Hasil untuk "Science (General)"

K. Åström, P. Eykhoff

A. Doucet, S. Godsill, C. Andrieu

P. Lane

Tuajuanda C. Jordan, S. Burnett, S. Carson et al.

ABSTRACT Engaging large numbers of undergraduates in authentic scientific discovery is desirable but difficult to achieve. We have developed a general model in which faculty and teaching assistants from diverse academic institutions are trained to teach a research course for first-year undergraduate students focused on bacteriophage discovery and genomics. The course is situated within a broader scientific context aimed at understanding viral diversity, such that faculty and students are collaborators with established researchers in the field. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) course has been widely implemented and has been taken by over 4,800 students at 73 institutions. We show here that this alliance-sourced model not only substantially advances the field of phage genomics but also stimulates students’ interest in science, positively influences academic achievement, and enhances persistence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Broad application of this model by integrating other research areas with large numbers of early-career undergraduate students has the potential to be transformative in science education and research training. IMPORTANCE Engagement of undergraduate students in scientific research at early stages in their careers presents an opportunity to excite students about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and promote continued interests in these areas. Many excellent course-based undergraduate research experiences have been developed, but scaling these to a broader impact with larger numbers of students is challenging. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunting Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program takes advantage of the huge size and diversity of the bacteriophage population to engage students in discovery of new viruses, genome annotation, and comparative genomics, with strong impacts on bacteriophage research, increased persistence in STEM fields, and student self-identification with learning gains, motivation, attitude, and career aspirations. Engagement of undergraduate students in scientific research at early stages in their careers presents an opportunity to excite students about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and promote continued interests in these areas. Many excellent course-based undergraduate research experiences have been developed, but scaling these to a broader impact with larger numbers of students is challenging. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance Phage Hunting Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program takes advantage of the huge size and diversity of the bacteriophage population to engage students in discovery of new viruses, genome annotation, and comparative genomics, with strong impacts on bacteriophage research, increased persistence in STEM fields, and student self-identification with learning gains, motivation, attitude, and career aspirations.

J. Rantanen, J. Khinast

The entire pharmaceutical sector is in an urgent need of both innovative technological solutions and fundamental scientific work, enabling the production of highly engineered drug products. Commercial‐scale manufacturing of complex drug delivery systems (DDSs) using the existing technologies is challenging. This review covers important elements of manufacturing sciences, beginning with risk management strategies and design of experiments (DoE) techniques. Experimental techniques should, where possible, be supported by computational approaches. With that regard, state‐of‐art mechanistic process modeling techniques are described in detail. Implementation of materials science tools paves the way to molecular‐based processing of future DDSs. A snapshot of some of the existing tools is presented. Additionally, general engineering principles are discussed covering process measurement and process control solutions. Last part of the review addresses future manufacturing solutions, covering continuous processing and, specifically, hot‐melt processing and printing‐based technologies. Finally, challenges related to implementing these technologies as a part of future health care systems are discussed. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 104:3612–3638, 2015

Mingrui Liao, Huayang Liu, Xi Wang et al.

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries have recommended their citizens to adopt social distance, hand hygiene, and face mask wearing. However, wearing face masks has not been well adopted by many citizens. While the reasons are complex, there is a general perception that the evidence to support face mask wearing is lacking, especially for the general public in a community setting. Face mask wearing can block or filter airborne virus-carrying particles through the working of colloid and interface science. This paper assesses current knowledge behind the design and functioning of face masks by reviewing the selection of materials, mask specifications, relevant laboratory tests, and respiratory virus transmission trials, with an overview of future development of reusable masks for the general public. This review highlights the effectiveness of face mask wearing in the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

J. Stenberg

The concept of integrated pest management (IPM) has been accepted and incorporated in public policies and regulations in the European Union and elsewhere, but a holistic science of IPM has not yet been developed. Hence, current IPM programs may often be considerably less efficient than the sum of separately applied individual crop protection actions. Thus, there is a clear need to formulate general principles for synergistically combining traditional and novel IPM actions to improve efforts to optimize plant protection solutions. This paper addresses this need by presenting a conceptual framework for a modern science of IPM. The framework may assist attempts to realize the full potential of IPM and reduce risks of deficiencies in the implementation of new policies and regulations.

J. Chang, G. Ambrosi, Q. An et al.

Abstract The DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE), one of the four scientific space science missions within the framework of the Strategic Pioneer Program on Space Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a general purpose high energy cosmic-ray and gamma-ray observatory, which was successfully launched on December 17th, 2015 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The DAMPE scientific objectives include the study of galactic cosmic rays up to  ∼ 10 TeV and hundreds of TeV for electrons/gammas and nuclei respectively, and the search for dark matter signatures in their spectra. In this paper we illustrate the layout of the DAMPE instrument, and discuss the results of beam tests and calibrations performed on ground. Finally we present the expected performance in space and give an overview of the mission key scientific goals.

A. Burggraaf, L. Cot

Jones Akuaku, Rita Sam

The African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is a priority Pan-African tree species. Insect pests that are associated with and damage domesticated baobab are largely unknown in the production areas of baobab. To identify and document insect pests associated with domesticated African baobab for the first time, mature and young domesticated baobab plants were, respectively, surveyed on the research fields and nursery of the Ho Technical University in Ho, Ghana. The survey targeted all insects found on baobab with the goal of documenting pests that infest baobab plants. Collected insect samples were photographed and searched using Google Lens and the iNaturalist insect identification application for their identification and taxonomic classification. The entomological specimens collected were classified into 7 orders, 11 families, and 16 insect species. The most frequent orders were Hemiptera (37.5%) and Coleoptera (31.25%). The incidence of the remaining orders (Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Araneae, and Dictyoptera) was very low with 6.25% abundance each. Regarding absolute counts, the Coleopteran order had a significantly (p≤0.05) higher number of insects (51.48 ± 7.42955) than the other orders; Araneae (4.70 ± 7.42955), Hemiptera (1.10 ± 7.42955), Dictyoptera (0.45 ± 7.42955), Orthoptera (0.40 ± 7.42955), Hymenoptera (0.30 ± 7.42955), and Lepidoptera (0.05 ± 7.42955). No significant difference was observed among these remaining orders. The cocoa weevil (Araecerus fasciculatus) was the most dominant insect pest. Some beneficial insects were also found on the baobab plants. Monitoring and management interventions, particularly integrated pest management (IPM), that target the identified insect pests can be implemented to ensure the sustainable cultivation of baobab. Further research is required to identify and classify insect pests that may not have been captured and identified in this study.

Fatima Al Dhaheri, Jens Thomsen, Dean Everett et al.

The United Arab Emirates has very little data on the incidence or prevalence of fungal diseases. Using total and underlying disease risk populations and likely affected proportions, we have modelled the burden of fungal disease for the first time. The most prevalent serious fungal conditions are recurrent vulvovaginitis (~190,000 affected) and fungal asthma (~34,000 affected). Given the UAE’s low prevalence of HIV, we estimate an at-risk population of 204 with respect to serious fungal infections with cryptococcal meningitis estimated at 2 cases annually, 15 cases of <i>Pneumocystis</i> pneumonia (PCP) annually, and 20 cases of esophageal candidiasis in the HIV population. PCP incidence in non-HIV patients is estimated at 150 cases annually. Likewise, with the same low prevalence of tuberculosis in the country, we estimate a total chronic pulmonary aspergillosis prevalence of 1002 cases. The estimated annual incidence of invasive aspergillosis is 505 patients, based on local data on rates of malignancy, solid organ transplantation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.9 per 100,000). Based on the 2022 annual report of the UAE’s national surveillance database, candidaemia annual incidence is 1090 (11.8/100,000), of which 49.2% occurs in intensive care. Fungal diseases affect ~228,695 (2.46%) of the population in the UAE.

Ван Хэюн, Д.В. Татаринов

The 21st century is the “era of international organizations”. the SCO is facing a realistic dilemma of “insufficient rule orientation”, “imperfect international law system” and “uneven level of rule of law among its members”. International law has its own structural dilemma of uncertainty, which lies in structure, language and doctrine, and overturns the existing international law system. Within the framework of the SCO, the traditional normal way can’t quickly and effectively establish legislation. The argumentative paradigm is rooted in the “intersubjectivity” of the international community, reshaping the effectiveness and source scope of international law, and using this paradigm can quickly and effectively build a set of international law system for SCO. This paradigm needs value guidance in line with universal rationality. The “community with a shared future for mankind” proposed by the Chairman Xi Jinping is expected to achieve the multi-dimensional goals of common prosperity, universal security, openness and win-win results, equality and inclusiveness, and joint construction, which can provide a value orientation for the development of SCO international law. This paper focuses on the SCO, tries to elaborate the problems faced by the SCO from the perspective of international law, and puts forward the research paradigm of improving the construction of SCO international law and the value orientation of “community with a shared future for mankind” on the basis of its system, in order to further clarify the direction of efforts to build the SCO legal system. Under the guidance of the theory of community with a shared future for mankind, the SCO’s practice of argumentative international law can improve the legal system construction within the organization on the basis of maintaining regional peace, and then contribute to the SCO’s participation in world governance and the promotion of the rise of Asia. Keywords: norms, indeterminacy, argumentalism, community with a shared future, SCO

Ajay Dadhich, Jaideep Patel, Rovin Tiwari et al.

Mind-wandering (MW) is when an individual’s concentration drifts away from the task or activity. Researchers found a greater variability in electroencephalogram (EEG) signals due to MW. Collecting more nuanced information from raw EEG data to examine the harmful effects of MW is time-consuming. This study proposes a multi-resolution assessment of EEG signals using the flexible analytic wavelet transform (FAWT). The FAWT algorithm decomposes raw EEG data into more representative sub-bands (SBs). Several statistical characteristics are derived from the obtained SBs, and the effects of MW during meditation on the EEG signals are investigated. A set of significant characteristics is chosen and fed into the machine learning modules using a 10-fold validation approach to detect MW subjects automatically. Our proposed framework attained the highest classification accuracy of 92.41%, the highest sensitivity of 93.56%, and the highest specificity of 91.97%. The proposed framework can be used to design a suitable brain-computer interface (BCI) system to reduce MW and increase meditation depth for holistic and long-term health in society.

Nahid Moradi, Mina Soufi-Zomorrod, Simzar Hosseinzadeh et al.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the potential of poly (acrylic acid)/tricalcium phosphate nanoparticles (PAA/triCaPNPs) scaffold in terms of biocompatibility and osteoconductivity properties the in-vivo evaluation as well as to investigate the performance of PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold (with or without exosomes derived from UC-MSCs) for bone regeneration of rat critical-sized defect. Methods: PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold was made from acrylic acid (AA) monomer, N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA), sodium bicarbonate (SBC), and ammonium persulfate (APS) through freeze-drying method. For in vivo evaluation, we randomly divided 24 rats into three groups. The rat calvarial bone defects were treated as follows: (1) Control group: defects without any treatment, (2) scaffold group: defects treated with scaffold only, (3) scaffold+exo group: defects treated with scaffold enriched with exosomes (1 μg/μL, 150 μg per rat). Eight- and 12-weeks post-surgery, half of the animals were sacrificed and bone regeneration was examined through micro-computerized tomography (µ-CT), histological staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Quantitative analysis based on µ-CT scan images at 8 and 12 weeks post-implantation clearly indicated that healing rate for defects that were filled with scaffold enriched with exosome was significantly higher than defects filled with scaffold without exosome. The H&E and Masson staining results revealed that more new bone-like form developed in the scaffold+exo group than that in control and scaffold groups. Further, IHC staining for osteocalcin and CD31 confirmed that more bone healing in the scaffold+exo group at 12 weeks could be associated with osteogenesis and angiogenesis concurrently. Conclusion: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of PAA/triCaPNPs scaffold as a carrier of human UC-MSC-derived exosome to achieve the exosome-controlled release on calvarial bone defect. The in vivo results indicated that the exosome-enriched scaffold could effectively minify the defect area and improve the bone healing in rat model, and as such it could be an option for exosome-based therapy.

Yuxi Wei, Lijuan Chen, Qi Feng et al.

Soil salinization has become the most expansive form of soil degradation in arid and semiarid regions, and the management of soil salinization is imperative for achieving sustainable development. Soil microorganisms are supposed to play an integral role in controlling soil salinization, and the effects of high-salt environments on microbial community have been widely investigated, but there is currently limited comprehensive study on taxon co-occurrence patterns and assembly processes under different salt intensities. Here, based on high-throughput sequencing technologies, we analysed bacterial community structure and assembly mechanism under salt intensity in arid and semiarid regions. The results demonstrated that bacterial diversity was negatively correlated with soil salinity, and community structure also varied with changes in salt intensity. Solonchaks (soils with high soluble salt accumulation) had the lowest average degree of bacterial co-occurrence network, and there was a lower level of connectivity and correlation among bacteria in solonchaks compared to other salt-affected soils. The highest competitive connections among soil bacteria were detected in light-intensity saline soils, whereas overall collaborative connections increased with soil salinity. For co-occurrence network stability, the rare taxa (with each taxon’s relative abundance < 0.1%) were more essential than the abundant taxa (> 1%). As soil salinity increased, stochastic processes gradually dominated the community assembly, and the dispersal limitation contributed from 45.18% to 58.73%. These findings offered valuable information about how soil salt intensity affected soil bacterial community and would be useful in controlling soil salinization.

Alba Loras, Luis G. Gonzalez-Bonet, Julia L. Gutierrez-Arroyo et al.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor in adults and it remains incurable. These tumors are very heterogeneous, resistant to cytotoxic therapies, and they show high rates of invasiveness. Therefore, patients face poor prognosis, and the survival rates remain very low. Previous research states that GBM contains a cell population with stem cell characteristics called glioma stem cells (GSCs). These cells are able to self-renew and regenerate the tumor and, therefore, they are partly responsible for the observed resistance to therapies and tumor recurrence. Recent data indicate that neural stem cells (NSCs) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) are the cells of origin of GBM, that is, the cell type acquiring the initial tumorigenic mutation. The involvement of SVZ-NSCs is also associated with GBM progression and recurrence. Identifying the cellular origin of GBM is important for the development of early detection techniques and the discovery of early disease markers. In this review, we analyze the SVZ-NSC population as a potential GBM cell of origin, and its potential role for GBM therapies.

Kin-Wai Tam, Cheuk-Yin Wong, Kenneth Lap-Kei Wu et al.

The in vitro derivation of Schwann cells from human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) opens avenues for autologous transplantation to achieve remyelination therapy for post-traumatic neural regeneration. Towards this end, we exploited human induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived sensory neurons to direct Schwann-cell-like cells derived from among the hBMSC-neurosphere cells into lineage-committed Schwann cells (hBMSC-dSCs). These cells were seeded into synthetic conduits for bridging critical gaps in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. With improvement in gait by 12-week post-bridging, evoked signals were also detectable across the bridged nerve. Confocal microscopy revealed axially aligned axons in association with MBP-positive myelin layers across the bridge in contrast to null in non-seeded controls. Myelinating hBMSC-dSCs within the conduit were positive for both MBP and human nucleus marker HuN. We then implanted hBMSC-dSCs into the contused thoracic cord of rats. By 12-week post-implantation, significant improvement in hindlimb motor function was detectable if chondroitinase ABC was co-delivered to the injured site; such cord segments showed axons myelinated by hBMSC-dSCs. Results support translation into a protocol by which lineage-committed hBMSC-dSCs become available for motor function recovery after traumatic injury to both peripheral and central nervous systems.

N. Mermin

Patrick H. Wightman, James A. Martin, John C. Kilgo et al.

Abstract Gobbling activity of Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris; hereafter, turkeys) has been widely studied, focusing on drivers of daily variation. Weather variables are widely believed to influence gobbling activity, but results across studies are contradictory and often equivocal, leading to uncertainty in the relative contribution of weather variables to daily fluctuations in gobbling activity. Previous works relied on road‐based auditory surveys to collect gobbling data, which limits data consistency, duration, and quantity due to logistical difficulties associated with human observers and restricted sampling frames. Development of new methods using autonomous recording units (ARUs) allows researchers to collect continuous data in more locations for longer periods of time, providing the opportunity to delve into factors influencing daily gobbling activity. We used ARUs from 1 March to 31 May to detail gobbling activity across multiple study sites in the southeastern United States during 2014–2018. We used state‐space modeling to investigate the effects of weather variables on daily gobbling activity. Our findings suggest rainfall, greater wind speeds, and greater temperatures negatively affected gobbling activity, whereas increasing barometric pressure positively affected gobbling activity. Therefore, when using daily gobbling activity to make inferences relative to gobbling chronology, reproductive phenology, and hunting season frameworks, stakeholders should recognize and consider the potential influences of extended periods of inclement weather.

F. Yammarino, Shelley D. Dionne, Jae Uk Chun et al.