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ATR-hippo drives force signaling to nuclear F-actin and links mechanotransduction to neurological disorders
Get PDFThe mechanical environment is sensed through cell-matrix contacts with the cytoskeleton, but how signals transit the nuclear envelope to affect cell fate decisions remains unknown. Nuclear actin coordinates chromatin motility during differentiation and genome maintenance, yet it remains unclear how nuclear actin responds to mechanical force. The DNA-damage kinase ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) translocates to the nuclear envelope to protect the nucleus during cell motility or compression. Here, we show that ATR drives nuclear actin assembly via recruitment of Filamin-A to the inner nuclear membrane through binding of the hippo pathway scaffold and ATR substrate, RASSF1A. Moreover, we demonstrate how germline RASSF1 mutation disables nuclear mechanotransduction resulting in cerebral cortex thinning and associates with common psychological traits. Thus, defective mechanical-regulated pathways may contribute to complex neurological disorders
Monster Radio Jet (>66 kpc) Observed in Quasar at z ∼ 5
Get PDFWe present the discovery of a large extended radio jet associated with the extremely radio-loud quasar J1601+3102 at z ∼ 5 from subarcsecond resolution imaging at 144 MHz with the International LOFAR Telescope. These large radio lobes have been argued to remain elusive at z > 4 due to energy losses in the synchrotron emitting plasma as a result of scattering of the strong cosmic microwave background at these high redshifts. Nonetheless, the 0 .′′ 3 resolution radio image of J1601+3102 reveals a northern and a southern radio lobe located at 9 and 57 kpc from the optical quasar, respectively. The measured jet size of 66 kpc makes J1601+3102 the largest extended radio jet at z > 4 to date. However, it is expected to have an even larger physical size in reality due to projection effects brought about by the viewing angle. Furthermore, we observe the rest-frame UV spectrum of J1601+3102 with Gemini/GNIRS to examine its black hole properties, which results in a mass of 4.5 × 108 M⊙ with an Eddington luminosity ratio of 0.45. The black hole mass is relatively low compared to the known high-z quasar population, which suggests that a high black hole mass is not strictly necessary to generate a powerful jet. This discovery of the first ∼100 kpc radio jet at z > 4 shows that these objects exist despite energy losses from inverse Compton scattering and can put invaluable constraints on the formation of the first radio-loud sources in the early Universe
Exploring the Spatial Relationship Between Carbon Storage and Biodiversity: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Get PDFClimate change and biodiversity loss are severe and intertwined global threats. Land‐based efforts to address both require an understanding of the spatial relationships between carbon storage and biodiversity. Here, we present a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the strength of these spatial relationships across the literature. We synthesize the estimated spatial correlations and infer how different factors (spatial scale, metrics, biome, human pressure) impact these strengths using linear mixed‐effect models. Our results show that spatial scale is a significant factor, and the combination of metrics used to express carbon storage and biodiversity plays a more important role. While relationships are moderately positive across all conditions, the strength of the relationships decreases significantly from global to local scales. We find large variations in the strength for different metrics, across different biomes, and in the presence or absence of human pressure. We find a stronger relationship in natural rather than human‐dominated landscapes for temperate forests, grasslands, and deserts, but the opposite for tropical and subtropical forests. Ecosystem‐level biodiversity proxies (habitat quality) show strong relationships to the total carbon pool, while taxonomic metrics (species richness) show a weaker relationship. The largest negative relationship is between total carbon and flora and fauna species richness. Our results suggest different synergies for different dimensions of carbon storage and biodiversity and shed light on where further effort is needed
External Morphology, Defensive Adaptations, Aposematic Coloration, and Sexual Dimorphism of the Fifth Instar Larva of Cricula Silkmoth, Cricula trifenestrata Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) from Thailand
Get PDFThis study explores the external morphology of larva of Cricula trifenestrata Helfer at the fifth instar stage, focusing on sexual dimorphism, scoli, and fluorescence hair warts. The larva displays a black body adorned with varying shades of orange to crimson–red transverse stripes and small yellow dorsal spots. Longitudinal stripes with fluorescent warts are observed in the subspiracular region, accompanied by an overall coverage of long white hairs. These distinctive features, including scoli and fluorescence hair warts, serve as effective defense mechanisms against predators and parasitoids. The results enhance our understanding of C. trifenestrata Helfer larval biology, providing valuable insights for entomology and evolutionary biology. The identification of species-specific adaptations, particularly the presence of scoli and fluorescence hair warts, underscores their significance in shaping survival strategies and ecological interactions
Doing ‘detective work’ to find a cancer: how are non-specific symptom pathways for cancer investigation organised, and what are the implications for safety and quality of care? A multisite qualitative approach
Get PDFBackground: Over the past two decades, the UK has actively developed policies to enhance early cancer diagnosis, particularly for individuals with non-specific cancer symptoms. Non-specific symptom (NSS) pathways were piloted and then implemented in 2015 to address delays in referral and diagnosis. The aim of this study was to outline the functions that enable NSS teams to investigate cancer and other diagnoses for patients with NSSs. Methods: The analysis was derived from a multisite ethnographic study conducted between 2020 and 2023 across four major National Health Service (NHS) trusts. Data collection encompassed observations, patient shadowing, interviews with clinicians and patients (n=54) and gathered documents. We used principles of the functional resonance analysis method to identify the functions of the NSS pathway and analyse their relevance to patient safety. Results: Our analysis produced 29 distinct functions within NSS pathways, organised into two clusters: pretesting assessment and information gathering, and post-testing interpretation and management. Safety-critical functions encompassed assessing the reason for referral, deciding on a plan of investigation and estimating the remaining cancer risk. We also identified ways that teams build and maintain safety across all functions, for example, by cultivating generalist-specialist expertise within the team and creating continuity through patient navigation. Variation in practice across sites revealed targets for an NSS pathway blueprint that would foster local development and quality improvement. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that national and local improvement plans could differentiate specific policies to reduce unwarranted variation and support adaptive variation that facilitates the delivery of safe care within the local context. Enhancing multidisciplinary teams with additional consultants and deploying patient navigators with clinical backgrounds could improve safety within NSS pathways. Future research should investigate different models of generalist-specialist team composition
Search for Neutrino Doublets and Triplets Using 11.4 yr of IceCube Data
Get PDFWe report a search for high-energy astrophysical neutrino multiplets, detections of multiple neutrino clusters in the same direction within 30 days, based on an analysis of 11.4 yr of IceCube data. A new search method optimized for transient neutrino emission with a monthly timescale is employed, providing a higher sensitivity to neutrino fluxes. This result is sensitive to neutrino transient emission, reaching per-flavor flux of approximately 10−10ergcm−2s−1 from the Northern Sky in the energy range E ≳ 50 TeV. The number of doublets and triplets identified in this search is compatible with the atmospheric background hypothesis, which leads us to set limits on the nature of neutrino transient sources with emission timescales of one month
A Systematic Review of Effective Measures to Resist Manipulative Information About Climate Change on Social Media
Get PDFWe present a systematic review of peer-reviewed research into ways to mitigate the spread of manipulative information about climate change on social media (n = 38). Such information may include disinformation, harmful influence campaigns, or the unintentional spread of misleading information. We find that the commonly recommended approaches to addressing manipulation of climate change belief include corrective information sharing and education campaigns targeting media literacy. However, most of the relevant research fails to test the approaches and interventions it proposes. We locate research gaps that include a lack of attention to the large commercial and political entities involved in generating and disseminating manipulation; video- and image-focused platforms; and the computational methods used to collect and analyze data. Evidence drawn from many studies demonstrates an emerging consensus about the policies required to resist climate change manipulation
Methane Beryllation Catalyzed by a Base Metal Complex
Get PDFThe homogeneous catalytic functionalization of methane is extremely challenging due to the relative nonpolarity and high C–H bond strength of this hydrocarbon. Here, using catalytic quantities (10 mol %) of CpMn(CO)3 or Cp*Re(CO)3, the conversion of methane and benzene C–H bonds to C–Be and H–Be bonds by CpBeBeCp has been achieved under photochemical conditions. Possible intermediates in the beryllation reactionstrans-bis(beryllyl)-manganese and -rhenium complexeswere also isolated. Quantum chemical calculations indicate that the inherent properties of the beryllyl ligandswhich are powerfully σ-donating and feature highly Lewis acidic beryllium centersare decisive in enabling methane functionalization by these systems
The gateway (mis)belief model: How misinformation impacts perceptions of scientific consensus and attitudes towards climate change
Get PDFClimate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity, necessitating immediate action to combat its consequences. Although there is a nearly unanimous scientific consensus that climate change is human‐caused, misinformation doubting its causes continues to circulate widely. In this study, we test the Gateway (mis)Belief Model (GmBM) which assumes that misinformation affects perceived scientific consensus negatively, which then cascades down to lower support for public action to mitigate climate change via changes in key beliefs about the issue. We present a reanalysis of data from two online studies in which U.S. participants (N1 = 207, N2 = 755) were exposed to misinformation using a pre‐post mixed design manipulating assessments of the scientific consensus on climate change. Results showed that misinformation indeed leads to lower estimations of scientific consensus, which cascade down to lower support for public action via corresponding beliefs. However, the pattern of significance of direct effects did not exactly replicate those in the original GBM, though misinformation still had negative direct (Experiments 1–2) and indirect effects (Experiment 2) on several downstream climate outcomes. These findings are further affirmed by an internal meta‐analysis. Overall, this study highlights the negative impact of misinformation on climate attitudes and policy support
Strengthening country ownership of national antimalarial policymaking: insights from Laos, Pakistan and the Solomon Islands
Get PDFBackground: The concept of “ownership” in global health policymaking broadly assumes that external donors and advisors expect recipient countries to actively steward their national programmes when assistance is provided. This study specifically explored country ownership of national policy decision-making for Plasmodium vivax malaria using three case studies: Laos, Pakistan and the Solomon Islands. Methods: Yin’s comparative case study model, Kingdon’s Multiple Streams policy theory guided this analysis. From 2021 to 2024, interviews were undertaken with 29 national stakeholders, external partners and relevant global stakeholders. Results: There were four main findings: firstly, national malaria programme respondents expressed strong ownership of internal antimalarial policy processes but acknowledged nuanced influence of external donors on the national policymaking space. Second, in countries relying on external funding, antimalarial policy change is mainly triggered by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations and WHO national support was identified as a key enabler of policy change. Third, external donors often influence, or outline policy directions aligned with WHO recommendations, but policy change is also driven by antimalarial tools procurement constraints. Fourth, timing of updated WHO recommendations may not align with countries’ needs. Yet many malaria endemic countries face pressure from external funders, that resource national policy decision-making, to adhere to WHO recommendations, although the WHO considers its recommendations as advisory only. Overall, these external influences moderate country ownership of national policy change. Conclusions: This study indicates that there is potential to strengthen country ownership of national antimalarial policymaking. This may require application of targeted policy acceleration levers such as better alignment of timing of global guidance with country needs and an understanding between external donors and national stakeholders that WHO guidance is advisory only and should be understood as one perspective relative to country needs