bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pathogenicity of Corynespora cassiicola from eggplant to various plant species
Authors: Aumentado Herbert Dustin , Balendres Mark Angelo 
Published: October 2022

AbstractEmerging fungal pathogens could bring irreversible damage to economically important plant species resulting in yield losses. One method of control of plant diseases is crop rotation, whereby the main cultivated crop is rotated with other crops. However, for crop rotation to be successful, the alternative crop must be a non‐susceptible or non‐host plant of the pathogen. In January 2021, for the first time, Corynespora cassiicola was reported to cause leaf spots and fruit rot in eggplant (Solanum melongena) in the Philippines. This study investigated the potential host range of newly reported C. cassiicola in controlled, repeated pathogenicity assays. Of the 36 plant species (19 plant families) assayed for leaf infection, 26 and 23 plant species were pathogenic to C. cassiicola in wounded and unwounded conditions, respectively. Of the 27 plant species (13 plant families) assayed for fruit/head/bulb/tuber infection, 16 and 6 were susceptible to C. cassiicola in wounded and unwounded conditions, respectively. Among all plant species assayed, mango, tomato, and beans were considered very susceptible as infection occurred in both leaves and fruits and wounded and unwounded treatments. The related species, tomato and pepper, were also susceptible to diseases caused by C. cassiicola. This is the first report of the pathogenicity of the C. cassiicola Philippine strain to various plant species assessed in controlled conditions.
Barriers and facilitators to HIV care engagement: Recommendations from people with HIV in rural Arkansas
Authors: Marshall Sarah Alexandra , Tao Jun , Horton Heather K. , Montgomery Madeline C. , Baloh Jure , Gu Mofan , Mabin Cornelius , Cima Mike , Nunn Amy S. , Chan Philip A. , Zaller Nickolas D. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractPurposeLittle is known about factors affecting HIV care engagement and retention among rural people with HIV (PWH) in the South. About half of PWH in Arkansas reside in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to explore factors affecting engagement and retention in HIV care among PWH in rural areas of Arkansas.MethodsWe conducted an exploratory qualitative study in 2020 and completed individual interviews (N = 11) with PWH in rural counties in Arkansas.FindingsContent analysis revealed the following themes: (1) Barriers to HIV care included long distances to the nearest HIV clinic and transportation issues along with anticipating and/or experiencing HIV‐related stigma; (2) facilitators of HIV care included having a helpful HIV care provider and Ryan White case manager and a social support network that aided them in prioritizing their own health; (3) participants had the most favorable reactions to Ryan White case management, peer navigators, and telemedicine for HIV treatment/care; and (4) participants demonstrated resilience overcoming various obstacles as they worked toward being healthy mentally and physically while living with HIV.ConclusionInterventions need to address multilevel factors, including hiring PWH as peer navigators and/or caseworkers and offering HIV care via telemedicine, to improve HIV care engagement and retention among rural populations.
Transmissible cancer and longitudinal telomere dynamics in Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii)
Authors: Madsen Thomas , Klaassen Marcel , Raven Nynke , Dujon Antoine M. , Jennings Geordie , Thomas Frédéric , Hamede Rodrigo , Ujvari Beata 
Published: October 2022

AbstractA plethora of intrinsic and environmental factors have been shown to influence the length of telomeres, the protector of chromosome ends. Despite the growing interest in infection–telomere interactions, there is very limited knowledge on how transmissible cancers influence telomere maintenance. An emblematic example of transmissible cancer occurs in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), whose populations have been dramatically reduced by infectious cancer cells. To investigate associations between telomere dynamics and the transmissible cancer, we used longitudinal data from a Tasmanian devil population that has been exposed to the disease for over 15 years. We detected substantial temporal variation in individual telomere length (TL), and a positive significant association between TL and age, as well as a marginally significant trend for devils with devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) having longer telomeres. A proportional hazard analysis yielded no significant effect of TL on the development of DFTD. Like previous studies, we show the complexity that TL dynamics may exhibit across the lifetime of organisms. Our work highlights the importance of long‐term longitudinal sampling for understanding the effects of wildlife diseases on TL.
Genetic structure and historic demography of endangered unarmoured threespine stickleback at southern latitudes signals a potential new management approach
Authors: Turba Rachel , Richmond Jonathan Q. , Fitz‐Gibbon Sorel , Morselli Marco , Fisher Robert N. , Swift Camm C. , Ruiz‐Campos Gorgonio , Backlin Adam R. , Dellith Chris , Jacobs David K. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHabitat loss, flood control infrastructure, and drought have left most of southern California and northern Baja California's native freshwater fish near extinction, including the endangered unarmoured threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni). This subspecies, an unusual morph lacking the typical lateral bony plates of theG. aculeatuscomplex, occurs at arid southern latitudes in the eastern Pacific Ocean and survives in only three inland locations. Managers have lacked molecular data to answer basic questions about the ancestry and genetic distinctiveness of unarmoured populations. These data could be used to prioritize conservation efforts. We sampledG. aculeatusfrom 36 localities and used microsatellites and whole genome data to place unarmoured populations within the broader evolutionary context ofG. aculeatusacross southern California/northern Baja California. We identified three genetic groups with none consisting solely of unarmoured populations. UnlikeG. aculeatusat northern latitudes, where Pleistocene glaciation has produced similar historical demographic profiles across populations, we found markedly different demographics depending on sampling location, with inland unarmoured populations showing steeper population declines and lower heterozygosity compared to low armoured populations in coastal lagoons. One exception involved the only high elevation population in the region, where the demography and alleles of unarmoured fish were similar to low armoured populations near the coast, exposing one of several cases of artificial translocation. Our results suggest that the current “management‐by‐phenotype” approach, based on lateral plates, is incidentally protecting the most imperilled populations; however, redirecting efforts toward evolutionary units, regardless of phenotype, may more effectively preserve adaptive potential.
Deus Absconditus: A Dialogue
Authors: Engelland Chad 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn the tradition of both Cicero and Hume, this paper explores the nature of God in dialogic form. Set at the tomb of Thomas Aquinas, in a church that is now a museum, the dialogue focuses on the central question of divine hiddenness, offering a novel alternative to both the atheistic interpretation of hiddenness in terms of divine amoral aloofness and the theistic account of hiddenness in terms of human indolence. Phenomenologically speaking, God the creator, in order to be God the creator, must be hidden to creatures. Divine hiddenness is, therefore, natural and does not necessarily call into question the moral status of God or of humans.
Surgical sequence, timing and volume, and variation in dento‐facial outcome, speech and secondary surgery in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate: The Cleft Care UK Study
Authors: Slator Rona , Perisanidou Lydia I. , Sell Debbie , Sandy Jonathan , Ness Andrew R. , Wills Andrew K. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractObjectivesTo estimate both the association of surgical variables in complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (cUCLP) in the UK with outcomes at age 5 years, and the association of secondary speech surgery, volume of surgery, and surgeon with the same outcomes.Setting and Sample PopulationThe Cleft Care UK study, a cross‐sectional study of 268 5‐year‐olds, born from 2005 to 2007, with cUCLP.Materials and MethodsInformation on surgical variables was extracted from a standardized questionnaire. Dento‐facial outcomes were derived from dental study casts of dental arch relationships. Three speech outcomes – intelligibility, structure and articulation – were derived using the Cleft Audit Protocol for Speech‐Augmented tool.ResultsSurgical and outcome data were available for 211 (79%) children from all cleft centres in the UK. Later soft palate surgery was associated with a 17% increased chance of a poor intelligibility score (P = .02), and high volume surgery with a 249% increased chance of a good articulation score (P = .01). There were no between surgeon effects identified. No association between the surgical variables examined and dento‐facial outcome, or secondary speech surgery by the age of 5 years were found.ConclusionThis study found associations between surgical variables and speech outcomes at 5 years of age, but not between surgical variables and dento‐facial outcome, nor between surgical variables and secondary speech surgery. High surgical volume should be maintained, and any changes towards later surgery monitored for changes in speech outcome.
Biological Explanations of Social Inequalities
Authors: Lowe Dan 
Published: October 2022

AbstractInequalities of social goods between gender, racial, or other groups call out for explanation. Such inequalities might be explained by socialization and discrimination. But historically some have attributed these inequalities to biological differences between social groups. Such explanations are highly controversial: on the one hand, they have a very troubling racist and sexist history, but on the other hand, they are empirical claims, and so it seems inappropriate to rule them out a priori. I propose that the appropriate epistemic attitude toward biological explanations of social inequalities is a general but defeasible skepticism. I then turn to the appropriate moral attitude, arguing that when such explanations are inadequately supported, they are offensive.
Changing racial and ethnic differences for lung transplantation in cystic fibrosis
Authors: Hayes Don , Dani Alia , Guzman‐Gomez Amalia , Zafar Farhan , Morales David L. S. , Ziady Assem G. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundCFTR modulators, especially (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor), have positively impacted the CF population and quickly decreased LTx numbers. However, no study has investigated if this reduction is universal across all races/ethnicities.MethodsUsing the UNOS Registry, we explored the frequency/proportions of LTx in WNH and NW (Black, non‐Hispanic/Hispanic‐Latino/Asian‐non Hispanic/American Indian‐Alaskan Native‐non‐Hispanic/Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander‐non‐Hispanic/Multiracial) in children and adults with CF in the US.ResultsBetween 1990 and 2019, the annual mean (±SD) number of LTxs for children with CF was 23.2 (±7.7) compared to 5 in 2020 (p < .001) and in 2021 (p < .001). In adults from 1990 to 2019, the mean (±SD) number of LTxs performed was 144.9 (±73.5), which was significantly higher than 2020 (n = 73; p < .001) and 2021 (n = 45; p < .001). Comparing 1990–2019 to post‐2019, the proportion of LTxs performed in both children and adults with CF has decreased from 50.5% (696/1378) to 16.4% (9/55) and from 12.1% (4773/39542) to 2.4% (118/5004), respectively. In WNH pediatric patients, the difference in the percentage of all LTx made up by CF patients between the two eras was 41.2% compared to NW patients where the difference was 11%. Similarly in adults, the difference between the two eras was 10.4% in WNH and 2.4% in NW patients.ConclusionsThe recent reduction in LTx for the CF population has had less impact on the NW population in the US, so the continuation of optimal referrals for this group is needed.
The origin of the fourfold (Geviert). Heidegger's concept of world in his later philosophy and Plato's concept of kosmos in the Gorgias (507e–508a)
Authors: Enache Cătălin 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe paper discusses the parallels between late Heidegger's view of the world as a fourfold unity of earth, heavens, the divine and the mortal (the Geviert), and a passage in Plato's Gorgias (507e–508a) where the world (kosmos) is conceived of in a similar way. It is argued, first, that the Gorgias passage is not an isolated remark but rather a point where a number of important Platonic insights come together, and second, that Heidegger was well acquainted with these insights and pointed out their ontological significance on various occasions.
Complementarity and substitutability between farm and nonfarm activities: Evidence from agricultural households in Tanzania
Authors: Aikaeli Jehovaness , Chegere Martin Julius , Rand John 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIncreasing evidence shows that farm households in developing countries maintain a portfolio of income‐generating activities. Concerns have been raised that household income diversification to include nonfarm activities will stifle farm works, and thus reduce agricultural productivity. On the contrary, some evidence of complementarity between the farm and nonfarm activities in rural areas has been found. This paper uses data from the fourth and the fifth waves of Tanzania's National Panel Surveys to examine whether there exists complementarity or substitutability between farm and nonfarm activities in rural Tanzania. The findings show that participation in off‐farm work and nonfarm business activities has no clear relationship to the adoption and use of improved agricultural practices, namely, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Participation in off‐farm work and nonfarm business activities does not also seem to directly influence agricultural investments, production, and productivity nor overall household income. These results suggest that the complementary and substitution effects of nonfarm activities offset each other in Tanzania, implying that proper policies are required to unleash the potential impact of nonfarm activities on agriculture.
Assessing Epidemic Curves for Evidence of Superspreading
Authors: Meagher Joe , Friel Nial 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe expected number of secondary infections arising from each index case, referred to as the reproduction or R number, is a vital summary statistic for understanding and managing epidemic diseases. There are many methods for estimating R; however, few explicitly model heterogeneous disease reproduction, which gives rise to superspreading within the population. We propose a parsimonious discrete-time branching process model for epidemic curves that incorporates heterogeneous individual reproduction numbers. Our Bayesian approach to inference illustrates that this heterogeneity results in less certainty on estimates of the time-varying cohort reproduction number Rt. We apply these methods to a COVID-19 epidemic curve for the Republic of Ireland and find support for heterogeneous disease reproduction. Our analysis allows us to estimate the expected proportion of secondary infections attributable to the most infectious proportion of the population. For example, we estimate that the 20% most infectious index cases account for approximately 75%–98% of the expected secondary infections with 95% posterior probability. In addition, we highlight that heterogeneity is a vital consideration when estimating Rt.
Aging of colloidal contaminants and pathogens in the soil environment: Implications for nanoplastic and COVID‐19 risk mitigation
Authors: Wang Liuwei , Hu Zhongtao , Yin Hanbing , Bradford Scott A. , Luo Jian , Hou Deyi 
Published: October 2022

AbstractColloidal contaminants and pathogens are widely distributed in soil, whose tiny sizes and distinct surface properties render unique environmental behaviours. Because of aging, colloids can undergo dramatic changes in their physicochemical properties once in the soil environment, thus leading to diverse or even unpredictable environmental behaviour and fate. Herein, we provide a state‐of‐art review of colloid aging mechanisms and characteristics and implications for risk mitigation. First, we review aging‐induced formation of colloidal contaminants and aging‐associated changes. We place a special focus on emerging nanoplastic (NP) contaminants and associated physical, chemical, and biological aging processes in soil environments. Second, we assess aging and survival features of colloidal pathogens, especially viruses. Viruses in soils may survive from several days to months, or even several years in groundwater, depending on their rates of inactivation and the reversibility of attachment. Furthermore, we identify implications for risk mitigation based on aging mechanisms. Hotspots of (photo)chemical aging of NPs, including plastic gauzes at construction sites and randomly discarded plastic waste in rural areas, are identified as area requiring greater research attention. For COVID‐19, we suggest taking greater care in regions where viruses are persist for long periods, such as cold climate regions. Soil amendment with quicklime (CaO) may act as an effective means for pathogen disinfection. Future risk mitigation of colloidal contaminants and pathogens relies on a better understanding of aging mechanisms and more sophisticated models accurately depicting processes in real soil environments.
Building a Cognitive Science of Human Variation: Individual Differences in Spatial Navigation
Authors: Newcombe Nora S. , Hegarty Mary , Uttal David 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThe aim of this issue is to take stock of cognitive science of human variation in the field of spatial navigation, an important domain in which debates have often assumed an invariant human mind. Addressing the challenge of individual differences requires cognitive scientists to change their practices in several ways. First, we need to consider how to design measures and paradigms that have adequate psychometric characteristics. Second, using reliable, efficient, and valid measures, we need to examine how people vary from time to time, both in the short run due to emotions, such as stress or time pressure, and in the longer run, due to training or living in physical environments that require wayfinding skills. Third, we need to study people different from the traditional college participants, including variations in age, gender, education, culture, physical environment, and possible interactions among these variables.
‘Stay at home and limit contact’: The impact of stay‐at‐home advice on the behavior of Australian donors aged 70 and over in the first year of the pandemic
Authors: Naing Sanda , Thorpe Rachel , Jensen Kyle , Masser Barbara , Guerin Nicola 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundEarly in the COVID‐19 pandemic, Australian donors aged 70 and over were advised to temporarily stop donating. The aim of this research was to understand the factors associated with some of these donors continuing to donate despite the advice, and whether adherence to the advice had negative implications for donor retention.Study Design and MethodsSurvey data from 2078 donors were analyzed to understand the factors associated with donating blood during the first 6 months of the pandemic, and the impact of following stay‐at‐home advice during the first 6 months of the pandemic on donor return 6–12 months into the pandemic. Panel data were used to gain an overview of donation behavior before, during, and after the initial phase of the pandemic.ResultsDonations by donors aged 70 and over decreased disproportionately to other age groups during the early stages of the pandemic. Sex, total donation count, awareness of stay‐at‐home advice from the Blood Collection Agency, the mode of receiving stay‐at‐home advice, donor risk perceptions and attitudes toward stay‐at‐home advice were associated with donation behavior in the first 6 months of the pandemic. Donors who did not donate in the first 6 months of the pandemic had lower odds of returning 6–12 months into the pandemic.ConclusionStay‐at‐home advice was partially successful in preventing older donors from donating; however, more tailored communication approaches may have prevented more donors from donating. Implementation of stay‐at‐home advice should be accompanied by strategies to prevent ongoing donor lapse in the medium‐ to long‐term.
The effectiveness of embargoes: Evidence from Russia
Authors: Miromanova Anna 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWhile sanctions have been an increasingly popular instrument of Western foreign policy over the past several decades, retaliatory measures by non‐Western targets of Western sanctions are a more recent development. In this study, I focus on the first such incident in recent history: the Russian retaliatory embargo imposed in August 2014 in response to the anti‐Russian sanctions that have been in place since March 2014. I formulate a comprehensive approach to analysing the impacts of such retaliations on trade and how retaliating countries deal with lost trade. Towards that goal, I use a quadruple difference approach with high‐dimensional fixed effects to disentangle various effects of the retaliatory embargo on the extensive and intensive margins of trade. I find that such retaliation comes at a cost to both the retaliating country and the target of retaliation, while not being effective as Russian sanctions are still in place today. I estimate that the total loss of trade from such retaliation amounts to about 42 billion USD in the first 1.5 years after the imposition of the embargo. The disturbances caused by such retaliation destabilise bilateral trade by causing negative spillovers and significantly increase the costs of retaliation as an economic policy or political strategy. Note: This paper was written prior to the Russian invasion in Ukraine on 24 February 2022.