Double-edge sword roles of iron in driving energy production versus instigating ferroptosis

Iron is vital for many physiological functions, including energy production, and dysregulated iron homeostasis underlies a number of pathologies. Ferroptosis is a recently recognized form of regulated cell death that is characterized by iron dependency and lipid peroxidation, and this process has been reported to be involved in multiple diseases. The mechanisms underlying ferroptosis are complex, and involve both well-described pathways (including the iron-induced Fenton reaction, impaired antioxidant capacity, and mitochondrial dysfunction) and novel interactions linked to cellular energy production. In this review, we examine the contribution of iron to diverse metabolic activities and their relationship to ferroptosis. There is an emphasis on the role of iron in driving energy production and its link to ferroptosis under both physiological and pathological conditions. In conclusion, excess reactive oxygen species production driven by disordered iron metabolism, which induces Fenton reaction and/or impairs mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, is a key inducer of ferroptosis.

A Computational Dissection of Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in late November, 2021 and its rapid spread to different countries, warns the health authorities to take initiative to work on containing its spread. The omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant is unusual from the other variants of concerns reported earlier as it harbors many novel mutations in its genome particularly with >30 mutations in the spike glycoprotein alone. The current study investigated the variation in binding mechanism which it carries compared to the wild type. The study also explored the interaction profile of spike-omicron with human ACE2 receptor. The structure of omicron spike glycoprotein was determined though homology modeling. The interaction analysis was performed through docking using HADDOCK followed by binding affinity calculation. Finally, the comparison of interactions were performed among spike-ACE2 complex of wild type, delta and omicron variants. The interaction analysis has revealed the involvement of highly charged and polar residues (H505, Arg498, Ser446, Arg493, and Tyr501) in the interactions. The important novel interactions in the spike-ACE2-omicron complex was observed as S494:H34, S496:D38, R498:Y41, Y501:K353, and H505:R393 and R493:D38. Moreover, the binding affinity of spike-ACE2-omicron complex (-17.6Kcal/mol) is much higher than wild type-ACE2 (-13.2Kcal/mol) and delta-ACE2 complex (-13.3Kcal/mol). These results indicate that the involvement of polar and charged residues in the interactions with ACE2 may have an impact on increased transmissibility of omicron variant.

A New Family of Interactions between Clothed Particles in QED

The method of unitary clothing transformations (UCTs) has been applied to the quantum electrodynamics (QED) by using the clothed particle representation (CPR). Within CPR, the Hamiltonian for interacting electromagnetic and electron-positron fields takes the form in which the interaction operators responsible for such two-particle processes as e−e− → e−e−, e+e+ → e+e+, e−e+ → e−e+, e−e+ → yy, yy → e−e+, ye− → ye−, and ye+ → ye+ are obtained on the same physical footing. These novel interactions include the off-energy-shell and recoil effects (the latter without any expansion in (v/c)2-series) and their on-energy shell matrix elements reproduce the well-known results derived within the perturbation theory based on the Dyson expansion for the S-matrix (in particular, the Møller formula for the e−e−-scattering, the Bhabha formula for e−e+-scattering, and the Klein–Nishina one for the Compton scattering).

Anisotropic interaction and motion states of locusts in a hopper band

Swarming locusts present a quintessential example of animal collective motion. Juvenile locusts march and hop across the ground in coordinated groups called hopper bands. Composed of up to millions of insects, hopper bands exhibit coordinated motion and various collective structures. These groups are well-documented in the field, but the individual insects themselves are typically studied in much smaller groups in laboratory experiments. We present the first trajectory data that detail the movement of individual locusts within a hopper band in a natural setting. Using automated video tracking, we derive our data from footage of four distinct hopper bands of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera. We reconstruct nearly twenty-thousand individual trajectories composed of over 3.3 million locust positions. We classify these data into three motion states: stationary, walking, and hopping. Distributions of relative neighbor positions reveal anisotropies that depend on motion state. Stationary locusts have high-density areas distributed around them apparently at random. Walking locusts have a low-density area in front of them. Hopping locusts have low-density areas in front and behind them. Our results suggest novel interactions, namely that locusts change their motion to avoid colliding with neighbors in front of them.

Bioinformatic Tools for the Analysis and Prediction of ncRNA Interactions

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play prominent roles in the regulation of gene expression via their interactions with other biological molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. Although much of our knowledge about how these ncRNAs operate in different biological processes has been obtained from experimental findings, computational biology can also clearly substantially boost this knowledge by suggesting possible novel interactions of these ncRNAs with other molecules. Computational predictions are thus used as an alternative source of new insights through a process of mutual enrichment because the information obtained through experiments continuously feeds through into computational methods. The results of these predictions in turn shed light on possible interactions that are subsequently validated experimentally. This review describes the latest advances in databases, bioinformatic tools, and new in silico strategies that allow the establishment or prediction of biological interactions of ncRNAs, particularly miRNAs and lncRNAs. The ncRNA species described in this work have a special emphasis on those found in humans, but information on ncRNA of other species is also included.

Mobility-as-a-Service: Simulation of Multi-Modal Operations in Low-Density Cities

In the case of the low-density city, empirical evidence continuously demonstrates that transit investment is not a magic bullet. Desirable outcomes are not guaranteed and are often dependent on development density and other urban characteristics. Mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) presents a new approach: a digital platform providing access to multi-modal travel alternatives and totally comprehensive integrated trip-making, planning, and payment services. Review of the literature highlights shortcomings in traditional transportation planning by examining aspects of multi-modal planning such as adoption, parterships, operations, integration, capacity implications, and impact analyses. To enhance the practice of multi-modal planning, the following experiment evaluates various performance measures and inter-modal interactions on International Drive in Orlando, Florida, U.S., via D- and I-optimal experimental designs in a simulated MaaS network. Alternative scenarios are developed comparing varied modal shares across five travel modes: personal vehicles, transit, ridesourcing (or ride-hailing), micro-mobility, and walking. The modal effects are analyzed to highlight the strengths and weakness of each mode under a variety of congestion conditions. While transit enjoys the lowest impact per person, ridesourcing demonstrates adverse effects across all measures. Based on the novel interactions of transit and ridesourcing with directional demand, strategies are outlined for optimizing ridesourcing-transit integration to reduce route travel time, queuing, and overall network delay. The performance impacts of curbside facilities are also discussed for improved multi-modal integration at the street level. These findings are applied to propose a framework for effective planning and implementation of mobility services in low-density cities, focused on operations, city-level connectivity, and curbside management.

Benevolent Sexism, Attachment, and Chivalry: Examining the Role of Unfulfilled Needs in Contexts of Dependence

<p>Previous research demonstrate links between men’s and women’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and the provision/acceptance of chivalrous behaviours that increase women’s dependence on men. Research also shows that men who are relatively more anxiously attached also tend to be more endorsing of benevolent sexism as it facilitates dependence and fulfilment of relational needs. Thus, men’s preoccupations with satisfying their relational needs should heighten their tendency to behave chivalrously. This thesis examined whether attachment anxiety moderates the link between individual’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and their provision/acceptance of dependency-oriented support—behaviours that emphasise men’s high status and women’s dependence. This study also tested whether men providing, and women accepting support predicts fulfilment of relational needs. Study 1 and 2 (N = 354) examined links between endorsement of benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented dating behaviours in online samples. Results replicated the existing link between men’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support, but did not lend support for the moderating role of attachment anxiety. In Study 3, romantic couples (N = 158) discussed personal goals with one another and coders observed levels of dependency-oriented support provision and acceptance. The relationship between benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support for men was once again replicated. Novel interactions also emerged which suggests that holding derogatory beliefs about women may also motivate men’s dependency-oriented support giving. Predictions about the role of attachment anxiety and need fulfilment produced unexpected findings demonstrating that it may be a lack of avoidant rather than attachment anxiety that moderates the relationship between benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support. These studies illustrate that chivalrous, dependency-oriented behaviours cannot be examined in isolation from beliefs about gender roles, relational schemas, and context.</p>

Benevolent Sexism, Attachment, and Chivalry: Examining the Role of Unfulfilled Needs in Contexts of Dependence

<p>Previous research demonstrate links between men’s and women’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and the provision/acceptance of chivalrous behaviours that increase women’s dependence on men. Research also shows that men who are relatively more anxiously attached also tend to be more endorsing of benevolent sexism as it facilitates dependence and fulfilment of relational needs. Thus, men’s preoccupations with satisfying their relational needs should heighten their tendency to behave chivalrously. This thesis examined whether attachment anxiety moderates the link between individual’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and their provision/acceptance of dependency-oriented support—behaviours that emphasise men’s high status and women’s dependence. This study also tested whether men providing, and women accepting support predicts fulfilment of relational needs. Study 1 and 2 (N = 354) examined links between endorsement of benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented dating behaviours in online samples. Results replicated the existing link between men’s endorsement of benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support, but did not lend support for the moderating role of attachment anxiety. In Study 3, romantic couples (N = 158) discussed personal goals with one another and coders observed levels of dependency-oriented support provision and acceptance. The relationship between benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support for men was once again replicated. Novel interactions also emerged which suggests that holding derogatory beliefs about women may also motivate men’s dependency-oriented support giving. Predictions about the role of attachment anxiety and need fulfilment produced unexpected findings demonstrating that it may be a lack of avoidant rather than attachment anxiety that moderates the relationship between benevolent sexism and dependency-oriented support. These studies illustrate that chivalrous, dependency-oriented behaviours cannot be examined in isolation from beliefs about gender roles, relational schemas, and context.</p>