Branches Off Research Articles

TrajectoryGeometry suggests cell fate decisions can involve branches rather than bifurcations.

Differentiation of multipotential progenitor cells is a key process in the development of any multi-cellular organism and often continues throughout its life. It is often assumed that a bi-potential progenitor develops along a (relatively) straight trajectory until it reaches a decision point where the trajectory bifurcates. At this point one of two directions is chosen, each direction representing the unfolding of a new transcriptional programme. However, we have lacked quantitative means for testing this model. Accordingly, we have developed the R package TrajectoryGeometry. Applying this to published data we find several examples where, rather than bifurcate, developmental pathways branch. That is, the bipotential progenitor develops along a relatively straight trajectory leading to one of its potential fates. A second relatively straight trajectory branches off from this towards the other potential fate. In this sense only cells that branch off to follow the second trajectory make a 'decision'. Our methods give precise descriptions of the genes and cellular pathways involved in these trajectories. We speculate that branching may be the more common behaviour and may have advantages from a control-theoretic viewpoint.

Thirty-Day Outcomes From the Pivotal Trial of a Four Branch Off—The Shelf Solution to Treat Complex Aortic Aneurysms

Thirty-Day Outcomes From the Pivotal Trial of a Four Branch Off—The Shelf Solution to Treat Complex Aortic Aneurysms

A new endemic clove tree pest of Cryptophasa Lewin, from Sangihe Island, Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Xyloryctidae).

A novel endemic pest of clove tree, Cryptophasa warouwi sp. nov., has been discovered on Sangihe Island. This new species can be distinguished from its closest relative species, C. watungi Sutrisno & Suwito, 2015 which is found in North Sulawesi, by its dark brown straw-coloured wings in both males and females. The most distinctive diagnostic characters of this new species are observed in its genitalia structure: a bent-downward uncus with a strongly sclerotized finger-shaped apex, a bent phallus gradually widened towards coecum, and a double, membranous corpus bursae branching off at mid-ductus corpus bursae of female genitalia. Additionally, DNA barcodes revealed this new species to be embedded among Australian Cryptophasa species despite having fasciculated male antennae that have been considered diagnostic of the genus Paralecta. This suggests that the male antennae may not be a reliable character for separating Cryptophasa from Paralecta. A more comprehensive study including all Cryptophasa and Paralecta will be required to elucidate the definition of each genus. Images depicting both adults and genitalia are provided for this newly recognized species.

Verb movement in Florentine

Complementizer deletion (CD) in Italo-Romance varieties branches off in two different pathways: CD1, present in standard Italian with a bridge selecting verb and an irrealis embedded verb and CD2, available in Florentine and associated with a bridge or non-bridge selecting verb and a realis or irrealis embedded verb, but with an optional clitic element intervening between the main and the embedded verb. The traditional account unifies CD1 and CD2 claiming that they both represent the alternate checker of the overt complementizer: in CD1, the embedded verb moved to Fin° checks the relevant features, in CD2, the intervening element moved to Force° does the same. This article rests on the assumption that the alternative checking hypothesis is operative when the complementizer is omitted but proposes a different analysis for CD2. Some empirical evidence based on the order of the embedded verb and other left-peripheral elements will be provided to show that the embedded verb moves to ForceP. The analysis is framed within the Parametric Comparison Method, a comparative tool aimed at defining the parameters which regulate phenomena that operate in a specific syntactic domain (CP) and their functional implications.

ОПИСАНИЕ РЕДКОГО СЛУЧАЯ ОТХОЖДЕНИЯ АБЕРРАНТНОЙ ЛЕВОЙ ПОЗВОНОЧНОЙ АРТЕРИИ ОТ ДУГИ АОРТЫ С МОРФОМЕТРИЧЕСКИМ АНАЛИЗОМ БРАХИОЦЕФАЛЬНЫХ АРТЕРИЙ

Individual variability or variant anatomy is most common in blood vessels, among which brachiocephalic arteries should be distinguished. The article presents a case of the detection of one of these variations – an aberrant left vertebral artery branching off from the aortic arch in a 68-year-old patient. This artery was identified in him after a CT scan of the aortic arch and brachiocephalic arteries for pronounced vertebral-basilar insufficiency. In studying the angiogram, the authors carried out a morphometric analysis of all arteries branching off from the aortic arch.

Versatile Ultrasound-Compatible Microfluidic Platform for In Vitro Microvasculature Flow Research and Imaging Optimization.

Ultrasound localization microscopy (ULM) enables the creation of super-resolved images and velocity maps by localizing and tracking microbubble contrast agents through a vascular network over thousands of frames of ultrafast plane wave images. However, a significant challenge lies in developing ultrasound-compatible microvasculature phantoms to investigate microbubble flow and distribution in controlled environments. In this study, we introduce a new class of gelatin-based microfluidic-inspired phantoms uniquely tailored for ULM studies. These devices allow for the creation of complex and reproducible microvascular networks featuring channel diameters as small as 100 μm. Our experiments focused on microbubble behavior under ULM conditions within bifurcating and converging vessel phantoms. We evaluated the impact of bifurcation angles (25, 45, and 55°) and flow rates (0.01, 0.02, and 0.03 mL/min) on the acquisition time of branching channels. Additionally, we explored the saturation time effect of narrow channels branching off larger ones. Significantly longer acquisition times were observed for the narrow vessels, with an average increase of 72% when a 100 μm channel branched off from a 300 μm channel and an average increase of 90% for a 200 μm channel branching off from a 500 μm channel. The robustness of our fabrication method is demonstrated through the creation of two trifurcating microfluidic phantoms, including one that converges back into a single channel, a configuration that cannot be achieved through traditional methods. This new class of ULM phantoms serves as a versatile platform for noninvasively studying complex flow patterns using ultrasound imaging, unlocking new possibilities for in vitro microvasculature research and imaging optimization.

The sound and musical preferences of tympanic chord

The tympanic chord is a part of the 7th cranial nerve (facial nerve), from which it branches off, runs through the middle ear and then joins the lingual nerve, a part of the 5th cranial nerve (mandibular nerve/trigeminal nerve). Despite its course through the ear, the tympanic chord does not carry auditory fibers, but rather sensory and parasympathetic fibers to the front part of the tongue and to the salivary glands.The cranial nerves V and VII have a common phylogenetic origin, establishing a close relationship between auditory and gustative sense.In German language "Geschmack" means both gustative sense and the preference for different ways of thinking or styles in music, art or fashion. "Musikgeschmack" is the preference for special music styles or composers. "Musikgeschmack" therefore forms an interface between the anatomy of the tympanic chord and music preferences.The effect of parallel processing of music and taste is used, for example, in music therapy or as part of marketing strategies. But it could also be used to treat Covid-19 patients who suffer from a loss of sense of smell and taste. However, there are still no studies on this specific question.

DYNAMICS OF CHANGES IN THE VASCULAR BED AND ORGANOMETRICAL INDICATORS OF WHITE RATS TESTICLES DURING EXPERIMENTAL SKIN THERMAL INJURY AND UNDER THE CORRECTION WITH A XENODERMAL SUBSTRATE

DYNAMICS OF CHANGES IN THE VASCULAR BED AND ORGANOMETRICAL INDICATORS OF WHITE RATS TESTICLES DURING EXPERIMENTAL SKIN THERMAL INJURY AND UNDER THE CORRECTION WITH A XENODERMAL SUBSTRATE

PI3K signaling-regulated metabolic reprogramming: From mechanism to application.

Oncogenic signaling involved in tumor metabolic reprogramming. Tumorigenesis was not only determined by the mutations or deletion of oncogenes but also accompanied by the reprogramming of cellular metabolism. Metabolic alterations play a crucial regulatory role in the development and progression of tumors. Oncogenic PI3K/AKT signaling mediates the metabolic switch in cancer cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. PI3K/AKT and its downstream effector branch off and connect to multiple steps of metabolism, such as glucose, lipids, and amino acids. Thus, PI3K inhibitor could effectively regulate metabolic pathway and impede the oncogenic process and some key metabolic proteins or critical enzymes also constitute biomarkers for tumor diagnosis and treatment. In the current review, we summarize the significant effect of PI3K/AKT signaling toward tumor metabolism, it enables us to obtain the better understanding for this interaction and develop more effective therapeutic strategies targeting cancer cell metabolism.

Heterologous gene expression system for the production of hydrolyzable tannin intermediates in herbaceous model plants.

Aluminum toxicity is the main factor limiting the elongation of plant roots in acidic soil. The tree species Eucalyptus camaldulensis is considerably more resistant to aluminum than herbaceous model plants and crops. Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs) accumulating in E. camaldulensis roots can bind and detoxify the aluminum taken up by the roots. However, in herbaceous model plants, HTs do not accumulate and the genes involved in the HT biosynthetic pathway are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to establish a method for reconstituting the HT biosynthetic pathway in the HT non-accumulating model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Four E. camaldulensis enzymes were transiently expressed in N. benthamiana leaves via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. These enzymes included dehydroquinate dehydratase/shikimate dehydrogenases (EcDQD/SDH2 and EcDQD/SDH3), which catalyze the synthesis of gallic acid, the first intermediate of the HT biosynthetic pathway that branches off from the shikimate pathway. The others were UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGT84A25 and UGT84A26), which catalyze the conversion of gallic acid to β-glucogallin, the second intermediate. The co-expression of the EcDQD/SDHs in transgenic N. benthamiana leaf regions promoted the synthesis of gallic acid. Moreover, the co-expression of the UGT84As in addition to the EcDQD/SDHs resulted in the biosynthesis of β-glucogallin, the universal metabolic precursor of HTs. Thus, we successfully reconstituted a portion of the HT biosynthetic pathway in HT non-accumulating N. benthamiana plants. This heterologous gene expression system will be useful for co-expressing candidate genes involved in downstream reactions in the HT biosynthetic pathway and for clarifying their in planta functions.

First redescription and molecular phylogeny of Trimyema claviforme Kahl, 1933 with the description of a Chinese population of Plagiopyla nasuta Stein, 1860 (Ciliophora, Plagiopylea)

Ciliates belonging to the class Plagiopylea are obligate anaerobes that are often neglected due to their cryptic lifestyles, difficulty of observation, and overall under-sampling. Here, we investigate two species, namely Trimyema claviforme Kahl, 1933 and Plagiopyla nasuta Stein, 1860, collected in China from marine and freshwater anaerobic sediments, respectively. A complete morphological dataset, together with SSU rRNA gene sequence data were obtained and used to diagnose the species. No molecular sequencing had ever been performed on Trimyema claviforme, with its ciliature also previously unknown. Based on these novel data presented here, the ciliate is characterized by a claviform cell shape, with a size of 35–45 × 10–20 μm in vivo, 28–39 longitudinal somatic ciliary rows forming five ciliary girdles (four complete girdles and a shorter one), two dikinetids left to anterior end of oral kinety 1, and an epaulet. A Chinese population of the well-known ciliate P. nasuta was investigated, and morphological comparisons revealed phenotypic stability of the species. The phylogenetic analyses supported previous findings about the monophyly of the families Trimyemidae and Plagiopylidae, with Trimyema claviforme branching off early in the genus Trimyema. The Chinese population of P. nasuta clusters together with two other populations with full support corroborating their conspecificity.

Comparative genomic analysis of Cohnella hashimotonis sp. nov. isolated from the International Space Station.

A single strain from the family Paenibacillaceae was isolated from the wall behind the Waste Hygiene Compartment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2018, as part of the Microbial Tracking mission series. This strain was identified as a gram-positive, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative motile bacterium in the genus Cohnella, designated as F6_2S_P_1T. The 16S sequence of the F6_2S_P_1T strain places it in a clade with C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli, which were originally isolated from plant tissue or rhizosphere environments. The closest 16S and gyrB matches to strain F6_2S_P_1T are to C. rhizosphaerae with 98.84 and 93.99% sequence similarity, while a core single-copy gene phylogeny from all publicly available Cohnella genomes places it as more closely related to C. ginsengisoli. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values to any described Cohnella species are <89 and <22%, respectively. The major fatty acids for strain F6_2S_P_1T are anteiso-C15:0 (51.7%), iso-C16:0 (23.1%), and iso-C15:0 (10.5%), and it is able to metabolize a wide range of carbon compounds. Given the results of the ANI and dDDH analyses, this ISS strain is a novel species within the genus Cohnella for which we propose the name Cohnella hashimotonis, with the type strain F6_2S_P_1T (=NRRL B-65657T and DSMZ 115098T). Because no closely related Cohnella genomes were available, this study generated the whole-genome sequences (WGSs) of the type strains for C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli. Phylogenetic and pangenomic analysis reveals that F6_2S_P_1T, C. rhizosphaerae, and C. ginsengisoli, along with two uncharacterized Cohnella strains, possess a shared set of 332 gene clusters which are not shared with any other WGS of Cohnella species, and form a distinct clade branching off from C. nanjingensis. Functional traits were predicted for the genomes of strain F6_2S_P_1T and other members of this clade.

Simulation of GaAs nanowire annealing

The GaAs nanowire (NW) morphology transformation during a high temperature annealing of densely packed wires was analyzed by Monte Carlo simulation. For long densely spaced NWs, the arsenic evaporation with its removal from the system occurs only in the upper NW part at such distance that As2 molecules can overcome due to the channeling between adjacent NWs before reaching vacuum. In the lower NW part, two oppositely directed processes proceed: destruction and restoration of the NW side wall due to the readsorbed material. Thus, the lower part of wire evaporation is close to a quasi-equilibrium process, and the upper part is close to free evaporation into vacuum. An excess of gallium primarily occurs at the top part of the crystal, since it is in the conditions close to a free arsenic evaporation. An excess gallium gathering leads to the Ga droplet formation. Droplets in the middle part of the NW side walls are formed later. A droplet-free region is formed on the sidewall of sufficiently long NWs with a length>345 nm and the distance of 28 nm between the wires after the annealing at T = 890 K. That means that the congruent evaporation temperature varies along the NW axis due to the variation of arsenic pressure, resulting in the congruent evaporation from the lower NW region and incongruent evaporation from the upper wire region. Simulation results predict the dendrite (thin nanowire branching off original wires) growth during a prolonged annealing under incongruent conditions.

Augmented Species: Digitale Ökofiktionen als Strategie künstlerischen Engagements

Abstract The essay aims to explore how eco-fiction unfolds speculative futures of potential worlds in digital images and how this acts as a strategy of artistic engagement, following György Kepes's demand for “ecological consciousness.” Using Tamiko Thiel, Jakob Kudsk Steensen, Sofia Crespo and Feileacan McCormick as well as and Sommerer and Mignonneau as examples, the article shows how artists are turning away from the seemingly dystopian narrative of the Anthropocene in favor of positive and playful narratives via digital eco-fiction. Their works formulate a claim of artistic commitment which is to be methodically and historically reflected and critically questioned with regard to the seductive branching off into parallel illusory worlds. Opposed to the immediacy and promise of authenticity of “real nature,” their programmed, fabulated imaginary worlds lead to an overlapping of different realities.

The methylglyoxal pathway is a sink for glutathione in Salmonella experiencing oxidative stress.

Salmonella suffer the cytotoxicity of reactive oxygen species generated by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase in the innate host response. Periplasmic superoxide dismutases, catalases and hydroperoxidases detoxify superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) synthesized in the respiratory burst of phagocytic cells. Glutathione also helps Salmonella combat the phagocyte NADPH oxidase; however, the molecular mechanisms by which this low-molecular-weight thiol promotes resistance of Salmonella to oxidative stress are currently unknown. We report herein that Salmonella undergoing oxidative stress transcriptionally and functionally activate the methylglyoxal pathway that branches off from glycolysis. Activation of the methylglyoxal pathway consumes a substantial proportion of the glutathione reducing power in Salmonella following exposure to H2O2. The methylglyoxal pathway enables Salmonella to balance glucose utilization with aerobic respiratory outputs. Salmonella take advantage of the metabolic flexibility associated with the glutathione-consuming methylglyoxal pathway to resist reactive oxygen species generated by the enzymatic activity of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase in macrophages and mice. Taken together, glutathione fosters oxidative stress resistance in Salmonella against the antimicrobial actions of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase by promoting the methylglyoxal pathway, an offshoot metabolic adaptation of glycolysis.

The impact of a pandemic on entrepreneurial behaviour: A qualitative study of wedding vendors

The aim of this study is to determine what changes wedding vendors had to make to survive the global COVID-19 pandemic. Specific focus was placed on how wedding vendor entrepreneurs use creativity, innovation, networking and advertising as a competitive advantage. Qualitative research was conducted which reflects individuals’ perspectives, beliefs, attitudes and experiences. Semi-structured interviews took place electronically through online voice calling due to the global pandemic. The individual participants, each representing their own business, were interviewed to gain a better understanding of entrepreneurship in the wedding industry. It is evident that all the vendors adapted during the global COVID-19 pandemic, and that dealing with future opportunities by linking these to loyalty and creativity are essential aspects of entrepreneurship in the wedding industry. The global pandemic proved the importance of how the wedding industry is dynamic where individuals are required to wear different hats and be flexible, as businesses were forced to adapt and reposition themselves during and after COVID-19 as a method of survival. It is recommended that vendors ensure the utilisation of existing resources and branch off into new avenues—not necessarily entering into new markets or new industries, but rather focusing on complementary products or services.

Landscape of polymer quantum cosmology

We show that the quantization ambiguities of loop quantum cosmology, when considered in wider generality, can be used to produce discretionary dynamical behavior. There is an infinite dimensional space of ambiguities which parallels the infinite list of higher curvature corrections in perturbative quantum gravity. There is, however, an ensemble of qualitative consequences which are generic in the sense that they are independent of these ambiguities. Among these, one has well-defined fundamental dynamics across the big bang, as well as extra microscopic quantum degrees of freedom that might be relevant in discussions about unitarity in quantum gravity. We show that, in addition to the well-known bouncing solutions of the effective equations, there are other generic types of solutions for sufficiently soft initial conditions in the matter sector (tunneling solutions) where the scale factor goes through zero and the spacetime orientation is inverted. We also show that, generically, a contracting semiclassical universe branches off at the big bang into a quantum superposition of universes with different quantum numbers. Despite their lack of quantitative predictive power, these models offer a fertile playground for the discussion of qualitative and conceptual issues in quantum gravity.

Estimation of the diameter of arterial vessels of the multicameral stomach in sheep of the Edilbaev breed at different stages of postnatal ontogenesis

The multicameral stomach of sheep of the Edilbaevsky breed, as in other ruminants, according to domestic and foreign authors, has a large number of branches of the main arterial highway, which is due to the functional feature of this organ. The main arterial highway of the multicameral stomach is the abdominal artery. The hepatic artery first departs from it, and then the right cicatricial artery branches off, which goes along the right longitudinal furrow of the scar and exits to its left surface, and the splenic artery branches off the thick right cicatricial artery, and itself in the form of a thin vessel is directed to the spleen. Further, the abdominal artery smoothly passes into the left gastric artery, which goes from the right between the scar and the mesh and, having reached the book, gives the left gastro-omentum artery to the large curvature of the rennet, and the rennet itself anastomoses with the right gastric artery on the small curvature. The methods for the study were fine anatomical dissection, vasorentgenography and computed tomography of the vascular bed with the introduction of a contrasting substance. Corpses and live individuals of sheep of the Edilbaevsky breed aged from 10 days to 14 months, from a private farm in the Leningrad region, served as material for the study. According to the results of the study, it was found that the largest increase in the diameter of the vessels of the arterial bed of the multicameral stomach in sheep of the Edilbaev breed over the entire period of research was observed in the right cicatricial artery. The diameter of other vessels vascularizing this organocomplex increases uniformly at all stages of development. We associate this fact with the active growth of this organ in the first three months of life.

Arterial Stiffness as A Predictor of Future Cardiovascular Events: Methods of Measurement and Clinical Implications

Arterial stiffness has recently emerged as strong predictor of cardiovascular events, including coronary heart disease. The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) is a novel index that measures the overall stiffness of the artery all the way from the point where it branches off from the aorta to the ankle. CAVI's ability to provide accurate results regardless of the patient's blood pressure at the moment of measurement is without a doubt its most valuable characteristic. CAVI is related to many cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and smoking. It also increases with age and in many arteriosclerotic diseases, such as coronary artery disease, carotid arteriosclerosis, chronic kidney disease, and cerebrovascular disease. CAVI also increases in patients who have cerebrovascular disease. Controlling conditions such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, in addition to quitting smoking, may also reduce the risk of CAVI. This indicates that CAVI is a physiological surrogate measure of atherosclerosis, and it also implies that it might be a signal of lifestyle change. Recent research has shown that CAVI and numerous functions of the left ventricle are linked to one another, which points to a linkage between the heart muscle and vascular function. This study discusses the fundamentals of CAVI as well as our present understanding of the measurement, with a particular emphasis on its functions and potential future use.

Correlation of paleoearthquake records at multiple sites along the southern Yangsan Fault, Korea: Insights into rupture scenarios of intraplate strike-slip earthquakes

The construction of spatiotemporal models of earthquake occurrence for intraplate areas is challenging due to the low deformation rates in these areas. In this study, we conducted paleoseismological investigations along the southern Yangsan Fault (SYF), a typical low-deformation-rate fault, on the Korean Peninsula. The SYF is distinct from the northern Yangsan Fault (NYF), and the boundary between them is located at the junction between the NNE-striking YF and another major structure, the NNW-striking Ulsan Fault (UF), which branches off from the YF. Paleoseismological trenches at four sites along the SYF indicate that this fault section has not ruptured during the Holocene, in contrast to the NYF and UF. In detail, surface ruptures along the studied section of the SYF occurred during three different time periods, as inferred from stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating: 74 to 49 ka at two sites, 39 to 35 ka at another site, and 28,000 cal yr BP (or 30 ka considering the OSL age) to 16 ka at all sites. These results suggest two alternative rupture scenarios for the timing of paleoearthquakes along the studied fault section during the Late Pleistocene: (1) full rupture along the entire studied section during each earthquake event, or (2) multiple partial ruptures along the two structurally distinguishable parts of the studied fault section, that is, the Wolsan–Miho and Inbo north–Inbo sections. We conclude that geometric discontinuities of the long-lived YF system in the Korean Peninsula intraplate region have played an important role in controlling recent spatiotemporal rupture behavior.