Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of carbon dioxide fixation in the chemoautotroph Xanthobacter flavus

The last decade has seen significant advances in our understanding of the physiology, ecology, and molecular biology of chemoautotrophic bacteria. Many ecosystems are dependent on CO 2 fixation by either free-living or symbiotic chemoautotrophs. CO 2 fixation in the chemoautotroph occurs via the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. The cycle is characterized by three unique enzymatic activities: ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, phosphoribulokinase, and sedoheptulose bisphosphatase. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is commonly found in the cytoplasm, but a number of bacteria package much of the enzyme into polyhedral organelles, the carboxysomes. The carboxysome genes are located adjacent to cbb genes, which are often, but not always, clustered in large operons. The availability of carbon and reduced substrates control the expression of cbb genes in concert with the LysR-type transcriptional regulator, CbbR. Additional regulatory proteins may also be involved. All of these, as well as related topics, are discussed in detail in this review.
Sighting surveys from a ship and a helicopter in the Weddell Sea in 2006/07 and 2008/09

Helicopter and shipboard surveys were conducted for cetaceans in the Weddell Sea from the German research vessel ‘Polarstern’. The first survey in 2006/07 started south of South Africa, went to Neumayer Station in Atka Bay (70°29.6’ S/07°57.6’ W), crossed the Weddell Sea from Neumayer to south of Elephant Island and worked around the South Shetland Islands and east of the Antarctic Peninsula in front of former Larsen A and B glaciers. The second survey covered two transects: the first more westerly one started at 57°09.3’ S/00°39.1’ E and went to Atka Bay (70°29.6’ S/07°57.6’ W) whereas the second (return leg) followed a more easterly course from Atka Bay over Maud Rise to 57°03.1’ S/12° 27.5’ W. No observations could be conducted from 63 to 57°S on the return cruise due to fog (visibility <200 m) and swell. Standard line transect survey protocols were followed while the helicopter and the ship followed track lines that could not be designed (i.e. fully randomized) in advance due to unpredictability of the ice conditions and the need to meet several objectives simultaneously. Helicopter track lines covered a total of 13 124 and, 13 417 km in 2006 and 2008 respectively while the ship survey covered 1 171 and 2 011 km respectively. We were particularly interested in the distribution and abundance of Antarctic minke whales in the pack-ice. Minke whales were primarily seen in the ice. Killer and southern bottlenose whales were also seen in the ice while all baleen whales other than minke whales, and sperm whales were only observed in open water. Humpback whales were the most frequently sighted species on the shipboard survey in 2006/07 and the helicopter survey in 2008/09. Environmental information, including proportion ice coverage, was collected continuously. One striking finding from this summary was a much higher encounter rate for all cetaceans from the ship than from the helicopter. This difference could be explained by observers on the helicopter missing more animals on the track line than those from the ship (i.e. g (0) <1); it could equally be explained if whales, were drawn to leads created while RV ‘Polarstern’ broke the ice. This discrepancy warrants closer attention
Seeing versus Arguing The Moderating Role of Collaborative Visualization in Team Knowledge Integration

This paper sheds light on the communicative process through which experts and decision makers integrate their domain specific knowledge in decision making situations and argues for the benefit of knowledge visualization. We present a second order model for knowledge integration that reflects the main communicative challenges of such interactions. These are: unequal participation, a lack of common ground, a lack of big picture, and an unconstructive handling of conflict. Presenting results from an experimental study, we show that supporting conversations with an interactive visualization tool moderates the relationships of these communicative challenges and knowledge integration. We find that in the supported condition, conversers rely more on the establishment of common ground and big picture and deal more constructively with conflict.
Sunscreens – another endangered species?

Skin cancer continues to increase in incidence year‐on‐year and represents the most common form of cancer across the globe. Every human undergoes premature ageing, particularly on the face, neck and hands. Both phenomena are driven primarily by chronic, daily exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). While sunscreen products play a primary role in the prevention of UVR skin damage, the active ingredients, i.e., UVR filters, are facing unprecedented challenges in the coming 10 years and their future is by no means certain. This article, therefore, reviews afresh the facts around photoprotection and the role of sunscreen products in the prevention of acute (sunburn) and chronic (cancer, photoageing) skin damage and compares/contrasts these with various emerging questions and opinions around UVR filter technology. We present a passionate defence of this remarkable technology, but also attempt to imagine a world without it.
Prevalence of prediabetes and risk factors in the general adult population of Croatia - EH-UH 2 study

: Introduction: Prediabetes is a state of elevated blood glucose, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. The prevalence depends on the criteria used in the definition of prediabetes and on the observed populations. Known risk factors are obesity, age ≥ 45 years, positive family history of type 2 diabetes, insufficient physical activity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and positive smoking status. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of prediabetes in a randomized, representative sample of the adult population of the Republic of Croatia and to determine the association and predictability of risk factors. Materials and methods: Out of 1219 adult participants who were involved in the scientific research project EHUH-2, 687 met the final criteria. All participants underwent clinical examination. Personal and family history were obtained from the collected data in the questionnaire. The participants were instructed to fast for 12 hours before the blood draw and were given detailed instructions on collecting a 24-hour urine sample. According to the ADA criteria, prediabetes is defined as a fasting glucose value between 5.6, and 6.9 mmol/L. Results: The prevalence of prediabetes in our sample was 11.1%. Predictive factors for prediabetes were older age, male gender, higher body weight, higher body mass index, larger waist circumference, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, larger body surface area, a higher percentage of visceral fat, decreased glomerular filtration rate, higher serum uric acid levels, and greater albuminuria (ACR). The final hierarchical regression model, which included body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, age, gender, eGFR, information on smoking, albuminuria, and urate, was statistically significant (p < ; 0.001; Nagelkerke R2=0,272). Conclusion: Our study is the first in which the prevalence of prediabetes and its association with risk factors were determined in a representative randomized sample of the general adult population of Croatia. While further research is needed, our results shows that in the presence of multiple risk factors for prediabetes, the focus should be on age, systolic blood pressure, and albuminuria as the main predictive factors of prediabetes, especially in individuals with visceral obesity.
Chinese National Network Magnitudes, Their Relation to NEIC Magnitudes, and Recommendations for New IASPEI Magnitude Standards

We investigate the linear regression relationships between common seismic magnitudes determined by the Chinese Earthquake Network Center (CENC) and compare them with related magnitude determinations for the same events at the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC). Despite their generally good agreement some systematic differences are revealed. These dif- ferences are due to differences in seismograph response (shape and bandwidth), the time window for measurement of maximum P-wave amplitudes, the period and dis- tance ranges used, and, in part, also the different calibration functions applied. Chi- nese broadband body-wave magnitude mB, compared with the NEIC short-period P- wave magnitude mb, is much less prone to magnitude saturation. Thus it is more suitable to assess the size of large earthquakes from P waves. Also, following Inter- national Association of Seismology and Physics of the Earth's Interior (IASPEI) recommendations of 1967, Chinese surface-wave magnitude MS is determined in a wider distance (1 D 180) and period range (3 sec T 30 sec) than MS(20) at NEIC (20 D 160 and 18 sec T 22 sec, respectively). Chinese MS for small and medium earthquakes at regional distances between 2 D 10 scales well with local magnitude ML. In contrast, NEIC MS(20) tends to underestimate the magnitude of regional events when the IASPEI-recommended MS calibration function by Vane yk et al. (1962) is used. These findings support some of the new standards for magnitude measurements from digital data adopted at the IASPEI meeting in 2005. They include, complementary to band-limited m b and M S (20), the determination of m B and M S (BB) measured on unfiltered broadband records.
Transport of ozone precursors from the Arctic troposphere to the North Atlantic region

The importance of Arctic outflow events to the budgets of nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons in the North Atlantic region is estimated using a climatology of isentropic airflow trajectories, in combination with current understanding of the levels of these compounds in the Arctic troposphere. We first review available measurements of nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), total reactive oxidized nitrogen (NOy), and major NOy species in the Arctic troposphere to develop best estimate average vertical profiles during January-May outflow events. Measurements of these compounds in the winter-spring Arctic are generally consistent. Average levels during March are ≥500 parts per 1012 by volume (NOy) and ∼20 parts per billion carbon (NMHC). Current evidence for a significant vertical gradient above the boundary layer is weak, although additional measurements are needed. Secondly, the flow patterns and frequency of Arctic outflow events which reach the North Atlantic region south of 50°–55°N are investigated using an 11-year climatology of isentropic forward trajectories originating at 70°N in the months of January-May. The dominant route of trajectories reaching the temperate North Atlantic originates north of Canada at 2–6 km altitude and continues southward along a semipermanent trough located near the East Coast of North America. Trajectories reaching the temperate North Atlantic originated in this region on ∼70% of the days analyzed. Significant subsidence occurs during the southward flow, resulting in warming conducive to photochemical processing of the Arctic pollutants. Based on these analyses, the southward fluxes of NOy and NMHCs out of the Arctic in events which reach the North Atlantic south of 50°N total 7.3 GgN/month NOy and 250 GgC/month NMHC during March. These values are biased low as they include only those trajectories originating below 6 km and exclude trajectories which pass over the United States or southeastern Canada. The calculated NOy flux during May is lower but may be underestimated due to uncertainty in conditions in the Arctic free troposphere in that month. The May flux of NMHCs is larger than that in March as a result of a more frequent occurrence of outflow events. These fluxes impact air parcels which are not affected by direct transport from source regions and appear to be seasonally significant relative to other sources of ozone precursors to the North Atlantic troposphere. If a significant fraction of the peroxyacetyl nitrate and alkyl nitrates which comprise most of the advected NOy decomposes over the North Atlantic, the transport of anthropogenic pollutants through the Arctic may play a significant role in the ozone budget of the North Atlantic troposphere.
Atmospheric chemistry and greenhouse gases

Chapter 4 of the IPCC Third Assessment Report Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. Sections include: Executive Summary 2414.1 Introduction 2434.2 Trace Gases: Current Observations, Trends and Budgets 2484.3 Projections of Future Emissions 2664.4 Projections of Atmospheric Composition for the 21st Century 2674.5 Open Questions 2774.6 Overall Impact of Global Atmospheric Chemistry Change 279
K/Ar and Rb/Sr ages of celadonites from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus

K/Ar dating and Rb/Sr isochrons of two celadonite veins from the Troodos ophiolite, Cyprus, consistently yield precipitation ages of 77-80 and 87-92 Ma, respectively. Their K/Ar bulk-rock age data (84.7 +/- 2.3 Ma), combined with the oldest celadonite age and recently published radiolarian ages, suggest that the Troodos ophiolite was formed between 85 and 92 Ma, providing an estimate for the duration of celadonite formation of at least 7 m.y. , but possibly up to 15 m.y. These data are consistent with data from Deep Sea Drilling Project holes, suggesting that precipitation of the most significant portion of vein minerals in the oceanic crust occurs within about 12 m.y. , but possibly up to 19 m.y. after crustal formation. Leaching experiments suggest that K, Ar, Rb, and Sr in exchangeable and nonexchangeable sites of the structure of stoichiometric celadonite maintain their isotope characteristics and are resistant to change from diagenetic processes or surface alteration.
Anatomical and Transcriptome Analyses of Moso Bamboo Culm Neck Growth: Unveiling Key Insights

The Moso bamboo culm neck, connected with the rhizome and the shoot bud, is an important hub for connecting and transporting the aboveground and belowground systems of bamboo for the shoot bud development and rapid growth. Our previous study revealed that the culm neck generally undergoes six different developmental stages (CNS1–CNS6), according to the primary thickening growth of the underground shoot bud. However, the molecular mechanism of the culm neck development remains unknown. The present study focused on the developmental process of the CNS3–CNS5 stages, representing the early, middle, and late elongation stages, respectively. These stages are densely packed with vascular tissues and consist of epidermis, hypodermis, cortex, and ground tissue. Unlike the hollow structure of the culms, the culm necks are solid structures. As the culm neck continues to grow, the lignin deposition increases noticeably, contributing to its progressive strengthening. For the transcriptome analysis, a total of 161,160 transcripts with an average length of 2373 were obtained from these stages using both PacBio and Illumina sequencing. A total of 92.2% of the reads mapped to the Moso bamboo reference genome. Further analysis identified a total of 5524 novel genes and revealed a dynamic transcriptome. Secondary-metabolism- and transport-related genes were upregulated particularly with the growth of the culm neck. Further analysis revealed the molecular processes of lignin accumulation in the culm neck, which include differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to cell wall loosening and remodeling and secondary metabolism. Moreover, the upregulations of transcription factors such as MYBH and RSM in the MYB family play crucial roles during critical transitions in the culm neck development, such as changes in the angle between the rhizome and the culm neck. Our new findings provide essential insights into the cellular roadmaps, transcriptional networks, and key genes involved in the culm neck development.
Disheveled-1 Interacts with Claudin-5 and Contributes to Norrin-Induced Endothelial Barrier Restoration

Previous studies have revealed that norrin can reverse vascular endothelial-growth-factor (VEGF)-induced permeability in a β-catenin-dependent pathway. Here, we have explored the contribution of disheveled-1 (DVL1) in norrin-induced blood-retinal barrier (BRB) restoration. We provide evidence that in addition to canonical signaling, DVL1 promotes tight junction (TJ) stabilization through a novel, non-canonical signaling pathway involving direct claudin-5 (CLDN5) binding. Immunofluorescence staining of rat retinal cross-sections showed enriched expression of DVL1 and 3 at endothelial capillaries and co-localization with CLDN5 and ZO-1 at the TJ complex in primary bovine retinal endothelial cells (BRECs). Barrier properties of BRECs were determined via measurements of trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) or permeability to 70 kDa RITC-dextran. These studies demonstrated that norrin restoration of barrier properties after VEGF treatment required DVL1 as an siRNA knockdown of Dvl1 but not Dvl2 or Dvl3, reduced basal barrier properties and ablated norrin-induced barrier restoration. However, loss of Dvl1 did not decrease β-catenin signaling activity as measured by Axin2 mRNA expression, suggesting the contribution of a non-canonical pathway. DVL and TJ protein interactions were analyzed via co-immunoprecipitation of endogenous protein in BRECs, which demonstrated that DVL1 interacts with both CLDN5 and ZO-1, while DVL3 interacts only with ZO-1. These interactions were most abundant after inducing BRB restoration by treating BRECs with VEGF and norrin. DVL has previously been shown to form intramolecular bindings between the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (PDZ-BM) with an internal PDZ domain. Co-transfection of HEK293 cells with DVL1 and CLDN5 or relevant mutants revealed that DVL1 interacts with CLDN5 through the DVL PDZ domain binding, CLDN5 PDZ-BM, in competition with DVL1 PDZ-BM, since DVL/CLDN5 interaction increases with deletion of the DVL1 PDZ-BM and decreases by co-expressing the C-terminal fragment of DVL1 containing the PDZ-BM or through deletion of CLDN5 PDZ-BM. In BREC cells, transfection of the C-terminal fragment of DVL1 downregulates the expression of CLDN5 but does not affect the expression of other proteins of the TJs, including ZO-1, occludin, CLDN1 or VE-cadherin. Blocking DVL1/CLDN5 interaction increased basal permeability and prevented norrin induction of barrier properties after VEGF. Combined with previous data, these results demonstrate that norrin signals through both a canonical β-catenin pathway and a non-canonical signaling pathway by which DVL1 directly binds to CLDN5 to promote barrier properties.
Impact of Storage Conditions and Aging Effect on RF Breakdown and Electrical Performance in Metallic Flight Hardware

An ageing campaign has been carried out on different metals relevant to space applications (silver, gold, aluminium and surtec modified aluminium). During this campaign of 46 months, the evolution of the TEEY has been measured at different times. Additionally, Multipactor tests have been realised at the beginning and end of the ageing process.
Direct and indirect effects of fire on parasites in an African savanna

Fires in grassy ecosystems consume vegetation and initiate high‐quality regrowth, which results in pyric herbivory when mammalian grazers concentrate feeding in recent burns. For environmentally transmitted parasites with transmission mechanisms linked to vegetation structure, fire should exert direct effects on parasites, as well as indirect effects resulting from subsequent enhanced herbivory, which can affect parasite input and exposure to environmental conditions. We combined an experimental manipulation with observational data in the Serengeti National Park to investigate the direct and indirect effects of fire on parasites. We assessed the direct effects of fire by measuring changes in parasitic nematode larvae in the grass layer before and after fire on paired experimental burned and control plots. To investigate indirect effects linked to pyric herbivory, we sampled herbivore dung, grass biomass, ground temperature and larval densities every month for 5 months following fire in seven pairs of burned and unburned monitoring plots. Finally, to assess if fire‐driven changes to larval densities affected host infection burdens, we collected faecal samples from a key host, Grant's gazelle (Nanger granti), each month for 5 months to estimate within‐host parasite burdens. Fire killed all larvae and increased grazer dung inputs by 40% for 2 months following fire. Dung inputs after fire led to larval parasite recolonization of burned patches, but intense herbivory kept grass short and larval densities were associated with changes in ground temperature linked to grass biomass and ambient temperature. Grant's gazelles had lower parasite burdens when sampled in areas with higher compared to lower burned area fraction. Fire and pyric herbivory change the densities of larval parasites in the environment and divide the landscape into burned and unburned regions with distinct infection risks for local herbivores. The indirect effects quantified here represent a novel finding with major implications for all grazing systems impacted by fire.
Convective vortices and dust devils at the Phoenix Mars mission landing site

[1] The Phoenix Mars Lander detected a larger number of short (∼20 s) pressure drops that probably indicate the passage of convective vortices or dust devils. Near-continuous pressure measurements have allowed for monitoring the frequency of these events, and data from other instruments and orbiting spacecraft give information on how these pressure events relate to the seasons and weather phenomena at the Phoenix landing site. Here 502 vortices were identified with a pressure drop larger than 0.3 Pa occurring in the 151 sol mission (Ls 76 to 148). The diurnal distributions show a peak in convective vortices around noon, agreeing with current theory and previous observations. The few events detected at night might have been mechanically forced by turbulent eddies caused by the nearby Heimdal crater. A general increase with major peaks in the convective vortex activity occurs during the mission, around Ls = 111. This correlates with changes in midsol surface heat flux, increasing wind speeds at the landing site, and increases in vortex density. Comparisons with orbiter imaging show that in contrast to the lower latitudes on Mars, the dust devil activity at the Phoenix landing site is influenced more by active weather events passing by the area than by local forcing.