Regional Branches Research Articles

Первая мировая. Екатеринбургский комитет Красного Креста в тылу и на фронте

On May 16, 2024, the Sverdlovsk regional branch of the Russian Red Cross turned 147 years old, whose main goal has always been to prevent and alleviate the suffering of people in various situations, both at the front and in the rear, selflessly and sparing no effort in responding to any challenges of the time. This publication presents materials revealing the activities of the Yekaterinburg Committee of the Russian Red Cross Society during the First World War (1914–1918). During the war, both at the front and in the rear, the Yekaterinburg Committee of the Red Cross held many events to assist various groups of the population affected by the hostilities: opening hospitals for the wounded, raising funds for their maintenance, providing humanitarian assistance to families of soldiers and forced refugees. One of the most important directions in the work of the Yekaterinburg Committee of the Red Cross was the mass training of nurses.Ural medical workers, who were members of the Russian Red Cross Society, went to the front, among whom were German Sokratovich Myshkin, Claudia Andreevna Myshkina-Beloborodova, Vasily Konstantinovich Shamarin, Valentina Nikolaevna Diomidovskaya, Dmitry Vasilyevich Hirin and others. Of particular interest is the work of the Ural doctor K. A. Beloborodova in the floating typhoid hospital of the Russian Red Cross "Petrograd".

Пoмощь военнопленным региональных отделений Российского общеcтва Красного Креста в августе 1914 — октябре 1917 гг. (на примере Красноярска Енисейской губернии)

The article is devoted to such an area of activity of the regional branches of the Russian Society of the Red Cross during the First World War as providing assistance to Russian prisoners of war. Materials from the city of Krasnoyarsk, Yenisei province, show that this work was primarily carried out by women’s committees. The scale of assistance did not correspond to the real needs of prisoners, and was reduced throughout the war due to unfavorable changes in the economy. The capabilities of the regional branches of the society were further reduced after February 1917 due to a shortage of material resources.Historical experience shows that public initiative is not enough to protect fellow prisoners of war. An active role of the state is needed, implementing measures in various fields, including diplomatic and economic, in order to improve the material and living conditions, food supplies, and medical care for prisoners of war. Without such government intervention, prisoners in enemy countries are an extremely vulnerable group of people, subject to violence and arbitrariness.

The Artists’ Association branches of Revolutionary Russia: experience of interaction with regions

Importance. The activities of the Artists’ Association branches of Revolutionary Russia (1922–1932) are considered. During this period, the organization had a significant and sometimes decisive place in the artistic life of the country. The subject of the study relates to the culture of the country as a whole and touches on local history issues. The purpose of the work is to assess the influence of the central organization on the local branches development and analyze their importance in the Association work.Materials and Methods. The research is based on materials from the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, the State Archive of the Yaroslavl Region and published memoirs of participants in the events. In the course of the work, the biographical method is used, as well as historical-genetic and historical-comparative methods traditional for historical science.Results and Discussion. It is noted that the Association participants paid great attention to the creation of representative offices at the local level. The presence of artistic traditions in a particular region played an important role in the development of local branches of the AARR. At the same time, established traditions are not the determining factor. The presence of a bright creative personality in it, who set a certain pace of work, could be of significant importance in the development of a particular branch.Conclusion. It is revealed that some of the regional branches ceased their activities even before the liquidation of the AARR. Despite this, the work of branches of the Artists’ Association of Revolutionary Russia contributed to the accessibility of art for the local population, attracting regional residents to artistic life and preserving cultural monuments. Museums and creative studios are created, and active exhibitions and lectures are carried out.

New methods of investment prioritization in the development of cellular networks in Russia

Subject. The article presents a new enhanced method of prioritizing investments in the construction of mobile networks to increase the effectiveness of management decisions. Objectives. The study aims to develop an improved methodology for prioritizing investments in the construction of cellular networks in Russia, taking into account market dynamics. Methods. I apply a comprehensive approach to the exploration of investment prioritization methods, general scientific and special methods of scientific knowledge, like system and functional-structural analysis, observation, classification, analysis of the best practices, synthesis and generalization of existing scientific and practical data. Results. The article offers a new method of investment prioritization based on more accurate forecasting of incremental revenues, considering the impact of the time lag between the change in market share by base stations and the change in market share by revenue. Conclusions. The proposed method relies on the assessment of incremental revenues, considering the impact of the time lag on increasing market share by revenue with an increase in market share for base stations. This factor directly affects the payback period of investments and allows more accurate ranking of regional branches of telecommunications operators, when deciding on investments in network construction for various subjects of the Russian Federation.

Socialization of Elementary School PJOK Teachers in the Southern City of Cimahi through Pickleball Sports

The aim of carrying out this community service activity is to provide knowledge and information about new types of sports that are currently popular with many people in all circles, and one of them is introducing the sport of Pickleball. Some of the implementation methods for this activity are delivery using lecture, discussion and question and answer methods, as well as direct demonstrations or practice. This research was carried out at Melong Mandiri 3 Elementary School, Cimahi City, involving one regional branch of South Cimahi City with a total of 7 schools involved. The results of this research show that what is proposed in this community service activity plan can be implemented well and fulfilled. From the results of the implementation of this activity, it was found that the majority of PJOK teachers in the South Cimahi area were still unfamiliar with the sport of pickleball because, from the test results using questions, an average of 85.7% of the 15 people present were not familiar with the sport of pickleball. Therefore, after being given this socialization material, the participants had quite a high enthusiasm for learning about the sport of pickleball.

Talk Time Differences Between Interregional and Intraregional Calls to a Crisis Helpline: Statistical Analysis.

National suicide prevention strategies are general population-based approaches to prevent suicide by promoting help-seeking behaviors and implementing interventions. Crisis helplines are one of the suicide prevention resources available for public use, where individuals experiencing a crisis can talk to a trained volunteer. Samaritans UK operates on a national scale, with a number of branches located within each of the United Kingdom's 4 countries or regions. The aim of this study was to identify any differences in call duration across the helpline service in order to determine whether service varied interregionally and intraregionally and to determine the impact of calls answered in the same region as the caller, compared with calls answered in a different region on the duration of calls made from landlines to Samaritans UK. Calls may be routed by Samaritans, wherein the telephony system sends the call to the next available volunteer, irrespective of location; therefore, individuals may be routed to a branch within the same region as the caller's current region (intraregional calls) or routed to a branch that is in a different region from that of the caller's current region (interregional calls). The origin of calls by region was identified using the landline prefix of the anonymized caller identifier, along with the region of the destination branch (as branch details are recorded in the call details record). First, a Levene's test of homogeneity of variance was carried out for each condition, that is, England calls and Scotland calls. Thereafter, for each condition, a one-way ANOVA or one-way analysis of means was carried out to evaluate any significant differences in call duration. ANOVA results showed that there are significant differences in call durations between intraregional calls and interregional calls (P<.001). Across all conditions within this study, callers stayed on the phone for a shorter period of time when routed to a branch that is within the same region as the call origin than if they were put through to a branch within a different region than the call origin. Statistical analyses showed that there were significant differences between interregional and intraregional calls. On average, callers to crisis helplines stayed on the phone for a shorter period of time if they were routed to a branch within the same region in which the call originated than if they were routed to a branch in a different region of origin. The findings from this study have practical applications, which may allow crisis helplines to manage their resources more effectively and improve caller satisfaction with the service.

Arabinan branches in the RG-I region of citrus pectin aid acid-induced gelation

Gelation is a critical property of citrus pectin. However, the roles played by neutral sugar side-chains on acid-induced pectin gelation remain poorly understood. Herein, galactan- or/and arabinan-eliminated pectins (P-G, P-A, and P-AG) were used to investigate the effects of side-chains on gelation. The gel hardness values of citrus pectin, P-G, P-A, and P-AG were 42.6, 39.9, 5.3, and 2.1 g, respectively, suggesting that arabinan contributed more to gelation than galactan. We next found that arabinan branches promoted pectin chain entanglement more effectively than arabinan backbones. Destabilizer addition experiments showed that hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interaction, and hydrophobic interaction were the main forces affecting pectin gel networks and strength, which was further validated by molecular dynamic simulations. The total number of hydrogen bonds between the arabinan branches and galactan/HG (65.7) was significantly higher than that between the arabinan backbones and galactan/HG (39.1), indicating that arabinan branches predominated in terms of such interactions. This study thus elucidated the roles played by neutral-sugar side-chains, especially the arabinan branches of acid-induced pectin gels, in term of enhancing high-methoxyl pectin gelation, and offers novel insights into the structure-gelling relationships of citrus pectin.

REGIONAL FEATURES OF THE INTERSECTION OF ECO- AND RURAL TOURISM IN VINNYCHCHYNA DURING MARITAL STATE

The article examines the tourist potential of the Vinnytsia region and determines that the region has significant natural and recreational potential for the development of ecological and rural tourism. It has been established that the development of these types of tourism is due to the increase in demand for domestic tourism as a result of the war in Ukraine. Therefore, the main consumers of eco- and rural tourism services in Vinnytsia region are internally displaced persons, as well as connoisseurs of Ukrainian folk traditions due to the attractiveness of the nature, its environmental friendliness and rural lifestyle. Regulatory and legal documents regulating rural tourism, namely the Regional Development Strategy of the Vinnytsia Region until 2027, as well as the main directions of activity of the public organization «Vinnytsia Regional Branch of the Association for the Promotion of the Development of Rural Green Tourism in Ukraine» were studied. The tourist route Camino Podoliсo or St. Jacob’s Way, which covers two regions of Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia, was studied. It was found that this project is a unique opportunity to gain impressions from getting to know the unique sights, customs and traditions and natural features of Podillia. The significant areas of Vinnytsia region, the village of Busha of the Yampil district, on the territory of which there are outstanding monuments of the archaeology and architecture of the famous Bushan relief (carved out of stone in the Rock Temple by the hands of our glorious ancestors) and the remains of the Bushan fortress – a stone tower, the Haydamatskyi ravine, the remains of multi-layered settlements of Trypillia, Chernyakhiv, Penkiv and Scythian cultures, a medieval cemetery. The possibilities of Mogilev-Podilskyi, Barskyi and Vinnytsia districts regarding the development and intersection of eco- and rural tourism in wartime are also described. In the article, with the help of a SWOT analysis, the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the development of eco- and rural tourism in Vinnytsia are given. It was found that the combination of eco- and rural tourism is a necessary condition for the economic development of rural areas, and rural recreation should strengthen the ecological awareness of tourists in order to preserve the environment.

Sustainable and Collaborative Solutions for the Long-term Care of Heritage Earthen Sites in Seismic Areas in Peru

ABSTRACT The challenges posed by conserving historical earthen structures in seismic-prone regions prompted the initiation of the Seismic Retrofitting Project (SRP) by the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) and the Ministry of Culture of Peru. Since 2009, the SRP has aimed to enhance the structural performance and safety of historic earthen buildings while preserving their historical fabric by combining traditional techniques, local materials, and technical expertise with advanced computational tools. The project has focused on four Peruvian earthen buildings as case studies, including the seventeenth-century adobe church of Kuñotambo. An intervention was carried out between 2016 and 2019 by the regional branch of the Ministry of Culture in Cusco based on techniques developed by the SRP. The GCI is now working on a monitoring and maintenance plan for the site, collaborating with local stakeholders, including the Ministry of Culture of Peru in Cusco, the Archdiocese of Cusco, and the community of Kuñotambo. This paper primarily discusses the practical aspects of on-site monitoring, including the tools and techniques used to track changes in the building and its decorated surfaces. It also outlines the implementation of a structural health monitoring system and the development of capacity-building activities for Latin American engineers. The overarching goal is to provide a sustainable framework for the long-term preservation of historic earthen structures in seismic-prone regions, highlighting the importance of community involvement and multidisciplinary collaboration.

Home Enteral Nutrition in Patients with Cerebral Palsy in the Years 2012-2022: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data from the National Health Fund of Poland.

Cerebral palsy (CP) often correlates with a higher risk of malnutrition, negatively affecting the quality of life of patients and their families. Enteral nutrition via a feeding tube should be considered to improve the nutritional status of CP patients. To date, there has been no nationwide registry of patients with CP in Poland. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of home enteral nutrition (HEN) provision in pediatric and adult patients with CP. We retrospectively analyzed data from the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ) on the provision of HEN in patients with CP in 2012-2022. A specially designed and validated questionnaire was sent to the 16 regional branches of NFZ. Completed questionnaires were sent back from 12 NFZ branches. In 2022, CP cases increased by 7%, primarily among adults, while pediatric cases dropped by 21%. Despite a rising trend, the proportion of patients receiving HEN remained relatively low. Among children, it increased from 2.1% in 2012 to 3.3-3.5% in 2019-2021. For adults, it nearly doubled from 0.8% in 2012 to 1.7% in 2022. The prevalence of enteral feeding correlated with patient age, with a noticeable increase among older children and adolescents. National Health Fund data highlight the need for a nationwide registry of patients with CP. A relatively small proportion of pediatric and adult CP patients receive HEN. Increasing clinicians' awareness of HEN availability is necessary to improve the quality of life for more CP patients.

Technological Checklist for Kidney and Liver Transplantation in a Multidisciplinary Hospital. Clinical Protocol

This clinical protocol delineates the technological requirements for performing kidney and liver transplantation procedures in a multidisciplinary hospital setting. The protocol has been developed based on clinical guidelines from leading international societies and has been approved by the Samara Regional Branch of the Interregional Public Organization "Society of Transplantologists" (Protocol No. 11 dated July 1, 2024). It is recommended for use in assessing a hospital's readiness to implement transplantation programs. The technologies specified in the protocol may be implemented either through the hospital's own resources or via agreements with other healthcare institutions or through outsourcing arrangements.

FROM THE “RIGHT GERMAN” TO THE “KALININGRAD PHILOSOPHER”: IMMANUEL KANT IN COMMEMORATIVE PRACTICES AND MEMORY POLICY IN THE KALININGRAD REGION (SOVIET PERIOD)

One of the key problems of the state historical policy in the Kaliningrad region during the Soviet period was related to the attitude to the local pre-war historical and cultural heritage, it was partly the memory of the life and activities of the outstanding philosopher and educator Immanuel Kant. The purpose of this article is to identify the prerequisites, factors and stages of integration of Kant’s name and image into the regional culture of memory and commemorative activity. The scientific novelty of the study is determined by the fact that the commemoration of the philosopher is first considered throughout the Soviet period of the region’s history. In the first post-war decade, the key condition for the formation of Kant’s commemoration traditions in the young Soviet region was ensured, that is, his tomb was preserved and taken under state protection in the mid-1950s. It became a place of attraction for Kaliningrad residents and guests of the city. In the 1960s–1970s, the philosopher’s grave was included in excursion routes and tourist guides, respect for his memory was used as an argument in the propaganda system, a tradition of scientific study of Kant’s heritage was formed in the region, and Kaliningrad State University became a center of such research. Under strict restrictions on the study and popularization of pre-war history, Kantian topics were perceived by a part of local intelligentsia as an allowed opportunity to share the “secrets” of the German past of the Kaliningrad land. At the same time, the position of regional authorities was characterized by contradictions, and initiatives to commemorate the philosopher were repeatedly met with resistance instigated by the regional committee of the CPSU. In the years of perestroika Kant’s image was perceived as a “bridge” connecting epochs and cultures. The work on the preparation of restoring the monument to the philosopher began, the plans of the regional branch of the Soviet Culture Fund included a “Kantian” programme of events, Kant became a character in the first popular narratives about the prewar history of the region. The process of integration of the “outstanding ‘fellow countryman’”, “Kaliningrad philosopher” into the regional culture by the end of the Soviet period was considerably accelerated.

Virtual platform to tackle challenges associated with lifelong medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic

BackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, large in-person conferences were mostly cancelled to avoid further disease contagion. Physicians continued to demand changes in form to enable participation in lifelong medical education programs, and the traditional model of in-person conferences needed to be rethought. As such, a regional branch of the national orthopedic association tried to move in-person conferences onto a virtual platform. This study aimed to investigate the effect of transitioning large in-person conferences to a virtual model during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially examining any differences in the attendance of each type of conference.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, 776 participants in virtual conferences and 575 participants in in-person conferences were analyzed. Institutions were classified based on their location in a central city and two neighboring cities. Affiliated institutions were divided into resident training hospitals, general hospitals, and private clinics. The change in the number and proportion of participants between the virtual conference year and in-person conference year was calculated.ResultsThe number of virtual conference participants was significantly greater than that of in-person conference participants (P = 0.01). Although the highest number of participants was from central city for both years, the proportion of participants from the two neighboring cities increased. Although the proportion of participants from resident training hospitals and private clinics decreased, the proportion of participants from general hospitals increased.ConclusionsWe implemented a virtual platform to tackle challenges associated with lifelong medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virtual platforms can be helpful for organizations that must hold regular lifelong medical education programs for members spread across a wide geographic region.

Enhancing the Evaluation System of Training Hospitals for Neurosurgical Residency Training and Education in South Korea : Striving for Balanced Participation and Differentiation.

The Korean Neurosurgical Society, with its 62 years of history, has witnessed substantial growth in the field of neurosurgery, producing over 3,400 neurosurgeons, establishing 12 divisions and 9 regional branches, and advancing in clinical management, diagnostic methods and academic research. Despite these developments, the regulations governing neurosurgical training and evaluation methods for training hospitals have remained largely unchanged, necessitating comprehensive revisions in response to evolving medical environments. To provide balanced participation opportunities for neurosurgery residents, the Korean Neurosurgical Society formed the Training Status Investigation Standard Change Task Force (TF Team) under the Training Education Committee. This paper presents the TF Team's findings and proposals for revising training status investigation standards and evaluation criteria. Through the processes including a lot of team meetings, workshops, education programs, official communications with 12 division societies, benchmarking from other societies and analysis of encrypted data from the past 5 years for neurosurgical training hospitals, the TF Team created a revised training status investigation proposal, supplemented main surgery criteria. And we applied this revised proposal to the training status investigation data collected from training hospitals in 2022 for simulation. We reduced the score for main surgeries to 10 points, introduced core competency surgery standards, allocating 5 points each for brain core competency surgery and spine and peripheral core competency surgery, for a total of 10 points. We also adjusted the major surgery score to 13 points, expanding the total surgery index score to 33 points. We introduced additional definitions for main surgeries in the areas of spine, pediatrics, and functional surgery. The equipment score was reduced from 17 points to 9 points. We specified minimum requirements for resident allocation eligibility, and if a hospital meets all of these criteria, they become eligible to apply for resident allocation. We introduced a new bonus point system for hospitals performing mechanical thrombectomy or stenting and peripheral nerve. The proposed revisions aim to improve the training and education of neurosurgical residents and overall neurosurgical care in Korea by creating a balanced and differentiated evaluation system for training hospitals. Further monitoring, communication, and adjustments are crucial for successful implementation.

Из истории дальневосточных обществ советско-вьетнамской дружбы (1980-е – начало 1990-х гг.)

The article examines the history of intercultural interaction between the inhabitants of the Soviet Far East and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the 1980–1990s. The authors elucidate the structure and functions of the public organization “Union of Soviet Societies for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries”, within which regional branches of the Soviet-Vietnamese Friendship Society were formed. The reasons and conditions for the creation of these Societies in the Far East are investigated. On the example of the Amur branch of the Soviet-Vietnamese Friendship Society, the types of its activities are considered, among which are: the organization of teaching the Russian language, youth evenings, exhibitions of folk art, lectures, international meetings. It is emphasized that not only its members, but also students and public figures were involved in the work of the Soviet-Vietnamese Friendship Societies. The contribution of the Soviet-Vietnamese Friendship Societies to the formation of a tolerant perception of Vietnam and attitudes towards Vietnamese labor migrants is assessed.

Strategies for Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain in Organizational Contexts: Pre- and Post-Disaster Management Perspectives

Every organization typically comprises various internal components, including regional branches, operations centers/field offices, major transportation hubs, and operational units, among others, housing a population susceptible to disaster impacts. Moreover, organizations often possess resources such as staff, various vehicles, and medical facilities, which can mitigate human casualties and address needs across affected areas. However, despite the importance of managing disasters within organizational networks, there remains a research gap in the development of mathematical models for such scenarios, specifically incorporating operations centers/field offices and external stakeholders as relief centers. Addressing this gap, this study examines an optimization model for both before and after disaster planning in a humanitarian supply chain and logistical framework within an organization. The affected areas are defined as regional branches, operational units, major transportation hubs, operations centers/field offices, external stakeholders, and medical facilities. A mixed-integer nonlinear model is formulated to minimize overall costs, considering factors such as penalty costs for untreated injuries and demand, delays in rescue and relief item distribution operations, and waiting costs for the injured in emergency medical vehicles and air ambulances. The model is implemented using GAMS software 47.1.0 for various test problems across different scales, with the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm proposed for larger-scale scenarios. Numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed model and to validate the metaheuristic approach. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the model’s performance under different conditions, and key managerial insights and implications are discussed.

Micro-electricity generation from wind-induced vibration with magnetostrictive material-based energy harvester

This study aimed to experimentally investigate flow-induced vibration of modified circular cylinders for wind-receiving mast of Vibration-Based Power Generator (VBPG). Specifically, it focused on vibration characteristics of tapered and stepped circular cylinders in VBPG mechanism. Tapering and inverting cylinder model proved effective in reducing Vortex-Induced Vibration (VIV) onset and peak amplitude concerning flow stream velocity. Some tapered cylinder models showed a broadening peak response (upper branch region), showing an extensive power harvesting range for VBPG device. The result showed that the maximum power harvesting of the model with a plain bluff cylinder was 8.45 mW, reduced by tapering bluff cylinder. The power coefficient of VBPG with a normal bluff cylinder was 4 %, but inversing stepped bluff cylinder yielded 5.45 %. It is related to VIV-onset parameter, which was lower than that the plain cylinder. In addition, it was discovered that there was an interdependency between frequency response and power generation capacity for VIV-type resonance. The generated power proved sufficient to illuminate a board with 54 LED lamps in a laboratory-scale test. Meanwhile, an outdoor performance test of harvester, conducted with variable wind speed (0 – 3.2 m/s), showcased the reliability of VBPG mechanism for independent power supply to wireless, remote sensor networks, or moderate scale of power supply. The field test model worked not only in variable wind speed, but also in chaotic wind direction.

Addressing Production and Marketing Constraints of Arecanut Growers: Insights from Tumcos in Davanagere, Karnataka, India

This study was conducted in the Davanagere district of Karnataka to analyze the constraints faced by TUMCOS member and non-member arecanut growers and to propose solutions for overcoming these challenges. A total of 120 areca producers (60 members and 60 non-members) were randomly selected from five TUMCOS branch regions. Data were collected through personal interviews and analysed using frequency, per cent and rank order method. The majority of farmers (90.83%) identified labor shortages as a primary production constraint. Financial challenges included inadequate subsidies (58.33%), while marketing challenges were high transportation costs (69.17%) and remote market locations (66.67%). A significant portion of farmers (65%) suggested improving market infrastructure, including transportation, storage, and weighing facilities, to address these issues.

Duplication and neofunctionalization of a horizontally transferred xyloglucanase as a facet of the Red Queen coevolutionary dynamic

Oomycete protists share phenotypic similarities with fungi, including the ability to cause plant diseases, but branch in a distant region of the tree of life. It has been suggested that multiple horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) from fungi-to-oomycetes contributed to the evolution of plant-pathogenic traits. These HGTs are predicted to include secreted proteins that degrade plant cell walls, a barrier to pathogen invasion and a rich source of carbohydrates. Using a combination of phylogenomics and functional assays, we investigate the diversification of a horizontally transferred xyloglucanase gene family in the model oomycete species Phytophthora sojae. Our analyses detect 11 xyloglucanase paralogs retained in P. sojae. Using heterologous expression in yeast, we show consistent evidence that eight of these paralogs have xyloglucanase function, including variants with distinct protein characteristics, such as a long-disordered C-terminal extension that can increase xyloglucanase activity. The functional variants analyzed subtend a phylogenetic node close to the fungi-to-oomycete transfer, suggesting the horizontally transferred gene was a bona fide xyloglucanase. Expression of three xyloglucanase paralogs in Nicotiana benthamiana triggers high-reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, while others inhibit ROS responses to bacterial immunogens, demonstrating that the paralogs differentially stimulate pattern-triggered immunity. Mass spectrometry of detectable enzymatic products demonstrates that some paralogs catalyze the production of variant breakdown profiles, suggesting that secretion of variant xyloglucanases increases efficiency of xyloglucan breakdown as well as diversifying the damage-associated molecular patterns released. We suggest that this pattern of neofunctionalization and the variant host responses represent an aspect of the Red Queen host-pathogen coevolutionary dynamic.

Branching topology of the human embryo transcriptome revealed by Entropy Sort Feature Weighting.

Analysis of single cell transcriptomics (scRNA-seq) data is typically performed after subsetting to highly variable genes (HVGs). Here, we show that Entropy Sorting provides an alternative mathematical framework for feature selection. On synthetic datasets, continuous Entropy Sort Feature Weighting (cESFW) outperforms HVG selection in distinguishing cell-state-specific genes. We apply cESFW to six merged scRNA-seq datasets spanning human early embryo development. Without smoothing or augmenting the raw counts matrices, cESFW generates a high-resolution embedding displaying coherent developmental progression from eight-cell to post-implantation stages and delineating 15 distinct cell states. The embedding highlights sequential lineage decisions during blastocyst development, while unsupervised clustering identifies branch point populations obscured in previous analyses. The first branching region, where morula cells become specified for inner cell mass or trophectoderm, includes cells previously asserted to lack a developmental trajectory. We quantify the relatedness of different pluripotent stem cell cultures to distinct embryo cell types and identify marker genes of naïve and primed pluripotency. Finally, by revealing genes with dynamic lineage-specific expression, we provide markers for staging progression from morula to blastocyst.