The main content of this paper is focusing on introducing a general form of random fractional differential equations (RFDEs) with the concept of a Caputo-type fractional derivative with respect to another function. The problem proposed here allows us to interpolate various types of RFDEs. By applying the fixed point theorem, the results of the existence and uniqueness of a solution of RFDE are presented. Furthermore, we also propose a new technique called the Hybrid Laplace-like transform method (HLTM) to solve the solutions of RFDEs in the nonlinear form. To visualize the theoretical results, some examples and numerical simulations are provided.

In this paper, considering the aggregation effect and Allee effect of cyanobacteria population and the harvesting of both cyanobacteria and fish by human beings, we put forward a new cyanobacteria-fish model with two harvesting terms and a modified Holling type IV functional response function. The main purpose of this paper is to further understand the influence of harvesting terms on the dynamic behavior of cyanobacteria-fish model. Critical conditions for the existence and stability of several interior equilibria are given. The economic equilibria and the maximum sustainable total yield problem are also studied. The model exhibits several bifurcations, such as transcritical bifurcation, saddle-node bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation and Bogdanov-Takens bifurcation. From the perspective of biology, we conclude that the harvesting terms can determine the survival mode of cyanobacteria and fish. Finally, concrete examples of our model are given through numerical simulation to verify and enrich the theoretical results.

Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with decreased all-cause mortality, and improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). Predictors of EF improvement post-AF ablation is not known. In this study we conducted a retrospective review of patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF within last 6 years. 82 Patients undergoing catheter ablation for paroxysmal or persistent AF with EF <45% were included in the study, 18 patients were lost to follow up and therefore were excluded. The patients were divided into 2 groups based on presence or absence of 5% improvement in LVEF post CA, compared to LVEF obtained prior to CA. Mean improvement in EF after ablation was 17±11.8%. As compared to baseline, EF improved by at least 5% in 80% (n=51) of the patients who underwent ablation. Patients with improved EF had significantly higher average total voltage in the LA compared to patients who had no improvement in EF (1.70±1.16 vs 1.00±0.82, p=0.02*). In the multivariable model, after adjusting for other risk factors, LA average total voltage was significantly higher in the group with improved EF (p=0.04*).

Morphological divergence under gene flow was investigated in the wall lizard Teira dugesii from the Atlantic island of Madeira island. Lizards (n=334) were sampled using a matched pairs design at four distinct coastal localities. Matched pairs comprised adjacent (<1 km) grey shingle beach and inland sites. Luminances of specific dorsal areas were recorded for each RGB channel from digital photographs taken in the field. Lizards were found to be significantly darker at beach sites than inland sites. Geometric morphometric analyses using 35 landmarks placed on dorsal photographs of the head revealed significant divergence between beach/inland habitats: wider snouts were found at beach sites. Genotyping-by-sequencing of 93 individuals provided 19311 cross-genomic SNPs. A spatial principal components analysis showed significant genomic divergence across the four sampled localities and within these localities. However, there was no evidence that beach and inland populations formed distinct lineages. Patterns of genomic divergence were compared with those generated from simulations under three models. Primary findings were repeated across all four localities. The model of divergence without gene flow was rejected, while the most strongly supported model incorporating two periods of gene flow: an early period of lower gene flow followed by a period of higher gene flow. Gene flow from inland to beach was greater than that in the opposite direction. This study demonstrates ecologically significant morphological divergence in the face of gene flow and adds to understanding of how divergence and speciation may occur within small islands.

Studies on histone lysine methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana and rice ( Oryza sativa) have notably progressed in recent years. Despite these advances in knowledge, the function of histone lysine methylation in maize ( Zea mays L .) remains poorly characterized. To better understand the function of histone lysine methylation in maize, SDG102, a maize H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) methylation gene, was chosen to study functional characterization using overexpressed and knockout transgenic plants. SDG102-deficiency in maize caused multiple phenotypes, including yellow leaves in seedling, late-flowering, and increased adult plant height, while overexpression of SDG102 led to reduced adult plant height. The key flowering genes, ZCN8/ZCN7 and MADS4/MADA67, were downregulated in SDG102-deficient plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments showed that H3 lysine 36 trimethylation (H3K36me3) levels were reduced at these loci. Perturbation of SDG102 expression caused misexpression of multiple genes. Interestingly, overexpression or knockout of SDG102 also led to genome-wide decreases or increases in H3K36me3 levels respectively. Together, our results suggest that SDG102 is a methyltransferase in maize that catalyzes trimethylation of H3K36 of many genes across the genome, which are involved in multiple biological processes including those controlling flowering time.

Vectors of viruses and other plant pathogens are known to often be attracted by pathogen-infected plants, which promotes pathogen spread. However, few studies have examined how virus-induced changes in plant volatiles mediate such preference. Previous research has demonstrated that tomato plants become more attractive to the whitefly Bemisia tabaci when they are infected by the begomovirus Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). In the current study, we found that the increase in attractiveness is associated with TYLCV-repressed terpenoid synthesis in the virus-infected plants. The observed TYLCV suppression of terpenoid synthesis is similar to the suppression of terpenoid synthesis induced by whitefly infestation. Secondary metabolite analyses and olfactometer experiments with mutant plants revealed that a reduced release of terpenoids through TYLCV-induced suppression of flavonoid synthesis causes B. tabaci females to prefers TYLCV-infected plants over non-infected plants. These results show that TYLCV infection triggers the same changes in odor signaling as caused by B. tabaci infestation, such that both B. tabaci infestation and TYLCV infection increase whitefly aggregation and thereby increase vector acquisition and spread of TYLCV.

Calcium (Ca 2+) is an important second messenger in plants. The activation of Ca 2+ signaling cascades is critical in the activation of adaptive processes in response to perceived environmental stimuli, including biotic stresses. The colonization of roots by the plant growth promoting endophyte Serendipita indica involves the increase of cytosolic Ca 2+ levels in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we investigated transcriptional changes in Arabidopsis roots during symbiosis with S. indica. RNA-seq profiling disclosed the significant induction of CALCINEURIN B-LIKE 7 ( CBL7) during early- and later phases of the interaction. Consistent with the transcriptomics analysis, reverse genetic evidence and yeast two-hybrid studies highlighted the functional relevance of CBL7 and tested the involvement of a CBL7-CBL-INTERACTING PROTEIN KINASE 13 (CIPK13) signaling pathway in the establishment of the mutualistic relationship that promotes plant growth. The loss-of-function of CBL7 abolished the growth promoting effect of S. indica and affected the colonization of the root by the fungus. The subsequent transcriptomics analysis of cbl7 revealed the involvement of this Ca 2+ sensor in activating plant defense responses. Furthermore, we report on the contribution of CBL7 to potassium transport in Arabidopsis. Triggered by the differential expression of a small number of K + channels/transporter genes, we analyzed K + contents in wild-type and cbl7 plants and observed a significant accumulation of K + in root of cbl7 plants, while shoot tissues demonstrated K + depletion. Taken together, our work associates CBL7 with an important role in the mutual interaction between Arabidopsis and S. indica and links the CBL7 Ca 2+ receptor protein to K + transport.

Zostera marina among seagrass suffering from global decline is a representative species in temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. Given our recent findings, the decline of seagrasses may be associated with the photosensitivity of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). Therefore, understanding the mechanism of OEC photosensitivity is key to understanding the continued decline in seagrasses. Herein, we explored the screening-based photoprotection function in Z. marina by examining the inactivation spectrum of OEC and the differences in photoresponse pathways following exposure to different spectrums. The OEC inactivation was spectral-dependent. High-energy light significantly reduced the PSII performance, OEC peripheral protein expression, and photosynthetic O 2 release capacity. The increased synthesis of carotenoids under blue light with severe OEC damage implied its weak photoprotection property in Z. marina. However, anthocyanins key synthetic genes were lowly expressed with inefficient accumulation under high-energy light. Furthermore, the acylation modifications of anthocyanins, especially aromatic acylation modifications were insufficient, leading to poor stability and light absorption of anthocyanins. Based on the role of blue light receptors in regulating the synthesis of anthocyanins in vascular plant, we hypothesized that the absence of blue light receptor CRY2 in Z. marina causes the insufficient synthesis of anthocyanins and acyl modifications, reducing the shielding against high-energy light, subsequently causing OEC photoinactivation.

An electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern classification method has been proposed to distinguish heart conditions such as arrhythmia (ARR) and congestive heart failure (CHF) from normal sinus rhythms (NSR) using deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) by converting the ECG signals into RGB images. The results demonstrate an increase in diagnostic accuracy from 90.63% to 94.12% using a pretrained CNN model by utilising additional data from the second lead of the ECG.

Conotruncal defects (CTD) including tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), double outlet right ventricle (DORV), transposition of great arteries (TGA), and persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA). Conventionally, CTD and thymic hypoplasia occur simultaneously are usually suggestive findings of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. However, here we describe a fetus with TOF, absence of ductus arteriosus, and thymic hypoplasia diagnosed by echocardiography whose copy number variation sequencing (CNV-Seq) results showed that the fetus had a 17p13.3 microdeletion instead of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

A document by Yasin Asadi. Click on the document to view its contents.

Infections with Tuberculosis (TB)-causing agents of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex threaten human, livestock, and wildlife health globally due to the high capacity to cross trans-species boundaries. Tuberculosis is a cryptic disease characterized by prolonged, sometimes lifelong subclinical infections, complicating disease monitoring. Consequently, our understanding of infection risk, disease progression, and mortality across species affected by TB remains limited. The TB agent Mycobacterium suricattae was first recorded in the late 1990s in a wild population of meerkats inhabiting the Kalahari in South Africa and has since spread considerably, becoming a common cause of meerkat mortality. This offers an opportunity to document the epidemiology of naturally spreading TB in a wild population. Here, we synthesize more than 25 years-worth of TB reporting and social interaction data across 3,420 individuals to track disease spread, and quantify rates of TB social exposure, progression, and mortality. We found that most meerkats had been exposed to the pathogen within eight years of first detection in the study area, with exposure reaching up to 95% of the population. Approximately one quarter of exposed individuals progressed to clinical TB stages, followed by physical deterioration and death within a few months. Since emergence, 11.6% of deaths were attributed to TB, although the true toll of TB-related mortality is likely higher. Lastly, we observed marked variation in disease progression among individuals, suggesting inter-individual differences in both TB susceptibility and resistance. Our results highlight that TB prevalence and mortality could be higher than previously reported, particularly in species or populations with complex social group dynamics. Long-term studies, such as the present one, allow us to assess temporal variation in disease prevalence and progression and quantify exposure, which is rarely measured in wildlife. Long-term studies are highly valuable tools to explore disease emergence and ecology, and study host-pathogen co-evolutionary dynamics in general, and its impact on social mammals.

Globally, soil salinization is intensifying, with alkalization coexisting. In particular, coastal ecosystems are more susceptible to salt problems due to their formation process and geographical locations. The nitrogen (N)-cycling processes of coastal ecosystems are bound to salt-alkali changes. Ammonia (NH 3) volatilization from agricultural ecosystems is one of the most important pathways of N loss and has also been considered the main contributor to air pollution in coastal ecosystems. As the most accessible land resource on earth, clarifying and quantifying the effect of saline-alkali on N content and on NH 3 volatilization in coastal ecosystems are pivotal to promote coastal agriculture productivity. The challenge in demonstrating the effect is how to identify the direct effects of salt-alkali and how these two factors indirectly impact NH 3 volatilization through interactions. By combining incubation experiments with the structural equation modeling method (SEM ‘element’ model), we revealed the net effects of salt-alkali on NH 3 volatilization and the roles of environmental factors in mutual interaction networks. Compared to the CK treatment, NH 3 volatilization increased by 9.31-34.98%, 3.07-26.92% and 2.99-43.61% with salt gradient increases from 1‰ to 15‰ at 0.05‰, 0.10‰ and 0.15‰ urea additions, respectively. With an increase in the alkalinity from 0.5‰ to 8‰, NH 3 volatilization significantly increased by 8.36-56.46%, 5.49-30.10% and 30.72-73.18%, respectively. According to the element model, salt and alkali both promoted NH 3 volatilization directly and had an indirect negative effect by altering the N contents and N transformations of microbes. The N contents in the incubation system showed a direct positive effect on NH 3 volatilization, with an obvious decrease under elevated salinity and alkalinity. Additionally, the gene abundance of N-transformed microbes strengthened NH 3 volatilization indirectly. The indirect prohibitory effect on NH 3 volatilization resulting from salt and alkali was compensated by the direct stimulating effects on the pH and NH 4 + contents, and the overall positive contribution of salt was less than that of alkali. Our results indicated that the potential of NH 3 emissions from coastal saline areas could be enhanced by concomitant soil alkalization.

The 120-year-old Moss Farm of Sand Run, in Upshur County, West Virginia, USA, was a village landmark. Founded in 1903, by John W Moss, as a commercial agriculture production, value-added foods, and catering operation, its description constituted the first comprehensive contextual history of a continuously active, multi-generational single-family Appalachian farm in the scholarly literature, of which we were aware. From the late 1800s until the end of the 20th Century, the Moss family played a key role in establishing and developing the community of Sand Run, having migrated from the Shenandoah Valley in the late Antebellum Period and experienced divided loyalties during the American Civil War. Evidence painted an agrarian-oriented, Methodist family deeply committed to their faith, family, health, education, and fellow man. Following its mid-20th Century decline, the Farm underwent redevelopment beginning in 2001. Sources included oral history interviews, primary sources, artifacts, local scholarship, grey literature, and articles retrieved from JSTOR®. Published historical scholarship on Appalachian farms revealed significant gaps, especially contextual histories of farms and farm families. Evidence seemed to support the history of the Moss Farm aligned more with great man theory than social history, as has comprised most Appalachian historical scholarship. Exploration of the Moss Farm’s history also suggested a post hoc hypothesis that, in the area of Appalachia with which this work was concerned, the agricultural economy seemed to have been hyper-local and centered around well-known farmers who were community leaders. Evaluation would require additional studies of family farms within Appalachia and other regions.

Understanding ageing and the diversity of life histories is a cornerstone in biology. Telomeres, the protecting caps of chromosomes, are thought to be involved in ageing, cancer risks and to modulate life-history strategies. They shorten with cell division and age in somatic tissues of most species, possibly limiting lifespan. The resource allocation trade-off hypothesis predicts that short telomeres have thus co-evolved with early reproduction, proactive behaviour and reduced lifespan: a fast Pace-of-Life Syndrome (POLS). Conversely, since short telomeres may also reduce the risks of cancer, the anti-cancer hypothesis advances that they should be associated with slow POLS. Conclusion on which hypothesis best supports the role of telomeres as mediators of life-history strategies is hampered by a lack of study on wild short-lived vertebrates, apart from birds. Using seven years of data on wild Eastern chipmunks Tamias striatus, we highlighted that telomeres elongate with age and do not limit lifespan in this species. Furthermore, short telomeres correlated with a slow POLS in a sex-specific way. Females with short telomeres had a delayed age at first breeding and a lower fecundity rate than females with long telomeres, whereas those differences were not recorded in males. Our findings support most predictions adapted from the anti-cancer hypothesis, but none of those made under the resource allocation trade-off hypothesis. Results are in line with an increasing body of evidence suggesting that other evolutionary forces than resource allocation trade-offs shape the diversity of telomere length in adult somatic cells and the relationships between telomeres and life-histories.

Background: The Omicron (lineage B.1.1.529) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in Wales, UK on 3rd December 2021. The aim of the study was to describe the first 1000 cases of the Omicron variant by demographic, vaccination status, travel and severe outcome status and compare this to contemporaneous cases of the Delta variant. Methods: Testing, typing and contact tracing data were collected by Public Health Wales and analysis undertaken by the Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (CDSC). Risk ratios for demographic factors and symptoms were calculated comparing Omicron cases to Delta cases identified over the same time period. Results: By 14th December 2021, 1000 cases of the Omicron variant had been identified in Wales. Of the first 1000, just 3% of cases had a prior history of travel revealing rapid community transmission. A higher proportion of Omicron cases were identified in individuals aged 20-39 and most cases were double vaccinated (65.9%) or boosted (15.7%). Age adjusted analysis also revealed that Omicron cases were less likely to be hospitalised (0.4%) or report symptoms (60.8%). Specifically a significant reduction was observed in the proportion of Omicron cases reporting anosmia (8.9%). Conclusion: Key findings include a lower risk of anosmia and a reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 1000 Omicron cases compared to co-circulating Delta cases. We also identify that existing measures for travel restrictions to control importations of new variants identified outside the UK did not prevent the rapid ingress of Omicron within Wales.

Spontaneous perforation of the extrahepatic bile duct (SPEBD) is an exceptional disease especially in adults. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy are crucial to avoid the high mortality. We report a biliary peritonitis secondary to bile duct perforation in adult man and we propose a surgical management algorithm

Although sporadic Creutzfeldt Jakob disease is always fatal and no accepted treatment is currently available. Moreover, prevalence of COVID-19 in the same patient makes management protocol difficult and prognosis worse.

Corn wax, as a kind of vegetable wax, is a by-product of the corn oil industry. In this study, the corn wax was purified from the corn oil refineries. The composition and physicochemical properties of corn wax were studied to provide theoretical guidance for the production and application of corn wax. The results showed that the purity of corn wax was higher than 95%, and the corn wax ester ranged from C42 to C58, with C46, C44, and C48 being predominant. The fatty acid carbon atom of corn wax was in the range of 16-30, with higher percentages of C20, C22, and C24. The fatty alcohol of corn wax was in the range of C20-C32 and dominated by C22, C24, C30, and C23. The physicochemical properties of corn wax were also determined and compared with other vegetable and animal waxes to get a more comprehensive understanding of corn wax. The results showed that corn wax was a green and healthy natural resource with great potential for application in food, health care, and medicine.

Papular elastorrhexis is a rare acquired disorder of elastic tissue, characterized by multiple, flesh-colored monomorphous papules usually located on the trunk and the proximal portion of the extremities, occurring in adolescent females. We report a case of PE in an old woman with atypically isolated localization on the neck.

Aim: Although there is a high risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in the elderly, few studies have quantified the impact of risk factors on GI complications in elderly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users. This study aimed to develop and validate a risk prediction score to identify high-risk elderly patients using NSAID for severe GI complications. Methods: We used the following two Korean claims datasets: customized data with an enrollment period 2016–2017 for model development, and the sample data in 2019 for external validation. We conducted a nested case-control study for model development and validation. NSAID users were identified as the elderly (≥ 65 years) who received NSAIDs for more than 30 days. Patients who experienced serious GI complications, defined as hospitalizations or emergency department visits, were diagnosed with GI bleeding or perforation. We derived a model using logistic regression and cross-validation. Results: In the external validation cohort, we identified 372 cases from 254,551 patients. We identified 8,176 cases and 81,760 controls with a 1:10 matched follow-up period in the derivation cohort. In the external validation cohort, we identified 372 cases from 254,551 patients. The risk predictors were high-dose NSAIDs, NSAID type, complicated GI ulcer history, male sex, concomitant gastroprotective agents, relevant co-medications, severe renal disease, and cirrhosis. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curves was 0.77 (95% confidence interval, 0.75–0.80) in the external validation dataset. Conclusion: The prediction model may be a useful tool for reducing the risk of serious GI complications by identifying high-risk elderly patients.

Myocardial wall thickness is one of the crucial parameters affecting the lesion formation produced by radiofrequency current (RF) delivering. Knowing the tissue characterization is critical for improving the durability of the RF lesion. A novel dielectric based method (KODEX-EPD) has been developed for measuring the tissue thickness at the catheter-tissue interface. The authors of this study report for the first time the tissue characterization (i.e. atrial wall thickness) of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus in a series of patients undergoing common atrial flutter ablation, showing a higher thickness close to the tricuspid valve as compared to the inferior vena cava. This can affect the outcome of ablation

Lipschütz’s ulcers (LU) are rare entities, which occur mostly in non-sexually active young women. UL appear to be associated with infectious conditions such as Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus. We report a case that revealed that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be considered a trigger event for the appearance of acute vulvar ulceration.

To report two cases of suprachoroidal hemorrhage (SCH) during otherwise uncomplicated phacoemulsification, in whom COVID-19 was documented with PCR about one month before the surgery.