bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interplay between formation of photosynthetic complexes and expression of genes for iron–sulfur cluster assembly in Rhodobacter sphaeroides?
Authors: Nie Xin , Jäger Andreas , Börner Janek , Klug Gabriele
Published: October 2020

Formation of photosynthetic complexes leads to a higher demand for Fe–S clusters. We hypothesized that in the facultative phototrophic alpha-proteobacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides expression of the isc-suf operon for Fe–S cluster formation may be increased under conditions that promote formation of photosynthetic complexes and that, vice versa, lack of the IscR regulator may also affect photosynthesis gene expression. To test this hypothesis, we monitored the activities of the isc-suf sense and anti-sense promoters under different growth conditions and in mutants which are impaired in formation of photosynthetic complexes. We also tested expression of photosynthesis genes in a mutant lacking the IscR regulator. Our results are not in agreement with a co-regulation of the Isc-Suf system and the photosynthetic apparatus at level of transcription. We provide evidence that, coordination of the systems occurs at post-transcriptional levels. Increased levels of isc-suf mRNAs under conditions promoting formation of photosynthetic complexes are due to higher RNA stability.
Immature Adults and Playing Children: On Bernard Stiegler’s Critique of Infantilization
Authors: Keij Daan
Published: October 2020

This article assesses Bernard Stiegler’s critique of infantilization. Contemporary education—and society in general—would no longer develop children into adults, but would keep them in their childish state. Stiegler’s critique is explicitly inspired by Enlightenment ideals, characterized by a positive notion of maturity and a negative notion of childhood and immaturity. Infantilization is for Stiegler therefore immediately a negative development. However, Stiegler’s works also contain a positive understanding of childhood and of the extension of childish characteristics into adulthood. The main thesis of this article is that this results in an unresolved tension in Stiegler’s work. I therefore propose a notion of infantilization not as solely negative, but as fundamentally ambivalent and risky. The continuation of childhood into maturity is necessary for the life of the mind, yet it can also foreclose maturity altogether. I use this new notion of infantilization to correct some of Stiegler’s radically conservative views on education and on the care for the new generations.
Biomonitoring of polyaromatic hydrocarbon accumulation in rural gardens using lettuce plants
Authors: Kováts Nora , Hubai Katalin , Sainnokhoi Tsend-Ayush , Teke Gábor
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Air pollution in settlements is one of the most important factors affecting human health. While urban gardening and the consumption of home-grown vegetables have become more and more popular, several studies establish the risk of consuming vegetables exposed to toxic air pollutants, especially polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, these studies mostly concern the risk in larger cities or in industrial areas while much less information is available in rural environments.

Methods

In our study, small settlements were selected for a pot accumulation study. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants were exposed for a 2-month period; PAH concentrations were determined both from the vegetable samples and pot soils.

Results

In the lettuce samples, the concentration of total PAHs was in the range of 9.1 (Litér) and 185 μg/kg dry wt (Hajmáskér), in the soil samples in the range of 31.6 (Litér) and 595.1 μg/kg wt (Hárskút). Four ring PAHs showed the highest tendency to accumulate in the majority of soil samples.

Conclusion

PAH concentrations in some of the sampled villages were comparable to results reported from relatively polluted regions in the world. Source appointment revealed that biomass burning and fossil fuel usage were the major sources of PAHs in rural environment; in addition, the study highlighted how important it could be to analyze individual pollution sources.
Transcription Factor Profiling Identifies Spatially Heterogenous Mediators of Follicular Thyroid Cancer Invasion
Authors: Nicolson Norman G. , Paulsson Johan O. , Juhlin C. Christofer , Carling Tobias , Korah Reju
Published: October 2020

While minimally invasive follicular thyroid cancer (miFTC) generally has low risk of recurrence or death, encapsulated angioinvasive (eaFTC) or widely invasive (wiFTC) histological subtypes display significantly worse prognosis. Drivers of invasion are incompletely understood. Therefore, tissue samples including miFTC, eaFTC, and wiFTC tumors, as well as histologically normal thyroid adjacent to benign follicular adenomas, were selected from a cohort (n = 21) of thyroid tumor patients, and the gene expression of selected transcription factors was characterized with quantitative PCR. Invasion-relevant spatial expression patterns of selected transcription factors were subsequently characterized with immunohistochemistry. E2F1 was over-expressed in all 3 subtypes (p<0.01). SP1 was differentially expressed in eaFTC and wiFTC compared with normal (p=0.01 and 0.04, respectively). TCF7L2 was significantly upregulated in wiFTC specifically (p<0.05). While these findings were mRNA specific, immunohistochemistry of additional cancer-associated transcription factors revealed differential expression along the tumor invasive front relative to the central tumor, and histone acetylation modulators emerged as putative invasion markers. These findings may have significant implications for the interpretation of bulk gene expression analysis of thyroid tumor samples or for the development of targeted therapeutics for this rare but aggressive thyroid cancer variant.
Nuclear Envelope and Nuclear Pore Complexes in Neurodegenerative Diseases—New Perspectives for Therapeutic Interventions
Authors: Hachiya Naomi , Sochocka Marta , Brzecka Anna , Shimizu Takuto , Gąsiorowski Kazimierz , Szczechowiak Katarzyna , Leszek Jerzy
Published: October 2020

Transport of proteins, transcription factors, and other signaling molecules between the nucleus and cytoplasm is necessary for signal transduction. The study of these transport phenomena is particularly challenging in neurons because of their highly polarized structure. The bidirectional exchange of molecular cargoes across the nuclear envelope (NE) occurs through nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), which are aqueous channels embedded in the nuclear envelope. The NE and NPCs regulate nuclear transport but are also emerging as relevant regulators of chromatin organization and gene expression. The alterations in nuclear transport are regularly identified in affected neurons associated with human neurodegenerative diseases. This review presents insights into the roles played by nuclear transport defects in neurodegenerative disease, focusing primarily on NE proteins and NPCs. The subcellular mislocalization of proteins might be a very desirable means of therapeutic intervention in neurodegenerative disorders.
Hopf bifurcations in plasma layers between rigid planes in thermal magnetohydrodynamics, via a simple formula
Authors: Rionero Salvatore
Published: October 2020

The phenomenon produced by the Hopf bifurcations is of notable importance. In fact, a Hopf bifurcation—guaranteeing the existence of an unsteady periodic solution of the linearized problem at stake—is also an optimum limit cycle candidate of the nonlinear associated problem and, if non linearly globally attractive, is an absorbing set and an effective limit cycle. The present paper deals with the onset of Hopf bifurcations in thermal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). Precisely, it is devoted to characterization—via a simple formula—of the Hopf bifurcations threshold in horizontal plasma layers between rigid planes, heated from below and embedded in a constant transverse magnetic field. This problem, remarked clearly and notably by the Nobel Laureate Chandrasekhar (Nature 175:417–419, 1955), constitutes a difficulty met by him and—for plasma layers between rigid planes electricity perfectly conducting—is, as far as we know, still not removed. Let $$m_0$$

m
0

be the thermal conduction rest state and let $$P_r, P_m, R, Q$$

P
r

,

P
m

,
R
,
Q

, be the Prandtl, the Prandtl magnetic, the Rayleigh and the Chandrasekhar number, respectively. Recognized (according to Chandrasekhar) that the instability of $$m_0$$

m
0

via Hopf bifurcation can occur only in a plasma with $$P_m>P_r$$

P
m

>

P
r

, in this paper it is shown that the Hopf bifurcations occur if and only if $$\begin{aligned} Q>Q_c=\displaystyle \frac{4\pi ^2[1+P_r(\mu /2\pi )^4]}{P_m-P_r}, \end{aligned}$$

Q
>

Q
c

=

4

π
2

[
1
+

P
r

(
μ
/
2
π
)

4

]

P
m

-

P
r

,

with $$ \mu =7.8532$$

μ
=
7.8532

. Moreover, the critical value of R at which the Hopf bifurcation occurs is characterized via the smallest zero of the second invariant of the spectrum equation governing the most destabilizing perturbation. The critical value of Q, in the free-rigid and rigid-free cases is shown to be $$\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}$$

1
4

of the previous value.
Psoriasisarthritis
Authors: Borst C.
Published: October 2020

Die Psoriasisarthritis (PsA) ist eine entzündliche Gelenkerkrankung, die oft mit einer kutanen Psoriasis (PsO) einhergeht. Die PsA ist durch Schwellungen und Druckschmerzhaftigkeit im Bereich der Gelenke charakterisiert und kann auch zu einer strahlenförmigen Verdickung einzelner Finger oder Zehen (Daktylitis, Wurstfinger, Wurstzehe) und Schmerzen im Bereich von Sehneninsertionen (Enthesitis) führen. Im Gegensatz zur rheumatoiden Arthritis ist das Muster der befallenen Gelenke heterogen. Es können von den distalen Interphalangealgelenken bis zur Wirbelsäule alle Gelenke potenziell von der Erkrankung betroffen sein. Laborchemisch ist die Erkrankung unspezifisch, da sie üblicherweise seronegativ ist – sie geht also nicht mit charakteristischen Autoantikörpern einher. Bekannte Entzündungsparameter wie das C‑reaktive Protein oder die Blutsenkungsgeschwindigkeit können ein Anhaltspunkt für eine solche inflammatorische Arthritis sein. Um bleibenden Gelenkschäden vorzubeugen, sind die Früherkennung und rechtzeitige Therapie essenziell. In diesem Beitrag wird der derzeitige Stand des Wissens bezüglich der klinischen Charakteristika, der Diagnostik und Therapie dieser potenziell gelenkzerstörenden Erkrankung diskutiert.
A Transformational Change Framework for Developing Ecologically Embedded Manufacturing
Authors: Trollman H. , Colwill J. A.
Published: October 2020

Unless strategies are adopted to ensure materials remain in circulation within the economy, the manufacturing sector may be unable to support increasing demand from a growing global population. The purpose of this research is to present a framework for manufacturers to aid in the formulation of ecologically embedded strategy. The framework proposes five steps which integrate corporate, business, operations and sustainability strategy in a holistic manner with operations strategy informing business strategy. Qualitative comparative analysis is implemented to identify the causal characteristics of ecologically embedded products which are then used to select two cases for the application of process tracing (PT). Product case studies indicate a failure to communicate provenance, quality and lifecycle information to consumers, and hence, the slowing or closing of loops as part of a circular economy is not being effectively realised. PT confirms the feasibility of the framework for ecocentric strategy formulation in manufacturing. Manufacturers, policymakers and investors may use this framework to leverage the benefits of ecological embeddedness to enable continued growth and future-proofing.
Investigation of Anticorrosive Property of Carbazolecarbaldehyde Azine on Mild Steel Using Electrochemical, Morphological and Theoretical Studies
Authors: Kagatikar Sneha , Sunil Dhanya , Kumari Preethi , Shetty Prakasha
Published: October 2020

Mild steel (MS) is one among the extensively utilized materials in several industrial sectors, but prone to deterioration when exposed to acidic environment. The main focus of this study is to examine the corrosion inhibitive efficacy of 9-ethyl-3-carbazolecarboxaldehyde azine (CCA) on MS immersed in 0.5 M HCl medium. The corrosion inhibition efficiency of CCA which was investigated using potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques improved with rise in temperature and inhibitor concentration. CCA showed a maximum inhibition efficiency of 92.4% at 323 K for 5 × 10–5 M concentration in 0.5 M HCl medium. The variation in the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters indicated chemisorption of CCA on MS, and its mixed-type inhibitive action followed Langmuir’s isotherm model. The infrared spectra provided evidences for the chemical interaction of CCA with MS specimen. Surface morphology evaluation using SEM and AFM in combination with elemental analysis using an energy dispersive X-ray analyser (EDX) indicated the creation of a protective adsorption layer of CCA on MS surface. The quantum chemical investigations performed using density functional theory (DFT) computations supplemented the experimental results, suggesting the potential corrosion inhibition behavior of CCA toward MS in aggressive HCl medium.

Graphic Abstract
Applying catastrophe progression method to evaluate the service quality of cold chain logistics
Authors: Zhang Hao , Shi Yuxin , Qiu Bin
Published: October 2020

Logistics service quality (LSQ) is one of the key influential factors in the success of an ecommerce business. In view of the complexity of the topic, this paper proposes a novel model for fresh ecommerce cold chain LSQ evaluation based on the catastrophe progression method. In the proposed methodology, first an index system for evaluating the fresh ecommerce cold chain LSQ is established from the perspective of service recipients. Then, the comprehensive weight of each evaluation index is determined using a combination weighting approach based on maximizing deviations and fuzzy set theory. The priority weights and the ranking of the indices are determined using the catastrophe progression method. Finally, the model is applied in a case study of two representative enterprises. The study demonstrates the validity and practical applicability of the proposed model. Also, based on the evaluation results and findings, some improvement suggestions are made for improving the cold chain LSQ of similar kinds of fresh ecommerce companies.
Introduction to Clinical Psychology
Authors: Bernstein Douglas A. , Teachman Bethany A. , Olatunji Bunmi O. , Lilienfeld Scott O.
Published: October 2020

Thoroughly updated and revised, the ninth edition of this bestselling textbook introduces students to clinical psychology as a bridge between science and practice. Extensive revisions since the previous edition have resulted in the most accessible, up-to-date and thematically integrated edition of Introduction to Clinical Psychology yet, while maintaining the authority and accessibility students and instructors have come to rely on. Updates include: three new co-authors who are internationally recognized scholar-practitioners; illustrations of how psychologists use evidence-based practices to help clients; the fictional 'Jackson family' case studies, providing vivid examples of a family confronting numerous mental health challenges; 'Thinking Scientifically' sections in each chapter, which break down how students can think critically with conflicting findings and use them to draw conclusions; 'In Review' tables at the end of each major section prompting students to review the material and test their comprehension; and an expanded image program, printed in color for the first time.
Asymptotic Analysis of Random Walks: Light-Tailed Distributions
Authors: Borovkov A.A.
Published: October 2020

This is a companion book to Asymptotic Analysis of Random Walks: Heavy-Tailed Distributions by A.A. Borovkov and K.A. Borovkov. Its self-contained systematic exposition provides a highly useful resource for academic researchers and professionals interested in applications of probability in statistics, ruin theory, and queuing theory. The large deviation principle for random walks was first established by the author in 1967, under the restrictive condition that the distribution tails decay faster than exponentially. (A close assertion was proved by S.R.S. Varadhan in 1966, but only in a rather special case.) Since then, the principle has always been treated in the literature only under this condition. Recently, the author jointly with A.A. Mogul'skii removed this restriction, finding a natural metric for which the large deviation principle for random walks holds without any conditions. This new version is presented in the book, as well as a new approach to studying large deviations in boundary crossing problems. Many results presented in the book, obtained by the author himself or jointly with co-authors, are appearing in a monograph for the first time.
Stimulation of the Anterior Nucleus of the Thalamus for Epilepsy: A Canadian Experience
Authors: Herrera Manuel L. , Suller-Marti Ana , Parrent Andrew , MacDougall Keith , Burneo Jorge G.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

To describe the experience with Anterior Nucleus of the Thalamus-Deep Brain Stimulation (ANT-DBS) for the treatment of epilepsy at a Canadian Center.

Methods:

All patients who underwent ANT-DBS implantation between 2013 (first patient implanted at our center) and 2020 were included. These patients had therapy-resistant epilepsy (TRE), were not candidates for resective surgery, and failed vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) treatment. Baseline of monthly seizure frequency was calculated within 3 months prior to VNS placement. Monthly seizure frequency was assessed at different points along the timeline: 3 months before ANT-DBS implantation as well as 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months after ANT-DBS device placement. At each time point, seizure frequency was compared to baseline.

Results:

Six patients were implanted with ANT-DBS. Three (50%) patients had multifocal epilepsy, one (16.6%) had focal epilepsy, and two (33.4%) had combined generalized and focal epilepsy. Two patients with multifocal epilepsy experienced a seizure reduction >50% in the long-term follow-up. Three (50%) patients did not showed improvement: two with combined generalized and focal epilepsy and one with focal epilepsy. There were not surgical or device-related side effects. Two (33.3%) patients presented mild and transient headaches as a stimulation-related side effect.

Conclusion:

ANT-DBS is an effective and safe treatment for focal TRE. Our experience suggests that patients with multifocal epilepsy due to regional lesion may benefit from ANT-DBS the most. Further investigations are required to determine optimal parameters of stimulation.
The impact of antibiotic allergy labels on antibiotic exposure, clinical outcomes, and healthcare costs: A systematic review
Authors: Krah Nathan M. , Jones Trahern W. , Lake Joanita , Hersh Adam L.
Published: October 2020

Objective:

A growing body of evidence suggests that antibiotic allergy labels as documented in medical records are a risk factor for poor clinical outcomes. In this systematic review, we aimed to determine how antibiotic allergy labels influence 3 domains: antibiotic use and exposure, clinical outcomes, and healthcare-related costs.

Design:

We performed a systematic review to identify studies reporting outcomes in patients with antibiotic allergy labels compared to nonallergic counterparts. The search included PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, EBSCO, Cochrane Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened studies for inclusion and abstracted data. Studies were graded using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Study outcomes included antibiotic use, clinical outcomes, and economic outcomes.

Results:

In total, 41 studies met our criteria for inclusion. These studies varied in medical specialty, patient population, healthcare delivery system, and design, but most were conducted among adults age >18 years (85%) in the inpatient setting (82.5%). Among 34 studies examining antibiotic exposure, 32 (94%) found that patients with antibiotic allergy labels received more broad-spectrum antibiotics. Moreover, 31 studies examined clinical outcomes such as length of hospitalization, ICU admission, hospital readmission, multidrug-resistant or opportunistic infection, or mortality, and 27 (87%) found that allergy-labeled patients had at least 1 negative outcome. Of 9 studies examining healthcare costs, 7 (78%) found that allergy-labeled patients incurred significantly higher drug or hospital-related costs.

Conclusions:

Antibiotic allergy labels have negative effects on antibiotic use, clinical outcomes, and economic outcomes in a variety of clinical settings and populations.
A Black Feminist Autoethnographic Reflection on Mentoring in the Discipline of Political Science
Authors: Thomas Lahoma
Published: October 2020

Anecdotally, there is growing concern among racialized women in political science: we are too few. More distressing, however, is the number of racialized women faculty who have fallen ill or passed away at a young age. On October 9, 2018, political scientist Dr. Malinda Smith (2018) drew attention to the unfortunate trend via a series of tweets, listing the names of women in political science who had recently passed away and compelling us to bear witness.
Monte Carlo evaluation of target dose coverage in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy with flattening filter-free beams
Authors: Vassiliev Oleg N. , Peterson Christine B. , Chang Joe Y. , Mohan Radhe
Published: October 2020

Aim:

Previous studies showed that replacing conventional flattened beams (FF) with flattening filter-free (FFF) beams improves the therapeutic ratio in lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), but these findings could have been impacted by dose calculation uncertainties caused by the heterogeneity of the thoracic anatomy and by respiratory motion, which were particularly high for target coverage. In this study, we minimised such uncertainties by calculating doses using high-spatial-resolution Monte Carlo and four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images. We aimed to evaluate more reliably the benefits of using FFF beams for lung SBRT.

Materials and methods:

For a cohort of 15 patients with early-stage lung cancer that we investigated in a previous treatment planning study, we recalculated dose distributions with Monte Carlo using 4DCT images. This included 15 FF and 15 FFF treatment plans.

Results:

Compared to Monte Carlo, the treatment planning system (TPS) over-predicted doses in low-dose regions of the planning target volume (PTV). For most patients, replacing FF beams with FFF beams improved target coverage, tumour control, and uncomplicated tumour control probabilities.

Conclusions:

Monte Carlo tends to reveal deficiencies in target coverage compared to coverage predicted by the TPS. Our data support previously reported benefits of using FFF beams for lung SBRT.
The Change Processes in Selective Attention during Adulthood. Inhibition or Processing Speed?
Authors: Introzzi Isabel , Zamora Eliana , Aydmune Yesica , Richard’s María Marta , Comesaña Ana , Canet-Juric Lorena
Published: October 2020

Selective attention is involved in multiple daily activities. Several authors state that it experiences a decline after 20 years, although there is no agreement regarding the cognitive processes that explain it. Two theories dominate the discussion: The theory of inhibitory inefficiency and the theory of processing speed. At the same time, it has been suggested that there could be complementary relations between both; however, it is not clear what the contribution of inhibition and processing speed is on the changes of selective attention. Therefore, the present study proposes to analyze this contribution, in adults between 20 and 80 years old. To assess selective attention and inhibitory control, two indices of a visual search task were obtained in which participants must identify a target stimulus among a set of distracting stimuli. To evaluate the processing speed, a response speed task was used. The main results indicate that, from the age of 60, a gradual decrease in selective attention begins and that this decline can be largely explained by a decrease in processing speed and inhibitory control. We discuss about the literature on the development of selective attention, the contribution of processing speed, and the inhibitory inefficiency hypothesis.
Das DC: 0 – 5 Klassifikationssystem zur Diagnose von psychischen Störungen bei Säuglingen, Klein- und Vorschulkindern
Authors: von Gontard Alexander , Bolten Margarete , In-Albon Tina , Equit Monika , Hussong Justine
Published: October 2020

Zusammenfassung. Psychische Störungen sind bei jungen Kindern häufig und weisen eine entwicklungsbezogene Symptomatik auf. Die DC: 0 – 5 wurde als ein multiaxiales Klassifikationssystem psychischer Störungen für das Alter von 0 bis 5 Jahren entwickelt. Das Ziel dieser Übersicht ist es, den Aufbau und die Anwendung der DC: 0 – 5 darzustellen. Sie umfasst die fünf Achsen: klinische Störungen, Beziehungskontext, medizinische Diagnosen, psychosoziale Stressoren und Entwicklungskompetenzen. Die erste Achse ist die wichtigste und hat viele neue Störungsbilder definiert. Als neue Angststörung bezeichnet z. B. die Störung mit Inhibition gegenüber Neuem eine Furcht gegenüber neuen Stimuli. Ein Novum ist die Spezifische Beziehungsstörung der frühen Kindheit, die das Auftreten von einer kindlichen Symptomatik speziell in einer Beziehung definiert und eine akute Gefährdung des Kindes signalisiert. Die DC: 0 – 5 ist das derzeitig beste System zur Erfassung psychischer Störungen bei jungen Kindern. Eine weitere empirische Überprüfung und Validierung gerade der neuen Kategorien ist notwendig.
Sagt das Emotionswissen von jungen Kindern ihre phonologische Bewusstheit im Entwicklungsverlauf voraus?
Authors: Salisch Maria von , Voltmer Katharina
Published: October 2020

Zusammenfassung. Umfangreiche Forschungen bestätigen, dass eine hohe phonologische Bewusstheit jungen Kindern den Schriftspracherwerb in der Grundschule erleichtert. Unklar ist jedoch, ob ihr Emotionswissen über die bekannten Prädiktoren Alter, sozial-ökonomischer Status (SÖS), Migrationshintergrund, kognitive Fähigkeiten, Wortschatz und Selbstregulation hinaus Einfluss auf ihre spätere phonologische Bewusstheit nimmt. In einer Längsschnittuntersuchung wurde das Emotionswissen, der nonverbale IQ, das Satzverständnis und die behaviorale Selbstregulation von N = 280 Kindern ( MAlterT1= 49.8 Monate) zu T1 erhoben. Etwa ein Jahr später wurde die phonologische Bewusstheit erfasst. Eine hierarchische Regression zeigte, dass das Emotionswissen über die Einwanderung und den SÖS der Familie und über Alter, IQ, Satzverständnis und Selbstregulation des Kindes hinaus Varianz der späteren phonologischen Bewusstheit aufklärte. Dieses Ergebnis wird in Hinblick auf die soziale Natur des frühen Lernens diskutiert.
Classifying Magnetosheath Jets Using MMS: Statistical Properties
Authors: Raptis Savvas , Karlsson Tomas , Plaschke Ferdinand , Kullen Anita , Lindqvist Per‐Arne
Published: October 2020

Using Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) data, we find, classify, and analyze transient dynamic pressure enhancements in the magnetosheath (jets) from May 2015 to May 2019. A classification algorithm is presented, using in situ MMS data to classify jets (
) into different categories according to their associated angle between interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and the bow shock normal vector (θBn). Jets appearing for θBn < 45 are referred to as quasi‐parallel, while jets appearing for θBn > 45 as quasi‐perpendicular jets. Furthermore, we define those jets that occur at the boundaries between quasi‐parallel and quasi‐perpendicular magnetosheath as boundary jets. Finally, encapsulated jets are jet‐like structures with similar characteristics to quasi‐parallel jets while the surrounding plasma is of quasi‐perpendicular nature. We present the first statistical results of such a classification and provide comparative statistics for each class. Furthermore, we investigate correlations between jet quantities. Quasi‐parallel jets have the highest dynamic pressure while occurring more often than quasi‐perpendicular jets. The infrequent quasi‐perpendicular jets have a much smaller duration, velocity, and density and are therefore relatively weaker. We conclude that quasi‐parallel and boundary jets have similar properties and are unlikely to originate from different generation mechanisms. Regarding the encapsulated jets, we suggest that they are a special subset of quasi‐parallel jets originating from the flanks of the bow shock, for large IMF cone angles although a relation to flux transfer events (FTEs) and magnetospheric plasma is also possible. Our results support existing generation theories, such as the bow shock ripple and SLAMS‐associated mechanisms while indicating that other factors may contribute as well.
Seasonal and Interannual Variations of CO2 Fluxes Over 10 Years in an Alpine Wetland on the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Zhu Jingbin , Zhang Fawei , Li Hongqin , He Huidan , Li Yingnian , Yang Yongsheng , Zhang Guangru , Wang Chunyu , Luo Fanglin
Published: October 2020

Alpine wetlands play a sensitive function in global carbon cycle during the ongoing climate warming, yet the temporal patterns of carbon dynamics from in situ ground‐based long‐term observations remain unclear. Here, we analyzed the continuous net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) measured with the eddy covariance technique over an alpine peatland on the northeastern Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau from 2007 to 2016. The wetland acted as a net CO2 source with a positive NEE (120.4 ± 34.8 gC m−2 year−1, Mean ± SD), with the mean annual gross primary productivity (GPP) of 500.3 ± 59.4 gC m−2 year−1 and annual ecosystem respiration (RES) of 620.7 ± 74.2 gC m−2 year−1. At the seasonal scale, the classification and regression trees (CART) analysis showed that aggregated growing season degree days (GDDs) were the predominant determinant on variations in monthly NEE and monthly GPP. Variations in monthly RES were determined by soil temperature (Ts). Furthermore, nongrowing season Ts had a significant positive correlation with the following year annual GPP (p < 0.05). Nongrowing season RES only accounted for about 25% of annual RES but had significant correlation with annual RES and annual NEE (p < 0.05). The further partial correlation analysis showed that nongrowing season air temperature (Ta, p = 0.05), rather than precipitation (PPT, p = 0.25) was a predominant determinant on variations in annual NEE. Our results highlighted the importance in carbon dynamics of climate fluctuations and CO2 emission from the nongrowing season in alpine wetlands. We speculated that the vast peadlands would positively feedback to climate change on the Tibetan plateau where the nongrowing season warming was significant.
Full Implementation of Matrix Approach to Biogeochemistry Module of CLM5
Authors: Lu Xingjie , Du Zhenggang , Huang Yuanyuan , Lawrence David , Kluzek Erik , Collier Nathan , Lombardozzi Danica , Sobhani Negin , Schuur Edward A. G. , Luo Yiqi
Published: October 2020

Earth system models (ESMs) have been rapidly developed in recent decades to advance our understanding of climate change‐carbon cycle feedback. However, those models are massive in coding, require expensive computational resources, and have difficulty in diagnosing their performance. It is highly desirable to develop ESMs with modularity and effective diagnostics. Toward these goals, we implemented a matrix approach to the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) to represent carbon and nitrogen cycles. Specifically, we reorganized 18 balance equations each for carbon and nitrogen cycles among the 18 vegetation pools in the original CLM5 into two matrix equations. Similarly, 140 balance equations each for carbon and nitrogen cycles among the 140 soil pools were reorganized into two additional matrix equations. The vegetation carbon and nitrogen matrix equations are connected to soil matrix equations via litterfall. The matrix equations fully reproduce simulations of carbon and nitrogen dynamics by the original model. The computational cost for forwarding simulation of the CLM5 matrix model was 26% more expensive than the original model, largely due to calculation of additional diagnostic variables, but the spin‐up computational cost was significantly saved. We showed a case study on modeled soil carbon storage under two forcing data sets to illustrate the diagnostic capability that the matrix approach uniquely offers to understand simulation results of global carbon and nitrogen dynamics. The successful implementation of the matrix approach to CLM5, one of the most complex land models, demonstrates that most, if not all, the biogeochemical models can be reorganized into the matrix form to gain high modularity, effective diagnostics, and accelerated spin‐up.
Long-run bacteria-phage coexistence dynamics under natural habitat conditions in an environmental biotechnology system
Authors: Guerrero Leandro D , Pérez María V , Orellana Esteban , Piuri Mariana , Quiroga Cecilia , Erijman Leonardo
Published: October 2020

Bacterial viruses are widespread and abundant across natural and engineered habitats. They influence ecosystem functioning through interactions with their hosts. Laboratory studies of phage–host pairs have advanced our understanding of phenotypic and genetic diversification in bacteria and phages. However, the dynamics of phage–host interactions have been seldom recorded in complex natural environments. We conducted an observational metagenomic study of the dynamics of interaction between Gordonia and their phages using a three-year data series of samples collected from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. The aim was to obtain a comprehensive picture of the coevolution dynamics in naturally evolving populations at relatively high time resolution. Coevolution was followed by monitoring changes over time in the CRISPR loci of Gordonia metagenome-assembled genome, and reciprocal changes in the viral genome. Genome-wide analysis indicated low strain variability of Gordonia, and almost clonal conservation of the trailer end of the CRISPR loci. Incorporation of newer spacers gave rise to multiple coexisting bacterial populations. The host population carrying a shorter CRISPR locus that contain only ancestral spacers, which has not acquired newer spacers against the coexisting phages, accounted for more than half of the total host abundance in the majority of samples. Phages genome co-evolved by introducing directional changes, with no preference for mutations within the protospacer and PAM regions. Metagenomic reconstruction of time-resolved variants of host and viral genomes revealed how the complexity at the population level has important consequences for bacteria-phage coexistence.
Associations between disordered gut microbiota and changes of neurotransmitters and short-chain fatty acids in depressed mice
Authors: Wu Min , Tian Tian , Mao Qiang , Zou Tao , Zhou Chan-juan , Xie Jing , Chen Jian-jun
Published: October 2020

Mounting evidence suggests that gut microbiota can play an important role in pathophysiology of depression, but its specific molecular mechanisms are still unclear. This study was conducted to explore the associations between changes in neurotransmitters and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and altered gut microbiota in depressed mice. Here, the chronic restraint stress (CRS) model of depression was built. The classical behavioral tests were conducted to assess the depressive-like behaviors of mice. The 16S rRNA gene sequence extracted from fecal samples was used to assess the gut microbial composition. Liquid and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy were used to identify neurotransmitters in hypothalamus and SCFAs in fecal samples, respectively. Finally, 29 differential bacteria taxa between depressed mice and control mice were identified, and the most differentially abundant bacteria taxa were genus Allobaculum and family Ruminococcaceae between the two groups. The acetic acid, propionic acid, pentanoic acid, norepinephrine, 5-HIAA and 5-HT were significantly decreased in depressed mice compared to control mice. Genus Allobaculum was found to be significantly positively correlated with acetic acid and 5-HT. Taken together, these results provided novel microbial and metabolic frameworks for understanding the role of microbiota-gut-brain axis in depression, and suggested new insights to pave the way for novel therapeutic methods.
LINC01106 drives colorectal cancer growth and stemness through a positive feedback loop to regulate the Gli family factors
Authors: Guo Kun , Gong Wenbin , Wang Qin , Gu Guosheng , Zheng Tao , Li Ying , Li Weijie , Fang Miao , Xie Haohao , Yue Chao , Yang Jianbo , Zhu Zhiqiang
Published: October 2020

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential contributors to the progression of various human cancers. Long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1106 is a member of lncRNAs family. Until now, the specific role of LINC01106 in CRC remains undefined. The aim the current study was to unveil the functions of LINC01106 and explore its potential molecular mechanism in CRC. Based on the data of online database GEPIA, we determined that LINC01106 was expressed at a high level in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) tissues compared to normal colon tissues. More importantly, high level of LINC01106 had negative correlation with the overall survival of COAD patients. Additionally, we also determined the low level of LINC01106 in normal colon tissues based on UCSC database. Through qRT-PCR, we identified that LINC01106 was highly expressed in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal ones. Similarly, we detected the expression of LINC01106 and confirmed that LINC01106 was expressed higher in CRC cells than that in normal cells. Subsequently, LINC01106 was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. LINC01106 induced the proliferation, migration, and stem-like phenotype of CRC cells. Mechanistically, cytoplasmic LINC01106 positively modulated Gli4 in CRC cells by serving as a miR-449b-5p sponge. Furthermore, nuclear LINC01106 could activate the transcription of Gli1 and Gli2 through recruiting FUS to Gli1 and Gli2 promoters. Mechanism of investigation unveiled that Gli2 was a transcription activator of LINC01106. In conclusion, Gli2-induced upregulation of LINC01106 aggravates CRC progression through upregulating Gli2, Gli2, and Gli4.
Practical classification of triple-negative breast cancer: intratumoral heterogeneity, mechanisms of drug resistance, and novel therapies
Authors: Marra Antonio , Trapani Dario , Viale Giulia , Criscitiello Carmen , Curigliano Giuseppe
Published: October 2020

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is not a unique disease, encompassing multiple entities with marked histopathological, transcriptomic and genomic heterogeneity. Despite several efforts, transcriptomic and genomic classifications have remained merely theoretic and most of the patients are being treated with chemotherapy. Driver alterations in potentially targetable genes, including PIK3CA and AKT, have been identified across TNBC subtypes, prompting the implementation of biomarker-driven therapeutic approaches. However, biomarker-based treatments as well as immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy have provided contrasting and limited results so far. Accordingly, a better characterization of the genomic and immune contexture underpinning TNBC, as well as the translation of the lessons learnt in the metastatic disease to the early setting would improve patients’ outcomes. The application of multi-omics technologies, biocomputational algorithms, assays for minimal residual disease monitoring and novel clinical trial designs are strongly warranted to pave the way toward personalized anticancer treatment for patients with TNBC.
Virtual zero-photon catalysis for improving continuous-variable quantum key distribution via Gaussian post-selection
Authors: Zhong Hai , Guo Ying , Mao Yun , Ye Wei , Huang Duan
Published: October 2020

Quantum catalysis is a feasible approach to increase the performance of continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD), involving the special zero-photon catalysis (ZPC) operation. However, in the practical point of view, the improvement effect of this operation will be limited by the imperfection of the photon detector. In this paper, we show that the ZPC operation at the sender can be simulated by a post-selection method without implementing it in practical devices. While performing this virtual version of ZPC in CVQKD, we can not only reach the ideal case of its practical implementation with minimal hardware requirement, but also keep the benefit of Gaussian security proofs. Based on Gaussian modulated coherent state protocols with achievable parameters, we enhance the security of the proposed scheme from the asymptotical case to the finite-size scenario and composable framework. Simulation results show that similar to the asymptotical case, both the maximal transmission distance and the tolerable excess noise of virtual ZPC-involved CVQKD outperform the original scheme and the scheme using virtual photon subtraction while considering finite-size effect and composable security. In addition, the virtual ZPC-involved CVQKD can tolerate a higher imperfection of the detector, enabling its practical implementation of the CVQKD system with state-of-the-art technology.
Identification of plastic-associated species in the Mediterranean Sea using DNA metabarcoding with Nanopore MinION
Authors: Davidov Keren , Iankelevich-Kounio Evgenia , Yakovenko Iryna , Koucherov Yuri , Rubin-Blum Maxim , Oren Matan
Published: October 2020

Plastic debris in the ocean form a new ecosystem, termed ‘plastisphere’, which hosts a variety of marine organisms. Recent studies implemented DNA metabarcoding to characterize the taxonomic composition of the plastisphere in different areas of the world. In this study, we used a modified metabarcoding approach which was based on longer barcode sequences for the characterization of the plastisphere biota. We compared the microbiome of polyethylene food bags after 1 month at sea to the free-living biome in two proximal but environmentally different locations on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. We targeted the full 1.5 kb-long 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and 0.4–0.8 kb-long regions within the 18S rRNA, ITS, tufA and COI loci for eukaryotes. The taxonomic barcodes were sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technology with multiplexing on a single MinION flow cell. We identified between 1249 and 2141 species in each of the plastic samples, of which 61 species (34 bacteria and 27 eukaryotes) were categorized as plastic-specific, including species that belong to known hydrocarbon-degrading genera. In addition to a large prokaryotes repertoire, our results, supported by scanning electron microscopy, depict a surprisingly high biodiversity of eukaryotes within the plastisphere with a dominant presence of diatoms as well as other protists, algae and fungi.
Quantifying the adhesive strength between the SARS-CoV-2 S-proteins and human receptor and its effect in therapeutics
Authors: Ponga Mauricio
Published: October 2020

The binding affinity and adhesive strength between the spike (S) glycoproteins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor is computed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The calculations indicate that the binding affinity is $$e_{RS}= 12.6 \pm 1$$

e

RS

=
12.6
±
1

$$\hbox {kCal}{\cdot }\hbox {mol}^{-1}$$

kCal
·

mol

-
1

with a maximum adhesive force of $$\sim 102$$

∼
102

pN. Our analysis suggests that only 27 (13 in S-protein, 14 in ACE2) residues are active during the initial fusion process between the S-protein and ACE2 receptor. With these insights, we investigated the effect of possible therapeutics in the size and wrapping time of virus particles by reducing the binding energy. Our analysis indicates that this energy has to be reduced significantly, around 50% or more, to block SARS-CoV-2 particles with radius in the order of $$R\le 60$$

R
≤
60

nm. Our study provides concise target residues and target binding energy reduction between S-proteins and receptors for the development of new therapeutics treatments for COVID-19 guided by computational design.
Changes in the role of Pacific decadal oscillation on sea ice extent variability across the mid-1990s
Authors: Kim Hyerim , Yeh Sang-Wook , An Soon-Il , Song Se-Yong
Published: October 2020

Characteristics of sea ice extent (SIE) have been rapidly changing in the Pacific Arctic sector (PAS) in recent years. The SIE variability in PAS during the late spring and early summer (i.e., April–May–June, AMJ) plays a key role in determining the SIE during the following fall when SIE is at a minimum. We find that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which is the most dominant variability of sea surface temperature (SST) on the low-frequency timescales, differently influences the SIE in PAS during AMJ before and after the mid-1990s. While a positive phase of PDO during the previous winter acts to increases SIE during AMJ before the mid-1990s, it acts to decrease SIE during AMJ after the mid-1990s. Further analysis indicates that atmospheric circulation associated with PDO differently influences the variability of SIE in the PAS during AMJ by modulating poleward moisture transport across the Alaska or the Far East Asia peninsula. This results in the change in the relationship of PDO and SIE in the PAS before and after the mid-1990s.
Prognostic value of baseline clinical and HRCT findings in 101 patients with severe COVID-19 in Wuhan, China
Authors: Cao Yukun , Han Xiaoyu , Gu Jin , Li Yumin , Liu Jia , Alwalid Osamah , Cui Yue , Zhang Xin , Zheng Chuansheng , Fan Yanqing , Wu Hanping , Shi Heshui
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of baseline clinical and high resolution CT (HRCT) findings in patients with severe COVID-19. In this retrospective, two-center study, we included two groups of inpatients with severe COVID-19 who had been discharged or died in Jin Yin-tan hospital and Wuhan union hospital between January 5, 2020, and February 22, 2020. Cases were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, and HRCT imaging were collected and compared between discharged and deceased patients. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess predictors of mortality risk in these patients. 101 patients were included in this study, of whom 66 were discharged and 35 died in the hospital. The mean age was 56.6 ± 15.1 years and 67 (66.3%) were men. Of the 101 patients, hypertension (38, 37.6%), cardiovascular disease (21,20.8%), diabetes (18,17.8%), and chronic pulmonary disease (16,15.8%) were the most common coexisting conditions. The multivariable regression analysis showed older age (OR: 1.142, 95% CI 1.059–1.231, p < 0.001), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (OR: 10.142, 95% CI 1.611–63.853, p = 0.014), reduced lymphocyte count (OR: 0.004, 95% CI 0.001–0.306, p = 0.013), and elevated HRCT score (OR: 1.276, 95% CI 1.002–1.625, p = 0.049) to be independent predictors of mortality risk on admission in severe COVID-19 patients. These findings may have important clinical implications for decision-making based on risk stratification of severe COVID-19 patients.