bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular mechanisms regulating ornamental traits and scent production in snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.)
Authors: Qiao Zhenglin , Song Xiaohui , Kong Yulai , Shi Senbao , Yan Bo , Egea-Cortines Marcos , Chen Longqing
Published: December 2023

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) is a widely cultivated and economically important cut flower and bedding plant worldwide due to its high ornamental value. At the same time, owing to its herbaceous features, ease of growth and cultivation, short life cycle, diploid inheritance, diverse morphological variation, and self-incompatibility, it has also been used as a model plant for studies on molecular biology, biochemistry, and plant developmental genetics. Over the past few decades, hundreds of plant genetics and physiology studies have been published on snapdragon. This review aims to summarize the advances in the characterization of snapdragon ornamental characters associated with floral organ size, shape, scent, color, and plant appearance. A broad spectrum of genes and their action mechanisms were explored and discussed, including comprehensive investigations at the genome-wide level and unraveling the functions of structural genes and master regulators and their interactions. In addition, the biosynthetic pathway involved in floral volatile scent production was summarized. Finally, the TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS (TCP) family in snapdragon was investigated using the latest whole-genome data. This review will lay the foundation for future molecular genetics and genomics research and applications on snapdragon. It further contributes to improve our knowledge of the mechanisms regulating morphogenesis and ornamental qualities in snapdragon.
Understanding the role of GsWRKY transcription factors modulating the biosynthesis of schaftoside in Grona styracifolia
Authors: Yu Fangqin , Wang Zhiqiang , Shi Dingding , Liu Ting , Wang Ying , Peng Ting , Zeng Shaohua
Published: December 2023

WRKY transcription factors are pivotal regulators in various aspects of plant biology, including growth, development, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The legume plant Grona styracifolia is widely utilized for its medicinal properties in treating urinary calculi and combating SARS-CoV-2, owing to its bioactive component schaftoside. However, the regulatory function of GsWRKYs in schaftoside biosynthesis within G. styracifolia remains elusive. In the G. styracifolia genome, we identified a total of 102 GsWRKYs, classified phylogenetically into Group I (18), II (68), and III (16). Genomic analysis revealed an uneven distribution of GsWRKYs on chromosomes (Chr), with prevalence on Chr 1, followed by Chr 2, 3, 5, and 6. Among the 82 duplicated GsWRKYs, comprising 12, 54, and 16 members in Group I, II, and III respectively, 11 GsWRKYs were tandemly duplicated genes located across Chr 2 (2), Chr 5 (7), and Chr 9 (2). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis unveiled that 2 Group I (GsWRKY44 and GsWRKY95) and 14 Group II GsWRKYs, including two pairs of segmentally duplicated Group II GsWRKYs associated with thermomorphogenesis, exhibited coexpression with Gronastyracifolia C-glycosyltransferases (GsCGT), a gene encoding a C-glucosyltransferase involved in schaftoside biosynthesis. Furthermore, GsWRKY95 demonstrated coexpression with other schaftoside biosynthetic genes. Dual-luciferase and yeast one-hybrid assays provided additional evidence that GsWRKY95 binds to the W-box of GsCGT, activating its expression. In addition, GsWRKY95- and GsCGT-coexpressing Gronastyracifoliachalcone synthase (GsCHSs), along with 11 pairs of segmentally duplicated Group II GsWRKYs, responded to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Notably, certain GsWRKYs were identified as regulators specific to schaftoside biosynthesis in stems, roots, and leaves. These findings suggest that duplication events, particularly in segmentally duplicated Group II GsWRKYs, play a pivotal role in orchestrating the hierarchical regulation of schaftoside biosynthesis. Overall, our results establish a foundation for genetically enhancing G. styracifolia to abundantly produce schaftoside, thereby contributing to its medicinal efficacy.
Digital Innovation Strategy
Authors: Leiponen Aija
Published: December 2023

Based on applied economics and from the perspective of an innovator seeking to develop a new digital business, this textbook is aimed at MBA and advanced undergraduate audiences interested in innovation strategy and competition in digital industries. Step-by-step, the book guides innovators through a dynamic market analysis and business model design, leading to an assessment of the future evolution of the market and the broader innovation ecosystem, and what the innovator can do to position the innovation for continued success. Each chapter defines and provides references for key concepts that can be further explored through suggested readings and study questions. Real-world case studies further facilitate forming a comprehensive view on how to resolve strategic challenges of digital innovation. The topics covered in this text are essential for a broad range of managers, consultants, entrepreneurs, technologists, and analysts to understand in depth.
The Art and Science of Language Teaching
Authors: Bryfonski Lara , Mackey Alison
Published: December 2023

This user-friendly book is designed for language teachers of all levels and languages who seek to inform their classroom practices with current research findings on second language acquisition. Ideal for courses on second language learning and teaching, teacher reading groups, and professional development workshops, each chapter begins with a story of a real teaching scenario and a concise summary of what cutting-edge language teaching research says (and what it does not say) about the topic. Throughout the twenty-one chapters, the authors connect language research to the classroom, challenge misunderstandings around language pedagogy, and provide solutions. Each chapter concludes with classroom activities, and instructional strategies that can be used immediately in professional development workshops or in the classroom. Additional resources are available online to supplement the activities found in the book. Applicable across all languages and levels, this book is suitable for teachers of diverse backgrounds teaching in diverse contexts.
Financial Inclusion
Authors: Kirwan Samuel
Published: December 2023

Without access to mainstream financial services, people pay more for goods and services and have less choice. The impacts of exclusion are not just financial but also affect education, employment, health, housing, and overall well-being.

Limited access to financial services also impedes economic development in impoverished communities, which has prompted policy-makers, private institutions and NGOs to develop strategies to address financial inclusion. Drawing on a series of illustrative case studies - from India's micro-credit industry to mobile banking in South Africa - Samuel Kirwan examines the various types of policy implementation in developed and developing countries, and considers the social impact and efficacy of such economic intervention. While acknowledging the risks and pitfalls of government-backed and private financial inclusion practices, the book makes a strong case for the value of financial inclusion both as a conceptual term for clarifying the stakes of material poverty and as a policy tool that creates a space for meaningful changes in economic practices.

The book provides valuable insight into the role of government policy in combatting inequality and is a welcome resource for researchers examining the socio-economic dimensions of poverty and attempts to address it.
A novel method to visualize liquid distribution in snow: superimposition of MRI and X-ray CT images
Authors: Yamaguchi Satoru , Adachi Satoru , Sunako Sojiro
Published: December 2023

The relationship between the behavior of water in snow and its microstructure is crucial to improve the prediction of wet snow disasters. X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) is frequently used to observe snow microscopically. However, distinguishing between ice and water in the X-ray images is difficult because ice exhibits an X-ray absorption coefficient similar to that of water. In contrast, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquires nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals of protons in a liquid and visualizes the NMR signal intensity, enabling discrimination between water and ice signals. However, snow grains and pore spaces cannot be distinguished in MRI images because they do not generate NMR signals.

To investigate the relationship between the microstructure of snow and the distribution of liquids in snow, we developed a novel method that combines X-ray CT and MRI images to compensate for the disadvantages associated with each method. Using this method, we successfully visualized where liquid (C12H24) occupied pore spaces. We also showed the possibility of using C12H24 instead of water to obtain water retention curve of snow cover, which is a fundamental aspect of hydraulic properties. Although there is room for improvement in the visualization of water in snow, such as shortening the imaging time to escape snow metamorphosis and image superimposition methods, this method is expected to effectively elucidate the behavior of water in snow and clarify the characteristics of wet snow.
The use of UV-C radiation for terminal disinfection of pathogenic Gram-negative rods: a pilot study
Authors: Tholany Joseph , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Frank Amy R. , Bryant Steven H. , Cunningham Goedken Cassie , Suh Daniel , Stevens Michael S. , Sherlock Stacey M. Hockett , Perencevich Eli N.
Published: December 2023

In this controlled study, we found that exposure to ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation was able to arrest the growth of selected pathogenic enteric and nonfermenting Gram-negative rods. Further studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy and determine optimal implementation strategies for utilizing UV-C terminal disinfection.
Geometry of stratified turbulent mixing: local alignment of the density gradient with rotation, shear and viscous dissipation
Authors: Jiang Xianyang , Atoufi Amir , Zhu Lu , Lefauve Adrien , Taylor John R. , Dalziel Stuart B. , Linden P.F.
Published: December 2023

We introduce a geometric analysis of turbulent mixing in density-stratified flows based on the alignment of the density gradient in two orthogonal bases that are locally constructed from the velocity gradient tensor. The first basis connects diapycnal mixing to rotation and shearing motions, building on the recent ‘rortex–shear decomposition’ in stratified shear layers (Jiang et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 947, 2022, A30), while the second basis connects mixing to the principal axes of the viscous dissipation tensor. Applying this framework to datasets taken in the stratified inclined duct laboratory experiment reveals that density gradients in locations of high shear tend to align preferentially (i) along the direction of minimum dissipation and (ii) normal to the plane spanned by the rortex and shear vectors. The analysis of the local alignment across increasingly turbulent flows offers new insights into the intricate relationship between the density gradient and dissipation, and thus diapycnal mixing.
The spherical growth series of Dyer groups
Authors: Paris Luis , Varghese Olga
Published: December 2023

Graph products of cyclic groups and Coxeter groups are two families of groups that are defined by labelled graphs. The family of Dyer groups contains these both families and gives us a framework to study these groups in a unified way. This paper focuses on the spherical growth series of a Dyer group D with respect to the standard generating set. We give a recursive formula for the spherical growth series of D in terms of the spherical growth series of standard parabolic subgroups. As an application we obtain the rationality of the spherical growth series of a Dyer group. Furthermore, we show that the spherical growth series of D is closely related to the Euler characteristic of D.
Marketing Modernity, Selling Hazeline: A Comparative Study of Indian and Chinese Markets, 1908–1957
Authors: Geng Yushu , Hussain Mobeen
Published: December 2023

This article explores how the experiences of colonial modernity were constituted through global advertising by examining the transnational marketing of Hazeline Snow in early twentieth-century India and China. Manufactured by London-based pharmaceutical company Burroughs Wellcome Company (BWC), Hazeline Snow was a globally circulated medical-cosmetic commodity that showcased the advance of colonial modernity in Asia in the early twentieth century. Focusing on the convergences and divergences in the textual and visual representations of gender, beauty, and race in Chinese and Indian Hazeline Snow advertisements, this article illustrates the uneven ways in which capitalism created, disseminated, and adapted to different knowledge systems in distinct colonial contexts. It argues that modern beauty ideals promoted by cosmetics advertising were not simply the diffusion of a hegemonic Western modernity driven by the symbiotic expansion of capitalism and colonialism, but were shaped by the entanglement of global transformations and local conditions, including pre-colonial aesthetic value systems, inter-Asia exchanges, and competition from both local and other colonial actors. As ‘Snows’ became a specific kind of Asian commodity in their own right, the meanings of being modern and being beautiful was no longer the preserve of a specific company or a generalized ‘West’.
Rescuing Richard Cœur de Lion: Rivalry, Rehearsal, and Performance at Sheridan's Drury Lane
Authors: Jones Robert W.
Published: December 2023

Utopia might always prove impossible. But it should not be entirely abandoned as a concept, or as a goal toward which work might be directed. It is hard to see how meaningful change could arise without at least some sense of utopian possibility. The architectural historian Nathaniel Coleman argues in this vein that simply “making-do with reality may be compensatory, but limits possibility, transforming apparent pragmatic agency into its capture by enclosing realism.”1 Dealing with reality—often enough by making do—while keeping an eye on more magical possibilities has sometimes appeared, and has certainly been claimed, as the founding experience of making theatre. Theatres have seemed unique places where much might happen. If they are indeed special places, able to achieve special things, then they are not simply ebullient, but like Foucault's “heterotopias” able to combine dissident elements at the margins. Even when viewed at considerable historical distance, theatrical companies can appear truculent, wayward, and unsettling, even when they remain exploitative, manipulative, hierarchical—as many utopias are.2 Inequities and exclusions based on race, sexuality, gender, and class are not absent from theatrical life. Coleman's point, however, is really to argue that that it ought to be possible to imagine sites and patterns of work that are not already foreclosed by the demands of the market, the law, or other forms of curtailment. It should be equally possible to imagine people coming together, bringing their skills, and working out how they might be combined. Reality and its utopian antithesis might then valuably contradict and coalesce. The combination is never easy. Imperatives, financial and otherwise, loomed large over theatres in Georgian England, as they do today. But improvisation and collective effort could both respond to and yet resist such downward pressures, to make something that is at least potentially dissident, as much a way of working as the work produced.
Theorizing Performance Archives through the Critic's Labor
Authors: Mayer-García Eric
Published: December 2023

In 2015, I traveled to Havana with the support of an ASTR Targeted Areas Research Grant to work on processing the physical materials of the Photographic Archive of Tablas-Alarcos Press (hereinafter the Tablas-Alarcos archive or collection). The Tablas-Alarcos archive is a unique collection because it exists not in a traditional research institution, but in the offices of a state-run press dedicated to the performing arts. Also, it consists of materials that have been saved after critics, researchers, and editors have completed the process of publishing their work. Much more than photographs, this collection also contains programs, unpublished manuscripts, and various theatre ephemera from all over the globe and in multiple languages.1
Balancing between competition and regulation in healthcare markets
Authors: Trottmann Maria , Stam Piet , Visser Johan , Brammli-Greenberg Shuli
Published: December 2023

Systems of managed competition naturally seek the middle ground between competition and regulation. This debate essay makes the case for adjusting the level of regulation according to the characteristics of the submarket in question. We first develop a theoretical framework that can be used to identify the services in which relatively free competition will be beneficial. The framework is grounded in the economic literature and consists of eight criteria. Targeted regulatory tools are then discussed that can be used to structure submarkets in which these criteria are not (fully) met. Applying this framework and targeted interventions, regulators gain the flexibility to react to potential market failures, without foregoing the benefits of managed competition where it works well. This analysis is highly relevant for countries in transition to managed competition. Regulators can identify potential failure in submarkets for medical services, and apply the necessary regulatory tools to prepare for a smooth transition.
Incidence of myocardial injury in patients submitted to carotid	endarterectomy
Authors: Pereira-Macedo Juliana , Silva Ana Filipa , Duarte-Gamas Luís , Andrade José Paulo , Sousa-Pinto Bernardo , Rocha-Neves João
Published: December 2023

Summary: Myocardial injury following noncardiac surgery (MINS) is associated with higher mortality and major adverse cardiovascular event rates in the short- and long-term in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, its incidence is still unclear in this subset of patients. Therefore, this systematic review with meta-analysis aims to determine the incidence of MINS in patients undergoing CEA. Three electronic databases MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to search for studies assessing the occurrence of MINS in the postoperative setting of patients undergoing CEA. The incidence of MINS was pooled by random-effects meta-analysis, with sources of heterogeneity being explored by meta-regression and subgroup analysis (general anesthesia vs. regional anesthesia). Assessment of studies’ quality was performed using National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Quality Assessment Tool, and Risk of Bias 2 tools. Twenty studies were included, with a total of 117,933 participants. Four of them were RCTs, while the remaining were cohort studies. All observational cohorts had an overall high risk of bias, except for Pereira Macedo et al. Three of them had repeated population, thus only data from the most recent one was considered. On the other hand, all RCT had an overall low risk of bias. In patients under regional anesthesia, the incidence of MINS in primary studies ranged between 2% and 15.3%, compared to 0–42.5% for general anesthesia. The meta-analytical incidence of MINS after CEA was of 6.3% [95% CI 2.0–10.6%], but severe heterogeneity was observed (I2=99.1%). MINS appears to be relatively common among patients undergoing CEA. The observed severe heterogeneity points to the need for further larger studies adopting consistent definitions of MINS and equivalent cut-off values.
Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) should be screened for	cardiovascular risk factors – Cost-benefit considerations in Swiss	men
Authors: Kalka Christoph , Keo Hak-Hong , Ingwersen Maja , Knoechel Jonas , Hoppe Hanno , Do Dai-Do , Schumacher Martin , Diehm Nicolas
Published: December 2023

Summary: Background: Current evidence indicates that erectile dysfunction (ED) is an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular events. This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of screening and subsequent preventive treatment for cardiovascular risk factors among men newly diagnosed with ED from the Swiss healthcare system perspective. Methods: Based on known data on ED and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence and incidence costs and effects of a screening intervention for cardiovascular risk including corresponding cardiovascular prevention in men with ED were calculated for the Swiss population over a period of 10 years. Results: Screening and cardiovascular prevention over a period of 10 years in Swiss men with ED of all seriousness degrees, moderate and severe ED only, or severe ED only can probably avoid 41,564, 35,627, or 21,206 acute CVD events, respectively. Number needed to screen (NNS) to prevent one acute CVD event is 30, 23, and 10, respectively. Costs for the screening intervention are expected to be covered at the seventh, the fifth, and the first year, respectively. Conclusion: Screening and intervention for cardiovascular risk factors in men suffering from ED is a cost-effective tool not only to strengthen prevention and early detection of cardiovascular diseases but also to avoid future cardiovascular events.
Chancen und Risiken einer Digitalisierung der Suchtprävention
Authors: Möller Veronika , Jacobsen Britta
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Die Covid-19-Pandemie führte zu weitreichenden Einschränkungen des öffentlichen und privaten Lebens und infolgedessen auch zu erheblichen Defiziten in der Versorgung mit suchtpräventiven Angeboten. Der erschwerte Zugang zu Zielgruppen, Überforderung, aber auch fehlende zeitliche und finanzielle Ressourcen waren nur einige der zu bewältigenden Herausforderungen. Methodik und Ergebnisse: Die Befragung von über 1200 in der Suchtprävention arbeitenden Personen gibt einen Einblick in ihre Erfahrungen während dieser herausfordernden Zeit. Zugleich lassen sich unterschiedliche Bedarfe technischer, struktureller und persönlicher Natur mit Blick auf eine (partielle) Digitalisierung der suchtpräventiven Arbeit identifizieren. Schlussfolgerungen: Die gewonnenen Erkenntnisse über Stärken und Schwächen digitaler suchtpräventiver Arbeit können dabei auch zukünftig als Grundlage für erforderliche Modifikationen und Transformationsprozesse betrachtet werden.
Validierung der Skala Suizidales Erleben und Verhalten (SSEV-KJ) für den Einsatz bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Friedrich Sören , Schneider Silvia , Forkmann Thomas , Glaesmer Heide , Teismann und Tobias
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung: Theoretischer Hintergrund: Suizidales Erleben und Verhalten ist unter Kindern und Jugendlichen sehr verbreitet. Im deutschsprachigen Raum existiert gleichwohl kein validierter Fragebogen zur Erfassung von Suizidgedanken, -absichten, -plänen und -versuchen. Fragestellung: In der vorliegenden Studie wurde die Skala Suizidales Erleben und Verhalten (SSEV) auf die Anwendbarkeit bei Kindern und Jugendlichen überprüft. Methode: Hierzu wurde die SSEV zunächst von Expert_innen bewertet und anschließend in einer klinischen Stichprobe von N = 164 Kindern und Jugendlichen (70 % weiblich; Alter M = 15.55, SD = 2.24) im Hinblick auf ihre psychometrischen Eigenschaften untersucht. Ergebnisse: Die faktorenanalytische Untersuchung bestätigte eine eindimensionale Struktur des Fragebogens. Die interne Konsistenz des Fragebogens ist hoch (α = .89, ω = .90) und es zeigten sich erwartungsgemäß positive Zusammenhänge zu verschiedenen Maßen psychopathologischer Belastung. Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Insgesamt kann nach den ersten Ergebnissen davon ausgegangen werden, dass es sich bei der SSEV für Kinder und Jugendliche (SSEV-KJ) um ein reliables und valides Instrument zur Erfassung von akutem suizidalem Erleben und Verhalten handelt, welches in der Forschung und der klinischen Praxis angewendet werden kann.
Changing Ourselves
Authors: Sutton Anna
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Change in personality is viewed in two contrasting ways. Sometimes it is seen as an indicator of psychopathology or inauthenticity, associated with reduced well-being. Yet the ability to change oneself is also viewed as a sign of positive self-development, a process of becoming more authentic and associated with increased well-being. This meta-analysis sought to compare these two perspectives and determine whether personality change can contribute to a good life. Sixteen independent samples (24,000 participants) were analyzed to test the relationships between traits change and authenticity, traits change and well-being, and values change and well-being. Trait change was positively related to authenticity, while value change was associated with increased well-being. Moderator analysis indicated that the type of change (over role or time) did not influence the relationship between trait change and authenticity, nor did the length of time over which change took place influence the personality change and well-being relationship. Including traits and values allows a more holistic understanding of personality change and demonstrates that personality change is not damaging to living well, having instead a minimally positive association with well-being and authenticity.
Construct Validity and Measurement Invariance of the eHEALS in a	Diverse US High School Sample
Authors: Joseph Patrece L. , Fleary Sasha A.
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Although the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) is a widely used measure of eHealth literacy (eHL), it has not been validated in a diverse sample of US adolescents. This study assessed the construct validity and item and measurement invariance of the eHEALS using both Rasch analyses and classical test theory (CTT). Data were collected from adolescents at a US Northeastern high school ( N = 355, 64.9% were 16–18-years old, 54.8% male, 76.4% from a racially minoritized group, and 50.5% Latinx). Adolescents completed a survey that included demographic variables (i.e., age in years, gender, and ethnicity) and the eHEALS. Using Rasch and CTT methodologies, the dimensionality of the eHEALS and item and measurement invariance across gender, age, and ethnicity were assessed. The unidimensional structure of the eHEALS as well as item and measurement invariance across gender, age, and ethnicity were supported. Rasch analyses also suggested that responses to eHEALS items can be summed to determine eHL abilities, although there was a ceiling effect. The eHEALS is a unidimensional measure of eHL that may provide information in health education settings about adolescents’ eHL skills. It performs similarly across male and female as well as older and younger adolescents. However, given the ceiling effect and changes in adolescents’ Internet use since its development, future studies should revise the eHEALS to better capture adolescents’ eHL abilities. Future studies should also examine item and measurement invariance by age (in years), race, family income, and longitudinally to determine the usefulness of the measure across groups and time.
The Winds of Change: Foehn Drive Intense Melt
Authors: Dodge Suzanne
Published: December 2023

Atmospheric rivers on the northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet are driving dry winds across northeastern Greenland, forcing extreme short-term melt.
The Connections Between Landscape Fires and Your Health
Authors: French Nancy , Loboda Tatiana , Puett Robin
Published: December 2023

A transdisciplinary reference guide to investigating relationships between biomass burning during landscape fires, the smoke it creates, and the impacts on human health and well-being.
Largest Aftershock Nucleation Driven by Afterslip During the 2014 Iquique Sequence
Authors: Itoh Yuji , Socquet Anne , Radiguet Mathilde
Published: December 2023

Various earthquake models predict that aseismic slip modulates the seismic rupture process but actual observations of such seismic‐aseismic interaction are scarce. We analyze seismic and aseismic processes during the 2014 Iquique earthquake sequence. High‐rate Global Positioning System displacements demonstrate that most of the early afterslip is located downdip of the M 8.1 mainshock and is accompanied by decaying aftershock activity. An intriguing secondary afterslip peak is located ∼120 km south of the mainshock epicenter. The area of this secondary afterslip peak likely acted as a barrier to the propagating mainshock rupture and delayed the M 7.6 largest aftershock, which occurred 27 hr later. Interevent seismicity in this secondary afterslip area ended with a M 6.1 near the largest aftershock epicenter, kicking the largest aftershock rupture in the same area. Hence, the interevent afterslip likely promoted the largest aftershock nucleation by destabilizing its source area, favoring a rate‐dependent cascade‐up model.
Rafting of Growing Antarctic Sea Ice Enhances In‐Ice Biogeochemical Activity in Winter
Authors: Audh Riesna R. , Fawcett Sarah E. , Johnson Siobhan , Rampai Tokoloho , Vichi Marcello
Published: December 2023

The study of Antarctic first‐year sea‐ice biogeochemistry has been limited by samples mostly being collected in pack ice during summer, with few winter data available. Measurements from the Antarctic marginal ice zone (AMIZ) have proven even more difficult to obtain. The AMIZ is a broad, circumpolar feature of the Southern Ocean found at different latitudes during the year where light and nutrients are high enough to sustain primary production and influence ecosystem functioning. We present the first biogeochemical data set from growing ice collected in the Atlantic AMIZ during winter 2019, including measurements from young pancake ice (YI) and consolidated first‐year ice (FYI). Measurements of sea‐ice temperature, salinity, crystal structure, δ18O, chlorophyll, and nutrient concentrations were used to investigate the winter sea‐ice habitat and decipher the conditions under which the ice formed and grew. Model simulations support the hypothesis that nutrient accumulation in advancing sea ice cannot be explained by passive seawater entrainment and thermodynamics alone. Our data confirm that winter sea ice is biogeochemically active and accumulates remineralized nutrients. We further propose that mechanical thickening enhances the reservoir of nutrients during the ice growth season. The biogeochemical transition from YI to FYI does not appear to be a linear progression of thickness with habitat space reduction as sea ice consolidates. Instead, FYI bulk biogeochemistry results from multiple cycles of rafting of YI, which conserves the biogeochemical properties of YI in the FYI, ultimately increasing the overall nutrient and chlorophyll content.
A novel autism-associated UBLCP1 mutation impacts proteasome regulation/activity
Authors: Soueid Jihane , Hamze Zeinab , Bedran Joe , Chahrour Maria , Boustany Rose-Mary
Published: December 2023

The landscape of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Lebanon is unique because of high rates of consanguinity, shared ancestry, and increased remote consanguinity. ASD prevalence in Lebanon is 1 in 68 with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. This study aims to investigate the impact of an inherited deletion in UBLCP1 (Ubiquitin-Like Domain-Containing CTD Phosphatase 1) on the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and proteolysis. Whole exome sequencing in a Lebanese family with ASD without pathogenic copy number variations (CNVs) uncovered a deletion in UBLCP1. Functional evaluation of the identified variant is described in fibroblasts from the affected. The deletion in UBLCP1 exon 10 (g.158,710,261CAAAG > C) generates a premature stop codon interrupting the phosphatase domain and is predicted as pathogenic. It is absent from databases of normal variation worldwide and in Lebanon. Wild-type UBLCP1 is widely expressed in mouse brains. The mutation results in decreased UBLCP1 protein expression in patient-derived fibroblasts from the autistic patient compared to controls. The truncated UBLCP1 protein results in increased proteasome activity decreased ubiquitinated protein levels, and downregulation in expression of other proteasome subunits in samples from the affected compared to controls. Inhibition of the proteasome by using MG132 in proband cells reverses alterations in gene expression due to the restoration of protein levels of the common transcription factor, NRF1. Finally, treatment with gentamicin, which promotes premature termination codon read-through, restores UBLCP1 expression and function. Discovery of an ASD-linked mutation in UBLCP1 leading to overactivation of cell proteolysis is reported. This, in turn, leads to dysregulation of proteasome subunit transcript levels as a compensatory response.
ANKS1B encoded AIDA-1 regulates social behaviors by controlling oligodendrocyte function
Authors: Cho Chang Hoon , Deyneko Ilana Vasilisa , Cordova-Martinez Dylann , Vazquez Juan , Maguire Anne S. , Diaz Jenny R. , Carbonell Abigail U. , Tindi Jaafar O. , Cui Min-Hui , Fleysher Roman , Molholm Sophie , Lipton Michael L. , Branch Craig A. , Hodgson Louis , Jordan Bryen A.
Published: December 2023

Heterozygous deletions in the ANKS1B gene cause ANKS1B neurodevelopmental syndrome (ANDS), a rare genetic disease characterized by autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and speech and motor deficits. The ANKS1B gene encodes for AIDA-1, a protein that is enriched at neuronal synapses and regulates synaptic plasticity. Here we report an unexpected role for oligodendroglial deficits in ANDS pathophysiology. We show that Anks1b-deficient mouse models display deficits in oligodendrocyte maturation, myelination, and Rac1 function, and recapitulate white matter abnormalities observed in ANDS patients. Selective loss of Anks1b from the oligodendrocyte lineage, but not from neuronal populations, leads to deficits in social preference and sensory reactivity previously observed in a brain-wide Anks1b haploinsufficiency model. Furthermore, we find that clemastine, an antihistamine shown to increase oligodendrocyte precursor cell maturation and central nervous system myelination, rescues deficits in social preference in 7-month-old Anks1b-deficient mice. Our work shows that deficits in social behaviors present in ANDS may originate from abnormal Rac1 activity within oligodendrocytes.
Large exchange bias enhancement and control of ferromagnetic energy landscape by solid-state hydrogen gating
Authors: Hasan M. Usama , Kossak Alexander E. , Beach Geoffrey S. D.
Published: December 2023

Voltage control of exchange bias is desirable for spintronic device applications, however dynamic modulation of the unidirectional coupling energy in ferromagnet/antiferromagnet bilayers has not yet been achieved. Here we show that by solid-state hydrogen gating, perpendicular exchange bias can be enhanced by > 100% in a reversible and analog manner, in a simple Co/Co0.8Ni0.2O heterostructure at room temperature. We show that this phenomenon is an isothermal analog to conventional field-cooling and that sizable changes in average coupling energy can result from small changes in AFM grain rotatability. Using this method, we show that a bi-directionally stable ferromagnet can be made unidirectionally stable, with gate voltage alone. This work provides a means to dynamically reprogram exchange bias, with broad applicability in spintronics and neuromorphic computing, while simultaneously illuminating fundamental aspects of exchange bias in polycrystalline films.
Finite-temperature screw dislocation core structures and dynamics in α-titanium
Authors: Liu Anwen , Wen Tongqi , Han Jian , Srolovitz David J.
Published: December 2023

A multiscale approach based on molecular dynamics (MD) and kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) methods is developed to simulate the dynamics of an 〈a〉 screw dislocation in α-Ti. The free energy barriers for the core dissociation transitions and Peierls barriers for dislocation glide as a function of temperature are extracted from the MD simulations (based on machine learning interatomic potentials and optimization); these form the input to kMC simulations. Dislocation random walk trajectories from kMC agree well with those predicted by MD. On some planes, dislocations move via a locking-unlocking mechanism. Surprisingly, some dislocations glide in directions that are not parallel with the core dissociation direction. The MD/kMC multiscale method proposed is applicable to dislocation motion in simple and complex materials (not only screw dislocations in Ti) as a function of temperature and stress state.
Mechanism elucidation and scaling control in membrane distillation using 3D printed carbon nanotube spacer
Authors: Jeong Seongeom , Gu Boram , Park Sanghun , Cho Kyunghwa , An Alicia Kyoungjin , Jeong Sanghyun
Published: December 2023

Membrane scaling is a barrier to membrane distillation (MD). In this study, 3D-printed carbon nanotube (CNT) spacer was used to investigate its capability for mitigating membrane scaling during MD and to elucidate the scaling mechanism experimentally and theoretically. CNT spacer was tested under temperature-dependent calcium sulfate scaling conditions, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to measure scaling quantitatively. CNT spacer exhibited unique membrane scaling mechanism, where only a 37% reduction (29 Lm−2h−1) in the initial flux was achieved, even above a volume concentration factor (VCF) of 4. On the other hand, the membrane with a polylactic acid (PLA) spacer (controls) entirely lost flux before reaching a VCF of 3.5. Interestingly, bubble formation was observed in CNT spacer, which could be attributed to the enhanced flux and vaporization rate on membrane surface in the presence of rough-surfaced CNT spacer. Bubbly flow along the membrane channel with CNT spacer can potentially reduce surface scaling on membrane during MD. Moreover, due to the surface roughness of CNT spacer, the initial nuclei might be detached more easily from CNT spacer surface than from smooth PLA surface and grow further into larger crystals in the bulk, resulting in reduced dissolved solutes in the solution. This phenomenon was indirectly corroborated by comparing the experimentally measured fluxes and theoretically computed values from our mechanistic model of MD-crystallization developed in this study. Therefore, this study revealed that CNT spacer with rough surfaces can potentially have benefit of mitigating membrane scaling during MD.
Active polypeptide MDANP protect against necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) by regulating the PERK-eIF2ɑ-QRICH1 axis
Authors: Huo Jie , Zhang Rui , Wu Xinping , Fu Changchang , Hu Jinhui , Hu Xiaohan , Sun Wenqiang , Chen Zhenjiang , Zhu Xueping
Published: December 2023

The effect of MDANP effects on ER stress signalling not well known or elucidated. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a critical role in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) pathogenesis through the PERK-eIF2ɑ-QRICH1 axis. The present study aimed to explore the protective effects of MDANP in NEC development. Firstly, a function screening was designed to identify the candidate peptides in human milk, and then the identified peptides were validated in NEC patients. In vivo, NEC was induced in mice pups and divided into four groups: (1) control group, (2) NEC group, (3) MDANP + NEC group, and (4) NS + NEC group. In vitro, lentivirus-mediated QRICH1 silencing, was used to transfect NCM460 cell lines, then stimulated with LPS. After LPS stimulation, cells were treated with chemically synthesized MDANP, and the essential proteins in the QRICH1 signalling pathway in cells were tested and compared. After the small-scale screening, a peptide (SKSKKFRRPDIQYPDATDED) named MDANP was determined as the principal peptide. Its protective effect against NEC through inhibiting the expression of ERS key proteins and impeding the intestinal cells’ apoptosis was observed in the animal models. Furthermore, the inhibitive effect of MDANP on apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells through modulating the PERK-eIF2ɑ-QRICH1 ERS pathway was also confirmed in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest that MDANP effectively ameliorates apoptosis in NEC through attenuating PERK-eIF2ɑ-QRICH1.
Peripheral clock gene oscillations are perturbed in neonatal and adult rat offspring raised under adverse limited bedding conditions
Authors: Walker Claire-Dominique , Delorme Tara C. , Kiessling Silke , Long Hong , Cermakian Nicolas
Published: December 2023

Circadian (24-h) rhythms in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) are established in utero in rodents, but rhythmicity of peripheral circadian clocks appears later in postnatal development. Since peripheral oscillators can be influenced by maternal feeding and behavior, we investigated whether exposure to the adverse environmental conditions of limited bedding (LB) during postnatal life would alter rhythmicity in the SCN, adrenal gland and liver in neonatal (postnatal day PND10), juvenile (PND28) and adult rats. We also examined locomotor activity in adults. Limited bedding increased nursing time and slightly increased fragmentation of maternal behavior. Exposure to LB reduced the amplitude of Per2 in the SCN on PND10. Adrenal clock gene expression (Bmal1, Per2, Cry1, Rev-erbα, Dbp) and corticosterone secretion were rhythmic at all ages in NB offspring, whereas rhythmicity of Bmal1, Cry1 and corticosterone was abolished in neonatal LB pups. Circadian gene expression in the adrenal and liver was well established by PND28. In adults, liver expression of several circadian genes was increased at specific daytimes by LB and the microstructure of locomotor behavior was altered. Thus, changes in maternal care and behavior might provide important signals to the maturing peripheral oscillators and modify, in particular their output functions in the long-term.
A new toothless pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota with comments on the Chaoyangopteridae
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Kellner Alexander W. A. , Jiang Shunxing , Chen He , Costa Fabiana R. , Cheng Xin , Zhang Xinjun , Nova Bruno C. Vila , de Almeida Campos Diogenes , Sayão Juliana M. , Rodrigues Taissa , Bantim Renan A. M. , Saraiva Antônio A. F. , Zhou Zhonghe
Published: December 2023

The Chaoyangopteridae is a clade of azhdarchoid pterosaurs that stands out in China, particularly in the Jehol Biota, as a Cretaceous group of medium-sized and high-crested pterosaurs. Herein, we describe a new species, Meilifeilong youhao gen. et sp. nov., based on two specimens, one tentatively referred to this taxon. This new species represents the most complete and well-preserved chaoyangopterid recorded to date. Along with a set of characters (low premaxillary crest above the nasoantorbital fenestra extending posteriorly, posterior premaxillary process arched and curving posteriorly, a slightly convex sternal articulation surface of coracoid, and a fibular shaft close to proximal articulation strongly arched posteriorly), this species also provides new information both on the unknown palatal region of this clade, and on the rarely preserved (in place) ear portion with stapes. Moreover, M. youhao sheds light on paleoecological aspects, while also giving new information about the taxonomic diversity of this peculiar group of Jiufotang pterosaurs.
Open plains are not a level playing field for hominid consonant-like versus vowel-like calls
Authors: Gannon Charlotte , Hill Russell A. , Lameira Adriano R.
Published: December 2023

Africa’s paleo-climate change represents an “ecological black-box” along the evolutionary timeline of spoken language; a vocal hominid went in and, millions of years later, out came a verbal human. It is unknown whether or how a shift from forested, dense habitats towards drier, open ones affected hominid vocal communication, potentially setting stage for speech evolution. To recreate how arboreal proto-vowels and proto-consonants would have interacted with a new ecology at ground level, we assessed how a series of orangutan voiceless consonant-like and voiced vowel-like calls travelled across the savannah. Vowel-like calls performed poorly in comparison to their counterparts. Only consonant-like calls afforded effective perceptibility beyond 100 m distance without requiring repetition, as is characteristic of loud calling behaviour in nonhuman primates, typically composed by vowel-like calls. Results show that proto-consonants in human ancestors may have enhanced reliability of distance vocal communication across a canopy-to-ground ecotone. The ecological settings and soundscapes experienced by human ancestors may have had a more profound impact on the emergence and shape of spoken language than previously recognized.
Exploring the electronic structure, mechanical behaviour, thermal and high-temperature thermoelectric response of CoZrSi and CoZrGe Heusler alloys
Authors: Gurunani Bharti , Gupta Dinesh C.
Published: December 2023

By using density functional theory, we have explored the structural, electro-mechanical, thermophysical and thermoelectric properties of CoZrSi and CoZrGe Heusler alloys. The ground state stability was determined by optimising the energy in various configurations like type I, II, and III. It was found that these alloys stabilized in the ferromagnetic phase in type I. We employed the Generalised Gradient Approximation and modified Becke-Johnson potentials to explore the electronic structure. The band structures of each of these Heusler alloys exhibit a half-metallic nature. Additionally, the computed second-order elastic parameters reveal their ductile nature of them. To understand the stability of the alloys at different pressures and temperatures, we investigated various thermodynamic parameters using the Quasi-Harmonic Debye model. We obtained the transport coefficients using the Boltzmann theory. Our findings indicate that these alloys can be used in spintronics and thermoelectric domains.
Lack of PNPase activity in Enterococcus faecalis 14 increases the stability of EntDD14 bacteriocin transcripts
Authors: Ladjouzi Rabia , Lucau-Danila Anca , López Paloma , Drider Djamel
Published: December 2023

A mutant deficient in polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) activity was previously constructed in Enterococcus faecalis 14; a strain producing a leaderless two-peptide enterocin DD14 (EntDD14). Here, we examined the impact of the absence of PNPase on the expression and synthesis of EntDD14, at the transcriptional and functional levels. As result, EntDD14 synthesis augmented in line with the growth curve, reaching a two- to fourfold increase in the ΔpnpA mutant compared to the E. faecalis 14 wild-type strain (WT). EntDD14 synthesis has reached its highest level after 9 h of growth in both strains. Notably, high expression level of the ddABCDEFGHIJ cluster was registered in ΔpnpA mutant. Transcriptional and in silico analyses support the existence of ddAB and ddCDEFGHIJ independent transcripts, and analysis of the fate of ddAB and ddCDEFGHIJ mRNAs indicated that the differences in mRNA levels and the high EntDD14 activity are likely due to a better stability of the two transcripts in the ΔpnpA mutant, which should result in a higher translation efficiency of the ddAB EntDD14 structural genes and their other protein determinants. Consequently, this study shows a potential link between the mRNA stability and EntDD14 synthesis, secretion and immunity in a genetic background lacking PNPase.