Unexpected divergence in magnetoreceptor MagR from robin and pigeon linked to two sequence variations

Birds exhibit extraordinary mobility and remarkable navigational skills,obtaining guidance cues from the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation and long-distance movement.Bird species also show tremendous diversity in navigation strategies,with considerable differences even within the same taxa and among individuals from the same population.The highly conserved iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding magnetoreceptor(MagR)protein is suggested to enable animals,including birds,to detect the geomagnetic field and navigate accordingly.Notably,MagR is also implicated in other functions,such as electron transfer and biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters,raising the question of whether variability exists in its biochemical and biophysical features among species,particularly birds.In the current study,we conducted a comparative analysis of MagR from two different bird species,including the migratory European robin(Erithacus rubecula)and the homing pigeon(Columba livia).Sequence alignment revealed an extremely high degree of similarity between the MagRs of these species,with only three sequence variations.Nevertheless,two of these variations underpinned significant differences in metal binding capacity,oligomeric state,and magnetic properties.These findings offer compelling evidence for the marked differences in MagR between the two avian species,potentially explaining how a highly conserved protein can mediate such diverse functions.

Chemokine platelet factor 4 accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon elongation

Schwann cells in peripheral nerves react to traumatic nerve injury by attempting to grow and regenerate.Howeve r,it is unclear what factors play a role in this process.In this study,we searched a GEO database and found that expression of platelet factor 4 was markedly up-regulated after sciatic nerve injury.Platelet factor is an important molecule in cell apoptosis,diffe rentiation,survival,and proliferation.Further,polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining confirmed the change in platelet factor 4 in the sciatic nerve at different time points after injury.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay confirmed that platelet factor 4 was secreted by Schwann cells.We also found that silencing platelet factor 4 decreased the proliferation and migration of primary cultured Schwann cells,while exogenously applied platelet factor 4 stimulated Schwann cell prolife ration and migration and neuronal axon growth.Furthermore,knocking out platelet factor 4 inhibited the prolife ration of Schwann cells in injured rat sciatic nerve.These findings suggest that Schwann cell-secreted platelet factor 4 may facilitate peripheral nerve repair and regeneration by regulating Schwann cell activation and axon growth.Thus,platelet factor 4 may be a potential therapeutic target for traumatic peripheral nerve injury.

The roles of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in retinal diseases

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor(MIF),a multifunctional cytokine,is secreted by various cells and participates in inflammatory reactions,including innate and adaptive immunity.There are some evidences that MIF is involved in many vitreoretinal diseases.For example,MIF can exacerbate many types of uveitis;measurements of MIF levels can be used to monitor the effectiveness of uveitis treatment.MIF also alleviates trauma-induced and glaucoma-induced optic nerve damage.Furthermore,MIF is critical for retinal/choroidal neovascularization,especially complex neovascularization.MIF exacerbates retinal degeneration;thus,anti-MIF therapy may help to mitigate retinal degeneration.MIF protects uveal melanoma from attacks by natural killer cells.The mechanism underlying the effects of MIF in these diseases has been demonstrated:it binds to cluster of differentiation 74,inhibits the c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway,and triggers mitogen-activated protein kinases,extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2,and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway.MIF also upregulates Toll-like receptor 4 and activates the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway.This review focuses on the structure and function of MIF and its receptors,including the effects of MIF on uveal inflammation,retinal degeneration,optic neuropathy,retinal/choroidal neovascularization,and uveal melanoma.

Migration pattern of a population of Barn Swallows(Hirundo rustica)breeding in East Asian tropical region

Birds exhibit a high degree of migratory diversity,which is influenced by various ecological factors and life history strategies.Conducting studies on tropical bird migration,of which research is scarce,and comparing it with temperate birds can enhance our understanding of bird migration behaviour and its underlying mecha-nisms.In this study,we explored the migration behaviour of a breeding population of the Barn Swallow(Hirundo rustica)in Zhanjiang,southern China,a region located in the northern tropics,using light-level geolocators.From 2021 to 2023,we deployed geolocators on 92 breeding swallows and retrieved geolocators successfully from 23 individuals.These swallows all exhibited migratory behaviour,and wintering on various islands in Southeast Asia.They displayed sex differences in their wintering locations.All males concentrated in Borneo,while females primarily chose Borneo but also dispersed to the Philippines,South China Sea,and Vietnam for wintering.The studied swallow population adopted a seasonal migration pattern of“indirect in autumn,direct in spring”,bypassing the ecological barrier of the South China Sea in autumn and tending to directly cross it in spring migration.Moreover,the distance and duration of autumn migration was significantly longer than those of the spring migration.Compared to temperate Barn Swallows,the Barn Swallow population breeding in Zhanjiang adopts a pattern of“intra-tropical migration”and initiates autumn migration earlier.The formation of their migration pattern may be limited by ecological and physiological factors.

Individual consistency in spatiotemporal characteristics of migratory Whimbrels in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Many migratory birds exhibit interannual consistency in migration schedules,routes and stopover sites.Detecting the interannual consistency in spatiotemporal characteristics helps understand the maintenance of migration and enables the implementation of targeted conservation measures.We tracked the migration of Whimbrel(Numenius phaeopus)in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway and collected spatiotemporal data from individuals that were tracked for at least two years.Wilcoxon non-parametric tests were used to compare the interannual variations in the dates of departure from and arrival at breeding/nonbreeding sites,and the inter-annual variation in the longitudes when the same individual across the same latitudes.Whimbrels exhibited a high degree of consistency in the use of breeding,nonbreeding,and stopover sites between years.The variation of arrival dates at nonbreeding sites was significantly larger than that of the departure dates from nonbreeding and breeding sites.Repeatedly used stopover sites by the same individuals in multiple years were concentrated in the Yellow Sea coast during northward migration,but were more widespread during southward migration.The stopover duration at repeatedly used sites was significantly longer than that at sites used only once.When flying across the Yellow Sea,Whimbrels breeding in Sakha(Yakutia)exhibited the highest consistency in migration routes in both autumn and spring.Moreover,the consistency in migration routes of Yakutia breeding birds was generally higher than that of birds breeding in Chukotka.Our results suggest that the northward migration schedule of the Whimbrels is mainly controlled by endogenous factors,while the southward migration schedule is less affected by endogenous factors.The repeated use of stopover sites in the Yellow Sea coast suggests this region is important for the migration of Whimbrel,and thus has high conservation value.

Defect mediated losses and degradation of perovskite solar cells:Origin impacts and reliable characterization techniques

The rapid advancement of halide-based hybrid perovskite materials has garnered significant research attention,particularly in the domain of photovoltaic technology.Owing to their exceptional optoelec-tronic properties,they demonstrated power conversion efficiency(PcE)of over 25%in single junction solar cells.Despite the notable progress in PCE over the past decade,the inherent high defect density pre-senting in perovskite materials gives rise to several loss mechanisms and associated ion migration in per-ovskite solar cells(PsCs)during operational conditions.These factors collectively contribute to a significant stability challenge in PsCs,placing their longevity far behind for commercialization.While numerous reports have explored defects,ion migration,and their impacts on device performance,a com-prehensive correlation between the types of defects and the degradation kinetics of perovskite materials and PsCs has been lacking.In this context,this review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins of defects and ion migration,emphasizing their correlation with the degradation kinetics of per-ovskite materials and PsCs,leveraging reliable characterization techniques.Furthermore,these charac-terization techniques are intended to comprehend loss mechanisms by different passivation approaches to enhance the durability and PCE of PSCs.

Effect of thermal maturation and organic matter content on oil shale fracturing

The Pabdeh Formation represents organic matter enrichment in some oil fields,which can be considered a source rock.This study is based on the Rock–Eval,Iatroscan,and electron microscopy imaging results before and after heating the samples.We discovered this immature shale that undergoes burial and diagenesis,in which organic matter is converted into hydro-carbons.Primary migration is the process that transports hydrocarbons in the source rock.We investigated this phenomenon by developing a model that simulates hydrocarbon generation and fluid pressure during kerogen-to-hydrocarbon conversion.Microfractures initially formed at the tip/edge of kerogen and were filled with hydrocarbons,but as catagenesis progressed,the pressure caused by the volume increase of kerogen decreased due to hydrocarbon release.The transformation of solid kerogen into low-density bitumen/oil increased the pressure,leading to the development of damage zones in the source rock.The Pabdeh Formation’s small porethroats hindered effective expulsion,causing an increase in pore fluid pressure inside the initial microfractures.The stress accumulated due to hydrocarbon production,reaching the rock’s fracture strength,further contributed to damage zone development.During the expansion process,microfractures preferentially grew in low-strength pathways such as lithology changes,laminae boundaries,and pre-existing microfractures.When the porous pressure created by each kerogen overlapped,individual microfractures interconnected,forming a network of microfractures within the source rock.This research sheds light on the complex interplay between temperature,hydrocarbon generation,and the development of expulsion fractures in the Pabdeh Formation,providing valuable insights for understanding and optimizing hydrocarbon extraction in similar geological settings.

Migratory mode transition of astrocyte progenitors in the cerebral cortex: an intrinsic or extrinsic cell process?

The cerebral cortex is comprised of properly localized cell types that exert their specific functions.In the developing brain,cells migrate from the germinal region to their functional locations(Silva et al.,2019;Cossart and Garel,2022).For example,neocortical excitatory neurons are generated in the cerebral ventricular and subventricular zones,move to the developing cortical plate via radial migration,and reside in a radial array of six neuronal layers(Oishi and Nakajima,2018).On the other hand,cortical interneurons are mainly generated in ganglionic eminences,migrate tangentially across the cerebral cortex,and reach their final destinations in the cortex(Lim et al.,2018).The failure of neuronal migration leads to defects in cortical layer formation.While the mechanisms of neuronal distribution have been well examined,how astrocytes are diffusely distributed in the cortex is still unclear.Astrocytes are glial cells in the cerebral cortex with several functions,including metabolic support and synapse formation(Abbott et al.,2006;Bosworth and Allen,2017;Allen and Lyons,2018).For example,astrocytes establish synaptic connectivity in the developing brain while they contact numerous synapses and maintain optimal neuronal activity in the adult brain.In the developing brain,astrocytes are primarily generated from radial glia after the neurogenic period.While a certain type of astrocyte called fibrous astrocytes populates the white matter,protoplasmic astrocytes migrate to the cortical plate during neural network formation.

Runx2 regulates peripheral nerve regeneration to promote Schwann cell migration and re-myelination

Runx2 is a major regulator of osteoblast differentiation and function;however,the role of Runx2 in peripheral nerve repair is unclea r.Here,we analyzed Runx2expression following injury and found that it was specifically up-regulated in Schwann cells.Furthermore,using Schwann cell-specific Runx2 knocko ut mice,we studied peripheral nerve development and regeneration and found that multiple steps in the regeneration process following sciatic nerve injury were Runx2-dependent.Changes observed in Runx2 knoc kout mice include increased prolife ration of Schwann cells,impaired Schwann cell migration and axonal regrowth,reduced re-myelination of axo ns,and a block in macrophage clearance in the late stage of regeneration.Taken together,our findings indicate that Runx2 is a key regulator of Schwann cell plasticity,and therefore peripheral nerve repair.Thus,our study shows that Runx2 plays a major role in Schwann cell migration,re-myelination,and peripheral nerve functional recovery following injury.

Methanolic extract of Ephedra alata inhibits breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

Objective:To determine the anticancer potential of the methanolic extract from Ephedra alata against breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo.Methods:The effects of the methanolic extract of Ephedra alata on the viability,migration as well as apoptosis of breast cancer 4T1 cells were measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay,Transwell assay,and annexin V-FITC staining assay,respectively.Histological examination was also carried out.Moreover,a murine breast cancer model was established to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the extract.Biochemical parameters including hepatic and non-hepatic enzymes,malondialdehyde,and glutathione were investigated.Results:The methanolic extract of Ephedra alata showed a strong anti-proliferative and anti-migratory activity against 4T1 cells in a dose-dependent manner.It also induced apoptosis in 4T1 cells.In an in vivo mouse model,the extract markedly inhibited tumor growth,reduced malondialdehyde,and hepatic and non-hepatic enzymes as well as increased glutathione level.Conclusions:The methanolic extract of Ephedra alata inhibits breast cancer in vitro and in vivo,which may be a promising anticancer agent.

Phase-stable wide-bandgap perovskites enabled by suppressed ion migration

Wide-bandgap(>1.7 eV)perovskites suffer from severe light-induced phase segregation due to high bromine content,causing irreversible damage to devices stability.However,the strategies of suppressing photoinduced phase segregation and related mechanisms have not been fully disclosed.Here,we report a new passivation agent 4-aminotetrahydrothiopyran hydrochloride(4-ATpHCl)with multifunctional groups for the interface treatment of a 1.77-eV wide-bandgap perovskite film.4-ATpH^(+)impeded halogen ion migration by anchoring on the perovskite surface,leading to the inhibition of phase segregation and thus the passivation of defects,which is ascribed to the interaction of 4-ATpH^(+)with perovskite and the formation of low-dimensional perovskites.Finally,the champion device achieved an efficiency of 19.32%with an open-circuit voltage(V_(OC))of 1.314 V and a fill factor of 83.32%.Moreover,4-ATpHCl modified device exhibited significant improved stability as compared with control one.The target device maintained 80%of its initial efficiency after 519 h of maximum power output(MPP)tracking under 1 sun illumination,however,the control device showed a rapid decrease in efficiency after 267 h.Finally,an efficiency of 27.38%of the champion 4-terminal all-perovskite tandem solar cell was achieved by mechanically stacking this wide-bandgap top subcell with a 1.25-eV low-bandgap perovskite bottom subcell.

Quantifying the Effects of Near-Surface Viscosity on Seismic Acquisition Geometry: A case study from Chepaizi Exploration Area, Junggar Basin (NW China)

The Chepaizi Exploration Area,Junggar Basin(NW China)holds substantial importance for seismic exploration endeavors,yet it poses notable challenges due to the intricate nature of its subsurface and near-surface conditions.To address these challenges,we introduce a novel and comprehensive workflow tailored to evaluate and optimize seismic acquisition geometries while considering the impacts of near-surface viscosity.By integrating geological knowledge,historical seismic data,and subsurface modeling,we conduct simulations employing the visco-acoustic wave equation and reverse-time migration to produce detailed subsurface images.The quality of these images is quantitatively evaluated using a local similarity metric,a pivotal tool for evaluating the accuracy of seismic imaging.The culmination of this workflow results in an automated optimization strategy for acquisition geometries that enhances subsurface exploration.Our proposed methodology underscores the importance of incorporating near-surface viscosity effects in seismic imaging,offering a robust framework for improving the accuracy of subsurface imaging.Herein,we aim to contribute to the advancement of seismic imaging methodologies by providing valuable insights for achieving high-quality seismic exploration outcomes in regions characterized by complex subsurface and near-surface conditions.

Single-cell manipulation by two-dimensional micropatterning

Cells are highly sensitive to their geometrical and mechanical microenvironment that directly regulate cell shape,cytoskeleton and organelle,as well as the nucleus morphology and genetic expression.The emerging two-dimensional micropatterning techniques offer powerful tools to construct controllable and well-organized microenvironment for single-cell level investigations with qualitative analysis,cellular standardization,and in vivo environment mimicking.Here,we provide an overview of the basic principle and characteristics of the two most widely-used micropatterning techniques,including photolithographic micropatterning and soft lithography micropatterning.Moreover,we summarize the application of micropatterning technique in controlling cytoskeleton,cell migration,nucleus and gene expression,as well as intercellular communication.

Avian responses to an extreme weather event:The case of the‘Filomena’snowstorm in Madrid(central Spain)

Cold spells and severe weather may have detrimental effects in wild birds,but owing to the stochastic nature of these events,it is not always possible to measure their impacts.In January 2021,a strong snowstorm known as‘Filomena’affected Spain,mainly the region of Madrid(Central Spain),which was fully covered with snow and suffered freezing temperatures for a fortnight.Using bird surveys conducted in the winter-spring of 2020 and 2021(before and after Filomena)at same locations,we addressed the possible impact of the cold spell in three widespread gamebirds:Wood Pigeon(Columba palumbus),Eurasian Magpie(Pica pica)and Red-legged Partridge(Alectoris rufa).No significant abundance differences were found between years for none of the species and hunting pressure was only significantly reduced for Partridges,hence this species may have been negatively affected by Filomena.Results suggest that in response to Filomena,Pigeons conducted partial migration in search of better conditions,while Magpies aggregated in certain areas of Madrid and Partridges endured the harsh conditions within their home ranges.Our results highlight the importance to alleviate negative impacts of extreme weather events in wild birds through management actions,especially for sedentary species.

Migration Networks Pattern of China’s Floating Population from the Perspective of Complex Network

Since China’s reform and opening-up,the growing disparity between urban and rural areas and regions has led to massive migration.With China’s Rural Revitalization Strategy and the industrial transfer from the eastern coastal areas to the inland,the migration direction and pattern of the floating population have undergone certain changes.Using the 2017 China Migrants Dynamic Survey(CMDS),excluding Hong Kong,Macao,and Taiwan regions of China,organized by China’s National Health Commission,the relationship matrix of the floating population is constructed according to the inflow place of the interviewees and their outflow place(the location of the registered residence)in the questionnaire survey.We then apply the complex network model to analyze the migration direction and network pattern of China’s floating population from the city scale.The migration network shows an obvious hierarchical agglomeration.The first-,second-,third-and fourth-tier distribution cities are municipalities directly under the central government,provincial capital cities,major cities in the central and western regions and ordinary cities in all provinces,respectively.The migration trend is from the central and western regions to the eastern coastal areas.The migration network has‘small world’characteristics,forming nine communities.It shows that most node cities in the same community are closely linked and geographically close,indicating that the migration network of floating population is still affected by geographical proximity.Narrowing the urban-rural and regional differences will promote the rational distribution this population.It is necessary to strengthen the reform of the registered residence system,so that the floating population can enjoy urban public services comparable to other populations,and allow migrants to live and work in peace.

Trend of Storm Surge Induced by Typical Landfall Super Typhoons During 1975–2021 in the Eastern China Sea

Climate change affects the activity of global and regional tropical cyclones(TCs).Among all TCs,typical super typhoons(STYs)are particularly devastating because they maintain their intensity when landing on the coast and thus cause casualties,economic losses,and environmental damage.Using a 3D tidal model,we reconstructed the typhoon(TY)wind field to simulate the storm surge induced by typical STYs.The TY activity was then analyzed using historical data.Results showed a downtrend of varying degrees in the annual frequency of STYs and TCs in the Western North Pacific(WNP)Basin,with a significant trend change observed for TCs from 1949 to 2021.A large difference in the interannual change in frequency was found between STYs and TCs in the WNP and Eastern China Sea(ECS).Along the coast of EC,the frequency of landfall TCs showed a weak downtrend,and the typical STYs showed reverse micro growth with peak activity in August.Zhejiang,Fujian,and Taiwan were highly vulnerable to the frontal hits of typical STYs.Affected by climate change,the average lifetime maximum intensity(LMI)locations and landfall locations of typical STYs in the ECS basin showed a significant poleward migration trend.In addition,the annual average LMI and accumulated cyclone energy showed an uptrend,indicating the increasing severity of the disaster risk.Affected by the typical STY activity in the ECS,the maximum storm surge area also showed poleward migration,and the coast of North China faced potential growth in high storm surge risks.

Stable photocurrent-voltage characteristics of perovskite single crystal detectors obtained by pulsed bias

Photocurrent-voltage characterization is a crucial method for assessing key parameters in x-ray or y-ray semiconductor detectors,especially the carrier mobility lifetime product.However,the high biases during photocurrent measurements tend to cause severe ion migration,which can lead to the instability and inaccuracy of the test results.Given the mixed electronic-ionic charac teristics,it is imperative to devise novel methods capable of precisely measuring photocurrentvoltage characteristics under high bias conditions,free from interference caused by ion migration.In this paper,pulsed bias is employed to explore the photocurrent-voltage characteristics of MAPbBr_(3) single crystals.The method yields stable photocurrent-voltage characteristics at a pulsed bias of up to 30 V,proving to be effective in mitigating ion migration.Through fitting the modified Hecht equation,we determined the mobility lifetime products of 1.0×10^(2) cm^(2)·V^(-1)for hole and 2.78×10~(-3)cm^(2)·V^(-1)for electron.This approach offers a promising solution for accurately measuring the transport properties of carriers in perovskite.

Insights into in-situ imbibition behavior of fracturing fluid in propped shale fractures based on nuclear magnetic resonance:A case study from Longmaxi Formation shale,Sichuan Basin,China

Shale gas is an important component of unconventional oil and gas resources.Studying the imbibition behavior is helpful to optimize flowback parameters and enhance gas recovery.Recent imbibition studies have focused on shale matrix,and the pressure conditions discussed were mostly atmospheric.The initial imbibition behavior begins from propped fractures to matrix,but there are few studies working on explaining the imbibition behavior in propped fractures or the phenomenon of many shale wells exhibit higher productivity after a“soaking”period.Therefore,propped fracture samples were designed for imbibition and migration experiments.In order to accurately study the mechanism and main influencing factors of fracturing fluid imbibition and migration in propped and unpropped shale fractures under high temperature and high pressure,a series of experiments based on nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)were carried out.Results showed that NMR T_(2) spectra of all samples exhibited a bimodal distribution.The final imbibition volume of fracturing fluid was positively related to pressure and fracture width.The imbibition effect of fracturing fluid was more evident in matrix pores under high pressure.In the migration during soaking stage,the fracturing fluid gradually migrated from large pores to small pores and gradually displaced the shale gas from the matrix,thus allowing the water blocking in propped fractures to self-unlock to some extent.Gas permeability decreased in the imbibition stage,while it recovered in the migration stage to some extent.

Clogging caused by coupled grain migration and compaction effect during groundwater recharge for unconsolidated sandstone reservoir in groundwater-source heat pump

In unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs,presence of numerous movable grains and a complex grain size composition necessitates a clear understanding of the physical clogging process for effective groundwater recharge in groundwater-source heat pump systems.To investigate this,a series of seepage experiments was conducted under in situ stress conditions using unconsolidated sandstone samples with varying grain compositions.The clogging phenomenon arises from the combined effects of grain migration and compaction,wherein the migration of both original and secondary crushed fine-grain particles blocks the seepage channels.Notably,grain composition influences the migration and transport properties of the grains.For samples composed of smaller grains,the apparent permeability demonstrates a transition from stability to decrease.In contrast,samples with larger grains experience a skip at the stability stage and directly enter the decrease stage,with a minor exception of a slight increase observed.Furthermore,a unique failure mode characterized by diameter shrinkage in the upper part of the sample is observed due to the combined effects of grain migration and in situ stress-induced compaction.These testing results contribute to a better understanding of the clogging mechanism caused by the coupled effects of grain migration and compaction during groundwater recharge in unconsolidated sandstone reservoirs used in groundwater-source heat pump systems.

Spatial search weighting information contained in cell velocity distribution

Cell migration plays a significant role in physiological and pathological processes.Understanding the characteristics of cell movement is crucial for comprehending biological processes such as cell functionality,cell migration,and cell–cell interactions.One of the fundamental characteristics of cell movement is the specific distribution of cell speed,containing valuable information that still requires comprehensive understanding.This article investigates the distribution of mean velocities along cell trajectories,with a focus on optimizing the efficiency of cell food search in the context of the entire colony.We confirm that the specific velocity distribution in the experiments corresponds to an optimal search efficiency when spatial weighting is considered.The simulation results indicate that the distribution of average velocity does not align with the optimal search efficiency when employing average spatial weighting.However,when considering the distribution of central spatial weighting,the specific velocity distribution in the experiment is shown to correspond to the optimal search efficiency.Our simulations reveal that for any given distribution of average velocity,a specific central spatial weighting can be identified among the possible central spatial weighting that aligns with the optimal search strategy.Additionally,our work presents a method for determining the spatial weights embedded in the velocity distribution of cell movement.Our results have provided new avenues for further investigation of significant topics,such as relationship between cell behavior and environmental conditions throughout their evolutionary history,and how cells achieve collective cooperation through cell-cell communication.