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Working PaperDesign Strategies for Integrated Transmission and Distribution Systems: An Expanding Toolkit( 2025-06-09)Integrated Transmission and Distribution (ITD) systems for electric power are complex systems encompassing strongly coupled physical, economic, and legal processes. This review identities and assesses design strategies for ITD systems that permit this complexity to be systematically addressed. A nine-tiered Design Readiness Level (DRL) classification is used to sort an illustrative collection of recent ITD system design studies into readiness tiers ranging from conceptualization to real-world deployment. Computational platforms are seen to provide key support for crossing the “Valley of Death” tiers separating typical university design research from typical design research carried out by industry and government research facilities. For example, agent-based co-simulation platforms, enhanced by developments in data-assisted generative artificial intelligence, permit reduced computational complexity, flexible tailoring of model simplifications to purposes at hand, matching of modeled agents to empirical referents, and systematic testing of design aspects that involve coupled physical, economic, and legal processes.
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ArticleHigh seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats linked to human infection in a Latin American country with elevated COVID-19 transmission and mortality(Frontiers, 2025-06-06)Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to infect various animal species, including companion animals such as cats. Although direct transmission from cats to humans has not been confirmed, monitoring the prevalence of infection in these animals remains critical as susceptible hosts to SARS-CoV-2, particularly in regions with high COVID-19 case numbers. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in cats during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Lima, Peru. Methods: Serum samples from 544 cats, collected between 2020 and 2021, were tested for antibodies using a double antigen sandwich ELISA targeting the receptor-binding protein domain (RBD) and the nucleocapsid (N) proteins. This ELISA has a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100%. Results: A seroprevalence of 43.8% was observed, with higher rates in females (63.9%), kittens (51.3%), and the Domestic Shorthair breed (93.2%). Among owners diagnosed with COVID-19, 95.5% of their cats were seropositive, with no cross-reactivity observed for other common feline diseases. Conclusion: These findings suggest significant SARS-CoV-2 exposure and possible infection in cats during the early pandemic phase in Peru. The high seroprevalence observed highlights the need for ongoing surveillance of companion animals, especially in regions with high human infection rates.
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ArticleFoliage leaf and floral bract micromorphology vary by habitat and habit in Guadua (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae)(Elsevier GmbH, 2025-06-06)Micromorphology of bamboo foliage leaves is a valuable tool for determining taxonomic placement of species. Members of the Neotropical woody bamboo subtribe Guaduinae, including Guadua, are unusual in that most have stomata on both leaf surfaces. Foliage leaves of savanna-dwelling Guadua also often feature papillae on both surfaces, while the plants share a suite of macromorphological characteristics. We sought to evaluate statistically whether there were patterns in micromorphological variation in Guadua foliage leaves that aligned with known habitat- or habit-based patterns in macromorphological variation. Additionally, we investigated the micromorphology of Guadua floral bracts to determine whether they displayed variation similar to that of foliage leaves. By analyzing scanning electron microscopy images of these structures, we constructed binary datasets recording presence or absence of micromorphological features on foliage leaves and floral bracts of Guadua specimens belonging to 28 and 24 described species, respectively, as well as four and two putative species, respectively, for foliage leaves and floral bracts. We produced distance matrices using simple matching coefficient for the micromorphology datasets, visualized our data using principal coordinates analysis, and determined whether there were significant differences in foliage leaf and floral bract micromorphology based on habitat and habit using factorial multivariate analyses of variance. Our results indicate that Guadua foliage leaf and floral bract micromorphology differs significantly between Guadua found in savanna, forest, or river habitats and between Guadua of small arching, climbing, or larger erect habits.
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ArticleGenetic variation and heritability of haploid frailty in maize(Frontiers Media, 2025-06-03)This research investigated the variation in haploid frailty (%HF), which is the difference in trait performance between isogenic haploid and diploid maize lines, and the heritability of haploid frailty for different agronomic traits. A total of 48 isogenic pairs was evaluated in three environments, and 192 isogenic line pairs were evaluated in two environments for plant height (PH), ear height (EH), flag leaf length (FLL) and width (FLW), tassel length (TL), spike length (SL), stem diameter (SD) and tassel branch (TB) number. We found that the qshgd1 locus, associated with spontaneous haploid genome doubling (SHGD), plays a crucial role in improving haploid performance by reducing %HF and promoting diploid-like vigor. The BS39+SHGD genotypes exhibited significantly lower HF% rates compared to the BS39 group, with consistent reductions across multiple traits. Environmental factors also contributed to %HF variation, but genetic influences such as the presence of SHGD proved to have a greater impact on haploid frailty. Leveraging SHGD to enhance both vigor and fertility of haploid plants, is likely to benefit breeding programs in maize and perhaps other crops by more economic and efficient production of DH lines.
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ArticleImmune cell profile and metabolic preference following intramuscular lipopolysaccharide injection of highly inbred and advanced intercross genetic lines(Frontiers Media, 2025-06-03)Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a gram-negative bacterial cell wall component commonly used in animal models of inflammation, is also universally found in poultry environments. Documented LPS effects in production animals include reduced feed intake and weight loss; however, research into LPS’s impact on cellular metabolism and immune recovery is limited. This study compared baseline and stressed metabolic phenotypes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from highly inbred genetic lines and examined fuel preference, cell profiles, and C-reactive protein (CRP) expression at baseline and post-LPS injection. Forty birds from 4 genetic lines (Ghs, Line-8, Sp-21.1, and AIL-F) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments, receiving intramuscular injections of saline or 1 mg/kg BW LPS (Escherichia coli O55: B5). Body weight was recorded before injection (baseline) and 24 h post-injection (hpi), with cloacal temperature recorded at baseline, 6 hpi, and 24 hpi. Blood was collected at all timepoints for PBMC isolation, metabolic analysis, flow cytometry, and plasma CRP ELISA. Statistical analysis used the SAS 9.4 MIXED procedure with fixed effects of genetic line, injection status, and their interaction followed by Tukey–Kramer adjustment, with significance denoted at p ≤ 0.05. Baseline immune profiles and ATP production varied by line (p ≤ 0.02). LPS did not significantly impact body weight or temperature but influenced all immune cell populations and CRP concentration at 6 hpi (p ≤ 0.02). Sp-21.1 exhibited a glycolytic metabolic profile and higher baseline CD3+CD1.1+ and CD3+CD4+ populations, suggesting enhanced antigen presentation and cytokine signaling. AIL-F displayed sustained monocyte/macrophage activation post-LPS and the highest baseline CD3+CD8α+ populations, indicating a distinct cytotoxic immune response. Line-8 maintained the highest CD3+ populations post-LPS and increased ATP production at 6 hpi, suggesting a balance between immune activation and metabolic compensation. Ghs exhibited a depletion of monocyte/macrophage+ cells post-LPS but later recovered, highlighting a delayed immune response that may impact pathogen resistance. Results suggest genetic line may have a greater influence on metabolic pathway preferences than LPS injection in this experiment. Characterizing metabolic changes during immune activation and recovery may offer insights into breed-specific production traits and inform future breeding and management strategies to enhance health and production efficiency.