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Diel cycle is of enormous biological importance as it imposes daily oscillation in environmental conditions, which temporally structures most ecosystems. Organisms developed biological time-keeping mechanisms – circadian clocks – that provide a significant fitness advantage over competitors by optimising the synchronisation of their biological activities. While circadian clocks are ubiquitous in Eukaryotes, they are so far only characterised in Cyanobacteria within Prokaryotes. However, growing evidence suggests that circadian clocks are widespread in the bacterial and archaeal domains. As Prokaryotes are at the heart of crucial environmental processes and are essential to human health, unravelling their time-keeping systems provides numerous applications in medical research, environmental sciences, and biotechnology. In this review, we elaborate on how novel circadian clocks in Prokaryotes offer research and development perspectives. We compare and contrast the different circadian systems in Cyanobacteria and discuss about their evolution and taxonomic distribution. We necessarily provide an updated phylogenetic analysis of bacterial and archaeal species that harbour homologs of the main cyanobacterial clock components. Finally, we elaborate on new potential clock-controlled microorganisms that represent opportunities of ecological and industrial relevance in prokaryotic groups such as anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, methanogenic archaea, methanotrophs or sulphate-reducing bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An objective assessment of nasal breathing is currently insufficiently achievable. The application of computational fluid dynamics for this purpose is increasingly gaining attention. However, the suggested specific frameworks can differ considerably. To the best of our knowledge, there is not yet a widely accepted clinical usage of computational fluid dynamics. In this article, selected aspects are addressed that might be crucial for future development and possible implementation of computational fluid dynamics in rhinology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the synthesis and characterization of a series of (mostly) air‐stable diorganyl bis(pyridylimino) isoindolide (BPI) aluminum complexes and their chemistry upon visible‐light excitation. The redox non‐innocent BPI pincer ligand allows for efficient charge transfer homolytic processes of the title compounds. This makes them a universal platform for the generation of carbon‐centered radicals. The photo‐induced homolytic cleavage of the Al−C bonds was investigated by means of stationary and transient UV/Vis spectroscopy, spin trapping experiments, as well as EPR and NMR spectroscopy. The experimental findings were supported by quantum chemical calculations. Reactivity studies enabled the utilization of the aluminum complexes as reactants in tin‐free Giese‐type reactions and carbonyl alkylations under ambient conditions, which both indicated radical‐polar crossover behavior. A deeper understanding of the physical fundamentals and photochemical process was provided, furnishing in turn a new strategy to control the reactivity of bench‐stable aluminum organometallics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wir berichten über die Synthese und Charakterisierung einer Reihe von weitgehend luftstabilen Diorganyl‐bis(pyridylimino)isoindolid(BPI)−Aluminiumkomplexen und deren Reaktivität durch elektronische Anregung mittels sichtbarem Licht. Der redox‐aktive, "nicht‐unschuldige" BPI‐Pinzettenligand ermöglicht eine effiziente Charge‐Transfer‐Homolyse der Al−C‐Bindung. Dadurch dienen die vorgestellten Verbindungen als Ausgangsmaterialien für die Generierung von kohlenstoffzentrierten Radikalen. Die photo‐induzierte homolytische Spaltung der Al−C‐Bindung wurde mittels stationärer und transienter UV/Vis‐Spektroskopie, Abfangexperimenten der entsprechenden Radikale, sowie EPR‐ und NMR‐Spektroskopie analysiert und zudem mithilfe von quantenchemischen Rechnungen untersucht. Studien zur Reaktivität der entsprechenden Aluminiumkomplexe ermöglichten deren Nutzung als Reagenzien in Giese‐artigen Reaktionen und der Alkylierung von organischen Carbonylverbindungen, wobei Hinweise auf einen Wechsel von radikalischen zu polaren Mechanismen (radical‐polar‐crossover) gefunden wurden. Durch diese Arbeit wurde ein vertieftes Verständnis der physikalischen Hintergründe und der ablaufenden photochemischen Prozesse generiert, wodurch eine neue Strategie der Reaktionskontrolle von luftstabilen Organometallverbindungen des Aluminiums etabliert wurde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wnt ligands are secreted signaling proteins that display a wide range of biological effects. They play key roles in stimulating Wnt signaling pathways to facilitate processes such as tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Dysregulation of Wnt signaling is a hallmark of many cancers and genetic alterations in various Wnt signaling components, which result in ligand-independent or ligand-dependent hyperactivation of the pathway that have been identified. Recently, research is focusing on the impact of Wnt signaling on the interaction between tumor cells and their micro-environment. This Wnt-mediated crosstalk can act either in a tumor promoting or suppressing fashion. In this review, we comprehensively outline the function of Wnt ligands in different tumor entities and their impact on key phenotypes, including cancer stemness, drug resistance, metastasis, and immune evasion. Lastly, we elaborate approaches to target Wnt ligands in cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of oscillations and deterministic chaos in natural biological systems has been discussed for several decades and was originally based on discrete-time population growth models (May 1974). Recently, all types of nonlinear dynamics were shown for experimental communities where several species interact. Yet, there are no data exhibiting the whole range of nonlinear dynamics for single-species systems without trophic interactions. Up until now, ecological experiments and models ignored the intracellular dimension, which includes multiple nonlinear processes even within one cell type. Here, we show that dynamics of single-species systems of protists in continuous experimental chemostat systems and corresponding continuous-time models reveal typical characteristics of nonlinear dynamics and even deterministic chaos, a very rare discovery. An automatic cell registration enabled a continuous and undisturbed analysis of dynamic behavior with a high temporal resolution. Our simple and general model considering the cell cycle exhibits a remarkable spectrum of dynamic behavior. Chaos-like dynamics were shown in continuous single-species populations in experimental and modeling data on the level of a single type of cells without any external forcing. This study demonstrates how complex processes occurring in single cells influence dynamics on the population level. Nonlinearity should be considered as an important phenomenon in cell biology and single-species dynamics and also, for the maintenance of high biodiversity in nature, a prerequisite for nature conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Cover Picture: Visible-Light Activation of Diorganyl Bis(pyridylimino) Isoindolide Aluminum(III) Complexes and Their Organometallic Radical Reactivity" discusses the coordination of a chelating ligand to an aluminum atom in a complex. The ligand is coordinated by three nitrogen donors, and the aluminum atom has two phenyl rings as substituents. The article highlights a homolytic bond rupture event where one of the phenyl rings is "blown" away by light, indicating its radical nature. The study is reported by Andreas-Neil Unterreiner, Frank Breher, and others. Additionally, the article mentions another research article by Cui-Lian Liu, Tatjana N. Parac-Vogt, and others, which demonstrates a "ship-in-a-bottle" approach for the synthesis of unstable polyoxometalates using a coordination cage. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Titelbild: Aktivierung von Diorganyl‐bis(pyridylimino)isoindolid‐Aluminiumkomplexen mit sichtbarem Licht und deren organometallische Radikalreaktivität (Angew. Chem. 19/2024)" discusses the activation of diorganyl-bis(pyridylimino)isoindolid-aluminium complexes using visible light and their organometallic radical reactivity. The cover picture shows one of the title complexes, where a chelating ligand is coordinated to the central aluminum atom. The picture highlights a homolytic bond rupture event, with one of the phenyl rings being "blown" away by light. The article also mentions another research study on the synthesis of unstable polyoxometalates using a coordination cage approach. [Extracted from the article]

Targeting cancer hallmarks is a cardinal strategy to improve antineoplastic treatment. However, cross-talk between signaling pathways and key oncogenic processes frequently convey resistance to targeted therapies. The p53 and Wnt pathway play vital roles for the biology of many tumors, as they are critically involved in cancer onset and progression. Over recent decades, a high level of interaction between the two pathways has been revealed. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of molecular interactions between the p53 and Wnt pathway discovered in cancer, including complex feedback loops and reciprocal transactivation. The mutational landscape of genes associated with p53 and Wnt signaling is described, including mutual exclusive and co-occurring genetic alterations. Finally, we summarize the functional consequences of this cross-talk for cancer phenotypes, such as invasiveness, metastasis or drug resistance, and discuss potential strategies to pharmacologically target the p53-Wnt interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students' observations A few bioinformatics students commented on the need to be proactive as well as independent. Rule 10: Evaluate and improve your projects and supervision over time While both traditional and virtual internships are frequently viewed as benefiting students more than the organizations, the reality is that the supervision of virtual interns represents learning experiences as well as growth opportunities for faculty. Faculty get to support students from various faculties and institutions, potentially even students studying in different countries. Such student feedback can help faculty supervisors to revise and optimize their approaches for different projects and students (see also "Rule 5: Keep track of and celebrate learning moments from start to finish"). [Extracted from the article]

Biodegradation of the phenylurea herbicide linuron appears a specialization within a specific clade of the Variovorax genus. The linuron catabolic ability is likely acquired by horizontal gene transfer but the mechanisms involved are not known. The full-genome sequences of six linuron-degrading Variovorax strains isolated from geographically distant locations were analyzed to acquire insight into the mechanisms of genetic adaptation toward linuron metabolism. Whole-genome sequence analysis confirmed the phylogenetic position of the linuron degraders in a separate clade within Variovorax and indicated that they unlikely originate from a common ancestral linuron degrader. The linuron degraders differentiated from Variovorax strains that do not degrade linuron by the presence of multiple plasmids of 20–839 kb, including plasmids of unknown plasmid groups. The linuron catabolic gene clusters showed 1) high conservation and synteny and 2) strain-dependent distribution among the different plasmids. Most of them were bordered by IS 1071 elements forming composite transposon structures, often in a multimeric array configuration, appointing IS 1071 as a key element in the recruitment of linuron catabolic genes in Variovorax. Most of the strains carried at least one (catabolic) broad host range plasmid that might have been a second instrument for catabolic gene acquisition. We conclude that clade 1 Variovorax strains, despite their different geographical origin, made use of a limited genetic repertoire regarding both catabolic functions and vehicles to acquire linuron biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metaproteomics allows to decipher the structure and functionality of microbial communities. Despite its rapid development, crucial steps such as the creation of standardized protein search databases and reliable protein annotation remain challenging. To overcome those critical steps, we developed a new program named mPies (metaProteomics in environmental sciences). mPies allows the creation of protein databases derived from assembled or unassembled metagenomes, and/or public repositories based on taxon IDs, gene or protein names. For the first time, mPies facilitates the automatization of reliable taxonomic and functional consensus annotations at the protein group level, minimizing the well-known protein inference issue, which is commonly encountered in metaproteomics. mPies' workflow is highly customizable with regards to input data, workflow steps, and parameter adjustment. mPies is implemented in Python 3/Snakemake and freely available on GitHub: https://github.com/johanneswerner/mPies/. Reviewer: This article was reviewed by Dr. Wilson Wen Bin Goh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We assess the perception of two range gauges in battery electric vehicles (BEVs). • Displaying accurate but volatile range information results in higher range stress. • Displaying accurate but volatile range information results in lower trust. • Trust in the range estimates positively affects range stress and BEV acceptance. • Range stress is negatively related to BEV acceptance. Abstract Due to the limited range of battery electric vehicles, research has emphasized a frequently observed dimension of driver stress referred to as a concern of becoming stranded due to a depleted battery known as range stress. It has been suggested that the appropriate provision of range-related information through in-vehicle information systems constitutes a promising solution to overcome range stress. However, drivers often struggle to understand the influencing factors of the displayed range in battery electric vehicles and thus lose trust in the range estimation. Building on field experiments in real traffic situations, we aim to investigate the influence of two range gauges typically present in battery electric vehicles, which differ in terms of information accuracy and displayed volatility, on the perception of trust in the estimates and range stress. In addition, we aim to explore how trust in the range estimates influences the perception of range stress and how trust and range stress affect the acceptance of battery electric vehicles. We found that displaying accurate but volatile range information results in higher perception of range stress and a lower feeling of trust in comparison to the provision of less accurate but less volatile range information. In addition, we observed that higher levels of trust in range estimates leads to lower range stress and higher acceptance of battery electric vehicles. Finally, we showed that range stress is negatively related to battery electric vehicle acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at assessing the skill of several climate field reconstruction techniques (CFR) to reconstruct past precipitation over continental Europe and the Mediterranean at seasonal time scales over the last two millennia from proxy records. A number of pseudoproxy experiments are performed within the virtual reality of a regional paleoclimate simulation at 45 km resolution to analyse different aspects of reconstruction skill. Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA), two versions of an Analog Method (AM) and Bayesian hierarchical modeling (BHM) are applied to reconstruct precipitation from a synthetic network of pseudoproxies that are contaminated with various types of noise. The skill of the derived reconstructions is assessed through comparison with precipitation simulated by the regional climate model. Unlike BHM, CCA systematically underestimates the variance. The AM can be adjusted to overcome this shortcoming, presenting an intermediate behaviour between the two aforementioned techniques. However, a trade-off between reconstruction-target correlations and reconstructed variance is the drawback of all CFR techniques. CCA (BHM) presents the largest (lowest) skill in preserving the temporal evolution, whereas the AM can be tuned to reproduce better correlation at the expense of losing variance. While BHM has been shown to perform well for temperatures, it relies heavily on prescribed spatial correlation lengths. While this assumption is valid for temperature, it is hardly warranted for precipitation. In general, none of the methods outperforms the other. All experiments agree that a dense and regularly distributed proxy network is required to reconstruct precipitation accurately, reflecting its high spatial and temporal variability. This is especially true in summer, when a specifically short de-correlation distance from the proxy location is caused by localised summertime convective precipitation events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Euryarchaea from the genus H alorhabdus have been found in hypersaline habitats worldwide, yet are represented by only two isolates: H alorhabdus utahensis AX-2T from the shallow Great Salt Lake of Utah, and H alorhabdus tiamatea SARL4 BT from the Shaban deep-sea hypersaline anoxic lake ( DHAL) in the Red Sea. We sequenced the H . tiamatea genome to elucidate its niche adaptations. Among sequenced archaea, H . tiamatea features the highest number of glycoside hydrolases, the majority of which were expressed in proteome experiments. Annotations and glycosidase activity measurements suggested an adaptation towards recalcitrant algal and plant-derived hemicelluloses. Glycosidase activities were higher at 2% than at 0% or 5% oxygen, supporting a preference for low-oxygen conditions. Likewise, proteomics indicated quinone-mediated electron transport at 2% oxygen, but a notable stress response at 5% oxygen. H alorhabdus tiamatea furthermore encodes proteins characteristic for thermophiles and light-dependent enzymes (e.g. bacteriorhodopsin), suggesting that H . tiamatea evolution was mostly not governed by a cold, dark, anoxic deep-sea habitat. Using enrichment and metagenomics, we could demonstrate presence of similar glycoside hydrolase-rich H alorhabdus members in the Mediterranean DHAL Medee, which supports that H alorhabdus species can occupy a distinct niche as polysaccharide degraders in hypersaline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods to estimate the amplification by stochastic resonance are tested in an electronic circuit experiment showing chaotic dynamics. We demonstrate that the linear response ansatz used for the estimation in stochastic systems can be also applied to chaotic systems showing crisis induced intermittency. In addition, the applied method explains the mechanism leading to stochastic multiresonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The suggested concept of rhinorespiratory homeostasis is a new theoretical model for the discussion of physiologic and physical principles of nasal breathing. This model is based on a comprehensive view of nasal functions that takes comparative animal physiology into account. Consequently, it has a universal cross-species character and emphasizes the central role of nasal secretion. In contrast to the established view, the focus is transferred from the inspired air to the nasal wall. This concept considers the parietal effect of airflow represented by wall shear stress with special regard to the epithelial lining fluid. It delivers one possible mechanism of an inherent triggering of the nasal cycle. Furthermore, the issue of biological fluid-structure interaction is introduced. This article presents a rethinking of nasal breathing that was inspired by clinical experience and results of flow field investigations through computational fluid dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation behind the development of a new interactive three-dimensional (3D) model of the cartilaginous and bony framework of the nose originated from the significant demand for sophisticated patient communication and for accurate documentation of the surgical steps in rhinoplasty. Basically, the model consists of three features—the viewer function, the freehand function, and default applications—enabling the surgeon to replicate fundamental compilations of findings and to graphically document operative measures easily. The user is able to save all graphics in twodimensional format and allocate them to patient files. Because the application was designed to be sufficiently universal without being too complex, the 3D model provides a well-balanced mix between freehand and default functions, representing the consistent development of currently available tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pseudoproxy comparison is presented for two statistical methods used to derive annual climate field reconstructions (CFRs) for Europe. The employed methods use the canonical correlation analysis (CCA) procedure presented by Smerdon et al. and the Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) method adopted from Tingley and Huybers. Pseudoproxy experiments (PPEs) are constructed from modeled temperature data sampled from the 1250-yr paleo-run of the NCAR Community Climate System Model (CCSM) version 1.4 model by Ammann et al. Pseudoproxies approximate the distribution of the multiproxy network used by Mann et al. over the European region of interest. Gaussian white noise is added to the temperature data to mimic the combined signal and noise properties of real-world proxies. Results indicate that, while both methods perform well in areas with good proxy coverage, the BHM method outperforms the CCA method across the entire field and additionally returns objective error estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary So far only little is known about the microbial ecology of Mediterranean deep-sea hypersaline anoxic lakes (DHALs). These brine lakes were formed by evaporite dissolution/brine seeps and are important model environments to provide insights into possible metabolisms and distributions of microorganisms on the early Earth. Our study on the Lake Thetis, a new thalassohaline DHAL located South-East of the Medriff Corridor, has revealed microbial communities of contrasting compositions with a high number of novel prokaryotic candidate divisions. The major finding of our present work is co-occurrence of at least three autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation pathways in the brine-seawater interface that are likely fuelled by an active ramified sulphur cycle. Genes for the reductive acetyl-CoA and reductive TCA pathways were also found in the brine suggesting that these pathways are operational even at extremely elevated salinities and that autotrophy is more important in hypersaline environments than previously assumed. Surprisingly, genes coding for RuBisCo were found in the highly reduced brine. Three types of sulphide oxidation pathways were found in the interface. The first involves a multienzyme Sox complex catalysing the complete oxidation of reduced sulphur compounds to sulphate, the second type recruits SQR sulphide:quinone reductase for oxidation of sulphide to elemental sulphur, which, in the presence of sulphide, could further be reduced by polysulphide reductases in the third pathway. The presence of the latter two allows a maximal energy yield from the oxidation of sulphide and at the same time prevents the acidification and the accumulation of S0 deposits. Amino acid composition analysis of deduced proteins revealed a significant overrepresentation of acidic residues in the brine compared with the interface. This trait is typical for halophilic organisms as an adaptation to the brine's extreme hypersalinity. This work presents the first metagenomic survey of the microbial communities of the recently discovered Lake Thetis whose brine constitutes one of saltiest water bodies ever reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In coupled systems, symmetry plays an important role for the collective dynamics. We investigate the dynamical response to noise with and without weak periodic modulation for two classes of ring systems. Each ring system consists of unidirectionally coupled bistable elements but in one class, the number of elements is even while in the other class the number is odd. Consequently, the rings without forcing show at a certain coupling strength, either ordering (similar to anti-ferromagnetic chains) or auto-oscillations. Analysing the bifurcations and fixed points of the two ring classes enables us to explain the dynamical response measured to noise and weak modulation. Moreover, by analysing a simplified model, we demonstrate that the response is universal for systems having a directional component in their stochastic dynamics in phase space around the origin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: ClC-7 is a ubiquitous transporter which is broadly expressed in mammalian tissues. It is implied in the pathogenesis of lysosomal storage disease and osteopetrosis. Because of its endosomal/lysosomal localization it is still poorly characterized. Methodology/Principal Findings: An electrophysiological characterization of rat ClC-7 using solid-supported membrane-based electrophysiology is presented. The measured currents show the characteristics of ClC-7 and confirm its function as a Cl-/H+-antiporter. We have used rat ClC-7 in CHO cells as a model system to investigate the functionality and cellular localization of the wt transporter and its variant G213R ClC-7 which is the analogue of human G215R ClC-7 responsible for autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II. Our study shows that rat G213R ClC-7 is functional but has a localization defect in CHO cells which prevents it from being correctly targeted to the lysosomal membrane. The electrophysiological assay is tested as a tool for drug discovery. The assay is validated with a number of drug candidates. It is shown that ClC-7 is inhibited by DIDS, NPPB and NS5818 at micromolar concentrations. Conclusions/Significance: It is suggested that the scenario found in the CHO model system also applies to the human transporter and that mislocalization rather than impaired functionality of G215R ClC-7 is the primary cause of the related autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II. Furthermore, the robust solid-supported membrane-based electrophysiological assay is proposed for rapid screening for potential ClC-7 inhibitors which are discussed for treatment of osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In nonlinear electronic oscillators of the Chua type the merging of two precritical attractors leads to crisis-induced chaos–chaos intermittency. This behavior can be induced either by addition of noise to the precritical system or by variation of a control parameter. Close to such a crisis small periodic signals can be enhanced by the addition of noise via the mechanism of stochastic resonance. We present an experimental observation of this effect as well as a thorough description of the critical behavior of the system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

During a period of more than eleven years serum samples of a patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus were collected and analyzed for anti-nuclear autoantibodies. High titer of anti-La/SS-B were detectable in all serum samples. The La/SS-B epitopes remained constant. Besides anti-La/SS-B antibodies all serum samples contained traces of anti-Ro/SS-A including anti-Ro52 and anti-Ro60 antibodies. During disease flares anti-Ro/SS A antibodies were upregulated and anti-dsDNA antibodies appeared, thus supporting the concept of an antigen driven intermolecular epitope spreading to Ro/SS-A and dsDNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic climate is uniquely sensitive to ongoing warming. The feedbacks that drive this amplified response remain insufficiently quantified and misrepresented in model scenarios of future warming. Comparison with paleotemperature reconstructions from past warm intervals can help close this gap. The Early Holocene (11.7–8.2 ka BP) is an important target because Arctic temperatures were warmer than today. This study presents centennially resolved summer temperature reconstructions from three Svalbard lakes. We show that Early Holocene temperatures fluctuated between the coldest and warmest extremes of the past 12 ka, exceeding the range of instrumental observations and future projections. Peak warmth occurred ~10 ka BP, with temperatures 7 °C warmer than today due to high radiative forcing and intensified inflow of warm Atlantic waters. Between 9.5 and 8 ka BP, temperatures dropped in response to freshwater fluxes from melting ice. Facing similar mechanisms, our findings may provide insight into the near‐future response of Arctic climate. Plain Language Summary: The Arctic warms much faster than the global average. This amplified response can trigger feedbacks that affect the trajectory of future change. In areas formerly covered by ice, darker open water or rocks reflect less solar heat, enhancing warming. However, freshwater from melting ice may slow ocean circulation, leading to cooling. The climate impact of these mechanisms remain insufficiently understood, restricting efforts to predict future change. To reduce uncertainty, our research uses geological information from the most recent past period when the Arctic was warmer than the present, the Early Holocene, which lasted from 11,700 to 8,200 years ago. We analyzed fats from algae preserved in Svalbard lakes that yield information about past summer temperatures. Our findings show that the Early Holocene was characterized by the coldest and warmest extremes experienced since the last Ice Age. During peak warmth, summer temperatures were 7 °C warmer than today as more solar radiation and warm water reached the Arctic. However, Early Holocene warming was much slower than today. But warming was interrupted when freshwater pulses from melting Ice Sheets lowered temperatures. As we face a warmer Arctic with a melting Greenland Ice Sheet, our findings provide a rare window into the region's future. Key Points: Temperatures exceeded instrumental and projected values ~10 ka BP as reinvigorating ocean circulation compounded radiative forcingTemperatures drop ~9.5–8 ka BP as the impact of freshwater from the melting Laurentide Ice Sheet overwhelms warmingFirst terrestrial evidence from the Nordic Seas of surface cooling in response to the meltwater‐driven 9.3 and 8.2 ka climate events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying precipitation variability beyond the instrumental period is essential for putting current and future fluctuations into long-term perspective and providing a test bed for evaluating climate simulations. For south-eastern Asia such quantifications are scarce and millennium-long attempts are still missing. In this study we take a pseudo-proxy approach to evaluate the potential for generating summer precipitation reconstructions over south-eastern Asia during the past millennium. The ability of a series of novel Bayesian approaches to generate reconstructions at either annual or decadal resolutions and under diverse scenarios of pseudo-proxy records' noise is analysed and compared to the classic analogue method. We find that for all the algorithms and resolutions a high density of pseudo-proxy information is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a successful reconstruction. Among the selected algorithms, the Bayesian techniques perform generally better than the analogue method, the difference in abilities being highest over the semi-arid areas and in the decadal-resolution framework. The superiority of the Bayesian schemes indicates that directly modelling the space and time precipitation field variability is more appropriate than just relying on a pool of observational-based analogues in which certain precipitation regimes might be absent. Using a pseudo-proxy network with locations and noise levels similar to the ones found in the real world, we conclude that performing a millennium-long precipitation reconstruction over south-eastern Asia is feasible as the Bayesian schemes provide skilful results over most of the target area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gill chamber of deep-sea hydrothermal vent shrimp R imicaris exoculata hosts a dense community of epibiotic bacteria dominated by filamentous E psilonproteobacteria and G ammaproteobacteria. Using metagenomics on shrimp from the Rainbow hydrothermal vent field, we showed that both epibiont groups have the potential to grow autotrophically and oxidize reduced sulfur compounds or hydrogen with oxygen or nitrate. For carbon fixation, the E psilonproteobacteria use the reductive tricarboxylic acid cycle, whereas the G ammaproteobacteria use the Calvin- Benson- Bassham cycle. Only the epsilonproteobacterial epibionts had the genes necessary for producing ammonium. This ability likely minimizes direct competition between epibionts and also broadens the spectrum of environmental conditions that the shrimp may successfully inhabit. We identified genes likely to be involved in shrimp-epibiont interactions, as well as genes for nutritional and detoxification processes that might benefit the host. Shrimp epibionts at Rainbow are often coated with iron oxyhydroxides, whose origin is intensely debated. We identified 16 S rRNA sequences and functional genes affiliated with iron-oxidizing Z etaproteobacteria, which indicates that biological iron oxidation might play a role in forming these deposits. Fluorescence in situ hybridizations confirmed the presence of active Z etaproteobacteria in the R . exoculata gill chamber, thus providing the first evidence for a Z etaproteobacteria-invertebrate association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A reliable and comprehensive assessment of nasal breathing is problematic and still a common issue in rhinosurgery. Impairments of nasal breathing need an objective approach. In this regard, currently rhinomanometry is the only standard diagnostic tool available but has various limitations. However, in the last decade, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a promising method in facing the challenge of qualifying nasal breathing. This article presents use of CFD with a symptom-free subject and a symptomatic patient. Thereby, certain flow field features and changes before and after surgery were investigated. Moreover, the study outlines suggestions for concrete rhinologic CFD applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents pseudo-proxy experiments to quantify the reconstruction skill of two climate field reconstruction methodologies for a marine proxy network subject to age uncertainties. The BARCAST methodology (Bayesian Algorithm for Reconstructing Climate Anomalies in Space and Time) is tested for sea surface temperature (SST) reconstruction for the first time over the northern North Atlantic region, and compared with a classic analogue reconstruction methodology. The reconstruction experiments are performed at annual and decadal resolution. We implement chronological uncertainties inherent to marine proxies as a novelty, using a simulated age-model ensemble covering the past millennium. Our experiments comprise different scenarios for the input data network, with the noise levels added to the target variable extending from ideal to realistic. Results show that both methodologies are able to reconstruct the Summer mean SST skillfully when the proxy network is considered absolutely dated, but the skill of the analogue method is superior to BARCAST. Only the analogue method provides skillful correlations with the true target variable in the case of a realistic noisy and age-uncertain proxy network. The spatiotemporal properties of the input target data are partly contrasting with the BARCAST model formulations, resulting in an inferior reconstruction ensemble that is similar to a white-noise stochastic process in time. The analogue method is also successful in reconstructing decadal temperatures, while BARCAST fails. The results contribute to constraining uncertainties in CFR for ocean dynamics which are highly important for climate across the globe. • Sea surface temperature reconstruction from marine proxy networks. • Pseudoproxy experiments evaluate the skill of climate field reconstruction methods. • The proxy surrogate method is superior to the Bayesian hierarchical model BARCAST. • Proxy noise and age-uncertainties are the main limitations for the skill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three homologous series of 2-alkylthio-5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were synthesized [1, 2] and their liquid crystalline and dielectric properties investigated. Depending on the chain length, nematic, smectic A and smectic C phases were observed [1] . Dielectric investigations indicate a cross over of epsilon o and epsilon o at the N/SmA phase transition. This is explained by a transition from a more statistical into an antiparallel correlation of the dipoles, mainly caused by steric effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Microplastics in marine ecosystems are colonized by diverse prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities. How these communities and their functional profiles are shaped by the artificial surfaces remains broadly unknown. In order to close this knowledge gap, we set up an in situ experiment with pellets of the polyolefin polymer polyethylene (PE), the aromatic hydrocarbon polymer polystyrene (PS), and wooden beads along a coastal to estuarine gradient in the Baltic Sea, Germany. We used an integrated metagenomics/metaproteomics approach to evaluate the genomic potential as well as protein expression levels of aquatic plastic biofilms. Our results suggest that material properties had a minor influence on the plastic‐associated assemblages, as genomic and proteomic profiles of communities associated with the structurally different polymers PE and PS were highly similar, hence polymer‐unspecific. Instead, it seemed that these communities were shaped by biogeographic factors. Wood, on the other hand, induced the formation of substrate‐specific biofilms and served as nutrient source itself. Our study indicates that, while PE and PS microplastics may be relevant in the photic zone as opportunistic colonization grounds for phototrophic microorganisms, they appear not to be subject to biodegradation or serve as vectors for pathogenic microorganisms in marine habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic metal contamination results in long-term environmental selective pressure with unclear impacts on bacterial communities, which comprise key players in ecosystem functioning. Since metal contamination poses serious toxicity and bioaccumulation issues, assessing their impact on environmental microbiomes is important to respond to current environmental and health issues. Despite elevated metal concentrations, the river sedimentary microbiome near the MetalEurop foundry (France) shows unexpected higher diversity compared with the upstream control site. In this work, a follow-up of the microbial community assembly during a metal contamination event was performed in microcosms with periodic renewal of the supernatant river water. Sediments of the control site were gradually exposed to a mixture of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) in order to reach similar concentrations to MetalEurop sediments. Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons was performed. Metal-resistant genes, czc A and pbr A, as well as IncP plasmid content, were assessed by quantitative PCR. The outcomes of this study support previous in situ observations showing that metals act as community assembly managers, increasing diversity. This work revealed progressive adaptation of the sediment microbiome through the selection of different metal-resistant mechanisms and cross-species interactions involving public good-providing bacteria co-occurring with the rest of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benthic microorganisms transported into the water column potentially influence biogeochemical cycles and the pelagic food web structure. In the present study six gas-releasing vent sites in the Coal Oil Point seep field (California) were investigated, and the dislocation of microorganisms from the sediment into the water column via gas bubbles released from the seabed was documented. It was found that the methanotrophs transport efficiency was dependent on the volumetric gas flow, with the highest transport rate of 22.7 × 103 cells mLgas−1 at a volumetric gas flow of 0.07 mLgas s−1, and the lowest rate of 0.2 × 103 cells mLgas−1 at a gas flow of 2.2 mLgas s−1. A simple budget approach showed that this bubble-mediated transport has the potential to maintain a relevant part of the water-column methanotrophs in the seep field. The bubble-mediated link between the benthic and pelagic environment was further supported by genetic analyses, indicating a transportation of methanotrophs of the family Methylomonaceae and oil degrading bacteria of the genus Cycloclasticus from the sediment into the water column. These findings demonstrate that the bubble-mediated transport of microorganisms influences the pelagic microbial abundance and community composition at gas-releasing seep sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA methylation patterns delineate clinically relevant subgroups of meningioma. We previously established the six meningioma methylation classes (MC) benign 1–3, intermediate A and B, and malignant. Here, we set out to identify subgroup-specific mutational patterns and gene regulation. Whole genome sequencing was performed on 62 samples across all MCs and WHO grades from 62 patients with matched blood control, including 40 sporadic meningiomas and 22 meningiomas arising after radiation (Mrad). RNA sequencing was added for 18 of these cases and chromatin-immunoprecipitation for histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) for 16 samples. Besides the known mutations in meningioma, structural variants were found as the mechanism of NF2 inactivation in a small subset (5%) of sporadic meningiomas, similar to previous reports for Mrad. Aberrations of DMD were found to be enriched in MCs with NF2 mutations, and DMD was among the most differentially upregulated genes in NF2 mutant compared to NF2 wild-type cases. The mutational signature AC3, which has been associated with defects in homologous recombination repair (HRR), was detected in both sporadic meningioma and Mrad, but widely distributed across the genome in sporadic cases and enriched near genomic breakpoints in Mrad. Compared to the other MCs, the number of single nucleotide variants matching the AC3 pattern was significantly higher in the malignant MC, which also exhibited higher genomic instability, determined by the numbers of both large segments affected by copy number alterations and breakpoints between large segments. ChIP-seq analysis for H3K27ac revealed a specific activation of genes regulated by the transcription factor FOXM1 in the malignant MC. This analysis also revealed a super enhancer near the HOXD gene cluster in this MC, which, together with general upregulation of HOX genes in the malignant MC, indicates a role of HOX genes in meningioma aggressiveness. This data elucidates the biological mechanisms rendering different epigenetic subgroups of meningiomas, and suggests leveraging HRR as a novel therapeutic target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The electronic and magnetic properties of a set of mononuclear terbium(III) and dysprosium(III) complexes with two tetradentate 1‐hydroxy‐pyridin‐2‐one (1,2‐HOPO) ligands are reported. Two primary coordination geometries are observed, depending on the length of the linker between the 1,2‐HOPO donor moieties and the resulting arrangements of the linker. Fine details of the magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra of the dysprosium(III) complexes illustrate differences in the splitting of the J multiplets and allow for a thorough ligand field analysis. High frequency electron paramagnetic resonance (HF‐EPR) studies of the terbium(III) complexes give insight into the composition of the ground states. Ab initio calculations are utilized to rationalize the experimental results and further illustrate the effect of the structural features on the electronic and magnetic properties of the different complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Situated at the crossroads of major oceanic and atmospheric circulation patterns, the Arctic is a key component of Earth's climate system. Compounded by sea-ice feedbacks, even modest shifts in the region's heat budget drive large climate responses. This is highlighted by the observed amplified response of the Arctic to global warming. Assessing the imprint and signature of underlying forcing mechanisms require paleoclimate records, allowing us to expand our knowledge beyond the short instrumental period and contextualize ongoing warming. However, such datasets are scarce and sparse in the Arctic, limiting our ability to address these issues. Here, we present two quantitative Holocene-length paleotemperature records from the High Arctic Svalbard archipelago, situated in the climatically sensitive Arctic North Atlantic. Temperature estimates are based on U 37 K unsaturation ratios from sediment cores of two lakes. Our data reveal a dynamic Holocene temperature evolution, with reconstructed summer lake water temperatures spanning a range of ∼6–8 °C, and characterized by four phases. The Early Holocene was marked by an early onset (∼10.5 ka cal. BP) of insolation-driven Hypsithermal conditions, likely compounded by strengthening oceanic heat transport. This warm interval was interrupted by cooling between ∼10.5–8.3 ka cal. BP that we attribute to cooling effects from the melting Northern Hemisphere ice sheets. Temperatures declined throughout the Middle Holocene, following a gradual trend that was accentuated by two cooling steps between ∼7.8–7 ka cal. BP and around ∼4.4–4.3 ka cal. BP. These transitions coincide with a strengthening influence of Arctic water and sea-ice in the adjacent Fram Strait. During the Late Holocene (past 4 ka), temperature change decoupled from the still-declining insolation, and fluctuated around comparatively cold mean conditions. By showing that Holocene Svalbard temperatures were governed by an alternation of forcings, this study improves our understanding of Arctic climate dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, representatives of the Bacteroidetes have been increasingly recognized as specialists for the degradation of macromolecules. Formosa constitutes a Bacteroidetes genus within the class Flavobacteria, and the members of this genus have been found in marine habitats with high levels of organic matter, such as in association with algae, invertebrates, and fecal pellets. Here we report on the generation and analysis of the genome of the type strain of Formosa agariphila (KMM 3901T), an isolate from the green alga Acrosiphonia sonderi. F. agariphila is a facultative anaerobe with the capacity for mixed acid fermentation and denitrification. Its genome harbors 129 proteases and 88 glycoside hydrolases, indicating a pronounced specialization for the degradation of proteins, polysaccharides, and glycoproteins. Sixty-five of the glycoside hydrolases are organized in at least 13 distinct polysaccharide utilization loci, where they are clustered with TonB-dependent receptors, SusD-like proteins, sensors/ transcription factors, transporters, and often sulfatases. These loci play a pivotal role in bacteroidetal polysaccharide biodegradation and in the case of F. agariphila revealed the capacity to degrade a wide range of algal polysaccharides from green, red, and brown algae and thus a strong specialization of toward an alga-associated lifestyle. This was corroborated by growth experiments, which confirmed usage particularly of those monosaccharides that constitute the building blocks of abundant algal polysaccharides, as well as distinct algal polysaccharides, such as laminarins, xylans, and κ-carrageenans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology. Although the primary defect affects cholangiocytes, cholestatic injury of hepatocytes may promote further liver damage. Since down-regulation of hepatocellular organic anion transporters is implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of cholestasis, expression of these transporters was determined in a novel rat model, which closely resembles human PSC.Methods: Hepatic protein and mRNA expression of basolateral (Ntcp, Oatp1, 2 and 4) and canalicular (Mrp2, Bsep) organic anion transporters were analyzed 1, 4 and 12 weeks after induction of experimental PSC by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS).Results: Specific down-regulation of basolateral and canalicular transport systems except Oatp4 and Bsep proteins occurred during the acute phase of inflammation. In chronic cholangitis 12 weeks after TNBS Mrp2 protein and mRNA remained down-regulated by 40–50% of controls (P<0.05). In addition Oatp1 protein was also reduced by 40±13% (P<0.05), whereas all other transporters returned to control values.Conclusions: In chronic cholangitis only canalicular Mrp2 expression remained down-regulated. This might represent the first injury to hepatocytes in chronic cholangitis as an extension of liver injury from the level of cholangiocytes to hepatocytes in PSC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A tin-containing liquid crystalline side group polymer was synthesized and characterized. Two glass transitions were detected by calorimetric investigations. The X-ray pattern corresponds to a smectic C order of the side groups and a disordered isotropic main chain. Dielectric measurements show two relaxation ranges which are influenced by the glass transitions and a fast local process. The low frequency mechanism can be related to the reorientation of the side groups and the higher glass transition temperature. The second is connected with the α-relaxation of the main chain and freezes in at lower temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]