bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In re Arbitration Between the Italian Republic and the Republic of India Concerning the “Enrica Lexie” Incident
Authors: Devaney James G. , Tams Christian J.
Published: July 2021

On May 21, 2020, a Tribunal established under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) rendered an Award regarding the 2012 Enrica Lexie incident, which involved the death of two Indian fishermen at the hands of Italian Marines. The Award is lengthy and wide-ranging, finding that: (1) Italy and India had concurrent jurisdiction over the incident; (2) the Tribunal had incidental jurisdiction to determine the immunity of the Italian Marines; (3) the Marines enjoyed immunity as state officials; but nevertheless that (4) India was entitled to compensation for the loss of life, physical harm, damage to property, and moral harm. The Award has been received more positively by Italy than India, but neither party has indicated that they intend to do anything other than comply with it.
Physician experiences implementing antimicrobial stewardship rounds in pediatric hospital medicine: An exploratory, qualitative study
Authors: McCreary Megan L. , Tse-Chang Alena , Forbes Karen L. , Foulds Jessica L.
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

An antimicrobial stewardship intervention was implemented for pediatric medicine units using an in-person rounds-based approach to provide stewardship recommendations and education from an antimicrobial stewardship physician and antimicrobial stewardship pharmacist.

Design, Setting, Participants, and Methods:

In this exploratory qualitative study, purposeful sampling was used to recruit participants for individual interviews at a tertiary- and quaternary-care referral center. Pediatricians and residents who attended ≥1 stewardship round were included. A semistructured interview guide was created focusing on perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship, personal experiences at stewardship rounds, and perceived impacts on patient care. Using a constant comparative analysis approach, codes were developed and collapsed into themes.

Results:

Overall, 8 pediatricians and 10 residents completed interviews. Qualitative analysis yielded 3 themes: insights into clinical reasoning, opportunity for growth and learning, and establishing and exploring professional relationships. The handshake-rounds approach encouraged participants to critically evaluate antimicrobial choices and to engage in discussion with the antimicrobial stewardship team. Participants felt validated at stewardship rounds and gained confidence prescribing antimicrobials. Face-to-face interaction reduced reluctance for some participants to consult infectious disease (ID) service; however, others worried that physicians may avoid ID consultation because of stewardship rounds.

Conclusions:

Participants found stewardship rounds to be an effective strategy for education and development of clinical reasoning skills for optimal antimicrobial prescribing—choosing wisely or choosing rightly. The effects of stewardship rounds on timing and frequency of ID consultation are interesting. Further research into important patient outcomes and consultation practices are needed locally, but our experiences may help others to reflect on the power of conversation and relationships in antimicrobial stewardship.
A Concept Analysis on Disaster Resilience in Rescue Workers: The Psychological Perspective
Authors: Mao Xiaorong , Hu Xiuying , Loke Alice Yuen
Published: July 2021

Objective:

The termdisaster resiliencehas not been well defined. The purpose of this article is to scrutinize the concept of disaster resilience in rescue workers.

Methods:

A systematic search was conducted of the PsychInfo, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Scopus databases using the key terms. The framework from Walker and Avant was used to analyze the concept of disaster resilience.

Results:

A total of 26 papers was included in this analysis. The attributes of disaster resilience have been identified from the literature as including personality, perceived control, self-efficacy, coping strategies, and social support. The antecedents of disaster resilience are disastrous events and preparedness for disaster. The consequences of disaster resilience are psychological well-being, posttraumatic growth, and enhanced work engagement.

Conclusion:

This concept analysis presents a definition of the concept of disaster resilience that could contribute to the development of a standardized screening or assessment tool and tailored training programs to strengthen disaster resilience among those who are willing to be deployed to engage in disaster rescue work and those who have been involved in such work.
Characteristics of Flood Fatalities in Japan’s Typhoon Hagibis in 2019: Secondary Analysis of Public Data and Media Reports
Authors: Yoshida Izumi , Ozaki Akihiko , Morita Tomohiro , Tsubokura Masaharu , Kami Masahiro
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Typhoon Hagibis struck Japan on October 12, 2019. This study documents and characterizes deaths caused by Hagibis and helps identify strategies to reduce mortality in future disasters.

Methods:

Japanese residents, who were killed by Typhoon Hagibis, as reported by Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency, were considered for the study. Details were collected from mainstream Japanese media, and flooding data from hazard maps published by local municipalities.

Results:

Out of the 99 total fatalities, 65 (73.0%) were aged 65 years or above. Among those who drowned indoors (20), 18 (90.0%) lived in high-risk areas of flooding, and their bodies were found on the first floor of their residences. A total of 10 (55.6%) out of the 18 fatalities lived in homes with 2 or more floors, indicating that they could have moved upstairs to avoid the floodwater. However, 6 (33.3%) could not do so due to existing health issues.

Conclusions:

Relatively elderly people, particularly those in areas at high risk of flooding, were most affected. Seeking higher ground is a standard safety measure in times of flooding, but this may not be possible for everyone depending on their health status, structure of their residence, and the depth of floodwaters.
Global estimates of service coverage for severe mental disorders: findings from the WHO Mental Health Atlas 2017
Authors: Jaeschke Kara , Hanna Fahmy , Ali Suhailah , Chowdhary Neerja , Dua Tarun , Charlson Fiona
Published: July 2021

Background

The study estimated service coverage for severe mental disorders (psychosis, bipolar disorder and moderate-severe depression), globally and regionally, using data collected from the Mental Health Atlas 2017.

Methods

Service coverage was defined as the proportion of people with a disorder contacting a mental health service among those estimated to have the disorder during a 12-month period. We drew upon 12-month service utilisation data from the Mental Health Atlas 2017. Expected prevalent cases of individual disorders were estimated using the disorder-specific prevalence rate estimates of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 and total population sizes. Methods for assessing the validity of country-reported service utilisation data were developed and applied.

Outcomes

From 177 countries, 50 countries provided reliable service coverage estimates for psychosis, along with 56 countries for bipolar disorder, and 65 countries for depression. The mean service coverage for psychosis was lowest in low- [10.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.3–30.4)] and lower middle-income countries [21.5% (95% CI 11.9–35.7)] and highest in high-income countries [59.5% (95% CI 42.9–74.1)]. Service coverage for bipolar disorder ranged between 3.1% (95% CI 0.8–11.5) and 10.4% (95% CI 6.7–15.8). Mean service coverage for moderate-severe depression ranged between 2.9% (95% CI 1.3–6.3) for low-income countries and 31.1% (95% CI 18.3–47.6) for high-income countries.

Interpretation

The reporting method utilised by the Mental Health Atlas appears to be reliable for psychosis but not for depression. This method of estimating service coverage provides progress in tracking an important indicator for mental health; however, it highlights that considerable work is needed to further develop global mental health information systems.
Real-world impact of vaccination on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence in healthcare personnel at an academic medical center
Authors: Waldman Sarah E. , Adams Jason Y. , Albertson Timothy E. , Juárez Maya M. , Myers Sharon L. , Atreja Ashish , Batra Sumeet , Foster Elena E. , Huynh Cy V. , Liu Anna Y. , Lubarsky David A. , Ngo Victoria T. , Sandrock Christian E. , Taylor Sandra L. , Tompkins Ann M. , Cohen Stuart H.
Published: July 2021

Objective:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination effectiveness in healthcare personnel (HCP) has been established. However, questions remain regarding its performance in high-risk healthcare occupations and work locations. We describe the effect of a COVID-19 HCP vaccination campaign on SARS-CoV-2 infection by timing of vaccination, job type, and work location.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective review of COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, incidence of postvaccination COVID-19, hospitalization, and mortality among 16,156 faculty, students, and staff at a large academic medical center. Data were collected 8 weeks prior to the start of phase 1a vaccination of frontline employees and ended 11 weeks after campaign onset.

Results:

The COVID-19 incidence rate among HCP at our institution decreased from 3.2% during the 8 weeks prior to the start of vaccinations to 0.38% by 4 weeks after campaign initiation. COVID-19 risk was reduced among individuals who received a single vaccination (hazard ratio [HR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40–0.68; P < .0001) and was further reduced with 2 doses of vaccine (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.09–0.32; P < .0001). By 2 weeks after the second dose, the observed case positivity rate was 0.04%. Among phase 1a HCP, we observed a lower risk of COVID-19 among physicians and a trend toward higher risk for respiratory therapists independent of vaccination status. Rates of infection were similar in a subgroup of nurses when examined by work location.

Conclusions:

Our findings show the real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in HCP. Despite these encouraging results, unvaccinated HCP remain at an elevated risk of infection, highlighting the need for targeted outreach to combat vaccine hesitancy.
Contrasting yield formation characteristics in two super-rice hybrids that differ in growth duration
Authors: Huang Min , Tao Zui , Lei Tao , Cao Fangbo , Chen Jiana , Yin Xiaohong , Zou Yingbin , Liang Tianfeng
Published: July 2021

The development of high-yielding, short-duration super-rice hybrids is important for ensuring food security in China where multiple cropping is widely practiced and large-scale farming has gradually emerged. In this study, field experiments were conducted over 3 years to identify the yield formation characteristics in the shorter-duration (∼120 days) super-rice hybrid ‘Guiliangyou 2’ (G2) by comparing it with the longer-duration (∼130 days) super-rice hybrid ‘Y-liangyou 1’ (Y1). The results showed that G2 had a shorter pre-heading growth duration and consequently a shorter total growth duration compared to Y1. Compared to Y1, G2 had lower total biomass production that resulted from lower daily solar radiation, apparent radiation use efficiency (RUE), crop growth rate (CGR), and biomass production during the pre-heading period, but the grain yield was not significantly lower than that of Y1 because it was compensated for by the higher harvest index that resulted from slower leaf senescence (i.e., slower decline in leaf area index during the post-heading period) and higher RUE, CGR, and biomass production during the post-heading period. Our findings suggest that it is feasible to reduce the dependence of yield formation on growth duration to a certain extent in rice by increasing the use efficiency of solar radiation through crop improvement and also highlight the need for a greater fundamental understanding of the physiological processes involved in the higher use efficiency of solar radiation in super-rice hybrids.
Two stages of Late Carboniferous to Triassic magmatism in the Strandja Zone of Bulgaria and Turkey
Authors: Sałacińska Anna , Gerdjikov Ianko , Gumsley Ashley , Szopa Krzysztof , Chew David , Gawęda Aleksandra , Kocjan Izabela
Published: July 2021

Although Variscan terranes have been documented from the Balkans to the Caucasus, the southeastern portion of the Variscan Belt is not well understood. The Strandja Zone along the border between Bulgaria and Turkey encompasses one such terrane linking the Balkanides and the Pontides. However, the evolution of this terrane, and the Late Carboniferous to Triassic granitoids within it, is poorly resolved. Here we present laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb zircon ages, coupled with petrography and geochemistry from the Izvorovo Pluton within the Sakar Unit (Strandja Zone). This pluton is composed of variably metamorphosed and deformed granites which yield crystallization ages of c. 251–256 Ma. These ages are older than the previously assumed age of the Izvorovo Pluton based on a postulated genetic relationship between the Izvorovo Pluton and Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous metamorphism. A better understanding of units across the Strandja Zone can now be achieved, revealing two age groups of plutons within it. An extensive magmatic episode occurred c. 312–295 Ma, and a longer-lived episode between c. 275 and 230 Ma. Intrusions associated with both magmatic events were emplaced into pre-Late Carboniferous basement, and were overprinted by Early Alpine metamorphism and deformation. These two stages of magmatism can likely be attributed to changes in tectonic setting in the Strandja Zone. Such a change in tectonic setting is likely related to the collision between Gondwana-derived terranes and Laurussia, followed by either subduction of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean beneath Laurussia or rifting in the southern margin of Laurussia, with granitoids forming in different tectonic environments.
Singular and combined effects of transcranial infrared laser stimulation and exposure therapy on pathological fear: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zaizar Eric D. , Papini Santiago , Gonzalez-Lima F. , Telch Michael J.
Published: July 2021

Background

Preclinical findings suggest that transcranial infrared laser stimulation (TILS) improves fear extinction learning and cognitive function by enhancing prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygen metabolism. These findings prompted our investigation of treating pathological fear using this non-invasive stimulation approach either alone to the dorsolateral PFC (dlPFC), or to the ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) in combination with exposure therapy.

Methods

Volunteers with pathological fear of either enclosed spaces, contamination, public speaking, or anxiety-related bodily sensations were recruited for this randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial with four arms: (a) Exposure + TILS_vmPFC (n = 29), (b) Exposure + sham TILS_vmPFC (n = 29), (c) TILS_dlPFC alone (n = 26), or (d) Sham TILS _dlPFC alone (n = 28). Post-treatment assessments occurred immediately following treatment. Follow-up assessments occurred 2 weeks after treatment.

Results

A total of 112 participants were randomized [age range: 18–63 years; 96 females (85.71%)]. Significant interactions of Group × Time and Group × Context indicated differential treatment effects on retention (i.e. between time-points, averaged across contexts) and on generalization (i.e. between contexts, averaged across time-points), respectively. Among the monotherapies, TILS_dlPFC outperformed SHAM_dlPFC in the initial context, b = −13.44, 95% CI (−25.73 to −1.15), p = 0.03. Among the combined treatments, differences between EX + TILS_vmPFC and EX + SHAM_vmPFC were non-significant across all contrasts.

Conclusions

TILS to the dlPFC, one of the PFC regions implicated in emotion regulation, resulted in a context-specific benefit as a monotherapy for reducing fear. Contrary to prediction, TILS to the vmPFC, a region implicated in fear extinction memory consolidation, did not enhance exposure therapy outcome.
Eudocia’s Singing Deacon: Another Programmatic Passage In Late Antique Christian Verse
Authors: Faulkner Andrew
Published: July 2021

Amongst the varied literary output of the fifth-century empress Aelia Eudocia is a hexameter paraphrase of the martyrdom of Saints Cyprian and Justina. The opening lines of the poem, which were rediscovered in the second half of the 20th century, describe the conversion of Justina (Justa) to Christianity through the preaching of a deacon named Praulius. Even as Eudocia remains close to her prose model(s), she imposes her own interpretation upon the text through subtle variation and careful choice of poetic vocabulary. In her version, she depicts the preacher Praulius as a Christian counterpart to the traditional singer of hexameter poetry, linked also to her own poetic activity. This description of Praulius’ transformational preaching, prominently placed at the outset of the poem, constitutes another programmatic passage in late antique Christian verse.
A Dissenting Voice: The Clash of Trade and Warfare in Giovanni da Empoli's Account of His Second Voyage to Portuguese Asia
Authors: Salonia Matteo
Published: July 2021

Giovanni da Empoli's second voyage to Asia (1510–1514) was eventful and violent, characterised by the emergence of conflicting agendas among different groups of Portuguese. The Florentine merchant's long letter about the voyage is an extraordinary document, and provides insights in three important areas. First, it allows us to fill some of the gaps in the history of the early phases of Portuguese empire building, questioning the extent to which the Crown was pursuing a clear and coherent strategy that included the conquest of Malacca. Second, it problematises further our conception of “the Portuguese” by reporting episodes of Portuguese-on-Portuguese violence and opposing views on the objectives of Portuguese fleets in the Indian Ocean. Finally, Giovanni unequivocally expresses admiration for the international markets of Eastern city-ports and openly criticises the militarist attitude and lawless tactics of the Portuguese viceroy, Alfonso de Albuquerque, thereby inviting us to reconsider the chronology of a “cosmopolitan reaction” among Italian writers visiting South Asia.
Characterization of δ-KZnPO4 by X-ray powder diffraction
Authors: Self Peter G. , Raven Mark D.
Published: July 2021

The structural parameters of a second low-temperature form of KZnPO4 have been refined using Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data. This form of KZnPO4 is isostructural with NH4ZnPO4I and has previously been denoted as KZnPO4II. This article uses the notation δ-KZnPO4, to be consistent with the α, β, and γ notation commonly used for other KZnPO4 phases.
‘A large population, famous for their military qualities’: Londoners at war, c. 1000–1200
Authors: Gerrard Daniel
Published: July 2021

The scholarship of high medieval warfare tends not to emphasize the contribution made by urban communities, regarding cities as the passive objects of military campaigning. This article shows that the inhabitants of medieval London, however, had emerged as an organized military community from an early date, and were regarded by contemporaries as unusually disciplined, effective, fighters.
Consuming media, consuming food: investigating concurrent TV viewing and eating using a 7-d time use diary survey
Authors: Alblas Monique C , Mollen Saar , Wennekers Annemarie M , Fransen Marieke L , van den Putte Bas
Published: July 2021

Objective:

One explanation for the relationship between TV viewing and obesity is that people may (over)eat while watching TV. The current study investigated associations between TV viewing and the time spent on (concurrent) eating in a naturalistic setting among a general population sample.

Design:

Preregistered secondary data analyses were performed of a diary survey in which respondents reported their time use in 10-min blocks for 7 d.

Setting:

Concurrent TV viewing and eating was operationalised as all blocks in which TV viewing and eating occurred simultaneously. Furthermore, the TV content respondents watched was coded as food-related (i.e. culinary content) or non-food related.

Participants:

The sample composed of 2292 adults (58·9 % female) in the Netherlands, aged ≥ 20 years, from all educational levels (18·1 % low, 29·8 % middle and 51·4 % high).

Results:

More than half of the respondents (51·3 %) reported concurrent TV viewing and eating at least once during the 7-d diary period. The average eating occasion was longer in duration while watching TV (v. without media use), and the total time spent on eating was longer on days of concurrent TV viewing and eating (v. days of eating without media use). The percentage of TV viewing time spent on concurrent eating did not differ between food-related and non-food-related TV content.

Conclusions:

Eating while watching TV was related to an increased time spent on eating. Even though energy intake was not assessed, these findings from a naturalistic setting provide further evidence that concurrent TV viewing and eating may contribute to overeating.
What drives support for social distancing? Pandemic politics, securitization, and crisis management in Britain
Authors: Karyotis Georgios , Connolly John , Collignon Sofía , Judge Andrew , Makropoulos Iakovos , Rüdig Wolfgang , Skleparis Dimitris
Published: July 2021

Support for social distancing measures was, globally, high at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but increasingly came under pressure. Focusing on the UK, this article provides a rigorous exploration of the drivers of public support for social distancing at their formative stage, via mixed methods. Synthesizing insights from crisis management and securitization theory, thematic analysis is employed to map the main frames promoted by the government and other actors on the nature/severity, blame/responsibility, and appropriate response to the pandemic, which ‘follows the science’. The impact of these on public attitudes is examined via a series of regression analyses, drawing on a representative survey of the UK population (n = 2100). Findings challenge the prevailing understanding that support for measures is driven by personal health considerations, socio-economic circumstances, and political influences. Instead, crisis framing dynamics, which the government is well-positioned to dominate, have the greatest impact on driving public attitudes.
Phased-array antennas using novel PSoC-controlled phase shifters for wireless applications
Authors: Barbadekar Aparna B. , Patil Pradeep M.
Published: July 2021

The paper proposes a system consisting of novel programmable system on chip (PSoC)-controlled phase shifters which in turn guides the beam of an antenna array attached to it. Four antennae forming an array receive individual inputs from the programmable phase shifters (IC 2484). The input to the PSoC-based phase shifter is provided from an optimized 1:4 Wilkinson power divider. The antenna consists of an inverted L-shaped dipole on the front and two mirrored inverted L-shaped dipoles mounted on a rectangular conductive structure on the back which resonates in the ISM/Wi-Fi band (2.40–2.48 GHz). The power divider is designed to provide the feed to the phase shifter using a beamforming network while ensuring good isolation among the ports. The power divider has measured S11, S21, S31, S41, and S51 to be −14, −6.25, −6.31, −6.28, and −6.31 dB, respectively at a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The ingenious controller is designed in-house using a PSoC microcontroller to regulate the control voltage of individual phase shifter IC and generate progressive phase shifts. To validate the calibration of the in-house designed control circuit, the phased array is simulated using $s_p^2$ touchstone file of IC 2484. This designed control circuit exhibits low insertion loss close to −8.5 dB, voltage standing wave ratio of 1.58:1, and reflection coefficient (S11) is −14.36 dB at 2.45 GHz. Low insertion loss variations confirm that the phased-array antenna gives equal amplitude and phase. The beamforming radiation patterns for different scan angles (30, 60, and 90°) for experimental and simulated phased-array antenna are matched accurately showing the accuracy of the control circuit designed. The average experimental and simulated gain is 13.03 and 13.48 dBi respectively. The in-house designed controller overcomes the primary limitations associated with the present electromechanical phased array such as cost weight, size, power consumption, and complexity in design which limits the use of a phased array to military applications only. The current study with novel design and enhanced performance makes the system worthy of the practical use of phased-array antennas for common society at large.
Peat Soil Burning in the Mezzano Lowland (Po Plain, Italy): Triggering Mechanisms and Environmental Consequences
Authors: Natali Claudio , Bianchini Gianluca , Cremonini Stefano , Salani Gian Marco , Vianello Gilmo , Brombin Valentina , Ferrari Mattia , Vittori Antisari Livia
Published: July 2021

The effects of peat burning on organic‐rich agricultural soils of the Mezzano Lowland (NE Italy) were evaluated on soil profiles variously affected by smoldering. Profiles were investigated for pH, electrical conductivity, bulk density, elemental and isotopic composition of distinct carbon (and nitrogen) fractions. The results suggest that the horizons affected by carbon loss lie at depths 10–70 cm, where the highest temperatures are developed. We suggest that the exothermal oxidation of methane (mediated by biological activity) plays a significant role in the triggering mechanism. In the interested soils we estimated a potential loss of Soil Organic Carbon of approximately 110 kg m−2 within the first meter, corresponding to 580 kg CO2 m−3. The released greenhouse gas is coupled with a loss of soil structure and nutrients. Moreover, the process plausibly triggers mobility of metals bound in organometallic complexes. All these consequences negatively affect the environment, the agricultural activities and possibly also health of the local people.
Using Machine Learning to Analyze Physical Causes of Climate Change: A Case Study of U.S. Midwest Extreme Precipitation
Authors: Davenport Frances V. , Diffenbaugh Noah S.
Published: July 2021

While global warming has generally increased the occurrence of extreme precipitation, the physical mechanisms by which climate change alters regional and local precipitation extremes remain uncertain, with debate about the role of changes in the atmospheric circulation. We use a convolutional neural network (CNN) to analyze large‐scale circulation patterns associated with U.S. Midwest extreme precipitation. The CNN correctly identifies 91% of observed precipitation extremes based on daily sea level pressure and 500‐hPa geopotential height anomalies. There is evidence of increasing frequency of extreme precipitation circulation patterns (EPCPs) over the past two decades, although frequency changes are insignificant over the past four decades. Additionally, we find that moisture transport and precipitation intensity during EPCPs have increased. Our approach, which uses deep learning visualization to understand how the CNN predicts EPCPs, advances machine learning as a tool for providing insight into physical causes of changing extremes, potentially reducing uncertainty in future projections.
The Recent Emergence of Arctic Amplification
Authors: England Mark R. , Eisenman Ian , Lutsko Nicholas J. , Wagner Till J. W.
Published: July 2021

Arctic Amplification is robustly seen in climate model simulations of future warming and in the paleoclimate record. Here, we focus on the past century of observations. We show that Arctic Amplification is only a recent phenomenon, and that for much of this period the Arctic cooled while the global‐mean temperature rose. To investigate why this occurred, we analyze large ensembles of comprehensive climate model simulations under different forcing scenarios. Our results suggest that the global warming from greenhouse gases was largely offset in the Arctic by regional cooling due to aerosols, with internal climate variability also contributing to Arctic cooling and global warming trends during this period. This suggests that the disruption of Arctic Amplification was due to a combination of factors unique to the 20th century, and that enhanced Arctic warming should be expected to be a consistent feature of climate change over the coming century.
Underwater Sound Levels in the Arctic: Filling Knowledge Gaps
Authors: Halliday William D.
Published: July 2021

Climate change is projected to cause the Arctic soundscape to become noisier due to sea ice loss and increased anthropogenic activity. Many studies on underwater sound levels have been conducted in the western North American Arctic and Fram Strait, but the rest of the Arctic is full of geographic gaps. Han et al. (2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021gl093097) published a study in Geophysical Research Letters on underwater sound levels in the East Siberian Sea, providing the first estimates of seasonal trends and the natural and anthropogenic drivers of underwater sound levels in this region. This is an excellent first step in filling geographic gaps in the Russian Arctic, and I call on other researchers to continue to fill these geographic gaps throughout the Arctic so that we can set a baseline and study changes to underwater sound levels being caused directly and indirectly by climate change.
GRACE Fast Mascons From Spherical Harmonics and a Regularization Design Trade Study
Authors: Croteau M. J. , Sabaka T. J. , Loomis B. D.
Published: July 2021

Mass concentration (mascon) solutions have become a prominent medium for investigating time‐variable gravity recovered by GRACE and GRACE Follow‐On. While GRACE Level‐2 spherical harmonic products require various postprocessing techniques to eliminate correlated noise, mascon formulations employ spatial regularization strategies during the estimation step to improve signal recovery. However, mascon estimation has traditionally required large computing resources and GRACE Level‐1B processing capabilities. In this study, we show that a typical mascon estimation system can be reformulated to allow for the estimation of regularized mascons from Level‐2 spherical harmonics. Provided that spherical harmonic solution covariances are available, the computed mascons will be mathematically equivalent to similar mascons estimated from Level‐1B observations. This method is computationally efficient, better leverages GRACE spherical harmonics than past methods, and matches the performance of typical mascon solutions without locking scientists into predetermined regularization designs. We develop a proof‐of‐concept solution using ITSG‐Grace2018 and compare results with traditional mascons from the Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). We then assess the effects of spherical harmonic truncation and use of regularization correlations on basin signal recovery. We find that spherical expansions to degree and order 60 provide the minimum expansion necessary to study most basins, while larger expansions help further localize signals. We also find that diagonal regularizations (i.e., regularizations that do not contain inter‐mascon correlations) are adversely affected by leakage, especially across boundaries such as coastlines where signals are not highly correlated, whereas including inter‐mascon correlations and regional boundaries in the regularization greatly improves signal recovery.
Particulate Export of PAHs Firstly Traced by 210Po/210Pb Disequilibrium: Implication on the “Shelf Sink Effect” in the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Liu M. , Chen M. , Duan M. , Lin Y. , Liu X. , Liang J. , Ke H. , Li H. , Chen M. , Cai M.
Published: July 2021

In the changing Arctic Ocean, organic pollutants' transport and biogeochemical processes are strongly influenced by their particulate export on the broad continental shelf. To better evaluate the vertical particulate export of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seawater samples were collected from the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Canada Basin with the first application of 210Po/210Pb disequilibrium during the summer of 2012. Dissolved PAHs (1.1–19 ng L−1, mean 5.2 ± 3.6 ng L−1) showed spatial distinctions, with high values on the Bering Shelf and low values in the Chukchi Sea, while particulate PAHs (1.0–12 ng L−1, mean 5.0 ± 3.5 ng L−1) showed high levels in the nutrient‐rich Bering Shelf Water layer. According to the 210Po/210Pb deficit on the Bering Shelf, the export fluxes of particulate PAHs ranged from 1,201 ± 276 to 3,650 ± 1,570 ng m−2 d−1, and their residence time ranged from 55 ± 23 to 133 ± 31 days. From the Bering Shelf to the Chukchi Sea, the decreased inventories of dissolved PAHs were positively related to their vertical particulate export fluxes (R2 = 0.62), suggesting the “Shelf Sink Effect” on PAHs.
5-HT recruits distinct neurocircuits to inhibit hunger-driven and non-hunger-driven feeding
Authors: He Yanlin , Cai Xing , Liu Hailan , Conde Krisitine M. , Xu Pingwen , Li Yongxiang , Wang Chunmei , Yu Meng , He Yang , Liu Hesong , Liang Chen , Yang Tingting , Yang Yongjie , Yu Kaifan , Wang Julia , Zheng Rong , Liu Feng , Sun Zheng , Heisler Lora , Wu Qi , Tong Qingchun , Zhu Canjun , Shu Gang , Xu Yong
Published: July 2021

Obesity is primarily a consequence of consuming calories beyond energetic requirements, but underpinning drivers have not been fully defined. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (5-HTDRN) regulate different types of feeding behavior, such as eating to cope with hunger or for pleasure. Here, we observed that activation of 5-HTDRN to hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (5-HTDRN → ARH) projections inhibits food intake driven by hunger via actions at ARH 5-HT2C and 5-HT1B receptors, whereas activation of 5-HTDRN to ventral tegmental area (5-HTDRN → VTA) projections inhibits non-hunger-driven feeding via actions at 5-HT2C receptors. Further, hunger-driven feeding gradually activates ARH-projecting 5-HTDRN neurons via inhibiting their responsiveness to inhibitory GABAergic inputs; non-hunger-driven feeding activates VTA-projecting 5-HTDRN neurons through reducing a potassium outward current. Thus, our results support a model whereby parallel circuits modulate feeding behavior either in response to hunger or to hunger-independent cues.
DCision-making in tumors governs T cell anti-tumor immunity
Authors: Alfei Francesca , Ho Ping-Chih , Lo Wan-Lin
Published: July 2021

The exploitation of T cell-based immunotherapies and immune checkpoint blockade for cancer treatment has dramatically shifted oncological treatment paradigms and broadened the horizons of cancer immunology. Dendritic cells have emerged as the critical tailors of T cell immune responses, which initiate and coordinate anti-tumor immunity. Importantly, genetic alterations in cancer cells, cytokines and chemokines produced by cancer and stromal cells, and the process of tumor microenvironmental regulation can compromise dendritic cell–T cell cross-talk, thereby disrupting anti-tumor T cell responses. This review summarizes how T cell activation is controlled by dendritic cells and how the tumor microenvironment alters dendritic cell properties in the context of the anti-tumor immune cycle. Furthermore, we will highlight therapeutic options for tailoring dendritic cell-mediated decision-making in T cells for cancer treatment.
Visual attention during pediatric resuscitation with feedback devices: a randomized simulation study
Authors: Wagner Michael , Gröpel Peter , Eibensteiner Felix , Kessler Lisa , Bibl Katharina , Gross Isabel T. , Berger Angelika , Cardona Francesco S.
Published: July 2021

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feedback devices on visual attention and the quality of pediatric resuscitation.

Methods

This was a randomized cross-over simulation study at the Medical University of Vienna. Participants were students and neonatal providers performing four resuscitation scenarios with the support of feedback devices randomized. The primary outcome was the quality of resuscitation. Secondary outcomes were total dwell time (=total duration of visit time) on areas of interest and the workload of participants.

Results

Forty participants were analyzed. Overall, chest compression (P < 0.001) and ventilation quality were significantly better (P = 0.002) when using a feedback device. Dwell time on the feedback device was 40.1% in the ventilation feedback condition and 48.7% in the chest compression feedback condition. In both conditions, participants significantly reduced attention from the infant’s chest and mask (72.9 vs. 32.6% and 21.9 vs. 12.7%). Participants’ subjective workload increased by 3.5% (P = 0.018) and 8% (P < 0.001) when provided with feedback during a 3-min chest compression and ventilation scenario, respectively.

Conclusions

The quality of pediatric resuscitation significantly improved when using real-time feedback. However, attention shifted from the manikin and other equipment to the feedback device and subjective workload increased, respectively.

Impact

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation with feedback devices results in a higher quality of resuscitation and has the potential to lead to a better outcome for patients.

Feedback devices consume attention from resuscitation providers.

Feedback devices were associated with a shift of visual attention to the feedback devices and an increased workload of participants.

Increased workload for providers and benefits for resuscitation quality need to be balanced for the best effect.
Evidence for methanobactin “Theft” and novel chalkophore production in methanotrophs: impact on methanotrophic-mediated methylmercury degradation
Authors: Kang-Yun Christina S , Liang Xujun , Dershwitz Philip , Gu Wenyu , Schepers Aloys , Flatley Andrew , Lichtmannegger Josef , Zischka Hans , Zhang Lijie , Lu Xia , Gu Baohua , Ledesma Joshua C , Pelger Daly J , DiSpirito Alan A , Semrau Jeremy D
Published: July 2021

Aerobic methanotrophy is strongly controlled by copper, and methanotrophs are known to use different mechanisms for copper uptake. Some methanotrophs secrete a modified polypeptide—methanobactin—while others utilize a surface-bound protein (MopE) and a secreted form of it (MopE*) for copper collection. As different methanotrophs have different means of sequestering copper, competition for copper significantly impacts methanotrophic activity. Herein, we show that Methylomicrobium album BG8, Methylocystis sp. strain Rockwell, and Methylococcus capsulatus Bath, all lacking genes for methanobactin biosynthesis, are not limited for copper by multiple forms of methanobactin. Interestingly, Mm. album BG8 and Methylocystis sp. strain Rockwell were found to have genes similar to mbnT that encodes for a TonB-dependent transporter required for methanobactin uptake. Data indicate that these methanotrophs “steal” methanobactin and such “theft” enhances the ability of these strains to degrade methylmercury, a potent neurotoxin. Further, when mbnT was deleted in Mm. album BG8, methylmercury degradation in the presence of methanobactin was indistinguishable from when MB was not added. Mc. capsulatus Bath lacks anything similar to mbnT and was unable to degrade methylmercury either in the presence or absence of methanobactin. Rather, Mc. capsulatus Bath appears to rely on MopE/MopE* for copper collection. Finally, not only does Mm. album BG8 steal methanobactin, it synthesizes a novel chalkophore, suggesting that some methanotrophs utilize both competition and cheating strategies for copper collection. Through a better understanding of these strategies, methanotrophic communities may be more effectively manipulated to reduce methane emissions and also enhance mercury detoxification in situ.
Inhibition of metabotropic glutamate receptor III facilitates sensitization to alkylating chemotherapeutics in glioblastoma
Authors: Maier Julian P. , Ravi Vidhya M. , Kueckelhaus Jan , Behringer Simon P. , Garrelfs Niklas , Will Paulina , Sun Na , von Ehr Jasmin , Goeldner Jonathan M. , Pfeifer Dietmar , Follo Marie , Hannibal Luciana , Walch Axel Karl , Hofmann Ulrich G. , Beck Jürgen , Heiland Dieter Henrik , Schnell Oliver , Joseph Kevin
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma (GBM), the most malignant tumor of the central nervous system, is marked by its dynamic response to microenvironmental niches. In particular, this cellular plasticity contributes to the development of an immediate resistance during tumor treatment. Novel insights into the developmental trajectory exhibited by GBM show a strong capability to respond to its microenvironment by clonal selection of specific phenotypes. Using the same mechanisms, malignant GBM do develop intrinsic mechanisms to resist chemotherapeutic treatments. This resistance was reported to be sustained by the paracrine and autocrine glutamate signaling via ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. However, the extent to which glutamatergic signaling modulates the chemoresistance and transcriptional profile of the GBM remains unexplored. In this study we aimed to map the manifold effects of glutamate signaling in GBM as the basis to further discover the regulatory role and interactions of specific receptors, within the GBM microenvironment. Our work provides insights into glutamate release dynamics, representing its importance for GBM growth, viability, and migration. Based on newly published multi-omic datasets, we explored the and characterized the functions of different ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, of which the metabotropic receptor 3 (GRM3) is highlighted through its modulatory role in maintaining the ability of GBM cells to evade standard alkylating chemotherapeutics. We addressed the clinical relevance of GRM3 receptor expression in GBM and provide a proof of concept where we manipulate intrinsic mechanisms of chemoresistance, driving GBM towards chemo-sensitization through GRM3 receptor inhibition. Finally, we validated our findings in our novel human organotypic section-based tumor model, where GBM growth and proliferation was significantly reduced when GRM3 inhibition was combined with temozolomide application. Our findings present a new picture of how glutamate signaling via mGluR3 interacts with the phenotypical GBM transcriptional programs in light of recently published GBM cell-state discoveries.
Glutathione S-transferase A2 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence after liver transplantation through modulating reactive oxygen species metabolism
Authors: Ng Kevin Tak-Pan , Yeung Oscar Wai-Ho , Lam Yin Fan , Liu Jiang , Liu Hui , Pang Li , Yang Xin Xiang , Zhu Jiye , Zhang Weiyi , Lau Matthew Y. H. , Qiu Wen Qi , Shiu Hoi Chung , Lai Man Kit , Lo Chung Mau , Man Kwan
Published: July 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation remains a significant clinical problem. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) occurred inevitably at the early phase after liver transplantation (LT) spawns a significant risk of HCC recurrence. However, their linkage and IRI-derived risk factors for HCC recurrence remain exclusive. Understanding the mechanism of post-transplantation hepatic injury could provide new strategies to prevent the later event of HCC recurrence. We demonstrated that glutathione S-transferase A2 (GSTA2) expression was significantly associated with early phase hepatic and systemic injury and ROS level after liver transplantation. Early phase circulating GSTA2 (EPCGSTA2) protein was a significant predictor of HCC recurrence and survival. Heterogeneous single nucleotide polymorphism at G335C of GSTA2 was significantly associated with poor survival of HCC recipients. Enhancement of GSTA2 could protect HCC cells against H2O2-induced cell death by compensating for the elevated ROS stress. We also demonstrated that GSTA2 played crucial roles in regulating the ROS-associated JNK and AKT signaling pathways and ROS metabolism in HCCs in responding to a dynamic ROS environment. Functionally, endogenous or exogenous upregulation of GSTA2 could promote HCC growth and invasion through activating the epithelial–mesenchymal-transition process. Targeted inhibition of GSTA2 could suppress HCC growth and metastasis. In conclusion, GSTA2 could be a novel prognostic and therapeutic target to combat HCC recurrence after liver transplantation.
Kinetically driven successive sodic and potassic alteration of feldspar
Authors: Duan Gan , Ram Rahul , Xing Yanlu , Etschmann Barbara , Brugger Joël
Published: July 2021

The dynamic evolutions of fluid-mineral systems driving large-scale geochemical transformations in the Earth’s crust remain poorly understood. We observed experimentally that successive sodic and potassic alterations of feldspar can occur via a single self-evolved, originally Na-only, hydrothermal fluid. At 600 °C, 2 kbar, sanidine ((K,Na)AlSi3O8) reacted rapidly with a NaCl fluid to form albite (NaAlSi3O8); over time, some of this albite was replaced by K-feldspar (KAlSi3O8), in contrast to predictions from equilibrium reaction modelling. Fluorine accelerated the process, resulting in near-complete back-replacement of albite within 1 day. These findings reveal that potassic alteration can be triggered by Na-rich fluids, indicating that pervasive sequential sodic and potassic alterations associated with mineralization in some of the world’s largest ore deposits may not necessarily reflect externally-driven changes in fluid alkali contents. Here, we show that these reactions are promoted at the micro-scale by a self-evolving, kinetically-driven process; such positive feedbacks between equilibrium and kinetic factors may be essential in driving pervasive mineral transformations.
Role of Tim4 in the regulation of ABCA1+ adipose tissue macrophages and post-prandial cholesterol levels
Authors: Magalhaes M. S. , Smith P. , Portman J. R. , Jackson-Jones L. H. , Bain C. C. , Ramachandran P. , Michailidou Z. , Stimson R. H. , Dweck M. R. , Denby L. , Henderson N. C. , Jenkins S. J. , Bénézech C.
Published: July 2021

Dyslipidemia is a main driver of cardiovascular diseases. The ability of macrophages to scavenge excess lipids implicate them as mediators in this process and understanding the mechanisms underlying macrophage lipid metabolism is key to the development of new treatments. Here, we investigated how adipose tissue macrophages regulate post-prandial cholesterol transport. Single-cell RNA sequencing and protected bone marrow chimeras demonstrated that ingestion of lipids led to specific transcriptional activation of a population of resident macrophages expressing Lyve1, Tim4, and ABCA1. Blocking the phosphatidylserine receptor Tim4 inhibited lysosomal activation and the release of post-prandial high density lipoprotein cholesterol following a high fat meal. Both effects were recapitulated by chloroquine, an inhibitor of lysosomal function. Moreover, clodronate-mediated cell-depletion implicated Tim4+ resident adipose tissue macrophages in this process. Thus, these data indicate that Tim4 is a key regulator of post-prandial cholesterol transport and adipose tissue macrophage function and may represent a novel pathway to treat dyslipidemia.