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In order to cope with the complexity and variability of the terrestrial environment, amphibians have developed a wide range of reproductive and parental behaviors. Nest building occurs in some anuran species as parental care. Species of the Music frog genus Nidirana are known for their unique courtship behavior and mud nesting in several congeners. However, the evolution of these frogs and their nidification behavior has yet to be studied. With phylogenomic and phylogeographic analyses based on a wide sampling of the genus, we find that Nidirana originated from central-southwestern China and the nidification behavior initially evolved at ca 19.3 Ma but subsequently lost in several descendants. Further population genomic analyses suggest that the nidification species have an older diversification and colonization history, while N. adenopleura complex congeners that do not exhibit nidification behavior have experienced a recent rapid radiation. The presence and loss of the nidification behavior in the Music frogs may be associated with paleoclimatic factors such as temperature and precipitation. This study highlights the nidification behavior as a key evolutionary innovation that has contributed to the diversification of an amphibian group under past climate changes. The Music frogs are revealed to possess adaptative flexibility under climate changes. Mud nests evolved as a key innovation during perennial high temperatures and precipitations but lost in certain descendants when the weather got dryer and colder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti)-based alloys are eye-catching biomaterials extensively utilized in human implants due to their outstanding ability to facilitate cell growth. This research aims to propose a new approach to explore the ultrafast laser processing on alloy surfaces for achieving and regulating the proliferation of biological cells. The study is to directly use the polarization of ultrafast laser irradiation on the surface of chromium-titanium nitride (CrTiN) thin film to fabricate the periodic structures, which can promote cell proliferation. This improvement is accomplished by employing surface patterning and creating nanocrystalline structures. The nanocrystalline layer is treated with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), forming subwavelength ripples directly on the surface. The ripples are preferentially formed perpendicular to the direction of laser polarization by controlling the fluence. Through the straightforward technique of ultrafast laser treatment, the wettability transition is contributed to by the combination of LIPSS and modified surface chemistry. It is indicated by the findings that the laser-irradiated CrTiN alloy film exhibits surface ripples and a nanocrystalline phase. This work has the potential to enhance cell proliferation for biomedical engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research is to explore the potential of financial inclusion and low-carbon architectural design strategies as solutions to improve the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of new buildings in different architectural climate conditions. The manufacture sector, which accounts for about 40% of all yearly greenhouse gas releases, has been stimulating with trying to reduce the amount of energy it consumes and the detrimental effects it has on the climate, in accordance with the standards outlined in the 2016 Paris Agreement. In this study, panel data analysis is used to examine the connection between green property financing and carbon dioxide emissions from the building sector in one hundred and five developed and developing countries. Although this analysis finds a negative correlation among the development of environmentally friendly real estate financing and firms' worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, it finds that this correlation is most robust in developing nations. A number of these countries are experiencing an unregulated and rapid population explosion, which has boosted their demand for oil, making this discovery essential for them. The difficulty in securing green funding during this crisis is slowing and even reversing gains made in past years, making it all the more important to keep this momentum going during the COVID-19 outbreak. It's critical to keep the momentum going by doing something. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling the interaction of wetting surface with biomaterials is one of the key challenges in nanostructures to promote non-toxic and one-step fabrication technology. Here, a range spectrum of surface wettability characteristics and nanostructure modalities were demonstrated with a single treatment of glutaraldehyde (GA) on polyvinyl alcohol, poly (3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)-poly (styrene sulfonate) (PVA/PEDOT:PSS) nanofiber mats. By modulating the density of coral-like dendritic nanostructure formation functionalized on PVA and PVA/PEDOT:PSS composite nanofibers and the degree of cross-linking between PVA/PEDOT:PSS and GA, the normally super hydrophilic behavior can be modified to show increasing hydrophobic characteristics correlating with an increased concentration of GA. The results of this study indicated the possibility and applicability of wettability effects available to a single application process alone, where the unique anti-dust wetting behavior can be predicted by estimating the adhesion force (~ maximum value of 24.20 μN) of water droplet. As a result of these nanostructure formations, the water droplet can exhibit hysteresis (CAr = 38 ± 0.5°, CAa = 106 ± 0.5°) and adhere to the nanofiber surface of glass substrate. This task may contribute to its potential optimization for use in a large range of future surface treatment for bio-coating and bio-sensing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article titled "Financial inclusion and low-carbon architectural design strategies: solutions for architectural climate conditions and architectural temperature on new buildings" has been retracted by the publisher due to concerns about the peer review process, references, and the article's alignment with the journal's scope. The publisher, in consultation with the Editor-in-Chief, no longer has confidence in the results and conclusions of the article. The authors have not responded to correspondence regarding this retraction. Springer Nature, the publisher, remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. [Extracted from the article]

In crosswell seismic exploration, the imaging section produced by migration based on a wave equation has a serious arc phenomenon at its edge and a small effective range because of geometrical restrictions. Another imaging section produced by the VSP-CDP stack imaging method employed with ray-tracing theory is amplitude-preserved. However, imaging 3D complex lithological structures accurately with this method is difficult. Therefore, this study proposes inverse Gaussian beam stack imaging in the 3D crosswell seismic exploration of deviated wells on the basis of Gaussian beam ray-tracing theory. By employing Gaussian beam ray-tracing theory in 3D crosswell seismic exploration, we analyzed the energy relationship between seismic wave fields and their effective rays. In imaging, the single-channel seismic wave field data in the common shot point gather are converted into multiple effective wave fields in the common reflection point gather by the inverse Gaussian beam. The process produces a large fold number of intensive reflection points. Selected from the horizontal and vertical directions of the 2D measuring line, the wave fields of the effective reflection points in the same stack bin are projected onto the 2D measuring line, chosen according to the distribution characteristics of the reflection points, and stacked into an imaging section. The method is applied to X oilfield to identify the internal structure of the offshore gas cloud area. The results provided positive support for the inverse Gaussian beam stack imaging of 3D complex lithological structures and proved that technology is a powerful imaging tool for 3D crosswell seismic data processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a non-contact processing method of heating devices using maskless ultrafast laser direct structuring of graphene (G) films coated on the alumina ceramic (Al2O3) substrates for antioxidant capacity (ATC). The effect of ATC temperatures on the electrode structures of the electrical resistance and electromechanical properties of G-based multi-zone (GM) device was investigated. The fabricated GM device with four electrode structures could be regarded as an on-site heater in assisting preheating treatment. The required laser processing parameters of energy fluence, pulse repetition rate, and scanning speed were 7.02 J/cm2, 300 kHz, and 500 mm/s, respectively. For the GM heater, a steady-state temperature of 100 °C could be reached within 10 s under a lower applied voltage of 14 V. The experimental results demonstrated that the electrothermal performance of GM devices was used to control the ATC preheating process. The absorbance values of ATC ranged from 0.5 ± 0.01 to 1.07 ± 0.04 measured by a spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 700 nm. Moreover, the absorbance value increased with increasing concentration of standard solution that the high absorbance represented the ATC solution with high reducing power. Successful operation of GM heater with a simple and promising technique should find application in laser-ablated G electrodes for an advanced inspection instrument of ATC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Medulloblastoma (MB) is a rare primary brain tumor in adults. We previously evaluated that combining both clinical and molecular classification could improve current risk stratification for adult MB. In this study, we aimed to identify the prognostic value of Ki-67 index in adult MB.Method: Ki-67 index of 51 primary adult MBs was reassessed using a computer-based image analysis (Image-Pro Plus). All patients were followed up ranging from 12 months up to 15 years. Gene expression profiling and immunochemistry were used to establish the molecular subgroups in adult MB. Combined risk stratification models were designed based on clinical characteristics, molecular classification and Ki-67 index, and identified by multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis.Results: In our cohort, the mean Ki-67 value was 30.0 ± 11.3% (range 6.56-63.55%). The average Ki-67 value was significantly higher in LC/AMB than in CMB and DNMB (P = .001). Among three molecular subgroups, Group 4-tumors had the highest average Ki-67 value compared with WNT- and SHH-tumors (P = .004). Patients with Ki-67 index large than 30% displayed poorer overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) than those with Ki-67 less than 30% (OS: P = .001; PFS: P = .006). Ki-67 index (i.e. > 30%, < 30%) was identified as an independent significant prognostic factor (OS: P = .017; PFS: P = .024) by using multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.Conclusions: In conclusion, Ki-67 index can be considered as a valuable independent prognostic biomarker for adult patients with MB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medulloblastoma (MB) is recognized as comprising four molecular subgroups with distinct transcriptional profiles, clinical features, and outcomes. Previous studies demonstrate that pediatric MBs present with subgroup-specific MRI manifestations. We hypothesized that combination of anatomical localization and conventional features based on MR imaging can predict these subgroups in adult MBs. MR Imaging manifestations of 125 adult patients with MB were analyzed retrospectively based on pre-operative MRI scans. MB molecular subgroups were evaluated by the expression profiling array and immunohistochemistry. A pediatric MB cohort of 60 patients were analyzed for comparison with data of adult patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that tumor location ( P < 0.0001) and pattern of enhancement ( P = 0.0048) were significantly correlated with molecular subgroups in adult MBs. Ninety-two percent of adult MBs were correctly predicted by using logistic regression model based on the anatomical localization patterns and pattern of enhancement. Exclusively intra-cerebellar growth, localization in the rostral cerebellum, and no brainstem contact were specific to adult SHH-MBs. Group 4-MBs in adult were characterized by minimal/no enhancement compared with other two subgroups. Infant SHH-MBs represented significant different localization patterns compared with SHH tumors in children and adults. We identified that molecular subgroups of adult MBs could be well predicted by tumor localization patterns and enhancement pattern. Our study also provided important evidence that MB subgroups in adult possibly derived from different cellular origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: From viruses to organelles, fusion of biological membranes is used by diverse biological systems to deliver macromolecules across membrane barriers. Membrane fusion is also a potentially efficient mechanism for the delivery of macromolecular therapeutics to the cellular cytoplasm. However, a key shortcoming of existing fusogenic liposomal systems is that they are inefficient, requiring a high concentration of fusion-promoting lipids in order to cross cellular membrane barriers. Objectives: Toward addressing this limitation, our experiments explore the extent to which membrane fusion can be amplified by using the process of lipid membrane phase separation to concentrate fusion-promoting lipids within distinct regions of the membrane surface. Methods: We used confocal fluorescence microscopy to investigate the integration of fusion-promoting lipids into a ternary lipid membrane system that separated into liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered membrane phases. Additionally, we quantified the impact of membrane phase separation on the efficiency with which liposomes transferred lipids and encapsulated macromolecules to cells, using a combination of confocal fluorescence imaging and flow cytometry. Results: Here we report that concentrating fusion-promoting lipids within phase-separated lipid domains on the surfaces of liposomes significantly increases the efficiency of liposome fusion with model membranes and cells. In particular, membrane phase separation enhanced the delivery of lipids and model macromolecules to the cytoplasm of tumor cells by at least four-fold in comparison to homogenous liposomes. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that phase separation can enhance membrane fusion by locally concentrating fusion-promoting lipids on the surface of liposomes. This work represents the first application of lipid membrane phase separation in the design of biomaterials-based delivery systems. Additionally, these results lay the ground work for developing fusogenic liposomes that are triggered by physical and molecular cues associated with target cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP) is a mechanism that allows some cyanobacteria to utilize far-red light (FRL) for oxygenic photosynthesis. During FaRLiP, cyanobacteria remodel photosystem (PS) I, PS II, and phycobilisomes while synthesizing Chl d, Chl f, and far-red-absorbing phycobiliproteins, and these changes enable these organisms to use FRL for growth. In this study, a conjugation-based genetic system was developed for Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335. Three antibiotic cassettes were successfully used to generate knockout mutations in genes in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335, which should allow up to three gene loci to be modified in one strain. This system was used to delete the rfpA, rfpB, and rfpC genes individually, and characterization of the mutants demonstrated that these genes control the expression of the FaRLiP gene cluster in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335. The mutant strains exhibited some surprising differences from similar mutants in other FaRLiP strains. Notably, mutations in any of the three master transcription regulatory genes led to enhanced synthesis of phycocyanin and PS II. A time-course study showed that acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus from that produced in white light to that produced in FRL occurs very slowly over a period 12-14 days in this strain and that it is associated with a substantial reduction (~34 %) in the chlorophyll a content of the cells. This study shows that there are differences in the detailed responses of cyanobacteria to growth in FRL in spite of the obvious similarities in the organization and regulation of the FaRLiP gene cluster. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]