bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new blood parasite of the accentor birds: description, molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships and distribution
Authors: Valkiūnas Gediminas , Iezhova Tatjana A. , Duc Mélanie , Dunn Jenny C. , Bensch Staffan
Published: November 2024

Haemoproteus bobricklefsi sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) was found in the dunnock Prunella modularis and represents the first blood parasite described in accentor birds of the Prunellidae. The description is based on the morphology of blood stages and includes information about a barcoding segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (lineage hDUNNO01) and the full mitochondrial genome, which can be used for identification and diagnosis of this infection. The new parasite can be readily distinguished from described species of haemoproteids parasitizing passeriform birds due to markedly variable position of nuclei in advanced and fully grown macrogametocytes. Illustrations of blood stages of the new species are given, and phylogenetic analyses based on partial mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences and the full mitochondrial genome identified the closely related lineages. DNA haplotype networks showed that transmission occurs in Europe and North America. This parasite was found in the dunnock in Europe and several species of the Passerellidae in North America. It is probably of Holarctic distribution, with the highest reported prevalence in the UK. The parasite distribution seems to be geographically patchy, with preference for areas of relatively cool climates. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that H. bobricklefsi sp. nov. belongs to the Parahaemoproteus subgenus and is probably transmitted by biting midges belonging to Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae). The available data on molecular occurrence indicate that this pathogen is prone to abortive development, so worth attention in regard of consequences for bird health.
Aurora kinase as a putative target to tick control
Authors: Moraes Bruno , Gomes Helga , Saramago Luiz , Braz Valdir , Parizi Luís Fernando , Braz Gloria , da Silva Vaz Itabajara , Logullo Carlos , Moraes Jorge
Published: November 2024

Aurora kinases (AURK) play a central role in controlling cell cycle in a wide range of organisms. They belong to the family of serine-threonine kinase proteins. Their role in the cell cycle includes, among others, the entry into mitosis, maturation of the centrosome and formation of the mitotic spindle. In mammals, 3 isoforms have been described: A, B and C, which are distinguished mainly by their function throughout the cell cycle. Two aurora kinase coding sequences have been identified in the transcriptome of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus (Rm-AURKA and Rm-AURKB) containing the aurora kinase-specific domain. For both isoforms, the highest number of AURK coding transcripts is found in ovaries. Based on deduced amino acid sequences, it was possible to identify non-conserved threonine residues which are essential to AURK functions in vertebrates and which are not present in R. microplus sequences. A pan AURK inhibitor (CCT137690) caused cell viability decline in the BME26 tick embryonic cell line. In silico docking assay showed an interaction between Aurora kinase and CCT137690 with exclusive interaction sites in Rm-AURKA. The characterization of exclusive regions of the enzyme will enable new studies aimed at promoting species-specific enzymatic inhibition in ectoparasites.
A scoping review of transmission models for soil-transmitted helminth infections to underpin the development of a transmission model for Strongyloides stercoralis
Authors: Winslow Mackrina , Villanueva-Cabezas Juan Pablo , Colella Vito , Campbell Patricia T.
Published: November 2024

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections afflict people worldwide, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Strongyloides stercoralis is distinctive from other STH nematodes by its complex life cycle features of autoinfection, parthenogenesis, and environmental reproduction. This scoping review aims to identify the structures, features, and techniques employed in existing STH models, emphasizing their potential application in describing S. stercoralis infection dynamics. A comprehensive search was conducted in the Medline, Embase, and Scopus databases for studies published until 14 June 2024. A total of 47 studies presenting a new model or novel adaptation of an existing model to human STH infection transmission were identified: only one described S. stercoralis transmission in humans. The identified models were predominantly deterministic and focused on the dynamics of mean worm load within hosts and the infectiousness of the environmental reservoir. One model addressed transmission in multi-host scenarios, as not all STH transmission cycles involve multiple hosts. Models were frequently used to simulate the effectiveness of mass drug administration, including drug efficacy and treatment coverage, while water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), health education, and vaccination were less explored. Given the limitation of individual-level data, compartmental models may be a reasonable starting point for S. stercoralis transmission. For a comprehensive understanding, incorporating parasite life cycle features into the model, exploring multi-host dynamics, including a diverse range of host heterogeneities, and assessing the impact of climatic factors like rainfall and land surface temperature on parasite survival in the environment may be beneficial, especially in settings where their importance is notable.
Host and geographically related genetic variation in species of Cloacina (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from western and eastern grey kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus and M. giganteus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)
Authors: Middleton Shane Gerald , Koehler Anson , Beveridge Ian
Published: November 2024

Specimens of Cloacina artemis, C. expansa, C. hera, C. hermes, C. hestia, C. magnipapillata, C. obtusa and C. selene, which occur in both of the closely related species of grey kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus and M. giganteus, were found to differ genetically based on sequence data derived from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1, ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA. The extent of differences varied from a single base pair in C. expansa, to 32 in C. hestia. In the case of C. hera, C. hestia and C. magnipapillata, separate genotypes were found in M. fuliginosus and M. giganteus. With C. artemis, C. expansa, C. obtusa and C. selene, nematode genotypes did not correspond with host distributions. In C. hermes, two genotypes were detected but they were not related phylogenetically. The data provide evidence suggestive of genetic differentiation in most of the nematode species potentially associated with host speciation, but with differing degrees of genetic differentiation and different associations with the two host species possibly related to changes in the geographical distribution of the hosts over time.
They only hate the term: policy branding and the politics of critical race theory
Authors: Collins Jonathan E.
Published: November 2024

How does the public form preferences on racialized policy issues that are both widely discussed and broadly misunderstood? This has been the question centering around the sudden attacks on academic terms like “critical race theory” (CRT). I argue that the politicization of, and opinion polarization around, critical race theory is evidence of what I call policy branding, where political parties or organizations brand an arbitrary concept that has national salience into a policy issue. Using a series of original survey experiments, this study shows that one of the primary sources of opposition to critical race theory is the literal use of the term. I juxtapose this with evidence that the education policy issue at the core, antiracist teaching, maintained strong public, bipartisan support. This study has implications for the consequences of political elite capture of academic concepts and ideas.
Children’s reliance on pointing and mutual exclusivity in word-referent mapping: The role of vocabulary and language exposure
Authors: Falkeisen Myrna , Verhagen Josje
Published: November 2024

This study explored monolingual and multilingual two- to five-year-olds’ reliance on a non-verbal and a verbal cue during word-referent mapping, in relation to vocabulary knowledge and, for the multilinguals, Dutch language exposure. Ninety monolingual and sixty-seven multilingual children performed a referential conflict experiment that pitted a non-verbal (pointing) cue and a verbal (mutual exclusivity) cue. Mixed-effect regressions showed no main effects of vocabulary and language exposure. An interaction between vocabulary and group showed that lower vocabulary scores were associated with a stronger reliance on pointing over mutual exclusivity for multilinguals (but not monolinguals). Furthermore, an interaction between vocabulary, language exposure, and cue word (novel vs. familiar label) indicated that multilinguals with lower exposure and lower vocabulary showed a stronger reliance on pointing over mutual exclusivity when a novel rather than familiar word was used. These findings suggest that multilingual and monolingual children go through different trajectories when learning to map words to referents.
Stacking ensemble learning based material removal rate prediction model for CMP process of semiconductor wafer
Authors: Song Zhilong , Zhao Wenhong , Zhang Xiao , Ke Mingfeng , Fang Wei , Lyu Binghai
Published: November 2024

The material removal rate (MRR) serves as a crucial indicator in the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process of semiconductor wafers. Currently, the mainstream method to ascertain the MRR through offline measurements proves time inefficient and struggles to represent process variability accurately. An efficient MRR prediction model based on stacking ensemble learning that integrates models with disparate architectures was proposed in this study. First, the processing signals collected during wafer polishing, as available in the PHM2016 dataset, were analyzed and preprocessed to extract statistical and neighbor domain features. Subsequently, Pearson correlation coefficient analysis (PCCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to fuse the extracted features. Ultimately, random forest (RF), light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), and backpropagation neural network (BPNN) with hyperparameters optimized by the Bayesian Optimization Algorithm were integrated to establish an MRR prediction model based on stacking ensemble learning. The developed model was verified on the PHM2016 benchmark test set, and a Mean Square Error (MSE) of 7.72 and a coefficient of determination (R2) of 95.82% were achieved. This indicates that the stacking ensemble learning based model, integrated with base models of disparate architectures, offers considerable potential for real-time MRR prediction in the CMP process of semiconductor wafers.
The Legal Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage A Perspective from the Republic of Cyprus
Authors: Giorgallis Andreas
Published: November 2024

Cyprus, an island nation situated in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, counts among the states that elected not to adopt the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage (henceforth: the 2001 UNESCO Convention), although recognizing its merits. With a coastline of 648 km, Cyprus’ seafloor holds an abundance of underwater cultural heritage. Despite that wealth, one searches in vain for a comprehensive study on the legal protection of its underwater cultural heritage. Instead, sporadic references to some of its provisions can be traced throughout the scholarly research surrounding the legal protection of underwater cultural heritage1 and maritime archaeology.2 Against this background, this article stands as the first thorough effort to reflect on Cyprus’ legal protection of its underwater cultural heritage.
Understanding the roles of meso-institutions: a comparative approach to urban water provision in seven Asian cities
Authors: Jensen O. , Ménard C.
Published: November 2024

This article is about a partially untold story: the central role played by intermediate or ‘meso’ institutions in urban water supply. Three central functions are identified: translating policies and laws into operational targets; monitoring; and incentivizing operators. This paper considers which aspects of institutional design and capacity allow meso-institutions to perform these functions successfully, and conversely what constrains them from doing so. It explores this issue through a careful examination of urban water provision in seven Asian cities which represent a range of macro-institutional environments and micro-institutional arrangements. The analysis shows that in many cases meso functions are performed inadequately or not at all for water supply, with negative consequences for the quality of service. This is particularly evident in cases where ownership and decision rights are not clearly defined and allocated.
Typische Fehlerschwerpunkte von Mädchen und Jungen
Authors: Möllers Vivian Marielle , Rustemovski Selina Trajanka
Published: November 2024

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Unterscheiden sich durchschnittlich gute rechtschreibende Schüler hinsichtlich ihrer typischen Fehlerschwerpunkte von Schülerinnen? Methode: Um diese Frage zu beantworten wurden 422 DRT 5 (A) mit der Aachener Förderdiagnostischen Rechtschreibfehler-Analyse (AFRA) in SPSS ausgewertet und hinsichtlich des Geschlechts (männlich, weiblich) gruppiert. Anschließend wurde die relative Fehlerhäufigkeit für die Fehlerkategorien berechnet, eine Platzierung nach häufigsten Fehlern vorgenommen und die Unterschiede zwischen beiden Gruppen mit dem Mann-Whitney-U-Test untersucht. Ergebnisse: Signifikante Unterschiede zugunsten der Mädchen sind in den Kategorien BF (r = −.112), SG- (r = −.156) und MD (r = −.108) festzustellen. Insgesamt sind die Mädchen rechtschreibstärker und zeigen typische Fehler in anderen Kategorien als es die Jungen tun. Diskussion: Der Artikel schließt mit Überlegungen, wie diese Ergebnisse im Kontext der schulischen Diagnostik und Förderung einzuordnen sind.
Using Rainfall‐Induced Groundwater Temperature Response to Estimate Lateral Flow Velocity
Authors: Chen Kewei , Guo Zhilin , Yin Maosheng , Liang Xiuyu , Chang Zhenbo , Yang Shuai , Wei Xiaoou , Zhai Xuchen , Zheng Chunmiao
Published: November 2024

This study introduces a novel heat tracing method for estimating lateral groundwater flow velocity induced and sustained by heavy rainfall events in lowland areas, leveraging the distinct temperature difference between rainfall and groundwater. The method is motivated by the observation that the rainfall‐induced groundwater temperature signal dissipates along the flow path. To explain the observed temperature anomaly and then estimate the lateral flow velocity, we develop a semi‐analytical model for heat transport in the aquifer, accounting for conduction losses to adjacent layers. Our findings reveal that interactions between the aquifer, vadose zone, and bedrock significantly influence the temperature signal, thereby affecting velocity estimation. Inaccuracies in measured aquifer properties, such as thickness, porosity, and thermal conductivity of surrounding layers, increase the uncertainty of velocity estimates. However, variations in aquifer thermal conductivity have a minimal effect on the method's overall accuracy. When estimating multiple parameters, velocity estimates tend to be less reliable, especially if aquifer porosity remains uncertain. This is due to the challenges of simultaneously inverting both velocity and porosity. Overall, this work underscores the potential of using heat as a tracer for assessing lateral groundwater flow following rainfall, offering a practical, low‐cost solution applicable in a wide range of settings.
Projected Changes to Characteristics of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole, and Southern Annular Mode Events in the CMIP6 Models
Authors: Chung C. T. Y. , Power S. B. , Boschat G. , Gillett Z. E. , Narsey S.
Published: November 2024

In this study we analyse projections of future changes to the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), and Southern Annular Mode (SAM) using the latest generation of climate models. Multiple future scenarios are considered. We quantify the fraction of models that project future increases or decreases in the frequency and amplitude of ENSO, IOD, and SAM events in the late 21st century. Changes to the frequency of co‐occurring and consecutive driver phases are also examined. We find that while there is large inter‐model spread, the most common pathways correspond to more frequent ENSO events; weaker, less frequent IOD events; and stronger, but less frequent austral spring SAM events. There is no clear consensus on the change to the frequency of concurrent events, though we find a significant increase in La Niña‐ and El Niño‐only events occurring with neutral IOD and SAM. We also find a significant increase to the frequency of consecutive positive IOD events under a high emissions scenario, but no significant change to the frequency of consecutive ENSO or negative IOD events. In most models, the correlation between drivers, that is, ENSO and IOD, and ENSO and SAM, does not significantly change between the late 20th and late 21st century. These results indicate a high degree of internal variability in the models.
Electrical Conductivity of (Mg, Fe)CO3 at the Spin Crossover and Its Implication for Mid‐Mantle Geomagnetic Heterogeneities
Authors: Zhao Chaoshuai , Liu Jin , Xu Liangxu , Hou Mingqiang , Zhuang Yukai , Zhu Jie , Lin Jung‐Fu
Published: November 2024

(Mg, Fe)CO3 is an important deep carbon carrier and plays a vital role in our understanding of lower‐mantle carbon reservoirs. The electrical conductivity (EC) of FeCO3 was measured at 126−2000 K up to 83 GPa in diamond‐anvil cells using a standard four‐probe van der Pauw method. Moreover, the EC of FeCO3 increases by ∼6 orders of magnitude from 300 to 1500 K at 10−20 GPa, indicating a strong effect of high temperature. The EC of Fe0.65Mg0.35CO3 was measured up to 60 GPa at 300 K, the EC values of (Mg, Fe)CO3 are proportional to iron content and increase by 2–3 orders of magnitude at 300 K across the spin crossover. The EC values of (Mg, Fe)CO3 and FeCO3 + Fe3O4 ± C mixtures surpass that of bridgmanite, ferropericlase and davemaoite by ∼1–4 orders of magnitude at depths of 800–2,000 km. This result sheds insights into the genesis of local geomagnetic heterogeneities in the mid‐lower mantle.
Process Evaluation of Subseasonal North Atlantic Oscillation Prediction in the ECMWF Ensemble Forecast System
Authors: Kim Minju , Yoo Changhyun , Kim Hyemi
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates the prediction skill of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) pattern and its associated energy budget as simulated by the European Center for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ensemble forecast system. By classifying NAO events into high‐ and low‐skill cases, we analyzed the stationarity of NAO patterns and the role of baroclinic energy conversion in NAO prediction. In both positive and negative NAO phases, high‐skill cases exhibited more stationary NAO patterns than low‐skill cases. The analysis of processes indicates that high‐skill NAO cases are due to stronger baroclinic maintenance of NAO, with its initial position at the climatological thermal trough, whereas low‐skill NAO cases result from forecast biases in wave propagation from the North Pacific. Specifically, biases in baroclinic energy conversion in the meridional direction from week 2 lead to weak advection of the eddy available potential energy (EAPE), resulting in lower prediction skill.
Flux Ropes Induced by O+ ${\mathrm{O}}^{+}$ Outflow in the Near‐Earth Magnetotail: Three‐Dimensional Hybrid Simulations
Authors: Omelchenko Y. A. , Mouikis C. , Ng J. , Roytershtyen V.
Published: November 2024

Spacecrafts observe signatures of duskside magnetic reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail associated with the presence of oxygen ions of ionospheric origin. The exact role of ions in mediating reconnection remains largely unknown due to the local nature of observational techniques. We analyze results from global three‐dimensional hybrid (kinetic ions, fluid electrons) simulations of outflows and demonstrate that oxygen ions, escaping from the top of the ionosphere into the lobes, may cause disruptions on the duskside of the proton‐formed magnetotail, adding up to its turbulent, unsteady nature. These ions are shown to be capable of inducing magnetic flux ropes in the current sheet that thins out toward the dusk flank of the magnetotail due to Hall and ion kinetic effects. Unlike magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations, where dawn‐dusk magnetotail asymmetries may develop due to nonuniform ionospheric conductivity, the hybrid simulations demonstrate duskside tail disruptions on much faster ion gyroscales.
Atomic‐Level Structural Responses of Chang'e‐5 Ilmenite to Space Weathering
Authors: Zhang Chaoqun , Niu Xiaoguang , Gu Lixin , Tang Xu , Chen Yi , Cai Changrun , Dai Yanchao , Li Gen , He Hongping , Pan Yongxin , Zhang Zhigang , Li Jinhua
Published: November 2024

Space weathering records provide insights to better understand the formation and evolution of the lunar regolith. Ilmenite has contrasting responses to different space weathering processes. However, the atomic‐scale structural modification of ilmenite induced using different space weathering processes remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the effects of spacing weathering on lunar ilmenite grains returned from Chang'e‐5 (CE‐5) mission using a combination of transmission electron microscopy and thermodynamic modeling approaches. Experimental results show that melt shock induces the formation of twining structures and vein‐like Si‐Ca‐rich nanostructures in the outermost and sub‐outermost layers of ilmenite, respectively. In contrast, solar wind causes the formation of multilayered nanostructures surrounding the ilmenite grains. These structures are characterized by an outermost amorphous Si‐rich vapor deposited layer, a middle layer rich in titanium (Ti) oxides and zero‐valent iron (Fe0) nanoparticles, and an innermost layer hosting crystallographic orientation defect. The Ti oxides were identified as poorly crystallized anatase. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that the disruptive sputtering of solar wind and the reduction of hydrogen under lunar surface pressure conditions can promote ilmenite transformation into Fe0 and Ti oxides; nevertheless, the pressure increase associated with melt shock can lead to a rise in the decomposition temperature of ilmenite. In other words, solar wind irradiation plays a more significant role in promoting nanoparticle (such as anatase and Fe0) formation as compared to melt shock. Thus, unlike the chemical alteration of ilmenite induced by the solar wind irradiation, melt shock mainly causes physical changes in ilmenite grains.
A Simple Model for the Emergence of Relaxation‐Oscillator Convection
Authors: Spaulding‐Astudillo F. E. , Mitchell J. L.
Published: November 2024

Earth's tropics are characterized by quasi‐steady precipitation with small oscillations about a mean value, which has led to the hypothesis that moist convection is in a state of quasi‐equilibrium (QE). In contrast, very warm simulations of Earth's tropical convection are characterized by relaxation‐oscillator‐like (RO) precipitation, with short‐lived convective storms and torrential rainfall forming and dissipating at regular intervals with little to no precipitation in between. We develop a model of moist convection by combining a zero‐buoyancy model of bulk‐plume convection with a QE heat engine model, and we use it to show that QE is violated at high surface temperatures. We hypothesize that the RO state emerges when the equilibrium condition of the convective heat engine is violated, that is, when the heating rate times a thermodynamic efficiency exceeds the rate at which work can be performed. We test our hypothesis against one‐ and three‐dimensional numerical simulations and find that it accurately predicts the onset of RO convection. The proposed mechanism for RO emergence from QE breakdown is agnostic of the condensable, and can be applied to any planetary atmosphere undergoing moist convection. To date, RO states have only been demonstrated in three‐dimensional convection‐resolving simulations, which has made it seem that the physics of the RO state requires simulations that can explicitly resolve the three‐dimensional interaction of cloudy plumes and their environment. We demonstrate that RO states also exist in single‐column simulations of radiative‐convective equilibrium with parameterized convection, albeit in a different surface temperature range and with much longer storm‐free intervals.
Prospective prediction of childhood body mass index trajectories using multi-task Gaussian processes
Authors: Leroy Arthur , Gupta Varsha , Tint Mya Thway , Ooi Delicia Shu Qin , Yap Fabian , Lek Ngee , Godfrey Keith M. , Chong Yap Seng , Lee Yung Seng , Eriksson Johan G. , Álvarez Mauricio A. , Michael Navin , Wang Dennis
Published: November 2024

Background

Body mass index (BMI) trajectories have been used to assess the growth of children with respect to their peers, and to anticipate future obesity and disease risk. While retrospective BMI trajectories have been actively studied, models to prospectively predict continuous BMI trajectories have not been investigated.

Materials and methods

Using longitudinal BMI measurements between birth and age 10 y from a mother-offspring cohort, we leveraged a multi-task Gaussian process approach to develop and evaluate a unified framework for modeling, clustering, and prospective prediction of BMI trajectories. We compared its sensitivity to missing values in the longitudinal follow-up of children, compared its prediction performance to cubic B-spline and multilevel Jenss-Bayley models, and used prospectively predicted BMI trajectories to assess the probability of future BMIs crossing the clinical cutoffs for obesity.

Results

MagmaClust identified 5 distinct patterns of BMI trajectories between 0 to 10 y. The method outperformed both cubic B-spline and multilevel Jenss-Bayley models in the accuracy of retrospective BMI trajectories while being more robust to missing data (up to 90%). It was also better at prospectively forecasting BMI trajectories of children for periods ranging from 2 to 8 years into the future, using historic BMI data. Given BMI data between birth and age 2 years, prediction of overweight/obesity status at age 10 years, as computed from MagmaClust’s predictions exhibited high specificity (0.94), negative predictive value (0.89), and accuracy (0.86). The accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value of predictions increased as BMI data from additional time points were utilized for prediction.

Conclusion

MagmaClust provides a unified, probabilistic, non-parametric framework to model, cluster, and prospectively predict childhood BMI trajectories and overweight/obesity risk. The proposed method offers a convenient tool for clinicians to monitor BMI growth in children, allowing them to prospectively identify children with high predicted overweight/obesity risk and implement timely interventions.
Hippocampal area CA2 activity supports social investigation following an acute social stress
Authors: Radzicki Daniel , McCann Katharine E. , Alexander Georgia M. , Dudek Serena M.
Published: November 2024

Neuronal activity in the hippocampus is critical for many types of memory acquisition and retrieval and influences an animal’s response to stress. Moreover, the molecularly distinct principal neurons of hippocampal area CA2 are required for social recognition memory and aggression in mice. To interrogate the effects of stress on CA2-dependent behaviors, we chemogenetically manipulated neuronal activity in vivo during an acute, socially derived stressor and tested whether memory for the defeat was influenced. One day after an acute social defeat (aSD), defeated mice spent significantly less time investigating another mouse when compared to non-defeated control mice. We found that this avoidant phenotype persisted for up to one month following a single defeat encounter. When CA2 pyramidal neuron activity was inhibited with Gi-DREADD receptors during the defeat, subject mice exhibited a significantly higher amount of social avoidance one day later when compared to defeated littermates not expressing DREADDs. Moreover, CA2 inhibition during defeat caused a reduction in submissive defense behaviors in response to aggression. In vitro electrophysiology and tracing experiments revealed a circuit wherein CA2 neurons connect to caudal CA1 projection neurons that, in turn, project to corticolimbic regions including the anterior cingulate cortex. Finally, socially avoidant, defeated mice exhibited significant reductions in cFos expression in caudal hippocampal and limbic brain areas during a social investigation task 24 h after aSD. Taken together, these results indicate that CA2 neuronal activity is required to support behavioral resilience following an acute social stressor and that submissive defensive behavior during the defeat (vs. fleeing) is a predictor of future resilience to social stress. Furthermore, CA2 preferentially targets a population of caudal CA1 projection neurons that contact cortical brain regions where activity is modulated by an acute social stressor.
Lfng-expressing centroacinar cell is a unique cell-of-origin for p53 deficient pancreatic cancer
Authors: Chung Wen-Cheng , Zhang Shubing , Atfi Azeddine , Xu Keli
Published: November 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies with limited understanding of etiology. Studies in mice showed that both acinar and ductal cells of the pancreas can be targeted by combination of oncogenic Kras and p53 mutations to form PDAC. How the transforming capacities of pancreatic cells are constrained, and whether a subset of cells could serve as a prime target for oncogenic transformation, remain obscure. Here we report that expression of a Notch modulator, Lunatic Fringe (Lfng), is restricted to a limited number of cells with centroacinar location and morphology in the adult pancreas. Lfng-expressing cells are preferentially targeted by oncogenic Kras along with p53 deletion to form PDAC, and deletion of Lfng blocks tumor initiation from these cells. Notch3 is a functional Notch receptor for PDAC initiation and progression in this context. Lfng is upregulated in acinar- and ductal-derived PDAC and its deletion suppresses these tumors. Finally, high LFNG expression is associated with high grade and poor survival in human patients. Taken together, Lfng marks a centroacinar subpopulation that is uniquely susceptible to oncogenic transformation when p53 is lost, and Lfng functions as an oncogene in all three lineages of the exocrine pancreas.
The impact of the early environment on oxytocin receptor epigenetics and potential therapeutic implications
Authors: Nance Madelyn G. , Sullivan Kelsey M. , Puglia Meghan H.
Published: November 2024

Oxytocin research is rapidly evolving and increasingly reveals that epigenetic modifications to the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) are functional, plastic, and reliable components of oxytocinergic system function. This review outlines how OXTR epigenetics are shaped by the early life environment, impact social-developmental outcomes, and have strong potential to serve as therapeutic targets. We first establish the malleability of OXTR epigenetics in infancy in both animal models and humans through research demonstrating the impact of the early life environment on OXTR DNA methylation (OXTRm) and subsequent social behavior. Next, we detail how OXTRm serves as a predictive mechanism for neurodevelopmental outcomes in animal models of social behavior such as the prairie vole, and summarize the role of OXTRm in psychiatric disorders, emotional processing, and attachment behavior in humans. We discuss the potential of further OXTRm research to improve oxytocin therapeutics by highlighting how a deeper knowledge of OXTRm could improve the therapeutic potential of exogenous oxytocin, how OXTRm may impact additional cellular mechanisms with therapeutic potential including control of the perinatal GABA switch, and how early life therapies may target the tuning of endogenous OXTRm. Finally, we review limitations of previous oxytocin research and make recommendations for future research.

Impact

Previous research into oxytocin therapeutics has been hampered by methodological difficulties that may be improved by assay of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) and its methylation (OXTRm)

Key sites of OXTRm modification link early life exposures to developmental and behavioral outcomes

OXTRm appears to have a critical period of development in early life

Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin receptor gene could serve as a powerful target for therapeutic interventions
Structure-dynamics relation in metallic glass revealed by 5-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Nakazawa Katsuaki , Mitsuishi Kazutaka , Iakoubovskii Konstantin , Kohara Shinji , Tsuchiya Koichi
Published: November 2024

Dynamical and structural heterogeneities play an important role in glass transition phenomena. However, the relation between these heterogeneities is not fully revealed. In this study, we simultaneously observed these heterogeneities near the glass transition temperature in Zr50Cu40Al10 using five-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy, which can record the spatiotemporal distribution of diffraction patterns. The heterogeneities were visualized with sub-nanometer resolution, and a correlation between them was measured up to the glass transition temperature. We verified that ordered structures had slow dynamics, and the order decreased as the temperature increased.
scPair: Boosting single cell multimodal analysis by leveraging implicit feature selection and single cell atlases
Authors: Hu Hongru , Quon Gerald
Published: November 2024

Multimodal single-cell assays profile multiple sets of features in the same cells and are widely used for identifying and mapping cell states between chromatin and mRNA and linking regulatory elements to target genes. However, the high dimensionality of input features and shallow sequencing depth compared to unimodal assays pose challenges in data analysis. Here we present scPair, a multimodal single-cell data framework that overcomes these challenges by employing an implicit feature selection approach. scPair uses dual encoder-decoder structures trained on paired data to align cell states across modalities and predict features from one modality to another. We demonstrate that scPair outperforms existing methods in accuracy and execution time, and facilitates downstream tasks such as trajectory inference. We further show scPair can augment smaller multimodal datasets with larger unimodal atlases to increase statistical power to identify groups of transcription factors active during different stages of neural differentiation.
Effectiveness of treat-to-target cholesterol-lowering interventions on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality risk in the community-dwelling population: a target trial emulation
Authors: Yang Zhao , Deng Qiujv , Hao Yongchen , Yang Na , Han Lizhen , Jia Pingping , Zhou Pan , Hao Yiming , Wang Ziyu , Zhao Wenlang , Qi Yue , Liu Jing
Published: November 2024

Little is known about the long-term effectiveness of risk-based treat-to-target cholesterol-lowering interventions on cardiovascular risk. Here, we show the emulated effectiveness of guideline-recommended low-density and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering interventions using the absolute risk reduction (ARR) and the restricted mean event-free time-based number needed to treat (NNT). With 5,375 participants, the 29-year risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD), all-cause mortality, and atherosclerotic CVD were 18.6%, 25.6%, and 17.7%, respectively. Long-term treat-to-target interventions showed significant reductions in CVD (ARR −2.3%, 95%CI −3.4% to −0.8%; NNT 115), all-cause mortality (−3.0%, −4.3% to −1.8%; 95), and atherosclerotic CVD (−2.6%, −3.5% to −1.2%; 104). Such effects appear more pronounced in women, smokers, and those with body mass index < 24 kg/m² or higher adherence rates.
Loss of cytoplasmic actin filaments raises nuclear actin levels to drive INO80C-dependent chromosome fragmentation
Authors: Hurst Verena , Gerhold Christian B. , Tarashev Cleo V. D. , Challa Kiran , Seeber Andrew , Yamazaki Shota , Knapp Britta , Helliwell Stephen B. , Bodenmiller Bernd , Harata Masahiko , Shimada Kenji , Gasser Susan M.
Published: November 2024

Loss of cytosolic actin filaments upon TORC2 inhibition triggers chromosome fragmentation in yeast, which results from altered base excision repair of Zeocin-induced lesions. To find the link between TORC2 kinase and this yeast chromosome shattering (YCS) we performed phosphoproteomics. YCS-relevant phospho-targets included plasma membrane-associated regulators of actin polymerization, such as Las17, the yeast Wiscott-Aldrich Syndrome protein. Induced degradation of Las17 was sufficient to trigger YCS in presence of Zeocin, bypassing TORC2 inhibition. In yeast, Las17 does not act directly at damage, but instead its loss, like TORC2 inhibition, raises nuclear actin levels. Nuclear actin, in complex with Arp4, forms an essential subunit of several nucleosome remodeler complexes, including INO80C, which facilitates DNA polymerase elongation. Here we show that the genetic ablation of INO80C activity leads to partial YCS resistance, suggesting that elevated levels of nuclear G-actin may stimulate INO80C to increase DNA polymerase processivity and convert single-strand lesions into double-strand breaks.
TORC2 inhibition triggers yeast chromosome fragmentation through misregulated Base Excision Repair of clustered oxidation events
Authors: Shimada Kenji , Tarashev Cleo V. D. , Bregenhorn Stephanie , Gerhold Christian B. , van Loon Barbara , Roth Gregory , Hurst Verena , Jiricny Josef , Helliwell Stephen B. , Gasser Susan M.
Published: November 2024

Combinational therapies provoking cell death are of major interest in oncology. Combining TORC2 kinase inhibition with the radiomimetic drug Zeocin results in a rapid accumulation of double-strand breaks (DSB) in the budding yeast genome. This lethal Yeast Chromosome Shattering (YCS) requires conserved enzymes of base excision repair. YCS can be attenuated by eliminating three N-glycosylases or endonucleases Apn1/Apn2 and Rad1, which act to convert oxidized bases into abasic sites and single-strand nicks. Adjacent lesions must be repaired in a step-wise fashion to avoid generating DSBs. Artificially increasing nuclear actin by destabilizing cytoplasmic actin filaments or by expressing a nuclear export-deficient actin interferes with this step-wise repair and generates DSBs, while mutants that impair DNA polymerase processivity reduce them. Repair factors that bind actin include Apn1, RFA and the actin-dependent chromatin remodeler INO80C. During YCS, increased INO80C activity could enhance both DNA polymerase processivity and repair factor access to convert clustered lesions into DSBs.
Enabling biocontained plant virus transmission studies through establishment of an axenic whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) colony on plant tissue culture
Authors: Thompson Natalie S. , Krum David , Chen Yun-Ru , Torres Mariela C. , Trauger Marena A. , Strike Dalton , Weston Zachary , Polston Jane E. , Curtis Wayne R.
Published: November 2024

Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci) and the diseases they transmit are a major detriment to crop yields and a significant contributor to world hunger. The highly evolved interactions of host plant, phloem-feeding insect vector with endosymbionts and persistently transmitted virus represent a tremendous challenge for interdisciplinary study. Presented here is the establishment of a colony of axenic whiteflies on tissue-cultured plants. Efficient colony establishment was achieved by a surface sterilization of eggs laid on axenic phototrophically tissue-cultured plants. The transfer of emerging whiteflies through coupled tissue culture vessels to new axenic plants facilitates robust subculturing and produces hundreds of whitefly adults per month. Whitefly proliferation on more than two dozen plant species is shown as well as in vitro testing of whitefly preference for different plants. This novel multi-organism system provides the high-level of biocontainment required by Federal permitting to conduct virus transmission experiments. Axenic whitefly adults were able to acquire and transmit a begomovirus into tissue-cultured plants, indicating that culturable gut microorganisms are not required for virus transmission. The approach described enables a wide range of hypotheses regarding whitefly phytopathology without the expense, facilities, and contamination ambiguity associated with current approaches.
Hydrodynamics of cruise swimming and turning maneuvers in Euchaeta antarctica
Authors: Mohaghar Mohammad , Webster Donald R.
Published: November 2024

The hydrodynamic disturbance generated by the adult copepod Euchaeta antarctica during cruise swimming is quantified. Kinematic results are compared to previous results reported for different Euchaeta species. The results reveal a linear relationship between cruise speed and prosome length across Euchaeta species, indicating a size-proportional trend that is indicative of a complicated interaction of species size and environmental factors such as fluid temperature and viscosity. The detailed fluid flow measurements using the tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (tomo-PIV) technique provide insight into copepod cruise propulsion during turning events in comparison to straight motions. During straight swimming, E. antarctica demonstrates streamlined flow patterns and reduced vorticity in the near-body fluid shear layer, which is beneficial for sustained motion and energy conservation. In contrast, turning maneuvers are characterized by maximum flow velocities reaching 1.5 times greater values than during straight cruising with increased flow field complexity and enhanced vorticity. The viscous dissipation rate generated in the flow disturbance is also greater during turning events, with the total dissipation rate reaching $$\bf3.5-3.8\times 10^{-8}$$

3.5
-
3.8
×

10

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8

W compared to $$\bf2.6-2.8\times 10^{-8}$$

2.6
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2.8
×

10

-
8

W during straight cruising. The flow disturbance also generates a hydrodynamic cue that prey may sense in order to avoid the predator E. antarctica. For the adult E. antarctica, the hydrodynamic cue extends to a volume that is 11–13 times larger than the copepod exoskeleton volume during the straight swimming motion and 22–25 times larger during the turn events.
Stabilized 30 µJ dissipative soliton resonance laser source at 1064 nm
Authors: Pokryszka Piotr , Xu Yingchu , Chang Wonkeun , Krzempek Karol
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate the first successful stabilization of a dissipative soliton resonance (DSR) mode-locked (ML) laser source using straightforward techniques. Our setup employed a figure-8 (F8) resonator configuration and a nonlinear optical loop mirror (NOLM) to achieve stable mode-locking, generating 1064 nm rectangular pulses with a 3 ns duration at a repetition frequency of ~ 1 MHz. The pulses were boosted in an all-fiber amplifier chain and reached 30 µJ and 10 kW peak power per pulse at 30 W average output power. We addressed a critical gap in the literature by actively stabilizing key DSR pulse parameters: average output power (improved by a factor of 51), pulse repetition frequency (improved by 7583 using cross-phase modulation for synchronization), and pulse duration (improved by a factor of ~ 4). Additionally, we included a numerical analysis to explore the pulse formation mechanisms in DSR ML lasers working in a F8 configuration. Our findings show that non-complex all-in-fiber DSR ML lasers can reliably produce high-energy pulses with stable, repeatable parameters, making them suitable for future applications e.g. in nonlinear frequency conversion, laser micromachining, or LIDAR.
Unique insights into morphological characterization and functional adaptation of the scaly shank skin in aquatic and terrestrial birds
Authors: Madkour Fatma A.
Published: November 2024

The avian skin is a vital barrier against external effects and undergoes modification to adapt to the different ecosystems. The current study focused on the comprehensive study of the scaly shank skin of aquatic birds, Egyptian Balady Duck (EBD) as well as terrestrial birds, Broad Breasted White Turkey (BBWT) via gross anatomy, histology, and scanning electron microscopy with ED-XRF analysis. The shank skin color was yellow to black in EBD and creamy-white in BBWT. Gross anatomy exhibited two types of scales around the shank: scute and scutella scales in EBD and four types: scute, scutella, reticula, and cancella (interstitial) scales in BBWT. Most scales were non-overlapped and separated by sulci in both birds except those on the dorsum of the shank of BBWT. SEM of the descaled skin revealed an irregular surface due to keratinocytes defining a polygonal texture in EBD and Langerhans cells (a large oval-shaped cell body with abundant long projections) attached to neighboring keratinocytes in BBWT. Histologically, the epidermal and dermal layers varied among the different skin aspects of the shanks of both birds. Langerhans cells were seen within the basal cell layer of the stratum germinativum and collagen fibers of the dermal stratum superficiale. Melanocytes were observed in the stratum basale in EBD. In both birds, abundant telocytes and fibroblasts were distributed within the dermal layers, with excessive adipose tissue in the dermis of the shank skin of EBD. According to the results of the ED-XRF analysis of the scaly shank skin, elements and oxides were present in both species. In conclusion, the findings of the present study reflect the correlations between the functional morphology of shank skin and the bird habitats.
The effect of chemotherapy regimens in male germ cell tumors on the development of primary hypogonadism
Authors: Handke Analena , Bargen Marla Geller-von , Isgandarov Aykhan , al Nader Mulham , Krafft Ulrich , Darr Christopher , Hadaschik Boris , Grünwald Viktor , Püllen Lukas
Published: November 2024

Male germ cell tumors (GCT) have excellent survival. Long-term sequelae in cancer survivors are an evolving field. We evaluated the risk of patients with GCT to develop primary hypogonadism and adherence to guideline-recommended therapy in a real-world cohort. Monocentric study at a tertiary cancer centre to evaluate treated GCT-patients (2001–2019). Post therapeutic male endocrine function, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 and The aging males’ symptoms rating scale (AMS) questionnaires were assessed. The overall response rates were low, with 44 of 402 contacted patients participating in the study. From these, 32(73%) underwent blood analysis, 42(95%) answered the IIEF-5 and 43(98%) the AMS. Latent hypogonadism (serum testosterone 8–12 nmol/l) was found in n = 9 (28%) and manifest hypogonadism (testosterone < 8 nmol/l) in n = 8 (25%). 50% (n = 21) indicated erectile dysfunction on IIEF-5 (cut off ≤ 21 pts.) and 62.8% (n = 27) reported symptomatic affection on AMS (cut off ≥ 27 pts.). Majority of tested patients revealed different degrees of hypogonadism. Standard instruments were able to detect gonadal damage in > 50%, which underscored the clinical need to evaluate endocrine function in cancer survivors. We further indicated the difficulties of today’s research and provided starting points to assess barriers for study participations.