A large-scale, near-sea level, silicic caldera-forming eruption in Efate? An alternative model for the 1 Ma Efate Pumice Formation, Vanuatu, SW-Pacific

No abstract availabl

Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) coupling to complex systems : aperture coupling into canonical cavities in reverberant and anechoic environments and model validation.

Mode-stirred chamber and anechoic chamber measurements were made on two sets of canonical test objects (cylindrical and rectangular) with varying numbers of thin slot apertures. The shielding effectiveness was compared to determine the level of correction needed to compensate the mode-stirred data to levels commensurate with anechoic data from the same test object

Worlds Beyond: A Strategy for the Detection and Characterization of Exoplanets Executive Summary of a Report of the ExoPlanet Task Force Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee Washington, DC June 23, 2008

[No abstract

Collective genomic segments with differential pleiotropic patterns between cognitive dimensions and psychopathology

Cognitive deficits are known to be related to most forms of psychopathology. Here, we perform local genetic correlation analysis as a means of identifying independent segments of the genome that show biologically interpretable pleiotropic associations between cognitive dimensions and psychopathology. We identify collective segments of the genome, which we call meta-loci , showing differential pleiotropic patterns for psychopathology relative to either cognitive task performance (CTP) or performance on a non-cognitive factor (NCF) derived from educational attainment. We observe that neurodevelopmental gene sets expressed during the prenatal-early childhood period predominate in CTP-relevant meta-loci, while post-natal gene sets are more involved in NCF-relevant meta-loci. Further, we demonstrate that neurodevelopmental gene sets are dissociable across CTP meta-loci with respect to their spatial distribution across the brain. Additionally, we find that GABA-ergic, cholinergic, and glutamatergic genes drive pleiotropic relationships within dissociable meta-loci

Membraneless organelles formed by liquid-liquid phase separation increase bacterial fitness

Liquid-liquid phase separation is emerging as a crucial phenomenon in several fundamental cell processes. A range of eukaryotic systems exhibit liquid condensates. However, their function in bacteria, which in general lack membrane-bound compartments, remains less clear. Here, we used high-resolution optical microscopy to observe single bacterial aggresomes, nanostructured intracellular assemblies of proteins, to undercover their role in cell stress. We find that proteins inside aggresomes are mobile and undergo dynamic turnover, consistent with a liquid state. Our observations are in quantitative agreement with phase-separated liquid droplet formation driven by interacting proteins under thermal equilibrium that nucleate following diffusive collisions in the cytoplasm. We have discovered aggresomes in multiple species of bacteria, and show that these emergent, metastable liquid-structured protein assemblies increase bacterial fitness by enabling cells to tolerate environmental stresses

Collective genomic segments with differential pleiotropic patterns between cognitive dimensions and psychopathology

Cognitive deficits are known to be related to most forms of psychopathology. Here, we perform local genetic correlation analysis as a means of identifying independent segments of the genome that show biologically interpretable pleiotropic associations between cognitive dimensions and psychopathology. We identify collective segments of the genome, which we call “meta-loci”, showing differential pleiotropic patterns for psychopathology relative to either cognitive task performance (CTP) or performance on a non-cognitive factor (NCF) derived from educational attainment. We observe that neurodevelopmental gene sets expressed during the prenatal-early childhood period predominate in CTP-relevant meta-loci, while post-natal gene sets are more involved in NCF-relevant meta-loci. Further, we demonstrate that neurodevelopmental gene sets are dissociable across CTP meta-loci with respect to their spatial distribution across the brain. Additionally, we find that GABA-ergic, cholinergic, and glutamatergic genes drive pleiotropic relationships within dissociable meta-loci

Isolation and characterization of lactic acid bacteria with potential probiotic activity and further investigation of their activity by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitions of fermented batters

Probiotic microbiota plays a vital role in gastrointestinal health and possesses other beneficial attributes such as antimicrobial and antibiotic agents along with a significant role in the management of diabetes. The present study identifies the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus spp. isolated from three traditionally fermented foods namely, jalebi, medhu vada, and kallappam batters at biochemical, physiological, and molecular levels. By 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing, the isolates were identified. A similarity of >98% to Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus RAMULAB13, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum RAMULAB14, Lactiplantibacillus pentosus RAMULAB15, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB16, Lacticaseibacillus casei RAMULAB17, Lacticaseibacillus casei RAMULAB20, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei RAMULAB21 was suggested when searched for homology using NCBI database. Utilizing the cell-free supernatant (CS), intact cells (IC), and cell-free extract (CE) of the isolates, inhibitory potential activity against the carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase was assessed. CS, CE, and IC of the isolates had a varying capability of inhibition against α-glucosidase (15.08 to 59.55%) and α-amylase (18.79 to 63.42%) enzymes. To assess the probiotic potential of seven isolates, various preliminary characteristics were examined. All the isolates exhibited substantial tolerance toward gastrointestinal conditions and also demonstrated the highest survival rate (> 99%), hydrophobicity (> 65%), aggregation (> 76%), adherence to HT-29 cells (> 84%), and chicken crop epithelial cells suggesting that the isolates had a high probiotic attribute. Additionally, the strains showed remarkable results in safety assessment assays (DNase and hemolytic), and antibacterial and antibiotic evaluations. The study concludes that the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) characterized possesses outstanding probiotic properties and has antidiabetic effects. In order to obtain various health advantages, LAB can be utilized as probiotic supplements

Comparative transcriptome in large-scale human and cattle populations:Comparative transcriptome in humans and cattle

BACKGROUND: Cross-species comparison of transcriptomes is important for elucidating evolutionary molecular mechanisms underpinning phenotypic variation between and within species, yet to date it has been essentially limited to model organisms with relatively small sample sizes. RESULTS: Here, we systematically analyze and compare 10,830 and 4866 publicly available RNA-seq samples in humans and cattle, respectively, representing 20 common tissues. Focusing on 17,315 orthologous genes, we demonstrate that mean/median gene expression, inter-individual variation of expression, expression quantitative trait loci, and gene co-expression networks are generally conserved between humans and cattle. By examining large-scale genome-wide association studies for 46 human traits (average n = 327,973) and 45 cattle traits (average n = 24,635), we reveal that the heritability of complex traits in both species is significantly more enriched in transcriptionally conserved than diverged genes across tissues. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study provides a comprehensive comparison of transcriptomes between humans and cattle, which might help decipher the genetic and evolutionary basis of complex traits in both species. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02745-4

Australasian Malignant PLeural Effusion (AMPLE)-3 trial: Study protocol for a multi-centre randomised study comparing indwelling pleural catheter (±talc pleurodesis) versus video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for management of malignant pleural effusion

Introduction: Malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) are common. MPE causes significant breathlessness and impairs quality of life. Indwelling pleural catheters (IPC) allow ambulatory drainage and reduce hospital days and re-intervention rates when compared to standard talc slurry pleurodesis. Daily drainage accelerates pleurodesis, and talc instillation via the IPC has been proven feasible and safe. Surgical pleurodesis via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is considered a one-off intervention for MPE and is often recommended to patients who are fit for surgery. The AMPLE-3 trial is the first randomised trial to compare IPC (±talc pleurodesis) and VATS pleurodesis in those who are fit for surgery. Methods and analysis: A multi-centre, open-labelled randomised trial of patients with symptomatic MPE, expected survival of ≥ 6 months and good performance status randomised 1:1 to either IPC or VATS pleurodesis. Participant randomisation will be minimised for (i) cancer type (mesothelioma vs non-mesothelioma); (ii) previous pleurodesis (vs not); and (iii) trapped lung, if known (vs not). Primary outcome is the need for further ipsilateral pleural interventions over 12 months or until death, if sooner. Secondary outcomes include days in hospital, quality of life (QoL) measures, physical activity levels, safety profile, health economics, adverse events, and survival. The trial will recruit 158 participants who will be followed up for 12 months. Ethics and dissemination: Sir Charles Gairdner and Osborne Park Health Care Group (HREC) has approved the study (reference: RGS356). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific meetings. Discussion: Both IPC and VATS are commonly used procedures for MPE. The AMPLE-3 trial will provide data to help define the merits and shortcomings of these procedures and inform future clinical care algorithms. Trial registration: Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry ACTRN12618001013257. Registered on 18 June 2018. Protocol version: Version 3.00/4.02.1