Independent Approaches Research Articles

Culture-Dependent and Metabarcoding Characterization of the Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Microbiome for High-Yield Isolation of Bacteria with Plant Growth-Promoting Traits.

The diversity of plant-associated bacteria is vast and can be determined by 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. Fewer of them have plant-beneficial properties. To harness their benefits for plants, we must isolate them. This study aimed to check whether 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding has predictive power in identifying the majority of known bacteria with plant-beneficial traits that can be isolated from the sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) microbiome. Rhizosphere and phyllosphere samples collected during one season at different stages of plant development were analyzed. Bacteria were isolated on rich unselective media and plant-based media enriched with sugar beet leaves or rhizosphere extracts. The isolates were identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and tested in vitro for their plant-beneficial properties (stimulation of germination; exopolysaccharide, siderophore, and HCN production; phosphate solubilization; and activity against sugar beet pathogens). The highest number of co-occurring beneficial traits was eight, found in isolates of five species: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus australimaris, B. pumilus, Enterobacter ludwiigi, and Pantoea ananatis. These species were not detected by metabarcoding and have not previously been described as plant-beneficial inhabitants of sugar beets. Thus, our findings point out the necessity of a culture-dependent microbiome analysis and advocate for low-nutrient plant-based media for high-yield isolation of plant-beneficial taxa with multiple beneficial traits. A culture-dependent and -independent approach is required for community diversity assessment. Still, isolation on plant-based media is the best approach to select isolates for potential use as biofertilizers and biopesticides in sugar beet cultivation.

Effective valorization of blackstrap molasses to poly gamma glutamic acid (γ-PGA) using L-glutamic acid independent feeding approach and its significance as drought mitigator in wheat plant

One of the finest approaches towards sustainable waste management is its effective valorization to value-added products (VAPs). Waste valorization is garnering considerable attention since it delivers substantial advantages, including environmental stability and a sustainable and viable platform for producing different VAPs. One such VAP is the poly gamma glutamic acid (γ- PGA), an extortionate biopolymer known to date. Its exorbitant cost is the main barrier preventing γ- PGA from becoming commercially viable. Hence, the key to the successful commercialization of γ- PGA is its sustainable and cost-effective production. In the present study, the ability of Bacillus paralicheniformis NCIM 5769 to utilize molasses for γ-PGA production with minimal nutrients was investigated. Results showed that 30% molasses combined with 2% ammonium nitrate was the optimal medium for γ-PGA production. Additionally, the anti-drought activity of the synthesized γ-PGA was evaluated on wheat plants showing significantly higher shoot length, biomass content, and germination rate compared to the control group. These findings suggest that γ-PGA produced from molasses has the potential to be used as a drought mitigator in wheat plant, thereby achieving the mission of circular economy and sustainable development goal (SGD) 12, i.e. pursuing sustainability patterns for consumption & production.

Forest Area and Structural Variable Estimation in Boreal Forest Using Suomi NPP VIIRS Data and a Sample from VHR Imagery

Our objective was to develop a method for the assessment of forest area and structural variables for cases in which the availability of representative ground reference data is poor and these data are not collected from the whole area of interest. We implemented two independent approaches to the estimation of the forest variables of a European boreal forest: (i) the computation of wall-to-wall estimates using moderate- to low-resolution VIIRS imagery from the Suomi NPP mission; and (ii) the visual interpretation of plots of samples from very high resolution (VHR) satellite data obtained via a two-stage design. Our focus was on the statistical comparison of forest resources at a country or larger level. The study area was boreal forest ranging from Norway to the Ural Mountains in Russia. We computed a seamless mosaic from 111 VIIRS images. From the mosaic, we computed predictions for the forest area, growing stock volume, height of the dominating tree layer, proportion of conifers and broadleaved trees, site fertility class, and leaf area index. The reference data for the VIIRS imagery were national forest inventory (NFI)-based raster maps from Finland. The first stage sample of VHR data included 42 images; of these, a second stage sample of 2690 plots was visually interpreted for the same variables. The forest area prediction from VIIRS for the whole study area was 1.2% higher than the VHR-based result. All other structural variable predictions using VIIRS fitted within the 95% confidence intervals computed from the VHR sample except for estimates of the main tree species groups, which were outside the limits. A comparison of VIIRS-based forest area estimates using Finnish and Swedish NFI data indicated overestimations of 10.0% points and 4.6% points, whereas the total growing stock volumes were overestimated by 8% and underestimated by 3.4%, respectively. The correlation coefficients between the VIIRS and VHR image predictions at the 42 VHR image locations varied from 0.70 to 0.85. The VIIRS maps strongly averaged the local predictions due to their coarse spatial resolutions. Based on our findings, the approach using two independent estimations yielded similar figures for the central forest variables for the European boreal forest. A model computed using reference data from a small part of the area of interest can provide satisfactory predictions for a much larger area with a similar biome. Therefore, our concept is applicable to the estimation and overall mapping of a forest area and central structural variables at regional to national levels.

Adenosine A2A Receptor Activation Regulates Niemann-Pick C1 Expression and Localization in Macrophages.

Adenosine plays an important role in modulating immune cell function, particularly T cells and myeloid cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Cell surface adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) regulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of immune cells. In the present study, we expanded the A2AR interactome and provided evidence for the interaction between the receptor and the Niemann-Pick type C intracellular cholesterol transporter 1 (NPC1) protein. The NPC1 protein was identified to interact with the C-terminal tail of A2AR in RAW 264.7 and IPMФ cells by two independent and parallel proteomic approaches. The interaction between the NPC1 protein and the full-length A2AR was further validated in HEK-293 cells that permanently express the receptor and RAW264.7 cells that endogenously express A2AR. A2AR activation reduces the expression of NPC1 mRNA and protein density in LPS-activated mouse IPMФ cells. Additionally, stimulation of A2AR negatively regulates the cell surface expression of NPC1 in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Furthermore, stimulation of A2AR also altered the density of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 (LAMP2) and early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1), two endosomal markers associated with the NPC1 protein. Collectively, these results suggested a putative A2AR-mediated regulation of NPC1 protein function in macrophages, potentially relevant for the Niemann-Pick type C disease when mutations in NPC1 protein result in the accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in lysosomes.

Catchment and in-channel sources in three large Eurasian Arctic rivers: Combining monitoring, remote sensing and modelling data to construct Ob', Yenisey and Lena rivers sediment budget

This paper presents a comparative study of fluvial sediment budgets for the largest Siberian rivers of Northern Eurasia - Ob', Yenisey and Lena which cover over 14 % of the Eurasia continent. Each component of the sediment budget was assessed using an independent approach. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model (RUSLE) was used to calculate catchment erosion based on the GMTED 2010 DEM with a resolution of 250 m. Channel erosion was quantified through automatic image decoding integrated with riverbank elevation estimated from ArcticDEM and hydromorphological 1D modeling of streamflow depths, whereas sediment yield was assessed based on a combination of long-term suspended sediment load monitoring at the outlet gauging stations and bed load estimates. Large differences between total (catchment and riverbank) erosion (1622 Mt year−1 for the Ob', 898 Mt year−1 for the Yenisey, 1218 Mt year−1 for the Lena) and yearly sediment export (58.2 Mt year−1 for the Ob', 32.5 Mt year−1 for the Yenisey and 38.6 Mt year−1 for the Lena) suggest that catchment, in-channel and overbank sediment sinks and storage dominate the sediment budget. The throughflow from the sources to the sea is less than 4 % of the suspended sediment inflow (total erosion). This data enhances the knowledge of the sediment delivery rates in large river systems. Over ∼96 % decline of sediment transport compared to catchment total erosion is explained by storage in various buffer zones of the catchment and river network including mainly hillslopes, as well as reservoirs and floodplains.

Active in vivo translocation of the Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 Casposon.

Casposons are transposable elements containing the CRISPR associated gene Cas1solo. Identified in many archaeal genomes, casposons are discussed as the origin of CRISPR-Cas systems due to their proposed Cas1solo-dependent translocation. However, apart from bioinformatic approaches and the demonstration of Cas1solo integrase and endonuclease activity in vitro, casposon transposition has not yet been shown in vivo. Here, we report on active casposon translocations in Methanosarcina mazei Gö1 using two independent experimental approaches. First, mini-casposons, consisting of a R6Kγ origin and two antibiotic resistance cassettes, flanked by target site duplications (TSDs) and terminal inverted repeats (TIRs), were generated, and shown to actively translocate from a suicide plasmid and integrate into the chromosomal MetMaz-C1 TSD IS1a. Second, casposon excision activity was confirmed in a long-term evolution experiment using a Cas1solo overexpression strain in comparison to an empty vector control under four different treatments (native, high temperature, high salt, mitomycin C) to study stress-induced translocation. Analysis of genomic DNA using a nested qPCR approach provided clear evidence of casposon activity in single cells and revealed significantly different casposon excision frequencies between treatments and strains. Our results, providing the first experimental evidence for in vivo casposon activity are summarized in a modified hypothetical translocation model.

Assessing thermal imagery integration into object detection methods on air-based collection platforms

Object detection models commonly focus on utilizing the visible spectrum via Red–Green–Blue (RGB) imagery. Due to various limitations with this approach in low visibility settings, there is growing interest in fusing RGB with thermal Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) (7.5–13.5 µm) images to increase object detection performance. However, we still lack baseline performance metrics evaluating RGB, LWIR and RGB-LWIR fused object detection machine learning models, especially from air-based platforms. This study undertakes such an evaluation, finding that a blended RGB-LWIR model generally exhibits superior performance compared to independent RGB or LWIR approaches. For example, an RGB-LWIR blend only performs 1–5% behind the RGB approach in predictive power across various altitudes and periods of clear visibility. Yet, RGB fusion with a thermal signature overlay provides edge redundancy and edge emphasis, both which are vital in supporting edge detection machine learning algorithms (especially in low visibility environments). This approach has the ability to improve object detection performance for a range of use cases in industrial, consumer, government, and military applications. This research greatly contributes to the study of multispectral object detection by quantifying key factors affecting model performance from drone platforms (including distance, time-of-day and sensor type). Finally, this research additionally contributes a novel open labeled training dataset of 6300 images for RGB, LWIR, and RGB-LWIR fused imagery, collected from air-based platforms, enabling further multispectral machine-driven object detection research.

Ideal Traffic Accident Crime Case Resolution based on Restorative Justice

· This study focuses on the first problem of solving traffic accident criminal cases that have been applied in law enforcement and how to reconstruct the ideal traffic accident crime resolution based on a restorative justice approach. The method used in this study is normative juridical research with a research approach in the form of a normative approach. The result of this study is that the settlement of criminal cases of traffic violations in Indonesia to date (ius constitutum), basically still prioritizes conventional legal approaches and criminal sanctions. Cases of traffic accident violations are processed and resolved within the framework of the criminal justice system normally, starting from the police, prosecutor's office, and court levels, according to the criminal procedure law, (2) Reconstruction of the settlement of traffic accident violations is very likely to be applied in Indonesia with several non-litigation models (mediation), namely the independent perpetrator-victim mediation approach and perpetrator-victim mediation involving law enforcement (restorative justice agencies). Settlement efforts through the courts can only be pursued if restorative efforts fail to reach an agreement. With these results, it is suggested: (1) The police, prosecutors, and courts should be more intensive to socialize and provide education related to the application of restorative justice, especially for traffic accident crimes, (2) The principle of restorative justice needs to be realized in the main legal form, namely a law that comprehensively and integratively covers the regulation of all components of the criminal justice system.

Analysis of locally-aligned and non-aligned discretisation schemes for reactor-scale tokamak edge turbulence simulations

Edge turbulence codes will play a key role in the interpretation of ITER data and for reliable predictions of EU-DEMO. At present, such codes are not yet capable of routine simulations at reactor scale, and instead focus on smaller experiments like TCV or ASDEX Upgrade. Numerical methods have to be identified that scale to reactor size, and are able to cope with the highly anisotropic turbulent structures and simultaneously with the complex magnetic geometry in the edge with X-point(s), the vessel wall and divertor targets present. Particularly for such conditions two main approaches, non-aligned discretisation schemes and a locally-aligned discretisation scheme (commonly referred to as Flux-Coordinate Independent approach (FCI)), have emerged. We analyse both schemes concerning their applicability and scalability to next generation fusion reactors. We find that the ratio of the computational cost of a non-aligned scheme compared to aligned scheme scales as ∝(R0qρs)2 for shear Alfvén dynamics, and as (R0qρs)3 for electron heat conduction, where R0 is the major radius of a tokamak, q an estimate for the safety factor at the edge and ρs is the drift scale representing the typical size of turbulent structures to be resolved. Locally-aligned schemes can therefore be considered strongly favourable for reactor scale tokamaks concerning computational performance. On the other hand, locally-aligned schemes suffer from a more complex treatment of boundary conditions, for which an immersed boundary approach (IBA) was recently proposed. We demonstrate numerically the validity of this method in combination with the FCI approach. Finally, we present a first attempt of an ITER edge turbulence simulation with the FCI code GRILLIX at realistic parameters and in realistic geometry.

Day and Night: Locating the General Practitioner’s Panel after Hours

Location science is used to determine the optimal geographical placement of primary care resources with operations research models. In determining the optimal placement, we account for the objectives of both patients and physicians. These objectives and the methods used to address them differ between daytime and after-hours settings. These time settings are treated separately since primary care services are typically limited during after-hours operations. Three solution approaches are considered to address both time settings: independent, sequential, and simultaneous. The independent approach is based on the p-Median problem, and the other two approaches use modified forms of the p-Median. Three case studies are examined by applying these models to census data from Nova Scotia. Solving the daytime and after-hours problem simultaneously consistently yields the best results while considering facility-sharing constraints.

Comparison of optical and geochemical thermal maturity parameters over a stratigraphically controlled natural transect

Thermal maturity is a fundamental parameter in understanding organic matter evolution during the burial of sedimentary rocks. To this end, numerous optical and geochemical thermal maturity parameters have been proposed, most commonly applied are reflectance or programmed pyrolysis Tmax. Reflectance of vitrinite macerals, or increasingly commonly of solid bitumen macerals, is the classical and well-standardized technique in thermal maturity studies. However, this technique can be influenced by operator bias in acquisition and interpretation. The low cost and wide availability of programmed pyrolysis data has led to the adoption of Tmax as a primary thermal maturity proxy, particularly in industrial studies. However, programmed pyrolysis was originally conceived as a screening tool and significant inconsistencies of Tmax with thermal maturation have been reported.Detailed comparison of maturity proxies is often hampered by the availability of suitable sets of samples from a maturity gradient along uniform facies. Since many of these proxies are influenced by formation specific parameters, the most valuable comparisons must be made using stratigraphically and lithologically controlled sample sets, which are relatively rare. This work examines a natural thermal maturity transect, integrating multiple methodologies to give a detailed discussion of the applicability of optical and geochemically based thermal maturity indicators in the immature to early generation range. This study utilizes a stratigraphically constrained sample set of Upper Cretaceous strata in western Canada taken from 10 wells ranging in thermal maturity from approximately 0.2 to 0.8 %VRo and is based on application of three independent methodological approaches: reflectance measurements, Tmax, and hopanoid and steroid based molecular maturity ratios.Data and correlation equations between major thermal maturity indicators demonstrates solid bitumen reflectance at pre-oil window maturity levels lies along a continuum. Reporting values within somewhat inconsistent classification schemes of bituminite and solid bitumen maceral, as suggested in some recent studies, diminishes the applicability and usefulness of this parameter. Comparison of microscopy and pyrolysis-based maturity proxies with the diagenetic evolution of hopanoids and steroids revealed a robust covariance. Individual molecular maturity parameters are unsuitable to cover the full range of thermal maturity but the wide array of proxies applicable in narrower maturity ranges allows for an optimized selection of those parameters within a given maturity interval. Pyrolysis-derived Tmax and optical determination of OM properties are effective covering a wide range of conditions ranging from the eogenetic to catagenetic stages. Fluorescence analysis is most robust in the eogenetic to diagenetic stages, whereas reflectance measurements provide higher confidence levels at elevated diagenetic or catagenetic stages. Given the limitations of individual thermal maturity parameters, thermal maturity investigations following an integrative, multi-disciplinary approach will limit the impact of uncertainty from any one parameter, improving the odds of achieving a more reliable maturity assessment.

Kerr black hole in de Sitter spacetime and observational redshift: Toward a new method to measure the Hubble constant

We extract the Hubble law by the frequency-shift considerations of test particles revolving the Kerr black hole in asymptotically de Sitter spacetime. To this end, we take into account massive geodesic particles circularly orbiting the Kerr-de Sitter black holes that emit redshifted photons towards a distant observer which is moving away from the emitter-black hole system. By considering this configuration, we obtain an expression for redshift in terms of the spacetime parameters, such as mass, angular momentum, and the cosmological constant. Then, we find the frequency shift of photons versus the Hubble constant with the help of some physically motivated approximations. Finally, some exact formulas for the Schwarzschild black hole mass and the Hubble constant in terms of the observational redshift of massive bodies circularly orbiting this black hole are extracted. Our results suggest a new independent general relativistic approach to obtaining the late-time Hubble constant in terms of observable quantities.

Tutorial on the conservation of momentum in photonic time-varying media [Invited

Time-varying media break temporal symmetries while preserving spatial symmetries intact. Thus, it represents an excellent conceptual framework to investigate the fundamental implications of Noether’s theorem for the electromagnetic field. At the same time, addressing momentum conservation in time-varying media sheds light on the Abraham-Minkowski debate, where two opposing forms of the electromagnetic field momentum are defended. Here, we present a tutorial review on the conservation of momentum in time-varying media. We demonstrate that the Minkowski momentum is a conserved quantity with three independent approaches of increasing complexity: (i) via the application of the boundary conditions for Maxwell equations at a temporal boundary, (ii) testing for constants of motion and deriving conservation laws, and (iii) applying temporal and spatial translations within the framework of the Lagrangian theory of the electromagnetic field. Each approach provides a different and complementary insight into the problem.

Microbial nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation across permafrost region.

The status of plant and microbial nutrient limitation have profound impacts on ecosystem carbon cycle in permafrost areas, which store large amounts of carbon and experience pronounced climatic warming. Despite the long-term standing paradigm assumes that cold ecosystems primarily have nitrogen deficiency, large-scale empirical tests of microbial nutrient limitation are lacking. Here we assessed the potential microbial nutrient limitation across the Tibetan alpine permafrost region, using the combination of enzymatic and elemental stoichiometry, genes abundance and fertilization method. In contrast with the traditional view, the four independent approaches congruently detected widespread microbial nitrogen and phosphorus co-limitation in both the surface soil and deep permafrost deposits, with stronger limitation in the topsoil. Further analysis revealed that soil resources stoichiometry and microbial community composition were the two best predictors of the magnitude of microbial nutrient limitation. High ratio of available soil carbon to nutrient and low fungal/bacterial ratio corresponded to strong microbial nutrient limitation. These findings suggest that warming-induced enhancement in soil nutrient availability could stimulate microbial activity, and probably amplify soil carbon losses from permafrost areas.

Optimization of Distribution Network and Mobile Network With Interactive Balance of Flexibility and Power

High proportions of renewable energy place higher requirements on the flexibility of the distribution network. Meanwhile, the communication network is striving to seek ways to save energy. In this regard, this paper proposes a novel collaborative optimization method with interactive balance of flexibility and power for distribution network operator (DNO) and mobile network operator (MNO). First, the flexibility balance mechanism is analyzed and the optimization model integrating flexibility balance and power balance is established for the distribution network. Secondly, a flexibility aggregation method of large-scale base stations with energy storage (ES) devices is proposed, and a virtual ES-based optimization model is built for the mobile network. Then, a Nash bargaining-based optimization method is proposed for the collaboration of DNO and MNO, and a decentralized solution algorithm is designed to obtain the Nash bargaining solution, preserving the personal privacy. Finally, through a comprehensive case study we can draw that, compared with the independent approach, the proposed collaborative optimization method with interactive balance of flexibility and power can improve the operating flexibility of the distribution network while reducing the electricity bills of the mobile network effectively, thus achieving a win-win result.

Model independent approach to proton polarization in photodisintegration of deuteron

In addition to other photonuclear reactions, the study of photonuclear reactions on deuterium targets is important for laser physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, and a number of applications, including non-destructive testing of nuclear materials. In this paper, we have carried out a model independent analysis of proton polarization in photodisintegration of deuterons with initially unpolarized beam and unpolarized target. The angular dependence of the polarization is studied by expressing it in terms of multipole amplitudes.

Local environmental context drives heterogeneity of early succession dynamics in alpine glacier forefields

Abstract. Glacier forefields have long provided ecologists with a model to study patterns of plant succession following glacier retreat. While plant-survey-based approaches applied along chronosequences provide invaluable information on plant communities, the “space-for-time” approach assumes environmental uniformity and equal ecological potential across sites and does not account for spatial variability in initial site conditions. Remote sensing provides a promising avenue for assessing plant colonization dynamics using a so-called “real-time” approach. Here, we combined 36 years of Landsat imagery with extensive field sampling along chronosequences of deglaciation for eight glacier forefields in the southwestern European Alps to investigate the heterogeneity of early plant succession dynamics. Based on the two complementary and independent approaches, we found strong variability in the time lag between deglaciation and colonization by plants and in subsequent growth rates and in the composition of early plant succession. All three parameters were highly dependent on the local environmental context, i.e., neighboring vegetation cover and energy availability linked to temperature and snowmelt gradients. Potential geomorphological disturbance did not emerge as a strong predictor of succession parameters, which is perhaps due to insufficient spatial resolution of predictor variables. Notably, the identity of pioneer plant species was highly variable, and initial plant community composition had a much stronger influence on plant assemblages than elapsed time since deglaciation. Overall, both approaches converged towards the conclusion that early plant succession is not stochastic as previous authors have suggested but rather determined by local ecological context. We discuss the importance of scale in deciphering the complexity of plant succession in glacier forefields and provide recommendations for improving botanical field surveys and using Landsat time series in glacier forefield systems. Our work demonstrates complementarity between remote sensing and field-based approaches for both understanding and predicting future patterns of plant succession in glacier forefields.

Recent growth increase in endemic Juglans boliviana from the tropical Andes

The spatial coverage of tree-ring chronologies in tropical South America is low compared to the extratropics, particularly in remote regions. Tree-ring dating from such tropical sites is limited by the generally weak temperature seasonality, complex coloration, and indistinct anatomical morphology in some tree species. As a result, there is a need to complement traditional methods of dendrochronology with innovative and independent approaches. Here, we supplement traditional tree-ring methods via the use of radiocarbon analyses to detect partial missing rings and/or false rings, and wood anatomical techniques to precisely delineate tree-ring boundaries. In so doing we present and confirm the annual periodicity of the first tree-ring width (TRW) chronology spanning from 1814 to 2017 for Juglans boliviana (‘nogal’), a tree species growing in a mid-elevation tropical moist forest in northern Bolivia. We collected 25 core samples and 4 cross-sections from living and recently harvested canopy-dominant trees, respectively. The sampled trees were growing in the Madidi National Park and had a mean age of 115 years old, with certain trees growing for over 200 years. Comparison of (residual and standard) TRW chronologies to monthly climate variables shows significant negative relationships to prior year May-August maximum temperatures (r = −0.54, p < 0.05) and positive relationships to dry season May-October precipitation (r = 0.60, p < 0.05) before the current year growing season. Additionally, the radial growth of Juglans boliviana shows a significant positive trend since 1979. Our findings describe a new and promising tree species for dendrochronology due to its longevity and highlight interdisciplinary techniques that can be used to expand the current tree-ring network in Bolivia and the greater South American tropics.

Brain transcriptome-wide association study implicates novel risk genes underlying schizophrenia risk

To identify risk genes whose expression are regulated by the reported risk variants and to explore the potential regulatory mechanism in schizophrenia (SCZ). We systematically integrated three independent brain expression quantitative traits (eQTLs) (CommonMind, GTEx, and BrainSeq Phase 2, a total of 1039 individuals) and GWAS data (56 418 cases and 78 818 controls), with the use of transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS). Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to quantify the integrity of white matter bundles and determine whether polygenic risk of novel genes linked to brain structure was present in patients with first-episode antipsychotic SCZ. TWAS showed that eight risk genes (CORO7, DDAH2, DDHD2, ELAC2, GLT8D1, PCDHA8, THOC7, and TYW5) reached transcriptome-wide significance (TWS) level. These findings were confirmed by an independent integrative approach (i.e. Sherlock). We further conducted conditional analyses and identified the potential risk genes that driven the TWAS association signal in each locus. Gene expression analysis showed that several TWS genes (including CORO7, DDAH2, DDHD2, ELAC2, GLT8D1, THOC7 and TYW5) were dysregulated in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of SCZ cases compared with controls. TWS genes were mainly expressed on the surface of glutamatergic neurons, GABAergic neurons, and microglia. Finally, SCZ cases had a substantially greater TWS genes-based polygenic risk (PRS) compared to controls, and we showed that fractional anisotropy of the cingulum-hippocampus mediates the influence of TWS genes PRS on SCZ. Our findings identified novel SCZ risk genes and highlighted the importance of the TWS genes in frontal-limbic dysfunctions in SCZ, indicating possible therapeutic targets.

THE COMBINED SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES TO THE CHANGE MANAGEMENT

The article is dedicated to the use and development of scientific approaches to change management. Despite the diversity of traditional approaches to management, in practice it is necessary to combine several approaches. Thus the new (combined) approaches appear. They develop the traditional scientific approaches to management and are deprived of their many disadvantages. However it is possible to combine only suitable approaches. The problem of a scientific approaches’ combination in management is insufficiently consecrated in literature. Besides, such approaches have to be finished for change management specially. The purpose of this article is to consider the combined approaches for the change management. The author has identified and disclosed the combined content of the main approaches to change management. Considering the features of this management direction there were described process-system and system-situational approaches. Based on the study of the change management models oriented at staff, the author singled out an independent approach of "human factor". This approach is based on the critical importance of the staff in making changes. The author has selected a number of the developed models of change management and distributed them through each respective approach. As a result of the research there was ordered and revealed a combined approach to the change management. These approaches are the variants of methodological base of the organizational changes. The combined approaches allow to relieve the unidirectional approaches` shortcomings. The description of modern approaches and systematization of models of the change management allow managers to make a choice in each case of the most acceptable approach and model for implementation of successful changes.