bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ten Years of Change in Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery in the Asia–Pacific Region with COVID-19 Pandemic: IFSO-APC National Reports 2021
Authors: Ohta Masayuki , Ahn Soo Min , Seki Yosuke , Yang Wah , Wong Simon Kin-Hung , Udomsawaengsup Suthep , Hamdorf Jeffrey M. , Khaitan Manish , Kosai Nik Ritza , Wang Weu , Lee June , Rudiman Reno , Wijeratne Thejana , Oliveros Edward , Wang Cunchuan , Kasama Kazunori
Published: June 2022

Background

On November 25, 2021, the IFSO-Asia–Pacific Chapter (IFSO-APC) Virtual Meeting 2021 was held online, and the representatives from the Asia–Pacific region presented 10 years of change in bariatric/metabolic surgery and the influence of COVID-19 in the special session of “IFSO-APC National Reports 2010–2020”. We herein report the summarized data.

Methods

National bariatric/metabolic surgery data, which included the data of 2010 and 2020, were collected from the representatives using a questionnaire that consisted of 10 general questions. At the congress, the data were calculated and summarized.

Results

Thirteen of the 14 national societies responded to the survey. From 2010 to recent years, the populations of individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) and individuals with diabetes both significantly increased. Eight countries and regions expanded the lower limit of criteria for bariatric surgery by 2–5 kg/m2 (BMI), and 5 countries newly established criteria for metabolic surgery in the last ten years. Sixty-nine percent of the countries currently run public health insurance systems, which doubled from 2010. The number of bariatric surgeons and institutions increased more than threefold from 2010. In 2010, 2019, and 2020, surgeons in IFSO-APC societies performed 18,280, 66,010, and 49,553 bariatric/metabolic surgeries, respectively. Due to the COVID pandemic, restriction policies significantly reduced access to surgery in South and Southeast Asian countries. The biggest changes included increased numbers of bariatric surgeons and institutions, operation numbers, public insurance coverage, raising awareness, and national registry systems.

Conclusion

For the last 10 years, bariatric/metabolic surgery has rapidly grown in the Asia–Pacific region.
Commutative Toeplitz Algebras and Their Gelfand Theory: Old and New Results
Authors: Bauer Wolfram , Rodriguez Rodriguez Miguel Angel
Published: June 2022

We present a survey and new results on the construction and Gelfand theory of commutative Toeplitz algebras over the standard weighted Bergman and Hardy spaces over the unit ball in $$\mathbb {C}^n$$

C

n

. As an application we discuss semi-simplicity and the spectral invariance of these algebras. The different function Hilbert spaces are dealt with in parallel in successive chapters so that a direct comparison of the results is possible. As a new aspect of the theory we define commutative Toeplitz algebras over spaces of functions in infinitely many variables and present some structural results. The paper concludes with a short list of open problems in this area of research.
Liftable pairs of functors and initial objects
Authors: Ardizzoni Alessandro , Goyvaerts Isar , Menini Claudia
Published: June 2022

Let $$\mathcal {A}$$
A
and $$\mathcal {B}$$
B
be monoidal categories and let $$R:\mathcal {A}\rightarrow \mathcal {B}$$

R
:
A
→
B

be a lax monoidal functor. If R has a left adjoint L, it is well-known that the two adjoints induce functors $${\overline{R}}={\textsf {Alg}}(R):\textsf {Alg}({\mathcal {A}})\rightarrow {\textsf {Alg}}({\mathcal {B}})$$

R
¯

=
Alg

(
R
)

:
Alg

(
A
)

→
Alg

(
B
)

and $${\underline{L}}={\textsf {Coalg}}(L):{ \textsf {Coalg}}({\mathcal {B}})\rightarrow \textsf {Coalg}({\mathcal {A}})$$

L
̲

=
Coalg

(
L
)

:
Coalg

(
B
)

→
Coalg

(
A
)

respectively. The pair (L, R) is called liftable if the functor $${\overline{R}}$$

R
¯

has a left adjoint and if the functor $${\underline{L}}$$

L
̲

has a right adjoint. A pleasing fact is that, when $$\mathcal {A}$$
A
, $$\mathcal {B}$$
B
and R are moreover braided, a liftable pair of functors as above gives rise to an adjunction at the level of bialgebras. In this note, sufficient conditions on the category $$\mathcal {A}$$
A
for $${\overline{R}}$$

R
¯

to possess a left adjoint, are given. Natively these conditions involve the existence of suitable colimits that we interpret as objects which are simultaneously initial in four distinguished categories (among which the category of epi-induced objects), allowing for an explicit construction of $${\overline{L}}$$

L
¯

, under the appropriate hypotheses. This is achieved by introducing a relative version of the notion of weakly coreflective subcategory, which turns out to be a useful tool to compare the initial objects in the involved categories. We apply our results to obtain an analogue of Sweedler’s finite dual for the category of vector spaces graded by an abelian group G endowed with a bicharacter. When the bicharacter on G is skew-symmetric, a lifted adjunction as mentioned above is explicitly described, inducing an auto-adjunction on the category of bialgebras “colored” by G.
Spatially Balanced Sampling with Local Ranking
Authors: Robertson B. L. , Ozturk O. , Kravchuk O. , Brown J. A.
Published: June 2022

A spatial sampling design determines where sample locations are placed in a study area so that population parameters can be estimated with good precision. Spatially balanced designs draw samples with good spatial spread and provide precise results for commonly used estimators when surveying natural resources. In this article, we propose a new sampling strategy that incorporates ranking information from nearby locations into a spatially balanced sample. If the population exhibits spatial trends, our simple local ranking strategy can improve the precision of commonly used estimators. Numerical results on several test populations with different spatial structures show that local ranking can improve the performance of a spatially balanced design. To show that local ranking is simple and effective in practice, we provide an example application for the health and productivity assessment of a Shiraz vineyard in South Australia.

Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Tillage effects on ground beetles in temperate climates: a review
Authors: Müller Phillip , Neuhoff Daniel , Nabel Moritz , Schiffers Katja , Döring Thomas F.
Published: June 2022

Ground beetles (carabids) constitute an important functional component of biodiversity in agroecosystems, mainly because of their role as predators of pests, but also as consumers of weed seeds and as prey to other organisms. Over the past few decades, there has been a marked and continuous decline of ground beetles in Europe, and many species of this insect family are threatened by intensive agricultural practices. The effect of soil tillage, a standard technique in arable farming, on carabids has been investigated in many experimental studies. However, there is currently no clear and differentiated picture of how ground beetles are affected by tillage operations in direct and indirect ways. In this review, we narrow this gap of knowledge and show that the effects of intensive tillage on ground beetles—especially the use of mouldboard ploughing—are extremely variable. Nonetheless, on balance across multiple studies, greater tillage intensity tends to have a negative effect on abundance, species richness, and diversity. The observed variability may partly be attributed to a change in species-specific food availability or habitat conditions, induced by tillage. Tillage effects on dominant species tend to have a strong impact on total carabid abundance. The high variability of carabid responses to tillage is also a consequence of various modifying factors such as cover cropping, rotations, and variations in weed control associated with tillage. Because different modes of tillage tend to affect different carabid species, the diversification of tillage operations within a farm or region may contribute to the overall diversity of carabid communities.
Machine Learning Approaches for Measuring Neighborhood Environments in Epidemiologic Studies
Authors: Rundle Andrew G. , Bader Michael D. M. , Mooney Stephen J.
Published: June 2022

Purpose of review

Innovations in information technology, initiatives by local governments to share administrative data, and growing inventories of data available from commercial data aggregators have immensely expanded the information available to describe neighborhood environments, supporting an approach to research we call Urban Health Informatics. This review evaluates the application of machine learning to this new wealth of data for studies of the effects of neighborhood environments on health.

Recent findings

Prominent machine learning applications in this field include automated image analysis of archived imagery such as Google Street View images, variable selection methods to identify neighborhood environment factors that predict health outcomes from large pools of exposure variables, and spatial interpolation methods to estimate neighborhood conditions across large geographic areas.

In each domain, we highlight successes and cautions in the application of machine learning, particularly highlighting legal issues in applying machine learning approaches to Google’s geo-spatial data.
Multimodal medical image fusion with convolution sparse representation and mutual information correlation in NSST domain
Authors: Guo Peng , Xie Guoqi , Li Renfa , Hu Hui
Published: June 2022

Multimodal medical image is an effective method to solve a series of clinical problems, such as clinical diagnosis and postoperative treatment. In this study, a medical image fusion method based on convolutional sparse representation (CSR) and mutual information correlation is proposed. In this method, the source image is decomposed into one high-frequency and one low-frequency sub-band by non-subsampled shearlet transform. For the high-frequency sub-band, CSR is used for high-frequency coefficient fusion. For the low-frequency sub-band, different fusion strategies are used for different regions by mutual information correlation analysis. Analysis of two kinds of medical image fusion problems, namely, CT–MRI and MRI–SPECT, reveals that the performance of this method is robust in terms of five common objective metrics. Compared with the other six advanced medical image fusion methods, the experimental results show that the proposed method achieves better results in subjective vision and objective evaluation metrics.
Method for thermal evaluation of automotive gearbox packages taking into account load point-dependent oil distribution
Authors: Uerlich Roland , Koch Theo , Theising Heiner , Eckstein Lutz
Published: June 2022

The spread of all-electric drives is steadily increasing in all sectors of road transport. Due to the constantly increasing demands on efficiency and performance by legislation and customers, it is necessary to continuously push the system limits of the powertrains. This paper presents an approach that performs an initial thermal system analysis based on a first gearbox configuration and efficiency calculation. Here, the componentwise loss calculation is used to identify thermal hotspots within the gearbox stage. The basis of this analysis is the thermal network method. For the approach, the gearbox elements gear, bearing, shaft, seal and housing are broken down into standard thermal elements to be created automatically for any subsequent gearbox configuration. The linking of these elements to each other is also standardised and automated comparably. An extensive simulation study is carried out using the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method to consider the load point-dependent oil distribution, which enables an initial estimate of the oil distribution. The thermal network filled in this way is then solved on a time-step basis, allowing dynamic load cases to be considered. The quality of the method is validated within the paper using the VW ID 3 gearbox as an example. Due to the use of a series gearbox, the validation was carried out on the basis of the accessible housing temperatures. These already show good convergence of the method compared to other existing approaches, which reinforces the necessity of conducting further experimental studies.
Proclus: Commentary on Plato’s Timaeus Volume 4: Book 3, Part 2: Proclus on the World Soul
Authors: Proclus
Published: June 2022

In the present volume Proclus describes the 'creation' of the soul that animates the entire universe. This is not a literal creation, for Proclus argues that Plato means only to convey the eternal dependence of the World Soul upon higher causes. In his exegesis of Plato's text, Proclus addresses a range of issues in Pythagorean harmonic theory, as well as questions about the way in which the World Soul knows both forms and the visible reality that comprises its body. This part of Proclus' Commentary is particularly responsive to the interpretive tradition that precedes it. As a result, this volume is especially significant for the study of the Platonic tradition from the earliest commentators onwards.
A computational fluid dynamics study of flame gas sampling in horizontal dilution tubes
Authors: Mätzing Hartmut , Vlavakis Petros , Trimis Dimosthenis , Stapf Dieter
Published: June 2022

The performance of horizontal dilution tubes is investigated by Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes and large-eddy simulations. The flame gas enters the dilution tube through a pinhole. The orifice flow and the dilution process inside the tube are studied. The volume flow through the orifice is shown to be proportional to the square root of the pressure drop. The discharge coefficient is 0.9 ± 0.3 in the cold air (calibration) case and drops to 0.35 under hot (flame) conditions. The resulting dilution ratio is roughly a factor of five below typical literature data. The gas sample remains in the wall boundary layer and the mixing process is not complete at the end of the dilution tube. Turbulence decays rapidly behind the tube inlet, which shifts the flow into the laminar to turbulent transition regime. Turbulence increases significantly in the outlet section which has much smaller pipe cross-sections. Despite its relatively low Reynolds number, the outlet flow to the particle sizer (or to the gas analyzer) is clearly turbulent, and interactions with the wall are probable. The results are in agreement with previous findings from laminar jets in cross-flow. Guidelines for optimization of the sampling conditions are suggested.
Evidence that uniform momentum zones originate from roughness sublayer structure interactions in fully rough channel turbulence
Authors: Zheng Y. , Anderson W.
Published: June 2022

Fully rough wall-sheared turbulence is composed of an inner and outer layer, the former occupied by sinuous structures sustained by the well-known autonomous inner cycle, the latter occupied by inclined parcels of momentum deviations relative to the average. The outer-layer structures are also known as uniform momentum zones (UMZs), where the presence of successive UMZs manifests instantaneously with a distinct ‘staircase’ pattern in streamwise velocity. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) of fully rough channel turbulence was recently used to interpret UMZs as wakes originating from antecedent bluff-body-like interactions within the inner layer (Anderson & Salesky, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 906, 2020, A8). Wake-scaling arguments agreed precisely with instantaneous results from DNS. Foremost among these results was evidence that the instantaneous wall-normal gradient of streamwise velocity exhibited scaling of

${\sim }x_3^{-1/2}$

, where

$x_3$

is wall-normal location; this is in contrast to logarithmic scaling, which requires the wall-normal gradient of streamwise velocity to scale as

${\sim }x_3^{-1}$

. Herein, wake-scaling arguments have been advanced and compared against results from wall-modelled large-eddy simulation (LES). New results from the ‘bottom up’ wake-scaling arguments agree with LES results, such that the shear associated with the instantaneous staircase-like streamwise velocity follows a clear trend. We have leveraged conditional sampling during LES – predicated upon instantaneous low-frequency, high-magnitude surface stress values known to correspond to large-scale inertial-layer coherence – to further assess the predictive value of the wake-scaling arguments. Model results compare favourably.
Multi-decadal basal slip enhancement at Saskatchewan Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Authors: Stevens Nathan T. , Roland Collin J. , Zoet Lucas K. , Alley Richard B. , Hansen Dougal D. , Schwans Emily
Published: June 2022

Glacier motion responds dynamically to changing meltwater inputs, but the multi-decadal response of basal sliding to climate remains poorly constrained due to its sensitivity across multiple timescales. Observational records of glacier motion provide critical benchmarks to decode processes influencing glacier dynamics, but multi-decadal records that precede satellite observation and modern warming are rare. Here we present a record of motion in the ablation zone of Saskatchewan Glacier that spans seven decades. We combine in situ and remote-sensing observations to inform a first-order glacier flow model used to estimate the relative contributions of sliding and internal deformation on dynamics. We find a significant increase in basal sliding rates between melt-seasons in the 1950s and those in the 1990s and 2010s and explore three process-based explanations for this anomalous behavior: (i) the glacier surface steepened over seven decades, maintaining flow-driving stresses despite sustained thinning; (ii) the formation of a proglacial lake after 1955 may support elevated basal water pressures; and (iii) subglacial topography may cause dynamic responses specific to Saskatchewan Glacier. Although further constraints are necessary to ascertain which processes are of greatest importance for Saskatchewan Glacier's dynamic evolution, this record provides a benchmark for studies of multi-decadal glacier dynamics.
Chochkitam: A New Classic Maya Dynasty and the Rise of the Kaanu'l (Snake) Kingdom
Authors: Estrada-Belli Francisco , Tokovinine Alexandre
Published: June 2022

Thanks to many epigraphic references compiled in the last 35 years, there is a growing consensus among Mayanists that a hegemonic state existed in the Maya Lowlands during the Classic period headed by the Kaanu'l royal dynasty and based at Dzibanche and Calakmul. Many aspects of its organization are still poorly documented, however. Important questions that remain unanswered include how power was exerted and passed on within this political system in ways that might differ from those found in an average-sized Maya kingdom. In this article we present new archaeological and epigraphic data from Chochkitam, a little-known site in northeastern Peten, Guatemala. Although this was a center of average size, the epigraphic texts reveal its political standing as a royal city with important connections with the Kaanu'l and other regional powers at various significant junctures during the Classic period, including before, during, and after the Kaanu'l hegemony. These historical reconstructions, although fragmentary, provide important data to validate emerging hypotheses regarding how the Kaanu'l kings managed their domain.
Richness, Insecurity and the Welfare State
Authors: HECHT KATHARINA , BURCHARDT TANIA , DAVIS ABIGAIL
Published: June 2022

Across many countries, increases in inequality driven by rising top incomes and wealth have not been accompanied by growing popular concern. In fact, citizens in unequal societies are less concerned than those in more egalitarian societies. Understanding how the general public perceive richness is an essential step towards resolving this paradox. We discuss findings from focus group research in London, UK, a profoundly and visibly unequal city, which sought to explore public perceptions of richness and the rich. Participants from diverse socio-economic backgrounds discussed their views of the ‘wealthy’ and the ‘super rich’ with reference to both vast economic resources and more intangible aspects, including, crucially, security. High levels of wealth and income were perceived to be necessary for achieving security for oneself and one’s family. The security of the rich was discussed in contrast to participants’ own and others’ insecurity in the context of a (neo)liberal welfare regime – specifically, insecurity about housing, personal finances, social security, health care and the future of the welfare state. In unequal countries, where insecurity is widespread, lack of confidence in collective welfare state provision may serve in the public imagination to legitimate private wealth accumulation and richness as a form of self-protection.
Effects of distributed practice on the acquisition of verb-noun collocations
Authors: Yamagata Satoshi , Nakata Tatsuya , Rogers James
Published: June 2022

Given the importance of collocational knowledge for second language learning, how collocation learning can be facilitated is an important question. The present study examined the effects of three different practice schedules on collocation learning: node massed, collocation massed, and collocation spaced. In the node-massed schedule, three collocations for the same node verb were studied on the same day. In the collocation-massed schedule, three collocations for the same node verb were studied in different weeks. In the collocation-spaced schedule, participants encountered multiple collocations for the same node verb within a single day; at the same time, multiple collocations for the same node verb were repeated each week. To examine whether the knowledge of studied collocations could be transferred to unstudied collocations containing the same node, posttests included novel collocations that were not encountered during the treatment. Results suggested that the collocation-spaced schedule led to the largest gains for both studied and unstudied collocations.
Would the “Optional Protocol” Effectuate India's Due Diligence Obligation Under the Women's Convention?
Authors: SHRITHA Vasudevan
Published: June 2022

India acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women with a Declaration (CEDAW) to Article 5(a) stating that it will implement the principle on gender-based equality only to the extent of non-interference in the personal affairs of its religious communities. The due diligence obligation in the CEDAW, which was adopted through General Recommendation No. 19 in 1992, normatively expanded Article 5 to imply an obligation on nation states to redress traditional cultural attitudes that cause gender-based violence. This article argues that the cultural nature of GBV in India converts the Declaration of India into an inconsistent reservation under public international law. This implies that India's Declaration is an egregious breach of the CEDAW's due diligence obligation. Accession to the CEDAW's Optional Protocol is advocated as a solution to this serious breach. Theoretical implications for the three-stage norm life cycle and epiphenomenal norms are presented.
The Glyphosate Saga Continues: ‘Dissenting’ Member States and the European Way Forward
Authors: Leonelli Giulia Claudia
Published: June 2022

A decision will soon have to be taken regarding the renewal of approval of glyphosate at the European Union (EU) level; this pesticidal active substance, however, is more controversial than ever. This article critically assesses various strategies pursued by EU Member States and regional authorities which challenge the EU approach to glyphosate and aim to safeguard their higher levels of public health and environmental protection. It reflects on the prospects of success of these strategies, and their compatibility with EU law. The analysis includes the action for the annulment of glyphosate's 2017 reapproval brought by the Brussels-Capital Region, the Austrian attempt to enact a blanket ban on glyphosate-based pesticidal formulations, and the more sophisticated strategies pursued by Luxembourg and France. The article concludes that the French strategy is effective in risk regulation terms, and compatible with EU law. Nonetheless, adopting the French approach may prove rather difficult for other Member States, as a result of both structural-regulatory and practical constraints. Rather, an EU-wide strategy on glyphosate is urgently needed.
Der Einsatz von robotischen und technischen Systemen zur Frühmobilisation von Intensivpatient_innen
Authors: Mehler-Klamt Amrei C. , Huber Jana , Schmidbauer Lena , Warmbein Angelika , Rathgeber Ivanka , Fischer Uli , Eberl Inge
Published: June 2022

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund: Intensivpatient_innen sind oft einer langen Immobilität ausgesetzt. Wenn sie aber frühzeitig mobilisiert werden, lassen sich positive Effekte auf ihr Outcome, wie z.B. eine Verbesserung der körperlichen Funktion, nachweisen. Einer der Gründe für die späte Mobilisation ist, dass zu wenig Hilfsmittel zur Verfügung stehen. Fragestellungen/Ziel: Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über den Einsatz von robotischen oder technischen Systemen als Hilfsmittel für die Frühmobilisation. Welche robotischen und technischen Hilfsmittel werden in Studien zur Frühmobilisation von erwachsenen Intensivpatient_innen durch Pflegefachpersonen oder Physiotherapeut_innen untersucht? Über welche Effekte von Frühmobilisation mittels robotischem und technischem System auf die Patientenoutcomes wird in den Studien berichtet? Methoden: Die Datenbanken Medline, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, IEEE Xplore, Scopus und WTI wurden zwischen Mai und Juli 2020 und im Januar 2022 systematisch durchsucht. Zusätzlich wurde im ersten Suchlauf eine Randsuche über GoogleScolar und ResearchGate durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Es wurden 27 Veröffentlichungen eingeschlossen (9 RCTs, 7 Expertenmeinungen, 3 quantitative Querschnittstudien, 2 Fall-Kontroll-Studien, 2 Literaturreviews, 2 klinische Einzelfallstudien, 2 Interventionsstudien im Prä-Post-Design). Hier zeigte sich, dass als Hilfsmittel vor allem elektronische Bettfahrräder und Kipptische eingesetzt werden. Es war eine uneinheitliche Datenlage in Bezug auf verschiedene Patientenoutcomes nachweisbar. Schlussfolgerungen: Weitere Forschung zum Einsatz von technischen und robotischen Systemen zur Frühmobilisation ist vor allem in Bezug auf unterschiedliche Studienpopulationen notwendig. Frühmobilisationsrobotik ist noch nicht Teil der Regelversorgung.
Investigation of Kinetic Ballooning Instability in 2D Harris Sheet Equilibrium With Finite Normal Bz Field
Authors: Khan Abdullah , Ikram Muhammad , Khan Majid , Zafar Abdullah , Abid Abid Ali , Esmaeili Amin
Published: June 2022

Substorm onset is believed to be a fundamental process for magnetic and plasma energy transport in both magnetosphere and ionosphere. In this regard, the ballooning instability is considered to be one of the key trigger mechanism for the substorm onset scenario in the near‐Earth plasma sheet. Here, the kinetic ballooning instability (KBI) in the near‐Earth magnetotail is analyzed using the two‐dimensional (2D) generalized Harris sheet and Voigt equilibrium models. The corresponding kinetic ballooning mode is unstable in the intermediate range of perpendicular wave number (ky) and the equatorial beta (βeq). We further note that the growth rate of the ballooning mode reduces significantly with the increase in electron‐to‐ion temperatures ratio (Te/Ti) and wave number ky. The kinetic ballooning mode is found to be most unstable in a thin current sheet region at the equatorial location xe ∼ (8.5 − 10)RE, where the ballooning drive term (βeq/LpRc) is dominant on stiffening effect due to minimum in normal magnetic field. Because of the stabilizing effect as caused by the field line stiffening and the strong field line stabilization, the ballooning mode is stable (marginally unstable) close (away) from the Earth. The magnitude of the KBI growth rates as a function of the equatorial beta βeq and location xe for a wide and thin current sheets using the Voigt equilibrium model are smaller than the Harris sheet counterpart, which are used for modeling the near‐Earth plasma sheet configuration for the slow and fast substorm growth phases, respectively. The results suggest that the excitation of KBI through the local current sheet thinning may also be an effective trigger mechanism for the substorm onset in the near‐Earth magnetotail.
Acoustic Wave Velocities of Ferrous‐Bearing MgSiO3 Glass up to 158 GPa With Implications for Dense Silicate Melts at the Base of the Earth's Mantle
Authors: Mashino Izumi , Murakami Motohiko , Kitao Shinji , Mitsui Takaya , Masuda Ryo , Seto Makoto
Published: June 2022

We conducted in situ high‐pressure acoustic‐wave velocity measurements of Fe2+‐bearing MgSiO3 glass up to 158 GPa by Brillouin scattering spectroscopy to clarify the effect of iron on the elasticity and structural evolution of silicate melts in the lower mantle. The change in trend of the VS profile, likely induced by the structural transition of Si‐O coordination number from 6 to 6+ proposed in previous studies of silicate glasses, was confirmed to be located at ∼106 GPa. Given the iron contents of partial melts derived from a pyrolitic or chondritic mantle, the transition pressure would be at around 84–97 GPa, which is well within the lowermost‐mantle pressure regime. Our data show the substitution of 12 mol% Fe in MgSiO3 glass decreases the VS by ∼5.5%. This implies that iron affects the buoyancy relations between melts/crystals and the melts at the lowermost mantle will have the higher coordination number than 6.
Variability of Snow and Rainfall Partitioning Into Evapotranspiration and Summer Runoff Across Nine Mountainous Catchments
Authors: Sprenger Matthias , Carroll Rosemary W. H. , Dennedy‐Frank James , Siirila‐Woodburn Erica R. , Newcomer Michelle E. , Brown Wendy , Newman Alexander , Beutler Curtis , Bill Markus , Hubbard Susan S. , Williams Kenneth H.
Published: June 2022

Understanding the partitioning of snow and rain contributing to either catchment streamflow or evapotranspiration (ET) is of critical relevance for water management in response to climate change. To investigate this partitioning, we use endmember splitting and mixing analyses based on stable isotope (18O) data from nine headwater catchments in the East River, Colorado. Our results show that one third of the snow partitions to ET and 13% of the snowmelt sustains summer streamflow. Only 8% of the rainfall contributes to the summer streamflow, because most of the rain (67%) partitions to ET. The spatial variability of precipitation partitioning is mainly driven by aspect and tree cover across the sub‐catchments. Catchments with higher tree cover have a higher share of snow becoming ET, resulting in less snow in summer streamflow. Summer streamflow did not contain more rain with higher rainfall sums, but more rain was taken up in ET.
Endowing universal CAR T-cell with immune-evasive properties using TALEN-gene editing
Authors: Jo Sumin , Das Shipra , Williams Alan , Chretien Anne-Sophie , Pagliardini Thomas , Le Roy Aude , Fernandez Jorge Postigo , Le Clerre Diane , Jahangiri Billal , Chion-Sotinel Isabelle , Rozlan Sandra , Dessez Emilie , Gouble Agnes , Dusséaux Mathilde , Galetto Roman , Duclert Aymeric , Marcenaro Emanuela , Devillier Raynier , Olive Daniel , Duchateau Philippe , Poirot Laurent , Valton Julien
Published: June 2022

Universal CAR T-cell therapies are poised to revolutionize cancer treatment and to improve patient outcomes. However, realizing these advantages in an allogeneic setting requires universal CAR T-cells that can kill target tumor cells, avoid depletion by the host immune system, and proliferate without attacking host tissues. Here, we describe the development of a novel immune-evasive universal CAR T-cells scaffold using precise TALEN-mediated gene editing and DNA matrices vectorized by recombinant adeno-associated virus 6. We simultaneously disrupt and repurpose the endogenous TRAC and B2M loci to generate TCRαβ- and HLA-ABC-deficient T-cells expressing the CAR construct and the NK-inhibitor named HLA-E. This highly efficient gene editing process enables the engineered T-cells to evade NK cell and alloresponsive T-cell attacks and extend their persistence and antitumor activity in the presence of cytotoxic levels of NK cell in vivo and in vitro, respectively. This scaffold could enable the broad use of universal CAR T-cells in allogeneic settings and holds great promise for clinical applications.
Inherited basis of visceral, abdominal subcutaneous and gluteofemoral fat depots
Authors: Agrawal Saaket , Wang Minxian , Klarqvist Marcus D. R. , Smith Kirk , Shin Joseph , Dashti Hesam , Diamant Nathaniel , Choi Seung Hoan , Jurgens Sean J. , Ellinor Patrick T. , Philippakis Anthony , Claussnitzer Melina , Ng Kenney , Udler Miriam S. , Batra Puneet , Khera Amit V.
Published: June 2022

For any given level of overall adiposity, individuals vary considerably in fat distribution. The inherited basis of fat distribution in the general population is not fully understood. Here, we study up to 38,965 UK Biobank participants with MRI-derived visceral (VAT), abdominal subcutaneous (ASAT), and gluteofemoral (GFAT) adipose tissue volumes. Because these fat depot volumes are highly correlated with BMI, we additionally study six local adiposity traits: VAT adjusted for BMI and height (VATadj), ASATadj, GFATadj, VAT/ASAT, VAT/GFAT, and ASAT/GFAT. We identify 250 independent common variants (39 newly-identified) associated with at least one trait, with many associations more pronounced in female participants. Rare variant association studies extend prior evidence for PDE3B as an important modulator of fat distribution. Local adiposity traits (1) highlight depot-specific genetic architecture and (2) enable construction of depot-specific polygenic scores that have divergent associations with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. These results – using MRI-derived, BMI-independent measures of local adiposity – confirm fat distribution as a highly heritable trait with important implications for cardiometabolic health outcomes.
Promoting biomass electrooxidation via modulating proton and oxygen anion deintercalation in hydroxide
Authors: He Zuyun , Hwang Jinwoo , Gong Zhiheng , Zhou Mengzhen , Zhang Nian , Kang Xiongwu , Han Jeong Woo , Chen Yan
Published: June 2022

The redox center of transition metal oxides and hydroxides is generally considered to be the metal site. Interestingly, proton and oxygen in the lattice recently are found to be actively involved in the catalytic reactions, and critically determine the reactivity. Herein, taking glycerol electrooxidation reaction as the model reaction, we reveal systematically the impact of proton and oxygen anion (de)intercalation processes on the elementary steps. Combining density functional theory calculations and advanced spectroscopy techniques, we find that doping Co into Ni-hydroxide promotes the deintercalation of proton and oxygen anion from the catalyst surface. The oxygen vacancies formed in NiCo hydroxide during glycerol electrooxidation reaction increase d-band filling on Co sites, facilitating the charge transfer from catalyst surface to cleaved molecules during the 2nd C-C bond cleavage. Consequently, NiCo hydroxide exhibits enhanced glycerol electrooxidation activity, with a current density of 100 mA/cm2 at 1.35 V and a formate selectivity of 94.3%.
Effect of vaccination on household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant of concern
Authors: Lyngse Frederik Plesner , Mølbak Kåre , Denwood Matt , Christiansen Lasse Engbo , Møller Camilla Holten , Rasmussen Morten , Cohen Arieh Sierra , Stegger Marc , Fonager Jannik , Sieber Raphael Niklaus , Ellegaard Kirsten Maren , Nielsen Claus , Kirkeby Carsten Thure
Published: June 2022

Effective vaccines protect individuals by not only reducing the susceptibility to infection, but also reducing the infectiousness of breakthrough infections in vaccinated cases. To disentangle the vaccine effectiveness against susceptibility to infection (VES) and vaccine effectiveness against infectiousness (VEI), we took advantage of Danish national data comprising 24,693 households with a primary case of SARS-CoV-2 infection (Delta Variant of Concern, 2021) including 53,584 household contacts. In this setting, we estimated VES as 61% (95%-CI: 59-63), when the primary case was unvaccinated, and VEI as 31% (95%-CI: 26-36), when the household contact was unvaccinated. Furthermore, unvaccinated secondary cases with an infection exhibited a three-fold higher viral load compared to fully vaccinated secondary cases with a breakthrough infection. Our results demonstrate that vaccinations reduce susceptibility to infection as well as infectiousness, which should be considered by policy makers when seeking to understand the public health impact of vaccination against transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Improving the odds together: a framework for breast cancer research scientists to include patient advocates in their research
Authors: Stires Hillary , Bado Igor , Brown Thelma , Carlson Martha , Chan Isaac S. , Echeverria Gloria V. , Ewald Andrew J. , Lim Bora , Lloyd Carla , Maues Julia , Oesterreich Steffi , Riter Robert N. , Shanahan Kelly , Welm Alana L. , Newby Josh
Published: June 2022

Including patient advocates in basic cancer research ensures that breast cancer research is intentional, supports effective communication with broader audiences, and directly connects researchers with those who they are striving to help. Despite this utility, many cancer research scientists do not work with patient advocates. To understand barriers to engagement and build a framework for enhanced interactions in the future, we hosted a workshop with patient advocates and researchers who do engage, then discussed findings at an international metastatic breast cancer conference to solicit additional feedback and suggestions. Findings demonstrate that researchers are uncertain about how to initiate and maintain relationships with advocates. We offer actionable steps to support researchers working with patient advocates to improve cancer research and accomplish our collective goal of improving lives of those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. We hope that this initiative will facilitate such collaborative efforts.
Post-quantum steering is a stronger-than-quantum resource for information processing
Authors: Cavalcanti Paulo J. , Selby John H. , Sikora Jamie , Galley Thomas D. , Sainz Ana Belén
Published: June 2022

We present the first instance where post-quantum steering is a stronger-than-quantum resource for information processing – remote state preparation. In addition, we show that the phenomenon of post-quantum steering is not just a mere mathematical curiosity allowed by the no-signalling principle, but it may arise within compositional theories beyond quantum theory, hence making its study fundamentally relevant. We show these results by formulating a new compositional general probabilistic theory – which we call Witworld – with strong post-quantum features, which proves to be a intuitive and useful tool for exploring steering and its applications beyond the quantum realm.
Phase-locking matter-wave interferometer of vortex states
Authors: Kong Lingran , Gao Tianyou , Nie Longzhi , Zhang Dongfang , Li Ruizong , Han Guangwen , Zhan Mingsheng , Jiang Kaijun
Published: June 2022

Matter-wave interferometer of ultracold atoms with different linear momenta has been extensively studied in theory and experiment. The vortex matter-wave interferometer with different angular momenta is applicable as a quantum sensor for measuring the magnetic field, rotation, geometric phase, etc. Here we report the experimental realization of a vortex matter-wave interferometer by coherently transferring the optical angular momentum to an ultracold Bose condensate. We use the angular interference technique to measure the relative phase of two vortex states. For a lossless interferometer with atoms only populating two spin states, the difference between the relative phases in the two spin states is locked to π. We also prove the robustness of this out-of-phase relation, not sensitive to the angular-momentum difference between two vortex states, constituent of Raman optical fields and expansion of the condensate. The experimental results agree well with the calculation from the unitary evolution of wave packet in quantum mechanics. This work opens a new way to build a quantum sensor based on the vortex matter-wave interference.
Rapid generation of Shigella flexneri GMMA displaying natural or new and cross-reactive O-Antigens
Authors: Gasperini Gianmarco , Raso Maria Michelina , Schiavo Fabiola , Aruta Maria Grazia , Ravenscroft Neil , Bellich Barbara , Cescutti Paola , Necchi Francesca , Rappuoli Rino , Micoli Francesca
Published: June 2022

Generalized modules for membrane antigens (GMMA) are exosomes released from engineered Gram-negative bacteria and represent an attractive vaccine platform for the delivery of the O-Antigen (OAg), recognized as the key target for protective immunity against several pathogens such as Shigella. Shigella is a major cause of disease in Low- and Middle-Income countries and the development of a vaccine needs to deal with its large serotypic diversity. All S. flexneri serotypes, except serotype 6, share a conserved OAg backbone, corresponding to serotype Y. Here, a GMMA-producing S. flexneri scaffold strain displaying the OAg backbone was engineered with different OAg-modifying enzymes, either individually or in combinations. This strategy rapidly yielded GMMA displaying 12 natural serotypes and 16 novel serotypes expressing multiple epitopes combinations that do not occur in nature. Importantly, a candidate GMMA displaying a hybrid OAg elicited broadly cross-bactericidal antibodies against a large panel of S. flexneri serotypes.
Time-resolved terahertz–Raman spectroscopy reveals that cations and anions distinctly modify intermolecular interactions of water
Authors: Balos Vasileios , Kaliannan Naveen Kumar , Elgabarty Hossam , Wolf Martin , Kühne Thomas D. , Sajadi Mohsen
Published: June 2022

The solvation of ions changes the physical, chemical and thermodynamic properties of water, and the microscopic origin of this behaviour is believed to be ion-induced perturbation of water’s hydrogen-bonding network. Here we provide microscopic insights into this process by monitoring the dissipation of energy in salt solutions using time-resolved terahertz–Raman spectroscopy. We resonantly drive the low-frequency rotational dynamics of water molecules using intense terahertz pulses and probe the Raman response of their intermolecular translational motions. We find that the intermolecular rotational-to-translational energy transfer is enhanced by highly charged cations and is drastically reduced by highly charged anions, scaling with the ion surface charge density and ion concentration. Our molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the water–water hydrogen-bond strength between the first and second solvation shells of cations increases, while it decreases around anions. The opposite effects of cations and anions on the intermolecular interactions of water resemble the effects of ions on the stabilization and denaturation of proteins.
Vision and vocal communication guide three-dimensional spatial coordination of zebra finches during wind-tunnel flights
Authors: Arnold Fabian , Staniszewski Michael S. , Pelzl Lisa , Ramenda Claudia , Gahr Manfred , Hoffmann Susanne
Published: June 2022

Animal collective motion is a natural phenomenon readily observable in various taxa. Although theoretical models can predict the macroscopic pattern of group movements based on the relative spatial position of group members, it is poorly understood how group members exchange directional information, which enables the spatial coordination between individuals during collective motion. To test if vocalizations emitted during flocking flight are used by birds to transmit directional information between group members, we recorded vocal behaviour, head orientation and spatial position of each individual in a small flock of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) flying in a wind tunnel. We found that the finches can use both visual and acoustic cues for three-dimensional flock coordination. When visual information is insufficient, birds can increasingly exploit active vocal communication to avoid collisions with flock mates. Our study furthers the mechanistic understanding of collective motion in birds and highlights the impact interindividual vocal interactions can have on group performances in these animals.
GTSF1 accelerates target RNA cleavage by PIWI-clade Argonaute proteins
Authors: Arif Amena , Bailey Shannon , Izumi Natsuko , Anzelon Todd A. , Ozata Deniz M. , Andersson Cecilia , Gainetdinov Ildar , MacRae Ian J. , Tomari Yukihide , Zamore Phillip D.
Published: June 2022

Argonaute proteins use nucleic acid guides to find and bind specific DNA or RNA target sequences. Argonaute proteins have diverse biological functions and many retain their ancestral endoribonuclease activity, cleaving the phosphodiester bond between target nucleotides t10 and t11. In animals, the PIWI proteins—a specialized class of Argonaute proteins—use 21–35 nucleotide PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to direct transposon silencing, protect the germline genome, and regulate gene expression during gametogenesis1. The piRNA pathway is required for fertility in one or both sexes of nearly all animals. Both piRNA production and function require RNA cleavage catalysed by PIWI proteins. Spermatogenesis in mice and other placental mammals requires three distinct, developmentally regulated PIWI proteins: MIWI (PIWIL1), MILI (PIWIL2) and MIWI22–4 (PIWIL4). The piRNA-guided endoribonuclease activities of MIWI and MILI are essential for the production of functional sperm5,6. piRNA-directed silencing in mice and insects also requires GTSF1, a PIWI-associated protein of unknown function7–12. Here we report that GTSF1 potentiates the weak, intrinsic, piRNA-directed RNA cleavage activities of PIWI proteins, transforming them into efficient endoribonucleases. GTSF1 is thus an example of an auxiliary protein that potentiates the catalytic activity of an Argonaute protein.
Telomeric 8-oxo-guanine drives rapid premature senescence in the absence of telomere shortening
Authors: Barnes Ryan P. , de Rosa Mariarosaria , Thosar Sanjana A. , Detwiler Ariana C. , Roginskaya Vera , Van Houten Bennett , Bruchez Marcel P. , Stewart-Ornstein Jacob , Opresko Patricia L.
Published: June 2022

Oxidative stress is a primary cause of cellular senescence and contributes to the etiology of numerous human diseases. Oxidative damage to telomeric DNA has been proposed to cause premature senescence by accelerating telomere shortening. Here, we tested this model directly using a precision chemoptogenetic tool to produce the common lesion 8-oxo-guanine (8oxoG) exclusively at telomeres in human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. A single induction of telomeric 8oxoG is sufficient to trigger multiple hallmarks of p53-dependent senescence. Telomeric 8oxoG activates ATM and ATR signaling, and enriches for markers of telomere dysfunction in replicating, but not quiescent cells. Acute 8oxoG production fails to shorten telomeres, but rather generates fragile sites and mitotic DNA synthesis at telomeres, indicative of impaired replication. Based on our results, we propose that oxidative stress promotes rapid senescence by producing oxidative base lesions that drive replication-dependent telomere fragility and dysfunction in the absence of shortening and shelterin loss.