bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GRACE a witness to the Recovery of the Tigris-Euphrates Hydrologic System
Authors: Sultan Mohamed , Abdelmohsen Karem , Save Himanshu
Published: October 2020

Global warming is producing climatic changes across the world that affect in major ways the livelihood of major sectors of the world’s population. Over the past decade or two, an increase in the frequency and intensity of specific climatic phenomena (e.g., hurricanes, wet or dry periods, etc.) has been reported from many parts of the globe and is believed to be climate change-related. Over the past few years, the largest and most intense precipitation events were recorded over the Tigris and Euphrates watershed (TEW), a heavily engineered watershed (> 60 main dams) that is shared by Turkey, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Analysis of the Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) precipitation record over the past 40 year (1979-present) across the TEW revealed a prolonged dry period (2002- to 2017; Average Annual Precipitation [AAP]: 240 km3), followed by wet years (2018 to 2020; AAP: 425 km3). The recent extensive precipitation events during the wet period are reflected in GRACE and GRACE-FO data. Throughout the dry period there was a total decline in GRACETWS of 212 km3 (13.3 km3/yr) followed by an increase of 246 km3 (82 km3/yr) during the wet period.  In other words, in the past 2.5 years, the TEW more than recovered its losses during the previous 15 years. This recovery was enabled in part by the impoundment of surface water behind the many dams in the riparian countries and by infiltration of precipitation that recharged the TEW aquifers. Using radar altimetry we observe an increase in surface water levels by 8 m in Lake Ataturk, 13 m in Lake Karakaya, 1.5 m in Lake Van in Turkey, 5 m in Lake Assad in Syria, and 16 m in Lake Tharthar, and 24 m in Lake Mosul in Iraq.  These translate to a volume increase of 21.7 km3 in Turkey, 3.5 km3 in Syria, and 34 km3 in Iraq during the wet period. Using GRACE data and outputs of land surface models, we estimate that groundwater storage GRACETWS declined at a rate of -7 km3/yr during the dry period and increased at a rate of 60 km3/yr during the wet years.
Constellations and formations of small satellites in NGGM concepts
Authors: Pfaffenzeller Nikolas , Pail Roland
Published: October 2020

In the context of an increased public interest in climate-relevant processes, a number of studies on Next Generation Gravity Missions (NGGMs) have been commissioned to better map mass transport processes on Earth. On the basis of the successfully completed gravity field missions CHAMP, GOCE and GRACE as well as the current satellite mission GRACE-FO, different concepts were examined for their feasibility and economic efficiency. The focus is on increasing the spatiotemporal resolution while simultaneously reducing the known error effects such as the aliasing of temporal gravity fields due to under-sampling of signals and uncertainties in ocean tide models. An additional inclined pair to a GRACE-like satellite pair (Bender constellation) is the most promising solution. Since the costs for a realization of the Bender constellation are very high, this contribution focuses on alternative concepts in the form of different constellations and formations of small satellites. The latter includes both satellite pairs and chains consisting of trailing satellites. The aim is to provide a cost-effective alternative to the previous gravity field satellites while simultaneously increasing the spatiotemporal resolution and minimizing the above mentioned error effects. In numerical closed-loop simulations, various scenarios will be conducted which differ in orbit parameters like shape and number of orbits and the number of satellites per orbit and instrument performances. Additionally, the impacts from the co-parametrization of non-tidal short periodic temporal gravity field signal on the gravity field solutions (so-called Wiese approach), obtained by the different concepts, will be investigated. In particular the possibilities and limits with multiple satellites pairs for achieving the highest possible spatial and temporal resolution in (sub-)daily temporal gravity fields shall be analyzed in detail which is crucial for macrosocial tasks in water balance estimation and water management.
Barystatic Sea-Level Rise from GRACE-based Solutions of the Sea-Level-Equation
Authors: Dobslaw Henryk , Dill Robert , Bagge Meike , Klemann Volker , Boergens Eva , Thomas Maik , Dahle Christoph , Flechtner Frank
Published: October 2020

Based on the latest GFZ release 06 of monthly gravity fields from GRACE satellite mission, area-averaged barystatic sea-level is found to rise by 2.02 mm/a during the period April 2002 until August 2016  in the open ocean with a 1000 km coastal buffer zone when low degree coefficients are properly augmented with information from satellite laser ranging. Alternative spherical harmonics solutions from CSR, JPL and TU Graz reveal  rates between 1.94 and 2.08 mm/a, thereby demonstrating that systematic differences among the centers are much reduced in the latest release. The results from the direct integration in the open ocean can be aligned to associated solutions of the sea-level equation when fractional leakage derived from two differently filtered global gravity fields is explicitly considered, leading to a global mean sea-level rise of 1.72 mm/a. This result implies that estimates obtained from a 1000 km coastal buffer zone are biased 0.3 mm/a high due the systematic omission of regions with below-average barystatic sea-level rise in regions close to substantial coastal mass losses induced by the reduced gravitational attraction of the remaining continental ice and water masses.
Seasonal and interannual variability of melt-season albedo at Haig Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Authors: Marshall Shawn J. , Miller Kristina
Published: October 2020

Abstract. In situ observations of summer (June through August, or JJA) albedo are presented for the period 2002–2017 from Haig Glacier in the Canadian Rocky
Mountains. The observations provide insight into the seasonal evolution and interannual variability of snow and ice albedo, including the effects of
summer snowfall, the decay of snow albedo through the melt season, and the potential short-term impacts of regional wildfire activity on glacier-albedo reductions. Mean JJA albedo (± 1σ) recorded at an automatic weather station in the upper ablation zone of the glacier was
αS=0.55 ± 0.07 over this period, with no evidence of long-term trends in surface albedo. Each summer the surface conditions
at the weather station undergo a transition from a dry, reflective spring snowpack (αS∼0.8) to a wet, homogeneous midsummer
snowpack (αS∼0.5) to exposed, impurity-rich glacier ice, with a measured albedo of 0.21 ± 0.06 over the study
period. The ice albedo drops to ∼ 0.12 during years of intense regional wildfire activity such as 2003 and 2017, but it recovers from this in
subsequent years. This seasonal albedo decline is well simulated through a parameterization of snow-albedo decay based on cumulative positive degree
days (PDDs), but the parameterization does not capture the impact of summer snowfall events, which cause transient increases in albedo and significantly
reduce glacier melt. We introduce this effect through a stochastic parameterization of summer precipitation events within a surface energy balance
model. The amount of precipitation and the date of snowfall are randomly selected for each model realization based on a predefined number of
summer snow events. This stochastic parameterization provides an improved representation of the mean summer albedo and mass balance at Haig Glacier.
We also suggest modifications to conventional degree-day melt factors to better capture the effects of seasonal albedo evolution in temperature-index or positive-degree-day melt models on mountain glaciers. Climate, hydrology, or glacier mass balance models that use these methods typically
use a binary rather than continuum approach to prescribing melt factors, with one melt factor for snow and one for ice. As alternatives, monthly
melt factors effectively capture the seasonal albedo evolution, or melt factors can be estimated as a function of the albedo where these data are
available.
Temporal and spatial variability in surface roughness and accumulation rate around 88° S from repeat airborne geophysical surveys
Authors: Studinger Michael , Medley Brooke C. , Brunt Kelly M. , Casey Kimberly A. , Kurtz Nathan T. , Manizade Serdar S. , Neumann Thomas A. , Overly Thomas B.
Published: October 2020

Abstract. We use repeat high-resolution airborne geophysical data
consisting of laser altimetry, snow, and Ku-band radar and optical imagery
acquired in 2014, 2016, and 2017 to analyze the spatial and temporal
variability in surface roughness, slope, wind deposition, and snow
accumulation at 88∘ S, an elevation bias validation site for
ICESat-2 and potential validation site for CryoSat-2. We find significant
small-scale variability (<10 km) in snow accumulation based on the
snow radar subsurface stratigraphy, indicating areas of strong wind
redistribution are prevalent at 88∘ S. In general, highs in snow
accumulation rate correspond with topographic lows, resulting in a negative
correlation coefficient of r2=-0.32 between accumulation rate and
MSWD (mean slope in the mean wind direction). This relationship is strongest
in areas where the dominant wind direction is parallel to the survey
profile, which is expected as the geophysical surveys only capture a
two-dimensional cross section of snow redistribution. Variability in snow
accumulation appears to correlate with variability in MSWD. The correlation
coefficient between the standard deviations of accumulation rate and MSWD is
r2=0.48, indicating a stronger link between the standard deviations
than the actual parameters. Our analysis shows that there is no simple
relationship between surface slope, wind direction, and snow accumulation
rates for the overall survey area. We find high variability in surface
roughness derived from laser altimetry measurements on length scales
smaller than 10 km, sometimes with very distinct and sharp transitions. Some
areas also show significant temporal variability over the course of the 3
survey years. Ultimately, there is no statistically significant
slope-independent relationship between surface roughness and accumulation
rates within our survey area. The observed correspondence between the
small-scale temporal and spatial variability in surface roughness and
backscatter, as evidenced by Ku-band radar signal strength retrievals, will
make it difficult to develop elevation bias corrections for radar altimeter
retrieval algorithms.
Dimension of Local Security – Selected Issues
Authors: Babiński Aleksander Cezary
Published: October 2020

immediate living space of a person. Contemporary civilization processes and opportunities resulting from them cause that man ceases to close himself only to the matters of his immediate environment. The development of self-governance, which started in the 1990s, and its three-level expansion, made citizens conscious participants of social life at the municipality, county and province level. The article presents selected issues related to the contemporary dimension of local security. Local boundaries determining the issues of this environment and examples of threats that may affect the sense of security of its inhabitants were indicated. The possibilities of counteracting threats to the local environment by setting the standards of the binding legal order were also presented.
Periodogram Analysis under the Popper-Bayes Approach
Authors: Caminha-Maciel George
Published: October 2020

In this chapter, we discuss the use of the Lomb-Scargle periodogram, its advantages, and pitfalls on a geometrical rather than statistical point of view. It means emphasizing more on the transformation properties of the finite sampling – the available data – rather than on the ensemble properties of the assumed model statistical distributions. We also present a brief overview and criticism of recent literature on the subject and its new developments. The whole discussion is under the geophysical inverse theory point of view, the Tarantola’s combination of information or the so-called Popper-Bayes approach. This approach has been very successful in dealing with large ill-conditioned, or under-determined complex problems. In the case of periodogram analysis, this approach allows us to manage more naturally the experimental data distributions and its anomalies (uncorrelated noise, sampling artifacts, windowing, aliasing, spectral leakage, among others). Finally, we discuss the Lomb-Scargle-Tarantola (LST) periodogram: an estimator of spectral content existing in irregularly sampled time series that implements these principles.
Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Addicted and Non-Addicted Women in Zahedan, Southeast of Iran
Authors: Dehghan Haghighi Javid , Hosseini Asiyeh , Shafiei Reza , Mehravaran Ahmad , Alijani Ebrahim , Mirahmadi Hadi
Published: October 2020

Background: Toxoplasma gondii might lead to behavioral changes in patients with toxoplasmosis. Since addicts are considered as individuals with behavioral, social, and psychiatric changes, we need to evaluate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in addicts. Objectives: This cross-sectional study was conducted to measure Toxoplasma antibodies using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in addicted women who were kept at the Zahedan Welfare Center in 2018. Patients and Methods: Ninety-six addicted women with high-risk behaviors and history of narcotic drug consumption as the case group and 96 non-addicted women (without a history of narcotic drug consumption) as the control group participated in this study. They had no history of alcohol consumption. The type of consumed narcotic drugs and the way of the consumption of narcotic drugs were indicated in the participants. After taking blood samples and separating the sera, the opium rapid strips were used to confirm the addiction status of the participants. Then, all sera were evaluated for Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies using ELISA. Results: All sera showed positive results for addition using opium rapid strips. The ELISA results indicated that the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgM in addicted women was 0.96%. Also, the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma IgG was identified as 37.5% in addicted women and 27.1% in the control group. Conclusions: According to the low difference in the rate of Toxoplasma IgG between addicts and controls, and the low rate of Toxoplasma IgM, the relationship between addiction and toxoplasmosis was not proven in this study. Presumably, different factors can be involved, so more studies are needed to elucidate the reasons for the high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in addicts.
Filling In and the Nature of Visual Experience
Authors: Tye Michael ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2020

This essay begins with a discussion of the phenomenon of filling in. It is argued that filling in is naturally accounted for by taking visual experiences to be importantly like drawn pictures of the world outside. An alternative proposal is then considered, one that models visual experiences on incomplete descriptions. It is shown that introspection does not favor the pictorial view. It is also shown that the phenomenon of blurriness in visual experience does not provide a good reason for favoring the pictorial view either. Why, then, be a pictorialist? It is argued that visual experiences conform to what have been called “the laws of appearance” and that their conformity to these laws gives us an excellent reason for preferring the pictorial account.
Benefits and Risks of Direct-to-Consumer Testing
Authors: Ayala-Lopez Nadia , Nichols James H.
Published: October 2020

Context.—

Convenience, avoidance of doctor's appointments, curiosity, and the desire to take control of one's health are driving interest toward direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing. DTC is laboratory testing that is initiated by the consumer without a physician order. The results are reported back directly to the consumer. DTC testing is an exciting addition to the traditional healthcare model for consumers who want knowledge of their health status and disease risk, ancestry, and their body's expected response to certain medications based on their genotype.

Objectives.—

To discuss the perceived and potential benefits and risks involved in DTC testing.

Data Sources.—

Recent published literature on DTC testing.

Conclusions.—

The benefits of DTC testing are enticing and are driving the DTC testing market. Consumers must weigh the perceived benefits with the potential risks, including privacy concerns, the possibility of receiving confusing health information, and/or information that could generate unexpected emotions, misdiagnosis, and over-testing.
Turismo de paisaje, desarrollo sostenible y ordenación del territorio en la isla de La Palma (Islas Canarias) = Landscape Tourism, Sustainable Development and Territorial Planning in La Palma (Canary Islands)
Authors: Guerra Guerra Juan
Published: October 2020

La actual estructura socioeconómica de la isla de La Palma (Islas Canarias), dependiente en gran medida del sector público y de las ayudas institucionales, está generando un progresivo declive económico y pérdida de población a escala insular. Como respuesta a la crisis por la que atraviesa el sector primario y de la previsible reducción de ayudas al plátano –principal sector productivo en la isla– en la actualidad, desde la esfera política se trata de dinamizar el tejido productivo insular apostando abiertamente por un turismo vinculado al paisaje y al espacio rural, como sector estratégico en torno al cual construir un modelo de desarrollo equilibrado y sostenible.AbstractThe current socio-economic structure of the island of La Palma (Canary Islands), dependent to a large extent on the public sector and on institutional aid, is generating a progressive economic decline and loss of population on an island scale. In response to the crisis that the primary sector is going through and the foreseeable reduction of aid to bananas –the main productive sector on the island– nowadays, from the political sphere, it is about boosting the productive fabric of the island by openly betting on tourism linked to the landscape and the rural space as a strategic sector around which to build a model of balanced and sustainable development.
Self-Reflection as a Tool for the Formation of Information Culture Foundations of Preschool Children
Authors: Abitova Gulbanu T. , Bapayeva Mariyam K. , Ermekbaeva Laura K. , Utepbergenova Zeynekul D.
Published: October 2020

Objective: The study aims to clarify the essential and urgent socio-pedagogical problem of preparing the young generation for life in the actively developing information society.
Background: At preschool age, the elements of information reflection are expressed in the ability to flexibly respond to information changes and the ability to reason and comprehend the conditions and results of cognitive activity. The most important requirement in the formation of self-reflection of a preschooler is a critical attitude to information which begins with obtaining the information and ends with the adoption of a conscious decision, the formation of one's own attitude.
Method: The primary method of research in the article is the study of literature on the research problem, and a method of analysis, which allowed to assert that self-reflection is an important element of information culture of a preschooler.
Results: The authors singled out and described,

pedagogical conditions of formation of foundations of information culture of children of senior preschool age directed at the creation of the developing information and cultural environment as communicative and creative space in preschool educational establishment;
substantiation of cognitive interest as a fundamental component of stimulating creative and search initiatives of a child;
orientation to the personally significant attitude of a preschooler to the process of formation of the information culture foundations.

Conclusion: The research conducted by the authors allowed to assert that self-reflection is an essential element of the information culture of a preschooler.
Investigating the Effect and Immunity of Tissue Plasminogen Activator in the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Shamsaei Gholam Reza , Rafie Shahram , Rahimi Zeinab
Published: October 2020

Background and Objective: Although current evidence has demonstrated the efficacy and immunity of Alteplase, further studies are needed to evaluate its functioning in the therapeutic system. This study aims to assess the effect and immunity of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS).
Methods: This study was conducted as a retrospective observational study on patients with AIS referred to Ahvaz Golestan Hospital in 2017-2018. By using the hospital database, demographic information, the cause of lack of thrombolytic therapy, the onset of symptoms and admission were extracted. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at the time of referral, 24 hours after treatment, and at the time of discharge, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at discharge time and 3 months after discharge, complications and mortality at the time of admission and 3 months after discharge were recorded.
Results: The mean of the event to needle (hrs) was significantly lower in the tPA group (P <0.0001), and delay in visiting time and loss of golden time were of the main reasons for not receiving tPA in the control group. The mean difference and the decrease in NIHSS score 24 hours after admission and discharge in the tPA group was significantly higher (P <0.0001). At the time of discharge, the mean score of mRS in the two groups was not significantly different. Three months after treatment, the mean score of mRS in the tPA group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P <0.05). The percentage of patients with bleeding complications was higher in the tPA group (7.27%) than that in the control group (4.89%). The percentage of deaths during the hospital stay in the tPA group (3.64%) was higher than that in the control group (1.63%).
Conclusion: Patients with AIS under intravenous thrombolytic therapy with tPA showed improvement in functional measurements and neurological outcomes compared with the control group. Lack of significant difference in the rate of complications and mortality between the two groups indicated the safety and high efficacy of thrombolytic therapy in patients with AIS
The Development of Creative Abilities as a Factor of the Social Maturity of Adolescents
Authors: Emishyants Olga , Trofimov Andrii , Hrys Antonina , Pavliuk Mariia , Shopsha Olena , Tereshchuk Angelina , Polishchuk Svetlana
Published: October 2020

The article considers the concept of the social maturity of adolescents in the context of the development of creative abilities. The relationships of social maturity with socialization, social creativity and innovative thinking of adolescents are researched. It is found that girls are more likely to move from the previous to the next level of social maturity. It is found that with age, the ability to social creativity develops. There is a connection between the level of social creativity and the levels of social autonomy, social morality and social activity of adolescents.
The Relationship between Problematic Use of Smartphones and Social Anxiety
Authors: Korniienko Inokentii O. , Barchi Beata V.
Published: October 2020

This study investigated the smartphone use as the indicators of smartphone addiction and their associations with social anxiety as related variables. Problematic use of smartphones which is well known to be associated with anxiety might act as a common underlying factor explaining social anxiety disorder. This study aims to analyze the associations between mobile phone dependence and social anxiety disorder and to find possible predictors of social anxiety.
Methods: Smartphone addiction assessed using the 20-item Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) and Smartphone addiction scale (SAS). Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) was used to determine social anxiety. The correlational analysis used to investigate the relationship between smartphone addiction and social anxiety. Linear regression conducted to calculate the predictors of social anxiety based on smartphone addiction parameters.
Results: It is revealed that the level of social anxiety and smartphone addiction scales are positively correlated. Linear regression models for male and female participants showed different predictors of social anxiety.
Conclusions: The study provides deeper insights into smartphone use and smartphone addiction as predictors of social anxiety in young people and concluded lesser dependence of males’ social anxiety on smartphone addiction level than the females’.
Cultural sector entities in Wrocław
Authors: Namyślak Beata
Published: October 2020

The present article deals with issues of cultural economics. The author sought to characterise cultural sector entities in Wrocław (Poland). The study is based on a statistical analysis of data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) which characterise the cultural sector in Poland and in the studied city in 2010-2019. Special focus was given to provide the characteristics of the entities, including their number, number of employees, type of activity and spatial distribution. Based on the information collected, the author has formulated the following conclusions: recent years, especially the period 2016-2019, have witnessed a significant increase in the number of cultural entities, active especially in new media. Wrocław’s cultural sector entities tend to be located in the vicinity of the Old Town and along the axis running from the city centre to the south, all the way to the municipality of Kobierzyce. The new trends observed in the development of culture do not build on the potential developed back in the 20th century, for instance in the film or television industry. In some areas (including publishing, radio, television) one can observe intense competition from entities (both domestic and foreign) located in other cities, mainly in Warsaw. No single creative activity is prevailing in Wrocław, which means that the city has not yet selected its specialisation in the field of culture.
Territorial disparities between mountains and lowlands in Greece in the context of post-2020 Cohesion Policy
Authors: Giannakopoulou Stella , Kolokoussis Polychronis , Arvanitis Apostolos
Published: October 2020

While mountain regions face territorial disparities when set against lowlands, the EU’s post-2020 Cohesion Policy seeks to reduce such between regions by focusing on those that are most vulnerable. Along with regions that are otherwise remote, mountainous areas are mostly seen as in decline, and deprived of opportunities to achieve sustainable development. They face serious demographic issues connected closely with migration outflows, while they are characterised by low-quality educational services and a paucity of employment opportunities compared with circumstances in the lowlands. It against this background that the work detailed here was carried out to investigate inequalities between mountain and lowland areas of Greece. Specifically, the focus is on disparities in levels of education and unemployment, as well as population shifts. While the temporal frame comprises the period 2001-2011, the locality is the mountainous Municipal Unit of Ioannina, in the Region of Epirus. The findings reveal high level of inequality in all sectors of vital importance to one of the EU’s poorest regions, while the further aim of the paper id to reveal the main drivers underpinning disparities in the context of post-2020 policy.
La caja amarilla, el logo confinado y otras historias sobre diseño y pandemia
Authors: San Cornelio Gemma
Published: October 2020

Durante los momentos más duros del confinamiento provocado por la COVID-19, se hicieron populares algunas acciones e imágenes de marcas que tomaban posiciones con respecto a su actividad en el contexto de la pandemia. También múltiples materiales gráficos han sido desarrollados para informar, llamar la atención sobre el tema, etc. ¿Cuál ha sido el papel del diseño y el branding? En este artículo comento algunos ejemplos que pueden servir para la reflexión sobre el tema.
Intolerant Democrat Syndrome: The Problem of Indonesian Democratic Consolidation
Authors: Mujani Saiful
Published: October 2020

Indonesia underwent democratization after more than 20 years (1998–2020), but many studies conclude that the country’s democracy is not consolidated and suffered a setback, at least in the last five years. An increase in political intolerance in society is believed to be the cause of this setback. However, studies on Indonesian political tolerance are biased and thus do not reflect actual conditions of general tolerance. This study offers a new unbiased strategy called “content-controlled measures of political tolerance” in the research on political tolerance. This strategy has been used in a series of national public opinion surveys for a relatively long period (2004–2019) and is a source of scarce data for this study. Results present a new finding that preference for democracy, as a measure of democratic consolidation at the attitudinal level, is not accompanied by political tolerance. In fact, political tolerance weakens the consolidation of democracy, which is a symptom of a condition that the author calls the “intolerant democrat syndrome.” In this syndrome, preference for democracy is hampered by political tolerance and vice versa. This syndrome makes the consolidation of Indonesian democracy difficult. Further research on the causes of the emergence of this syndrome is necessary; however, the author suspects that the current constitution contributes systematically to this syndrome.
Pathway-specific dysregulation of striatal excitatory synapses by LRRK2 mutations
Authors: Chen Chuyu , Soto Giulia , Dumrongprechachan Vasin , Bannon Nicholas , Kang Shuo , Kozorovitskiy Yevgenia , Parisiadou Loukia
Published: October 2020

LRRK2 is a kinase expressed in striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs), cells which lose dopaminergic input in Parkinson’s disease (PD). R1441C and G2019S are the most common pathogenic mutations of LRRK2. How these mutations alter the structure and function of individual synapses on direct and indirect pathway SPNs is unknown and may reveal pre-clinical changes in dopamine-recipient neurons that predispose toward disease. Here, R1441C and G2019S knock-in mice enabled thorough evaluation of dendritic spines and synapses on pathway-identified SPNs. Biochemical synaptic preparations and super-resolution imaging revealed increased levels and altered organization of glutamatergic AMPA receptors in LRRK2 mutants. Relatedly, decreased frequency of miniature excitatory post-synaptic currents accompanied changes in dendritic spine nano-architecture, and single-synapse currents, evaluated using two-photon glutamate uncaging. Overall, LRRK2 mutations reshaped synaptic structure and function, an effect exaggerated in R1441C dSPNs. These data open the possibility of new neuroprotective therapies aimed at SPN synapse function, prior to disease onset.
Patient-specific genomics and cross-species functional analysis implicate LRP2 in hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Authors: Theis Jeanne L , Vogler Georg , Missinato Maria A , Li Xing , Nielsen Tanja , Zeng Xin-Xin I , Martinez-Fernandez Almudena , Walls Stanley M , Kervadec Anaïs , Kezos James N , Birker Katja , Evans Jared M , O'Byrne Megan M , Fogarty Zachary C , Terzic André , Grossfeld Paul , Ocorr Karen , Nelson Timothy J , Olson Timothy M , Colas Alexandre R , Bodmer Rolf
Published: October 2020

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs), including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), are genetically complex and poorly understood. Here, a multidisciplinary platform was established to functionally evaluate novel CHD gene candidates, based on whole-genome and iPSC RNA sequencing of a HLHS family-trio. Filtering for rare variants and altered expression in proband iPSCs prioritized 10 candidates. siRNA/RNAi-mediated knockdown in healthy human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) and in developingDrosophilaand zebrafish hearts revealed that LDL receptor-related proteinLRP2is required for cardiomyocyte proliferation and differentiation. Consistent with hypoplastic heart defects, compared to parents the proband’s iPSC-CMs exhibited reduced proliferation. Interestingly, rare, predicted-damaging LRP2 variants were enriched in a HLHS cohort; however, understanding their contribution to HLHS requires further investigation. Collectively, we have established a multi-species high-throughput platform to rapidly evaluate candidate genes and their interactions during heart development, which are crucial first steps toward deciphering oligogenic underpinnings of CHDs, including hypoplastic left hearts.
EFICÁCIA DE HERBICIDAS NO CONTROLE PÓS-EMERGÊNCIA DE CORDA-DE-VIOLA
Authors: Carneiro Gabriella Daier Oliveira Pessoa , Castro Gabriel Henrique Rocha , Costa João Paulo , Silva Maria Tereza Barbosa , Silva Tatiane Severo , Teófilo Taliane Maria Da Silva , Mendes Lucas Da Silva
Published: October 2020

O bom estabelecimento das culturas agrícolas depende de vários fatores ligados à forma de manejo das plantas daninhas. A corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) é uma das plantas daninhas mais problemáticas em lavouras agrícolas no Brasil, causando redução na produção e dificultando as operações de colheita. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia de diferentes herbicidas aplicados em pós-emergência da corda-de-viola. O experimento foi conduzido no período de julho a setembro de 2018 em casa de vegetação. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados (DBC), com seis tratamentos (T1 - glifosato, T2 -clorimuron-etílico, T3 - metsulfuron-metílico, T4 – carfentrazona-etílica, T5 - saflufenacil, T6 – controle sem aplicação de herbicidas), com quatro repetições. Para a determinação da eficácia de controle, foram feitas avaliações de fitointoxicação com base em uma escala visual aos 7, 14 e 21 dias após a aplicação. Neste mesmo período, foi medido o comprimento de raiz, da parte aérea e comprimento total, diâmetro de caule e matéria seca total da planta. A carfentrazona-etílica (30 g i.a. ha-1) e o saflufenacil (35 g i.a. ha-1) são eficientes no controle da corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) em pós-emergência por apresentar controle total desta planta daninha. O glifosato 1920 g e.a. ha-1), clorimuron-etílico (12,5 g i.a. ha-1) e metsulfuron-metílico (3,6 g i.a. ha-1) não são recomendados para o controle de corda-de-viola (Ipomoea sp.) devido à baixa porcentagem de controle.
Quality Evaluation of Fresh Fluted Pumpkin Leaves Stored in Evaporative Coolers
Authors: Balogun A. A. , Ariahu C. C.
Published: October 2020

A study was conducted to evaluate the quality of fresh fluted pumpkin leaves stored in two different types of evaporative coolers- aluminum-cladded burnt-clay-brick evaporative cooler (ABBEC) and non-cladded burnt-clay-brick evaporative cooler (NBBEC) compared with ambient storage as control. The evaporative coolers consisted of double walled rectangular brick construction (1.29×2.55×2.56) m external and (1.13×1.27×2.08) m internal, (length × width × height) with the inter-space filled with riverbed sand saturated with water. Physiological weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, microbial load and organoleptic qualities of the leaves were the parameters determined. Ascorbic acid, beta carotene and titratable acidity decreased while TSS, pH and microbial load increased with storage duration. The shelf life of fluted pumpkin leaves increased to four days in ABBEC from only two days in ambient storage. ABBEC stored leaves retained its freshness better than leaves in NBBEC and ambient storage.
Thermal Power Emission and Its Impact on Betel Vine (Piper betel): A Participatory Action Research in West Bengal
Authors: Quader Sk Wasaful , Ghosh Arindam , Acharya S. K. , Haque Monirul , Mondal Kabita , Biswas Amitava
Published: October 2020

Thermal power stations are now considered as the foremost global concern as these are responsible to produce detrimental effects on the environment. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impact so proposed project or development, taking into account inter-related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. In this study, the perception of certain(60)farmers in 5 villages of Kolaghat block of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India are recorded and analyzed on the basis of their knowledge and views about thermal power, environment and about their individual enterprises. There are 10 independent variables-ages (x1), education (x2), family Member (x3), income (x4), homestead land (x5), total Land (x6), land under Boroj (x7), input cost (x8), and livestock number (x9), distance of villages from Kolaghat thermal power plant (x10) and 1 dependable variables- 1) perceived impacts of Kolaghat thermal power plant on betel vine(y2). From this empirical study, it has been found to be concluded that the common perception among the betel growers is that the Kolaghat thermal power plant produces huge amount of flu ash which reduces their level of income on betel vine. Thick layer of fly ash reduces the quality of leaves and bronzing occurred which affect production. It affects betel vine borojes. It is found from the result that villages which are nearly placed at Kolaghat thermal power plant side are mostly affected.
Twelve‐month change in quantitative MRI calf muscle fat fraction in CMT1A predicts clinical change over 4 years
Authors: Evans Matthew R. B. , Salhab Hamza A. , Sinclair Christopher D. J. , Shah Sachit , Hanna Michael G. , Yousry Tarek A. , Thornton John S. , Morrow Jasper M. , Reilly Mary M.
Published: February 2025

Objective

We measured clinical and quantitative MRI outcome measures in CMT1A to assess long‐term responsiveness, establish longitudinal validity and assess MRI as a bridging biomarker.

Methods

Twenty patients with CMT1A and 20 matched controls underwent MRI, myometry and clinical assessments up to four times over mean 4‐year follow‐up. Bilateral calf muscle MRI included T1‐weighted sequences with Mercuri grading and three‐point Dixon quantitative fat fraction assessment. Patients were grouped on baseline calf muscle fat fraction: normal <5%, intermediate 5%–70% and end stage >70%.

Results

Controls showed no significant change on MRI. CMT1A patients' calf muscle fat percentage progressed across all follow‐up visits: mean absolute change was +1.3 ± 1.2% (mean ± SD) at 12 months, +2.3 ± 2.2% at 27 months and 2.8 ± 2.9% at 49 months. Mercuri grades increased by 0.07 ± 0.11 per year. Responsiveness of individual muscle fat was less than for both calves combined. Patients with intermediate baseline calf muscle fat showed greater progression of 3.7 ± 2.3% at 27 months. There was strong correlation between rate of progression of calf muscle fat and CMT Examination Score (ρ = 0.71, P = 0.005). Calf muscle fat progression at 12 months correlated significantly with annualised CMT Examination Score progression at final visit (ρ = 0.65, P = 0.01).

Interpretation

We demonstrated a consistent progression of calf muscle MRI fat over 4 years, significant longitudinal correlation between CMT Examination Score and calf muscle fat, and potential as a bridging biomarker by 1 year change in fat correlating with long‐term clinical progression. Increasing study duration minimally increased responsiveness; however, selecting patients with intermediate fat fraction significantly increased responsiveness.
Enhanced Energy‐Storage Density and Resistive Switching Behavior in Lead‐Free Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3/Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 Multilayer Thin Films
Authors: Chandrasekaran Kaushiga , Jawahar Kesavan , Reddy Salla Gangi , Annapureddy Venkateswarlu
Published: February 2025

Ferroelectric thin‐film capacitors are of interest for energy storage due to their high charge/discharge rates, essential for compact electronics. As alternatives to Pb‐based materials, environmentally friendly barium titanate–based systems show great energy‐storage potential. Herein, Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3 (BST7)/Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 (BST6) thin films altering the layer structure are designed and constructed on boron‐doped Si <100> substrates by solution‐based spin‐coating method. The structural and electric properties of trilayer thin films are investigated, and the results are compared with those of monolayer thin films such as BST7 and BST6. An enhanced polarization and improved breakdown strength are simultaneously achieved in the BST767 (Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3/Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3/Ba0.7Sr0.3TiO3) trilayer thin film caused by the interfacial effect, which leads to an ultrahigh energy‐storage density (Wrec) of ≈56.9 J cm−3 accompanying an efficiency (η) of ≈72%. The BST767 trilayer capacitor processes a fast charging/discharging speed and a giant power density of 0.72 MW cm−3. These thin‐film capacitors exhibit a relatively high resistive switching behavior with an improved on–off ratio compared to ceramic capacitors. The mechanisms underlying current conduction are thoroughly analyzed. Such performance makes them suitable for future portable electronics, hybrid vehicles, and aerospace applications.
High‐Entropy Ti, Zr, Hf, Ta Multiphase Diboride with Deformation Resistance up to 2000 °C
Authors: Badica Petre , Grigoroscuta Mihai Alexandru , Kuncser Andrei Cristian , Vasylkiv Oleg
Published: February 2025

A multiphase high‐entropy diboride (Ti0.25Ta0.25Hf0.25Zr0.25)B2 is obtained by spark plasma sintering from a mixture of single‐metal diborides. The as‐prepared material at the microscale can be defined as a composite where grains of a Ta‐rich/Ti‐poor complex diboride phase are the reinforcement and grains of Ta‐poor/Ti‐rich complex diboride are the matrix. However, at the nanoscale, the grains are heterogeneous, composed of regions with a multitude of complex diboride compositions. The interface between nanoregions is compositionally graded and has an irregular shape. The four‐metal diboride shows a deformation‐resistant mechanism under bending load. A strengthening process is active, increasing the room temperature bending strength (326 MPa) by ≈50% at 1800 °C (488 MPa). A ductile behavior with a deformation strain of ≈7.5% is observed at 2000 °C while bending strength (407 MPa) is ≈25% above the value at room temperature. At 2000 °C, observation of dislocations propagating from one compositional nanoregion to another and with a different density suggests dislocation contribution, first of all, to plasticity. The peculiar heterogeneity of this material at nano‐ and microscales is considered the reason for the remarkable mechanical response to bending load at different temperatures.
Effect of Microstructure and Mechanical Heterogeneity on Mechanical Fields at Stationary and Growing Crack Tips in Dissimilar Metal Welded Joints
Authors: Wang Zheng , Xue He , Wang Rongxin , Zhang Yubiao
Published: February 2025

Environmentally assisted cracking (EAC) is a slow crack growth phenomenon in dissimilar metal‐welded joints within the primary circuit of pressurized water reactors. Accurately analyzing the mechanical state at the EAC tip is crucial for ensuring the long‐term safety of nuclear power equipment. In this study, microstructure analysis of the SA508‐52M‐316L welded joint was conducted to determine the distribution of mechanical properties in its local regions through hardness testing. A user‐defined field subroutine (USDFLD) is developed to accurately characterize the mechanical heterogeneity of these regions. The effect of mechanical heterogeneity on the mechanical fields at stationary and propagating crack tips in the interface region is investigated. The results show that mechanical heterogeneity primarily originates from the microstructure of the local regions of the welded joint. Significant changes in mechanical properties are often observed at material interfaces, making these regions particularly vulnerable to damage. Under the same loading conditions, mechanical heterogeneity significantly influences the initial mechanical fields. The mechanical field at the crack tip redistributes during crack growth, and significant residual deformation is observed along the crack growth path. To ensure a reliable integrity assessment of nonhomogeneous welded joints, it is recommended to use material properties specific to the crack location.
Significantly Enhancing the Energy‐Storage Properties of Polypropylene Films by Physically Manipulating Their Permittivity and Crystalline Behavior with Polar Organic Molecules
Authors: Ma Dong , Hou Jingchun , Zhang Guanxiang , Meng Sen , Zhang Runze , Xiong Jie , He Weichen , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Meirong , Zhang Zhicheng
Published: February 2025

To meet the increasing demands of modern power electronics for high‐temperature resistance and energy storage performance and avoid the trade‐off between high energy storage (Ue) performance and prominent processability, a strategy to modify polypropylene (PP) by introducing polar electron‐deficient 8‐hydroxyquinoline (8‐HQ) physically during melt extrusion granulation is proposed. 8‐HQ molecules are initially designed to capture charges injected under a high electric field and depress the leakage current density. Unexpectedly, they are found to reside at PP grain boundaries, promoting grain growth and thereby enhancing PP films' mechanical strength. Both effects may address the enhanced breakdown strength (Eb) up to 814 MV m−1. Besides, 8‐HQ increases the permittivity of modified PP films. Due to simultaneously enhanced Eb and dielectric constant, an impressive Ue of 9.87 J cm−3 with a discharge efficiency above 90% is obtained in the optimal sample, and an Ue of 6.96 J cm−3 at 83% efficiency is well retained up to 125 °C, far exceeding the previously reported results. This study offers a novel strategy to modify PP film physically by manipulating its crystalline behavior for high‐pulse energy storage capacitor applications.
Advancing Organic Photovoltaics: the Role of Dipole Distance and Acidity in Perylene‐Diimide Electron Transport Layers
Authors: Zhang Wanqing , Ding Xiaoman , Lv Jie , Sun Xiaokang , Hu Dingqin , Zhang Guangye , Gao Chuanlin , Xue Yizebang , Zhong Yufei , Li Gang , Hu Hanlin
Published: February 2025

The electronic transport layer (ETL) based on perylene‐diimide (PDI) has been widely demonstrated for efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the effect of ETL materials on interfacial traps and energy losses remains understudied. This study investigates the effects of dipole distance on PDINN interface defects using three specifically designed weak acidic materials with varying carboxyl and hydroxyl group amounts. Among these, 3,5‐dihydroxybenzoic acid (2OH), with moderate pH and high dipole distance, enhanced intermolecular forces with PDINN. This interaction boosted π–π stacking, enhanced ohmic contact with the active layer and Ag electrode. The P‐2OH film exhibited a higher and more uniform potential distribution, suppressing charge recombination at the interface, reducing the trap density to 2.12 × 1016 cm3, and reducing the non‐radiative loss ∆E3 from 0.236 to 0.174 eV. Consequently, the energy loss decreased from 0.553 to 0.484 meV for the PM6: BTP‐ec9/P‐2OH device. Notably, a decent PCE of 19.1% is achieved for P‐2OH (10 nm), and it impressively remains a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 16.4% when thickness of P‐2OH up to 50 nm. This work underscores the importance of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in regulating the ETL to minimize energy loss and offers insights for developing thickness‐insensitive interlayers for high‐performance OSCs.