP6, stP23, and stP128), and X (stP41). These loci were corroborated, and mapped with increased precision, by nonparametric interval mapping—which supported all loci implicated by single-marker analysis. In addition, a life-span QTL on chromosome II (stP100-stP196), was significant only by interval mapping. Congenic lines were constructed for the longevity QTL on chromosomes III and X, by backcrossing the Bergerac-BO QTL allele into an RC301 background with selection for flanking markers. Survival data for these lines demonstrated consistent and significant effects of each QTL on life span.
Molecular Dissection of the 5′ Region ofno-on-transientAofDrosophila melanogasterRevealscis-Regulation by AdjacentdGpi1Sequences
Authors: Sandrelli Federica , Campesan Susanna , Rossetto Maria Giovanna , Benna Clara , Zieger Emanuela , Megighian Aram , Couchman Martin , Kyriacou Charalambos P , Costa Rodolfo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe nonA gene of Drosophila melanogaster is important for normal vision, courtship song, and viability and lies ∼350 bp downstream of the dGpi1 gene. Full rescue of nonA mutant phenotypes can be achieved by transformation with a genomic clone that carries ∼2 kb of 5′ regulatory material and that encodes most of the coding sequence of dGpi1. We have analyzed this 5′ region by making a series of deleted fragments, fusing them to yeast GAL4 sequences, and driving UAS-nonA expression in a mutant nonA background. Regions that both silence and enhance developmental tissue-specific expression of nonA and that are necessary for generating optomotor visual responses are identified. Some of these overlap the dGpi1 sequences, revealing cis-regulation by neighboring gene sequences. The largest 5′ fragment was unable to rescue the normal electroretinogram (ERG) consistently, and no rescue at all was observed for the courtship song phenotype. We suggest that sequences within the nonA introns that were missing in the UAS-nonA cDNA may carry enhancer elements for these two phenotypes. Finally, we speculate on the striking observation that some of the cis-regulatory regions of nonA appear to be embedded within the coding regions of dGpi1.
SINE Insertions in Cladistic Analyses and the Phylogenetic Affiliations of Tarsius bancanus to Other Primates
Authors: Schmitz Jürgen , Ohme Martina , Zischler Hans 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Transpositions of Alu sequences, representing the most abundant primate short interspersed elements (SINE), were evaluated as molecular cladistic markers to analyze the phylogenetic affiliations among the primate infraorders. Altogether 118 human loci, containing intronic Alu elements, were PCR analyzed for the presence of Alu sequences at orthologous sites in each of two strepsirhine, New World and Old World monkey species, Tarsius bancanus, and a nonprimate outgroup. Fourteen size-polymorphic amplification patterns exhibited longer fragments for the anthropoids (New World and Old World monkeys) and T. bancanus whereas shorter fragments were detected for the strepsirhines and the outgroup. From these, subsequent sequence analyses revealed three Alu transpositions, which can be regarded as shared derived molecular characters linking tarsiers and anthropoid primates. Concerning the other loci, scenarios are represented in which different SINE transpositions occurred independently in the same intron on the lineages leading both to the common ancestor of anthropoids and to T. bancanus, albeit at different nucleotide positions. Our results demonstrate the efficiency and possible pitfalls of SINE transpositions used as molecular cladistic markers in tracing back a divergence point in primate evolution over 40 million years old. The three Alu insertions characterized underpin the monophyly of haplorhine primates (Anthropoidea and Tarsioidea) from a novel perspective.
Functional Dissection of the cis-Acting Sequences of the Arabidopsis Transposable Element Tag1 Reveals Dissimilar Subterminal Sequence and Minimal Spacing Requirements for Transposition
Authors: Liu Dong , Mack Alyson , Wang Rongchen , Galli Mary , Belk Jason , Ketpura Nan I , Crawford Nigel M 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The Arabidopsis transposon Tag1 has an unusual subterminal structure containing four sets of dissimilar repeats: one set near the 5′ end and three near the 3′ end. To determine sequence requirements for efficient and regulated transposition, deletion derivatives of Tag1 were tested in Arabidopsis plants. These tests showed that a 98-bp 5′ fragment containing the 22-bp inverted repeat and four copies of the AAACCX (X = C, A, G) 5′ subterminal repeat is sufficient for transposition while a 52-bp 5′ fragment containing only one copy of the subterminal repeat is not. At the 3′ end, a 109-bp fragment containing four copies of the most 3′ repeat TGACCC, but not a 55-bp fragment, which has no copies of the subterminal repeats, is sufficient for transposition. The 5′ and 3′ end fragments are not functionally interchangeable and require an internal spacer DNA of minimal length between 238 and 325 bp to be active. Elements with these minimal requirements show transposition rates and developmental control of excision that are comparable to the autonomous Tag1 element. Last, a DNA-binding activity that interacts with the 3′ 109-bp fragment but not the 5′ 98-bp fragment of Tag1 was found in nuclear extracts of Arabidopsis plants devoid of Tag1.
Optimal Marker-Assisted Selection to Increase the Effective Size of Small Populations
Authors: Wang Jinliang 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
An approach to the optimal utilization of marker and pedigree information in minimizing the rates of inbreeding and genetic drift at the average locus of the genome (not just the marked loci) in a small diploid population is proposed, and its efficiency is investigated by stochastic simulations. The approach is based on estimating the expected pedigree of each chromosome by using marker and individual pedigree information and minimizing the average coancestry of selected chromosomes by quadratic integer programming. It is shown that the approach is much more effective and much less computer demanding in implementation than previous ones. For pigs with 10 offspring per mother genotyped for two markers (each with four alleles at equal initial frequency) per chromosome of 100 cM, the approach can increase the average effective size for the whole genome by ∼40 and 55% if mating ratios (the number of females mated with a male) are 3 and 12, respectively, compared with the corresponding values obtained by optimizing between-family selection using pedigree information only. The efficiency of the marker-assisted selection method increases with increasing amount of marker information (number of markers per chromosome, heterozygosity per marker) and family size, but decreases with increasing genome size. For less prolific species, the approach is still effective if the mating ratio is large so that a high marker-assisted selection pressure on the rarer sex can be maintained.
The seismic broad-band signature of high-speed trains running on viaducts
Authors: Liu Yujin , Yue Yubo , Luo Yi , Li Youming 
Published: April 2021

SUMMARY
The high-speed train (HST) generates strong ground vibrations when it runs on the railroad. However, little attention has been paid to the theory of far-field propagation of the HST-induced ground vibrations. Here, we derive two analytical formulae for the HST-induced seismic wavefields under the far-field approximation. In particular, we analyse the seismic wavefields in the cases when the HST runs on a track built on the ground and on the viaduct, respectively. We find that the vibrations generated by the HST running on the ground decay exponentially, whereas the HST running on the viaduct can generate broad-band seismic waves that can penetrate deep into the Earth. The derived formulae have been validated by the far-field observations in the field. Numerical results suggest that the ground vibrations generated by the HST, when running on the viaduct, could be utilized as a powerful, economic and repeatable source to image and monitor subsurface structures.
Frequency-dependent anisotropy in porous rocks with aligned cracks containing compressible fluid–a model based on poroelastic spring condition and exact solution of scattering by a circular crack at oblique incidence
Authors: Song Yongjia , Wang Jun , Hu Hengshan , Han Bo 
Published: April 2021

SUMMARYThorough understanding of seismic signatures in cracked rocks is essential to estimate rock physical properties. Wave-induced fluid flow (or diffusion), scattering and Biot's global flow are three major mechanisms in controlling frequency-dependent attenuation and dispersion. To shed light on how those mechanisms and their interference affect the anisotropic features in cracked porous rocks, we develop an analytic model to estimate the angle-dependent attenuation and dispersion in such media. The most noteworthy feature of the model is that it is developed upon the exact solution of the problem of elastic wave scattered by a crack at oblique incidence. In particular, the poroelastic spring condition is applied to describe the influences of crack thickness and crack-filling fluid elasticity on wave scattering. Regardless of its complexity, we have showed that the model agrees with many benchmark theories under corresponding conditions, demonstrating its reasonability. It is found that the key factors that dominate anisotropic attenuation and dispersion are different in separating frequency regimes. At diffusion-dominated frequencies, the frequency-dependent anisotropic properties are mainly determined by the normal stress on the crack faces. In contrast, in Rayleigh scattering regime, they are greatly determined by the applied shear stress. At higher frequencies (Mie scattering regime), affected by the wave reflections between the crack edges, the frequency-dependent anisotropy becomes complex. The angle-dependent velocity can largely deviate from elliptic-shaped profile. As a result, the material properties cannot be described within the framework of the transversely isotropic medium model. Moreover, it is found that the attenuation is sensitive to the fluid compressibility and crack thickness, showing evidences that it is possible to invert fluid saturation and permeability from seismic attenuation. We also conclude that using a simple linear superposition of the attenuations due to wave-induced fluid flow and elastic scattering from their corresponding equivalent medium models will leads to an overestimation of the total attenuation. Our results demonstrate it is necessary to account for the mechanism interference to allow for an adequate estimation of the intrinsic attenuation of cracked porous rocks.
Predicting COVID-19 health behaviour initiation, consistency, interruptions and discontinuation among social media users in Nigeria
Authors: Oyeoku Eke Kalu , Talabi Felix Olajide , Oloyede David , Boluwatife Aiyesimoju Ayodeji , Gever Verlumun Celestine , Ebere Ibe 
Published: April 2021

Summary
Literature on the predictors of health behaviour initiation, interruption, consistency and discontinuation is scarce. This study sought to fill this gap by suggesting a model that takes into account these variables. Using the structural equation modelling, we surveyed 470 social media users in Nigeria and found that perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness; benefits to action, self-efficacy and cues to action significantly predict health behaviour initiation. Also, the predictors of health interruption were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, benefits to action, challenges to action and perceived realness. The predictors of health behaviour consistency were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, benefits to action, perceived realness, self-efficacy and cues to action. Finally, the predictors of health behaviour discontinuation were found to be perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, perception on realness, behaviour fatigue and behaviour discomfort. We explored the implication of these results on health promotion and made suggestions for further studies.
Human adaptation, demography and cattle domestication: an overview of the complexity of lactase persistence in Africa
Authors: Campbell Michael C , Ranciaro Alessia 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Lactase persistence (LP) is a genetically-determined trait that is prevalent in African, European and Arab populations with a tradition of animal herding and milk consumption. To date, genetic analyses have identified several common variants that are associated with LP. Furthermore, data have indicated that these functional alleles likely have been maintained in pastoralist populations due to the action of recent selection, exemplifying the ongoing evolution of anatomically modern humans. Additionally, demographic history has also played a role in the geographic distribution of LP and associated alleles in Africa. In particular, the migration of ancestral herders and their subsequent admixture with local populations were integral to the spread of LP alleles and the culture of pastoralism across the continent. The timing of these demographic events was often correlated with known major environmental changes and/or the ability of domesticated cattle to resist/avoid infectious diseases. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the genetic basis and evolutionary history of LP, as well as the factors that influenced the origin and spread of pastoralism in Africa.
Is the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child Doing Enough to Protect the Rights of LGBT Children and Children with Same-Sex Parents?
Authors: Gerber Paula , Timoshanko Aaron 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Children often face discrimination, bullying and even violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, as do children raised by parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). This article considers what the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is doing to protect the rights of LGBT children and children with LGBT parents. To make such an assessment, this article critically analyses the Committee’s Concluding Observations over a 10-year period, its General Comments and its Views on Individual Communications. The conclusion reached is that while the Committee has made encouraging progress in recent years when it comes to addressing LGBT related issues, there is still room for improvement in the way the Committee seeks to protect children from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Ely in New Zealand
Authors: Geiringer Claudia 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
John Hart Ely’s representation-reinforcing theory of the US Constitution had a significant impact on the drafting of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. This short article begins by recapping briefly the pathway by which that influence occurred. It then expands on earlier accounts in two ways. The first is to suggest that Ely’s influence in New Zealand illustrates the significance of American postgraduate legal education programs as a vector for the migration of constitutional ideas (although the causal relationship in this case is neither straightforward nor direct). The second is to confront more explicitly a nagging question raised by earlier scholarship: to what extent was it Ely specifically (rather than US process theories more generally) that influenced the New Zealand experience? The article suggests that, at very least, Ely’s work acted as the conduit by which the ideas underlying American process theory were transmitted into the New Zealand text. Although it is inevitably somewhat speculative, the article also suggests that it is unlikely that, in the absence of Ely, the drafters of the N.Z. Bill of Rights would have pursued a process-perfecting strategy with quite the same vigilance and systematicity.
More green, less lonely? A longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Astell-Burt Thomas , Hartig Terry , Eckermann Simon , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark , McMunn Anne , Frumkin Howard , Feng Xiaoqi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundUrban greening may reduce loneliness by offering opportunities for solace, social reconnection and supporting processes such as stress relief. We (i) assessed associations between residential green space and cumulative incidence of, and relief from, loneliness over 4 years; and (ii) explored contingencies by age, sex, disability and cohabitation status.MethodsMultilevel logistic regressions of change in loneliness status in 8049 city-dwellers between 2013 (baseline) and 2017 (follow-up) in the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia study. Associations with objectively measured discrete green-space buffers (e.g. parks) (&lt;400, &lt;800 and &lt;1600 m) were adjusted for age, sex, disability, cohabitation status, children and socio-economic variables. Results were translated into absolute risk reductions in loneliness per 10% increase in urban greening.ResultsThe absolute risk of loneliness rose from 15.9% to 16.9% over the 4 years; however, a 10% increase in urban greening within 1.6 km was associated with lower cumulative incident loneliness [odds ratio (OR) = 0.927, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.862 to 0.996; absolute risk reduction = 0.66%]. Stronger association was observed for people living alone (OR = 0.828, 95% CI = 0.725 to 0.944). In comparison to people with &lt;10% green space, the ORs for cumulative incident loneliness were 0.833 (95% CI = 0.695 to 0.997), 0.790 (95% CI = 0.624 to 1.000) and 0.736 (95% CI = 0.549 to 0.986) for 10–20%, 20–30% and &gt;30% green space, respectively. Compared with the &lt;10% green-space reference group with 13.78% incident loneliness over 4 years and conservatively assuming no impact on incident loneliness, associations translated into absolute risk reductions of 1.70%, 2.26% and 2.72% within populations with 10–20%, 20–30% and &gt;30% green space, respectively. These associations were stronger again for people living alone, with 10–20% (OR = 0.608, 95% CI = 0.448 to 0.826), 20–30% (OR = 0.649, 95% CI = 0.436 to 0.966) and &gt;30% (OR = 0.480, 95% CI = 0.278 to 0.829) green space within 1600 m. No age, sex or disability-related contingencies, associations with green space within 400 or 800 m or relief from loneliness reported at baseline were observed.ConclusionsA lower cumulative incidence of loneliness was observed among people with more green space within 1600 m of home, especially for people living alone. Potential biopsychosocial mechanisms warrant investigation.
Mathematical modelling of water sorption isotherms and thermodynamic properties of wastewater sewage sludge
Authors: Gu Zhipan , Yang Jichun , Tao Leren , Liu Fanhan , Zhang Ye 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
This study was aimed at determining wastewater sewage sludge moisture sorption characteristics using a static gravimetric method at 303 K, 313 K and 323 K. Eleven mathematical models were adopted to simulate the experimental data, and the optimal model was analysed. The indexes included the net isosteric heat of adsorption (qst), differential entropy (△S), spreading pressure (π), net integral enthalpy (qin) and net integral entropy (△Sin) to evaluate the thermodynamic properties of the sludge. The isotherm curves exhibited type II behaviour according to the Brunauer--Emmett--Teller classification. The sorption isotherm fitting showed that the Gugghenheim--Anderson--de Boer model was able to reproduce the equilibrium moisture content evolution with water activity for a moisture range varying from 6% to 89% (0.991 &lt; R2 &lt; 0.999). The net isosteric heat of sorption and differential entropy were evaluated through direct use of moisture isotherms via the Clausius–Clapeyron equation and used to investigate the enthalpy–entropy compensation theory. The net isosteric heat and differential entropy obviously decreased as the equilibrium moisture content increased, which satisfied the compensation theory. The spreading pressure of the sludge sorption process decreased as the temperature increased at a given water activity and increased as the water activity increased at a given temperature. When the spreading pressure was at a fixed level, the net integral enthalpy decreased as the equilibrium moisture content increased, whereas the net integral entropy decreased as the equilibrium moisture content increased to a minimum value of −93.17, −98.34 and −93.28 J/(mol.K) at 303 K, 313 K and 323 K, respectively, and then tended to increase.