bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Speciation driven by recombination in the evolution of tomato curly stunt virus in Mozambique
Authors: Sande Osvaldo F. L. , Orílio Anelise F. , Chipiringo Baltazar A. I. , Xavier César A. D. , Zerbini F. Murilo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBegomoviruses constitute a group of viruses of great economic importance in agriculture, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, including southern Africa. Tomato curly stunt virus (ToCSV) is an important begomovirus described in South Africa and later reported in Mozambique impacting tomato cultivation. In Mozambique, the severe disease caused by ToCSV limits tomato cultivation and compromises the income of small and medium farms. Due to the scarcity of information about this pathogen, in this study we explored its genetic variability to elucidate the mechanisms that drive its evolution. In 2019, 27 ToCSV full‐length sequences were obtained from tomato foliar samples with virus‐like symptoms collected in the district of Chokue in Gaza province, Mozambique. Sequence analysis showed that isolates from Mozambique have a nucleotide identity of 90.9%–96.9% with the isolate from South Africa (AF261885) and are grouped into two distinct strains that we named ToCSV‐Chok I and ToCSV‐Chok II. The ToCSV‐Chok II strain has a higher nucleotide diversity than ToCSV‐Chok I in the Rep gene. Recombination is involved in the evolutionary history of ToCSV, with both intraspecific and interspecific recombination events detected in the Rep gene. Our results indicate a prevalence of ToCSV in tomato crops in the Chokue district of Mozambique (the major tomato‐producing region of the country) and suggest that ToCSV is undergoing speciation due to the effect of recombination.
The Very Best People: President Trump and the Management of Executive Personnel
Authors: Lewis David E. , Richardson Mark D. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTo his supporters, one very attractive feature of Donald Trump's candidacy was his prior experience as a business executive. Trump promised that he would run America like a business and would select the very best people. In this article, we evaluate President Trump's approach to managing the executive branch by scrutinizing his approach to personnel. We reference two sources of important new data. We first examine data on nominations to all Senate‐confirmed positions during the last three presidencies. We also use data from the 2007, 2014, and 2020 (preliminary) Surveys on the Future of Government Service, surveys of thousands of appointed and career federal executives, to determine whether the president selected the very best people. We conclude by using the survey data to evaluate whether the president’s approach led to effective management. A close look at the new data reveals that the president has been slow to nominate officials to key positions. Federal executives rate the persons the president has appointed as less competent than appointees from the Bush administration or civil servants from the current one. The survey data also reveal that the president’s approach has done nothing to arrest the decline in the capacity of the public service. We conclude by discussing the implications of the Trump presidency for our traditional understanding of the president as chief executive. Specifically, we discuss whether we should reevaluate common beliefs about presidents caring inherently about the management of the executive.
Indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate synthase, a branchpoint for the biosynthesis of tryptophan, indole, and benzoxazinoids in maize
Authors: Richter Annett , Powell Adrian F. , Mirzaei Mahdieh , Wang Lucy J. , Movahed Navid , Miller Julia K. , Piñeros Miguel A. , Jander Georg 
Published: January 2021

SummaryThe maize (Zea mays) genome encodes three indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate synthase enzymes (IGPS1, 2, and 3) catalyzing the conversion of 1‐(2‐carboxyphenylamino)‐l‐deoxyribulose‐5‐phosphate to indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate. Three further maize enzymes (BX1, benzoxazinoneless 1; TSA, tryptophan synthase alpha subunit; and IGL, indole glycerolphosphate lyase) convert indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate to indole, which is released as a volatile defense signaling compound and also serves as a precursor for the biosynthesis of tryptophan and defense‐related benzoxazinoids. Phylogenetic analyses showed that IGPS2 is similar to enzymes found in both monocots and dicots, whereas maize IGPS1 and IGPS3 are in monocot‐specific clades. Fusions of yellow fluorescent protein with maize IGPS enzymes and indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate lyases were all localized in chloroplasts. In bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, IGPS1 interacted strongly with BX1 and IGL, IGPS2 interacted primarily with TSA, and IGPS3 interacted equally with all three indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate lyases. Whereas IGPS1 and IGPS3 expression was induced by insect feeding, IGPS2 expression was not. Transposon insertions in IGPS1 and IGPS3 reduced the abundance of both benzoxazinoids and free indole. Spodoptera exigua (beet armyworm) larvae show improved growth on igps1 mutant maize plants. Together, these results suggest that IGPS1 and IGPS3 function mainly in the biosynthesis of defensive metabolites, whereas IGPS2 may be involved in the biosynthesis of tryptophan. This metabolic channeling is similar to, though less exclusive than, that proposed for the three maize indole‐3‐glycerolphosphate lyases.
Biological sex, not reproductive cycle, influences peripheral blood immune cell prevalence in mice
Authors: Breznik Jessica A. , Schulz Christian , Ma Jinhui , Sloboda Deborah M. , Bowdish Dawn M. E. 
Published: January 2021

Key points
Traditionally the female sex, compared with the male sex, has been perceived as having greater variability in many physiological traits, including within the immune system.
We investigated effects of biological sex and the female reproductive cycle on numbers of circulating leukocytes in C57BL/6J mice.
We show that biological sex, but not female reproductive cyclicity, has a significant effect on peripheral blood immune cell prevalence and variability, and that sex differences were not consistent amongst common inbred laboratory mouse strains.
We found that male C57BL/6J mice, compared with female mice, have greater variability in peripheral blood immunophenotype, and that this was influenced by body weight.
We created summary tables for researchers to facilitate experiment planning and sample size calculations for peripheral immune cells that consider the effects of biological sex.
AbstractImmunophenotyping (i.e. quantifying the number and types of circulating leukocytes) is used to characterize immune changes during health and disease, and in response to pharmacological and other interventions. Despite the importance of biological sex in immune function, there is considerable uncertainty amongst researchers as to the extent to which biological sex or the female reproductive cycle influence blood immunophenotype. We quantified circulating leukocytes by multicolour flow cytometry in young C57BL/6J mice and assessed the effects of the reproductive cycle, biological sex, and other experimental and biological factors on data variability. We found that there are no significant effects of the female reproductive cycle on the prevalence of peripheral blood B cells, NK cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, monocytes, or neutrophils. Immunophenotype composition and variability do not significantly change between stages of the female reproductive cycle. There are, however, sex‐specific differences in immune cell prevalence, with fewer monocytes, neutrophils, and NK cells in female mice. Surprisingly, immunophenotype is more variable in male mice, and weight is a significant contributing factor. We provide tools for researchers to perform a priori sample size calculations for two‐group and factorial analyses. We show that immunophenotype varies between inbred mouse strains, and that using equal sample sizes of male and female mice is not always appropriate for within‐sex evaluations of immune cell populations in peripheral blood.
Trunk Postural Control Strategies Among Persons With Lower-Limb Amputation While Walking and Performing a Concurrent Task
Authors: Butowicz Courtney M. , Acasio Julian C. , Hendershot Brad D. 
Published: January 2021

Altered trunk movements during gait in persons with lower-limb amputation are often associated with an increased risk for secondary health conditions; however, the postural control strategies underlying such alterations remain unclear. In this secondary analysis, the authors employed nonlinear measures of triplanar trunk accelerations via short-term Lyapunov exponents to investigate trunk local stability as well as spatiotemporal gait parameters to describe gait mechanics. The authors also evaluated the influence of a concurrent task on trunk local stability and gait mechanics to explore if competition for neuromuscular processing resources can assist in identifying unique strategies to control kinematic variability. Sixteen males with amputation—8 transtibial and 8 transfemoral—and 8 uninjured males (controls) walked on a treadmill at their self-selected speed (mean = 1.2 m/s ±10%) in 5 experimental conditions (8 min each): 4 while performing a concurrent task (2 walking and 2 seated) and 1 with no concurrent task. Individuals with amputation demonstrated significantly smaller Lyapunov exponents than controls in all 3 planes of motion, regardless of concurrent task or level of amputation (P < .0001). Individuals with transfemoral amputation walked with wider strides compared with individuals with transtibial amputation and controls (P < .0001). Individuals with amputation demonstrated more trunk kinematic variability in the presence of wider strides compared with individuals without amputation, and it appears that performing a concurrent cognitive task while walking did not change trunk or gait mechanics.
Impact of price and non-price policies on household cigarette consumption and nutrient intake in smoking-tolerant Indonesia
Authors: Djutaharta Triasih , Nachrowi Nachrowi Djalal , Ananta Aris , Martianto Drajat 
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveTo examine the impact of cigarette price and smoking environment on allocation of household expenditure and its implication on nutrition consumption.DesignA cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2014 National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), the 2014 Village Potential Survey (PODES) and the 2013 Basic National Health Survey (RISKESDAS). SUSENAS and PODES data were collected by the Central Bureau of Statistics. RISKESDAS was conducted by National Institute of Health Research and Development (Balitbangkes), Indonesian Ministry of Health (MOH).Setting and participantsThe sample covered all districts in Indonesia; with sample size of 285 400 households. These households are grouped into low, medium and high smoking prevalence districts.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe impact of cigarette price and smoking environment on household consumption of cigarette, share of eight food groups, as well as calorie and protein intake.Result1% increase in cigarette price will increase the cigarette budget share by 0.0737 points and reduce the budget share for eggs/milk, prepared food, staple food, nuts, fish/meat and fruit, from 0.0200 points (eggs/milk) up to 0.0033 points (fruit). Reallocation of household expenditure brings changes in food composition, resulting in declining calorie and protein intake. A 1% cigarette price increase reduces calorie and protein intake as much as 0.0885% and 0.1052%, respectively. On the other hand, existence of smoke-free areas and low smoking prevalence areas reduces the household budget for cigarettes.ConclusionA pricing policy must be accompanied by non-pricing policies to reduce cigarette budget share.
Developing an evidence assessment framework and appraising the academic literature on migrant health in Malaysia: a scoping review
Authors: de Smalen Allard Willem , Chan Zhie X , Abreu Lopes Claudia , Vanore Michaella , Loganathan Tharani , Pocock Nicola S 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundA large number of international migrants in Malaysia face challenges in obtaining good health, the extent of which is still relatively unknown. This study aims to map the existing academic literature on migrant health in Malaysia and to provide an overview of the topical coverage, quality and level of evidence of these scientific studies.MethodsA scoping review was conducted using six databases, including Econlit, Embase, Global Health, Medline, PsycINFO and Social Policy and Practice. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were conducted in Malaysia, peer-reviewed, focused on a health dimension according to the Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) framework, and targeted the vulnerable international migrant population. Data were extracted by using the BARHII framework and a newly developed decision tree to identify the type of study design and corresponding level of evidence. Modified Joanna Briggs Institute checklists were used to assess study quality, and a multiple-correspondence analysis (MCA) was conducted to identify associations between different variables.Results67 publications met the selection criteria and were included in the study. The majority (n=41) of studies included foreign workers. Over two-thirds (n=46) focused on disease and injury, and a similar number (n=46) had descriptive designs. The average quality of the papers was low, yet quality differed significantly among them. The MCA showed that high-quality studies were mostly qualitative designs that included refugees and focused on living conditions, while prevalence and analytical cross-sectional studies were mostly of low quality.ConclusionThis study provides an overview of the scientific literature on migrant health in Malaysia published between 1965 and 2019. In general, the quality of these studies is low, and various health dimensions have not been thoroughly researched. Therefore, researchers should address these issues to improve the evidence base to support policy-makers with high-quality evidence for decision-making.
In situ desaturation tests by electrolysis for liquefaction mitigation
Authors: Chen Runze , Chen Yumin , Liu Hanlong , Zhang Kunxian , Zhou Ying , Xu Shengming , Wu Kang 
Published: January 2021

Electrolytic desaturation is a potential method for improving the liquefaction resistance of liquefiable foundations by reducing the soil saturation. In this study, in situ desaturation tests were performed to investigate the resistivity of soil at different depth and water level of the foundation under different currents. The test results show that at constant currents of 1, 2, and 3 A (ampere, unit of the direct current), the saturation of the treated foundation reached 87%, 83%, and 80%, respectively. During the electrolysis process, the generated gas migrates vertically and horizontally under the influence of buoyancy and gas pressure. In the end of electrolysis, the gas inside the sand foundation basically migrates vertically only. The higher current intensity employed for electrolysis will affect the uniformity and stability of the gas. At constant currents of 1, 2, and 3 A, the difference between the maximum and minimum degree of saturation in the treated foundation was 14%, 18%, and 19%, respectively; and after electrolysis had been halted for 144 h, the saturation in the treated foundation was 90%, 85%, and 87%, respectively. The electricity consumption analysis indicates that the desaturation method has excellent economic benefits in the treatment of saturated sand foundations.
State-dependent graviton noise in the equation of geodesic deviation
Authors: Haba Z. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe consider an equation of the geodesic deviation appearing in the problem of gravitational wave detection in an environment of gravitons. We investigate a state-dependent graviton noise (as discussed in a recent paper by Parikh,Wilczek and Zahariade) from the point of view of the Feynman integral and stochastic differential equations. The evolution of the density matrix and the transition probability in an environment of gravitons is obtained. We express the time evolution by a solution of a stochastic geodesic deviation equation with a noise dependent on the quantum state of the gravitational field.
Deuteron uncertainties in the determination of proton PDFs
Authors: Ball Richard D. , Nocera Emanuele R. , Pearson Rosalyn L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe evaluate the uncertainties due to nuclear effects in global fits of proton parton distribution functions (PDFs) that utilise deep-inelastic scattering and Drell–Yan data on deuterium targets. To do this we use an iterative procedure to determine proton and deuteron PDFs simultaneously, each including the uncertainties in the other. We apply this procedure to determine the nuclear uncertainties in the SLAC, BCDMS, NMC and DYE866/NuSea fixed target deuteron data included in the NNPDF3.1 global fit. We show that the effect of the nuclear uncertainty on the proton PDFs is small, and that the increase in overall uncertainties is insignificant once we correct for nuclear effects.
Non-parametric reconstruction of the cosmological jerk parameter
Authors: Mukherjee Purba , Banerjee Narayan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe cosmological jerk parameter j is reconstructed in a non-parametric way from observational data independent of a fiducial cosmological model. The Cosmic Chronometer data as well as the Supernovae data (the Pantheon compilation) are used for the purpose. The reconstructed values are found to be consistent with the standard $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model within the $$2\sigma $$

2
σ

confidence level. The model dependent sets like Baryon Acoustic Oscillation and the CMB Shift data are also included thereafter, which does not significantly help in improving or de-proving the confidence level in favour of $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM. The deceleration parameter q is also reconstructed from the same data sets. This is used to find the effective equation of state parameter for the model independent datasets only. $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model is excluded for some part of the evolution in $$1\sigma $$

1
σ

, but is definitely included in $$2\sigma $$

2
σ

in the domain ($$0 \le z \le 2.36$$

0
≤
z
≤
2.36

) of all the reconstructions.
Algorithmic Aspects of Outer-Independent Total Roman Domination in Graphs
Authors: Sharma Amit , Venkata Subba Reddy P. 
Published: January 2021

For a simple, undirected graph [Formula: see text], a function [Formula: see text] which satisfies the following conditions is called an outer-independent total Roman dominating function (OITRDF) of [Formula: see text] with weight [Formula: see text]. (C1) For all [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] there exists a vertex [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], (C2) The induced subgraph with vertex set [Formula: see text] has no isolated vertices and (C3) The induced subgraph with vertex set [Formula: see text] is independent. For a graph [Formula: see text], the smallest possible weight of an OITRDF of [Formula: see text] which is denoted by [Formula: see text], is known as the outer-independent total Roman domination number of [Formula: see text]. The problem of determining [Formula: see text] of a graph [Formula: see text] is called minimum outer-independent total Roman domination problem (MOITRDP). In this article, we show that the problem of deciding if [Formula: see text] has an OITRDF of weight at most [Formula: see text] for bipartite graphs and split graphs, a subclass of chordal graphs is NP-complete. We also show that MOITRDP is linear time solvable for connected threshold graphs and bounded treewidth graphs. Finally, we show that the domination and outer-independent total Roman domination problems are not equivalent in computational complexity aspects.
Spectral theory of first-order systems: From crystals to Dirac operators
Authors: Ben-Artzi Matania , Umeda Tomio 
Published: January 2021

Let [Formula: see text] be a constant coefficient first-order partial differential system, where the matrices [Formula: see text] are Hermitian. It is assumed that the homogeneous part is strongly propagative. In the non-homogeneous case it is assumed that the operator is isotropic. The spectral theory of such systems and their potential perturbations is expounded, and a Limiting Absorption Principle is obtained up to thresholds. Special attention is given to a detailed study of the Dirac and Maxwell operators. The estimates of the spectral derivative near the thresholds are based on detailed trace estimates on the slowness surfaces. Two applications of these estimates are presented: Global spacetime estimates of the associated evolution unitary groups, that are also commonly viewed as decay estimates. In particular, the Dirac and Maxwell systems are explicitly treated. The finiteness of the eigenvalues (in the spectral gap) of the perturbed Dirac operator is studied, under suitable decay assumptions on the potential perturbation.
Blockchain in eCommerce
Authors: Mohammed Sabah , Fiaidhi Jinan , Ramos Carlos , Kim Tai-Hoon , Fang Wai Chi , Abdelzaher Tarek 
Published: January 2021

As blockchain technology is becoming a driving force in the global economy, it is also gaining critical acclaim in the e-commerce industry. Both the blockchain and e-commerce are inseparable as they involve transactions. Blockchain protect transactions and e-commerce activities rely on them. Blockchain technology enables a decentralized marketplace to support important business activities like secure payments, managing the supply chain and reducing the fraud to mention few. In this special issue editorial we are introducing 11 research articles in this hot area of research that were selected by our reviewers from over than 250 submissions.
As blockchain technology is becoming a driving force in the global economy, it is also gaining critical acclaim in the e-commerce industry. Both the blockchain and e-commerce are inseparable as they involve transactions. Blockchain protect transactions and e-commerce activities rely on them. Blockchain technology enables a decentralized marketplace to support important business activities like secure payments, managing the supply chain and reducing the fraud to mention few. In this special issue editorial we are introducing 11 research articles in this hot area of research that were selected by our reviewers from over than 250 submissions.
Modes of Regulated Cell Death in Cancer
Authors: Koren Elle , Fuchs Yaron 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Cell suicide pathways, termed regulated cell death (RCD), play a critical role in organismal development, homeostasis, and pathogenesis. Here, we provide an overview of key RCD modalities, namely apoptosis, entosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. We explore how various RCD modules serve as a defense mechanism against the emergence of cancer as well as the manner in which they can be exploited to drive oncogenesis. Furthermore, we outline current therapeutic agents that activate RCD and consider novel RCD-based strategies for tumor elimination.

Significance:
A variety of antitumor therapeutics eliminate cancer cells by harnessing the devastating potential of cellular suicide pathways, emphasizing the critical importance of RCD in battling cancer. This review supplies a mechanistic perspective of distinct RCD modalities and explores the important role they play in tumorigenesis. We discuss how RCD modules serve as a double-edged sword as well as novel approaches aimed at selectively manipulating RCD for tumor eradication.