bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A manifesto for coastal landscape governance: Reframing the relationship between coastal and landscape governance
Authors: Gonçalves Carla , Pinho Paulo
Published: June 2024

There is an urgent demand for substantial reforms in the governance of coastal regions. Recent research advocates for a transformative shift in European coastal governance system towards a landscape governance approach. This perspective, informed by a narrative literature review on coastal and landscape governance, explores the potential value of coastal landscape governance, drawing on the Council of Europe Landscape Convention. Our results, presented in the form of a manifesto, underscore the need to move beyond political administrative boundaries and address all coastal landscapes as socio-ecological systems. It emphasises the necessity for the State to recognise them as a public and common good, establishing a specific governance arena with dedicated actors and institutions. The manifesto also advocates for landscape justice through knowledge co production, urging transformative change and landscape based regional design to envision alternative futures. Additionally, it calls for regionalising coastal landscape governance and invites scholars from other transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives to contribute to this research agenda.
Crack segmentation for high-speed imaging: detection of fractures in thermally toughened glass
Authors: Riedel Henrik , Bohmann Leon , Bagusat Frank , Sauer Martin , Schuster Miriam , Seel Matthias
Published: June 2024

Fracture morphology characterization in broken glass panes is crucial for designing laminated safety glass (LSG) in civil engineering. Verifying completely broken LSG systems requires destructive sampling, increasing costs and hindering development. Therefore, to determine the residual load-bearing capacity, the link between the pre-fracture characteristics and the fracture morphology must be known. However, when the crack propagation needs to be directly captured with high-speed imaging, conventional methods are no longer sufficient for detecting cracks. To enable such investigations, we propose a novel machine learning framework for crack segmentation in high-speed imaging that addresses the complexity of glass fracture and minimises the required labour costs. In this study, the crack propagation of a sample was recorded and analysed at 2,000,000 images per second. The results showcase accuracies surpassing 97% while requiring only two labeled images for training, thus streamlining practical implementation. Furthermore, we show the method's robustness to the extent that hyperparameter tuning becomes unnecessary. Instead, we offer guidelines for selecting the most crucial hyperparameters depending on the problem. Our method offers a promising approach for non-linear temporal interpolation of noisy images, with implications for various applications extending beyond glass fracture analysis.
Saucer blowouts in the coast dune fields of NW Spain
Authors: Flor G. , Martínez Cedrún P.
Published: June 2024

Three selected stabilized saucer blowouts in the coast of NW Spain (Iberian Peninsula) are studied under the morphological and sedimentological points of view. The morphologies of these blowouts are characterized: rim, crest, deflation bottom, right (inner and outer) and left (outer and inner) flanks, outer windward and inner lee ward flanks, inner windward and outer lee ward flanks. They are slightly elongated according to the main direction of the prevailing wind. From surficial sand samples, isolines of grain-size parameters such as centile, mean, sorting, skewness, and kurtosis, as well as the mineralogical composition (bioclastic carbonate versus siliciclastic percents) have been considered to establish specific trends. In many cases, isoline contours are adapted to the floor and the sedimentary rim, allowing to deduce the main flow of the wind that contributes to their formation and development of the complex geometry including their granulometry and composition. The average size is coarser in the outer windward and deflation bottom, and minimum in the crest; the sorting is better in the outer lee side and moderate on the bottom; the skewness shows no contrast being only extreme in the inner lee side; less sharp curves are represented on the windward and leeward flanks and crest, and are leptokurtic on the leeward side; carbonate percents are maximum on the outer lee ward side, followed by the bottom, being minimum on the inner windward side. The flank slopes are very high in the outer leeward and internal windward, and moderate in the outer windward and flat in the crest and deflation bottom. A simple model of morphodynamic and sedimentary characterization is proposed, under unidirectional winds.
Initial Validation of the Family Cultural Wealth Survey: Relation with Racial Discrimination and Well-being for Black Families
Authors: Iruka Iheoma U. , Forte Alexandria B. , Liu Sihong , Sims Jacqueline , Curenton Stephanie M.
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this study is to empirically validate the Family Cultural Wealth Survey (FCWS) by centering Black families with young children by (1) understanding the factor structure of the FCWS; (2) examining differences by income, family structure, and parental education; and (3) exploring the validity of the tool by examining its association with parental experiences of racial discrimination and parent and child well-being. 117 socioeconomically diverse Black families with young children with an average age of 36 years were surveyed: 46% were 200% below the federal poverty level (FPL) and 21% above the 400% FPL, 47% had a B.A. degree or higher, and 75% were in two-parent households. Exploratory factor analyses, correlation, and regression analyses were conducted. Results revealed and confirmed five factors: knowledge and access to resources, supportive network and optimism for challenges, culturally sustaining traditions and practices, spiritual promoting practices, and diverse communication and connection channels. While some differences were found based on income and parental education, there were no differences by family structure. Validation analyses indicated that family cultural wealth was associated with parental experiences of discrimination and parent emotional distress but not child behavioral problems. These findings suggest that the FCWS has adequate psychometrics, making it a potential tool for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers as they ensure that programs and strategies leverage the assets of racially marginalized families.
Unlocking the unique catalysts of CoTiO3/BiVO4@MIL-Fe(53) for improving Cr(VI) reduction and tetracycline degradation
Authors: Liu Xinghui , Naraginti Saraschandra , Zhang Fuchun , Sathishkumar Kuppusamy , Saxena Kuldeep K. , Guo Xiang
Published: June 2024

Environmental contamination by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and antibiotic drug residues pose significant challenges to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the application of CoTiO3/BiVO4@MIL-Fe(53) (CT/BV@Fe-MOF) for the reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of tetracycline (TCL) under visible light. After grafting an iron-based metal–organic framework MIL-Fe(53) on a modified CoTiO3/BiVO4 composite, the photogenerated electrons could easily be transferred from CoTiO3 to BiVO4/Fe-MOF species via interfacial charge transfer. UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy showed that charge carriers were formed in response to visible light absorption. The effect of different operating parameters, including catalyst load, pH, initial Cr(VI), and TCL concentration, was systematically evaluated during the photocatalytic process. The CT/BV@Fe-MOF composite exhibited 98.7% reduction efficiency in Cr(VI) (50 ppm) and 97.5% degradation efficiency towards TCL (30 ppm) within 90 min, resulting in a greater efficiency than the pristine CoTiO3, BiVO4, and Fe-MOF materials. The CT/BV@Fe-MOF composite displayed excellent stability over six cycles, highlighting its potential for practical applications. In addition, the plausible degradation pathway of TCL was evaluated using LC-ESI/MS analysis, while the TEST program was utilized to investigate the toxicity of the products generated during the degradation process.
Revisiting the obedience orientation in India
Authors: Sinha Shubhra , Mishra R. C.
Published: June 2024

The present study attempts to understand what happens to conventional values like obedience in a changing socio-cultural milieu. There are two possible courses. Either the society tends to move towards the values of autonomy, independence, and individuality from the conventional values of obedience and interdependence (Lerner in The passing of traditional society: modernizing the middle east, Press Identifier Glencoe, 1958 and Schramm in Mass media and national development. The role of information in developing countries, Stanford University, California, 1964), or old values are aptly modified by interacting with new values (Trommsdorff, in: Noack (Ed) Psychological responses to social change: Human development in changing environments, de Gruyter, Berlin, 1995). Indian studies demonstrate that co-existence is a preferred strategy of Indians to accommodate cultural changes (Mishra, In: Sharan and Suar (Eds) Psychology matters: development, health, and organization, Allied Publishers, New Delhi, 2007, Mishra, Sinha and Berry in Ecology, acculturation, and psychological adaptation: a study of Adivasis in Bihar, Sage Publication, New Delhi, 1996, Chaubey in Psychol Dev Soc 14:201–220, 2002, Mishra and Sinha in Soc Sci Int 28:159–175, 2012). Testing these ideas regarding obedience, a study was conducted in Varanasi, with 30 participants (15 boys, 15 girls) aged 18–19 years randomly selected for the sample. They were given a questionnaire with ten open-ended questions assessing obedience's meaning, significance, flexibility, and context. Thematic analysis showed that the value of obedience is very significant in the lives of young people. It serves four functions, viz., knowledge function, self-enhancement function, harmonising function, and other miscellaneous functions for them. However, signs of acculturation are also evident in increased demands for autonomy and independence. This makes obedience more flexible and context-bound than before. In an attempt to balance autonomy with relatedness, a guided autonomy model has emerged in India which helps Indian youth accommodate cultural change without getting uprooted.
Non-pharmacological interventions for depression in Kenya: a scoping review
Authors: Otanga Habil , Nyaga Joseph , March Aleida , Khan Farheen
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Depression management is affected by restricted budgets for mental health care in sub-Saharan Africa countries. There is need for integration of non-pharmacological interventions in primary care. This scoping review aimed to summarize research on available non-pharmacological interventions and their effectiveness against depression in Kenya.

Methods

We searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, AJOL, EBSCOhost, ProQuest and Cochrane Library databases for articles reporting non-pharmacological interventions in Kenya published in English between 2000 and May 2023.

Findings

Twenty-four articles that reported psychosocial (n = 20) and socioeconomic (n = 4) interventions were included in the review. Most interventions were delivered by lay professionals. Clinical outcomes included significant reduction in depression scores and symptom severity posttreatment and reduction in likelihood of having depression symptoms. Interventions were also found to be feasible and acceptable.

Conclusion

Non-pharmacological interventions can be upscaled for the management of depression in Kenya.
Impact of Information and Communication Technologies and Renewable Energy Consumption on Carbon Emissions in Africa
Authors: Onyeneke Robert Ugochukwu , Chidiebere-Mark Nneka Maris , Ayerakwa Hayford Mensah
Published: June 2024

The pursuit of economic growth has implications for carbon emissions and climate change. Achieving low carbon development is important for attaining the targets of the sustainable development goals. Africa is often described as a largely import-dependent continent. The continent also requires significant investment in information and communication technologies (ICT) and renewable energy to achieve low-carbon economic growth. However, empirical evidence on the joint impacts of imports of goods and services, clean energy use, ICT, and economic growth on carbon emissions in Africa is scanty and mixed. This paper investigated the impacts of information and communication technologies, renewable energy consumption, import and economic growth on carbon emissions by using rich data on total per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, economic growth, import of goods and services, renewable energy consumption, fixed telephone subscriptions, mobile cellular subscriptions, and individuals using the internet in Africa (2001 ─ 2020) obtained from the World development indicators (WDI) database. Using the Panel autoregressive distributed lag model (PARDL), we found that mobile cellular subscriptions, and level of economic growth significantly increased per capita CO2 emissions in Africa in the long run while renewable energy consumption and technologies and import of goods and services significantly decreased per capita CO2 emissions in the long run. We conclude that information and communication technologies, level of economic growth, import of goods and services, and renewable energy consumption exert impacts on carbon emissions in Africa.
Characteristics of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit through the emergency department: a monocentric retrospective observational study
Authors: Wörnle Markus
Published: June 2024

Background

The intensive care of critically ill patients is of great importance for emergency care. To achieve this, patients in need of intensive care must be quickly identified. On the other hand, misallocation of intensive care beds to patients who do not necessarily require intensive care must be avoided. Emergency departments play a crucial role in these decision-making processes.

Methods

In a retrospective single-center study, we examined the characteristics of patients admitted to the intensive care unit through our emergency department, as well as the subsequent course of patients who were referred for intensive care via the emergency medical services.

Results

During the 12-months study period, 632 patients were admitted to an intensive care unit within the hospital through our emergency department. Of these patients, 15.2% presented themselves at the emergency department independently, while 84.8% were transported by emergency medical services. Among the patients brought in by the emergency medical services and subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit, 27.6% were registered for the resuscitation room, 25.2% for an intermediate care/intensive care unit, and 47.2% with a different care destination. Of the 373 patients registered for the resuscitation room, 45.6% were admitted to an intensive care unit. 24.1% of the patients were admitted to an intensive care unit. 24.1% of the patients were admitted to a non-intensive care unit. 12.9% of the patients died in the emergency department, and 17.4% of the patients were able to be discharged home after treatment in the emergency department. Among the 635 patients registered for further care on an intermediate/intensive care unit by the emergency medical services, 21.8% were admitted to an intensive care unit, 58.2% of the patients were admitted to a non-intensive care unit. 3% of the patients died in the emergency department, and 17.0% of the patients were able to be discharged after treatment in the emergency department.

Conclusions

The emergency departments play a crucial role in the allocation of intensive care unit beds by selecting appropriate patients and preventing misallocations.
First‐Principles Investigations of Antigorite Polysomatism Under Pressure
Authors: Tsuchiya Jun , Mizoguchi Taiga , Inoué Sayako , Thompson Elizabeth C.
Published: June 2024

Antigorite is the high‐temperature member of the serpentine group minerals and is broadly considered a primary carrier of water in the subducting oceanic lithosphere. It has a wavy crystal structure along its a‐axis and several polysomes with different m‐values (m = 13–24) have been identified in nature. The m‐value is defined as the number of tetrahedra in one wavelength and is controlled by the misfit between the octahedral and tetrahedral layers. The degree of misfit primarily depends on the volumes of the MgO6 octehedra and SiO4 tetrahedra within the layers, which vary as a function of pressure and temperature. However, it is not well understood which m‐values of antigorite are stable at different pressure and temperature conditions. To investigate the pressure dependence of the stability of different m‐values in antigorite, we performed first‐principles calculations for several polysomes (m = 14–19) at high pressure from 0 to 14 GPa and compared their enthalpies at static 0 K. We found that although the energy differences between polysomes are small, polysomes with larger m‐values are more stable at ambient pressure, while polysomes with smaller m‐values are more stable at elevated pressures. This suggests that the structure of antigorite in the oceanic lithosphere subducting into the deep Earth may gradually evolve into a different polysome structure than the antigorite samples observed at ambient or near‐surface pressure conditions. These changes in the m‐values are accompanied by a minor dehydration reaction. By modulating the available amount of free water in the system, antigorite polysomatism may influence the distribution of intermediate‐depth seismicity, such as the observance of double seismic zones.
Submesoscale Vertical Heat Transport at the Kuroshio Extension: Characteristics and Mechanisms
Authors: Chen Yang , Chen Ru , Wang Guihua , Ruan Xiaozhou , Li Wei , Geng Qianqian , Wang Junyi
Published: June 2024

Submesoscale processes significantly influence the air‐sea interaction, heat budget and the distribution of physical and biogeochemical tracers in the upper‐ocean. We study the spatiotemporal characteristics and generation mechanisms of submesoscale vertical heat transport (SVHT) at the Kuroshio Extension using a submesoscale‐permitting simulation. Compared with the commonly used Boxcar and Hanning filters, the clean‐cut feature of the Butterworth filter in the wavenumber domain makes it a proper filter to diagnose SVHT. SVHT is systematically upward, peaking in winter. Through causality analysis, we find that, among the basic factors (mixed layer depth, strain rate, surface wind stress, and horizontal buoyancy gradient) from the conventional submesoscale generation mechanism scalings, mixed layer depth plays the leading role in modulating the intraseasonal variation of SVHT. Using the budget of submesoscale temperature variance and causality analysis, we find that advection also plays an important role in regulating SVHT. This work suggests that the choice of appropriate spatial filter is important for SVHT diagnosis and including advection may help improve submesoscale parameterization schemes.
Decadal Variation in Winter‐Spring Thermal Front to the Zhejiang‐Fujian Coast and Its Mechanism
Authors: Li Jian , Bai Peng , Zhai Fangguo , Gu Yanzhen , Li Peiliang , Liu Cong , Yan Changyuan
Published: June 2024

Off the east shore of China, thermal front plays a crucial role in modulating coastal biogeochemical environment. Based on multi‐source observational and reanalysis products, decadal variation and regulatory mechanism of Zhejiang‐Fujian coastal front (ZFCF) were investigated. The intensity of ZFCF showed a two‐stage inversed varying trend over past four decades: a downtrend from 1982 to 2002 followed by an uptrend from 2002 to 2022. During 1982–2002, sea surface temperature (SST) experienced more pronounced warming in inshore areas than offshore due to weakening of the southward coastal current, and this primarily led to the downtrend of ZFCF. Within 2002–2022, opposite SST trends were observed on two sides of ZFCF, that is, the ZFCF kept intensifying due to the cooperation of cooling inshore and warming offshore. The enhanced coastal current driven by stronger monsoon and increased Yangtze River discharge cooled the inshore area, then the cooling was further facilitated by intensified heat loss in the upper layer of the plume. Meanwhile, the onshore shift of Kuroshio led to strengthened intrusion of warm water into the East China Sea, heating the offshore side of ZFCF and thus intensifying the front.
Evaluation of Lightning Flash Rate Parameterizations in a Cloud‐Resolved WRF‐Chem Simulation of the 29–30 May 2012 Oklahoma Severe Supercell System Observed During DC3
Authors: Cummings K. A. , Pickering K. E. , Barth M. C. , Bela M. M. , Li Y. , Allen D. , Bruning E. , MacGorman D. R. , Ziegler C. L. , Biggerstaff M. I. , Fuchs B. , Davis T. , Carey L. , Mecikalski R. M. , Finney D. L.
Published: June 2024

Eighteen lightning flash rate parameterization schemes (FRPSs) were investigated in a Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry cloud‐resolved simulation of the 29–30 May 2012 supercell storm system observed during the Deep Convective Clouds and Chemistry (DC3) field campaign. Most of the observed storm's meteorological conditions were well represented when the model simulation included both convective damping and lightning data assimilation techniques. Newly‐developed FRPSs based on DC3 radar observations and Lightning Mapping Array data are implemented in the model, along with previously developed schemes from the literature. The schemes are based on relationships between lightning and various kinematic, structural, and microphysical thunderstorm characteristics (e.g., cloud top height, hydrometeors, reflectivity, and vertical velocity) available in the model. The results suggest the model‐simulated graupel and snow/ice hydrometeors require scaling factors to more closely represent proxy observations. The model‐simulated lightning flash trends and total flashes generated by each scheme over the simulation period are compared with observations from the central Oklahoma Lightning Mapping Array. For this supercell system, 13 of the 18 schemes overpredicted flashes by >100% with the group of FRPSs based on storm kinematics and structure (particularly updraft volume) performing slightly better than the hydrometeor‐based schemes. During the storm's first 4 hr, the upward cloud ice flux FRPS, which is based on the combination of vertical velocity and hydrometeors, well represents the observed total flashes and flash rate trend; while, the updraft volume scheme well represents the observed flash rate peak and subsequent sharp decline in flash rate.
A Scale‐Dependent Analysis of the Barotropic Vorticity Budget in a Global Ocean Simulation
Authors: Khatri Hemant , Griffies Stephen M. , Storer Benjamin A. , Buzzicotti Michele , Aluie Hussein , Sonnewald Maike , Dussin Raphael , Shao Andrew
Published: June 2024

The climatological mean barotropic vorticity budget is analyzed to investigate the relative importance of surface wind stress, topography, planetary vorticity advection, and nonlinear advection in dynamical balances in a global ocean simulation. In addition to a pronounced regional variability in vorticity balances, the relative magnitudes of vorticity budget terms strongly depend on the length‐scale of interest. To carry out a length‐scale dependent vorticity analysis in different ocean basins, vorticity budget terms are spatially coarse‐grained. At length‐scales greater than 1,000 km, the dynamics closely follow the Topographic‐Sverdrup balance in which bottom pressure torque, surface wind stress curl and planetary vorticity advection terms are in balance. In contrast, when including all length‐scales resolved by the model, bottom pressure torque and nonlinear advection terms dominate the vorticity budget (Topographic‐Nonlinear balance), which suggests a prominent role of oceanic eddies, which are of km in size, and the associated bottom pressure anomalies in local vorticity balances at length‐scales smaller than 1,000 km. Overall, there is a transition from the Topographic‐Nonlinear regime at scales smaller than 1,000 km to the Topographic‐Sverdrup regime at length‐scales greater than 1,000 km. These dynamical balances hold across all ocean basins; however, interpretations of the dominant vorticity balances depend on the level of spatial filtering or the effective model resolution. On the other hand, the contribution of bottom and lateral friction terms in the barotropic vorticity budget remains small and is significant only near sea‐land boundaries, where bottom stress and horizontal viscous friction generally peak.
Evolution of Arc‐Continent Collision in the Southeastern Margin of the South China Sea: Insight From the Isugod Basin in Central‐Southern Palawan
Authors: Chen Wen‐Huang , Yan Yi , Carter Andrew , Clift Peter D. , Huang Chi‐Yue , Yumul Graciano P. , Dimalanta Carla B. , Gabo‐Ratio Jillian Aira S. , Zhang Le , Wang Ming‐Huei , Zhang Xin‐Chang
Published: June 2024

The evolution of arc‐continent collision between the Palawan microcontinental block and the Cagayan Ridge in the southeastern margin of the South China Sea (SCS) is vital to understand how this collision correlated with seafloor spreading of the SCS. To address the evolution of arc‐continent collision, we studied the biostratigraphy and provenance of syn‐collisional sediments in the Isugod Basin in central‐southern Palawan. Microfossil analysis indicates a Late Miocene age (11.5–5.6 Ma) for the Isugod and Alfonso XIII Formations and rapid subsidence during initiation of the basin which may have been triggered by local extensional collapse of the wedge in response to forearc uplift. Multidisciplinary provenance analysis reveals that the Isugod and Alfonso XIII Formations were derived from the Middle Eocene–lower Oligocene Panas‐Pandian Formation on the Palawan wedge and the Late Eocene Central Palawan Ophiolite. These results suggest the emergence of both the orogenic wedge and obducted forearc ophiolite at ∼11.5 Ma, implying collision onset before ∼11.5 Ma. The collision initiation in Palawan could be better constrained to ∼18 Ma, based on the drowning of the Nido carbonate platform in the foreland. Therefore, the gravitational collapse of the Palawan wedge and the subsidence/formation of the Isugod Basin might reflect a significant uplift pulse in the hinterland of the wedge beginning within 13.4–11.5 Ma in the late stage of collision. It indicates that although compression originated from spreading of the SCS had ceased at 16–15 Ma, arc‐continent collision in Palawan did not stop and was sustained by compression from the upper plate afterward.
Tsunami Sands Help Scientists Assess Cascadia Earthquake Models
Authors: Scharping Nathaniel
Published: June 2024

With evidence from new sediment cores, researchers tested the performance of various models of the 1700 CE megathrust earthquake.
South Asian Summer Monsoon Precipitation Is Sensitive to Southern Hemisphere Subtropical Radiation Changes
Authors: Hingmire Dipti , Hirasawa Haruki , Singh Hansi , Rasch Philip J. , Kim Sookyung , Hazarika Subhashis , Mitra Peetak , Ramea Kalai
Published: June 2024

We study the sensitivity of South Asian Summer Monsoon (SASM) precipitation to Southern Hemisphere (SH) subtropical Absorbed Solar Radiation (ASR) changes using Community Earth System Model 2 simulations. Reducing positive ASR biases over the SH subtropics impacts SASM, and is sensitive to the ocean basin where changes are imposed. Radiation changes over the SH subtropical Indian Ocean (IO) shifts rainfall over the equatorial IO northward causing 1–2 mm/day drying south of equator, changes over the SH subtropical Pacific increases precipitation over northern continental regions by 1–2 mm/day, and changes over the SH subtropical Atlantic have little effect on SASM precipitation. Radiation changes over the subtropical Pacific impacts the SASM through zonal circulation changes, while changes over the IO modify meridional circulation to bring about changes in precipitation over northern IO. Our findings suggest that reducing SH subtropical radiation biases in climate models may also reduce SASM precipitation biases.
Machine Learning Models for Evaluating Biological Reactivity Within Molecular Fingerprints of Dissolved Organic Matter Over Time
Authors: Zhao Chen , Wang Kai , Jiao Qianji , Xu Xinyue , Yi Yuanbi , Li Penghui , Merder Julian , He Ding
Published: June 2024

Reservoirs exert a profound influence on the cycling of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in inland waters by altering flow regimes. Biological incubations can help to disentangle the role that microbial processing plays in the DOM cycling within reservoirs. However, the complex DOM composition poses a great challenge to the analysis of such data. Here we tested if the interpretable machine learning (ML) methodologies can contribute to capturing the relationships between molecular reactivity and composition. We developed time‐specific ML models based on 7‐day and 30‐day incubations to simulate the biogeochemical processes in the Three Gorges Reservoir over shorter and longer water retention periods, respectively. Results showed that the extended water retention time likely allows the successive microbial degradation of molecules, with stochasticity exerting a non‐negligible effect on the molecular composition at the initial stage of the incubation. This study highlights the potential of ML in enhancing our interpretation of DOM dynamics over time.
Wavenumber‐4 Longitudinal Structure in ICON‐MIGHTI Thermospheric Meridional Wind
Authors: Meenakshi S. , Sridharan S.
Published: June 2024

The present study investigates wavenumber‐4 (wave‐4) structure in the longitude variation of zonal and meridional winds observed by the Michelson Interferometer for Global High‐resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) instrument onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellite. The amplitude of the wave‐4 pattern in meridional wind displays semi‐annual variation with equinoctial maxima whereas its seasonal variation in zonal wind shows maxima during August–October at the equatorial and low latitudes. The wave‐4 longitude variation maximizes at lower thermospheric heights (below 130 km) in zonal and meridional winds. It is considered primarily driven by the non‐migrating eastward propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber‐3 (DE3) in the zonal wind. However, the amplitude of DE3 tide in the meridional wind does not show any enhancement during September–October. The seasonal variations of the wave‐4 amplitude and the DE3 tide are not similar in the zonal and meridional winds. The migrating ter‐diurnal tide (TW3) exhibits significant amplitudes during March–April and September–November in the meridional wind. In addition, the latitude variation of non‐migrating TE1 tide shows maximum amplitude during September–October. These results suggest that the non‐linear interaction between the TW3 and TE1 tides can serve as a potential source for the wave‐4 longitude variation in the meridional wind at lower thermospheric altitudes.
Phthalate and phthalate replacement concentrations in relationship to adiposity in a multi-racial cohort of children
Authors: Hunt Kelly J. , Ferguson Pamela L. , Bloom Michael S. , Neelon Brian , Pearce John , Commodore Sarah , Newman Roger B. , Roberts James R. , Bain Lisa , Baldwin William , Grobman William A. , Sciscione Anthony C. , Tita Alan T. , Nageotte Michael P. , Palomares Kristy , Skupski Daniel W. , Zhang Cuilin , Wapner Ronald , Vena John E.
Published: June 2024

Background/Objective

Phthalates and phthalate replacements are used in multiple everyday products, making many of them bioavailable to children. Experimental studies suggest that phthalates and their replacements may be obesogenic, however, epidemiologic studies remain inconsistent. Therefore, our objective was to examine the association between phthalates, phthalate replacements and childhood adiposity/obesity markers in children.

Subjects/Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 630 racial/ethnically diverse children ages 4–8 years. Urinary oxidative metabolites of DINCH and DEHTP, three low molecular weight (LMW) phthalates, and eleven high molecular weight (HMW) phthalates were measured. Weight, height, waist circumference and % body fat were measured. Composite molar sum groups (nmol/ml) were natural log-transformed. Linear regression models adjusted for urine specific gravity, sex, age, race-ethnicity, birthweight, breastfeeding, reported activity level, mother’s education and pre-pregnancy BMI.

Results

All children had LMW and HMW phthalate metabolites and 88% had DINCH levels above the limit of detection. One unit higher in the log of DINCH was associated with 0.106 units lower BMI z-score [β = −0.106 (95% CI: −0.181, −0.031)], 0.119 units lower waist circumference z-score [β = −0.119 (95% CI: −0.189, −0.050)], and 0.012 units lower percent body fat [β = −0.012 (95% CI: −0.019, −0.005)]. LMW and HMW group values were not associated with adiposity/obesity.

Conclusions

We report an inverse association between child urinary DINCH levels, a non-phthalate plasticizer that has replaced DEHP in several applications, and BMI z-score, waist circumference z-score and % body fat in children. Few prior studies of phthalates and their replacements in children have been conducted in diverse populations. Moreover, DINCH has not received a great deal of attention or regulation, but it is a common exposure. In summary, understanding the ubiquitous nature of these chemical exposures and ultimately their sources will contribute to our understanding of their relationship with obesity.
The relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord and sensorimotor function of children with thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI)
Authors: Qi Qunya , Wang Ling , Yang Beining , Jia Yulong , Wang Yu , Xin Haotian , Zheng Weimin , Chen Xin , Chen Qian , Li Fang , Du Jubao , Lu Jie , Chen Nan
Published: June 2024

Study design

Cross-sectional study.

Objectives

To study the relationship between the structural changes in the cervical spinal cord (C2/3 level) and the sensorimotor function of children with traumatic thoracolumbar spinal cord injury (TLSCI) and to discover objective imaging biomarkers to evaluate its functional status.

Setting

Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Brain Informatics, China.

Methods

30 children (age range 5–13 years) with TLSCI and 11 typically developing (TD) children (age range 6–12 years) were recruited in this study. Based on whether there is preserved motor function below the neurological level of injury (NLI), the children with TLSCI are divided into the AIS A/B group (motor complete) and the AIS C/D group (motor incomplete). A Siemens Verio 3.0 T MR scanner was used to acquire 3D high-resolution anatomic scans covering the head and upper cervical spinal cord. Morphologic parameters of the spinal cord at the C2/3 level, including cross-sectional area (CSA), anterior-posterior width (APW), and left-right width (LRW) were obtained using the spinal cord toolbox (SCT; https://www.nitrc.org/projects/sct). Correlation analyses were performed to compare the morphologic spinal cord parameters and clinical scores determined by the International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injuries (ISNCSCI) examination.

Results

CSA and LRW in the AIS A/B group were significantly lower than those in the TD group and the AIS C/D group. LRW was the most sensitive imaging biomarker to differentiate the AIS A/B group from the AIS C/D group. Both CSA and APW were positively correlated with ISNCSCI sensory scores.

Conclusions

Quantitative measurement of the morphologic spinal cord parameters of the cervical spinal cord can be used as an objective imaging biomarker to evaluate the neurological function of children with TLSCI. Cervical spinal cord atrophy in children after TLSCI was correlated with clinical grading; CSA and APW can reflect sensory function. Meanwhile, LRW has the potential to be an objective imaging biomarker for evaluating motor function preservation.
Pharmacokinetic and neuroimmune pharmacogenetic impacts on slow-release morphine cancer pain control and adverse effects
Authors: Barratt Daniel T. , Klepstad Pål , Dale Ola , Kaasa Stein , Somogyi Andrew A.
Published: June 2024

The aim was to determine if opioid neuroimmunopharmacology pathway gene polymorphisms alter serum morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide concentration-response relationships in 506 cancer patients receiving controlled-release oral morphine. Morphine-3-glucuronide concentrations (standardised to 11 h post-dose) were higher in patients without pain control (median (interquartile range) 1.2 (0.7–2.3) versus 1.0 (0.5–1.9) μM, P = 0.006), whereas morphine concentrations were higher in patients with cognitive dysfunction (40 (20–81) versus 29 (14–60) nM, P = 0.02). TLR2 rs3804100 variant carriers had reduced odds (adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.42 (0.22–0.82), P = 0.01) of opioid adverse events. IL2 rs2069762 G/G (0.20 (0.06-0.52)), BDNF rs6265 A/A (0.15 (0.02–0.63)) and IL6R rs8192284 carrier (0.55 (0.34–0.90)) genotypes had decreased, and IL6 rs10499563 C/C increased (3.3 (1.2–9.3)), odds of sickness response (P ≤ 0.02). The study has limitations in heterogeneity in doses, sampling times and diagnoses but still suggests that pharmacokinetics and immune genetics co-contribute to morphine pain control and adverse effects in cancer patients.
Multivariate brain-behaviour associations in psychiatric disorders
Authors: Vieira S. , Bolton T. A. W. , Schöttner M. , Baecker L. , Marquand A. , Mechelli A. , Hagmann P.
Published: June 2024

Mapping brain-behaviour associations is paramount to understand and treat psychiatric disorders. Standard approaches involve investigating the association between one brain and one behavioural variable (univariate) or multiple variables against one brain/behaviour feature (‘single’ multivariate). Recently, large multimodal datasets have propelled a new wave of studies that leverage on ‘doubly’ multivariate approaches capable of parsing the multifaceted nature of both brain and behaviour simultaneously. Within this movement, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and partial least squares (PLS) emerge as the most popular techniques. Both seek to capture shared information between brain and behaviour in the form of latent variables. We provide an overview of these methods, review the literature in psychiatric disorders, and discuss the main challenges from a predictive modelling perspective. We identified 39 studies across four diagnostic groups: attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD, k = 4, N = 569), autism spectrum disorders (ASD, k = 6, N = 1731), major depressive disorder (MDD, k = 5, N = 938), psychosis spectrum disorders (PSD, k = 13, N = 1150) and one transdiagnostic group (TD, k = 11, N = 5731). Most studies (67%) used CCA and focused on the association between either brain morphology, resting-state functional connectivity or fractional anisotropy against symptoms and/or cognition. There were three main findings. First, most diagnoses shared a link between clinical/cognitive symptoms and two brain measures, namely frontal morphology/brain activity and white matter association fibres (tracts between cortical areas in the same hemisphere). Second, typically less investigated behavioural variables in multivariate models such as physical health (e.g., BMI, drug use) and clinical history (e.g., childhood trauma) were identified as important features. Finally, most studies were at risk of bias due to low sample size/feature ratio and/or in-sample testing only. We highlight the importance of carefully mitigating these sources of bias with an exemplar application of CCA.
A novel doxorubicin/CTLA-4 blocker co-loaded drug delivery system improves efficacy and safety in antitumor therapy
Authors: Yang Wenli , Sun Qinghui , Zhang Xiaodian , Zheng Liping , Yang Xiaomei , He Na , Pang Yanyang , Wang Xi , Lai Zhiheng , Zheng Wuping , Zheng Shaoping , Wang Wu
Published: June 2024

Doxorubicin’s antitumor effectiveness may be constrained with ineffective tumor penetration, systemic adverse effects, as well as drug resistance. The co-loading of immune checkpoint inhibitors and doxorubicin into liposomes can produce synergistic benefits and address problems, including quick drug clearance, toxicity, and low drug penetration efficiency. In our previous study, we modified a nanobody targeting CTLA-4 onto liposomes (LPS-Nb36) to be an extremely potent CTLA-4 signal blocker which improve the CD8+ T-cell activity against tumors under physiological conditions. In this study, we designed a drug delivery system (LPS-RGD-Nb36-DOX) based on LPS-Nb36 that realized the doxorubicin and anti-CTLA-4 Nb co-loaded and RGD modification, and was applied to antitumor therapy. We tested whether LPS-RGD-Nb36-DOX could targets the tumor by in vivo animal photography, and more importantly, promote cytotoxic T cells proliferation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and cytotoxicity. Our findings demonstrated that the combination of activated CD8+ T cells with doxorubicin/anti-CTLA-4 Nb co-loaded liposomes can effectively eradicate tumor cells both in vivo and in vitro. This combination therapy is anticipated to have synergistic antitumor effects. More importantly, it has the potential to reduce the dose of chemotherapeutic drugs and improve safety.
Fluoride and children’s IQ: evidence of causation lacking
Authors: Moore Deborah , Glenny Anne-Marie
Published: June 2024

Data sources

Human, animal, and in vitro studies. Extensive literature search of multiple bibliographic databases, trial registries, major grey literature sources and bibliographies of identified studies.

Study selection

The authors aimed to identify studies which could be used to determine the maximum safe level for fluoride in drinking water. To identify new studies published since a 2016 Australian review, the search period was 2016 to July 2021. Studies which evaluated the association between either naturally or artificially fluoridated water (any concentration) and any health outcomes were included. No restrictions on study design or publication status. Articles published in a ‘non-Latin language’ were excluded. Screening of abstracts and full texts was in duplicate. For IQ and dental fluorosis, a top-up search was conducted between 2021 and Feb 2023.

Data extraction and synthesis

Extensive data extraction. Risk of bias assessment using the OHAT tool. A narrative synthesis of the results was carried out.

Results

The review included 89 studies in humans, 199 in animals and 10 reviews of in vitro studies. Where there was consistent evidence of a positive association, in relation to a water fluoride concentration of <20 ppm (mg F/L), and where studies were judged to be acceptable or high quality, health effects were taken forwards for further examination of causality using Bradford Hill’s 9 criteria. Of the 39 health outcomes reviewed, 4 were further assessed for causality. The authors reported ‘strong’ evidence of causality for dental fluorosis and reductions in children’s IQ scores, ‘moderate’ strength evidence for thyroid dysfunction, ‘weak’ for kidney dysfunction, and ‘limited’ evidence for sex hormone disruption.

Conclusions

The authors conclude that moderate dental fluorosis and reductions in children’s IQ scores are the most appropriate health outcomes to use when setting an upper safe level of fluoride in drinking water. For reductions in children’s IQ, the authors acknowledge a biological mechanism of action has not been elucidated, and the dose response curve is not clear at lower concentrations, limiting the ability to set an upper safe threshold.
IκBα controls dormancy in hematopoietic stem cells via retinoic acid during embryonic development
Authors: Thambyrajah Roshana , Maqueda Maria , Fadlullah Muhammad Zaki , Proffitt Martin , Neo Wen Hao , Guillén Yolanda , Casado-Pelaez Marta , Herrero-Molinero Patricia , Brujas Carla , Castelluccio Noemi , González Jessica , Iglesias Arnau , Marruecos Laura , Ruiz-Herguido Cristina , Esteller Manel , Mereu Elisabetta , Lacaud Georges , Espinosa Lluis , Bigas Anna
Published: June 2024

Recent findings suggest that Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) and progenitors arise simultaneously and independently of each other already in the embryonic aorta-gonad mesonephros region, but it is still unknown how their different features are established. Here, we uncover IκBα (Nfkbia, the inhibitor of NF-κB) as a critical regulator of HSC proliferation throughout development. IκBα balances retinoic acid signaling levels together with the epigenetic silencer, PRC2, specifically in HSCs. Loss of IκBα decreases proliferation of HSC and induces a dormancy related gene expression signature instead. Also, IκBα deficient HSCs respond with superior activation to in vitro culture and in serial transplantation. At the molecular level, chromatin regions harboring binding motifs for retinoic acid signaling are hypo-methylated for the PRC2 dependent H3K27me3 mark in IκBα deficient HSCs. Overall, we show that the proliferation index in the developing HSCs is regulated by a IκBα-PRC2 axis, which controls retinoic acid signaling.
Efficient intersystem crossing and tunable ultralong organic room-temperature phosphorescence via doping polyvinylpyrrolidone with polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Yang Guangxin , Hao Subin , Deng Xin , Song Xinluo , Sun Bo , Hyun Woo Jin , Li Ming-De , Dang Li
Published: June 2024

Polymer-based pure organic room-temperature phosphorescent materials have tremendous advantages in applications owing to their low cost, vast resources, and easy processability. However, designing polymer-based room-temperature phosphorescent materials with large Stokes shifts as key requirements in biocompatibility and environmental-friendly performance is still challenging. By generating charge transfer states as the gangplank from singlet excited states to triplet states in doped organic molecules, we find a host molecule (pyrrolidone) that affords charge transfer with doped guest molecules, and excellent polymer-based organic room-temperature phosphorescent materials can be easily fabricated when polymerizing the host molecule. By adding polyaromatic hydrocarbon molecules as electron-donor in polyvinylpyrrolidone, efficient intersystem crossing and tunable phosphorescent from green to near-infrared can be achieved, with maximum phosphorescence wavelength and lifetime up to 757 nm and 3850 ms, respectively. These doped polyvinylpyrrolidone materials have good photoactivation properties, recyclability, advanced data encryption, and anti-counterfeiting. This reported design strategy paves the way for the design of polyvinylpyrrolidone-based room-temperature phosphorescent materials.