bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Critical Look at Bioproducts Co-cultured Under Solid State Fermentation and Their Challenges and Industrial Applications
Authors: Prabhu Girisa , Bhat Divya , Bhat Ramananda M. , Selvaraj Subbalaxmi
Published: February 2022

The production of bioproducts from microorganisms is a common practice in many industries for a long time now. In recent years, studies have proved that co-culturing microorganisms increase the yield of products by synergistically degrading the solid substrate in comparison with individual cultures. The review highlights the benefits of co-culturing microorganisms using solid state fermentation (SSF) to achieve higher productivity. Filamentous fungi of genusTrichoderma, Penicillium,andAspergillusare extensively studied and used for co-culturing and mixed culturing under SSF. Co-cultured microorganisms are beneficial because of the synergistic expression of metabolic pathways of all the microorganisms. Co-culture enables combined metabolic activity at optimal process conditions for better utilization of substrates. Depending on the nature of the process and microorganism, bioreactors are designed and operated. This review mentions various purification methods that are used to improve the purity of the products obtained. The strengths and weaknesses of various bioreactors and their effect on the microorganisms used are explained in detail. This review also identifies the challenges of co-culturing microorganisms and analyses the diverse set of fields in which SSF finds its applications.

Graphical Abstract
A method for the madness: An international survey of health professions education authors’ journal choice
Authors: Rees Eliot L. , Burton Oliver , Asif Aqua , Eva Kevin W.
Published: February 2022

Introduction Scholarship is a key activity in health professions education (HPE). When disseminating scholarly work, how one selects the journal to which they submit is often argued to be a key determinant of subsequent success. To draw more evidence-based recommendations in this regard, we surveyed successful scholars working in HPE regarding their perspectives and experiences with journal selection. Methods We conducted an international survey of HPE scholars, investigating their decisions regarding journal choice. Corresponding authors were identified from a sample of 4000 papers published in 2019 and 2020. They were invited via email with up to four reminders. We describe their experience and use principle component and regression analyses to identify factors associated with successful acceptance. Results In total, 863 responses were received (24.7% response rate), 691 of which were included in our analyses. Two thirds of respondents had their manuscripts accepted at their first-choice journal with revisions required in 98% of cases. We identified six priority factors when choosing journals. In descending order of importance, they were: fit, impact, editorial reputation, speed of dissemination, breadth of dissemination, and guidance from others. Authors who prioritised fit higher and who selected a journal earlier were more likely to have their manuscripts accepted at their first-choice journal. Discussion Based on our results we make three recommendations for authors when writing manuscripts: do not be disheartened by a revise decision, consider journal choice early in the research process, and use the fit between your manuscript and the journal as the main factor driving
Potentials of Digitally Guided Excursions at Universities Illustrated Using the Example of an Urban Geography Excursion in Stuttgart
Authors: Koegst Lara
Published: February 2022

The main focus of this article is on digital excursion formats at universities and their advantages with and without pandemic-related restrictions on teaching. The development of the application, its didactics and feedback from students are demonstrated using the example of the urban geography excursion developed as part of the 'InExkurs' project at the University of Tübingen. Compared to traditional overview excursions, digitally guided formats allow students more flexibility, autonomy and independence in the implementation. Aspects of gamification and location-based games can be used to increase motivation and, in combination with individual navigation, create associations with scavenger hunts. The use of extended reality on mobile devices enables a diverse application of digital information on site: the use of historical maps and photos as well as the integration of (fictional) characters is exemplified using the developed digital urban geography excursion. The first feedback on the excursion showed that the majority of participating students appreciated the digital format and would like to participate in excursions in this or similar formats more often.
Treaty-Making in Federations
Authors: Smet Rik
Published: February 2022

International affairs no longer constitute a separate, stand-alone policy area. They have come to permeate virtually every aspect of society, from their origins as primarily territorial, war and peace considerations to regulating everything from consumer protection to agriculture and the environment today; this phenomenon is amplified in the European Union where there is an extra layer of supra-national legislation. In the federal state structure, where material competences are attributed to both federal and component states, the difficult question arises as to which of these levels of government should act on the international stage. Federations have to find a balance between federal unity in international affairs on the one hand and component state autonomy in their attributed material competences on the other.

This question regarding the legitimacy of treaties has received insufficient attention until now. In this book, this fundamental question and its consequent permutations and impacts are addressed from a theoretical perspective as well as from a strictly legal perspective. The more abstract theoretical analysis put forth is then applied by way of reference to the example of the sensitive subject of double tax treaties. Whilst this book does not address fiscal federalism per se, it touches upon its externalization reflected in the division of treaty making power.
Spillovers from Oil Firms to U.S. Computing and Semiconductor Manufacturing: Smudging State–Industry Distinctions and Retelling Conventional Narratives
Authors: Mody Cyrus C. M.
Published: February 2022

Histories of semiconductor and computing technology in the United States have emphasized the supporting role of the U.S. state, especially the military, in answer to libertarian denials of state aid that are influential in Silicon Valley today. Somewhat implicit in that historiography, though, is the leading role of actors and organizations that blur any distinction between public and private. Some industries of this sort—telecommunications, aerospace, auto manufacturing—do figure in the historiography, but the class should be expanded further. One such industry—oil—has been exceptionally but almost invisibly influential in the development of computing and semiconductor manufacturing in the United States. Oil firms invested heavily in semiconductors and computing. There was also an “oil spillover” of personnel and technology from oil firms to computing and semiconductor manufacturing. Oil shows up in the biographies of many prominent individuals and organizations in the history of those technologies, from Fairchild Semiconductor to Edsger Dijkstra. These ties potentially hold important implications for the much-needed transition to a more sustainable energy regime.
More Power, Less Support: The Fidesz Government and the Coronavirus Pandemic in Hungary
Authors: Batory Agnes
Published: February 2022

Conventional wisdom suggests that populists thrive in times of crisis. However, for populist radical right parties in government, managing a genuine calamity is both an opportunity and a challenge. On the one hand, crises provide the opportunity to project leadership and quell opposition to their rule. On the other hand, crisis response requires competence. Probably the most successful governing populist radical right party in the European Union, Viktor Orbán's Fidesz in Hungary, did not resolve this tension entirely adequately in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the party consolidated its grip on power, the high human and economic costs of mismanaging the second and third waves of the pandemic started to erode its popular support. In ideational terms, the COVID-19 pandemic accentuated the populist, nativist and authoritarian tendencies that had long characterized the party.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in assisted living communities: Neighborhood deprivation and state social distancing policies matter
Authors: Guo Wenhan , Li Yue , Temkin-Greener Helena
Published: February 2022

Background:

Residents of long-term care facilities face significantly greater risk of contracting or dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, little is known about COVID-19 in assisted living communities (ALCs) and the potential determinants of its spread. We examined the association between COVID-19 cases in ALCs and the proportion of Medicare-Medicaid (dual) eligible minority residents, neighborhood area deprivation, and state COVID-19 policy stringency.

Methods:

We conducted longitudinal analyses employing data on confirmed COVID-19 cases in ALCs in 5 states. We sought to determine the weekly cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in ALCs. Covariates were ALC characteristics, area deprivation index, and state COVID-19 policy stringency. Multivariate 2-part models were used to determine the associations between independent variables and the likelihood of an outbreak and the overall count of cases.

Results:

In our study sample, 201 ALCs (7.04%) reported 1 or more COVID-19 cases as of August 17, 2020. A higher percentage of minority residents was associated with an increased likelihood of an ALC reporting at least 1 COVID-19 case (odds ratio [OR], 1.06; P = .032). Conditional on having at least 1 case, ALCs in states with stricter social distancing policies had lower case counts (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.98; P < .001). Greater neighborhood deprivation was associated with higher case count (IRR, 1.36; P = .049).

Conclusions:

ALCs with higher proportions of dual-eligible minority residents were more likely to have COVID-19 outbreaks within their communities. ALCs located in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods, and in states with less stringent state social distancing policies, tended to have more COVID-19 cases.
Clustering of inertial particles in turbulent flow through a porous unit cell
Authors: Apte Sourabh V. , Oujia Thibault , Matsuda Keigo , Kadoch Benjamin , He Xiaoliang , Schneider Kai
Published: February 2022

Direct numerical simulation is used to investigate effects of turbulent flow in the confined geometry of a face-centred cubic porous unit cell on the transport, clustering and deposition of fine particles at different Stokes numbers (

$St = 0.01, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2$

) and at a pore Reynolds number of 500. Particles are advanced using one-way coupling and the collision of particles with pore walls is modelled as perfectly elastic with specular reflection. Tools for studying inertial particle dynamics and clustering developed for homogeneous flows are adapted to take into account the embedded, curved geometry of the pore walls. The pattern and dynamics of clustering are investigated using the volume change of Voronoi tesselation in time to analyse the divergence and convergence of the particles. Similar to the case of homogeneous, isotropic turbulence, the cluster formation is present at large volumes, while cluster destruction is prominent at small volumes and these effects are amplified with the Stokes number. However, unlike homogeneous, isotropic turbulence, the formation of a large number of very small volumes was observed at all Stokes numbers and attributed to the collision of particles with the pore wall. Multiscale wavelet analysis of the particle number density indicates that the peak of the energy density spectrum, representative of enhanced particle clustering, shifts towards larger scales with an increase in the Stokes number. Scale-dependent skewness and flatness quantify the intermittent void and cluster distribution, with cluster formation observed at small scales for all Stokes numbers, and void regions at large scales for large Stokes numbers.
Buoyancy instabilities in a liquid layer subjected to an oblique temperature gradient
Authors: Patne Ramkarn , Oron Alexander
Published: February 2022

We investigate the temporal and spatio-temporal buoyancy instabilities in a horizontal liquid layer supported by a poorly conducting substrate and subjected to an oblique temperature gradient (OTG) with horizontal and vertical components, denoted as HTG and VTG, respectively. General linear stability analysis (GLSA) reveals a strong stabilizing effect of the HTG on the instabilities introduced by the VTG for Prandtl numbers

$Pr>1$

via inducing an extra vertical temperature gradient opposing the VTG through energy convection. For

$Pr<1$

, a new mode of instability arises as a result of a velocity jump in the liquid layer caused by cellular circulation. A long-wave weakly nonlinear evolution equation governing the spatio-temporal dynamics of the temperature perturbations is derived. Spatio-temporal stability analysis reveals the existence of a convectively unstable long-wave regime due to the HTG. Weakly nonlinear stability analysis reveals the supercritical type of bifurcation changing from pitchfork in the presence of a pure VTG to Hopf in the presence of the OTG. Numerical investigation of the spatio-temporal dynamics of the temperature disturbances in the layer in the weakly nonlinear regime reveals the emergence of travelling wave regimes propagating against the direction of the HTG and whose phase speed depends on

$Pr$

. In the case of a small but non-zero Biot number, the wavelength of these travelling waves is larger than that of the fastest-growing mode obtained from GLSA.
Late Holocene centennial to millennial-scale variability in lower trophic level productivity off southern Hokkaido, Japan, and its response to dissolved iron-replete Coastal Oyashio dynamics
Authors: Kuwae Michinobu , Tsugeki Narumi , Finney Bruce P. , Tani Yukinori , Onodera Jonaotaro , Kiyoto Mako , Kusaka Mitsukuni , Sagawa Takuya , Nakamura Yugo , Ohnishi Hiroji , Kuroda Hiroshi , Okuda Noboru , Ohta Tamihisa , Ikehara Minoru , Irino Tomohisa
Published: February 2022

Little is known about the dynamics of marine food chains spanning primary to higher trophic levels on centennial and longer timescales, especially where the supply of dissolved iron limits primary productivity. To elucidate the long-term dynamics of biological productivity in the Coastal Oyashio (CO), which is a major pathway for transporting dissolved iron into the western North Pacific from winter to spring, we reconstructed the lower trophic level productivity over the last 3000 years in the CO. Our results demonstrate that the concentrations and mass accumulation rates of both Chl-a (chlorophyll a and its derivatives) and biogenic opal used as proxies of primary productivity, and steryl chlorin esters (SCEs) used as that of zooplankton productivity, show a millennial-scale increasing trend and centennial-scale variability beginning ca. AD 400. SCEs were positively correlated with Chl-a, indicating that changes in zooplankton productivity were induced by bottom-up control of primary productivity. The Chl-a and SCEs showed synchronous centennial-scale patterns with a relative abundance of sea-ice-associated diatom species transported by CO, and with a ventilation index in the Okhotsk Sea Intermediate Water. This synchronous pattern indicates that lower trophic-level productivity during the spring bloom responded to the intensity of iron-replete CO.
Associations of online religious participation during COVID-19 lockdown with subsequent health and well-being among UK adults
Authors: Shiba Koichiro , Cowden Richard G. , Gonzalez Natasha , Ransome Yusuf , Nakagomi Atsushi , Chen Ying , Lee Matthew T. , VanderWeele Tyler J. , Fancourt Daisy
Published: February 2022

Background

In-person religious service attendance has been linked to favorable health and well-being outcomes. However, little research has examined whether online religious participation improves these outcomes, especially when in-person attendance is suspended.

Methods

Using longitudinal data of 8951 UK adults, this study prospectively examined the association between frequency of online religious participation during the stringent lockdown in the UK (23 March –13 May 2020) and 21 indicators of psychological well-being, social well-being, pro-social/altruistic behaviors, psychological distress, and health behaviors. All analyses adjusted for baseline socio-demographic characteristics, pre-pandemic in-person religious service attendance, and prior values of the outcome variables whenever data were available. Bonferroni correction was used to correct for multiple testing.

Results

Individuals with online religious participation of ≥1/week (v. those with no participation at all) during the lockdown had a lower prevalence of thoughts of self-harm in week 20 (odds ratio 0.24; 95% CI 0.09–0.62). Online religious participation of <1/week (v. no participation) was associated with higher life satisfaction (standardized β = 0.25; 0.11–0.39) and happiness (standardized β = 0.25; 0.08–0.42). However, there was little evidence for the associations between online religious participation and all other outcomes (e.g. depressive symptoms and anxiety).

Conclusions

There was evidence that online religious participation during the lockdown was associated with some subsequent health and well-being outcomes. Future studies should examine mechanisms underlying the inconsistent results for online v. in-person religious service attendance and also use data from non-pandemic situations.
Tuberculosis amidst COVID-19 in Pakistan: a massive threat of overlapping crises for the fragile healthcare systems
Authors: Awan Hashir Ali , Sahito Abdul Moiz , Sukaina Mahnoor , Khatri Govinda , Waheed Summaiya , Sohail Fatima , Hasan Mohammad Mehedi
Published: February 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the cause of tuberculosis (TB), a granulomatous illness that mostly affects the lungs. Pakistan is one of the eight nations that accounts for two-thirds of all new cases of developing TB. TB has long been an endemic disease in Pakistan. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, the nation has over 500 000 incident TB infections per year, with a rising number of drug-resistant cases. Recently, the coexistence of COVID-19 and TB in Pakistan has provided doctors with a problem. Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing are all signs of COVID-19. After SARS-CoV-2 infection, cough might persist for weeks or months and it is frequently accompanied by persistent tiredness, cognitive impairment, dyspnoea or pain – a group of long-term consequences known as post-COVID syndrome or protracted COVID. Coughing with mucus or blood, and coughing that continues over 2 months are indications of TB. The same clinical presentation features make it difficult for healthcare personnel to effectively evaluate the illness and prevent the spread of these fatal diseases. Pakistan lacks the necessary healthcare resources to tackle two contagious diseases at the same time. To counteract the sudden increase in TB cases, appropriate management and effective policies must be implemented. Thus, in order to prevent the spread of these infectious diseases, it is critical to recognise and address the problems that the healthcare sector faces, as well as to create an atmosphere in which the healthcare sector can function at its full potential.
STATIONARY MARKOVIAN ARRIVAL PROCESSES: RESULTS AND OPEN PROBLEMS
Authors: ASANJARANI AZAM , NAZARATHY YONI
Published: February 2022

We consider two classes of irreducible Markovian arrival processes specified by the matrices C and D: the Markov-modulated Poisson process (MMPP) and the Markov-switched Poisson process (MSPP). The former exhibits a diagonal matrix D while the latter exhibits a diagonal matrix C. For these two classes we consider the following four statements: (I) the counting process is overdispersed; (II) the hazard rate of the event-stationary interarrival time is nonincreasing; (III) the squared coefficient of variation of the event-stationary process is greater than or equal to one; (IV) there is a stochastic order showing that the time-stationary interarrival time dominates the event-stationary interarrival time. For general MSPPs and order two MMPPs, we show that (I)–(IV) hold. Then for general MMPPs, it is easy to establish (I), while (II) is shown to be false by a counter-example. For general simple point processes, (III) follows from (IV). For MMPPs, we conjecture that (IV) and thus (III) hold. We also carry out some numerical experiments that fail to disprove this conjecture. Importantly, modelling folklore has often treated MMPPs as “bursty”, and implicitly assumed that (III) holds. However, to the best of our knowledge, proving this is still an open problem.
LOWER-ORDER TERMS OF THE ONE-LEVEL DENSITY OF A FAMILY OF QUADRATIC HECKE -FUNCTIONS
Authors: GAO PENG , ZHAO LIANGYI
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we study lower-order terms of the one-level density of low-lying zeros of quadratic Hecke L-functions in the Gaussian field. Assuming the generalized Riemann hypothesis, our result is valid for even test functions whose Fourier transforms are supported in
$(-2, 2)$
. Moreover, we apply the ratios conjecture of L-functions to derive these lower-order terms as well. Up to the first lower-order term, we show that our results are consistent with each other when the Fourier transforms of the test functions are supported in
$(-2, 2)$
.
ACTIONS OF MONOIDAL CATEGORIES AND REPRESENTATIONS OF CARTAN TYPE LIE ALGEBRAS
Authors: Pei Yufeng , Sheng Yunhe , Tang Rong , Zhao Kaiming
Published: February 2022

Using crossed homomorphisms, we show that the category of weak representations (respectively admissible representations) of Lie–Rinehart algebras (respectively Leibniz pairs) is a left module category over the monoidal category of representations of Lie algebras. In particular, the corresponding bifunctor of monoidal categories is established to give new weak representations (respectively admissible representations) of Lie–Rinehart algebras (respectively Leibniz pairs). This generalises and unifies various existing constructions of representations of many Lie algebras by using this new bifunctor. We construct some crossed homomorphisms in different situations and use our actions of monoidal categories to recover some known constructions of representations of various Lie algebras and to obtain new representations for generalised Witt algebras and their Lie subalgebras. The cohomology theory of crossed homomorphisms between Lie algebras is introduced and used to study linear deformations of crossed homomorphisms.
Improvements to the Fracture Pipe Network Model for Complex 3D Discrete Fracture Networks
Authors: Wang Chenhui , Wu Kejian , Scott Gilbert
Published: February 2022

Fractures widely present in the subsurface and play a critical role in the fluid flow processes in porous media. The Fracture Pipe Network Model (FPNM) is an efficient method to represent and calculate fluid flow properties as a particular part of Discrete Fracture Networks (DFNs) method compared to direct numerical simulations. However, the current FPNM formulation can result in large deviations in computed fluid flow properties when applied to complex interconnected DFNs, although it can produce good results for simple DFNs. To enhance the performance and versatility of current FPNMs, four modifications to the FPNM formulation are introduced from different perspectives to improve the accuracy of pipe conductance assignment and ensure the correct topology of the fracture network. Two benchmarking examples with complex interconnected fractures and two real fractured samples are presented and the results show the modifications significantly improve the accuracy of computed fluid flow properties in complex DFNs.
Large Surface‐Rupture Gaps and Low Surface Fault Slip of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo Earthquake Along a Low‐Activity Strike‐Slip Fault, Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yuan Zhaode , Li Tao , Su Peng , Sun Haoyue , Ha Guanghao , Guo Peng , Chen Guihua , Thompson Jobe Jessica
Published: February 2022

Based on field investigations, interpretations of high‐resolution UAV images, and analyses of available InSAR data, we mapped the fault geometry and surface ruptures of the 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake that occurred on a low‐activity strike‐slip fault within the Tibetan Plateau. The results indicate that (a) the earthquake activated a fault that is ∼161 km long and has complicated structural geometry; (b) the surface rupture occurs over a distance of 148 km, but is separated into three distinct segments by two large gaps (38 and 20 km, respectively); (c) within the surface‐rupture segments, the horizontal and vertical displacements are typically 0.2–2.6 m (much lower than the InSAR‐based slip maximum of 2–6 m at depth) and ≤0.4 m, respectively. The two large gaps of the Maduo surface rupture represent the two largest surface‐rupture discontinuities of strike‐slip earthquakes ever documented, and coincide with structurally complicated fault portions and near‐surface soft sediments.
Enhanced Nighttime Fog and Low Stratus Occurrence Over the Landes Forest, France
Authors: Pauli Eva , Cermak Jan , Teuling Adriaan J.
Published: February 2022

Understanding the drivers of fog and low stratus (FLS) cloud occurrence is important for traffic, ecosystems, and climate models, but it is challenging to analyze due to the complex interactions between meteorological factors and land cover. Here, we use active and passive satellite data, as well as reanalysis data to investigate nighttime FLS occurrence over the expansive Landes forest in France from 2006 to 2015. We find significant FLS enhancement over the forest compared to surrounding areas, especially in summer and fall. Lower wind speed and lower temperatures are found over the forest at night, which can enhance FLS development over the forest. Still, other drivers, such as biovolatile organic compounds acting as cloud condensation nuclei, are most likely important as well. The results show that the influence of forests on boundary layer clouds is not limited to convective daytime conditions.
Effects of Improved Simulation of Precipitation on Evapotranspiration and Its Partitioning Over Land
Authors: Cui Zeyu , Wang Yong , Zhang Guang J. , Yang Mengmiao , Liu Jane , Wei Linyi
Published: February 2022

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key component of the global hydrological cycle, which is strongly modulated by the occurrence of different rainfall intensities. Global climate models (GCMs) commonly suffer from “too much light rain” and a negative bias in the ratio of transpiration (T) to ET (T/ET). It is unclear whether these biases are related. Here we show that with the improved simulation of probability density functions of rainfall intensity by suppressing light‐rain occurrence using a stochastic convection parameterization in the NCAR CESM1.2, the canopy T increases in tropical forests while evaporation from canopy interception and bare soil decreases. The simulated T/ET is increased by 2.5% globally and up to 8% regionally, primarily attributable to reduced fraction of wet leaves due to less frequent light rain despite its weak intensity. These results imply that excessive light rain is an important cause of the negative T/ET bias in GCMs.
Statistical Characteristics of Energetic Electron Pitch Angle Distributions in the Van Allen Probe Era: 1. Butterfly Distributions With Flux Peaks at Preferred Pitch Angles
Authors: Ozeke L. G. , Mann I. R. , Olifer L. , Claudepierre S. G. , Spence H. E. , Baker D. N.
Published: February 2022

We present a statistical study on the properties of equatorial electron pitch angle distributions (PADs) in the Earth's outer radiation belt, for the first time based on particle measurements from the entire Van Allen Probes mission. A detailed selection criteria is used to identify intervals when flux measurements at energies from 0.2 to 3.4 MeV are available across a wide range of pitch angles close to the geomagnetic equatorial plane. To better characterize the shape of each pitch angle distribution, the flux data is fitted to functions of the equatorial pitch angle based on Legendre polynomials. Using this technique, we show that the shape of the PADs strongly depends on the particle's energy, location and geomagnetic activity. These results are used to identify the dominant physical processes responsible for creating PADs with different shapes. The results presented here mainly focus on the occurrence statistics and properties of butterfly PADs. Significantly, we find clear evidence that butterfly PADs have a peak flux that preferentially occurs at two distinct and discrete equatorial pitch angles, either 35° ± 5° or 65° ± 5°. Energy, L‐shell and magnetic local time variations indicate that the flux peaks at equatorial pitch angles ∼35° appear consistent with magnetopause shadowing, whilst those peaking at ∼65° may be associated with wave‐particle interactions. We also show that the flux at low and high pitch angles, for both butterfly and nonbutterfly PADs, remains remarkably well correlated even as the flux intensity varies by four orders of magnitude.
Microstructural Controls on Mixed Mode Dynamic Fracture Propagation in Crystalline and Porous Granular Rocks
Authors: Braunagel Michael J. , Griffith W. Ashley
Published: February 2022

Brittle fracture propagation in rocks is a complex process due to significant grain‐scale heterogeneity and evolving stress states under dynamic loading conditions. In this work, we use digital image correlation and linear elastic fracture mechanics to make instantaneous measurements of the opening (mode I) and in plane shear (mode II) components of the stress intensity field during dynamic mixed mode crack initiation and propagation in crystalline and granular rocks. Both rock types display some similar fracture behaviors as observed in engineered materials, including rate dependent fracture initiation toughness and a direct relationship between propagation toughness and crack velocity; however, measured propagation toughness is higher than quasi‐static values at crack velocities well below the branching velocity in both rocks. Additionally, due to grain scale controls on the fracture process, mixed mode crack propagation is fundamentally different between these two rock types. Mixed mode propagation is energetically more favorable than pure opening mode propagation in sandstone, while the opposite is true in granite. Furthermore, following initiation, propagation in granite occurs so as to minimize the mode II contribution, irrespective of the initiation conditions, while fractures in sandstone maintain a non‐negligible mode II contribution during propagation across the sample.
Satellite Observed Sensitivity of Tropical Clouds and Moisture to Sea Surface Temperature on Various Time and Space Scales: 2. Focus on Marine Low Level Clouds
Authors: Höjgård‐Olsen Erik , Chepfer Hélène , Brogniez Hélène
Published: February 2022

This study examines how satellite observed relative humidity (RH) profiles, cloud covers, and cloud altitudes vary with sea surface temperature (SST) in low cloud regions on different temporal and spatial scales over the tropical oceans (30°N–30°S). We split low clouds into optically opaque and optically thin clouds and characterize for the first time their altitude variations with SST using space lidar observations. On the process scale, the median instantaneous observations at high spatial resolution show simultaneously decreasing low opaque cloud top altitude, decreasing low opaque cloud cover, increasing middle‐tropospheric RH, and decreasing lower‐tropospheric RH with SST. Collectively, these observational results suggest decreasing opaque marine boundary layer cloud cover and enhanced mixing between the middle and lower troposphere with SST on the process scale, consistent with previous Large‐Eddy Simulation studies. The covariations between opaque cloud cover and RH with SST are quantified on all time and space scales (from the process scale to the annual tropical mean scale). Meanwhile, on the process scale, low optically thin clouds, coexisting with opaque clouds, rise with SST (consistent with the literature mechanism), while the low optically thin cloud cover is insensitive to SST (not consistent with the literature mechanism). These results are then compared to a general circulation model, which captures the observed sign of change of opaque cloud cover and middle‐tropospheric RH with SST but fails to reproduce the observed vertical shrinkage of low opaque clouds with SST and the variations of low thin clouds with SST.
A Baltic Perspective on the Early to Early Late Ordovician δ13C and δ18O Records and Its Paleoenvironmental Significance
Authors: Edward Oluwaseun , Korte Christoph , Ullmann Clemens V. , Colmenar Jorge , Thibault Nicolas , Bagnoli Gabriella , Stouge Svend , Rasmussen Christian M. Ø.
Published: February 2022

The current study presents new bed‐by‐bed brachiopod δ13C and δ18O records from Öland, Sweden, which together with previously published data from the East Baltic region, constitutes a high‐resolution paired brachiopod and bulk rock carbon and oxygen isotope archive through the Lower to Upper Ordovician successions of Baltoscandia. This new data set refines the temporal control on the global Ordovician δ18O‐trend considerably, improving paleoenvironmental reconstructions through the main phase of the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE). The new brachiopod carbon and oxygen isotope records from Öland display strong similarity with the East Baltic records, elucidating the regional consistency as well as global correlation utility of the ensuing composite Baltoscandian Lower to Middle Ordovician carbon and oxygen isotope record. The carbon isotope record from Öland indicates that the widely reported Middle Ordovician carbon cycle perturbation—MDICE (Mid‐Darriwilian Carbon Isotope Excursion)—is recorded in both brachiopods and bulk carbonates. The oxygen isotope record reveals a long‐term Lower to Upper Ordovician trend of increasingly heavier brachiopod δ18O values, with a pronounced increase during the Middle Ordovician Darriwilian Stage. We interpret this trend as dominantly reflecting a paleotemperature signal indicating progressively cooler Early to Middle Ordovician climate with glacio‐eustasy. Our Baltic δ18O values are therefore consistent with postulations that the biotic radiations during the GOBE and climatic cooling during the Darriwilian were strongly linked.
The Frequency‐Domain Characterization of Cosmic Ray Intensity Variations Before Forbush Decreases Associated With Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Ye Qian , Wang Cong , He Fei , Xue Bingsen , Zhang Xiaoxin
Published: February 2022

Nonrecurrent geomagnetic storms caused by Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) can induce serious impacts on space‐ and ground‐based equipment. However, these nonrecurrent geomagnetic storms are hard to predict since CMEs are not periodic. Previous studies have shown that the variations of Cosmic Ray Intensity (CRI) before nonrecurrent storms may forebode the coming geomagnetic storm. But it is difficult to extract the variations since the cosmic ray flux is a complex signal. In order to identify the precursory signal in CRI variations triggered by CME, an ensemble self‐adaptive time‐frequency analysis method was proposed and applied to 65 nonrecurrent geomagnetic storms occurred between 1998 and 2019. The results indicate that the precursory signals are successfully identified in 43 of 45 storms, after excluding 20 storms accompanied by ground level enhancement. In addition, it is also found that the spectral density of the precursory signal could reflect the active level of geomagnetic condition, which is lower during geomagnetic quiet period.
The Sustainability of Treated Wastewater Irrigation: The Impact of Hysteresis on Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity
Authors: Kramer Isaac , Bayer Yuval , Mau Yair
Published: February 2022

Models for the effect of salinity and sodicity on saturated soil hydraulic conductivity, Ks, have yet to consider hysteresis. Ignoring hysteresis limits our ability to assess the risk posed by irrigation with saline and sodic water, such as treated wastewater (TWW). We introduce SOTE 2.0, the first model to consider hysteresis in Ks, as driven by different climate and irrigation regimes. The new model integrates the SOTE 1.0 model for salinity and sodicity dynamics with a model for the effect of saline and sodic water on Ks that explicitly includes hysteresis. SOTE 2.0 is used to demonstrate how hysteresis significantly alters our understanding of degradation and rehabilitation. SOTE 2.0 relies on weight functions to highlight soil‐specific differences in degradation and rehabilitation patterns. While TWW irrigation can be crucial to mitigating water scarcity, simulations show that salinity and sodicity have the potential to irreversibly damage soil structure, as measured by declines in Ks. Compared to the McNeal model used by Hydrus and others, SOTE predicts up to 50% degradation risk in settings where the McNeal model predicts none. The SOTE model also predicts slower rehabilitation: up to 100 days, compared to 0 days when using the McNeal model. Results highlight the difference between susceptibility and risk, showing that the probability of degradation is not solely dependent on initial susceptibility to degradation. To fully characterize a soil, we must also know its propensity to rehabilitation.
A systematic review of gut microbiota composition in observational studies of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia
Authors: McGuinness A. J. , Davis J. A. , Dawson S. L. , Loughman A. , Collier F. , O’Hely M. , Simpson C. A. , Green J. , Marx W. , Hair C. , Guest G. , Mohebbi M. , Berk M. , Stupart D. , Watters D. , Jacka F. N.
Published: February 2022

The emerging understanding of gut microbiota as ‘metabolic machinery’ influencing many aspects of physiology has gained substantial attention in the field of psychiatry. This is largely due to the many overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms associated with both the potential functionality of the gut microbiota and the biological mechanisms thought to be underpinning mental disorders. In this systematic review, we synthesised the current literature investigating differences in gut microbiota composition in people with the major psychiatric disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ), compared to ‘healthy’ controls. We also explored gut microbiota composition across disorders in an attempt to elucidate potential commonalities in the microbial signatures associated with these mental disorders. Following the PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched from inception through to December 2021. We identified 44 studies (including a total of 2510 psychiatric cases and 2407 controls) that met inclusion criteria, of which 24 investigated gut microbiota composition in MDD, seven investigated gut microbiota composition in BD, and 15 investigated gut microbiota composition in SZ. Our syntheses provide no strong evidence for a difference in the number or distribution (α-diversity) of bacteria in those with a mental disorder compared to controls. However, studies were relatively consistent in reporting differences in overall community composition (β-diversity) in people with and without mental disorders. Our syntheses also identified specific bacterial taxa commonly associated with mental disorders, including lower levels of bacterial genera that produce short-chain fatty acids (e.g. butyrate), higher levels of lactic acid-producing bacteria, and higher levels of bacteria associated with glutamate and GABA metabolism. We also observed substantial heterogeneity across studies with regards to methodologies and reporting. Further prospective and experimental research using new tools and robust guidelines hold promise for improving our understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in mental and brain health and the development of interventions based on modification of gut microbiota.
Induction of APOBEC3-mediated genomic damage in urothelium implicates BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) as a hit-and-run driver for bladder cancer
Authors: Baker Simon C. , Mason Andrew S. , Slip Raphael G. , Skinner Katie T. , Macdonald Andrew , Masood Omar , Harris Reuben S. , Fenton Tim R. , Periyasamy Manikandan , Ali Simak , Southgate Jennifer
Published: February 2022

Limited understanding of bladder cancer aetiopathology hampers progress in reducing incidence. Mutational signatures show the anti-viral apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide (APOBEC) enzymes are responsible for the preponderance of mutations in bladder tumour genomes, but no causative viral agent has been identified. BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) is a common childhood infection that remains latent in the adult kidney, where reactivation leads to viruria. This study provides missing mechanistic evidence linking reactivated BKPyV-infection to bladder cancer risk. We used a mitotically-quiescent, functionally-differentiated model of normal human urothelium to examine BKPyV-infection. BKPyV-infection led to significantly elevated APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B protein, increased deaminase activity and greater numbers of apurinic/apyrimidinic sites in the host urothelial genome. BKPyV Large T antigen (LT-Ag) stimulated re-entry from G0 into the cell cycle through inhibition of retinoblastoma protein and activation of EZH2, E2F1 and FOXM1, with cells arresting in G2. The single-stranded DNA displacement loops formed in urothelial cells during BKPyV-infection interacted with LT-Ag to provide a substrate for APOBEC3-activity. Addition of interferon gamma (IFNγ) to infected urothelium suppressed expression of the viral genome. These results support reactivated BKPyV infections in adults as a risk factor for bladder cancer in immune-insufficient populations.
Therapeutic targeting of BAP1/ASXL3 sub-complex in ASCL1-dependent small cell lung cancer
Authors: Tsuboyama Natsumi , Wang Ru , Szczepanski Aileen Patricia , Chen Huanhuan , Zhao Zibo , Shi Lei , Wang Lu
Published: February 2022

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive disease, with patients diagnosed with either early-stage, limited stage, or extensive stage of SCLC tumor progression. Discovering and targeting the functional biomarkers for SCLC will be crucial in understanding the molecular basis underlying SCLC tumorigenesis to better assist in improving clinical treatment. Emerging studies have demonstrated that dysregulations in BAP1 histone H2A deubiquitinase complex are collectively associated with pathogenesis in human SCLC. Here, we investigated the function of the oncogenic BAP1/ASXL3/BRD4 epigenetic axis in SCLC by developing a next-generation BAP1 inhibitor, iBAP-II, and focusing on the epigenetic balance established between BAP1 and non-canonical PRC1 complexes in regulating SCLC-specific transcriptional programming. We further demonstrated that pharmacologic inhibition of BAP1’s catalytic activity disrupted BAP1/ASXL3/BRD4 epigenetic axis by inducing protein degradation of the ASXL3 scaffold protein, which bridges BRD4 and BAP1 at active enhancers. Furthermore, treatment of iBAP-II represses neuroendocrine lineage-specific ASCL1/MYCL/E2F signaling in SCLC cell lines, and dramatically inhibits SCLC cell viability and tumor growth in vivo. In summary, this study has provided mechanistic insight into the oncogenic function of BAP1 in SCLC and highlighted the potential of targeting BAP1’s activity as a novel SCLC therapy.
Pharmacogenetic interventions to improve outcomes in patients with multimorbidity or prescribed polypharmacy: a systematic review
Authors: O’Shea Joseph , Ledwidge Mark , Gallagher Joseph , Keenan Catherine , Ryan Cristín
Published: February 2022

Conventional medicines optimisation interventions in people with multimorbidity and polypharmacy are complex and yet limited; a more holistic and integrated approach to healthcare delivery is required. Pharmacogenetics has potential as a component of medicines optimisation. Studies involving multi-medicine pharmacogenetics in adults with multimorbidity or polypharmacy, reporting on outcomes derived from relevant core outcome sets, were included in this systematic review. Narrative synthesis was undertaken to summarise the data; meta-analysis was inappropriate due to study heterogeneity. Fifteen studies of diverse design and variable quality were included. A small, randomised study involving pharmacist-led medicines optimisation, including pharmacogenetics, suggests this approach could have significant benefits for patients and health systems. However, due to study design heterogeneity and the quality of the included studies, it is difficult to draw generalisable conclusions. Further pragmatic, robust pharmacogenetics studies in diverse, real-world patient populations, are required to establish the benefit of multi-medicine pharmacogenetic screening on patient outcomes.
The impact of anthracyclines in intermediate and high-risk HER2-negative early breast cancer—a pooled analysis of the randomised clinical trials PlanB and SUCCESS C
Authors: de Gregorio Amelie , Janni Wolfgang , Friedl Thomas W. P. , Nitz Ulrike , Rack Brigitte , Schneeweiss Andreas , Kates Ronald , Fehm Tanja , Kreipe Hans , Christgen Matthias , Kümmel Sherko , Trapp Elisabeth , Wuerstlein Rachel , Hartkopf Andreas , Clemens Michael , Reimer Toralf , Häberle Lothar , Fasching Peter A. , Gluz Oleg , Harbeck Nadia
Published: February 2022

Background

Anthracycline/cyclophosphamide-taxane-containing chemotherapy (AC-T) is the standard of care in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-negative early breast cancer (EBC), but recent studies suggest omission of anthracyclines for reduced toxicity without compromising efficacy.

Methods

Based on individual patient data (n = 5924) pooled from the randomised Phase III trials PlanB and SUCCESS C, we compared disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) between intermediate to high-risk HER2-negative EBC-patients treated with either six cycles of docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (TC6) or an AC-T regime using univariable and adjusted multivariable Cox regression models.

Results

AC-T conferred no significant DFS or OS advantage in univariable (DFS: hazard ratio (HR) for TC vs. AT 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89–1.24, P = 0.57; OS: HR 1.00, 95% CI: 0.80–1.26, P = 1.00) and adjusted multivariable analysis (DFS: HR 1.01, 95% CI: 0.86–1.19, P = 0.91; OS: HR 0.97, 95% CI: 0.77–1.22, P = 0.79). Patients receiving TC6 had significantly fewer grade 3–4 adverse events. Exploratory subgroup analysis showed that AC-T was associated with significantly better DFS and OS in pN2/3 patients, specifically in those with lobular histology.

Conclusion

For most patients with HER2-negative EBC, AC-T is not associated with a survival benefit compared to TC6. However, patients with lobular pN2/pN3 tumours seem to benefit from anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.