Opposite Ends Research Articles

Observing Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies at the Cosmic Noon through Gravitational Lensing: Perspectives from New-Generation Telescopes

Gravitational lensing, a compelling physical phenomenon, offers a unique avenue to investigate the morphology and physical properties of distant and faint celestial objects. This paper seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of observations concerning strongly lensed Dusty Star-Forming Galaxies. Emphasis is placed on the pivotal role played by cutting-edge facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope and the Square Kilometer Array Observatory. These advanced instruments operating at the two opposite ends of the electromagnetic spectrum, in conjunction with the amplifying effect of gravitational lensing, promise significant steps in our understanding of these sources. The synergy between these observatories is poised to unlock crucial insights into the evolutionary path of high-redshift, dust-obscured systems and unravel the intricate interplay between Active Galactic Nuclei and their host galaxies.

Unravelling the Oral-Gut Axis: Interconnection Between Periodontitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Current Challenges, and Future Perspective.

As the opposite ends of the orodigestive tract, the oral cavity and the intestine share anatomical, microbial, and immunological ties that have bidirectional health implications. A growing body of evidence suggests an interconnection between oral pathologies and inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], implying a shift from the traditional concept of independent diseases to a complex, reciprocal cycle. This review outlines the evidence supporting an 'oral-gut' axis, marked by a higher prevalence of periodontitis and other oral conditions in IBD patients and vice versa. We present an in-depth examination of the interconnection between oral pathologies and IBD, highlighting the shared microbiological and immunological pathways, and proposing a 'multi-hit' hypothesis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis-mediated intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, the review underscores the critical need for a collaborative approach between dentists and gastroenterologists to provide holistic oral-systemic healthcare.

TopBP1 utilises a bipartite GINS binding mode to support genome replication

Activation of the replicative Mcm2-7 helicase by loading GINS and Cdc45 is crucial for replication origin firing, and as such for faithful genetic inheritance. Our biochemical and structural studies demonstrate that the helicase activator GINS interacts with TopBP1 through two separate binding surfaces, the first involving a stretch of highly conserved amino acids in the TopBP1-GINI region, the second a surface on TopBP1-BRCT4. The two surfaces bind to opposite ends of the A domain of the GINS subunit Psf1. Mutation analysis reveals that either surface is individually able to support TopBP1-GINS interaction, albeit with reduced affinity. Consistently, either surface is sufficient for replication origin firing in Xenopus egg extracts and becomes essential in the absence of the other. The TopBP1-GINS interaction appears sterically incompatible with simultaneous binding of DNA polymerase epsilon (Polε) to GINS when bound to Mcm2-7-Cdc45, although TopBP1-BRCT4 and the Polε subunit PolE2 show only partial competitivity in binding to Psf1. Our TopBP1-GINS model improves the understanding of the recently characterised metazoan pre-loading complex. It further predicts the coordination of three molecular origin firing processes, DNA polymerase epsilon arrival, TopBP1 ejection and GINS integration into Mcm2-7-Cdc45.

Active rejection or passive indifference? Mixed-methods evidence on national (dis)identification

Much of the research on national identity investigates its negative aspects through the form of nationalism. However, what happens at the opposite end of the spectrum, when someone does not glorify the national ingroup but actively rejects it? Across two studies conducted in Serbia ( Ns = 349 and 554), we investigated national identification and disidentification, their antecedents, and consequences. We found no evidence to distinguish between (low) national identification and disidentification. Regarding antecedents of national identification, we found that self-stereotypes (positive and lack of negative) were the most important contributors, followed by right-wing social ideology. Regarding consequences, low national identifiers endorsed wider identities (e.g., European, world citizen) and had higher intentions to migrate. Most strikingly, low identifiers blatantly dehumanized ingroup members, even more so than high identifiers dehumanized (high-status) outgroups. In analyzing qualitative data, we contextualized the quantitative findings by showing that low identification is mainly articulated as a mismatch between self and ingroup prototype, consequently leading to dehumanization. We conclude that low national identification can have detrimental effects, but that more research in the non-Western context is necessary to properly understand this phenomenon.

Evaluation of sensory modalities involved in finding food and foraging behaviour in light/dark conditions in tadpoles of the invasive species Lithobates catesbeianus

AbstractThe ability of anuran larvae to efficiently locate food is essential for their growth and development, but little is known about the sensory modalities they use to find food. We experimentally assessed the role of visual and chemical cues in finding food in tadpoles of the invasive species Lithobates catesbeianus. In the two‐choice experiment, using rectangular containers that offer visual and/or chemical food cues on opposite ends, tadpoles chose the side where the chemical cues of the food were present consistently. The visual cues alone showed an initial transient attraction of tadpoles, which disappeared after a few minutes, suggesting that tadpoles are potentially capable of seeing contrasting objects, at least, at a close range and in clear waters and daylight conditions. We also evaluated the foraging behaviour and the capability of tadpoles to find food in an open field experiment under two different lighting conditions: natural daylight and darkness. Results showed that tadpoles find food faster in dark conditions, confirming that chemical cues alone are sufficient for tadpoles of this species to find food. Moreover, the time spent feeding and the number of tadpoles simultaneously exploiting the food patch were greater in darkness suggesting that environments with low visibility conditions could favour the establishment of L. catesbeianus. Understanding the sensory modalities used by tadpoles of this invasive species to find food could help to understand the potential abilities to expand and establish in novel environments.

Network Traffic Characteristics and Analysis in Recent Mobile Games

The landscape of mobile gaming has evolved significantly over the years, with profound changes in network reliability and traffic patterns. In the early 2010s, mobile games faced challenges due to unreliable networks and primarily featured asynchronous gameplay. However, in the current era, modern mobile games benefit from robust network connectivity, mirroring PC gaming experiences by relying on persistent connections to game servers. This shift prompted us to conduct an in-depth traffic analysis of two mobile games that represent opposite ends of the genre spectrum: a massively multiplayer game resembling PC MMORPGs with tightly synchronized gameplay, and a single-player puzzle game that incorporates asynchronous social interactions. Surprisingly, both games exhibited remarkably similar traffic footprints; small packets with short inter-packet arrival times, indicating their high expectations for network reliability. This suggests that game developers now prioritize network quality similarly to their PC gaming counterparts. Additionally, our analysis of packet lengths unveiled that recent mobile games predominantly employ short packets dominated by a few key packet types closely tied to player actions, which conforms to observations from PC online games. However, the self-similarity in traffic patterns, a notable feature in PC online games, only partially explains the traffic in mobile games, varying across genres. These findings shed light on the evolving traffic patterns in mobile games and emphasize the need for further research in this dynamic domain.

What remains when two neutron stars collide?

What remains when two neutron stars collide? Distinguished Professor Susan M. Scott and Dr Karl Wette from the Australian National University examine what remains when two neutron stars collide in this exciting gravitational astrophysics focus. Our Universe is now 13.7 billion years old. Many processes have evolved slowly over its existence; for example, our Sun will burn for about 10 billion years over its working life before entering retirement as a white dwarf star. At the opposite end of the scale, the Universe is also home to a myriad of short-lived events, which may radiate enormous amounts of energy in an instant. These are the astronomical transients.

Significance of the Disulfide Bridge in the Structure and Stability of Metalloprotein Azurin.

Metalloproteins make up a class of proteins that incorporate metal ions into their structures, enabling them to perform essential functions in biological systems, such as catalysis and electron transport. Azurin is one such metalloprotein with copper cofactor, having a β-barrel structure with exceptional thermal stability. The copper metal ion is coordinated at one end of the β-barrel structure, and there is a disulfide bond at the opposite end. In this study, we explore the effect of this disulfide bond in the high thermal stability of azurin by analyzing both the native S-S bonded and S-S nonbonded (S-S open) forms using temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD). Similar to experimental observations, we find a 35 K decrease in denaturation temperature for S-S open azurin compared to that of the native holo form (420 K). As observed in the case of native holo azurin, the unfolding process of the S-S open form also started with disruptions of the α-helix. The free energy surfaces of the unfolding process revealed that the denaturation event of the S-S open form progresses through different sets of conformational ensembles. Subsequently, we compared the stabilities of individual β-sheet strands of both the S-S bonded and the S-S nonbonded forms of azurin. Further, we examined the contacts between individual residues for the central structures from the free energy surfaces of the S-S nonbonded form. The microscopic origin of the lowering in the denaturation temperature is further supplemented by thermodynamic analysis.

Reflections of a First-Year Chemistry Teacher: Intersecting PCK, Responsiveness, and Inquiry Instruction

Many educators agree that science instruction should be dominated by inquiry strategies, while others stress the need for responsive practices to place a focus on student learning and understanding. Some scholars believe the two approaches exist on opposite ends of an instructional spectrum, while others believe they may be aligned and intertwined. Pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), the broadly accepted gold standard for science education, seems to include both. Understanding how teachers incorporate inquiry strategies and responsiveness and how the two intersect could lead to a more complete framework for K–12 science instruction and help streamline science teacher education. This qualitative single-case study examined the reflections of a first-year chemistry teacher by exploring how she demonstrated responsiveness to students while maintaining a teaching orientation of inquiry-based instruction. Results indicated that responsiveness depended on a high level of PCK and led to higher or lower levels of inquiry based on the students’ need for teacher support. Additionally, findings showed that the teacher’s stated and demonstrated beliefs about inquiry were disconnected. Finally, a gap between science conceptual understanding and mathematics PCK suggested the need to support more innovative mathematics pedagogical strategies during physical science teacher education.

Locus folding mechanisms determine modes of antigen receptor gene assembly.

The dynamic folding of genomes regulates numerous biological processes, including antigen receptor (AgR) gene assembly. We show that, unlike other AgR loci, homotypic chromatin interactions and bidirectional chromosome looping both contribute to structuring Tcrb for efficient long-range V(D)J recombination. Inactivation of the CTCF binding element (CBE) or promoter at the most 5'Vβ segment (Trbv1) impaired loop extrusion originating locally and extending to DβJβ CBEs at the opposite end of Tcrb. Promoter or CBE mutation nearly eliminated Trbv1 contacts and decreased RAG endonuclease-mediated Trbv1 recombination. Importantly, Trbv1 rearrangement can proceed independent of substrate orientation, ruling out scanning by DβJβ-bound RAG as the sole mechanism of Vβ recombination, distinguishing it from Igh. Our data indicate that CBE-dependent generation of loops cooperates with promoter-mediated activation of chromatin to juxtapose Vβ and DβJβ segments for recombination through diffusion-based synapsis. Thus, the mechanisms that fold a genomic region can influence molecular processes occurring in that space, which may include recombination, repair, and transcriptional programming.

Infrared measurements of fluid temperature in a polymeric Pulsating Heat Pipe

Pulsating heat pipes are two-phase passive heat transfer devices partially filled with a working fluid in saturation conditions. During operation, supplying heat to one end of the system (named evaporator) results in a local increase in temperature and pressure, which drives the fluid through a transport section (named adiabatic section) towards the cooled, opposite end (named condenser) for effective heat dissipation. The local thermo-fluid dynamic state of the working fluid is sometimes assessed by means of non-intrusive techniques, such as infrared thermography. In this case, the radiative properties of the systems in the infrared spectrum must be known a priori. Nevertheless, since pulsating heat pipes may be manufactured with different materials, wall thicknesses and channel geometries, the radiative properties of the walls and the confined flow are not always known or assessable by means of the available literature. Hence, the work proposes to design a straightforward calibration procedure for quantitative infrared fluid temperature measurements in a polymeric pulsating heat pipe charged with FC-72 and having unknown radiative properties. The emissivity and transmissivity of the walls and confined fluid are estimated with good accuracy. The results will allow repeatable and reliable fluid temperature measurements in future experimentations on the mentioned device.

Repeat sequence corresponding to the nucleosome length at the opposite end of the pairing center on autosomes in C. elegans.

Many repeat sequences in genomes have unknown functions, but some have features that are suggestive of one. I found a repeat sequence that has 185 base pairs as the basic unit, which is the same as the length of a nucleosome repeat. The chromosomal location of this repeat sequence is opposite the pairing center of each autosomal chromosome. I named this repeat sequence Nucleosome Length Autosomal Repeat (NLAR). The NLAR regions reveal a low level of H3K79me, which is required for chromosome pairing. I hypothesize that NLAR inhibits chromosome pairing of autosomes from inappropriate ends during meiosis.

Mapping methodological nationalism in Middle Eastern studies: Toward a transnational understanding of the 2011 Arab uprisings?

AbstractThis article assesses the prevalence and implications of the research foci methodological nationalism, methodological globalism, and transnationalism in publications regarding the 2011 Arab uprisings. We propose a new typology that contrasts state‐centered methodological nationalism with the cosmopolitan lens of methodological globalism as two opposite ends of a spectrum. Transnationalism is conceptualized in between these two, due to its sensitivity to multiple localities and cross‐border variables. We compare the merits and limits of these three research foci through quantitative research and content analysis. Our systematic review of one decade of scholarship on the Arab uprisings suggests a consistent trend toward the dominance of methodologically nationalist research approaches in Middle Eastern studies. This is surprising because the multilocal nature of the Arab uprisings suggests that it can best be analyzed transnationally. This article, therefore, critically discusses the methodological nationalist bias to better understand and illustrate the trend. We conclude by highlighting some comparative advantages offered by transnational perspectives on actors and processes in the Arab uprisings and its aftermath.

The two extremes of retinal fold management

Aims/Purpose: Retinal folds represent a debilitating complication following retinal detachment surgery. While some patients may experience partial retinal flattening with minimal or moderate improvement of visual function, many will go on to suffer severe permanent vision loss. The indication and timing of possible reintervention is still debated, particularly for how long after initial retinal fold formation there can still be a reasonable expectation of anatomical and functional improvement.Methods: We present the cases of two patients suffering debilitating postoperative macular folds at opposite ends of the intervention window, who were referred to the Jules Gonin Hospital at different postoperative timepoints following retinal detachment surgery. Patient Nr 1 was reoperated within 20 days of the initial surgery, patient Nr 2 10 months later. Retinal folds were confirmed by preoperative OCT and pre‐ and post‐op cyclotorsion was measured on fundus photography.Results: Patient Nr 1 recovered vision from CF to 0.2 logMar within 3 months, improving to 0.0 logMar after one year. Patient No 2 recovered from HM to 0.6 after 3 months and further to 0.5 logMar after one year. Most importantly, while patient Nr 1 had no more cyclotorsion, undisturbed binocular vision already on day one postoperatively, even to the absence of metamorphopsia during follow‐up, patient Nr 2 recovered slowly, also regaining binocularity without cyclotorsion, but with lasting metamorphopsia. During the video presentation, the different retinal elasticity at these differing timepoints can be demonstrated intraoperatively as well as different strategies to induce retinal separation so that the central retina can be reattached in a new, more physiological position.Conclusions: Our cases illustrate that early intervention can lead to a virtually symptom‐free result while even delayed intervention may still be able to achieve some improvement in visual function and the avoidance of monocularity.

The case for weak null in English

The concept of the null article in English was originally developed as a means of explaining the apparent paradox that singular nouns with the same surface form, namely the non-presence of a grammatical article, are used in quite different communicative situations. Null has been described as the most definite form in the English article system, standing in direct contrast to zero at the opposite end of a scale. Yet, while this may applicable in the case of predicates nouns denoting unique roles, certain institutions where the referent is pragmatically unique, or coordinate structures with a preceding referent, there is persuasive evidence to suggest a considerable number of other null structures do not fit such a description but, on the contrary, share common characteristics with the weak form of the definite article or occupy more of a neutral position which would permit insertion of either one of the surface articles. On this basis, a proposal is advanced to acknowledge two forms of the null article, strong and weak, according to context. Rather than a corpus-based statistical approach, this paper draws upon a smaller selection of contemporary, non-fictional texts from a variety of semantic fields to illustrate the points being made.

Influence of magnetically-induced nonlinear added stiffness on the lift galloping of square cylinders at low Reynolds number

A square cylinder may gallop if subjected to fluid flow, experiencing a self-excited vibration mode that can harvest energy for low-power applications. The harvested power is typically low and depends on the upstream flow velocity and system dynamic parameters. In this study, the influence of nonlinear stiffness induced by two repulsive magnetic poles on the galloping response of square rods is investigated at a mass ratio of 10 and a Reynolds number of 200. The vibration response of two identical coaxial square rods with magnetic poles attached to their opposite ends is analyzed. Two simplified configurations are selected to model the magnetic forces: a pair of identical monopoles and a pair of identical dipoles. Results show that the magnet configuration and strength significantly affect the vibration amplitude and the onset flow velocity. A weak magnetic force can enhance vibration and reduce onset flow velocity, while a stronger pair of dipoles may push the bistable system to a state of low-amplitude vibration with a mean displacement. The influence of magnets in this configuration has potential as a control technique for energy harvesting applications.

Evaluation of Machining Variables on Machinability of Nickel Alloy Inconel 718 Using Coated Carbide Tools

The current work was undertaken with the research aim of experimental examination of tool wear, surface roughness and burr formation during the micro-milling of Inconel 718 using different coated tools. Inconel 718 is one of the most widely used materials for purpose-oriented utilization owing to its preferred mechanical and physical properties, including high strength and corrosion resistance. On the opposite end, the machining of Inconel 718 poses certain machinability challenges, which significantly elevates tool wear and subsequently surface roughness. Cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut were selected as variable machining inputs. With reference to tool wear, all input variables were found to be significant, with tool coating having the highest contribution ratio of 36.19%. In case of surface roughness, cutting speed and tool coating were identified as effective input parameters with contribution ratios of 51.24% and 34.27%, respectively. Similarly, depth of cut proved to be an influential factor for burr height formation (in both up-milling and down-milling), whereas feed rate had the highest contribution ratios for burr width formation during up-milling and down-milling, i.e., 39.28% and 36.26%, respectively. Consequently, contour plots for output responses were drawn between significant parameters to analyze machinability. One of the vital research outcomes was the identification of a tool coating parameter that is significant for all four analyzed aspects of burr formation. In addition, regression equations were formulated for machining responses. The best- and worst-case scenarios for individual input parameters, as identified from main effects plots, were validated during confirmatory experimentation. Moreover, effects of input variables on output response were characterized using close-up imagery, and dominant wear mechanisms were also identified. The utility of the research is underlined by the optimization of the sustainability and productivity of the manufacturing process.

Towards a screening test for earwitnesses

The present study explores the feasibility of a screening test for earwitnesses. The underlying assumption is that lay listeners differ in their voice-processing capabilities and might consequently not be equally suited for a standardised voice parade. One hundred British participants took part in an online AX discrimination task with the aim of obtaining a representative sample of the population. For the stimuli, two 10s-long recordings were taken from 48 speakers of the DyViS corpus. Participants differed markedly in recognition accuracy (mean = 75%, range = 50–93.8%). Two potential ‘super recognisers’ were identified as well as four participants at the opposite end of the spectrum. The test serves to establish a baseline for more complex investigations of witness-dependent estimator variables.

Guided Acoustic Waves in Polymer Rods with Varying Immersion Depth in Liquid.

Monitoring tanks and vessels play an important part in public infrastructure and several industrial processes. The goal of this work is to propose a new kind of guided acoustic wave sensor for measuring immersion depth. Common sensor types such as pressure sensors and airborne ultrasonic sensors are often limited to non-corrosive media, and can fail to distinguish between the media they reflect on or are submerged in. Motivated by this limitation, we developed a guided acoustic wave sensor made from polyethylene using piezoceramics. In contrast to existing sensors, low-frequency Hanning-windowed sine bursts were used to excite the L(0,1) mode within a solid polyethylene rod. The acoustic velocity within these rods changes with the immersion depth in the surrounding fluid. Thus, it is possible to detect changes in the surrounding media by measuring the time shifts of zero crossings through the rod after being reflected on the opposite end. The change in time of zero crossings is monotonically related to the immersion depth. This relative measurement method can be used in different kinds of liquids, including strong acids or bases.

Microtubule-dependent apical polarization of basement membrane matrix mRNAs in mouse epithelial cells

The basement membrane (BM) demarcating epithelial tissues undergoes rapid expansion to accommodate tissue growth and morphogenesis during embryonic development. To facilitate the secretion of bulky BM proteins, their mRNAs are polarized basally in the follicle epithelial cells of the Drosophila egg chamber to position their sites of production close to their deposition. In contrast, we observed the apical rather than basal polarization of all major BM mRNAs in the outer epithelial cells adjacent to the BM of mouse embryonic salivary glands using single-molecule RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH). Moreover, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence revealed apical polarization of both the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, indicating that the site of BM component production was opposite to the site of deposition. At the apical side, BM mRNAs colocalized with ER, suggesting they may be co-translationally tethered. After microtubule inhibition, the BM mRNAs and ER became uniformly distributed rather than apically polarized, but they remained unchanged after inhibiting myosin II, ROCK, or F-actin, or after enzymatic disruption of the BM. Because Rab6 is generally required for Golgi-to-plasma membrane trafficking of BM components, we used lentivirus to express an mScarlet-tagged Rab6a in salivary gland epithelial cultures to visualize vesicle trafficking dynamics. We observed extensive bidirectional vesicle movements between Golgi at the apical side and the basal plasma membrane adjacent to the BM. Moreover, we showed that these vesicle movements depend on the microtubule motor kinesin-1 because very few vesicles remained motile after treatment with kinesore to compete for cargo-binding sites on kinesin-1. Overall, our work highlights the diverse strategies that different organisms use to secrete bulky matrix proteins: while Drosophila follicle epithelial cells strategically place their sites of BM protein production close to their deposition, mouse embryonic epithelial cells place their sites of production at the opposite end. Instead of spatial proximity, they use the microtubule cytoskeleton to mediate this organization as well as for the apical-to-basal transport of BM proteins.