bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal challenges in detecting balancing selection from population genomic data
Authors: Soni Vivak , Jensen Jeffrey D 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The role of balancing selection in maintaining genetic variation remains an open question in population genetics. Recent years have seen numerous studies identifying candidate loci potentially experiencing balancing selection, most predominantly in human populations. There are however numerous alternative evolutionary processes that may leave similar patterns of variation, thereby potentially confounding inference, and the expected signatures of balancing selection additionally change in a temporal fashion. Here we use forward-in-time simulations to quantify expected statistical power to detect balancing selection using both site frequency spectrum- and linkage disequilibrium-based methods under a variety of evolutionarily realistic null models. We find that whilst site frequency spectrum-based methods have little power immediately after a balanced mutation begins segregating, power increases with time since the introduction of the balanced allele. Conversely, linkage disequilibrium-based methods have considerable power whilst the allele is young, and power dissipates rapidly as the time since introduction increases. Taken together, this suggests that site frequency spectrum-based methods are most effective at detecting long-term balancing selection (&gt;25N generations since the introduction of the balanced allele) whilst linkage disequilibrium-based methods are effective over much shorter timescales (&lt;1N generations), thereby leaving a large time frame over which current methods have little power to detect the action of balancing selection. Finally, we investigate the extent to which alternative evolutionary processes may mimic these patterns, and demonstrate the need for caution in attempting to distinguish the signatures of balancing selection from those of both neutral processes (e.g. population structure and admixture) as well as of alternative selective processes (e.g. partial selective sweeps).
Getting Rides From Others As a Coping Mechanism in the Transition to Non-Driving
Authors: Hansmann Kellia J , Gangnon Ronald , McAndrews Carolyn , Robert Stephanie A 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To characterize the effect of the actual and potential ability to get rides from others on older adults’ driving reduction at 3-year follow-up in the United States.

Methods
We analyzed National Health and Aging Trends Study data from community-dwelling drivers in 2015 (unweighted n = 5,102). We used weighted logistic regression models to estimate whether getting rides from others in 2015 was associated with older adults increasing the number of driving behaviors they avoided, decreasing the frequency with which they drove, or not driving at 3-year follow-up after adjusting for biopsychosocial variables. We also measured presence of social network members living nearby including household and non-household members and estimated associated odds of driving reduction at 3-year follow-up.

Results
Older adults who got rides from others in 2015 had greater odds of reporting no longer driving at 3-year follow-up compared to those who did not get rides (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–2.11). We found no statistically significant association between older adults living with others or having more nearby confidantes outside their household and their odds of reducing driving at 3-year follow-up.

Discussion
These findings suggest that getting rides from others plays an important role in the transition to non-driving for older adults. Future research should examine whether other aspects of social networks (e.g., type, quality, and closer proximity) might also be key modifiable coping factors for older adults transitioning to non-driving.
A systematic review of nanotechnology for electric vehicles battery
Authors: Kumar Pulkit , Channi Harpreet Kaur , Babbar Atul , Kumar Raman , Bhutto Javed Khan , Khan T M Yunus , Bhowmik Abhijit , Razak Abdul , Wodajo Anteneh Wogasso 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Nanotechnology has increased electric vehicle (EV) battery production, efficiency and use. Nanotechnology is explored in this electric car battery illustration. Nanoscale materials and topologies research has increased battery energy density, charge time and cycle life. Nanotubes, graphene and metal oxides improve energy storage, flow and charging/discharge. Solid-state and lithium-air high-energy batteries are safer, more energy dense and more stable using nanoscale catalysts. Nanotechnology improves battery parts. Nanostructured fluids reduce lithium dendrite, improving batteries. Nanocoating electrodes may reduce damage and extend battery life. Nanotechnology benefits the planet. Nanomaterials allow battery parts to employ ordinary, safe materials instead of rare, harmful ones. Nanotechnology promotes battery recycling, reducing waste. Change does not influence stable, cost-effective or scalable items. Business opportunities for nanotechnology-based EV batteries need more research. High-performance, robust and environmentally friendly batteries might make electric cars more popular and transportation more sustainable with research and development. An outline of EV battery nanotechnology researchexamines the publication patterns, notable articles, collaborators and contributions. This issue was researched extensively, indicating interest. Research focuses on anode materials, energy storage and battery performance. A research landscape assessment demonstrates EV battery nanotechnology’s growth and future. A comprehensive literature review examined nanosensors in EVs. Our study provides a solid foundation for understanding the current state of research, identifying major trends and discovering nanotechnology breakthroughs in EV sensors by carefully reviewing, characterizing and rating important papers.
Evolutionary game of inland waterways LNG construction under government subsidy and carbon tax policy under fuzzy environment
Authors: Xu Changyan , Lu Chang , Song Jingyao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Since the pollution from inland waterways account for a great portion of urban pollutions, to use clean energy in inland waters has become an efficient means in combatting inland waterway pollution. With the increasing global demand for clean energy, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is increasingly favored by various countries, and its application in inland waterways transportation is becoming increasingly widespread. This paper focuses on the evolutionary game interaction mechanism between the government, energy company and shipping company as the main participants in inland waterways LNG construction, considering the costs as fuzzy variables. The impact of participating in LNG construction implementation on the evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) was discussed. The research result indicates the following: (1) If the government, energy company and shipping company all participate in inland waterways LNG construction, the conditions are that the profits of the government, energy company and shipping company that choose to participate in LNG construction exceed the costs of not participating. (2) The convergence rates of ESS of the government, energy company and shipping company are positively correlated with the initial values of each other’s choice strategies, negatively correlated with carbon tax, subsidy and the cost of implementing positive strategy. (3) The cooperation between the energy company and shipping company has no impact on the selection of government evolutionary game strategy. The premise for the energy company and shipping company to participate in LNG construction together is that both parties have excess returns. Therefore, to ensure the implement of LNG application in inland waterways, the government should carry out carbon tax and at the same time perform subsidy policy, with the common participation of the energy company and shipping company.
Cross-domain diversity effects: linking diatom species richness, intraspecific richness, and biomass production to host-associated bacterial diversity
Authors: Jacob Marrit , Thomas Patrick K , Giebel Helge-Ansgar , Billerbeck Sara , Simon Meinhard , Striebel Maren , Dlugosch Leon 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Interactions between bacteria and microalgae are important for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems, yet interactions based on the biodiversity of these two taxonomic domains have been scarcely studied. Specifically, it is unclear whether a positive biodiversity–productivity relationship in phytoplankton is largely facilitated by niche partitioning among the phytoplankton organisms themselves or whether associated bacterial communities play an additional role in modifying these diversity effects. Moreover, the effects of intraspecific diversity in phytoplankton communities on bacterial community diversity have not been tested. To address these points, we factorially manipulated both species and intraspecific richness of three diatoms to test the effects of diatom species/strain diversity on biomass production and bacterial diversity in algae–bacteria communities. The results show that diatom intraspecific diversity has significant positive effects on culture biomass and the diversity of the associated free-living bacterial community (0.2–3 μm size fraction), which are comparable in magnitude to species diversity effects. However, there were little to no effects of diatom diversity on host-associated bacterial diversity (&gt;3 μm size fraction), or of bacterial diversity on biomass production. These results suggest a decoupling of bacterial diversity from the diatom diversity-productivity relationship and provide early insights regarding the relations between diversity across domains in aquatic ecosystems.
Environment-specific virocell metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Howard-Varona Cristina , Lindback Morgan M , Fudyma Jane D , Krongauz Azriel , Solonenko Natalie E , Zayed Ahmed A , Andreopoulos William B , Olson Heather M , Kim Young-Mo , Kyle Jennifer E , Glavina del Rio Tijana , Adkins Joshua N , Tfaily Malak M , Paul Subhadeep , Sullivan Matthew B , Duhaime Melissa B 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Viruses impact microbial systems through killing hosts, horizontal gene transfer, and altering cellular metabolism, consequently impacting nutrient cycles. A virus-infected cell, a “virocell,” is distinct from its uninfected sister cell as the virus commandeers cellular machinery to produce viruses rather than replicate cells. Problematically, virocell responses to the nutrient-limited conditions that abound in nature are poorly understood. Here we used a systems biology approach to investigate virocell metabolic reprogramming under nutrient limitation. Using transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and endo- and exo-metabolomics, we assessed how low phosphate (low-P) conditions impacted virocells of a marine Pseudoalteromonas host when independently infected by two unrelated phages (HP1 and HS2). With the combined stresses of infection and nutrient limitation, a set of nested responses were observed. First, low-P imposed common cellular responses on all cells (virocells and uninfected cells), including activating the canonical P-stress response, and decreasing transcription, translation, and extracellular organic matter consumption. Second, low-P imposed infection-specific responses (for both virocells), including enhancing nitrogen assimilation and fatty acid degradation, and decreasing extracellular lipid relative abundance. Third, low-P suggested virocell-specific strategies. Specifically, HS2-virocells regulated gene expression by increasing transcription and ribosomal protein production, whereas HP1-virocells accumulated host proteins, decreased extracellular peptide relative abundance, and invested in broader energy and resource acquisition. These results suggest that although environmental conditions shape metabolism in common ways regardless of infection, virocell-specific strategies exist to support viral replication during nutrient limitation, and a framework now exists for identifying metabolic strategies of nutrient-limited virocells in nature.
Development of a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method for the evaluation of maternal–fetal exposure to cocaine employing human umbilical cord tissue
Authors: de Paula Meirelles Gabriela , Pereira e Silva Jefferson , Paranhos Beatriz Aparecida Passos Bismara , Yonamine Mauricio 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Illicit drug use is a serious and complex public health problem, not only due to the severity of the health damage but also to the social implications, such as marginalization and drug trafficking. Currently, cocaine (COC) is among the most abused drugs worldwide with about 22 million users. Drug abuse has also been found in women during the pregnancy period, which has shed light on a new group for epidemiology. The diagnosis of COC use in these cases usually depends largely on the mother’s reports, which in several cases omit or deny consumption. Therefore, considering physical–chemical methods of sample preparation and exposure biomarkers, the development of analytic toxicological methods can help to confirm drug use during pregnancy. Thus, the objective of the present work was to develop an analytical method based on dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the determination of COC analytes, using umbilical cord tissue as an alternative biological matrix, and detection by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Therefore, after optimization, the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was fully validated for quantification of COC, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, ecgonine, ecgonine methyl ester and norcocaine. The limits of detection were between 15 and 25 ng/g, the limits of quantification were 30 ng/g for ecgonine and 25 ng/g for the other analytes. Linearity ranged from the limits of quantification to 1,000 ng/g. Coefficients of variation for intra-assay precision were &lt;18.5%, inter-assay was &lt;8.75% and bias was &lt;16.4% for all controls. The developed method was applied in 10 suspected positive samples, based on the mother’s report and maternal urine screening and confirmation. COC, benzoylecgonine, ecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester were quantified in four umbilical cords with concentrations that ranged from 39.6 to 420.5 ng/g.
A Preliminary Investigation into the Religious Profile of King Jitāmitramalla of Bhaktapur Through his Compositional and Scribal Works
Authors: Pangsrivongse Pongsit 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This article aims to provide a preliminary investigation into the religious profile of a Malla-era Newar king, namely Jitāmitramalla (r. 1673–1696), by examining his scribal and compositional output. It does this by engaging with largely unstudied sources, chiefly (i) an unpublished poem written by King Jitāmitra known as the Siddhilakṣmīmantrayantroddhārastotra in which the monarch extols the goddess Siddhilakṣmī and lays out methods for her worship and (ii) the colophons of seven liturgical paddhatis copied by this king, which to my knowledge, are still undiscussed and untranslated in secondary literature. In doing so, we gain an insight into the King’s understanding of various aspects of his own religious identity, including his role as a tāntrika and his relationship with his chosen deities. The material studied will also uncover new information on the religious affiliations of the royal Bhaktapuri court and the medieval religious landscape of the Kathmandu Valley generally.
Application of Hilbert-differential phase contrast to scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Iga Haruka , Shimizu Toshiki , Minoda Hiroki 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
We report a novel class of scanning transmission electron microscopy with Hilbert-differential phase contrast (HDP-STEM) that displays nanostructures of thin samples in a topographical manner. A semicircular π-phase plate (PP) was used as an optical device for manipulating electron waves in HDP-STEM. This is the different design from the Zernike PP used in our previous phase plate STEM (P-STEM), but both must be placed in the front focal plane of the condenser lens. HDP-STEM images of multiwalled carbon nanotubes showed higher contrast than those obtained by conventional bright-field STEM. As the PP of the HDP-STEM is nonsymmetrical, several different images were obtained by changing the detection conditions. A two-dimensional electron detector was also used to remove the scattering contrast component in the same way as with the Zernike PP and obtain an image containing only (differential) phase contrast.
Modelling metabolic fluxes of tomato stems reveals that nitrogen shapes central metabolism for defence against Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Lacrampe Nathalie , Lugan Raphaël , Dumont Doriane , Nicot Philippe C , Lecompte François , Colombié Sophie 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Among plant pathogens, the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea is one of the most prevalent, leading to severe crop damage. Studies related to its colonization of different plant species have reported variable host metabolic responses to infection. In tomato, high N availability leads to decreased susceptibility. Metabolic flux analysis can be used as an integrated method to better understand which metabolic adaptations lead to effective host defence and resistance. Here, we investigated the metabolic response of tomato infected by B. cinerea in symptomless stem tissues proximal to the lesions for 7 d post-inoculation, using a reconstructed metabolic model constrained by a large and consistent metabolic dataset acquired under four different N supplies. An overall comparison of 48 flux solution vectors of Botrytis- and mock-inoculated plants showed that fluxes were higher in Botrytis-inoculated plants, and the difference increased with a reduction in available N, accompanying an unexpected increase in radial growth. Despite higher fluxes, such as those involved in cell wall synthesis and other pathways, fluxes related to glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and amino acid and protein synthesis were limited under very low N, which might explain the enhanced susceptibility. Limiting starch synthesis and enhancing fluxes towards redox and specialized metabolism also contributed to defence independent of N supply.
Stage-specific exposure of Caenorhabditis elegans to cadmium identifies unique transcriptomic response cascades and an uncharacterized cadmium responsive transcript
Authors: Almutairi Norah , Khan Naema , Harrison-Smith Alexandra , Arlt Volker M , Stürzenbaum Stephen R 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Age/stage sensitivity is considered a significant factor in toxicity assessments. Previous studies investigated cadmium (Cd) toxicosis in Caenorhabditis elegans, and a plethora of metal-responsive genes/proteins have been identified and characterized in fine detail; however, most of these studies neglected age sensitivity and stage-specific response to toxicants at the molecular level. This present study compared the transcriptome response between C. elegans L3 vs L4 larvae exposed to 20 µM Cd to explore the transcriptional hallmarks of stage sensitivity. The results showed that the transcriptome of the L3 stage, despite being exposed to Cd for a shorter period, was more affected than the L4 stage, as demonstrated by differences in transcriptional changes and magnitude of induction. Additionally, T08G5.1, a hitherto uncharacterized gene located upstream of metallothionein (mtl-2), was transcriptionally hyperresponsive to Cd exposure. Deletion of one or both metallothioneins (mtl-1 and/or mtl-2) increased T08G5.1 expression, suggesting that its expression is linked to the loss of metallothionein. The generation of an extrachromosomal transgene (PT08G5.1:: GFP) revealed that T08G5.1 is constitutively expressed in the head neurons and induced in gut cells upon Cd exposure, not unlike mtl-1 and mtl-2. The low abundance of cysteine residues in T08G5.1 suggests, however, that it may not be involved directly in Cd sequestration to limit its toxicity like metallothionein, but might be associated with a parallel pathway, possibly an oxidative stress response.
Efficacy of methylprednisolone in very early systemic sclerosis: results of the ‘Hit Hard and Early’ randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kersten Brigit E , Lemmers Jacqueline M J , Vanhaecke Amber , Velauthapillai Arthiha , van den Hombergh Wieneke M T , van den Hoogen Frank H J , van den Ende Cornelia H M , Smith Vanessa , Vonk Madelon C 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objective
We hypothesized that glucocorticoids would induce remission in very early systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients by inhibition of inflammation driving the disease. We examined the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone in very early SSc.

Methods
In this trial adults with puffy fingers for less than 3 years, specific auto-antibodies and meeting the Very Early Diagnosis of Systemic Sclerosis criteria were randomly assigned (2:1) to methylprednisolone 1000 mg i.v. or placebo for three consecutive days three times with monthly intervals. The primary end point was nailfold capillary density at week 12. Capillary density at 52 weeks, number of megacapillaries and patient-reported outcomes were secondary outcomes. In addition, we assessed disease progression and lung function decline over 52 weeks. We used linear regression analyses adjusted for baseline values and stratification variables to estimate differences between groups.

Results
Between February 2017 and February 2021, 87 patients were screened, of whom 30 (70% female, median [interquartile range, IQR] age 52.9 [40.8–60.8] years, median [IQR] disease duration 11.4 [4.6–18.6] months) were randomly assigned to methylprednisolone (n = 21) or placebo (n = 9). We found no difference in nailfold capillary density at 12 weeks (−0.5 [95% CI: −1.1, 0.2]) nor in any of the secondary outcomes. Eleven (37%) patients showed disease progression during 1 year follow-up, and seven (23%) patients had a relevant pulmonary function decline. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusion
No clinically relevant effect of short-term methylprednisolone in patients with very early SSc was observed. A substantial proportion of patients showed disease progression.

Trial registration
clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03059979.