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Compared to abundant dinosaur faunas, fish materials are scarce in the Nemegt Formation (Maastrichtian) of Mongolia except for isolated centra assigned to the Hiodontidae (Osteoglossomopha). Here we report new additional fish materials collected from the Nemegt Formation. They include skull parts (quadrate, premaxilla, and dentary), isolated and articulated centra, and a caudal fin. New specimens appear to be the same taxon as the previously reported samples from the Nemegt Formation based on morphological similarities in the abdominal centra. However, all specimens represent a new genus and species of osteoglossomorph fish, Harenaichthys lui gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that Harenaichthys is a basal member of the osteoglossomorphs instead of being included in the hiodontids. The comparison of Harenaichthys with Chinese osteoglossomorph Xixiaichthys tongxinensis and a fish centrum found along with the theropod dinosaur Raptorex kriegsteini supports a previous conclusion that R. kriegsteini comes from the Nemegt Formation. Unusual monospecific occurrences of Harenaichthys in many localities allow us to understand their paleoecology and paleobiogeography better. In addition, the pathologic features seen on some centra of Harenaicthys indicate that they suffered from various diseases in life. • All Nemegt specimens represent a new genus and species of osteoglossomorph fish, Harenaichthys lui gen. et sp. nov. • A fish centrum found with Raptorex kriegsteini is assigned to Harenaichthys. • The monospecific assemblages of Harenaichthys were affected by the high altitude of their habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent increases in demand by militaries and disaster relief operations has greatly accelerated research on delay-constrained video surveillance with low-delay and high-quality video transmission. The following factors should be systematically analyzed due to the tradeoff between low delay and high quality: the visual importance of surveillance objects, quality degradation due to wireless channel dynamics, and variant end-to-end delay. We propose and optimize a low-delay video transmission technique for video surveillance over an ad hoc network. The proposed protocol is composed of intercommunication and intraprocessing parts. Through intercommunication optimization, we identify an optimal routing path and an associated relaying in terms of channel throughput that meet the source-rate, the flow-rate, and delay constraints. Through intraprocessing optimization, we identify an optimal packet length and an associated number of packets to adapt to the delay in the variant dynamic channel. Through simulations, we demonstrate that delay and throughput control significantly contribute to improvements in visual quality of up to 1.7–3 dB compared with conventional schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To achieve carbon neutrality, the South Korean government has been retrofitting existing buildings to reduce their energy consumption. However, existing buildings often lack sufficient information for building energy modeling. In this study, a model was developed for predicting heating energy demand using only information obtained from a preliminary survey. Three different models were considered: multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural network (ANN), and support vector regression (SVR). They were then trained with data on old houses of low-income households in South Korea and were used to predict the heating energy demand of individual household units. Different input variables were applied to the initial models to identify target variables and tune the hyperparameters. In tests, ANN was slightly more accurate than SVR. SVR required a shorter total running time (training and prediction), but ANN was 10 times faster than SVR when only prediction was considered. Therefore, ANN was selected. The selected model method takes 0.215 s for 10,000 cases. On the other hand, the previous method takes approximately an hour for one case except time for moving to a field. This shows the suggested method is much faster than the previous one. The proposed model was applied to a case study, and the predicted and true values had a relative error of only 1.40%. The proposed model can be used to predict the heating energy demand of old houses while requiring only the heating area and construction year as inputs. • The purpose is to predict the energy demand of old houses with limited information. • Input variables were selected to reduce work steps using data-driven approaches. • This study considered MLR, ANN, and SVR, and ANN was the optimal model. • Using the developed ANN model can save time and labor. • The suggested model can be applied to an un-tact method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We improve a result in Kim and Lee [Ann. Appl. Math. 37 (2021), pp. 111–130], showing that if the coefficients of an elliptic operator in non-divergence form are of Dini mean oscillation, then its Green's function has the same asymptotic behavior near the pole x_0 as that of the corresponding Green's function for the elliptic equation with constant coefficients frozen at x_0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces the educational assistant robots that we developed for foreign language learning and explores the effectiveness of robot-assisted language learning (RALL) which is in its early stages. To achieve this purpose, a course was designed in which students have meaningful interactions with intelligent robots in an immersive environment. A total of 24 elementary students, ranging in age from ten to twelve, were enrolled in English lessons. A pre-test/post-test design was used to investigate the cognitive effects of the RALL approach on the students’ oral skills. No significant difference in the listening skill was found, but the speaking skills improved with a large effect size at the significance level of 0.01. Descriptive statistics and the pre-test/post-test design were used to investigate the affective effects of RALL approach. The result showed that RALL promoted and improved students’ satisfaction, interest, confidence, and motivation at the significance level of 0.01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explored techniques for diagnosing breast cancer using deep learning based medical image recognition. X-ray (Mammography) images, ultrasound images, and histopathology images are used to improve the accuracy of the process by diagnosing breast cancer classification and by inferring their affected location. For this goal, the image recognition application strategies for the maximal diagnosis accuracy in each medical image data are investigated in terms of various image classification (VGGNet19, ResNet50, DenseNet121, EfficietNet v2), image segmentation (UNet, ResUNet++, DeepLab v3), and related loss functions (binary cross entropy, dice Loss, Tversky loss), and data augmentation. As a result of evaluations through the presented methods, when using filter-based data augmentation, ResNet50 showed the best performance in image classification, and UNet showed the best performance in both X-ray image and ultrasound image as image segmentation. When applying the proposed image recognition strategies for the maximal diagnosis accuracy in each medical image data, the accuracy can be improved by 33.3% in image segmentation in X-ray images, 29.9% in image segmentation in ultrasound images, and 22.8% in image classification in histopathology images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We construct the fundamental solution of second order parabolic equations in non-divergence form under the assumption that the coefficients are of Dini mean oscillation in the spatial variables. We also prove that the fundamental solution satisfies a sub-Gaussian estimate. In the case when the coefficients are Dini continuous in the spatial variables and measurable in the time variable, we establish the Gaussian bounds for the fundamental solutions. We present a method that works equally for second order parabolic systems in non-divergence form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the recent increasing utilization of deep learning models on edge devices, the industry demand for Deep Learning Model Optimization (DLMO) is also increasing. This paper derives a usage strategy of DLMO based on the performance evaluation through light convolution, quantization, pruning techniques and knowledge distillation, known to be excellent in reducing memory size and operation delay with a minimal accuracy drop. Through experiments regarding image classification, we derive possible and optimal strategies to apply deep learning into Internet of Things (IoT) or tiny embedded devices. In particular, strategies for DLMO technology most suitable for each on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI) service are proposed in terms of performance factors. In this paper, we suggest a possible solution of the most rational algorithm under very limited resource environments by utilizing mature deep learning methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic application of CRISPR/Cas9 nucleases remains a challenge due to the lack of efficient in vivo delivery carriers. Here, we examine the ability of lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with hepatitis C virus (HCV)/E1E2 envelope glycoproteins to systemically deliver CRISPR/Cas9 to hepatic tumors in vivo. We demonstrated that systemic administration of E1E2-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors can selectively deliver Cas9 and sgRNA specific for kinesin spindle protein (KSP) to Huh7 tumors in the orthotopic Huh7 mice due to the specific interactions between E1E2 and their cellular receptors. This specific delivery leads to effective KSP gene disruption, potently inhibiting tumor growth. Furthermore, we demonstrated that E1E2-pseudotyping is more suitable for systemic delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 in cancer therapy than vesicular stomatitis virus-pseudotyping, the most widely used pseudotyping, because of stability in human serum, little transduction to DCs, low innate immune response, and cell-specific targeting ability. This study suggests that E1E2-pseudotyped lentivirus carrying CRISPR/Cas9 can substantially benefit the treatment of Huh7 tumors. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural network models are data-driven and are effective for predicting and interpreting nonlinear or unexplainable physical phenomena. This study collected building information and heating energy consumption data from 16,158 old houses, selected key input variables that affect the heating energy consumption based on the collected datasets, and developed a deep neural network (DNN) model that showed the highest accuracy for the prediction of heating energy consumption in an old house. As a result, 11 key input variables were selected, and an optimal DNN model was developed. This optimal DNN model showed the highest prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.961) when the number of hidden layers was five and the number of neurons was 22. When the optimal DNN model was applied for the standard model of low-income detached houses, the prediction accuracy (Cv(RMSE)) of the optimal DNN model, compared to the EnergyPlus calculation result, was 8.74%, which satisfied the ASHRAE standard sufficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new additional skull specimens of Talarurus plicatospineus have been recovered from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian–Santonian) Bayanshiree Formation, of Bayan Shiree cliffs, eastern Gobi Desert, Mongolia. The skulls feature unique characters such as an anteriorly protruded single internarial caputegulum, around 20 flat or concave nasal-area caputegulae surrounded by a wide sulcus, a vertically oriented elongate loreal caputegulum with a pitted surface, an elongate lacrimal caputegulum positioned above the posterodorsal border of the maxilla, two longitudinally arranged large frontoparietal caputegulae surrounded by smaller rhomboid caputegulae, small but elongate medial supraorbital caputegulae, a posterior supraorbital caputegulum that is four times larger than the anterior one, up to three transverse parallel grooves on the dorsal surface of the posterior supraorbital caputegulum, postocular caputegulae along the ventral to posterior rim of the orbit that extend almost to the anteroventral margin of the squamosal horn, a longitudinal furrow tapering towards the apex of the squamosal horn, a lateral nuchal caputegulum four to five times larger than other nuchal caputegulae, and a pterygovomerine keel with a ventral margin that is dorsally positioned to the alveolar ridge. The phylogenetic analysis result showed that Talarurus is sister to the clade that includes the derived Asian ankylosaurines (Saichania chulsanensis , Tarchia kielanae , and Zaraapelta nomadis). It also shows that there was dispersal of ankylosaurines from Asia into western North America before the Cenomanian. Moreover, the rostral differences between Talarurus and Tsagantegia , another ankylosaur from the same formation, suggest possible niche partitioning between these taxa. • Three new specimens of Talarurus provide new anatomical information about this taxon. • A dispersal event of ankylosaurines from Asia to western North America occurred before the Cenomanian. • Differences of muzzle shape between Talarurus and Tsagantegia suggest a possible niche partitioning among these taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid-state disks (SSDs) are now being used as enterprise storage servers owing to their technical merits such as low power consumption, shock resistance, and excellent random read performance. To handle the large storage requirements for video data, they can be used as a cache for hard disk drives (HDDs) in video servers, but this poses several questions such as (1) which video segments can be cached on SSD, (2) how to guarantee the lifetime of SSD, and (3) how to make combined use of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and SSD for caching. We start by introducing the concept of caching gain to express the amount of disk bandwidth saved by caching, and go on to propose three algorithms: (1) a dynamic programming algorithm that allows for segment popularity in determining which videos should have initial segments (prefixes) stored on the SSD; (2) a throttling algorithm, which limits the number of cache replacements to guarantee the specified lifetime while maximizing caching gain using a parametric search technique; (3) an algorithm that determines the intervals between pairs of consecutive requests to be stored on the DRAM. We quantitatively explore the effect of this caching scheme through simulations, which show that: (1) prefix caching is quite effective for disk bandwidth saving, (2) our throttling algorithm guarantees the lifetime of the SSD, and (3) DRAM caching can be effectively combined with SSD caching with the aim of maximizing overall caching gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the large paraphyletic group of extinct 'palaeoniscoid' fishes has shed light on the diversity and evolutionary history of basal actinopterygians. However, only a little ontogenetic information about 'palaeoniscoids' is known because their records in the early stages of development are scarce. Here, we report on a growth series of 'palaeoniscoids' in the juvenile stage from the Upper Triassic Amisan Formation of South Korea. Fourteen specimens, including five counterpart specimens, represent a new taxon, Megalomatia minima gen. et sp. nov., exhibiting ontogeny and exceptional preservation with the eyes possibly containing the crystalline lens, the otoliths, and the lateral line canals without covering scales. This discovery allows us to discuss the adaptations and evolution of basal actinopterygians in more detail than before. The otoliths in situ of Megalomatia support the previous interpretation that basal actinopterygians have a sagitta as the largest otolith. The trunk lateral line canal, which runs under the scales instead of passing through them, represents a plesiomorphic gnathostome trait. Notably, the large protruded eyes suggest that Megalomatia probably has binocular vision, which would have played a significant role in targeting and catching prey with the primitive jaw structure. In addition, the firstly formed skeletal elements such as the jaws, pectoral girdle, and opercular series, and the posteroanterior pattern of squamation development are likely linked to the adaptation of young individuals to increase their viability for feeding, respiration, and swimming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For autonomous driving, it is imperative to perform various high-computation image recognition tasks with high accuracy, utilizing diverse sensors to perceive the surrounding environment. Specifically, cameras are used to perform lane detection, object detection, and segmentation, and, in the absence of lidar, tasks extend to inferring 3D information through depth estimation, 3D object detection, 3D reconstruction, and SLAM. However, accurately processing all these image recognition operations in real-time for autonomous driving under constrained hardware conditions is practically unfeasible. In this study, considering the characteristics of image recognition tasks performed by these sensors and the given hardware conditions, we investigated MTL (multi-task learning), which enables parallel execution of various image recognition tasks to maximize their processing speed, accuracy, and memory efficiency. Particularly, this study analyzes the combinations of image recognition tasks for autonomous driving and proposes the MDO (multi-task decision and optimization) algorithm, consisting of three steps, as a means for optimization. In the initial step, a MTS (multi-task set) is selected to minimize overall latency while meeting minimum accuracy requirements. Subsequently, additional training of the shared backbone and individual subnets is conducted to enhance accuracy with the predefined MTS. Finally, both the shared backbone and each subnet undergo compression while maintaining the already secured accuracy and latency performance. The experimental results indicate that integrated accuracy performance is critically important in the configuration and optimization of MTL, and this integrated accuracy is determined by the ITC (inter-task correlation). The MDO algorithm was designed to consider these characteristics and construct multi-task sets with tasks that exhibit high ITC. Furthermore, the implementation of the proposed MDO algorithm, coupled with additional SSL (semi-supervised learning) based training, resulted in a significant performance enhancement. This advancement manifested as approximately a 12% increase in object detection mAP performance, a 15% improvement in lane detection accuracy, and a 27% reduction in latency, surpassing the results of previous three-task learning techniques like YOLOP and HybridNet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants has challenged the effectiveness of current therapeutic regimens. Here, we aimed to develop a potent SARS-CoV-2 antibody with broad neutralizing effect by screening a scFv library with the spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) via phage display. Methods: SKAI-DS84 was identified through phage display, and we performed pseudovirus neutralization assays, authentic virus neutralization assays, and in vivo neutralization efficacy evaluations. Furthermore, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was conducted to assess the physical characteristics of the antibody, including binding kinetics and measure its affinity for variant RBDs. Results: The selected clones were converted to human IgG, and among them, SKAI-DS84 was selected for further analyses based on its binding affinity with the variant RBDs. Using pseudoviruses, we confirmed that SKAI-DS84 was strongly neutralizing against wild-type, B.1.617.2, B.1.1.529, and subvariants of SARS-CoV-2. We also tested the neutralizing effect of SKAI-DS84 on authentic viruses, in vivo and observed a reduction in viral replication and improved lung pathology. We performed binding and epitope mapping experiments to understand the mechanisms underlying neutralization and identified quaternary epitopes formed by the interaction between RBDs as the target of SKAI-DS84. Conclusions: We identified, produced, and tested the neutralizing effect of SKAI-DS84 antibody. Our results highlight that SKAI-DS84 could be a potential neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of various nanostructures with nanometre-scale precision through various DNA building blocks depends upon self-assembly, base-pair complementarity and sequence programmability. During annealing, unit tiles are formed by the complementarity of base pairs in each strand. Enhancement of growth of target lattices is expected if seed lattices (i.e. boundaries for growth of target lattices) are initially present in a test tube during annealing. Although most processes for annealing DNA nanostructures adopt a one-step high temperature method, multi-step annealing provides certain advantages such as reusability of unit tiles and tuneability of lattice formation. We can construct target lattices effectively (through multi-step annealing) and efficiently (via boundaries) by multi-step annealing and combining boundaries. Here, we construct efficient boundaries made of single, double, and triple double-crossover DNA tiles for growth of DNA lattices. Two unit double-crossover DNA tile-based lattices and copy-logic implemented algorithmic lattices were introduced to test the growth of target lattices on boundaries. We used multi-step annealing to tune the formation of DNA crystals during fabrication of DNA crystals comprised of boundaries and target lattices. The formation of target DNA lattices was visualized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The borders between boundaries and lattices in a single crystal were clearly differentiable from AFM images. Our method provides way to construct various types of lattices in a single crystal, which might generate various patterns and enhance the information capacity in a given crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance and lifetime of highperformance solid-state drives (SSDs) can be improved by data compression, which can reduce the amount of data physically transferred from/to flash memory. In this paper, we present our experience of building a high-performance solid-state drive using a hardware accelerated compression module called BlueZIP. In order to fully exploit the BlueZIP module, we devise a compression-aware flash translation layer (FTL), called CaFTL, which supports compressionaware address mapping and garbage collection for BlueZIP. For poorly compressed pages, CaFTL supports selective compression so that unnecessary compression can be avoided. We have implemented a complete SSD prototype with BlueZIP on an FPGA-based custom SSD platform and evaluated its effectiveness using realistic workloads. Our evaluation results show that BlueZIP can increase the lifetime of the SSD prototype by 26% as well as improve read and write performance by 20% and 27%, respectively, on average1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new articulated postcranial specimen of an indeterminate ankylosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (middle-upper Campanian) Baruungoyot Formation from Hermiin Tsav, southern Gobi Desert, Mongolia includes twelve dorsal vertebrae, ribs, pectoral girdles, forelimbs, pelvic girdles, hind limbs, and free osteoderms. The new specimen shows that Asian ankylosaurids evolved rigid bodies with a decreased number of pedal phalanges. It also implies that there were at least two forms of flank armor within Ankylosauridae, one with spine-like osteoderms and the other with keeled rhomboidal osteoderms. Unique anatomical features related to digging are present in Ankylosauridae, such as dorsoventrally flattened and fusiform body shapes, extensively fused series of vertebrae, anteroposteriorly broadened dorsal ribs, a robust humerus with a well-developed deltopectoral crest, a short robust ulna with a well-developed olecranon process, a trowel-like manus, and decreased numbers of pedal phalanges. Although not fossorial, ankylosaurids were likely able to dig the substrate, taking advantage of it for self-defence and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the crack performance of stone mastic asphalt (SMA) mixtures according to the performance of a modified asphalt binder, evaluated based on the asphalt performance grade (PG) and the elastic recovery of multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) according to AASHTO M 320 and T 350. The cracking performance of the mixture was evaluated using the asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT) according to AASHTO T 378 and T 400 through dynamic modulus and direct tension cyclic fatigue tests. Furthermore, the recently developed viscoelastic continuum damage (VECD) theory was utilized to evaluate the cyclic fatigue index parameter (apparent damage capacity, Sapp) and the permissible heavy vehicle class. For performance evaluation, six modified asphalt mixtures were prepared and tested using SMA aggregate gradation with a nominal maximum aggregate size (NMAS) of 10 mm. The MSCR test results revealed that, of the six asphalt mixtures, the rubber-based PG76-28 exhibited the least initial strain and the highest elastic recovery. The dynamic modulus test results demonstrated that using a rubber-based modifier increased the elastic modulus at high temperatures and decreased it at low temperatures, thereby enhancing resistance to plastic deformation in the summer and reducing low-temperature cracking in the winter. Finally, the correlation between the Sapp performance index and the elastic recovery of modified asphalt and the number of direct tension cyclic loads until failure of the mixture was evaluated as 0.87 and 0.76, respectively.

Aim: Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata exhibit promising potential as cosmetic additives for mitigating skin barrier impairment induced by photoaging. Despite their potential, the precise mechanisms underlying their protective and ameliorative effects remain elusive. This study sought to assess the reparative properties of Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Pueraria lobata extracts (LP) on UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and explore the therapeutic potential of LP as a skin barrier protection agent., Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activities were gauged through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays. The expression levels of skin barrier-related markers, encompassing metalloproteinases (MMPs) and hyaluronidase (HYAL) were scrutinized using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR, and Western blotting, with a particular focus on the involvement of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways., Results: The study revealed that LP effectively scavenges free radicals, diminishes ROS production in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly attenuates UVB-induced expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 through modulation of the hyaluronan synthase (HAS)2/HYAL1 signaling axis in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Additionally, LP demonstrated enhanced TGF-β signaling activation, fostering procollagen type I synthesis, and concurrently exhibited mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)/NF-κB signaling inactivation, thereby mitigating pro-inflammatory cytokine release and alleviating UVB-induced cellular damage., Conclusion: In conclusion, the observed protective effects of LP on skin cellular constituents highlight its substantial biological potential for shielding against UVB-induced skin photoaging, positioning it as a promising candidate for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Streamlining a body is a major adaptation for aquatic animals to move efficiently in the water. Whereas diving birds are well known to have streamlined bodies, such body shapes have not been documented in non-avian dinosaurs. It is primarily because most known non-avian theropods are terrestrial, barring a few exceptions. However, clear evidence of streamlined bodies is absent even in the purported semiaquatic groups. Here we report a new theropod, Natovenator polydontus gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous of Mongolia. The new specimen includes a well-preserved skeleton with several articulated dorsal ribs that are posterolaterally oriented to streamline the body as in diving birds. Additionally, the widely arched proximal rib shafts reflect a dorsoventrally compressed ribcage like aquatic reptiles. Its body shape suggests that Natovenator was a potentially capable swimming predator, and the streamlined body evolved independently in separate lineages of theropod dinosaurs., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Using sequence programmability and the characteristics of self-assembly, DNA has been utilized in the construction of various nanostructures and the placement of specific patterns on lattices. Even though many complex structures and patterns formed by DNA assembly have been reported, the fabrication of multi-domain patterns in a single lattice has rarely been discussed. Multi-domains possessing specifically designed patterns in a single lattice provide the possibility to generate multiple patterns that enhance the pattern density in a given single lattice. Here, we introduce boundaries to construct double- and quadruple-domains with specific patterns in a single lattice and verify them with atomic force microscopy. ON, OFF, and ST (stripe) patterns on a lattice are made of DNA tiles with hairpins (ON), without hairpins (OFF), and alternating DNA tiles without and with hairpins (formed as a stripe, ST). For double- and quadruple-domain lattices, linear and cross boundaries were designed to fabricate two (e.g., ON and OFF, ON and ST, and OFF and ST) and four (OFF, ST, OFF, and ON) different types of patterns in single lattices, respectively. In double-domain lattices, each linear boundary is placed between two different domains. Similarly, four linear boundaries connected with a seed tile (i.e., a cross boundary) can separate four domains in a single lattice in quadruple-domain lattices. Due to the presence of boundaries, the pattern growth directions are different in each domain. The experimentally obtained multi-domain patterns agree well with our design. Lastly, we propose the possibility of the construction of a hexadomain lattice through the mapping from hexagonal to square grids converted by using an axial coordinate system. By proposing a hexadomain lattice design, we anticipate the possibility to extend to higher numbers of multi-domains in a single lattice, thereby further increasing the information density in a given lattice., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Here we report a new articulated skeleton of Yamaceratops dorngobiensis (MPC-D 100/553) from the Khugenetjavkhlant locality at the Shine Us Khudag (Javkhlant Formation, ?Santonian-Campanian) of the eastern Gobi Desert, Mongolia, which represents the first substantially complete skeleton and the first juvenile individual of this taxon. The specimen includes a nearly complete cranium and large portions of the vertebral column and appendicular skeleton. Its skull is about 2/3 the size of the holotype specimen, based on mandibular length. Its juvenile ontogenetic stage is confirmed by multiple indicators of skeletal and morphological immaturity known in ceratopsians, such as the long-grained surface texture on the long bones, the smooth external surface on the postorbital, open neurocentral sutures of all caudal vertebrae, a large orbit relative to the postorbital and jugal, the low angle of the lacrimal ventral ramus relative to the maxillary teeth row, narrow frontal, and straight ventral edge of the dentary. Osteohistological analysis of MPC-D 100/553 recovered three lines of arrested growth, implying around 3 years of age when it died, and verified this specimen's immature ontogenetic stage. The specimen adds a new autapomorphy of Yamaceratops , the anteroventral margin of the fungiform dorsal end of the lacrimal being excluded from the antorbital fossa. Furthermore, it shows a unique combination of diagnostic features of some other basal neoceratopsians: the ventrally hooked rostral bone as in Aquilops americanus and very tall middle caudal neural spines about or more than four times as high as the centrum as in Koreaceratops hwaseongensis , Montanoceratops cerorhynchus , and Protoceratops andrewsi . The jugal with the subtemporal ramus deeper than the suborbital ramus as in the holotype specimen is also shared with A. americanus , Liaoceratops yanzigouensis , and juvenile P. andrewsi . Adding 38 new scorings into the recent comprehensive data matrix of basal Neoceratopsia and taking into account the ontogenetically variable characters recovered Y. dorngobiensis as the sister taxon to Euceratopsia (Leptoceratopsidae plus Coronosauria). A second phylogenetic analysis with another matrix for Ceratopsia also supported this position. The new phylogenetic position of Y. dorngobiensis is important in ceratopsian evolution, as this taxon represents one of the basalmost neoceratopsians with a broad, thin frill and hyper-elongated middle caudal neural spines while still being bipedal., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2022 Son et al.)

The connectomic analyses of large-scale volumetric electron microscope (EM) images enable the discovery of hidden neural connectivity. While the technologies for neuronal reconstruction of EM images are under rapid progress, the technologies for synapse detection are lagging behind. Here, we propose a method that automatically detects the synapses in the 3D EM images, specifically for the mouse cerebellar molecular layer (CML). The method aims to accurately detect the synapses between the reconstructed neuronal fragments whose types can be identified. It extracts the contacts between the reconstructed neuronal fragments and classifies them as synaptic or non-synaptic with the help of type information and two deep learning artificial intelligences (AIs). The method can also assign the pre- and postsynaptic sides of a synapse and determine excitatory and inhibitory synapse types. The accuracy of this method is estimated to be 0.955 in F1-score for a test volume of CML containing 508 synapses. To demonstrate the usability, we measured the size and number of the synapses in the volume and investigated the subcellular connectivity between the CML neuronal fragments. The basic idea of the method to exploit tissue-specific properties can be extended to other brain regions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Park, Gim, Lee, Lee and Kim.)

Multiple models and simulations have been proposed and performed to understand the mechanism of the various pattern formations existing in nature. However, the logical implementation of those patterns through efficient building blocks such as nanomaterials and biological molecules is rarely discussed. This study adopts a cellular automata model to generate simulation patterns (SPs) and experimental patterns (EPs) obtained from DNA lattices similar to the discrete horizontal brown-color line-like patterns on the bark of the Zelkova serrata tree, known as lenticels [observation patterns (OPs)]. SPs and EPs are generated through the implementation of six representative rules (i.e., R004, R105, R108, R110, R126, and R218) in three-input/one-output algorithmic logic gates. The EPs obtained through DNA algorithmic self-assembly are visualized by atomic force microscopy. Three different modules (A, B, and C) are introduced to analyze the similarities between the SPs, EPs, and OPs of Zelkova serrata lenticels. Each module has unique configurations with specific orientations allowing the calculation of the deviation of the SPs and the EPs with respect to the OPs within each module. The findings show that both the SP and the EP generated under R105 and R126 and analyzed with module B provide a higher similarity of Zelkova serrata lenticel-like patterns than the other four rules. This study provides a perspective regarding the use of DNA algorithmic self-assembly for the construction of various complex natural patterns.

Background and Aims: Current management of inflammatory bowel disease leaves a clear unmet need to treat the severe epithelial damage. Modulation of Wnt signaling might present an opportunity to achieve histological remission and mucosal healing when treating IBD. Exogenous R-spondin, which amplifies Wnt signals by maintaining cell surface expression of Frizzled (Fzd) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptors, not only helps repair intestine epithelial damage, but also induces hyperplasia of normal epithelium. Wnt signaling may also be modulated with the recently developed Wnt mimetics, recombinant antibody-based molecules mimicking endogenous Wnts., Methods: We first compared the epithelial healing effects of RSPO2 and a Wnt mimetic with broad Fzd specificity in an acute dextran sulfate sodium mouse colitis model. Guided by Fzd expression patterns in the colon epithelium, we also examined the effects of Wnt mimetics with subfamily Fzd specificities., Results: In the DSS model, Wnt mimetics repaired damaged colon epithelium and reduced disease activity and inflammation and had no apparent effect on uninjured tissue. We further identified that the FZD5/8 and LRP6 receptor-specific Wnt mimetic, SZN-1326-p, was associated with the robust repair effect. Through a range of approaches including single-cell transcriptome analyses, we demonstrated that SZN-1326-p directly impacted epithelial cells, driving transient expansion of stem and progenitor cells, promoting differentiation of epithelial cells, histologically restoring the damaged epithelium, and secondarily to epithelial repair, reducing inflammation., Conclusions: It is feasible to design Wnt mimetics such as SZN-1326-p that impact damaged intestine epithelium specifically and restore its physiological functions, an approach that holds promise for treating epithelial damage in inflammatory bowel disease., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)