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This paper presents a method for designing low carbon bio-based building materials, also named bio-concretes, produced with wood wastes in shavings form (WS) and cementitious pastes. As the aggregates phase of bio-concretes is composed of plant-based particles, known as porous and high water-absorbing materials, the bio-concretes cannot be designed by using the traditional design rules used for conventional mortar or concrete. Then, the method used in the current paper is an adaptation of a previous one that has been developed in a recent paper where bio-concretes were produced with a cement matrix, three types of bio-aggregates, and a proposal of a design abacus. However, when that abacus is used for designing WBC with low cement content in the matrix, the target compressive strength is not reached. In the present paper, the method is extended to low cement content matrix (up to 70% of cement substitution) and also considering the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission of the WBC. To obtain data for proposing a new design abacus, an experimental program was carried out by producing nine workable WBCs, varying wood volumetric fractions (40–45–50%), and water-to-binder ratios. The bio-concretes produced presented adequate consistency, lightness (density between 715 and 1207 kg/m3), and compressive strength ranging from 0.64 to 12.27 MPa. In addition, the GHG emissions of the WBC were analysed through the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. From the relationships obtained between density, compressive strength, water-to-binder ratio, cement consumption, and GHG emissions of the WBC, calibration constants were proposed for developing the updated and more complete abacus regarding an integrated mix design methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a perennial C3 grass species usually associated with the endophyte fungus Epichloë coenophiala that enhances tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Given that the proportion of infected tall fescue plants in the grasslands of the Flooding Pampa (Argentina) has been progressively increasing, it is proposed that endophytes confer tolerance to the stresses characteristic of that environment, especially flooding. Plants from a naturalized population and a commercial cultivar were grown, both with and without endophyte (wild type and AR584 respectively). The plants were subjected to two submergence treatments (i.e., control and partial submergence) in two development stages (5‐leaf stage and beginning of the elongation of internodes). Plant performance (aerial and root biomass, root aerenchyma formation, total root length and root diameter, proportion of reproductive tillers, number of panicles and seeds produced) and endophyte transmission to progeny were evaluated. Endophytes did not alter the ecological fitness of plants under partial submergence. Independently of the water condition, the symbiosis was linked to low biomass in plants from the naturalized population, while the opposite occurred in plants from the cultivar. Partial submergence did not affect the germination of the seeds produced, nor the transmission of the endophyte to the seedlings that originated from them. Our work suggests that the invasion ability of tall fescue in the Flooding Pampa grasslands is not related to an endophyte‐mediated improvement of plants to tolerate water excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction in friction is a desired property in many industries. Some of the applications include the movement of liquid or slurry through a pipeline in oil or mining, the grinding of one metal on another during fabrication, metal on paper in the making of nearly any paper product, to even something closer to home with the movement of a brush or comb through one's hair. Friction yields higher degrees of strain or stress on one or both of the substrates. This can be costly due to energy requirements, wear of equipment, or even breakage of the substrate. Even though the need exists in so many industries, the mechanisms of lubricity vary enough in each that there really is not a universal lubricity aid that can successfully be applied across the different industries. A family of novel lubricity aids based on alkyl polyglucosides have been synthesized and evaluated in the lab on both metal/metal friction reduction as well as comb/hair friction reduction. One of the modified alkyl polyglucosides has yielded excellent reduction in friction in both applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), an invasive cyprinid within the Laurentian Great Lakes, is naturally reproducing in several Lake Erie tributaries, which has raised concerns of the species' spread throughout Lake Erie and the other Great Lakes. Knowledge of the recent invasion extent outside of the western basin of Lake Erie, particularly in eastern tributaries and nearshore waters, is limited. Understanding the invasion extent would improve the efficacy of ongoing coordinated multi-agency control efforts. Molecular tools, such as environmental DNA (eDNA), have shown promise for early detection of aquatic invasive species. In this study, water samples (N = 476) were collected for grass carp eDNA monthly between May and November in 2018 and 2019, at three sites in the Michigan waters of Lake Erie and the Detroit River. We fit Bayesian multi-scale occupancy models to determine differences in eDNA capture and detection probability among grass carp qPCR assays, sampling sites, and across time. To determine whether grass carp were physically present, and to validate eDNA samples, we quantified recent grass carp presence in sampled areas using an existing acoustic telemetry and field sampling framework. Our results indicate that grass carp eDNA capture probability differed among sites, but there was no difference among months. Positive grass carp eDNA detections were observed across multiple months at each site, with 69% of sitespecific sampling events testing positive for grass carp eDNA on at least one assay and replicate. The majority (65%) of weeks where positive eDNA sampling detections occurred also concurrently had one or more grass carp detected via acoustic telemetry 1-6 days prior. Our results highlight the potential utility of using eDNA to monitor the invasion extent of grass carp within the nearshore waters of Lake Erie. However, further evaluation of the factors that influence grass carp eDNA characteristics among sites within Lake Erie are needed to determine its efficacy for surveillance protocols by natural resource management agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Emissions from coal power plants have decreased over recent decades due to regulations and economics affecting costs of providing electricity generated by coal vis-à-vis its alternatives. These changes have improved regional air quality, but questions remain about whether benefits have accrued equitably across population groups. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to quantify nationwide long-term changes in exposure to particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) associated with coal power plant SO2 emissions. We linked exposure reductions with three specific actions taken at individual power plants: scrubber installations, reduced operations, and retirements. We assessed how emissions changes in different locations have influenced exposure inequities, extending previous source-specific environmental justice analyses by accounting for location-specific differences in racial/ethnic population distributions. METHODS: We developed a data set of annual PM2.5 source impacts (“coal PM2.5”) associated with SO2 emissions at each of 1,237 U.S. coal-fired power plants across 1999–2020. We linked population-weighted exposure with information about each coal unit’s operational and emissions-control status. We calculate changes in both relative and absolute exposure differences across demographic groups. RESULTS: Nationwide population-weighted coal PM2.5 declined from 1.96 μg/m³ in 1999 to 0:06 μg/m³ in 2020. Between 2007 and 2010, most of the exposure reduction is attributable to SO2 scrubber installations, and after 2010 most of the decrease is attributable to retirements. Black populations in the South and North Central United States and Native American populations in the western United States were inequitably exposed early in the study period. Although inequities decreased with falling emissions, facilities in states across the North Central United States continue to inequitably expose Black populations, and Native populations are inequitably exposed to emissions from facilities in the West. DISCUSSION: We show that air quality controls, operational adjustments, and retirements since 1999 led to reduced exposure to coal power plant related PM2.5. Reduced exposure improved equity overall, but some populations continue to be inequitably exposed to PM2.5 associated with facilities in the North Central and western United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans is a normal member of the human microbiome and an opportunistic fungal pathogen. This species undergoes several morphological transitions, and here we consider white-opaque switching. In this switching program, C. albicans reversibly alternates between two cell types, named "white" and "opaque," each of which is normally stable across thousands of cell divisions. Although switching under most conditions is stochastic and rare, certain environmental signals or genetic manipulations can dramatically increase the rate of switching. Here, we report the identification of two new inputs which affect white-to-opaque switching rates. The first, exposure to sub-micromolar concentrations of (E,E)-farnesol, reduces white-to-opaque switching by ten-fold or more. The second input, an inferred PKA phosphorylation of residue T208 on the transcriptional regulator Efg1, increases white-to-opaque switching ten-fold. Combining these and other environmental inputs results in a variety of different switching rates, indicating that a given rate represents the integration of multiple inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a saccharin-based artificial sweetener was tested on animal performance measures and on the microbial communities associated with the rumen content and with the rumen epithelium during heat stress. Ten cannulated Holstein-Friesian milking dairy cattle were supplemented with 2 g of saccharin-based sweetener per day, top-dressed into individual feeders for a 7-day adaptation period followed by a 14-day heat stress period. A control group of ten additional cows subjected to the same environmental conditions but not supplemented with sweetener were included for comparison. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was performed on rumen content and rumen epithelium samples from all animals, and comparisons of rumen content microbiota and rumen epithelial microbiota were made between supplemented and control populations. Supplementation of the saccharin-based sweetener did not affect the rumen content microbiota, but differences in the rumen epithelial microbiota beta-diversity (PERMANOVA, P = 0.003, R 2 = 0.12) and alpha-diversity (Chao species richness, P = 0.06 and Shannon diversity, P = 0.034) were detected between the supplemented and control experimental groups. Despite the changes detected in the microbial community, animal performance metrics including feed intake, milk yield, and short-chain fatty acid (acetic, propionic, and butyric acid) concentrations were not different between experimental groups. Thus, under the conditions applied, supplementation with a saccharin-based sweetener does not appear to affect animal performance under heat stress. Additionally, we detected differences in the rumen epithelial microbiota due to heat stress when comparing initial, prestressed microbial communities to the communities after heat stress. Importantly, the changes occurring in the rumen epithelial microbiota may have implications on barrier integrity, oxygen scavenging, and urease activity. This research adds insight into the impact of saccharin-based sweeteners on the rumen microbiota and the responsivity of the rumen epithelial microbiota to different stimuli, providing novel hypotheses for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Magnetic nanoparticles can render therapeutics or drugs magnetically guidable, which enables their targeted transport to the diseased tissue in the patient's body. Before its translation into patients, the efficacy of magnetic accumulation must be tested in cell culture systems. To analyze magnetic enrichment under conditions similar to blood flow, we established an experimental in vitro setup with a tumor spheroid placed in a perfused chamber: with this, we showed that it is possible to accumulate cells or chemotherapeutics at the tumor, increasing their therapeutic efficacy. Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are used in nanomedicine as transporter systems for therapeutic cargos, or to magnetize cells to make them magnetically guidable. In cancer treatment, the site-directed delivery of chemotherapeutics or immune effector cells to the tumor can increase the therapeutic efficacy in the target region, and simultaneously reduce toxic side-effects in the rest of the body. To enable the transfer of new methods, such as the nanoparticle-mediated transport from bench to bedside, suitable experimental setups must be developed. In vivo, the SPIONs or SPION-loaded cells must be applied into the blood stream, to finally reach the tumor: consequently, targeting and treatment efficacy should be analyzed under conditions which are as close to in vivo as possible. Here, we established an in vitro method, including tumor spheroids placed in a chamber system under the influence of a magnetic field, and adapted to a peristaltic pump, to mimic the blood flow. This enabled us to analyze the magnetic capture and antitumor effects of magnetically targeted mitoxantrone and immune cells under dynamic conditions. We showed that the magnetic nanoparticle-mediated accumulation increased the anti-tumor effects, and reduced the unspecific distribution of both mitoxantrone and cells. Especially for nanomedical research, investigation of the site-specific targeting of particles, cells or drugs under circulation is important. We conclude that our in vitro setup improves the screening process of nanomedical candidates for cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health is influenced by how the gut microbiome develops as a result of external and internal factors, such as nutrition, the environment, medication use, age, sex, and genetics. Alpha and beta diversity metrics and (enterotype) clustering methods are commonly employed to perform population studies and to analyse the effects of various treatments, yet, with the continuous development of (new) sequencing technologies, and as various omics fields as a result become more accessible for investigation, increasingly sophisticated methodologies are needed and indeed being developed in order to disentangle the complex ways in which the gut microbiome and health are intertwined. Diseases of affluence, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), are commonly linked to species associated with the Bacteroides enterotype(s) and a decline of various (beneficial) complex microbial trophic networks, which are in turn linked to the aforementioned factors. In this review, we (1) explore the effects that some of the most common internal and external factors have on the gut microbiome composition and how these in turn relate to T2D and CVD, and (2) discuss research opportunities enabled by and the limitations of some of the latest technical developments in the microbiome sector, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI), strain tracking, and peak to trough ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels are a great ally in the pharmaceutical and biomedical areas. They have a three-dimensional polymeric structure that allows the swelling of aqueous fluids, acting as an absorbent, or encapsulating bioactive agents for controlled drug release. Interestingly, plants are a source of biogels, specifically polysaccharides, composed of sugar monomers. The crosslinking of these polymeric chains forms an architecture similar to the extracellular matrix, enhancing the biocompatibility of such materials. Moreover, the rich hydroxyl monomers promote a hydrophilic behavior for these plant-derived polysaccharide gels, enabling their biodegradability and antimicrobial effects. From an economic point of view, such biogels help the circular economy, as a green material can be obtained with a low cost of production. As regards the bio aspect, it is astonishingly attractive since the raw materials (polysaccharides from plants-cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, inulin, pectin, starch, guar, and cashew gums, etc.) might be produced sustainably. Such properties make viable the applications of these biogels in contact with the human body, especially incorporating drugs for controlled release. In this context, this review describes some sources of plant-derived polysaccharide gels, their biological function, main methods for extraction, remarkable applications, and properties in the health field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recovery of hand function is crucial for the independence of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Wearable devices based on soft robotics (SR) or functional electrical stimulation (FES) have been employed to assist the recovery of hand function both during activities of daily living (ADLs) and during therapy. However, the implementation of these wearable devices has not been compiled in a review focusing on the functional outcomes they can activate/elicit/stimulate/potentiate. This narrative review aims at providing a guide both for engineers to help in the development of new technologies and for clinicians to serve as clinical guidelines based on the available technology in order to assist and/or recover hand function in people with SCI.Methods: A literature search was performed in Scopus, Pubmed and IEEE Xplore for articles involving SR devices or FES systems designed for hand therapy or assistance, published since 2010. Only studies that reported functional outcomes from individuals with SCI were selected. The final collections of both groups (SR and FES) were analysed based on the technical aspects and reported functional outcomes.Results: A total of 37 out of 1101 articles were selected, 12 regarding SR and 25 involving FES devices. Most studies were limited to research prototypes, designed either for assistance or therapy. From an engineering perspective, technological improvements for home-based use such as portability, donning/doffing and the time spent with calibration were identified. From the clinician point of view, the most suitable technical features (e.g., user intent detection) and assessment tools should be determined according to the particular patient condition. A wide range of functional assessment tests were adopted, moreover, most studies used non-standardized tests.Conclusion: SR and FES wearable devices are promising technologies to support hand function recovery in subjects with SCI. Technical improvements in aspects such as the user intent detection, portability or calibration as well as consistent assessment of functional outcomes were the main identified limitations. These limitations seem to be be preventing the translation into clinical practice of these technological devices created in the laboratory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the earliest stages of social evolution, we need to identify species that are undergoing the initial steps into sociality. Amphylaeus morosus is the only unambiguously known social species in the bee family Colletidae and represents an independent origin of sociality within the Apoidea. This allows us to investigate the selective factors promoting the transition from solitary to social nesting. Using genome-wide SNP genotyping, we infer robust pedigree relationships to identify maternity of brood and intracolony relatedness for colonies at the end of the reproductive season. We show that A. morosus forms both matrifilial and full-sibling colonies, both involving complete or almost complete monopolization over reproduction. In social colonies, the reproductive primary was also the primary forager with the secondary female remaining in the nest, presumably as a guard. Social nesting provided significant protection against parasitism and increased brood survivorship in general. We show that secondary females gain large indirect fitness benefits from defensive outcomes, enough to satisfy the conditions of inclusive fitness theory, despite an over-production of males in social colonies. These results suggest an avenue to sociality that involves high relatedness and, very surprisingly, extreme reproductive skew in its earliest stages and raises important questions about the evolutionary steps in pathways to eusociality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: It is often mentioned that calf stress is reduced when a two-stage weaning method is adopted. However, is this always the case? Here, we describe the occurrence of negative effects on the nostrils of calves from the use of nose-flap devices to aid weaning, which can lead to health and welfare impoverishment. Commercial nose-flap devices were fitted in the nostrils of 21 pure and 20 crossbred Nellore calves for five days. Nose-flap retention was 73.2%. Without exception, all calves showed open wounds in the nasal septum, including those that lost the device before day five. Almost half of the calves showed weight loss during the period wearing the nose-flap devices. Due to the incidence of nasal-septum injuries, it is imperative that more studies be done to assess these overlooked effects of the two-stage weaning method, which is referred to as a low-stress practice for beef calves. This case report aims to describe the occurrence of negative impacts of wearing nose-flap devices on beef calves subjected to the two-stage weaning method. Forty-one calves, twenty-one pure Nellore and twenty F1 Angus-Nellore, were weaned on average at 236 days of age. Commercial nose-flap devices were fitted in the nostrils of the calves (d0) to prevent suckling and removed five days later (d5). Individual body weights were assessed at d0 and d5, and average daily gain (ADG) was calculated. At d5, during nose-flap device removal, it was noted that 26.8% of the calves lost the nose-flap device; however, all of them had wounds in their nostrils (no injuries in the nostrils had been observed on d0). To assess the severity of these injuries, an impairment score was assigned to each calf, ranging from 1 = no lesions to 5 = injured with purulent discharge. A logistic regression model was fitted to evaluate the effect of sex and genetic group on nose-flap retention (kept or lost). The retention rate did not differ (p > 0.05) between sex and genetic groups. All calves showed at least open wounds of the nasal septum (score 2), including those that lost the nose-flaps before d5. Almost half of the calves showed weight loss during this period. We conclude that there is a considerable risk of the two-stage weaning method compromising the physical integrity of the nostrils of beef calves through the use of these devices, and due to this, it should not be referred to as a low-stress weaning practice for beef calves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration and analysis of multi-omics modalities is an important challenge in bioinformatics and data science in general. A standard approach is to conduct a series of univariate tests to determine the significance for each parameter, but this underestimates the connected nature of biological data and thus increases the number of false-negative errors. To mitigate this issue and to understand how different omics' data domains are jointly affected, we used the Stacked Regularization model with Bayesian optimization over its full parameter space. We applied this approach to a multi-omics data set consisting of microbiota, metabolites and clinical data from two recent clinical studies aimed at detecting the impact of replacing part of the vegetable fat in infant formula with bovine milk fat on healthy term infants. We demonstrate how our model achieves a high discriminative performance, show the advantages of univariate testing and discuss the detected outcome in its biological context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eukaryotic transcriptional networks are often large and contain several levels of feedback regulation. Many of these networks have the ability to generate and maintain several distinct transcriptional states across multiple cell divisions and to switch between them. In certain instances, switching between cell states is stochastic, occurring in a small subset of cells of an isogenic population in a seemingly homogenous environment. Given the scarcity and unpredictability of switching in these cases, investigating the determining molecular events is challenging. White-opaque switching in the fungal species Candida albicans is an example of stably inherited cell states that are determined by a complex transcriptional network and can serve as an experimentally accessible model system to study characteristics important for stochastic cell fate switching in eukaryotes. In standard lab media, genetically identical cells maintain their cellular identity (either "white" or "opaque") through thousands of cell divisions, and switching between the states is rare and stochastic. By isolating populations of white or opaque cells, previous studies have elucidated the many differences between the 2 stable cell states and identified a set of transcriptional regulators needed for cell type switching and maintenance of the 2 cell types. Yet, little is known about the molecular events that determine the rare, stochastic switching events that occur in single cells. We use microfluidics combined with fluorescent reporters to directly observe rare switching events between the white and opaque states. We investigate the stochastic nature of switching by beginning with white cells and monitoring the activation of Wor1, a master regulator and marker for the opaque state, in single cells and throughout cell pedigrees. Our results indicate that switching requires 2 stochastic steps; first an event occurs that predisposes a lineage of cells to switch. In the second step, some, but not all, of those predisposed cells rapidly express high levels of Wor1 and commit to the opaque state. To further understand the rapid rise in Wor1, we used a synthetic inducible system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae into which a controllable C. albicans Wor1 and a reporter for its transcriptional control region have been introduced. We document that Wor1 positive autoregulation is highly cooperative (Hill coefficient > 3), leading to rapid activation and producing an "all or none" rather than a graded response. Taken together, our results suggest that reaching a threshold level of a master regulator is sufficient to drive cell type switching in single cells and that an earlier molecular event increases the probability of reaching that threshold in certain small lineages of cells. Quantitative molecular analysis of the white-opaque circuit can serve as a model for the general understanding of complex circuits. In certain instances, switching between cell states occurs stochastically in a small subset of cells of an isogenic population in a seemingly homogenous environment. This study uses direct observation of rare and stochastic cell-fate switching in Candida albicans to provide insights into the mechanism underlying stochastic switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three large-scale networks are considered essential to cognitive flexibility: the ventral and dorsal attention (VANet and DANet) and salience (SNet) networks. The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC) is a known component of the VANet and DANet, but there is a gap in the current knowledge regarding its involvement in the SNet. Herein, we used a translational and multimodal approach to demonstrate the existence of a SNet node within the vlPFC. First, we used tract-tracing methods in non-human primates (NHP) to quantify the anatomical connectivity strength between different vlPFC areas and the frontal and insular cortices. The strongest connections were with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and anterior insula (AI) - the main cortical SNet nodes. These inputs converged in the caudal area 47/12, an area that has strong projections to subcortical structures associated with the SNet. Second, we used resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) in NHP data to validate this SNet node. Third, we used rsfMRI in the human to identify a homologous caudal 47/12 region that also showed strong connections with the SNet cortical nodes. Taken together, these data confirm a SNet node in the vlPFC, demonstrating that the vlPFC contains nodes for all three cognitive networks: VANet, DANet, and SNet. Thus, the vlPFC is in a position to switch between these three networks, pointing to its key role as an attentional hub. Its additional connections to the orbitofrontal, dorsolateral, and premotor cortices, place the vlPFC at the center for switching behaviors based on environmental stimuli, computing value, and cognitive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of living in groups drive the evolution of sociality, and these benefits could vary across a life-cycle. However, there may be experimental problems in linking group size at one time in a life-cycle to benefits that only become apparent later on when group size has changed, leading to what we call "temporal dissonance". In the only known social colletid bee, Amphylaeus morosus , parasite pressures arise at various times throughout the life-cycle from different parasitoid species. Amphylaeus morosus is impacted by eight different parasitoid species operating at different host-colony phenology phases, including five species of Gasteruption wasps, a bombyliid fly and two mutillid wasp species. We found that, as the reproductive season progressed, the number of host adults in a nest declined, often to zero, but the presence of even one adult host female during late brood-rearing stages appeared to offer substantial brood protection against mutillids. We propose that the apparent benefits of colony size at one point in time may not reflect the benefits that become apparent at a later point in the season, leading to a temporal dissonance between group size and its later fitness benefits. We also show that A. morosus is strongly protogynous, with variation in parasitoid pressure across the reproductive phenology distorting operational sex ratios away from initial investment ratios. Combined, our data suggest that seasonal variation in parasitoid pressure may have major consequences for understanding social evolution, but these kinds of consequences are largely unexplored in current studies of insect social evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In continental countries, building materials are often moved over long distances from factories to building sites. This is especially important when quality and performance certification systems are required for the building materials' acquisition. In this scenario, the transportation phase tends to have a great contribution to building materials' environmental impacts. Taking into consideration that countries such as China, India, and Brazil, i.e., continental countries, are expecting the largest future housing demand, the issue of transportation will have a crucial role in environmental impacts. Through a Brazilian case study, the present work investigates the potential environmental impacts of structural masonry made of concrete and ceramic blocks certified by the Brazilian Quality Program. A cradle-to-site Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is carried out while considering a country-level approach using data from the literature and Ecoinvent. The results show that ceramic blocks are preferable for most states and scenarios. Human Health and Ecosystem Quality are the two categories most affected by transportation, and they can reach more than 96% and 99%, respectively. The efficiency of the building material transportation system plays an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A shift in building components from concrete to ceramic blocks has the potential to mitigate between 154 and 229 Mt CO2-eq between 2020 and 2050. The methodological approach used in this work can be applied to other building materials and other countries, especially those of continental dimensions that are expected to have a significant future housing demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatic arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) patients are most commonly hepatic artery to hepatic venous shunts which can result in high-output heart failure. This condition can be debilitating and is a leading cause of liver transplantation in HHT patients. However, it is not known what characteristics can discriminate between asymptomatic patients and those who will develop heart failure symptoms.Results: 176 patients with HHT were evaluated with computed tomography angiography (CTA) between April 2004 and February 2019 at our HHT Center of Excellence. 63/176 (35.8%) patients were found to have hepatic AVMs on CTA. 18 of these patients were excluded because of the presence of another condition which could confound evaluation of heart failure symptoms. In the remaining 45 patients included in our cohort, 25/45 (55.6%) patients were classified as asymptomatic and 20/45 (44.4%) were classified as symptomatic, and these groups were compared. In symptomatic patients, mean common hepatic artery (CHA) diameter was significantly higher (11.1 versus 8.4 mm) and mean hemoglobin levels were significantly lower (10.7 vs 12.6 g/dL). A stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that both CHA diameter and hemoglobin level were independent predictors of heart failure symptoms with ORs of 2.554 (95% CI 1.372-4.754) and 0.489 (95% CI 0.299-0.799), respectively. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve of our analysis demonstrated an AUC of 0.906 (95% CI 0.816-0.996), sensitivity 80.0% (95% CI 55.7-93.4%), and specificity 75.0% (95% CI 52.9-89.4%).Conclusions: CTA is an effective and easily reproducible method to evaluate hepatic involvement of HHT. Utilizing CTA, clinical, and laboratory data we determined CHA diameter and hemoglobin level were independent predictors of heart failure symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lophiosilurus is a monotypic genus represented by L. alexandri, a species endemic to the São Francisco river basin, Brazil. In previous phylogenetic analyses, the genus has been recovered as the sister group of Cephalosilurus. However, few species of Cephalosilurus or few characters were included in those studies. Thus, the current study aims to test the monophyletic hypothesis of the genera Lophiosilurus and Cephalosilurus with a more comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, including all Cephalosilurus species and a representative number of characters. Phylogenetic analyses of 18 terminal taxa (15 ingroups and three outgroups) were conducted based on a combined 75 character matrix, including 70 discrete morphological characters concerning osteology and neuroanatomy, four continuous characters, and the geometric morphometry of the head. The monophyly of the family Pseudopimelodidae was highly supported, and Cephalosilurus is synonymized with Lophiosilurus. The recovered phylogeny of the genus was (L. albomarginatus (L. nigricaudus (L. apurensis (L. fowleri, L. alexandri)))). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Persistent MRSA infection is often associated with clinical decline. • Neither haemolysis nor biofilm formation differ between early to chronic infection. • Anaerobic growth conditions alter biofilm formation and haemolysis of MRSA. • Anaerobic growth affects antibiotic susceptibility varying by antibiotic class. Chronic methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in CF is associated with worse outcomes compared to early or intermittent infection. This observation could be related to adaptive bacterial changes such as biofilm formation or anaerobic growth. MRSA isolates stored from incident and during chronic (>2 years) infection were included at two study sites. MRSA isolates were characterised by spa -typing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, biofilm formation and haemolysis under aerobic and anaerobic culture conditions. Paired MRSA isolates from 49 patients were included. Mean age at incident infection was 9.7±1.2 years with mild to moderate lung disease (FEV 1 74±4% predicted). Twenty-five subjects showed progression of disease/symptoms after onset of MRSA with significantly increased use of antibiotics. Most isolates belonged to t002 (38%) and t008 (36%) spa -types and 8 patients had a change in spa -type over time. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed few differences between incident and late isolates but significantly lower MIC under anaerobic vs. aerobic conditions for vancomycin, fusidic acid, rifampin but higher MIC for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Biofilm formation and haemolysis did not differ by stage of infection or disease course but both were lower under anaerobic conditions (biofilm p =0.018; haemolysis p =0.002) in multi-variate analyses that included study site, growth condition and stage of infection. Persistent MRSA infection is frequently associated with clinical decline. Anaerobic growth conditions, which occur in CF airways, affect the expression of virulence factors and antibiotic susceptibility of MRSA more than duration of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wound healing is one of the defining features of life and is seen not only in tissues but also within individual cells. Understanding wound response at the single-cell level is critical for determining fundamental cellular functions needed for cell repair and survival. This understanding could also enable the engineering of single-cell wound repair strategies in emerging synthetic cell research. One approach is to examine and adapt self-repair mechanisms from a living system that already demonstrates robust capacity to heal from large wounds. Towards this end, Stentor coeruleus, a single-celled free-living ciliate protozoan, is a unique model because of its robust wound healing capacity. This capacity allows one to perturb the wounding conditions and measure their effect on the repair process without immediately causing cell death, thereby providing a robust platform for probing the self-repair mechanism. Results: Here we used a microfluidic guillotine and a fluorescence-based assay to probe the timescales of wound repair and of mechanical modes of wound response in Stentor. We found that Stentor requires ~ 100–1000 s to close bisection wounds, depending on the severity of the wound. This corresponds to a healing rate of ~ 8–80 μm2/s, faster than most other single cells reported in the literature. Further, we characterized three distinct mechanical modes of wound response in Stentor: contraction, cytoplasm retrieval, and twisting/pulling. Using chemical perturbations, active cilia were found to be important for only the twisting/pulling mode. Contraction of myonemes, a major contractile fiber in Stentor, was surprisingly not important for the contraction mode and was of low importance for the others. Conclusions: While events local to the wound site have been the focus of many single-cell wound repair studies, our results suggest that large-scale mechanical behaviors may be of greater importance to single-cell wound repair than previously thought. The work here advances our understanding of the wound response in Stentor and will lay the foundation for further investigations into the underlying components and molecular mechanisms involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sow mortality attributable to pelvic organ prolapse (POP) has increased in the U.S. swine industry and continues to worsen. Two main objectives of this study were, (1) to develop a perineal scoring system that can be correlated with POP risk, and (2) identify POP risk-associated biological factors. To assess POP risk during late gestation, sows (n = 213) were scored using a newly developed perineal scoring (PS) system. Sows scored as PS1 (low), PS2 (moderate), or PS3 (high) based on POP risk. Subsequently, 1.5, 0.8, and 23.1% of sows scored PS1, PS2, or PS3, respectively, experienced POP. To identify biomarkers, serum and vaginal swabs were collected from late gestation sows differing in PS. Using GC–MS, 82 serum metabolite differences between PS1 and PS3 animals (P < 0.05) were identified. Vaginal swabs were utilized for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and differences in vaginal microbiomes between PS1 and PS3 animals were detected on a community level (P < 0.01) along with differences in abundances of 89 operational taxonomic units (P < 0.05). Collectively, these data demonstrate that sows with greater POP risk have differential serum metabolites and vaginal microflora. Additionally, an initial and novel characterization of the sow vaginal microbiome was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role in the invention and innovation processes of our society. To date, though, much of the academic discussion on the interaction of artificial intelligence and the patent system focuses on the patentability of inventions produced by artificial intelligence. Little attention has been paid to organizations that are seeking to use artificial intelligence to defeat the patentability of otherwise patent-worthy inventions by mass producing prior art. This Note seeks to highlight the consequences of allowing mass-produced, AI-generated prior art to render valuable inventions unpatentable. Specifically, this Note concludes that AIgenerated prior art decreases the incentive for researchers to disclose valuable knowledge through the patent system without providing an adequate substitute source of such knowledge. This Note also examines a number of patent law doctrines that should, but likely will not, prevent deficient AI-generated prior art from rendering valuable inventions unpatentable. To resolve these issues, this Note proposes a solution that modifies the current novelty inquiry and breathes new life into the patent law doctrine of conception. This solution advances the patent system's purpose of promoting technological advancement while still allowing artificial intelligence to play a large role in that technological advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many cases of trauma, the same environmental stimuli that become associated with aversive events are experienced on other occasions without adverse consequence. We examined neural circuits underlying partially reinforced fear (PRF), whereby mice received tone-shock pairings on half of conditioning trials. Tone-elicited freezing was lower after PRF conditioning than fully reinforced fear (FRF) conditioning, despite an equivalent number of tone-shock pairings. PRF preferentially activated medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). Chemogenetic inhibition of BNST-projecting mPFC neurons increased PRF, not FRF, freezing. Multiplexing chemogenetics with in vivo neuronal recordings showed elevated infralimbic cortex (IL) neuronal activity during CS onset and freezing cessation; these neural correlates were abolished by chemogenetic mPFC!BNST inhibition. These data suggest that mPFC!BNST neurons limit fear to threats with a history of partial association with an aversive stimulus, with potential implications for understanding the neural basis of trauma-related disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affective decoding is the inference of human emotional states using brain signal measurements. This approach is crucial to develop new therapeutic approaches for psychiatric rehabilitation, such as affective neurofeedback protocols. To reduce the training duration and optimize the clinical outputs, an ideal clinical neurofeedback could be trained using data from an independent group of volunteers before being used by new patients. Here, we investigated if this subject-independent design of affective decoding can be achieved using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals from frontal and occipital areas. For this purpose, a linear discriminant analysis classifier was first trained in a dataset (49 participants, 24.65±3.23 years) and then tested in a completely independent one (20 participants, 24.00±3.92 years). Significant balanced accuracies between classes were found for positive vs. negative (64.50 ± 12.03%, p<0.01) and negative vs. neutral (68.25 ± 12.97%, p<0.01) affective states discrimination during a reactive block consisting in viewing affective-loaded images. For an active block, in which volunteers were instructed to recollect personal affective experiences, significant accuracy was found for positive vs. neutral affect classification (71.25 ± 18.02%, p<0.01). In this last case, only three fNIRS channels were enough to discriminate between neutral and positive affective states. Although more research is needed, for example focusing on better combinations of features and classifiers, our results highlight fNIRS as a possible technique for subject-independent affective decoding, reaching significant classification accuracies of emotional states using only a few but biologically relevant features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the utility of fluoroscopic bony landmarks in predicting the location of the left adrenal vein during adrenal vein sampling (AVS). Methods Eighty-six AVS procedures were performed in 81 patients between August 2013 and March 2020. A selectivity index was calculated for each case by dividing the measured left adrenal vein cortisol level by the peripheral vein cortisol level. Successful “target” left adrenal vein catheterization was confirmed in cases with a selectivity index of three or greater. Intraprocedural AVS fluoroscopic images were selected that demonstrated catheter position in the left adrenal vein. Lateral distance from the catheter tip in the left adrenal vein to the lateral margin of the left pedicle at the associated vertebral body level was measured. Results Mean patient age was 56.4 years (range: 19–80 years) and 48 (59.3%) patients were male. Target sampling in the left adrenal vein was confirmed in 82 (95.3%) cases. In 78 (95.1%) targeted cases, the catheter terminated less than 25 mm from the left lateral pedicle at a mean distance of 11.2 mm. The catheter was most frequently placed at the T12 and L1 vertebral body levels. Four (4.7%) cases demonstrated nontarget catheter positioning, two (50.0%) of these cases were within 25 mm. Conclusion The position of the left adrenal vein is generally located in a predictable position relative to bony landmarks. By utilizing these landmarks, positioning of the sampling catheter during AVS can be more reliable with the potential to avoid repeat procedures and delays in patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how nest parasites contribute to brood mortality rates in host species is an important step towards uncovering the potential implications for host behaviour. This can be especially important for understanding the evolution of social living, where defence against parasites is often posited as a major benefit of cooperative nesting. Only two parasitoid species have previously been reported for the only known social colletid bee, Amphylaeus morosus: the gasteruptiid wasp, Gasteruption primotarsale, and the mutillid, Ephutomorpha tyla. Here we report six additional parasitoid species of A. morosus: the gasteruptiid wasps G. atrinerve, G. globiceps, G. melanopoda and G. cinerescens; the bombyliid fly Anthrax maculatus; and the mutillid wasp Ephutomorpha aff. varipes. The mechanisms of parasitism for these eight parasitoid species are described in combination with how they operate throughout the host brood rearing period and whether benefits of social nesting vary across the season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Photoperiod is, together with temperature and food availability, one of the main stimuli in the regulation of gametogenesis in a wide variety of species. Objective: To evaluate the effect of photoperiod on the production of mature gametes in cultured Arbacia dufresnii. Methods: An experiment was carried out with three varying light-dark regimes/treatments: constant light (24 h light), neutral photoperiod (12 h light, 12 h darkness), and constant darkness (24 h darkness). Twenty females were used in each treatment. All were induced to spawn and, ten randomly selected females from each treatment were induced to spawn again after 30 days. After 60 days, spawning was induced in the remaining females. The gametes were collected in filtered seawater, fixed in Davidson solution, quantified and measured per individual in triplicate in a Sedgewick-Rafter chamber. To determine maturation, fertilization success was evaluated 30 minutes after fertilization. Results: Our results showed that in the aquaculture system, after only two months, mature gametes were obtained, and in the neutral light regime there were 10 times more gametes than the number produced in wild sea urchins during the spawning period in question. We also found that with a greater exposure to light, a lower number of mature gametes was produced. Conclusions: This study suggests the viability of the production of mature gametes in a short period of time as regards Arbacia dufresnii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An unusual feature of the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is its ability to switch stochastically between two distinct, heritable cell types called white and opaque. Here, we show that only opaque cells, in response to environmental signals, massively upregulate a specific group of secreted proteases and peptide transporters, allowing exceptionally efficient use of proteins as sources of nitrogen. We identify the specific proteases [members of the secreted aspartyl protease (SAP) family] needed for opaque cells to proliferate under these conditions, and we identify four transcriptional regulators of this specialized proteolysis and uptake program. We also show that, in mixed cultures, opaque cells enable white cells to also proliferate efficiently when proteins are the sole nitrogen source. Based on these observations, we suggest that one role of white-opaque switching is to create mixed populations where the different phenotypes derived from a single genome are shared between two distinct cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungal species Candida albicans is both a member of the human microbiome and a fungal pathogen. C. albicans undergoes several different morphological transitions, including one called white-opaque switching. Here, cells reversibly switch between two states, "white" and "opaque," and each state is heritable through many cell generations. Each cell type has a distinct cellular and colony morphology and they differ in many other properties including mating, nutritional specialization, and interactions with the innate immune system. Previous genetic screens to gain insight into white-opaque switching have focused on certain classes of genes (for example transcriptional regulators or chromatin modifying enzymes). In this paper, we examined 172 deletion mutants covering a broad range of cell functions. We identified 28 deletion mutants with at least a fivefold effect on switching frequencies; these cover a wide variety of functions ranging from membrane sensors to kinases to proteins of unknown function. In agreement with previous reports, we found that components of the pheromone signaling cascade affect white-to-opaque switching; however, our results suggest that the major effect of Cek1 on white-opaque switching occurs through the cell wall damage response pathway. Most of the genes we identified have not been previously implicated in white-opaque switching and serve as entry points to understand new aspects of this morphological transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) is a widely used forage grass which shares a symbiosis with the endophytic fungus Epichloë coenophiala. The endophyte produces an alkaloid toxin that provides herbivory, heat and drought resistance to the grass, but can cause fescue toxicosis in grazing livestock. Fescue toxicosis can lead to reduced weight gain and milk yields resulting in significant losses to the livestock industry. The objective of this study was to identify bacterial and fungal communities associated with fescue toxicosis tolerance. In this trial, 149 Angus cows across two farms were continuously exposed to toxic, endophyte-infected, fescue for a total of 13 weeks. Of those 149 cows, 40 were classified into either high (HT) or low (LT) tolerance groups according to their growth performance (weight gain). 20 HT and 20 LT cattle balanced by farm were selected for amplicon sequencing to compare the fecal microbiota of the two tolerance groups. This study reveals significantly (q<0.05) different bacterial and fungal microbiota between HT and LT cattle, and indicates that fungal phylotypes may be important for an animal's response to fescue toxicosis: We found that fungal phylotypes affiliating to the Neocallimastigaceae, which are known to be important fiber-degrading fungi, were consistently more abundant in the HT cattle. Whereas fungal phylotypes related to the genus Thelebolus were more abundant in the LT cattle. This study also found more pronounced shifts in the microbiota in animals receiving higher amounts of the toxin. We identified fungal phylotypes which were consistently more abundant either in HT or LT cattle and may thus be associated with the respective animal's response to fescue toxicosis. Our results thus suggest that some fungal phylotypes might be involved in mitigating fescue toxicosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing frequency of very high summertime temperatures has motivated growing interest in the processes determining the probability distribution of surface temperature over land. Here, we show that on monthly time scales, temperature anomalies can be modeled as linear responses to fluctuations in shortwave radiation and precipitation. Our model contains only three adjustable parameters, and, surprisingly, these can be taken as constant across the globe, notwithstanding large spatial variability in topography, vegetation, and hydrological processes. Using observations of shortwave radiation and precipitation from 2000 to 2017, the model accurately reproduces the observed pattern of temperature variance throughout the Northern Hemisphere midlatitudes. In addition, the variance in latent heat flux estimated by the model agrees well with the few long-term records that are available in the central United States. As an application of the model, we investigate the changes in the variance of monthly averaged surface temperature that might be expected due to anthropogenic climate change. We find that a climatic warming of 4°C causes a 10% increase in temperature variance in parts of North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue) population can be infected by the endophyte fungus Epichloe coenophiala, responsible of livestock intoxication due to fungal alkaloids (i.e., ergovaline). The effects of ergovaline in pastures can be attenuated through dilution; this is, to interseed infected tall fescue (E+) with legumes, endophyte-free grass, or with both. Plant interaction and ergovaline concentration in mixture of tall fescue (E+) and Lotus tenuis, a forage legume, were investigated in replacement series experiments under defoliation conditions. The interaction between species was analysed through relative yield total (RYT) of the forage biomass, aggressivity index (AI), plant cover and ergovaline concentration. The work was performed in field conditions. Six cuttings were applied during the experimental period. Plant monocultures of each species were at a constant density of 80 pl/m2, while mixtures ratios were 20:60, 40:40 and 60:20 pl/m2 of L. tenuis and tall fescue, respectively. Mortality of L. tenuis and tall fescue plants was not observed. Tall fescues yield and plant cover, in monoculture and in mixture, were higher than in L. tenuis. RYT was higher than 1 for all mixtures. According to AI, in mixture, tall fescue was the dominant species and overcompensated the lower yield of L. tenuis. At the early Autumn, ergovaline concentration in monoculture was 1.637±0.594 ng/g, and in the 40:40 mixture was 0.407±0.109 ng/g. Forage production was higher in mixtures than in monocultures, and L. tenuis contributed to reduce ergovaline concentration. According to the results, 40:40 pl/m2 of tall fescue and L. tenuis was the best species combination. A positive effect of L. tenuis on growth of tall fescue mediated by nitrogen availability could have allowed the plant coexistence. Future experiments should analyse the variation of alkaloid concentration and forage production in tall fescue pastures, according to L. tenuis proportion, defoliation frequency and intensity under different seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood removal from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in post-subarachnoid hemorrhage patients may reduce the risk of related secondary brain injury. We formulated a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model to investigate the impact of a dual-lumen catheter-based CSF filtration system, called Neurapheresis™ therapy, on blood removal from CSF compared to lumbar drain. Methods: A subject-specific multiphase CFD model of CSF system-wide solute transport was constructed based on MRI measurements. The Neurapheresis catheter geometry was added to the model within the spinal subarachnoid space (SAS). Neurapheresis flow aspiration and return rate was 2.0 and 1.8 mL/min, versus 0.2 mL/min drainage for lumbar drain. Blood was modeled as a bulk fluid phase within CSF with a 10% initial tracer concentration and identical viscosity and density as CSF. Subject-specific oscillatory CSF flow was applied at the model inlet. The dura and spinal cord geometry were considered to be stationary. Spatial–temporal tracer concentration was quantified based on time-average steady-streaming velocities throughout the domain under Neurapheresis therapy and lumbar drain. To help verify CFD results, an optically clear in vitro CSF model was constructed with fluorescein used as a blood surrogate. Quantitative comparison of numerical and in vitro results was performed by linear regression of spatial–temporal tracer concentration over 24-h. Results: After 24-h, tracer concentration was reduced to 4.9% under Neurapheresis therapy compared to 6.5% under lumbar drain. Tracer clearance was most rapid between the catheter aspiration and return ports. Neurapheresis therapy was found to have a greater impact on steady-streaming compared to lumbar drain. Steady-streaming in the cranial SAS was ~ 50× smaller than in the spinal SAS for both cases. CFD results were strongly correlated with the in vitro spatial–temporal tracer concentration under Neurapheresis therapy (R2 = 0.89 with + 2.13% and − 1.93% tracer concentration confidence interval). Conclusion: A subject-specific CFD model of CSF system-wide solute transport was used to investigate the impact of Neurapheresis therapy on tracer removal from CSF compared to lumbar drain over a 24-h period. Neurapheresis therapy was found to substantially increase tracer clearance compared to lumbar drain. The multiphase CFD results were verified by in vitro fluorescein tracer experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Developing novel therapeutic agents to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been difficult due to multifactorial pathophysiologic processes at work. Intrathecal drug administration shows promise due to close proximity of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to affected tissues. Development of effective intrathecal pharmaceuticals will rely on accurate models of how drugs are dispersed in the CSF. Therefore, a method to quantify these dynamics and a characterization of differences across disease states is needed. Methods: Complete intrathecal 3D CSF geometry and CSF flow velocities at six axial locations in the spinal canal were collected by T2-weighted and phase-contrast MRI, respectively. Scans were completed for eight people with ALS and ten healthy controls. Manual segmentation of the spinal subarachnoid space was performed and coupled with an interpolated model of CSF flow within the spinal canal. Geometric and hydrodynamic parameters were then generated at 1 mm slice intervals along the entire spine. Temporal analysis of the waveform spectral content and feature points was also completed. Results: Comparison of ALS and control groups revealed a reduction in CSF flow magnitude and increased flow propagation velocities in the ALS cohort. Other differences in spectral harmonic content and geometric comparisons may support an overall decrease in intrathecal compliance in the ALS group. Notably, there was a high degree of variability between cases, with one ALS patient displaying nearly zero CSF flow along the entire spinal canal. Conclusion: While our sample size limits statistical confidence about the differences observed in this study, it was possible to measure and quantify inter-individual and cohort variability in a non-invasive manner. Our study also shows the potential for MRI based measurements of CSF geometry and flow to provide information about the hydrodynamic environment of the spinal subarachnoid space. These dynamics may be studied further to understand the behavior of CSF solute transport in healthy and diseased states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fraud in automobile odometers is a billion dollar problem worldwide. The technical requirements behind any solution for this problem go through the perennial, secure, and immutable registration of vehicular data. Such requirements immediately raise the question of how blockchain technology could be used for this purpose. In this article, the requirements, design choices, and construction details of a blockchain architecture for vehicular odometers are presented and discussed. The architecture advances the state of the art by adopting a more efficient consensus algorithm than the traditional ones, such as proof of work. Results from a prototype proof ofconcept of the proposed architecture validate the solution, which is able to validate a new block in the blockchain every two seconds. Applicability in real scenarios is one step ahead and very promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaporation plays an extremely important role in determining summertime surface temperature variability over land. Observations show the relationship between evaporation and soil moisture generally conforms to the Budyko "two regime" framework; namely, that evaporation is limited by available soil moisture in dry climates and by radiation in wet climates. This framework has led climate models to different parameterizations of the relationship between evaporation and soil moisture in wet and dry regions. We have developed the Simple Land–Atmosphere Model (SLAM) as a tool for studying land–atmosphere interaction in general, and summertime temperature variability in particular. We use the SLAM to show that a negative feedback between evaporation and surface temperature gives rise to the two apparent evaporation "regimes" and provide analytic solutions for evaporative cooling anomalies that demonstrate the nonlinear impact of soil moisture perturbations. Stemming from the temperature dependence of vapor pressure deficit, the feedback we identify has important implications for how transitions between wet and dry land surfaces may impact temperature variability as the climate warms. We also elucidate the impacts of surface moisture and insolation perturbations on latent and sensible heat fluxes and on surface temperature variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embolization of de novo pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) using high-volume detachable non-fibered (HVDNF) coils was compared to traditional non-HVDNF coils. Persistent-occlusion rates were evaluated. A total of 272 de novo (previously untreated) PAVM treatments were retrospectively stratified into those treated with non-HVDNF coils only (n = 192) and those treated with HVDNF coils with or without other coils (n = 80). Propensity score matching, followed by survival analysis and cost analysis, was performed. The overall persistent-occlusion rate was 86.0% (234/272). Persistent occlusion was achieved in 81.8% of PAVMs using non-HVDNF coils, compared with 96.3% using HVDNF coils (p = 0.0017). The mean follow-up was 30.7 ± 31.9 months versus 14.7 ± 13.4 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Propensity-matched survival analysis demonstrated PAVMs treated with HVDNF coils recurred significantly less frequently than PAVMs treated with non-HVNDF coils (p = 0.023). The use of HVDNF coils was more expensive than standard coils, however not significantly different for the treatment of complex PAVMs. The use of high-volume detachable non-fibered coils was associated with higher persistent-occlusion rates when compared with non-HVDNF coils. HVDNF coils were more expensive on average; however, cost was similar between groups for the treatment of complex PAVMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The prevalence of dyspnea after a stroke was 44%. • Dyspnea is associated with activity limitations and restrictions in community participation after a stroke. • Stroke survivors, who had dyspnea, were six times more likely to report activity limitations and two times more likely to report restrictions in social participation. Dyspnea is a relevant outcome to be taken into consideration during stroke rehabilitation. Prevalence, severity, and effects of this condition on individuals with stroke remain uncertain. This study investigated the prevalence and severity of dyspnea after a stroke, as well the associations between dyspnea, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. A telephone-based survey was conducted with 285 individuals with stroke. The survey included information regarding the onset and severity of the dyspnea, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Prevalence of dyspnea was reported as percentage of individuals who had the symptom. Chi-square tests were used to investigate the associations between dyspnea, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Relative risks and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Out of the 285 participants, 124 (44%) reported having dyspnea after stroke. Severe symptoms were reported by 51% of the participants with dyspnea. In addition, dyspnea limited activity and restricted social participation in 85% and 49% of the participants, respectively. Dyspnea was significantly correlated with activity limitations (r = 0.87; 95% CI 0.82–0.92; p < 0.01) and participation restrictions (r = 0.53; 95% CI 0.46–0.62; p < 0.01). The analyses indicated that individuals with dyspnea were more likely to report that it limited their activities (RR: 6.5; 95% CI 4.3–9.9) and restricted social participation (RR: 1.7; 95% CI 1.5–2.0). Dyspnea is an important symptom after stroke and showed to be associated with activity limitations and restrictions in community participation. Earlier detection of dyspnea in people with stroke, followed by appropriate management, is strongly recommended and has the potential to improve activity and social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • CDMetaPOP now allows spatially-explicit, individual-based simulations of two species. • A hybrid index distinguishes parental species and their hybrids. • Species-specific growth relationships and mating behaviors are now possible. • Temperature-based fitness and selection relationships can be implemented. • CDMetaPOP is a valuable tool for exploring hybridization dynamics in diverse systems. Abstract Spatially-explicit individual-based simulation models provide a valuable tool for exploring complex ecological and evolutionary processes that are not easily empirically measured. Here, we present modifications of a spatially-explicit individual-based simulation model (CDMetaPOP) to accommodate a two-species system and simulations involving interspecific hybridization. We first describe how a hybrid (H) index is used to distinguish individuals of interspecific descent from those of either parental species. User-defined thresholds provide flexibility in the degree of admixture tolerated for classifying 'pure' individuals. We then detail relationships further informed by the H index, including individual growth, temperature-based fitness and selection, and mate preference behavior. Empirically derived species- and system-specific information can be incorporated into these relationships, for example, to produce differential growth among hybrids and parental species. Lastly, we demonstrate an application of this simulation framework by exploring the relative effects of temperature-based selection, mate preference behavior, and hybrid fitness on the rate and spatial extent of sympatric hybridization between two native riverine fish species, bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma), in the upper Skagit River system (United States and Canada). Results from this demonstration provide guidance for future empirical studies of bull trout, a federally threatened species. Understanding factors that contribute to the initiation and maintenance of hybridization, as well as the ecological and evolutionary consequences of this phenomenon, is of increasing importance given shifting species ranges due to large-scale landscape modification and a changing global climate. Our framework can be used to study a wide range of hybridization dynamics in any terrestrial or aquatic system, including comparisons of distinct environmental conditions or potential management responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tall fescue is usually infected by a fungal endophyte, responsible of livestock intoxication due to fungal alkaloids. An endophyte fungus grows in the apoplast of aboveground tissues and is vertically transmitted through the seeds. Disinfecting plants or clones not only is useful as a way of eliminating a dangerous microorganism from cultivars, but also for experimental purposes. However, not all fungicides are effective, and if they are, a waiting period must be respected in order to avoid confounding effects of the endophyte and the treatment. We subjected plants (ramets from four genotypes) to different doses of two fungicides, Almagor® (Triazole + Imidazole) and Amistar® (Methoxy-acrylate), and evaluated the endophyte persistence. Fungicides were pipette-poured on pseudostems' bases of each plant. Endophytic status was diagnosed in tillers that received the fungicide and in the new tillers produced by the plants and seeds. While Amistar® had no detectable effect, Almagor® was 100% effective at all doses. The latter interrupted the verticaltransmission processes (5400 evaluated seeds were endophyte-free). Phytotoxic effects were not observed in seeds. Proportion of normal and abnormal seedlings depended only on plant genotype. Almagor® was effective in stopping the fungus from growing into reproductive buds when apical meristems were down on the bases. Use of Almagor® is promising on old pastures dominated by toxic tall fescue, with the purpose of enriching the soil seed-bank with endophyte-free seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonlinear transmission lines (NLTLs) have been studied over the past several years to generate high-power radio frequency signals. Their operation consists of a lumped line based on the nonlinear behavior of the LC section components, capacitors or inductors, as a function of the applied voltage or current, respectively. However, considering high-power signals, the application of these devices using nonlinear ceramic capacitors as the capacitive lumped lines are restricted to frequencies around 100 MHz since at high voltages, parasitic impedances in the line structure limit the maximum operating frequency. On the other hand, the use of variable capacitance diodes has enabled the operation of NLTLs at higher frequencies. This paper provides the results of a study of NLTLs for RF generation based on silicon carbide Schottky diodes. The principle of operation and its simplified theory are presented. Initially, the voltage dependence of the diode capacitance is modeled. Experimental and simulation results are compared. Frequency oscillations around 200 MHz were generated. The extraction of the radio frequency energy is realized, and the radiation of the electromagnetic wave is performed using double-ridged horn antennas. Finally, some parameters are analyzed, and all results discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many natural silks produced by spiders and insects are unique materials in their exceptional toughness and tensile strength, while being lightweight and biodegradable-properties that are currently unparalleled in synthetic materials. Myriad approaches have been attempted to prepare artificial silks from recombinant spider silk spidroins but have each failed to achieve the advantageous properties of the natural material. This is because of an incomplete understanding of the in vivo spidroin-to-fiber spinning process and, particularly, because of a lack of knowledge of the true morphological nature of spidroin nanostructures in the precursor dope solution and the mechanisms by which these nanostructures transform intomicrometerscale silk fibers. Herein we determine the physical form of the natural spidroin precursor nanostructures storedwithin spider glands that seed the formation of their silks and reveal the fundamental structural transformations that occur during the initial stages of extrusion en route to fiber formation. Using a combination of solution phase diffusion NMR and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), we reveal direct evidence that the concentrated spidroin proteins are stored in the silk glands of black widow spiders as complex, hierarchical nanoassemblies (~300 nm diameter) that are composed of micellar subdomains, substructures that themselves are engaged in the initial nanoscale transformations that occur in response to shear. We find that the established micelle theory of silk fiber precursor storage is incomplete and that the first steps toward liquid crystalline organization during silk spinning involve the fibrillization of nanoscale hierarchical micelle subdomains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canes are usually prescribed for individuals with stroke with the purpose of improving walking and increasing safety. However, there is no consensus regarding the clinical effects of these aids on walking and participation. Objective: This study will examine the efficacy of the provision of a cane to improve walking and increase participation after stroke. Methods: This is a two-arm, prospectively registered, randomized trial with concealed allocation, blinded measurers, and intention-to-treat analysis. Fifty individuals with chronic stroke, categorized as slow or intermediate walkers (walking speeds ≤0.8 m/s), will participate. The experimental group will receive a single-point cane and instructions to use the cane anytime they need to walk. The control group will receive a placebo intervention, consisting of selfstretching exercises of the lower limb muscles and instructions to not use assistive devices. The primary outcome will be comfortable walking speed. Secondary outcomes will include walking step length, walking cadence, walking capacity, walking confidence, and participation. Outcomes will be collected by a researcher blinded to group allocation at baseline (Week 0), after intervention (Week 4), and one month beyond intervention (Week 8). Conclusion: The provision of a single-point cane may help improving walking of slow and intermediate walkers after stroke. If walking is enhanced, the benefits may be carried over to participation, and individuals may experience greater free-living physical activity at home and in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fragmentation is a major threat to the integrity of stream ecosystems and maintaining connectivity is a primary goal for conservation to promote natural system functioning. In human dominated systems with extensive anthropogenic fragmentation, resource managers are faced with prioritizing restoration actions to provide the most cost-effective conservation strategies. Road crossings, particularly poorly designed culverts, limit fish passage and thus population connectivity and access to seasonally important resources. Culvert assessment protocols, such as the one developed by the North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative (NAACC), are useful tools for managers to evaluate culvert passability and prioritize restoration actions across broad spatial extents, however the justification of such protocols requires empirical field based investigations. In this study we collected Brook Trout genetic samples from 28 headwater streams, of which 17 were separated by a culverted road crossing and 11 were included as a comparison to natural genetic structuring. The objectives of this research were to 1) determine what effect culverts had on the genetics of Brook Trout populations, 2) evaluate the ability of the NAACC culvert assessment protocol to predict genetic patterns and 3) identify the culvert characteristics that best explained genetic variability. We found significant increases in genetic differentiation at sites with culverts compared to those without, but no differences in genetic diversity metrics. Although the NAACC classifications did not predict the extent of genetic differentiation, the openness ratio of culverts (cross sectional area/length) was significantly correlated, suggesting it may need to receive a higher weighting in assessment protocols. Our results highlight the necessity to match appropriate prioritization strategies with desired management objectives in order to design the most effective conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cells mechanosense the stiffness of their microenvironment, which impacts differentiation. Although tissue hydration anti-correlates with stiffness, extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is clearly transduced into gene expression via adhesion and cytoskeleton proteins that tune fates. Cytoskeletal reorganization of ECM can create heterogeneity and influence fates, with fibrosis being one extreme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: We set out to revisit and comment on the evidence surrounding a popular figure published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2002), which suggests that the incidence of immune-mediated diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), is increased by reduced exposure to infections. Methods: Commentary. Results: We found that, to date (May 2017), this influential article has been cited >2000 times. However, on close investigation of the figure, we noticed some problems. Specifically, we observed several challenges inherent in using ecological data from disparate studies and countries to make conclusions surrounding the temporal patterns and relationships between diseases. For example, the figure depicts incidence data for MS based solely on a limited group of individuals with MS (n = 637; 455 women and 182 men) living within the region of Sassari on the island of Sardinia, known for its unique genealogy and risk of MS. However, the infectious-related data were based primarily on large population studies from the USA, with one derived from army recruits in France. Conclusions: We encourage the scientific community to apply rigorous, consistent methods in order to confirm or refute whether a strong, direct relationship does or does not exist between the incidence of MS and infectious diseases. Further, our article highlights a major knowledge gap that would benefit from a thorough review of the temporal trends related to MS incidence. Collation of this wide body of knowledge may provide a balanced understanding of this important topic and would best serve the progress of MS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The spinal subarachnoid space (SSS) has a complex 3D fluid-filled geometry with multiple levels of anatomic complexity, the most salient features being the spinal cord and dorsal and ventral nerve rootlets. An accurate anthropomorphic representation of these features is needed for development of in vitro and numerical models of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics that can be used to inform and optimize CSF-based therapeutics. Methods: A subject-specific 3D model of the SSS was constructed based on high-resolution anatomic MRI. An expert operator completed manual segmentation of the CSF space with detailed consideration of the anatomy. 31 pairs of semi-idealized dorsal and ventral nerve rootlets (NR) were added to the model based on anatomic reference to the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and cadaveric measurements in the literature. Key design criteria for each NR pair included the radicular line, descending angle, number of NR, attachment location along the spinal cord and exit through the dura mater. Model simplification and smoothing was performed to produce a final model with minimum vertices while maintaining minimum error between the original segmentation and final design. Final model geometry and hydrodynamics were characterized in terms of axial distribution of Reynolds number, Womersley number, hydraulic diameter, cross-sectional area and perimeter. Results: The final model had a total of 139,901 vertices with a total CSF volume within the SSS of 97.3 cm3. Volume of the dura mater, spinal cord and NR was 123.1, 19.9 and 5.8 cm3. Surface area of these features was 318.52, 112.2 and 232.1 cm2 respectively. Maximum Reynolds number was 174.9 and average Womersley number was 9.6, likely indicating presence of a laminar inertia-dominated oscillatory CSF flow field. Conclusions: This study details an anatomically realistic anthropomorphic 3D model of the SSS based on high-resolution MR imaging of a healthy human adult female. The model is provided for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license (CC BY-SA 4.0) and can be used as a tool for development of in vitro and numerical models of CSF dynamics for design and optimization of intrathecal therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight materials that are simultaneously strong and stiff are desirable for a range of applications from transportation to energy storage to defense. Micro- and nanolattices represent some of the lightest fabricated materials to date, but studies of their mechanical properties have produced inconsistent results that are not well captured by existing lattice models. We performed systematic nanomechanical experiments on four distinct geometries of solid polymer and hollow ceramic (Al 2 O 3 ) nanolattices. All samples tested had a nearly identical scaling of strength ( σ y ) and Young's modulus ( E ) with relative density ( ρ ¯ ), ranging from σ y ∝ ρ ¯ 1.45 to ρ ¯ 1.92 and E ∝ ρ ¯ 1.41 to ρ ¯ 1.83 , revealing that changing topology alone does not necessarily have a significant impact on nanolattice mechanical properties. Finite element analysis was performed on solid and hollow lattices with structural parameters beyond those realized experimentally, enabling the identification of transition regimes where solid-beam lattices diverge from existing analytical theories and revealing the complex parameter space of hollow-beam lattices. We propose a simplified analytical model for solid-beam lattices that provides insight into the mechanisms behind their observed stiffness, and we investigate different hollow-beam lattice parameters that give rise to their aberrant properties. These experimental, computational and theoretical results uncover how architecture can be used to access unique lattice mechanical property spaces while demonstrating the practical limits of existing beam-based models in characterizing their behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]