bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trans‑Image in Viktor Sidorenko’ Creative Work
Authors:   Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Arts, Alforova Zoia
Published: March 2021

The aim of the article is to investigate the transformation of the image as a morphological unit of modern visual art on the example of the creative work of a Ukrainian artist and researcher of modern visual art Viktor Sidorenko. The research methodology is based on the methods developed in the works of J. Landsdown and S. Schofield, S. Yerokhin and others. The paper presents an attempt to study a new type of image – post-post-classical image, which has an ontologically transgressive character. The research has important implications for understanding the modern morphological changes in the visual sphere, the instrumental system of these changes that ensures the presence of its two mutually antithetical trends: transgressive and synergetic. The author analyzes the publications in which the link between the morphology of the visual sphere and the latest developments in the creation of visual space are explored. The choice of Victor Sidorenko’s creative work as a research material is not accidental. It is in the work of this artist that the genesis of the modern post-post-classical image and the transformation of its space as polymorphic can be clearly traced. The attraction to photographicity on the one hand, and author coding, on the other, becomes an ontological feature of V. Sidorenko’s authorial construction of pictorial space and in further creative searches. A certain culmination of this stage in the artist’s visual work is the already famous full‑scale visual project “The Mill of Time” (2003). It is in this project that V. Sidorenko creates a trans‑image as a space of a new type, in which photography, installation, painting, living objects and video projection create a post-classical type of image. The paper considers Victor Sidorenko’s creative work as a vivid example of the genesis of the image, whose ontological feature is its transgressive character. This is an image of the post-post-classical type, whose pictorial space can consist of classical, non‑classical and post-classical images. At the present stage, there have been changes in the strategies of representation of the trans‑image as such. The main strategy of its representation is a polymorphic visual project, which synergistically combines different types of images, bringing their semantic content beyond a stable visual form.
AKULTURASI KOMUNIKASI MASYARAKAT SUKU BUGIS DAN SUKU BANJAR DI DESA HANDIL TERUSAN, KALIMANTAN TIMUR
Authors: Nuris Muhammad Syaikhu , Syahrani Rizky Amalia
Published: March 2021

AbstrakAkulturasi komunikasi merupakan proses percampuran budaya yang melahirkan budaya baru tanpa menghilangkan budaya aslinya. Melihat fenomena yang terjadi di Desa Handil Terusan, Kecamatan Anggana, Kabupaten Kutai Kartanegara, dengan bermacam perbedaan yang dibawa dari daerah aslinya, bisa saja menimbulkan bermacam hambatan ketika melakukan komunikasi. Berdasarkan konteks di atas, maka penelitian ini akan menjawab pertanyaan bagaimana komunikasi antarbudaya dalam proses akulturasi budaya bisa terjadi dan bentuk akulturasi dalam komunikasi seperti apa yang terjadi dalam lingkungan komunikasi (environmental) pada masyarakat suku bugis dan suku banjar di Desa Handil Terusan, Kalimantan Timur. Penelitian ini menggunakan paradigma konstruktivis dengan pendekatan analisis kualitatif dengan delapan informan utama. Hasil penelitian dengan menggunakan teori komunikasi intrapersonal dengan tiga variabel akulturasi menunjukkan  bahwa kompleksitas struktur kognitif dari diri masyarakat bisa dengan cepat beradaptasi dan membuka diri, karena kabar baik yang diberikan oleh keluarga sebelumnya yang sudah pernah merantau. Berdasarkan variabel citra diri, ada beberapa kegiatan yang memiliki kesamaan dari kampung halaman masing-masing seperti tahlilan, membaca yasin bersama setiap hari kamis malam dan gotong royong untuk membersihkan tempat ibadah. Hasil penelitian berdasarkan variabel motivasi akulturasi, pendatang di Desa Handil Terusan bertemu dengan orang lain dengan latar belakang budaya yang berbeda merupakan pengalaman belajar yang menyenangkan. Bentuk akulturasi yang terjadi adalah terjadinya komunikasi yang unik, dimana penggunaan bahasa banjar dengan logat bugis yang kuat dan sebaliknya, masyarakat banjar yg menggunakan bahasa bugis namun dengan dialek banjar. Kata Kunci: Akulturasi; Budaya; Suku Bugis; Suku Banjar
KOMUNIKASI ANTARPRIBADI SEBAGAI ALAT UNTUK PENGURANGAN KETIDAKPASTIAN ANGGOTA KOMUNITAS RIOT BANDUNG
Authors: Petroliunanda Glenn , Christin Maylanny
Published: March 2021

AbstrakKomunitas Running Is Our Therapy atau biasa disebut komunitas RIOT adalah sebuah komunitas yang menghimpun orang-orang yang memiliki minat pada olahraga lari. Komunitas RIOT Bandung memiliki harapan bahwa dalam komunitas dapat terjadi komunikasi yang cair, berbaur, akrab, dan non formal sehingga dapat merangkul anggota tanpa batasan. Namun, fenomena yang saat ini terjadi yaitu anggota yang baru bergabung memiliki keraguan untuk bergabung dengan komunitas RIOT Bandung karena ketidakpastian dan keraguan untuk bergabung yang dialaminya. Hal tersebut menjadi tantangan bagi komunitas RIOT Bandung untuk melakukan komunikasi antarpribadi dengan anggota baru yang masih mengalami ketidakpastian, kekhawatiran, dan keraguan untuk mau bergabung dengan Komunitas RIOT Bandung. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana komunikasi antarpribadi digunakan sebagai alat untuk pengurangan ketidakpastian anggota komunitas RIOT Bandung. Penelitian ini dikaji dengan menggunakan teori komunikasi antarpribadi dan teori pengurangan ketidakpastian. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi fenomenologi pada anggota komunitas RIOT Bandung. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan teknik wawancara. Hasil yang peneliti dapatkan yaitu komunikasi antarpribadi yang dilakukan komunitas RIOT Bandung merupakan komunikasi antarpribadi yang nonformal dan membaur, bersifat apresiatif dan suportif, yang bertujuan agar dapat mengurangi ketidakpastian antar anggotanya. Komunikasi antarpribadi dinilai efektif dalam mengurangi ketidakpastian antar anggota. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini, komunikasi antarpribadi yang dilakukan komunitas RIOT Bandung dinilai efektif untuk mengurangi ketidakpastian antar anggota, dan dinilai memiliki dampak yang besar dalam hubungan antar anggota komunitas. Komunikasi antarpribadi juga dinilai dapat membangkitkan semangat anggota komunitas karena merasa diberi dukungan oleh komunitas, sehingga anggota dapat merasa nyaman, diterima, dan dianggap oleh komunitas RIOT Bandung. Kata Kunci: Komunikasi antarpribadi; Komunitas RIOT Bandung; Kualitatif; Pengurangan ketidakpastian; Studi fenomenologi.
Examining The Effectiveness Of Animated Cartoon As Brand Awareness In Tv Advertisement: Evidence From Survey In Malaysia And Jordan
Authors: Ahmad Azaini Abdul Manaf  , Yousef Khaled A. Alallan
Published: March 2021

Animation is a dynamic visual statement and is frequently used for advertising purposes, expanding the TV advertisement content and causing affective stimuli to consumers. It has been documented that animation may increase TV advertisement effectiveness interms of consumers’ affective, cognitive and conative responses, thus, having a positive and significant impact on their attitudes, including brand awareness and preferences, products’ choice, and intention to purchase, although the role of involvement issignificant for assessing consumers’ responses to TV advertisement. The aim of this paper is to investigate animation influences on advertisement effectiveness, by examining consumers’ responses to animated advertisement (cognitive and affective) as regards intention to buy, taking also into account the role of involvement. Findings suggest that watching animated ads is positively correlated with the intention to purchase. In addition, consumers’ intention to buy is higher by watching cognitive than affective animated ads for the moderate-involved subjects, as well as that for highly involved individuals, intention to purchase is high for both types of cartoon animated advertisements, i.e. cognitive and affective.
Household Debt Decision: Poverty or Psychology?
Authors: Roza Hazli Zakaria  , Nor Ismawati Mohd Jaafar  , Nur Annizah Ishak
Published: March 2021

This study is motivated by the growing concern with the increase in the level of household debt, particularly in Malaysia. One of the debated issues is whether household borrowings are related to poverty factors or due to psychological factors. This study approaches this issue by taking into account the factors as proposed by conventional (Life Cycle Hypothesis) and heterodox (Relative Income Hypothesis) economic theories. The data presented is micro level data collected from a self-administered survey among urban working class in Klang Valley. We find no conclusive evidence supporting the conventional theory, since though age is statistically significant, yet future income expectations are not. The findings also suggested that household debt is not a poverty related phenomenon since the determinants are more “wants” rather than “needs”. Thus, any policy intervention should include educating households on rational consumption decision making.
Aptamer-Based Fluorescence Quenching Approach for Detection of Aflatoxin M1 in Milk
Authors: Qiao Qinqin , Guo Xiaodong , Wen Fang , Chen Lu , Xu Qingbiao , Zheng Nan , Cheng Jianbo , Xue Xiuheng , Wang Jiaqi
Published: March 2021

Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), one of the most toxic mycotoxins, is a feed and food contaminant of global concern. In this study, we developed a fast and simple method for detection of AFM1 based on a structure-switching signaling aptamer. This aptasensor is based on the change in fluorescence signal due to formation of an AFM1/aptamer complex. To generate the aptasensor, the specific aptamer was modified with FAM (carboxyfluorescein), and their complementary DNAs (cDNA) were modified with a carboxytetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA) quenching group. In the absence of AFM1, the aptamers were hybridized with cDNA, resulting in quenching of the aptamer fluorescence due to the proximity of the aptamer’s fluorophore to the quenching group on the cDNA. On the other hand, in the presence of AFM1, a structural switch in the aptamer was induced by formation of an AFM1/aptamer complex. Changes in the structure of the aptamer led to the release of the cDNA, causing the generation of a fluorescence signal. Thus, AFM1 concentrations could be quantitatively monitored based on the changes in fluorescences. Under optimized conditions, this assay exhibited a linear response to AFM1 in the range of 1–100 ng/mL and a limit of detection of 0.5 ng/mL was calculated. This proposed aptasensor was applied to milk samples spiked with a dilution series of AFM1, yielding satisfactory recoveries from 93.4 to 101.3%. These results demonstrated that this detection technique could be useful for high-throughput and quantitative determination of mycotoxin levels in milk and dairy products.
Procedure-Related Complications of Left Bundle Branch Pacing: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Chen Xueying , Wei Lanfang , Bai Jin , Wang Wei , Qin Shengmei , Wang Jingfeng , Liang Yixiu , Su Yangang , Ge Junbo
Published: March 2021

Background: Although left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) has emerged as a novel physiological pacing strategy with a low and stable threshold, its safety has not been well-documented. In the present study, we included all the patients with procedure-related complications at our centre to estimate these LBBP cases with unique complications.

Methods: We enrolled 612 consecutive patients who received the procedure in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, between January 2018 and July 2020. Regular follow-ups were conducted (at 1, 3, and 6 months in the first year and every 6–12 months from the second year), and the clinical data of the patients with complications were collected and analyzed.

Results: With a mean follow-up period of 12.32 ± 5.21 months, procedure-related complications were observed in 10 patients (1.63%) that included two postoperative septum perforations (2/612, 0.33%), two postoperative lead dislodgements (2/612, 0.33%), four intraoperative septum injuries (4/612, 0.65%), and two intraoperative lead fractures (2/612, 0.33%). Pacing parameters were stable during follow-up, and no major complications were observed after lead repositioning in the cases of septum perforation and lead dislodgement.

Conclusion: The incidence of procedure-related complications for LBBP, namely postoperative septum perforation, postoperative lead dislodgement, intraoperative septum injury, and intraoperative lead fracture, were low. No adverse clinical outcomes were demonstrated after successful repositioning of the lead and appropriate treatment.
Low-Energy Fragmentation Dynamics at Copahue Volcano (Argentina) as Revealed by an Infrasonic Array and Ash Characteristics
Authors: Hantusch Marcia , Lacanna Giorgio , Ripepe Maurizio , Montenegro Veronica , Valderrama Oscar , Farias Camila , Caselli Alberto , Gabellini Pietro , Cioni Raffaello
Published: March 2021

Ash-rich eruptions represent a serious risk to the population living nearby as well as at thousands of kilometers from a volcano. Volcanic ash is the result of extensive magma fragmentation during an eruption, and it depends upon a combination of magma properties such as rheology, vesicularity and permeability, gas overpressure and the possible involvement of external fluids during magma ascent. The explosive process generates infrasonic waves which are directly linked to the outflow of the gas-particle mixture in the atmosphere. The higher the overpressure in the magma, the higher should be the exit velocity of the ejected material and the acoustic pressure related to this process. During violent eruptions, fragmentation becomes more efficient and is responsible for the extensive production of ash which is dispersed in the atmosphere. We show that the phase of intense ash emission that occurred during March 2016 at Copahue volcano (Argentina) generated a very low (0.1 Pa) infrasonic amplitude at 13 km, raising a number of questions concerning the links among acoustic pressure, gas overpressure and efficiency of magma fragmentation. Infrasound and direct observations of the eruptive plume indicate that the large quantity of ash erupted at Copahue was ejected with a low exit velocity. Thus, it was associated with eruptive dynamics driven by a low magma overpressure. This is more evident when infrasonic activity at Copahue is compared to the moderate explosive activity of Villarrica (Chile), recorded by the same array, at a distance of 193 km. Our data suggest a process of rigid fragmentation under a low magma overpressure which was nearly completely dissipated during the passage of the erupting mixture through the granular, ash-bearing crater infilling. We conclude that ash released into the atmosphere during low-energy fragmentation dynamics can be difficult to monitor, with direct consequences for the assessment of the related hazard and management of eruptive crises.
Clinical, Biochemical, and Molecular Analyses of Medium-Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency in Chinese Patients
Authors: Gong Zhuwen , Liang Lili , Qiu Wenjuan , Zhang Huiwen , Ye Jun , Wang Yu , Ji Wenjun , Chen Ting , Gu Xuefan , Han Lianshu
Published: March 2021

Objective

Medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder of fatty acid β-oxidation. The present study aimed to evaluate clinical and biochemical manifestations, and the mutation spectrum of this disorder in a large cohort of Chinese patients.

Methods

A total of 24 patients were enrolled, and blood acylcarnitine and urinary organic acid levels were measured by tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), respectively. Mutations in the ACADM gene were detected by Sanger or next-generation sequencing. Clinical progression, acylcarnitine spectra, and mutations were analyzed and described in detail.

Results

Among the 24 patients, six cases were diagnosed because of disease onset with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, convulsion, and hypoglycemia; 18 patients without symptoms were diagnosed by newborn screening (NBS). All patients who accepted treatment after diagnosis developed normal intelligence and physique. The concentrations of octanoylcarnitine, the octanoylcarnitine/decanoylcarnitine ratio, and the octanoylcarnitine/acetylcarnitine ratio in the blood and urinary dicarboxylic acid concentrations were consistently elevated. Blood biomarkers failed to decrease after treatment. DNA sequencing revealed seven known and 17 novel mutations in the ACADM gene of patients. Mutation p.T150Rfs∗4 was most frequent, followed by p.R31C, p.F103Y, p.I223T, p.G362E, and c.387+1delG.

Conclusion

Despite biochemical abnormalities, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency showed relatively mild clinical phenotypes with low mortality and optimistic prognoses in China. NBS is crucial for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Inference of Ancestries and Heterozygosity Proportion and Genotype Imputation in West African Cattle Populations
Authors: Gebrehiwot Netsanet Z. , Aliloo Hassan , Strucken Eva M. , Marshall Karen , Al Kalaldeh Mohammad , Missohou Ayao , Gibson John P.
Published: March 2021

Several studies have evaluated computational methods that infer the haplotypes from population genotype data in European cattle populations. However, little is known about how well they perform in African indigenous and crossbred populations. This study investigates: (1) global and local ancestry inference; (2) heterozygosity proportion estimation; and (3) genotype imputation in West African indigenous and crossbred cattle populations. Principal component analysis (PCA), ADMIXTURE, and LAMP-LD were used to analyse a medium-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset from Senegalese crossbred cattle. Reference SNP data of East and West African indigenous and crossbred cattle populations were used to investigate the accuracy of imputation from low to medium-density and from medium to high-density SNP datasets using Minimac v3. The first two principal components differentiatedBos indicusfrom EuropeanBos taurusand AfricanBos taurusfrom other breeds. Irrespective of assuming two or three ancestral breeds for the Senegalese crossbreds, breed proportion estimates from ADMIXTURE and LAMP-LD showed a high correlation (r≥ 0.981). The observed ancestral origin heterozygosity proportion in putative F1 crosses was close to the expected value of 1.0, and clearly differentiated F1 from all other crosses. The imputation accuracies (estimated as correlation) between imputed and the real data in crossbred animals ranged from 0.142 to 0.717 when imputing from low to medium-density, and from 0.478 to 0.899 for imputation from medium to high-density. The imputation accuracy was generally higher when the reference data came from the same geographical region as the target population, and when crossbred reference data was used to impute crossbred genotypes. The lowest imputation accuracies were observed for indigenous breed genotypes. This study shows that ancestral origin heterozygosity can be estimated with high accuracy and will be far superior to the use of observed individual heterozygosity for estimating heterosis in African crossbred populations. It was not possible to achieve high imputation accuracy in West African crossbred or indigenous populations based on reference data sets from East Africa, and population-specific genotyping with high-density SNP assays is required to improve imputation.
Genetic Diversity and Demographic History of the Shaggy Soft-Haired Mouse Abrothrix hirta (Cricetidae; Abrotrichini)
Authors: Valdez Lourdes , D’Elía Guillermo
Published: March 2021

Genetic information on species can inform decision making regarding conservation of biodiversity since the response of organisms to changing environments depend, in part, on their genetic makeup. Territories of central-southern Chile and Argentina have undergone a varying degree of impact during the Quaternary, where the response of local fauna and flora was rather species-specific. Here, we focus on the sigmodontine rodent Abrothrix hirta, distributed from 35° S in Chile and Argentina to northern Tierra del Fuego. Based on 119,226 transcriptome-derived SNP loci from 46 individuals of A. hirta, we described the geographic distribution of the genetic diversity of this species using a maximum likelihood tree, principal component and admixture analyses. We also addressed the demographic history of the main intraspecific lineages of A. hirta using GADMA. We found that A. hirta exhibited four allopatric intraspecific lineages. Three main genetic groups were identified by a Principal Component Analysis and by Ancestry analysis. The demographic history of A. hirta was characterized by recent population stability for populations at the northernmost part of the range, while southern populations experienced a recent population expansion.
SMIXnorm: Fast and Accurate RNA-Seq Data Normalization for Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Samples
Authors: Yin Shen , Zhan Xiaowei , Yao Bo , Xiao Guanghua , Wang Xinlei , Xie Yang
Published: March 2021

RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) provides a comprehensive quantification of transcriptomic activities in biological samples. Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples are collected as part of routine clinical procedure, and are the most widely available biological sample format in medical research and patient care. Normalization is an essential step in RNA-seq data analysis. A number of normalization methods, though developed for RNA-seq data from fresh frozen (FF) samples, can be used with FFPE samples as well. The only extant normalization method specifically designed for FFPE RNA-seq data, MIXnorm, which has been shown to outperform the normalization methods, but at the cost of a complex mixture model and a high computational burden. It is therefore important to adapt MIXnorm for simplicity and computational efficiency while maintaining superior performance. Furthermore, it is critical to develop an integrated tool that performs commonly used normalization methods for both FF and FFPE RNA-seq data. We developed a new normalization method for FFPE RNA-seq data, named SMIXnorm, based on a simplified two-component mixture model compared to MIXnorm to facilitate computation. The expression levels of expressed genes are modeled by normal distributions without truncation, and those of non-expressed genes are modeled by zero-inflated Poisson distributions. The maximum likelihood estimates of the model parameters are obtained by a nested Expectation-Maximization algorithm with a less complicated latent variable structure, and closed-form updates are available within each iteration. Real data applications and simulation studies show that SMIXnorm greatly reduces computing time compared to MIXnorm, without sacrificing the performance. More importantly, we developed a web-based tool, RNA-seq Normalization (RSeqNorm), that offers a simple workflow to compute normalized RNA-seq data for both FFPE and FF samples. It includes SMIXnorm and MIXnorm for FFPE RNA-seq data, together with five commonly used normalization methods for FF RNA-seq data. Users can easily upload a raw RNA-seq count matrix and select one of the seven normalization methods to produce a downloadable normalized expression matrix for any downstream analysis. The R package is available at https://github.com/S-YIN/RSEQNORM. The web-based tool, RSeqNorm is available at http://lce.biohpc.swmed.edu/rseqnorm with no restriction to use or redistribute.
Fas/FasL Signaling Regulates CD8 Expression During Exposure to Self-Antigens
Authors: Flores-Mendoza Giovanna , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Noé , Rubio Rosa M. , Madera-Salcedo Iris K. , Rosetti Florencia , Crispín José C.
Published: March 2021

Activation of self-reactive CD8+T cells induces a peripheral tolerance mechanism that involves loss of CD8 expression. Because genetic deficiency ofFasandFaslcauses the accumulation of double-negative (DN; CD3+TCR-αβ+CD4-CD8-) T cells that have been proposed to derive from CD8+cells, we decided to explore the role of Fas and FasL in self-antigen-induced CD8 downregulation. To this end, we quantified Fas and FasL induction by different stimuli and analyzed the effects of Fas/FasL deficiency during a protective immune response and after exposure to self-antigens. Our data describes how Fas and FasL upregulation differs depending on the setting of CD8 T cell activation and demonstrates that Fas/FasL signaling maintains CD8 expression during repetitive antigen stimulation and following self-antigen encounter. Together, our results reveal an unexpected role of Fas/FasL signaling and offer a new insight into the role of these molecules in the regulation of immune tolerance.
A Comprehensive Assessment of Hip Damage in Ankylosing Spondylitis, Especially Early Features
Authors: Han Qing , Zheng Zhaohui , Zhang Kui , Ding Jin , Baraliakos Xenofon , Zhu Ping
Published: March 2021

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is most common in adolescents and the ultimate result is disability, which places a huge burden on patients and society. Therefore, the key to improve the prognosis of AS is the early diagnosis of hip injury. To examine if AS patients whose hip pain is either absent or minimal might already have observable MRI and X-ray hip changes. Clinical and imaging hip data were systematically analyzed in 200 healthy controls (HC) and 300 AS with varying degrees of hip pain. Forty-four patients with early hip osteoarthritis (OA) served as positive imaging controls. In MRI images, BME lesions in the STIR sequence were much more frequent in AS (62%) compared to HC (2%) (p < 0.0001). Most importantly, 42% of AS with no or minimal hip pain had one or more MRI lesions. This was much more frequent compared to the 2% in HC (p < 0.05). These lesions in AS were observed singly or in combination in the trochanters (8%), femoral heads (12%), and acetabula (13%). Parallel finding that X-ray changes were present in patients with minimal or no hip pain was also observed with X-ray. Based on the normal hip width of HC, joint space narrowing was observed in 94.3% of the entire AS cohort, and importantly 56.7% of AS patients with no or mild hip pain. In these latter patients, functional activities of the hips such as walking were normal. At least 40% of AS patients with minimal or no hip pain might already show MRI and X-ray changes.
CMEMS-Based Coastal Analyses: Conditioning, Coupling and Limits for Applications
Authors: Sanchez-Arcilla Agustin , Staneva Joanna , Cavaleri Luigi , Badger Merete , Bidlot Jean , Sorensen Jacob T. , Hansen Lars B. , Martin Adrien , Saulter Andy , Espino Manuel , Miglietta Mario M. , Mestres Marc , Bonaldo Davide , Pezzutto Paolo , Schulz-Stellenfleth Johannes , Wiese Anne , Larsen Xiaoli , Carniel Sandro , Bolaños Rodolfo , Abdalla Saleh , Tiesi Alessandro
Published: March 2021

Recent advances in numerical modeling, satellite data, and coastal processes, together with the rapid evolution of CMEMS products and the increasing pressures on coastal zones, suggest the timeliness of extending such products toward the coast. The CEASELESS EU H2020 project combines Sentinel and in-situ data with high-resolution models to predict coastal hydrodynamics at a variety of scales, according to stakeholder requirements. These predictions explicitly introduce land discharges into coastal oceanography, addressing local conditioning, assimilation memory and anisotropic error metrics taking into account the limited size of coastal domains. This article presents and discusses the advances achieved by CEASELESS in exploring the performance of coastal models, considering model resolution and domain scales, and assessing error generation and propagation. The project has also evaluated how underlying model uncertainties can be treated to comply with stakeholder requirements for a variety of applications, from storm-induced risks to aquaculture, from renewable energy to water quality. This has led to the refinement of a set of demonstrative applications, supported by a software environment able to provide met-ocean data on demand. The article ends with some remarks on the scientific, technical and application limits for CMEMS-based coastal products and how these products may be used to drive the extension of CMEMS toward the coast, promoting a wider uptake of CMEMS-based predictions.
Using Multiple Ecological Models to Inform Environmental Decision-Making
Authors: Lewis Kristy A. , Rose Kenneth A. , de Mutsert Kim , Sable Shaye , Ainsworth Cameron , Brady Damian C. , Townsend Howard
Published: March 2021

Coastal ecosystems are experiencing degradation from compound impacts of climate change and multiple anthropogenic disturbances. These pressures often act synergistically and complicate designing effective conservation measures; consequently, large-scale coastal restoration actions become a wicked problem. The purpose of this study was to use two different food web models in a coordinated manner to inform resource managers in their assessment of the ecological effects of a large-scale marsh restoration project. A team was formed that included the model developers and outside scientists, who were asked to use available model results of the calibrated simulations of an Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) model and a Comprehensive Aquatic Systems Model (CASM), both designed to describe the structure and energetics of the Barataria Bay, Louisiana, United States food web. Both models offer somewhat different depictions of the predator-prey and competitive interactions of species within the food web, and how environmental conditions affect the species biomass pools and energetics. Collectively, the team evaluated the strengths of each model and derived a common set of indicator variables from model outputs that provided information on the structure and energy flow of the simulated food web. Considering the different modeling structures and calibration approaches, indicators were interpreted within and between models. Use of both models enabled a robust determination that: (1) Detritus plays a vital role in the energetics of the system; (2) The food web responds to spring high flow seasons by increasing productivity through specific, dominant pathways; (3) The trophic pyramid is truncated; (4) Compared to other estuaries, this system has redundant pathways for energy transfer. These findings indicate that the food web appears to be resilient to disturbance because of a detritus energy reserve, most consumer biomass consists of low trophic level, high turnover species, and redundant energy pathways exist. This information provides context to decision-makers for assessing possible basin-scale impacts on fish and shellfish resources of a proposed large-scale restoration project. The use of multiple models in a coordinated but not overly constrained way, as demonstrated here, provides a significant step toward co-production of knowledge for use in resource management decisions.
Registered Trials on Artificial Intelligence Conducted in Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit: A Cross-Sectional Study on ClinicalTrials.gov
Authors: Liu Guina , Li Nian , Chen Lingmin , Yang Yi , Zhang Yonggang
Published: March 2021

Objective: Clinical trials contribute to the development of clinical practice. However, little is known about the current status of trials on artificial intelligence (AI) conducted in emergency department and intensive care unit. The objective of the study was to provide a comprehensive analysis of registered trials in such field based on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Methods: Registered trials on AI conducted in emergency department and intensive care unit were searched on ClinicalTrials.gov up to 12th January 2021. The characteristics were analyzed using SPSS21.0 software.

Results: A total of 146 registered trials were identified, including 61 in emergency department and 85 in intensive care unit. They were registered from 2004 to 2021. Regarding locations, 58 were conducted in Europe, 58 in America, 9 in Asia, 4 in Australia, and 17 did not report locations. The enrollment of participants was from 0 to 18,000,000, with a median of 233. Universities were the primary sponsors, which accounted for 43.15%, followed by hospitals (35.62%), and industries/companies (9.59%). Regarding study designs, 85 trials were interventional trials, while 61 were observational trials. Of the 85 interventional trials, 15.29% were for diagnosis and 38.82% for treatment; of the 84 observational trials, 42 were prospective, 14 were retrospective, 2 were cross-sectional, 2 did not report clear information and 1 was unknown. Regarding the trials' results, 69 trials had been completed, while only 10 had available results on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Conclusions: Our study suggest that more AI trials are needed in emergency department and intensive care unit and sponsors are encouraged to report the results.
Mechanism Across Scales: A Holistic Modeling Framework Integrating Laboratory and Field Studies for Microbial Ecology
Authors: Lui Lauren M. , Majumder Erica L.-W. , Smith Heidi J. , Carlson Hans K. , von Netzer Frederick , Fields Matthew W. , Stahl David A. , Zhou Jizhong , Hazen Terry C. , Baliga Nitin S. , Adams Paul D. , Arkin Adam P.
Published: March 2021

Over the last century, leaps in technology for imaging, sampling, detection, high-throughput sequencing, and -omics analyses have revolutionized microbial ecology to enable rapid acquisition of extensive datasets for microbial communities across the ever-increasing temporal and spatial scales. The present challenge is capitalizing on our enhanced abilities of observation and integrating diverse data types from different scales, resolutions, and disciplines to reach a causal and mechanistic understanding of how microbial communities transform and respond to perturbations in the environment. This type of causal and mechanistic understanding will make predictions of microbial community behavior more robust and actionable in addressing microbially mediated global problems. To discern drivers of microbial community assembly and function, we recognize the need for a conceptual, quantitative framework that connects measurements of genomic potential, the environment, and ecological and physical forces to rates of microbial growth at specific locations. We describe the Framework for Integrated, Conceptual, and Systematic Microbial Ecology (FICSME), an experimental design framework for conducting process-focused microbial ecology studies that incorporates biological, chemical, and physical drivers of a microbial system into a conceptual model. Through iterative cycles that advance our understanding of the coupling across scales and processes, we can reliably predict how perturbations to microbial systems impact ecosystem-scale processes or vice versa. We describe an approach and potential applications for using the FICSME to elucidate the mechanisms of globally important ecological and physical processes, toward attaining the goal of predicting the structure and function of microbial communities in chemically complex natural environments.
Comparison of Methods for Picking the Operational Taxonomic Units From Amplicon Sequences
Authors: Wei Ze-Gang , Zhang Xiao-Dan , Cao Ming , Liu Fei , Qian Yu , Zhang Shao-Wu
Published: March 2021

With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, it has become convenient and cost efficient to thoroughly characterize the microbial diversity and taxonomic composition in various environmental samples. Millions of sequencing data can be generated, and how to utilize this enormous sequence resource has become a critical concern for microbial ecologists. One particular challenge is the OTUs (operational taxonomic units) picking in 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Lucky, this challenge can be directly addressed by sequence clustering that attempts to group similar sequences. Therefore, numerous clustering methods have been proposed to help to cluster 16S rRNA sequences into OTUs. However, each method has its clustering mechanism, and different methods produce diverse outputs. Even a slight parameter change for the same method can also generate distinct results, and how to choose an appropriate method has become a challenge for inexperienced users. A lot of time and resources can be wasted in selecting clustering tools and analyzing the clustering results. In this study, we introduced the recent advance of clustering methods for OTUs picking, which mainly focus on three aspects: (i) the principles of existing clustering algorithms, (ii) benchmark dataset construction for OTU picking and evaluation metrics, and (iii) the performance of different methods with various distance thresholds on benchmark datasets. This paper aims to assist biological researchers to select the reasonable clustering methods for analyzing their collected sequences and help algorithm developers to design more efficient sequences clustering methods.
Recurrent Potential G-Quadruplex Sequences in Archaeal Genomes
Authors: Chashchina Galina V. , Shchyolkina Anna K. , Kolosov Simon V. , Beniaminov Artemy D. , Kaluzhny Dmitry N.
Published: March 2021

Evolutionary conservation or over-representation of the potential G-quadruplex sequences (PQS) in genomes are usually considered as a sign of the functional relevance of these sequences. However, uneven base distribution (GC-content) along the genome may along the genome may result in seeming abundance of PQSs over average in the genome. Apart from this, a number of other conserved functional signals that are encoded in the GC-rich genomic regions may inadvertently result in emergence of G-quadruplex compatible sequences. Here, we analyze the genomes of archaea focusing our search to repetitive PQS (rPQS) motifs within each organism. The probability of occurrence of several identical PQSs within a relatively short archaeal genome is low and, thus, the structure and genomic location of such rPQSs may become a direct indication of their functionality. We have found that the majority of the genomes of Methanomicrobiaceae family of archaea contained multiple copies of the interspersed highly similar PQSs. Short oligonucleotides corresponding to the rPQS formed the G-quadruplex (G4) structure in presence of potassium ions as demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) and enzymatic probing. However, further analysis of the genomic context for the rPQS revealed a 10–12 nt cytosine-rich track adjacent to 3'-end of each rPQS. Synthetic DNA fragments that included the C-rich track tended to fold into alternative structures such as hairpin structure and antiparallel triplex that were in equilibrium with G4 structure depending on the presence of potassium ions in solution. Structural properties of the found repetitive sequences, their location in the genomes of archaea, and possible functions are discussed.
Genomic Characterization and Distribution Pattern of a Novel Marine OM43 Phage
Authors: Yang Mingyu , Xia Qian , Du Sen , Zhang Zefeng , Qin Fang , Zhao Yanlin
Published: March 2021

Bacteriophages have a significant impact on the structure and function of marine microbial communities. Phages of some major bacterial lineages have recently been shown to dominate the marine viral communities. However, phages that infect many important bacterial clades still remained unexplored. Members of the marine OM43 clade are methylotrophs that play important roles in C1 metabolism. OM43 phages (phages that infect the OM43 bacteria) represent an understudied viral group with only one known isolate. In this study, we describe the genomic characterization and biogeography of an OM43 phage that infects the strain HTCC2181, designated MEP301. MEP301 has a genome size of 34,774 bp. We found that MEP301 is genetically distinct from other known phage isolates and only displays significant sequence similarity with some metagenomic viral genomes (MVGs). A total of 12 MEP301-type MVGs were identified from metagenomic datasets. Comparative genomic and phylogenetic analyses revealed that MEP301-type phages can be separated into two subgroups (subgroup I and subgroup II). We also performed a metagenomic recruitment analysis to determine the relative abundance of reads mapped to these MEP301-type phages, which suggested that subgroup I MEP301-type phages are present predominantly in the cold upper waters with lower salinity. Notably, subgroup II phages have an inverse different distribution pattern, implying that they may infect hosts from a distinct OM43 subcluster. Our study has expanded the knowledge about the genomic diversity of marine OM43 phages and identified a new phage group that is widespread in the ocean.
The Origin and Molecular Epidemiology of Dengue Fever in Hainan Province, China, 2019
Authors: Liu Lin , Wu Tao , Liu Biao , Nelly Rajaofera Mamy Jayne , Fu Yumei , Kang Xun , Chen Chuizhe , Huang Zenyan , Wu Biao , Wang Jiao , Zhu Zhongyi , Ma Jinmin , Liu Ming , Zhang Yanru , Bao Chuanyu , Lin Feng , Chen Weijun , Xia Qianfeng
Published: March 2021

There was an outbreak of Dengue fever on September 5, 2019, in Hainan Province, which has not been endemic for 28 years. We aim to describe the clinical and epidemiological features of the 2019 outbreak in Hainan Province and identify the cause. All type 1 Dengue fever cases that occurred in this outbreak of Hainan exhibited mild clinical symptoms. The epidemiological investigations indicate that the outbreak might originate from workers in the Xiuying area, Haikou City, form a concentrated outbreak, and then spread out. Bayesian phylogenies results and epidemiological data were used to infer a likely series of events for the dengue virus’s potential spread and trace the possible sources. The strains’ sequences were close to a sequence from the nearby Guangdong province, supporting the hypothesis that the dengue virus was imported from Guangdong province and then spread across Hainan province. Furthermore, it is interesting that two other strains didn’t group with this cluster, suggesting that additional introduction pathways might exist. The study indicated that the dengue fever epidemic presented two important modes in Hainan. Firstly, epidemics prevalence was caused by imported cases, and then endogenous epidemics broke out in the natural epidemic focus.
New Thio-Compounds and Monoterpenes With Anti-inflammatory Activities From the Fungus Aspergillus sp. CYH26
Authors: Pan Guojun , Li Yanling , Che Xinyu , Tian Dan , Han Wenjie , Wang Zimin , Zhao Yanfen , Ren Shuang , Xu Yiru , Hao Gangping , Guo Mengfei , Xiao Na , Kong Fandong
Published: March 2021

Two new thio-compounds named aspergerthinol A and B (1 and 2) and two new monoterpenes named aspergerthinacids A and B (3 and 4) were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus sp. CYH26 from the rhizosphere soil of Cynanchum bungei Decne. The structures of compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic data and quantum NMR and ECD calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 represented a new family of sulfur containing natural products with a 3-methyl-4H-cyclopenta[b]thiophen-4-one skeleton. Compounds 1–4 showed inhibitory activities against nitric oxide (NO) with IC50 values of 38.0, 19.8, 46.3, and 56.6 μM, respectively.
MICAL2 Facilitates Gastric Cancer Cell Migration via MRTF-A-Mediated CDC42 Activation
Authors: Wang Yueyuan , Min Pengxiang , Qi Chenxiang , Zhao Shuo , Yu Minjie , Zhang Yujie , Du Jun
Published: March 2021

Aims and Hypothesis: Cell migration is driven by the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Although MICAL2 is known to mediate the oxidation of actin filaments to regulate F-actin dynamics, relatively few studies have investigated the potential role of MICAL2 during cancer cell migration.

Methods: The migratory ability of gastric cancer cells was measured by wound healing and transwell assays. The relationship between MICAL2 expression and MRTF-A nuclear localization was analyzed using gene overexpression and knockdown strategies. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by DCFH-DA staining. mRNA and protein levels of MMP9 were measured using qPCR and immunoblotting analysis. The activities of CDC42 and RhoA were assessed using pulldown assays.

Results: Depletion of MICAL2 markedly reduced gastric cancer cell migration. Mechanistically, silencing of MICAL2 inhibited the nuclear translocation of MRTF-A in response to EGF and serum stimulation, whereas the contents of MRTF-A remained unchanged. Further analysis showed that silencing of MICAL2 decreased the activation of CDC42 as well as mRNA and protein levels of MMP9. Ectopic expression of MICAL2 augmented MRTF-A levels in the nucleus, and promoted the activation of CDC42, MMP9 expression, and gastric cancer cell migration. Moreover, silencing of MRTF-A inhibited the CDC42 activation induced by overexpression of MICAL2. In addition, MICAL2-induced ROS generation contributed to the effect exerted by MICAL2 on MRTF-A nuclear translocation.

Conclusion: Together, these results provide evidence that MICAL2 facilitates gastric cancer cell migration via positive regulation of nuclear translocation of MRTF-A and subsequent CDC42 activation and MMP9 expression.
Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of Nd/Co Co-Doped BiFeO3 Nanoparticles With a Cellular Architecture
Authors: Gu Yanhong , Zhou Yan , Yang Yanliang , Zhang Xianghui , Zhang Weiying , Zhao Jianguo , Jia Hong
Published: March 2021

Bismuth ferrite (BFO) nanoparticle with general formula Bi1-xNdxFe1-yCoyO3 (x=0, 0.05; y=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20) were prepared using a two-solvent sol-gel method. Interestingly, most of the samples exhibited a cellular architecture. Bandgap engineering of BFO nanoparticles was achieved by co-doping with Nd and Co. Under illumination with ultraviolet light, the concentration of methylene orange increased. The sample of Bi0.95Nd0.05Fe0.85Co0.15O3 produced a small amount of hydrogen (8.88molg-1 after 1.5;h), but the other samples did not produce detectable levels of hydrogen. In this research, the production of hydrogen occurred under illumination by ultraviolet light, demonstrating the splitting of pure water without the use of a sacrificial reagent. A possible reason for this is that the conduction and valence band edges of BiFeO3 straddle the water redox potential. Consequently, it is possible to realize unassisted water splitting using BFO. The ferromagnetism of all samples increased linearly with the increase of dopant concentration, and the residual magnetization of the Bi0.95Nd0.05Fe0.80Co0.20O3 sample reached to 0.679 emu g−1. Moreover, the magnetic properties of bismuth ferrite and Nd/Co Co-doped bismuth ferrite photocatalyst were also investigated to show the simple separation. These results demonstrate that BFO nanoparticles have potential applications in photocatalytic hydrogen production without the use of a sacrificial reagent.
Frequency-Resolved Functional Connectivity: Role of Delay and the Strength of Connections
Authors: Ziaeemehr Abolfazl , Valizadeh Alireza
Published: March 2021

The brain functional network extracted from the BOLD signals reveals the correlated activity of the different brain regions, which is hypothesized to underlie the integration of the information across functionally specialized areas. Functional networks are not static and change over time and in different brain states, enabling the nervous system to engage and disengage different local areas in specific tasks on demand. Due to the low temporal resolution, however, BOLD signals do not allow the exploration of spectral properties of the brain dynamics over different frequency bands which are known to be important in cognitive processes. Recent studies using imaging tools with a high temporal resolution has made it possible to explore the correlation between the regions at multiple frequency bands. These studies introduce the frequency as a new dimension over which the functional networks change, enabling brain networks to transmit multiplex of information at any time. In this computational study, we explore the functional connectivity at different frequency ranges and highlight the role of the distance between the nodes in their correlation. We run the generalized Kuramoto model with delayed interactions on top of the brain's connectome and show that how the transmission delay and the strength of the connections, affect the correlation between the pair of nodes over different frequency bands.