Exact asymptotics of the freezing transition of a logarithmically correlated random energy model

We consider a logarithmically correlated random energy model, namely a model for directed polymers on a Cayley tree, which was introduced by Derrida and Spohn. We prove asymptotic properties of a generating function of the partition function of the model by studying a discrete time analogy of the KPP-equation - thus translating Bramson's work on the KPP-equation into a discrete time case. We also discuss connections to extreme value statistics of a branching random walk and a rescaled multiplicative cascade measure beyond the critical point

Tumor-stroma ratio is associated with Miller-Payne score and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative early breast cancer

The tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) has proven to be a strong prognostic factor in breast cancer, demonstrating better survival for patients with stroma-low tumors. Since the role of the TSR as a predictive marker for neoadjuvant chemotherapy outcome is yet unknown, this association was evaluated for HER2-negative breast cancer in the prospective DIRECT and NEOZOTAC trials. The TSR was assessed on 375 hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of pre-treatment biopsies. Associations between the TSR and chemotherapy response according to the Miller-Payne (MP) grading system, and between the TSR and pathological response were examined using Pearson's chi-square, Cochran-Armitage test for trend and regression analyses. A stroma-low tumor prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was significantly associated with a higher MP score (P = .005). This relationship remained significant in the estrogen receptor (ER)-negative subgroup (P = .047). The univariable odds ratio (OR) of a stroma-low tumor on pathological complete response (pCR) was 2.46 (95% CI 1.34-4.51, P = .004), which attenuated to 1.90 (95% CI 0.85-4.25, P = .119) after adjustment for relevant prognostic factors. Subgroup analyses revealed an OR of 5.91 in univariable analyses for ER-negativity (95% CI 1.19-29.48, P = .030) and 1.48 for ER-positivity (95% CI 0.73-3.01, P = .281). In conclusion, a low amount of stroma on pre-treatment biopsies is associated with a higher MP score and pCR rate. Therefore, the TSR is a promising biomarker in predicting neoadjuvant treatment outcome. Incorporating this parameter in routine pathological diagnostics could be worthwhile to prevent overtreatment and undertreatment.Surgical oncolog

TARIBAN1, TARIBAN2, TARIBAN3, and TARIBAN4 'Matooke' cooking banana cultivars for the Great Lakes Region of Africa

Open Access Journal; Published online: 23 Nov 202

The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data

The Psychological Science Accelerator’s COVID-19 rapid-response dataset

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Psychological Science Accelerator coordinated three large-scale psychological studies to examine the effects of loss-gain framing, cognitive reappraisals, and autonomy framing manipulations on behavioral intentions and affective measures. The data collected (April to October 2020) included specific measures for each experimental study, a general questionnaire examining health prevention behaviors and COVID-19 experience, geographical and cultural context characterization, and demographic information for each participant. Each participant started the study with the same general questions and then was randomized to complete either one longer experiment or two shorter experiments. Data were provided by 73,223 participants with varying completion rates. Participants completed the survey from 111 geopolitical regions in 44 unique languages/dialects. The anonymized dataset described here is provided in both raw and processed formats to facilitate re-use and further analyses. The dataset offers secondary analytic opportunities to explore coping, framing, and self-determination across a diverse, global sample obtained at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be merged with other time-sampled or geographic data

The BananaTainer: a high throughput phenotyping installation to explore Musa's growth potential in the east African highlands

The East African highlands, a densely populated area in the African Great Lakes region, are located at high altitudes (900-2000 m a.s.l.) and characterized by relatively low average temperatures (17-25°C). Banana (Musa spp.) is an important component of its production landscape, contributing in Uganda to up to 80% of the caloric intake. However, above 1500 m a.s.l. the relatively low ambient temperatures slow down the production and the on-farm diversity decreases. Although enhanced on-farm diversity has been proposed to increase production, little is known on the cultivar-specific agronomic requirements. High-throughput phenotyping installations with a tight climatic control, are essential to allow fast and early ex situ screening of the diversity with high experimental reproducibility. In this study, we introduce the BananaTainer as a suitable high-throughput, pre-field phenotyping installation i) to simulate East African highland weather conditions and ii) to evaluate differences in Musa’s low temperature responses

Replication data for: "Effect of paleopolyploidy and allopolyploidy on gene expression in banana"

Comparative transcriptomic analysis between allo- and auto-triploid cultivars performed by analysis of NGS sequences

The Enrichment of <i>Histomonas meleagridis</i> and Its Pathogen-Specific Protein Analysis: A First Step to Shed Light on Its Virulence

Since the discovery of Histomonas meleagridis in 1893, the necessity of isolating pure H. meleagridis has been highlighted over the years in the battle against histomonosis. Insights into the molecular characteristics of this protozoon open possibilities to proper treatment. Axenization of H. meleagridis in vitro cultures cocultured with bacteria has been unsuccessful. Numerous unsuccessful attempts at culturing H. meleagridis axenically have reinforced the assumption that the protozoa had an obligate relationship with certain bacteria originating from the host ceca. Within these perspectives, we enriched H. meleagridis cells from a mono-eukaryotic culture copropagated with host cecal bacteria by flow cytometry. The enrichment of histomonads was confirmed through transmission electron microscopy and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. For the first time several protein spots were successfully identified. The majority of spots were annotated as cytoskeletal proteins. Actin microfilaments are known to be a key player in cell spreading, cell adhesion, phagocytosis, signal transduction, and several other processes. Together with the identification of superoxide dismutase, the information generated from protein analysis of H. meleagridis may serve as a very first step toward understanding its pathogenesis and virulence

From fruit growth to ripening in plantain: a careful balance between carbohydrate synthesis and breakdown

We investigated the fruit development in two plantain banana cultivars from two weeks after bunch emergence till twelve weeks through high-throughput proteomics, major metabolite quantification and metabolic flux analyses. We give for the first time an insight at early stages of starch synthesis and breakdown. Starch and sugar synthesis and breakdown are processes that take place simultaneously. During the first eight to ten weeks the balance between synthesis and breakdown is clearly in favour of sugar breakdown and a net starch synthesis occurs. During this period, plantain fruit accumulates up to 48% of starch. The initiation of the ripening process is accompanied with a shift in balance towards net starch breakdown. The key enzymes related to this are phosphoglucan water dikinase (PWD), phosphoglucan phosphatase, α-1,6-glucosidase starch debranching enzyme (DBE), alpha glucan phosphorylase (PHS) and 4-alpha glucanotransferase disproportioning enzyme (DPE). The highest correlations with sucrose have been observed for PHS and DPE. There is also a significant correlation between the enzymes involved in ethylene biosynthesis, starch breakdown, pulp softening and ascorbate biosynthesis. The faster ending of maturation and starting of ripening in the Agbagba cultivar are linked to the key enzymes 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase and DPE. This knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate starch and sugar metabolisms during maturation and ripening is fundamental to determine the harvest moment, reduce postharvest losses and improve final product quality of breeding programs.Centre français de phénomique végétal

From fruit growth to ripening in plantain: a careful balance between carbohydrate synthesis and breakdown

We investigated the fruit development in two plantain banana cultivars from two weeks after bunch emergence till twelve weeks through high-throughput proteomics, major metabolite quantification and metabolic flux analyses. We aimed to investigate for the first time different fruit development stages and gain unique insights into the order of appearance and dominance of specific enzymes/fluxes. Starch synthesis and breakdown are processes that take place simultaneously. During the first ten weeks fruits accumulated up to 48% of starch. Glucose 6-phosphate and fructose were important starch precursors. We found a unique amyloplast transporter and hypothesize that it facilitates the import of fructose. We identified an invertase originating from the M. balbisiana genome that would enable to flow carbon back to growth and starch synthesis and keep a high starch content even during ripening. Enzymes associated to the initiation of ripening were involved in ethylene and auxin metabolism, starch breakdown, pulp softening and ascorbate biosynthesis. The initiation of ripening was cultivar specific. A faster initiation was particularly linked to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase and 4-alpha glucanotransferase disproportioning enzyme. This knowledge is fundamental to determine the ideal harvest moment, reduce postharvest losses and improve product quality through breeding