bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A ten-year review of healthcare-associated bloodstream infections from forty hospitals in Québec, Canada
Authors: Fakih Iman , Fortin Élise , Smith Marc-André , Carignan Alex , Tremblay Claude , Villeneuve Jasmin , Moisan Danielle , Frenette Charles , Quach Caroline ,   for SPIN-BACTOT
Published: August 2018

Objective

Healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (HABSI) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Québec, Canada, HABSI arising from acute-care hospitals have been monitored since April 2007 through the Surveillance des bactériémies nosocomiales panhospitalières (BACTOT) program, but this is the first detailed description of HABSI epidemiology.

Methods

This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted using BACTOT surveillance data from hospitals that participated continuously between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2017. HABSI cases and rates were stratified by hospital type and/or infection source. Temporal trends of rates were analyzed by fitting generalized estimating equation Poisson models, and they were stratified by infection source.

Results

For 40 hospitals, 13,024 HABSI cases and 23,313,959 patient days were recorded, for an overall rate of 5.59 per 10,000 patient days (95% CI, 5.54–5.63). The most common infection sources were catheter-associated BSIs (23.0%), BSIs secondary to a urinary focus (21.5%), and non–catheter-associated primary BSIs (18.1%). Teaching hospitals and nonteaching hospitals with ICUs often had rates higher than nonteaching hospitals without ICUs. Annual HABSI rates did not exhibit statistically significant changes from year to year. Non–catheter-associated primary BSIs were the only HABSI type that exhibited a sustained change across the 10 years, increasing from 0.69 per 10,000 patient days (95% CI, 0.59–0.80) in 2007–2008 to 1.42 per 10,000 patient days (95% CI, 1.27–1.58) in 2016–2017.

Conclusions

Despite ongoing surveillance, overall HABSI rates have not decreased. The effect of BACTOT participation should be more closely investigated, and targeted interventions along alternative surveillance modalities should be considered, prioritizing high-burden and potentially preventable BSI types.
Evolution of solute blobs in heterogeneous porous media
Authors: Dentz M. , de Barros F. P. J. , Le Borgne T. , Lester D. R.
Published: August 2018

We study the mixing dynamics of solute blobs in the flow through saturated heterogeneous porous media. As the solute plume is advected through a heterogeneous porous medium it suffers a series of deformations that determine its mixing with the ambient fluid through diffusion. Key questions are the relation between the spatial disorder and the mixing dynamics and the effect of the initial solute distribution. To address these questions, we formulate the advection–diffusion problem in a coordinate system that moves and rotates along streamlines of the steady flow field. The impact of the medium heterogeneity is quantified systematically within a stochastic modelling approach. For a simple shear flow, the maximum concentration of a blob decays asymptotically as$t^{-2}$. For heterogeneous porous media, the mixing of the solute blob is determined by the random sampling of flow and deformation heterogeneity along trajectories, a mechanism different from persistent shear. We derive explicit perturbation theory expressions for stretching-enhanced solute mixing that relate the medium structure and mixing behaviour. The solution is valid for moderate heterogeneity. The random sampling of shear along trajectories leads to a$t^{-3/2}$decay of the maximum concentration as opposed to an equivalent homogeneous medium, for which it decays as$t^{-1}$.
Drag on flat plates of arbitrary porosity
Authors: Steiros K. , Hultmark M.
Published: August 2018

A new model for the drag force on a two-dimensional flat plate of arbitrary porosity, oriented normal to the free stream, is introduced. The model is an extension of that introduced by Koo & James (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 60(3), 1973, pp. 513–538), where the performance at low porosities is improved by including a base-suction term. The additional drag due to the base suction is calculated implicitly using momentum theory, which makes the model self-contained. The model predictions exhibit convincing agreement with experimental observations over a wide range of porosities, including the solid case, as long as shedding is absent or suppressed.
Hydrodynamic schooling of multiple self-propelled flapping plates
Authors: Peng Ze-Rui , Huang Haibo , Lu Xi-Yun
Published: August 2018

While hydrodynamic interactions for aggregates of swimmers have received significant attention in the low Reynolds number realm ($Re\ll 1$), there has been far less work at higher Reynolds numbers, in which fluid and body inertia are involved. Here we study the collective behaviour of multiple self-propelled plates in tandem configurations, which are driven by harmonic flapping motions of identical frequency and amplitude. Both fast modes with compact configurations and slow modes with sparse configurations were observed. The Lighthill conjecture that orderly configurations may emerge passively from hydrodynamic interactions was verified on a larger scale with up to eight plates. The whole group may consist of subgroups and individuals with regular separations. Hydrodynamic forces experienced by the plates near their multiple equilibrium locations are all springlike restoring forces, which stabilize the orderly formation and maintain group cohesion. For the cruising speed of the whole group, the leading subgroup or individual plays the role of ‘leading goose’.
NOTES ON TORIC VARIETIES FROM MORI THEORETIC VIEWPOINT, II
Authors: FUJINO OSAMU , SATO HIROSHI
Published: August 2018

We give new estimates of lengths of extremal rays of birational type for toric varieties. We can see that our new estimates are the best by constructing some examples explicitly. As applications, we discuss the nefness and pseudo-effectivity of adjoint bundles of projective toric varieties. We also treat some generalizations of Fujita’s freeness and very ampleness for toric varieties.
WEIGHTED INTEGRAL INEQUALITIES OF OSTROWSKI, ČEBYŠEV AND LUPAŞ TYPE WITH APPLICATIONS
Authors: DRAGOMIR SILVESTRU SEVER
Published: August 2018

We establish some weighted integral inequalities of Ostrowski, Čebyšev and Lupaş type and give applications for continuous probability density functions supported on infinite intervals.
THE ROSENTHAL–SZASZ INEQUALITY FOR NORMED PLANES
Authors: BALESTRO VITOR , MARTINI HORST
Published: August 2018

We study the classical Rosenthal–Szasz inequality for a plane whose geometry is determined by a norm. This inequality states that the bodies of constant width have the largest perimeter among all planar convex bodies of given diameter. In the case where the unit circle of the norm is given by a Radon curve, we obtain an inequality which is completely analogous to the Euclidean case. For arbitrary norms we obtain an upper bound for the perimeter calculated in the anti-norm, yielding an analogous characterisation of all curves of constant width. To derive these results, we use methods from the differential geometry of curves in normed planes.
Prevalence and risk factors of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes among Chinese children and adolescents: a national observational study
Authors: Wang Zhenghe , Zou Zhiyong , Wang Haijun , Jing Jin , Luo Jiayou , Zhang Xin , Luo Chunyan , Zhao Haiping , Pan Dehong , Ma Jun , Dong Bin , Ma Yinghua
Published: August 2018

The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has reportedly increased significantly among Chinese children and adolescents. We aimed to examine the prevalence of IFG and DM, the disparities in sex and region and related risk factors among Chinese children and adolescents. A total of 16 434 Chinese children aged 6–17 years were selected from a national cross-sectional survey, and fasting glucose was measured for all participants. Overall, mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration was (4·64 (sd 0·51)) mmol/l, and the prevalence of DM and IFG was 0·10 and 1·89 %, respectively. Compared with girls, boys had higher FPG concentration (4·69 v. 4·58 mmol/l, r 0·107, P<0·001) and IFG prevalence (2·67 v. 1·07 %, rφ 0·059, P<0·001). Compared with rural children and adolescents, urban children and adolescent had higher FPG concentration (4·65 v. 4·62 mmol/l, r 0·029, P<0·001) and DM prevalence (0·15 v. 0·05 %, rφ 0·016, P<0·01). In addition, self-reported fried foods intake and overweight/obesity were positively associated with IFG, and the proportion of consuming fried foods more than or equal to once per week and overweight/obesity prevalence in boys and urban children and adolescents were significantly higher than girls and rural children and adolescents, respectively (P<0·05). Although the prevalence of IFG and DM was relatively low in Chinese children and adolescents, sex and region disparities were observed, which may be associated with differences in overweight/obesity prevalence and dietary factors.
Dietary intake of cod protein beneficially affects concentrations of urinary markers of kidney function and results in lower urinary loss of amino acids in obese Zucker fa/fa rats
Authors: Drotningsvik Aslaug , Midttun Øivind , McCann Adrian , Ueland Per Magne , Høgøy Ingmar , Gudbrandsen Oddrun Anita
Published: August 2018

Obesity increases the risk for developing kidney disease, and protection of kidneys through changes in diet should be investigated. Fish intake has been associated with reduced risk of developing kidney disease; therefore, we wanted to investigate whether cod protein intake could prevent or delay the development of kidney damage in an obese rat model that spontaneously develops proteinuria and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate any effects of cod protein intake on established markers of kidney function, amino acid composition, protein utilisation and growth in obese Zucker fa/fa rats in the early stage of decreased renal function. Male obese Zucker fa/fa rats (HsdOla:Zucker-Lepr) were fed cod muscle proteins in an amount corresponding to 25 % of dietary protein, with the remaining protein from a casein/whey mixture (COD diet). A control group was fed a diet with a casein/whey mixture as the only protein source (CAS diet). The intervention started when rats were 9–10 weeks old, and the rats were fed these diets for 4 weeks. At the end of the study, rats fed the COD diet had lower urine concentration of cystatin C, T-cell immunoglobulin mucin-1 (TIM-1), amino acids, carbamide, uric acid and ammonium and higher concentrations of creatine, trimethylamineN-oxide, 1-methylhistidine and 3-methylhistidine, lower kidney concentration of TIM-1 and showed better growth when compared with the CAS group. To conclude, cod protein may have the potential to delay the development of kidney damage in young obese Zucker rats and to improve protein utilisation and growth.
Vegetable and fruit intake and injurious falls risk in older women: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Sim Marc , Blekkenhorst Lauren C. , Lewis Joshua R. , Bondonno Catherine P. , Devine Amanda , Zhu Kun , Woodman Richard J. , Prince Richard L. , Hodgson Jonathan M.
Published: August 2018

The role of vegetable and fruit intake in reducing falls risk in elderly populations is uncertain. This study examined the associations of vegetable and fruit intake with falls-related hospitalisations in a prospective cohort study of elderly women (n 1429, ≥70 years), including effects on muscular function, which represented a potential causal pathway. Muscular function, measured using grip strength and timed-up-and-go (TUG), and vegetable and fruit intake, quantified using a validated FFQ, were assessed at baseline (1998). Incident falls-related hospitalisation over 14·5-year follow-up was captured by the Hospital Morbidity Data Collection, linked via the Western Australian Data Linkage System. Falls-related hospitalisation occurred in 568 (39·7 %) of women. In multivariable-adjusted models, falls-related hospitalisations were lower in participants consuming more vegetables (hazard ratio (HR) per 75 g serve: 0·90 (95 % CI 0·82, 0·99)), but not fruit intake (per 150 g serve: 1·03 (95 % CI 0·93, 1·14)). Only total cruciferous vegetable intake was inversely associated with falls-related hospitalisation (HR: per 20 g serve: 0·90 (95 % CI 0·83, 0·97)). Higher total vegetable intake was associated with lower odds for poor grip strength (OR: 0·87 (95 % CI 0·77, 0·97)) and slow TUG (OR: 0·88 (95 % CI 0·78, 0·99)). Including grip strength and TUG in the multivariable-adjusted model attenuated the association between total vegetable intake and falls-related hospitalisations. In conclusion, elderly women with higher total and cruciferous vegetable intake had lower injurious falls risk, which may be explained in a large part by better physical function. Falls reduction may be considered an additional benefit of higher vegetable intake in older women.
Identification and initial validation of empirically derived bipolar symptom states from a large longitudinal dataset: an application of hidden Markov modeling to the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) study
Authors: Prisciandaro James J. , Tolliver Bryan K. , DeSantis Stacia M.
Published: August 2018

Background

Although bipolar disorder (BD) is a fundamentally cyclical illness, a divided model of BD that emphasizes polarity over cyclicity has dominated modern psychiatric diagnostic systems since their advent in the 1980s. However, there has been a gradual return to conceptualizations of BD which focus on longitudinal course in the research community due to emerging supportive data. Advances in longitudinal statistical methods promise to further progress the field.

Methods

The current study employed hidden Markov modeling to uncover empirically derived manic and depressive states from longitudinal data [i.e. Young Mania Rating Scale and Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale responses across five occasions from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD) study], estimate participants’ probabilities of transitioning between these states over time (n = 3918), and evaluate whether clinical variables (e.g. rapid cycling and substance dependence) predict participants’ state transitions (n = 3229).

Results

Analyses identified three empirically derived mood states (‘euthymic,’ ‘depressed,’ and ‘mixed’). Relative to the euthymic and depressed states, the mixed state was less commonly experienced, more temporally unstable, and uniquely associated with rapid cycling, substance use, and psychosis. Individuals assigned to the mixed state at baseline were relatively less likely to be diagnosed with BD-II (v. BD-I), more likely to present with a mixed or (hypo)manic episode, and reported experiencing irritable and elevated mood more frequently.

Conclusions

The results from the current study represent an important step in defining, and characterizing the longitudinal course of, empirically derived mood states that can be used to form the foundation of objective, empirical attempts to define meaningful subtypes of affective illness defined by clinical course.
Magnetic field effect on plasma parameters and surface modification of laser-irradiated Cu-alloy
Authors: Dawood Asadullah , Bashir Shazia , Chishti Naveed Ahmed , Khan Muhammad Asad , Hayat Asma
Published: August 2018

The effect of magnetic field on the plasma parameters and surface modification of Cu-alloy has been investigated. For this purpose, we have employed Nd: YAG laser at various irradiances ranging from 1.9 to 5 GW/cm2 to irradiate Cu-alloy under 5 torr pressure of argon, neon, and helium. The evaluated values of excitation temperature (Texc) and electron number density (ne) of Cu-alloy plasma explored by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy technique are higher in the presence of 1.1 Tesla magnetic field as compared with field-free case. It is true at all irradiances as well as under all environmental conditions. It is also found that trends of both Texc and ne are increasing with increasing laser irradiance from 1.9 to 4.4 GW/cm2. For the highest used irradiance 5 GW/cm2, the decrease in both parameters is observed. The analytically calculated values of thermal beta, directional beta, confinement radius, and diffusion time for laser-irradiated Cu-alloy plasma confirm the validity of magnetic confinement. Scanning electron microscope analysis is utilized to study the surface modifications of laser-irradiated Cu samples and reveals the formation of islands, craters, cones, and droplets. The finer-scale surface structures are grown in case of magnetic. It is also revealed Texc and ne play a substantial part in the growth of surface structures on Cu-alloy.
Negotiating musical problem-solving in ensemble rehearsals
Authors: Slette Aslaug Louise
Published: August 2018

Ensemble playing is considered central in specialist higher music education, not least because of its collaborative nature. It is a subject in which students are expected to take significant responsibility for learning together during their many unsupervised ensemble rehearsals. This article reports from a qualitative case study investigating the ways three undergraduate student chamber ensembles negotiate musical problem-solving, emphasizing their listening efforts. Findings reveal four ways of interacting – complete, incomplete, personal and expert negotiations – and also suggest new ways of understanding aural awareness within ensembles. Working from a sociocultural perspective, the study proposes that listening is also a collective phenomenon.
The Ethics of Countering Digital Propaganda
Authors: Bjola Corneliu
Published: August 2018

How can a state react to being a target of disinformation activities by another state without losing the moral ground that it seeks to protect? This essay argues that the concept of moral authority offers an original framework for addressing this dilemma. As a power resource, moral authority enables an actor to have its arguments treated with priority by others and to build support for its actions, but only as long as its behavior does not deviate from certain moral expectations. To develop moral authority, an actor engaged in combating digital propaganda must cultivate six normative attributes:truthfulnessandprudencefor demonstrating the nature of the harmful effects of disinformation;accountability,integrity, andeffectivenessfor establishing the normative standing of the actor to engage in counter-intervention; andresponsibilityfor confirming the proportionality of the response.
Ending Atrocity Crimes: The False Promise of Fatalism
Authors: Bellamy Alex J.
Published: August 2018

How should the international community respond when states commit atrocity crimes against sections of their own population? In practice, international responses are rarely timely or decisive. To make matters worse, half-hearted or self-interested interventions can prolong crises and contribute to the growing toll of casualties. Recognizing these brutal realities, it is tempting to adopt the fatalist view that the best that can be done is to minimize harm by letting the state win, allowing the status quo power structure to persist. Indeed, this is how many commentators and states have responded to the tide of human misery in Syria. Could a policy of letting the state perpetrator prevail be a viable alternative to other options, including military intervention? This essay suggests not. It explains the logic behind the fatalist approach and shows that problems of recurrence, precedence, and rights mean that such an approach cannot offer a plausible alternative to measures designed to resist and increase the costs of committing atrocity crimes.
Same difference: the phonetic shape of High Rising Terminals in London
Authors: Levon Erez
Published: August 2018

This article investigates patterns of variation in the phonetic shape of High Rising Terminal (HRT) intonation contours on declarative utterances in London English. Previous research has demonstrated that there are two pragmatically distinct meanings for HRTs in London, distributed across different groups of users and conversational contexts. Based on current theories of intonational meaning, we would expect this pragmatic differentiation to correlate with differences in tune shape, given the assumption that there is a one-to-one correspondence between a contour’s meaning and its phonological form. Following the example of prior studies of HRTs in other locations, analyses focus on three phonetic properties: rise excursion size, rise dynamism, and the alignment of the rise onset with the nuclear syllable. Unlike much previous research elsewhere, mixed-model regression analyses demonstrate that pragmatic differences in how HRTs are used in London do not correlate with differences in the phonetic characteristics under investigation. The discussion focuses on how to reconcile this result with theories of intonational meaning, arguing that the findings for London may be due to the relatively recent arrival of HRTs in the variety, and, as a result, the lack of a differentiated field of form–meaning correspondences for the contour in the region.
Using spatial analysis to examine best placement of electronic benefit transfer services at farmers’ markets in Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA
Authors: Buchthal O Vanessa , Wolff Grace , Kittinger Daniela , Schaeffner Danielle , Nelson-Hurwitz Denise C
Published: August 2018

Objective

Farmers’ market interventions are a popular strategy for addressing chronic disease disparities in low-income neighbourhoods. With limited resources, strategic targeting of interventions is critical. The present study used spatial analysis to identify where market interventions have the greatest impact on healthy food access within a geographic region.

Design

All farmers’ markets in a mixed urban/rural county were mapped and those that accepted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards identified. Households were grouped into small neighbourhoods and mapped. The area of ‘reasonable access’ around each market (walking distance (0·8 km; 0·5mile) in urban areas, driving distance (15 min) in rural areas) was calculated using spatial analysis. The percentage of county low-income households within a market’s access area, and the percentage of county SNAP-participating households within an EBT-accepting market’s access area, were calculated. The ten neighbourhoods with the most low-income households and with the most SNAP-participating households were then identified, their access areas calculated and mapped, and those lacking access identified. County-level gains resulting from improving market accessibility in these areas were calculated.

Subjects

None.

Setting

Honolulu County, Hawaii, USA.

Results

Only 44 % of SNAP-participating households had EBT-market access. Six of the ten highest SNAP-participant neighbourhoods lacked access. Improving access for these neighbourhoods increased county-level access by 23 %. Market access for low-income households was 74 %. Adding markets to these low-income neighbourhoods without market access increased county-level access by 4 %.

Conclusions

Geographic identification of market access demographics, and strategic targeting of EBT interventions, could improve regional access to healthy foods.
Human development without democratic accountability: how regressive taxation contributes to human development through state capacity
Authors: Kato Junko , Tanaka Seiki
Published: August 2018

State revenue production since the third wave of democratization contrasts sharply with the experiences of the first and second waves of democratization. The late democratizers tend to adopt and raise revenue from a regressive tax on consumption (the value-added tax: VAT), which is more compatible with economic development in global markets but is considered as unequal taxation. How does the weak redistributive (i.e., regressive) effect of this form of taxation affect the welfare of people? We build on the conventional wisdom that democratic accountability through multiparty contestation improves human development. Focused on taxation, we argue that an increasing statefinancialcapacity contributes to an increase in human development, even when electoral contestation is absent. Empirical analyses employed a reduction in infant mortality as an indicator for the improvement of human development and demonstrate the counter-intuitive effect of the VAT on human development. Despite the effect of weak redistribution, the VAT contributes to human development in countries with less democratic accountability. The results also show that the state's financial capacity to secure tax compliance, rather than a mere increase in tax revenue, intervenes critically in such development in countries since the third wave. We conclude that the increased state financial capacity with regressive taxation is expected to promote human development in newly emerging democratic states.
In vivoandin vitrobisphenol A exposure effects on adiposity
Authors: Desai M. , Ferrini M. G. , Jellyman J. K. , Han G. , Ross M. G.
Published: August 2018

In uteroexposure to the ubiquitous plasticizer, bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with offspring obesity. As adipogenesis is a critical factor contributing to obesity, we determined the effects ofin vivomaternal BPA andin vitroBPA exposure on newborn adipose tissue at the stem-cell level. Forin vivostudies, female rats received BPA before and during pregnancy and lactation via drinking water, and offspring were studied for measures of adiposity signals. Forin vitroBPA exposure, primary pre-adipocyte cell cultures from healthy newborns were utilized. We studied pre-adipocyte proliferative and differentiation effects of BPA and explored putative signal factors which partly explain adipose responses and underlying epigenetic mechanisms mediated by BPA. Maternal BPA-induced offspring adiposity, hypertrophic adipocytes and increased adipose tissue protein expression of pro-adipogenic and lipogenic factors. Consistent within vivodata,in vitroBPA exposure induced a dose-dependent increase in pre-adipocyte proliferation and increased adipocyte lipid content.In vivoandin vitroBPA exposure promotes the proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes, contributing to an enhanced capacity for lipid storage. These findings reinforce the marked effects of BPA on adipogenesis and highlight the susceptibility of stem-cell populations during early life with long-term consequence on metabolic homeostasis.
Angst während der chronisch kritischen Erkrankung auf der Intensivstation – eine interpretierende phänomenologische Studie
Authors: Moser Michaela , Jeitziner Marie-Madlen , Spichiger Elisabeth
Published: August 2018

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Patientinnen und Patienten mit einer chronisch kritischen Erkrankung (chronic critical illness = CCI) sind Personen, welche nach einer lebensbedrohlichen, akuten Erkrankung längerfristig auf lebensunterstützende Therapien auf der Intensivstation angewiesen sind. Dort sind sie über lange Zeit vielen physischen und psychischen Belastungen ausgesetzt. Ein kaum untersuchtes, häufiges und belastendes Symptom ist Angst. Ziel: Mit der Studie sollte ein Einblick in das Angsterleben erwachsener Patientinnen und Patienten, welche während des Intensivstation-Aufenthaltes eine CCI entwickelten, gewonnen werden. Methode: Ein interpretierender phänomenologischer Ansatz wurde verwendet. In einem iterativen Prozess wurden die Daten aus leitfadengestützten Interviews von sieben Teilnehmenden analysiert. Ergebnisse: Die intensiven Angsterfahrungen der Teilnehmenden gingen mit ihrem Bewusstseinszustand einher: Ängste in einer anderen Wirklichkeit, Angst durch Albträume, Angst beim ersten Erwachen und Ängste der wachen Patientinnen und Patienten. Angst war häufig mit Gefühlen wie Ohnmacht, Verlorensein, Unsicherheit, Hilflosigkeit und Ungewissheit gekoppelt. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse der Studie lassen vermuten, dass anwesende Personen, vor allem Pflegefachpersonen, zum Teil Einfluss auf das Angsterleben der Patientinnen und Patienten mit CCI haben können. Das Wissen aus dieser Studie kann Gesundheitsfachleute sensibilisieren, diese Patientinnen und Patienten entsprechend aufmerksam zu betreuen und Angst wahrzunehmen.
Bayesian Regional Flood Frequency Analysis for Large Catchments
Authors: Thorarinsdottir Thordis L. , Hellton Kristoffer H. , Steinbakk Gunnhildur H. , Schlichting Lena , Engeland Kolbjørn
Published: August 2018

Regional flood frequency analysis is commonly applied in situations where there exists insufficient data at a location for a reliable estimation of flood quantiles. We develop a Bayesian hierarchical modeling framework for a regional analysis of data from 203 large catchments in Norway with the generalized extreme value distribution as the underlying model. Generalized linear models on the parameters of the generalized extreme value distribution are able to incorporate location‐specific geographic and meteorological information and thereby accommodate these effects on the flood quantiles. A Bayesian model averaging component additionally assesses model uncertainty in the effect of the proposed covariates. The resulting regional model is seen to give substantially better predictive performance than the regional model currently used in Norway.
Depth‐Dependent Thermal Stress Around Corals in the Tropical Pacific Ocean
Authors: Schramek T. A. , Colin P. L. , Merrifield M. A. , Terrill E. J.
Published: August 2018

Thermally driven bleaching events are a growing concern for reef ecosystems across the tropics. To assess and predict thermal stress impacts on reefs, remotely observed sea surface temperature (SST) commonly is used; however, reef communities typically extend to depths where SST alone may not be an accurate measure of in situ variability. Here nearly two decades of temperature observations (2‐ to 90‐m depth) at three stations around Palau are used to develop an empirical model of temperature variability versus depth based on SST and sea level anomaly (SLA). The technique yields depth‐averaged R2 values >0.88, with SLA predicting fore reef temperatures near the thermocline and SST capturing upper mixed layer temperatures. SLA complements SST by providing a proxy for vertical isotherm displacements driven by local and remote winds on intraseasonal to interannual time scales. Utilizing this concept, thermal stress on corals can be predicted from the surface through the mesophotic zone.
Geometrical and Frictional Effects on Incomplete Rupture and Shallow Slip Deficit in Ramp‐Flat Structures
Authors: Li Shaoyang , Barnhart William D. , Moreno Marcos
Published: August 2018

Several recent moderate‐magnitude (Mw > 7) earthquakes, such as the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, ruptured only the deep (>15 km depth) portions of megathrust faults, leaving the updip sections unbroken. Here we investigate the effects of geometrical and frictional variations at depth on the stress accumulation and release in ramp‐flat structures using 2‐D finite element models. Our results show that ramp‐flat structures allow for faster but lower shear stress accumulation with increasing dip of the deep ramp section while increasing frictional strength of the faults allows more stress accumulation. These factors lead to earlier yet smaller failures of the ramp followed by larger and less frequent failures affecting the shallow section. Our models thus suggest that the dynamics of strain reservoirs are related to both the frictional strength and dips of ramp‐flat megathrust structures, and the failure time of the shallow fault section is affected by the stress regime at the deep fault segment.
Seasonal Meandering of the Polar Front Upstream of the Kerguelen Plateau
Authors: Pauthenet E. , Roquet F. , Madec G. , Guinet C. , Hindell M. , McMahon C. R. , Harcourt R. , Nerini D.
Published: August 2018

The location of the Antarctic Polar Front (PF) is mapped in the Southern Indian Ocean by decomposing the shape of temperature and salinity profiles into vertical modes using a functional Principal Component Analysis. We define the PF as the northernmost minimum of temperature at the subsurface and represent it as a linear combination of the first three modes. This method is applied on an ocean reanalysis data set and on in situ observations, revealing a seasonal variability of the PF latitudinal position that is most pronounced between the Conrad Rise and the Kerguelen Plateau. This shift coincides with variations in the transport across the Northern Kerguelen Plateau. We suggest that seasonal changes of the upper stratification may drive the observed variability of the PF, with potentially large implications for the pathways and residence time of water masses over the plateau and the phytoplankton bloom extending southeast of the Kerguelen Islands.
North Atlantic Natural Variability Modulates Emergence of Widespread Greenland Melt in a Warming Climate
Authors: Hahn L. , Ummenhofer C. C. , Kwon Y.‐O.
Published: August 2018

Record‐breaking melt over Greenland in recent decades is linked not only to climate change but also to natural variability, including persistent atmospheric high‐pressure conditions in the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation and warm North Atlantic Ocean temperatures during the positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation. However, the relative importance of natural variability for Greenland melt under varying degrees of greenhouse forcing is still unclear. Using reanalysis data and a large ensemble of climate model simulations, we find that a negative North Atlantic Oscillation and positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation consistently promote heightened summer melt under various forcing conditions. Moreover, timing of widespread 21st century Greenland melt varies considerably between ensemble members due to different phasing of these modes of natural variability. These results indicate the importance of natural modes of variability across a range of external forcing conditions for interannual melt variability and the emergence of widespread Greenland melt.
Seismic Imaging of the North American Midcontinent Rift Using S‐to‐P Receiver Functions
Authors: Chichester Ben , Rychert Catherine , Harmon Nicholas , van der Lee Suzan , Frederiksen Andrew , Zhang Hao
Published: August 2018

North America's ~1.1‐Ga failed Midcontinent Rift (MCR) is a striking feature of gravity and magnetic anomaly maps across the continent. However, how the rift affected the underlying lithosphere is not well understood. With data from the Superior Province Rifting Earthscope Experiment and the USArray Transportable Array, we constrain three‐dimensional seismic velocity discontinuity structure in the lithosphere beneath the southwestward arm of the MCR using S‐to‐P receiver functions. We image a velocity increase with depth associated with the Moho at depths of 33–40 ± 4 km, generally deepening toward the east. The Moho amplitude decreases beneath the rift axis in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where the velocity gradient is more gradual, possibly due to crustal underplating. We see hints of a deeper velocity increase at 61 ± 4‐km depth that may be the base of underplating. Beneath the rift axis further south in Iowa, we image two distinct positive phases at 34–39 ± 4 and 62–65 ± 4 km likely related to an altered Moho and an underplated layer. We image velocity decreases with depth at depths of 90–190 ± 7 km in some locations that do not geographically correlate with the rift. These include a discontinuity at depths of 90–120 ± 7 km with a northerly dip in the south that abruptly deepens to 150–190 ± 7 km across the Spirit Lake Tectonic Zone provincial suture. The negative phases may represent a patchy, frozen‐in midlithosphere discontinuity feature that likely predates the MCR and/or be related to lithospheric thickness.
Coupled Summer Circulation and Dynamics Between a Bay and the Adjacent Shelf Around Hong Kong: Observational and Modeling Studies
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Gan Jianping , Wu Xiaoyan
Published: August 2018

Observational and numerical modeling studies are conducted to investigate the coupled circulation between Mirs Bay to the east of Hong Kong and the adjacent shelf sea during an upwelling season. Long‐ and short‐term observations are synthesized to characterize the circulations in the bay‐shelf region. A three‐dimensional‐coupled bay‐shelf‐estuary circulation model was developed with realistic topography and forced with time‐dependent wind, tides, and lateral fluxes to investigate the processes and physics in the circulation of the coupled bay‐shelf regime. Based on the validated model, it was found that a strong northeastward coastal upwelling jet persisted over the shelf with highly variable topography outside the bay, and a strong upslope current occurred where the topography was sharply convex. This upslope current intruded into the bay in the lower layer (>10 m) as a cold‐water stream. A horizontal anticyclonic circulation formed inside the bay with a seaward outflow in the upper layer (<10 m). Momentum and vorticity analyses showed that a southwestward along‐isobath pressure gradient force over the convex isobaths off the bay intensified that bay‐ward intrusion. Negative relative vorticity advection from the jet was responsible for this pressure gradient force. The horizontal anticyclonic circulation and elevation fluctuation inside the bay were determined by the interaction between the intruding shelf current and the topographic trough inside the bay, and they were also baroclinically modulated by the intrusion of denser shelf waters. Winds over Mirs Bay intensified exchange flow across its entrance but suppressed the anticyclonic circulation inside the bay.
Leader Polarity‐Reversal Feature and Charge Structure of Three Upward Bipolar Lightning Flashes
Authors: Shi Dongdong , Wang Daohong , Wu Ting , Thomas Ronald J. , Edens Harald E. , Rison William , Takagi Nobuyuki , Krehbiel Paul R.
Published: August 2018

We have analyzed three upward bipolar lightning flashes (UBLFs) that occurred in Japanese winter thunderstorms. Leader polarity‐reversal processes in three flashes share the same features. During the several tens of milliseconds (lightning A 56 ms, lightning B 21 ms, lightning C 67 ms) before the initiation of the polarity‐reversal leader, one branch of the preceding leader in bipolar flashes was nearly decayed while other branches of the preceding leader were still in propagation. Then the polarity‐reversal leader will be initiated at the end of the decayed branch of the preceding leader. Initial sources of the polarity‐reversal leader are characterized by relatively strong very high frequency power (average value in lightning A, B, and C 24, 18, and 14 dBW) and obvious upward progression. Two of the three upward lightning (lightning A and B) occurred at a normal dipolar charge structure, while the remaining one (lightning C) occurred at an inverted dipolar charge structure. Based on the common features of the polarity‐reversal leader and charge structure, we have proposed a scenario to interpret the process of upward bipolar lightning flashes.
Comparing Seven Variants of the Ensemble Kalman Filter: How Many Synthetic Experiments Are Needed?
Authors: Keller Johannes , Hendricks Franssen Harrie‐Jan , Marquart Gabriele
Published: August 2018

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) is a popular estimation technique in the geosciences. It is used as a numerical tool for state vector prognosis and parameter estimation. The EnKF can, for example, help to evaluate the geothermal potential of an aquifer. In such applications, the EnKF is often used with small or medium ensemble sizes. It is therefore of interest to characterize the EnKF behavior for these ensemble sizes. For seven ensemble sizes (50, 70, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, and 2,000) and seven EnKF variants (damped, iterative, local, hybrid, dual, normal score, and classical EnKF), we computed 1,000 synthetic parameter estimation experiments for two setups: a 2‐D tracer transport problem and a 2‐D flow problem with one injection well. For each model, the only difference among synthetic experiments was the generated set of random permeability fields. The 1,000 synthetic experiments allow to calculate the probability density function of the root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of the characterization of the permeability field. Comparing mean RMSEs for different EnKF variants, ensemble sizes and flow/transport setups suggests that multiple synthetic experiments are needed for a solid performance comparison. In this work, 10 synthetic experiments were needed to correctly distinguish RMSE differences between EnKF variants smaller than 10%. For detecting RMSE differences smaller than 2%, 100 synthetic experiments were needed for ensemble sizes 50, 70, 100, and 250. The overall ranking of the EnKF variants is strongly dependent on the physical model setup and the ensemble size.
Author Correction: Interrupting oral infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis with anti-FimA antibody attenuates bacterial dissemination to the arthritic joint and improves experimental arthritis
Authors: Jeong Sang Hoon , Nam Yoojun , Jung Hyerin , Kim Juryun , Rim Yeri Alice , Park Narae , Lee Kijun , Choi Seungjin , Jang Yeonsue , Kim Yena , Moon Ji-Hoi , Jung Seung Min , Park Sung-Hwan , Ju Ji Hyeon
Published: August 2018

After online publication of this article, the authors noticed an error in the Figure section. The correct statement of this article should have read as below.
In situ development of a methanotrophic microbiome in deep-sea sediments
Authors: Ruff S E , Felden J , Gruber-Vodicka H R , Marcon Y , Knittel K , Ramette A , Boetius A
Published: August 2018

Emission of the greenhouse gas methane from the seabed is globally controlled by marine aerobic and anaerobic methanotrophs gaining energy via methane oxidation. However, the processes involved in the assembly and dynamics of methanotrophic populations in complex natural microbial communities remain unclear. Here we investigated the development of a methanotrophic microbiome following subsurface mud eruptions at Håkon Mosby mud volcano (1250 m water depth). Freshly erupted muds hosted deep-subsurface communities that were dominated by Bathyarchaeota, Atribacteria and Chloroflexi. Methanotrophy was initially limited to a thin surface layer of Methylococcales populations consuming methane aerobically. With increasing distance to the eruptive center, anaerobic methanotrophic archaea, sulfate-reducing Desulfobacterales and thiotrophic Beggiatoaceae developed, and their respective metabolic capabilities dominated the biogeochemical functions of the community. Microbial richness, evenness, and cell numbers of the entire microbial community increased up to tenfold within a few years downstream of the mud flow from the eruptive center. The increasing diversity was accompanied by an up to fourfold increase in sequence abundance of relevant metabolic genes of the anaerobic methanotrophic and thiotrophic guilds. The communities fundamentally changed in their structure and functions as reflected in the metagenome turnover with distance from the eruptive center, and this was reflected in the biogeochemical zonation across the mud volcano caldera. The observed functional succession provides a framework for the response time and recovery of complex methanotrophic communities after disturbances of the deep-sea bed.
Association between amygdala neurokinin-1 receptor availability and anxiety-related personality traits
Authors: Hoppe Johanna M. , Frick Andreas , Åhs Fredrik , Linnman Clas , Appel Lieuwe , Jonasson My , Lubberink Mark , Långström Bengt , Frans Örjan , von Knorring Lars , Fredrikson Mats , Furmark Tomas
Published: August 2018

Animal studies indicate that substance P (SP) and its preferred neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor modulate stress and anxiety-related behavior. Alterations in the SP-NK1 system have also been observed in human anxiety disorders, yet little is known about the relation between this system and individual differences in personality traits associated with anxiety propensity and approach-avoidance behavior, including trait anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion. Exploring this relation could provide important insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of human anxiety and the etiology of anxiety disorders, as anxious traits are associated with increased susceptibility to develop psychopathological conditions. Here we examined the relationship between central NK1 receptor availability and self-rated measures of trait anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion. The amygdala was chosen as the primary region of interest since this structure has been suggested to mediate the effect of the SP-NK1 system on anxiety. Anxious traits and NK1 receptor availability, determined with positron emission tomography and the radiotracer [11C]GR205171, were measured in 17 healthy individuals. Voxel-wise analyses showed a significant positive correlation between bilateral amygdala NK1 receptor availability and trait anxiety, and a trend in similar direction was observed for neuroticism. Conversely, extraversion was found to be negatively associated with amygdala NK1 receptor availability. Extraversion also correlated negatively with the NK1 measure in the cuneus/precuneus and fusiform gyrus according to exploratory whole-brain analyses. In conclusion, our findings indicate that amygdala NK1 receptor availability is associated with anxiety-related personality traits in healthy subjects, consistent with a modulatory role for the SP-NK1 system in human anxiety.
DJ-1 promotes colorectal cancer progression through activating PLAGL2/Wnt/BMP4 axis
Authors: Zhou Jing , Liu Hao , Zhang Lian , Liu Xin , Zhang Chundong , Wang Yitao , He Qing , Zhang Ying , Li Yi , Chen Quanmei , Zhang Lu , Wang Kui , Bu Youquan , Lei Yunlong
Published: August 2018

Metastasis remains a big barrier for the clinical treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Our previous proteomics analysis identified DJ-1 as a potential metastasis biomarker of CRC. In this study, we found that DJ-1 was upregulated in CRC. The levels of DJ-1 were closely correlated with the depths of invasion and predicted patient outcome. Enforced expression of DJ-1 could enhance CRC proliferation and metastasis in vitro and in vivo by stimulating Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Specifically, DJ-1-induced β-catenin nuclear translocation stimulated TCF transcription activity, which promoted BMP4 expression for CRC cell migration and invasion, and elevated CCND1 expression for CRC cell proliferation, respectively. Furthermore, DJ-1-induced Wnt signaling activation was dependent on PLAGL2 expression. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that DJ-1 can promote CRC metastasis by activating PLAGL2–Wnt–BMP4 axis, suggesting novel therapeutic opportunities for postoperative adjuvant therapy in CRC patients.
The expression and function of RASAL2 in renal cell carcinoma angiogenesis
Authors: Hui Ke , Yue Yangyang , Wu Shiqi , Gu Yanan , Guan Bing , Wang Xinyang , Hsieh Jer-Tsong , Chang Luke S. , He Dalin , Wu Kaijie
Published: August 2018

Patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often develop resistance to antivascular drugs and eventually succumb to disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that RASAL2, a RAS GTPase-activating protein, played a tumor-suppressive role in RCC by targeting tumor angiogenesis. Firstly, we showed that RASAL2 was frequently epigenetically silenced in RCC, and its loss was negatively correlated with overall survival of RCC patients. Furthermore, we discovered that RASAL2 could inhibit RCC angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified that RASAL2 could activate GSK3β by reducing Ser9 phosphorylation and subsequently decrease the expression of c-FOS and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). Interruption of the p-GSK3β/c-FOS pathway with the specific inhibitor or small interfering RNA could reverse the expression of VEGFA, which may provide a new insight to prevent RCC from resistance to antivascular therapy.