Mode selection mechanism in traveling and standing waves revealed by Min wave reconstituted in artificial cells

Reaction-diffusion coupling (RDc) generates spatiotemporal patterns, including two dynamic wave modes: traveling and standing waves. Although mode selection plays a significant role in the spatiotemporal organization of living cell molecules, the mechanism for selecting each wave mode remains elusive. Here, we investigated a wave mode selection mechanism using Min waves reconstituted in artificial cells, emerged by the RDc of MinD and MinE. Our experiments and theoretical analysis revealed that the balance of membrane binding and dissociation from the membrane of MinD determines the mode selection of the Min wave. We successfully demonstrated that the transition of the wave modes can be regulated by controlling this balance and found hysteresis characteristics in the wave mode transition. These findings highlight a novel role of the balance between activators and inhibitors as a determinant of the mode selection of waves by RDc and depict a novel mechanism in intracellular spatiotemporal pattern formations.

Spatiotemporal pattern and indicators associated with suicide

Objective: to analyze the spatiotemporal pattern and indicators associated with the occurrence of suicide. Methods: ecological study that analyzed the deaths by suicide repor- ted in the Mortality Information System. For temporal and spatial analysis, the Joinpoint and Scan methods were employed, respectively. Multivariate analysis was performed by the Ordinary Least Squares Estimation model, considering p<0.05. Results: significant growth in suicide mortality of 4.2% per year was observed. The highest Bayesian mortality rates ranged from 8.90 to 13.49 deaths per 100,000 population. Five statistically significant spatial clusters were identified (p<0.050). The primary cluster encompassed 64 municipalities, with a suicide risk 1.38 times higher (p<0.001). The indicators associated with suicide were Urbanization rate (β=0.07; p=0.020) and Employment & income (β=-9.40; p=0.030). Conclusion: there was a significant increase in suicide, and five spatial clusters were identified. The indicators Urbanization rate and Employment & income were associated with the grievance.

Dynamic Relationship Study between the Observed Seismicity and Spatiotemporal Pattern of Lineament Changes in Palghar, North Maharashtra (India)

The Palghar region (north Maharashtra, India), located in the northwestern part of the stable continental region of India, experienced a low magnitude earthquake swarm, which was initiated in September 2018 and is continuing to date (as of October 2021). From December 2018 to December 2020, ~5000 earthquakes with magnitudes from M1.2 to M3.8 occurred in a small region of 20 × 10 km2. These earthquakes were probably triggered by fluid migration during seasonal rainfall. In this study, we have used multi-temporal Landsat satellite data of the year 2000, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2020, extracted lineaments, and studied the changes in frequency and pattern of lineaments before and after the initiation of the swarm in the Palghar region. An increase in the lineament density and amount of rainfall are found to be associated with the increasing frequency of earthquakes.

Changes in the spatiotemporal pattern of spontaneous activity across a cortical column after noise trauma

In the auditory modality, noise trauma has often been used to investigate cortical plasticity as it causes cochlear hearing loss. One limitation of these past studies, however, is that the effects of noise trauma have been mostly documented at the granular layer, which is the main cortical recipient of thalamic inputs. Importantly, the cortex is composed of six different layers each having its own pattern of connectivity and specific role in sensory processing. The present study aims at investigating the effects of acute and chronic noise trauma on the laminar pattern of spontaneous activity in primary auditory cortex of the anesthetized guinea pig. We show that spontaneous activity is dramatically altered across cortical layers after acute and chronic noise-induced hearing loss. First, spontaneous activity was globally enhanced across cortical layers, both in terms of firing rate and amplitude of spike-triggered average of local field potentials. Second, current source density on (spontaneous) spike-triggered average of local field potentials indicates that current sinks develop in the supra- and infragranular layers. These latter results suggest that supragranular layers become a major input recipient and that the propagation of spontaneous activity over a cortical column is greatly enhanced after acute and chronic noise-induced hearing loss. We discuss the possible mechanisms and functional implications of these changes.

Spatiotemporal Pattern Evolution in Global Green Trade Networks: Implications for Health Economics

Big health industry is an industry that provides whole process and all factor products and services for human comprehensive physical and mental health. With the increasingly close relationship between health and environment, green products take into account the characteristics of environmental protection, resource intensification, safety, and health, so that the green product industry for the purpose of health and environmental protection has become an important branch of the big health industry. To give a clear portrayal of changes in the global green product trade system, this study derives relevant trade data from the World Bank and the UN Comtrade and by analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of the global green product trade pattern from 2001 to 2018, and it explores the product structure and status changes of countries (regions) in the global trading system for green products. According to the research findings, the closely connected global trade network for green products continues to expand. This is a typical network comprising “smaller worlds”; the focus of green product exports has largely stayed unchanged, while imports are shifting from North America and East Asia towards North America, Europe, and the Middle East; the spatial structure of the network shows a transition away from the original transcontinental “dual arch” pattern with the United States at the core towards a “transcontinental + intracontinental” one characterized by the coexistence of “multiple arches” centering around Europe and Asia; the trade network adopts a “point-to-point” model, with no obvious interdependence and competition between countries (regions); furthermore, geographically proximate and culturally similar countries are prone to have closer trade ties. By clarifying the global trade network of green products industry under the background of big health industry, it will help to deepen the understanding of the relationship between participating countries, promote the long-term and stable development of national health industry trade, provide the public with more safe and harmless products, better meet the global public’s health needs, and effectively enhance the sustainability of public health.

Multidimensional Assessment and Alleviation of Global Energy Poverty Aligned With UN SDG 7

There are increasing concerns that energy poverty across nations is weakening the global efforts toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A systematic assessment of energy poverty is, therefore, essential to track the spatiotemporal pattern of SDG 7 and monitor the global efforts in alleviating energy poverty. This article develops the first Multidimensional Energy Poverty Assessment Index (MEAI), incorporating energy availability, affordability, and efficiency applicable to quantify the spatiotemporal dynamics of energy poverty development at global, regional, and national scales. Our analyses indicate that the overall MEAI and indices in all dimensions decreased from 2001 to 2016 at a global level with energy affordability experiencing the highest decline. The MEAI at the national level declines within the same period, showing significant regional heterogeneity in terms of the sub-index. Energy efficiency in developed and less-developed regions is characterized by high carbon emissions and low energy modernization, respectively. The energy availability indices are lower in developed nations and in nations with abundant energy resources. Overall, our results highlight a sudden increase in MEAI for Central America in 2014 and a gradual decline in MEAI for East Asia during 2014–2016. A call for regional actions is critically needed to solve energy poverty from different facets.

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Burned Areas Based on the Geographic Information System for Fire Risk Monitoring

Forest and land fires occur every year in Indonesia. Efforts to handle forest and land fires have not been optimal because fires occur in too many places with unclear patterns and densities. The study analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of burned areas and fire density in fire-prone areas in Indonesia. Data of burned areas were taken from http://sipongi.menlhk.go.id/. The website collected its data from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) images. Data were analyzed using the hot spot analysis to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of the burned areas and the kernel density analysis to examine the density of land fires. Findings showed that the spatiotemporal pattern from 2016 to 2019 formed a hot spot value in the peatland area with a confidence level of 90–99%, meaning that land fires were clustered in that area. In addition, the highest density of land fires also occurred in the peatland areas. Clustered burned areas with high fire density were found in areas with low–medium vegetation density—they were the peatland areas. The peatland areas must become the priority to prevent and handle forest and land fires to reduce fire risks.