bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of oil pollution on soil microbial diversity in the Loess hilly areas, China
Authors: Shi Lei , Liu Zhongzheng , Yang Liangyan , Fan Wangtao
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Data support and theoretical basis for bioremediation and treatment of petroleum-contaminated soils in the Loess hills of Yan’an, northern Shaanxi.

Methods

The evolutionary characteristics of soil microbial diversity and community structure under different levels of oil pollution were studied by field sampling, indoor simulation experiments, and analyzed through assays, using the mine soils from Yan’an, Shaanxi Province, as the research object.

Results

Compared with clean soil, the microbial species in contaminated soil were significantly reduced, the dominant flora changed, and the flora capable of degrading petroleum pollutants increased significantly. The soil microbial diversity and community structure differed, although not significantly, between different pollution levels, but significantly from clean soil. In the uncontaminated soil (CK), the dominant soil microbial genera were mainly Pantoea, Sphingomonas, Thiothrix, and Nocardioides. The abundance of Pseudomonas, Pedobacter, Massilia, Nocardioides, and Acinetobacter in the soil increased after oil contamination, while Thiothrix, Sphingomonas, and Gemmatimonas decreased significantly.

Conclusions

After the soil was contaminated with petroleum, the microbial species in the soil decreased significantly, the dominant genera in the soil changed, and the relative abundance of bacteria groups capable of degrading petroleum pollutants increased. The genera that can degrade petroleum pollutants in the petroleum-contaminated soil in the study area mainly include Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Pedobacter, Acinetobacter, and Nocardioides, which provide a scientific basis for exploring It provides a scientific basis for exploring remediation methods suitable for petroleum-contaminated soil in this region.
Stability is essential for insecticidal activity of Vip3Aa toxin against Spodoptera exigua
Authors: Fu Bai-Wen , Xu Lian , Zheng Mei-Xia , Chen Qing-Xi , Shi Yan , Zhu Yu-Jing
Published: July 2022

Vegetative insecticidal proteins 3A (Vip3A) were important insecticidal proteins for control of lepidopteran pests. Previous study demonstrated that Vip3Aa and Vip3Ad showed significant difference in insecticidal activities against Spodoptera exigua, while the molecular mechanism remained ambiguous. Here we demonstrated that the difference in insecticidal activities between Vip3Aa and Vip3Ad might be caused by the difference in stability of Vip3Aa and Vip3Ad in S. exigua midgut protease. Vip3Aa was quite stable while Vip3Ad could be further degraded. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that Vip3Aa was more stable than Vip3Ad, with smaller RMSD and RMSF value. Amino acid sequence alignment indicated that three were three extra prolines (P591, P605 and P779) located on Vip3Aa. We further identified that residue P591 played a crucial role on stability and insecticidal activity of Vip3Aa. Taken together, our study demonstrated that the stability was essential for the insecticidal activity of Vip3A toxins, which might provide new insight into the action mode of Vip3A toxins and contribute to the design Vip3A variants with improved stability and insecticidal activity.
The drivers and intensity of adoption of beekeeping in northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Andaregie Adino , Worku Aemro , Worku Asnake , Atinkut Lingerew , Astatkie Tessema
Published: July 2022

Background

Beekeeping activity is carried out in most parts of Ethiopia. However, despite the favorable agro-ecology for beekeeping practices and the high number of bee colonies the country is endowed with, the level of beekeeping adoption is low.

Methods

This study was conducted to identify determinants of the decision to adopt beekeeping, and the intensity of adoption by using a cross-sectional data collected from 772 rural households in Northwest Ethiopia. Stratified random sampling method was used to select the households, and the data were collected using a questionnaire. To achieve the objectives, Heckman two-stage sample selection model was used.

Results

The result of the first step Heckman model revealed that age and educational level of the household head, household size, extension visits, training, incentive, home consumption of honey, major economic activities of the household, perception towards better hives, distance to the nearest marketplace, the number of years the household stayed in the village, and location were the significant variables influencing rural households’ beekeeping adoption decision. The second step Heckman model revealed that livestock holding of a household head, number of extension visits, credit use, presence of honey bee pests, whether a household is engaged in swarm catching practices, and major economic activities of a household head were the variables that influence the intensity of beekeeping adoption significantly.

Conclusions

The findings of the study can be used to make evidence-based policy interventions to improve beekeeping adoption and the intensity of beekeeping adoption by rural households, which could also help to improve their livelihoods.
How humans adapt to hot climates learned from the recent research on tropical indigenes
Authors: Tochihara Yutaka , Wakabayashi Hitoshi , Lee Joo-Young , Wijayanto Titis , Hashiguchi Nobuko , Saat Mohamed
Published: July 2022

This review mainly aimed to introduce the findings of research projects comparing the responses of tropical and temperate indigenes to heat. From a questionnaire survey on thermal sensation and comfort of Indonesians and Japanese, we found that the thermal descriptor “cool” in tropical indigenes connotes a thermally comfortable feeling, suggesting that linguistic heat acclimatization exists on a cognitive level. Ten male students born and raised in Malaysia were invited to Fukuoka, Japan, and compared their responses with 10 Japanese male students with matched physical fitness and morphological characteristics. Cutaneous thermal sensitivity: The sensitivities were measured at 28 °C. The forehead warm sensitivity was significantly blunted in Malaysians. The less sensitivity to the warmth of tropical indigenes is advantageous in respect to withstanding heat stress with less discomfort and a greater ability to work in hot climates. Passive heat stress: Thermoregulatory responses, especially sweating, were investigated, during the lower leg hot bathing (42 °C for 60 min). The rectal temperature at rest was higher in Malaysians and increased smaller during immersion. There was no significant difference in the total amount of sweating between the two groups, while the local sweating on the forehead and thighs was lesser in Malaysians, suggesting distribution of sweating was different from Japanese. Exercise: Malaysian showed a significantly smaller increase in their rectal temperature during 55% maximal exercise for 60 min in heat (32 °C 70% relative humidity), even with a similar sweating and skin blood flow response in Japanese. The better heat tolerance in Malaysians could be explained by the greater convective heat transfer from the body core to the skin due to the greater core-to-skin temperature gradient. In addition, when they were hydrated, Malaysian participants showed better body fluid regulation with smaller reduction in plasma volume at the end of the exercise compared to the non-hydrated condition, whereas Japanese showed no difference between hydration conditions. We further investigated the de-acclimatization of heat adaptation by longitudinal observation on the heat tolerance of international students who had moved from tropical areas to Fukuoka for several years.
Consequential research of accountability testing: the case of the CET
Authors: Jin Yan
Published: July 2022

This article examines the changes taken place over the decades after a test-based accountability system was in place and proposes an agenda for consequential research of the testing program. The article starts with a review of theories of test-based accountability (Supovitz, Journal of Educational Change 10:211–227, 2009) and a socially grounded, integrated approach to test validation (Chalhoub-Deville, Language Testing 33:453–472, 2016; Chalhoub-Deville and O’Sullivan, Validity: Theoretical development and integrated arguments, 2020). Following Supovitz’s frameworks of accountability testing, the case of the College English Test (CET), a national English language testing program in China, is analyzed to explain the nature of the consequences of accountability testing and show the motivational effects, alignment effects, the informational role and the symbolic values of the accountability testing program. The case analysis highlights the importance of investigating consequences of an accountability test at the aggregate and the system levels. Guided by Chalhoub-Deville and O’Sullivan’s (Validity: Theoretical development and integrated arguments, 2020) integrated validity framework, the article delineates the claims for the theory of action argument and the communication engagement argument for future investigation of the consequences of the CET.
‘Everything is data’: towards one big data ecosystem using multiple sources of data on higher education in Indonesia
Authors: Yunita Ariana , Santoso Harry B. , Hasibuan Zainal A.
Published: July 2022

Big data is increasingly being promoted as a game changer for the future of science, as the volume of data has exploded in recent years. Big data characterized, among others, the data comes from multiple sources, multi-format, comply to 5-V’s in nature (value, volume, velocity, variety, and veracity). Big data also constitutes structured data, semi-structured data, and unstructured-data. These characteristics of big data formed “big data ecosystem” that have various active nodes involved. Regardless such complex characteristics of big data, the studies show that there exists inherent structure that can be very useful to provide meaningful solutions for various problems. One of the problems is anticipating proper action to students’ achievement. It is common practice that lecturer treat his/her class with “one-size-fits-all” policy and strategy. Whilst, the degree of students’ understanding, due to several factors, may not the same. Furthermore, it is often too late to take action to rescue the student’s achievement in trouble. This study attempted to gather all possible features involved from multiple data sources: national education databases, reports, webpages and so forth. The multiple data sources comprise data on undergraduate students from 13 provinces in Indonesia, including students’ academic histories, demographic profiles and socioeconomic backgrounds and institutional information (i.e. level of accreditation, programmes of study, type of university, geographical location). Gathered data is furthermore preprocessed using various techniques to overcome missing value, data categorisation, data consistency, data quality assurance, to produce relatively clean and sound big dataset. Principal component analysis (PCA) is employed in order to reduce dimensions of big dataset and furthermore use K-Means methods to reveal clusters (inherent structure) that may occur in that big dataset. There are 7 clusters suggested by K-Means analysis: 1. very low-risk students, 2. low-risk students, 3. moderate-risk students, 4. fluctuating-risk students, 5. high risk students, 6. very high-risk students and, 7. fail students. Among the clusters unreveal, (1) a gap between public universities and private universities across the three regions in Indonesia, (2) a gap between STEM and non-STEM programmes of study, (3) a gap between rural versus urban, (4) a gap of accreditation status, (5) a gap of quality human resources distribution, etc. Further study, we will use the characteristics of each cluster to predict students’ achievement based on students’ profiles, and provide solutions and interventions strategies for students to improve their likely success.
Exploring the appropriate test methods to examine the effects of firefighter personal protective equipment on mobility
Authors: Son Su-Young , Muraki Satoshi , Tochihara Yutaka
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to ascertain the appropriate test methods for the investigation of the effect of personal protective equipment on mobility of firefighters. Nine male volunteers performed a physical performance test (crawl, obstacle course, side-to-side jumps, heavy-object drag, and step-ups), functional balance test (functional reach, timed up and go, and wooden plank time), range of motion test, and subjective evaluation under four clothing conditions with different weights and combinations of personal protective equipment. The results showed that physical performance, functional balance ability, and joint angles significantly declined with increased weight of personal protective equipment. On subjective evaluation, wearing heavy personal protective equipment increased perceived exertion and discomfort on movement. Our results proved that some of our test methods, including the obstacle course, side-to-side jumps, functional reach, timed up and go, range of motion test, and subjective evaluation, can be used to examine the mobility of personal protective equipment wearers. The findings of this study provide an effective guide for researchers and firefighters regarding the evaluation of mobility with personal protective equipment, as well as for manufacturers in the development of enhanced, comfortable personal protective equipment.
Differential Effects of Amount, Intensity, and Mode of Exercise Training on Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Homeostasis: A Narrative Review
Authors: Collins Katherine A. , Ross Leanna M. , Slentz Cris A. , Huffman Kim M. , Kraus William E.
Published: July 2022

As type 2 diabetes remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, identifying the most appropriate preventive treatment early in the development of disease is an important public health matter. In general, lifestyle interventions incorporating exercise and weight loss via caloric restriction improve cardiometabolic risk by impacting several key markers of insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. However, variations in the effects of specific types of exercise interventions on these markers have led to conflicting results surrounding the optimal amount, intensity, and mode of exercise for optimal effects. Moreover, the addition of weight loss via caloric restriction to exercise interventions appears to differentially impact changes in body composition, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity compared to exercise alone. Determining the optimal amount, intensity, and mode of exercise having the most beneficial impact on glycemic status is both: (1) clinically important to provide guidelines for appropriate exercise prescription; and (2) physiologically important to understand the pathways by which exercise—with and without weight loss—impacts glycemic status to enhance precision lifestyle medicine. Thus, the purposes of this narrative review are to: (1) summarize findings from the three Studies of a Targeted Risk Reduction Intervention through Defined Exercise (STRRIDE) randomized trials regarding the differential effects of exercise amount, intensity, and mode on insulin action and glucose homeostasis markers; and (2) compare the STRRIDE findings to other published dose–response exercise trials in order to piece together the various physiologic pathways by which specific exercise interventions—with or without weight loss—impact glycemic status.
Towards a standardisation for digital inputs and outputs of protection functions in IEC 60255 series
Authors: Leitloff Volker , Chen Hao , Chen Dehui , Bonetti Andrea , Xu Lei , Mohamed Ahmed , Byman Carl ,   IEC TC95 WG2
Published: July 2022

Fully digitalized substations using IEC 61850 process bus are being introduced all over the world. Numerous utilities have featured pilot projects, demonstrators or even industrial scale deployment of these Fully Digital Protection, Automation and Control Systems (FD-PACS). Product standards such as profiles for Instrument Transformers have been developed and published (IEC 61869-6 and IEC 61869-9 by TC 38—Instrument Transformers). This raises the question about the standards for digitally interfaced protection functions. In 2016, IEC TC 95 (Measuring relays and protection equipment) charged a working group to investigate this subject and to elaborate recommendations concerning requirements and testing of protection IED with digital inputs and outputs for protection standards (IEC 60255-1xx series). For protection functions, publisher/subscriber based data streams are supposed to comply with IEC 61850 and IEC 61869 standards. This holds in particular for Sampled Values (SV) representing energising inputs of the protection function, and is also applicable to Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) which can be used for input or output of protection functions. Quality attributes of published data depend on the operational and connection status of the function and the hosting IED. In addition, protection functions have to take into account the information regarding the time synchronisation of the received SV and other parameters. This paper gives an overview of these features and the proposed way to take them into account in the IEC 60255 standard series. It describes the progress of WG 2 and relates it to existing standardization documents.
Autopsy findings of pediatric COVID-19: a systematic review
Authors: Octavius Gilbert Sterling , Wijaya Jeremiah Hilkiah , Tan Alexa Ovilia , Muljono Michelle Patricia , Chandra Shally , Juliansen Andry
Published: July 2022

Background

Little is known how COVID-19 is affecting children. Autopsies help gain an understanding of the pathophysiology of new and developing diseases. Numerous post-mortem studies had been conducted in adults with COVID-19, but few in children. Thereby, this systematic review aims to investigate the autopsy findings from pediatric COVID-19 patients.

Results

There were a total of 15 patients from eight studies. COVID-19 mainly affects the heart and lungs. Pathology findings from the heart of COVID-19 pediatric patients include diffuse inflammatory infiltrate, myocarditis, cardiomyocyte necrosis, pericarditis, and interstitial edema. Histopathology abnormalities observed in the lungs are diffuse alveolar damage, cytopathic changes, thrombi in arterioles and septal capillaries, lung congestion, focal acute hemorrhage and edema, focal exudative changes, and mild pneumocyte hyperplasia. In addition, pathological findings from other organs, such as the liver, kidney, brain, bone marrow, lymph node, skin, spleen, muscle, colon, parotid gland, and adrenal of COVID-19 pediatric patients are also included in this review.

Conclusion

Cardiomyocyte necrosis, interstitial edema, lung congestion, and diffuse alveolar damage are the most significant pathologic findings of the heart and lung in pediatric COVID-19 patients. More studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 in autopsy findings and to determine the exact cause of death since it could be related to COVID-19 or other comorbidities.
Effect of different lethal temperature assay methods on thermal tolerance plasticity of three different breeds of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)
Authors: Chatterjee Manojit , Ray Nilay
Published: July 2022

Background

Mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) is one of the best-studied insect models, regularly used as a type specimen for thermal tolerance experiments on insects. Still, the upper lethal limit of this lepidopteran has never been explored extensively using any sort of conventional lethal assay method. The present study deals with the employment of different lethal assay protocols for the study of survivorship of three different breeds of mulberry silkworm (B. mori) exposed to different temperatures (30–50 °C) and durations of stress (1–3 h) on different days (day 2, 4, and 6) of the fifth instar stage for formulating an extensive upper lethal temperature (ULT50 and ULT25) index.

Results

Among treatment temperatures 30 °C, 35 °C, and 40 °C had a significant (p =  < 0.0001) impact on the high-temperature survival rate of the silkworm. Among duration—1 h and 2 h influenced the survival rate significantly (p =  < 0.0001). Plunging, one-way ramping, and two-way ramping assay methods seemed to exert a non-significant (Wald χ2 = 3.253, p = 0.197) influence on silkworm survival. F1 hybrid was found to exhibit the highest survivorship across different temperatures, followed by the multivoltine Nistari plain and then by the bivoltine breeds. In F1 hybrid silkworms, the upper lethal temperatures ULT50, varied within the range of 37 °C to 44 °C and ULT25 varied within the range of 40–47 °C. The mean upper lethal limit—ULT0 for all three breeds of mulberry silkworm, across all experimental groups, was computed to be ~ 49 °C.

Conclusions

Ultimately the overall thermal tolerance of mulberry silkworm exhibited a significant inter-breed variation based on the heterogeneous thermal plasticity of the three different breeds. The outcome of the present study in the form of upper lethal temperature ranges of the breeds under consideration can form the basis of future thermal stress experiments in mulberry silkworms.
Analysis of the main controlling factors and the distribution rules of effective reservoirs in sandy braided river delta plain — A case study of Ct3 area, Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Naidan , Li Shaohua , Wang Xixin , Guo Zhi , Liang Bo
Published: July 2022

To clarify the main controlling factors of effective reservoirs in the sandy braided river delta plain, the eighth member of Xiashihezi Formation in the Ct3 area, Ordos Basin, is taken as an example. We describe and analyze approximately 600 cores in detail and correspond the cores on the logging curve. We summarize the logging facies mode suitable for the Ct3 area, and finally investigate the types and spatial distribution characteristics of sedimentary microfacies. The P2h8 member of Ct3 area in Ordos Basin is braided river delta plain subfacies. Sedimentary microfacies are divided into three types: distributary channel, channel bar, and distributary interchannel. The sand body in the h84 of the P2h8 member is the thickest, and the number of channel bar is the largest. All gas reservoirs (effective reservoirs) are developed on the sand body of the channel bar, which is the most favorable microfacies type. Poor gas reservoirs are mostly developed in distributary river channel sand body, whereas gas-bearing reservoirs (gas reservoirs and poor gas reservoirs) are undeveloped in distributary interchannel. According to the hydrodynamic conditions and sedimentary mechanism, the channel bar is divided into the bar head, the bar tail, the bar main body, and the bar wing. It is found that 63% of the gas reservoirs in the channel bar are developed in the bar main body, followed by the bar tail. The number of gas reservoirs developed at the bar head and the bar wing is the least. The results found that the most effective reservoirs are developed in the bar main body. Sedimentary microfacies, sand-body thickness, and grain size are the main controlling factors for effective reservoirs. The research results can guide the gas field exploration and later well location deployment in the sedimentary environment similar to the Ct3 area.
Social Media and the Quest for Equity and Diversity in Oncology: On Safe Spaces and the Concept of the Public Physician
Authors: Florez Narjust , Karmo Maimah , Beltrán Ponce Sara , Barry Maura M. , Henry Elizabeth , Katz Matthew S. , Dizon Don S. , Hylton Heather M. ,   for the Collaboration for Outcomes using Social Media in Oncology (COSMO)
Published: July 2022

Despite their increased enrollment into medical school, women still face systemic barriers in medicine, whether in an academic or nonacademic setting. Those from Under-Represented Minority (URM) groups face similar issues, which may affect their desire to enter, pursue, and/or maintain a career in medicine. Social media provides unique opportunities for peer-to-peer support among members of URM communities and for amplification of their voices calling for social justice—here defined as a redistribution of power and the quest for equity in access to opportunities, including access to mentorship, professional development, and timely promotion in academic rank. These issues are relevant to oncologists especially as we strive for diversity, equity, and inclusion and to ensure that our patients have equal access to care, regardless of their circumstances. In this article, we review current literature that highlights issues faced by women and historically URM groups in medicine, particularly in oncology. We also discuss the physician's role as a social justice advocate and the concept of the public physician.
Normal Table of Xenopus development: a new graphical resource
Authors: Zahn Natalya , James-Zorn Christina , Ponferrada Virgilio G. , Adams Dany S. , Grzymkowski Julia , Buchholz Daniel R. , Nascone-Yoder Nanette M. , Horb Marko , Moody Sally A. , Vize Peter D. , Zorn Aaron M.
Published: July 2022

Normal tables of development are essential for studies of embryogenesis, serving as an important resource for model organisms, including the frog Xenopus laevis. Xenopus has long been used to study developmental and cell biology, and is an increasingly important model for human birth defects and disease, genomics, proteomics and toxicology. Scientists utilize Nieuwkoop and Faber's classic ‘Normal Table of Xenopus laevis (Daudin)’ and accompanying illustrations to enable experimental reproducibility and reuse the illustrations in new publications and teaching. However, it is no longer possible to obtain permission for these copyrighted illustrations. We present 133 new, high-quality illustrations of X. laevis development from fertilization to metamorphosis, with additional views that were not available in the original collection. All the images are available on Xenbase, the Xenopus knowledgebase (http://www.xenbase.org/entry/zahn.do), for download and reuse under an attributable, non-commercial creative commons license. Additionally, we have compiled a ‘Landmarks Table’ of key morphological features and marker gene expression that can be used to distinguish stages quickly and reliably (https://www.xenbase.org/entry/landmarks-table.do). This new open-access resource will facilitate Xenopus research and teaching in the decades to come.
Postnatal eye size in mice is controlled by SREBP2-mediated transcriptional repression of Lrp2 and Bmp2
Authors: Mai Shuyi , Zhu Xiaoxuan , Wan Esther Yi Ching , Wu Shengyu , Yonathan Jesslyn Nagalin , Wang Jun , Li Ying , Ma Jessica Yuen Wuen , Zuo Bing , Tse Dennis Yan-yin , Lo Pui-Chi , Wang Xin , Chan Kui Ming , Wu David M. , Xiong Wenjun
Published: July 2022

Eye size is a key parameter of visual function, but the precise mechanisms of eye size control remain poorly understood. Here, we discovered that the lipogenic transcription factor sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) has an unanticipated function in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to promote eye size in postnatal mice. SREBP2 transcriptionally represses low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 2 (Lrp2), which has been shown to restrict eye overgrowth. Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is the downstream effector of Srebp2 and Lrp2, and Bmp2 is suppressed by SREBP2 transcriptionally but activated by Lrp2. During postnatal development, SREBP2 protein expression in the RPE decreases whereas that of Lrp2 and Bmp2 increases as the eye growth rate reduces. Bmp2 is the key determinant of eye size such that its level in mouse RPE inversely correlates with eye size. Notably, RPE-specific Bmp2 overexpression by adeno-associated virus effectively prevents the phenotypes caused by Lrp2 knock out. Together, our study shows that rapid postnatal eye size increase is governed by an RPE-derived signaling pathway, which consists of both positive and negative regulators of eye growth.
FGF8–FGFR1 signaling regulates human GnRH neuron differentiation in a time- and dose-dependent manner
Authors: Yellapragada Venkatram , Eskici Nazli , Wang Yafei , Madhusudan Shrinidhi , Vaaralahti Kirsi , Tuuri Timo , Raivio Taneli
Published: July 2022

Fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8), acting through the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), has an important role in the development of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-expressing neurons (GnRH neurons). We hypothesized that FGF8 regulates differentiation of human GnRH neurons in a time- and dose-dependent manner via FGFR1. To investigate this further, human pluripotent stem cells were differentiated during 10 days of dual-SMAD inhibition into neural progenitor cells, followed either by treatment with FGF8 at different concentrations (25 ng/ml, 50 ng/ml or 100 ng/ml) for 10 days or by treatment with 100 ng/ml FGF8 for different durations (2, 4, 6 or 10 days); cells were then matured through DAPT-induced inhibition of Notch signaling for 5 days into GnRH neurons. FGF8 induced expression of GNRH1 in a dose-dependent fashion and the duration of FGF8 exposure correlated positively with gene expression of GNRH1 (P<0.05, Rs=0.49). However, cells treated with 100 ng/ml FGF8 for 2 days induced the expression of genes, such as FOXG1, ETV5 and SPRY2, and continued FGF8 treatment induced the dynamic expression of several other genes. Moreover, during exposure to FGF8, FGFR1 localized to the cell surface and its specific inhibition with the FGFR1 inhibitor PD166866 reduced expression of GNRH1 (P<0.05). In neurons, FGFR1 also localized to the nucleus. Our results suggest that dose- and time-dependent FGF8 signaling via FGFR1 is indispensable for human GnRH neuron ontogeny.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic assemblies and interactomes of the mammalian CTLH E3 ligase complex
Authors: Onea Gabriel , Maitland Matthew E. R. , Wang Xu , Lajoie Gilles A. , Schild-Poulter Caroline
Published: July 2022

The C-terminal to LisH (CTLH) complex is a newly discovered multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase and its cellular functions are poorly characterized. Although some CTLH subunits have been found to localize in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of mammalian cells, differences between the compartment-specific complexes have not been explored. Here, we show that the CTLH complex forms different molecular mass complexes in nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions. Loss of WDR26 severely decreased nuclear CTLH complex subunit levels and impaired higher-order CTLH complex formation, revealing WDR26 as a critical determinant of the nuclear stability of the CTLH complex. Through affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry of endogenous RanBPM (also called RANBP9), a CTLH complex member, from nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions, we identified over 170 compartment-specific interactors involved in various conserved biological processes, such as ribonucleoprotein biogenesis and chromatin assembly. We validated the nuclear-specific RanBPM interaction with macroH2A1 and the cytoplasm-specific interaction with tankyrase-1/2 (encoded by TNKS and TNKS2). Overall, this study provides critical insights into CTLH complex function and composition in both the cytoplasm and nucleus.
Operando Ce K-edge XANES Study of Low-loading Ni/CeO2 in Chemical Looping Dry Reforming of Methane
Authors: Miyazaki Shinta , Li Zirui , Maeno Zen , Toyao Takashi , Ito Masahiro , Nakajima Yasushi , Shimizu Ken-ichi
Published: July 2022

In this study, operando Ce K-edge XANES measurements of CeO2-supported Ni (Ni/CeO2) catalysts for chemical looping dry reforming of methane (CLDRM) were performed. Low-loading Ni/CeO2 was effective for selectively promoting the partial oxidation of CH4 and suppressing coke deposition. Operando XANES measurements confirmed the redox state of Ce oxide in CLDRM and revealed that the reoxidation of reduced Ce oxide during CO2 reduction was faster than the reduction of Ce oxide during CH4 oxidation.
Performance comparison of quantitative metrics for analysis of in vivo Cherenkov imaging incident detection during radiotherapy
Authors: Decker Savannah M , Alexander Daniel A , Bruza Petr , Zhang Rongxiao , Chen Erli , Jarvis Lesley A , Gladstone David J , Pogue Brian W
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

Examine the responses of multiple image similarity metrics to detect patient positioning errors in radiotherapy observed through Cherenkov imaging, which may be used to optimize automated incident detection.

Methods:

An anthropomorphic phantom mimicking patient vasculature, a biological marker seen in Cherenkov images, was simulated for a breast radiotherapy treatment. The phantom was systematically shifted in each translational direction, and Cherenkov images were captured during treatment delivery at each step. The responses of mutual information (MI) and the γ passing rate (%GP) were compared to that of existing field-shape matching image metrics, the Dice coefficient, and mean distance to conformity (MDC). Patient images containing other incidents were analyzed to verify the best detection algorithm for different incident types.

Results:

Positional shifts in all directions were registered by both MI and %GP, degrading monotonically as the shifts increased. Shifts in intensity, which may result from erythema or bolus-tissue air gaps, were detected most by %GP. However, neither metric detected beam-shape misalignment, such as that caused by dose to unintended areas, as well as currently employed metrics (Dice and MDC).

Conclusions:

This study indicates that different radiotherapy incidents may be detected by comparing both inter- and intrafractional Cherenkov images with a corresponding image similarity metric, varying with the type of incident. Future work will involve determining appropriate thresholds per metric for automatic flagging.

Advances in knowledge:

Classifying different algorithms for the detection of various radiotherapy incidents allows for the development of an automatic flagging system, eliminating the burden of manual review of Cherenkov images.
Retrospective motion correction in foetal MRI for clinical applications: existing methods, applications and integration into clinical practice
Authors: Uus Alena U. , Egloff Collado Alexia , Roberts Thomas A. , Hajnal Joseph V. , Rutherford Mary A. , Deprez Maria
Published: July 2022

Foetal MRI is a complementary imaging method to antenatal ultrasound. It provides advanced information for detection and characterisation of foetal brain and body anomalies. Even though modern single shot sequences allow fast acquisition of 2D slices with high in-plane image quality, foetal MRI is intrinsically corrupted by motion. Foetal motion leads to loss of structural continuity and corrupted 3D volumetric information in stacks of slices. Furthermore, the arbitrary and constantly changing position of the foetus requires dynamic readjustment of acquisition planes during scanning.
Actualization of the Work Program of the Discipline “Automated Data Processing Systems” in Accordance with the Requirements of the Digital Economy
Authors: Shul'gin G. , Furaev A.
Published: July 2022

The article describes the content, structure and features of the work program of the discipline “Automated data processing systems” in the direction of training 38.03.02 “Management”, the training profile “Management of the organization”, actualized taking into account the new requirements of the digital economy, prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard and professional standards. The formulated competencies, labor functions, labor actions, necessary knowledge, skills and abilities are given. Indicators of achievement were formulate to demonstrate the acquired knowledge, skills, abilities and ability to perform labor functions in professional practice.
Teoretyczne przesłanki wykorzystania ustrukturyzowanych technik analizy informacji w procesie analizy politycznej
Authors: Sajduk Błażej
Published: July 2022

STRUCTURED ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES AS TOOLS FOR THE OPERATIONALIZATION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE: THE ROLE OF SELECTED INFORMATION ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES IN THE PROCESS OF POLITICAL ANALYSIS The aim of the article is to outline the theoretical framework for potentially beneficial cooperation between the academic and analyst communities. This goal may be achieved via operationalization of theoretical issues using structured analytical techniques. The article is divided into three parts. The first outlines the theoretical framework for political analysis understood as an effort aimed at analyzing the contemporary problems of the empirical world, including those taking into account forecasting. The second part characterizes what sets apart research activity from analytical activity, emphasizing the mutual interrelations between both. The third part presents the operationalized analytical model for political analysis.
Formulation of Iterative Finite-Difference Method for Generating Large Spatially Variant Lattices
Authors: Martinez Manuel F. , Gutierrez Jesus J. , Touma Jimmy E. , Rumpf Raymond C.
Published: July 2022

A new numerical method to generate spatially variant lattices (SVLs) is derived and implemented. The algorithm proposed solves the underlying partial differential equations iteratively with an update equation derived using the finite-difference method to obtain an SVL that is continuous, smooth, and free of unintended defects while maintaining the unit cell geometry throughout the lattice. This iterative approach is shown to be more memory-efficient when compared to the matrix-based approach and is, thus, suitable for the calculation of large-scale SVLs. The iterative nature of the solver allows it to be easily implemented in graphics processing unit to parallelize the computation of SVLs. Two spatially variant self-collimating photonic crystals are generated and simulated to demonstrate the functionality of the algorithm as a tool to generate fully three-dimensional photonic devices of realistic size.
A Difference Subgridding Method for Solving Multiscale Electro-Thermal Problems
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyan , Chen Ruilong , Zhan Aiyun
Published: July 2022

Because of less memory costs and time consumption, a finite difference subgrid technique can effectively deal with multiscale problems in electromagnetic fields. When used in Maxwell equation, symmetric elements of the matrix are required; otherwise, the algorithm will be unstable. Usually, the electro-thermal problem also contains multiscale structures. However, the coefficient matrix of the heat transfer equation is asymmetric because the parameters of the equation vary with temperature and the Robbin boundary condition is used as well. In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) finite difference subgridding method is proposed to simulate the electro-thermal coupling process of the multiscale circuits. The stability condition of the algorithm is deduced with a matrix method. And the efficiency and the effectiveness of the proposed subgridding approach are verified through square- and n-shaped resistances. Compared with the results of the COMSOL software and the traditional finite difference method (FDM), the proposed subgridding method has less unknowns and faster speed.
Analysis of Nonlinear Characteristics and the Factors Affecting the Operation of the Active Magnetic Bearings Rotor System Considering Alford Force
Authors: Zhang Siyuan , Zhou Jin , Han Xiaoming , Ma Yanchao
Published: July 2022

Based on a test rig supported by active magnetic bearings (AMBs), this paper focuses on the study of the nonlinear dynamic characteristics and the factors affecting the operation of a rotor system under the coupling of magnetic bearing force and Alford force. In order to solve the nonlinear dynamic response of rotor system, a dynamic equation of the rotor which introduces Alford force and the electromagnetic force of the AMBs controlled by PID is established. By changing the control parameters (kPP and kDD), operation parameters (rotational speed), and structural parameters (clearance between impeller and volute), the equation is solved by using Runge−-Kutta method. The results show that the rotor system exhibits complex nonlinear dynamic characteristics under the coupling action of Alford force and magnetic bearing force. The rotor system appears different dynamic behaviors such as single period, multi multi-period, and quasi quasi-period when changing the control parameters. Among all the control parameters, adjusting kDD is more effective to ensure system stability. The amplitude of rotor increases from 8.2 μμm to 11.9 μμm with the increase of speed from 6000 rpm to 10,000 rpm, while that decreases from 9.6 μμm to 8.2 μμm with the increase of clearance between impeller and volute from 1mm to 4 mm. Therefore, under the influence of Alford force, apart from the control parameters, the operation parameters and structural parameters of magnetic bearings also affect the operation of the rotor system supported by the AMBs.
Guided-mode resonance pressure sensor based on a stretchable low-density polyethylene film
Authors: Kuo Wen-Kai , Lin Jing-Xuan , Tongpakpanang Jaturon , Liu Day-Shan
Published: July 2022

In this study, we demonstrate a method to fabricate a guided-mode resonance (GMR) device on a flexible and transparent low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film and present the measurement results of this device as a pressure sensor. A simple thermal-nanoimprinting process was used to fabricate a grating structure on the LDPE film substrate. This very flexible film was attached to a glass plate using an adhesive and sacrificial layer for coating high-refractive-index titanic oxide on the grating surface to form the GMR device. The LDPE-GMR device was equipped with a gas chamber to act as a pressure sensor. When the pressure inside the chamber was increased, the grating period of the GMR sensor also increased, resulting in a shift in the resonance angle of the GMR device. Owing to the higher flexibility of the LDPE film, a better pressure detection sensitivity and resolution can be obtained. Using the transmitted-intensity detection approach, we show that the transmitted laser power changes proportionally with the pressure increase. The experimental results showed that the LDPE-GMR pressure sensor could achieve a sensitivity of 8.27 µW/mbar and a limit of detection of 0.012 mbar at a power meter noise of 0.1 µW.
Design of binocular stereo vision optical system based on a single lens and a single sensor
Authors: Zhang Kun , Qu Zheng , Zhong Xing , Chen Qingrong , Zhang Xi
Published: July 2022

To reduce the number of detectors used in conventional binocular stereo cameras, while improving the measurement accuracy and compactness of the system, this paper proposes a design method for a binocular stereo vision optical system based on a single lens and a single sensor. First, based on the design principle of the traditional binocular optical system, to the best of our knowledge, a novel method of designing a framing lens array at the optical stop of the optical system is proposed to image two images on one detector simultaneously. Second, we propose a dual-frame lens array design method at the aperture stop position of the optical system that can image two images on one detector simultaneously. Then, the design principle of the method is analyzed theoretically, as well as a detailed analysis of the imaging position layout and the stray light elimination method of the dual-channel optical system. Finally, a single-lens binocular optical system with a focal length of 20 mm and a full field of view of 30° is designed using the method in this paper, and the analysis results demonstrate that the system has the advantages of good imaging quality and compact construction and provides a design idea for the design of a binocular stereo vision optical system.
Constellation design of DFT-S-OFDM with dual-mode index modulation in VLC
Authors: Chen Chen , Nie Yungui , Ahmed Faheem , Zeng Zhihong , Liu Min
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we for the first time propose a novel partitioning-based constellation design approach for discrete Fourier transform-spread-orthogonal frequency division multiplexing modulation with dual-mode index modulation (DFT-S-OFDM-DM) in visible light communication (VLC) systems. Specifically, two partitioning-based constellation designs, i.e., block-based constellation partitioning and interleaving-based constellation partitioning, are proposed to generate two distinguishable constellation sets for DFT-S-OFDM-DM in VLC, by considering four 8-ary constellations including 8-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (8-QAM), 8-ary phase-shift keying (8-PSK), circular (4,4)-QAM, and circular (7,1)-QAM. The superiority of DFT-S-OFDM-DM using circular (7,1)-QAM constellation with interleaving-based constellation partitioning over other benchmark schemes has been successfully verified by both simulation and experimental results. It is shown by the experimental results that a significant distance extension of 44.6% is obtained by DFT-S-OFDM-DM using circular (7,1)-QAM constellation with interleaving-based constellation partitioning in comparison to DFT-S-OFDM with index modulation achieving the same spectral efficiency of 2.5 bits/s/Hz. It is also demonstrated that the proposed constellation design schemes are also generally applicable to the constellation with an arbitrary shape and an arbitrary size.
Improving the performance of rapid lifetime determination for wide-field time-gated imaging in live cells
Authors: Al-Salihi Mahmoud , Chen Zhenjiang , Samanta Soham , Elazab Ahmed , Yi Rongxing , Wang Shiqi , Lin Fangrui , Qu Junle , Liu Liwei
Published: July 2022

In biological research, rapid wide-field fluorescence lifetime imaging has become an important imaging tool. However, the biological samples with weak fluorescence signals and lower sensitivity often suffer from very low precision in lifetime determinations which restricts its widespread utilization in many bioimaging applications. To address this issue, a method is presented in this paper to substantially enhance the precision of rapid lifetime determination (RLD). It expedites the discrimination of fluorescence lifetimes, even for the weak signals coming from the cells, stained with long-lived biocompatible AIS/ZnS QDs. The proposed method works in two phases. The first phase deals with the systematic noise analysis based on the signal and contrast of the images in a time-gated imaging system, wherein acquiring the high-quality imaging data through optimization of hardware parameters improves the overall system performance. In the second phase, the chosen images are treated using total variation denoising method combined with the Max/Min filtering method for extracting the region of interest to reconstruct the intensity images for RLD. We performed several experiments on live cells to demonstrate the improvements in imaging performance by the systematic optimizations and data treatment. Obtained results demonstrated a great enhancement in signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios beside witnessing an obvious improvement in RLD for weak signals. This approach can be used not only to improve the quality of time-gated imaging data but also for efficient fluorescence lifetime imaging of live biological samples without compromising imaging speed and light exposure.