Migration Profiles Research Articles

Fast proliferating and slowly migrating non-small cell lung cancer cells are vulnerable to decitabine and retinoic acid combinatorial treatment.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are often elderly or unfit and thus cannot tolerate standard aggressive therapy regimes. In our study, we test the efficacy of the DNA-hypomethylating agent decitabine (DAC) in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), which has been shown to possess little systemic adverse effects. Screening a broad panel of 56 NSCLC cell lines uncovered a decrease in cell viability after the combination treatment in 77% of the cell lines. Transcriptomics, proteomics, proliferation and migration profiling revealed that fast proliferating and slowly migrating cell lines were more sensitive to the drug combination. The comparison of mutational profiles found oncogenic KRAS mutations only in sensitive cells. Additionally, different cell lines showed a heterogeneous gene expression response to the treatment pointing to diverse mechanisms of action. Silencing KRAS, RIG-I or RARB partially reversed the sensitivity of KRAS-mutant NCI-H460 cells. To study resistance, we generated two NCI-H460 cell populations resistant to ATRA and DAC, which migrated faster and proliferated slower than the parental sensitive cells and showed signs of senescence. In summary, this comprehensive dataset uncovers a broad sensitivity of NSCLC cells to the combinatorial treatment with DAC and ATRA and indicates that migration and proliferation capacities correlate with and could thus serve as determinants for drug sensitivity in NSCLC.

Applied development of sustainable-durable high-performance lightweight concrete: Toward low carbon footprint, durability, and energy saving

Over the past few decades, the utilization of Lightweight Concrete (LWC) has emerged as a promising solution for reducing the dead load of structures. However, a key concern associated with the reduction of concrete density, is the potential decrease in mechanical and durability properties. This paradox necessitates a precise mix design that fulfills the requirements of high-strength concrete. This article investigates the influence of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) on the strength and durability, and thermal conductivity of Lightweight High-Performance Concrete (LWHPC). The LWHPC mixes explored in this study include sustainable cement solutions such as Portland limestone cement, varying water/binder ratios of 0.3 and 0.35, Leca contents ranging from 5 % to 20 % by volume, and two different pozzolanic supplements, namely silica fume and fly ash, which can be reducing porosity and enhancing durability and mechanical strength. The durability properties of the concrete were assessed through water absorption, electrical resistivity, and chloride migration profiles. Additionally, thermal conductivity measurements were conducted on all specimens. The results indicate that LWHPC, with a lower water/binder ratio, exhibits higher compressive strength and lower absorption, indicating good concrete quality. Generally, after a curing period of 90 days, mixtures with a density exceeding 1700 kg/m3 demonstrated superior durability characteristics. Furthermore, LWHPC mixes in both water/binder ratio groups displayed significantly low thermal conductivity with increasing lightweight aggregate content.

Migration Studies and Endocrine Disrupting Activities: Chemical Safety of Cosmetic Plastic Packaging.

The endocrine activity and endocrine disruptor (ED) chemical profiles of eleven plastic packaging materials covering five major polymer types (3PET, 1HDPE, 4LDPE, 2 PP, and 1SAN) were investigated using in vitro cell-based reporter-gene assays and a non-targeted chemical analysis using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). To mimic cosmetic contact, six simulants (acidic, alkaline, neutral water, ethanol 30%, glycerin, and paraffin) were used in migration assays performed by filling the packaging with simulant. After 1 month at 50 °C, simulants were concentrated by Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) or Liquid-Liquid Extraction (LLE). The migration profiles of seven major endocrine disrupting chemicals detected from GC-MS in the different materials and simulants were compared with Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Androgen Receptor (AR) activities. With low extraction of ED chemicals in aqueous simulants, no endocrine activities were recorded in the leachates. Paraffin was shown to be the most extracting simulant of antiandrogenic chemicals, while glycerin has estrogenic activities. Overall, ED chemical migration in paraffin was correlated with hormonal activity. The NIAS 2,4-di-tert-butyl phenol and 7,9-di-tert-butyl1-oxaspiro (4,5) deca-6,9-diene-2,8-dione were two major ED chemicals present in all polymers (principally in PP and PE) and in the highest quantity in paraffin simulant. The use of glycerin and liquid paraffin as cosmetic product simulants was demonstrated to be relevant and complementary for the safety assessment of released compounds with endocrine activities in this integrated strategy combining bioassays and analytical chemistry approaches.

Seismic Reflection Imaging of a Deep‐Penetrating Red River Fault in the Yinggehai Basin, Northwest of the South China Sea

AbstractThe Yinggehai Basin (YB) in the northwest of the South China Sea (SCS) has preserved the complete evolution of the Red River Fault (RRF), whose motion over time has largely contributed to shaping the current tectonic framework of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and Indochina Block. Here we, for the first time, image the RRF, crustal architecture, and crust‐mantle boundary (i.e., Moho) in detail under the YB from two high‐resolution 40‐km‐depth seismic reflection pre‐stack migration profiles. Our seismic reflection images provide direct seismic evidence to support a deep‐penetrating RRF, most likely crosscutting the Moho. In this sense, the RRF was a large‐scale shear zone, along with the clockwise rotation of the Indochina Block, to accommodate the Indochina Block extrusion during Oligocene‐early Miocene and form the YB. We highlight that the material extrusion along deep‐penetrating faults dominated the Tibetan Plateau deformation in response to the India‐Asia collision at an early stage.

A-163 Abnormal HbA1c Results Lead to an Unexpected Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Diagnosis

Abstract Background Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is used to assess and monitor glycemic control, as it reflects average levels of blood glucose over the previous two to three months. HbA1c can be measured by capillary electrophoresis (CE) which calculates percent HbA1c from the HbA1c and HbA peaks in the electropherogram. CE is a prominent method in reference labs as it provides complete automation with fast separation and less interference than what can be observed with other assay formats. The high-resolution capability of CE allows the quantification of HbA1c, even in the presence of labile HbA1c, carbamylated and acetylated hemoglobins, and major hemoglobin variants. These variants are commonly recognized as causes of interference in HbA1c measurements. Case presentation A 70-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presented to an outpatient laboratory for routine venipuncture to evaluate glycemic management and cardiovascular disease risk. HbA1c analysis by CE resulted with a flag for an atypical profile in the electropherogram and no HbA1c value was reported. HbA1c measurements throughout the past year demonstrated HbA1c values ≥6.5% yet trending downward, consistent with his diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus. HbA1c was repeated with a different instrument and fresh specimen collected at a different phlebotomy location and showed similar inconclusive results. Unusual shifts in hemoglobin peak migration times were observed upon close review of the electropherogram, suggesting a potential analytical interference of the HbA1c measurement. Results Because atypical peak migration times due to elevated leukocyte counts or increased viscosity are documented by the manufacturer, a follow up complete blood count (CBC) was recommended for this patient. CBC results revealed a highly elevated leukocyte count of 175.80 k/μL (reference interval: 4.30–11.30 k/μL), suggesting the abnormal HbA1c migration profile was possibly due to leukocytosis. The elevated leukocyte count led the patient to visit an oncology clinic where leukemia/lymphoma phenotyping, ancillary studies, and cytogenic testing, confirmed a diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. The diagnosis was completely unexpected, as the patient’s only complaint was feeling fatigued over the last few weeks. The patient began chemotherapy treatment immediately. Conclusion The present case is an example of how leukocytosis and hyperviscosity can interfere with HbA1c measurement by CE. Although this specific clinical situation is uncommon, clinicians and laboratorians should be aware of these potential interferences, as they have not been discussed in detail in the literature. Further, these interferences warrant recognition in the cancer patient population, as this population may be directly impacted by elevated leukocyte count and hyperviscosity in their specimens, which may impact glycemic control monitoring during treatment. The incidence of diabetes in cancer patients is six times greater than in the general population, making glycemic control monitoring key for cancer patients. Many diabetic patients undergoing chemotherapy will prioritize their cancer treatment over management of their diabetes, which increases their risk for poor glycemic control. These patients should be carefully monitored to ensure HbA1c results are accurate as poor glycemic control can lead to increased risk for infections and hospitalizations, which may decrease survivorship.

Is There a Gender Gap in Health among Migrants in Russia?

This study investigates whether there is a gender gap in health among migrants. Focusing on migrants from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in Russia, where there are high levels of both immigration and gender inequality, this paper exploits unique data collected by the authors recording detailed information on health and migration trajectories. We find that migrant women are on average in poorer health than migrant men. This gender gap is only partly explained by gender differences in observed socioeconomic, demographic, living and working characteristics and differences in pre-migration health. We show that migrant women’s health is more likely than men’s to deteriorate during migration. This women’s health disadvantage is sensitive to the migration profile, as it only appears after a certain time spent migrating and for migrants with a vulnerable legal status. These results call for targeted public health policies to address this gender health gap.

Joint imaging of streamer and vertical cable data based on plane‐wave encoding reverse‐time migration

AbstractOffshore seismic surveys are typically conducted using streamers, which can make it challenging to accurately image deep and steep reflectors due to their horizontal layout and limited offset range. In recent years, vertical cable seismic acquisition has been developed as an alternative approach that utilizes a vertical layout to obtain wave field information not achievable by conventional streamers. However, relying solely on vertical cable seismic data does not produce high‐quality images due to its sparse detector distribution. To address this issue, we propose a joint imaging method based on reverse‐time migration that incorporates both streamer and vertical cable records. Our approach combines the back‐propagated wave fields of the streamer and vertical cable at each step of wave field extrapolation, providing more comprehensive wave field information than either one could provide individually. We then utilize zero‐delay cross‐correlation imaging conditions to generate a migration profile. To improve the efficiency of our reverse‐time migration algorithm, we employ a plane‐wave source encoding strategy for joint imaging. The effectiveness of our proposed method is validated using both the wedge model and the Marmousi model. By utilizing reverse‐time migration in the plane‐wave domain, our joint imaging method overcomes the limitations of poor imaging of steep‐dip formations with conventional streamer data. Additionally, it suppresses migration noise caused by insufficient illumination range from either streamer or vertical cable data alone. Overall, our joint imaging approach offers a promising solution for improving the accuracy and quality of offshore seismic surveys.

The Effect of Hydroquinidine on Proliferation and Apoptosis of TMZ-sensitive and -resistant GBM Cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal form of central nervous system cancer with a lack of efficient therapy options. Aggressiveness and invasiveness of the GBM result in poor prognosis and low overall survival. Therefore, the necessity to develop new anti-carcinogenic agents in GBM treatment is still a priority for researchers. Ion channels are one of the primary regulators of physiological homeostasis with additional critical roles in many essential biological processes related to cancer, such as invasion and metastasis. A multi-channel blocker, hydroquinidine (HQ), is currently in use to treat short-QT and Brugada arrhythmia syndromes. The objective of the study was to examine the alterations in survival, clonogenicity, migration, tumorigenicity, proliferation, apoptosis, and gene expression profile of temozolomide (TMZ)-sensitive and TMZ-resistant GBM cells upon HQ treatment. The possible anti-neoplastic activity of HQ on GBM cells was investigated by several widely applied cell culture methods. The IC50 values were determined using the MTT assay. Upon HQ treatment, the clonogenicity and migration capacity of cells were evaluated via colony-formation and wound healing assay, respectively. For antiproliferative and apoptotic effects, EdU and CFSE, and Annexin-V labeling were applied. Tumorigenicity level was depicted by employing soft agar assay. The expression level of multiple genes functioning in the cell cycle and apoptosis- related processes was checked utilizing qPCR. A significant anti-carcinogenic effect of HQ on TMZ-sensitive and -resistant GBM cells characterized by the increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation rate was revealed due to the altered gene expression profile related to cell cycle and cell death. In this study, the anti-carcinogenic effect of HQ has been demonstrated for the first time. Our data suggest the possible utilization of HQ to suppress the growth of GBM cells. Further studies on GBM-bearing animal models are required to assess its therapeutic potential in GBM treatment.

Transnational prenatal care among migrant women from low-and-middle-income countries who gave birth in Montreal, Canada

ObjectivesThere is little research examining transnational prenatal care (TPC) (i.e., prenatal care in more than one country) among migrant women. Using data from the Migrant-Friendly Maternity Care (MFMC) - Montreal project, we aimed to: (1) Estimate the prevalence of TPC, including TPC-arrived during pregnancy and TPC-arrived pre-pregnancy, among recently-arrived migrant women from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) who gave birth in Montreal, Canada; (2) Describe and compare the socio-demographic, migration and health profiles and perceptions of care during pregnancy in Canada between these two groups and migrant women who received no TPC (i.e., only received prenatal care in Canada); and (3) Identify predictors of TPC-arrived pre-pregnancy vs. No-TPC.MethodsThe MFMC study used a cross-sectional design. Data were gathered from recently-arrived (< 8 years) migrant women from LMICs via medical record review and interview-administration of the MFMC questionnaire postpartum during the period of March 2014-January 2015 in three hospitals, and February-June 2015 in one hospital. We conducted a secondary analysis (n = 2595 women); descriptive analyses (objectives 1 & 2) and multivariable logistic regression (objective 3).ResultsTen percent of women received TPC; 6% arrived during pregnancy and 4% were in Canada pre-pregnancy. The women who received TPC and arrived during pregnancy were disadvantaged compared to women in the other two groups (TPC-arrived pre-pregnancy and No-TPC women), in terms of income level, migration status, French and English language abilities, access barriers to care and healthcare coverage. However, they also had a higher proportion of economic migrants and they were generally healthier compared to No-TPC women. Predictors of TPC-arrived pre-pregnancy included: ‘Not living with the father of the baby’ (AOR = 4.8, 95%CI 2.4, 9.8), ‘having negative perceptions of pregnancy care in Canada (general experiences)’ (AOR = 1.2, 95%CI 1.1, 1.3) and younger maternal age (AOR = 1.1, 95%CI 1.0, 1.1).ConclusionWomen with more capacity may self-select to migrate during pregnancy which results in TPC; these women, however, are disadvantaged upon arrival, and may need additional care. Already-migrated women may use TPC due to a need for family and social support and/or because they prefer the healthcare in their home country.

The Benefits of Olive Oil for Skin Health: Study on the Effect of Hydroxytyrosol, Tyrosol, and Oleocanthal on Human Fibroblasts

Fibroblasts contribute to maintaining tissue integrity and homeostasis and are a key cell population in wound healing. This cell population can be stimulated by some bioactive compounds such as extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of hydroxytyrosol (htyr), tyrosol (tyr), and oleocanthal (ole) phenolic compounds present in EVOO on the proliferation, migration, cell cycle, and antigenic profile of cultured human fibroblasts. CCD-1064Sk human fibroblast cells were treated for 24 h with each polyphenol at doses ranging 10−5 to 10−9 M. Cell proliferation was evaluated using the MTT spectrophotometric technique, migration capacity by culture insert assay, and cell cycle and antigenic profile with flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was significantly increased by treatment with all compounds. The highest increases followed treatments with htyr or tyr at doses of 10−5 or 10−6 M and with ole at 10−6 and 10−7 M, and these compounds and doses were used for assays of antigenic profile, cell cycle, and migration. During the first few hours after treatment, increased fibronectin and α-actin expressions and greater cell migration were observed, with no cell cycle changes. In conclusion, these in vitro results suggest that phenolic compounds in EVOO might contribute to wound healing through action on fibroblasts related to tissue regeneration.

The Utility of Peptide Ligand-Functionalized Liposomes for Subcutaneous Drug Delivery for Arthritis Therapy.

Liposomes and other types of nanoparticles are increasingly being explored for drug delivery in a variety of diseases. There is an impetus in the field to exploit different types of ligands to functionalize nanoparticles to guide them to the diseased site. Most of this work has been conducted in the cancer field, with relatively much less information from autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, in RA, many drugs are self-administered by patients subcutaneously (SC). In this context, we have examined the attributes of liposomes functionalized with a novel joint-homing peptide (denoted ART-1) for arthritis therapy using the SC route. This peptide was previously identified following phage peptide library screening in the rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) model. Our results show a distinct effect of this peptide ligand on increasing the zeta potential of liposomes. Furthermore, liposomes injected SC into arthritic rats showed preferential homing to arthritic joints, following a migration profile in vivo similar to that of intravenously injected liposomes, except for a less steep decline after the peak. Finally, liposomal dexamethasone administered SC was more effective than the unpackaged (free) drug in suppressing arthritis progression in rats. We suggest that with suitable modifications, this SC liposomal treatment modality can be adapted for human RA therapy.

Monocyte migration profiles define disease severity in acute COVID-19 and unique features of long COVID.

COVID-19 is associated with a dysregulated immune response but it is unclear how immune dysfunction contributes to the chronic morbidity persisting in many COVID-19 patients during convalescence (long COVID). We assessed phenotypical and functional changes of monocytes in COVID-19 patients during hospitalisation and up to 9 months of convalescence following COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus or influenza A. Patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease were included as a positive control for severe, ongoing lung injury. Monocyte alterations in acute COVID-19 patients included aberrant expression of leukocyte migration molecules, continuing into convalescence (n=142) and corresponding with specific symptoms of long COVID. Long COVID patients with unresolved lung injury, indicated by sustained shortness of breath and abnormal chest radiology, were defined by high monocyte expression of C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 6 (CXCR6) (p<0.0001) and adhesion molecule P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (p<0.01), alongside preferential migration of monocytes towards the CXCR6 ligand C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 16 (CXCL16) (p<0.05), which is abundantly expressed in the lung. Monocyte CXCR6 and lung CXCL16 were heightened in patients with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (p<0.001), confirming a role for the CXCR6-CXCL16 axis in ongoing lung injury. Conversely, monocytes from long COVID patients with ongoing fatigue exhibited a sustained reduction of the prostaglandin-generating enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (p<0.01) and CXCR2 expression (p<0.05). These monocyte changes were not present in respiratory syncytial virus or influenza A convalescence. Our data define unique monocyte signatures that define subgroups of long COVID patients, indicating a key role for monocyte migration in COVID-19 pathophysiology. Targeting these pathways may provide novel therapeutic opportunities in COVID-19 patients with persistent morbidity.

Senescent Secretome of Blind Mole Rat Spalax Inhibits Malignant Behavior of Human Breast Cancer Cells Triggering Bystander Senescence and Targeting Inflammatory Response

Subterranean blind mole rat, Spalax, has developed strategies to withstand cancer by maintaining genome stability and suppressing the inflammatory response. Spalax cells undergo senescence without the acquisition of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in its canonical form, namely, it lacks the main inflammatory mediators. Since senescence can propagate through paracrine factors, we hypothesize that conditioned medium (CM) from senescent Spalax fibroblasts can transmit the senescent phenotype to cancer cells without inducing an inflammatory response, thereby suppressing malignant behavior. To address this issue, we investigated the effect of CMs of Spalax senescent fibroblasts on the proliferation, migration, and secretory profile in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The results suggest that Spalax CM induced senescence in cancer cells, as evidenced by increased senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) activity, growth suppression and overexpression of senescence-related p53/p21 genes. Contemporaneously, Spalax CM suppressed the secretion of the main inflammatory factors in cancer cells and decreased their migration. In contrast, human CM, while causing a slight increase in SA-β-Gal activity in MDA-MB-231 cells, did not decrease proliferation, inflammatory response, and cancer cell migration. Dysregulation of IL-1α under the influence of Spalax CM, especially the decrease in the level of membrane-bound IL1-α, plays an important role in suppressing inflammatory secretion in cancer cells, which in turn leads to inhibition of cancer cell migration. Overcoming of SASP in tumor cells in response to paracrine factors of senescent microenvironment or anti-cancer drugs represents a promising senotherapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.

Depth migration of crustal-scale seismic reflection profiles: A case study in the Bohai Bay basin

The application of the pre-stack depth migration (PSDM) method using deep seismic reflection data is still a challenge. In this paper, a deep seismic reflection dataset collected from the Bohai Bay Basin is used to test the applicability of the pre-stack depth migration method. After improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the prestack gathers and building an accurate velocity model capturing lateral and vertical variations, a high-quality pre-stack depth migration profile is obtained. This profile shows detailed crustal structures and an undulating Moho. The depth difference between the east and west sides of the Moho imaged in the profile is about 6 km. The Moho is disrupted by several discontinuities. Compared with conventionally stacked time-migration profiles, the pre-stack depth migration profile provides a higher-resolution subsurface image with accurate depth information. Combining geological and geophysical data, the pre-stack depth migration profile reveals geologic structures responsible for crust thinning during the destruction of the North China Craton. The profile also provides more accurate depth domain information for further study of crust-mantle interaction in this area.

Adjusting the physico-chemical properties of collagen scaffolds to accommodate primary osteoblasts and endothelial cells.

Collagen-based biomaterials are used widely as tissue engineering scaffolds because of their excellent bioactivity and their similarity to the natural ECM. The regeneration of healthy bone tissue requires simultaneous support for both osteoblasts and, where angiogenesis is intended, endothelial cells. Hence it is important to tailor carefully the biochemical and structural characteristics of the scaffold to suit the needs of each cell type. This work describes for the first time a systematic study to gain insight into the cell type-specific response of primary human osteoblast (hOBs) and human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMECs) to insoluble collagen-based biomaterials. The behaviour was evaluated on both 2D films and 3D scaffolds, produced using freeze-drying. The collagen was cross-linked at various EDC/NHS concentrations and mono-cultured with hOBs and HDMECs to assess the effect of architectural features and scaffold stabilization on cell behaviour. It was observed that 3D scaffolds cross-linked at 30% of the standard conditions in literature offered an optimal combination of mechanical stiffness and cellular response for both cell types, although endothelial cells were more sensitive to the degree of cross-linking than hOBs. Architectural features have a time-dependent impact on the cell migration profile, with alignment being the most influential parameter overall.

A Unique "Reversed" Migration of Neurons in the Developing Claustrum.

The claustrum (CLA) is a cluster of neurons located between the insular cortex and striatum. Many studies have shown that the CLA plays an important role in higher brain function. Additionally, growing evidence suggests that CLA dysfunction is associated with neuropsychological symptoms. However, how the CLA is formed during development is not fully understood. In the present study, we analyzed the development of the CLA, especially focusing on the migration profiles of CLA neurons in mice of both sexes. First, we showed that CLA neurons were generated between embryonic day (E) 10.5 and E12.5, but mostly at E11.5. Next, we labeled CLA neurons born at E11.5 using the FlashTag technology and revealed that most neurons reached the brain surface by E13.5 but were distributed deep in the CLA 1 d later at E14.5. Time-lapse imaging of GFP-labeled cells revealed that some CLA neurons first migrated radially outward and then changed their direction inward after reaching the surface. Moreover, we demonstrated that Reelin signal is necessary for the appropriate distribution of CLA neurons. The switch from outward to "reversed" migration of developing CLA neurons is distinct from other migration modes, in which neurons typically migrate in a certain direction, which is simply outward or inward. Future elucidation of the characteristics and precise molecular mechanisms of CLA development may provide insights into the unique cognitive functions of the CLA.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The claustrum (CLA) plays an important role in higher brain function, and its dysfunction is associated with neuropsychological symptoms. Although psychiatric disorders are increasingly being understood as disorders of neurodevelopment, little is known about CLA development, including its neuronal migration profiles and underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we investigated the migration profiles of CLA neurons during development and found that they migrated radially outward and then inward after reaching the surface. This switch in the migratory direction from outward to inward may be one of the brain's fundamental mechanisms of nuclear formation. Our findings enable us to investigate the relationship between CLA maldevelopment and dysfunction, which may facilitate understanding of the pathogenesis of some psychiatric disorders.

Thermodynamic and kinetic analysis on oligomeric protein dissociation using high-pressure native PAGE velocity method

High pressure is known to dissociate several oligomeric proteins, and regarded as an important tool to shift the oligomerization equilibrium. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native PAGE) at high pressure can characterize the dissociates and clearly discriminate the aggregates. However, a band smearing of migration profiles often hinders more detailed analyses (Miwa et al., High Pressure Res. (2019) 39, 218–224). In this paper, we focused on the band smearing dependent on the migration velocity so as to extract both thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. We systematically perturbed the migration velocity by changing the gel concentration and carried out numerical analysis for a series of the migration profiles based on a simple dissociation reaction scheme with limited thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. Then, complete volumetric properties on oligomerization process can be available. We term the present analysis method as a high-pressure native PAGE velocity method. We also report the application of this method to revisit the pressure dissociation of tetrameric lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from pig heart.

Deep Velocity Generator: A Plug-In Network for FWI Enhancement

Known for its great potential for determining subsurface properties quantitatively, full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a hot topic in the field of exploration seismology. The success of FWI depends significantly on the accuracy of the starting model. Given that both the migration and velocity profiles originate from the same geological structure, the two should be morphologically consistent. Starting from the velocity‐reflector depth trade-off, we propose a deep learning approach with a new training paradigm for building a good starting model. A velocity model and the corresponding migration image are used to form 2-channel inputs, and the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) is trained to minimize the difference between the output and the true velocity model. After the training, the velocity generator network becomes a plug-in component to enhance the FWI performance. The network can be well generalized to unseen data by training with only the synthetic data. We perform extensive experiments on our test dataset, the Marmousi model, the salt velocity model, and field data to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. Besides, we briefly give an explanation of why our model produces such outputs in this manuscript, making the proposed method more controllable and credible.

A Socio-ecological Study of Population, Migration, Urbanization, and Socio-Climate Variation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India

A socio-ecological system is a bio-geo-physical system that is inextricably linked to society and ecosystems, and in urban ecological science, a balance between the natural environment and human society and culture is sought. Migration is a common reason for population growth in urban areas because it gives people access to a better way to live and make money. Hypothetical ideas can be made about the ecological background of urban areas. For example, the growth of the population in rural or semi-rural areas creates pressure or flow of migrants to urban areas for various reasons. This helps the process of urbanisation, and urbanisation will affect the socio-ecological and socio-climate variation. Based on this background, this study explored the socio-ecological links between population growth, migration, urbanisation, and socio-climatic variation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The data for this study were gathered from secondary sources such as the Census of India, the Planning Department, the State Portal, the Integrated Government Online Directory, and a few selected scientific reports. Some social sciences statistical techniques, general cartographic and GIS mapping techniques were used, and data were quantitatively and qualitatively measured. Key findings demonstrating the links and relationships between population growth, migration, and urbanisation at the district level in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The district's main city area also serves as a draw factor for migrants due to job opportunities and other amenities. Migration profile depicting the internal movement scenario of the study area, as well as the links to urban growth and expansion. The second set of findings discussed the socio-ecological implications of urbanisation and socio-climate variation in the study area. It is possible to conclude that the benefits of various opportunities, facilities, job scope, and income draw people away from rural areas and into cities. Finally, urbanisation causes socio-ecological variation, which can have both positive and negative consequences. This study uncovered some socio-environmental issues and made recommendations for mitigating urban socio-ecological problems and correcting haphazard urbanisation.

The main peculiarities of labour migrants’ integration in Georgia (case of Tbilisi and Batumi)

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Georgia became a country of intensive emigration. However, the last decade has marked a notable change in the country’s migration profile due to the inflow of immigrants. This is a new challenge for contemporary Georgia, especially in terms of immigrant integration. The purpose of this paper is to identify the main features of labour migrants’ integration into Georgian society. The research findings are mostly based on the results of a qualitative sociological research, employing in-depth interviews with migrant workers residing in Georgia, and experts of the field. Lack of complete legislation and sound policies is the main characteristic feature of labour immigration management in Georgia; therefore, the migrant integration process goes spontaneously: one group of migrants, namely English- and Russian-speakers, as well as skilled workers still feel comfortable, and they keep intense communication with the local population. Another part of migrants who is denied state support in studying Georgian remains isolated from the host society.