bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Membrane surfaces regulate assembly of a ribonucleoprotein condensate
Authors: Snead Wilton T. , Gerbich Therese M. , Seim Ian , Hu Zhongxiu , Gladfelter Amy S.
Published: April 2021

Biomolecular condensates organize biochemistry in time and space, yet little is known about how cells control either the position or scale of these assemblies. In cells, condensates often appear as dispersed, relatively small assemblies that do not grow (coarsen) into a single droplet despite their propensity to coalesce. Here we report that ribonucleoprotein condensates of the Q-rich protein Whi3 interact with the endoplasmic reticulum, prompting us to hypothesize that membrane association controls the position and size of condensates. Reconstitution of Whi3 condensates on supported lipid bilayers reveals that association with a diffusive lipid surface promotes condensation at both physiological ionic strength and protein concentration. Notably, these assemblies rapidly arrest, matching size distributions seen in cells. The timing of the arrest is influenced by the ordering of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions and controlled by the slow diffusion of complexes induced by the membrane. This slowed diffusion limits both transfer of small protein-RNA complexes between condensates and their coalescence, thus driving coarsening to arrest. Our experiments reveal a tradeoff between locally-enhanced protein concentration at membranes, which favors condensation, and an accompanying reduction in diffusion, which restricts coarsening. Thus, membranes can maintain a population of small condensates in the absence of active mechanisms. Given that many condensates are bound to endomembranes, we predict that the biophysical properties of lipid bilayers are key for controlling condensate sizes throughout the cell.

One sentence summary

Assembly on a membrane surface positions and scales biomolecular condensates by controlling relative diffusion rates of proteins and nucleic acids.
Transposable element profiles reveal cell line identity and loss of heterozygosity inDrosophilacell culture
Authors: Han Shunhua , Basting Preston J. , Dias Guilherme , Luhur Arthur , Zelhof Andrew C. , Bergman Casey M.
Published: April 2021

Cell culture systems allow key insights into biological mechanisms yet suffer from irreproducible outcomes in part because of cross-contamination or mislabelling of cell lines. Cell line misidentification can be mitigated by the use of genotyping protocols, which have been developed for human cell lines but are lacking for many important model species. Here we leverage the classical observation that transposable elements (TEs) proliferate in culturedDrosophilacells to demonstrate that genome-wide TE insertion profiles can reveal the identity and provenance ofDrosophilacell lines. We identify multiple cases where TE profiles clarify the origin ofDrosophilacell lines (Sg4, mbn2, and OSS_E) relative to published reports, and also provide evidence that insertions from only a subset of LTR retrotransposon families are necessary to markDrosophilacell line identity. We also develop a new bioinformatics approach to detect TE insertions and estimate intra-sample allele frequencies in legacy whole-genome shotgun sequencing data (called ngs_te_mapper2), which revealed copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity as a mechanism shaping the unique TE profiles that identifyDrosophilacell lines. Our work contributes to the general understanding of the forces impacting metazoan genomes as they evolve in cell culture and paves the way for high-throughput protocols that use TE insertions to authenticate cell lines inDrosophilaand other organisms.
Design of a new effector recognition specificity in a plant NLR immune receptor by molecular engineering of its integrated decoy domain
Authors: Cesari Stella , Xi Yuxuan , Declerck Nathalie , Chalvon Véronique , Mammri Léa , Pugnière Martine , Henriquet Corinne , de Guillen Karine , Padilla André , Kroj Thomas
Published: April 2021

Plant nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat domain proteins (NLRs) are immune sensors that specifically recognize pathogen effectors and induce immune responses. Designing artificial NLRs with new effector recognition specificities is a promising prospect for sustainable, knowledge-driven crop protection. However, such strategies are hampered by the complexity of NLR function. Here, we tested whether molecular engineering of the integrated decoy domain (ID) of an NLR could extend its recognition spectrum to a new effector. To this aim, we relied on the detailed molecular knowledge of the recognition of distinctMagnaporthe oryzaeMAX (MagnaportheAVRs and ToxB-like) effectors by the rice NLRs RGA5 and Pikp-1. For both NLRs, effector recognition involves physical binding to their HMA (Heavy Metal-Associated) IDs. However, AVR-PikD, the effector recognized by Pikp-1, binds to a completely different surface of the HMA domain compared to AVR-Pia and AVR1-CO39, recognized by RGA5. By introducing into the HMA domain of RGA5 the residues of the Pikp-1 HMA domain involved in AVR-PikD binding, we created a high-affinity binding surface for this new effector. In theNicotiana benthamianaheterologous system, RGA5 variants carrying this engineered binding surface still recognize AVR-Pia and AVR1-CO39, but also perceive the new ligand, AVR-PikD, resulting in the activation of immune responses. Therefore, our study provides a proof of concept for the design of new effector recognition specificities in NLRs through molecular engineering of IDs. However, it pinpoints significant knowledge gaps that limit the full deployment of this NLR-ID engineering strategy and provides hypotheses for future research on this topic.
Costs and benefits of using rhythmic rate codes
Authors: Peterson Erik J , Voytek Bradley
Published: April 2021

Neural oscillations are observed ubiquitously in the mammalian nervous system, and the benefits of oscillatory coding have been the topic of frequent analysis. Many prior studies focused on communication between populations which were already oscillating and sought to understand how these rhythms and overall communication interact. We take a contrary view here. In this paper, we focus on measuring the costs of translating from an aperiodic code to a rhythmic one. We study two models. The first is simulated independent populations of neurons subjected to a theta-band (6 Hz) pacemaker using Linear-Nonlinear Poisson (LNP) sampling. The second is a model of beta-gamma oscillations using biophysical neurons with self-organized dynamics. We measure benefits and costs in both models using information theory. In both models oscillations can only benefit communications by increasing spiking by specific amounts, in effect, correcting for “undersampling” of the stimulus. This is mechanistically similar to theories for how deep brain stimulation can enhance cognition and is consistent with older studies of gamma entrainment. Yet this trend was not universal. No one guiding principle of dynamics determines the cost of a translation in the models we studied. In our models to predict the benefits or costs of an oscillatory translation we need to understand the exacting physical details of the intrinsic connections, the population size, and the external drive.
Predicting memory from the network structure of naturalistic events
Authors: Lee Hongmi , Chen Janice
Published: April 2021

When we remember events, we often do not only recall individual events, but also the connections between them. However, extant research has focused on how humans segment and remember discrete events from continuous input, with far less attention given to how the structure of connections between events impacts memory. Here we conduct a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in which subjects watch and recall a series of realistic audiovisual narratives. By transforming narratives into networks of events, we demonstrate that more central events—those with stronger semantic or causal connections to other events—are better remembered. During encoding, central events evoke larger hippocampal event boundary responses associated with memory formation. During recall, high centrality is associated with stronger activation in cortical areas involved in episodic recollection, and more similar neural representations across individuals. Together, these results suggest that when humans encode and retrieve complex real-world experiences, the reliability and accessibility of memory representations is shaped by their location within a network of events.
Uncharted territory and extraordinary times: the SENCo's experiences of leading special education during a pandemic in England
Authors: Middleton Tristan , Kay Lynda
Published: April 2021

This research focuses on the impact of the context of Covid‐19 on the role of the SENCo in English schools. The SENCo's role is a contested field; however, the current Special Educational Needs Code of Practice identifies 11 key areas of SENCos' work. A widely distributed survey was used to access the voice of SENCos across the country, and received 26 responses. Data were analysed using a realistic evaluation framework to identify the impact of Covid‐19 on the work of the SENCo. The research indicated that practice in this context had changed in some key areas, and also identified three new aspects of the SENCo role. These point to the need to revise policy and guidance relating to the SENCo being part of the senior leadership team, providing emotional support for adults, and engaging in practical pedagogical activities.
Association of complicated appendicitis on the risk of later in vitro fertilization treatment requirement and ectopic pregnancy: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Männistö Jaana , Sammalkorpi Henna , Niinimäki Maarit , Mentula Maarit , Mentula Panu
Published: April 2021

Introduction

A population‐based register study utilizing three Finnish National Registers was carried out to determine whether uncomplicated appendicitis, complicated appendicitis and appendectomy without appendicitis are associated with a subsequent risk of requiring in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment or a risk of ectopic pregnancy among reproductive‐age women.

Material and methods

A total of 23 997 women who underwent appendectomy for uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis or for nonspecific abdominal pain or who had nonspecific abdominal pain without surgical procedures between 2000 and 2012 were included in the study. The later risks of IVF treatment requirement and ectopic pregnancy were assessed after uncomplicated appendicitis, complicated appendicitis and appendectomy without appendicitis. Women with nonspecific abdominal pain without surgical procedures served as the reference group.

Results

The rates of later IVF treatment after uncomplicated appendicitis, complicated appendicitis and appendectomy without appendicitis were low (2.1%, 2.5% and 2.3%, respectively; p = 0.681). Neither appendicitis nor appendectomy was associated with the risk of requiring IVF treatment. The rate of ectopic pregnancy after uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis was very low (0.8%). Women with uncomplicated appendicitis had a significantly lower risk of ectopic pregnancy compared with patients with nonspecific abdominal pain.

Conclusions

Appendicitis, whether complicated or uncomplicated, and appendectomy without appendicitis does not increase the risk of requiring later IVF treatment or the risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Grassland management and land use history shape species composition and diversity in Transylvanian semi‐natural grasslands
Authors: Kuhn Thomas , Domokos Péter , Kiss Réka , Ruprecht Eszter
Published: April 2021

Aims

Semi‐natural grasslands are among the most biodiverse habitats in Europe, and they are of great conservation and agricultural value. However, changes in land use like grazing intensification and the cessation of traditional management have dramatic effects on the extent and biodiversity of these ecosystems. In this study we investigated how current management practices and land use history shape species composition and diversity patterns in semi‐natural grasslands of the Eastern hills of the Cluj region.

Location

Eastern hills of Cluj (“Dealurile Clujului de Est” ‐ ROSCI0295) Natura 2000 conservation site and close surroundings, Transylvania, Romania.

Methods

We surveyed plots in extensively and intensively grazed grasslands, grasslands mown by hand or heavy machinery, and abandoned grasslands. To quantify grassland continuity, we analysed a series of historical cadastral and more current maps ranging from the 18th to the 21st century.

Results

Species composition was significantly influenced by current management, grassland continuity and environmental factors. Mown and extensively grazed grasslands had more grassland and forest edge specialists than abandoned and intensively grazed grasslands. In addition, there was a positive relationship between the number of grassland specialists, forest edge species and grassland continuity, while the number of ruderal species related negatively to grassland continuity. The highest diversity values were recorded in traditionally mown grasslands. However, diversity‐related variables were poorly reflected by grassland continuity.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that short‐term abandonment may not be as detrimental for grasslands as often suggested, and intensive grazing results in the greatest loss in species diversity. Grassland continuity tightly influences the persistence of grassland specialist species. Thus, we recommend land use history to be included in the selection and identification of high‐nature‐value grasslands by prioritizing conservation efforts for older grasslands.
Intravascular pseudolymphomatous angiosarcoma: A new finding potentially mistaken for intravascular lymphoma
Authors: Goyal Amrita , Tope Whitney , Murugan Paari , Jacobson‐Dunlop Erick , Miller Daniel D.
Published: April 2021

Pseudolymphomatous infiltrates associated with angiosarcoma are a rarely reported phenomenon. Recognition of this reactive process is critical to making an accurate diagnosis, both in diagnosing the angiosarcoma and in avoiding an incorrect diagnosis of lymphoma. Here, we present a novel histopathologic pattern, angiosarcoma with a prominently intravascular atypical lymphoid component, mimicking intravascular T‐cell lymphoma. Interestingly, serial biopsies in this case revealed a progressive increase in lymphocyte density and intravascular component over time. Despite prior reports of improved progression‐free survival and overall survival of patients with pseudolymphomatous angiosarcoma, this patient showed rapid disease progression.
Elastic fibers: formation, function, and fate during aging and disease
Authors: Schmelzer Christian E. H. , Duca Laurent
Published: April 2021

Elastic fibers are extracellular components of higher vertebrates and confer elasticity and resilience to numerous tissues and organs such as large blood vessels, lungs, and skin. Their formation and maturation take place in a complex multistage process called elastogenesis. It requires interactions between very different proteins but also other molecules and leads to the deposition and crosslinking of elastin’s precursor on a scaffold of fibrillin‐rich microfibrils. Mature fibers are exceptionally resistant to most influences and, under healthy conditions, retain their biomechanical function over the life of the organism. However, due to their longevity, they accumulate damages during aging. These are caused by proteolytic degradation, formation of advanced glycation end products, calcification, oxidative damage, aspartic acid racemization, lipid accumulation, carbamylation, and mechanical fatigue. The resulting changes can lead to diminution or complete loss of elastic fiber function and ultimately affect morbidity and mortality. Particularly, the production of elastokines has been clearly shown to influence several life‐threatening diseases. Moreover, the structure, distribution, and abundance of elastic fibers are directly or indirectly influenced by a variety of inherited pathological conditions, which mainly affect organs and tissues such as skin, lungs, or the cardiovascular system. A distinction can be made between microfibril‐related inherited diseases that are the result of mutations in diverse microfibril genes and indirectly affect elastogenesis, and elastinopathies that are linked to changes in the elastin gene. This review gives an overview on the formation, structure, and function of elastic fibers and their fate over the human lifespan in health and disease.
Where and why do conifer forests persist in refugia through multiple fire events?
Authors: Downing William M. , Meigs Garrett W. , Gregory Matthew J. , Krawchuk Meg A.
Published: April 2021

Changing wildfire regimes are causing rapid shifts in forests worldwide. In particular, forested landscapes that burn repeatedly in relatively quick succession may be at risk of conversion when pre‐fire vegetation cannot recover between fires. Fire refugia (areas that burn less frequently or severely than the surrounding landscape) support post‐fire ecosystem recovery and the persistence of vulnerable species in fire‐prone landscapes. Observed and projected fire‐induced forest losses highlight the need to understand where and why forests persist in refugia through multiple fires. This research need is particularly acute in the Klamath‐Siskiyou ecoregion of southwest Oregon and northwest California, USA, where expected increases in fire activity and climate warming may result in the loss of up to one‐third of the region's conifer forests, which are the most diverse in western North America. Here, we leverage recent advances in fire progression mapping and weather interpolation, in conjunction with a novel application of satellite smoke imagery, to model the key controls on fire refugia occurrence and persistence through one, two, and three fire events over a 32‐year period. Hotter‐than‐average fire weather was associated with lower refugia probability and higher fire severity. Refugia that persisted through three fire events appeared to be partially entrained by landscape features that offered protection from fire, suggesting that topographic variability may be an important stabilizing factor as forests pass through successive fire filters. In addition, smoke density strongly influenced fire effects, with fire refugia more likely to occur when smoke was moderate or dense in the morning, a relationship attributable to reduced incoming solar radiation resulting from smoke shading. Results from this study could inform management strategies designed to protect fire‐resistant portions of biologically and topographically diverse landscapes.
A prepared platelet‐rich plasma extract, namely Self‐Growth Colony, inhibits melanogenesis by down‐regulating microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor in skin melanocyte
Authors: Guo Maggie Suisui , Wu Qiyun , Lai Queenie Wing Sze , Wang Xiaoyang , Bai Panzhu , Fung Kelly Wing Chi , Dong Tina Tingxia , Tsim Karl Wah Keung
Published: April 2021

Background

During melanogenesis, melanocytes produce melanin through enzymatic reactions. Microphthalmia‐associated transcription factor (MITF) is a major regulator in controlling the expressions of melanogenic enzymes tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosine‐related protein‐1 (TRP1), and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT). Self‐Growth Colony (SGC) is prepared from human platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) having an enrichment of growth factors, and which has claimed skin regeneration function.

Aim

In this study, we aim to identify and investigate the novel role of SGC in skin melanogenesis.

Methods

MTT assay was performed to determine the cytotoxicity of applied SGC. Melanin assay was adopted to quantify the intracellular melanin after SGC treatment. Promoter‐driven luciferase assay, real‐time PCR, and Western blotting were performed to determine the expressions of melanogenic enzymes and MITF in SGC‐treated cultured Melan‐A cells, being treated with or without UV induction. Ex vivo mouse skin was treated with SGC, and then was subjected to Western blotting and histochemical staining.

Results

We identified that SGC inhibited melanogenesis in cultured melanocytes and ex vivo mouse skin. The phenomena were attributed to a reduction of MITF expression, which subsequently down‐regulated the melanogenic enzymes, that is, TYR, TRP1, and DCT. Moreover, ERK signaling was activated in the SGC‐inhibited melanogenesis.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that SGC extracting from human blood can be a safe and potential agent in promoting skin whitening.
Structured simulations improves students’ knowledge acquisition and perceptions of teaching effectiveness: A quasi‐experimental study
Authors: Taha Asma A. , Jadalla Ahlam , Bin Ali Wafaa , Firkins Jenny , Norman Sharon , Azar Najood
Published: April 2021

Aims

To determine the effect of adding structured simulation to a traditional classroom lecture format on students’ knowledge acquisition and their evaluation of faculty teaching effectiveness, compared to traditional classroom lectures alone.

Background

There is a critical lack of high‐quality clinical placements/experiences in nursing education, particularly in clinical specialty populations, such as paediatrics. Simulation has been shown to help students practice in a safe environment. However, less is known about the outcomes of embedding simulation in didactic class sessions or classroom lectures. Additionally, data on the impact of simulation as a teaching pedagogy on faculty teaching effectiveness is limited.

Design

Post‐test, nonequivalent control group quasi‐experimental study.

Methods

Students in two prelicensure nursing programs participated in a 10‐week term paediatric nursing course taught by the same faculty member on two different campuses. The students at one campus, designated as the control group (n = 43), received four hours of traditional, lecture‐only, instructions. The group at a second campus, the intervention group (n = 44), received the same lectures with added structured simulations. Students’ knowledge acquisition and their evaluation of faculty teaching effectiveness were measured in both groups using the same standardised assessment measures. The CONSORT checklist was followed.

Results

Students’ knowledge acquisition scores and their evaluation scores of faculty teaching effectiveness were significantly higher in the intervention (simulation) group compared to the control group. A significantly higher number of students in the simulation group scored above the national average Nursing Care of Children score as compared to students in the control group.

Conclusions

Integrating simulation with didactic instruction enhanced students’ knowledge acquisition and improved their opinion of faculty teaching effectiveness.

Relevance to clinical practice

Augmenting lecture with simulation may provide students with learning experiences that they may not have during clinical rotation due to a lack of paediatric clinical placement sites and differences between sites.
Prion protein is associated with a worse prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Santos Eloa Mangabeira , Fraga Carlos Alberto de Carvalho , Xavier Alessandra Rejane Ericsson de Oliveira , Xavier Mauro Aparecido de Souza , Souza Marcela Gonçalves , Jesus Sabrina Ferreira de , Paula Alfredo Maurício Batista de , Farias Lucyana Conceição , Santos Sérgio Henrique Sousa , Santos Tiago Goss , Beraldo Flavio H. , Guimarães André Luiz Sena
Published: April 2021

Background

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) etiopathogenesis remains unclear, and the biological changes with the activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) and prion protein (PRNP) promoted by hypoxia in HNSC are undetermined. This study investigates hypoxia's effect in lymph node metastasis by PRNP expression changes and its main partners.

Methods

The study combined a theoretical/cell culture study with a case‐control study. First, bioinformatics and cell culture were performed. A case‐control study was performed in a second step by comparing HNSC patients with and without lymph node metastasis.

Analyses

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data source validates the theory in the global population study.

Results

Bioinformatics analysis suggests that hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF1A) is associated with HSPA4, HSP90AA1 and PRNP expression. TCGA data validate the hypothesis that higher HSP90AA1, HSPA4 and PRNP are related to metastases and low survival. Herein, the cell study demonstrated that muted PRNP did not respond to hypoxia.

Discussion

Our results collectively provide the first evidence that PRNP promotes HNSC lymph node metastasis progression through the upregulation of HSPA4, HSP90AA1 and HIF1A. Our findings may provide a molecular basis for the promoting Role of PRNP in HNSC progression.
Tourism and symbolic power: Leveraging social media with the stance of disavowal
Authors: Smith Sean P.
Published: April 2021

Social media use has become a common feature of contemporary tourism, yet in face‐to‐face interactions tourists often distance themselves from online engagement. Drawing on interviews collected at a popular tourism site in Myanmar (Burma), tourists are found to recurrently take a stance of disavowal regarding social media use, downplaying and rationalizing their engagement or locating a tourist out‐group against which their own behavior can be favorably compared. This case study of stancetaking regarding social media use reveals the dynamics of tourism's longstanding function as a distinction‐making practice, with social media use but one of many behaviors that tourists critically evaluate in the pursuit of symbolic capital. As tourism becomes increasingly integral to the global maintenance of class status, focusing on the production of symbolic power in tourism raises critical questions about entanglements with industry and the accumulation of material capital.
Influence of visual appearance on consumer perception of spiciness in kimchi
Authors: Chon Seo‐yeong , Yoon Sora , Ha Jeehyoung , Kim Mina K.
Published: April 2021

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of appearance on consumer perception of spiciness in kimchi. Three kimchi samples with different levels of red pepper powder (1.5, 3, 6%; K1, K2, K3) were prepared. A 2‐day consumer testing was conducted with 2 weeks interval and participants (n = 108) evaluated kimchi with (Day 1) and without (Day 2) blindfold. Day 1 experiment was conducted without providing appearance about the kimchi sample by covering the eyes of the participants using the eye patch, and Day 2 experiment was conducted by allowing the participants to see and evaluate the kimchi sample directly without covering their eyes and evaluated. When evaluated with blindfold, no differences were observed in all liking attributes (p > .05) except for overall liking score, indicating decreased sensitivities without appearance. When evaluated without blindfold, K1 received lowest appearance and color liking scores than other samples (p < .05). Regarding spiciness liking, interaction between sample and evaluation condition was observed in which spiciness liking of K1 was lower in informed condition in comparison to blind evaluation (p < .05), while spiciness liking of other samples was higher under informed condition. Appearance‐related attributes such as color of kimchi may influence the overall and spiciness perception of kimchi. Finding from this study emphasizes the importance of appearance on consumer acceptability of spiciness in kimchi. Therefore, the results of this study will be able to identify the color and the amount of red pepper powder that consumers prefer and be used in manufacturing.

Practical applications

Spiciness is one of the key sensory characteristics in kimchi, and capsaicin in red pepper powder as part of ingredient is responsible for spiciness. However, measuring pungent spiciness in kimchi is heavily dependent on instrumental analysis of capsaicin content; therefore, consideration on human perception on spiciness in complex food matrix was not fully considered. This study focused on consumer perception on spiciness in kimchi in different evaluation condition and found that the appearance may influence consumer perception of pungent spiciness in kimchi. Finding from this study suggests the importance of human factors in evaluation of pungent spiciness in kimchi.
Nominalist visualities and classical social theory: An examination of Durkheim and Weber
Authors: Datta Ronjon Paul , Hanemaayer Ariane
Published: April 2021

This paper elucidates a range of the potentials and limitations of nominalist sensibilities in social theory through an examination of their presence in Durkheim and Weber. Nominalism, which emerged in early modern western thought, holds that only individual particular cases exist and that there are no universals or generalities beyond mentally or linguistically constructed concepts; it also introduced new conceptions of will and voluntarism. Nominalism was variously transposed into classical social theories including those of Durkheim and Weber. In our theoretical methodology, we assess tensions between nominalist and realist visualities and modes of reasoning in their works. We conclude by discussing assessments of nominalism, attending to its enduring critical contributions while also explicating a reflexive critique of nominalism as mimetic of chaotic and pathological forms of social organisation.
Woody species have stronger facilitative effects on soil biota than on plants along an aridity gradient
Authors: Xie Lina , Soliveres Santiago , Allan Eric , Zhang Guogang , Man Liang , Mei Xufang , Li Ying , Wang Yuetang , Ma Chengcang
Published: April 2021

Questions

Woody‐shrub encroachment affects community structure and composition. However, most studies focus on their effects on understorey plant communities, and the relative importance of shrubs in affecting plants vs soil biota communities is poorly known.

Location

Inner Mongolian Steppe, China.

Methods

We examined the effect of shrubs on multiple community attributes, including plants, soil biota (bacteria, fungi and nematodes), and soil fertility, and quantified how these effects changed from semi‐arid to hyperarid conditions (from 281 mm to 110 mm of mean annual precipitation). In addition, we assessed whether the effects of shrubs on plant communities were directly mediated by biotic filtering in seed germination and establishment, or indirectly mediated by plant biomass or soil fertility in the case of soil organisms.

Results

The effect of shrubs on soil biota was generally more positive than on plants, and it increased with aridity. We found that a larger proportion of below‐ground taxa depended on shrub presence (36%) than plants (20%). Soil nematodes and soil bacteria were directly influenced by shrub presence whereas soil fungi were indirectly influenced by enhanced soil fertility. Shrubs also increased plant biomass under all conditions but only increased plant species richness in the most arid conditions. Despite the generally positive effect of shrubs, and the fact that they weakened the filtering effects of aridity on seed germination, aridity was a stronger predictor of changes in species composition than shrub presence was, particularly for plants.

Conclusions

Our results illustrate the variety of positive effects of shrubs and show that they are particularly important in supporting biodiversity in the most arid conditions. These strong and positive effects could partially buffer the impacts of increasing aridity on dryland soil biodiversity, but our study suggests that facilitative interactions may not be able to completely mitigate the impacts of increasing aridity on drylands.
Identification of the novel KIR3DL2*00711 allele by sequencing‐based typing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Chen Chen , Wang Jielin , Tao Sudan , He Ji , Zhu Faming
Published: April 2021

KIR3DL2*00711 differs from KIR3DL2*0070101 by a single nucleotide substitution at position 1344G>A.
Characterization of the novel HLA‐DQB1*06:385 allele by sequencing‐based typing
Authors: Cargou Marine , Elsermans Vincent , Top Isabelle , Guidicelli Gwendaline , Visentin Jonathan
Published: April 2021

HLA‐DQB1*06:385 differs from HLA‐DQB1*06:07:01 by one nucleotide substitution in codon 70 in exon 2.
THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS METHODS ON PROJECT DECISION-MAKING IN AIRPORT PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT
Authors: Mohammed Zaki Buhaaldeen , Babashamsi Peyman , Shahrir Aini Hazwani , Milad Abdalrhman , Abdullah Noor Halizah , Abdul Hassan Norhidayah , Md. Yusoff Nur Izzi
Published: April 2021

Airports are a part of the world transportation network. Huge investments are made annually for airport pavement construction, maintenances and  rehabilitations. The idea of integrating life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) is the latest approach to develop a method for assessing pavement sustainability. In this regard, research on economic evaluation analysis methods has resulted in the development and improvement of pavement management systems (PMS). This paper compares two main economic evaluations which mainly could use in LCCA namely net future value (NFV) and net present Value (NPV). To indicate the effect of economic evaluation a case study is examined. In this research LCCA comprises three main components which are direct costs, indirect costs, and salvage value. Airport Revenue Reduction Cost (ARRC) and Airline Delay Cost (ADC) considered as two specific indirect/user costs. The results show the impact of different economic analysis method on project decision-making where the use of crack sealing overlay (CSOL) is 35.8% and 28.3% more cost-effective than Portland cement concrete (PCC) and hot-mix asphalt (HMA), respectively.
DETERMINATION OF THE COLLAPSE POTENTIAL OF SABKHA SOIL AND DUNE SAND ARID SURFACE SOIL DEPOSITS IN KUWAIT
Authors: Al-otaibi Fahad A. , Aldaihani Humoud Melfi
Published: April 2021

Ensuring the sustainability of critical and limited natural soil resources is a major challenge in arid regions such as Kuwait. Investigations should be performed to identify and characterise collapsible surface soil deposits, and collapse potential should be assessed if possible in order to evaluate suitable stabilizing techniques. The cementation effect of different types of salts gives arid soils their considerable strength and stiffness in dry conditions. The collapse in these soils may occur due to the reduction of the chemical or physical bonds between the soil particles under wet conditions. Collapse Potential (CP) is an indication of the collapsibility of these soils. This paper presents the results of experimental work that was carried out to evaluate the collapse potential of two types of surface soil: sabkha soil and dune sand. The experimental program included physical and chemical soil characterization alongside a modified compaction test. The collapsibility of the soil at a stress of 200 kPa was obtained by performing a Single Collapse Test (SCT) via a conventional odometer device in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. Collapse potential index tests were performed on the tested soil samples collected from eight locations in two study areas. The results suggest the problem severity is slight to none. However, the CP was higher for the sabkha soil samples than for the dune sand samples. The increase in collapsibility of the sabkha soil samples may be attributed to the removal of bonding between cementing particles upon wetting.
OPTIMUM TILT ANGLE FOR MAXIMIZING LARGE SCALE SOLAR ELECTRICAL ENERGY OUTPUT
Authors: Nageh Mohamed , Abdullah Md Pauzi , Yousef Belal
Published: April 2021

Many large-scale solar (LSS) plants that are being installed today have solar photovoltaic (PV) panels mounted on fixed structures, which limits its electrical energy production. Tracking system can be installed so that the PV panels could change its tilt angle automatically in accordance with the sun’s movement. However, it will increase the construction, operation and maintenance cost significantly. Another option is to manually adjust the tilt angle on periodically basis, but the time period and the optimum tilt angle need to be systematically determined. This paper investigates the impact of using monthly and seasonal optimum tilt angle, βopt on electrical energy production of LSS plant. The proposed strategy can be implemented by using tiltable solar panel mounting structures which is far cheaper than the tracking system. For the study, 1 MW LSS system model is used. Twelve cities around the globe with latitude angle ranging from 0º to 55º are strategically selected. The electrical energy output from the 1 MW LSS plant is simulated by using PV mathematical model that is developed in Matlab software. The overall results show that by adjusting the tilt angle of the PV modules into its optimum angle on monthly or seasonal basis, it would increase the generated energy output between 1.91% and 7.24% for monthly adjustments and between 1.59% and 6.06% for seasonal adjustments.
FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER DETECTION USING DEEP LEARNING
Authors: Nur Syahindah Husna R. , Syafeeza A. R. , Abdul Hamid Norihan , Wong Y. C. , Atikah Raihan R.
Published: April 2021

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) define as a scope of disability in the development of certain conditions such as social communication, imagination, and patients' capabilities to make some connection. In Malaysia, the number of ASD cases diagnosed is increasing each year. Typically, ASD patients are analyzed by doctors based on history and behavior observation without the ability to diagnose instantaneously. This research intends to study the ASD biomarker based on neuroimaging functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) images, which can aid doctors in diagnosing ASD. This study applies a deep learning method from Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) variants to detect either the patients are ASD or non-ASD and extract the robust characteristics from neuroimages in fMRI. Then, it interprets the performance of pre-processed images in the form of accuracy to classify the neural patterns. The Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset was used to research the brain imaging of ASD patients. The results achieved using CNN models namely VGG-16 and ResNet-50 are 63.4% and 87.0% accuracy, respectively. This method also assists doctors in detecting Autism from a quantifiable method that is not dependent on the behavioral observations of suspected autistic children.
Divergent immunometabolic changes in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle with ageing in healthy humans
Authors: Trim William V. , Walhin Jean‐Philippe , Koumanov Françoise , Bouloumié Anne , Lindsay Mark A. , Chen Yung‐Chih , Travers Rebecca L. , Turner James E. , Thompson Dylan
Published: April 2021

Key points

Ageing is associated with increased systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction that contributes to the development of age‐associated diseases.

The role of adipose tissue in immunometabolic alterations that take place with ageing is unknown in humans.

We show, in healthy, active and lean older adults, that adipose tissue, but not skeletal muscle, displays considerable pro‐inflammatory transcriptomic, cellular and secretory changes, as well as a reduction in insulin signalling proteins compared to younger adults.

These findings indicate that adipose tissue undergoes substantial immunometabolic alterations with ageing, and that these changes are tissue‐specific and more profound than those observed in skeletal muscle or in the circulation.

These results identify adipose tissue as an important tissue in the biological ageing process in humans, which may exhibit signs of immunometabolic dysfunction prior to systemic manifestation.

Ageing and obesity are both characterized by inflammation and a deterioration in metabolic health. It is now clear that adipose tissue plays a major role in inflammation and metabolic control in obesity, although little is known about the role of adipose tissue in human ageing. To understand how ageing impacts adipose tissue, we characterized subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle samples from twelve younger (27 ± 4 years [Young]) and twelve older (66 ± 5 years [Old]) active/non‐obese males. We performed a wide‐range of whole‐body and tissue measures, including RNA‐sequencing and multicolour flow cytometry. We also measured a range of inflammatory and metabolic proteins in the circulation and their release by adipose tissue,ex vivo. Both adipose tissue and muscle had ∼2‐fold more immune cells per gram of tissue with ageing. In adipose tissue, this immune cell infiltration was driven by increased memory/effector T‐cells, whereas, in muscle, the accumulation was driven by memory/effector T‐cells and macrophages. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that, with ageing, adipose tissue, but not muscle, was enriched for inflammatory transcripts/pathways related to acquired and innate immunity. Ageing also increased the adipose tissue pro‐inflammatory secretory profile. Insulin signalling protein content was reduced in adipose tissue, but not muscle. Our findings indicate that adipose tissue undergoes substantial immunometabolic changes with ageing in humans, and that these changes are tissue‐specific and more profound than those observed in the circulation and skeletal muscle.
Breakup reactions and their ambiguities
Authors: Gómez-Ramos M. , Obertelli A. , Sun Y. L.
Published: April 2021

We review the ambiguities in the nuclear information extracted from breakup reactions, focusing on those originating from the description of the reaction mechanism and the overall ambiguity inherent to their interpretation in terms of shell occupancies. We present the current discussion about nucleon knockout reactions and how the understanding of the reaction mechanism would help reducing uncertainties. For the former, we consider the case of $$^{11}$$

11

Li, due to the existing large data set. For the latter, we recall the paradigmatic example of the electro-dissociation of the deuteron to address the question of the scale and scheme dependence from the theoretical framework used for the interpretation.
Masses and decay constants of (axial-)vector mesons at finite chemical potential
Authors: Gunkel Pascal J. , Fischer Christian S.
Published: April 2021

We update our previous results for (pseudo-)scalar mesons at zero temperature and finite quark chemical potential and generalize the investigation to include (axial-)vector mesons. We determine bound-state properties such as meson masses and decay constants up to chemical potentials far in the first-order coexistence region. To extract the bound-states properties, we solve the Bethe-Salpeter equation and utilize Landau-gauge quark and gluon propagators obtained from a coupled set of (truncated) Dyson-Schwinger equations with $$N_{\text{ f }}=2+1$$

N

f

=
2
+
1

dynamical quark flavors at finite chemical potential and vanishing temperature. For multiple (pseudo-)scalar and (axial-)vector mesons, we observe constant masses and decay constants for chemical potentials up to the coexistence region of the first-order phase transition thus verifying explicitly the Silver-Blaze property of QCD. Inside the coexistence region the pion becomes more massive and its decay constants decrease, whereas corresponding quantities for the (axial-)vector mesons remain (almost) constant.
1 + 3 covariant perturbations in power-law f(R) gravity
Authors: Murorunkwere Beatrice , Ntahompagaze Joseph , Jurua Edward
Published: April 2021

We applied the 1+3 covariant approach around the Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) background, together with the equivalence between f(R) gravity and scalar-tensor theory to study cosmological perturbations. We defined the gradient variables in the 1 + 3 covariant approach which we used to derive a set of evolution equations. Harmonic decomposition was applied to partial differential equations to obtain ordinary differential equations used to analyse the behavior of the perturbation quantities. We focused on dust dominated area and the perturbation equations were applied to background solution of $$\alpha R+\beta R^{n}$$

α
R
+
β

R
n

model, n being a positive constant. The transformation of the perturbation equations into redshift dependence was done. After numerical solutions, it was found that the evolution of energy-density perturbations in a dust-dominated universe for different values of n decays with increasing redshift.
Prognostic Utility of the Combination of Platelet Count with Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Aged Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Quan Xiao-Qing , Ji Hong-Yan , Jiang Jie , Huang Jia-Bao , Zhang Cun-Tai
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim. Acute myocardial infarction represents the vital cause of cardiac death, and many measurable biomarkers have been reported to be related to the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction. Our study was to investigate the role of a novel biomarker, the combination of platelet count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, for predicting in-hospital and long-term mortality of aged patients with acute myocardial infarction. Method. This was a study recording 637 patients who were diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. Our patients were grouped according to the combination of platelet count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The prognostic role of the combination of platelet count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on mortality was assessed by the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Result. Our study population was divided into three parts according to the median values of platelet count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. It was indicated that platelet count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were correlative mutually to a certain degree (

p
=
0.010

). The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the combination of high platelet count and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio had a greater risk of death in short- and long-term endpoints (log-rank

p
=
0.046

,

p
<
0.001

, respectively). Moreover, by multivariate analysis, both high platelet count and high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio groups were an independent predictor (hazard ratio: 2.132, 95% confidence interval: 1.020–4.454,

p
=
0.044

) and long-term mortality (hazard ratio: 2.791, 95% confidence interval: 1.406–5.538,

p
=
0.003

). Conclusion. The combination of platelet count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio could be a useful predictor for the prediction of in-hospital and long-term mortality in aged patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Research Progress on Natural Product Ingredients’ Therapeutic Effects on Parkinson’s Disease by Regulating Autophagy
Authors: Li Sicong , Sun Xu , Bi Lei , Tong Yujia , Liu Xin
Published: April 2021

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and older adults. Abnormal proteins such as α-synuclein are essential factors in PD’s pathogenesis. Autophagy is the main participant in the clearance of abnormal proteins. The overactive or low function of autophagy leads to autophagy stress. Not only is it difficult to clear abnormal proteins but also it can cause damage to neurons. In this article, the effects of natural products ingredients, such as salidroside, paeoniflorin, curcumin, resveratrol, corynoxine, and baicalein, on regulating autophagy and protecting neurons were discussed in detail to provide a reference for the research and development of drugs for the treatment of PD.