Tracking mutational semantics of SARS-CoV-2 genomes

Genomes have an inherent context dictated by the order in which the nucleotides and higher order genomic elements are arranged in the DNA/RNA. Learning this context is a daunting task, governed by the combinatorial complexity of interactions possible between ordered elements of genomes. Can natural language processing be employed on these orderly, complex and also evolving datatypes (genomic sequences) to reveal the latent patterns or context of genomic elements (e.g Mutations)? Here we present an approach to understand the mutational landscape of Covid-19 by treating the temporally changing (continuously mutating) SARS-CoV-2 genomes as documents. We demonstrate how the analogous interpretation of evolving genomes to temporal literature corpora provides an opportunity to use dynamic topic modeling (DTM) and temporal Word2Vec models to delineate mutation signatures corresponding to different Variants-of-Concerns and tracking the semantic drift of Mutations-of-Concern (MoC). We identified and studied characteristic mutations affiliated to Covid-infection severity and tracked their relationship with MoCs. Our ground work on utility of such temporal NLP models in genomics could supplement ongoing efforts in not only understanding the Covid pandemic but also provide alternative strategies in studying dynamic phenomenon in biological sciences through data science (especially NLP, AI/ML).

DESIGN OF APPARATUS FOR EVALUATION OF TEMP-DEPENDENCE OF CREEP EFFECT IN PAM

The creep effect in relationship with the research of pneumatic artificial muscles represents a dynamic phenomenon characterized by slow changes in muscle displacement caused by the material's elasticity. However, the temperature of the environment in which the muscle works affects the temperature of the muscle. It also affects the creep effect itself; as a result, the process of identifying hysteresis models of muscle becomes difficult. The article contains a description and implementation of a measuring apparatus designed to measure the temperature dependence of the creep effect of fluid muscles. The apparatus was designed and constructed at the authors' workplace to analyze the creep effect and evaluate its impact on the accuracy of experimental models describing the dynamics of the drive.

Still Joy: A Call for Wonder(ing) in Science Education as Anti-racist Vibrant Life-Living

Wonder is an elusive yet ever-present dynamic phenomenon that deserves more attention in (science) education. What might wonder have to do with critiquing science (as the hegemonic and “neutral” discipline it has become) and living out a more life-affirming and anti-racist vision of science education? In this chapter I share a meta-assemblage research-creation: a researcher-created experimental exhibit of found poetic data assemblages about wonder, joy, Black life, neurodiversity, love, science, and science education. The intention of this meta-assemblage research-creation is to explore the affective flows of the phenomenon of wonder, while also inviting consideration of how the multiple forces and co-components of the body(ies) assembled here move together in an uneasy and historically traceable tension. These co-movements suggest how “traditional” science and school science education are not only complicit with, but also may be directly implicated as primary protagonists in the violent anti-Black racism and planet-wide suffering happening today. A more wonder-filled approach to science education may be necessary now more than ever.

Subcellular spatial transcriptomics identifies three mechanistically different classes of localizing RNAs

Intracellular RNA localization is a widespread and dynamic phenomenon that compartmentalizes gene expression and contributes to the functional polarization of cells. Thus far, mechanisms of RNA localization identified in Drosophila have been based on a few RNAs in different tissues, and a comprehensive mechanistic analysis of RNA localization in a single tissue is lacking. Here, by subcellular spatial transcriptomics we identify RNAs localized in the apical and basal domains of the columnar follicular epithelium (FE) and we analyze the mechanisms mediating their localization. Whereas the dynein/BicD/Egl machinery controls apical RNA localization, basally-targeted RNAs require kinesin-1 to overcome a “default” dynein-mediated transport. Moreover, a non-canonical, translation- and dynein-dependent mechanism mediates apical localization of a subgroup of dynein-activating adaptor RNAs (BicD, Bsg25D, hook). Altogether, our study identifies at least three mechanisms underlying RNA localization in the FE, and suggests a possible link between RNA localization and dynein/dynactin/adaptor complex formation in vivo.

Sensing of Microvascular Vasomotion Using Consumer Camera

In this paper, we will introduce a method for observing microvascular waves (MVW) by extracting different images from the available images in the video taken with consumer cameras. Microvascular vasomotion is a dynamic phenomenon that can fluctuate over time for a variety of reasons and its sensing is used for variety of purposes. The special device, a side stream dark field camera (SDF camera) was developed in 2015 for the medical purpose to observe blood flow from above the epidermis. However, without using SDF cameras, smart signal processing can be combined with a consumer camera to analyze the global motion of microvascular vasomotion. MVW is a propagation pattern of microvascular vasomotions which reflects biological properties of vascular network. In addition, even without SDF cameras, MVW can be analyzed as a spatial and temporal pattern of microvascular vasomotion using a combination of advanced signal processing with consumer cameras. In this paper, we will demonstrate that such vascular movements and MVW can be observed using a consumer cameras. We also show a classification using it.

Young Swimmers' Anthropometrics, Biomechanics, Energetics, and Efficiency as Underlying Performance Factors: A Systematic Narrative Review

Introduction: In youth swimming, researchers are interested in understanding how anthropometry and parameters related to swimming technique (biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency) influence the performance. However, there is not any review in the literature that consolidates the body of knowledge of this topic. The objective of this study was to review systematically the current body of work on the influence of determinant factors related to swimming technique (biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency) and anthropometry in the young performance of swimmers.Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to identify relevant studies.Results: After screening, 240 studies were analyzed and 59 related to swimming performance, and its determinant factors were retained for synthesis. Studies revealed a high-quality index by PEDro scale (mean score was 7.17 ± 1.40). Twenty-five studies were longitudinal designs and the remaining 34 cross-sectional designs. Most of the studies (N = 39, 66.1%) reported concurrently two or more determinant factors (anthropometrics, biomechanics, energetics, and efficiency).Conclusion: Youth swimming research relies on a multifactorial assessment. From the synthesis, it is possible to conclude that the performance of young swimmers is characterized by a multifactorial, holistic, and dynamic phenomenon. Better performance has always been related to better swimming technique and higher anthropometrics. This suggests that both anthropometrics (i.e., nature) and training (i.e., nurture) play key roles in the swimming performance of young swimmers.

Metaphorical Perceptions of Preservice Social Studies Teachers About the Communication Skills

The study aimed to determine the perceptions of preservice social studies teachers about communication; metaphors were employed to determine communication skill perceptions. In the study, a qualitative research method known as phenomenology design was employed. The study group included 127 preservice social studies teachers in various classes. In the study, metaphoric perceptions form was used to collect the data. The collected data were analysed with content analysis. The study findings demonstrated that preservice social studies teachers produced 36 valid metaphors in 7 different conceptual categories (a requirement, a nonverbal code system, a mutual process, a positive connotation, a unifying element, a dynamic phenomenon, communication as a method to reflect ideas). The total metaphor count and metaphor frequencies revealed that the highest number of metaphors was produced in the communications as a requirement category. The most repeated metaphor in this category was the requirement of water to sustain life. In this category, concepts such as blood, breathing, and oxygen, which are important for human life, were expressed as metaphors that represented communication skills.

THE ESSENCE OF MODERN TERRORISM AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSION OF THE NATURE OF TERRORISM

Terrorism as a phenomenon has a complex structure in which ideological, social, religious, ethnic, psychological and other elements are intertwined. Modern terrorism is a complex and dynamic phenomenon that successfully adapts to the political and economic situation. Effective counteraction is beyond the power of any independent specialized institution or individual country. Understanding of the concept of terrorism is linked to the analysis of the common features of modern terrorism. Based on the content of ideology and motivation, as well as the specifics of the methods of action, there are differences between terrorism based on left and right ideologies, on nationalism and separatism, and with different religious motivations.

Save Our Roads from GNSS Jamming: A Crowdsource Framework for Threat Evaluation

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) jamming is an acute problem in the world of modern navigation. As more and more applications rely on GNSS for both position and timing, jamming ramifications are becoming more severe. In this paper we suggest a novel framework to cope with these threats. First, a Bayesian jamming detection algorithm is introduced. The algorithm can both detect and track several jammers in a pre-defined region of interest. Then, a jamming coverage map algorithm is offered. Similar to cellular 3G/4G coverage maps, such a map can detect “weak” GNSS reception spots and handle them. Since jamming interference can be a dynamic phenomenon (e.g., a vehicle equipped with a jammer), the coverage map changes with time. Thus, interference patterns can be detected more easily. Utilizing the offered algorithm, both on simulation and field experiments, we have succeeded to localize an arbitrary jammer(s) within the region of interest. Thus, the results validate the viability of the proposed method.