Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A chromosome-level genome assembly of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) reveals insights into genome adaptation and differential bolting regulation.

High-quality radish (Raphanus sativus) genome represents a valuable resource for agronomical trait improvements and understanding genome evolution among Brassicaceae species. However, existing radish genome assembly remains fragmentary, which greatly hampered functional genomics research and genome-assisted breeding. Here, using a NAU-LB radish inbred line, we generated a reference genome of 476.32 Mb with a scaffold N50 of 56.88Mb by incorporating Illumina, PacBio, and BioNano optical mapping techniques. Utilizing Hi-C data, 448.12 Mb (94.08%) of the assembled sequences were anchored to nine radish chromosomes with 40,306 protein-coding genes annotated. In total, 249.14 Mb (52.31%) comprised of repetitive sequences, among which long terminal repeats (LTRs, 30.30%) were the most abundant class. Beyond confirming the whole-genome triplication (WGT) event in R. sativus lineage, we found several tandem arrayed genes were involved in stress response process, which may account for distinctive phenotype of high disease resistance in R. sativus. By comparing against the existing Xin-li-mei radish genome, a total of 2,108,577 SNPs, 8063 large insertions, 8054 deletions and 84 inversions were identified. Interestingly, a 647-bp insertion in the promoter of RsVRN1 gene can be directly bound by the DOF transcription repressor RsCDF3, resulting into its low promoter activity and late-bolting phenotype of NAU-LB cultivar. Importantly, introgression of this 647-bp insertion allele, RsVRN1In-536 , into early-bolting genotype could contribute to delayed bolting time, indicating that it is a potential genetic resource for radish late-bolting breeding. Together, this genome resource provides valuable information to facilitate comparative genomic analysis and accelerate genome-guided breeding and improvement in radish.
Formation and evolution of the disc in spiral galaxies : viscous models without infall

Models are studied for the evolution of the disc of spiral galaxies that include the effects of viscosity but assume no continuous infall of gas on to the disc. The time-scale for star formation is assumed to be of the same order as the time-scale for viscous redistribution of the mass and angular momentum in the disc. It is confirmed that these models are able to reproduce the oberved radial distribution of gas and stars for present day spirals for a variety of model parameters and initial conditions
Role of artificial intelligence in diagnosing Barrett’s esophagus-related neoplasia

Barrett’s esophagus is associated with an increased risk of adenocarcinoma. Thorough screening during endoscopic surveillance is crucial to improve patient prognosis. Detecting and characterizing dysplastic or neoplastic Barrett’s esophagus during routine endoscopy are challenging, even for expert endoscopists. Artificial intelligence-based clinical decision support systems have been developed to provide additional assistance to physicians performing diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this article, we review the current role of artificial intelligence in the management of Barrett’s esophagus and elaborate on potential artificial intelligence in the future.
DDQR (dynamic DNA QR coding): An efficient algorithm to represent DNA barcode sequences

A DNA barcode is a short piece of standard DNA sequence used for species determination and discrimination. Representation of DNA barcodes is essential for DNA barcodes’ applications in the transportation and recognition of biological materials. Previously, we have compared different strategies for representing the DNA barcodes. In the present study, we have developed a compression algorithm based on binary coding or Huffman coding scheme, followed by converting the binary digits into Base64 digits. The combination of this compression algorithm and the QR representation leads to the dynamic DNA QR coding algorithm (DDQR). We tested the DDQR algorithm on simulated data and real DNA barcode sequences from the commonly used plant and animal DNA barcode markers: rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, ITS2, and COI. We compared the compression efficiency of DDQR and another state-of-the-art DNA compression algorithm GeCo3 for sequences with various base compositions and lengths. We found that DDQR had a higher compression rate than GeCo3 for DNA sequences shorter than 800 bp, which is the typical size range for DNA barcodes. We also upgraded a web server (http://www.1kmpg.cn/ddqr) that provides three functions: retrieval of DNA barcode sequences, encoding DNA barcode sequences to DDQR codes, and decoding DDQR codes to DNA barcode sequences. The DDQR algorithm and the webserver will be invaluable to applying DNA barcode technology in the food and traditional medicine industries.
Placing “trust” in science: The urban–rural divide and Americans’ feelings of warmth toward scientists

Long-standing discussions of the so-called urban–rural divide in the United States have uncovered meaningful differences between urbanites and rural residents, but much of this work has focused on political attitudes. However, there is reason to believe that geographic divides also influence Americans’ science attitudes, including, for example, positive affect toward scientists and levels of trust in them. Unfortunately, existing work has not clearly ruled out confounding factors such as religiosity, political views, media habits, and conspiracism. This brief article addresses this problem by drawing on survey data from 2016 to test the hypothesis that rural residency will be associated with colder feelings toward the scientific community, even with controls in place. The results offer support for this expectation. These findings lend support to recent arguments that rural Americans’ science attitudes are influenced by factors that go beyond demographics, conspiracism, political polarization, differences of religiosity, and (partisan) media consumption.
Mortality inequalities in France since the 1920s: Evidence of a reversal of the income gradient in mortality

Many recent studies show that Europe has had a lower mortality inequality for most ages than the United States over the last thirty years. However, the evolution of the income gradient in mortality all along the twentieth century remains poorly understood. This article uses a unique dataset that gives the annual lifetables and fiscal income for the 90 administrative regions of mainland France from 1922 to 2020. The income gradients in mortality are computed across regions using a traditional method with calendar ages and, alternatively, with mortality milestones to control for the increase in life expectancy over time. The study reveals a systematic reversal of the gradient that occurred around the 1970s for both sexes and all ages or mortality groups when calculated at an aggregated level. Inequality in mortality amongst the oldest age groups has however returned to a level observed at least ten years earlier because of Covid-19, even after controlling for mortality improvements over the period.
Carbon uptake in Eurasian boreal forests dominates the high‐latitude net ecosystem carbon budget

Arctic‐boreal landscapes are experiencing profound warming, along with changes in ecosystem moisture status and disturbance from fire. This region is of global importance in terms of carbon feedbacks to climate, yet the sign (sink or source) and magnitude of the Arctic‐boreal carbon budget within recent years remains highly uncertain. Here, we provide new estimates of recent (2003–2015) vegetation gross primary productivity (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Reco), net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE; Reco − GPP), and terrestrial methane (CH4) emissions for the Arctic‐boreal zone using a satellite data‐driven process‐model for northern ecosystems (TCFM‐Arctic), calibrated and evaluated using measurements from >60 tower eddy covariance (EC) sites. We used TCFM‐Arctic to obtain daily 1‐km2 flux estimates and annual carbon budgets for the pan‐Arctic‐boreal region. Across the domain, the model indicated an overall average NEE sink of −850 Tg CO2‐C year−1. Eurasian boreal zones, especially those in Siberia, contributed to a majority of the net sink. In contrast, the tundra biome was relatively carbon neutral (ranging from small sink to source). Regional CH4 emissions from tundra and boreal wetlands (not accounting for aquatic CH4) were estimated at 35 Tg CH4‐C year−1. Accounting for additional emissions from open water aquatic bodies and from fire, using available estimates from the literature, reduced the total regional NEE sink by 21% and shifted many far northern tundra landscapes, and some boreal forests, to a net carbon source. This assessment, based on in situ observations and models, improves our understanding of the high‐latitude carbon status and also indicates a continued need for integrated site‐to‐regional assessments to monitor the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents: An Opportunity to Build Resilient Systems

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents is significant. Educational progress and mental health, in particular, have been negatively affected. Among youth from vulnerable communities, pre-existing academic and health disparities have been exacerbated. Youth outcomes are often attributed to individual resilience – or lack thereof; in this paper, we describe how failure to adapt and effectively cope at the system level (ie, lack of system resilience) is implicated in the current dual educational and mental crisis. We describe opportunities to make our systems more nimble and better-equipped to support youth moving forward.
Ceftriaxone induces glial EAAT‐2 promotor region via NF‐kB conformational changes: An interaction analysis using HADDOCK

Excitotoxicity, depletion of energy metabolites, and ionic imbalance are the major factors involved in neurodegeneration mediated through excitatory amino acid transporter‐2 (EAAT‐2) dysfunction in ischemic insult. Recent studies have revealed that ceftriaxone expresses EAAT‐2 via nuclear transcription factor kappa‐B (NF‐kB) signaling pathway, stimulation of EAAT‐2 expression in the ischemic, and excitotoxic conditions that could provide potential benefits to control neurodegeneration. In this study, we have predicted the in silico model for interaction between NF‐kB and EAAT‐2 promoter region to rule out the conformational changes for the expression of EAAT‐2 protein. Using homology‐built model of NF‐kB, we identified ceftriaxone‐induced conformational changes in gene locus −272 of DNA where NF‐kB binding with EAAT‐2 promoter region through protein−DNA docking calculation. The interaction profile and conformational dynamics occurred between ceftriaxone predocked and postdocked conformations of NF‐kB with DNA employing HADDOCK 2.2 web server followed by 250 ns long all atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. Both the protein and DNA exhibited modest conformational changes with respect to HADDOCK score, energy terms (desolvation energy [Edesolv]), van der waal energy (Evdw), electrostatic energy (Eelec), restraints energy (Eair), buried surface area, root mean square deviation, RMSF, radius of gyration, total hydrogen bonds when ceftriaxone pre‐ and postdocked NF‐kB conformations were bound to DNA. Hence, the conformational changes in the C‐terminal domain could be the reason for EAAT‐2 expression through ceftriaxone specific binding pocket of −272 of DNA.
Entry receptors — the gateway to alphavirus infection

Alphaviruses are enveloped, insect-transmitted, positive-sense RNA viruses that infect humans and other animals and cause a range of clinical manifestations, including arthritis, musculoskeletal disease, meningitis, encephalitis, and death. Over the past four years, aided by CRISPR/Cas9–based genetic screening approaches, intensive research efforts have focused on identifying entry receptors for alphaviruses to better understand the basis for cellular and species tropism. Herein, we review approaches to alphavirus receptor identification and how these were used for discovery. The identification of new receptors advances our understanding of viral pathogenesis, tropism, and evolution and is expected to contribute to the development of novel strategies for prevention and treatment of alphavirus infection.
Long-range correlated percolation

This paper is a study of the percolation problem with long-range correlations in the site or bond occupations. An extension of the Harris criterion for the relevance of the correlations is derived for the case that the correlations decay as x/sup -a/ for large distances x. For ad the correlations are relevant if d.nu. -2 . 1. With the use of this result, a renormalization-group study of the problem is presented, expanding in epsilon = 6-d and in delta = 4-a. In addition to the normal percolation fixed point, we find a new long-range fixed point. The crossover to this new fixed point follows the extended Harris criterion, and the fixed point has exponents . nu. /sub long/ = 2/a (as predicted) and eta/sub long/ = (1/11)(delta-epsilon). Finally, several results on the percolation properties of the Ising model at its critical point are shown to be in agreement with the predictions of this paper.
Electrical bistability in hybrid ZnO nanorod/polymethylmethacrylate heterostructures

A hybrid resistance switching device consisting of ZnO nanorods embedded in an insulating polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) heterostructure sandwiched between a transparent conductive film and an Al electrode is proposed. The current-voltage characteristics of the device are discussed in terms of the formation and rupture of its conductive filaments. The hybrid device shows stable electrical bistable behaviors after more than 200 resistance-switching cycles. The hybrid ZnO nanorod/PMMA device presented in this work has potential applications in the field of bistable random access memory devices.
The PTP1B selective inhibitor MSI-1436 mitigates Tunicamycin-induced ER stress in human hepatocarcinoma cell line through XBP1 splicing modulation

Protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B is considered as a key metabolic enzyme that has been reported to be associated with insulin resistance onset, and underlying cellular metabolic malfunctions, including ER stress and mitochondrial failure. In this study, effects of selective PTP1B inhibition using MSI-1436 on cellular apoptosis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress have been assessed using an in vitro model of Tunicamycin induced ER stress in HepG2 cell line. Inhibition of PTP1B using MSI-1436 significantly increased cell viability and reduced the number of apoptotic cells as well as the expression of key apoptosis initiators and effectors. MSI-1436 further mitigated ER stress, by downregulating the expression of IRE1, ATF6 and PERK transcripts, all being key ER stress sensors. Interestingly, MSI-1436 inhibited the XBP1 splicing, and thus its UPR-associated transcriptional activity. PTP1B inhibition further enabled to restore proper mitochondrial biogenesis, by improving transmembrane potential, and diminishing intracellular ROS while restoring of endogenous antioxidant enzymes genes expression. PTP1B inhibition using MSI-1436 could improve cellular apoptosis and metabolic integrity through the mitigation of ER and mitochondrial stress signalling pathways, and excessive ROS accumulation. This strategy may be useful for the treatment of metabolic disorders including IR, NAFLD and diabetes.
Influence of psychological intervention on patients undergoing spinal anesthesia: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of positive intervention on the anxiety and the physiological and psychological aspects among preoperative and post-surgical patients with spinal anesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHODS A randomized trial was conducted with an intervention group (n=58) and a control group (n=59). In the intervention group, the patients were well-informed of the details during spinal anesthesia. Multiple methods were performed to control anxiety before surgery, and nurses were not allowed to discuss the condition during surgery. Anesthesiologists were invited to visit patients to avoid excessive anxiety. RESULTS The intervention group showed lower scores of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) (p<0.05) than the control group 24 hours post-operation. Physiological indices such as systolic blood pressure, low frequency (LF) power, high frequency (HF) power and ration of LF/HF showed better surgery recovery (p<0.05) than the control group. The length of post-anesthesia care unit stay was also significantly shortened in the intervention group (p=0.001) compared with the control group. Positive intervention may alleviate the anxiety in surgical patients receiving spinal anesthesia and improve the physiological and psychological outcomes clinically. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide evidence indicating that proper intervention can be promoted clinically to improve the satisfaction and quality of life of patients undergoing spinal anesthesia.
Effect of Fluid Viscosity on the Suspension of a Single Particle in Channel Flow

Suspension of a single solid particle in a channel flow with a constant pressure gradient is studied numerically. The interaction of a circular particle with a surrounding Newtonian fluid is formulated using a combined formulation. Numerical results are presented using two dimensionless variables: the sedimentation Reynolds number and the generalized Froude number. From the present results, it has been shown that a solid particle is suspended at a smaller generalized Froude number as the viscosity of the surrounding fluid increases. The time taken for equilibrium position is found to be smaller as fluid viscosity increases when both : the sedimentation Reynolds number and the generalized Froude number are the same while, at the same situation, the dimensionless time taken for equilibrium position is to be nearly the same regardless of fluid viscosity when a dimensionless time variable is introduced.
Polarity control of ZnO on sapphire by varying the MgO buffer layer thickness

Polarity-controlled ZnO films with an MgO buffer layer were grown on c-plane sapphire by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. Convergent beam electron diffraction results showed that Zn-polarity (+c) growth occurred when the MgO layer was thicker than 3 nm, whereas O-polarity (−c) growth occurred when the layer was less than 2 nm. Reflection high-energy electron diffraction results revealed that MgO growth was Stranski–Krastanov mode, and that the growth mode transition from two- to three-dimensional occurred when the layer was thicker than 1 nm. In conclusion, polarity conversion apparently occurs due to the different atomic structure between the wetting layer and islands of MgO.
Coal‐mining subsidence changed distribution of the microbiomes and their functional genes in a farmland

Land subsidence is a serious geological event, and can trigger severe environmental and ecological issues. In this study, the influences of coal‐mining subsidence on distribution of farmland microbiomes and their functional genes were investigated by 16 S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and metagenome sequencing. The results showed the existence of a core microbiome, which determined the community compositions across the subsidence farmland. Subsidence decreased the relative abundances of dominant Streptomyces, Nocardioides, and Rhizophagus, but increased the relative abundances of dominant Bradyrhizobium, Rhizobium, and Trichoderma. Subsidence also decreased the relative abundances of genes related to carbon metabolism, Quorum sensing, aminoacyl‐transfer RNA (tRNA) biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation, and increased the relative abundances of genes related to two‐component system and bacterial chemotaxis. Furthermore, subsidence weakened the biosynthesis of organic carbons by decreasing the relative abundances of genes encoding glycosyl transferases, and strengthened decomposition of degradable organic carbons of the microbiomes and auxiliary activities by increasing the relative abundances of genes encoding glycoside hydrolases and polysaccharide lyases. The concentrations of total phosphorus, Mg2+, and Ca2+ at the lower areas were significantly higher than those at the upper areas, indicating an associated loss of soil nutrients. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that soil moisture, pH, and the concentrations of NH4+ and Ca2+ were the main factors affecting the distribution of the microbiomes and their functional genes. Collectively, this study shows that coal‐mining subsidence alters soil physicochemical properties and distribution of farmland microbiomes and their functional genes.
Experimental study of inertioelastic Couette–Taylor instability modes in dilute and semidilute polymer solutions

Instabilities appearing in the circular Couette flow with a dilute or semidilute solution of high molecular weight polyethyleneoxide in water have been investigated when the outer cylinder is kept at rest. The shear-thinning behavior of solutions was determined through low shear viscosity measurements. We have found that, depending on concentration, different flow structures can appear at the onset of instability. For dilute concentrations, the critical mode is the stationary and axisymmetric Taylor vortex flow, which bifurcates to time periodic wavy vortex flow for a higher shear rate. The oscillation amplitude of wavy vortex flow decreased with the increasing shear rate. For sufficiently semidilute solutions, the critical mode occurs in the form of standing waves, the frequency of which decreases with the shear rate. The critical Taylor number increases for solutions without a shear-thinning effect and decreases for solutions exhibiting shear thinning.
I won’t listen if I think we’re losing our way: How right-wing authoritarianism affects the response to different anti-prejudice messages

Prejudice reduction messages have been shown to be effective through changing norms. Previous research suggests that Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) moderates the reaction to these messages, but it is unclear whether individuals high in RWA are more or less sensitive to prejudice-reduction campaigns. This research used the social identity approach to investigate the role of RWA in moderating the reactions to messages that look to reduce support for prejudicial policies and associated prejudice against an ethnoreligious group (Muslims). Americans (N = 388) were presented with statements on a real, proposed ban on Muslim immigration into the US from an in-group member (i.e., an American freight worker who disapproves of the Muslim ban), outgroup member (an Iraqi refugee who is in favour if the Muslim ban), or both, or control message. Those high in RWA showed consistently high levels of prejudice against Muslims in all conditions, but those low in RWA showed lower prejudice when presented with the anti-prejudice message from an in-group member (compared to control). This suggests that anti-prejudice messages primarily affect those with low RWA, clarifying that RWA likely leads to resistance to anti-prejudice messages regardless of the source. Future research aiming to reduce prejudice should examine how messages can be tailored to reduce prejudice in those with high RWA.