bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of herbal extracts in the management of cactus pest, Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) in Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Zeweld Sisay Weldegebriel , Ayimut Kiros Meles , Hiben Mebrahtom Gebrelibanos
Published: May 2024

Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is a drought-resistant plant and the source of food and income for many farmers during the rainy season, and the only option to feed livestock during the dry seasons, especially in the southern part of the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The region is currently suffering from a damaging parasitoid of cactus called Dactylopius opuntiae- ficus biotype. An experimental study was conducted from August 2022 to February 2023 to investigate the efficacy of herbal extracts against cochineal insects. The experiment was conducted on the insecticidal property of methanol extracts of Solanum linnaenum, Euphorbia tirucalli, Nerium oleander, Tephrosia vogelii, Calpurnia aurea, Argemone Mexicana, Datura stramonium and Ricinus communis. Herbs were extracted, and their efficacy and LC50 were determined. Phytochemical screening for secondary metabolites was performed. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean mortality of insects across the levels of the herbs (F (8, 71) = 57.812, p = 0.0001, ƞ2 = 0.867) and the experimental extract concentrations (F (1, 71) = 4198.3, p = 0.0001, ƞ2 = 0.983). The individual extracts of S. linnaenum and N. oleander caused average mortality rates of 99.3% and 97.4%, respectively, at 5% extract concentration. Tannins and saponins were the major metabolites found in the extracts. The present study demonstrated the promising insecticidal efficacy of herbal extracts against the damaging cacti pest D. opuntia-ficus biotype, providing insights into sustainable pest control strategies for protecting vital cactus resources in the Tigray region.
Anchoring Sovereignty in Space: Documenting Places of Wichita Community Building in the Twentieth Century
Authors: Bethke Brandi , Trabert Sarah , McAdams Gary
Published: May 2024

The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes have a long history of occupation in what is now known as Oklahoma. This includes evidence of habitations along Camp Creek and Sugar Creek near Anadarko in Caddo County. Here Wichita peoples camped, built grass houses and arbors, and held social gatherings leading up to and following the passing of the General Allotment Act in 1887. After allotment, communal camp and dance grounds were especially important focal points for community building. These places, such as the ichaskhah camp and dance ground discussed in this article, are critical to understanding the multigenerational connections between ancestral and living Wichita peoples. This history is also important to the community today. However, archaeological research of the Allotment period is exceptionally rare in this region. By using collaborative and Indigenous archaeological methodologies, this work documents the complexities of these places, challenging traditional assumptions of allotment-era cultural loss and assimilation.
Overcoming intergovernmental data sharing challenges with federated learning
Authors: Sprenkamp Kilian , Delgado Fernández Joaquín , Eckhardt Sven , Zavolokina Liudmila
Published: May 2024

Intergovernmental collaboration is needed to address global problems. Modern solutions to these problems often include data-driven methods like artificial intelligence (AI), which require large amounts of data to perform well. As AI emerges as a central catalyst in deriving effective solutions for global problems, the infrastructure that supports its data needs becomes crucial. However, data sharing between governments is often constrained due to socio-technical barriers such as concerns over data privacy, data sovereignty issues, and the risks of information misuse. Federated learning (FL) presents a promising solution as a decentralized AI methodology, enabling the use of data from multiple silos without necessitating central aggregation. Instead of sharing raw data, governments can build their own models and just share the model parameters with a central server aggregating all parameters, resulting in a superior overall model. By conducting a structured literature review, we show how major intergovernmental data-sharing challenges listed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development can be overcome by utilizing FL. Furthermore, we provide a tangible resource implementing FL linked to the Ukrainian refugee crisis that can be utilized by researchers and policymakers alike who want to implement FL in cases where data cannot be shared. Enhanced AI while maintaining privacy through FL thus allows governments to collaboratively address global problems, positively impacting governments and citizens.
Rao-Blackwellized particle smoothing for simultaneous localization and mapping
Authors: Kok Manon , Solin Arno , Schön Thomas B.
Published: May 2024

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is the task of building a map representation of an unknown environment while at the same time using it for positioning. A probabilistic interpretation of the SLAM task allows for incorporating prior knowledge and for operation under uncertainty. Contrary to the common practice of computing point estimates of the system states, we capture the full posterior density through approximate Bayesian inference. This dynamic learning task falls under state estimation, where the state-of-the-art is in sequential Monte Carlo methods that tackle the forward filtering problem. In this paper, we introduce a framework for probabilistic SLAM using particle smoothing that does not only incorporate observed data in current state estimates, but it also backtracks the updated knowledge to correct for past drift and ambiguities in both the map and in the states. Our solution can efficiently handle both dense and sparse map representations by Rao-Blackwellization of conditionally linear and conditionally linearized models. We show through simulations and real-world experiments how the principles apply to radio (Bluetooth low-energy/Wi-Fi), magnetic field, and visual SLAM. The proposed solution is general, efficient, and works well under confounding noise.
ON HOMOMORPHISM GRAPHS
Authors: Brandt Sebastian , Chang Yi-Jun , Grebík Jan , Grunau Christoph , Rozhoň Václav , Vidnyánszky Zoltán
Published: May 2024

We introduce new types of examples of bounded degree acyclic Borel graphs and study their combinatorial properties in the context of descriptive combinatorics, using a generalization of the determinacy method of Marks [Mar16]. The motivation for the construction comes from the adaptation of this method to the

$\mathsf {LOCAL}$

model of distributed computing [BCG+21]. Our approach unifies the previous results in the area, as well as produces new ones. In particular, strengthening the main result of [TV21], we show that for

$\Delta>2$

, it is impossible to give a simple characterization of acyclic

$\Delta $

-regular Borel graphs with Borel chromatic number at most

$\Delta $

: such graphs form a

$\mathbf {\Sigma }^1_2$

-complete set. This implies a strong failure of Brooks-like theorems in the Borel context.
Follow the Giver: Is Chinese MNEs’ Investment in Africa Linked to Official Aid?
Authors: Chen Xuanjin , Ghorbani Majid , Xie Zhenzhen
Published: May 2024

Does Chinese aid to African countries trigger Chinese foreign direct investment? Bridging the literature on the impact of foreign aid on foreign direct investment (FDI) and that on state ownership, we consider FDI by China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) compared with that of its privately owned enterprises (POEs) and find FDI by the former is more likely to follow Chinese governmental aid to Africa. Borrowing from institutional theory, we posit that FDI by SOEs follows political imperatives while FDI by POEs pursues market motives. Using data from multiple sources on 3,760 Chinese FDI projects in Africa between 2001 and 2015, we find a correlation between SOE FDI and government aid than that of POEs; that aid has a greater impact on the probability of FDI when the policies of the host country and those of China are in sync, especially in the case of SOEs; and that in low-investment-risk countries the link between aid and investment is weakened, especially in the case of POEs. The results are robust and consistent across different measures and analyses. We contribute to the literature on the relationship between aid and FDI, as well as to that on varieties of capitalism.
Remarkable insights into modern bird origins from the Maastrichtian type area (north-east Belgium, south-east Netherlands)
Authors: Field Daniel J. , Benito Juan , Werning Sarah , Chen Albert , Kuo Pei-Chen , Crane Abi , Widrig Klara E. , Ksepka Daniel T. , Jagt John W.M.
Published: May 2024

For centuries, fossils from the Maastrichtian type locality and adjacent quarries have provided key evidence of vertebrate diversity during the latest Cretaceous, yet until recently the Maastrichtian type area had revealed no important insights into the evolutionary history of birds, one of the world’s most conspicuous groups of extant tetrapods. With the benefit of high-resolution micro-CT scanning, two important avian fossils from the Maastrichtian type area have now been examined in detail, offering profound, complementary insights into the evolutionary history of birds. The holotype specimens of these new taxa, Janavis finalidens Benito, Kuo, Widrig, Jagt and Field, 2022, and Asteriornis maastrichtensis Field, Benito, Chen, Jagt and Ksepka, 2020, were originally collected in the late 1990s, but were only investigated in detail more than twenty years later. Collectively, Janavis and Asteriornis provide some of the best evidence worldwide regarding the factors that influenced stem bird extinction and crown bird survivorship through the Cretaceous-Palaeogene transition, as well as insights into the origins of key anatomical features of birds such as an extensively pneumatised postcranial skeleton, a kinetic palate, and a toothless beak. Asteriornis also provides scarce evidence of a Cretaceous-aged divergence time calibration within the avian crown group, while together, Janavis and Asteriornis constitute the only documented co-occurrence of crown birds and non-neornithine avialans. Here, we review key insights into avian evolutionary history provided by these discoveries from the Maastrichtian stratotype, document undescribed and newly discovered Maastrichtian fossils potentially attributable to Avialae and provide the first histological data for the holotype of Asteriornis, illustrating its skeletal maturity at the time of its death.
On bursty star formation during cosmological reionisation – how does it influence the baryon mass content of dark matter halos?
Authors: Menon Anand , Power Chris
Published: May 2024

The baryon mass content (i.e. stellar and gas mass) of dark matter halos in the early Universe depends on both global factors – for example, ionising ultraviolet (UV) radiation background – and local factors – for example, star formation efficiency and assembly history. We use a lightweight semi-analytical model to investigate how both local and global factors impact the halo baryon mass content at redshifts of

$z\geq 5$

. Our model incorporates a time delay between when stars form and when they produce feedback of

$0\leq t^d/\mathrm{Myr} \leq 30$

, which can drive bursts of star formation, and a mass and redshift-dependent UV background, which captures the influence of cosmological reionisation on gas accretion onto halos. We use statistically representative halo assembly histories and assume that the cosmological gas accretion rate is proportional to the halo mass accretion rate. Delayed (

$t^d$

>0) feedback leads to oscillations in gas mass with cosmic time, behaviour that cannot be captured with instantaneous feedback (

$t^d$

=0). Highly efficient star formation drives stronger oscillations, while strong feedback impacts when oscillations occur; in contrast, inefficient star formation and weak feedback produce similar long-term behaviour to that observed in instantaneous feedback models. If the delayed feedback timescale is too long, a halo retains its gas reservoir but the feedback suppresses star formation. Our model predicts that lower mass systems (halo masses

$m_\mathrm{h} \leq 10^7 \mathrm{M}_\odot$

) at

$z \leq 10$

should be strongly gas deficient (

$m_\mathrm{g}\rightarrow 0$

), whereas higher mass systems retain their gas reservoirs because they are sufficiently massive to continue accreting gas through cosmological reionisation. Interestingly, in higher mass halos, the median

$m_\star/(m_\star+m_\mathrm{g}) \simeq 0.01-0.05$

, but is a factor of 3–5 smaller when feedback is delayed. Our model does not include seed supermassive black hole feedback, which is necessary to explain massive quenched galaxies in the early Universe.
FROM THE HEAT OF THE FIRE: A BIOGRAPHY OF AN EARLY BRONZE AGE BATTLE-AXE FROM CHURCH LAWTON, CHESHIRE
Authors: Reid Malcolm , Roy Amber , Ixer Rob
Published: May 2024

A battle-axe made of picrite from the Cwm Mawr rock source, near Hyssington, Powys, UK, was discovered during the archaeological excavation of two Early Bronze Age barrows at Church Lawton, near Alsager in Cheshire, UK, in 1982–3. It had been subjected to intense heat and then placed in a pit, next to the cremated remains of an adult, possibly a female. The heating has radically altered the appearance of the axe. Originally very smooth and dark grey-green, it now has a more granular and dusty feel, together with a mottled orange-reddish appearance. The Church Lawton battle-axe is particularly notable as it is among a small number of such artefacts in Britain to have been recovered from a barrow excavation conducted according to modern standards, as well as being directly associated with an interment dated by radiocarbon: 1893–1740 cal bc (3490 ± 29 bp). It is also the first implement from the Cwm Mawr rock source to be dated in this way. An initial examination of the battle-axe was conducted in the 1980s. A more exacting analysis of the object has now been undertaken, focusing on its petrology in relation to the rock source, its manufacture and use, and its heating. The new examination included the use of stereoscopic and metallographic microscopes. This paper details the new work and provides an enhanced understanding of the implement’s history and significance, emphasising the likely connections between the Early Bronze Age community at Church Lawton and others in the wider region.
Subjective and objective corruption of intuition and rational choice
Authors: Haig David
Published: May 2024

A societal shift has occurred toward making impactful decisions on the basis of objective metrics rather than subjective impressions. This shift is commonly justified by claims that we should not trust subjective intuitions. These are often unjust and thereby corrupt. However, the proxies used to make objective decisions are subject to a different form of corruption, characterized as proxy failure.
Proxy failure in social policies as one of the main causes of persistent sexism and racism
Authors: Szocik Konrad
Published: May 2024

One example of proxy failure is current antisexist and antiracist policies. One of the most popular proxy in them is the number of representatives of marginalized groups – women and nonwhite people – in power structures. Here I show that such measures do not lead to combating sexism and racism, which flourish despite their application.
Representativeness of the Hong Kong English lexicon
Authors: Yeung Matthew W. L. , Yau Alice H. Y. , Lee Crystal Y. P.
Published: May 2024

In 2016, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) formally recognized the status of Hong Kong English (HKE) by adding 13 HKE words in its entries (Oxford English Dictionary [OED], n.d.-a). While this codification marks significant progress in the development of a language variety, there have been vigorous discussions within the local community about the legitimacy and representativeness of these selected words as HKE (Xu, 2019). As emphasized by Schneider (2007), acceptability and codification are both important criteria for language development. Therefore, this warrants a bottom-up approach to investigate the extent to which HKE words are accepted by the local community, so as to provide insights on how future HKE words can be better codified.
Extreme mortality during a historical measles outbreak on Rotuma is consistent with measles immunosuppression
Authors: Cant Susie , Shanks G. Dennis , Keeling Matt J. , Penman Bridget S.
Published: May 2024

Until the early twentieth century, populations on many Pacific Islands had never experienced measles. As travel to the Pacific Islands by Europeans became more common, the arrival of measles and other pathogens had devastating consequences. In 1911, Rotuma in Fiji was hit by a measles epidemic, which killed 13% of the island population. Detailed records show two mortality peaks, with individuals reported as dying solely from measles in the first and from measles and diarrhoea in the second. Measles is known to disrupt immune system function. Here, we investigate whether the pattern of mortality on Rotuma in 1911 was a consequence of the immunosuppressive effects of measles. We use a compartmental model to simulate measles infection and immunosuppression. Whilst immunosuppressed, we assume that individuals are vulnerable to dysfunctional reactions triggered by either (i) a newly introduced infectious agent arriving at the same time as measles or (ii) microbes already present in the population in a pre-existing equilibrium state. We show that both forms of the immunosuppression model provide a plausible fit to the data and that the inclusion of immunosuppression in the model leads to more realistic estimates of measles epidemiological parameters than when immunosuppression is not included.
Hats and titles: Maya courtier dress and hierarchy in the late Classic Maya court
Authors: Cheek Charles D.
Published: May 2024

The Maya used dress to help them structure social interaction. Taking a behavioral chain and practice approach, I define dress elements of male courtiers and how they were combined into outfits during the daily practices of dressing and attending court. I identify two groups of headgear, Standard and Special, among courtiers on vases showing historical interaction among humans. Each vase is considered commemorative and must communicate to an audience. I identified six Standard hat types that were widespread in the Maya Lowlands. The distribution implies a basic set of recognizable roles that provided the political-religious structure of the typical Maya court, perhaps as early as the Late Preclassic period. Four of the hat types are connected to glyphic titles. Each titleholder's position in the vase's visual space implies a hierarchy of roles. The results support my hypothesis that dress does identify social roles in the Maya court.
Fall of a New Soviet-Jewish Person: The Unmasking of Anti-Antisemite Aleksandr Litinskii, aka American Spy Big Boss
Authors: Bernstein Seth
Published: May 2024

The paper examines the unmaking of an exemplary individual in Stalin's Soviet Union, a New Soviet Person, caught in the anti-Jewish campaign of Stalin's last years, often remembered for the notorious Doctors’ Plot. Aleksandr Litinskii was a Soviet true believer, a veteran of the Second World War, and a Jew whose father died in the Holocaust. When confronted with the anti-Jewish campaign, he was not disillusioned but decided to save the Soviet project through an elaborate attempt at reverse psychology. He posed in letters as an American spy bent on undermining the Soviet Union through antisemitism. Evidence from this bizarre case, collected from police archives that Ukraine declassified after the Maidan Revolution and from Litinskii's memoir, suggests new insights into Soviet Jewish experiences and into the legacy of persecution among Eastern Europeans who supported the regimes that repressed them.
Factors associated with family decision-making self-efficacy among family members of patients with advanced cancer in mainland China
Authors: Hu Yangfan , Wang Wenxia , Jiang Yali , Wang Xixi , Peng Xuelan , Xin Mingzhu , Zhao Juanjuan
Published: May 2024

Objectives

In Chinese culture, family members are the main decision maker on end-of-life (EoL) issues for patients with advanced cancer. Yet little is known about Chinese families’ confidence in making EoL decisions and its associated factors. This study aims to investigate the status and associated factors of Chinese family members’ confidence in making EoL decisions for patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 147 family members of patients with stage III or stage IV cancer from a tertiary cancer center in Guangzhou, China. The questionnaires included demographic information of patients and their family members, patients’ EoL preferences, and the Chinese version of the Family Decision-Making Self-Efficacy (FDMSE) Scale.

Results

A total of145 family members (98.64%) completed the questionnaires. The average score of FDMSE was 3.92 ± 0.53. A multiple regression analysis showed that the factors associated with FDMSE included patients’ duration of disease, health insurance, participation in EoL decision-making, the expression of unfilled wishes, and family members’ employment status.

Significance of results

Chinese family members were not confident enough in making EoL decisions for patients with advanced cancer. It is recommended to develop cultural-tailored advanced care planning models to clarify patient preferences and to enhance the family members’ self-efficacy in making EoL decisions with or for patients with advanced cancer.
Using Project ECHO to deliver a tele-mentoring and teaching program on palliative care in South Asia: Interpretive description of participants’ experiences with a community of practice for learning
Authors: Doherty Megan , Abdullah Qabirul Karan
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To explore the learning experiences of participants (learners and teachers), in a yearlong tele-teaching and mentoring program on pediatric palliative care, which was conducted using the Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) model and consisted of 27 teaching and clinical case discussion sessions for palliative medicine residents in India and Bangladesh. The goal of the study is to explore how participation and learning is motivated and sustained for both residents and teachers, including the motivators and challenges to participation and learning in a novel online format.

Methods

Qualitative interviews with ECHO participants, including learners and teachers were conducted. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis of interview data was conducted within an interpretive description approach.

Results

Eleven physicians (6 residents, 5 teachers) participated in interviews. Key elements of the ECHO program which participants identified as supporting learning and participation include small group discussions, a flipped classroom, and asynchronous interactions through social media. Individual learner characteristics including effective self-reflection and personal circumstances impact learning. Providing opportunities for a diverse group of learners and teachers, to interact in communities of practice (COP) enhances learning. Three major themes and 6 subthemes describing learning processes were identified. Themes included (1) ECHO program structure, (2) learner characteristics, and (3) COP. Subthemes included flipped classroom, breakout rooms, learning resources, personal circumstances, self-awareness of learning needs, and community interactions.

Significance of results

Project ECHO suggests a novel model to train health providers, which is effective in low- and middle-income countries. Online learning programs can lead to learning through community of practice when learners and teachers are able to interact and engage in peer support and reflective practice. Educators should consider incorporating small group discussions, a flipped classroom design, and opportunities for asynchronous interactions to enhance learning for participants in online learning programs.
Online palliative care education and mentorship in Nepal: Project ECHO – a novel approach to improving knowledge and self-efficacy among interprofessional health-care providers
Authors: Mackin Christian , Shrestha Deepak Sundar , Downe Danielle , Doherty Megan
Published: May 2024

Background

Palliative care access in Nepal is severely limited, with few health-care providers having training and skills to pain management and other key aspects of palliative care. Online education suggests an innovation to increase access to training and mentoring, which addresses common learning barriers in low- and middle-income countries. Project ECHO (Extensions for Community Health Care Outcomes) is a model of online education which supports communities of practices (COPs) and mentoring through online teaching and case discussions. The use of online education and Project ECHO in Nepal has not been described or evaluated.

Setting

An online course, consisting of 14 synchronous weekly palliative care training sessions was designed and delivered, using the Project ECHO format. Course participants included health-care professionals from a variety of disciplines and practice settings in Nepal.

Objectives

The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of a virtual palliative care training program in Nepal on knowledge and attitudes of participants.

Methods

Pre- and post-course surveys assessed participants’ knowledge, comfort, and attitudes toward palliative care and evaluated program acceptability and barriers to learning.

Results

Forty-two clinicians, including nurses (52%) and physicians (48%), participated in program surveys. Participants reported significant improvements in their knowledge and attitudes toward core palliative care domains. Most participants identified the program as a supportive COP, where they were able to share and learn from faculty and other participants.

Conclusion

Project ECHO is a model of online education which can successfully be implemented in Nepal, enhancing local palliative care capacity. Bringing together palliative care local and international clinical experts and teachers supports learning for participants through COP. Encouraging active participation from participants and ensuring that teaching addresses availability and practicality of treatments in the local health-care context addresses key barriers of online education.

Significance of results

This study describes a model of structured virtual learning program, which can be implemented in settings with limited access to palliative care to increase knowledge and attitudes toward palliative care. The program equips health-care providers to better address serious health-related suffering, improving the quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The program demonstrates a model of training which can be replicated to support health-care providers in rural and remote settings.
Valuation of guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (GMABs) with physics-inspired neural networks
Authors: Hainaut Donatien
Published: May 2024

Guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (GMABs) are retirement savings vehicles that protect the policyholder against downside market risk. This article proposes a valuation method for these contracts based on physics-inspired neural networks (PINNs), in the presence of multiple financial and biometric risk factors. A PINN integrates principles from physics into its learning process to enhance its efficiency in solving complex problems. In this article, the driving principle is the Feynman–Kac (FK) equation, which is a partial differential equation (PDE) governing the GMAB price in an arbitrage-free market. In our context, the FK PDE depends on multiple variables and is difficult to solve using classical finite difference approximations. In comparison, PINNs constitute an efficient alternative that can evaluate GMABs with various specifications without the need for retraining. To illustrate this, we consider a market with four risk factors. We first derive a closed-form expression for the GMAB that serves as a benchmark for the PINN. Next, we propose a scaled version of the FK equation that we solve using a PINN. Pricing errors are analyzed in a numerical illustration.
The Changing Influence of Precipitation on Soil Moisture Drought With Warming in the Mediterranean and Western North America
Authors: Nielsen Miriam , Cook Benjamin I. , Marvel Kate , Ting Mingfang , Smerdon Jason E.
Published: May 2024

Anthropogenic climate change has already affected drought severity and risk across many regions, and climate models project additional increases in drought risk with future warming. Historically, droughts are typically caused by periods of below‐normal precipitation and terminated by average or above‐normal precipitation. In many regions, however, soil moisture is projected to decrease primarily through warming‐driven increases in evaporative demand, potentially affecting the ability of negative precipitation anomalies to cause drought and positive precipitation anomalies to terminate drought. Here, we use climate model simulations from Phase Six of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) to investigate how different levels of warming (1, 2, and 3°C) affect the influence of precipitation on soil moisture drought in the Mediterranean and Western North America regions. We demonstrate that the same monthly precipitation deficits (25th percentile relative to a preindustrial baseline) at a global warming level of 2°C increase the probability of both surface and rootzone soil moisture drought by 29% in the Mediterranean and 32% and 6% in Western North America compared to the preindustrial baseline. Furthermore, the probability of a dry (25th percentile relative to a preindustrial baseline) surface soil moisture month given a high (75th percentile relative to a preindustrial baseline) precipitation month is 6 (Mediterranean) and 3 (Western North America) times more likely in a 2°C world compared to the preindustrial baseline. For these regions, warming will likely increase the risk of soil moisture drought during low precipitation periods while simultaneously reducing the efficacy of high precipitation periods to terminate droughts.
Global Survey of Energetic Electron Precipitation at Low Earth Orbit Observed by ELFIN
Authors: Qin Murong , Li Wen , Shen Xiao‐Chen , Angelopoulos Vassilis , Selesnick Richard , Capannolo Luisa , Ma Qianli , Artemyev Anton , Zhang Xiao‐Jia
Published: May 2024

We statistically evaluate the global distribution and energy spectrum of electron precipitation at low‐Earth‐orbit, using unprecedented pitch‐angle and energy resolved data from the Electron Losses and Fields INvestigation CubeSats. Our statistical results indicate that during active conditions, the ∼63 keV electron precipitation ratio peaks at L > 6 at midnight, whereas the spatial distribution of precipitating energy flux peaks between the dawn and noon sectors. ∼1 MeV electron precipitation ratio peaks near midnight at L > ∼6 but is enhanced near dusk during active times. The energy spectrum of the precipitation ratio shows reversal points indicating energy dispersion as a function of L shell in both the slot region and at L > ∼6, consistent with hiss‐driven precipitation and current sheet scattering, respectively. Our findings provide accurate quantification of electron precipitation at various energies in a broad region of the Earth's magnetosphere, which is critical for magnetosphere‐ionosphere coupling.
Top of the Atmosphere Shortwave Arctic Cloud Feedbacks: A Comparison of Diagnostic Methods
Authors: Coulbury Calvin , Tan Ivy
Published: May 2024

The cloud feedback may result in amplification or damping of Arctic warming. Two common techniques used to diagnose the top‐of‐the‐atmosphere cloud feedback are the Adjusted Cloud Radiative Effect (AdjCRE) method and the Cloud Radiative Kernel (CRK) method. We apply both to CMIP5 and CMIP6 model data, finding that the AdjCRE calculated Arctic shortwave cloud feedback is twice as correlated with sea ice loss in CMIP5, and four times in CMIP6, as the CRK method. We find that the CRK method produces Arctic all‐sky residual percentages exceeding 20% in 15 of 18 models. We use the CRK method to decompose the feedback in CMIP5 and CMIP6 finding that its median value changed from negative to positive driven by a less‐negative cloud optical depth feedback. Despite its lack of closure, we conclude that the CRK method is better suited for Arctic SW feedbacks as it is less impacted by surface albedo changes.
Reservoir Filling Up Problems in a Changing Climate: Insights From CryoSat‐2 Altimetry
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Jiang Liguang , Nielsen Karina , Wang Lei
Published: May 2024

Recent droughts have severely threatened water security in many regions worldwide. Reservoirs, designed to combat droughts and secure water supply partially, are reported failing to fill up to the total capacity due to severe droughts. How bad is climate affecting reservoir filling up on a global scale? This issue has not been studied. We present a big picture of reservoirs in crisis using satellite altimetry. Thanks to the unique characteristics of CryoSat‐2, 525 reservoirs worldwide were investigated during 2010–2022. Results show that most reservoirs (93%) are found not fully filled up at least once. About 21% of reservoirs, which are mainly located in the Southern Hemisphere, show a significant decline in water levels. Moreover, about 20% of reservoirs with larger level fluctuations (>3 m) are located in less developed economies, indicating informed operation rules are needed. Further analyses indicate reservoirs are largely affected by extreme climate events, such as ENSO.
Unveiling the oral-gut connection: chronic apical periodontitis accelerates atherosclerosis via gut microbiota dysbiosis and altered metabolites in apoE−/− Mice on a high-fat diet
Authors: Gan Guowu , Lin Shihan , Luo Yufang , Zeng Yu , Lu Beibei , Zhang Ren , Chen Shuai , Lei Huaxiang , Cai Zhiyu , Huang Xiaojing
Published: May 2024

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) on atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice fed high-fat diet (HFD). This investigation focused on the gut microbiota, metabolites, and intestinal barrier function to uncover potential links between oral health and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this study, CAP was shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis in HFD-fed apoE−/− mice, as evidenced by the increase in plaque size and volume in the aortic walls observed via Oil Red O staining. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed significant alterations in the gut microbiota, with harmful bacterial species thriving while beneficial species declining. Metabolomic profiling indicated disruptions in lipid metabolism and primary bile acid synthesis, leading to elevated levels of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurocholic acid (TCA), and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TDCA). These metabolic shifts may contribute to atherosclerosis development. Furthermore, impaired intestinal barrier function, characterized by reduced mucin expression and disrupted tight junction proteins, was observed. The increased intestinal permeability observed was positively correlated with the severity of atherosclerotic lesions, highlighting the importance of the intestinal barrier in cardiovascular health. In conclusion, this research underscores the intricate interplay among oral health, gut microbiota composition, metabolite profiles, and CVD incidence. These findings emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene as a potential preventive measure against cardiovascular issues, as well as the need for further investigations into the intricate mechanisms linking oral health, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in CVD development.
Structural basis of negative regulation of CRISPR-Cas7-11 by TPR-CHAT
Authors: Hong Tian , Luo Qinghua , Ma Haiyun , Wang Xin , Li Xinqiong , Shen Chongrong , Pang Jie , Wang Yan , Chen Yuejia , Zhang Changbin , Su Zhaoming , Dong Haohao , Tang Xiaodi
Published: May 2024

CRISPR‒Cas7-11 is a Type III-E CRISPR-associated nuclease that functions as a potent RNA editing tool. Tetratrico-peptide repeat fused with Cas/HEF1-associated signal transducer (TPR-CHAT) acts as a regulatory protein that interacts with CRISPR RNA (crRNA)-bound Cas7-11 to form a CRISPR-guided caspase complex (Craspase). However, the precise modulation of Cas7-11’s nuclease activity by TPR-CHAT to enhance its utility requires further study. Here, we report cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of Desulfonema ishimotonii (Di) Cas7-11-crRNA, complexed with or without the full length or the N-terminus of TPR-CHAT. These structures unveil the molecular features of the Craspase complex. Structural analysis, combined with in vitro nuclease assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay, reveals that DiTPR-CHAT negatively regulates the activity of DiCas7-11 by preventing target RNA from binding through the N-terminal 65 amino acids of DiTPR-CHAT (DiTPR-CHATNTD). Our work demonstrates that DiTPR-CHATNTD can function as a small unit of DiCas7-11 regulator, potentially enabling safe applications to prevent overcutting and off-target effects of the CRISPR‒Cas7-11 system.
XIST and MUC1-C form an auto-regulatory pathway in driving cancer progression
Authors: Wang Keyi , Bhattacharya Atrayee , Haratake Naoki , Daimon Tatsuaki , Nakashoji Ayako , Ozawa Hiroki , Peng Bo , Li Wei , Kufe Donald
Published: May 2024

The long non-coding RNA X-inactive specific transcript (lncRNA XIST) and MUC1 gene are dysregulated in chronic inflammation and cancer; however, there is no known interaction of their functions. The present studies demonstrate that MUC1-C regulates XIST lncRNA levels by suppressing the RBM15/B, WTAP and METTL3/14 components of the m6A methylation complex that associate with XIST A repeats. MUC1-C also suppresses the YTHDF2-CNOT1 deadenylase complex that recognizes m6A sites and contributes to XIST decay with increases in XIST stability and expression. In support of an auto-regulatory pathway, we show that XIST regulates MUC1-C expression by promoting NF-κB-mediated activation of the MUC1 gene. Of significance, MUC1-C and XIST regulate common genes associated with inflammation and stemness, including (i) miR-21 which is upregulated across pan-cancers, and (ii) TDP-43 which associates with the XIST E repeats. Our results further demonstrate that the MUC1-C/XIST pathway (i) is regulated by TDP-43, (ii) drives stemness-associated genes, and (iii) is necessary for self-renewal capacity. These findings indicate that the MUC1-C/XIST auto-regulatory axis is of importance in cancer progression.
FOXP4-mediated induction of PTK7 activates the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and promotes ovarian cancer development
Authors: Ji Jing , Qian Qilan , Cheng Wenhao , Ye Xiaoqing , Jing Aixin , Ma Shaojie , Ding Yuanyuan , Ma Xinhui , Wang Yasong , Sun Qian , Wang Xiujun , Chen Yulu , Zhu Lan , Yuan Qing , Xu Menghan , Qin Jingting , Ma Lin , Yang Jiayan , Zhang Meiqi , Geng Ting , Wang Sen , Wang Dan , Song Yizhuo , Zhang Boyu , Xu Yuting , Xu Linyu , Liu Shunfang , Liu Wei , Liu Bin
Published: May 2024

Ovarian cancer (OV) poses a significant challenge in clinical settings due to its difficulty in early diagnosis and treatment resistance. FOXP4, belonging to the FOXP subfamily, plays a pivotal role in various biological processes including cancer, cell cycle regulation, and embryonic development. However, the specific role and importance of FOXP4 in OV have remained unclear. Our research showed that FOXP4 is highly expressed in OV tissues, with its elevated levels correlating with poor prognosis. We further explored FOXP4’s function through RNA sequencing and functional analysis in FOXP4-deficient cells, revealing its critical role in activating the Wnt signaling pathway. This activation exacerbates the malignant phenotype in OV. Mechanistically, FOXP4 directly induces the expression of protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7), a Wnt-binding receptor tyrosine pseudokinase, which causes abnormal activation of the Wnt signaling pathway. Disrupting the FOXP4-Wnt feedback loop by inactivating the Wnt signaling pathway or reducing FOXP4 expression resulted in the reduction of the malignant phenotype of OV cells, while restoring PTK7 expression reversed this effect. In conclusion, our findings underscore the significance of the FOXP4-induced Wnt pathway activation in OV, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway in OV treatment.
Reduction of spermine synthase enhances autophagy to suppress Tau accumulation
Authors: Tao Xianzun , Liu Jiaqi , Diaz-Perez Zoraida , Foley Jackson R. , Nwafor Ashley , Stewart Tracy Murray , Casero Robert A. , Zhai R. Grace
Published: May 2024

Precise polyamine metabolism regulation is vital for cells and organisms. Mutations in spermine synthase (SMS) cause Snyder–Robinson intellectual disability syndrome (SRS), characterized by significant spermidine accumulation and autophagy blockage in the nervous system. Emerging evidence connects polyamine metabolism with other autophagy-related diseases, such as Tauopathy, however, the functional intersection between polyamine metabolism and autophagy in the context of these diseases remains unclear. Here, we altered SMS expression level to investigate the regulation of autophagy by modulated polyamine metabolism in Tauopathy in Drosophila and human cellular models. Interestingly, while complete loss of Drosophila spermine synthase (dSms) impairs lysosomal function and blocks autophagic flux recapitulating SRS disease phenotype, partial loss of dSms enhanced autophagic flux, reduced Tau protein accumulation, and led to extended lifespan and improved climbing performance in Tauopathy flies. Measurement of polyamine levels detected a mild elevation of spermidine in flies with partial loss of dSms. Similarly, in human neuronal or glial cells, partial loss of SMS by siRNA-mediated knockdown upregulated autophagic flux and reduced Tau protein accumulation. Importantly, proteomics analysis of postmortem brain tissue from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients showed a significant albeit modest elevation of SMS level. Taken together, our study uncovers a functional correlation between polyamine metabolism and autophagy in AD: SMS reduction upregulates autophagy, suppresses Tau accumulation, and ameliorates neurodegeneration and cell death. These findings provide a new potential therapeutic target for AD.
HTRA1 interacts with SLC7A11 to modulate colorectal cancer chemosensitivity by inhibiting ferroptosis
Authors: Liu Weiwei , Liu Chaoqun , Xiao Jun , Qian Cheng , Chen Zhilin , Lin Wandie , Zhang Yujie , Wu Jianghua , Zhou Rui , Zhao Liang
Published: May 2024

Chemotherapy is an important therapuetic strategy for colorectal cancer (CRC), but chemoresistance severely affects its efficacy, and the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Increasing evidence suggests that lipid peroxidation imbalance-mediated ferroptosis is closely associated with chemoresistance. Hence, targeting ferroptosis pathways or modulating the tolerance to oxidative stress might be an effective strategy to reverse tumor chemoresistance. HtrA serine protease 1 (HTRA1) was screened out as a CRC progression- and chemoresistance-related gene. It is highly expressed in CRC cells and negatively correlated with the prognosis of CRC patients. Gain- and loss-of-function analyses demonstrated a stimulatory role of HTRA1 on the proliferation of CRC cells. The enrichment analysis of HTRA1-interacting proteins indicated the involvement of ferroptosis in the HTRA1-mediated chemoresistance. Moreover, electron microscope analysis, as well as the ROS and MDA levels in CRC cells also confirmed the effect of HTRA1 on ferroptosis. We also verified that HTRA1 could interact with SLC7A11 through its Kazal structural domain and up-regulate the expression of SLC7A11, which in turn inhibited the ferroptosis and leaded to the chemoresistance of CRC cells to 5-FU/L-OHP. Hence, we propose that HTRA1 may be a potential therapeutic target and a prognostic indicator in CRC.
IL-17a promotes hepatocellular carcinoma by increasing FAP expression in hepatic stellate cells via activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway
Authors: Sun Dapeng , Li Wen , Ding Dongyang , Tan Kunjiang , Ding Wenbin , Wang Zongyan , Fu Siyuan , Hou Guojun , Zhou Wei-ping , Gu Fangming
Published: May 2024

Studies have shown that hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and interleukin-17a (IL-17a) play important roles in liver tumorigenesis. In addition, fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) has been shown to be a key regulator of hepatic stellate cell activation. In this study, in vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to verify the promoting effects of IL-17a administration, IL-17a overexpression, and FAP upregulation in HSCs on liver fibrosis and liver tumorigenesis. The cleavage under targets & release using nuclease (CUT&RUN) technique was used to verify the binding status of STAT3 to the FAP promoter. The in vitro studies showed that IL-17a activated HSCs and promoted HCC development and progression. FAP and IL-17a overexpression also activated HSCs, promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration, and inhibited HCC cell apoptosis. The in vivo studies suggested that IL-17a and FAP overexpression in HSCs facilitated liver tumor development and progression. The CUT&RUN results indicated that FAP expression was regulated by STAT3, which could bind to the FAP promoter region and regulate its transcription status. We concluded that IL-17a promoted HCC by increasing FAP expression in HSCs via activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway.
Platelets favor the outgrowth of established metastases
Authors: Garcia-Leon Maria J. , Liboni Cristina , Mittelheisser Vincent , Bochler Louis , Follain Gautier , Mouriaux Clarisse , Busnelli Ignacio , Larnicol Annabel , Colin Florent , Peralta Marina , Osmani Naël , Gensbittel Valentin , Bourdon Catherine , Samaniego Rafael , Pichot Angélique , Paul Nicodème , Molitor Anne , Carapito Raphaël , Jandrot-Perrus Martine , Lefebvre Olivier , Mangin Pierre H. , Goetz Jacky G.
Published: May 2024

Despite abundant evidence demonstrating that platelets foster metastasis, anti-platelet agents have low therapeutic potential due to the risk of hemorrhages. In addition, whether platelets can regulate metastasis at the late stages of the disease remains unknown. In this study, we subject syngeneic models of metastasis to various thrombocytopenic regimes to show that platelets provide a biphasic contribution to metastasis. While potent intravascular binding of platelets to tumor cells efficiently promotes metastasis, platelets further support the outgrowth of established metastases via immune suppression. Genetic depletion and pharmacological targeting of the glycoprotein VI (GPVI) platelet-specific receptor in humanized mouse models efficiently reduce the growth of established metastases, independently of active platelet binding to tumor cells in the bloodstream. Our study demonstrates therapeutic efficacy when targeting animals bearing growing metastases. It further identifies GPVI as a molecular target whose inhibition can impair metastasis without inducing collateral hemostatic perturbations.