Recent Events Research Articles

Calibrating the subaqueous seismograph: Using recent events to inform our knowledge of the past

Calibrating the subaqueous seismograph: Using recent events to inform our knowledge of the past

California Gas: A Brief History and Recent Events

The author discusses recent developments and ongoing issues related to regulatory authorities, contracts and pipeline matters affecting the gas industry in California, in comparison to elsewhere in the United States and Canada. Included is a review of some of the more important decisions of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the California Public Utilities Commission and the National Energy Board. This paper is solely the work of the author. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the author's firm or any client of that firm.

The End of Public/Private Partnership Prisons in the Department of Correctional Services of South Africa

South Africa has two fully privatised prisons, each housing some 3,000 prisoners. Their history has been mired in controversy from the start, and this has not improved over a period of nearly 25 years. Recent events affecting the security and integrity of the two facilities provide a useful opportunity to reflect on these private prisons as well as wider issues regarding private sector involvement in the prison system. The intersection of politics, organised labour, private sector interests, and corruption have in all likelihood rung the death knell for private prisons in South Africa.

The End of Globalized Production? Supply-Chain Resilience, Technological Sovereignty, and Enduring Global Interdependencies in the Post-Pandemic Era

This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and geopolitics on geographies of production. Criticizing simplified perspectives on globalized versus intraregional production, we stress the multi-scalarity, the role of industrial policies and sector-specific path dependencies in shaping global production. Based on expert interviews and policy and industry documents, our analysis focuses on the automotive, clothing, and electronics industries. Although concerns for resilience increasingly shape lead firms’ strategies, increased regionalization of production through re- or near-shoring is only one of several strategies. Where it does occur, it has been driven by state policies that tackle certain strategically important products, not production networks as a whole. Hence, while recent events exposed the vulnerabilities of global production, we do not observe deglobalization in the sense of a comprehensive retreat from globalized in favor of intraregional production. Nonetheless, state interventions that are geopolitically motivated and affect firms’ investment decisions have intensified particularly in the United States and the European Union.

The role of social presence in live and recorded concert viewing: Effects on enjoyment and emotional well-being

In recent years livestream events have become increasingly popular, in part to cope with social isolation experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of livestreams to mitigate the negative effects of isolation lacks empirical evidence. To address this gap, we compared the effect of watching a concert on livestream with watching a recording of the same event on viewer's social presence, enjoyment, social connectedness, and loneliness. Livestream viewing was expected to result in higher levels of enjoyment and social connectedness, and lower levels of loneliness compared to viewing the recording. The effect of concert viewing mode on viewers' experience was expected to be mediated by social presence. In line with expectations, participants reported higher social presence and enjoyment in the livestream condition compared to the recorded condition, although, participants reported similar levels of social connectedness and loneliness in both conditions. Moreover, we did not find support for social presence as a mediator. In sum, while livestreamed events can enhance feelings of social presence and be more enjoyable, further research is needed to understand whether and how this can be utilized to mitigate loneliness and lack of social connectedness.

Organellar-genome analyses from the lycophyte genus Isoetes L. show one of the highest frequencies of RNA editing in land plants.

RNA editing is a post-transcriptional process that challenges the central dogma of molecular biology by modifying RNA sequences, introducing nucleotide changes at specific sites, and generating functional diversity beyond the genomic code, especially when it concerns organellar transcripts. In plants, this phenomenon is widespread, but its extent varies significantly among species and organellar genomes. Among land plants, the heterosporous lycophytes (i.e., Isoetes and Selaginella) stand out for their exceptionally high numbers of RNA-editing sites, despite their morphological stasis and ancient lineage. In this study, we explore the complete set of organellar protein-coding genes in the aquatic plant group Isoetes, providing a detailed analysis of RNA editing in both the mitochondrial and plastid genomes. Our findings reveal a remarkable abundance of RNA editing, particularly in the mitochondrial genome, with thousands of editing sites identified. Interestingly, the majority of these edits result in non-silent substitutions, suggesting a role in fine-tuning protein structure and function. Furthermore, we observe a consistent trend of increased hydrophobicity in membrane-bound proteins, supporting the notion that RNA editing may confer a selective advantage by preserving gene functionality in Isoetes. The conservation of highly edited RNA sequences over millions of years underscores the evolutionary significance of RNA editing. Additionally, the study sheds light on the dynamic nature of RNA editing, with shared editing sites reflecting common ancestry whereas exclusive edits matching more recent radiation events within the genus. This work advances our understanding of the intricate interplay between RNA editing, adaptation, and evolution in land plants and highlights the unique genomic features of Isoetes, providing a foundation for further investigations into the functional consequences of RNA editing in this enigmatic plant lineage.

Global production networks meets evolutionary economic geography

ABSTRACT Two of the canonical approaches in regional studies are global production networks (GPNs) and evolutionary economic geography (EEG). Recent geopolitical and economic events have shown the importance of both theories in explaining regional economic change. Yet they remain discrete and separate, and there is now consensus that, together, they could explain more. A vibrant debate on the relationship between these two approaches is needed, starting with identifying unifying themes and areas of analytical difference, to develop a research agenda for future work which can better explain regional change.

Drought, temperature, and moisture availability: understanding the drivers of isotopic decoupling in native pine species of the Nepalese Himalaya.

The Himalayas experienced long-term climate changes and recent extreme weather events that affected plant growth and the physiology of tree species at high-elevation sites. This study presents the first statistically robust δ18OTR chronologies for two native pine species, Pinus roxburghii, and Pinus wallichiana, in the lower Nepalese Himalaya. The isotope chronologies exhibited 0.88‰ differences in overall mean isotope values attributed to varying elevations (460-2000m asl). Comparative analysis of climate response using data sets from different sources and resolutions revealed the superiority of the APHRODITE (Asian Precipitation - Highly-Resolved Observational Data Integration Towards Evaluation) data set calibrated for the South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM)-dominated region. Both species exhibited negative correlations with monsoon precipitation and positive correlations with temperature. However, during the peak monsoon season (July-August), daily resolved climate data disentangled statistically insignificant relationships, and revealed that δ18OTR is influenced by atmospheric moisture. Both congeneric species showed a decoupling between the chronologies after 1995. However, no significant change in air moisture origin and monsoon regime between the study sites was observed, indicating a consistent dominant moisture source during different monsoon seasons. Besides, we also observed the decreased inter-series correlation of both δ18OTR chronologies after 1995, with P. wallichiana experiencing a steeper decrease than P. roxburghii. The weakening correlations between and within the chronologies coincided with a regional drought during 1993-1995 in both sites, highlighting the strong regulation of local climate on the impact of regional extreme climate events. Our findings emphasise the importance of employing climate data with optimal spatial and temporal resolution for improved δ18OTR-climate relationships at the intra-annual scale while considering the influence of site-specific local environmental conditions. Assessing climate data sets with station data is vital for accurately interpreting climate change's impact on forest response and long-term climate reconstructions.

Genome-wide diversity, population structure and signatures of inbreeding in the African buffalo in Mozambique

The African buffalo, Syncerus caffer, is a key species in African ecosystems. Like other large herbivores, it plays a fundamental role in its habitat acting as an ecosystem engineer. Over the last few centuries, African buffalo populations have declined because of range contraction and demographic decline caused by direct or indirect human activities. In Mozambique, historically home to large buffalo herds, the combined effect of colonialism and subsequent civil wars has created a critical situation that urgently needs to be addressed. In this study, we focused on the analysis of genetic diversity of Syncerus caffer caffer populations from six areas of Mozambique. Using genome-wide SNPs obtained from ddRAD sequencing, we examined the population structure across the country, estimated gene flow between areas under conservation management, including national reserves, and assessed the inbreeding coefficients. Our results indicate that all studied populations of Syncerus caffer caffer are genetically depauperate, with a high level of inbreeding. Moreover, buffaloes in Mozambique present a significant population differentiation between southern and central areas. We found an unexpected genotype in the Gorongosa National Park, where buffaloes experienced a dramatic population size reduction, that shares a common ancestry with southern populations of Catuane and Namaacha. This could suggest the past occurrence of a connection between southern and central Mozambique and that the observed population structuring could reflect recent events of anthropogenic origin. All the populations analysed showed high levels of homozygosity, likely due to extensive inbreeding over the last few decades, which could have increased the frequency of recessive deleterious alleles. Improving the resilience of Syncerus caffer caffer in Mozambique is essential for preserving the ecosystem integrity. The most viable approach appears to be facilitating translocations and re-establishing connectivity between isolated herds. However, our results also highlight the importance of assessing intraspecific genetic diversity when considering interventions aimed at enhancing population viability such as selecting suitable source populations.

Technology Focus: High Pressure/High Temperature (March 2024)

Early February saw the occasion of India Energy Week (IEW), a major event held in Goa, India, with which I was pleased to be engaged. The meeting addressed the many challenges and transformations facing the energy sector around the world, in both the short and long term. Complex alignments and armed conflict affect humankind around the globe and disrupt the infrastructural networks that connect populations. Recent events in the Red Sea serve as only one example of how geopolitics can profoundly influence a hydrocarbon market that expects to see high volatility in pricing. IEW drew further attention to the important role India will play in the global energy economy of the future. A huge market with a booming economy and a growing demand for energy, India, too, seeks to develop its energy mix in accordance with the international goal of achieving a net-zero future and exploring renewable energies. Within that greater framework, the subject of this feature, high-pressure/high-temperature (HP/HT) resources, continues to be a focus of efforts to apply new technologies that maximize productivity while addressing concerns related to capital expenditure, operating expenses, and high drilling costs. These cost-effective technologies will only grow in importance in exploiting HP/HT and ultra-HP/HT fields. Increased emphasis on effective well control, durable completion equipment, and monitoring of downhole conditions will become key entry points for technological advances in the near future. This year saw a somewhat smaller number of HP/HT-centered conference papers for review. Nevertheless, I have identified, with an aim of providing readers an idea of the robust scope of research within the HP/HT industry, important works pertaining to simulation, drilling, and cleanup. These papers, set against the volatility faced by the energy sector, embody the importance of keeping our fellow energy professionals apprised of our successes and lessons learned. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. OTC 32657 Comparison of Wellhead Fatigue Methods Using Acoustic and Standalone Monitoring Data for HP/HT Developments by Bulent Mercan, 2H Offshore, et al. IPTC 22815 Successful Drilling of the Deepest and Hottest HP/HT Carbonate Well Offshore Malaysia, Lessons Learned, and Way Forward by Swee Hong Gary Ong, PTT Exploration and Production, et al. OTC 32203 Managing the High-Temperature Risk in a Horizontal HP/HT Deepwater Well by Yu Liu, Shell, et al.

Real-World Clinical Profile of Patients Prescribed Evolocumab in Japan.

Real-world utilization data for evolocumab, the first proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor to be introduced in Japan in 2016, to date are limited. This study aimed to clarify the current real-world patient user profiles of evolocumab based on large-scale health claims data.Methods and Results: This retrospective database study examined patients from a health administrative database (MDV database) who initiated evolocumab between April 2016 (baseline) and November 2021. Characteristics and clinical profiles of this patient population are described. In all, 4,022 patients were included in the final analysis. Most evolocumab prescriptions occurred in the outpatient setting (3,170; 78.82%), and 940 patients (23.37%) had a recent diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolemia. Common recent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events at baseline included myocardial infarction (1,633; 40.60%), unstable angina (561; 13.95%), and ischemic stroke (408; 10.14%). Comorbidity diseases included hypertension (2,504; 62.26%), heart failure (1,750; 43.51%), diabetes (1,199; 29.81%), and chronic kidney disease (297; 7.38%). Among the lipid-lowering regimens concomitant with evolocumab, ezetimibe+statin was used most frequently (1,281; 31.85%), followed by no concomitant lipid-lowering regimen (1,190; 29.59%), statin (950; 23.62%), and ezetimibe (601; 14.94%). The median evolocumab treatment duration for all patients was 260 days (interquartile range 57-575 days). This study provides real-world insights into evolocumab utilization in Japan for optimizing patient care and adherence to guideline-based therapies to better address hypercholesterolemia in Japan.

Ensifer adhaerens strain OV14 seed application enhances Triticum aestivum L. and Brassica napus L. development

Given the challenges imposed by climate change and societal challenges, the European Union established ambitious goals as part of its Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy. Focussed on accelerating the transition to systems of sustainable food production, processing and consumption, a key element of F2F is to reduce the use of fertilisers by at least 20% and plant protection products by up to 50% by 2030. In recent years, a substantial body of research has highlighted the potential impact of microbial-based applications to support crop production practices through both biotic/abiotic stresses via maintaining or even improving yields and reducing reliance on intensive chemical inputs. Here, we have characterised the ability of a new soil-borne free-living bacterium strain Ensifer adhaerens OV14 (EaOV14) to significantly enhance crop vigour index by up to 50% for monocot (wheat, Triticum aestivum L., p < 0.0001) and by up to 40% for dicot (oilseed rape, Brassica napus L., p < 0.0001) species under in-vitro conditions (n = 360 seedlings/treatment). The beneficial effect was further studied under controlled glasshouse growing conditions (n = 60 plants/treatment) where EaOV14 induced significantly increased seed yield of spring oilseed rape compared to the controls (p < 0.0001). Moreover, using bespoke rhizoboxes, enhanced root architecture (density, roots orientation, roots thickness etc.) was observed for spring oilseed rape and winter wheat, with the median number of roots 55% and 33% higher for oilseed rape and wheat respectively, following EaOV14 seed treatment compared to the control. In addition, EaOV14 treatment increased root tip formation and root volume, suggesting the formation of a more robust root system architecture post-seed treatment. However, like other microbial formulations, the trade-offs associated with field translation, such as loss or limited functionality due to inoculum formulation or environmental distress, need further investigation. Moreover, the delivery method requires further optimisation to identify the optimal inoculum formulation that will maximise the expected beneficial impact on yield under field growing conditions.

Concerns about the application of resistance exercise with blood-flow restriction and thrombosis risk in hemodialysis patients

BackgroundHemodialysis (HD) per se is a risk factor for thrombosis. Considering the growing body of evidence on blood-flow restriction (BFR) exercise in HD patients, identification of possible risk factors related to the prothrombotic agent D-dimer is required for the safety and feasibility of this training model. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors associated with higher D-dimer levels and to determine the acute effect of resistance exercise (RE) with BFR on this molecule. MethodsTwo hundred and six HD patients volunteered for this study (all with a glomerular filtration rate of <15 mL/min/1.73 m2). The RE + BFR session consisted of 50% arterial occlusion pressure during 50 min sessions of HD (intradialytic exercise). RE repetitions included concentric and eccentric lifting phases (each lasting 2 s) and were supervised by a strength and conditioning specialist. ResultsSeveral variables were associated with elevated levels of D-dimer, including higher blood glucose, citrate use, recent cardiovascular events, recent intercurrents, higher inflammatory status, catheter as vascular access, older patients (>70 years old), and HD vintage. Furthermore, RE + BFR significantly increases D-dimer after 4 h. Patients with borderline baseline D-dimer levels (400–490 ng/mL) displayed increased risk of elevating D-dimer over the normal range (≥500 ng/mL). ConclusionThese results identified factors associated with a heightened prothrombotic state and may assist in the screening process for HD patients who wish to undergo RE + BFR. D-dimer and/or other fibrinolysis factors should be assessed at baseline and throughout the protocol as a precautionary measure to maximize safety during RE + BFR.

Diagnostics and Assessment of the Severity of Alzheimer’s Disease: Machine Learning Algorithms Based on Markers of Inflammation

Background: as the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive deterioration and usually begins with loss of memory of recent events. It is important to search for biological, sensitive and affordable methods that could be used for early diagnostics of AD and determine the severity of the disease.Objective: to develop machine learning algorithms based on such inflammatory markers as the enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and the functional activity of the α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) for diagnosing and assessing the severity of AD.Patients and methods: the study included128 people aged 55 to 94 years (73.7 ± 7.9 years), of which 91 patients were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and 37 apparently healthy people (control). The indicators of LE and α1-PI in blood plasma were used as classifying features for building models. The following algorithms were used to build a machine learning model: Optimal Valid Partition (OVP), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), gradient boosting (GB) and statistically weighted syndromes (WSWS). The predictive performance of the constructed classiers was evaluated by the overall accuracy (accuracy), sensitivity (sensitivity), specificity (specificity), F-measure and ROC-analysis.Results: the developed machine learning algorithms made it possible to reliably divide the general group of subjects (patients + conditionally healthy), as well as patients with different AD severity, into 4 quadrants of a two-dimensional diagram in the LE and α1-PI coordinates and showed close and fairly high predictive efficiency.Conclusion: the developed machine learning algorithms have proven close and sufficiently high prognostic efficacy for assessing the severity of AD based on inflammatory markers (enzymatic activity of LE and functional activity of α1-PI) and, probably, can be useful for early diagnostics of the disease and timely administration of therapy.

Genome assembly provides insights into the genome evolution of Baccaurea ramiflora Lour.

Baccaurea ramiflora Lour., an evergreen tree of the Baccaurea genus of the Phyllanthaceae family, is primarily distributed in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and southern China, including southern Yunnan Province. It is a wild or semi-cultivated tree species with ornamental, edible, and medicinal value, exhibiting significant development potential. In this study, we present the whole-genome sequencing of B. ramiflora, employing a combination of PacBio SMRT and Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing techniques. The assembled genome size was 975.8 Mb, with a contig N50 of 509.33 kb and the longest contig measuring 7.74 Mb. The genome comprises approximately 73.47% highly repetitive sequences, of which 52.1% are long terminal repeat–retrotransposon sequences. A total of 29,172 protein-coding genes were predicted, of which 25,980 (89.06%) have been annotated, Additionally, 3452 non-coding RNAs were identified. Comparative genomic analysis revealed a close relationship between B. ramiflora and the Euphorbiaceae family, with both being sister groups that diverged approximately 59.9 million years ago. During the evolutionary process, B. ramiflora exhibited positive selection in 278 candidate genes. Synonymous substitution rate and collinearity analysis demonstrated that B. ramiflora underwent a single ancient genome-wide triploidization event, without recent genome-wide duplication events. This high-quality B. ramiflora genome provides a valuable resource for basic research and tree improvement programs focusing on the Phyllanthaceae family.

Historical and contemporary drivers of knickpoint retreat and morphological evolution along Bayou Pierre, Mississippi

AbstractChannel incision in rivers can cause marked ecological and economic damages. This phenomenon is abundant and generally well documented along impacted streams in the loess hills adjacent to the Lower Mississippi River valley. Bayou Pierre, an ecologically important small tributary of the Mississippi River, is currently incising but causes are not well understood. In this study, we examine diverse data sources to: (1) reconstruct a history of erosional stimuli and possible origins and (2) examine effects of contemporary controls. Review of long‐term planform and land use data for the Mississippi River revealed episodic foreshortening events followed by episodic deforestation and reforestation. Hydrologic data suggest an increase in rainfall over the last few decades. Estimates of knickpoint retreat place origins prior to Mississippi River channel straightening (1929–1944). Planform analysis in three focal reaches of Bayou Pierre demonstrates slow change prior to 1982, but accelerated changes after those periods. Mean rainfall and 3‐day storm intensity correlate to some planform changes; however, the storm of 1983 may be a better explanation of sudden planform change. We found some evidence of potential internal feedback loops in patterns of bar growth. Together, our analyses provide a synthesis of stimuli experienced by Bayou Pierre over the last ~200 years and suggest both channel migration events before straightening of the Mississippi River and more recent hydrologic events have influenced patterns of geomorphic change in Bayou Pierre.

Everyday memory: a computational analysis of changing relations between past and present in Dutch newspapers in the 20th century

Abstract This article proposes a data-driven approach to memory culture by quantitatively studying the phrase ‘n years ago’ in a set of Dutch newspapers throughout the larger part of the 20th century. In a pipeline consisting of three parts, it looks at (1) the most frequently used time frame (in years and decades) that newspapers use to look back at ‘n years ago’, (2) trends in the use of the most common variants of this phrase through time, and (3) the actual years that are referred to by means of this phrase. By doing so, this article substantiates Aleida Assmann’s claim of an increasing entanglement of past and present after Second World War, while showing that this fundamentally looks like what is here called ‘everyday memory culture’. Rather than the establishment of a canon of landmark years that newspapers increasingly come back to (e.g. 1929, 1940, or 1945), the past that Dutch newspapers invoke on a daily basis is mostly informed by recent and recurrent events in culture, sports, and politics.

Polyploidization of Indotyphlops braminus: evidence from isoform-sequencing

BackgroundIndotyphlops braminus, the only known triploid parthenogenetic snake, is a compelling species for revealing the mechanism of polyploid emergence in vertebrates.MethodsIn this study, we applied PacBio isoform sequencing technology to generate the first full-length transcriptome of I. braminus, aiming to improve the understanding of the molecular characteristics of this species.ResultsA total of 51,849 nonredundant full-length transcript assemblies (with an N50 length of 2980 bp) from I. braminus were generated and fully annotated using various gene function databases. Our analysis provides preliminary evidence supporting a recent genome duplication event in I. braminus. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the divergence of I. braminus subgenomes occurred approximately 11.5 ~ 15 million years ago (Mya). The full-length transcript resource generated as part of this research will facilitate transcriptome analysis and genomic evolution studies in the future.

Idiosyncratic effects of interviewer behavior on the accuracy of children's responses.

Children are interviewed to provide information about past events in various contexts (e.g., police interviews, court proceedings, therapeutic interviews). During an interview, various factors may influence the accuracy of children's responses to questions about recent events. However, behavioral research in this area is limited. Sparling et al. (2011) showed that children frequently provided inaccurate responses to questions about video clips they just watched depending on the antecedents (i.e., the way a question was asked) and consequences (i.e., the response of the interviewer to their answers). In the current study, we replicated and extended the procedures reported by Sparling et al. and found that two of five children were sensitive to the various antecedents and consequences that we manipulated. Our findings indicate a need for more research in this area to determine the relevant environmental variables that affect children's response accuracy.

Planning for More Resilient and Safer Cities: A New Methodology for Seismic Risk Assessment at the Urban Scale, Applied to a Case Study in Italy

Recent seismic events and the damages related to them have highlighted the crucial role of urban planning in coping with the fragility and intrinsic vulnerability of cities. The paper presents a methodology for assessing seismic risk at an urban scale, expanding from a single-building investigation to an urban-scale analysis by adopting an empirical method for assessing the vulnerability of the urban fabric. Data collection and analysis have been conducted through the Geographic Information System (GIS). The methodology has been applied to the Italian city of Castelfranco Emilia, in the Emilia-Romagna region, where the current regional urban planning law is guiding municipalities towards the development of strategies mostly oriented toward the retrofit of the existing building stock and the overall regeneration of the urbanized territory, in accordance with the target of no net land take by 2050. The novelty of the method stands in the transposition of approaches born in the civil engineering and protection domains to the urban planning sphere, stressing the importance of developing urban planning instruments which are well-integrated with vulnerability assessments and, therefore, able to successfully incorporate risk considerations in the decision making.