Parallel Activation Research Articles

Microstructure and Texture Evolution in a Post-dynamic Recrystallized Titanium During Annealing, Monotonic and Cyclic Loading

The post-dynamic recrystallization behavior of ultrafine-grained (UFG: 0.44 μm) cp-Ti under annealing, room temperature (RT) monotonic and cyclic loading was investigated across a range of temperatures and deformation rates wherever appropriate. By characterizing the grain and boundary structures, it was confirmed that recrystallization and grain growth occurred due to annealing (≥ 600 °C) and R = − 1 fatigue at RT. There was a noticeable 30 deg aggregation in misorientation distribution, along with the increased grain size. However, the hypothetical correlation between 30 deg aggregation and Σ13a or the other characteristic coincidence site lattice boundaries was found to be weak. The fatigue-induced grain growth is particularly intriguing for two reasons. First, the large monotonic deformation with low strain rate cannot trigger grain growth. Second, fatigue sharpened the basal intensity around the ND and caused a weaker texture component close to TD (load axis along the LD, perpendicular to the TD–ND plane). By contrast, high-temperature annealing only strengthened the UFG processing induced basal pole but without affecting its location. Novel insights into this fatigue-induced texture evolution in UFG cp-Ti has been provided. The lattice rotation during fatigue can be attributed to the combined effect of activation of prismatic langle arangle slip parallel to LD, and basal langle arangle slip perpendicular to it. The theoretically calculated stress to activate dislocation slip by assuming a non-equilibrium grain boundary state lent support to the above assertion. Moreover, the TEM observation evidently showed the characteristics of dislocation cross-slip and multiple slip in the grain interior.Graphical

A repairing missing activities approach with succession relation for event logs

In the field of process mining, it is worth noting that process mining techniques assume that the resulting event logs can not only continuously record the occurrence of events but also contain all event data. However, like in IoT systems, data transmission may fail due to weak signal or resource competition, which causes the company’s information system to be unable to keep a complete event log. Based on a incomplete event log, the process model obtained by using existing process mining technologies is deviated from actual business process to a certain degree. In this paper, we propose a method for repairing missing activities based on succession relation of activities from event logs. We use an activity relation matrix to represent the event log and cluster it. The number of traces in the cluster is used as a measure of similarity calculation between incomplete traces and cluster results. Parallel activities in selecting pre-occurrence and post-occurrence activities of missing activities from incomplete traces are considered. Experimental results on real-life event logs show that our approach performs better than previous method in repairing missing activities.

Evaluation of general stress, detoxification pathways, and genotoxicity in rainbow trout exposed to rare earth elements dysprosium and lutetium

Rare earth elements (REEs) have been recently identified as emergent contaminants because of their numerous and increasing applications in technology. The impact of REEs on downstream ecosystems, notably aquatic organisms, is of particular concern, but has to date been largely overlooked. The purpose of this study was thus to evaluate the toxicity of lanthanide metals, lutetium (Lu) and dysprosium (Dy) in rainbow trout after 96 h of exposure. The lethal concentration (LC50) was determined and the expression of 14 genes involved in different pathways such as oxidative stress, xenobiotic detoxification, mitochondrial respiration, DNA repair, protein folding and turnover, inflammation, calcium binding and ammonia metabolism were quantified in surviving fish. In parallel, lipid peroxidation (LPO), DNA damage (DSB), metallothionein level (MT) and cyclooxygenase activity (COX) were examined. The acute 96 h-LC50 data revealed that Lu was more toxic than Dy (1.9 and 11.0 mg/L, respectively) and was able to affect all investigated pathways by changing the expression of the studied genes, to the exception of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). It also induced a decrease in DNA repair at concentrations 29 times below the LC50. This suggests that Lu could trigger a general stress to disrupt the cell homeostasis leading to genotoxicity without promoting oxidative stress. However, Dy induced modulation in the expression of genes involved in the protection against oxidative stress, detoxification, mitochondrial respiration, immunomodulation, protein turnover and an increase in the DNA strand breaks at concentrations 170 times lower than LC50. Changes in mRNA level transcripts could represent an early signal to prevent against toxicity of Dy, which exhibited inflammatory and genotoxic effects. This study thus provides useful knowledge enhancing our understanding of survival strategies developed by rainbow trout to cope with the presence of lanthanides in the environment.

How Patients With Heart Failure Perform Daily Life Activities: An Innate Energy-Saving Strategy.

Cardiopulmonary exercise test and 6-minute walking test are frequently used tools to evaluate physical performance in heart failure (HF), but they do neither represent activities of daily living (ADLs) nor fully reproduce patients' symptoms. We assessed differences in task oxygen uptake, both as absolute value and as percentage of peak oxygen consumption (peakVO2), ventilation efficiency (VE/VCO2 ratio), and dyspnea intensity (Borg scale) in HF and healthy subjects during standard ADLs and other common physical actions. Healthy and HF subjects (ejection fraction <45%, stable conditions) underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test. All of them, carrying a wearable metabolic cart, performed a 6-minute walking test, two 4-minute treadmill exercises (at 2 and 3 km/h), and ADLs: ADL1 (getting dressed), ADL2 (folding 8 towels), ADL3 (putting away 6 bottles), ADL4 (making a bed), ADL5 (sweeping the floor for 4 minutes), ADL6 (climbing 1 flight of stairs carrying a load). Sixty patients with HF (age 65.2±12.1 years; ejection fraction 30.4±6.7%, peakVO2 14.2±4.0 mL/[min·kg]) and 40 healthy volunteers (58.9±8.2 years, peakVO2 28.1±7.4 mL/[min·kg]) were enrolled. For each exercise, patients showed higher VE/VCO2 ratio, percentage of peakVO2, and Borg scale value than controls, while absolute values of task oxygen uptake and exercise duration were lower and higher, respectively, in all activities, except for treadmill (fixed execution time and intensity). Differently from Borg Scale data, metabolic values and exercise time length changed in parallel with HF severity, except for ADL duration in very short (ADL3) and composite (ADL1) activities. Borg scale values correlated with percentage of peakVO2. During ADLs, patients self-regulated activities in parallel with HF severity by decreasing intensity (VO2) and prolonging the effort.

The Establishment of a Distance Training Device within the Regional Center of the Taza Education and Training: Administrative Cycle Case

The application of New Information and Communication Technologies (NICT) in the field of training led to the creation of this new reality called distance learning. Described as the marriage of multimedia (sound, image, text) and the Internet (online distribution, interactivity) DT has no doubt allowed to revive pedagogies to a new digital without or less presence. Our purpose is to verify the impact of open distance learning on the development of socio-professional skills among future administrators of the Ministry of National Education in initial training. In addition, the instrumentation of these training devices also provides a framework for evaluating, monitoring and controlling the training process, using the resources of computers and the Internet. Our research context takes place at the level of TAZA Regional Center of Trades Education and Training (CRMEF) during the academic year 2016-2017, the use of technological tools by trainers or trainees is quite common in courses, parallel activities, self-training, communication trainers-trainees or trainee-counsellors but all these forms suffer from the absence of a general frame of reference and regulation which guides the training actions via these tools. Indeed, the recommended methodology based on engineering training devices and skills in a virtual environment ie ” The technical instrumentation “and” educational scripting ” objects and training content. During its creation as its implementation, our platform experienced several difficulties including technical. Or today seeing the results of the questionnaires and following the feedbacks of trainee administrators we can judge that our goal is achieved.

Complement activation and endothelial perturbation parallel COVID-19 severity and activity

BackgroundAnimal models and few clinical reports suggest the involvement of the complement system in the onset of severe manifestations of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). However, complement contribution to endotheliopathy and hypercoagulability has not been elucidated yet. ObjectiveTo evaluate the association among complement activation, endothelial damage and disease severity or activity in COVID-19 patients. MethodsIn this single-centre cohort study, 148 patients with COVID-19 of different severity were evaluated upon hospital admission and 30 days later. Markers of complement activation (SC5b-9 and C5a) and endothelial perturbation (von Willebrand factor [vWF], tissue-type plasminogen activator [t-PA], plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1], soluble thrombomodulin [sTM], and soluble endothelial selectin [sE-selectin]) were measured in plasma. ResultsThe patients had high plasma levels of SC5b-9 and C5a (p = 0.0001 for both) and vWF, t-PA and PAI-1 (p = 0.0001 for all). Their SC5b-9 levels correlated with those of vWF (r = 0.517, p = 0.0001) and paralleled disease severity (severe vs mild p = 0.0001, severe vs moderate p = 0.026 and moderate vs mild p = 0.001). The levels of sE-selectin were significantly increased only in the patients with severe disease. After 30 days, plasma SC5b-9, C5a and vWF levels had significantly decreased (p = 0.0001 for all), and 43% of the evaluated patients had normal levels. ConclusionsComplement activation is boosted during the progression of COVID-19 and dampened during remission, thus indicating its role in the pathophysiology of the disease. The association between complement activation and the biomarkers of endothelial damage suggests that complement may contribute to tissue injury and could be the target of specific therapy.

A systematic evaluation of the design and context dependencies of massively parallel reporter assays.

Massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) functionally screen thousands of sequences for regulatory activity in parallel. To date, there has been no systematic comparison of differences in MPRA design. Here, we screen a library of 2,440 candidate liver enhancers and controls for regulatory activity in HepG2 cells using nine different MPRA designs. We identify subtle but significant differences that correlate with epigenetic and sequence-level features, as well as differences in dynamic range and reproducibility. We also validate en masse that enhancer activity is robustly independent of orientation, at least for our library and designs. Finally, with a new method, we assemble and test the same enhancers as 192-mers, 354-mers, and 678-mers, and observe surprisingly large differences. This work provides a framework for the experimental design of high-throughput reporter assays, suggesting that the extended sequence context of tested elements, and to a lesser degree the precise assay, influence MPRA results.

Histo‐morphology of the thyroid gland during the larval development of Pleurodema borellii (Anura, Leptodactylidae)

AbstractThe thyroid gland is essential in anurans, since thyroid hormones (TH) are the main regulators of larval development. Its absence or inactivity interrupts development and precludes metamorphosis. Histological changes are important diagnostic criteria for evaluating thyroid gland activity. However, there is a large larval diversity where the development of the thyroid gland development has not been studied. Pleurodema borellii is an anuran from northwest of Argentina with typical omnivorous pond tadpoles that can be easily raised in captivity. This study explores the histo‐morphological changes of the thyroid gland architecture during larval development. Histological parameters indicate peak glandular activity in parallel with the intensity of the metamorphic transformations. These parameters regress towards the end of metamorphosis, indicating low TH release. P. borellii's thyroid gland does not appear to have relevant activity in post‐metamorphic juvenile stages. This study is a first step towards understanding endocrine regulation during the development of Pleurodema borellii, and a reference to future studies in this species involving thyroid‐dependent processes.

Identify and Prioritize Criteria for Efficient Allocation of Donation Resources

Introduction: Using civil society’s and donors’ resources can be helpful options to strengthen financingof the Iranian Health System to reduce the Out-of-Pocket Expenditures. Although local and public fundscan address many problems of health systems, but the main concern is allocation of resources mobilized bydonors.Objective: the current study aims to identify and prioritize effective factors on allocation of resourcesmobilized by donors in the Iranian Health System context.Methods: The current study comprises of three parts. The first part was a qualitative study to identify factorsthat influence allocation of resources mobilized by donors. At the second part, Delphi method was used toevaluate experts’ consensus on allocation criteria. In the second part, identified criteria were prioritized.Hierarchical analysis was used to prioritize criteria.Results: The results of the analysis of interviews were divided into 3 groups: Financial SustainabilityFramework, Corporate Funding Organization, Optimum Funding Allocation and 6 main categories including(Recruitment, Maintenance and Active Participation, Organizing and Planning, Executive factors, method ofinvestment, identification of real need, need-based decision criteria) and 36 sub-categories were extracted.Conclusion: Policy-makers and managers of the health system must channel the mobilized resourcesthrough appropriate planning, organizing, and monitoring. Furthermore, parallel activities must be avoided.Lack of appropriate management and good organization of donations result in waste of resources, whichdistract donors’ attention from the health system

Road Extraction from Remote Sensing Images Using Parallel Softplus Networks

Road extraction from remote sensing images plays an important role in traffic management, urban planning, automatic vehicle navigation and emergency management. It is a hot issue that how to extract effectively road information from remote sensing images. Here, a new model, namely parallel softplus network (PSNet), has been proposed, which uses parallel network structure and softplus activation function. Specially, the model uses a new weight initialization for extraction effectiveness. Moreover, compared with the popular models, it extracts more complete and continuous road information on the same road remote sensing images. Meanwhile, it outperforms other extraction models, with a high F1-score. Experimental results indicate that it is a promising model, which effectively extracts road information from remote sensing images with a little noise.

A dynamic role for dopamine receptors in the control of mammalian spinal networks

Dopamine is well known to regulate movement through the differential control of direct and indirect pathways in the striatum that express D1 and D2 receptors respectively. The spinal cord also expresses all dopamine receptors; however, how the specific receptors regulate spinal network output in mammals is poorly understood. We explore the receptor-specific mechanisms that underlie dopaminergic control of spinal network output of neonatal mice during changes in spinal network excitability. During spontaneous activity, which is a characteristic of developing spinal networks operating in a low excitability state, we found that dopamine is primarily inhibitory. We uncover an excitatory D1-mediated effect of dopamine on motoneurons and network output that also involves co-activation with D2 receptors. Critically, these excitatory actions require higher concentrations of dopamine; however, analysis of dopamine concentrations of neonates indicates that endogenous levels of spinal dopamine are low. Because endogenous levels of spinal dopamine are low, this excitatory dopaminergic pathway is likely physiologically-silent at this stage in development. In contrast, the inhibitory effect of dopamine, at low physiological concentrations is mediated by parallel activation of D2, D3, D4 and α2 receptors which is reproduced when endogenous dopamine levels are increased by blocking dopamine reuptake and metabolism. We provide evidence in support of dedicated spinal network components that are controlled by excitatory D1 and inhibitory D2 receptors that is reminiscent of the classic dopaminergic indirect and direct pathway within the striatum. These results indicate that network state is an important factor that dictates receptor-specific and therefore dose-dependent control of neuromodulators on spinal network output and advances our understanding of how neuromodulators regulate neural networks under dynamically changing excitability.

Operate P300 speller when performing other task

Objective. The P300 speller is a classic brain–computer interface (BCI) paradigm that has the potential to restore impaired motor control function. However, previous studies have confirmed that the letter recognition accuracy (LRA) of the P300 speller is a challenge when performing other tasks. Approach. To address this, we implemented a dynamic stopping strategy (DSS) to maintain the P300 speller LRA when performing multiple tasks simultaneously. Multiple tasks with dynamic workload levels were adopted to simulate the brain’s other thinking activities while operating P300 speller. A Bayes-based DSS offline model was built in single-task (only P300 speller task) and an online P300 speller system was established to test the DSS algorithm feasibility in dual-task. Main results. Online experimental results showed that the P300 speller with DSS could achieve a high LRA (96.9%) under dual-task, which was similar to single-task (98.7%, p = 0.126). Under dual-task, DSS dynamically adjusted the discriminant confidence according to the workload levels of the distraction tasks (correlation coefficient r = −0.68). Therefore, DSS can increase the repeated sequences to compensate for the reduction of P300 speller signal-to-noise ratio caused by parallel thinking activities. The average of repeated sequences increased significantly from 4.98 times under single-task to 6.22 times under dual-task (p < 0.005). These results indicated that the P300 speller feature is robust and the DSS model built in single-task maintained the applicability in various dual-tasks. Significance. Overall, this study provides a basis for the implementation of laboratory-developed BCI in real-world environments.

Cognitive and Neurocognitive Effects From the Unique Bilingual Experiences of Interpreters.

For bilinguals, research suggests that both languages are constantly active and competing in the mind, even when only using one. However, this body of work has reported inconclusive results on the long-term effects of the constant parallel activation and use of more than one language on the brain. This has mostly been due to inconsistent comparisons between groups of bilinguals and monolinguals. Not all bilingualisms are the same. The investigation of the use of more than one language over a lifetime offers the opportunity to better understand the consequences of bilingualism on the brain. However, few studies have specifically looked at the long-standing effects of being an interpreter. In this paper, we review theories from the field of Translation and Interpreting Studies and provide a critical review of work that offers insight on the cognitive and neurocognitive effects that seem to arise from the unique, highly-cognitive-demanding practices experienced by interpreters.

Twentieth EUGOGO Anniversary Symposium

The European Group on Graves’ Orbitopathy (EUGOGO) organized a highly successful international 20th anniversary meeting on November 7–9, 2019, in the beautiful city of Pisa, Italy. More than 200 experts and key opinion leaders in the field of Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) or thyroid eye disease and thyroid autoimmunity gathered in Tuscany to discuss the latest findings in experimental research, animal models, pathogenesis, genetics, and immunology of this complex orbital disease. Further, developments of diagnostic procedures, for example, imaging and serology, as well as surgical approaches were extensively presented. Basic scientists, immunologists, endocrinologists, thyroidologists, specialists in nuclear medicine, ophthalmologists, and orbital and ENT surgeons actively participated. The scientific program was an elegant mixture of reviews and updates delivered by acknowledged international experts and sessions focused on recent advances in GO. These oral sessions offered young investigators the opportunity to present their novel data to the plenary audience as no parallel activities were foreseen. The only exception was an excellently organized, well-attended lively session for patients with GO (mostly from Italy), which took place on Saturday morning, November 9, 2020, and which was moderated by the local organizers and other Italian colleagues.

Severe COVID-19 Is a Microvascular Disease.

Severe COVID-19 Is a Microvascular Disease.

A N ovel NOR Type TCAM Deploy D ual V T cell with OR Type Cascade Match Line Structure

We look over improvements in the schemes of large size content addressable memory (CAM). A CAM is a very important device that executes the routing table function within a single clock cycle in network router to transmit information over the network. CAMs are particularly popular in network switches to classify and sending information packets, they are also helpful in other different applications that require fast information retrieval from routing table. The primary CAM configuration challenge is to decrease power dissipation related with the lot of parallel activity in memory circuitry during search operation. As innovation going on in technology scaling, it continues minimizing the dynamic power dissipation of CAMs, however it also rises the leakage current of transistors. Thus, the static power is turning into a noteworthy bit of the whole power dissipation in CAMs. Here, we introduced a procedure which advantageous for high capacity Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) that minimize the static power dissipation in SRAM storage cell part and speed up activity in searching part of TCAM cell. We also divide whole memory into equivalent segments which improve performance of our design. We examine the different schemes and introduced the trade-offs of applying the techniques. Simulation and design have done by using Tanned EDA V.16 tool. For recreations of Low power TCAM structures we utilized predictive technology model (PTM) 45nm for high performance (HP) and low power (LP), which incorporate metal gate, high-k and stress effect of CMOS technology.

English

Rorya is one of new districts in Tanzania established in 2007. The district is a reflection of typical rural life in Africa South of Sahara where rural communities inhabiting dry woodlands and dependent on natural resources for their sustenance do not consider indigenous tree species as valuable resources of income. The study was conducted in the low lands of Rorya district-Tanzania to assess contribution of wild Acacia species for sustenance among rural communities. Ethnobtanical survey and standard sapling procedures were used for data collection and description of Acacia distribution patterns. Distribution and diversity of Acacia species is affected by multiple factors some of which could not be addressed by the arithmetic models employed in this study. Of all the sampled Acacia species, A. seyal ranked topmost as potential tree resource for a wider local and cross border market. Unlike other sampled Acacias, A. seyal has comparatively rapid biomass turnover within a short period. Density of A. seyal is much higher in swampy black cotton soils. Despite the economic potential of the species, significant proportion of Acacia woodlands is cleared annually for charcoal. Though Acacia seyal stumps coppices readily, combination of clearing and over grazing can convert the Acacia woodland to typical grasslands within a shorter duration of 20 years. At the same time, there is neither a conservation guideline nor land tenure arrangement in place for sustainable conservation. The study is recommending urgent legislative and land tenure reforms to control the current free access and encroachment that has nastily denuded the wood lands. Acacia being good source of pollen, commercial placement of bee hives is advocated as a supplementary economic activity in parallel with selling of wood fuel. &nbsp; Key words: Acacia, Vachellia, Senegalia, sustainable development.

Clinical Use of Complement, Inflammation, and Fibrosis Biomarkers in Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

IntroductionComplement activation, inflammation, and fibrosis play central roles in the mechanisms of injury in autoimmune glomerulonephritis (GN) but they are seldom assessed in epidemiologic studies. The measurement of urinary biomarkers of these pathways of injury could parallel disease activity and add clinical value beyond proteinuria.MethodsWe performed a prospective cohort study of 100 patients with focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), lupus nephritis (LN), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody–associated vasculitis (AAV), and membranoproliferative GN (MPGN) followed for 33 (18–54) months. Repeated urinary samples were collected throughout their follow-up to determine proteinuria, urinary sC5b-9, monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor–beta 1 (TGF-β1), expressed as creatinine ratios. We identified 177 periods of active and inactive disease based on current remission definitions for each disease.ResultsUrinary sC5b-9, MCP-1, and TGF-β1 were present in each disease. In periods leading to a remission, the reduction of urinary sC5b-9 was 91%, greater than for proteinuria with 76%. During inactive periods, those who did not experience a relapse maintained lower levels of biomarkers compared with those who relapsed. At that time, the increase in urinary sC5b-9 was significantly greater than the rise in proteinuria (8.5-fold increase compared with 3.2-fold) and urinary MCP-1 and TGF-β1. Using current remission definitions for each disease, thresholds for each biomarker were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Individuals who averaged levels below these cutoffs during their follow-up had better renal outcomes.ConclusionIn autoimmune glomerular diseases, urinary sC5b-9, MCP-1, and TGF-β1 are present and parallel disease activity and outcomes. Urinary sC5b-9 appears to be a more discerning marker of immunologic remissions and relapses.

ACTIVITIES OF THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT “TREASURES OF THE NATION” BY THE SCIENTIFIC LIBRARY OF THE KYIV NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF CULTURE AND ARTS

The purpose of the article is to provide review and analysis of the results of the innovative arts and cultural project “Treasures of the Nation” by the Scientific Library of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. The project is to popularize the intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine, already protected by UNESCO and promoted to the Representative List. The research methodology involves the use of a historical and analytical approach to collect and analyse primary data; the content analysis of purposes, objectives and results; prognostic method to summarise and conceptualise the significance and role of the project in the study and facilitation of the intangible cultural heritage of Ukraine. The scientific novelty consists in keeping students and experts, who research the intangible cultural heritage, informed on the Scientific Library experience in implementing the “Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage”; about the structure of the e-resource “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine”, its information and bibliographic content. Conclusions. The project objectives and activities during 2014–2019 are considered. The backgrounds for the implementation of the project and its purposes are highlighted, the main one is the popularization of Ukrainian elements included by UNESCO in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The main attention in the article is focused on the results through three parallel activities: informational, bibliographic, and educational. The role of the project in the development of communication between scientific institutions of different countries involved in the preservation of cultural heritage is disclosed. We are talking about the joint organization of the International Research-to-Practice Conference- Festival “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine as a Modern Tourism Resource: Experience, Practice, Innovation” by the Faculty of Tourism, Hotel and Restaurant Business of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts and the Scientific Library. The main objectives of the conference is a comprehensive scientific review of the current state of the elements of the intangible cultural heritage as a national tourist resource in Ukraine and foreign countries.

Is ascorbic acid a key signaling molecule integrating the activities of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases? Shifting the paradigm

The integration of different environmental cues and the harmonization of proper responses require molecular communication at different levels. Enzymes belonging to the large superfamily of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (2-ODDs) use for their catalytic activity different cofactors, including molecular oxygen, 2-oxoglutarate, and ascorbic acid (ASC). In plants, 2-ODDs are involved in the synthesis of hydroxyproline (largely present in cell wall proteins), gibberellins, ethylene, zeaxanthin, and many more relevant molecules. In addition, 2-ODDs operating in the epigenetic control of gene expression by regulating cytosine and histone methylation have been recently identified in both animals and plants. It is here hypothesized that each of the cofactors required for the complex catalytic mechanism of 2-ODDs provides specific molecular information. Such information is integrated by 2-ODDs, which in turn regulate the synthesis of information-bearing metabolites (e.g. hormones), and control epigenetic processes. The evolutionary success of the catalytic mechanism shared by 2-ODDs is possibly related to the parallel activation of different biosynthetic pathways.