bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fecal Immunochemical Testing for Colorectal Cancer Prevention in Two Public Hospitals
Authors: Gong Changlin , Rojas Maria Teresa Medina , Guerrero Maria Gabriela Rubianes , Kladas Michail , Mousakhanian Arameh , Sudan Aarushi , Johnson Adejoke , Cartmill Kimberly , Sydney Elana , Kotler Donald P.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is highly effective in reducing colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality, but patient adherence to the screening process remains questionable. We present preliminary findings from a quality improvement (QI) initiative, in order to assess screening adherence and findings.

Methods

All FIT specimens in a 30-month period were retrospectively examined. Patients with positive results were included, and information was collected via electronic medical record, including QI measures such as colonoscopy completion and findings. All data were de-identified. Patients were divided into “asymptomatic group” and “symptomatic group” based on clinical manifestations. Adherence and findings were analyzed.

Results

FIT results were positive in 174 out of 2400 specimens. Colonoscopy was performed in 47.6% of all FIT-positive cases after a median interval of 5.5 (interquartile range, IQR 3–10) months, with 10% having CRC, 51.3% having adenomas, and 17.5% having advanced adenomas. Of all nine patients who had CRC, seven were in the symptomatic group. All five advanced cancers were found in the symptomatic group. Patients who actually completed colonoscopy were significantly younger than those who did not (median 61.5 years, IQR 56.5–69 years, vs. 64.5 years, IQR 59–71 years, P = 0.048). Patient-related reasons, primarily refusal, accounted for 65.9% of unperformed colonoscopies. No significant difference was found in adherence and yield between asymptomatic and symptomatic groups.

Conclusion

Prevalence of colorectal adenomas and cancers is high in FIT-positive patients. A substantial number of CRCs and potentially preventable CRCs must have been missed because of low adherence rate, especially in older patients. Improving adherence to CRC screening in public hospitals requires enhanced patient engagement.
Function limitations and depressive symptoms among older couples in China: the moderating role of intergenerational support
Authors: Wangliu Yi-Qi , Li Xu-Hong
Published: February 2025

Limitations in performing basic daily activities can adversely affect the mental health of couples. This study aimed to examine the relationships between activity limitations and depressive symptoms among coupled individuals, as well as whether these relationships are moderated by the receipt of intergenerational support. We adopted a within-person analytical framework to analyze cross-sectional household data from the 2020 wave of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), comprising a dyad sample of 3,578 aged 55 years or older. The results demonstrated that the functional limitations of one spouse were positively associated with depressive symptoms experienced by both spouses. Notably, emotional support received from adult children was found to moderate the relationship between wives’ functional limitations and depressive symptoms for both wives and husbands. The provision of emotional support from adult children may influence the relationship between functional limitations and depressive symptoms among older couples, potentially mitigating the risk of depression. Interventions designed to enhance older couples’ capacity to provide effective care amid disabilities, while also facilitating the receipt of support from adult children when necessary, could yield significant health benefits for both spouses.
Inhibitors and Enablers of Leverage in Digital Industrial Platform Ecosystems
Authors: Pauli Tobias , Marx Emanuel , Fielt Erwin , Marheine Christian , Matzner Martin
Published: February 2025

Digital platforms have demonstrated their disruptive power across various domains, and an increasing number of manufacturing firms have embarked on establishing digital industrial platforms for emerging technologies like the Industrial Internet of Things. Given the technical and organizational complexity of digital industrial platforms, the ways in which complementors can create value by interacting and engaging with them may differ for these platforms. Drawing on a case study conducted at a large multinational platform provider, the article explores how complementors can use digital industrial platforms to their advantage. To this end, the study adopts the concept of leverage, which refers to the ability of platform ecosystems to exert a significant degree of impact that is disproportionate to the input required. The findings indicate that complementors currently primarily benefit from production leverage, utilizing the platform as a technological foundation for individual solutions. However, the utilization of the platform as a marketplace for innovative and generically distributable applications that benefit from innovation and transaction leverage is limited. This is due to a variety of inhibitors, which the platform owner tries to mitigate via enablers through deliberate governance in the form of boundary resources. By unveiling domain-specific manifestations, inhibitors, and enablers across different types of leverage, the study contextualizes leverage within the domain of digital industrial platforms and stresses the need for adopting platform and ecosystem thinking and providing relational governance mechanisms. In addition, it extends the notion of architectural leverage by emphasizing the leveraging ecosystem and its governance through the deliberate orchestration of complementor engagement and underscoring ecosystem leverage based on value co-creation and coordination.
Phenotyping to predict 12-month health outcomes of older general medicine patients
Authors: Woodman Richard John , Bryant Kimberly , Sorich Michael J. , Thompson Campbell H. , Russell Patrick , Pilotto Alberto , Mangoni Aleksander A.
Published: February 2025

Background

A variety of unsupervised learning algorithms have been used to phenotype older patients, enabling directed care and personalised treatment plans. However, the ability of the clusters to accurately discriminate for the risk of older patients, may vary depending on the methods employed.

Aims

To compare seven clustering algorithms in their ability to develop patient phenotypes that accurately predict health outcomes.

Methods

Data was collected for N = 737 older medical inpatients during their hospital stay for five different types of medical data (ICD-10 codes, ATC drug codes, laboratory, clinic and frailty data). We trialled five unsupervised learning algorithms (K-means, K-modes, hierarchical clustering, latent class analysis (LCA), and DBSCAN) and two graph-based approaches to create separate clusters for each method and datatype. These were used as input for a random forest classifier to predict eleven health outcomes: mortality at one, three, six and 12 months, in-hospital falls and delirium, length-of-stay, outpatient visits, and readmissions at one, three and six months.

Results

The overall median area-under-the-curve (AUC) across the eleven outcomes for the seven methods were (from highest to lowest) 0.758 (hierarchical), 0.739 (K-means), 0.722 (KG-Louvain), 0.704 (KNN-Louvain), 0.698 (LCA), 0.694 (DBSCAN) and 0.656 (K-modes). Overall, frailty data was most important data type for predicting mortality, ICD-10 disease codes for predicting readmissions, and laboratory data the most important for predicting falls.

Conclusions

Clusters created using hierarchical, K-means and Louvain community detection algorithms identified well-separated patient phenotypes that were consistently associated with age-related adverse health outcomes. Frailty data was the most valuable data type for predicting most health outcomes.
Treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis with recombinant human parathyroid hormone and electromagnetic field
Authors: Xuan Miao , Wang Bo , Bi Wanrong , Li Ying , Song Lige , Xie Zhuangli , Liu Qi , Zhang Xiuzhen
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect of electromagnetic field (EMF) combined with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (rhPTH) on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover indicators in postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) patients.

Methods

A total of 336 PMOP patients were randomly assigned into three groups: EMF + rhPTH group (n = 115), rhPTHx group (n = 113) and EMF group (n = 108). The lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs were measured before treatment and at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment. Blood calcium, bone alkaline phosphatase (BSAP), type I procollagen N-terminal peptide (PINP), and type I collagen C-terminal peptide/creatinine ratio (CTX/Cr) levels were measured before treatment and at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment.

Results

The lumbar spine BMD was significantly increased at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment, and the neck BMD was increased markedly at 18 months in both EMF + rhPTH group and rhPTH group as compared to those before treatment. There was significant difference in the lumbar spine BMD between EMF + rhPTH group and EMF group and between rhPTH group and EMF group at 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment. In the EMF + rhPTH group, at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment, blood calcium level was increased by 5.2%, 2.8%, 2.7%, and 3.1%, respectively; BASP level was increased by 80.9%, 120.3%, 84.1%, and 67.7%, respectively; PINP level was increased by 65.4%, 79.7%, 89.7%, and 74.5%, respectively; CTX/Cr was increased by 80.9%, 120.3%, 84.1%, and 67.7%, respectively; the bone metabolism indicators were markedly higher than those before treatment. In the rhPTH group, at 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after treatment, blood calcium level was increased by 5.1%, 3.3%, 3.0%, and 2.1%, respectively; BSAP level was increased by 51.6%, 81.4%, 101.1% and 56.3% respectively; PINP level was increased by 48.5%, 69.8%, 80.7% and 70.5% respectively; CTX/Cr was increased by 29.8%, 29.9%, 55.7%, and 44.8% respectively; the bone turnover indicators were significantly different from those before treatment (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The combination of EMF and rhPTH can significantly improve the bone turnover and BMD of PMOP patients, and may serve as a clinical treatment of PMOP.
Collaborative movement characteristics of overlying rock and loose layer based on block–particle discrete-element simulation method
Authors: Ren Zhaopeng , Zhang Cun , Wang Yongle , Yang Shengli , Li Quansheng
Published: February 2025

A novel block–particle discrete-element simulation method that matches the double medium of overlying rock (OLR) and loose layer (LSL) in coal mining is developed in this study. This method achieves the collaborative failure characteristics of mining damage under the conduction of double media between the OLR and LSL by combining the self-weight stress loading of the LSL and the breakage morphology of the bedrock top. Based on this, the conduction law of high-strength mining damage in the double medium in a western mining area is simulated and analyzed. The combining effect of the OLR breakage morphology and LSL characteristics on the surface-subsidence characteristics is analyzed and verified based on on-site measurements. The results indicate that the OLR is guided by the “double-control layer and thick-soft rock buffer layer” and shows “grouping subsidence”, whereas the surface forms collaborative subsidence with the thick-soft rock buffer layer. In the ultra-full mining stage, the surface presents an “asymmetric inverted trapezoidal” subsidence trough shape. The simulation results agree well the on-site measurements in terms of the surface-subsidence and bedrock-subsidence coefficients. The proposed simulation method provides a scientific approach for investigating the micro-conduction mechanism of mining damage under the effect of high-strength mining in western mining areas. It will benefit future investigations pertaining to the characteristics of OLR breakage and surface subsidence under conditions such as LSL thickness and proportion.
Generalized estimation and information
Authors: Vos Paul W. , Wu Qiang
Published: February 2025

This paper extends the idea of a generalized estimator for a scalar parameter (Vos in Inform Geom 7:151–170, 2022) to multi-dimensional parameters both with and without nuisance parameters. The title reflects the fact that generalized estimators provide more than simply another method to find point estimators, and that the methods to assess generalized estimators differ from those for point estimators. By generalized estimation we mean the use of generalized estimators together with an extended definition of information to assess their inferential properties. We show that Fisher information provides an upper bound for the information utilized by an estimator and that the score attains this bound. This optimality result provides theoretical justification for likelihood-based inference, effectively narrowing the search for optimal estimators when the score is computationally feasible.
Lettera amorosa
Authors: Giles Roseen
Published: February 2025

In early modern Italy, letters were not only written and read but, in some cases, sung. Musical settings of love letters rekindled a complex kind of vocality which was rooted in the letters of antiquity and endured in the musical sub-genre of the lettera amorosa. Epistolary poetry served to transform, or, to echo Achillini's lettera set by Monteverdi (1567–1643), to 'distill' a lover's thoughts and emotions into verse, and the music that set it was equally transformative. The history of musical letters spans several centuries. It begins in the early sixteenth with a setting of Ovid's Heroides by Tromboncino; returns in the early seventeenth through the lettere amorose of Monteverdi, D'India, and Frescobaldi; and ends with epistolary cantatas by Carissimi, Melani, and Domenico Scarlatti. This Element traces the breadth and significance of the musical love letter with a focus on the provocative lettere amorose of the seventeenth century.
Political Responsibility and Tech Governance
Authors: Browne Jude
Published: February 2025

Not a day goes by without a new story on the perils of technology: from increasingly clever machines that surpass human capability and comprehension to genetic technologies capable of altering the human genome in ways we cannot predict. How can we respond? What should we do politically? Focusing on the rise of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), and the impact of new reproductive and genetic technologies (Repro-tech), Jude Browne questions who has political responsibility for the structural impacts of these technologies and how we might go about preparing for the far-reaching societal changes they may bring. This thought-provoking book tackles some of the most pressing issues of our time and offers a compelling vision for how we can respond to these challenges in a way that is both politically feasible and socially responsible.
When does the elastic regime begin in viscoelastic pinch-off?
Authors: Gaillard A. , Herrada M.A. , Deblais A. , van Poelgeest C. , Laruelle L. , Eggers J. , Bonn D.
Published: February 2025

In this experimental and numerical study, we revisit the question of the onset of the elastic regime in viscoelastic pinch-off. This is relevant to all modern filament thinning techniques, which aim to measure the extensional properties of low-viscosity polymer solutions. Examples are the slow retraction method (SRM) for capillary breakup extensional rheometry (CaBER), or the dripping method, in which a drop detaches from a nozzle. As part of these techniques, a stable liquid bridge is brought slowly to its stability threshold, where capillary-driven thinning starts. This thinning slows down dramatically at a critical radius

$h_1$

, marking the onset of the elasto-capillary regime, characterised by a filament of nearly uniform radius. While a theoretical scaling exists for this transition in the case of the classical step-strain CaBER protocol, where polymer chains stretch without relaxing during the fast plate separation, we show that this theory is not necessarily valid for a slow protocol such as the SRM. In that case, polymer chains start stretching (beyond their equilibrium coiled configuration) only when the bridge thinning rate becomes comparable to the inverse of their relaxation time. We derive a universal scaling for

$h_1$

, valid for both low- and high-viscosity polymer solutions. This scaling is validated by CaBER experiments with a slow plate separation protocol using different polymer solutions, plate diameters and sample volumes, as well as by numerical simulations using the FENE-P model.
Tellurium and Mercury in Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene Sediments as Proxies for Volcanic Activity in the Deccan and North Atlantic Large Igneous Provinces
Authors: Baumann Nils Björn , Regelous Marcel , Adatte Thierry , Regelous Anette , Haase Karsten M. , Khozyem Hassan
Published: February 2025

Late Maastrichtian to Early Eocene sediments from Wadi Nukhul, Egypt were deposited between about 67 and 55.5 Ma during the eruption of the Deccan Traps and the North Atlantic Igneous Province (NAIP). We use Te and Hg as proxies for volcanism to constrain the timing of flood basalt volcanism relative to environmental perturbations and extinction events during this period. We find enrichment in Te in the latest Maastrichtian and earliest Danian and in the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene, which result from enhanced volcanic input of Te. An increase in volcanic Te during the Late Maastrichtian coincides with the Late Maastrichtian Warming Event. A second larger peak in Te begins about 120–80 kyr before the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) and continues into the Danian, with highest values about 70–30 kyr prior to the KPB, potentially related to eruptions of the voluminous Deccan Wai subgroup. The Chicxulub impact, therefore, did not trigger these eruptions, and Deccan volcanism likely led to climate instability, which may have amplified the environmental effects of the impact. A 6 Myr period of low Te during the Paleocene is followed by an increase in Te starting at 57.5 Ma and peaking at the Paleocene‐Eocene boundary (PEB; 56 Ma) during the opening of the North Atlantic and the highest eruptive rates of the NAIP. In contrast, Hg variations over the same time period are less systematic. Our results show that Te in sediments may be a robust proxy, complementary to Hg, for large volcanic events.
Percolation of Dioritic Melts Through Ultramafic Cumulate Mushes Forms High‐Mg Intermediate Igneous Rocks
Authors: Xu Wei , Wang Qing , Weinberg Roberto F. , Zhu Di‐Cheng , Tian Shi‐Hong
Published: February 2025

Percolation of dioritic melts through ultramafic cumulate mushes and their reaction and hybridization have been documented in some arcs, but the impact of the processes on the compositions of arc igneous rocks is not yet fully understood. Here, we investigate the petrogenesis of meladiorites from the ca. 200 Ma Cuijiu Igneous Complex in the eastern Gangdese Arc, southern Tibet. The meladiorites are pervasively intruded by normal diorite dykes and show geochemical affinities with high‐Mg intermediate igneous rocks, and their amphibole is characterized by low‐Mg core and high‐Mg rim. Our new data, together with published data, demonstrate that the meladiorites resulted from hybridization of an ultramafic cumulate mush (∼30%–∼50%) with percolating normal dioritic melts (∼50%–∼70%), and that dissolution‐crystallization and chemical diffusion dominated the hybridization. We propose that percolation of dioritic melts through ultramafic cumulate mushes is a viable way to form hybrid high‐Mg intermediate igneous rocks.
The May 2024 Flood Disaster in Southern Brazil: Causes, Impacts, and SWOT‐Based Volume Estimation
Authors: Simoes‐Sousa Iury T. , Camargo Carolina M. L. , Tavora Juliana , Piffer‐Braga Agata , Farrar J. Thomas , Pavelsky Tamlin M.
Published: February 2025

In May 2024, southern Brazil experienced a severe flood that caused widespread devastation, particularly in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre. This disaster resulted from a rare combination of atmospheric conditions: a heatwave stalled a cold front, leading to prolonged and intense rainfall. The flood claimed 183 lives, left 27 missing, and displaced many more. Notably, the flood's peak coincided with satellite observations from both SWOT and Sentinel‐2, providing a valuable snapshot of the disaster. To assess the flood's scope, and volume, we integrate these satellite data with FABDEM topography. SWOT's water height measurements, evaluated with in situ data, underscore its flood monitoring potential. The estimated floodwater volume was 1.5 billion . While primarily damaging croplands, the flood directly affected 420,000 individuals in the study region, with 16% identified as socially vulnerable. These findings offer insights into floodwater distribution and contribute to future flood dynamics research, mitigation strategies, and disaster preparedness.
Precursory Locking Precedes Slip Events on Laboratory Fault
Authors: Steinhardt Will , Brodsky Emily E.
Published: February 2025

Earthquakes occur through repeated cycles of locking and slip. What is the relationship between transiently locked patches and the size, location, and timing of the subsequent slip events? Here we use an experimental fault made of transparent rubber to image the slip history of over 18,000 events. The soft elastic system allows for contained ruptures and thus a natural evolution of stress heterogeneity over multiple earthquake cycles. We observe a precursory locking phase preceding slip nucleation for events of all sizes. The integrated locking distance increases linearly with the moment of the eventual event. The most intense (largest slip deficit) locking events are spatially and temporally correlated with the hypocenters of the largest rupture events. These results show that the transient locking is statistically, but not deterministically, predictive of the location, timing, and size of the eventual slip event.
Cascading Erosion in the Tide‐Dominated Changjiang Delta: A Novel Radionuclide Approach
Authors: Wu Yijing , Fan Daidu , Su Jianfeng
Published: February 2025

Nearshore erosion is well‐documented in sediment‐deficit river deltas but remains less understood beyond their delta front (DF), particularly its extension to the deeper prodelta (PD) and distal mud (DM). This study investigates the response of Changjiang subaqueous delta and its DM to sediment decline following the 2003 closure of the Three Gorges Dam. By analyzing temporal and spatial variations in 210Pbex profile styles, discrepancies between 210Pb and 137Cs sediment accumulation rates, and surface sediment grain sizes, we identified the onset of erosion at the DF shortly after 2003, which spread to the PD by 2009 and reached the northern DM by 2015. By tracking the burial depths of the 1963 137Cs peak, we found progressively lower erosion rates in newly eroded subzones primarily due to sediment redistribution. This study, leveraging historical radionuclides data, offers a valuable approach for monitoring erosion in areas lacking remote sensing detection and historical bathymetric data.
Water/Methane Two‐Phase Flow in the SiO2 Nanoslit Can Be Well Described via the Deformed Water Layer Model: A Molecular Simulation Study
Authors: Zheng Chao , Guo Guang‐Jun , Lu Cheng , Dong Yanhui , Peng Bo , Tang Wei , Han Bingyao
Published: February 2025

The intricate flow processes in nano‐pores pose limitations on the extraction of resources such as shale gas and gas hydrates. To observe water/gas two‐phase flow in nano‐pores, we employed molecular dynamics simulations on water/methane two‐phase flow in a hydrophilic SiO2 nanoslit, and obtained high‐quality data by applying the “pump method” and “nano‐manometer.” This study revealed the variation in phase distribution during flow process, and assessed the impact of water phase distribution on methane gas flow. We proposed the “Deformed Water Layer (DWL) model” based on physical mechanisms, which can precisely describe methane relative permeability and forecast the critical water saturation for forming water lock. Our results suggest a two‐stage transition in methane gas permeability with increasing water saturation within nano‐pores, governed by spatial deformation of water phase. This phenomenon underscores that maintaining a reduced groundwater saturation is imperative to facilitate superior gas permeability and enhance recovery efficacy.
A 3‐D FDTD Methodology for Modeling the Propagation of VLF Whistler Mode PLHR Waves Through the Ionosphere
Authors: Pedgaonkar A. S. , Simpson J. J. , Jensen E. A.
Published: February 2025

The finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method was previously applied to high‐frequency electromagnetic wave propagation through 250 km of the F region of the ionosphere. That modeling approach was limited to electromagnetic wave propagation above the critical frequency of the ionospheric plasma, and it did not include the lower ionosphere layers or the top of the F‐region. This paper extends the previous modeling methodology to frequencies below the critical frequency of the plasma and to altitudes encompassing the ionosphere. The following changes to the previous work were required to generate this model: (a) the D, E and top of the F regions of the ionosphere were added; and (b) the perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary on the top side of the grid was replaced with a collisional plasma to prevent reflections. We apply this model to the study of extremely low frequency (ELF) and very low frequency (VLF) electric power line harmonic radiation (PLHR) through the ionosphere. The model is compared against analytical predictions and applied to PLHR propagation in polar, mid‐latitude and equatorial regions. Also, to further demonstrate the advantages of the grid‐based FDTD method, PLHR propagation through a polar cap patch with inhomogeneities is studied. The presented modeling methodology may be applied to additional scenarios in a straightforward manner and can serve as a useful tool for better tracking and studying electromagnetic wave propagation through the ionosphere at any latitude and in the presence of irregularities of any size and shape.
“Polar” Substorms During Slow Solar Wind
Authors: Despirak I. V. , Kleimenova N. G. , Lubchich A. A. , Setsko P. V. , Malysheva L. M.
Published: February 2025

“Polar” substorms are identified as substorm‐like disturbances that are exclusively observed at high geomagnetic latitudes (>70° MLAT) and are absent at lower latitudes. Although “polar” substorms typically occur during periods of quiet geomagnetic activity, it is still unclear whether they can develop under extremely quiet conditions when geoeffective space weather parameters are exceptionally low. Utilizing data from the IMAGE network across the Svalbard archipelago within the longitudinal sector of (∼108–114 Mlong), we examined 92 “extremely quiet geomagnetic” intervals from 2010 to 2020, which were associated with intervals of extremely slow solar wind (ESSWs, V < 300 km/s). We discovered that “polar” substorms can occur during ESSWs, but only with the presence of a negative Bz component. A total of 32 such events were identified from 17 ESSW intervals (∼19% of all ESSW intervals). We found that “polar” substorms during ESSWs display the primary characteristics of ordinary substorms, including the accompaniment of Pi1B geomagnetic pulsations, positive subauroral or mid‐latitude magnetic bays, a poleward shift of the westward electrojet, and auroral activity during their expansion phase. Additionally, it was found that the majority of “polar” substorm events during ESSWs (∼82%) were isolated substorms, developing solely in the pre‐midnight sector without disturbances in other longitudinal sectors. Several “polar” substorm events have been examined in detail.
The Weakening and Poleward Migration of the Southeastern Front Associated With the South Indian Countercurrent From 1980 to 2023
Authors: Liang Weihao , Ding Siyuan , Wang Keyao , Long Shang‐Min , Liu Qinyu , Jin Yishuai , Xu Lixiao
Published: February 2025

The Southeast Indian Subantarctic Mode Water (SEISAMW), a thick water layer located between the seasonal and permanent pycnoclines, is important for climate variability in the Southern Ocean. However, its impact on long‐term changes of the Southeastern Front (SEF) associated with the South Indian Countercurrent has not been clearly revealed. By analyzing data from observations, objective products and an eddy resolving ocean general circulation model, the present study shows that the SEISAMW has shifted poleward (0.56° ± 0.12°) and weakened from 1980 to 2023, which causes the poleward migration (0.52° ± 0.12°) and weakening of the SEF in recent 44 years. The SEISAMW changes are associated with a significant shallowing and poleward shifting trend of the austral winter deep mixed layer in the Southeast Indian Ocean, as well as the poleward‐shifted SEISAMW's outcrop lines, all of which are mainly driven by the poleward migrated westerlies in recent decades.
Monthly Crop Water Consumption of Irrigated Crops in the United States From 1981 to 2019
Authors: Lamsal Gambhir , Marston Landon T.
Published: February 2025

Irrigated agriculture depends on surface water and groundwater, but we do not have a clear picture of how much water is consumed from these sources by different crops across the US over time. Current estimates of crop water consumption are insufficient in providing the spatial granularity and temporal depth required for comprehensive long‐term analysis. To fill this data gap, we utilized crop growth models to quantify the monthly crop water consumption ‐ distinguishing between rainwater, surface water, and groundwater ‐ of the 30 most widely irrigated crops in the US from 1981 to 2019 at 2.5 arc min. These 30 crops represent approximately 95% of US irrigated cropland. We found that the average annual total crop water consumption for these 30 irrigated crops in the US was 154.2 km3, 70% of which was from irrigation. Corn and alfalfa accounted for approximately 16.7 and 24.8 km3 of average annual blue crop water consumption, respectively, which is nearly two‐fifths of the blue crop water consumed in the US. Surface water consumption decreased by 41.2%, while groundwater consumption increased by 6.8%, resulting in a 17.3% decline in blue water consumption between 1981 and 2019. We find good agreement between our results and existing modeled evapotranspiration (ET) products, remotely sensed ET estimates (OpenET), and water use data from the US Geological Survey and US Department of Agriculture. Our data set and model can help assess the impact of irrigation practices and water scarcity on crop production and sustainability.
Thank You to Our 2024 Reviewers
Authors: Karnauskas Kris , Aiyyer Anantha , Camargo Suzana , Capitanio Fabio , Feakins Sarah , Fulweiler Robinson , Ganju Neil , Giannini Alessandra , Gu Yu , Huber Christian , Ivanov Valeriy , Korte Monika , Kumar Sujay , Lewis Kevin , Magnusdottir Gudrun , Morlighem Mathieu , Otsuka Yuichi , Prieto Germán A. , Qiu Bo , Russell Lynn , Seki Kanako , Su Hui , Sun Daoyuan , Viswanathan Hari , Wang Guiling , Wang Kaicun , White Angelicque E. , Williams Quentin , Zhang Lei
Published: February 2025

On behalf of the journal, AGU, and the scientific community, the editors of Geophysical Research Letters would like to sincerely thank those who reviewed manuscripts in 2024. The hours reading and commenting on manuscripts not only improve the manuscripts but also increase the scientific rigor of future research in the field. With the advent of AGU's data policy, many reviewers have also helped immensely to evaluate the accessibility and availability of data, and many have provided insightful comments that helped to improve the data presentation and quality. We greatly appreciate the assistance of the reviewers in advancing open science, which is a key objective of AGU's data policy. We particularly appreciate the timely reviews in light of the demands imposed by the rapid review process at Geophysical Research Letters. We received 5,225 submissions in 2024, and 5,597 reviewers contributed to their evaluation by providing 9,697 reviews in total. We deeply appreciate their contributions. We would also like to acknowledge the passing of our beloved colleague, Harihar Rajaram. An AGU Fellow and longtime affiliate of AGU's Hydrology Section, Hari was the Editor‐in‐Chief of Geophysical Research Letters since 2019, a former editor on Water Resources Research, and served on the AGU Publications Committee.
Black mold on a white limestone: the role of Stachybotrys chartarum in stone heritage deterioration
Authors: Paiva Diana S. , Fernandes Luís , Trovão João , Pereira Emília , Mesquita Nuno , Tiago Igor , Gil Francisco , Portugal António
Published: February 2025

Fungal deterioration of historical stone objects can significantly impact their mineralogy and chemistry, leading to irreplaceable cultural heritage losses. Ançã stone, a unique type of limestone widely used in some of the most emblematic Portuguese monuments, due to its soft, porous calcium carbonate nature, is known to have a high intrinsic bioreceptivity, being highly susceptible to fungal colonization and subsequent biodeterioration. In a prior experimental study aimed at characterizing the fungal diversity thriving on a Ançã stone funerary art piece showing visible signs of alteration at the Lemos Pantheon, a national monument in Águeda, Portugal, several isolates of an unexpected black mold were obtained. The detection of Stachybotrys chartarum across the multiple approaches used during that investigation suggested that its occurrence was not solely due to environmental contamination, prompting us to conduct a comprehensive analysis, as this species had never been previously associated with this lithotype. Our results proved the presence of S. chartarum, representing the first confirmed occurrence of this species from Ançã stone. Using a multi-locus phylogeny combined with morphological, physiological, and ecological analyses, we characterized these isolates. We also demonstrated the biodeteriorative potential of S. chartarum through plate assays, along with its in vitro ability to actively colonize limestone, with and without organic matter deposition, and solely under the natural fluctuations in relative humidity, causing changes to the substrate. We were able to observe hyphae penetration into calcite layers of inoculated stone probes, potential mineral desegregation and displacement, as well as putative mineralization phenomena around its hyphae after 10 months. This study provides critical new insights into the biodeteriorative potential of S. chartarum, which, along with its well-known toxigenic attributes, adds to its infamous reputation.
Short-term efficacy and safety of A-stream glaucoma shunt: a 6-month study
Authors: Park Hae Min , Lee Eun Jung , Han Jong Chul , Rho Seungsoo , Shin Jong Hoon , Park Do Young
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study evaluated the short-term efficacy and safety of the A-stream Glaucoma Shunt (A-stream; MICROT Inc., Republic of Korea) in patients who completed 6 months of follow-up after implantation.

Methods

Medical records of 49 patients (49 eyes) who underwent A-stream implantation between October 2023 and February 2024 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes included surgical success and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction at 6 months postoperatively. Success was defined as achieving an IOP ≤ 18 mmHg, with at least a 20% reduction from preoperative IOP, and without clinically significant hypotony (IOP < 6 mmHg persisting >1 month or with hypotony maculopathy), classified as qualified (with or without medications) or complete (without medications). Ripcord removal timing and its effect on IOP, postoperative interventions, and complications were analysed.

Results

At 6 months, the mean IOP significantly decreased from 26.9 ± 8.3 mmHg to 11.9 ± 3.5 mmHg (P < 0.01). Complete success was achieved in 77.6% and qualified success in 93.9% of the eyes. The ripcord was removed in 73.5% of eyes at an average of 1.8 ± 1.3 months postoperatively, which led to further IOP reduction of 6.8 ± 5.0 mmHg 1 month after removal. No cases of clinically significant hypotony or vision-threatening complications were observed.

Conclusions

The A-stream demonstrated excellent short-term efficacy and safety in lowering IOP with high success rates. The ripcord enabled controlled IOP adjustments postoperatively. Further studies are warranted to evaluate long-term outcomes and compare them with conventional surgeries.
The physical roles of different posterior tissues in zebrafish axis elongation
Authors: Stooke-Vaughan Georgina A. , Kim Sangwoo , Yen Shuo-Ting , Son Kevin , Banavar Samhita P. , Giammona James , Kimelman David , Campàs Otger
Published: February 2025

Shaping embryonic tissues requires spatiotemporal changes in genetic and signaling activity as well as in tissue mechanics. Studies linking specific molecular perturbations to changes in the tissue physical state remain sparse. Here we study how specific genetic perturbations affecting different posterior tissues during zebrafish body axis elongation change their physical state, the resulting large-scale tissue flows, and posterior elongation. Using a custom analysis software to reveal spatiotemporal variations in tissue fluidity, we show that dorsal tissues are most fluid at the posterior end, rigidify anterior of this region, and become more fluid again yet further anteriorly. In the absence of notochord (noto mutants) or when the presomitic mesoderm is substantially reduced (tbx16 mutants), dorsal tissues elongate normally. Perturbations of posterior-directed morphogenetic flows in dorsal tissues (vangl2 mutants) strongly affect the speed of elongation, highlighting the essential role of dorsal cell flows in delivering the necessary material to elongate the axis.
WNK1-dependent water influx is required for CD4+ T cell activation and T cell-dependent antibody responses
Authors: O’May Joshua Biggs , Vanes Lesley , de Boer Leonard L. , Lewis David A. , Hartweger Harald , Kunzelmann Simone , Hayward Darryl , Llorian Miriam , Köchl Robert , Tybulewicz Victor L. J.
Published: February 2025

Signaling from the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) on CD4+ T cells plays a critical role in adaptive immune responses by inducing T cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Here we demonstrate that WNK1, a kinase implicated in osmoregulation in the kidney, is required in T cells to support T-dependent antibody responses. We show that the canonical WNK1-OXSR1-STK39 kinase signaling pathway is required for TCR signaling in CD4+ T cells, their subsequent entry into the cell cycle, and suppression of the ATR-mediated G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. We show that the WNK1 pathway regulates ion influx leading to water influx, potentially through AQP3, and that water influx is required for TCR-induced signaling and cell cycle entry. Thus, TCR signaling via WNK1, OXSR1, STK39 and AQP3 leads to water entry that is essential for CD4+ T cell proliferation and hence T cell-dependent antibody responses.
Comparative studies of 2168 plasma proteins measured by two affinity-based platforms in 4000 Chinese adults
Authors: Wang Baihan , Pozarickij Alfred , Mazidi Mohsen , Wright Neil , Yao Pang , Said Saredo , Iona Andri , Kartsonaki Christiana , Fry Hannah , Lin Kuang , Chen Yiping , Du Huaidong , Avery Daniel , Schmidt-Valle Dan , Yu Canqing , Sun Dianjianyi , Lv Jun , Hill Michael , Li Liming , Bennett Derrick A. , Collins Rory , Walters Robin G. , Clarke Robert , Millwood Iona Y. , Chen Zhengming ,   On behalf of China Kadoorie Biobank Collaborative Group
Published: February 2025

Proteomics offers unique insights into human biology and drug development, but few studies have directly compared the utility of different proteomics platforms. We measured plasma levels of 2168 proteins in 3976 Chinese adults using both Olink Explore and SomaScan platforms. The correlation of protein levels between platforms was modest (median rho = 0.29), with protein abundance and data quality parameters being key factors influencing correlation. For 1694 proteins with one-to-one matched reagents, 765 Olink and 513 SomaScan proteins had cis-pQTLs, including 400 with colocalising cis-pQTLs. Moreover, 1096 Olink and 1429 SomaScan proteins were associated with BMI, while 279 and 154 proteins were associated with risk of ischaemic heart disease, respectively. Addition of Olink and SomaScan proteins to conventional risk factors for ischaemic heart disease improved C-statistics from 0.845 to 0.862 (NRI: 12.2%) and 0.863 (NRI: 16.4%), respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of these platforms and could inform the design and interpretation of future studies.
Facilitating alkaline hydrogen evolution kinetics via interfacial modulation of hydrogen-bond networks by porous amine cages
Authors: Zhou Shiqi , Cao Wei , Shang Lu , Zhao Yunxuan , Xiong Xuyang , Sun Jianke , Zhang Tierui , Yuan Jiayin
Published: February 2025

The electrode-electrolyte interface is pivotal in the electrochemical kinetics. However, modulating the electrochemical interface at the atomic or molecular level is challenging due to the lack of efficient interfacial regulators. Here, we employ a porous amine cage as an interfacial modifier to Pt cluster in a confining configuration, largely enhancing alkaline HER kinetics by facilitating charge transfer. In situ electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectra, in combination with the ab initio molecular dynamics simulation, elucidates that the interaction between water and the -NH- moiety of cage frame softens the H-bonds net of interfacial water, making it more flexible for charge transfer. Moreover, our investigation pinpointed that the -NH- moiety acted as a pump for charge transfer by Grotthuss mechanism, lowering the kinetic barrier for hydrogen adsorption. Our findings highlight the strategy of establishing a soft-confining interfacial modifier by porous cage, offering opportunities to optimize electrochemical interfaces and promote reaction kinetics in a targeted way.
Ultrasonicated Atlantic herring side streams as source of multifunctional bioactive and bioavailable peptides
Authors: Aiello Gilda , Cropotova Janna , Kvangarsnes Kristine , d’Adduzio Lorenza , Fanzaga Melissa , Bollati Carlotta , Boschin Giovanna , Roda Gabriella , Lammi Carmen
Published: February 2025

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ultrasonication, as a pre-treatment technology, coupled to enzymatic hydrolysis of herring side streams, yielding multifunctional peptide mixtures with antioxidant, hypotensive (ACE inhibitory activity), and hypoglycemic (DPP-IV inhibitory and GLP-1 enhancer activity) properties. The ultrasound pre-treatment modulates the biological activity of the hydrolysates, enhancing certain bioactive properties (antioxidant, ACE inhibitory, and GLP-1 enhancer activities, respectively) while reducing others (DPP-IV inhibitory activity). The study also highlights the importance of simulating gastrointestinal digestion and using Caco-2 cells to assess the bioaccessibility, intestinal bioavailability, and metabolic resistance of herring peptides. These findings support the use of ultrasonication and enzymatic hydrolysis in obtaining multifunctional bioactive peptide mixture for the prevention of metabolic syndrome. Results clearly suggest that this approach represent sustainable solutions in food science and technology, since it allowed us to obtain a bioactive mixture of peptides starting from fish by-products pre-treated with green methodologies.
Iranian 6-11 years age population-based EEG, ERP, and cognition dataset
Authors: Nazari Mohammad Ali , Abbasi Sevda , Rezaeian Maryam , Heysieattalab Soomaayeh , Safakheil Hosein , Nasrabadi Ali Motie , Barzegar Zeynab , Joghataei Mohammad Taghi , Asgharian Zohreh , Ghobadzadeh Farshid , Alizadeh Mohammadreza , Amini Yeganeh Parvin , Khayyat Naghadehi Ayda , Azizi Kiana , Alizadeh Chakharlou Mahdieh , Nasiri AmirHossein , Davoudkhani Mohsen , Rezaeian Mohsen , Safakheil Mohsen , Katebi Amirreza , Hasanzadeh Tahraband Masoumeh , Delkhahi Sahar , Soltani Haniyeh , Shahrabi Farahani Vajihe , Ghasemkhani Kimia , Nazari Erfan , Farkhondeh Tale Navi Farhad
Published: February 2025

This report presents an open-source dataset investigating neurodevelopmental profiles in children. The dataset consists of EEG, ERP, and cognitive assessments from 100 Iranian non-clinical participants (age range 6–11 years, Mean = 8.52 ± 1.5 SD). Notably, this is a smaller group drawn from a larger longitudinal ongoing study. The research aligns with the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework, aiming to enhance diagnostic precision and intervention efficacy for specific learning disabilities (SLD) using EEG/ERP measures and machine learning. Cognitive assessments included non-verbal intelligence (Raven Test), attention (IVA-2), and working memory tasks. EEG recordings captured resting-state (eyes closed/open) and brain activity during working memory tasks with numerical and non-numerical stimuli (ERPs). Additionally, demographic information such as age, gender, education, handedness, parental history of learning difficulties, and child symptom inventory-4 (CSI-4) were collected. This dataset provides a valuable resource for exploring the neurophysiological correlates of cognitive functions in typically developing children, which can advance our understanding of the neural foundations of cognitive development in children.
Identifying mosquito plant hosts from ingested nectar secondary metabolites
Authors: Cooper Amanda N. , Malmgren Louise , Hawkes Frances M. , Farrell Iain W. , Hien Domonbabele F. d. S. , Hopkins Richard J. , Lefèvre Thierry , Stevenson Philip C.
Published: February 2025

Establishing how plants contribute food and refuge to insects can be challenging for small species that are difficult to observe in their natural habitat, such as disease vectoring mosquitoes. Currently indirect methods of plant-host identification rely on DNA sequencing of ingested plant material but are often unsuccessful for small insects that feed primarily on plant sugars or have little contact with plant cells. Here we developed an innovative approach to determine species-specific phytophagy by detecting taxon-specific plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) in nectar. Two mosquito species were exposed to three PSMs, each present in the nectar of a known plant host, firstly from dosed sucrose solutions and secondly from flowers. Both experiments yielded high rates of PSM detection in mosquitoes using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). PSMs were consistently detected in mosquitoes up to 8 h post-ingestion. In experiments consisting of two or three plant species, multiple PSMs from different host plants could be detected. These positive results demonstrate that PSMs could be useful indicators of insect plant-hosts selection in the wild. With expanded knowledge of nectar-based PSMs across a landscape, improved knowledge of plant-host relationships could be achieved where direct observations in their natural habitat are lacking. Increasing understanding of vector insect ecology will have an important role in tackling vector-borne disease.