bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eco-morphodynamics of coastal wetlands
Authors: Tambroni Nicoletta , Lanzoni Stefano , Seminara Giovanni
Published: May 2022

We survey the problem of the response of coastal wetlands to sea level rise. Two opposite views have traditionally been confronted. According to the former, on the geological time scale, coastal lagoons would be ‘ephemeral’ features. The latter view maintains that marshes would keep pace with relative sea level rise as, increasing the rate of the latter, the sedimentation rate would also increase. In any case, the timescale of morphodynamic evolution is of the order of centuries, which makes it not easily perceived. For example, in Venice, the diversion of the rivers debouching into the lagoon undertaken in the Renaissance has taken centuries to display its consequences (shift from depositional to erosional environment). This process accelerated in the last two centuries due to effects of the industrial revolution and of an enhanced sea level rise. Recent research has employed powerful computational techniques and advanced models of marsh vegetation. Zero-order modeling suggests that marsh equilibrium is possible, provided the rate of relative sea level rise does not exceed a threshold depending on the availability of minerogenic sediments, quantified through a loosely defined ambient sediment concentration. Analysis of the morphological interaction between adjacent morphological units suggests that the ‘equilibrium states’ identified by zero-order modeling correspond to marshes which either prograde or retreat, i.e., are not in equilibrium. Results suggest that available techniques, e.g., artificial replenishment of salt marshes or search for more productive halophytic species, will hardly allow Venice wetlands to keep up with a strong acceleration of sea level rise.
A case of pancreatic mucinous cystadenocarcinoma with malignant ascites without recurrence for more than 8 years after surgery
Authors: Tezuka Shun , Ueno Makoto , Kobayashi Satoshi , Fukushima Taito , Nasu Ryuji , Washimi Kota , Yamamoto Naoto , Morinaga Soichiro , Morimoto Manabu , Maeda Shin
Published: May 2022

Mucinous cystadenocarcinoma (MCAC) with malignant ascites is rare. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman who presented with epigastric pain. The ascites in the Douglas fossa was identified at a nearby gynecology clinic. Computed tomography showed a multiloculated cystic lesion (9.5 × 6.4 cm) in the tail of the pancreas, which was diagnosed as mucinous cystic neoplasm on imaging. Staging laparoscopy was performed, and rapid cytology of ascites revealed adenocarcinoma, leading to a diagnosis of unresectable MCAC. Subsequently, combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus S-1 was initiated. Although there were no remarkable changes in the imaging findings, the peritoneal dissemination node was not consistently recognized in any of the imaging findings, and distal pancreatectomy was performed. A peritoneal dissemination node was not observed in the laparotomy findings, but the peritoneal lavage cytology was positive. The postoperative pathological result was non-invasive MCAC, and the ascites was suspected to be caused by cyst rupture. The patient has been recurrence-free, including the reappearance of ascites, for > 8 years after adjuvant therapy with S-1. Although careful follow-up will be required in the future, the very good prognosis in this case suggests that MCAC with malignant ascites without obvious peritoneal dissemination should be considered for surgical resection.
Resolution of coupling order and station level constraints in train unit scheduling
Authors: Lei Li , Kwan Raymond S K , Lin Zhiyuan , Copado-Mendez Pedro J
Published: May 2022

Train unit scheduling assigns vehicles to cover all trips of a fixed timetable satisfying constraints such as seat demands. With a two-phase approach, this problem is first solved in Phase I as an integer multi-commodity flow problem. Train stations are simplified as single points and coupling orders of train units are left undetermined. In this paper, platforms and their layouts at the stations are restored to complete a fully operable schedule, defined as Phase II. An adaptive approach expanding Phase I to Phase II is proposed. The logistics of (de-)coupling operations, coupling orders and re-platforming are determined in detail to prevent unit blockage where possible, particularly focusing on developing a schedule with conflict-free coupling orders. If unresolvable station level conflicts still exist, the process loops back to Phase I with addressed Phase II constraints to avoid identified conflicts. Thus, the schedule is iteratively improved until it is fully operable.
Design and Analysis of a 2-DOF Actuator with Variable Stiffness Based on Leaf Springs
Authors: Yang ShangKui , Chen Peng , Wang DongQi , Yu Yi , Liu YuWang
Published: May 2022

Variable Stiffness Actuator (VSA) is the core mechanism to achieve physical human–robot interaction, which is an inevitable development trend in robotic. The existing variable stiffness actuators are basically single degree-of-freedom (DOF) rotating joints, which are achieving multi-DOF motion by cascades and resulting in complex robot body structures. In this paper, an integrated 2-DOF actuator with variable stiffness is proposed, which could be used for bionic wrist joints or shoulder joints. The 2-DOF motion is coupling in one universal joint, which is different from the way of single DOF actuators cascade. Based on the 2-DOF orthogonal motion generated by the spherical wrist parallel mechanism, the stiffness could be adjusted by varying the effective length of the springs, which is uniformly distributed in the variable stiffness unit. The variable stiffness principle, the model design, and theoretical analysis of the VSA are discussed in this work. The independence of adjusting the equilibrium position and stiffness of the actuator is validated by experiments. The results show that the measured actuator characteristics are sufficiently matched the theoretical values. In the future, VSA could be used in biped robot or robotic arm, ensuring the safety of human–robot interaction.
Risk as a driver for AI framework development on manufacturing
Authors: Vyhmeister Eduardo , Gonzalez-Castane Gabriel , Östbergy P.-O.
Published: May 2022

Incorporating ethics and values within the life cycle of an AI asset means to secure, under these perspectives, its development, deployment, use and decommission. These processes must be done safely, following current legislation, and incorporating the social needs towards having greater well-being over the agents and environment involved. Standards, frameworks and ethical imperatives—which are also considered a backbone structure for legal considerations—drive the development process of new AI assets for industry. However, given the lack of concrete standards and robust AI legislation, the gap between ethical principles and actionable approaches is still considerable. Different organisations have developed various methods based on multiple ethical principles to facilitate practitioners developing AI components worldwide. Nevertheless, these approaches can be driven by a self-claimed ethical shell or without a clear understanding of the impacts and risks involved in using their AI assets. The manufacturing sector has produced standards since 1990’s to guarantee, among others, the correct use of mechanical machinery, workers security, and environmental impact. However, a revision is needed to blend these with the needs associated with AI’s use. We propose using a vertical-domain framework for the manufacturing sector that will consider ethical perspectives, values, requirements, and well-known approaches related to risk management in the sector.
Principles of biological design as a model for biodesign and biofabrication in architecture
Authors: Andréen David , Goidea Ana
Published: May 2022

Biomaterials represent a potential means for the construction industry to reduce its negative ecological impact. These materials require substantially different approaches from conventional construction materials to maximise their potential. In this paper we have outlined four principles of biological design that we argue are central for the successful implementation of a new construction paradigm through biodesign. These principles are: Diversity, complexity and specificity (of form), durability through resilience, and feedback and adaptation. Diversity of material is necessary to maintain the sustainability of biomaterials when scaled up to construction industry volumes. Complexity and specificity of form enable high performativity of the built environments when using low-impact materials. Durability through resilience allows designers to work with materials that would otherwise be considered too weak. Finally, feedback and adaptation are core principles of biological design that allow plants and animals to constantly evolve in response to changing conditions, across multiple time scales, and to manage design in complex systems. In conclusion we have argued that many of these principles are found in vernacular architectural traditions, but that emerging design and fabrication technologies can enable broader implementation that can combine the benefits of modern and vernacular buildings practice.
Outcomes in open rectal cancer surgery; five-year local recurrence and survival rates in a District General Hospital setting, a retrospective cohort study
Authors: McCallion N. R. , Saeed S. S. , Bailey C. M.H.
Published: May 2022

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Following treatment for rectal cancer, outcomes in the UK include a 5-year survival rate of around 60%, and a variable 5-year local recurrence rate. Surgical treatment involves Total Mesorectal Excision (TME), with laparoscopic and, more recently, robotic approaches gaining popularity over the open technique. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of rectal cancer patients managed in a single District General Hospital to the documented UK averages for 5-year survival and 5-year local recurrence.

Methods:

A total of 64 consecutive patients undergoing open TME performed by a single surgeon at a single site between 2009 and 2015 were analysed retrospectively. Histopathological, radiological, and demographic data collected during 5 years of follow up were used to help establish a 5-year survival rate and a 5-year local recurrence rate.

Results:

For the 64 patients analysed, the 5-year survival rate was 74.6% and the 5-year local recurrence rate was 7.9%.

Conclusion:

In our cohort of patients undergoing open TME, the 5-year survival rate was higher than the documented UK average and the 5-year local recurrence rate lay within the published range. In addition, greater patient age and a shorter distance of the tumour from the anal verge were shown to have a significant correlation with increased mortality.

Highlights
Being One of Us: The Role of Mutual Recognition and Emotion in Shaping Legal Consciousness in a Taiwanese Neighbourhood Dispute
Authors: Wang Hsiao-Tan
Published: May 2022

Literature on neighbourhood disputes has explored legal consciousness by focusing on identity, personal relationships, and community norms. However, it still remains unclear how affective factors and one’s sense of identity can influence the social practice of law and how the recursive relationship between law, emotion, and identity can influence life in particular communities. This study explores the dynamics of identity/alterity construction, and the role of emotion in shaping these dynamics during a neighbourhood conflict in Taipei, Taiwan. This dispute highlights how ordinary Taiwanese people’s legal consciousness is constituted through a culturally embedded sense of emotion (qíng) and belonging (zìjǐrén). Analysis of “The Noodle Shop Case” advances our understanding of the social presence and authority of law and the ways in which the role of law changes according to how individuals feel as they seek both mutual recognition and justice.
Two Millenia of Sinology: The Korean Reception, Curation, and Reinvention of Cultural Knowledge from China
Authors: Shim Jae-hoon
Published: May 2022

The tale of Korean Sinology is as dramatic as that of Korea itself, which has moved from being a faithful periphery of the Chinese civilization to a newly rising economic power in the modern world. This article begins with a survey of some distinctive features of premodern Korean scholarly works by the end of the Chosŏn dynasty from the perspective of Sinology. Then it moves on to modern scholarship, focusing mostly on the field of Chinese history, which I think is the most active and innovative among the several different fields in today's Korean Sinology. The history of Korean Sinology is a telling case study that illustrates how humanistic learning is deeply connected to fundamental aspects of a society's politics, economics, and culture at a given moment in time.
ON THE CAYLEYNESS OF PRAEGER–XU GRAPHS
Authors: BARBIERI MARCO , GRAZIAN VALENTINA , SPIGA PABLO
Published: May 2022

We give a sufficient and necessary condition for a Praeger–Xu graph to be a Cayley graph.
Acquisition of demonstratives in cross-linguistic perspective
Authors: DIESSEL Holger , MONAKHOV Sergei
Published: May 2022

This paper examines the acquisition of demonstratives (e.g.,that, there) from a cross-linguistic perspective. Although demonstratives are often said to play a crucial role in L1 acquisition, there is little systematic research on this topic. Using extensive corpus data of spontaneous child speech, the paper investigates the emergence and development of demonstratives in three European (English, French, Spanish) and four non-European languages (Japanese, Chinese, Hebrew, Indonesian) between age 1;0 and 6;0. The data show that, across languages, demonstratives are among the earliest and most frequent child words, but their frequency decreases with age and MLU. As children grow older, they tend to use other types of referring terms (e.g., anaphoric pronouns) and other types of spatial expressions (e.g., adpositions). Considering these results, we hypothesize that children shift from using a body-oriented strategy of deictic communication to more abstract and disembodied strategies of encoding reference and space during the preschool years.
Cation reducibility of LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3, LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, and LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3 perovskites from X-ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method
Authors: Guamán-Ayala Mayra , Tuza Pablo V. , Souza Mariana M. V. M.
Published: May 2022

In the present work, LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3, LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3, and LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3 perovskites were synthesized using the modified Pechini method. After reduction, the studied perovskites changed crystal structure from the perovskite crystal structure to a cubic symmetry, with space group $Pm\bar{3}m$. The reduction partially decomposed the samples to Ni0 (Co free perovskite), Ni0–Co0, La2O3, La2TiO5, and non-stoichiometric La2NiO4, depending on H2 content of the reductive gases. The degree of reduction of nickel from LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3 reduced with 1.8% H2/Ar and 10% H2/Ar was equal to 36.5% and 95.3%, respectively, while that from LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3 or LaNi0.45Co0.05Ti0.5O3, including cobalt, reduced with 10% H2/Ar, was equal to 71.9% and 93.9%, respectively. LaNi0.5Ti0.45Co0.05O3 showed Ni3+ and Co3+ amounts higher than the other perovskites. By increasing H2 content in the reductive mixture from 1.8% to 10%, sintering of metallic nickel was not observed. Moreover, Ni0 displayed weaker metal–support interaction than that observed for Co0, where the support was composed of La containing oxides. LaNi0.5Ti0.5O3 perovskite was used as a catalyst for steam reforming of methane. Syngas production was attributed to the number of Ni sites determined using Rietveld Refinement of X-ray diffraction pattern of this catalyst after the reaction.
Aortopulmonary window and coronary anatomy – still a pre-operative diagnostic trouble!
Authors: Cairello Francesca , Nuri Halkawt A. , Marasini Maurizio
Published: May 2022

We present a case of aortopulmonary window in which the diagnosis of anomalous left coronary artery originating from pulmonary artery was made intra-operatively even if the coronary arteries anatomy was correctly studied pre-operatively with echocardiography. No evidence of coronary anomalies or indirect sings of coronary anomalies has been noted. Should we improve our pre-operative diagnostic accuracy and how?
THE HITCHIN CONNECTION IN ARBITRARY CHARACTERISTIC
Authors: Pauly Christian , Martens Johan , Bolognesi Michele , Baier Thomas
Published: May 2022

We give an algebro-geometric construction of the Hitchin connection, valid also in positive characteristic (with a few exceptions). A key ingredient is a substitute for the Narasimhan–Atiyah–Bott Kähler form that realizes the Chern class of the determinant-of-cohomology line bundle on the moduli space of bundles on a curve. As replacement we use an explicit realisation of the Atiyah class of this line bundle, based on the theory of the trace complex due to Beilinson–Schechtman and Bloch–Esnault.
EMENDATIONS IN THE THIRD BOOK OF PROPERTIUS
Authors: Hardy Maxwell
Published: May 2022

Five conjectures are proposed on the text of the third book of Propertius, one a slight alteration of an idea already proposed, four mainly original contributions: 1.23 postremo for post obitum, 4.18 supra uinctos for subter captos, 8.13 seu grege custodum for custodum gregibus (custodum grege seu Heinsius), 10.13 somnos for somnum, 11.40 adulta canis for adusta nota. One additional conjecture is made in passing on the text of Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto 3.4.104, where duces probably ought to be read for uiros.
PROOF SYSTEMS FOR EXACT ENTAILMENT
Authors: KORBMACHER JOHANNES
Published: May 2022

We present a series of proof systems for exact entailment (i.e., relevant truthmaker preservation from premises to conclusion) and prove soundness and completeness. Using the proof systems, we observe that exact entailment is hyperintensional not only in the sense of Cresswell, but also in the sense recently proposed by Odintsov and Wansing.
Evaluation of imazapic and flumioxazin carryover risk for Carinata (Brassica carinata) establishment
Authors: Camacho Manuel E. , Gannon Travis W. , Ahmed Khalied A. , Mulvaney Michael J. , Heitman Joshua L. , Amoozegar Aziz , Leon Ramon G.
Published: May 2022

Carinata (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is a potential crop for biofuel production, but the risk of injury resulting from carryover of soil herbicides used in rotational crops is of concern. The present study evaluated the carryover risk of imazapic and flumioxazin for carinata. Label rates of imazapic (70 g ai ha−1) and flumioxazin (107 g ai ha−1) were applied 24, 18, 12, 6, and 3 mo before carinata planting (MBP). The same herbicides were applied preemergence right after carinata planting at 1X, 0.5X, 0.25X, 0.125X, 0.063X, and 0X the label rate. When either herbicide was applied earlier than 3 MBP, there was no difference in plant density compared with the nontreated control. Carinata damage was <25% when flumioxazin or imazapic was applied at least 6 MBP in Clayton, NC (sandy loam soil), while in Jackson Springs, NC (coarser-textured soil and higher precipitation), at least 12 MPB were needed to lower plant damage to <25%. Preemergence application of 0.063X each herbicide decreased plant density by 40%, with damage reaching >25%. Quantification of herbicide residues in both soils showed that imazapic moved deeper in the soil profile than flumioxazin. This was more evident in Jackson Springs, where 0.68, 3.52, and 7.77 ng of imazapic g−1 soil were detected (15- to 20-cm depth) when the herbicide was applied at 12, 6 and 3 MBP, respectively, while no flumioxazin residues were detected at the same soil depths and times. When residues were 7.78 and 6.90 ng herbicide g−1 soil in the top 10 cm of soil for imazapic and flumioxazin, respectively, carinata exhibited at least 25% damage. Rotational intervals to avoid imazapic and flumioxazin damage to carinata should be between 6 and 12 MBP depending on soil type and environmental conditions, with longer intervals for the former than the latter.
Contextualizing Climate Change Impacts on Human Mobility in African Drylands
Authors: Hoffmann Roman
Published: May 2022

Climate change is expected to have important implications for human mobility. This article discusses and contextualizes key insights from a recently published study by Thalheimer, Williams, van der Geest, and Otto in Earth's Future (2021), https://doi.org/10.1029/2020EF001958. The authors synthesize findings from the climate science and impact literature, among others from the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C, to explore the role of climatic drivers for human mobility in African drylands. Facing a number of economic, social, and political challenges, these areas are highly vulnerable to global warming and related risks. Climate mobility in this region is the outcome of complex interactions between individual and contextual factors shaping peoples' needs and incentives to move as well as their constraints. As the authors highlight, climate change can influence mobility outcomes through a number of channels, including impacts on food and water security, poverty and livelihood risks, and conflicts. These impacts are relevant for both rural areas and cities, with the latter representing a primary destination for climate‐induced migration in Africa. The complexity and diversity of the climate mobility nexus call for integrative approaches in science and policy that bridge different disciplines and policy sectors. These approaches should be based on fair, equal, and inclusive processes of knowledge production, transfer, and implementation that involve a number of stakeholders. Inclusive deliberations and partnerships across fields and sectors are key elements to comprehensively studying and addressing the realities and manifold challenges faced by both mobile and immobile populations.
Modeling Pan‐Arctic Peatland Carbon Dynamics Under Alternative Warming Scenarios
Authors: Chaudhary Nitin , Zhang Wenxin , Lamba Shubhangi , Westermann Sebastian
Published: May 2022

Peatlands store large amounts of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems and they are vulnerable to recent warming. The ongoing warming may change their carbon sink capacity and could reduce their potential to sequester carbon. In this study, we simulated peatland carbon dynamics in distinct future climate conditions using the peatland‐vegetation model (LPJ‐GUESS). The study examined whether less pronounced warming could further enhance the peatland carbon sink capacity and buffer the effects of climate change. It also determined which trajectory peatland carbon balance would follow, what the main drivers were, and which one would dominate in the future. We found that peatlands will largely retain their carbon sink capacity under the climate scenario RCP2.6 to RCP6.0. They are projected to shift from a carbon sink to a carbon‐neutral (5–10 gC m−2 yr−1) in RCP8.5. Higher respiration rates will dominate the net productivity in a warmer world leading to a reduction in carbon sink capacity.
The Role of Resistivity on the Efficiency of Magnetic Reconnection in MHD
Authors: Pérez‐Coll Jiménez Judit , Tenfjord Paul , Hesse Michael , Norgren Cecilia , Kwagala Norah , Kolstø Håkon Midthun , Spinnangr Susanne Flø
Published: May 2022

Using a resistive MagnetoHydroDynamic (MHD) simulation, we study how the magnitude and shape of diffusion influence magnetic reconnection. Specifically, we investigate how and why the reconnection rate is influenced by variations in the diffusion distribution and magnitude. By running multiple MHD simulations where we vary the localized resistivity, we find that the properties of the diffusion region greatly influence the rate of reconnection. Increasing the magnitude of the imposed resistivity results in a higher reconnection rate, but the rate saturates at approximately 0.2. We show how a redistribution of the current density, leading to a bifurcated current sheet, play a major role in this limitation. In addition, we investigate the impact of different shapes of resistive region. The shape of the diffusion region also plays a major role in how efficient the reconnection energy conversion can operate. The highest reconnection rate, approximately 0.25, is achieved for an optimal opening angle. Our results imply that reconnection has a speed limit that may depend on properties outside the diffusion region.
Bilateral Heterogeneity in an Upwelling Mantle via Double Subduction of Oceanic Lithosphere
Authors: Dao Nghiem Van , Kitagawa Hiroshi , Nakamura Eizo , Kobayashi Katsura , Ngo Thanh Xuan , Trinh Son Hai
Published: May 2022

Vietnam is a major field of Cenozoic volcanism in Southeast (SE) Asia. Two contrasting models have been proposed to explain the mantle upwelling and volcanism in this region; collision of the Indian and Eurasian continents or subduction of the Pacific or Indo‐Australian oceanic lithosphere. To place constraints on the origin of the intraplate volcanism in SE Asia, new geochronological and geochemical data for Cenozoic basalts in Vietnam are presented. Based largely on Sr‐Nd‐Pb isotope systematics, it was found that the sources of basalts from Central and Southern Vietnam are chemically distinct forming a sharp boundary at 13.5°N. The basalts north of the boundary show isotopic features similar to Enriched Mantle type 2 (EM2) ocean island basalts. Whereas the basalts south of the boundary show isotopic features similar to Enriched Mantle type 1 (EM1) ocean island basalts. The EM1 and EM2 basalts display positive Sr anomalies and elevated Pb/Ce and Th/La ratios, respectively. Such features suggest the origins of the sources through the recycling of deeply‐subducted crustal lithologies. Furthermore, subduction of dense oceanic lithosphere can induce a convecting cell in the upper mantle. Therefore, we suggest that the chemically different basalts from Central and Southern Vietnam represent the surface expression of melting in two different convecting cells, one is driven by subduction of the Pacific plate and the other by subduction of the Indo‐Australian plate.
X‐Ray Amorphous Sulfur‐Bearing Phases in Sedimentary Rocks of Gale Crater, Mars
Authors: Smith R. J. , McLennan S. M. , Sutter B. , Rampe E. B. , Dehouck E. , Siebach K. L. , Horgan B. H. N. , Sun V. , McAdam A. , Mangold N. , Vaniman D. , Salvatore M. , Thorpe M. T. , Achilles C. N.
Published: May 2022

The Curiosity rover in Gale crater is investigating a mineral transition observed from orbit—an older “clay unit” to a younger “sulfate unit”—hypothesized to reflect the aridification of Mars' climate. Below this transition, the rover detected crystalline Ca‐sulfates with minor Fe‐sulfates but also found that some fraction of a rock's bulk SO3 is often in the poorly constrained X‐ray amorphous component. Here, we characterize the abundances and compositions of the X‐ray amorphous sulfur‐bearing phases in 19 drilled samples using a mass balance approach, and in a subset of 5 samples using evolved SO2 gas measured using the SAM instrument. We find that ∼20–90 wt% of a sample's bulk SO3 is in the X‐ray amorphous state and that X‐ray amorphous sulfur‐bearing phase compositions are consistent with mixtures of Mg‐S, Fe‐S, and possibly Ca‐S phases, likely sulfates or sulfites. These phases reside in the bedrock, perhaps as cementing agents deposited with detrital sediments or during early diagenesis, and in diagenetic alteration halos deposited after lithification during late diagenesis. The likely presence of highly soluble Mg‐sulfates in the rocks suggests negligible fluid flow through the bedrock post‐Mg‐sulfate deposition. The X‐ray amorphous sulfur‐bearing phases probably became amorphous through dehydration in the current Martian atmosphere or inside the CheMin instrument. X‐ray amorphous sulfur‐bearing materials likely contribute to orbital spectral detections of sulfates, and so our results help form multiple hypotheses to be tested in the sulfate unit and are important for understanding the evolution of the Martian surface environment at Gale crater.
A Laboratory Model for a Meandering Zonal Jet
Authors: Stewart K. D. , Macleod F.
Published: May 2022

The meandering jet streams of the Northern Hemisphere influence the weather for more than half of Earth's population, so it is imperative that we improve our understanding of their behavior and how they respond to climate change. Here, we describe a novel laboratory model for a meandering zonal jet. This model comprises a large rotating annulus with a series of topographic ridges, and an imposed radial vorticity flux. Flow interactions with the topographic ridges operate to concentrate the zonal transport into a narrow jet, which supports the development and propagation of Rossby waves. We investigate the dynamics of the jet for a range of rotation rates, imposed radial vorticity fluxes, and topographic ridge configurations. The circulations are classified into two distinct regimes: predominantly zonal or predominantly meandering. The flow regime can be quantified by the ratio of the Ekman dissipation and jet advection timescales, which gives an indication of whether disturbances arising from the flow‐topography interaction are dissipated faster than the time taken to circuit the annulus; if not, these disturbances will reencounter the topography, and thus be reinforced and amplified. For predominantly zonal flows, the radial vorticity flux is split equally between the standing meanders and transient eddies. For predominantly meandering flows, standing meanders perform 79% of the radial vorticity flux, with 18% accommodated by the transient eddies. Our experiments indicate that the Arctic amplification associated with climate change will tend to favor predominantly zonal flow conditions, suggesting a reduced occurrence of atmospheric blocking events caused by the jet streams.
Long‐Term Schumann Resonance Dynamics Based on Horizontal Magnetic Field Data at Mikhnevo Observatory During 2016–2020
Authors: Goncharov E. S. , Lyakhov A. N. , Losseva T. V.
Published: May 2022

It is the first time when we present a significant amount of two‐channel (north‐south and west‐east) absolute magnetic field data in the extremely low frequency (ELF) band for the European Russia. The measurements are evaluated at Mikhnevo geophysical observatory of the Sadovsky Institute of Geosphere Dynamics. We start with a recently proposed unified processing procedure by Rodriguez‐Camacho et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jd029462) and further elaborate an ELF spectrum calculation technique. The true sequence of the spectrum calculation is presented, including the proper parameters, software requirements, and the use of third‐party libraries. We receive an optimal set of processing parameters for Mikhnevo observatory and discuss the long‐term (2016–2020) Schumann Resonance variations.
Mountains Undergo Enhanced Impacts of Climate Change
Authors: Pepin Nicholas , Adler Carolina , Kotlarksi Sven , Palazzi Elisa
Published: May 2022

As climate change persists, amplified temperature increases in mountains and changes in precipitation will diminish snow and ice.
Microscopic Hitchhikers Found on Deep-Sea Plastic
Authors: Duncombe Jenessa
Published: May 2022

Are bacteria hailing a ride on plastic 2,000 meters deep?
Vertical Flux of Trace Elements Associated With Lithogenic and Biogenic Carrier Phases in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Blain S. , Planquette H. , Obernosterer I. , Guéneuguès A.
Published: May 2022

Trace elements (TE) are tracers of multiple biotic and abiotic processes in the ocean and some of them are essential for marine life. Vertical export by particles is a major removal process of a large fraction of TE from the surface ocean. However, the seasonal export dynamics and its controlling factors, critical for the understanding of the internal TE cycling, remain poorly constrained. Here, we report and discuss the seasonal export of 15 TE in sinking particles collected by a sediment trap deployed in a highly productive region of the Southern Ocean. Basalt material was the main carrier phase for the export flux of 9 TE, and its dynamic was characterized by a strong decrease over time. TE export driven by biological carriers such as diatom spores and vegetative cells added pulsed seasonal dynamics to the lithogenic signal, while the contribution of fecal pellets was less variable over the season. For each TE, we were able to decipher the biological carrier phases that represent the most dominant export pathway. We discuss this partitioning with regards to the known metabolic functions of the different trace metals or TE of biological interest.
Glacial Warming in the Eastern Pacific Warm Pool
Authors: Meegan Kumar Dervla , Tierney Jessica E. , Bhattacharya Tripti , Zhu Jiang , Murray James W.
Published: May 2022

The Eastern Pacific Warm Pool (EPWP) modulates global climate through its connection with tropical Pacific circulation, but sparse paleoceanographic data from this region limits our understanding of its role in past climate variability. We present a 144 kyr alkenone‐sea surface temperature (SST) reconstruction from core NH22P, located in the northern EPWP, that shows local warming occurred during periods of global cooling. Climate model simulations of the Last Glacial Maximum indicate that both ice sheet and greenhouse gas forcing slowed wind speeds over the EPWP, which attenuated glacial cooling of local SST via the wind‐evaporation‐SST feedback. Spectral analysis further suggests precessional pacing of the warming spikes. Vernal equinox insolation could explain this pacing as direct shortwave heating during boreal spring would have contributed to the early seasonal intensification of the EPWP. This work provides crucial constraints on tropical Pacific glacial climate variability and highlights the unique response of the EPWP to global climate forcings.
Ionospheric Signatures During G2, G3 and G4 Storms in Mid‐Latitude
Authors: Dahal Subodh , Adhikari Binod , Khadka Anil Kumar , Silwal Ashok , Gupta Suresh Prasad , Chapagain Narayan Prasad
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a wavelet‐based analysis of ionospheric irregularities induced by three different geomagnetic storms of varying strength and interplanetary origin over three mid‐latitudes stations, viz. Moscow, Fairford, and Rome. We observed the highest decrease in ionospheric variables (foF2, total electron content (TEC), and NmF2) during the negative phase of the G4 storm. Interestingly, hmF2 exhibits the opposite trend in terms of variation. The maximum ionization height (hmF2) for the G4 event is 500 km (during the main phase) and 150 km (during the recovery phase). Within 2–3 hr of the G4 event, the value of hmF2 is found to decline by 70%. The largest reduction (80%) in critical frequency (foF2) is observed during the negative phase of this event, which is also confirmed by the continuous wavelet transform results. During the negative phase, we observed noticeable power shifts in the signal of the ionospheric parameters toward the lower Fourier period band. During the G4 storm—Particularly during the negative phase—The lowest power linked with the ionospheric parameter's signal was discovered. Additionally, we used detrended cross‐correlation analysis to investigate the correlation and time lag between geomagnetic indices (Symmetric H‐component (SYM‐H) & auroral electrojet) and ionospheric parameters (foF2, NmF2, hmF2 & TEC). The significant association between SYM‐H and ionospheric parameters suggests that the magnetosphere‐ionosphere interaction produces intense electric field disturbances and winds in the mid‐latitudes, resulting in the perturbation of hmF2, foF2, TEC, and NmF2.
AIMP2-DX2 provides therapeutic interface to control KRAS-driven tumorigenesis
Authors: Kim Dae Gyu , Choi Yongseok , Lee Yuno , Lim Semi , Kong Jiwon , Song JaeHa , Roh Younah , Harmalkar Dipesh S. , Lee Kwanshik , Goo Ja-il , Cho Hye Young , Mushtaq Ameeq Ul , Lee Jihye , Park Song Hwa , Kim Doyeun , Min Byung Soh , Lee Kang Young , Jeon Young Ho , Lee Sunkyung , Lee Kyeong , Kim Sunghoon
Published: May 2022

Recent development of the chemical inhibitors specific to oncogenic KRAS (Kirsten Rat Sarcoma 2 Viral Oncogene Homolog) mutants revives much interest to control KRAS-driven cancers. Here, we report that AIMP2-DX2, a variant of the tumor suppressor AIMP2 (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multi-functional protein 2), acts as a cancer-specific regulator of KRAS stability, augmenting KRAS-driven tumorigenesis. AIMP2-DX2 specifically binds to the hypervariable region and G-domain of KRAS in the cytosol prior to farnesylation. Then, AIMP2-DX2 competitively blocks the access of Smurf2 (SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 2) to KRAS, thus preventing ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Moreover, AIMP2-DX2 levels are positively correlated with KRAS levels in colon and lung cancer cell lines and tissues. We also identified a small molecule that specifically bound to the KRAS-binding region of AIMP2-DX2 and inhibited the interaction between these two factors. Treatment with this compound reduces the cellular levels of KRAS, leading to the suppression of KRAS-dependent cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest the interface of AIMP2-DX2 and KRAS as a route to control KRAS-driven cancers.
Agrobacterium expressing a type III secretion system delivers Pseudomonas effectors into plant cells to enhance transformation
Authors: Raman Vidhyavathi , Rojas Clemencia M. , Vasudevan Balaji , Dunning Kevin , Kolape Jaydeep , Oh Sunhee , Yun Jianfei , Yang Lishan , Li Guangming , Pant Bikram D. , Jiang Qingzhen , Mysore Kirankumar S.
Published: May 2022

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation (AMT) is the basis of modern-day plant biotechnology. One major drawback of this technology is the recalcitrance of many plant species/varieties to Agrobacterium infection, most likely caused by elicitation of plant defense responses. Here, we develop a strategy to increase AMT by engineering Agrobacterium tumefaciens to express a type III secretion system (T3SS) from Pseudomonas syringae and individually deliver the P. syringae effectors AvrPto, AvrPtoB, or HopAO1 to suppress host defense responses. Using the engineered Agrobacterium, we demonstrate increase in AMT of wheat, alfalfa and switchgrass by ~250%–400%. We also show that engineered A. tumefaciens expressing a T3SS can deliver a plant protein, histone H2A-1, to enhance AMT. This strategy is of great significance to both basic research and agricultural biotechnology for transient and stable transformation of recalcitrant plant species/varieties and to deliver proteins into plant cells in a non-transgenic manner.
Thioesters provide a plausible prebiotic path to proto-peptides
Authors: Frenkel-Pinter Moran , Bouza Marcos , Fernández Facundo M. , Leman Luke J. , Williams Loren Dean , Hud Nicholas V. , Guzman-Martinez Aikomari
Published: May 2022

It is widely assumed that the condensation of building blocks into oligomers and polymers was important in the origins of life. High activation energies, unfavorable thermodynamics and side reactions are bottlenecks for abiotic peptide formation. All abiotic reactions reported thus far for peptide bond formation via thioester intermediates have relied on high energy molecules, which usually suffer from short half-life in aqueous conditions and therefore require constant replenishment. Here we report plausible prebiotic reactions of mercaptoacids with amino acids that result in the formation of thiodepsipeptides, which contain both peptide and thioester bonds. Thiodepsipeptide formation was achieved under a wide range of pH and temperature by simply drying and heating mercaptoacids with amino acids. Our results offer a robust one-pot prebiotically-plausible pathway for proto-peptide formation. These results support the hypothesis that thiodepsipeptides and thiol-terminated peptides formed readily on prebiotic Earth and were possible contributors to early chemical evolution.
Off-the-shelf CAR natural killer cells secreting IL-15 target spike in treating COVID-19
Authors: Lu Ting , Ma Rui , Dong Wenjuan , Teng Kun-Yu , Kollath Daniel S. , Li Zhiyao , Yi Jinhee , Bustillos Christian , Ma Shoubao , Tian Lei , Mansour Anthony G. , Li Zhenlong , Settles Erik W. , Zhang Jianying , Keim Paul S. , Barker Bridget M. , Caligiuri Michael A. , Yu Jianhua
Published: May 2022

Engineered natural killer (NK) cells represent a promising option for immune therapy option due to their immediate availability in allogeneic settings. Severe acute diseases, such as COVID-19, require targeted and immediate intervention. Here we show engineering of NK cells to express (1) soluble interleukin-15 (sIL15) for enhancing their survival and (2) a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) consisting of an extracellular domain of ACE2, targeting the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. These CAR NK cells (mACE2-CAR_sIL15 NK cells) bind to VSV-SARS-CoV-2 chimeric viral particles as well as the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein subunit S1 leading to enhanced NK cell production of TNF-α and IFN-γ and increased in vitro and in vivo cytotoxicity against cells expressing the spike protein. Administration of mACE2-CAR_sIL15 NK cells maintains body weight, reduces viral load, and prolongs survival of transgenic mice expressing human ACE2 upon infection with live SARS-CoV-2. These experiments, and the capacity of mACE2-CAR_sIL15 NK cells to retain their activity following cryopreservation, demonstrate their potential as an allogeneic off-the-shelf therapy for COVID-19 patients who are faced with limited treatment options.
Diamond mirrors for high-power continuous-wave lasers
Authors: Atikian Haig A. , Sinclair Neil , Latawiec Pawel , Xiong Xiao , Meesala Srujan , Gauthier Scarlett , Wintz Daniel , Randi Joseph , Bernot David , DeFrances Sage , Thomas Jeffrey , Roman Michael , Durrant Sean , Capasso Federico , Lončar Marko
Published: May 2022

High-power continuous-wave (CW) lasers are used in a variety of areas including industry, medicine, communications, and defense. Yet, conventional optics, which are based on multi-layer coatings, are damaged when illuminated by high-power CW laser light, primarily due to thermal loading. This hampers the effectiveness, restricts the scope and utility, and raises the cost and complexity of high-power CW laser applications. Here we demonstrate monolithic and highly reflective mirrors that operate under high-power CW laser irradiation without damage. In contrast to conventional mirrors, ours are realized by etching nanostructures into the surface of single-crystal diamond, a material with exceptional optical and thermal properties. We measure reflectivities of greater than 98% and demonstrate damage-free operation using 10 kW of CW laser light at 1070 nm, focused to a spot of 750 μm diameter. In contrast, we observe damage to a conventional dielectric mirror when illuminated by the same beam. Our results initiate a new category of optics that operate under extreme conditions, which has potential to improve or create new applications of high-power lasers.
Effect of test media on the crevice corrosion of stainless steel by sulfate reducing bacteria
Authors: Javed M. A. , Neil W. C. , Wade S. A.
Published: May 2022

The potential for crevice corrosion of UNS30400 stainless steel in the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) was studied in different media. Immersion studies found crevice corrosion to occur in test media supplemented with high chloride levels and SRB present for crevice gaps of ~3 μm. Electrochemical measurements showed high susceptibility to corrosion in this particular medium, demonstrated by a negative shift of open circuit potential, increased corrosion current and the lowest passivity breakdown potential. Overall, the results showed that test media can play a critical role in the crevice corrosion of stainless steel in the presence of SRB.
A dataset of winter wheat aboveground biomass in China during 2007–2015 based on data assimilation
Authors: Huang Hai , Huang Jianxi , Li Xuecao , Zhuo Wen , Wu Yantong , Niu Quandi , Su Wei , Yuan Wenping
Published: May 2022

As a key variable to characterize the process of crop growth, the aboveground biomass (AGB) plays an important role in crop management and production. Process-based models and remote sensing are two important scientific methods for crop AGB estimation. In this study, we combined observations from agricultural meteorological stations and county-level yield statistics to calibrate a process-based crop growth model for winter wheat. After that, we assimilated a reprocessed temporal-spatial filtered MODIS Leaf Area Index product into the model to derive the 1 km daily AGB dataset of the main winter wheat producing areas in China from 2007 to 2015. The validation using ground measurements also suggests the derived AGB dataset agrees well with the filed observations, i.e., the R2 is above 0.9, and the root mean square error (RMSE) reaches 1,377 kg·ha−1. Compared to county-level statistics during 2007–2015, the ranges of R2, RMSE, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) are 0.73~0.89, 953~1,503 kg·ha−1, and 8%~12%, respectively. We believe our dataset can be helpful for relevant studies on regional agricultural production management and yield estimation.
Diagnosis of colour vision deficits using eye movements
Authors: Taore Aryaman , Lobo Gabriel , Turnbull Philip R. , Dakin Steven C.
Published: May 2022

We set out to develop a simple objective test of functional colour vision based on eye movements made in response to moving patterns. We exploit the finding that while the motion of a colour-defined stimulus can be cancelled by adding a low-contrast luminance-defined stimulus moving in the opposite direction, the “equivalent luminance contrast” required for such cancellation is reduced when colour vision is abnormal. We used a consumer-grade infrared eye-tracker to measure eye movements made in response to coloured patterns drifting at different speeds. An automated analysis of these movements estimated individuals’ red-green equiluminant point and their equivalent luminance contrast. We tested 34 participants: 23 colour vision normal controls, 9 deuteranomalous and 2 protanomalous individuals. We obtained reliable estimates of strength of directed eye movements (i.e. combined optokinetic and voluntary tracking) for stimuli moving at 16 deg/s and could use these data to classify participants’ colour vision status with a sensitivity rate of 90.9% and a specificity rate of 91.3%. We conclude that an objective test of functional colour vision combining a motion-nulling technique with an automated analysis of eye movements can diagnose and assess the severity of protanopia and deuteranopia. The test places minimal demands on patients (who simply view a series of moving patterns for less than 90 s), requires modest operator expertise, and can be run on affordable hardware.