bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enzymatic degradation of glucosaminoglucan and cellulase resistance of cellulose nanofiber coated with glucosaminoglucan
Authors: Morita Hiroki , Chida Shun , Takato Masaki , Kondo Keiko , Katahira Masato , Simao Luisa Brazão , Takeda Minoru
Published: September 2023

Aims

Enzymatic degradation of β-1,4-linked glucose and glucosamine (glucosaminoglucan, GG), which is prepared from Thiothrix nivea and can act as a cellulose-aminating agent with a strong affinity to cellulose, was attempted.

Methods and results

A chitosanase-secreting fungal strain was isolated as a GG-degrading microbe. GG was found to be degraded by not only chitosanases but also cellulases. Based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, both enzymes were found to produce GlcN-Glc from GG. The cellulases also produced GlcN-Glc-GlcN-Glc as an additional final digest. Furthermore, aminated (GG-coated) cellulose nanofibers exhibited cellulase resistance. The flexibility of GG adsorbed onto a cellulose crystal was almost identical to that of cellulose, as estimated via the molecular dynamics calculations.

Conclusions

The chitosanase and cellulase hydrolyzed the β-1,4-linkage from Glc to GlcN and were expected to recognize the tetramer and hexamer units of GG depending on their final products. The cellulose nanofibers acquired cellulase resistance via amination with GG, probably because of the lower activity of cellulase to GG than cellulose.
Antimicrobial activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum against shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
Authors: Ruiz María Julia , García Mauro Daniel , Canalejo Luis Manuel Medina , Krüger Alejandra , Padola Nora Lía , Etcheverría Analía Inés
Published: September 2023

Aims

The aim of the present work was to characterize the Lactiplantibacillus sp. LP5 strain, isolated from pork production, and identify bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances produced by this strain.

Methods and Results

In this study, LP5 was identified by species-specific PCR and 16S rRNA sequencing. Additionally, bacterial growth kinetics, antimicrobial activity, the detection of genes related to plantaricin production, and the genetic expression of plantaricins were determined. Lactiplantibacillus sp. LP5 was identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum. The well-diffusion test using cell-free supernatants (CFS), neutralized CFS, CFS treated with catalase, and CFS treated with proteinase K showed that inhibitory effects on a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strain were produced by bacteriocins. The PCR technique allowed the detection of genes encoding E/F plantaricins, as well as J/K and whole genome sequencing, and bacteriocin mining analysis allowed us to confirm the presence of these plantaricins.

Conclusions

We can conclude that the inhibitory effect of L. plantarum LP5 isolated from pigs against the STEC EDL933 strain could be associated with the bacteriocins production and represents a potential use as a probiotic strain.
Bacteria intrinsic to Medicago sativa (alfalfa) reduce Salmonella enterica growth in planta
Authors: Vitt Jacob D , Hansen Eleanore G , Garg Raghav , Bowden Steven D
Published: September 2023

Aims

The purpose of this study was to determine whether plant-associated bacteria (PAB) can reduce Salmonella enterica colonization and infection of alfalfa sprouts to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Methods

We isolated PAB from alfalfa seeds and sprouts. Monoclonal isolates of the bacteria were obtained and tested for their ability to inhibit Salmonella Typhimurium growth in alfalfa sprouts over 6 days. Genome sequencing and annotation were used to construct draft genomes of the bacteria isolated in this study using Illumina sequencing platform.

Results

We observed that a cocktail of five PAB could reduce Salmonella growth in alfalfa sprouts from ∼108 to ∼105 CFU g−1, demonstrating a protective role. Genome sequencing revealed that these bacteria were members of the Pseudomonas, Pantoea, and Priestia genus, and did not possess genes that were pathogenic to plants or animals.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates that PAB can be utilized to reduce pathogen levels in fresh produce, which may be synergistic with other technologies to improve the safety of sprouts and other fresh produce.
A Theory of Power Structure and Institutional Compatibility: China versus Europe Revisited
Authors: Jia Ruixue , Roland Gérard , Xie Yang
Published: September 2023

To better understand institutional differences across space and time, we propose a two-dimensional framework of the power structure among three players in society: the degree of absolute power of the Ruler over the Elites and the People, and the degree of asymmetry between the latter two in terms of their everyday rights and power. Within this framework, we show that a more absolutist Ruler prefers a more balanced Elite–People relationship. This theory helps in particular to reconcile views on the comparison between imperial China and premodern Europe that would seem contradictory in one-dimensional or two-estate frameworks: the Ruler’s absolute power was weaker in Europe, whereas the Elite–People relationship was more balanced in China. Our approach also helps more generally to interpret specific institutions and other variations in power structures.
Traumatic Experiences Adversely Affect Life Cycle Labor Market Outcomes of the Next Generation—Evidence from Wwii Nazi Raids
Authors: Atella Vincenzo , Di Porto Edoardo , Kopinska Joanna , Lindeboom Maarten
Published: September 2023

This paper examines the causal effect of a traumatic event experienced by pregnant women on the life-long labor market outcomes of their offspring. We exploit a unique natural experiment that involved randomly placed Nazi raids in municipalities in Italy during WWII. We link administrative data on male private sector workers to information about Nazi raids and war casualties. Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to traumatic events affects offspring earnings throughout the working career and in retirement. The lower earnings are due to lower educational attainment, the type of jobs held, and interruptions in working careers due to unemployment. We further find that prenatal exposure exacerbates the adverse effects of later-life job loss on earnings. We use a medical database on health expenditures to interpret the effect estimates. The prenatally exposed have higher medical expenditures on diseases of the nervous system and mental disorders, indicating that stress is likely to be an important factor driving our findings.
A method for modeling DC potential fields in charged lossy dielectric media
Authors: Li Jinghe , He Zhanxiang , Bai Hanying
Published: September 2023

Numerical modeling of the direct current (DC) potential field for the mise-a-la-masse (MALM) method traditionally depends on the specific source under loss-free dielectric consideration. In this paper, we propose a numerical technique for modeling DC potential fields in charged lossy dielectric media. A numerical solver of charged current transportation is first presented using finite different method, then the DC potential is integrated from all unit current elements with the Legendre function polynomial. A new preconditioner is also proposed for MALM surveying to reduce the condition number to accurately solve the equation. This new technique is verified through comparisons with numerical cases and field surveys. The basic problem formulation is general, but it is directly applicable in MALM surveying as a geophysical technique where the DC potential produced by charged lossy dielectric media is of interest.
Investigation of virulence factors, phylogenetic grouping, multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli isolated from aborted bovine fetal tissue
Authors: Özgen Ediz Kağan , Yanmaz Berna , Bağatir Perihan Şerifoğlu
Published: September 2023

Escherichia coli is an important microorganism for cattle breeding. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of phylogenetic groups, virulence factors, genotyping with multi-locus variable tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobial agents in E. coli strains isolated from aborted bovine fetal samples. In this study, phylogrouping and various virulence genes were analyzed by PCR in E. coli strains isolated from 637 bovine fetal tissue samples. Consequently, E. coli was isolated and identified in 24 samples in culture. Of the 24 isolates identified as positive, 12.5% were defined as group A, 83.3% as B1, and 4.2% as group B2. Of the E. coli isolates, virulence factor fimH was identified in eight (33.3%), traT in 15 (62.5%), ompT in five (20.8%), CNF1 in one (4.16%), and CNF2 in six (25%). Seven genotypic groups were determined as a result of the analysis with the MLVA 10 method. According to the antimicrobial susceptibility test results, high resistance was determined against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and oxytetracycline. In conclusion, strains of E. coli containing CNF1, CNF2, fimH, traT, and ompT virulence factors can be associated with bovine abortions. It is noteworthy that the dominant phylogenetic group B1 has been observed in cases of cattle abortions.
Phenotypical and molecular characterization of Acinetobacter spp. isolated from a pharmaceutical facility
Authors: Vasconcellos Luiza , Silva Samara Verly , da Costa Luciana Veloso , de Miranda Rebeca Vitoria da Silva Lage , dos Reis Cristhiane Moura Falavina , Braga Lygia Maria Paulo da Silva , Silva Claudiane , Conceição Greice , Mattoso Josiane , Silva Igor Barbosa , Forsythe Stephen J , Midlej Victor , Boas Maria Helena Simões Villas , Brandão Marcelo Luiz Lima
Published: September 2023

Characterizing microorganisms according to different criteria is useful when investigating sources of microbiological contamination in the pharmaceutical industry. The aim of this study was to characterize 38 Acinetobacter baumannii complex strains isolated from a biopharmaceutical industry by 16S rRNA sequencing, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI–TOF/MS), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), antimicrobial susceptibility profile, biofilm formation, and sensibility to disinfectants. Thirty-three (86.9%) strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as A. seifertii/pitti/nosocomialis/lactucae, four (10.5%) as A. baumannii, and one (2.6%) as A. vivianii/courvalini. MALDI–TOF/MS did not identify one strain, and incorrectly identified 30/37 (81.1%) strains as A. baumannii. Strains were assigned to 12 different STs, of which nine were newly defined in this study (STs 2091–2099). Twenty-six (68.4%) strains showed resistance to amikacin and gentamicin. Thirty-three (86.8%) strains were classified as moderately or strongly adherent on polystyrene. Alcohol 70%/15 min and quaternary ammonium 0.08%/20 min were not able to eliminate the biofilm formed, but sodium hypochlorite 0.1%/15 min was efficient. In conclusion, improved methods are needed to improve the identification of Acinetobacter strains in pharmaceutical industries. This organism is of particular concern as it forms recalcitrant biofilms, leading to persistence in the manufacturing environment and increased risk of product contamination.
Late-time HST UV and optical observations of AT 2018cow: extracting a cow from its background
Authors: Inkenhaag Anne , Jonker Peter G , Levan Andrew J , Chrimes Ashley A , Mummery Andrew , Perley Daniel A , Tanvir Nial R
Published: September 2023

The bright, blue, rapidly evolving AT 2018cow is a well-studied peculiar extragalactic transient. Despite an abundance of multiwavelength data, there still is no consensus on the nature of the event. We present our analysis of three epochs of Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations spanning the period from 713 to 1474 d post-burst, paying particular attention to uncertainties of the transient photometry introduced by the complex background in which AT 2018cow resides. Photometric measurements show evident fading in the UV and more subtle but significant fading in the optical. During the last HST observation, the transient’s optical/UV colours were still bluer than those of the substantial population of compact, young, star-forming regions in the host of AT 2018cow, suggesting some continued transient contribution to the light. However, a compact source underlying the transient would substantially modify the resulting spectral energy distribution, depending on its contribution in the various bands. In particular, in the optical filters, the complex, diffuse background poses a problem for precise photometry. An underlying cluster is expected for a supernova occurring within a young stellar environment or a tidal-disruption event (TDE) within a dense older one. While many recent works have focused on the supernova interpretation, we note the substantial similarity in UV light-curve morphology between AT 2018cow and several tidal disruption events around supermassive black holes. Assuming AT 2018cow arises from a TDE-like event, we fit the late-time emission with a disc model and find MBH = 103.2 ± 0.8 M⊙. Further observations are necessary to determine the late-time evolution of the transient and its immediate environment.
Probing the jet size of two black hole X-ray binaries in the hard state
Authors: Prabu S , Miller-Jones J C A , Bahramian A , Wood C M , Tingay S J , Atri P , Plotkin R M , Strader J
Published: September 2023

Using multifrequency very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations, we probe the jet size in the optically thick hard state jets of two black hole X-ray binary (BHXRB) systems, MAXI J1820+070 and V404 Cygni. Because of optical depth effects, the phase-referenced VLBI core positions move along the jet axis of the BHXRB in a frequency-dependent manner. We use this ‘core shift’ to constrain the physical size of the hard state jet. We place an upper limit of 0.3 au on the jet size measured between the 15 and 5 GHz emission regions of the jet in MAXI J1820+070, and an upper limit of 1.0 au between the 8.4 and 4.8 GHz emission regions of V404 Cygni. Our limit on the jet size in MAXI J1820+070 observed in the low-hard state is a factor of 5 smaller than the values previously observed in the high-luminosity hard state (using time lags between multifrequency light curves), thus showing evidence of the BHXRB jet scaling in size with jet luminosity. We also investigate whether motion of the radio-emitting region along the jet axis could affect the measured VLBI parallaxes for the two systems, leading to a mild tension with the parallax measurements of Gaia. Having mitigated the impact of any motion along the jet axis in the measured astrometry, we find the previous VLBI parallax measurements of MAXI J1820+070 and V404 Cygni to be unaffected by jet motion. With a total time baseline of 8 yr, due to having incorporated 14 new epochs in addition to the previously published ones, our updated parallax measurement of V404 Cygni is 0.450 ± 0.018 mas (2.226 ± 0.091 kpc).
Evolution of low mass population III stars from the pre-main sequence to the white dwarf cooling track
Authors: Lawlor T M , MacDonald J
Published: September 2023

Radiation feedback from massive population III stars may have given rise to low mass star formation from primordial or nearly primordial material. If early Universe low mass stars did form, some should remain locally as white dwarfs, sub-giants, or main sequence stars. In this paper, we present model calculations for the evolution of single 0.8–3.0 M⊙ stars with primordial metallicity from pre-main sequence to the white dwarf cooling track, and calculations for the evolution of single 4.0–7.0 M⊙ stars which conclude in the giant phase. One goal of this work is to identify potential observable markers for potential observed progenitors of first or nearly first stars. We uncover a number of seemingly peculiar evolutionary differences between that of population III low mass stars compared with younger higher Z stars, as well as compared to other primordial evolution models. We also present an initial–final mass relationship and identify the minimum mass of a single white dwarf that could have had a population III progenitor.
Local magneto-shear instability in Newtonian gravity
Authors: Celora Thomas , Hawke Ian , Andersson Nils , Comer Gregory L
Published: September 2023

The magneto-rotational instability (MRI), which is due to an interplay between a sheared background and the magnetic field, is commonly considered a key ingredient for developing and sustaining turbulence in the outer envelope of binary neutron star merger remnants. To assess whether (or not) the instability is active and resolved, criteria originally derived in the accretion disc literature, thus exploiting the symmetries of such systems, are often used. In this paper, we discuss the magneto-shear instability as a truly local phenomenon, relaxing common symmetry assumptions on the background on top of which the instability grows. This makes the discussion well suited for highly dynamical environments such as binary mergers. We find that, although this is somewhat hidden in the usual derivation of the MRI dispersion relation, the instability crucially depends on the assumed symmetries. Relaxing the symmetry assumptions in the background, we find that the role of the magnetic field is significantly diminished, as it affects the modes’ growth but does not drive it. We conclude by making contact with a suitable filtering operation, as this is key to separating background and fluctuations in highly dynamical systems.
The dusty Rossby wave instability (DRWI): linear analysis and simulations of turbulent dust-trapping rings in protoplanetary discs
Authors: Liu Hanpu , Bai Xue-Ning
Published: September 2023

Recent numerical simulations have revealed that dust clumping and planetesimal formation likely proceed in ring-like disc substructures, where dust gets trapped in weakly turbulent pressure maxima. The streaming instability has difficulty operating in such rings with external turbulence and no pressure gradient. To explore potential paths to planetesimal formation in this context, we analyse the stability of turbulent dust-trapping ring under the shearing sheet framework. We self-consistently establish the pressure maximum and the dust ring in equilibrium, the former via a balance of external forcing versus viscosity and the latter via dust drift versus turbulent diffusion. We find two types of ≳ H-scale instabilities (H being the pressure scale height), which we term the dusty Rossby wave instability (DRWI). Type I is generalized from the standard Rossby wave instability (RWI, which is stationary at the pressure maximum and dominates in relatively sharp pressure bumps. Type II is a newly identified travelling mode that requires the presence of dust. It can operate in relatively mild bumps, including many that are stable to the standard RWI, and its growth rate is largely determined by the equilibrium gas and dust density gradients. We further conduct two-fluid simulations that verify the two types of the DRWI. While Type I leads strong to dust concentration into a large gas vortex similar to the standard RWI, the dust ring is preserved in Type II, and meanwhile exhibiting additional clumping within the ring. The DRWI suggests a promising path towards formation of planetesimals/planetary embryos and azimuthally asymmetric dust structure from turbulent dust-trapping rings.
A new tool to derive simultaneously exponent and extremes of power-law distributions
Authors: Pezzuto S , Coletta A , Klessen R S , Schisano E , Benedettini M , Elia D , Molinari S , Soler J D , Traficante A
Published: September 2023

Many experimental quantities show a power-law distribution p(x) ∝ x−α. In astrophysics, examples are: size distribution of dust grains or luminosity function of galaxies. Such distributions are characterized by the exponent α and by the extremes xminxmax where the distribution extends. There are no mathematical tools that derive the three unknowns at the same time. In general, one estimates a set of α corresponding to different guesses of xminxmax. Then, the best set of values describing the observed data is selected a posteriori. In this paper, we present a tool that finds contextually the three parameters based on simple assumptions on how the observed values xi populate the unknown range between xmin and xmax for a given α. Our tool, freely downloadable, finds the best values through a non-linear least-squares fit. We compare our technique with the maximum likelihood estimators for power-law distributions, both truncated and not. Through simulated data, we show for each method the reliability of the computed parameters as a function of the number N of data in the sample. We then apply our method to observed data to derive: (i) the slope of the core mass function in the Perseus star-forming region, finding two power-law distributions: α = 2.576 between $1.06\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ and $3.35\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$, α = 3.39 between $3.48\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$ and $33.4\, \mathrm{M}_{\odot }$; (ii) the slope of the γ-ray spectrum of the blazar J0011.4+0057, extracted from the Fermi-LAT archive. For the latter case, we derive α = 2.89 between 1484 MeV and 28.7 GeV; then we derive the time-resolved slopes using subsets of 200 photons each.
Dispersion and spatial structure of the coupled Alfvén and slow magnetosonic oscillations in the Solar corona
Authors: Petrashchuk Aleksandr V , Anfinogentov S A , Fedenev V V , Mager P N , Klimushkin D Yu
Published: September 2023

Numerical and analytical analysis of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in Solar coronal arcades is performed. A semicylinder slab model of arcade is used where the field lines are represented by half-circles intersecting the photosphere, the magnetic shells are represented by nested coaxial semicylinders. The finite plasma pressure is taken into account. The ‘corrugational’ perturbations are considered, that is, the perturbations with short wavelength in the direction along the arcade. In this limit, there are two oscillation modes, the Alfvén and slow magnetosonic modes, coupled due to the field line curvature. The transverse dispersion of the modes, that is, the dependence of the radial wave vector’s component kr on the wave frequency ω, is considered. It was found that the wave is concentrated in two regions of mode’s existence, where $k_r^2\gt 0$: the Alfvén and magnetosonic transparent regions. On one side, each of them is bounded by the resonance surface, where $k_r^2 \rightarrow \infty$. On the resonance surface, the wave’s frequency is determined by the Alfvén and slow magnetosonic modes dispersion relations, respectively. On the other side, the transparent regions are bounded by cut-off frequencies where $k_{r}^2 =0$. In both transparent regions, the perturbations have both transverse electric field (characteristic for the Alfvén mode) and field aligned velocity (characteristic for the slow mode). The wave structure along the field line for several models of plasma parameters is calculated.
The modulation effect of ice thickness variations on convection in icy ocean worlds
Authors: Kang Wanying
Published: September 2023

It has been long puzzling whether the ice thickness variations observed on Enceladus can be sustained solely by a polar-amplified bottom heating. The key to this question is to understand how the upward heat transport by convective plumes would be interfered by the temperature and salinity variations beneath the ice due to the ice thickness variations, which, however, has yet to be explored. Here, we find that the horizontal temperature variation induced by the ice topography can easily be orders of magnitude greater than the vertical temperature variation induced by bottom heating using scaling analysis. Due to the dominance of horizontal temperature gradient, convective plumes are completely shut off by a stratified layer under the thin ice formed out of baroclinic adjustment, largely slowing down the vertical tracer transport. The stratified layer will also deflect almost all of the core-generated heating towards the regions with thicker ice shell, destroying the ice thickness gradient. These results allow us to put an upper bound on the core-generated heating on Enceladus, which is crucial for the estimate of habitability. Scaling laws for the bottom heat flux to penetrate the stratification are derived and examined. This scaling can be used to constrain the maximum ice thickness variations induced by heterogeneous bottom heating on icy satellites in general, which can be used to differentiate icy satellites that generate the majority of heat in the ice shell from those that generate the majority of heat in the silicate core.
On the dominant role of wind in the quasar feedback mode in the late-stage evolution of massive elliptical galaxies
Authors: Zhu Bocheng , Yuan Feng , Ji Suoqing , Peng Yingjie , Ho Luis C
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we investigate the role of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback on the late-stage evolution of elliptical galaxies by performing high-resolution hydrodynamical simulation in the MACER framework. By comparing models that take into account different feedback mechanisms, namely AGN and stellar feedback, we find that AGN feedback is crucial in keeping the black hole in a low accretion state and suppressing the star formation. We then compare the energy from AGN radiation and wind deposited in the galaxy and find that only wind can compensate for the radiative cooling of the gas in the galaxy. Further, we investigate which plays the dominant role, the wind from the cold (quasar) or hot (radio) feedback modes, by examining the cumulative energy output and impact area to which the wind can heat the interstellar medium and suppress star formation. Our results indicate that first, although AGN spends most of its time in hot (radio) mode, the cumulative energy output is dominated by the outburst of the cold (quasar) mode. Second, only the impact area of the cold-mode wind is large enough to heat the gas in the halo, while the hot-mode wind is not. Additionally, the cold-mode wind is capable of sweeping up the material from stellar mass-loss. These results indicate the dominant role of cold-mode wind. The limitations of our model, including the absence of jet feedback, are discussed.
Metal enrichment due to embedded stars in AGN discs
Authors: Huang Jiamu , Lin Douglas N C , Shields Gregory
Published: September 2023

We separately assess elemental abundances in active galactic nuclei's (AGNs) broad and narrow emission line regions (BLR and NLR), based on a critical assessment of published results together with new photoionization models. We find (1) He/H enhancements in some AGN, exceeding what can be explained by normal chemical evolution and confirm, (2) super-solar α abundance, though to a lesser degree than previously reported. We also reaffirm, (3) an N/O ratio consistent with secondary production, (4) solar or slightly sub-solar Fe abundance, and (5) red-shift independent metallicity, in contrast with galactic chemical evolution. We interpret (6) the larger metallicity in the BLR than NRL in terms of an in situ stellar evolution and pollution in AGN discs (SEPAD) model. We attribute (a) the redshift independence to the heavy element pollutants being disposed into the disc and accreted onto the central supermassive black hole (SMBH), (b) the limited He excess to the accretion–wind metabolism of a top-heavy population of evolving massive main sequence stars, (c) the super-solar CNO enrichment to the nuclear synthesis during their post-main-sequence evolution, (d) the large N/O to the byproduct of multiple stellar generations, and (e) the Mg, Si, and Fe to the ejecta of type II supernovae in the disc. These results provide supporting evidence for (f) ongoing self-regulated star formation, (g) adequate stellar luminosity to maintain marginal gravitational stability, (h) prolific production of seeds, and (i) dense coexistence of subsequently grown residual black hole populations in AGN discs.
The cluster initial mass function of the M82 disc super star clusters
Authors: Cuevas-Otahola B , Mayya Y D , Arriaga-Hernández J , Puerari I , Bruzual G
Published: September 2023

The presence of a population of a large number (∼400) of almost coeval (100–300 Myr) super star clusters (SSCs) in the disc of M82 offers an opportunity to construct the Cluster Initial Mass Function (CIMF) from the observed present-day Cluster Mass Function (CMF). We carry out the dynamical and photometric evolution of the CMF assuming that the clusters move in circular orbits under the gravitational potential of the host galaxy using the semi-analytical simulation code Evolve Me a Cluster of StarS. We explore power-law and lognormal functions for the CIMFs, and populate the clusters in the disc assuming uniform, power-law, and exponential radial distribution functions. We find that the observed CMF is best produced by a CIMF that is power law in form with an index of 1.8, for a power-law radial distribution function. More importantly, we establish that the observed turn-over in the present-day CMF is the result of observational incompleteness rather than due to dynamically induced effects, or an intrinsically lognormal CIMF, as was proposed for the fossil starburst region B of this galaxy. Our simulations naturally reproduce the mass–radius relation observed for a sub-sample of M82 SSCs.
Reduction of supernova light curves by vector Gaussian processes
Authors: Kornilov Matwey V , Semenikhin T A , Pruzhinskaya M V
Published: September 2023

Bolometric light curves play an important role in understanding the underlying physics of various astrophysical phenomena, as they allow for a comprehensive modelling of the event and enable comparison between different objects. However, constructing these curves often requires the approximation and extrapolation from multicolour photometric observations. In this study, we introduce vector Gaussian processes as a new method for reduction of supernova light curves. This method enables us to approximate vector functions, even with inhomogeneous time-series data, while considering the correlation between light curves in different passbands. We applied this methodology to a sample of 29 superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) assembled using the Open Supernova Catalog. Their multicolour light curves were approximated using vector Gaussian processes. Subsequently, under the blackbody assumption for the SLSN spectra at each moment of time, we reconstructed the bolometric light curves. The vector Gaussian processes developed in this work are accessible via the python library gp-multistate-kernel on GitHub. Our approach provides an efficient tool for analysing light curve data, opening new possibilities for astrophysical research.
Eliminating polarization leakage effect for neutral hydrogen intensity mapping with deep learning
Authors: Gao Li-Yang , Li Yichao , Ni Shulei , Zhang Xin
Published: September 2023

The neutral hydrogen (H i) intensity mapping (IM) survey is regarded as a promising approach for cosmic large-scale structure studies. A major issue for the H i IM survey is to remove the bright foreground contamination. A key to successfully removing the bright foreground is to well control or eliminate the instrumental effects. In this work, we consider the instrumental effects of polarization leakage and use the U-Net approach, a deep learning-based foreground removal technique, to eliminate the polarization leakage effect. The thermal noise is assumed to be a subdominant factor compared with the polarization leakage for future H i IM surveys and ignored in this analysis. In this method, the principal component analysis (PCA) foreground subtraction is used as a pre-processing step for the U-Net foreground subtraction. Our results show that the additional U-Net processing could either remove the foreground residual after the conservative PCA subtraction or compensate for the signal loss caused by the aggressive PCA pre-processing. Finally, we test the robustness of the U-Net foreground subtraction technique and show that it is still reliable in the case of existing constraint error on H i fluctuation amplitude.
Faint [C i](1–0) emission in z ∼ 3.5 radio galaxies
Authors: Kolwa S , De Breuck C , Vernet J , Wylezalek D , Wang W , Popping G , Man A W S , Harrison C M , Andreani P
Published: September 2023

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array neutral carbon, [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$](1–0), line observations that probe molecular hydrogen gas (H2) within seven radio galaxies at z = 2.9−4.5 surrounded by extended (≳100 kpc) Ly α nebulae. We extract [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$](1–0) emission from the radio-active galactic nuclei (AGNs) host galaxies whose positions are set by near-infrared detections and radio detections of the cores. Additionally, we place constraints on the galaxies’ systemic redshifts via ${\rm He\, \small {\rm II}}$ λ1640 lines seen with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer. We detect faint [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$] emission in four out of seven sources. In two of these galaxies, we discover narrow-line emission of full width at half-maximum ≲100 km s−1 that may trace emission from bright kpc-scale gas clouds within the interstellar medium (ISM). In the other two [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$]-detected galaxies, line dispersions range from ∼100−600 km s−1 and may be tracing the rotational component of the cold gas. Overall, the [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$] line luminosities correspond to H2 masses of $M_{\rm H_2,[{\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}]} \simeq (0.5{\!-\!}3) \times 10^{10}$ M⊙ for the detections and $M_{\rm H_2,[{\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}]}\lt 0.65\times 10^{10}$ M⊙ for the [${\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}$] non-detections in three out of seven galaxies within the sample. The molecular gas masses in our sample are relatively low in comparison to previously reported measures for similar galaxies that are $M_{\rm H_2,[{\rm C\, \small {\rm I}}]} \simeq (3{\!-\!}4) \times 10^{10}$ M⊙. Our results imply that the observed faintness in carbon emission is representative of a decline in molecular gas supply from previous star formation epochs and/or a displacement of molecular gas from the ISM due to jet-powered outflows.
Analysis of γ-ray emission above 30 GeV from the LMC pulsar wind nebula N 157B with Fermi-LAT
Authors: Gong Yunlu , Xiao Yifan , Zhou Liancheng , Tian Shiting , Fang Jun
Published: September 2023

N 157B located in the Large Magellanic Cloud is the first pulsar wind nebula detected outside of the Galaxy in γ-rays. In this paper, we analyse the emission above 30 GeV from N 157B using ∼14.3 yr of Fermi-LAT data. The γ-ray spectrum between 30 and 500 GeV is well described by a single power-law function with a photon index of 1.83 ± 0.26, and its integral photon flux is (4.10 ± 0.83) × 10−11 photons cm−2 s−1. We adopt a one-zone leptonic model to investigate whether the multiband non-thermal emission of the target source can be generated by synchrotron radiation and inverse-Compton scattering of the electrons/positrons. Assuming the electrons/positrons in the nebula have a broken power-law spectrum with two breaks, the model can reproduce the observed fluxes in the radio, X-ray, and γ-ray bands. This result indicates that the γ-ray emission from N 157B can be explained by the leptonic process of electrons/positrons via inverse-Compton scattering.
VLBI Observations of a sample of Palomar-Green quasars II: characterizing the parsec-scale radio emission
Authors: Wang Ailing , An Tao , Zhang Yingkang , Cheng Xiaopeng , Ho Luis C , Kellermann Kenneth I , Baan Willem A
Published: September 2023

This study uses multifrequency very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) to study the radio emission from 10 radio-quiet quasars (RQQs) and four radio-loud quasars (RLQs). The diverse morphologies, radio spectra, and brightness temperatures observed in the VLBI images of these RQQs, together with the variability in their GHz spectra and VLBI flux densities, shed light on the origins of their nuclear radio emission. The total radio emission of RQQs appears to originate from non-thermal synchrotron radiation due to a combination of active galactic nuclei and star formation activities. However, our data suggest that the VLBI-detected radio emission from these RQQs is primarily associated with compact jets or corona, with extended emissions such as star formation and large-scale jets being resolved by the high resolution of the VLBI images. Wind emission models are not in complete agreement the VLBI observations. Unlike RLQs, where the parsec-scale radio emission is dominated by a relativistically boosted core, the radio cores of RQQs are either not dominant or are mixed with significant jet emission. RQQs with compact cores or core-jet structures typically have more pronounced variability, with flat or inverted spectra, whereas jet-dominated RQQs have steep spectra and unremarkable variability. Future high-resolution observations of more RQQs could help to determine the fraction of different emission sources and their associated physical mechanisms.
Acute and Long-Term Consequences of Co-opted doublesex on the Development of Mimetic Butterfly Color Patterns
Authors: VanKuren Nicholas W , Doellman Meredith M , Sheikh Sofia I , Palmer Droguett Daniela H , Massardo Darli , Kronforst Marcus R
Published: September 2023

Novel phenotypes are increasingly recognized to have evolved by co-option of conserved genes into new developmental contexts, yet the process by which co-opted genes modify existing developmental programs remains obscure. Here, we provide insight into this process by characterizing the role of co-opted doublesex in butterfly wing color pattern development. dsx is the master regulator of insect sex differentiation but has been co-opted to control the switch between discrete nonmimetic and mimetic patterns in Papilio alphenor and its relatives through the evolution of novel mimetic alleles. We found dynamic spatial and temporal expression pattern differences between mimetic and nonmimetic butterflies throughout wing development. A mimetic color pattern program is switched on by a pulse of dsx expression in early pupal development that causes acute and long-term differential gene expression, particularly in Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways. RNAi suggested opposing, novel roles for these pathways in mimetic pattern development. Importantly, Dsx co-option caused Engrailed, a primary target of Hedgehog signaling, to gain a novel expression domain early in pupal wing development that is propagated through mid-pupal development to specify novel mimetic patterns despite becoming decoupled from Dsx expression itself. Altogether, our findings provide multiple views into how co-opted genes can both cause and elicit changes to conserved networks and pathways to result in development of novel, adaptive phenotypes.
Wilson disease–causing mutations in the carboxyl terminus of ATP7B regulates its localization and Golgi exit selectively in the unpolarized cells
Authors: Chakraborty Kaustav , Das Santanu , Pal Anusree , Maji Saptarshi , Rai Bhawana , Gupta Arnab , Bhattacharjee Ashima
Published: September 2023

Mutational inactivation of the P-type Cu-ATPase ATP7B interferes with its cellular functions to varying extent leading to varied cellular phenotypes. Wilson's disease (WD) primarily affects organs composed of polarized/differentiated epithelial cells. Therefore, phenotypic variability might differ depending on the polarization/differentiation of the cells. The present study investigates the intracellular stability and localization of ATP7B harboring WD mutations in both unpolarized/undifferentiated and polarized/differentiated cell-based models. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-ATP7B harboring the WD causing mutations, N41S, S653Y, R778Q, G1061E, H1069Q, S1423N, S1426I, and T1434M, are included for investigation. The C-terminal WD mutations (S1423N, S1426I, and T1434M), exhibit distinct localization and Cu(I) responsive anterograde and retrograde trafficking in undifferentiated/unpolarized vs. differentiated/polarized cells. While basal localization of the S1423N mutant gets corrected in the differentiated glia, its Cu(I) responsive anterograde and retrograde trafficking behavior is not identical to the wild-type. But localization and trafficking properties are completely rescued for the S1426I and T1434M mutants in the differentiated cells. Comprehensive meta-analysis on the effect of the reported C-terminal mutations on patient phenotype and cultured cells demonstrate discrete regions having distinct effects. While mutations in the proximal C-terminus affect ATP7B stability, the present study shows that the distal region dictates cell-specific Trans Golgi Network (TGN) localization and exit. The localization and export properties are corrected in the differentiated cells, which is a plausible mechanism for the milder phenotype exhibited by these mutations. It highlights the critical role of the C-terminus in cell-specific TGN retention and exit of ATP7B.
The basics of phosphate metabolism
Authors: Wagner Carsten A
Published: September 2023

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that is, in the form of inorganic phosphate (Pi), required for building cell membranes, DNA and RNA molecules, energy metabolism, signal transduction and pH buffering. In bone, Pi is essential for bone stability in the form of apatite. Intestinal absorption of dietary Pi depends on its bioavailability and has two distinct modes of active transcellular and passive paracellular absorption. Active transport is transporter mediated and partly regulated, while passive absorption depends mostly on bioavailability. Renal excretion controls systemic Pi levels, depends on transporters in the proximal tubule and is highly regulated. Deposition and release of Pi into and from soft tissues and bone has to be tightly controlled. The endocrine network coordinating intestinal absorption, renal excretion and bone turnover integrates dietary intake and metabolic requirements with renal excretion and is critical for bone stability and cardiovascular health during states of hypophosphataemia or hyperphosphataemia as evident from inborn or acquired diseases. This review provides an integrated overview of the biology of phosphate and Pi in mammals.
Green synthesis of bifunctional phthalocyanine-porphyrin COFs in water for efficient electrocatalytic CO2 reduction coupled with methanol oxidation
Authors: Zhang Mi , Liao Jia-Peng , Li Run-Han , Sun Sheng-Nan , Lu Meng , Dong Long-Zhang , Huang Pei , Li Shun-Li , Cai Yue-Peng , Lan Ya-Qian
Published: September 2023

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction (ECR) coupled with organic oxidation is a promising strategy to produce high value-added chemicals and improve energy efficiency. However, achieving the efficient redox coupling reaction is still challenging due to the lack of suitable electrocatalysts. Herein, we designed two bifunctional polyimides-linked covalent organic frameworks (PI-COFs) through assembling phthalocyanine (Pc) and porphyrin (Por) by non-toxic hydrothermal methods in pure water to realize the above catalytic reactions. Due to the high conductivity and well-defined active sites with different chemical environments, NiPc-NiPor COF performs efficient ECR coupled with methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) (Faradaic efficiency of CO (FECO) = 98.12%, partial current densities of CO (jCO) = 6.14 mA cm−2 for ECR, FEHCOOH = 93.75%, jHCOOH = 5.81 mA cm−2 for MOR at low cell voltage (2.1 V) and remarkable long-term stability). Furthermore, experimental evidences and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the ECR process mainly conducts on NiPc unit with the assistance of NiPor, meanwhile, the MOR prefers NiPor conjugating with NiPc. The two units of NiPc-NiPor COF collaboratively promote the coupled oxidation-reduction reaction. For the first time, this work achieves the rational design of bifunctional COFs for coupled heterogeneous catalysis, which opens a new area for crystalline material catalysts.
Genome degradation promotes Salmonella pathoadaptation by remodeling fimbriae-mediated proinflammatory response
Authors: Zhou Xiao , Kang Xiamei , Chen Jiaqi , Song Yan , Jia Chenghao , Teng Lin , Tang Yanting , Jiang Zhijie , Peng Xianqi , Tao Xiaoxi , Xu Yiwei , Huang Linlin , Xu Xuebin , Xu Yaohui , Zhang Tengfei , Yu Shenye , Gong Jiansen , Wang Shaohui , Liu Yuqing , Zhu Guoqiang , Kehrenberg Corinna , Weill François-Xavier , Barrow Paul , Li Yan , Zhao Guoping , Yue Min
Published: September 2023

Understanding changes in pathogen behavior (e.g. increased virulence, a shift in transmission channel) is critical for the public health management of emerging infectious diseases. Genome degradation via gene depletion or inactivation is recognized as a pathoadaptive feature of the pathogen evolving with the host. However, little is known about the exact role of genome degradation in affecting pathogenic behavior, and the underlying molecular detail has yet to be examined. Using large-scale global avian-restricted Salmonella genomes spanning more than a century, we projected the genetic diversity of Salmonella Pullorum (bvSP) by showing increasingly antimicrobial-resistant ST92 prevalent in Chinese flocks. The phylogenomic analysis identified three lineages in bvSP, with an enhancement of virulence in the two recently emerged lineages (L2/L3), as evidenced in chicken and embryo infection assays. Notably, the ancestor L1 lineage resembles the Salmonella serovars with higher metabolic flexibilities and more robust environmental tolerance, indicating stepwise evolutionary trajectories towards avian-restricted lineages. Pan-genome analysis pinpointed fimbrial degradation from a virulent lineage. The later engineered fim-deletion mutant, and all other five fimbrial systems, revealed behavior switching that restricted horizontal fecal–oral transmission but boosted virulence in chicks. By depleting fimbrial appendages, bvSP established persistent replication with less proinflammation in chick macrophages and adopted vertical transovarial transmission, accompanied by ever-increasing intensification in the poultry industry. Together, we uncovered a previously unseen paradigm for remodeling bacterial surface appendages that supplements virulence-enhanced evolution with increased vertical transmission.
Improving error-correcting capability in DNA digital storage via soft-decision decoding
Authors: Ding Lulu , Wu Shigang , Hou Zhihao , Li Alun , Xu Yaping , Feng Hu , Pan Weihua , Ruan Jue
Published: September 2023

Error-correcting codes (ECCs) employed in the state-of-the-art DNA digital storage (DDS) systems suffer from a trade-off between error-correcting capability and the proportion of redundancy. To address this issue, in this study, we introduce soft-decision decoding approach into DDS by proposing a DNA-specific error prediction model and a series of novel strategies. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through a proof-of-concept DDS system based on Reed-Solomon (RS) code, named as Derrick. Derrick shows significant improvement in error-correcting capability without involving additional redundancy in both in vitro and in silico experiments, using various sequencing technologies such as Illumina, PacBio and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Notably, in vitro experiments using ONT sequencing at a depth of 7× reveal that Derrick, compared with the traditional hard-decision decoding strategy, doubles the error-correcting capability of RS code, decreases the proportion of matrices with decoding-failure by 229-fold, and amplifies the potential maximum storage volume by impressive 32 388-fold. Also, Derrick surpasses ‘state-of-the-art’ DDS systems by comprehensively considering the information density and the minimum sequencing depth required for complete information recovery. Crucially, the soft-decision decoding strategy and key steps of Derrick are generalizable to other ECCs’ decoding algorithms.