bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The valuation and demand impacts of the worthwhile use of travel time with specific reference to the digital revolution and endogeneity
Authors: Wardman Mark , Chintakayala Phani , Heywood Chris
Published: October 2019

The research reported here is concerned with how the worthwhile use of travel time might impact on the value of travel time savings (VTTS) and on demand set in the context of the rail travel market in Great Britain. It has long been recognised, in a variety of literature, that improvements in worthwhile activities which will have been delivered by the digital revolution will impact VTTS and demand yet there is surprisingly little reliable evidence and official appraisal practice does not accommodate any such effects. In a large survey of rail travellers, we have explored how activities while travelling impact on VTTS and demand. An important feature of the study was to account for endogeneity whereby variations in VTTS estimates according to the worthwhile use of time are biased if drawn from comparisons across individuals of what they do while travelling rather from comparing within individual variations in activities. Indeed, we clearly demonstrate the impact of not allowing for endogeneity and indicate its presence in other studies. We find that the VTTS does vary according to activities undertaken while travelling in a largely credible manner and is broadly consistent with behavioural responses to different available activities. The evidence supports the VTTS falling over time due to the digital revolution and rail demand increasing. These are modest rather than considerable changes but nonetheless contribute a better understanding of evidence relating to VTTS and rail demand variations over time.
Exploring self-report and proxy-report quality-of-life measures for people living with dementia in care homes
Authors: Griffiths Alys W. , Smith Sarah J. , Martin Adam , Meads David , Kelley Rachael , Surr Claire A.
Published: October 2019

Purpose

There are many validated quality-of-life (QoL) measures designed for people living with dementia. However, the majority of these are completed via proxy-report, despite indications from community-based studies that consistency between proxy-reporting and self-reporting is limited. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between self- and proxy-reporting of one generic and three disease-specific quality-of-life measures in people living with dementia in care home settings.

Methods

As part of a randomised controlled trial, four quality-of-life measures (DEMQOL, EQ-5D-5L, QOL-AD and QUALID) were completed by people living with dementia, their friends or relatives or care staff proxies. Data were collected from 726 people living with dementia living in 50 care homes within England. Analyses were conducted to establish the internal consistency of each measure, and inter-rater reliability and correlation between the measures.

Results

Residents rated their quality of life higher than both relatives and staff on the EQ-5D-5L. The magnitude of correlations varied greatly, with the strongest correlations between EQ-5D-5L relative proxy and staff proxy. Internal consistency varied greatly between measures, although they seemed to be stable across types of participants. There was poor-to-fair inter-rater reliability on all measures between the different raters.

Discussion

There are large differences in how QoL is rated by people living with dementia, their relatives and care staff. These inconsistencies need to be considered when selecting measures and reporters within dementia research.
Investigation into mechanisms and kinetics of asphaltene aggregation in toluene/n-hexane mixtures
Authors: Soulgani Bahram Soltani , Reisi Fatemeh , Norouzi Fatemeh
Published: October 2019

Determining the rate of asphaltene particle growth is one of the main problems in modeling of asphaltene precipitation and deposition. In this paper, the kinetics of asphaltene aggregation under different precipitant concentrations have been studied. The image processing method was performed on the digital photographs that were taken by a microscope as a function of time to determine the asphaltene aggregation growth mechanisms. The results of image processing by MATLAB software revealed that the growth of asphaltene aggregates is strongly a function of time. Different regions could be recognized during asphaltene particle growth including reaction- and diffusion-limited aggregation followed by reaching the maximum asphaltene aggregate size and start of asphaltene settling and the final equilibrium. Modeling has been carried out to predict the growth of asphaltene particle size based on the fractal theory. General equations have been developed for kinetics of asphaltene aggregation for reaction-limited aggregation and diffusion-limited aggregation. The maximum size of asphaltene aggregates and settling time were modeled by using force balance, acting on asphaltene particles. Results of modeling show a good agreement between laboratory measurements and model calculations.
Archaeometric studies on early medieval silver jewellery from Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Miśta-Jakubowska Ewelina , Czech Błońska Renata , Duczko Władysław , Gójska Aneta M. , Kalbarczyk Paweł , Żabiński Grzegorz , Trela Krystian
Published: October 2019

Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalyses (SEM-EDX) was used for a technological study of silver jewellery from three hoards found in Poland. The assemblage consists of 26 artefacts from the period of formation of the first Polish state (900–1039 AD) and can be divided into three groups: West Slavic, post-Moravian and Scandinavian. Research results provide information concerning techniques used for granulation ornament and the provenance of raw silver. Elemental composition changes are manifested mainly by different Cu contents. A higher Cu content was found in solder. The higher Cu content in relation to the morphology of the joining region with visibly spilled granulation demonstrates that the West Slavic beads were produced with the use of metallic soldering. On the other hand, other studied jewelleries are characterised by Cu, Sn, Sb and Zn enrichments in oxidised soldering regions, which implies that they were manufactured with the use of non-metallic soldering. In addition, studies on the provenance of the raw material were made based on the analysis of lead isotopic ratios. For this purpose, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was used, and the obtained lead isotopic ratios were processed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The isotope study demonstrates that all examined artefacts were made using re-melted metal from multiple sources. The most probable sources of silver were ores from Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Freiberg (Germany).
Anatomical reduction and precise internal fixation of intra-articular fractures of the distal radius with virtual X-ray and 3D printing
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhang Guodong , He Zaopeng , Zhong Shizhen , Chen Yongshao , Wei Chunrong , Zheng Yudong , Lin Haibin , Li Wei , Huang Wenhua
Published: October 2019

To evaluate and precisely internal fix intra-articular distal radial fracture (IDRF) using the virtual X-ray and three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies. Twenty-one patients with IDRF were recruited, and the data from digital design group (DDG) and real surgery group (RSG) were collected and analyzed. In DDG, the data from thin-slice computed tomography scan, virtual X-ray measurement parameters, including volar tilt, palmar tilt, radius length (D1), ulnar variation (D2), locking plate position parameter (D3) and distance between key nail and joint surface (D4) were collected. The bone was virtually fixed with the locking plate, and the final model of radius with the screw was obtained by 3D printing. In RSG, the locking plate was precisely pre-bended and used in surgery. During the surgery, the key K-wire was accurately placed and the locking plate was adjusted with the aid of the U-shaped navigation arm. The C-arm was used to observe the positions of key K-wires and the locking plate, and the same above-mentioned parameters were measured intra- and post-operatively. The data from RSG and DDG were compared statistically by t test. This approach proved to be successful in all 21 patients, and none of the screws pierced through the wrist joint surface. All the measured parameters, including the volar tilt, palmar tilt, D1–4, in RSG were not significantly different from preoperative DDG data. Virtual X-ray measurement of anatomical reduction parameters and 3D printing can help the anatomical reduction and precise internal fixation by providing quantitative references, preoperatively, intraoperatively and postoperatively.
Numerical analysis and experimental testing of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete keyed dry and epoxy joints in precast segmental bridge girders
Authors: Gopal Balamurugan A. , Hejazi Farzad , Hafezolghorani Milad , Yen Lei Voo
Published: October 2019

Although ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) has been used recently as a sustainable construction technique for many precast segmental bridges (PSBs), no exhaustive numerical and experimental studies exist to assess the shear capacity and failure pattern of the joints in these bridges. Hence, to accurately investigate the shear behavior of the joints in UHPFRC precast segmental bridges, a numerical analysis model based on finite-element code was established in this study. Concrete damaged plasticity model was used to analyze the UHPFRC joint models by considering all the geometries, boundaries, interactions and constraints. In this paper, the numerical model was calibrated by two full-scale UHPFRC keyed dry and epoxy joints under confining pressure effect. The excellent agreement between the numerical results and experimental data demonstrated the reliability of the proposed numerical model. The validated numerical model was then utilized to investigate the parameters affecting shear behaviour of the joints in PSBs. For this purpose, 12 FE models were analyzed under different variable parameters namely, number of shear keys, confining stress, and types of joints (dry or epoxy). Furthermore, the numerical results were also compared with the five existing shear design provision models available in literature in terms of ultimate shear capacity.
HIV in Pregnancy
Authors: Bagga Rashmi , Arora Parul
Published: October 2019

HIV in pregnancy assumes additional importance because of the risk of perinatal transmission. With the increase in number of people living the HIV–AIDS worldwide, better ART policies and improved heath condition, more women with HIV are getting pregnant. Perinatal transmission occurs mostly during labour and delivery; transmission during antenatal period may also occur. Timely administration of appropriate ART, suppressed viral load, appropriate mode of delivery and safe feeding practices can reduce the risk of perinatal transmission to minimal. ART has evolved from single dose therapy to daily fixed-dose lifelong ART to all women irrespective of the clinical stage and CD4 count. NACO recommends tenofovir 300 mg + lamivudine 300 mg + efavirenz 600 mg once daily (TDF + 3TC + EFV) for all pregnant women to be continued lifelong after delivery. ART for the mother, safe mode of delivery, ART for newborn and exclusive breast feeding can together ensure a safe pregnancy for the mother and with minimal risk of perinatal transmission. This assumes importance in developing counties like India.
Data-driven decision support under concept drift in streamed big data
Authors: Lu Jie , Liu Anjin , Song Yiliao , Zhang Guangquan
Published: October 2019

Data-driven decision-making ($$\mathrm {D^3}$$D3M) is often confronted by the problem of uncertainty or unknown dynamics in streaming data. To provide real-time accurate decision solutions, the systems have to promptly address changes in data distribution in streaming data—a phenomenon known as concept drift. Past data patterns may not be relevant to new data when a data stream experiences significant drift, thus to continue using models based on past data will lead to poor prediction and poor decision outcomes. This position paper discusses the basic framework and prevailing techniques in streaming type big data and concept drift for $$\mathrm {D^3}$$D3M. The study first establishes a technical framework for real-time $$\mathrm {D^3}$$D3M under concept drift and details the characteristics of high-volume streaming data. The main methodologies and approaches for detecting concept drift and supporting $$\mathrm {D^3}$$D3M are highlighted and presented. Lastly, further research directions, related methods and procedures for using streaming data to support decision-making in concept drift environments are identified. We hope the observations in this paper could support researchers and professionals to better understand the fundamentals and research directions of $$\mathrm {D^3}$$D3M in streamed big data environments.
Moral Understanding and Cooperative Testimony
Authors: Boyd Kenneth
Published: October 2019

It is has been argued that there is a problem with moral testimony: testimony is deferential, and basing judgments and actions on deferentially acquired knowledge prevents them from having moral worth. What morality perhaps requires of us, then, is that we understand why a proposition is true, but this is something that cannot be acquired through testimony. I argue here that testimony can be both deferential as well as cooperative, and that one can acquire moral understanding through cooperative testimony. The problem of moral testimony is thus not a problem with testimony generally, but a problem of deferential testimony specifically.
Importance of State and Local Variation in Black–Brown Attitudes: How Latinos View Blacks and How Blacks Affect Their Views
Authors: Gomez-Aguinaga Barbara , Sanchez Gabriel R. , Barreto Matt
Published: October 2019

This study explores Latino perceptions of commonality and competition with African Americans across the country, focusing on the South. Using the Latino National Survey (LNS), we test the existing inter-group relation theories using an original measurement approach. With the creation of relative measures of commonality and competition of Latinos toward Blacks, we find that Latinos perceive co-ethnics as a greater source of competition than Blacks when our relative measure is used to interpret Latino perceptions of competition with African Americans. Moreover, our results suggest that Latinos in the South have similar perceptions of commonality to Blacks as Latinos more generally, across both approaches that measure perceptions of commonality. Most importantly, we find that when the relative competition measure is employed, Latinos who live in Southern states do in fact have higher perceptions of competition with Blacks than Latinos at large. These trends provide a valuable addition to the extant literature focused on inter-group relations by emphasizing that not only place and context matter, but also the way perceptions of competition and commonality are measured and operationalized.
Effectiveness of unmanned aerial vehicles to detect Amazon dolphins
Authors: Oliveira-da-Costa Marcelo , Marmontel Miriam , da-Rosa Daiane S. X. , Coelho André , Wich Serge , Mosquera-Guerra Federico , Trujillo Fernando
Published: October 2019

Quantifying the abundance of species is essential for their management and conservation. Much effort has been invested in surveys of freshwater dolphins in the Amazon basin but river dimensions and complex logistics limit replication of such studies across the region. We evaluated the effectiveness of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveying two Amazon dolphin species, the tucuxi Sotalia fluviatilis and pink river dolphin Inia geoffrensis, in tropical rivers. In 2016 we conducted drone and visual surveys over 80 km of the Juruá River in Brazil. The aerial surveys provided higher accuracy than human observers in counting individuals detected in groups. Compared to estimates derived from visual surveys, the use of UAVs could provide a more feasible, economical and accurate estimate of Amazon river dolphin populations. The method could potentially be replicated in other important areas for the conservation of these species, to generate an improved index of river dolphin populations in the Amazon.
Limbic cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical functional connectivity in drug-naïve patients of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Zhao Qing , Xu Tingting , Wang Yuan , Chen Dandan , Liu Qiang , Yang Zhi , Wang Zhen
Published: October 2019

Background

The pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) remains unclear despite extensive neuroimaging work on the disorder. Exposure to medication and comorbid mental disorders can confound the results of OCD studies. The goal of this study was to explore differences in brain functional connectivity (FC) within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) loop of drug-naïve and drug-free OCD patients and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

A total of 29 drug-naïve OCD patients, 22 drug-free OCD patients, and 25 HCs matched on age, gender and education level underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning at resting state. Seed-based connectivity analyses were conducted among the three groups. The Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale and clinical inventories were used to assess the clinical symptoms.

Results

Compared with HCs, the drug-naïve OCD patients had reduced FC within the limbic CSTC loop. In the drug-naïve OCD participants, we also found hyperconnectivity between the supplementary motor area and ventral and dorsal putamen (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple comparisons).

Conclusions

Exposure to antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may affect the function of some brain regions. Future longitudinal studies could help to reveal the pharmacotherapeutic mechanisms in these loops.
Elder law and its subject: the contextualised ageing individual
Authors: Numhauser-Henning Ann
Published: October 2019

Elder law is often approached in terms of a ‘body’ of law. In this article, I argue for a contextualised and externalised perspective on the ageing individual as the subject of elder law. Elder law relates to the implications of law as an institutionalisation of society seen through the lens of older persons. The aged subject is a contested and differentiated social construct to be studied in relation to an externalised social ‘problem’ and properly contextualised. Whereas the ageing individual in the context of labour law and anti-discrimination regulation turns out to be remarkably young, the specific history of LGBT persons in society comes to the fore in cases where age intersects with a ground such as sexual orientation. The ‘ageing’ worker must thus be understood in relation to work as the dominant distributive order in society, and in relation to institutions and developments associated with work. Due to the role of age as a traditional social stratifier, the prohibition against age discrimination has been given a weaker format than have prohibitions against other kinds of discrimination, and the ban on ageism has failed to achieve a clear legal status. Deficiencies in the measures taken against age discrimination are also evident in their incapacity to address situations where age intersects with other grounds, resulting in a compartmentalised application and interpretation of discrimination bans, leaving vulnerable sub-groups without protection. In sum, elder law is very much a field in process and – although arguing for the added value of a contextualised perspective – it may for the time being suffice to say that ‘elder law is what elder law researchers do’.
The Twin Challenges to Separation of Powers in Central Europe: Technocratic Governance and Populism
Authors: Kosař David , Baroš Jiří , Dufek Pavel
Published: October 2019

Separation of institutions, functions and personnel – Checks and balances – Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia – Short tradition of separation of powers in Central Europe – Fragile interwar systems of separation of powers – Communist principle of centralisation of power – Technocratic challenge to separation of powers during the EU accession – One-sided checks on the elected branches and empowering technocratic elitist institutions – Populist challenge to separation of powers in the 2010s – Re-politicising of the public sphere, removing most checks on the elected branches, and curtailing and packing the unelected institutions – Technocratic and populist challenges to separation of powers interrelated more than we thought
Acute Cortisol Levels and Memory Performance in Older People with High and Normal Body Mass Index
Authors: Pulopulos Matias M. , Puig-Perez Sara , Hidalgo Vanesa , Montoliu Teresa , Salvador Alicia
Published: October 2019

Previous studies have shown that healthy older adults may be less sensitive to the effects of acute cortisol levels on memory performance than young adults. Importantly, being overweight has recently been associated with an increase in both cortisol concentration and cortisol receptors in central tissues, suggesting that Body Mass Index (BMI) may contribute to differences in the relationship between memory and acute cortisol. This study investigates the role of BMI in the relationship between memory performance and acute cortisol levels in older people (M = 64.70 years; SD = 4.24). We measured cortisol levels and memory performance (working memory and declarative memory) in 33 participants with normal BMI (normal BMI = 18.50–24.99) and 36 participants with overweight BMI (overweight BMI = 25–29.99). Overweight BMI participants showed worse performance on word-list learning (p = .036, 95% CI [0.08, 2.18], η2p = 0.07). Higher cortisol levels were related to higher proactive interference (β = .364, p = .016, 95% CI [0.07, 0.66]), and BMI did not moderate any of the relationships investigated. In accordance with previous studies, our results show worse memory performance in individuals with overweight BMI. However, our results do not support the idea that memory performance in older people with higher BMI may be more sensitive to differences in acute cortisol levels than in older people with normal BMI. More research is needed to test this hypothesis with obese individuals (BMI > 30 Kg/cm2).
When Should I Stop? Dysphoria Leads to Impaired Task Persistence via Negative Mood
Authors: Brinkmann Kerstin , Gendolla Guido H. E.
Published: October 2019

Abstract. Based on reported motivational deficits in depression – and on persistence deficits in particular – the present study examined whether dysphoric individuals benefit from task contexts that favor longer task persistence. Undergraduates worked on an item-generation task with different stop rules: “Is this a good time to stop?” ( enough rule), “Do I feel like continuing?” ( enjoy rule), or no specific rule. Results revealed that, independent of the stop rule, participants with high depression scores stopped earlier and generated fewer items than participants with low depression scores – an effect that was mediated by current mood state. Thus, contrary to experimentally induced negative mood, the enough-rule intervention was ineffective in eliminating the persistence deficits of dysphoric individuals. Implications for task disengagement and performance outcomes are discussed.
A Framework to Delineate Precipitation‐Runoff Regimes: Precipitation Versus Snowpack in the Western United States
Authors: Chen Xiaodong , Duan Zhuoran , Leung L. Ruby , Wigmosta Mark
Published: October 2019

Snowpack accumulation/ablation affects the runoff response to precipitation by modulating the water flux reaching the surface. Previous studies mostly focused on “rain‐on‐snow” events. Here we propose a framework to extend the scope and classify precipitation events accompanied by snow accumulation/ablation (precipitation‐and‐snow, or PAS, events) into five regimes. This framework is applied to a regional climate simulation over the western United States for 1981–2015 to reveal regions where daily changes in snowpack alter the surface hydrologic responses to precipitation. Over the western United States, PAS events account for 50–90% of all the precipitation events. Compared to the broad spatial distribution of snow accumulation‐type PAS events, snowmelting‐type PAS events are limited to coastal high‐elevation areas. Atmospheric rivers, a key driver of heavy precipitation in the region, account for only 2% of the PAS events, but they trigger significant snowmelt, accounting for 20% and 11% of light and heavy snowmelting events, respectively.
Decline in Atlantic Primary Production Accelerated by Greenland Ice Sheet Melt
Authors: Kwiatkowski Lester , Naar Joseph , Bopp Laurent , Aumont Olivier , Defrance Dimitri , Couespel Damien
Published: October 2019

Projections of climate impacts on marine net primary production (NPP) are reliant on Earth System Models (ESMs) that do not contain dynamic ice sheets. We assess the impact of potential Greenland ice sheet meltwater on projections of 21st century NPP using idealized ESM simulations. Under an extreme melt scenario, corresponding to 21st century sea level rise close to 2 m, Greenland meltwater amplified the decline in global NPP from a decrease of 3.2 PgC/yr to a decrease of 4.5 PgC/yr, relative to present. This additional reduction in NPP predominately occurs in the North Atlantic subtropical and subpolar gyres, as well as Atlantic eastern boundary upwelling systems. Accelerated NPP declines are the result of both surface freshening and reductions in upwelling‐favorable winds enhancing phytoplankton nutrient limitation. Our findings indicate that including a dynamic Greenland ice sheet in ESMs could have large impacts on projections of future ocean circulation and biogeochemistry.
Phytoplankton Blooms off a High Turbidity Estuary: A Case Study in the Changjiang River Estuary
Authors: Wang Yihe , Wu Hui , Lin Jun , Zhu Jianrong , Zhang Wenxia , Li Chao
Published: October 2019

The occurrence of phytoplankton blooms in estuarine and coastal waters is codetermined by the export of fluvial nutrients and other water properties such as turbidity. In this study, the Changjiang River Estuary was used as an example to investigate the intrinsic link between river plume dynamics, riverine nutrient loading, suspended sediment concentration, and phytoplankton blooms with a coupled hydrodynamic‐sediment‐ecosystem numerical model. Suspended sediment concentration from the sediment module was used to parameterize light attenuation in waters, which, in association with river plume dynamics, was found to impact phytoplankton distribution. Data that was collected in situ, in addition to satellite data for chlorophyll, nutrients, and suspended sediments, were used to validate the model, which performed well. The surface high chlorophyll centers exhibited a patch‐like pattern from the northeast to the south off the Changjiang River mouth. The high chlorophyll concentration within the river plume was mainly determined by riverine nutrient exports, and potential phosphate limitation occurred away from the river mouth. The chlorophyll concentration decreased dramatically shoreward of the sediment front, which was controlled by the bottom river plume front. The bottom plume front was an intrinsic feature of the Changjiang River plume and similar river plume systems, which set a boundary separating the well‐mixed (turbid) nearshore waters and stratified (clear) offshore waters. Without considering the sediment shading effect, the model yielded an unrealistic chlorophyll distribution with artificially high values in the turbid area. This indicated that light attenuation was a key factor limiting phytoplankton blooms in turbid river estuaries.
How Can Phytoplankton Pigments Be Best Used to Characterize Surface Ocean Phytoplankton Groups for Ocean Color Remote Sensing Algorithms?
Authors: Kramer Sasha J. , Siegel David A.
Published: October 2019

High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) remains one of the most widely applied methods for estimation of phytoplankton community structure from ocean samples, which are used to create and validate satellite retrievals of phytoplankton community structure. HPLC measures the concentrations of phytoplankton pigments, some of which are useful chemotaxonomic markers for phytoplankton groups. Here, consistent suites of HPLC phytoplankton pigments measured on global surface water samples are compiled across spatial scales. The global dataset includes >4,000 samples from every major ocean basin and representing a wide range of ecological regimes. The local dataset is composed of six time series from long‐term observatory sites. These samples are used to quantify the potential and limitations of HPLC for understanding surface ocean phytoplankton groups. Hierarchical cluster and empirical orthogonal function analyses are used to examine the associations between and among groups of phytoplankton pigments and to diagnose the main controls on these associations. These methods identify four major groups of phytoplankton on global scales (cyanobacteria, diatoms/dinoflagellates, haptophytes, and green algae) that can be identified by diagnostic biomarker pigments. On local scales, the same methods identify more and different taxonomic groups of phytoplankton than are detectable in the global dataset. Notably, diatom and dinoflagellate pigments group together on global scales, but dinoflagellate marker pigments always separate from diatoms on local scales. Together, these results confirm that HPLC pigments can be used for satellite algorithm quantification of no more than four phytoplankton groups on global scales, but can provide higher resolution for local‐scale algorithm development and validation.
The Role of Permafrost in Eurasian Land‐Atmosphere Interactions
Authors: Vecellio Daniel J. , Nowotarski Christopher J. , Frauenfeld Oliver W.
Published: October 2019

Permafrost is an important indicator of climate change that affects, e.g., ecosystems, hydrology, and infrastructure in cold regions. Interactions between the surface and atmosphere in permafrost regions are complex and vary seasonally due to the contrasting energy and moisture conditions of frozen versus unfrozen ground. Differences in surface‐atmosphere connections have been documented between permafrost types, with significantly increased moisture feedbacks in areas of continuous Eurasian permafrost, but no such relationship in other regions. This study elucidates the processes responsible for these observed land‐atmosphere feedbacks in Eurasian permafrost regions. The Weather Research and Forecasting model is used to determine the varying effects of discontinuous versus continuous permafrost on different weather scenarios. For two 72‐hour periods, surface fluxes, boundary layer characteristics, and corresponding meso‐to‐synoptic scale meteorological features varied when comparing the two experiments: one with a saturated active layer representing continuous permafrost, and another witht1 a drier surface layer representing discontinuous permafrost. Depending on the weather regime, an increase in boundary layer moisture in response to increased latent heat fluxes over continuous permafrost increases precipitation and low‐level cloudiness. The effects of changing soil conditions are evident as far aloft as 500 hPa, as a mid‐level low over continuous permafrost is stronger and moves southward. Incipient moisture associated with continuous permafrost allows for different land‐atmosphere interactions than over discontinuous permafrost. Continued permafrost degradation as a result of climate change may lead to increased dryness in the region, altering the surface energy balance and associated weather and climate feedbacks.
Estimating the Increase in Regional Evaporative Water Consumption as a Result of Vegetation Restoration Over the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Shao Rui , Zhang Baoqing , Su Tongxuan , Long Biao , Cheng Linyin , Xue Yayong , Yang Wenjing
Published: October 2019

One of the world's largest revegetation programs, the Grain for Green Project (GfGP), has been taking place on the Loess Plateau of China since 1999. Such massive revegetation causes changes in the region's hydrological cycle, water availability, and ecological sustainability through enhanced evapotranspiration (ET). Here we quantify effects of the GfGP's revegetation on ET over this water‐stressed region. Our approach involves use of a modified Priestley‐Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory (PT‐JPL) model, incorporating vegetation dynamics as a new component. The original PT‐JPL model has been expanded from site scale to regional scale, thereby allowing its application to the Loess Plateau. The modified PT‐JPL model was calibrated and validated against flux tower‐measured and water balance‐based ET observations. The model performed well at a regional scale with the incorporation of vegetation dynamics. To quantify the net effect of revegetation on evaporative water consumption after the GfGP, we compared scenarios with and without revegetation. We find the revegetation has led to a significant increase in ET across the Loess Plateau, of 4.39 mm/yr averaged over the past 15 years (mean annual precipitation was 464 mm). Compared with the no revegetation scenario, the GfGP revegetation appreciably enhanced evaporative water consumption across the Loess Plateau, by approximately 31 × 108 m3/yr (or 4.90 mm/yr). Our findings suggest that to maintain ecologically sustainable restoration and rational use of water resources, factors including the strength of revegetation and the relationship between evaporative water consumption and revegetation type should be considered.
What Triggers Streamflow for Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams in Low‐Gradient Catchments in Mediterranean Climates
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Jurado Karina Y. , Partington Daniel , Batelaan Okke , Cook Peter , Shanafield Margaret
Published: October 2019

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES) account for over 50% of the world's river network and are expected to increase with climate change and the increasing pressure on water resources. One significant challenge to better manage IRES is unraveling the threshold behavior of streamflow generation, by understanding what controls the triggers of streamflow. This study aimed to understand the influence of groundwater depth, soil hydraulic properties, and rainfall on streamflow generation in IRES, through analyzing the spatiotemporal development of active areas (where flow generation processes are occurring) and determining the dominant flow generation mechanisms. In a concept‐development approach, we used fully Integrated Surface‐Subsurface Hydrological Models to investigate streamflow generation for a range of characteristics representative of IRES in low‐gradient catchments with Mediterranean climates. The results showed that soil type exerts the greatest overall influence on streamflow generation and is the main factor determining the spatiotemporal development of active areas by a given flow generation mechanism and threshold contributing processes. The identified dominant mechanism for each soil demonstrated the effect of the initial groundwater head and rainfall scenarios on the timing and processes that trigger streamflow onset. These results reaffirm the importance of unsaturated storage dynamics to explain thresholds and pathways of flow and suggest that knowledge of the development of active areas and prediction of the dominant flow generation mechanisms is critical to understand streamflow generation in IRES. Future research should identify the influence of catchment morphology, geologic constraints, and aquifer heterogeneity and anisotropy on streamflow generation in IRES.
The flavonoid-rich Quzhou Fructus Aurantii extract modulates gut microbiota and prevents obesity in high-fat diet-fed mice
Authors: Bai Yong-feng , Wang Si-wei , Wang Xiao-xiao , Weng Yuan-yuan , Fan Xue-yu , Sheng Hao , Zhu Xin-tian , Lou Li-jun , Zhang Feng
Published: October 2019

Background

Flavonoids are reported to modulate the composition of gut microbiota, which play an important role in preventing obesity and associated metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of Total Flavonoids of Quzhou Fructus Aurantii Extract (TFQ) on gut microbial community in mice fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were fed with either a chow diet or HFD with or without oral gavage of TFQ (300 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks.

Results

Our data indicate TFQ significantly reduced obesity, inflammatio,n and liver steatosis. TFQ elevates the expression of tight junction proteins and reduces metabolic endotoxemia. In addition, TFQ treatment reverses HFD-induced gut dysbiosis, as indicated by the reduction of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio, the increase of genera Akkermansia and Alistipes, and the decrease of genera Dubosiella, Faecalibaculum, and Lactobacillus.

Conclusion

These findings support a prebiotic role of TFQ as a dietary supplement for the intervention of gut dysbiosis and obesity-related metabolic disorders.
SPRY4 is responsible for pathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis by contributing to osteogenic differentiation and melatonin response of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Li Jing , Li Na , Chen Yunfei , Hui Shangyi , Fan Junfen , Ye Buqing , Fan Zusen , Zhang Jianguo , Zhao Robert Chunhua , Zhuang Qianyu
Published: October 2019

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a complex, three-dimensional deformity of the spine that commonly occurs in pubescent girls. Decreased osteogenic differentiation and aberrant melatonin signalling have been demonstrated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from AIS patients and are implicated in the pathogenesis of AIS. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these abnormal cellular features remain largely unknown. Our previous work comparing gene expression profiles between MSCs from AIS patients and healthy controls identified 1027 differentially expressed genes. In the present study, we focused on one of the most downregulated genes, SPRY4, in the MAPK signalling pathway and examined its role in osteogenic differentiation. We found that SPRY4 is markedly downregulated in AIS MSCs. Knockdown of SPRY4 impaired differentiation of healthy MSCs to osteoblasts, while SPRY4 overexpression in AIS MSCs enhanced osteogenic differentiation. Furthermore, melatonin treatment boosted osteogenic differentiation, whereas SPRY4 ablation ablated the promotional effects of melatonin. Moreover, SPRY4 was upregulated by melatonin exposure and contributed to osteogenic differentiation and melatonin response in a MEK-ERK1/2 dependent manner. Thus, loss of SPRY4 in bone marrow derived-MSCs results in reduced osteogenic differentiation, and these defects are further aggravated under the influence of melatonin. Our findings provide new insights for understanding the role of melatonin in AIS aetiology and highlight the importance of MSCs in AIS pathogenesis.
Enhanced hexosamine metabolism drives metabolic and signaling networks involving hyaluronan production and O-GlcNAcylation to exacerbate breast cancer
Authors: Chokchaitaweesuk Chatchadawalai , Kobayashi Takashi , Izumikawa Tomomi , Itano Naoki
Published: October 2019

The hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) metabolically regulates dynamic cellular events by linking nutrient availability to numerous signaling networks. Significant alterations in the HBP are often associated with cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the molecular events underlying cancer pathogenesis associated with enhanced HBP flux. Multidimensional analysis of microarray datasets demonstrated up-regulation of genes encoding HBP enzymes in clinical breast cancers and revealed that co-expression of hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) and glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFAT), a rate-limiting enzyme of the HBP, was strongly correlated with a poor prognosis in advanced cancer patients. Consistently with the clinical data, comparative analyses of distinct breast cancer mouse models demonstrated enhancement of the HBP gene expression in primary carcinoma cells, with elevation of Has2 expression and hyaluronan production in aggressive breast cancer cells. The silencing of GFAT reduced CD44high/CD24low cancer stem cell (CSC)-like subpopulations, aldehyde dehydrogenase-positive cell populations, and mammosphere size, which were further diminished by gene targeting of Has2. Has2 gene disruption reduced the in vivo growth of aggressive cancer cells and attenuated pro-tumorigenic Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling and cisplatin resistance. Overall protein O-GlcNAcylation was also elevated in association with HBP enhancement in aggressive cancer cells, and the modification exhibited overlapping but distinct roles from the hyaluronan signal in the regulation of CSC-like features. The current data therefore demonstrate that enhanced hexosamine metabolism drives pro-tumorigenic signaling pathways involving hyaluronan and O-GlcNAcylation in aggressive breast cancer.
Autophagy regulates the therapeutic potential of adipose-derived stem cells in LPS-induced pulmonary microvascular barrier damage
Authors: Li Chichi , Pan Jingye , Ye Lechi , Xu Honglei , Wang Beibei , Xu Hanyan , Xu Lingna , Hou Tongtong , Zhang Dan
Published: October 2019

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) have been shown to be beneficial in some pulmonary diseases, and the paracrine effect is the major mechanism underlying ADSC-based therapy. Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining stem cell homeostasis and survival. However, the role of autophagy in mediating ADSC paracrine effects has not been thoroughly elucidated. We examined whether ADSCs participate in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (PMVEC) barrier damage in a paracrine manner and illuminated the role of autophagy in regulating ADSC paracrine effects. PMVECs and ADSCs with or without autophagy inhibition were cocultured without intercellular contact, and the microvascular barrier function was assessed after LPS treatment. ADSC paracrine function was evaluated by detecting essential growth factors for endothelial cells. For in vivo experiments, ADSCs with or without autophagy inhibition were transplanted into LPS-induced lung-injury mice, and lung injury was assessed. ADSCs significantly alleviated LPS-induced microvascular barrier injury. In addition, ADSC paracrine levels of VEGF, FGF, and EGF were induced by LPS treatment, especially in the coculture condition. Inhibiting autophagy weakened the paracrine function and the protective effects of ADSCs on microvascular barrier injury. Moreover, ADSC transplantation alleviated LPS-induced lung injury, and inhibiting autophagy markedly weakened the therapeutic effect of ADSCs on lung injury. Together, these findings show that ADSC paracrine effects play a vital protective role in LPS-induced pulmonary microvascular barrier injury. Autophagy is a positive mediating factor in the paracrine process. These results are helpful for illuminating the role and mechanism of ADSC paracrine effects and developing effective therapies in acute lung injury.
Correction to: The Dutch Y-chromosomal landscape
Authors: Altena Eveline , Smeding Risha , van der Gaag Kristiaan J. , Larmuseau Maarten H. D. , Decorte Ronny , Lao Oscar , Kayser Manfred , Kraaijenbrink Thirsa , de Knijff Peter
Published: October 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
A multiscale signalling network map of innate immune response in cancer reveals cell heterogeneity signatures
Authors: Kondratova Maria , Czerwinska Urszula , Sompairac Nicolas , Amigorena Sebastian D. , Soumelis Vassili , Barillot Emmanuel , Zinovyev Andrei , Kuperstein Inna
Published: October 2019

The lack of integrated resources depicting the complexity of the innate immune response in cancer represents a bottleneck for high-throughput data interpretation. To address this challenge, we perform a systematic manual literature mining of molecular mechanisms governing the innate immune response in cancer and represent it as a signalling network map. The cell-type specific signalling maps of macrophages, dendritic cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells and natural killers are constructed and integrated into a comprehensive meta map of the innate immune response in cancer. The meta-map contains 1466 chemical species as nodes connected by 1084 biochemical reactions, and it is supported by information from 820 articles. The resource helps to interpret single cell RNA-Seq data from macrophages and natural killer cells in metastatic melanoma that reveal different anti- or pro-tumor sub-populations within each cell type. Here, we report a new open source analytic platform that supports data visualisation and interpretation of tumour microenvironment activity in cancer.
GTPase-activating protein Rasal1 associates with ZAP-70 of the TCR and negatively regulates T-cell tumor immunity
Authors: Thaker Youg Raj , Raab Monika , Strebhardt Klaus , Rudd Christopher E.
Published: October 2019

Immunotherapy involving checkpoint blockades of inhibitory co-receptors is effective in combating cancer. Despite this, the full range of mediators that inhibit T-cell activation and influence anti-tumor immunity is unclear. Here, we identify the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Rasal1 as a novel TCR-ZAP-70 binding protein that negatively regulates T-cell activation and tumor immunity. Rasal1 inhibits via two pathways, the binding and inhibition of the kinase domain of ZAP-70, and GAP inhibition of the p21ras-ERK pathway. It is expressed in activated CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells, and inhibits CD4 + T-cell responses to antigenic peptides presented by dendritic cells as well as CD4 + T-cell responses to peptide antigens in vivo. Furthermore, siRNA reduction of Rasal1 expression in T-cells shrinks B16 melanoma and EL-4 lymphoma tumors, concurrent with an increase in CD8 + tumor-infiltrating T-cells expressing granzyme B and interferon γ-1. Our findings identify ZAP-70-associated Rasal1 as a new negative regulator of T-cell activation and tumor immunity.
The greenhouse gas impacts of converting food production in England and Wales to organic methods
Authors: Smith Laurence G. , Kirk Guy J. D. , Jones Philip J. , Williams Adrian G.
Published: October 2019

Agriculture is a major contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and must feature in efforts to reduce emissions. Organic farming might contribute to this through decreased use of farm inputs and increased soil carbon sequestration, but it might also exacerbate emissions through greater food production elsewhere to make up for lower organic yields. To date there has been no rigorous assessment of this potential at national scales. Here we assess the consequences for net GHG emissions of a 100% shift to organic food production in England and Wales using life-cycle assessment. We predict major shortfalls in production of most agricultural products against a conventional baseline. Direct GHG emissions are reduced with organic farming, but when increased overseas land use to compensate for shortfalls in domestic supply are factored in, net emissions are greater. Enhanced soil carbon sequestration could offset only a small part of the higher overseas emissions.