bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quasi‐Antiphase Diel Patterns of Abundance and Cell Size/Biomass of Picophytoplankton in the Oligotrophic Ocean
Authors: Li Changlin , Chiang Kuo‐Ping , Laws Edward A. , Liu Xin , Chen Jixin , Huang Yibin , Chen Bingzhang , Tsai An‐Yi , Huang Bangqin
Published: March 2022

Picophytoplankton are the smallest, most abundant photosynthetic organisms in the ocean. Knowledge of the diel variability of these tiny microbes has important implications for the structure of microbial food webs and key biogeochemical processes. However, insight into the mechanisms that underlie picophytoplanktonic diel dynamics is limited. By combining a field survey with a published dataset, we found that cell numbers and cell sizes/biomasses of picophytoplankton were tightly synchronized to the day‐night cycle, but they were in a quasi‐antiphase relationship to each other. This pattern is a confirmation and extension of previous studies. Mortality rates showed that Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus were subject to considerable grazing pressure throughout the day and night. The quasi‐antiphase diel cycles in abundance and cell size/biomass are likely determined by the light‐dependent diel behavior of cell growth and division and continuous losses to grazing. This work significantly improves our understanding of autotrophic picoplankton in the oligotrophic ocean.
Seismic Structure of the Caroline Plateau‐Yap Trench Collision Zone
Authors: Fan Jianke , Zheng Hong , Zhao Dapeng , Dong Dongdong , Bai Yongliang , Li Cuilin , Zhang Zhengyi
Published: March 2022

Collision of oceanic plateaus with trenches has played a key role in the continental growth and plate tectonic reorganizations throughout the Earth's history. However, the understanding of collision between an initially rifted plateau with a trench is still deficient. Here we conduct the first seismic tomography and receiver function analyses in the Yap subduction zone, western Pacific Ocean, where the initially rifted Caroline Plateau is colliding with the Yap Trench. Our results reveal horizontal and overturned slabs south and north of the Sorol Trough, respectively, which may be caused by slab breakoff followed by underplating and eastward mantle flow with ultra‐slow convergence. The distinct slab morphologies could be responsible for the short‐lived arc volcanism (11‐7 Ma), horst‐graben structures, different Bouguer gravity anomalies and stress regimes in the Yap subduction zone. The overturned slab may cause the incoming plateau to be stretched to facilitate the initial plateau subduction.
Age, sex and APOE-ε4 modify the balance between soluble and fibrillar β-amyloid in non-demented individuals: topographical patterns across two independent cohorts
Authors: Cacciaglia Raffaele , Salvadó Gemma , Molinuevo José Luis , Shekari Mahnaz , Falcon Carles , Operto Gregory , Suárez-Calvet Marc , Milà-Alomà Marta , Sala Arianna , Rodriguez-Vieitez Elena , Kollmorgen Gwendlyn , Suridjan Ivonne , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Gispert Juan Domingo ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   for the ALFA study, Arenaza-Urquijo Eider , Beteta Annabella , Brugulat-Serrat Anna , Cañas Alba , Cumplido Irene , Deulofeu Carme , Dominguez Ruth , Emilio Maria , Fauria Karine , Fuentes Sherezade , González-de-Echavarri José María , Grau-Rivera Oriol , Hernandez Laura , Huesa Gema , Huguet Jordi , Knezevic Iva , Marne Paula , Minguillon Carolina , Menchón Tania , Pascual Maria , Polo Albina , Pradas Sandra , Sánchez-Benavides Gonzalo , Sala-Vila Aleix , Soteras Anna , Tenas Laia , Vilanova Marc , Vilor-Tejedor Natalia
Published: March 2022

Amyloid (Aβ) pathology is the earliest detectable pathophysiological event along the Alzheimer’s continuum, which can be measured both in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and by Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Yet, these biomarkers identify two distinct Aβ pools, reflecting the clearance of soluble Aβ as opposed to the presence of Aβ fibrils in the brain. An open question is whether risk factors known to increase Alzheimer’s’ disease (AD) prevalence may promote an imbalance between soluble and deposited Aβ. Unveiling such interactions shall aid our understanding of the biological pathways underlying Aβ deposition and foster the design of effective prevention strategies. We assessed the impact of three major AD risk factors, such as age, APOE-ε4 and female sex, on the association between CSF and PET Aβ, in two independent samples of non-demented individuals (ALFA: n = 320, ADNI: n = 682). We tested our hypotheses both in candidate regions of interest and in the whole brain using voxel-wise non-parametric permutations. All of the assessed risk factors induced a higher Aβ deposition for any given level of CSF Aβ42/40, although in distinct cerebral topologies. While age and sex mapped onto neocortical areas, the effect of APOE-ε4 was prominent in the medial temporal lobe, which represents a target of early tau deposition. Further, we found that the effects of age and APOE-ε4 was stronger in women than in men. Our data indicate that specific AD risk factors affect the spatial patterns of cerebral Aβ aggregation, with APOE-ε4 possibly facilitating a co-localization between Aβ and tau along the disease continuum.
Temporal and spatial cellular and molecular pathological alterations with single-cell resolution in the adult spinal cord after injury
Authors: Li Chen , Wu Zhourui , Zhou Liqiang , Shao Jingliang , Hu Xiao , Xu Wei , Ren Yilong , Zhu Xingfei , Ge Weihong , Zhang Kunshan , Liu Jiping , Huang Runzhi , Yu Jing , Luo Dandan , Yang Xuejiao , Zhu Wenmin , Zhu Rongrong , Zheng Changhong , Sun Yi Eve , Cheng Liming
Published: March 2022

Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves diverse injury responses in different cell types in a temporally and spatially specific manner. Here, using single-cell transcriptomic analyses combined with classic anatomical, behavioral, electrophysiological analyses, we report, with single-cell resolution, temporal molecular and cellular changes in crush-injured adult mouse spinal cord. Data revealed pathological changes of 12 different major cell types, three of which infiltrated into the spinal cord at distinct times post-injury. We discovered novel microglia and astrocyte subtypes in the uninjured spinal cord, and their dynamic conversions into additional stage-specific subtypes/states. Most dynamic changes occur at 3-days post-injury and by day-14 the second wave of microglial activation emerged, accompanied with changes in various cell types including neurons, indicative of the second round of attacks. By day-38, major cell types are still substantially deviated from uninjured states, demonstrating prolonged alterations. This study provides a comprehensive mapping of cellular/molecular pathological changes along the temporal axis after SCI, which may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies, including those targeting microglia.
Differences in cancer incidence by broad ethnic group in England, 2013–2017
Authors: Delon Christine , Brown Katrina F. , Payne Nick W. S. , Kotrotsios Yannis , Vernon Sally , Shelton Jon
Published: March 2022

Background

Cancer incidence variation between population groups can inform public health and cancer services. Previous studies have shown cancer incidence rates vary by ethnic group in England. Since their publication, the completeness of ethnicity recording in cancer data has improved, and relevant inequalities (e.g. risk factor prevalence and healthcare access) may have changed.

Methods

Age-standardised incidence rates were calculated for Asian, Black, Mixed/Multiple and White ethnic groups in England in 2013–2017, using almost 3 million diagnoses across 31 cancer sites. Rate ratios were calculated with the White ethnic group as reference. Sensitivity analyses used imputed ethnicity for cases with missing data and perturbed population estimates.

Results

Incidence rates for most cancer sites and ethnic group and sex combinations were lower in non-White minority ethnic groups compared with the corresponding White group, with particularly low rate ratios (below 0.5) for melanoma skin cancer and some smoking-related cancers (lung, bladder and oesophageal cancers). Exceptions included prostate cancer (2.1 times higher in males of Black ethnicity), myeloma (2.7–3.0 times higher in people of Black ethnicity), several gastrointestinal cancers (1.1–1.9 times higher in people of Black ethnicity, 1.4–2.2 times higher in people of Asian ethnicity), Hodgkin lymphoma (1.1 times higher in males of Asian ethnicity, 1.3 times higher in males of Black ethnicity) and thyroid cancers (1.4 times higher in people of Asian ethnicity, 1.2 times higher in people of Black ethnicity). Sensitivity analyses did not materially alter these results (rate ratios changed by a maximum of 12 percentage points, the direction and significance of results were unchanged in all but two cancer site/sex/ethnic group combinations).

Conclusions

People of non-White minority ethnicity in England generally have lower cancer risk than the White population, though there are a number of notable exceptions. These results should galvanise efforts to better understand the reasons for this variation, and the possible impact on cancer services, patient experiences and outcomes.
NEDD4L binds the proteasome and promotes autophagy and bortezomib sensitivity in multiple myeloma
Authors: Huang Xi , Cao Wen , Yao Shunnan , Chen Jing , Liu Yang , Qu Jianwei , Li Yi , Han Xiaoyan , He Jingsong , Huang He , Zhang Enfan , Cai Zhen
Published: March 2022

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable plasma cell cancer characterized by abnormal secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins. The molecular mechanism that regulates the drug sensitivity of MM cells is being intensively studied. Here, we report an unexpected finding that the protein encoded by neural precursor cell-expressed developmentally downregulated gene 4L (NEDD4L), which is a HECT E3 ligase, binds the 19S proteasome, limiting its proteolytic function and enhancing autophagy. Suppression of NEDD4L expression reduced bortezomib (Bor) sensitivity in vitro and in vivo, mainly through autophagy inhibition mediated by low NEDD4L expression, which was rescued by an autophagy activator. Clinically, elevated expression of NEDD4L is associated with a considerably increased probability of responding to Bor, a prolonged response duration, and improved overall prognosis, supporting both the use of NEDD4L as a biomarker to identify patients most likely to benefit from Bor and the regulation of NEDD4L as a new approach in myeloma therapy.
Loss of function of BRCA1 promotes EMT in mammary tumors through activation of TGFβR2 signaling pathway
Authors: Bai Feng , Wang Chuying , Liu Xiong , Hollern Daniel , Liu Shiqin , Fan Cheng , Liu Chang , Ren Sijia , Herschkowitz Jason I. , Zhu Wei-Guo , Pei Xin-Hai
Published: March 2022

BRCA1 deficient breast cancers are aggressive and chemoresistant due, in part, to their enrichment of cancer stem cells that can be generated from carcinoma cells by an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We previously discovered that BRCA1 deficiency activates EMT in mammary tumorigenesis. How BRCA1 controls EMT and how to effectively target BRCA1-deficient cancers remain elusive. We analyzed murine and human tumors and identified a role for Tgfβr2 in governing the molecular aspects of EMT that occur with Brca1 loss. We utilized CRISPR to delete Tgfβr2 and specific inhibitors to block Tgfβr2 activity and followed up with the molecular analysis of assays for tumor growth and metastasis. We discovered that heterozygous germline deletion, or epithelia-specific deletion of Brca1 in mice, activates Tgfβr2 signaling pathways in mammary tumors. BRCA1 depletion promotes TGFβ-mediated EMT activation in cancer cells. BRCA1 binds to the TGFβR2 locus to repress its transcription. Targeted deletion or pharmaceutical inhibition of Tgfβr2 in Brca1-deficient tumor cells reduces EMT and suppresses tumorigenesis and metastasis. BRCA1 and TGFβR2 expression levels are inversely related in human breast cancers. This study reveals for the first time that a targetable TGFβR signaling pathway is directly activated by BRCA1-deficiency in the induction of EMT in breast cancer progression.
General statistical model shows that macroevolutionary patterns and processes are consistent with Darwinian gradualism
Authors: Pagel Mark , O’Donovan Ciara , Meade Andrew
Published: March 2022

Macroevolution posed difficulties for Darwin and later theorists because species’ phenotypes frequently change abruptly, or experience long periods of stasis, both counter to the theory of incremental change or gradualism. We introduce a statistical model that accommodates this uneven evolutionary landscape by estimating two kinds of historical change: directional changes that shift the mean phenotype along the branches of a phylogenetic tree, and evolvability changes that alter a clade’s ability to explore its trait-space. In mammals, we find that both processes make substantial independent contributions to explaining macroevolution, and are rarely linked. ‘Watershed’ moments of increased evolvability greatly outnumber reductions in evolutionary potentials, and large or abrupt phenotypic shifts are explicable statistically as biased random walks, allowing macroevolutionary theory to engage with the language and concepts of gradualist microevolution. Our findings recast macroevolutionary phenomena, illustrating the necessity of accounting for a variety of evolutionary processes simultaneously.
Secondary structural ensembles of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome in infected cells
Authors: Lan Tammy C. T. , Allan Matty F. , Malsick Lauren E. , Woo Jia Z. , Zhu Chi , Zhang Fengrui , Khandwala Stuti , Nyeo Sherry S. Y. , Sun Yu , Guo Junjie U. , Bathe Mark , Näär Anders , Griffiths Anthony , Rouskin Silvi
Published: March 2022

SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus with a single-stranded, positive-sense, 30-kilobase RNA genome responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although population average structure models of the genome were recently reported, there is little experimental data on native structural ensembles, and most structures lack functional characterization. Here we report secondary structure heterogeneity of the entire SARS-CoV-2 genome in two lines of infected cells at single nucleotide resolution. Our results reveal alternative RNA conformations across the genome and at the critical frameshifting stimulation element (FSE) that are drastically different from prevailing population average models. Importantly, we find that this structural ensemble promotes frameshifting rates much higher than the canonical minimal FSE and similar to ribosome profiling studies. Our results highlight the value of studying RNA in its full length and cellular context. The genomic structures detailed here lay groundwork for coronavirus RNA biology and will guide the design of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-based therapeutics.
Stability bounds on superluminal propagation in active structures
Authors: Duggan Robert , Moussa Hady , Ra’di Younes , Sounas Dimitrios L. , Alù Andrea
Published: March 2022

Active materials have been explored in recent years to demonstrate superluminal group velocities over relatively broad bandwidths, implying a potential path towards bold claims such as information transport beyond the speed of light, as well as antennas and metamaterial cloaks operating over very broad bandwidths. However, causality requires that no portion of an impinging pulse can pass its precursor, implying a fundamental trade-off between bandwidth, velocity and propagation distance. Here, we clarify the general nature of superluminal propagation in active structures and derive a bound on these quantities fundamentally rooted into stability considerations. By applying filter theory, we show that this bound is generally applicable to causal structures of arbitrary complexity, as it applies to each zero-pole pair describing their response. As the system complexity grows, we find that only minor improvements in superluminal bandwidth can be practically achieved. Our results provide physical insights into the limitations of superluminal structures based on active media, implying severe constraints in several recently proposed applications.
Maximizing the performance of n-type Mg3Bi2 based materials for room-temperature power generation and thermoelectric cooling
Authors: Liu Zihang , Gao Weihong , Oshima Hironori , Nagase Kazuo , Lee Chul-Ho , Mori Takao
Published: March 2022

Although the thermoelectric effect was discovered around 200 years ago, the main application in practice is thermoelectric cooling using the traditional Bi2Te3. The related studies of new and efficient room-temperature thermoelectric materials and modules have, however, not come to fruition yet. In this work, the electronic properties of n-type Mg3.2Bi1.5Sb0.5 material are maximized via delicate microstructural design with the aim of eliminating the thermal grain boundary resistance, eventually leading to a high zT above 1 over a broad temperature range from 323 K to 423 K. Importantly, we further demonstrated a great breakthrough in the non-Bi2Te3 thermoelectric module, coupled with the high-performance p-type α-MgAgSb, for room-temperature power generation and thermoelectric cooling. A high conversion efficiency of ~2.8% at the temperature difference of 95 K and a maximum temperature difference of 56.5 K are experimentally achieved. If the interfacial contact resistance is further reduced, our non-Bi2Te3 module may rival the long-standing champion commercial Bi2Te3 system. Overall, this work represents a substantial step towards the real thermoelectric application using non-Bi2Te3 materials and devices.
A nationwide study of the incidence, prevalence and mortality of Parkinson’s disease in the Norwegian population
Authors: Brakedal Brage , Toker Lilah , Haugarvoll Kristoffer , Tzoulis Charalampos
Published: March 2022

Epidemiological studies of Parkinson’s disease (PD) show variable and partially conflicting findings with regard to incidence, prevalence, and mortality. These differences are commonly attributed to technical and methodological factors, including small sample sizes, differences in diagnostic practices, and population heterogeneity. We leveraged the Norwegian Prescription Database, a population-based registry of drug prescriptions dispensed from Norwegian pharmacies to assess the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of PD in Norway. The diagnosis of PD was defined based on the prescription of dopaminergic drugs for the indication of PD over a continuous time. During 2004–2017, 12,229 males and 9831 females met our definition for PD diagnosis. PD prevalence increased over the observation period, with larger changes observed in the older age groups. Incidence and prevalence of PD increased with age, peaking at 85 years. The male/female prevalence ratio was 1.5 across all ages, whereas the incidence ratio increased with age, from 1.4 in those 60 years, to 2.03 among those >90 years. While PD mortality was generally higher than that of the general population, mortality odds ratios decreased with age, approaching 1.0 among individuals >90 years old. When adjusted for the sex-specific mortality of the general population, the mortality among females with PD was equal to or higher than the mortality among males with PD. Our findings demonstrate that the epidemiological features of PD, including sex-differences, are age and time-period dependent and indicate that sex differences in PD mortality are unlikely to stem from disease-specific negative impact of survival in males.
A nation-wide twin study of social cognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Authors: Lemvigh Cecilie K. , Glenthøj Birte Y. , Fagerlund Birgitte
Published: March 2022

We examined social cognition in 32 monozygotic (MZ) and 21 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs concordant or discordant for a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis and healthy control (HC) twin pairs (29 MZ/20 DZ). All participants were recruited through the Danish registers. Patients showed several deficits in the ability to detect sarcasm. Impairments were also observed in the unaffected MZ co-twins, indicating that social cognitive deficits could be a genetic vulnerability indicator of the disease. Worse social cognition was associated with lower intelligence and higher levels of psychopathology in patients.
Subcortical volume reduction and cortical thinning 3 months after switching to clozapine in treatment resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Krajner Fanni , Hadaya Laila , McQueen Grant , Sendt Kyra-Verena , Gillespie Amy , Avila Alessia , Lally John , Hedges Emily P. , Diederen Kelly , Howes Oliver D. , Barker Gareth J. , Lythgoe David J. , Kempton Matthew J. , McGuire Philip , MacCabe James H. , Egerton Alice
Published: March 2022

The neurobiological effects of clozapine are under characterised. We examined the effects clozapine treatment on subcortical volume and cortical thickness and investigated whether macrostructural changes were linked to alterations in glutamate or N-acetylaspartate (NAA). Data were acquired in 24 patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia before and 12 weeks after switching to clozapine. During clozapine treatment we observed reductions in caudate and putamen volume, lateral ventricle enlargement (P < 0.001), and reductions in thickness of the left inferior temporal cortex, left caudal middle frontal cortex, and the right temporal pole. Reductions in right caudate volume were associated with local reductions in NAA (P = 0.002). None of the morphometric changes were associated with changes in glutamate levels. These results indicate that clozapine treatment is associated with subcortical volume loss and cortical thinning and that at least some of these effects are linked to changes in neuronal or metabolic integrity.
Removal of drug and dye from aqueous solutions by graphene oxide: Adsorption studies and chemometrics methods
Authors: Yang Jingjie , Shojaei Siroos , Shojaei Saeed
Published: March 2022

Pharmaceutical products and dyes are the main environmental pollutants in the effluent of textile, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, in this study, the central composite design (CCD) based on the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the operating parameters and determine the optimal conditions for the removal of enrofloxacin (ENF) and Rhodamine B (RhB) by graphene oxide (GO). The structure and morphology of GO were studied using scanning electron microscopes (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Quadratic model was confirmed to describe each of the removal efficiency responses (%R) a with high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.9987 for ENF and R2 = 0.9999 for RhB) (R2-Adj = 0.9963 for ENF and R2-Adj = 0.9991 for RhB). In optimal conditions, RhB concentration of 10 mg L−1, adsorbent amount of 0.24 g, sonication time of 23 min, ENF concentration of 10 mg L−1, and pH 7, removal rates of more than 92.5% were obtained for both analytes. Adsorption equilibrium was studied with Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich, Redlich-Peterson, Toth and Khan isotherm models. Equilibrium data were best fitted with the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm model. Maximum adsorption capacity of ENF and RhB on GO were 45.035 mg g−1 and 107.230 mg g−1, respectively. The recyclability of GO was evaluated during the ENF and RhB adsorption process. The results showed that up to 4 cycles of adsorbent, the adsorption efficiency is reduced by a tiny amount. The present study showed that GO is highly effective in removing ENF and RhB from environmental water samples.
Changes in sexual function and vaginal topography using transperineal ultrasound after vaginal laser treatment for women with stress urinary incontinence
Authors: Long Cheng-Yu , Wu Pei-Chi , Chen Hung-Sheng , Lin Kun-Ling , Loo Zixi , Liu Yiyin , Wu Chin-Hu
Published: March 2022

We aim to assess the changes in sexual function and vaginal topography using 3-D transperineal ultrasound in stress-incontinent women treated with Er:YAG vaginal laser. Two hundred and twenty women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treated with Er:YAG laser were recruited. Assessment before and 6 months after the treatment included vaginal topography using 3-D transperineal ultrasound and sexual function using female sexual function index questionnaire (FSFI). A total of 50 women with complete data showed that the symptomatic improvement was noted in 37 (74%) women. After Er:YAG vaginal laser treatment, significantly decreased width and cross-sectional area in proximal, middle, and distal vagina were found in women with SUI. Nearly all of the domains of FSFI improved significantly after the vaginal laser treatment, except sexual desire. In conclusion, 3-D transperineal ultrasound can be used to conduct vaginal topography. After Er:YAG vaginal laser treatment, the anatomical changes of vaginal shrinkage and the improvement of female sexual function were both noted. The favorable outcome of sexual function partly related to the tightening of vagina, as evidenced by the measurements of the 3-D transperineal ultrasound.
The structure of microbial communities of activated sludge of large-scale wastewater treatment plants in the city of Moscow
Authors: Begmatov Shahjahon , Dorofeev Alexander G. , Kadnikov Vitaly V. , Beletsky Alexey V. , Pimenov Nikolai V. , Ravin Nikolai V. , Mardanov Andrey V.
Published: March 2022

Microbial communities in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) play a key role in water purification. Microbial communities of activated sludge (AS) vary extensively based on plant operating technology, influent characteristics and WWTP capacity. In this study we performed 16S rRNA gene profiling of AS at nine large-scale WWTPs responsible for the treatment of municipal sewage from the city of Moscow, Russia. Two plants employed conventional aerobic process, one plant—nitrification/denitrification technology, and six plants were operated with the University of Cape Town (UCT) anaerobic/anoxic/oxic process. Microbial communities were impacted by the technology and dominated by the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota. WWTPs employing the UCT process enabled efficient removal of not only organic matter, but also nitrogen and phosphorus, consistently with the high content of ammonia-oxidizing Nitrosomonas sp. and phosphate-accumulating bacteria. The latter group was represented by Candidatus Accumulibacter, Tetrasphaera sp. and denitrifiers. Co-occurrence network analysis provided information on key hub microorganisms in AS, which may be targeted for manipulating the AS stability and performance. Comparison of AS communities from WWTPs in Moscow and worldwide revealed that Moscow samples clustered together indicating that influent characteristics, related to social, cultural and environmental factors, could be more important than a plant operating technology.
Public communication can facilitate low-risk coordination under surveillance
Authors: Korman Amos , Crescenzi Pierluigi
Published: March 2022

Consider a sub-population of rebels aiming at initiating a revolution. To avoid initializing a failed revolution, rebels would first strive to estimate their “power”, which is often correlated with their number. However, especially in non-democratic countries, rebels avoid disclosing themselves. This poses a significant challenge for rebels: estimating their number while minimizing the risk of being identified as rebels. This paper introduces a distributed computing framework to study this question. Our main insight is that the communication pattern plays a crucial role in achieving such a task. Specifically, we distinguish between public communication, in which each message announced by an individual can be viewed by all its neighbors, and private communication, in which each message is received by one neighbor. We describe a simple protocol in the public communication model that allows rebels to estimate their number while keeping a negligible risk of being identified as rebels. The proposed protocol, inspired by historical events, can be executed covertly even under extreme conditions of surveillance. Conversely, we show that under private communication, protocols of similar simplicity are either inefficient or non-covert. These results suggest that public communication can facilitate the emergence of revolutions in non-democratic countries.
Pore-scale observations of natural hydrate-bearing sediments via pressure core sub-coring and micro-CT scanning
Authors: Lei Liang , Park Taehyung , Jarvis Karl , Pan Lingli , Tepecik Imgenur , Zhao Yumeng , Ge Zhuan , Choi Jeong-Hoon , Gai Xuerui , Galindo-Torres Sergio Andres , Boswell Ray , Dai Sheng , Seol Yongkoo
Published: March 2022

Both intra-pore hydrate morphology and inter-pore hydrate distribution influence the physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments, yet there has been no pore-scale observations of hydrate habit under pressure in preserved pressure core samples so far. We present for the first time a pore-scale micro-CT study of natural hydrate-bearing cores that were acquired from Green Canyon Block 955 in UT-GOM2-1 Expedition and preserved within hydrate pressure–temperature stability conditions throughout sub-sampling and imaging processes. Measured hydrate saturation in the sub-samples, taken from units expected to have in-situ saturation of 80% or more, ranges from 3 ± 1% to 56 ± 11% as interpreted from micro-CT images. Pore-scale observations of gas hydrate in the sub-samples suggest that hydrate in silty sediments at the Gulf of Mexico is pore-invasive rather than particle displacive, and hydrate particles in these natural water-saturated samples are pore-filling with no evidence of grain-coating. Hydrate can form a connected 3D network and provide mechanical support for the sediments even without cementation. The technical breakthrough to directly visualize particle-level hydrate pore habits in natural sediments reported here sheds light on future investigations of pressure- and temperature-sensitive processes including hydrate-bearing sediments, dissolved gases, and other biochemical processes in the deep-sea environment.
Distinctive effects of executive dysfunction and loss of learning/memory abilities on resting-state brain activity
Authors: Hoshi Hideyuki , Hirata Yoko , Kobayashi Momoko , Sakamoto Yuki , Fukasawa Keisuke , Ichikawa Sayuri , Poza Jesús , Rodríguez-González Víctor , Gómez Carlos , Shigihara Yoshihito
Published: March 2022

Dementia is a syndrome characterised by cognitive impairments, with a loss of learning/memory abilities at the earlier stages and executive dysfunction at the later stages. However, recent studies have suggested that impairments in both learning/memory abilities and executive functioning might co-exist. Cognitive impairments have been primarily evaluated using neuropsychological assessments, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Recently, neuroimaging techniques such as magnetoencephalography (MEG), which assess changes in resting-state brain activity, have also been used as biomarkers for cognitive impairment. However, it is unclear whether these changes reflect dysfunction in executive function as well as learning and memory. In this study, parameters from the MEG for brain activity, MMSE for learning/memory, and Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) for executive function were compared within 207 individuals. Three MEG parameters were used as representatives of resting-state brain activity: median frequency, individual alpha frequency, and Shannon’s spectral entropy. Regression analysis showed that median frequency was predicted by both the MMSE and FAB scores, while individual alpha frequency and Shannon’s spectral entropy were predicted by MMSE and FAB scores, respectively. Our results indicate that MEG spectral parameters reflect both learning/memory and executive functions, supporting the utility of MEG as a biomarker of cognitive impairment.
Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning algorithms to detect adulterated Suichang native honey
Authors: Hu Shuhan , Li Hongyi , Chen Chen , Chen Cheng , Zhao Deyi , Dong Bingyu , Lv Xiaoyi , Zhang Kai , Xie Yi
Published: March 2022

Zhejiang Suichang native honey, which is included in the list of China’s National Geographical Indication Agricultural Products Protection Project, is very popular. This study proposes a method of Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning algorithms to accurately detect low-concentration adulterated Suichang native honey. In this study, the native honey collected by local beekeepers in Suichang was selected for adulteration detection. The spectral data was compressed by Savitzky–Golay smoothing and partial least squares (PLS) in sequence. The PLS features taken for further analysis were selected according to the contribution rate. In this study, three classification modeling methods including support vector machine, probabilistic neural network and convolutional neural network were adopted to correctly classify pure and adulterated honey samples. The total accuracy was 100%, 100% and 99.75% respectively. The research result shows that Raman spectroscopy combined with machine learning algorithms has great potential in accurately detecting adulteration of low-concentration honey.
A target-driven visual navigation method based on intrinsic motivation exploration and space topological cognition
Authors: Ruan Xiaogang , Li Peng , Zhu Xiaoqing , Liu Pengfei
Published: March 2022

Target-driven visual navigation is essential for many applications in robotics, and it has gained increasing interest in recent years. In this work, inspired by animal cognitive mechanisms, we propose a novel navigation architecture that simultaneously learns exploration policy and encodes environmental structure. First, to learn exploration policy directly from raw visual input, we use deep reinforcement learning as the basic framework and allow agents to create rewards for themselves as learning signals. In our approach, the reward for the current observation is driven by curiosity and calculated by a count-based approach and temporal distance. While agents learn exploration policy, we use temporal distance to find waypoints in observation sequences and incrementally describe the structure of the environment in a way that integrates episodic memory. Finally, space topological cognition is integrated into the model as a path planning module and combined with a locomotion network to obtain a more generalized approach to navigation. We test our approach in the DMlab, a visually rich 3D environment, and validate its exploration efficiency and navigation performance through extensive experiments. The experimental results show that our approach can explore and encode the environment more efficiently and has better capability in dealing with stochastic objects. In navigation tasks, agents can use space topological cognition to effectively reach the target and guide detour behaviour when a path is unavailable, exhibiting good environmental adaptability.
Carbon peak and its mitigation implications for China in the post-pandemic era
Authors: Chen Jiandong , Xu Chong , Gao Ming , Li Ding
Published: March 2022

China’s carbon peak greatly impacts global climate targets. Limited studies have comprehensively analyzed the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing emission network, and recent carbon intensity (CI) reduction on the carbon peak and the corresponding mitigation implications. Using a unique dataset at different levels, we project China’s CO2 emission by 2035 and analyze the time, volume, driver patterns, complex emission network, and policy implications of China’s carbon peak in the post- pandemic era. We develop an ensemble time-series model with machine learning approaches as the projection benchmark, and show that China’s carbon peak will be achieved by 2021–2026 with > 80% probability. Most Chinese cities and counties have not achieved carbon peaks response to the priority-peak policy and the current implementation of CI reduction should thus be strengthened. While there is a "trade off" between the application of carbon emission reduction technology and economic recovery in the post-pandemic era, a close cooperation of interprovincial CO2 emission is also warranted.
Genotyping-in-Thousands by sequencing panel development and application for high-resolution monitoring of introgressive hybridization within sockeye salmon
Authors: Chang Sarah L. , Ward Hillary G. M. , Elliott Lucas D. , Russello Michael A.
Published: March 2022

Stocking programs have been widely implemented to re-establish extirpated fish species to their historical ranges; when employed in species with complex life histories, such management activities should include careful consideration of resulting hybridization dynamics with resident stocks and corresponding outcomes on recovery initiatives. Genetic monitoring can be instrumental for quantifying the extent of introgression over time, however conventional markers typically have limited power for the identification of advanced hybrid classes, especially at the intra-specific level. Here, we demonstrate a workflow for developing, evaluating and deploying a Genotyping-in-Thousands by Sequencing (GT-seq) SNP panel with the power to detect advanced hybrid classes to assess the extent and trajectory of intra-specific hybridization, using the sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocking program in Skaha Lake, British Columbia as a case study. Previous analyses detected significant levels of hybridization between the anadromous (sockeye) and freshwater resident (kokanee) forms ofO. nerka, but were restricted to assigning individuals to pure-stock or “hybrid”. Simulation analyses indicated our GT-seq panel had high accuracy, efficiency and power (> 94.5%) of assignment to pure-stock sockeye salmon/kokanee, F1, F2, and B2backcross-sockeye/kokanee. Re-analysis of 2016/2017 spawners previously analyzed using TaqMan® assays and otolith microchemistry revealed shifts in assignment of some hybrids to adjacent pure-stock or B2 backcross classes, while new assignment of 2019 spawners revealed hybrids comprised 31% of the population, ~ 74% of which were B2 backcross or F2. Overall, the GT-seq panel development workflow presented here could be applied to virtually any system where genetic stock identification and intra-specific hybridization are important management parameters.
Gramicidin S and melittin: potential anti-viral therapeutic peptides to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Enayathullah Mohammed Ghalib , Parekh Yash , Banu Sarena , Ram Sushma , Nagaraj Ramakrishnan , Kumar Bokara Kiran , Idris Mohammed M.
Published: March 2022

The COVID19 pandemic has led to multipronged approaches for treatment of the disease. Since de novo discovery of drugs is time consuming, repurposing of molecules is now considered as one of the alternative strategies to treat COVID19. Antibacterial peptides are being recognized as attractive candidates for repurposing to treat viral infections. In this study, we describe the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of the well-studied antibacterial peptides gramicidin S and melittin obtained from Bacillus brevis and bee venom respectively. The EC50 values for gramicidin S and melittin were 1.571 µg and 0.656 µg respectively based on in vitro antiviral assay. Significant decrease in the viral load as compared to the untreated group with no/very less cytotoxicity was observed. Both the peptides treated to the SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells showed viral clearance from 12 h onwards with a maximal viral clearance after 24 h post infection. Proteomics analysis indicated that more than 250 proteins were differentially regulated in the gramicidin S and melittin treated SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells against control SARS-CoV-2 infected Vero cells after 24 and 48 h post infection. The identified proteins were found to be associated in the metabolic and mRNA processing of the Vero cells post-treatment and infection. Both these peptides could be attractive candidates for repurposing to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The human-baited host decoy trap (HDT) is an efficient sampling device for exophagic Anopheles arabiensis within irrigated lands in southern Malawi
Authors: Zembere Kennedy , Chirombo James , Nasoni Peter , McDermott Daniel P. , Tchongwe-Divala Lizzie , Hawkes Frances M. , Jones Christopher M.
Published: March 2022

Irrigation schemes provide an ideal habitat for Anopheles mosquitoes particularly during the dry season. Reliable estimates of outdoor host-seeking behaviour are needed to assess the impact of vector control options and this is particularly the case for Anopheles arabiensis which displays a wide range of behaviours that circumvent traditional indoor-insecticide based control. In this study we compared the sampling efficiency of the host decoy trap (HDT) with the human landing catch (HLC) and Suna trap in a repeated Latin square design in two villages (Lengwe and Mwanza) on an irrigated sugar estate in southern Malawi. Over the course of 18 trapping nights, we caught 379 female Anopheles, the majority of which were identified as An. arabiensis. Across both villages, there was no detectable difference in Anopheles catch between the HDT compared with the HLC (RR = 0.85, P = 0.508). The overall sensitivity of the HLC was greater than the Suna trap regardless of mosquito density (Lengwe, α = 2.75, 95% credible interval: 2.03–3.73; Mwanza, α = 3.38, 95% credible interval: 1.50–9.30) whereas the sensitivity of the HDT was only greater than the Suna trap when mosquito numbers were high (Lengwe, α = 2.63, 95% credible interval: 2.00–3.85).We conclude that the HDT is an effective sampling device for outdoor host seeking An. arabiensis in southern Malawi. The presence of An. arabiensis in irrigated lands during the dry season poses a challenge for ongoing indoor vector control efforts.
Synthesis, and docking studies of novel heterocycles incorporating the indazolylthiazole moiety as antimicrobial and anticancer agents
Authors: Dawoud Nadia T. A. , El-Fakharany Esmail M. , Abdallah Abdallah E. , El-Gendi Hamada , Lotfy Doaa R.
Published: March 2022

The current study was directed toward developing a new series of fused heterocycles incorporating indazolylthiazole moiety. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized through elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and Mass Spectrometry). The cytotoxic effect of the newly synthesized compounds was evaluated against normal human cells (HFB-4) and cancer cell lines (HepG-2 and Caco-2). Among the synthesized compounds, derivatives 4, and 6 revealed a significant selective antitumor activity, in a dose-dependent manner, against both HepG-2 and Caco-2 cell lines, with lower risk toward HFB-4 cells (normal cells). Derivative 8 revealed the maximum antitumor activity toward both tumor cell lines, with an SI value of about 26 and IC50 value of about 5.9 μg/mL. The effect of these derivatives (8, 4, and 6) upon the expression of 5 tumor regulating genes was studied through quantitative real-time PCR, where its interaction with these genes was simulated through the molecular docking study. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity results revealed that compounds 2, 7, 8, and 9 have a potential antimicrobial activity, with maximum broad-spectrum activity through compound 3 against the three tested pathogens: Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. The newly prepared compounds also revealed anti-biofilm formation activity with maximum activity against Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, respectively.
In hospital risk factors for acute kidney injury and its burden in patients with Sars-Cov-2 infection: a longitudinal multinational study
Authors: Morieri Mario Luca , Ronco Claudio , Avogaro Angelo , Farnia Filippo , Shestakova Marina , Zaytseva Natalya , Mokrysheva Natalya , Akulkina Larisa , Shepalina Anastasia , Brovko Michail , Moiseev Sergey , Russo Lucia , Mazzocut Sara , Vianello Andrea , Cattellan Anna Maria , Vedovato Monica , Fadini Gian Paolo , Vettor Roberto , Fioretto Paola
Published: March 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with increased mortality in most critical settings. However, it is unclear whether its mild form (i.e. AKI stage 1) is associated with increased mortality also in non-critical settings. Here we conducted an international study in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection aiming 1. to estimate the incidence of AKI at each stage and its impact on mortality 2. to identify AKI risk factors at admission (susceptibility) and during hospitalization (exposures) and factors contributing to AKI-associated mortality. We included 939 patients from medical departments in Moscow (Russia) and Padua (Italy). In-hospital AKI onset was identified in 140 (14.9%) patients, mainly with stage 1 (65%). Mortality was remarkably higher in patients with AKI compared to those without AKI (55 [39.3%] vs. 34 [4.3%], respectively). Such association remained significant after adjustment for other clinical conditions at admission (relative risk [RR] 5.6; CI 3.5- 8.8) or restricting to AKI stage 1 (RR 3.2; CI 1.8–5.5) or to subjects with AKI onset preceding deterioration of clinical conditions. After hospital admission, worsening of hypoxic damage, inflammation, hyperglycemia, and coagulopathy were identified as hospital-acquired risk factors predicting AKI onset. Following AKI onset, the AKI-associated worsening of respiratory function was identified as the main contributor to AKI-induced increase in mortality risk. In conclusion, AKI is a common complication of Sars-CoV2 infection in non-intensive care settings where it markedly increases mortality risk also at stage 1. The identification of hospital-acquired risk factors and exposures might help prevention of AKI onset and of its complications.
A hybrid with distributed pooling blockchain protocol for image storage
Authors: Liu Feng , Yang Cheng-yi , Yang Jie , Kong De-li , Zhou Ai-min , Qi Jia-yin , Li Zhi-bin
Published: March 2022

As a distributed storage scheme, the blockchain network lacks storage space has been a long-term concern in this field. At present, there are relatively few research on algorithms and protocols to reduce the storage requirement of blockchain, and the existing research has limitations such as sacrificing fault tolerance performance and raising time cost, which need to be further improved. Facing the above problems, this paper proposes a protocol based on Distributed Image Storage Protocol (DISP), which can effectively improve blockchain storage space and reduces computational costs in the help of InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). In order to prove the feasibility of the protocol, we make full use of IPFS and distributed database to design a simulation experiment for blockchain. Through distributed pooling (DP) algorithm in this protocol, we can divide image evidence into recognizable several small files and stored in several nodes. And these files can be restored to lossless original documents again by inverse distributed pooling (IDP) algorithm after authorization. These advantages in performance create conditions for large scale industrial and commercial applications.