Abstract
Zoonotic transfer of animal pathogens to human hosts can generate novel agents, but the genetic events following such host jumps are not well studied. Here we characterize the mechanisms ...driving adaptive evolution of the emerging zoonotic pathogen
Bordetella hinzii
in a patient with interleukin-12 receptor β1 deficiency. Genomic sequencing of 24
B. hinzii
isolates cultured from blood and stool over 45 months revealed a clonal lineage that had undergone extensive within-host genetic and phenotypic diversification. Twenty of 24 isolates shared an E9G substitution in the DNA polymerase III ε-subunit active site, resulting in a proofreading deficiency. Within this proofreading-deficient clade, multiple lineages with mutations in DNA repair genes and altered mutational spectra emerged and dominated clinical cultures for more than 12 months. Multiple enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and gluconeogenesis pathways were repeatedly mutated, suggesting rapid metabolic adaptation to the human environment. Furthermore, an excess of G:C > T:A transversions suggested that oxidative stress shaped genetic diversification during adaptation. We propose that inactivation of DNA proofreading activity in combination with prolonged, but sub-lethal, oxidative attack resulting from the underlying host immunodeficiency facilitated rapid genomic adaptation. These findings suggest a fundamental role for host immune phenotype in shaping pathogen evolution following zoonotic infection.
Global dust storms (GDS) are an important dynamical phenomenon of the Martian lower atmosphere but are known to have important impacts on the Martian middle/upper atmosphere and ionosphere. Despite ...extensive studies over the past several decades, how the composition of the Martian ionosphere is modified during the GDS has only been studied from a theoretical point of view. Here we present for the first time the observations of the compositional variation of the Martian ionosphere during the GDS in 2018, using the ion density measurements made by the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution. At a representative altitude of 170 km, the variations of ionospheric species during the GDS show either enhancement (CO2+, Ar+, HO2+, H2O+, H2+, ArH+) or depletion (O2+, O+, N2+/CO+, OH+). Despite the apparent diversity, the observations are mostly understandable within the established framework of ionospheric chemistry on Mars, which further demonstrates that the variation of ion species during the GDS is a good diagnostic of the variation of relevant neutral species in the thermosphere. In particular, the observed ionospheric variation strongly supports a scenario that H2O is substantially enhanced in the Martian thermosphere during the GDS. However, the variations of O2+ and H2+ are inconsistent with predictions from ionospheric chemistry and require further investigation.
Plain Language Summary
Global dust storms (GDS) are an important dynamical phenomenon of the Martian climate that has been extensively studied over the past several decades. Though occurring in the lower atmosphere, they are known to have important impacts on the upper atmosphere and ionosphere, such as increasing the thermospheric water content, enhancing hydrogen escape, and lifting the ionospheric layer. Despite the existing efforts, how the composition of the Martian ionosphere is modified by has not been well studied. Owing to the accumulation of the ion density measurements made onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution and the dust opacity measurements made onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, we present for the first time a preliminary investigation of the species‐dependent variations of the dayside Martian ionosphere during the GDS in 2018. The responses of various ionospheric species to this event show diverse features, some demonstrating clear enhancement, whereas the others demonstrating clear depletion. Despite this, the observations are mostly consistent with the established ionospheric chemistry on Mars, implying that the variation of ionospheric species during a GDS is closely linked to the variation of neutral species in the thermosphere during the same event.
Key Points
Variations of the Martian ionosphere during global dust storms are species dependent, displaying either density enhancement or depletion
The variations of most ion species except for O2+ and H2+ are interpreted using the ionospheric chemistry on Mars
Substantial enhancement in thermospheric H2O on Mars during global dust storms are implied by ion measurements
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose
To assess the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) in liver cancer patients with different times of previous conventional transarterial ...chemoembolization (cTACE) treatments.
Methods
367 liver cancer patients about to receive DEB-TACE treatment were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. All patients were divided into no previous cTACE group (NPC group), 1–2 times previous cTACE group (PC group) and triple or above previous cTACE group (TPC group) according to the times of previous cTACE treatments.
Results
There was no difference in complete response (CR) (
P
= 0.671) and objective response rate (ORR) (
P
= 0.062) among three groups. Additionally, no difference in overall survival (OS) among groups (
P
= 0.899) was found. As to liver function, most liver function indexes were deteriorative at 1 week after DEB-TACE operation, but returned to baseline at 1–3 months after DEB-TACE operation in all three groups, while percentage of abnormal total bile acid (TBA) patients was higher in TPC group than NPC and PC groups at 1–3 month post-DEB-TACE (
P
= 0.018). As for safety profiles, the incidence of pain during DEB-TACE operation was lower in TPC group compared to NPC and PC groups (
P
= 0.005), while no difference of other adverse events was found during and 1 month post-DEB-TACE treatment among three groups.
Conclusion
DEB-TACE treatment was equally efficient and tolerated in liver cancer patients with different times of previous cTACE treatments.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The CDEX-1 experiment conducted a search of low-mass (< 10GeV/c super(2)) weakly interacting massive particles dark matter at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory using a p-type point-contact ...germanium detector with a fiducial mass of 915 g at a physics analysis threshold of 475 eVee. We report the hardware setup, detector characterization, data acquisition, and analysis procedures of this experiment. No excess of unidentified events is observed after the subtraction of the known background. Using 335.6 kg-days of data, exclusion constraints on the weakly interacting massive particle-nucleon spin-independent and spin-dependent couplings are derived.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
One of the most promising approaches to reach a high gain in inertial confinement fusion is the fast ignition scheme. In this scheme, a relativistic electron beam is generated; this passes through ...the imploded plasma and deposits parts of its energy in the core. However, the large angular spread of the relativistic electron beam and the poorly controlled compression of the target affect realization of the fast ignition technique. Here, we demonstrate that indirectly driven (that is, driven by X-rays generated inside a gold hohlraum) implosions with a ‘high-foot’ and a short-coast time of less than 200 ps allow us to tightly compress the shell. Furthermore, we show the ability to optimize the symmetry of the imploding shell by changing the hohlraum length, successfully tuning a suitable tube-shaped shell to compensate for the large angular spread of the relativistic electron beam and to enhance the electron-to-core coupling efficiency via resistive magnetic fields. Benefiting from those experimental techniques, a significant enhancement in neutron yield was achieved in our indirectly driven fast ignition experiments. These results pave the way towards high-coupling fast ignition experiments with indirectly driven targets similar to those at the National Ignition Facility.Experiments realizing the indirect-drive fast ignition scheme for inertial confinement fusion are reported. Enabled by a tightly compressed target, an increase of neutron yield is observed.
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FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Various synchrotron radiation-based spectroscopic and microscopic techniques are used to elucidate the room-temperature ferromagnetism of carbon-doped ZnO-nanowires (ZnO-C:NW) via a mild C
ion ...implantation method. The photoluminescence and magnetic hysteresis loops reveal that the implantation of C reduces the number of intrinsic surface defects and increases the saturated magnetization of ZnO-NW. The interstitial implanted C ions constitute the majority of defects in ZnO-C:NW as confirmed by the X-ray absorption spectroscopic studies. The X-ray magnetic circular dichroism spectra of O and C K-edge respectively indicate there is a reduction in the number of unpaired/dangling O 2p bonds in the surface region of ZnO-C:NW and the C 2p-derived states of the implanted C ions strongly affect the net spin polarization in the surface and bulk regions of ZnO-C:NW. Furthermore, these findings corroborate well with the first-principles calculations of C-implanted ZnO in surface and bulk regions, which highlight the stability of implanted C for the suppression and enhancement of the ferromagnetism of the ZnO-C:NW in the surface region and bulk phase, respectively.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
U–Pb age, trace element and Hf isotope compositions of zircon were analysed for a metasedimentary rock and two amphibolites from the Kongling terrane in the northern part of the Yangtze Craton. The ...zircon shows distinct morphological and chemical characteristics. Most zircon in an amphibolite shows oscillatory zoning, high Th/U and 176Lu/177Hf ratios, high formation temperature, high trace element contents, clear negative Eu anomaly, as well as HREE‐enriched patterns, suggesting that it is igneous. The zircon yields a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 2857 ± 8 Ma, representing the age of the magmatic protolith. The zircon in the other two samples is metamorphic. It has low Th/U ratios, low trace element concentrations, variable HREE contents (33.8 ≥ LuN≥2213; 14.7 ≤ LuN/SmN ≤ 354) and 176Lu/177Hf ratios (0.000030–0.001168). The data indicate that the zircon formed in the presence of garnet and under upper amphibolite facies conditions. The metamorphic zircon yields a weighted mean 207Pb/206Pb age of 2010 ± 13 Ma. These results combined with previously obtained Palaeoproterozoic metamorphic ages suggest a c. 2.0 Ga Palaeoproterozoic collisional event in the Yangtze Craton, which may result from the assembly of the supercontinent Columbia. The zircon in two samples yields weighted mean two‐stage Hf model (TDM2) ages of 3217 ± 110 and 2943 ± 50 Ma, respectively, indicating that their protoliths were mainly derived from Archean crust.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The kilometer square array (KM2A) of the large high altitude air shower observatory (LHAASO) aims at surveying the northern γ-ray sky at energies above 10 TeV with unprecedented sensitivity. γ-ray ...observations have long been one of the most powerful tools for dark matter searches, as, e.g., high-energy γ rays could be produced by the decays of heavy dark matter particles. In this Letter, we present the first dark matter analysis with LHAASO-KM2A, using the first 340 days of data from 1/2-KM2A and 230 days of data from 3/4-KM2A. Several regions of interest are used to search for a signal and account for the residual cosmic-ray background after γ/hadron separation. We find no excess of dark matter signals, and thus place some of the strongest γ-ray constraints on the lifetime of heavy dark matter particles with mass between 10^{5} and 10^{9} GeV. Our results with LHAASO are robust, and have important implications for dark matter interpretations of the diffuse astrophysical high-energy neutrino emission.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Element isotopes are characterized by distinct atomic masses and nuclear spins, which can significantly influence material properties. Notably, however, isotopes in natural materials are homogenously ...distributed in space. Here, we propose a method to configure material properties by repositioning isotopes in engineered van der Waals (vdW) isotopic heterostructures. We showcase the properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) isotopic heterostructures in engineering confined photon-lattice waves-hyperbolic phonon polaritons. By varying the composition, stacking order, and thicknesses of h
BN and h
BN building blocks, hyperbolic phonon polaritons can be engineered into a variety of energy-momentum dispersions. These confined and tailored polaritons are promising for various nanophotonic and thermal functionalities. Due to the universality and importance of isotopes, our vdW isotope heterostructuring method can be applied to engineer the properties of a broad range of materials.
As an important species of the Martian thermosphere, NO is chemically and radiatively active. However, its abundance is poorly constrained due to difficulties in both remote sensing and in situ ...measurements. In this study, we use the Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer measurements made onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution to derive the N(4S), N(2D), and NO abundances in the Martian thermosphere based on time‐dependent odd N chemistry. At a reference altitude of 160 km, our calculations suggest that the NO abundance is maximized in the afternoon whereas the N(4S) and N(2D) abundances maximized in the morning, both driven by the variation of the ambient N2 mixing ratio. The difference in chemical loss time scale implies a strong diurnal variation for NO and N(2D) but a weak variation for N(4S).
Plain language summary
NO is usually regarded as a good tracer of energy input into the upper atmospheres of terrestrial planets. On Mars, NO is mainly produced via the reaction of atomic N in the excited state with ambient CO2 and lost via the reaction with atomic N in the ground state. Existing investigations of NO abundance in the Martian upper atmosphere are extremely limited due to difficulties in both remote sensing and in situ measurements. In this study, we propose a useful approach to determine the NO abundance on both the dayside and nightside of Mars by combining our knowledge of the odd N chemistry with available neutral and ion density measurements of relevant chemical reactants. On the dayside, we find the NO abundance to be maximized late in the afternoon, which is driven by the variation of N2 mixing ratio in the background atmosphere. Our analysis also allows the diurnal variation of NO to be explored for the first time, revealing a strong day‐night difference by 3 orders of magnitude. This is caused by the fast depletion of NO on the nightside where its production source drops to a minimum level in the absence of solar radiation.
Key Points
The odd N abundances at 160 km in the Martian thermosphere are calculated with time‐dependent chemistry
The NO abundance is maximized in the afternoon whereas the N(4S) and N(2D) abundances maximized in the morning
A strong diurnal variation is present for NO and N(2D) but a weak diurnal variation present for N(4S)
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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