bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AI oriented prospectivity mapping to study relationships between Sb mineralization and geological framework
Authors: Vella Alex , Gumiaux Charles , Bertrand Guillaume , Tourlière Bruno , Gloaguen Eric , Sizaret Stanislas
Published: March 2021

Prospectivity mapping aims at producing favorability maps, outlining areas with the highest likelihood to host mineralization. This process can be done using data-driven approaches, based on statistical and spatial analyses on geological features and known mineral occurences. Besides, such approach contributes to better understand metallogenic processes by highlighting specific and systematic associations between deposits and geological features (structures, lithologies, contacts, geophysical anomalies, etc).

As part of the AUREOLE project, prospectivity maps of Sb throughout the West European Variscan Range are being produced using CBA (“Cell-Based Associations”). CBA is a prospectivity tool developped for mineral prospectivity mapping by the French Geological Survey (BRGM). This method divide at first space into a regular cells grid. Inside each cell, the associations of geological factors, such as lithological, structural, geophysical or geochemical features, are grouped together and define the geological framework in the vicinity of the given cell. This project aims at developing and improving this method by the addition of new machine learning methods and statistical and spatial analysis tools for the automated classification and the calculation of favorability score.

Application of this approach to the Ibero-Armorican Arc, relying heavily on Artificial Intelligence to process the data, will highlight statistical relationships between the Sb deposits and their surrounding geological framework. Computations will be performed at multiple scales and in different areas trough the Arc, in order to observe the influence of scale in the consistency of the results and to bring out general laws from local specificities in the metallogenic models. Results from this almost purely data-driven approach will be compared to the metallogenical models traditionnaly proposed for Sb deposits in the studied areas. We infer this new multiscale and multidomains study  would improve our understanding of the genetic processes resulting in  Sb deposits through the Variscan Range and give new metallotects or specify the common ones, to be used for mineral exploration purpose.

This Phd work is funded by the ERA-MIN2 AUREOLE project (ANR-19-MIN2-0002, https://aureole.brgm.fr).

Keywords: Antimony, Prospective Mapping, Machine Learning, Data-Driven.
Geomojis – a Global Symbology for Communicating Geosciences
Authors: Shires Claire , Spitzl-Dupic Friederike , Grégoire Michaël , Martin Dana , van Wyk de Vries Benjamin
Published: March 2021

Communicating geosciences across linguistic and cultural borders is becoming increasingly important in our globalised world, and it is as important to have a globally coherent communication as it is to have global research infrastructure. In the context of geological hazards and the geological environment, we need a clear system that enables specialists and others to communicate effectively with each other. By using symbols and pictograms to represent geohazards, we can communicate these hazards clearly and efficiently. Certain hazard symbols are already in use across the globe, such as those for chemical or environmental hazards. In this project, we focus on the geological environment and geohazards, and much of the work is done within a UNESCO Geoscience Programme project 'Geoheritage for Resilience', using geoheritage sites as sites for communication and testing. The geological pictograms, or ‘geomojis’, bridge the gap between simple symbols and words, crossing language borders by representing concepts that we have identified as particularly important for understanding geohazards and risk. Our geomojis are based on the Global Framework for Geology (see Global and Planetary Change, 2018 - https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p/427), also introduced during the IUGG centenary at UNESCO. This shows the context where they fit in the Earth system. We invite feedback on the geomojis that we have created, to consolidate geoscience knowledge and create a basic standardised set of symbols for all geological hazards. This standardisation of geohazard symbols could improve communication not only between specialists and non-specialists, but between geologists themselves. The global framework and geomojis will help us to think outside the box of our specialist environment. The geohazard pictograms can be used for geoscience communication in all forms, from hazard and risk publications to signage at geological sites. They can be adapted and modified for the local context and needs, while providing a central, and global, base for comparison. We plan to use the geomojis to accompany a multilingual glossary on geological hazard and risk terminology, a project that we hope will help international geoscience communication.
Interannual sea surface chlorophyll-a signature in the tropical Atlantic
Authors: Chenillat Fanny , Jouanno Julien , Illig Serena , Awo Founi Mesmin , Alory Gaël , Brehmer Patrice
Published: March 2021

Surface chlorophyll-a concentration (CHL-a) remotely observed by satellite shows a marked seasonal and interannual variability in the Tropical Atlantic, with potential consequences on the marine trophic web. Seasonal and interannual CHL-a variability peaks in boreal summer and shows maxima in the equatorial Atlantic region at 10˚W, spreading from 0 to 30˚W. In this study, we analyze how the remotely-sensed surface CHL-a responds to the leading climate modes affecting the interannual equatorial Atlantic variability over the 1998-2018 period, namely the Atlantic Zonal Mode (AZM) and the North Tropical Atlantic Mode (NTA, also known as the Atlantic Meridional Mode). The AZM is characterized by anomalous warming (or cooling) along the eastern equatorial band. In contrast, the NTA is characterized by an interhemispheric pattern of the sea surface temperature (SST), with anomalous warm (cold) conditions in the north tropical Atlantic region and weak negative (positive) SST anomalies south of the equator. We show that both modes significantly drive the interannual Tropical Atlantic surface CHL-a variability, with different timings and contrasted modulation on the eastern and western portions of the cold tongue area. Our results also reveal that the NTA slightly dominates (40%) the summer tropical Atlantic interannual variability over the last two decades, most probably because of a positive phase of the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation. For each mode of variability, we analyze an event characterized by an extreme negative sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly in the Atlantic equatorial band. Both modes are associated with a positive CHL-a anomaly at the equator. In 2002, a negative phase of the NTA led to cold SST anomaly and high positive CHL-a in the western portion of the cold tongue, peaking in June-July and lasting until the end of the year. In contrast, in 2005, a negative phase of the AZM drove cool temperature and positive CHL-a in the eastern equatorial band, with a peak in May-June and almost no signature after August. Such contrasted year to year conditions can affect the marine ecosystem by changing temporal and spatial trophic niches for pelagic predators, thus inducing significant variations for ecosystem functioning and fisheries.
VISUAL GEOGAME: if you can draw it, you can learn it
Authors: Misiti Valeria , Riposati Daniela , Di Laura Francesca , Battelli Patrizia , Crescimbene Massimo
Published: March 2021

One of the primary activity of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) is the production of resources concerning educational and outreach projects in geophysics and natural hazard topics. This activity is aimed at transferring, periodically, results at the forefront of ongoing research to the public through an intense and comprehensive plan for scientific dissemination. Over the past few years, much attention has also been devoted to the production of scientific games or edu-games, which is an efficient combination of educational content and playful communicative aspects, designed with the aim of letting children and youngsters learn while having fun. It has been demonstrated, in fact, that learning through games and, in this case, through drawing stimulates further contacts in the brain and is therefore simpler for both people with disabilities but also for those without.

In the last two years we presented two games (Escape Volcano and GeoTrivial) and, in light of the achieved success, we decided to propose a new game: VISUAL GEOGAME. Is a revisited Visual game based on earth sciences considered in its entirety (i.e. geology, seismology, volcanology, space earth etc.etc.)

The main purpose was to create a game which might be specifically dedicated to students requiring learning support: hence the choice of the Visual Game. Scholastic inclusion is very important especially in this period during which the use of technology overrides human contact. The drawing is a quick learning method and, above all the team games are essential for inclusion of people with disabilities.

The game is very simple: participants are divided into teams of at least 2 people for a maximum of 4 teams. Tokens are placed face down on the billboard and each has a different score signed on.

Each team must choose a marker and place it into starting box. They draw a card from the deck and on the basis of the category repredented on the card they have to draw it. There are 3 categories: 1) glossary (move 1 position); 2) tools of the trade (move 2 position); 3) places (move 3 position). If the team guess the draw, the will move as much as is the category score and keep the token.

Morover, on the billboard there are bonus boxes. Is the team fall in one of it they have to draw an action. If the guess they can decide to back an opponent team of their choice.

IF YOU CAN DRAW IT, YOU CAN LEARN IT!!
Cross-validation of microwave snowfall products over the continental United States
Authors: Mroz Kamil , Montopoli Mario , Panegrossi Giulia , Baldini Luca , Battaglia Alessandro , Kirstetter Pierre
Published: March 2021

In this talk, surface snowfall rate estimates from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission’s Core Observatory sensors and the CloudSat radar are compared to those from the Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) radar composite product over the continental United States. The analysis spans a period between Nov. 2014 and Sept. 2020 and covers the following products: the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar product (2A.GPM.DPR) and its single frequency counterparts (2A.GPM.Ka, 2A.GPM.Ku); GPM Combined Radar Radiometer Algorithm (2B.GPM.DPRGMI.CORRA); the CloudSat Snow Profile product (2C-SNOW-PROFILE) and two passive microwave retrievals i.e. the Goddard PROFiling algorithm (2A.GPM.GMI.GPROF) and the Snow retrievaL ALgorithm fOr gMi (SLALOM). 

The 2C-SNOW product has the highest Heidke Skill Score (HSS=75%) for detecting snowfall among all the analysed products. SLALOM ranks the second (60%) while the Ka-band products falls at the end of the spectrum, with the HSS of 10% only. Low detection capabilities of the DPR products are a result of its low sensitivity. All the GPM retrievals underestimate not only the snow occurances but also snowfall volumes. Underestimation by a factor of two is present for all the GPM products compared to MRMS data. Large discrepancies (RMSE of 0.7 to 1.5 mm/h) between space-borne and ground-based snowfall rate estimates can be attributed to the complexity of ice scattering properties and differences in the algorithms' assumptions.
Effects of anthropic changes on the propagation of the Gleno dam break wave in the Valle Camonica floodplain 
Authors: Bonomelli Riccardo , Pilotti Marco , Farina Gabriele
Published: March 2021

The catastrophic flood following the Gleno dam break, which occurred in 1923, has been investigated in the literature (Pilotti et al., 2011, Milanesi and Pilotti, 2021) considering the 20 km long steep alpine valley separating the dam location from the hamlet of Corna. In this contribution, we investigate the propagation of the flood wave from Corna, where the computed hydrograph from previous investigation provides the upstream boundary condition, as far as the Lake Iseo outlet in Sarnico, where two controversial documents attest its effect on the lakeshore. In the middle, the flood crossed 30 km of a wide pre-alpine floodplain that has been deeply modified over the last century  and crossed 25 km of a deep lake.

The simulation has been accomplished by coupling 2 different 2D solver of the Shallow Water Equations: the well-known HEC-RAS 2D software was used to cover the floodplain from Corna up to the Lake Iseo inlet, while a finite volume scheme was used to simulate the lake behaviour in response to the incoming flood. The finite volume scheme used to model the lake is based on the WAF solver developed by Toro (Toro, 2001) and further adapted to account for the geometry of lake Iseo using an unstructured mesh. The scheme used retains shock-capturing capabilities and well-balanced properties able to withstand the constantly changing bathymetry of the lake as well as the unsteadiness of the hydrodynamics modelled. As a first step, the simulation was performed on the topography derived from the LIDAR DTM surveyed in 2008-2009. A computational mesh was built with average grid size of 10 m aligned in correspondence of levees and other singularities. This first simulation dramatically shows how the propagation of the flood wave was affected by the presence of linear structures such as levees and road embankments, absent in 1923 as shown by historical maps. For this purpose, the linear structure that affect the flow was removed from the 2008-2009 DTM and a second simulation was performed in order to compare the different flow hydrograph at the inlet of the lake.

An important fallout of the modeling effort is the reconstruction of the 1923 original bathymetry of the river in Valle Camonica, to be compared with the present one, affected by 100 years of river training works. The comparison of the flood propagation using the two bathymetries highlights the consequences of systematic hydraulic works on the hazard distribution for the same event. Paradoxically, the residual risk is now much higher than 100 years ago. Moreover, the simulations show that the claim of a 50 cm high bore at the inlet of the Oglio river is unsubstantiated by the model results and that an important request of damages was probably based on a false statement.
Understanding storage and discharge behavior of a high-elevated and geologically complex karst catchment using numerical approach, Dolomites (Alps)
Authors: Lucianetti Giorgia , Chen Zhao , Hartmann Andreas , Mazza Roberto
Published: March 2021

Water resources from high-alpine karst aquifers are used for drinking, hydropower generation and artificial snowmaking. Therefore, understanding of their storage and flow dynamics is crucial for a sustainable water management. However, high-alpine karst areas are characterized by a great geological complexity due to the presence of mountain block fractured and karst aquifers interdigitating with the heterogeneous valley floor porous aquifers. For that reason, hydrogeological characterization and model prediction remains a big challenge. In this work, we investigated a geologically complex alpine catchment in the Dolomites (Italian Alps) by using experimental data and a reservoir numerical model to simulate three years of stream discharge. The structure of the model is based on experimental knowledge of the catchment and on previous studies and investigations. It (1) includes snow dynamics and accounts for hydrogeological heterogeneities, (2) separately considers karstic conduit and matrix flow in a dolomitic aquifer and flow through the porous deposits accumulating on the slopes and at the valley floor in an unconsolidated aquifer (non-karst), and (3) takes into account the groundwater transfer between the two aquifers. In the frame of a multi-step model evaluation, we used a Regional Sensitivity Analysis with three performance measures including observations of catchment discharge, karst spring discharge and unconsolidated aquifer spring discharge to assess the realism of model simulations. We show that the newly developed model reliably reproduces the hydrogeological variability of the catchment, even during strongly different hydroclimatic conditions. Analyzing its simulated storage dynamics, we can show that despite its moderate storage, the porous aquifer contributes most to catchment discharge, while the largest storage of the system is the matrix of the dolomite aquifer that recharges the unconsolidated aquifer together with discharge from the karstic conduits. A clear seasonality of groundwater storage in the karst matrix and of unconsolidated aquifer discharge indicates a strong sensitivity of this complex aquifer system to climatic variability.
The ORAP6 ocean and sea-ice reanalysis: description and evaluation
Authors: Zuo Hao , Balmaseda Magdalena Alonso , de Boisseson Eric , Tietsche Steffen , Mayer Michael , de Rosnay Patricia
Published: March 2021

Ocean and sea-ice are two essential components of Earth system models. By providing initial conditions of these two system states, ocean and sea-ice analysis play a vital part in the coupled forecasting system of NWP service. A historical reconstruction of ocean and sea-ice states, or reanalysis, can be produced by ingesting observations into simulated model states through data assimilation methods. Ocean and sea-ice reanalyses provide invaluable information for climate monitoring, and also for long-term prediction such as decadal or climatic projections. The Ocean ReAnalysis Pilot system-6 (ORAP6) is a new ocean and sea-ice reanalysis that has been developed based on the ECMWF operational OCEAN5 system. Despite sharing the same model configurations as OCEAN5, ORAP6 uses different Atmospheric forcing and is produced with the most up-to-date reprocessed observation datasets. The data assimilation system has been updated as well, including: i) assimilation of L3 sea-ice concentration data instead of L4 gridded data; ii) a new flow-dependent SST nudging scheme; iii) refined off-line bias correction term for both temperature and salinity. In addition, observation error covariance settings have been revised, especially for observations near the coast and in the high-latitudes. Production of ORAP6 for the full ERA5 period (1979-2019) has been completed. Preliminary evaluation suggests that, in a general sense, ocean and sea-ice states are improved in ORAP6 w.r.t to its predecessor ORAS5, partially due to its more realistic large-scale overturning circulations. The ORAP6 sea-ice performance is better in the sense of both climate signals and spatial distributions of sea-ice thickness and concentration. The ocean heat content tendency in ORAP6 also correlates better with variations of global net energy input derived from independently observed TOA radiation data. A throughout evaluation of ORAP6 is currently underway.
Evaluation of vertical monitoring strategies to predict soil hydraulic characteristics and water contents by inverse modeling
Authors: Scherger Leonardo Ezequiel , Valdes-Abellan Javier , Lexow Claudio
Published: March 2021

Having a numerical model able to predict soil water content correctly is a very useful tool for many different objectives. However, it depends on the correct election of the soil hydraulic properties (SHP) on which the simulations are based. Measuring SHP in laboratory is time and economic-consuming and their inference by soil water monitoring and inverse modelling is a smart alternative. 

However, the resources needed to obtain copious data are sometimes unavailable and questions arise regarding what is the best monitoring strategy that let to obtain the best SHP with the fewest number of sensors.  When null or scarce data is present for some soil layers several solutions of the same problem are encountered. SHP estimations by inverse modeling could vary according to the data available and the vertical distribution of the measurement points.  The aim of this work is to evaluate different monitoring strategies to obtain an accurate hydraulic model with a limited number of observations depths. For this purpose, data monitored in an experimental plot in Bahía Blanca (Argentina) was used to run several inverse numerical simulations with the HYDRUS software.  Several scenarios of available data were considered: (1) six monitoring depths (6-MD) (30 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm, 120 cm, 150 cm, and 180 cm); (2) five monitoring depths (5-MD) subtracting the information from one soil depth at a time; (3) four monitoring depths (4-MD) subtracting the information from two soil depths, simultaneously. Each depth included soil water content, ϴ, and soil pressure head, h, measurements.

The best fit was achieved with the 6-MD strategy. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (EF) were 0.784 and 0.665 for the ϴ and h, respectively. Besides, the relative root mean square error (rRMSE) was 0.134 for ϴ and 0.127 for h. For the 5-MD strategy the best performance was achieved by removing the information from depths of 90 cm, 120 cm, or 150 cm. In those cases, EF was between 0.715-0.717 and rRMSE ranged from 0.132-0.133. Statistics reported a worse fit when removing data from the upper and the lower layers. For the 4-MD strategy, the best performance was accomplished by suppressing data from 90 cm and 120 cm (EF=0.707; rRMSE=0.135).

The observation points that had less weight in parameter prediction corresponded to the intermedium vadose zone. If data from the upper and lower boundaries of the soil profile are available, ϴ and h from the middle section could be predicted reasonably well, anyway. The inversely model SHP from the 5-MD and 4-MD strategies correctly represent field retention data points θ (h). If the optimal monitoring depths are recognized, the time, cost, and labor needed to a correctly soil manage practice will be greatly reduced. 
OPTIMALISASI PERAN PENGAWAS SEKOLAH TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KOMPETENSI GURU BAHASA INDONESIA KABUPATEN SAROLANGUN
Authors: Miati El , Fussalam Yahfenel Evi , Yelia Yelia
Published: March 2021

Penelitian ini melihat peran dan tugas pengawas dalam meningkatkan kompetensi guru. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menganalisa bagaimana peran pengawas sekolah SMP terhadap optimalisasi kompetensi guru Bahasa Indonesia di SMPN 5 Sarolangun termasuk faktor pendukung dan penghambat pengawasan tersebut. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kualitatif dengan tiga instrumen utama; observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Pemilihan  informan  dalam penelitian ini dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa: (1) Pengawas sekolah telah berupaya semaksimal mungkin meningkatkan kompetensi guru dengan perencanaan yang baik, kegiatan supervisi (akademik dan manajerial), dan evaluasi pendidikan, meskipun hasil belum efektif terlaksana, (2) beberapa faktor pendukung seperti yang menyebabkan kurang optimalnya peran pengawas sekolah seperti  keterbatasan sarana dan prasarana dan rendahnya motivasi guru dalam mengikuti kegiatan pembinaan. Meskipun demikian, sekolah ini juga memiliki faktor pendukung dalam pengawasan dalam bentuk workshop, pelatihan guru, dan kunjungan-kunjungan.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the composition of maslikhats (On the example of the Karaganda region)
Authors: ZHUMAGULOV Eldos , KOPEZHANOVA Danagul
Published: March 2021

Maslikhats occupy a special place as a local self-government body. Currently, an urgent issue is to activate the work of maslikhats and increase their status. The main reason for the research was to find an answer to the question, what is the composition of the regional, city and district maslikhats, elected in 2016, whether it covered all layers of the local population.
The main purpose of this article is to analyze the Deputy composition of local representative bodies, including maslikhats of the Karaganda region. To achieve this goal, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the composition of the regional, some city and district maslikhats was conducted.
As a result of the study, we observe that the participation of all groups of the local population in the work of local maslikhats is uneven in terms of quantitative and qualitative composition. These conclusions were made when analyzing the composition of maslikhats at various levels of the Karaganda region. The composition of other maslikhats may differ.
In the future, the results of this work can be used for developing programs for the development of local self-government, preparing for lectures in the disciplines of political science, public administration, political management, etc.
Factors Affecting Economic Growth: A Comparative Analysis of Democratic and Non-Democratic Eras of Pakistan
Authors: Khan Faridoon , Khan Farman Ullah , Urooj Amena
Published: March 2021

This paper empirically investigated the impact of macroeconomic factors on economic growth during democratic and non-democratic eras of Pakistan. The statistical analyses are conducted using time series methods and yearly data spanning from 1971 to 2018. From the empirical analysis, it is concluded that export, remittances and real effective exchange rate are indeed important. Export, remittances inflow and real effective exchange rate positively influenced economic growth in the long term. Furthermore, imports negatively affect economic growth but the effect is insignificant. The study recommends that policymakers should pursue appropriate strategy to enhance exports and foreign remittances as well as appreciate the currency of a country with a view to attain the long term economic growth.
Suction Above Cuff Endotracheal Tube Can Reduce Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Szarpak Łukasz , Cyran Maciej , Wieczorek Paweł , Evrin Togay
Published: March 2021

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a type of pneumonia classified as a nosocomial infection associated with mechanical ventilation which occurs 48–72 hours after endotracheal intubation [...]
La información tiene un valor económico, pero... ¿se está explotando?
Authors: Garcia Alsina Montserrat
Published: March 2021

Desde hace muchos años distintas instancias institucionales y académicas han venido señalando la información y el conocimiento como una vía para generar riqueza y competitividad. Ya en la Agenda de Lisboa (2000) se hablaba de convertir la economía de la UE en la más avanzada y competitiva del mundo mediante el conocimiento. En el año 2003 la Directiva 2003/98/CE apuntaba la reutilización de la información del sector público como una vía a explotar, para que contribuyera al crecimiento de la producción de contenidos y crear empleo. Y en España, ¿cómo se trasladan estas inquietudes?
Office-Based Addiction Treatment Retention and Mortality Among People Experiencing Homelessness
Authors: Fine Danielle R. , Lewis Elizabeth , Weinstock Karen , Wright Joseph , Gaeta Jessie M. , Baggett Travis P.
Published: March 2021

Importance

People experiencing homelessness have been disproportionately affected by the opioid overdose crisis. To mitigate morbidity and mortality, several office-based addiction treatment (OBAT) programs designed for this population have been established across the US, but studies have not yet evaluated their outcomes.

Objective

To evaluate treatment retention and mortality in an OBAT program designed specifically for individuals experiencing homelessness with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Design, Setting, and Participants

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP). Participants included all adult patients (N = 1467) who had 1 or more OBAT program encounter at BHCHP from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2018. Data analysis was conducted from January 13 to December 14, 2020.

Exposures

Sociodemographic, clinical, and addiction treatment–related characteristics were abstracted from the BHCHP electronic health record.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, identified by linkage to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health vital records. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to evaluate baseline and time-varying variables associated with all-cause mortality. Secondary addiction treatment–related outcomes were abstracted from the electronic health record and included (1) BHCHP OBAT program retention, (2) buprenorphine continuation and adherence verified by toxicology testing, and (3) opioid abstinence verified by toxicology testing.

Results

Of 1467 patients in the cohort, 1046 were men (71.3%) and 731 (49.8%) were non-Hispanic White; mean (SD) age was 42.2 (10.6) years. Continuous retention in the OBAT program was 45.2% at 1 month, 21.7% at 6 months, and 11.3% at 12 months. Continuous buprenorphine adherence was 41.5% at 1 month, 17.6% at 6 months, and 10.2% at 12 months, and continuous opioid abstinence was 28.3% at 1 month, 6.1% at 6 months, and 2.9% at 12 months. The all-cause mortality rate was 29.0 deaths per 1000 person-years, with 51.8% dying from drug overdose. Past-month OBAT program attendance was associated with lower mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.55).

Conclusions and Relevance

Mortality rates were high in this cohort of addiction treatment–seeking homeless and unstably housed individuals with OUD. Although continuous OBAT program retention was low, past-month attendance in care was associated with reduced mortality risk. Future work should examine interventions to promote increased OBAT attendance to mitigate morbidity and mortality in this vulnerable population.
Identification of hub lncRNAs in head and neck cancer based on weighted gene co‐expression network analysis and experiments
Authors: Lina Shao
Published: March 2021

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks as the sixth most common cancer among systemic malignant tumors, with 600 000 new cases occurring every year worldwide. Since HNSCC has high heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis, no effective prognostic indicator has yet been identified. Here, we aimed to identify a lncRNA signature associated with the prognosis of HNSCC as a potential new biomarker. LncRNA expression data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. A polygenic risk score model was constructed by using Lasso–Cox regression analysis. Weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to analyze the co‐expression modules of lncRNAs associated with the prognosis of HNSCC. The robustness of the signature was validated in testing and external cohorts. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression levels of identified lncRNAs in cancer and adjacent tissues. We constructed an 8‐lncRNA signature (LINC00567, LINC00996, MTOR‐AS1, PRKG1‐AS1, RAB11B‐AS1, RPS6KA2‐AS1, SH3BP5‐AS1, ZNF451‐AS1) that could be used as an independent prognostic factor of HNSCC. The signature showed strong robustness and had stable prediction performance in different cohorts. WGCNA results showed that modules related to risk score mainly participated in biological processes such as blood vessel development, positive regulation of catabolic processes, and regulation of growth. The prognostic risk score model based on lncRNA for HNSCC may help clinicians conduct individualized treatment plans.
The pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase of the thermophilic acetogen, Thermoanaerobacter kivui
Authors: Katsyv Alexander , Schoelmerich Marie Charlotte , Basen Mirko , Müller Volker
Published: March 2021

Pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) is a key enzyme in bacterial anaerobic metabolism. Since a low‐potential ferredoxin (Fd2−) is used as electron carrier, PFOR allows for hydrogen evolution during heterotrophic growth as well as pyruvate synthesis during lithoautotrophic growth. The thermophilic acetogenic model bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui can use both modes of lifestyle, but the nature of the PFOR in this organism was previously unestablished. Here, we have isolated PFOR to apparent homogeneity from cells grown on glucose. Peptide mass fingerprinting revealed that it is encoded by pfor1. PFOR uses pyruvate as an electron donor and methylene blue (1.8 U·mg−1) and ferredoxin (Fd; 27.2 U·mg−1) as electron acceptors, and the reaction is dependent on thiamine pyrophosphate, pyruvate, coenzyme A, and Fd. The pH and temperature optima were 7.5 and 66 °C, respectively. We detected 13.6 mol of iron·mol of protein−1, consistent with the presence of three predicted [4Fe–4S] clusters. The ability to provide reduced Fd makes PFOR an interesting auxiliary enzyme for enzyme assays. To simplify and speed up the purification procedure, we established a protocol for homologous protein production in T. kivui. Therefore, pfor1 was cloned and expressed in T. kivui and the encoded protein containing a genetically engineered His‐tag was purified in only two steps to apparent homogeneity. The homologously produced PFOR1 had the same properties as the enzyme from T. kivui. The enzyme can be used as auxiliary enzyme in enzymatic assays that require reduced Fd as electron donor, such as electron‐bifurcating enzymes, to keep a constant level of reduced Fd.
Medium Versus High Initial Prednisone Dose for Remission Induction in Lupus Nephritis: A Propensity Score–Matched Analysis
Authors: Tselios Konstantinos , Gladman Dafna D. , Al‐Sheikh Haifa , Su Jiandong , Urowitz Murray B.
Published: March 2021

Objective

The existing guidelines for lupus nephritis (LN) recommend initial prednisone doses of 0.3–1.0 mg/kg/day. However, recent studies reported noninferior outcomes with lower doses. The aim of this study was to compare the complete renal response rates in LN patients treated with prednisone ≤30 mg/day or ≥40 mg/day.

Methods

Patients with new‐onset LN and standard immunosuppressive treatment were followed for at least 12 months, divided into medium (≤30 mg/day) and high prednisone groups (≥40 mg/day) and matched (propensity score) based on the baseline differences. Complete renal response was defined as proteinuria <0.5 gm/day and no worsening in renal function. Glucocorticoid‐related damage was also assessed.

Results

High‐dose prednisone patients (n = 103; mean ± SD dose 48.6 ± 12.3 mg/day) achieved better rates of complete response compared to the medium group (n = 103; mean ± SD dose 24.2 ± 4.6 mg/day) (61.8% versus 38.2%; P = 0.024) at 12 months. The difference in response rates was reproduced for several subgroups (concomitant immunosuppressive treatment, proliferative/nonproliferative LN). Complete remission rates were higher at 2 years (67.8% versus 39%; P = 0.002) and 3 years (64.9% versus 49.1%; P = 0.025) after LN diagnosis. Cumulative glucocorticoid dose was comparable at 2 and 3 years. Glucocorticoid‐related damage was accelerated in both groups for the same period.

Conclusion

Higher initial prednisone doses (median 45 mg/day) achieved significantly better rates of complete renal response at 12 months in new‐onset LN. Cumulative glucocorticoid dose and damage accrual were not different at 2 and 3 years after LN. Damage was more prominent in the late phases of LN in both groups, underlining the importance of rapid tapering and the need to implement alternative strategies.
Robust Self‐Regeneratable Stiff Living Materials Fabricated from Microbial Cells
Authors: Manjula‐Basavanna Avinash , Duraj‐Thatte Anna M. , Joshi Neel S.
Published: March 2021

Living systems have not only the exemplary capability to fabricate materials (e.g., wood, bone) under ambient conditions but they also consist of living cells that imbue them with properties like growth and self‐regeneration. Like a seed that can grow into a sturdy living wood, can living cells alone serve as the primary building block to fabricate stiff materials? Here is reported the fabrication of stiff living materials (SLMs) produced entirely from microbial cells, without the incorporation of any structural biopolymers (e.g., cellulose, chitin, collagen) or biominerals (e.g., hydroxyapatite, calcium carbonate) that are known to impart stiffness to biological materials. Remarkably, SLMs are also lightweight, strong, and resistant to organic solvents and can self‐regenerate. This living materials technology can serve as a powerful biomanufacturing platform to design and develop advanced structural and cellular materials in a sustainable manner.
Supramolecular Pins with Ultralong Efficient Phosphorescence
Authors: Ma Xin‐Kun , Zhang Wei , Liu Zhixue , Zhang Haoyang , Zhang Bing , Liu Yu
Published: March 2021

Constructing ultralong organic phosphorescent materials possessing a high quantum yield is challenging. Herein, assemblies of purely organic supramolecular pins composed of alkyl‐bridged phenylpyridinium salts and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) are reported. Different from “one host with two guests” and “head‐to‐tail” binding, the binding formation of supramolecular pins is “one host with one guest” and “head‐to‐head,” which overcomes electrostatic repulsion and promotes intramolecular charge transfer. The supramolecular pin 1/CB[8] displays afterglow with high phosphorescence quantum yield (99.38%) after incorporation into a rigid matrix, which is the highest yield reported to date for phosphorescent materials. Moreover, multicolor photoluminescence can be obtained by different excitation wavelengths and ratios of host to guest. Owing to the redshift of the absorption, the supramolecular pins are applied for targeted phosphorescence imaging of mitochondria. This work will provide a reasonable supramolecular strategy to achieve redshifted and efficient phosphorescence both in the solid state and in aqueous solution.
Graphene Multilayer Photonic Metamaterials: Fundamentals and Applications
Authors: Lin Han , Lin Keng‐Te , Yang Tieshan , Jia Baohua
Published: March 2021

Graphene is given high expectation due to their unique properties and advantages and has revolutionized different research fields and leads to enormous applications. However, monolayer graphene shows limited absorption due to the ultrathin thickness, which compromises the optical modulation capability. Therefore, graphene metamaterials consisting of alternatively stacked graphene and dielectric layers or graphene layer combined with conventional metamaterial structures are proposed as artificially structured materials to exploit both graphene's unique material properties and nanostructure capability of metamaterials to achieve strong optical modulations. The recent breakthrough in experimental fabrication of graphene metamaterials, in particular the solution‐based method which allows large‐area fabrication of graphene metamaterials with monolayer‐thickness controllability and nanometer surface roughness, enables extraordinary optical properties and opens various new possibilities both in research and manufacturing. In this comprehensive review, the concept of graphene metamaterials, the unique optical properties, and the enabling fabrication methods are demonstrated. The multifunctionality of graphene metamaterials offer a novel platform for manufacturing innovative optical and photonic devices with the advantages of broad working bandwidth, high efficiency, fast response, tunability, integrability, and low energy consumption. The review provides insights to future innovations for the booming graphene metamaterials and metaphotonic devices in the disciplines of optics, nanophotonics, and optoelectronics.
Non‐Volatile Reconfigurable Integrated Photonics Enabled by Broadband Low‐Loss Phase Change Material
Authors: Fang Zhuoran , Zheng Jiajiu , Saxena Abhi , Whitehead James , Chen Yueyang , Majumdar Arka
Published: March 2021

Phase change materials (PCMs) have long been used as a storage medium in rewritable compact disk and later in random access memory. In recent years, integration of PCMs with nanophotonic structures has introduced a new paradigm for non‐volatile reconfigurable optics. However, the high loss of the archetypal PCM Ge2Sb2Te5 in both visible and telecommunication wavelengths has fundamentally limited its applications. Sb2S3 has recently emerged as a wide‐bandgap PCM with transparency windows ranging from 610 nm to near‐IR. In this paper, the strong optical phase modulation and low optical loss of Sb2S3 are experimentally demonstrated for the first time in integrated photonic platforms at both 750 and 1550 nm. As opposed to silicon, the thermo‐optic coefficient of Sb2S3 is shown to be negative, making the Sb2S3–Si hybrid platform less sensitive to thermal fluctuation. Finally, a Sb2S3 integrated non‐volatile microring switch is demonstrated which can be tuned electrically between a high and low transmission state with a contrast over 30 dB. This work experimentally verifies prominent phase modification and low loss of Sb2S3 in wavelength ranges relevant for both solid‐state quantum emitter and telecommunication, enabling potential applications such as optical field programmable gate array, post‐fabrication trimming, and large‐scale integrated quantum photonic network.
Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Properties of Trioxoazatriangulene Derivatives Modified with Electron Donating Groups
Authors: Tsuchiya Youichi , Ishikawa Yuma , Lee Sang‐Hoon , Chen Xian‐Kai , Brédas Jean‐Luc , Nakanotani Hajime , Adachi Chihaya
Published: March 2021

With the aim of achieving high‐performance thermally activated delayed fluorescence, a series of trioxoazatriangulene derivatives are systematically developed by modifying the donor substituents. The emission colors are shifted from green to greenish‐yellow and to yellow with rather broad spectral widths of 70–95 nm by introducing carbazole, triphenylamine, or diphenylamine donor units, indicating that each emission originates from a charge‐transfer transition. On the other hand, the trioxoazatriangulene modified with three diphenylamines shows orange emission with a narrow emission spectrum (45 nm), suggesting that the transition mainly originates from a multiple resonance effect.
Eco‐Friendly Nanoplatforms for Crop Quality Control, Protection, and Nutrition
Authors: Wang Chao‐Yi , Yang Jie , Qin Jian‐Chun , Yang Ying‐Wei
Published: March 2021

Agricultural chemicals have been widely utilized to manage pests, weeds, and plant pathogens for maximizing crop yields. However, the excessive use of these organic substances to compensate their instability in the environment has caused severe environmental consequences, threatened human health, and consumed enormous economic costs. In order to improve the utilization efficiency of these agricultural chemicals, one strategy that attracted researchers is to design novel eco‐friendly nanoplatforms. To date, numerous advanced nanoplatforms with functional components have been applied in the agricultural field, such as silica‐based materials for pesticides delivery, metal/metal oxide nanoparticles for pesticides/mycotoxins detection, and carbon nanoparticles for fertilizers delivery. In this review, the synthesis, applications, and mechanisms of recent eco‐friendly nanoplatforms in the agricultural field, including pesticides and mycotoxins on‐site detection, phytopathogen inactivation, pest control, and crops growth regulation for guaranteeing food security, enhancing the utilization efficiency of agricultural chemicals and increasing crop yields are highlighted. The review also stimulates new thinking for improving the existing agricultural technologies, protecting crops from biotic and abiotic stress, alleviating the global food crisis, and ensuring food security. In addition, the challenges to overcome the constrained applications of functional nanoplatforms in the agricultural field are also discussed.
Structure Prototype Outperforming MXenes in Stability and Performance in Metal‐Ion Batteries: A High Throughput Study
Authors: Sun Minglei , Schwingenschlögl Udo
Published: March 2021

While the MXene Ti3C2 is well known for its extraordinary material properties with wide applications, it is demonstrated here that it is not the most stable 2D titanium carbide. Evolutionary search and first‐principles calculations are employed to predict for Ti3C3 a novel structure prototype with P4/mmm symmetry and tetragonal sandwich structure. The cohesive energy, phonon dispersion, and melting point demonstrate high stability of Ti3C3. The mechanical properties are found to be even better than those of graphene in terms of Young's modulus and fracture strength. The metallicity of Ti3C3 indicates potential in metal‐ion batteries. The diffusion barriers for Li, Na, K, and Ca atoms are found to be as low as 0.15, 0.04, 0.002 (record among the known 2D materials), and 0.14 eV, respectively, suggesting the possibility to realize fast charge and discharge. Importantly, the discovered structure prototype gives rise to a whole family of 2D materials. For example, six thermally and dynamically stable materials with metallic properties, Ti3X3 (X = B, Si, Ge, N, P, and As) are identified. The family is promising not only in the fields of nano‐mechanics and metal‐ion batteries but also can guide the search for further 2D structure prototypes.
Creating New Battery Configuration Associated with the Functions of Primary and Rechargeable Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Chen Hao , Cao Zhenjiang , Gu Jianan , Cui Yanglansen , Zhang Yongzheng , Zhao Zehua , Cheng Zongju , Zhao Qi , Li Bin , Yang Shubin
Published: March 2021

Although the primary lithium/fluorinated graphite battery has a high energy density of 3725 Wh kg−1, its complete irreversibility based on a conversion reaction between Li and fluorinated graphite hampers wide applications in rechargeable systems. Here, a new rechargeable three‐electrode battery configuration involving lithium, fluorinated graphite, and sulfur electrodes is developed, in which the initial middle‐fluorinated graphite cathode can be electrochemically transformed into a hybrid lithium anode, showing a low overpotential (12 mV), long cycle life (2000 h) and good deep stripping/plating features. This rechargeable battery delivers a high gravimetric energy density of 507.7 Wh kg−1 on the basis of the total mass of the three‐electrode materials. Moreover, the excessive consumption of lithium in the system can be in situ replenished, further lengthening the lifespan.