bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive mapping of outcomes following psychotherapy for adolescent depression: The perspectives of young people, their parents and therapists
Authors: Krause K. , Midgley N. , Edbrooke-Childs J. , Wolpert M.
Published: October 2020

As mental health systems move towards person-centred care, outcome measurement in clinical research and practice should track changes that matter to young people and their families. This study mapped the types of change described by three key stakeholder groups following psychotherapy for depression, and compared the salience of these outcomes with the frequency of their measurement in recent quantitative treatment effectiveness studies for adolescent depression.

Using qualitative content analysis, this study identified and categorized outcomes across 102 semi-structured interviews that were conducted with depressed adolescents, their parents, and therapists, as part of a randomized superiority trial. Adolescents had been allocated to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Short-Term Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, or a Brief Psychosocial Intervention.

The study mapped seven high-level outcome domains and 29 outcome categories. On average, participants discussed change in four domains and six outcome categories. The most frequently discussed outcome was an improvement in mood and affect (i.e., core depressive symptoms), but close to half of the participants also described changes in family functioning, coping and resilience, academic functioning, or social functioning. Coping had specific importance for adolescents, while parents and therapists showed particular interest in academic functioning. There was some variation in the outcomes discussed beyond these core themes, across stakeholder groups and treatment arms.

Of the outcomes that were frequently discussed in stakeholder narratives, only symptomatic change has been commonly reported in recent treatment studies for adolescent depression. A shift towards considering multiple outcome domains and perspectives is needed to reflect stakeholder priorities and enable more nuanced insights into change processes.
Future-proofing hydrogeology by revising groundwater monitoring practice
Authors: Rau Gabriel C. , Cuthbert Mark O. , Post Vincent E. A. , Schweizer Daniel , Acworth R. Ian , Andersen Martin S. , Blum Philipp , Carrara Elisabetta , Rasmussen Todd C. , Ge Shemin
Published: October 2020

Groundwater is an important global resource and its sustainable use faces major challenges. New methods and advances in computational science could lead to much improved understanding of groundwater processes and subsurface properties. A closer look at current groundwater monitoring practice reveals the need for updates with a special focus on the benefits of high-frequency and high-resolution datasets. To future-proof hydrogeology, this technical note raises awareness about the necessity for improvement, provides initial recommendations and advocates for the development of universal guidelines.
Exploring controls of timber stock residence times in storage after severe storm events
Authors: Zimmermann Klaus , Schuetz Tobias , Weimar Holger , Dieter Matthias
Published: October 2020

The storage of significant amounts of timber from thrown or dead trees after natural disturbances is an established practice for forest enterprises. Timber storage mitigates economic losses caused by supply-driven timber price falls after natural disturbances. We use a forest accounting database to explore the controls of residence times of coniferous timber stocks in storage following severe storm events. We characterize forest enterprises’ timber stock outflow distributions from storage over several years by mean residence times and their variances. We conduct regression analyses on the expected residence times and their variances. We assess the significance of several explanatory variables representing economic, institutional and tree species-related factors on these metrics using multiple linear regression analyses. Illustrating the effect of these variables on timber storage residence time distributions we reanalyze the database by grouping the FADN data sets with regard to the identified control variables and determine their mean timber storage outflow distributions after the storm events as well as associated expected residence times and their variances. Applying the resulting parameters with the continuous gamma distribution to simulate TSO residence time distributions clearly illuminates the effect of the control variables on storage management. We show that besides market price dynamics, species groups, ownership categories and forest worker capacities are statistically significant controls for mean residence times of timber stock in storage and their variances. We find that stronger timber price falls correlate with shorter mean residence times of timber stocks in storage. We relate this to liquidity maintenance of forest enterprises. We model duration times parameterizing the Gamma distribution. The application of the Gamma distribution to characterize storage management behavior offers the potential to describe differences in timber stock quantities even on shorter timescales than the mean storage residence times. According to our results, we propose to assess timber stocks in storage over a multi-year period in order to improve related national and international accounting schemes.
Data-Driven Models for Objective Grading Improvement of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Butt Abdul Haleem , Rovini Erika , Fujita Hamido , Maremmani Carlo , Cavallo Filippo
Published: October 2020

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that causes motor dysfunctions in affected patients. Objective assessment of symptoms can support neurologists in fine evaluations, improving patients’ quality of care. Herein, this study aimed to develop data-driven models based on regression algorithms to investigate the potential of kinematic features to predict PD severity levels. Sixty-four patients with PD (PwPD) and 50 healthy subjects of control (HC) were asked to perform 13 motor tasks from the MDS-UPDRS III while wearing wearable inertial sensors. Simultaneously, the clinician provided the evaluation of the tasks based on the MDS-UPDRS scores. One hundred-ninety kinematic features were extracted from the inertial motor data. Data processing and statistical analysis identified a set of parameters able to distinguish between HC and PwPD. Then, multiple feature selection methods allowed selecting the best subset of parameters for obtaining the greatest accuracy when used as input for several predicting regression algorithms. The maximum correlation coefficient, equal to 0.814, was obtained with the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Therefore, this predictive model could be useful as a decision support system for a reliable objective assessment of PD severity levels based on motion performance, improving patients monitoring over time.
The Linguistic Formulation of Fallacies Matters: The Case of Causal Connectives
Authors: Schumann Jennifer , Zufferey Sandrine , Oswald Steve
Published: October 2020

While the role of discourse connectives has long been acknowledged in argumentative frameworks, these approaches often take a coarse-grained approach to connectives, treating them as a unified group having similar effects on argumentation. Based on an empirical study of the straw man fallacy, we argue that a more fine-grained approach is needed to explain the role of each connective and illustrate their specificities. We first present an original corpus study detailing the main features of four causal connectives in French that speakers routinely use to attribute meaning to another speaker (puisque, étant donné que, vu que and comme), which is a key element of straw man fallacies. We then assess the influence of each of these connectives in a series of controlled experiments. Our results indicate each connective has different effects for the persuasiveness of straw man fallacies, and that these effects can be explained by differences in their semantic profile, as evidenced in our corpus study. Taken together, our results demonstrate that connectives are important for argumentation but should be analyzed individually, and that the study of fallacies should include a fine-grained analysis of the linguistic elements typically used in their formulation.
Retraction Note to: Life on Venus and the interplanetary transfer of biota from Earth
Authors:   Springer Nature B.V.
Published: October 2020

This article has been retracted. Please see the retraction notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10509-019-3678-x
Mask-free three-dimensional epitaxial growth of III-nitrides
Authors: Rudziński Mariusz , Zlotnik Sebastian , Wójcik Marek , Gaca Jarosław , Janicki Łukasz , Kudrawiec Robert
Published: October 2020

A novel catalyst-free and maskless growth approach is presented to form an ordered geometrical array of three-dimensional (3D) AlGaN/AlN microrods. The growth method is composed of a single growth step using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy, achieving microstructures with homogeneous diameters, shapes and sizes over relatively large scale (on 2-in. wafer). The 3D AlGaN/AlN heterostructures are grown in a form of micro-sized columns elongated in one direction perpendicular to the substrate surface and with a hexagonal cross section. A careful examination of growth steps revealed that this technology allows to suppress coalescence and lateral overgrowth, promoting vertical 3D growth. Interestingly, two distinct morphologies can be obtained: honeycomb-like hexagonal arrangement perfectly packed and with twisted microrods layout, by controlling strain state in AlN buffer layers. Consequently, 3D AlGaN microrods on tensile-strained AlN templates show a 0° twisted morphology, while on compressive-strained templated a 30° twisted arrangement. Moreover, the optical and crystalline quality studies revealed that the top AlGaN layers of the examined 3D semiconductor structures are characterized by a low native point-defect concentration. These 3D AlGaN platforms can be applied for light emitting devices or sensing applications.

Graphic abstract
Sarcopenia during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions: long-term health effects of short-term muscle loss
Authors: Kirwan Richard , McCullough Deaglan , Butler Tom , Perez de Heredia Fatima , Davies Ian G. , Stewart Claire
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary global emergency that has led to the implementation of unprecedented measures in order to stem the spread of the infection. Internationally, governments are enforcing measures such as travel bans, quarantine, isolation, and social distancing leading to an extended period of time at home. This has resulted in reductions in physical activity and changes in dietary intakes that have the potential to accelerate sarcopenia, a deterioration of muscle mass and function (more likely in older populations), as well as increases in body fat. These changes in body composition are associated with a number of chronic, lifestyle diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, osteoporosis, frailty, cognitive decline, and depression. Furthermore, CVD, diabetes, and elevated body fat are associated with greater risk of COVID-19 infection and more severe symptomology, underscoring the importance of avoiding the development of such morbidities. Here we review mechanisms of sarcopenia and their relation to the current data on the effects of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity, dietary habits, sleep, and stress as well as extended bed rest due to COVID-19 hospitalization. The potential of these factors to lead to an increased likelihood of muscle loss and chronic disease will be discussed. By offering a number of home-based strategies including resistance exercise, higher protein intakes and supplementation, we can potentially guide public health authorities to avoid a lifestyle disease and rehabilitation crisis post-COVID-19. Such strategies may also serve as useful preventative measures for reducing the likelihood of sarcopenia in general and in the event of future periods of isolation.
Dimensional analysis of droplet size and ligament length during high-speed rotary bell atomization
Authors: Gödeke Lutz , Oswald Walter , Willenbacher Norbert , Ehrhard Peter
Published: October 2020

Modern spray-coating processes are based on high-volume, low-pressure, airless atomization or high-speed rotary bell atomization, often assisted by electrostatic charging to increase the transfer efficiency. The process from the liquid film flow beneath the bell, through ligament formation and consecutive disintegration to droplet deposition, has been constantly explored during the evolution of automotive spray coating. This work proposes a set of dimensionless groups that fully describe the process from film flow to ligament disintegration, including shear and elongational flow effects during atomization of particle laden, shear thinning, viscoelastic fluids.
Preliminary Findings on Proline-Rich Protein 14 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Jin Tao , Tan Xuling , Shi Xiaoliu , Lv Lingling , Peng Xinke , Zhang Hainan , Tang Beisha , Wang Chunyu , Yang Mei
Published: October 2020

The nuclear envelope component proline-rich protein 14 (PRR14) is involved in the nuclear morphological alteration and activation of the mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) signaling pathway, and has been repeatedly shown to be upregulated in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The aim of this study was to explore whether PRR14 can be used as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of PD. We compared PRR14 expression in PD patients and normal controls in gene expression omnibus (GEO) data. Quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect PRR14 expression in PD patients and age- and sex-matched controls. The relationship between serum PRR14 and clinical phenotype was evaluated using correlation analysis and logistic regression. The expression of PRR14 in whole blood, substantia nigra, and medial substantia nigra was significantly higher in PD patients than in the healthy control group. Compared to plasma, serum was more suitable for the detection of PRR14. Furthermore, serum PRR14 level in PD patients was significantly higher than that in age- and sex-matched controls. The area under the curve for serum PRR14 level in the ability to identify PD versus age- and sex-matched controls was 0.786. In addition, serum PRR14 level was found to correlate with constipation in PD patients. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that serum PRR14 is a potential biomarker for PD.
Insights into kinetic inhibition effects of MEG, PVP, and L-tyrosine aqueous solutions on natural gas hydrate formation
Authors: Saberi Amir , Alamdari Abdolmohammad , Rasoolzadeh Ali , Mohammadi Amir H.
Published: October 2020

It is necessary to understand all the prerequisites, which result in gas hydrate formation for safe design and control of a variety of processes in petroleum industry. Thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors (THIs) are normally used to preclude gas hydrate formation by shifting hydrate stability region to lower temperatures and higher pressures. Sometimes, it is difficult to avoid hydrate formation and hydrates will form anyway. In this situation, kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) can be used to postpone formation of gas hydrates by retarding hydrate nucleation and growth rate. In this study, two kinetic parameters including natural gas hydrate formation induction time and the rate of gas consumption were experimentally investigated in the presence of monoethylene glycol (MEG), L-tyrosine, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) at various concentrations in aqueous solutions. Since hydrate formation is a stochastic phenomenon, the repeatability of each kinetic parameter was evaluated several times and the average values for the hydrate formation induction times and the rates of gas consumption are reported. The results indicate that from the view point of hydrate formation induction time, 2 wt% PVP and 20 wt% MEG aqueous solutions have the highest values and are the best choices. It is also interpreted from the results that from the view point of the rate of gas consumption, 20 wt% MEG aqueous solution yields the lowest value and is the best choice. Finally, it is concluded that the combination of PVP and MEG in an aqueous solution has a simultaneous synergistic impact on natural gas hydrate formation induction time and the rate of gas consumption. Furthermore, a semi-empirical model based on chemical kinetic theory is applied to evaluate the hydrate formation induction time data. A good agreement between the experimental and calculated hydrate formation induction time data is observed.
Double trouble? The communication dimension of the reproducibility crisis in experimental psychology and neuroscience
Authors: Hensel Witold M.
Published: October 2020

Most discussions of the reproducibility crisis focus on its epistemic aspect: the fact that the scientific community fails to follow some norms of scientific investigation, which leads to high rates of irreproducibility via a high rate of false positive findings. The purpose of this paper is to argue that there is a heretofore underappreciated and understudied dimension to the reproducibility crisis in experimental psychology and neuroscience that may prove to be at least as important as the epistemic dimension. This is the communication dimension. The link between communication and reproducibility is immediate: independent investigators would not be able to recreate an experiment whose design or implementation were inadequately described. I exploit evidence of a replicability and reproducibility crisis in computational science, as well as research into quality of reporting to support the claim that a widespread failure to adhere to reporting standards, especially the norm of descriptive completeness, is an important contributing factor in the current reproducibility crisis in experimental psychology and neuroscience.
Cystine transporter SLC7A11/xCT in cancer: ferroptosis, nutrient dependency, and cancer therapy
Authors: Koppula Pranavi , Zhuang Li , Gan Boyi
Published: October 2020

The cystine/glutamate antiporter SLC7A11 (also commonly known as xCT) functions to import cystine for glutathione biosynthesis and antioxidant defense and is overexpressed in multiple human cancers. Recent studies revealed that SLC7A11 overexpression promotes tumor growth partly through suppressing ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death induced by excessive lipid peroxidation. However, cancer cells with high expression of SLC7A11 (SLC7A11high) also have to endure the significant cost associated with SLC7A11-mediated metabolic reprogramming, leading to glucose- and glutamine-dependency in SLC7A11highcancer cells, which presents potential metabolic vulnerabilities for therapeutic targeting in SLC7A11highcancer. In this review, we summarize diverse regulatory mechanisms of SLC7A11 in cancer, discuss ferroptosis-dependent and -independent functions of SLC7A11 in promoting tumor development, explore the mechanistic basis of SLC7A11-induced nutrient dependency in cancer cells, and conceptualize therapeutic strategies to target SLC7A11 in cancer treatment. This review will provide the foundation for further understanding SLC7A11 in ferroptosis, nutrient dependency, and tumor biology and for developing novel effective cancer therapies.
Treatment of International Economic Trade in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports
Authors: Dawson Jackie , Holloway Jean , Debortoli Nathan , Gilmore Elisabeth
Published: October 2020

Purpose of the Review

Climate change presents significant risks to the international trade and supply chain systems with potentially profound and cascading effects for the global economy. A robust international trade system may also be central to managing future climate risks. Here, we assess the treatment (or lack thereof) of trade in a selection of recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment and special reports using a quantitative text analysis. IPCC reports are considered the preeminent source of relevant climate change information and underpin international climate change negotiations.

Study Findings

Results show that international trade has not had substantial coverage in recent IPCC assessments. Relevant keywords associated with trade appear in very limited ways, generally in relation to the words “product” and “transport.” These keywords are often referring to emissions associated with transportation and the movement of food and global food systems. The influence of trade is given larger consideration with respect to the costs and trade-offs of climate mitigation policies, especially the interactions with food availability, that appear in Working Group III reports compared with the risks to trade from climate change impacts in Working Group II. Trade in relation to other economic sectors is largely absent as well as risks from potential climate-related trade disruption. There is almost no treatment of the potential impacts, risks, and adaptation strategies to manage the climate related-implications for international trade.

Recommendations

Given the importance of trade to economic growth, we recommend that additional attention be paid to trade and related economic issues in future IPCC assessment and special reports, specifically on the interactions of climate impacts and risks on trade and the potential for trade to moderate these risks. To achieve this, there must be efforts to increase the base of scientific literature focused on climate change and international trade as well as increased effort made among IPCC lead authors to review trade literature that may lie outside conventional climate change scholarship.
Welcome to my church: faith-practitioners and the representation of religious traditions in secular RE
Authors: Salter Emma
Published: October 2020

The paper notices that faith-practitioners’ involvement, as visiting speakers or study-visit hosts, is a recommended teaching strategy in secular RE. It examines problems of authentic representation of religious traditions in secular RE and evaluates the extent to which faith-practitioners’ involvement as a learning strategy can address authentic representation of religions as a learning principle. Empirical data for the paper is drawn from four qualitative interviews with faith-practitioners from different Christian denominations about their preferred representations of Christianity during secular RE study-visits to their churches. The paper finds that faith-practitioners’ preferred representations can be categorised as insider-institutional (denominational) and insider-personal. Together, these types of representation can complement authenticity in the representation of religions in RE because they offer particular, rather than generalised, accounts of religious traditions.
Identities behind some congruences for r-Bell and derangement polynomials
Authors: Serafin Grzegorz
Published: October 2020

We derive new congruences bounding r-Bell and derangement polynomials, which generalize the existing ones, while the presented approach is significantly simpler and, at the same time, more informative. Namely, we provide precise identities that imply the congruences and explain somehow their nature.
Development of emotion regulation across the first two years of college
Authors: Park Crystal L. , Williams Michelle K. , Hernandez Paul R. , Agocha V. Bede , Lee Sharon Y. , Carney Lauren M. , Loomis David
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Emotion regulation is thought to develop substantially from late adolescence into early adulthood; further, the rate of development purportedly varies based on personal and contextual characteristics. However, little research has explicitly documented this maturation in young adulthood or identified its determinants. We aimed to (1) characterize how adaptive (positive reappraisal, emotional social support‐seeking) and maladaptive (suppression, substance use coping) emotion regulation strategies changed over time and (2) predict change in each strategy based on baseline personal, social, and motivational characteristics.

Methods

We followed a sample of 1578 students entering university in the northeastern United States across their first two years, assessing them four times.

Results

As expected, social support‐seeking increased and suppression decreased. However, contrary to expectations, cognitive reappraisal declined over time while substance use coping increased. Women generally used more adaptive emotion regulation strategies than did men; social engagement and connection and eudaimonic well‐being were generally predictive of using more adaptive coping over time.

Conclusions

Overall, students did not consistently demonstrate maturation to more adaptive emotion regulation and in fact exhibited decrements over the first two years of college. Students’ baseline characteristics accounted for substantial degrees of change in emotion regulation. These findings suggest potentially fruitful directions for interventions to assist college students in developing more adaptive emotion regulation skills.
Development of a fire detection and suppression system for a smart air cargo container
Authors: Zhang Q. , Wang Y.C. , Soutis C. , Gresil M.
Published: October 2020

This study investigates and proposes a fire detection and suppression system for a smart air cargo container. A series of smoke spread and fire evolution numerical models are executed to assess the performance of container-based fire detection in various fire scenarios. This is to identify the worst case and optimise the location and threshold setting of fire detection sensors, achieving the shortest detection time. It is found that the fire detection threshold (reduction in light transmission = 12%/ft) for a container-based system can be set at three times the standard activation threshold for a cargo-based fire detection system, which can reduce the number of false alarms by three orders of magnitude. Moreover, effectiveness analysis of passive fire protection for the glass fibre-reinforced polymer-made smart container indicates an allowable leakage size of 0.01m2. The risk of internal overpressure has been found to be negligible for the leakage size required by aircraft pressure equalisation.
Toward a Corporate Duty for Lead Companies to Respect Human Rights in Their Global Value Chains?
Authors: Bright Claire , Marx Axel , Pineau Nina , Wouters Jan
Published: October 2020

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights was formally introduced in 2011 with the unanimous endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) by the UN Human Rights Council. It is grounded in social expectations and forms part of the companies' “social license to operate.” This paper argues that this responsibility is progressively turning into a legal duty for lead companies to respect human rights in those types of value chains which are characterized by a high level of control by a lead company over its business partners. Our argument rests on two recent legal developments. Firstly, the article analyzes the judicialization of the corporate responsibility to respect in the case law on parent company liability in various jurisdictions, which, we argue, is highly likely to have some implications in relation to certain types of value chains so as to trigger the liability of lead companies for the human rights harms arising out of the activities of entities over which they exercise sufficient control. Secondly, the article delves into the legislative developments which increasingly require lead companies to exercise due diligence so as to prevent and address adverse human rights impacts in their own activities and global value chains.
A Patient-Inspired Quality Improvement Initiative for Pituitary Adenoma Care
Authors: Druce Irena , Doyle Mary-Anne , Arnaout Amel , Liu Dora , AlKherayf Fahad , Agbi Charles , Keely Erin , Malcolm Janine
Published: October 2020

Background:

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are common and often require complex multidisciplinary care with multiple specialists. This may result in a healthcare system that is challenging for patients to navigate. Audits of care at our institution revealed opportunities for improvement to better align care with patients’ needs.

Methods:

A quality improvement initiative that incorporated a patient advisory committee of patients who had received treatment for PA at our center and their family members were used to help identify opportunities for improvement. The patient-identified gaps in care included the need to coordinate and minimize appointments and the desire for better communication and education. Based on this information, changes were implemented to the pituitary program, including increasing access to the Multidisciplinary Clinic and developing a standardized and centralized triage process.

Results:

A pre- and post-intervention analysis consisting of retrospective chart reviews revealed that these changes had an impact on wait times for first assessment, and a significant shift in the location of this first visit – with a larger proportion of patients being seen in the Multidisciplinary Clinic after an intervention.

Conclusions:

We demonstrate that patient involvement, beyond individual patient–physician interactions, can lead to meaningful and observable changes, and can improve the quality of care for PA.
Freedom and Justice in Trade Governance
Authors: Goff Sarah C.
Published: October 2020

Two recent books consider the future of trade governance.Consent and Tradeproposes reforms to trade agreements so that states can consent more freely to their terms.On Trade Justicedefends reforms to the World Trade Organization, arguing that multilateralism is the foundation for a “new global deal” on trade. Each book describes trade's distinctive features and proposes a principle to regulate both trade and trade governance.Consent and Tradedefends a principle of respect for state consent in trade agreements.On Trade Justiceoffers a theory of trade justice that requires nonexploitation. Consent and nonexploitation are important principles for economic exchanges. However, trade governance and trade itself are different forms of cooperation, with different agents and different interests at stake. Consent and nonexploitation are less compelling as principles for trade governance than for trade itself. Both books understate the conflict between their principles for trade governance and liberal justice.
Norovirus and rotavirus in children hospitalised with diarrhoea after rotavirus vaccine introduction in Burkina Faso
Authors: Rönnelid Y. , Bonkoungou I. J. O. , Ouedraogo N. , Barro N. , Svensson L. , Nordgren J.
Published: October 2020

Several studies report norovirus as the new leading cause of severe gastroenteritis in children after the global introduction of rotavirus vaccines. Burkina Faso introduced general rotavirus vaccination with the oral pentavalent vaccine RotaTeq in November 2013 and quickly reached a vaccine coverage of >90%. This study describes detection rates, clinical profiles and the molecular epidemiology of norovirus and rotavirus infections in 146 children aged <5 years with severe acute gastroenteritis in Ouagadougou, consecutively enrolled from a hospital between January 2015 and December 2015. Virus detection was performed with an antigen test or real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping was performed by nucleotide sequencing or multiplex PCR. Rotavirus was found in 14% and norovirus in 20% of faecal samples. Norovirus infection was significantly more associated with severe dehydration compared to rotavirus (P < 0.001). Among genotyped norovirus samples 48% (12/25) belonged to GII.4 which caused significantly more diarrhoeal episodes than non-GII.4 genotypes (P = 0.01). The most common rotavirus genotypes were G2P[4] (30%), G12P[6] (25%) and G12P[8] (20%). Fifty percent of the rotavirus positive children were infected with fully or partly heterotypic strains. In conclusion, this study found a higher proportion of norovirus causing more severe symptoms in children with diarrhoea in Burkina Faso after the introduction of rotavirus vaccination.
Distinguishing multicellular life on exoplanets by testing Earth as an exoplanet
Authors: Doughty Christopher E. , Abraham Andrew J. , Windsor James , Mommert Michael , Gowanlock Michael , Robinson Tyler , Trilling David E.
Published: October 2020

Can multicellular life be distinguished from single cellular life on an exoplanet? We hypothesize that abundant upright photosynthetic multicellular life (trees) will cast shadows at high sun angles that will distinguish them from single cellular life and test this using Earth as an exoplanet. We first test the concept using unmanned aerial vehicles at a replica moon-landing site near Flagstaff, Arizona and show trees have both a distinctive reflectance signature (red edge) and geometric signature (shadows at high sun angles) that can distinguish them from replica moon craters. Next, we calculate reflectance signatures for Earth at several phase angles with POLDER (Polarization and Directionality of Earth's reflectance) satellite directional reflectance measurements and then reduce Earth to a single pixel. We compare Earth to other planetary bodies (Mars, the Moon, Venus and Uranus) and hypothesize that Earth's directional reflectance will be between strongly backscattering rocky bodies with no weathering (like Mars and the Moon) and cloudy bodies with more isotropic scattering (like Venus and Uranus). Our modelling results put Earth in line with strongly backscattering Mars, while our empirical results put Earth in line with more isotropic scattering Venus. We identify potential weaknesses in both the modelled and empirical results and suggest additional steps to determine whether this technique could distinguish upright multicellular life on exoplanets.
The Early Jewish Reception of Kantian Philosophy
Authors: Hunter Ian
Published: October 2020

Current discussions of the early Jewish reception of Kantian philosophy are dominated by two major approaches. According to the first, this reception was governed by a universal Enlightenment rationalism that was present in Judaism no less than in Kantian philosophy. According to the second, it was the fact that Kantianism contained a latent Judaic kabbalistic philosophy that made it attractive to Jewish intellectuals. This paper departs from both approaches by showing that when Jewish intellectuals encountered Kantianism they found neither a universal rationality to which Judaism should conform, nor an esoteric Jewish metaphysics to which Kantian philosophy had already conformed, but something else entirely, namely a hostile philosophical religion that sought to reconstruct Judaism in its own image. As a result of the historical context in which this challenge arose, some Jewish intellectuals accepted this reconstruction as a rational reform, while others repudiated it as a Christian-rationalist assault on Jewish law and tradition. Characterized first by the absence of a defensive JewishSchulmetaphysikthat might combat Kantianism on its own grounds, and second by the preparedness of enlightened intellectuals to extort Jewish acceptance of Christian rationalism by withholding citizenship rights, this context made Kantian philosophy into an offer that was difficult for Jewish intellectuals to refuse, or accept.
Earthquake Hazard Uncertainties Improved Using Precariously Balanced Rocks
Authors: Rood A. H. , Rood D. H. , Stirling M. W. , Madugo C. M. , Abrahamson N. A. , Wilcken K. M. , Gonzalez T. , Kottke A. , Whittaker A. C. , Page W. D. , Stafford P. J.
Published: October 2020

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) is the state‐of‐the‐art method to estimate ground motions exceeded by large, infrequent, and potentially damaging earthquakes; however, a fundamental problem is the lack of an accepted method for both quantitatively validating and refining the hazard estimates using empirical geological data. In this study, to reduce uncertainties in such hazard estimates, we present a new method that uses empirical data from precariously balanced rocks (PBRs) in coastal Central California. We calculate the probability of toppling of each PBR at defined ground‐motion levels and determine the age at which the PBRs obtained their current fragile geometries using a novel implementation of cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating. By eliminating the PSHA estimates inconsistent with at least a 5% probability of PBR survival, the mean ground‐motion estimate corresponding to the hazard level of 10−4 yr−1 (10,000 yr mean return period) is significantly reduced by 27%, and the range of estimated 5th–95th fractile ground motions is reduced by 49%. Such significant reductions in uncertainties make it possible to more reliably assess the safety and security of critical infrastructure in earthquake‐prone regions worldwide.
The Mysterious Green Streaks Below STEVE
Authors: Semeter Joshua , Hunnekuhl Michael , MacDonald Elizabeth , Hirsch Michael , Zeller Neil , Chernenkoff Alexei , Wang Jun
Published: October 2020

Strong thermal emission velocity enhancement (STEVE) is an optical phenomenon of the subauroral ionosphere arising from extreme ion drift speeds. STEVE consists of two distinct components in true‐color imagery: a mauve or whitish arc extended in the magnetic east–west direction and a region of green emission adjacent to the arc, often structured into quasiperiodic columns aligned with the geomagnetic field (the “picket fence”). This work employs high‐resolution imagery by citizen scientists in a critical examination of fine‐scale features within the green emission region. Of particular interest are narrow “streaks” of emission forming underneath field‐aligned picket fence elements in the 100‐ to 110‐km altitude range. The streaks propagate in curved trajectories with dominant direction toward STEVE from the poleward side. The elongation is along the direction of motion, suggesting a drifting point‐like excitation source, with the apparent elongation due to a combination of motion blur and radiative lifetime effects. The cross‐sectional dimension is <1 km, and the cases observed have a duration of ∼20–30 s. The uniform coloration of all STEVE green features in these events suggests a common optical spectrum dominated by the oxygen 557.7‐nm emission line. The source is most likely direct excitation of ambient oxygen by superthermal electrons generated by ionospheric turbulence induced by the extreme electric fields driving STEVE. Some conjectures about causal connections with overlying field‐aligned structures are presented, based on coupling of thermal and gradient‐drift instabilities, with analogues to similar dynamics observed from chemical release and ionospheric heating experiments.
Thermal History of the Earth: On the Importance of Surface Processes and the Size of Tectonic Plates
Authors: Grigné C. , Combes M.
Published: October 2020

Geochemical constraints on mantle temperature indicate a regular decrease by around 250 K since 3 Ga. However, models of Earth's cooling that rely on scaling laws for thermal convection without strong plates are facing a thermal runaway backwards in time, due to the power‐law dependence of heat loss on temperature. To explore the effect of surface dynamics on Earth's cooling rate, we build a two‐dimensional temperature‐dependent model of plate tectonics that relies on a force balance for each plate and on Earth‐like parameterized behaviors for the motion, creation, and disappearance of plate boundaries. While our model predicts the expected thermal runaway if plate boundaries are fixed, we obtain an average cooling rate consistent with geochemical estimates if the geometry of plate tectonics evolves through time. For a warmer mantle in the past, plates are faster but also larger (and less numerous) so that the average seafloor age and resulting heat flux always remain moderate. The predicted decrease in the number of plates backwards in time is in good agreement with recent plate reconstructions over the last 400 Myr. Our model also gives plate speed and subduction area flux consistent with these reconstructions. We finally compare the effect of parameters controlling mantle viscosity and individual plate speeds to the effect of localized surface processes, such as oceanization and subduction initiation. We infer that studies of Earth's thermal history should focus on surface processes as they appear to be key control parameters.
Tropical Cyclones Significantly Alleviate Mega‐Deltaic Erosion Induced by High Riverine Flow
Authors: Wang Jie , Dai Zhijun , Mei Xuefei , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: October 2020

The drastic decline in sediment discharge experienced by large rivers in recent years might trigger erosion thus increasing the vulnerability of their extensive deltas. However, scarce information is available on the erosion patterns in mega‐deltas and associated physical drivers. Here a series of bathymetries in the South Passage, Changjiang Delta, were analyzed to identify morphodynamic variations during high riverine flow and tropical cyclones (TCs). Results indicate that high river flow during flood season triggers large‐scale net erosion along the inner estuary, generating elongated erosion‐deposition patches. Erosion magnitude gradually weakens moving seaward with few localized bottom variations in the offshore area. TCs transport sediment landward and are accompanied by an overall weak erosion, with a less organized spatial pattern of erosion‐deposition. TCs can therefore significantly alleviate erosion, reducing the sediment loss induced by riverine flows by over 50%. These results highlight the role of TCs on the sediment dynamics of mega‐deltas.
Modeling Evidence of QBO‐MJO Connection: A Case Study
Authors: Back Seung‐Yoon , Han Ji‐Young , Son Seok‐Woo
Published: October 2020

The boreal winter Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO) is modulated by the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO). The MJO becomes relatively strong during the easterly QBO (EQBO) winters but weak during the westerly QBO (WQBO) winters. To better understand their relationship, a set of WRF model experiments is conducted with varying lateral boundary conditions. The MJO event in December 2007, during EQBO winter, is chosen as a reference case. The control experiment qualitatively reproduces the observed MJO. When the lateral boundary conditions are switched with those of WQBO or strong WQBO winters, the MJO becomes weak over the Maritime Continent. All eight ensemble members exhibit enhanced outgoing longwave radiation and reduced precipitation from EQBO to WQBO, and to strong WQBO conditions, although the magnitude of changes is smaller than observations. This result, one of the first mesoscale modeling evidences of the QBO‐MJO connection, suggests that the MJO is at least partly modulated by the QBO.
Multiple‐Stroke Positive Cloud‐to‐Ground Lightning Observed by the FALMA in Winter Thunderstorms in Japan
Authors: Wu Ting , Wang Daohong , Takagi Nobuyuki
Published: October 2020

Multiple‐stroke (MS) positive cloud‐to‐ground (+CG) lightning flashes are rarely reported, especially those with high‐quality location information. In this study, we report 47 MS +CG flashes observed in winter thunderstorms in Japan with a 14‐site fast antenna lightning mapping array (FALMA). MS +CG flashes account for 18% of +CG flashes. The mean multiplicity of all +CG flashes is 1.24, and the maximum multiplicity is 5. Interstroke intervals have a very large range from 1.0 to 1,320.6 ms with the geometric mean of 64.4 ms. In three flashes, interstroke intervals smaller than 2 ms are observed, and corresponding positive strokes are inferred to be produced by two branches of the same positive leader. Horizontal distances between sequential positive strokes range from 1.1 to 37.3 km with the geometric mean of 9.7 km. No subsequent strokes struck at the same location as a previous stroke. Distances between sequential strokes are generally much larger than distances between first strokes and lightning initiation locations. Subsequent stroke peak amplitudes are on average 0.45 of first stroke peak amplitudes. In 39 flashes (83%), the first stroke is stronger than the largest subsequent stroke in the same flash. Subsequent stroke amplitudes are weakly correlated with the time difference from the previous stroke. Origination mechanisms of positive leaders initiating first and subsequent positive strokes are discussed. It is very likely that positive leaders for most subsequent strokes originate from in‐cloud negative leader channels, but origination mechanisms for positive leaders initiating first strokes are more varied.
P11 deficiency increases stress reactivity along with HPA axis and autonomic hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Sousa Vasco C. , Mantas Ioannis , Stroth Nikolas , Hager Torben , Pereira Marcela , Jiang Haitang , Jabre Sandra , Paslawski Wojciech , Stiedl Oliver , Svenningsson Per
Published: October 2020

Patients suffering from mood disorders and anxiety commonly exhibit hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) axis and autonomic hyperresponsiveness. A wealth of data using preclinical animal models and human patient samples indicate that p11 deficiency is implicated in depression-like phenotypes. In the present study, we used p11-deficient (p11KO) mice to study potential roles of p11 in stress responsiveness. We measured stress response using behavioral, endocrine, and physiological readouts across early postnatal and adult life. Our data show that p11KO pups respond more strongly to maternal separation than wild-type pups, even though their mothers show no deficits in maternal behavior. Adult p11KO mice display hyperactivity of the HPA axis, which is paralleled by depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. p11 was found to be highly enriched in vasopressinergic cells of the paraventricular nucleus and regulates HPA hyperactivity in a V1B receptor-dependent manner. Moreover, p11KO mice display sympathetic–adrenal–medullary (SAM) axis hyperactivity, with elevated adrenal norepinephrine and epinephrine levels. Using conditional p11KO mice, we demonstrate that this SAM hyperactivity is partially regulated by the loss of p11 in serotonergic neurons of the raphe nuclei. Telemetric electrocardiogram measurements show delayed heart rate recovery in p11KO mice in response to novelty exposure and during expression of fear following auditory trace fear conditioning. Furthermore, p11KO mice have elevated basal heart rate in fear conditioning tests indicating increased autonomic responsiveness. This set of experiments provide strong and versatile evidence that p11 deficiency leads to HPA and SAM axes hyperresponsiveness along with increased stress reactivity.