Search

Simple Summary: Mosquito surveys conducted in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe during 2000 to 2016 as a part of anti-malaria programs found the presence of four species of mosquitoes in the nation including Culex (Culex) poicilipes, Mansonia (Coquillettidia) annetti, Uranotaenia (Uranotaenia) alboabdominalis, and Uranotaenia (Uranotaenia) fraseri for the first time. Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) was identified in 2015, and the follow-up survey confirmed that Aedes albopictus has become widespread across the nation. The larvae were predominant in artificial water-holding containers, with a positive rate up to 45.6% in used tires in Príncipe, while the native species, Aedes aegypti, preferred natural breeding sources. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial DNA revealed the introduced populations belonged to a clade involved in the worldwide spread of the species. Aedes albopictus is a public health threat due to its vectorial capacity for various arboviruses. Continuous vector surveillance and implication of interventions, such as source reduction to remove used tires, environmental management, and use of larvicides, were suggested. Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894), a mosquito originating in Asia, has been introduced to Africa since the 2000s. The mosquito is not only a nuisance but is capable of transmitting various arboviruses. The current study summarized our entomological surveys in the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe during 2000 to 2016. Adult mosquitoes were collected by sweep nets, human landing catches, and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps, and the immatures were collected from water-filled habitats at 15 sentinel sites and reared to adulthood. Species identification was performed based on morphologic characteristics. Fragments of the cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and the Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) genes were amplified for mosquitoes collected in Principe. New records of four mosquito species were reported. Aedes albopictus was identified in 2015. The larvae were found distributed over the nation and were predominately in artificial water-holding containers (488/2698, 18.1%). The highest positive rate was observed in used tires in Príncipe (114/250, 45.6%). Mitochondrial DNA analysis revealed low genetic diversity among the invasive populations, but all tested specimens were superinfected by Wolbachia. The ability of Ae. albopictus to adapt to new environments and its involvement in disease transmission make the surveillance and control of this species particularly important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we present an analytical model to describe atomic force microscopy force curves of standard linear solid and power-law viscoelastic materials by taking indenter geometry and finite thickness effects into account. We show that conical/pyramidal cantilevers are less susceptible to finite thickness effects than other shapes, such as spherical and flat punch indenters. This is confirmed by finite element modeling of the stress field distribution within the sample. We also perform a systematic error analysis for the cases where finite thickness samples are analyzed with an infinite thickness force model. In particular, we show that for spherical indenters and indentation depth up to 20% of sample thickness, the mechanical response of viscoelastic materials will wrongly mimic a purely elastic behavior even within timescales where viscoelastic relaxation should appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution in reservoirs affects the water quality, ecosystem services, and CH4 emissions. High temperatures and eutrophic conditions in a tropical urban reservoir can potentially increase CH4 fluxes. To investigate the interference of pollution on CH4 fluxes in Guarapiranga, a highly urbanized tropical reservoir (Brazil), four sampling stations (G1 to G4) with different degrees of pollution were evaluated. The sampling campaigns occurred from May (2018) to March (2019), considering spatio-temporal dimensions and water and sediment characteristics. Chemical analysis for these compartments were carried out followed by statistical analyzes and Random Forest modeling to understand the relationship between water and sediment characteristics on CH4 fluxes and to rank the most important predictors for CH4. Statistical analysis showed differences on CH4 fluxes (Kruskal–Wallis, p < 0.01), except between May and August (p < 0.05). The highest CH4 fluxes were observed during March (G3 = 722.0 mg m−2 d−1, and G2 = 439.2 mg m−2 d−1). Carbon, phosphorus, and nitrogen, both in the water and sediment, showed anthropogenic impact in all stations. The Random Forest model pointed temperature, pH and DOC as the main predictors of CH4 fluxes in Guarapiranga reservoir. We observed an increase on CH4 fluxes in warmer waters (above 29 °C) during March and with pH close to 7.0. This is the first study that quantified and associated CH4 fluxes in the Guarapiranga reservoir with limnological variables in the most populous region in South America. Our results provide an advance on main factors which governs CH4 fluxes in tropical urban reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The encounter between the Jovian co‐rotating plasma and Ganymede gives rise to electromagnetic waves that propagate along the magnetic field lines and accelerate particles by resonant or non‐resonant wave‐particle interaction. They ultimately precipitate into Jupiter's atmosphere and trigger auroral emissions. In this study, we use Juno/JADE, Juno/UVS data, and magnetic field line tracing to characterize the properties of electrons accelerated by the Ganymede‐magnetosphere interaction in the far‐field region. We show that the precipitating energy flux exhibits an exponential decay as a function of downtail distance from the moon, with an e‐folding value of 29°, consistent with previous UV observations from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). We characterize the electron energy distributions and show that two distributions exist. Electrons creating the Main Alfvén Wing (MAW) spot and the auroral tail always have broadband distribution and a mean characteristic energy of 2.2 keV while in the region connected to the Transhemispheric Electron Beam (TEB) spot the electrons are distributed non‐monotonically, with a higher characteristic energy above 10 keV. Based on the observation of bidirectional electron beams, we suggest that Juno was located within the acceleration region during the 11 observations reported. We thus estimate that the acceleration region is extended, at least, between an altitude of 0.5 and 1.3 Jupiter radius above the 1‐bar surface. Finally, we estimate the size of the interaction region in the Ganymede orbital plane using far‐field measurements. These observations provide important insights for the study of particle acceleration processes involved in moon‐magnetosphere interactions. Plain Language Summary: The Galilean moons orbit in a plasma‐rich environment, created by the intense volcanism of Io and transported radially outward in the Jovian magnetosphere. At the orbital locations of the moons, this plasma, co‐rotating with Jupiter, flows at a velocity significantly higher than the moons' orbital speed. Consequently, the moons disturb the plasma flow. This interaction gives rise to a set of physical processes, including the generation of electromagnetic waves that propagate away from the moons and accelerate charged particles, triggering auroral emissions by precipitating into Jupiter's atmosphere. In this study, we investigate the properties of the electrons accelerated by the Ganymede‐magnetosphere interaction. We use data from the JADE and UVS instruments onboard the Juno spacecraft as well as magnetic field line tracing methods. Following a statistical characterization of the electron properties, we compare our results with previous findings that have reported electron observations resulting from the Io‐ and Europa‐magnetosphere interactions. Key Points: Juno particle and UV measurements are combined with field‐line tracing to identify 11 in situ crossings of the Ganymede flux tubeWe provide a statistical study of the accelerated electrons observed in the high‐latitude far‐field regionWe find two distinct regions in which the electrons properties, that is, characteristic energy, energy flux, and distribution, greatly differ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal and energetic electrons along Ganymede's orbit not only weather the surface of the icy moon, but also represent a major threat to spacecraft. In this article, we rely on Juno plasma measurements to characterize the temporal and spatial variability of the electron environment upstream of Ganymede. In particular, we find that electron spectra observed by Juno have fluxes larger by a factor of 2–9 at energies above 10 keV than what was measured two decades earlier by Galileo. This result will advance our understanding of the surface weathering and may be a concern for the radiation safety of the JUICE mission. Furthermore, the June 2021 close fly‐by of Ganymede through the moon's wake reveals that the open field line regions of its magnetosphere attenuate electron fluxes at all energies by a factor of 1.6–5, thereby offering a natural shelter to visiting spacecraft crossing this region. Plain Language Summary: Ganymede, the only magnetized moon in our Solar System, orbits deep inside the giant magnetosphere of Jupiter where it interacts with the temporally and spatially variable magnetized disk of plasma in corotation around the planet, its magnetodisk. The intensities of ions and electrons precipitating to the surface of Ganymede in particular depend on the location of the moon with respect to the Jovian magnetodisk. In this work, we provide a full quantification of electron properties along the orbit of Ganymede as observed by Juno. This is done by combining observations from two instruments in order to build composite electron energy spectra and derive their omnidirectional fluxes, densities, and pressures. We report that the average electron omnidirectional fluxes are significantly attenuated when measured above or below the magnetodisk, as well as strongly inside the magnetosphere of the moon where its intrinsic magnetic field provides additional shielding. We confirm that the electron total density is dominated by the thermal population, whereas the total pressure is dominated by the suprathermal one. When comparing our results with Galileo‐based observations and models, we find that the latter the latter two underestimate fluxes in particular at high energies, and we put these observations in context for the future exploration of Ganymede by JUICE. Key Points: We present composite electron energy spectra combining all Juno particle data from 07/2017 to 08/2022 at Ganymede's orbitWe study the variability of electron fluxes inside and outside the Jovian magnetodisk as well as within Ganymede's magnetosphereGalileo‐based models underestimate the electron fluxes observed by Juno in particular at high energies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue life of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic matrix composites is of great interest for many engineering applications. This work evaluated the influence of poly(etherimide) (PEI) on the fatigue life of laminated thermoplastic composites reinforced with carbon fibers. The mechanical characterization of the carbon/PEI composites was performed by static loading (tensile test) and cyclic fatigue. Tensile strength obtained was used to calculate 5 stress levels for cyclic fatigue testing with R = 0.1 and 12 Hz for 85, 80, 70, 60, and 55%, being this last stress level found as the infinite life. These stress levels allowed plotting a well-described SN curve. Seeking to understand the fracture behavior of carbon/PEI composites, a fractographic study by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed. SEM micrographs confirm the good quality of carbon/PEI laminate with good adhesion between fibers and matrix and also confirmed the nature of fatigue life showing in-plane fracture for high loads and explosive fracture for lower loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in situ characterization of moon‐magnetosphere interactions at Jupiter and the mapping of moon auroral footpaths require accurate global models of the magnetospheric magnetic field. In this study, we compare the ability of two widely‐used current sheet models, Khurana‐2005 (KK2005) and Connerney‐2020 (CON2020) combined with the most recent internal magnetic field model of Jupiter (JRM33) to match representative Galileo and Juno measurements acquired at low, medium, and high latitudes. With the adjustments of the KK2005 model to JRM33, we show that in the outer and middle magnetosphere (R > 15RJ), JRM33 + KK2005 is found to be the best model to reproduce the magnetic field observations of Galileo and Juno as it accounts for local time effects. JRM33 + CON2020 gives the most accurate representation of the inner magnetosphere. This finding is drawn from comparisons with Juno in situ magnetic field measurements and confirmed by contrasting the timing of the crossings of the Io, Europa, and Ganymede flux tubes identified in the Juno particles data with the two model estimates. JRM33 + CON2020 also maps more accurately the UV auroral footpath of Io, Europa, and Ganymede observed by Juno than JRM33 + KK2005. The JRM33 + KK2005 model predicts a local time asymmetry in position of the moons' footprints, which is however not detected in Juno's UV measurements. This could indicate that local time effects on the magnetic field are marginal at the orbital locations of Io, Europa, and Ganymede. Finally, the accuracy of the models and their predictions as a function of hemisphere, local time, and longitude is explored. Key Points: We compare the ability of two current sheet models, coupled to JRM33, to reproduce a wide diversity of Galileo and Juno observationsThe CON2020 model better matches the observations in the inner magnetosphere including magnetic field measurements and UV auroral footprintsIn the outer magnetosphere, the consideration of local time effects by the KK2005 model provides a better agreement against observations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei is the major pest of coffee fruits worldwide. Bioregulators have been applied in crop plants with the aim of changing their physiology and metabolism for better yield and quality of produce, but little knowledge exists on the effects on insect pests. This study evaluated application of ethylene synthesis inhibitor in arabica coffee on CBB field infestation, preference, and performance in function of application time and dose. Field experiments were conducted in Lavras, Brazil, and the effects of ethylene synthesis inhibitor Mathury™ on CBB were evaluated using five treatments: control (water); Time1 + Dose1; Time1 + Dose2; Time2 + Dose1; and Time2 + Dose2. The first and second applications were performed at 80 and 110 days after flowering, respectively, using the doses of 2 and 15 L ha−1. CBB field infestation was recorded through time as the percent bored fruits, and the colonization in the beans and degree of fruit maturation were evaluated at harvest. CBB preference and colonization were assessed in dual-choice bioassay and the performance under no-choice condition in the lab. Plants treated with the bioregulator overall presented fruits less suitable for CBB preference and performance in terms of females choice and survival in the lab, but varying effects were found between field experiments for bored fruits (%), which increased with fruit maturation. In the second field experiment, reduced larvae and pupae infestations were found in bioregulator-treated fruits. Application of ethylene synthesis inhibitor is promising to complement CBB management in sustainable coffee crops. Future research should evaluate the underlying induced-resistance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal environments are at the frontline of sea-level rise effects, and seawater intrusion constitutes one of the most important causes of salinization, changing the ecological patterns. Hence, we hypothesized that seawater intrusion would alter environmental gradients, causing either abrupt or gradual changes in the phytoplankton of Itapecuru River estuary. Physical and chemical and biological variables were collected bimonthly at six sites between 2019 and 2020. Seventy-six phytoplankton indicators were selected based on their specific functional traits and indicator value. Polymyxus coronalis was a good indicator of the limit of seawater intrusion. Multivariate analyses revealed high species dispersion among the estuarine sectors governed by variations in salinity, suspended particulate matter, cell size, and silicate. The distribution of freshwater species in the upper sector was correlated with low nutrient values and salinity. The marine species were transported between the middle and lower sectors under the opposite conditions. The seawater intrusion negatively affected the community, primarily in the dry season when the displacement of the turbidity maximum zone estuarine altered the structure, reducing its density, diversity, and biomass. The present study generated important information about seawater intrusion effects on the spatiotemporal variation in the phytoplankton community and provided a tool for the sustainable management of tropical estuaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut (Cocos nucifera) sap is one of the natural drinks, being traditionally tapped from unopened inflorescences of the coconut palms. In the present study, microbial quality of coconut sap that was collected using three methods; Treatment 1: application of hal bark (Vateria copallifera) to the 4L clay pots (TM), Treatment 2: Novel sap collection method (NSM), Treatment 3: application of 5g of hal bark in to 30 cm X 50 cm polythene bag in 4L clay pots (MTM) were evaluated. Sap was collected for 12 h duration and Total Plate Count (TPC) and Yeast and Mold Count (YMC) were determined. Colonies were isolated and preserved. DNA extractions of microbes were done by CTAB (Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide) method with modification. ITS1 forward and ITS4 reverse primers were used to identify yeast species and 27 forward and 1492 reverse primers were used for the bacterial species in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Amplified products were separated using 1.5 % agarose gel and purified DNA was sent into Macrogene Korea for sequencing. Four types (A, B, C and D) of distinct microbial colonies were isolated from the differently collected coconut sap samples. DNA homology data revealed that, A is Naumannella halotolerans only presented in NSM. B and C Serratia marcescens, are Achromobacter xylosoxidans contained in TM and MTM. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (D) was found in all the collection system. The collection method affects for the microbial quality and quantity of unfermented coconut sap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photo-generated current due to electronic transitions in a semiconductor planar quantum dot attached to outgoing leads is theoretically investigated. An electron is confined in the dot by a pure quantum mechanical effect, which is due to the higher ground state energy of the quantum wells forming the leads, as compared to the one in the dot. The dynamics of such a confined electron interacting with a light pulse is investigated by numerically solving a time-dependent Schrödinger equation within the effective mass approximation and goes beyond the lowest order perturbative approach. Our results show the coexistence of both linear and non-linear contributions to the photo-generated current in this system, sharply peaked at frequencies in the terahertz range, which are further tunable by the quantum dot radius. The peaks can be made even sharper as one adds a narrow constriction in the dot–leads connection. The details of the dependence of the peaks' frequency, intensity, and sharpness on system parameters are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to determine the genetic variability of sugarcane smut pathogen (Sporisorium scitamineum) in Sri Lanka to support an effective crop improvement program for sugarcane smut disease resistance. Eighty-three isolates of S. scitamineum were collected from 15 different sugarcane varieties grown in seven sugarcane cultivating areas in Sri Lanka. DNA sequencing of PCR products obtained by specific (i.e., bE 4 and bE 8) and universal (i.e., ITS 1 and ITS 4) primers showed 99% sequence similarity among the collected S. scitamineum isolates. Genetic diversity was determined using 16 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers. It produced 104 amplified DNA fragments which are 100% polymorphic. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value of ISSR markers varied from 0.25 to 0.46 with an average of 0.37. The results revealed a moderate degree of genetic diversity among the S. scitamineum isolates. The genetic differentiation coefficient (Gst) was estimated to be 0.241 in the studied fungal population, suggesting 24% of the total genetic variation originates between the populations, and 76% originates within the populations. Geneflow (Nm) was calculated as 1. 572, indicating that gene flow occurs across populations at a faster rate. The collected isolates clustered into five genetically distinct groups having no relationship with their geographical origin. The results confirmed a considerable genetic variation among the collected isolates from major sugarcane growing areas in Sri Lanka. Therefore, it is proposed to use a mixture of S. scitamineum isolates collected from all sugarcane growing areas when screening for smut-resistant sugarcane varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rough bark disease (RBD) damages the peel of cinnamon (Cinnamommum zeylanicum), the economically important part of the plant. A total of 405 plant samples representing four distinct symptom development stages of RBD were collected from five cinnamon‐growing districts of Sri Lanka. Epiphytic and endophytic fungi dwelling on different tissues of the stems were isolated using another set of healthy and RBD‐infected plants. Different tissues of healthy and RBD‐infected stems representing the symptom development stages and districts of cinnamon cultivation resulted in a total of 2432 fungal isolates. Fungal profiles associated with different stem tissues in healthy and RBD‐infected plants during the pathogenesis were determined by colony and spore morphology of isolated fungal isolates and DNA sequencing of PCR products by ITS1 and ITS4 primers. Pathogenicity was tested using consistently associated 138 isolates on detached stem pieces. Subsequently, field‐grown plants were inoculated with three highly virulent isolates among the 138 isolates. Pestalotiopsis, Colletotrichum, Botryodiplodia, and Phomopsis were the core fungal genera in the four symptom development stages with a varying abundance. The four genera were infectious having different degrees of virulence in terms of lesion development on stems. Composition and relative abundance of fungal profiles were compared in different stem tissues of healthy and RBD‐infected plants at distinct symptom development stages. Results revealed the presence of a core fungal genera in both healthy and RBD‐infected plants but a fluctuation of their abundance among different tissues and symptom development stages. RBD can be deduced as a complex fungal disease than a unimicrobial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium nitride nanoparticles with mean diameter distribution between 0.8 nm and 30 nm were produced by laser irradiation of a chromium target immersed in liquid nitrogen. Cr was directly converted to chromium nitride nanoparticles according to selected-area electron diffraction analyses using the transmission electron microscopy technique. Crystalline nanoparticles mostly consist of Cr 2 N , which is commonly reported together with the conversion of Cr 2 N to CrN and the mixture of chromium oxides. In addition, there is no evidence of oxidation by storage or photodegradation of the nanoparticles in isopropyl alcohol suspensions. The intensity profile of small-angle X-ray scattering indicates that the geometrical shape of the nanoparticles is not spherical but cylindrical with aspect ratio (height-to-radius) of 0.35 – 0.05. UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy reveals the presence of surface plasmon absorption at the ultraviolet region at wavelengths of 350, 372, and 397 nm. First-principles calculations of density of states, dielectric function, and optical conductivity performed within the theoretical framework of density functional theory for Cr 2 N with a hexagonal structure corroborate the formation of surface plasmons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ecosystems transform under climate change and expanding human activities, multidisciplinary integration of empirical research, conceptual frameworks and modelling methods is required to predict, monitor and manage the cascading effects on wildlife populations. For example, exposure to anthropogenic noise can lead to changes in the behaviour and physiology of individual marine mammals, but management is complicated by uncertainties on the long‐term effects at a population level. We build on a decade of diverse efforts to demonstrate the strengths of integrating research on multiple stressors for assessing population‐level effects. Using the case study of blue whales exposed to military sonar in the eastern north Pacific, we model how behavioural responses and environmental effects induced by climate change affect female survival and reproductive success. Environmental changes were predicted to severely affect vital rates, while the current regime of sonar activities was not. Simulated disturbance had a stronger effect on reproductive success than adult survival, as predicted by life‐history theory. We show that information on prey resources is critical for robust predictions, as are data on baseline behavioural patterns, energy budgets, body condition and contextual responses to noise. These results will support effective management of the interactions between sonar operations and blue whales in the study area, while providing pragmatic guidance for future data collection to reduce key uncertainties. Our study provides important lessons for the successful integration of multidisciplinary research to inform the assessment of the effects of noise and other anthropogenic stressors on marine predator populations in the context of a changing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids are regularly used as biomarkers of relative health for individuals and populations. Around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP), baleen whales have and continue to experience threats, including commercial harvest, prey limitations and habitat change driven by rapid warming, and increased human presence via ecotourism. Here, we measured demographic variation and differences across the foraging season in blubber cortisol levels of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) over two years around the WAP. Cortisol concentrations were determined from 305 biopsy samples of unique individuals. We found no significant difference in the cortisol concentration between male and female whales. However, we observed significant differences across demographic groups of females and a significant decrease in the population across the feeding season. We also assessed whether COVID-19-related reductions in tourism in 2021 along the WAP correlated with lower cortisol levels across the population. The decline in vessel presence in 2021 was associated with a significant decrease in humpback whale blubber cortisol concentrations at the population level. Our findings provide critical contextual data on how these hormones vary naturally in a population over time, show direct associations between cortisol levels and human presence, and will enable comparisons among species experiencing different levels of human disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jupiter’s decimeter-wavelength flux density is dominated by synchrotron emission from magnetically trapped ∼5â€"50 MeV electrons in the radiation belts. Synchrotron radio emission remains the most useful diagnostic of the radiation belts, and a global picture is provided by ground-based observations. Monitoring of the long-term variations of Jupiter’s Synchrotron Radiation (JSR) flux density is crucial to understanding its relationship with the solar wind. The GAVRT (Goldstone-Apple Valley Radio Telescope) program operates two retired Deep Space Network (DSN) antennas, and as part of their K-12 program and Juno support, GAVRT has been collecting data to monitor JSR radio emission at 2280 MHz (13 cm wavelength). We present new results from 2019 August to 2021 December GAVRT monitoring observations. As viewed from Earth the JSR varies systematically (by about 10%) with Jupiter’s 9.9 hr rotation period, and our observations were typically much shorter than 9.9 hr. To estimate the daily flux density of JSR, we took advantage of recent progress in modeling the radiation belt, scaling individual observations by the predicted relative variation due to Jupiter’s rotation as viewed from Earth. We discuss the JSR variability from 2015 to 2021, combining our results with previous GAVRT data. Our new results show a marked decrease (∼1 Jy) in JSR flux density between 2018 and 2021, while earlier observations showed an increase from 2015 to 2018. These results are remarkably consistent with long-term variability shown by the simulations of Han et al. based on models driven by the solar wind ram pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Neonate management remains a key issue in extensive beef production systems where producers are faced with substantial environmental and management challenges that limit their ability to monitor and manage livestock in a timely manner. Parturition is a critical event and can affect the calf health and survival, particularly in the perinatal period (up to 48 h after birth). As such, monitoring parturition using precision livestock technologies may provide producers with additional tools to manage their cattle and mitigate the impacts of neonatal mortality in extensive beef systems. Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine whether data from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) collar could be used to detect parturition events in extensively grazed beef cattle. Methods: Forty-eight Bos taurus cows (583.5 kg body weight ± 9.25 s.e.m.) were allocated to a 28 ha paddock between 8 January 2021 and 6 March 2021 during the calving season. Thirty of the animals were fitted with GNSS-equipped collars (Smart Paddock, Vic., Australia) that captured data at 10 min intervals. Parturition events were recorded daily by visual observation. Collected data were used to calculate key predictive features related to calving behaviour. Derived features were compared and assessed for changes in the period surrounding parturition. Key results: Increases were observed in distance to nearest neighbour and to herd aggregate features, and decreases were observed in paddock utilisation and distance travelled features in the lead-up to calving (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the number of animals within a 20 m radius decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the lead up to parturition, supporting known isolation behaviours. Conclusions: With further development of predictive algorithms, on-animal sensors may be valuable in the prediction of calving events in extensive beef production systems. Implications: Remote management and monitoring with on-animal sensor technologies, such as GNSS collars and tags, will provide producers with an additional means of monitoring their animals, while overcoming many of the management challenges associated with extensive grazing operations. Reproductive efficiency is a performance indicator in extensive beef systems. Calving represents a critical management period that would benefit from increased observational capacity. Precision livestock technologies offer opportunities to better monitor and manage extensively grazed cattle, but more algorithms are needed to detect behaviours and physiological changes. This study used a commercial on-animal sensor to evaluate the value of global navigation satellite system-derived features in parturition detection algorithms. Results indicated both social interaction and spatial utilisation features are good candidates for algorithm development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies describing characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 among people living with HIV are currently limited, lacking detailed evaluation of the interplay among demographics, HIV-related variables, and comorbidities on COVID-19 outcomes. This retrospective cohort study describes mortality rates overall and according to demographic characteristics and explores predictors of admission to intensive care unit and death among 255 persons living with HIV with severe acute respiratory syndrome and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We found that the overall mortality rate was 4.1/1,000 person-days, with a case-fatality of 34%. Higher rates occurred among older adults, Black/Mixed skin color/race patients, and those with lower schooling. In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, CD4 count, viral load and number of comorbidities, skin color/race, and schooling remained significantly associated with higher mortality. Although tenofovir use was more frequent among survivors in the univariable analysis, we failed to find a statistically significant association between tenofovir use and survival in the multivariable analysis. Our findings suggest that social vulnerabilities related to both HIV and COVID-19 significantly impact the risk of death, overtaking traditional risk factors such as age, sex, CD4 count, and comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study a dual-hop mixed power line communication and radio-frequency communication (PLC/RF) system, where the connection between the PLC link and the RF link is made by a decode-and-forward or amplify-and-forward relay. It is assumed that the PLC channel is affected by both additive background noise and Poisson–Gaussian impulsive noise which suffer from log-normal fading, while the RF link undergoes generalized Rician fading. Based on this model, analytical expressions for the outage probability (OP), average bit error rate (BER), and the average channel capacity (ACC) are derived. Furthermore, asymptotic analyses for the OP and average BER as well as an upper bound expression for the ACC are presented. Illustrative numerical results are presented along with insightful discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we review the tight-binding model in the first and second quantization and show how it can be used to calculate the energy spectrum of some crystals. From an approach based on the Schrödinger equation (first quantization), we demonstrate the procedure for writing a generic Hamiltonian in the second quantization formalism. The connection between these two formalisms is generally not discussed in technical and applied works. As application examples, we use both methodologies to calculate the energy spectrum of a linear chain and a square lattice analytically, initially considering only one site per unit cell and later taking two sites per unit cell. Next, we apply the tight-binding model to graphene and compare such description with the brick lattice, showing that graphene lattice can be mapped as a square lattice with some hopping parameters being neglected. Finally, we apply the model to the τ 3 -lattice, a three-band system. In all cases, we present the energy spectrum and the density of states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is a devastating disease of sugarcane. As a management strategy, seed sets of resistant varieties treat with fungicides after the hot water treatment. As a novel management strategy, we evaluated the possibility of using low concentrations of fungicides and synthetic elicitors under in vitro and field conditions. Three fungicides (i.e. Tebuconazole, Hexaconazole, and Metalaxyl 8 % + Mancozeb 64 % WP) and two synthetic elicitors (i.e. salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA)) were tested in vitro at four concentrations (i.e. 250, 500, 750, and 1000 ppm) for their efficacy on inhibition of the germination of smut teliospores. Tebuconazole, Hexaconazole, and salicylic acids completely inhibited the germination of the teliospores at 500 ppm, 250 ppm, and 750 ppm concentrations, respectively. Metalaxyl 8 % + Mancozeb 64 % WP and JA inhibited the teliospore germination by 52 and 58 % respectively at 1000 ppm concentration. In the field evaluation, smut pathogen was artificially inoculated to the seed sets of a resistant (Co 775) and a susceptible variety (SL 88 116) treated with fungicides and SA at selected concentrations. Disease incidence (DI) was recorded, and disease severity (DS), Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC), and Percentage Reduction of the Disease (PRD) were calculated. Tebuconazole 500 ppm, Hexaconazole 250 ppm, Hexaconazole 500 ppm, and salicylic Acid 1000 ppm successfully controlled the disease significantly(P=0.05) in terms of DI, DS, AUDPC, and PRD, hence can be used as a dip treatment of seed sets to control sugarcane smut disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localizing and measuring aerosol deposition is essential to improve our knowledge regarding contaminants and their transfer mechanisms, the cleanliness of people's environments and, consequently, our health. However, examining aerosol deposition is challenging, as it is based on several different mechanisms linked to aerosols, surfaces and air flow properties. Many techniques exist to measure aerosol deposition, but only a few techniques directly measure aerosol deposition without modifying the deposition itself. In this article, we review and describe the existing measurement techniques, which directly measure a deposition flux of aerosol particles on indoor surfaces. They are classified according to whether they measure a mass or a number surface deposition concentration. Among mass concentration measurement techniques, a few are the most commonly used in the literature and are well-known, whereas micro-sensors have been recently developed and these continue to be improved upon in laboratory experiments. Experimenters need to know more about the theoretical and technical aspects involved in order to build and implement these micro-sensors. Micro-sensors generally feature the ability to carry out in situ and close to real-time measurement. Number concentration measurement techniques are mainly based on optical systems. Commercial devices apart, these techniques are adaptable, and their configurations depend on experimental constraints. They also require some theoretical consideration depending on which kind of aerosol deposition is observed. On the other hand, commercial devices are turnkey solutions and are developed for specific purposes, such as cleanroom deposition measurement, in order to provide user-friendly devices and facilitate attaining repeatability in the measurement protocol. Copyright © 2021 American Association for Aerosol Research [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Boltzmann inversion is applied in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulations to derive inter-molecular potential for protein lysozyme in aqueous solution directly from experimental static structure factor. The potential has a soft repulsion at short distances and an attraction well at intermediate distances that give rise to the liquid-liquid phase separation. Moreover, Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that a non-spherical description of lysozyme is better suited to correctly reproduce the experimentally observed properties of such a phase separation. Our findings shed new light on the common problem in molecular and cell biology: "How to model proteins in their natural aqueous environments?". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding for resistance is the most effective and environmentally friendly option to manage sugarcane smut disease caused by the fungus Sporisorium scitamineum. The aim of this study was to determine the smut disease reaction of some selected Saccharum germplasm in Sri Lanka, which comprised Saccharum officinarum, wild canes, imported hybrids and locally bred varieties, for the development of the parental core-collection for breeding sugarcane varieties resistant to smut disease. Four-hundred and fifty-five accessions were inoculated with smut spores by dip inoculation technique and a field trial was established, along with six standard varieties having established ratings for smut disease. Disease incidence, area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and disease severity were quantified for each accession for both plant and first ratoon crops. The regression equations derived from average disease incidences of the standard varieties versus their established ratings were used to assign the resistance ratings to the test accessions in both plant and first ratoon crops. The results revealed that 124 accessions were highly resistant to smut in terms of disease incidence with a 0% disease severity and 0 AUDPC value in both plant and the first ratoon crops. Accordingly, 16 Saccharum spontaneum, 16 Erianthus arundinaceus, 6 Saccharum officinarum accessions and 19 local and 67 imported hybrids were selected for the core-collection for breeding for smut resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is one of the main pests of fruit, worldwide, and the use of population suppression method with low environmental impact is an increasingly strong requirement of the consumer market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mineral and natural films on the physical–chemical properties of grapes (Vitis vinifera L.), cultivar Itália, and oviposition behaviour of C. capitata. Fruits were immersed in suspensions (100 and 200 g L−1) of mineral (kaolin Surround®WP, kaolin 607, kaolin 608, kaolin 611 and talc) and natural films (chitosan, cassava starch, potato starch and guar gum 5.0 g L−1) and distilled water (control). After drying, fruits were exposed to C. capitata pairs of males and females for 24 h in choice and non-choice tests; the number of punctures with and without eggs, eggs per fruit and behavioural response of fly to treated and untreated fruits were recorded. Results obtained in this study are promising, given the scientific evidence that films of mineral particles such as kaolin (Surround®, 607, 608 and 611) changed the firmness, luminosity, chroma and hue angle of grapes and reduced the oviposition of C. capitata. In addition, our results also showed that natural polymers do not deter C. capitata females, but rather seem to stimulate oviposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isolation of DNA from environmental samples is a crucial step in microbial community analyses through molecular methods. The present study was conducted to evaluate a DNA extraction protocol from paddy soil with a comparison on quality, quantity and integrity of the isolated DNA and to determine the suitability of extracted DNA for downstream applications in microbial community analyses. Three protocols (i.e. PEG/NaCl, Mannitol/CTAB and Sodium Phosphate Buffer) used for the extraction of DNA from different types of soil were attempted on paddy soil. The quality and quantity of the extracted genomic DNA was quantified spectrophotometrically and integrity was checked by gel electrophoresis. The efficiency of DNA extraction by the three protocols was compared with a commercial soil DNA extraction kit (Norgen's Soil DNA Isolation Plus Kit). Further, quality of the extracted DNA for PCR amplification was assessed using universal primer pairs for bacteria and fungi. DNA extracted using PEG/NaCl method resulted in the highest DNA concentration, while the highest purity was recorded by the DNA extracted by Mannitol/CTAB method (A260/A280 = 1.61 and A260/A230 = 1.15). Expected PCR products targeting 16s rDNA and ITS regions were obtained from the DNA samples extracted by Mannitol/CTAB method. Therefore, Mannitol/CTAB method used in the present study is suitable to extract high-quality DNA from paddy soil for molecular microbial studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of energy-dense sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and its low satiating effects may influence the development of child eating behaviours. We aimed to investigate the association of SSB consumption at 4 years on appetitive behaviours at age 7 years. Children from the Generation XXI birth cohort were included (n 3880). SSB consumption was evaluated through a FFQ and appetitive behaviours were evaluated through the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, which includes eight subscales. Two composite factors, derived by principal component analysis (Appetite Restraint – related to Food Fussiness, Enjoyment of Food, Slowness in Eating and Satiety Responsiveness – and Appetite Disinhibition – related to Food Responsiveness, Emotional Under- and Overeating and Desire to Drink), were also investigated. The dose–response relationship between SSB consumption and appetitive behaviours was examined using multivariable linear regression (continuous eating behaviour scores) and multinomial logistic regression (tertile categories of eating behaviour scores). Child SSB consumption at 4 years was associated with higher Appetite Disinhibition and Desire to Drink and lower Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating at 7 years. Consuming SSB ≥1 times/d (compared with a lower intake) was associated with 29 % increase in the odds of Desire to Drink (3rd v. 1st tertile). Pre-schoolers' SSB consumption was associated with higher food approach and less food avoidant behaviours later in childhood. Family characteristics, particularly maternal SSB consumption, explained part of these associations. It is essential to promote the intake of water, instead of sugary drinks, and make parents and caregivers aware of the importance of this exposure, since they have a pivotal role in shaping children's eating behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Asteraceae species are pollinated by insects, mainly bees and butterflies, although pollination by birds has been documented and pollination by bats has been suggested for some species. Here, we investigated the pollination of Gongylolepis martiana, a species supposedly pollinated by bats.We assessed floral traits and visitors in a population of G. martiana in the Brazilian Amazon, measuring pollen removal from anthers and deposition on stigmas by diurnal and nocturnal visitors.Florets opened at dusk and lasted for 4 days, with the male phase starting on the first night and the female phase on the third night. Accumulated nectar per capitulum was 69.6 μl per night and sugar concentration was 15%. Nectar‐feeding bats and hummingbirds contacted the sexual parts, but pollen removal and deposition were greater throughout the night than during the day, when Meliponini bees considerably reduced pollen availability. Other nocturnal visitors of G. martiana were rare, including nocturnal bees and moths that foraged for pollen and nectar, respectively.Our results support that nectarivorous bats are the main pollinators of G. martiana, confirming Vogel's hypothesis of bat pollination in Asteraceae, particularly in the genus Gongylolepis. Since anthesis and each sexual floral phase started in the evening, nectarivorous bats and diurnal bees caused additive priority effects, preventing hummingbirds from being efficient pollinators. The high density of flowering individuals of G. martiana in patches from white‐sand forests likely increases bat attraction, while the small amount of nectar per plant favours cross‐pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dire need of alternative reliable and non-laborious methods with high resolution for identification of the root-knot nematodes at the species level where molecular techniques have shown the potentials. This study assessed four DNA extraction protocols, (i.e. TNES buffer method, Modified CTAB method, Phenol / Chloroform Method and 1% SDS method) to extract DNA from egg masses of root knot nematodes. Egg masses were collected from pure cultures of nematodes maintained in tomato cultivation under net house condition. After extraction of genomic DNA, Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed to determine the success of the method of DNA extraction. The 1% SDS method with incubation at -20 0C for 1 hr and incubated at 65 0C for 1 hr and again incubated for 95 0C for 10 min, was a better method to result in intense PCR bands of the expected sizes (720 bp and 999 bp) when amplified by Meloidogyne genus and Meloidogyne incognita specific primers. This DNA extraction procedure could contribute as an effective method to molecular identification of species and other downstream applications of population studies of root knot nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether late-life depression (LLD) is associated with incident frailty over time. Design: Prospective cohort study, one-year follow-up. Setting: Geriatric outpatient clinic, Southwestern of Brazil. Participants: 181 follow-up participants aged 60 years or over. Measurements: Depressive disorders were classified as Major Depressive disorder (MDD) or Subthreshold Depression (STD) according to DSM-5 criteria. Depressive symptoms were assessed with validated versions of 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) and 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). We performed binary logistic regressions to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for frailty in LLD adjusting for multiple confounders. Participants who were frail at baseline were excluded from the analyses according to measures of frailty (FRAIL questionnaire and 36-item Frailty Index, FI-36). We also estimated the risk ratio or relative risk (RR) and the risk difference (RD) for incident frailty. Results: We observed a 2 to 4-fold increased risk for incident frailty among participants with LLD. The presence of a depressive disorder was significantly associated with the onset of frailty (adjusted OR for FRAIL and FI-36: 3.07 [95% CI = 1.03–9.17] and 3.76 [95% CI = 1.09–12.97], respectively. Notably, the risk for frailty due to LLD was significantly higher with the FI-36 compared to the FRAIL (RR: 3.03 versus 2.23). RD was of 17.3% and 12.7% with the FRAIL and the FI-36, respectively. Conclusion: Our data support the association between LLD and incident frailty over one year among geriatric outpatients, reinforcing longitudinal evidence from population-based studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine heatwaves are increasing worldwide, with several negative impacts on biological communities and ecosystems. This 24-day study tested heatwaves' effect with distinct duration and recovery periods on benthic estuarine communities' diversity and contribution to ecosystem functioning experimentally. The communities were obtained from a temperate estuary, usually subjected to high daily thermal amplitudes. Our goal was to understand the communities' response to the thermal change, including the community descriptors and behavioural changes expected during heat extremes. We measured community composition and structural changes and the bioturbation process and nutrient release as ecosystem functioning measurements. Overall, our findings highlight the potential tolerance of studied estuarine species to the temperature ranges tested in the study, as community composition and structure were similar, independently of the warming effect. We detected a slight trend for bioturbation and nutrient release increase in the communities under warming, yet these responses were not consistent with the heatwaves exposure duration. Overall, we conclude on the complexity of estuarine communities' contribution to functioning under warming, and the importance of scalable experiments with benthic organisms' responses to climate variability, accommodating longer time scales and replication. Such an approach would set more efficient expectations towards climate change mitigation or adaptation in temperate estuarine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to identify and confirm the pathogenicity of the causal agent of a wet finger rot of Cavendish banana, a newly reported pre-harvest disease in commercial plantations in Moneragala and Badulla districts of Sri Lanka. Bacterial species were isolated from banana fingers at three stages of symptom development: initial, middle, and late. Isolated bacterial colonies were inoculated to healthy and mature banana fingers by two methods, namely peel and pulp inoculation, to confirm the pathogenicity by Koch's postulates. Re-isolated bacterial isolates from inoculated banana fingers showing typical symptoms were identified by biochemical tests and subjected to PCR amplification using universal primers of bacteria, B27F/1492R. Subsequent DNA sequencing of the PCR products and homology search identified the pathogen as a strain of Dickeya dadantii. Phylogenetic analysis with selected Dickeya spp. sequences available in databases identified that the D. dadantii strain of the present study groups with D. dadantii 3937 (CP002038.1), of which the complete genome has been sequenced. Cross infection studies revealed that D. dadantii isolate is more virulent on banana variety Anamalu than on Cavendish banana in terms of days taken to develop the symptoms. The findings identified the causal agent of wet finger rot of banana in the present study as a strain of D. dadantii and confirmed its pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an atomistic molecular dynamics determination of the phase diagram of a rigid-cage model of C36. We first show that free energies obtained via thermodynamic integrations along isotherms displaying "van der Waals loops," are fully reproduced by those obtained via isothermal-isochoric integration encompassing only stable states. We find that a similar result also holds for isochoric paths crossing van der Waals regions of the isotherms, and for integrations extending to rather high densities where liquid-solid coexistence can be expected to occur. On such a basis we are able to map the whole phase diagram of C36, with resulting triple point and critical temperatures about 1770 K and 2370 K, respectively.We thus predict a 600 K window of existence of a stable liquid phase. Also, at the triple point density, we find that the structural functions and the diffusion coefficient maintain a liquid-like character down to 1400--1300 K, this indicating a wide region of possible supercooling. We discuss why all these features might render possible the observation of the melting of C36 fullerite and of its liquid state, at variance with what previously experienced for C60. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a five-year survival under 10%. Treatment is compromised due to a fibrotic-like stromal remodeling process, known as desmoplasia, which limits therapeutic perfusion, supports tumor progression, and establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment. These processes are driven by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), functionally activated through transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1). CAFs produce a topographically aligned extracellular matrix (ECM) that correlates with reduced overall survival. Paradoxically, ablation of CAF populations results in a more aggressive disease, suggesting CAFs can also restrain PDAC progression. Thus, unraveling the mechanism(s) underlying CAF functions could lead to therapies that reinstate the tumor-suppressive features of the pancreatic stroma. CAF activation involves the f-actin organizing protein palladin. CAFs express two palladin isoforms (iso3 and iso4) which are up-regulated in response to TGFβ1. However, the roles of iso3 and iso4 in CAF functions remain elusive. Using a CAF-derived ECM model, we uncovered that iso3/iso4 are required to sustain TGFβ1-dependent CAF activation, secrete immunosuppressive cytokines, and produce a pro-tumoral ECM. Findings demonstrate a novel role for CAF palladin and suggest that iso3/iso4 regulate both redundant and specific tumor-supportive desmoplastic functions. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting CAFs to restore fibroblastic anti-tumor activity in the pancreatic microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]