bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blockchain-Based Task and Information Management in Computational Cloud Systems
Authors: Wilczyński Andrzej , Kołodziej Joanna
Published: April 2022

Blockchain can be successfully utilised in diverse areas, including the financial sector and the Information and Communication Technology environments, such as computational clouds (CC). While cloud computing optimises the use of resources, it does not (yet) provide an effective solution for the secure hosting scheduling and execution of large computing and data applications and prevention of external attacks.

This chapter briefly reviews the recent blockchain-inspired task scheduling and information processing methods in computational clouds. We pay special attention to security, intrusion detection, and unauthorised manipulation of tasks and information in such systems. As an example, we present the implementation of a new blockchain-based scheduler in the computational cloud. We defined a new Proof of Schedule consensus algorithm, which works with the Stackelberg game, regulates checking and adding new blocks to the blockchain, and determines how to validate schedules stored in transactions. The proposed model assumes competition between different schedule providers. The winner of such a competition takes account of the client’s requirements faster and prepares an optimal schedule to meet them. The presented scheduler extends the possibilities of using different scheduling modules by the end-users. By delegating the preparation of the schedules, providers can get benefits only for that, without executing customer tasks.
Erratum zu: Politische Bildung für die digitale Öffentlichkeit
Authors: Hubacher Manuel S. , Waldis Monika
Published: April 2022

Politische Bildung für die digitale Öffentlichkeit.
New phenomenological model for comparison of lasers with different temporal outputs
Authors: Coroado Julio , Williams Stewart , Suder Wojciech , Ganguly Supriyo , Meco Sonia , Pardal Goncalo
Published: April 2022

Laser welding is distinguished by low heat input, low distortion, high travel speeds and accuracy. Traditional high-power pulsed wave (PW) lasers are being replaced by high-frequency low-pulse energy fibre lasers. However, as these lasers operate at very high frequencies, near continuous wave (CW) operation, it is not clear the benefit of such frequencies in comparison to CW lasers for micro-welding. In this project, two lasers, one in high-frequency PW and another in CW are operated at the same conditions, including average power, average peak power, spot size and travel speed, and the differences in material response are investigated. It has been shown that frequency is one of the important parameters that affect the heat loss between individual pulses, referred to as inter-pulse losses. At low frequency, the PW laser provided lower melting efficiency and higher penetration efficiency than CW. On the other hand, at high frequency, the PW resulted in lower melting and penetration efficiency than CW. In addition, a new definition of interaction time has been proposed to capture conduction losses by travel speed and heat inter-pulse losses due to periodic lack of laser power. This allows a like-for-like comparison of CW and PW lasers and can be used to predict penetration depth with processing parameters.
OECD Case Studies of Integrated Regional and Strategic Impact Assessment: What Does ‘Integration’ Look Like in Practice?
Authors: Arnold Lauren , Friberg Rob , Hanna Kevin , Buse Chris G.
Published: April 2022

Increasingly, protocols for assessing the impacts of land-uses and major resource development projects focus not only on environmental impacts, but also social and human health impacts. Regional and Strategic Environmental Assessment (RSEAs) are one innovation that hold promise at better integrating these diverse land-use values into planning, assessment, and decision-making. In this contribution, a realist review methodology is utilized to identify case studies of “integrated RSEA”—those which are strategic, have a regional assessment approach, and seek to integrate environmental, community and health impacts into a singular assessment architecture. The results of a systematic literature review are described and six RSEA-like case studies are identified: Kimberly Browse LNG SEA; HS2 Appraisal of Sustainability; Lisbon International Airport SEA; Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment; Nordstream 2 Transboundary EIA; and the Portland Harbour Sustainability Project. The case studies are examined according to their unique contexts, mechanisms and outcomes of their assessment protocols to determine the degree to which they consider more than environmental valued components, and the means by which they were included. Findings suggest that RSEA has a contentious relationship with the integration of more than environmental values, but that there are significant lessons to be learned to support project planning, especially for assessment contexts characterized by large, transboundary projects.
Chronische Tropheryma-whipplei-Infektion: Eine wichtige Differentialdiagnose der therapierefraktären Polyarthritis
Authors: Ruffer Nikolas , Holzer Marie-Therese , Gkanatsas Yannik , Schinglerová Izabela , Boro Damir , Krusche Martin , Kötter Ina
Published: April 2022

Hintergrund

Therapierefraktäre Arthritiden sind ein häufiges Problem im rheumatologischen Alltag und können eine differentialdiagnostische Herausforderung darstellen. Chronische Infektionen durch Tropheryma whipplei (T. whipplei) sollten in diesen Fällen bedacht werden.

Ziel der Arbeit

Anhand von 5 klinischen Fällen werden in dieser fallbasierten Übersichtsarbeit die diagnostischen und therapeutischen Prinzipien im Management der chronischen T.-whipplei-Infektion erläutert.

Ergebnis

Der Morbus Whipple ist eine infektiöse Multisystemerkrankung, die durch das Bakterium T. whipplei ausgelöst wird. Typischerweise manifestiert sich die Erkrankung mit Arthralgien, Gewichtsverlust und Diarrhoen. Die Gelenkmanifestationen gehen den gastrointestinalen Krankheitserscheinungen häufig mehrere Jahre voraus. Neben systemischen Manifestationen (Morbus Whipple) kann T. whipplei auch zu lokalisierten Infektionen der Gelenke ohne gastrointestinale Beteiligung führen. Die Gelenkmanifestationen systemischer und lokalisierter T.-whipplei-Infektionen werden fälschlicherweise häufig als Zeichen verschiedener autoimmunologischer Arthritiden gedeutet.

Diskussion

Bei der Abklärung therapierefraktärer Arthritiden sollte an einen Morbus Whipple und lokalisierte Gelenkinfektionen durch T. whipplei gedacht werden. Diagnostisch wegweisend ist die Untersuchung des Gelenkpunktates auf T. whipplei mittels Polymerasekettenreaktion.
„Er weiß es noch nicht“ – Triadische Kommunikation und ihre Tücken am Beispiel eines onkologischen Visitengesprächs
Authors: Baldt Bettina
Published: April 2022

Medizinische Kommunikation ist ein wirkungsvolles Instrument ärztlichen Handelns. Aufgrund des niedrigen Stellenwerts, den medizinische Kommunikation innerhalb der Medizin und medizinischen Ausbildung immer noch einnimmt, wissen viele Ärzt:innen nicht, professionell mit diesem Instrument umzugehen. Medizinische Kommunikation so einzusetzen, dass Patient:innen gut informiert und involviert sind, ist Voraussetzung dafür, dass diese selbstbestimmt Entscheidungen treffen können. In dieser Arbeit analysiere ich ein Visitengespräch auf einer onkologischen Station gesprächsanalytisch. Auf diese Weise sollen die Tücken der ärztlichen Gesprächsführung – speziell in der triadischen Kommunikation – anhand eines Fallbeispiels aus der Praxis aufgezeigt und aus dem Transkript heraus Optimierungsvorschläge erarbeitet werden. Fehler in der Gesprächsführung, welche man in der Theorie durchaus als solche erkennt, passieren in der Praxis leider dennoch, weswegen dieses Fallbeispiel dazu einladen soll, die eigene Gesprächsführung kritisch zu reflektieren. Das Fazit enthält Anregungen für die Vorbereitung auf das Visitengespräch sowie für die Gesprächsführung während der Visite selbst.
Prävention von berufsbedingtem Hautkrebs bei Beschäftigten im Freien: Entwicklung eines Curriculums zur Fortbildung von Multiplikator*innen
Authors: Ludewig Michaela , Rocholl Marc , John Swen Malte , Wilke Annika
Published: April 2022

Hintergrund

In Außenberufen beschäftigte Personen (z. B. Straßenbauer*innen) sind solarer UV-Strahlung in hohem Maße ausgesetzt. Um die Entstehung von berufsbedingtem Hautkrebs zu verhindern, sind Präventionsmaßnahmen unerlässlich.

Ziel

Das Ziel der Projekte „ForMulA UV 1.0 & 2.0“ war die Entwicklung und Pilotierung sowie die formative Evaluation eines wissenschaftlich fundierten, standardisierten, zielgruppenspezifischen Curriculums als Fortbildungsprogramm für Multiplikator*innen in Außenberufen.

Material und Methoden

Im Rahmen der Curriculumsentwicklung wurde die wissenschaftliche Literatur zu schulungs- und beratungsrelevanten Inhalten aufbereitet. Zur Erfassung der Bedürfnisse von Multiplikator*innen wurden Fokusgruppendiskussionen durchgeführt. Auf dieser Grundlage erfolgte die Konzeption, die durch einen Expertenworkshop validiert und im Rahmen einer Pilotveranstaltung umgesetzt wurde.

Ergebnisse

Im gesamten Entwicklungsprozess zeigten sich heterogene Bedürfnisse und Anforderungen (z. B. Tiefe der Inhalte) der Zielgruppen, d. h. sowohl auf der Ebene der im Freien Beschäftigten als auch auf der Ebene verschiedener Gruppen von Multiplikator*innen (z. B. Fachkräfte für Arbeitssicherheit, Arbeitsmediziner*innen). Zum Projektende liegt ein nach dem „template for intervention, description and replication“ (TIDieR) aufgearbeitetes, wissenschaftlich fundiertes, zielgruppenorientiertes Curriculum vor.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Entwicklung eines zielgruppenübergreifenden Konzeptes, das in verschiedenen Berufsfeldern (z. B. Erzieher*innen, Dachdecker*innen) durch unterschiedliche Multiplikator*innen anwendbar ist, stellt eine Herausforderung dar. Modifikationen durch die Multiplikator*innen vor Ort am Arbeitsplatz sind daher essenziell, um zum Erfolg der Präventionsmaßnahmen beizutragen.
Turning the Tables: The Relationship Between Performance and Multinationality
Authors: Schmuck Alice , Lagerström Katarina , Sallis James
Published: April 2022

The abundant research on the multinationality-performance relationship has yet to provide cohesive findings concerning the nature and shape of the relationship. This paper joins a small, but growing body of research considering the effect of performance on multinationality. Drawing on resource-based theory and prospect theory, the authors develop competing hypotheses for the impact of performance on multinationality. Using non-linear ordinary least squares regression on unbalanced panel data for 2066 firm-year observations of Swedish publicly listed firms over 12 years, the authors find strong support for a positive U-shaped relationship. The foremost contribution is that performance drives internationalization, much more than vice versa. The model for the traditional causal direction from multinationality to performance explains less than half the variance, has marginal significance on key variables, and has an illogical outcome. Another contribution is how risk-taking attitudes, in accordance with prospect theory, explain a high level of internationalization when performance is negative. As performance rises towards zero, internationalization drops to an inflection point, where in accordance with resource-based theory, the degree of internationalization begins rising. This debunks the prevalent view that internationalization is contingent upon positive performance and abundant resources.
How Resistance Shapes Health and Well-Being
Authors: Essex Ryan
Published: April 2022

Resistance involves a range of actions such as disobedience, insubordination, misbehaviour, agitation, advocacy, subversion, and opposition. Action that occurs both publicly, privately, and day-to-day in the delivery of care, in discourse and knowledge. In this article I will demonstrate how resistance plays an important (but often overlooked) role in shaping health and well-being, for better and worse. To show how it can be largely productive and protective, I will argue that resistance intersects with health in at least two ways. First, it acts as an important counterbalance to power; undermining harmful policies, disobeying unfair instructions, challenging rights abuses, confronting those who would otherwise turn a blind eye and even holding ourselves to account when simply accepting the status quo. Second, and beyond being oppositional, resistance is a constructive, productive force, that is fundamental to imagining alternatives; new and better futures and perhaps most fundamentally resistance is cause for hope that we are not resigned to the status quo. While there are numerous examples of how resistance has been employed in service of health and well-being, resistance is not always rational or productive, it can also harm health. I will briefly explore this point. Finally, I will offer some reflections on the intersections of power and health and why this makes resistance both distinct and important when it comes to how it shapes health and well-being.
Affective cognition in eating disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the performance on the “Reading the Mind in the Eyes” Test
Authors: Preti Antonio , Siddi Sara , Marzola Enrica , Abbate Daga Giovanni
Published: April 2022

Background

The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is listed in the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria as a tool apt to measure the understanding of others’ mental states. People diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN) showed poorer performances on the RMET than healthy controls. Less data are available concerning other eating disorders.

Methods

Systematic review of four major databases from inception to July 15, 2021 following the PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analysis of cross-sectional observational studies comparing the scores of the RMET between patients with eating disorders and age- and-gender matched control groups.

Results

Out of 21 studies, we retrieved 29 independent samples of patients diagnosed with an eating disorder. Patients with active AN (n = 580) showed worse performances on the RMET than controls (n = 1019). Year of publication accounted for 61% of the (substantial: I2 = 81%) heterogeneity in the meta-analysis. Earlier studies were more likely to find worse performances on the RMET of patients with active AN than later studies. Patients with bulimia nervosa (n = 185) performed poorly as compared to controls (n = 249), but the results were not statistically significant on the random-effect model. Obese patients with binge-eating disorder (n = 54) did not differ on the RMET from obese controls (n = 52). Patients with eating disorder not otherwise specified (n = 57) showed minimal differences compared to controls (n = 96). Study quality was good in six studies only.

Conclusions

Patients with eating disorders do not suffer from an impaired understanding of others’ mental states, except for a still-to-be-identified subgroup of patients with active AN.

Level of evidence

I, systematic review and meta-analysis.
Post-acute cardiac complications following SARS-CoV-2 infection in partial lipodystrophy due to LMNA gene p.R349W mutation
Authors: Ceccarini G. , Gilio D. , Magno S. , Pelosini C. , Leverone M. , Miceli C. , Barison A. , Fabiani I. , Emdin M. , Santini F.
Published: April 2022

Purpose

SARS-CoV-2 infection may cause varying degrees of cardiac injury and the presence of underlying cardiovascular morbidities contributes to the frequency and severity of occurrence of this complication.

Lipodystrophy syndromes are frequently characterized by severe metabolic derangements that represent relevant cardiovascular risk factors. Besides causing lipodystrophy, mutations in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene can lead to a wide spectrum of tissue-specific disorders including cardiac involvement.

Methods and results

We herein examine the case of two patients affected by atypical progeroid syndrome and partial lipodystrophy due to a heterozygous missense LMNA mutation c.1045 C > T (p.R349W) who presented initially with mild COVID-19 and developed severe cardiovascular complications within few weeks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Before being infected with SARS-CoV-2, our patients had cardiovascular morbidities (mild mitral regurgitation in one patient, ischemic heart disease with bifascicular block in the other patient) in adjunct to cardiovascular risk factors, but the SARS-CoV-2 infection contributed to quickly and significantly decompensate their balance.

Conclusion

These findings warn that patients affected by LMNA p.R349W mutation and likely other LMNA mutations associated with cardiovascular morbidity should be considered at extremely elevated risk of post-acute cardiological manifestations and should therefore undergo a vigilant follow-up after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both patients developed COVID-19 before the specific vaccination was available to them and this unfortunate situation should remark the importance of vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 infection for all patients affected by lipodystrophy, especially those with underlying comorbidities.
A Fog-Based Multi-Purpose Internet of Things Analytics Platform
Authors: Zschörnig Theo , Windolph Jonah , Wehlitz Robert , Dumont Yann , Franczyk Bogdan
Published: April 2022

Data analytics is an important component for the benefit and growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). The utilization of data generated by a variety of heterogeneous smart devices offers the possibility of gaining meaningful insights into various aspects of the daily lives of end consumers, the environment and weather, but also into value-added processes of business and industry. The potential benefits derived from analyzing IoT data can be further enhanced by advancing developments in streaming and machine learning technologies. A critical factor in the application of these technologies are the underlying analytics architectures. These must overcome a variety of different challenges that are influenced by technical, but also legal or personal constraints and differ in importance and impact depending on the IoT application domain in which such an architecture is to be deployed. Solutions presented by previous research address only a handful of these challenges. An important capability to address the variety of challenges that arise from this situation is the ability to support the hybrid deployment of analytics pipelines at different network layers. Consequently, in this work, we propose an architectural solution that enables hybrid analytics pipeline deployments, addresses the challenges described in previous scientific literature and can be deployed in various IoT application domains. Finally, we experimentally evaluate the proposed solution.
A stochastic programming model for the aircraft sequencing and scheduling problem considering flight duration uncertainties
Authors: Cecen R.K.
Published: April 2022

This study presents a stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model for the aircraft sequencing and scheduling problem. The proposed model aims to minimise the average fuel consumption per aircraft in the Terminal Manoeuvring Area while considering uncertain flight durations for each flight. The tabu search algorithm was selected to solve the problem. The stochastic solution and deterministic solution results were compared to show the benefits of the stochastic solution. The average sample approximation technique was applied to this problem, and enhancement rates of the average fuel consumption per aircraft were 8.78% and 9.11% comparing the deterministic approach
What’s wrong with depoliticisation?
Authors: Romeo Graziella
Published: April 2022

The tension between the cosmopolitan vocation of the economy and the national character of politics has lately reached a considerable level of pressure, as control over some political economic determinants of growth has been gradually acquired by European Union (EU) institutions at the expense of national political communities. In his book Authoritarian Liberalism, Michael Wilkinson calls this development a depoliticisation of fundamental decisions concerning economic and socio-economic relationships, a process which has culminated in the Maastricht Treaty. In my comment, I intend to explore the argument concerning depoliticisation, by examining the relationship between economy and politics from a constitutional standpoint. While I agree with the author that depoliticisation has been systematically translated into a political mode of screening decisions concerning economy behind the narrative of necessary and unavoidable developments within the European project, I take a difference stance on the meaning and risks of depoliticisation. I shall argue that a certain form of depoliticisation is intrinsic to any process of constitutionalisation understood as a reflex of a political will. I then shall explain that European constitutional culture’s anti-political prejudice may have at times transfigured depoliticisation into a technique to tame and restrict disagreement.
Unsteady chiral swimmer and its response to a chemical gradient
Authors: Maity Ruma , Burada P.S.
Published: April 2022

Unsteadiness occurs in the motion of swimmers while they start from rest or escape from a predator, or attack prey. In this paper, we study the behaviour of an unsteady chiral swimmer, with a prescribed surface slip velocity, in the low-Reynolds-number regime, and its response to an external chemical gradient. In the first part, by solving the unsteady Stokes equation, we calculate the migration velocity (

$\boldsymbol {U}$

), rotation rate (

$\boldsymbol {\varOmega }$

) and flow field of the unsteady swimmer in a closed form. We compare these results with some previously known results in appropriate limits. In the second part, we investigate the response of the unsteady chiral swimmer to an external chemical gradient, which can influence the swimmer's surface slip velocity. Consequently, the swimmer either steers towards the source of the chemical gradient or moves away from it, depending on the strengths of

$\boldsymbol {U}$

and

$\boldsymbol {\varOmega }$

, and the corresponding angle (

$\chi$

) between them. Interestingly, the swimmer swims in a closed orbit in the vicinity of the chemical target, depending on the strengths of

$\boldsymbol {\varOmega }$

and

$\chi$

. We present a complete state diagram representing the successful, unsuccessful and orbital states for various strengths of

$\boldsymbol {\varOmega }$

and

$\chi$

. This study is useful to understand the unsteady propulsion of ciliated microorganisms and their response to external gradients.
Applying the Prigogine view of dissipative systems to the major transitions in evolution
Authors: de Castro Carlos , McShea Daniel W.
Published: April 2022

Ilya Prigogine'strinomialconcept is, he argued, applicable to many complex dissipative systems, from physics to biology and even to social systems. For Prigogine, this trinomial—functions,structure,fluctuations—was intended to capture the feedback-rich relations between upper and lower levels in these systems. The main novelty of his vision was his view of causation, in which the causal arrow runs downward from dissipative structures to their components or functions. Following this insight, some physicists and biophysicists are beginning to apply terms formerly used mainly in biology, such asevolution,adaptation,learning, andlife-like behavior, to physical and chemical nonequilibrium systems. Here, instead, we apply Prigogine's view to biology, in particular to evolution, and especially the major transitions in evolution (MTE), arguing that at least the hierarchical transitions—the transitions in individuality—follow a trajectory anticipated by the trinomial. In this trajectory, formerly free-living organisms are transformed into “functions” within a larger organic “structure.” The Prigogine view also predicts that, consistent with available data, the increase in number of hierarchical levels in organisms should accelerate over time. Finally, it predicts that, on geological timescales, ecosystems and Gaia in particular will tend to “de-Darwinize” or “machinify” their component organisms.
That’s Good News ☹
Authors: Beyersmann Elisabeth , Wegener Signy , Kemp Nenagh
Published: April 2022

Abstract. The use of emojis in digital communication has become increasingly popular, but how emojis are processed and integrated in reading processes remains underexplored. This study used eye-tracking to monitor university students’ ( n = 47) eye movements while reading single-line text messages with a face emoji embedded medially. Messages contained a semantically congruent emoji (e.g., That’s good news 😊 tell me more), a semantically incongruent emoji (e.g., That’s good news ☹ tell me more), or a dash (e.g., That’s good news – tell me more). Results revealed that emoji congruency did not influence early fixation measures (first fixation duration and gaze duration), nor the probability of regressions. However, there was a significant congruency effect in total reading time and trial dwell time, showing that incongruence incurred a processing cost. The present results extend previously reported semantic congruency effects in sentence reading to the processing of emojis. This result suggests that the semantic content conveyed by face emojis is integrated with sentence context late in processing. We further found that the use of congruent emojis improved the relationship between sender and receiver: Ratings collected separately suggested that message senders were liked better if they included congruent than incongruent emojis. Overall, emojis attracted attention: Participants were twice as likely to fixate on emojis than on dashes, and to fixate on emojis for longer.
Elasticity of Hydrated Al‐Bearing Stishovite and Post‐Stishovite: Implications for Understanding Regional Seismic VS Anomalies Along Subducting Slabs in the Lower Mantle
Authors: Zhang Yanyao , Fu Suyu , Karato Shun‐ichiro , Okuchi Takuo , Chariton Stella , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Lin Jung‐Fu
Published: April 2022

Seismic studies have found seismic scatterers with −2 to −12% shear velocity anomalies along some subducting slabs at 700–1900 km depth. The ferroelastic post‐stishovite transition in subducted mid‐ocean ridge basalt (MORB) has been linked to these seismic features, but compressional and shear wave velocities (VP and VS) and full elastic moduli (Cij) of Al,H‐bearing stishovite and post‐stishovite at high pressure remain uncertain. Here we have determined Raman shifts of optic modes and equation of state parameters of two hydrated Al‐bearing stishovite crystals, Al1.3‐SiO2 (1.34 mol% Al and 0.55 mol% H) and Al2.1‐SiO2 (2.10 mol% Al and 0.59 mol% H), up to ∼70 GPa in diamond anvil cells coupled with Raman spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. The experimental data are modeled using a pseudoproper Landau theory to derive full Cij and sound velocities across the post‐stishovite transition at high pressure. The Al and H dissolution in stishovite significantly reduces the transition pressure to 21.1 GPa in Al1.3‐SiO2 and to 16.1 GPa in Al2.1‐SiO2, where the transition is manifested by approximately 29% VS reduction. Considering that stishovite with approximately 1.3 mol% Al and 0.6 mol% H could account for 20 vol% in subducted MORB at the top‐lower mantle, the Al,H‐bearing post‐stishovite transition with a Clapeyron slope of 65 K/GPa would occur at about 1060 km depth with −7(4)% VS anomaly. The VS anomalies across the Al,H‐bearing post‐stishovite transition can help explain the seismically‐observed depth‐dependent VS anomalies along some subducting slabs in the top‐ to mid‐lower‐mantle depths including the Tonga subducting slab.
Using Stable Water Isotope Composition (δ18O and δ2H) to Track the Interannual Responses of Arctic and Tropical Andean Water Bodies to Rising Air Temperatures
Authors: Michelutti Neal , Hargan Kathryn E. , Kimpe Linda E. , Smol John P. , Blais Jules M.
Published: April 2022

Lakes in the Arctic and tropical Andes are experiencing some of the largest temperature increases on the planet with coeval marked limnological changes, but little data exist on water balance parameters from these regions. Here, we present a unique data set of water stable isotope composition (δ18O and δ2H) from a suite of 49 water bodies in the Canadian Arctic (Resolute Bay, Cornwallis Island, and Cape Herschel, Ellesmere Island) and the tropical Andes (Cajas National Park, Ecuador) spanning various years from 2009 to 2016. We show that an increase in air temperature over the study period resulted in evaporative enrichment of water isotopes in most Arctic sites highlighting the significance of evaporative losses to small Arctic ponds during the prolonged ice‐free summers now experienced in this part of the world. Exceptions include some Arctic waterbodies that received abundant snowmelt and large, ice‐covered lakes less prone to evaporation. Data from the Andean lakes indicated evaporative effects were minimal due to abundant precipitation. These data, in combination with limnological records and paleolimnological research from each region, provide a holistic view on how freshwater ecosystems are responding to recent warming in climatically sensitive Arctic and Andean environments.
Well‐Type Steady Flow in Strongly Heterogeneous Porous Media: An Experimental Study
Authors: Brunetti G. F. A. , Fallico C. , De Bartolo S. , Severino G.
Published: April 2022

Steady well‐type flow was monitored in an aquifer that was artificially packed in order to reproduce a given, highly heterogeneous, statistical distribution of the log‐conductivity Y. In particular, we focus on pumping tests carried out at 10 volumetric flow rates. The experimental arrangement was composed by a pumping well and several surrounding observation piezometers. The unique feature of this experimental study is that the high heterogeneity structure of Y is known fairly well. Thus, the study lends itself as a valuable tool to corroborate theoretical findings about flows driven by sources through porous formations, where the variance (in the present study equal to 3.79) of Y is large. Besides discussing experimental findings, we tackle the crucial issue of upscaling the hydraulic conductivity in a well‐flow configuration. In particular, we deal with the equivalent conductivity (EC) as that pertaining to a homogeneous (fictitious) medium which conveys the same volumetric flow rate of the real one, under the same boundary conditions. Hence, the EC can be identified straightforwardly by means of head measurements. Even if we show that the EC is a proper parameter to reproduce measurements, it is experimentally shown (in line with the theoretical results) to be position‐dependent, and therefore, it cannot be regarded (unlike groundwater‐type flow) as a formation’s property. This implies that the EC applies only to the configuration at stake. Then, we show that the EC, combined with a recent model of effective conductivity in well‐flows through highly heterogeneous porous formation, leads to a reasonably reliable estimate of , some limitations and approximations, notwithstanding. It is hoped that the present experimental study will be useful for other researchers who are engaged with similar research‐topics.
Inhibition of Cdk5 increases osteoblast differentiation and bone mass and improves fracture healing
Authors: Ahmad Mubashir , Krüger Benjamin Thilo , Kroll Torsten , Vettorazzi Sabine , Dorn Ann-Kristin , Mengele Florian , Lee Sooyeon , Nandi Sayantan , Yilmaz Dilay , Stolz Miriam , Tangudu Naveen Kumar , Vázquez David Carro , Pachmayr Johanna , Cirstea Ion Cristian , Spasic Maja Vujic , Ploubidou Aspasia , Ignatius Anita , Tuckermann Jan
Published: April 2022

Identification of regulators of osteoblastogenesis that can be pharmacologically targeted is a major goal in combating osteoporosis, a common disease of the elderly population. Here, unbiased kinome RNAi screening in primary murine osteoblasts identified cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) as a suppressor of osteoblast differentiation in both murine and human preosteoblastic cells. Cdk5 knockdown by siRNA, genetic deletion using the Cre-loxP system, or inhibition with the small molecule roscovitine enhanced osteoblastogenesis in vitro. Roscovitine treatment significantly enhanced bone mass by increasing osteoblastogenesis and improved fracture healing in mice. Mechanistically, downregulation of Cdk5 expression increased Erk phosphorylation, resulting in enhanced osteoblast-specific gene expression. Notably, simultaneous Cdk5 and Erk depletion abrogated the osteoblastogenesis conferred by Cdk5 depletion alone, suggesting that Cdk5 regulates osteoblast differentiation through MAPK pathway modulation. We conclude that Cdk5 is a potential therapeutic target to treat osteoporosis and improve fracture healing.
Structural basis for PoxtA-mediated resistance to phenicol and oxazolidinone antibiotics
Authors: Crowe-McAuliffe Caillan , Murina Victoriia , Turnbull Kathryn Jane , Huch Susanne , Kasari Marje , Takada Hiraku , Nersisyan Lilit , Sundsfjord Arnfinn , Hegstad Kristin , Atkinson Gemma C. , Pelechano Vicent , Wilson Daniel N. , Hauryliuk Vasili
Published: April 2022

PoxtA and OptrA are ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins of the F subtype (ABCF). They confer resistance to oxazolidinone and phenicol antibiotics, such as linezolid and chloramphenicol, which stall translating ribosomes when certain amino acids are present at a defined position in the nascent polypeptide chain. These proteins are often encoded on mobile genetic elements, facilitating their rapid spread amongst Gram-positive bacteria, and are thought to confer resistance by binding to the ribosome and dislodging the bound antibiotic. However, the mechanistic basis of this resistance remains unclear. Here we refine the PoxtA spectrum of action, demonstrate alleviation of linezolid-induced context-dependent translational stalling, and present cryo-electron microscopy structures of PoxtA in complex with the Enterococcus faecalis 70S ribosome. PoxtA perturbs the CCA-end of the P-site tRNA, causing it to shift by ∼4 Å out of the ribosome, corresponding to a register shift of approximately one amino acid for an attached nascent polypeptide chain. We postulate that the perturbation of the P-site tRNA by PoxtA thereby alters the conformation of the attached nascent chain to disrupt the drug binding site.
Lupus enhancer risk variant causes dysregulation of IRF8 through cooperative lncRNA and DNA methylation machinery
Authors: Zhou Tian , Zhu Xinyi , Ye Zhizhong , Wang Yong-Fei , Yao Chao , Xu Ning , Zhou Mi , Ma Jianyang , Qin Yuting , Shen Yiwei , Tang Yuanjia , Yin Zhihua , Xu Hong , Zhang Yutong , Zang Xiaoli , Ding Huihua , Yang Wanling , Guo Ya , Harley John B. , Namjou Bahram , Kaufman Kenneth M. , Kottyan Leah C. , Weirauch Matthew T. , Hou Guojun , Shen Nan
Published: April 2022

Despite strong evidence that human genetic variants affect the expression of many key transcription factors involved in autoimmune diseases, establishing biological links between non-coding risk variants and the gene targets they regulate remains a considerable challenge. Here, we combine genetic, epigenomic, and CRISPR activation approaches to screen for functional variants that regulate IRF8 expression. We demonstrate that the locus containing rs2280381 is a cell-type-specific enhancer for IRF8 that spatially interacts with the IRF8 promoter. Further, rs2280381 mediates IRF8 expression through enhancer RNA AC092723.1, which recruits TET1 to the IRF8 promoter regulating IRF8 expression by affecting methylation levels. The alleles of rs2280381 modulate PU.1 binding and chromatin state to regulate AC092723.1 and IRF8 expression differentially. Our work illustrates an integrative strategy to define functional genetic variants that regulate the expression of critical genes in autoimmune diseases and decipher the mechanisms underlying the dysregulation of IRF8 expression mediated by lupus risk variants.
Arctic amplification modulated by Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and greenhouse forcing on multidecadal to century scales
Authors: Fang Miao , Li Xin , Chen Hans W. , Chen Deliang
Published: April 2022

Enhanced warming in the Arctic (Arctic amplification, AA) in the last decades has been linked to several factors including sea ice and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). However, how these factors contributed to AA variations in a long-term perspective remains unclear. By reconstructing a millennial AA index combining climate model simulations with recently available proxy data, this work determines the important influences of the AMO and anthropogenic greenhouse gas forcing on AA variations in the last millennium, leading to identification of a significant downward trend of AA on top of a sustained strong AMO modulation at the multidecadal scales. The decreased AA during the industrial era was strongly associated with the anthropogenic forcing, proving the emerging role of the forcing in reducing the AA strength.
Nanoemulsion-directed growth of MOFs with versatile architectures for the heterogeneous regeneration of coenzymes
Authors: Li Ke , Zhao Yucheng , Yang Jian , Gu Jinlou
Published: April 2022

As one of the most appealing strategies for the synthesis of nanomaterials with various architectures, emulsion-directed methods have been rarely used to control the structure of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Herein, we report a versatile salt-assisted nanoemulsion-guided assembly to achieve continuous architecture transition of hierarchical Zr-based MOFs. The morphology of nanoemulsion can be facilely regulated by tuning the feed ratio of a dual-surfactant and the introduced amount of compatible hydrophobic compounds, which directs the assembly of MOFs with various architectures such as bowl-like mesoporous particle, dendritic nanospheres, walnut-shaped particles, crumpled nanosheets and nanodisks. The developed dendritic nanospheres with highly open and large mesochannels is successfully used as matrix for the co-immobilization of coenzymes and corresponding enzymes to realize the in situ heterogeneous regeneration of NAD+. This strategy is expected to pave a way for exploring sophisticated hierarchical MOFs which can be competent for practical applications with bulk molecules involved.
Drying in the low-latitude Atlantic Ocean contributed to terrestrial water storage depletion across Eurasia
Authors: Shen Zexi , Zhang Qiang , Singh Vijay P. , Pokhrel Yadu , Li Jianping , Xu Chong-Yu , Wu Wenhuan
Published: April 2022

Eurasia, home to ~70% of global population, is characterized by (semi-)arid climate. Water scarcity in the mid-latitude Eurasia (MLE) has been exacerbated by a consistent decline in terrestrial water storage (TWS), attributed primarily to human activities. However, the atmospheric mechanisms behind such TWS decline remain unclear. Here, we investigate teleconnections between drying in low-latitude North Atlantic Ocean (LNATO) and TWS depletions across MLE. We elucidate mechanistic linkages and detecte high correlations between decreased TWS in MLE and the decreased precipitation-minus-evapotranspiration (PME) in LNATO. TWS in MLE declines by ~257% during 2003-2017 due to northeastward propagation of PME deficit following two distinct seasonal landfalling routes during January-May and June-January. The same mechanism reduces TWS during 2031-2050 by ~107% and ~447% under scenarios SSP245 and SSP585, respectively. Our findings highlight the risk of increased future water scarcity across MLE caused by large-scale climatic drivers, compounding the impacts of human activities.
Excitatory neurons in paraventricular hypothalamus contributed to the mechanism underlying acupuncture regulating the swallowing function
Authors: Yuan Si , Deng Bing , Ye Qiuping , Wu Zhennan , Wu Junshang , Wang Lin , Xu Qin , Yao Lulu , Xu Nenggui
Published: April 2022

Paraventricular hypothalamus (PVH) is demonstrated to regulate stress, feeding behaviors, and other related homeostatic processes. However, no direct evidence has been investigated for the role of PVH in swallowing function. Acupuncture therapy at Lianquan (CV23) acupoint has been reported to improve the swallowing function in clinical trials, but its underlying mechanism still needs to be uncovered. Thus, we aimed to explore whether PVH involved the acupuncture mediated regulating swallowing function. Chemogenetics, electromyography (EMG) recording, and immunofluorescence staining methods were combined to demonstrate that neurons in PVH could be activated by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at CV23, and this neuronal cluster was represented as excitatory neurons. Furthermore, we mapped both the inputs and outputs of PVH neurons using viral tracing. The neurons in PVH projected with the brain regions, including parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the solitary tract nucleus (NTS), which both participated in the swallowing process. The EA function regulating the swallowing was attenuated after inhibiting the neurons in PVH in the post stroke dysphagia. In conclusion, this study suggested that EA at CV23 could regulate swallowing function involving the excitatory neurons in PVH.
Tunable photoluminescence and energy transfer of Eu3+,Ho3+-doped Ca0.05Y1.93-xO2 nanophosphors for warm white LEDs applications
Authors: Dwivedi Arpita , Srivastava Monika , Srivastava Amit , Upadhyay Chandan , Srivastava Sanjay Kumar
Published: April 2022

A series of Eu3+ ions doped Ca0.05Y1.93-xO3:0.02Ho3+ (CYO:Ho3+,xEu3+) nanophosphors having multicolour tuneability have been synthesised by following a simplistic solution combustion approach. The synthesised samples have been characterised by employing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The optical properties have been engrossed by UV–visible and photoluminescent excitation and emission spectra, and decay lifetimes measurements. The characteristic emission, which occurs due to the f-f transition of Ho3+ and Eu3+ has been observed in emission spectra with excitation of 448 nm. By adjusting the doping ratio of Ho3+/Eu3+, the as-synthesized nanophosphor accomplishes multicolour tunability from green-yellow to red. Emission spectra and decay lifetime curve recommend dipole–dipole interaction causes energy transfer from Ho3+ → Eu3+. The energy transfer process from Ho3+ to Eu3+ has been confirmed through electric dipole–dipole interaction with critical distance 15.146 Å. Moreover, temperature dependent emission spectra show the high thermal stability with an activation energy ⁓ 0.21 eV, with the quantum efficiency of 83.6%. CIE coordinate illustrates that the singly doped Ho3+ and Eu3+ lie in the green and red region, respectively, while the as-synthesized CYO:Ho3+,xEu3+shows tunability from green to red with low CCT and high colour purity values. Hence, the CYO:Ho3+,xEu3+nanophosphor may be a near-UV excited multicolour colour-tunable pertinent candidate with potential prospects for multicolour- display and near-ultraviolet lighting applications.
Site specific incidence rate of genomic subtypes of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and association with enteric inflammation and child growth
Authors: Das Rina , Palit Parag , Haque Md. Ahshanul , Mahfuz Mustafa , Faruque A. S. G. , Ahmed Tahmeed
Published: April 2022

There is a lack of information highlighting the possible association between the genomic subtypes of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) on environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) and on linear growth during childhood. Genomic subtypes of EPEC from stool samples collected from 1705 children enrolled in the MAL-ED birth cohort were detected by TaqMan Array Cards. We measured site-specific incidence rate by using Poisson regression models, identified the risk factors and estimated the association of genomic subtypes of EPEC with the composite EED score and linear growth at 24 months of age. In general, the highest incidence rate (39%) was found among children having aEPEC infection, which was the greatest in Tanzania (54%). Exclusive breastfeeding and having an improved sanitation facility were found to be protective factors against EPEC infection. In the multivariate models, in overall effect after adjusting for the potential covariates aEPEC showed strong positive associations with the EED scores and tEPEC showed a positive association with poor linear growth at 24 months of age. Our analyses may lay the cornerstone for a prospective epidemiologic investigation for a potential vaccine development aimed at reducing the burden of EPEC infections and combat childhood malnutrition.
The prognostic value of the Naples prognostic score for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Peng Si-Min , Ren Jin-Jin , Yu Na , Xu Jia-Ying , Chen Guo-Chong , Li Xiaodong , Li Da-Peng , Yang Jing , Li Zeng-Ning , Zhang Yu-Song , Qin Li-Qiang
Published: April 2022

The Naples prognostic score (NPS) is an effective inflammatory and nutritional scoring system widely applied as a prognostic factor in various cancers. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of the NPS in patients diagnosed with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We prospectively collected 395 patients diagnosed with NSCLC between January 2016 and December 2018 in two university-affiliated hospitals. Patients were divided into three groups according to their pretreatment NPS (Group 0: NPS = 0; Group 1: NPS = 1–2; Group 2: NPS = 3–4). Kaplan–Meier survival curves indicated that patients with higher NPS had a poorer overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) (both P < 0.05). NPS was further confirmed as an independent prognostic factors of OS and PFS by multivariable survival analysis (both P < 0.05). Furthermore, stratifying by TNM stage, NPS also has significant predictive performance for OS and PFS in both early (I–IIIA) and advanced (IIIB–IV) stage NSCLC (all P < 0.05). The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that NPS was more superior to other prognostic factors in predicting OS and PFS. In conclusion, NPS may serve as an effective indicator to predict OS and PFS in NSCLC patients regardless of TNM stage.
Single-cell reconstruction reveals input patterns and pathways into corticotropin-releasing factor neurons in the central amygdala in mice
Authors: Huang Chuan , Wang Yu , Chen Peng , Shan Qing-Hong , Wang Hao , Ding Lu-Feng , Bi Guo-Qiang , Zhou Jiang-Ning
Published: April 2022

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) neurons are one of the most densely distributed cell types in the central amygdala (CeA), and are involved in a wide range of behaviors including anxiety and learning. However, the fundamental input circuits and patterns of CeA-CRF neurons are still unclear. Here, we generate a monosynaptic-input map onto CeA-CRF neurons at single-cell resolution via a retrograde rabies-virus system. We find all inputs are located in 44 nested subregions that directly innervate CeA-CRF neurons; most of them are top-down convergent inputs expressing Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and are centralized in cortex, especially in the layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex, which may directly relay information from the thalamus. While the bottom-up divergent inputs have the highest proportion of glutamate decarboxylase expression. Finally, en passant structures of single input neuron are revealed by in-situ reconstruction in a modified 3D-reference atlas, represented by a Periaqueductal gray-Subparafascicular nucleus-Subthalamic nucleus-Globus pallidus-Caudoputamen-CeA pathway. Taken together, our findings provide morphological and connectivity properties of inputs onto CeA-CRF neurons, which may provide insights for future studies interrogating circuit mechanisms of CeA-CRF neurons in mediating various functions.