bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
See-through holographic display with randomly distributed partial computer generated holograms
Authors: Mu Cheng-Ta , Tseng Sze-Han , Chen Cheng-Huan
Published: November 2020

Holographic displays have the feature to show images out of the plane of the device itself, which is especially favored for augmented reality (AR) applications where the images need to be merged with the real world. In existing cases of AR holographic display, a combiner is used to converge the light path of the display image and surrounding scene toward the viewer's eye. In this paper, the idea of combining the holographic device and the combiner has been proposed, resulting in a see-through holographic display. In order to maintain the see-through quality of the device, the concept of partial hologram has been introduced, which means only a part of the area on the device has the holographic fringe pattern while leaving the rest fully transparent. Experiment and theoretical investigation shows that an evenly yet randomly distributed partial hologram provides the best holographic image quality assuming a fixed percentage of the holographic area on the device. A passive computer generated hologram (CGH) with two phase levels has been designed and fabricated for the verification. With partial hologram sharing 25% of the whole area, the CGH exhibits 90.9% of total transmission and 72.2% of parallel transmission. The demonstration shows a high see-through quality while providing a clear holographic image.
Zoomable head-up display with the integration of holographic and geometrical imaging
Authors: Mu Cheng-Ta , Lin Wei-Ting , Chen Cheng-Huan
Published: November 2020

Head-up displays (HUDs) have already penetrated into vehicle applications and demand keeps growing. Existing head-up displays have their image fixed at a certain distance in front of the windshield. New development could have two images displayed at two different yet fixed distances simultaneously or switchable upon request. The physical distance of HUD image is associated with the accommodation delay as a safety issue in driving, and could also be a critical parameter for augmented reality (AR) function. In this paper, a novel architecture for HUD has been proposed to make the image distance continuously tunable by exploiting the merit of both holographic and geometrical imaging. Holographic imaging is capable of changing image position by varying the modulation on a spatial light modulator (SLM) without any mechanical movement. Geometrical imaging can easily magnify longitudinal image position with short depth of focus by using large aperture components. A prototype based on liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) SLM has demonstrated the capability of changing image position from 3 m to 30 m verified with parallax method.
Optical confinement efficiency in the single beam intracavity optical tweezers
Authors: Kuang Tengfang , Xiong Wei , Luo Bin , Chen Xinlin , Liu Zijie , Han Xiang , Xiao Guangzong , Yang Kaiyong , Luo Hui
Published: November 2020

Single beam intracavity optical tweezers characterizes a novel optical trapping scheme where the laser operation is nonlinearly coupled to the motion of the trapped particle. Here, we first present and establish a physical model from a completely new perspective to describe this coupling mechanism, using transfer matrices to calculate the loss of the free-space optical path and then extracting the scattering loss that caused by the 3D motions of the particle. Based on this model, we discuss the equilibrium position in the single beam intracavity optical tweezers. The influences of the numerical aperture, pumping power, particle radius and refractive index on the optical confinement efficiency are fully investigated, compared with standard optical tweezers. Our work is highly relevant for guiding the experiments on the single beam intracavity optical tweezers to achieve higher optical confinement efficiency.
Spectral polarization of Gaussian Schell-model beams
Authors: Gao Yaru , Li Xiaofei , Cai Yangjian , Schouten Hugo F. , Visser Taco D.
Published: November 2020

We present a class of broadband electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model sources whose state of polarization is both uniform and identical for all frequencies, but whose far-zone polarization properties strongly depend on wavelength. Also, these sources can produce beams whose polarized portion is always linearly polarized but with a polarization angle that evolves on propagation. Our results offer new insights into the behavior of broadband partially coherent sources.
Self-focusing and self-compression of intense pulses via ionization-induced spatiotemporal reshaping
Authors: Gao Xiaohui , Shim Bonggu
Published: November 2020

Ionization is a fundamental process in intense laser–matter interactions and is known to cause plasma defocusing and intensity clamping. Here, we investigate theoretically the propagation dynamics of an intense laser pulse in a helium gas jet in the ionization saturation regime, and we find that the pulse undergoes self-focusing and self-compression through ionization-induced reshaping, resulting in a manyfold increase in laser intensity. This unconventional behavior is associated with the spatiotemporal frequency variation mediated by ionization and spatiotempral coupling. Our results illustrate a new regime of pulse propagation and open up an optics-less approach for raising laser intensity.
Precision glass molding of diffractive optical elements with high surface quality
Authors: Zhang Yingying , Liang Rongguang , Spires Oliver Joshua , Yin Shaohui , Yi Allen , Milster Tom D.
Published: November 2020

Diffractive optical surfaces have attractive properties for use in optical systems, like reducing weight and correcting for chromatic aberrations, but fabrication of high-quality glass diffractive optics is challenging, preventing it from being widely adopted in commercial applications. In this Letter, we report on a fabrication method to address molding challenges for high-surface-quality diffractive glass optics at molding temperatures up to 550°C, including selection of mold material, mold fabrication, precision glass molding, durability, and stability of the mold. To enable optimal mold machining and easy mold release, nickel phosphorous (NiP) is chosen as the plating material for its cutting performance and anti-adhesion properties, and copper-nickel C71500 (CuNi) is selected as the mold substrate because its coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is close to NiP. By the proposed method, diffractive glass optics with 2 nm Sa surface roughness is demonstrated.
Multifunctional optical fiber sensor for simultaneous measurement of temperature and salinity
Authors: Zheng Hongkun , Lv Riqing , Zhao Yong , Tong Ruijie , Lin Ziting , Wang Xixin , Zhou Yifan , Zhao Qiang
Published: November 2020

A multifunctional optical fiber sensor fabricated by asymmetric offset splicing is proposed in this Letter. The light is divided into several parts at the offset interface, among which the transmitted light forms the Mach–Zehnder interference (MZI) spectrum while the reflected light forms the Fabry–Perot interference (FPI) spectrum. The online monitoring system is built to create a better light distribution at the offset interface. Theoretical analysis and experimental verification are carried out. The results of the experiment show that the proposed sensor has good characteristics of salinity and temperature, and the salinity sensitivity is as high as

−

2.4473

n
m

/

‰ in the range of 20–40‰; the temperature sensitivity is better than 2.17 nm/°C in the range of 28–48 °C. The two interferometers involved have different responses to temperature and salinity, contributing to the effective elimination of cross-sensitivity. The proposed optical fiber sensor has the benefits of compact size, high sensitivity, and multispectral measurement function.
Snapshot spectral polarimetric light field imaging using a single detector
Authors: Lv Xiaobo , Li Yiwei , Zhu Shuaishuai , Guo Xinmin , Zhang Jianlong , Lin Jie , Jin Peng
Published: November 2020

In this Letter, we investigate a snapshot spectral-polarimetric-volumetric imaging (SSPVI) system using a single detector. Through compressed acquisition and reconstruction, SSPVI can achieve spectral imaging

(
x
,
y
,
λ
)

, polarization imaging

(
x
,
y
,
ψ
,
χ
)

, and light field imaging

(
x
,
y
,
θ
,
φ
)

simultaneously. The newly discovered performance is showcased by attaining the spectral-polarimetric-volumetric video and different laboratory accuracy experiments. These never-seen-before capacities of the camera open new prospects for many applications, such as biological analysis, object recognition, and remote sensing.
Asymmetric dissipative solitons in a waveguide lattice with non-uniform gain–loss distributions
Authors: Huang Changming , Dong Liangwei , Zhang Xiao
Published: November 2020

We address the existence and stability of two types of asymmetric dissipative solitons, including fundamental and dipole solitons, supported by a waveguide lattice with non-uniform gain–loss distributions. Fundamental solitons exist only when the linear gain width is greater than or equal to the linear loss width, while dipole solitons exist only when the linear gain width is less than or equal to the linear loss width. With an increase in the relative gain depth, the effective width of the soliton gradually decreases. In addition, we find that both asymmetric fundamental and dipole solitons are stable in a considerable part of their lower edge of existence regions, and solitons beyond this range are unstable.
Omnidirectional field enhancements drive giant nonlinearities in epsilon-near-zero waveguides
Authors: Li Gordon Han Ying , de Sterke C. Martijn , Tuniz Alessandro
Published: November 2020

Bulk materials with a relative electric permittivity

ε

close to zero exhibit giant Kerr nonlinearities. However, harnessing this response in guided-wave geometries is not straightforward, due to the extreme and counterintuitive properties of such epsilon-near-zero materials. Here we investigate, through rigorous calculations of the nonlinear coefficient, how the remarkable nonlinear properties of such materials can be exploited in several structures, including bulk films, plasmonic nanowires, and metal nanoapertures. We find the largest nonlinear response when the modal area and group velocity are simultaneously minimized, leading to omnidirectional field enhancement. This insight will be key for understanding nonlinear nanophotonic systems with extreme nonlinearities and points to new design paradigms.
Chiral topological photonics with an embedded quantum emitter
Authors: Jalali Mehrabad Mahmoud , Foster Andrew P. , Dost René , Clarke Edmund , Patil Pallavi K. , Fox A. Mark , Skolnick Maurice S. , Wilson Luke R.
Published: November 2020

Topological photonic interfaces support topologically nontrivial optical modes with helical character. When combined with an embedded quantum emitter that has a circularly polarized transition dipole moment, a chiral quantum optical interface is formed due to spin-momentum locking. Here, we experimentally realize such an interface by integrating semiconductor quantum dots into a valley-Hall topological photonic crystal waveguide. We harness the robust waveguide transport to create a ring resonator that supports helical modes. Chiral coupling of quantum dot transitions, with directional contrast as high as 75%, is demonstrated. The interface also supports a topologically trivial mode, comparison with which allows us to clearly demonstrate the protection afforded by topology to the nontrivial mode.
Long-distance ranging with high precision using a soliton microcomb
Authors: Wang Jindong , Lu Zhizhou , Wang Weiqiang , Zhang Fumin , Chen Jiawei , Wang Yang , Zheng Jihui , Chu Sai T. , Zhao Wei , Little Brent E. , Qu Xinghua , Zhang Wenfu
Published: November 2020

Laser-based light detection and ranging (lidar) plays a significant role in both scientific and industrial areas. However, it is difficult for existing lidars to achieve high speed, high precision, and long distance simultaneously. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance lidar based on a chip-scaled soliton microcomb (SMC) that can realize all three specialties simultaneously. Aided by the excellent properties of ultrahigh repetition rate and the smooth envelope of the SMC, traditional optical frequency comb (OFC)-based dispersive interferometry is heavily improved and the measuring dead zone induced by the mismatch between the repetition rate of the OFC and resolution of the optical spectrum analyzer is totally eliminated. Combined with an auxiliary dual-frequency phase-modulated laser range finder, the none-dead-zone measurable range ambiguity is extended up to 1500 m. The proposed SMC lidar is experimentally implemented in both indoor and outdoor environment. In the outdoor baseline field, real-time, high-speed (up to 35 kHz) measurement of a long distance of

∼
1179
  
m

is achieved with a minimum Allan deviation of 5.6 μm at an average time of 0.2 ms (27 nm at an average time of 1.8 s after high-pass filtering). The present SMC lidar approaches a compact, fast, high-precision, and none-dead zone long-distance ranging system, aimed at emerging applications of frontier basic scientific research and advances in industrial manufacturing.
Many, but not all, lineage-specific genes can be explained by homology detection failure
Authors: Weisman Caroline M. , Murray Andrew W. , Eddy Sean R.
Published: November 2020

Genes for which homologs can be detected only in a limited group of evolutionarily related species, called “lineage-specific genes,” are pervasive: Essentially every lineage has them, and they often comprise a sizable fraction of the group’s total genes. Lineage-specific genes are often interpreted as “novel” genes, representing genetic novelty born anew within that lineage. Here, we develop a simple method to test an alternative null hypothesis: that lineage-specific genes do have homologs outside of the lineage that, even while evolving at a constant rate in a novelty-free manner, have merely become undetectable by search algorithms used to infer homology. We show that this null hypothesis is sufficient to explain the lack of detected homologs of a large number of lineage-specific genes in fungi and insects. However, we also find that a minority of lineage-specific genes in both clades are not well explained by this novelty-free model. The method provides a simple way of identifying which lineage-specific genes call for special explanations beyond homology detection failure, highlighting them as interesting candidates for further study.
Integrating when and what information in the left parietal lobe allows language rule generalization
Authors: Orpella Joan , Ripollés Pablo , Ruzzoli Manuela , Amengual Julià L. , Callejas Alicia , Martinez-Alvarez Anna , Soto-Faraco Salvador , de Diego-Balaguer Ruth
Published: November 2020

A crucial aspect when learning a language is discovering the rules that govern how words are combined in order to convey meanings. Because rules are characterized by sequential co-occurrences between elements (e.g., “These cupcakes are unbelievable”), tracking the statistical relationships between these elements is fundamental. However, purely bottom-up statistical learning alone cannot fully account for the ability to create abstract rule representations that can be generalized, a paramount requirement of linguistic rules. Here, we provide evidence that, after the statistical relations between words have been extracted, the engagement of goal-directed attention is key to enable rule generalization. Incidental learning performance during a rule-learning task on an artificial language revealed a progressive shift from statistical learning to goal-directed attention. In addition, and consistent with the recruitment of attention, functional MRI (fMRI) analyses of late learning stages showed left parietal activity within a broad bilateral dorsal frontoparietal network. Critically, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on participants’ peak of activation within the left parietal cortex impaired their ability to generalize learned rules to a structurally analogous new language. No stimulation or rTMS on a nonrelevant brain region did not have the same interfering effect on generalization. Performance on an additional attentional task showed that this rTMS on the parietal site hindered participants’ ability to integrate “what” (stimulus identity) and “when” (stimulus timing) information about an expected target. The present findings suggest that learning rules from speech is a two-stage process: following statistical learning, goal-directed attention—involving left parietal regions—integrates “what” and “when” stimulus information to facilitate rapid rule generalization.
Membrane progesterone receptor induces meiosis in Xenopus oocytes through endocytosis into signaling endosomes and interaction with APPL1 and Akt2
Authors: Nader Nancy , Dib Maya , Hodeify Rawad , Courjaret Raphael , Elmi Asha , Hammad Ayat S. , Dey Raja , Huang Xin-Yun , Machaca Khaled
Published: November 2020

The steroid hormone progesterone (P4) mediates many physiological processes through either nuclear receptors that modulate gene expression or membrane P4 receptors (mPRs) that mediate nongenomic signaling. mPR signaling remains poorly understood. Here we show that the topology of mPRβ is similar to adiponectin receptors and opposite to that of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). UsingXenopusoocyte meiosis as a well-established physiological readout of nongenomic P4 signaling, we demonstrate that mPRβ signaling requires the adaptor protein APPL1 and the kinase Akt2. We further show that P4 induces clathrin-dependent endocytosis of mPRβ into signaling endosome, where mPR interacts transiently with APPL1 and Akt2 to induce meiosis. Our findings outline the early steps involved in mPR signaling and expand the spectrum of mPR signaling through the multitude of pathways involving APPL1.
Tracking and predicting U.S. influenza activity with a real-time surveillance network
Authors: Leuba Sequoia I. , Yaesoubi Reza , Antillon Marina , Cohen Ted , Zimmer Christoph
Published: November 2020

Each year in the United States, influenza causes illness in 9.2 to 35.6 million individuals and is responsible for 12,000 to 56,000 deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks influenza activity through a national surveillance network. These data are only available after a delay of 1 to 2 weeks, and thus influenza epidemiologists and transmission modelers have explored the use of other data sources to produce more timely estimates and predictions of influenza activity. We evaluated whether data collected from a national commercial network of influenza diagnostic machines could produce valid estimates of the current burden and help to predict influenza trends in the United States. Quidel Corporation provided us with de-identified influenza test results transmitted in real-time from a national network of influenza test machines called the Influenza Test System (ITS). We used this ITS dataset to estimate and predict influenza-like illness (ILI) activity in the United States over the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 influenza seasons. First, we developed linear logistic models on national and regional geographic scales that accurately estimated two CDC influenza metrics: the proportion of influenza test results that are positive and the proportion of physician visits that are ILI-related. We then used our estimated ILI-related proportion of physician visits in transmission models to produce improved predictions of influenza trends in the United States at both the regional and national scale. These findings suggest that ITS can be leveraged to improve “nowcasts” and short-term forecasts of U.S. influenza activity.
Transfer learning enables prediction of CYP2D6 haplotype function
Authors: McInnes Gregory , Dalton Rachel , Sangkuhl Katrin , Whirl-Carrillo Michelle , Lee Seung-been , Tsao Philip S. , Gaedigk Andrea , Altman Russ B. , Woodahl Erica L.
Published: November 2020

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a highly polymorphic gene whose protein product metabolizes more than 20% of clinically used drugs. Genetic variations inCYP2D6are responsible for interindividual heterogeneity in drug response that can lead to drug toxicity and ineffective treatment, makingCYP2D6one of the most important pharmacogenes. Prediction of CYP2D6 phenotype relies on curation of literature-derived functional studies to assign a functional status toCYP2D6haplotypes. As the number of large-scale sequencing efforts grows, new haplotypes continue to be discovered, and assignment of function is challenging to maintain. To address this challenge, we have trained a convolutional neural network to predict functional status ofCYP2D6haplotypes, called Hubble.2D6. Hubble.2D6 predicts haplotype function from sequence data and was trained using two pre-training steps with a combination of real and simulated data. We find that Hubble.2D6 predictsCYP2D6haplotype functional status with 88% accuracy in a held-out test set and explains 47.5% of the variance inin vitrofunctional data among star alleles with unknown function. Hubble.2D6 may be a useful tool for assigning function to haplotypes with uncurated function, and used for screening individuals who are at risk of being poor metabolizers.
Inferring causal direction between two traits in the presence of horizontal pleiotropy with GWAS summary data
Authors: Xue Haoran , Pan Wei
Published: November 2020

Orienting the causal relationship between pairs of traits is a fundamental task in scientific research with significant implications in practice, such as in prioritizing molecular targets and modifiable risk factors for developing therapeutic and interventional strategies for complex diseases. A recent method, called Steiger’s method, using a single SNP as an instrument variable (IV) in the framework of Mendelian randomization (MR), has since been widely applied. We report the following new contributions. First, we propose a single SNP-based alternative, overcoming a severe limitation of Steiger’s method in simply assuming, instead of inferring, the existence of a causal relationship. We also clarify a condition necessary for the validity of the methods in the presence of hidden confounding. Second, to improve statistical power, we propose combining the results from multiple, and possibly correlated, SNPs as multiple instruments. Third, we develop three goodness-of-fit tests to check modeling assumptions, including those required for valid IVs. Fourth, by relaxing one of the three IV assumptions in MR, we propose several methods, including an Egger regression-like approach and its multivariable version (analogous to multivariable MR), to account for horizontal pleiotropy of the SNPs/IVs, which is often unavoidable in practice. All our methods can simultaneously infer both the existence and (if so) the direction of a causal relationship, largely expanding their applicability over that of Steiger’s method. Although we focus on uni-directional causal relationships, we also briefly discuss an extension to bi-directional relationships. Through extensive simulations and an application to infer the causal directions between low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and coronary artery disease (CAD), we demonstrate the superior performance and advantage of our proposed methods over Steiger’s method and bi-directional MR. In particular, after accounting for horizontal pleiotropy, our method confirmed the well known causal direction from LDL to CAD, while other methods, including bi-directional MR, might fail.
Suppression of retinal degeneration by two novel ERAD ubiquitin E3 ligases SORDD1/2 in Drosophila
Authors: Xu Jaiwei , Zhao Haifang , Wang Tao
Published: November 2020

Mutations in the gene rhodopsin are one of the major causes of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Mutant forms of Rhodopsin frequently accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), cause ER stress, and trigger photoreceptor cell degeneration. Here, we performed a genome-wide screen to identify suppressors of retinal degeneration in a Drosophila model of adRP, carrying a point mutation in the major rhodopsin, Rh1 (Rh1G69D). We identified two novel E3 ubiquitin ligases SORDD1 and SORDD2 that effectively suppressed Rh1G69D-induced photoreceptor dysfunction and retinal degeneration. SORDD1/2 promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of Rh1G69D through VCP (valosin containing protein) and independent of processes reliant on the HRD1 (HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1)/HRD3 complex. We further demonstrate that SORDD1/2 and HRD1 function in parallel and in a redundant fashion to maintain rhodopsin homeostasis and integrity of photoreceptor cells. These findings identify a new ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) pathway and suggest that facilitating SORDD1/2 function may be a therapeutic strategy to treat adRP.
Cyclin B3 activates the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome in meiosis and mitosis
Authors: Garrido Damien , Bourouh Mohammed , Bonneil Éric , Thibault Pierre , Swan Andrew , Archambault Vincent
Published: November 2020

In mitosis and meiosis, chromosome segregation is triggered by the Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C), a multi-subunit ubiquitin ligase that targets proteins for degradation, leading to the separation of chromatids. APC/C activation requires phosphorylation of its APC3 and APC1 subunits, which allows the APC/C to bind its co-activator Cdc20. The identity of the kinase(s) responsible for APC/C activationin vivois unclear. Cyclin B3 (CycB3) is an activator of the Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 (Cdk1) that is required for meiotic anaphase in flies, worms and vertebrates. It has been hypothesized that CycB3-Cdk1 may be responsible for APC/C activation in meiosis but this remains to be determined. UsingDrosophila, we found that mutations inCycB3genetically enhance mutations intws, which encodes the B55 regulatory subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) known to promote mitotic exit. Females heterozygous forCycB3andtwsloss-of-function alleles lay embryos that arrest in mitotic metaphase in a maternal effect, indicating that CycB3 promotes anaphase in mitosis in addition to meiosis. This metaphase arrest is not due to the Spindle Assembly Checkpoint (SAC) because mutation ofmad2that inactivates the SAC does not rescue the development of embryos fromCycB3-/+,tws-/+females. Moreover, we found that CycB3 promotes APC/C activity and anaphase in cells in culture. We show that CycB3 physically associates with the APC/C, is required for phosphorylation of APC3, and promotes APC/C association with its Cdc20 co-activators Fizzy and Cortex. Our results strongly suggest that CycB3-Cdk1 directly activates the APC/C to promote anaphase in both meiosis and mitosis.
Folliculin variants linked to Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome are targeted for proteasomal degradation
Authors: Clausen Lene , Stein Amelie , Grønbæk-Thygesen Martin , Nygaard Lasse , Søltoft Cecilie L. , Nielsen Sofie V. , Lisby Michael , Ravid Tommer , Lindorff-Larsen Kresten , Hartmann-Petersen Rasmus
Published: November 2020

Germline mutations in the folliculin (FLCN) tumor suppressor gene are linked to Birt-Hogg-Dubé (BHD) syndrome, a dominantly inherited genetic disease characterized by predisposition to fibrofolliculomas, lung cysts, and renal cancer. Most BHD-linked FLCN variants include large deletions and splice site aberrations predicted to cause loss of function. The mechanisms by which missense variants and short in-frame deletions in FLCN trigger disease are unknown. Here, we present an integrated computational and experimental study that reveals that the majority of such disease-causing FLCN variants cause loss of function due to proteasomal degradation of the encoded FLCN protein, rather than directly ablating FLCN function. Accordingly, several different single-site FLCN variants are present at strongly reduced levels in cells. In line with our finding that FLCN variants are protein quality control targets, several are also highly insoluble and fail to associate with the FLCN-binding partners FNIP1 and FNIP2. The lack of FLCN binding leads to rapid proteasomal degradation of FNIP1 and FNIP2. Half of the tested FLCN variants are mislocalized in cells, and one variant (ΔE510) forms perinuclear protein aggregates. A yeast-based stability screen revealed that the deubiquitylating enzyme Ubp15/USP7 and molecular chaperones regulate the turnover of the FLCN variants. Lowering the temperature led to a stabilization of two FLCN missense proteins, and for one (R362C), function was re-established at low temperature. In conclusion, we propose that most BHD-linked FLCN missense variants and small in-frame deletions operate by causing misfolding and degradation of the FLCN protein, and that stabilization and resulting restoration of function may hold therapeutic potential of certain disease-linked variants. Our computational saturation scan encompassing both missense variants and single site deletions in FLCN may allow classification of rare FLCN variants of uncertain clinical significance.
NIGT1 family proteins exhibit dual mode DNA recognition to regulate nutrient response-associated genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Ueda Yoshiaki , Nosaki Shohei , Sakuraba Yasuhito , Miyakawa Takuya , Kiba Takatoshi , Tanokura Masaru , Yanagisawa Shuichi
Published: November 2020

Fine-tuning of nutrient uptake and response is indispensable for maintenance of nutrient homeostasis in plants, but the details of underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. NITRATE-INDUCIBLE GARP-TYPE TRANSCRIPTIONAL REPRESSOR 1 (NIGT1) family proteins are plant-specific transcriptional repressors that function as an important hub in the nutrient signaling network associated with the acquisition and use of nitrogen and phosphorus. Here, by yeast two-hybrid assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays, and biochemical analysis with recombinant proteins, we show that Arabidopsis NIGT1 family proteins form a dimer via the interaction mediated by a coiled-coil domain (CCD) in their N-terminal regions. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays defined that the NIGT1 dimer binds to two different motifs, 5'-GAATATTC-3' and 5'-GATTC-N38-GAATC-3', in target gene promoters. Unlike the dimer of wild-type NIGT1 family proteins, a mutant variant that could not dimerize due to amino acid substitutions within the CCD had lower specificity and affinity to DNA, thereby losing the ability to precisely regulate the expression of target genes. Thus, expressing the wild-type and mutant NIGT1 proteins in the nigt1 quadruple mutant differently modified NIGT1-regulated gene expression and responses towards nitrate and phosphate. These results suggest that the CCD-mediated dimerization confers dual mode DNA recognition to NIGT1 family proteins, which is necessary to make proper controls of their target genes and nutrient responses. Intriguingly, two 5'-GATTC-3' sequences are present in face-to-face orientation within the 5'-GATTC-N38-GAATC-3' sequence or its complementary one, while two 5'-ATTC-3' sequences are present in back-to-back orientation within the 5'-GAATATTC-3' or its complementary one. This finding suggests a unique mode of DNA binding by NIGT1 family proteins and may provide a hint as to why target sequences for some transcription factors cannot be clearly determined.
The anxious addictive narcissist: The relationship between grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, anxiety symptoms and Facebook Addiction
Authors: Brailovskaia Julia , Rohmann Elke , Bierhoff Hans-Werner , Margraf Jürgen
Published: November 2020

Vulnerable narcissism and grandiose narcissism share the core of the narcissistic self but are considered as separate forms of this personality trait. While previous research mainly focused on the mechanisms that connect grandiose narcissism and addictive use of the social platform Facebook, it remained unclear why individuals with enhanced levels of vulnerable narcissism are at risk to develop Facebook Addiction (FA). The present study investigated the links between vulnerable and grandiose narcissism, anxiety symptoms, and FA. In a sample of 327 Facebook users (age:M(SD) = 23.67(3.96), range: 18–56), both forms of narcissism were positively related to anxiety symptoms and FA. Moreover, the association between both forms of narcissism and FA was partly mediated by anxiety symptoms. Results enter new territory by revealing hidden similarities between vulnerable and grandiose narcissists, emphasizing that similar mechanisms might explain their enhanced risk to develop addictive tendencies of Facebook use. These findings should be considered when assessing individuals at risk for FA and when developing (therapeutic) intervention programs to deal with problematic use of social platforms.
Convergent structural features of respiratory syncytial virus neutralizing antibodies and plasticity of the site V epitope on prefusion F
Authors: Harshbarger Wayne , Tian Sai , Wahome Newton , Balsaraf Ankita , Bhattacharya Deep , Jiang Desheng , Pandey Ratnesh , Tungare Kunal , Friedrich Kristian , Mehzabeen Nurjahan , Biancucci Marco , Chinchilla-Olszar Diana , Mallett Corey P. , Huang Ying , Wang Zihao , Bottomley Matthew James , Malito Enrico , Chandramouli Sumana
Published: November 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a global public health burden for which no licensed vaccine exists. To aid vaccine development via increased understanding of the protective antibody response to RSV prefusion glycoprotein F (PreF), we performed structural and functional studies using the human neutralizing antibody (nAb) RSB1. The crystal structure of PreF complexed with RSB1 reveals a conformational, pre-fusion specific site V epitope with a unique cross-protomer binding mechanism. We identify shared structural features between nAbs RSB1 and CR9501, elucidating for the first time how diverse germlines obtained from different subjects can develop convergent molecular mechanisms for recognition of the same PreF site of vulnerability. Importantly, RSB1-like nAbs were induced upon immunization with PreF in naturally-primed cattle. Together, this work reveals new details underlying the immunogenicity of site V and further supports PreF-based vaccine development efforts.
An investigation of Early Childhood Staff and Their Transition to the New Western Australian Humanities and Social Sciences Curriculum
Authors:   University of Western Australia, Loxton Jane , Cunningham Chrristine ,   Edith Cowan University, Knaus Marianne ,   Edith Cowan University
Published: November 2020

In 2017, a new Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) curriculum was introduced into all of Western Australia’s classrooms. The aim of this study was to investigate how teachers transitioned to that new HASS curriculum. Using case study methodology, the experiences, opportunities and challenges faced by the early childhood (EC) staff in two Perth schools were investigated as they prepared for and implemented a new HASS Curriculum. The results suggested the need for strong leadership in times of change. The results also indicated that these small, independent schools needed good resources and professional development to help understand the changes. The research is significant because it starts a much-needed conversation about prioritising HASS in the early years of schooling as well as addressing the challenges faced by early childhood teachers as they transition to teaching new curriculum in a core learning area.
Voices on Data Literacy and Initial Teacher Education: Pre-service teachers’ reflections and recommendations
Authors:   Sydney International School of Technology and Commerce, Kennedy-Clark Shannon , Galstaun Vilma ,   University of Sydney, Reimann Peter ,   University of Sydney, Martyn Taylor ,   University of Notre Dame, Sydney, Williamson Kiatin ,   NSW Department of Education, Sydney, Weight Jessica ,   University of Notre Dame, Sydney
Published: November 2020

The purpose of study was gain insight into pre-service teachers’ experiences in using classroom data to make learning and teaching decisions. The qualitative study is based on the reflections and recommendations of three pre-service teachers’ that participated in a data-driven decision-making intervention whilst on an immersive 10-week professional learning experience. This study is underpinned by an action research framework. There are many understandings of action research, here the approach is understood to be a systematic investigation into one’s own practice with the aim of improving teaching and learning. From the thematic analysis of the reflections, several recommendations were put forward by the pre-service teachers. They advocated for dedicated time to develop data collection, analysis, and visualisation skills and that these skills should be embedded in their degrees. Their reflections articulate the need to have a strong set of data related skills and competencies in order to be able to engage with professional practice.
A reflektív naplók alkalmazásának lehetőségei a tanárképzésben
Authors: Gulya Nikoletta , Szivák Judit , Fehérvári Anikó
Published: November 2020

Napjaink gyorsan változó információs társadalmában a tanároknak folyamatosan felül kell vizsgálniuk és kihívások elé kell állítaniuk nézeteiket, módszereiket, mivel a sokszínű osztályközösségek, illetve a változó tanulási formák, források és tanulási környezetek gyors, adaptív  pedagógiai reakciókat igényelnek (Lampert, 2010).  A reflektív gondolkodás elengedhetetlen kelléke a tanárok szakmai repertoárjának így a 20. század végétől a reflektivitás egyre nagyobb hangsúlyt kap a pedagógusképzésben (Kinsella, 2007; Collin, Karsenti és Komis, 2013).

A tanárszakos hallgatók reflektív gondolkodásának támogatására, illetve feltárására számos módszer áll rendelkezésre mind hazai, mind nemzetközi viszonylatban. Ezeknek a tanulmányoknak szisztematikus feldolgozását célul kitűző kutatások azonban kis számban vannak csak jelen a hazai szakirodalomban. 

Jelen tanulmány, a reflektív naplónak, mint a reflektivitás egyik hatékony eszközének tanárképzésben való alkalmazási lehetőségeit tárja fel a szakirodalmi elemzés módszerével. A kutatásba bevont tanulmányok céljait és eredményeit vizsgálja a reflektív naplóírás tanárszakos hallgatók fejlődésére gyakorolt hatásainak relevanciájában. A reflektív naplókkal kapcsolatos kutatások eredményei rávilágítottak, hogy a naplóírás különböző területen gyakorolhat hatást a tanárrá válás folyamatában. Támogathatja a szakmai tudás elmélyülését, tudatosabbá teheti a tanári gyakorlatot, de segítheti a tanítással kapcsolatos attitűdök, nézetek felülvizsgálatát is. Emellett fejlesztheti a tanárszakos hallgatók reflektivitásának szintjét és hozzájárulhat inkluzív szemléletmódjuk kialakításához.
Factors Influencing Recovery among Children with Moderate Acute Malnutrition Treated at Kirehe District Health Centers
Authors: Kabundi Vianney Bihibindi , Kayihura Camille , Marete Onesmus , Habarurema Nicodeme , Rutayisire Erigene
Published: November 2020

Acute malnutrition affects nearly 52 million of under five years children globally, 75% of them live in low to middle income countries. The treatment of acute malnutrition using supplement foods could help children recovering and could reduce the risk of sickness. The present study investigated the factors associated with recovery among children with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) under a follow-up program at health facilities. A prospective study was conducted in 16 health centers of Kirehe District of Rwanda and included 200 children from 6 to 59 months. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. All children enrolled in the study spent three months in nutrition program at health centers. The results show that after 3 months in the program 77.5% recovered from MAM. Children aged above 36 to 59 months were recovered at 90% whereas children aged from 24-35 months were recovered at 73.5%. Micronutrients and deworming provided at health facility were contributed to the recovery as children who received them were recovered at 89.1% and for those who didn’t were recovery at 72.1%. The findings demonstrated that boys were 16 times more likely to recover from MAM in three months of intervention than girls (AOR=16.19, p<0.001, 95% CI: 5.39- 48.63). Children from moderate income families were 3 more likely to recover than those from very low income families (AOR=2.8, p=0.029, 95% CI: 1.11-7.51). Male gender, receiving micronutrients and deworming from health facilities and family income status were factors associated with MAM recovery status
Delayed Tension Symptomatic Pneumoperitoneum After POEM Requiring Needle Decompression
Authors: McGrath Brian , Calderon Lucie F. , Xie Mengdan , Messallam Ahmed , Masuda Hikaru , Chen Huimin , Keilin Steven , Cai Qiang
Published: November 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an effective modality for the management of achalasia. Tension pneumoperitoneum is a significant complication that causes hemodynamic instability, generally within the periprocedural period.

METHODS:

Here, we report 2 cases of delayed tension pneumoperitoneum that was recognized and treated several hours after uncomplicated POEM.

RESULTS:

These cases illustrate the importance of continued vigilance for this complication outside of the immediate periprocedural period as well as the utility of computed tomography-guided aspiration in managing it.

DISCUSSION:

When discharging patients after POEM, caregivers should be aware of this rare complication and alert patients to return for immediate care when it happens.
Public Participation of Renewable Energy (PPRED) Model in Malaysia: An Instrument Development
Authors: Wan Abdullah W Muhammad Zainuddin B , Zainudin Wan Nur Rahini Aznie Bt , Mohamad Ishak Waznatol Widad Bt , Sulong Farizah Bt , Zia Ul Haq Hafiz Muhammad
Published: November 2020

Lack of an established measuring instrument for public participation towards renewable energy (RE) development has become a crucial concern for the researchers. Therefore, this research aims to develop and validate the instruments that measure public participation towards renewable energy development (PPRED) in Malaysia. This study incorporates degree of knowledge on RE (KRE), environmental concern (EC), public awareness on RE (ARE), attitude towards RE usage (AURE), and willingness to adopt RE technology (WTA) in the PPRED model, with an aim to predict public willingness to pay (WTP) for energy generated from RE sources. Using data of 172 usable responses, this study conducts an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to analyse the factor structures. In addition to this, using data from 154 usable responses from a second sample frame, this study also conducts confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine the unidimensionality of the measurement model. Correlations are used to measure discriminant and convergent validation of the items whereas Cronbach’s Alpha is used to measure internal consistency among different items. Specifically, EFA is used for variable extraction and CFA is used to test dimensionality, validity, and reliability of the PPRED model. The results proved validation of the PPRED model, indicating that all instruments included are reliable and valid to be used in the research. This study is also pertinent to initiate targeted campaigns and public education policies to improve awareness among Malaysians relating to renewable energy development
Ekogramotnosť – jeden z predpokladov rozvoja nových trendov ekonomického myslenia v znamení udržateľnosti
Authors: Pechočiaková Svitačová Eva , Pechočiak Tomáš
Published: November 2020

Teoretická štúdia vychádza z toho, že súčasnou výzvou pre subjekty v ekonomike sa stala udržateľnosť. Medzi kroky vedúce k transformácii ekonomickej teórie a následne k transformácii ekonomiky na udržateľnú, patrí vývoj nových trendov v ekonomickom myslení a rovnako aj nových iniciatív v ekonomike v znamení udržateľnosti. Na ich vzniku a rozvoji sa podieľajú ekogramotné subjekty. V štúdii je poodhalený teoretický rámec pre ekogramotnosť a zdôraznený jej význam pre udržateľnosť a rozvoj nových trendov ekonomického myslenia i ekonomických iniciatív v znamení udržateľnosti. Ekogramotnosť je prezentovaná ako nová vízia reality, ale aj ako atribút alebo kompetencia, ktorá je založená na porozumení skutočnej hodnoty prírodných entít a životného prostredia. Predpokladá vedomé úsilie subjektov v ekonomike minimalizovať negatívne účinky, ktoré sprevádzajú rozvoj ekonomiky, na prírodu a životné prostredie. Vzhľadom na prípravu budúcich odborníkov pre oblasť ekonomiky je zdôraznená ekogramotnosť ako dôležitý nástroj vzdelávania pre udržateľný rozvoj. Aj rozvoj nových trendov ekonomického myslenia a iniciatív v znamení udržateľnosti sa realizuje vďaka ekogramotným subjektom, a tak vzdelávanie zamerané na ekogramotnosť je vyzdvihnuté najmä v tých vzdelávacích inštitúciách, ktoré pripravujú odborníkov pre ekonomickú sféru.
Applying floodplain geomorphology to flood management (The Lower Vistula River upstream from Plock, Poland)
Authors: Wierzbicki Grzegorz , Ostrowski Piotr , Falkowski Tomasz
Published: November 2020

Using remote sensing extended on geological and topographical maps and verified by the field work, we present the flood management and study the geomorphic features of the floodplain of a large, sand bed, untrained but embanked river in order to determine the flood hazard and to predict future flood scenarios. In geomorphological mapping, we focus on the landforms: crevasse channels and splays, flood basin, chute channels, side arms, floodplain channels, dunes and fields of aeolian sand. We base the flood risk assessment on consultations with environmental engineers who design new technical structures that control inundation (cut-off walls and lattice levees). We describe a levee breach as a result of piping (inner erosion) in a high hydraulic gradient condition and its effect (scour hole) as an erosional landform consistent with the repetitive pattern of erosion and deposition formed by an overbank flow on a floodplain. We reveal an existence of homogenous morphodynamic reaches in the river valley.
Slovakia and V4: European Dimension
Authors:   Institute for Slavic Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nikitin Viktor
Published: November 2020

After the formation in March 2020 of a new government coalition led by Igor Matovic, the Slovak government has adopted the foreign policy concept analyzing the European agenda. The Slovak Prime Minister participates in several meetings of the EU Council and at the EU summit on July 17-21, 2020. Before his arrival in Brussels, the Slovak politician visited all the countries of the Visegrad Four. Both the meetings of the EU Council and bilateral and multilateral negotiations within the Visegrad Group had a pronounced «pandemic» component: they mainly discussed the EU instruments for overcoming the consequences of COVID-19 (EU budget, Recovery Fund and Next generation EU). The organization of a videoconference between the Prime Ministers of the Central European countries and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 19, 2020, had a very positive effect on the satisfactory results for the Visegrad countries of the EU Summit. As the pandemic subsides, on the agenda of European Council appeared foreign policy issues, especially the Belarus crises.