bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Binding of DNA to Natural Sepiolite: Applications in Biotechnology and Perspectives
Authors: Ragu Sandrine , Piétrement Olivier , Lopez Bernard S.
Published: December 2021

DNA manipulation is crucial for many biotechnological prospects and for medical applications such as gene therapy. This requires the amplification and extraction of DNA from bacteria and the transfer of these DNA molecules into cells, including bacterial and mammalian cells. The capacity of the natural magnesium silicate clay mineral sepiolite to bind to DNA makes it a potentially useful tool for biotechnological/medical strategies. In addition, sepiolite is inexpensive and classified as non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. This review will first describe the physicochemical interactions between sepiolite and DNA. Then, the leverage of sepiolite/DNA interactions for DNA extraction from bacteria, to optimize DNA transfer into bacteria and DNA transfection into mammalian cells, are presented. Finally, the putative toxicity of sepiolite and its advantages and perspectives for future prospects, such as the improvement of immunotherapy, are also discussed.
On Rehumanizing Pleistocene People of the Western Hemisphere
Authors: Pitblado Bonnie L.
Published: December 2021

Since the emergence of the niche in Folsom, New Mexico, in the late 1920s, peopling archaeology has sought to understand the earliest human occupants of the Western Hemisphere. Three generations of practitioners have made great strides in the techno-environmental arena. However, we have largely failed to tap into PaleoIndigenous intellectual, emotional, and social lives—the very domains that made Ice Age people as fully human as we are. As a result, our interpretations of those pioneering populations could often apply as readily to a colony of ants or a herd of wildebeest as they do to living, breathing, thinking, dreaming, loving, striving human ancestors. This article first explores the reasons for our failure to fully actualize First Peoples, identifying and implicating a feedback loop that includes practitioner homogeneity (we have always been and continue to be disproportionately white men of European descent); our predominantly positivist worldview; our language, training, and practice; and even the limited nature of the material record we study. This article also, however, highlights the ways that an important minority of peopling scholars have sought to access the humanity of PaleoIndigenous people. By more consistently mobilizing our own human capacity to creatively interrogate the deep past, we will produce scholarship that more consistently recognizes the capacity of the people who lived it and, just as importantly, respects those living today.
Motivated reasoning, fast and slow
Authors: Strömbäck Camilla , Andersson David , Västfjäll Daniel , Tinghög Gustav
Published: December 2021

Are people more likely to (mis)interpret information so that it aligns with their ideological identity when relying on feelings compared to when engaging in analytical thinking? Or is it the other way around: Does deliberation increase the propensity to (mis)interpret information to confirm existing political views? In a behavioral experiment, participants (n = 1207, Swedish sample) assessed numerical information concerning the effects of gender quotas and immigration either under time pressure or under no time pressure. To measure trait differences in cognitive sophistication, we also collected data on numeric ability. We found clear evidence of motivated reasoning when assessing both the effects of gender quotas on companies’ financial results and the effect of refugee intake on crime rates. Subjects who prioritized equality over liberty on the labor market were 13 percentage points less likely to correctly assess numerical information depicting that companies that used gender quotas when hiring made less profit. Subjects who classified themselves as ‘Swedes’ rather than ‘World citizens’ were 14 percentage points less likely to correctly assess numerical information depicting that crime rates decreased following immigration. Time pressure did not affect the likelihood to engage in motivated reasoning, while subjects with higher numeric ability were less likely to engage in motivated reasoning when analyzing information concerning refugee intake, but more likely to engage in motivated reasoning when analyzing information regarding the effect of gender quotas. Together these results indicate that motivated reasoning is primarily driven by individual differences in analytical thinking at the trait level and not by situational factors such as time pressure, and that whether motivated reasoning is primarily driven by analysis or feelings depends on the topic at hand.
Disaster Preparedness and Associated Factors Among Emergency Nurses in Guangdong Province, China: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Wang Jia , Sun Xinglan , Lu Sihui , Wang Fen , Wan Meijuan , Chen Hanxi , Tan Yibing
Published: December 2021

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of disaster preparedness and to explore associated factors among emergency nurses in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods:

In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, the mainland China version of the Disaster Preparedness Evaluation Tool was used to collect data from 633 nurses working in 26 emergency departments, in August 2018. Descriptive analyses were used to examine the disaster preparedness, and multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate associated factors.

Results:

The perceived disaster preparedness of emergency nurses was at a moderate level. Among the 5 dimensions, the score for disaster management was lowest. Emergency nurses’ disaster training (r = .26; P < 0.001) and drill experiences (r = .22; P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with disaster preparedness. Six significant factors associated with disaster preparedness were identified in this study: age, gender, disaster training experience, disaster drill experience, willingness, and educational level (R2 = .14; F = 18.20; P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Hospitals and nurse managers should carry out interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary cooperation to improve emergency nurses’ disaster preparedness, especially disaster management. Organizing disaster simulation exercises, providing psychological support and safety considerations, and formulating disaster nursing training programs may be beneficial for emergency nurses’ disaster preparedness.
Suicide risk assessment: time to think again?
Authors: Lucey J. V. , Matti B.
Published: December 2021

This paper considers recent research on suicide risk assessment to support calls for a ‘rethink’ of our assessment of the patients in our care, along with the adoption of a more collaborative approach to care planning with service users who remain at risk of self-harm and in need of a plan for their safety.
Damped shape oscillations of a viscous compound droplet suspended in a viscous host fluid
Authors: Li Fang , Yin Xie-Yuan , Yin Xie-Zhen
Published: December 2021

A study of small-amplitude shape oscillations of a viscous compound droplet suspended in a viscous host fluid is performed. A generalized eigenvalue problem is formulated and is solved by using the spectral method. The effects of the relevant non-dimensional parameters are examined for three cases, i.e. a liquid shell in a vacuum and a compound droplet in a vacuum or in a host fluid. The fundamental mode

$l=2$

is found to be dominant. There exist two oscillatory modes: the in phase and the out of phase. In most situations, the interfaces oscillate in phase rather than out of phase. For the in-phase mode, in the absence of the host, as the viscosity of the core or the shell increases, the damping rate increases whereas the oscillation frequency decreases; when the viscosity exceeds a critical value, the mode becomes aperiodic with the damping rate bifurcating into two branches. In addition, when the tension of the inner interface becomes smaller than some value, the in-phase mode turns aperiodic. In the presence of the unbounded host fluid, there exists a continuous spectrum. The viscosity of the host may decrease or increase the damping rate of the in-phase mode. The mechanism behind it is discussed. The density contrasts between fluids affect oscillations of the droplet in a complicated way. Particularly, sufficiently large densities of the core or the host lead to the disappearance of the out-of-phase mode. The thin shell approximation predicts well the oscillation of the compound droplet when the shell is thin.
Families of veterans with traumatic brain injury in Australia and the United States: Implications for rehabilitation counselors
Authors: Degeneffe Charles Edmund
Published: December 2021

Starting with World War I, Australia and the United States have been allies in military operations. Since then, both countries have been challenged by meeting the needs of military personnel incurring traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially during recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. TBI impacts all members of the veteran’s family. This paper articulates the shared responsibility both countries assume in meeting the support needs faced by families of military veterans with TBI and how TBI in the military is different than in the civilian population. The paper describes how both countries differently address the needs of family caregivers of veterans with TBI and outlines areas for rehabilitation counselor collaborations in research and training.
Frictional interactions on Women, Peace and Security in Mali
Authors: Lorentzen Jenny
Published: December 2021

More than 20 years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the international community is concerned with taking stock of its implementation in countries undergoing transitions from war to peace. This article contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics involved in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda through a focus on the frictional interactions that take place between different actors promoting women's participation in the peace process in Mali. Based on extensive fieldwork in Bamako between 2017 and 2019, it analyses interactions between different international and local actors in the Malian peace process through a discussion of vertical (between international and local actors) and horizontal (between local actors) friction. It finds that the way different actors respond to friction shapes relationships and impacts norm trajectories by triggering feedback loops, which in turn trigger new responses and outcomes.
The Burmese road to Israeli-style cooperative settlements: The Namsang project, 1956–63
Authors: Kozłowska Magdalena , Lubina Michał
Published: December 2021

This article deals with the Namsang project in Burma, run in the late 1950s and early 1960s to engage demobilised soldiers in establishing a series of cooperative villages modelled on Israeli settlements with Israeli technical and other assistance. The article explores the Burmese modernisation project in the context of the unification of the country and the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement. In its examination of the Namsang project, this article offers a microscopic view of the translation of planning practices to other contexts in general, but also asks some more specific questions, such as how Burmese and Israeli national identity, memory, and history defined the project agenda, what the planners’ ambitions were, and why the project failed.
Referential expressions in monolingual and bilingual children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A study of informativeness and definiteness
Authors: MEIR Natalia , NOVOGRODSKY Rama
Published: December 2021

The current study evaluated the separate and combined effects of bilingualism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) on informativeness and definiteness marking of referential expressions. Hebrew-speaking monolingual children (21 with ASD and 28 with typical language development) and Russian–Hebrew-speaking bilingual children (13 with ASD and 30 with typical language development) aged 4–9 years participated. Informativeness, indexed by referential contrasts, was affected by ASD, but not by bilingualism. Definiteness use was non-target-like in children with ASD and in bilingual children, and it was mainly predicted by children’s morpho-syntactic abilities in Hebrew. Language-universal and language-specific properties of referential use are discussed.
Spontaneous speech intelligibility: early cochlear implanted children versus their normally hearing peers at seven years of age
Authors: BOONEN Nathalie , KLOOTS Hanne , NURZIA Pietro , GILLIS Steven
Published: December 2021

Speaking intelligibly is an important achievement in children’s language development. How far do congenitally severe-to-profound hearing-impaired children who received a cochlear implant (CI) in the first two years of their life advance on the path to intelligibility in comparison to children with typical hearing (NH)? Spontaneous speech samples of children with CI and children with NH were orthographically transcribed by naïve transcribers. The entropy of the transcriptions was computed to analyze their degree of uniformity. The same samples were also rated on a continuous rating scale by another group of adult listeners. The transcriptions of the NH children’s speech were more uniform, i.e., had significantly lower entropy, than those of the CI children, suggesting that the latter group displayed lower intelligibility. This was confirmed by the ratings on the continuous scale. Despite the relatively restricted age ranges, older children reached better intelligibility scores in both groups.
The Dada Dramaturgy of Readymade Cabaret 2.0
Authors: Edmonson Chloë Rae
Published: December 2021

This Is Not a Theatre Company’s Readymade Cabaret 2.0 combines classic Dada dramaturgy with a Covid-era virtual theatre of short vignettes, much like the original Dada performances at the Cabaret Voltaire. Character-based dialogue strikes at the same existential questions explored by the Dada collaborators, especially prescient in the context of a global pandemic that has drastically altered our daily lives.
Towards an Abyssal Praxis in 5 Moves
Authors: Spinelli Miro
Published: December 2021

The equivalency “land is to soil as body is to flesh” is a guide to reflect on the techniques of coloniality in the extraction and violation of matter. From the perception that body and land are invented even as they are stolen, we endeavor to stay on the edge of that paradoxical abyss long enough to foresee modes of radical imagination.
Mars: new insights and unresolved questions
Authors: Changela Hitesh G. , Chatzitheodoridis Elias , Antunes Andre , Beaty David , Bouw Kristian , Bridges John C. , Capova Klara Anna , Cockell Charles S. , Conley Catharine A. , Dadachova Ekaterina , Dallas Tiffany D. , de Mey Stefaan , Dong Chuanfei , Ellery Alex , Ferus Martin , Foing Bernard , Fu Xiaohui , Fujita Kazuhisa , Lin Yangting , Jheeta Sohan , Hicks Leon J. , Hu Sen , Kereszturi Akos , Krassakis Alexandros , Liu Yang , Oberst Juergen , Michalski Joe , Ranjith P. M. , Rinaldi Teresa , Rothery David , Stavrakakis Hector A. , Selbmann Laura , Sinha Rishitosh K. , Wang Alian , Williford Ken , Vaci Zoltan , Vago Jorge L. , Waltemathe Michael , Hallsworth John E.
Published: December 2021

Mars exploration motivates the search for extraterrestrial life, the development of space technologies, and the design of human missions and habitations. Here, we seek new insights and pose unresolved questions relating to the natural history of Mars, habitability, robotic and human exploration, planetary protection, and the impacts on human society. Key observations and findings include:

–

high escape rates of early Mars' atmosphere, including loss of water, impact present-day habitability;

–

putative fossils on Mars will likely be ambiguous biomarkers for life;

–

microbial contamination resulting from human habitation is unavoidable; and

–

based on Mars' current planetary protection category, robotic payload(s) should characterize the local martian environment for any life-forms prior to human habitation.

Some of the outstanding questions are:

–

which interpretation of the hemispheric dichotomy of the planet is correct;

–

to what degree did deep-penetrating faults transport subsurface liquids to Mars' surface;

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in what abundance are carbonates formed by atmospheric processes;

–

what properties of martian meteorites could be used to constrain their source locations;

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the origin(s) of organic macromolecules;

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was/is Mars inhabited;

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how can missions designed to uncover microbial activity in the subsurface eliminate potential false positives caused by microbial contaminants from Earth;

–

how can we ensure that humans and microbes form a stable and benign biosphere; and

–

should humans relate to putative extraterrestrial life from a biocentric viewpoint (preservation of all biology), or anthropocentric viewpoint of expanding habitation of space?

Studies of Mars' evolution can shed light on the habitability of extrasolar planets. In addition, Mars exploration can drive future policy developments and confirm (or put into question) the feasibility and/or extent of human habitability of space.
Atmospheric Rivers Bring More Frequent and Intense Extreme Rainfall Events Over East Asia Under Global Warming
Authors: Kamae Y. , Imada Y. , Kawase H. , Mei W.
Published: December 2021

Portions of East Asia often experienced extremely heavy rainfall events over the last decade. Intense atmospheric rivers (ARs), eddy transports of moisture over the middle latitudes, contributed significantly to these events. Although previous studies pointed out that landfalling ARs will become more frequent under global warming, the extent to which ARs produce extreme rainfall over East Asia in a warmer climate remains unclear. Here we evaluate changes in the frequency and intensity of AR‐related extreme heavy rainfall under global warming using a set of high‐resolution global and regional atmospheric simulations. We find that both the AR‐related water vapor transport and rainfall intensify over the southern and western slopes of mountains over East Asia in a warmer climate. ARs are responsible for a large fraction of the increase in the occurrence of extreme rainfall in boreal spring and summer. ARs will bring unprecedented extreme rainfall over East Asia under global warming.
Propagation of Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron Waves in a Dipole Magnetic Field: A 2‐D Hybrid Simulation
Authors: Kang Ning , Lu Quanming , Gao Xinliang , Wang Xueyi , Chen Huayue , Wang Shui
Published: December 2021

Abstracts

Electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves are one commonly observed plasma waves in the Earth's inner magnetosphere and play a crucial role in particle dynamics in the radiation belt and ring current. EMIC waves are excited by a proton temperature anisotropy and generally have a left‐handed polarization, however satellite observations have usually reported the existence of linearly polarized EMIC waves in the inner magnetosphere. In this paper, we employ a two‐dimensional (2D) hybrid code in a dipole field (gcPIC‐hybrid) to simulate the propagation of EMIC waves from the equatorial source region. We track one single EMIC wave packet and analyze how its properties evolve along its trajectory. In diagnosing the wave normal angle (WNA) of the packet, we propose a novel method called Wave Front Shape Identification (WFSI). The ellipticity can also been calculated after we know the WNA. By comparing the ellipticity calculated from the linear theory and the ellipticity diagnosed from the simulation, we conclude that in a proton‐electron plasma, EMIC waves would turn from a left‐handed polarization to a linear polarization solely due to the propagation effect when the waves propagate toward higher latitudes and become oblique. We also find that the peak frequency of the wave packet (the wave mode with the maximum amplitude) decreases when propagating toward higher latitudes, which is due to different growth and damping behavior of different modes.
Quasilinear Diffusion of Protons by Equatorial Magnetosonic Waves at Quasi‐Perpendicular Propagation: Comparison With the Test‐Particle Approach
Authors: Min Kyungguk , Liu Kaijun
Published: December 2021

Although some plasma waves exhibit the largest growth rate and amplitude at 90° wave normal angle (WNA), particle scattering by these waves in a quasilinear (QL) sense has seldom been examined previously. Using test‐particle calculation and QL theory and assuming a uniform background magnetic field, the present study investigates the proton scattering by equatorial fast magnetosonic waves (MSWs; a.k.a equatorial noise) with varying WNAs including 90°. Comparison with the diffusion coefficients in momentum space obtained from the test‐particle approach indicates that the QL diffusion coefficients due to MSWs are consistent with those estimated from the test‐particle method up to 90° WNA, provided that MSWs described conform to the usual QL theory assumptions. The test‐particle dynamics due to MSWs at 90° WNA are examined in detail. Although in the QL picture, perpendicularly propagating MSWs are only supposed to resonate with protons at integer harmonic frequencies, waves at slightly off‐integer harmonic frequencies as part of a narrowband discrete spectrum of incoherent MSWs play an important role in making the proton scattering stochastic. Considering the recent test‐particle result of bounce‐averaged resonance of energetic protons, non‐zero wave power at the WNAs ≳89.5° typically excluded in QL diffusion can be important for ring current proton dynamics.
Modeling Inner Proton Belt Variability at Energies 1 to 10 MeV Using BAS‐PRO
Authors: Lozinski Alexander R. , Horne Richard B. , Glauert Sarah A. , Del Zanna Giulio , Claudepierre Seth G.
Published: December 2021

Geomagnetically trapped protons forming Earth's proton radiation belt pose a hazard to orbiting spacecraft. In particular, solar cell degradation is caused by non‐ionising collisions with protons at energies of several megaelectron volts (MeV), which can shorten mission lifespan. Dynamic enhancements in trapped proton flux following solar energetic particle events have been observed to last several months, and there is a strong need for physics‐based modeling to predict the impact on spacecraft. However, modeling proton belt variability at this energy is challenging because radial diffusion coefficients are not well constrained. We address this by using the British Antarctic Survey proton belt model BAS‐PRO to perform 3D simulations of the proton belt in the region 1.15 ≤ L ≤ 2 from 2014 to 2018. The model is driven by measurements from the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Ion Composition Experiment and Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer instruments carried by the Van Allen Probe satellites. To investigate sensitivity, simulations are repeated for three different sets of proton radial diffusion coefficients DLL taken from previous literature. Comparing the time evolution of each result, we find that solar cycle variability can drive up to a ∼75% increase in 7.5 MeV flux at L = 1.3 over four years due to the increased importance of collisional loss at low energies. We also show how the anisotropy of proton pitch angle distributions varies with L and energy, depending on DLL. However we find that phase space density can vary by three orders of magnitude at L = 1.4 and μ = 20 MeV/G due to uncertainty in DLL, highlighting the need to better constrain proton DLL at low energy.
Modeling Aerosol Effects on Liquid Clouds in the Summertime Arctic
Authors: Ghahreman Roya , Gong Wanmin , Beagley Stephen R. , Akingunola Ayodeji , Makar Paul A. , Leaitch W. Richard
Published: December 2021

An investigation of aerosol effects on the Arctic summer clouds is carried out by using a fully‐coupled version of GEM‐MACH, an online air quality forecast model. Model simulations are carried out for the July 2014 NETCARE field campaign based from Resolute, Nunavut, Canada. For a pristine period, the model simulated thin water clouds, with liquid water path <50 g m−2, at relatively low altitudes (<200 m). The model simulated more and smaller droplets with higher liquid water content (LWC) during a polluted period. Further sensitivity analysis indicates that the increased aerosol loading from long‐range transport during the polluted period is responsible for the increase in CDNC and decreased droplet size, which also led to an increase in cloud liquid water content (LWC), a decrease in precipitation, and increased cloudiness in the area. The model agrees with observation showing that aerosols smaller than 100 nm are commonly activated in the summer Arctic, with even smaller aerosols (<50 nm) being activated during the pristine period. The impact of atmospheric dimethyl sulfide (DMS) upon the Arctic summer cloud microphysics was also investigated. The inclusion of DMS leads to an increase in CDNC and smaller droplet sizes. It also improves the modeled aerosol size distribution considerably compared to the observation, particularly in the size range between 60 and 200 nm. The enhancement of CDNC due to DMS is more significant (e.g., >50%) in the regions with higher DMS(g) mixing ratios, resulting in higher sulphate mass increases in these regions.
Improving Surface PM2.5 Forecasts in the United States Using an Ensemble of Chemical Transport Model Outputs: 2. Bias Correction With Satellite Data for Rural Areas
Authors: Zhang Huanxin , Wang Jun , García Lorena Castro , Zhou Meng , Ge Cui , Plessel Todd , Szykman James , Levy Robert C. , Murphy Benjamin , Spero Tanya L.
Published: December 2021

This work serves as the second of a two‐part study to improve surface PM2.5 forecasts in the continental U.S. through the integrated use of multisatellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) products (MODIS Terra/Aqua and VIIRS DT/DB), multichemical transport model (CTM) (GEOS‐Chem, WRF‐Chem, and CMAQ) outputs, and ground observations. In Part I of the study, an ensemble Kalman filter (KF) technique using three CTM outputs and ground observations was developed to correct forecast bias and generate a single best forecast of PM2.5 for next day over nonrural areas that have surface PM2.5 measurements in the proximity of 125 km. Here, with AOD data, we extended the bias correction into rural areas where the closest air quality monitoring station is at least 125–300 km away. First, we ensembled all of satellite AOD products to yield the single best AOD. Second, we corrected daily PM2.5 in rural areas from multiple models through the AOD spatial pattern between these areas and nonrural areas, referred to as “extended ground truth” or EGT, for the present day. Lastly, we applied the KF technique to reduce the forecast bias for next day using the EGT. Our results find that the ensemble of bias‐corrected daily PM2.5 from three CTMs for both today and next day show the best performance. Together, the two‐part study develops a multimodel and multi‐AOD bias‐correction technique that has the potential to improve PM2.5 forecasts in both rural and nonrural areas in near real time, and be readily implemented at state levels.
Congenital heart disease in school-aged children: Cognition, education, and participation in leisure activities
Authors: Spillmann Rebecca , Polentarutti Susanne , Ehrler Melanie , Kretschmar Oliver , Wehrle Flavia M. , Latal Beatrice
Published: December 2021

Background

Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for neurodevelopmental deficits. This study aimed to investigate the impact of cognitive deficits on educational outcome and participation in leisure activities.

Methods

A prospective cohort of 134 children with CHD who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery (CPB) was examined at 10 years of age. IQ was assessed with the WISC-IV and executive functions with the BRIEF (parent- and teacher-report). Parents reported on type and level of education and educational support, and leisure activity participation. Ordinal regression analyses assessed the association between cognitive deficits and educational outcome and participation.

Results

Total IQ (P = 0.023), working memory (P < 0.001), processing speed (P = 0.008), and teacher-reported metacognition (P = 0.022) were lower than norms. Regular school was attended by 82.4% of children with CHD compared to 97% of the general Swiss population (P < 0.001). Seventy-five percent of children participated in leisure activities. Lower total IQ and teacher-rated global executive functions were associated with more educational support and lower IQ was associated with less participation.

Conclusion

As school-aged children with CHD experience cognitive deficits, follow-up is required to provide optimal support with regard to educational outcome and participation in leisure activities.

Impact

Contemporary cohorts of children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery remain at increased risk for cognitive deficits.

Cognitive deficits affect educational outcome and leisure activities.

These findings underline the importance of early detection of cognitive deficits and recommend support with respect to cognitive functioning.
Fis1 phosphorylation by Met promotes mitochondrial fission and hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis
Authors: Yu Yan , Peng Xiao-Dan , Qian Xiao-Jun , Zhang Kai-Ming , Huang Xiang , Chen Yu-Hong , Li Yun-Tian , Feng Gong-Kan , Zhang Hai-Liang , Xu Xue-Lian , Li Shun , Li Xuan , Mai Jia , Li Zhi-Ling , Huang Yun , Yang Dong , Zhou Li-Huan , Zhong Zhuo-Yan , Li Jun-Dong , Deng Rong , Zhu Xiao-Feng
Published: December 2021

Met tyrosine kinase, a receptor for a hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), plays a critical role in tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. Mitochondria are highly dynamic and undergo fission and fusion to maintain a functional mitochondrial network. Dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics are responsible for the progression and metastasis of many cancers. Here, using structured illumination microscopy (SIM) and high spatial and temporal resolution live cell imaging, we identified mitochondrial trafficking of receptor tyrosine kinase Met. The contacts between activated Met kinase and mitochondria formed dramatically, and an intact HGF/Met axis was necessary for dysregulated mitochondrial fission and cancer cell movements. Mechanically, we found that Met directly phosphorylated outer mitochondrial membrane protein Fis1 at Tyr38 (Fis1 pY38). Fis1 pY38 promoted mitochondrial fission by recruiting the mitochondrial fission GTPase dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1) to mitochondria. Fragmented mitochondria fueled actin filament remodeling and lamellipodia or invadopodia formation to facilitate cell metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells both in vitro and in vivo. These findings reveal a novel and noncanonical pathway of Met receptor tyrosine kinase in the regulation of mitochondrial activities, which may provide a therapeutic target for metastatic HCC.
A 2.09 Mb fragment translocation on chromosome 6 causes abnormalities during meiosis and leads to less seed watermelon
Authors: Tian Shujuan , Ge Jie , Ai Gongli , Jiang Jiao , Liu Qiyan , Chen Xiner , Liu Man , Yang Jianqiang , Zhang Xian , Yuan Li
Published: December 2021

Seedlessness is a valuable agronomic trait in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) breeding. Conventional less seed watermelons are mainly triploid, which has many disadvantages due to unbalanced genome content. Less seed watermelon can be achieved at the diploid level when certain reproductive genes are mutated or by chromosome translocation, which leads to defects during meiosis. However, the formation mechanism of diploid less seed watermelons remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a spontaneous mutant line, watermelon line “148”, which can set seeds normally when self-pollinated. A total of 148 × JM F1hybrid plants exhibited seed number reductions to 50.3% and 47.3% of those of the two parental lines, respectively, which are considered to be less seed. Examination of pollen viability and hybridization experiments revealed that F1hybrids produce semisterile pollen and ovules. Further cytological observations indicated that semisterility was a result of a reciprocal translocation of chromosomes, which exhibited one quadrivalent ring of four chromosomes at prometaphase I during meiosis. RT-qPCR analysis indirectly confirmed that the semisterile phenotype is caused by chromosome translocation rather than disruption of specific meiotic gene expression. F2population genetic analysis indicated that the “148” watermelon line is a homozygous translocation and that the less seed phenotype of the F1hybrid is prompted by one chromosome fragment translocation. The translocated fragment was further fine mapped to a 2.09 Mb region on chromosome 6 by whole-genome resequencing and genetic map cloning procedures. Our work revealed that a 2.09 Mb chromosome fragment translocation on chromosome 6, causing meiotic defects at metaphase I during meiosis, leads to diploid less seed watermelon. Our findings provide a new promising method for less seed watermelon breeding at the diploid level, as well as a fragment size reference for breeding less seed watermelon through artificially induced chromosome translocation.
Dissecting the membrane-microtubule sensor in grapevine defence
Authors: Guan Pingyin , Shi Wenjing , Riemann Michael , Nick Peter
Published: December 2021

Specific populations of plant microtubules cooperate with the plasma membrane to sense and process abiotic stress signals, such as cold stress. The current study derived from the question, to what extent this perception system is active in biotic stress signalling. The experimental system consisted of grapevine cell lines, where microtubules or actin filaments are visualised by GFP, such that their response became visible in vivo. We used the bacterial elicitors harpin (inducing cell-death related defence), or flg22 (inducing basal immunity) in combination with modulators of membrane fluidity, or microtubules. We show that DMSO, a membrane rigidifier, can cause microtubule bundling and trigger defence responses, including activation of phytoalexin transcripts. However, DMSO inhibited the gene expression in response to harpin, while promoting the gene expression in response to flg22. Treatment with DMSO also rendered microtubules more persistent to harpin. Paradoxically, Benzylalcohol (BA), a membrane fluidiser, acted in the same way as DMSO. Neither GdCl3, nor diphenylene iodonium were able to block the inhibitory effect of membrane rigidification on harpin-induced gene expression. Treatment with taxol stabilised microtubule against harpin but amplified the response of PAL transcripts. Therefore, the data support implications of a model that deploys specific responses to pathogen-derived signals.
Regulatory circuits involving bud dormancy factor PpeDAM6
Authors: Lloret Alba , Quesada-Traver Carles , Conejero Ana , Arbona Vicent , Gómez-Mena Concepción , Petri César , Sánchez-Navarro Jesús A. , Zuriaga Elena , Leida Carmen , Badenes María Luisa , Ríos Gabino
Published: December 2021

DORMANCY-ASSOCIATED MADS-BOX (DAM) genes have recently emerged as key potential regulators of the dormancy cycle and climate adaptation in perennial species. Particularly, PpeDAM6 has been proposed to act as a major repressor of bud dormancy release and bud break in peach (Prunus persica). PpeDAM6 expression is downregulated concomitantly with the perception of a given genotype-dependent accumulation of winter chilling time, and the coincident enrichment in H3K27me3 chromatin modification at a specific genomic region. We have identified three peach BASIC PENTACYSTEINE PROTEINs (PpeBPCs) interacting with two GA-repeat motifs present in this H3K27me3-enriched region. Moreover, PpeBPC1 represses PpeDAM6 promoter activity by transient expression experiments. On the other hand, the heterologous overexpression of PpeDAM6 in European plum (Prunus domestica) alters plant vegetative growth, resulting in dwarf plants tending toward shoot meristem collapse. These alterations in vegetative growth of transgenic lines associate with impaired hormone homeostasis due to the modulation of genes involved in jasmonic acid, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin pathways, and the downregulation of shoot meristem factors, specifically in transgenic leaf and apical tissues. The expression of many of these genes is also modified in flower buds of peach concomitantly with PpeDAM6 downregulation, which suggests a role of hormone homeostasis mechanisms in PpeDAM6-dependent maintenance of floral bud dormancy and growth repression.
An integrated metagenomic and metabolite profiling study of hydrocarbon biodegradation and corrosion in navy ships
Authors: Marks Christopher R. , Duncan Kathleen E. , Nanny Mark A. , Harriman Brian H. , Avci Recep , Oldham Athenia L. , Suflita Joseph M.
Published: December 2021

Naval vessels regularly mix fuel and seawater as ballast, a practice that might exacerbate fuel biodegradation and metal biocorrosion. To investigate, a metagenomic characterization and metabolite profiling of ballast from U.S. Navy vessels with residence times of 1-, ~20-, and 31 weeks was conducted and compared with the seawater used to fill the tanks. Aerobic Gammaproteobacteria differentially proliferated in the youngest ballast tank and aerobic-specific hydrocarbon degradation genes were quantitatively more important compared to seawater or the other ballast tanks. In contrast, the anaerobic Deltaproteobacteria dominated in the eldest ballast fluid with anaerobic-specific hydrocarbon activation genes being far more prominent. Gene activity was corroborated by detection of diagnostic metabolites and corrosion was evident by elevated levels of Fe, Mn, Ni and Cu in all ballast samples relative to seawater. The findings argue that marine microbial communities rapidly shift from aerobic to anaerobic hydrocarbonoclastic-dominated assemblages that accelerate fuel and infrastructure deterioration.
Advancing mathematics by guiding human intuition with AI
Authors: Davies Alex , Veličković Petar , Buesing Lars , Blackwell Sam , Zheng Daniel , Tomašev Nenad , Tanburn Richard , Battaglia Peter , Blundell Charles , Juhász András , Lackenby Marc , Williamson Geordie , Hassabis Demis , Kohli Pushmeet
Published: December 2021

The practice of mathematics involves discovering patterns and using these to formulate and prove conjectures, resulting in theorems. Since the 1960s, mathematicians have used computers to assist in the discovery of patterns and formulation of conjectures1, most famously in the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture2, a Millennium Prize Problem3. Here we provide examples of new fundamental results in pure mathematics that have been discovered with the assistance of machine learning—demonstrating a method by which machine learning can aid mathematicians in discovering new conjectures and theorems. We propose a process of using machine learning to discover potential patterns and relations between mathematical objects, understanding them with attribution techniques and using these observations to guide intuition and propose conjectures. We outline this machine-learning-guided framework and demonstrate its successful application to current research questions in distinct areas of pure mathematics, in each case showing how it led to meaningful mathematical contributions on important open problems: a new connection between the algebraic and geometric structure of knots, and a candidate algorithm predicted by the combinatorial invariance conjecture for symmetric groups4. Our work may serve as a model for collaboration between the fields of mathematics and artificial intelligence (AI) that can achieve surprising results by leveraging the respective strengths of mathematicians and machine learning.
Validation of expert system enhanced deep learning algorithm for automated screening for COVID-Pneumonia on chest X-rays
Authors: Gidde Prashant Sadashiv , Prasad Shyam Sunder , Singh Ajay Pratap , Bhatheja Nitin , Prakash Satyartha , Singh Prateek , Saboo Aakash , Takhar Rohit , Gupta Salil , Saurav Sumeet , M. V. Raghunandanan , Singh Amritpal , Sardana Viren , Mahajan Harsh , Kalyanpur Arjun , Mandal Atanendu Shekhar , Mahajan Vidur , Agrawal Anurag , Agrawal Anjali , Venugopal Vasantha Kumar , Singh Sanjay , Dash Debasis
Published: December 2021

SARS-CoV2 pandemic exposed the limitations of artificial intelligence based medical imaging systems. Earlier in the pandemic, the absence of sufficient training data prevented effective deep learning (DL) solutions for the diagnosis of COVID-19 based on X-Ray data. Here, addressing the lacunae in existing literature and algorithms with the paucity of initial training data; we describe CovBaseAI, an explainable tool using an ensemble of three DL models and an expert decision system (EDS) for COVID-Pneumonia diagnosis, trained entirely on pre-COVID-19 datasets. The performance and explainability of CovBaseAI was primarily validated on two independent datasets. Firstly, 1401 randomly selected CxR from an Indian quarantine center to assess effectiveness in excluding radiological COVID-Pneumonia requiring higher care. Second, curated dataset; 434 RT-PCR positive cases and 471 non-COVID/Normal historical scans, to assess performance in advanced medical settings. CovBaseAI had an accuracy of 87% with a negative predictive value of 98% in the quarantine-center data. However, sensitivity was 0.66–0.90 taking RT-PCR/radiologist opinion as ground truth. This work provides new insights on the usage of EDS with DL methods and the ability of algorithms to confidently predict COVID-Pneumonia while reinforcing the established learning; that benchmarking based on RT-PCR may not serve as reliable ground truth in radiological diagnosis. Such tools can pave the path for multi-modal high throughput detection of COVID-Pneumonia in screening and referral.
Alternative negative weight for simpler hardware implementation of synapse device based neuromorphic system
Authors: Han Geonhui , Lee Chuljun , Lee Jae-Eun , Seo Jongseon , Kim Myungjun , Song Yubin , Seo Young-Ho , Lee Daeseok
Published: December 2021

Lately, there has been a rapid increase in the use of software-based deep learning neural networks (S-DNN) for the analysis of unstructured data consumption. For implementation of the S-DNN, synapse-device-based hardware DNN (H-DNN) has been proposed as an alternative to typical Von-Neumann structural computing systems. In the H-DNN, various numerical values such as the synaptic weight, activation function, and etc., have to be realized through electrical device or circuit. Among them, the synaptic weight that should have both positive and negative numerical values needs to be implemented in a simpler way. Because the synaptic weight has been expressed by conductance value of the synapse device, it always has a positive value. Therefore, typically, a pair of synapse devices is required to realize the negative weight values, which leads to additional hardware resources such as more devices, higher power consumption, larger area, and increased circuit complexity. Herein, we propose an alternative simpler method to realize the negative weight (named weight shifter) and its hardware implementation. To demonstrate the weight shifter, we investigated its theoretical, numerical, and circuit-related aspects, following which the H-DNN circuit was successfully implemented on a printed circuit board.
Associations of the oral microbiota and Candida with taste, smell, appetite and undernutrition in older adults
Authors: Fluitman Kristina S. , van den Broek Tim J. , Nieuwdorp Max , Visser Marjolein , IJzerman Richard G. , Keijser Bart J. F.
Published: December 2021

Poor taste and smell function are widely thought to contribute to the development of poor appetite and undernutrition in older adults. It has been hypothesized that the oral microbiota play a role as well, but evidence is scarce. In a cross-sectional cohort of 356 older adults, we performed taste and smell tests, collected anthropometric measurements and tongue swabs for analysis of microbial composition (16S rRNA sequencing) and Candida albicans abundance (qPCR). Older age, edentation, poor smell and poor appetite were associated with lower alpha diversity and explained a significant amount of beta diversity. Moreover, a lower Streptococcus salivarius abundance was associated with poor smell identification score, whereas high C. albicans abundance seemed to be associated with poor smell discrimination score. In our population, neither the tongue microbiota, nor C. albicans were associated with poor taste or directly with undernutrition. Our findings do suggest a host-microbe interaction with regard to smell perception and appetite.
Radiological hazard assessments of radionuclides in building materials, soils and sands from the Gaza Strip and the north of Sinai Peninsula
Authors: Abd Elkader Mona M. , Shinonaga Taeko , Sherif Mohamed M.
Published: December 2021

Radiological hazards to the residents of the Gaza Strip, Palestine and the north of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, were determined using the naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in 69 samples of building materials (demolition debris, plasters, concretes, from recycling plants and raw cements from suppliers), soils and sands collected in the field. The radiological hazard indices and dose rates calculated with the activity concentrations of radionuclides in those materials determined by gamma-ray spectrometry indicate that the values are all within the global limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2000 and European Commission 1999. The results of Spearman's correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis for 210Pb in the building materials, soils and sands suggest that the samples include 210Pb from the atmospheric fallout. The medium correlation between 232Th and 40K in demolition debris implies that their activity concentrations are characteristic of the building materials and constituents of the demolition debris. Non-natural ratio of 238U/235U was found in the soil and sand samples collected in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, 137Cs and 241Am were detected in some soil, sand and demolition debris samples analyzed in this study. The origins of those anthropogenic radionuclides were considered.
Survey of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses in live poultry markets in Guangxi Province, Southern China, 2016–2019
Authors: Luo Sisi , Xie Zhixun , Li Meng , Li Dan , Xie Liji , Huang Jiaoling , Zhang Minxiu , Zeng Tingting , Wang Sheng , Fan Qing , Zhang Yanfang , Xie Zhiqin , Deng Xianwen , Liu Jiabo
Published: December 2021

Low pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs) have been widespread in poultry and wild birds throughout the world for many decades. LPAIV infections are usually asymptomatic or cause subclinical symptoms. However, the genetic reassortment of LPAIVs may generate novel viruses with increased virulence and cross-species transmission, posing potential risks to public health. To evaluate the epidemic potential and infection landscape of LPAIVs in Guangxi Province, China, we collected and analyzed throat and cloacal swab samples from chickens, ducks and geese from the live poultry markets on a regular basis from 2016 to 2019. Among the 7,567 samples, 974 (12.87%) were LPAIVs-positive, with 890 single and 84 mixed infections. Higher yearly isolation rates were observed in 2017 and 2018. Additionally, geese had the highest isolation rate, followed by ducks and chickens. Seasonally, spring had the highest isolation rate. Subtype H3, H4, H6 and H9 viruses were detected over prolonged periods, while H1 and H11 viruses were detected transiently. The predominant subtypes in chickens, ducks and geese were H9, H3, and H6, respectively. The 84 mixed infection samples contained 22 combinations. Most mixed infections involved two subtypes, with H3 + H4 as the most common combination. Our study provides important epidemiological data regarding the isolation rates, distributions of prevalent subtypes and mixed infections of LPAIVs. These results will improve our knowledge and ability to control epidemics, guide disease management strategies and provide early awareness of newly emerged AIV reassortants with pandemic potential.