bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3-Doors Compassion Project: Examining the longitudinal effects of a nine-month Tibetan mind-body meditation program
Authors: Gawrysiak M. , Pohlig R. T. , Chaoul A. , Vaughn M. , Rocco G. , Clark C. , Grassetti S. , Petrovitch D. , Wangyal T.
Published: September 2021

Abundant research supports the benefits of participating in mindfulness meditation training programs including Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. However, these well researched programs include a narrow range of meditation practices and research to date has minimally examined how home practice associates with favorable outcomes. The present study evaluated the 3 Doors Compassion Project (3DCP), a structured 9-months meditation program that teaches Tibetan Mind-Body practices and examined how frequency and duration of home practice associated with favorable outcomes. Twenty-seven medical and mental healthcare professionals completed assessments prior to, during, and following participation in the 3DCP program and recorded daily meditation practices. Study aims were to test general effectiveness of the 3DCP program and to test the hypotheses that frequency and duration of meditation home-practice would associate with improvements on mindfulness, stress, and depression. General linear mixed modeling demonstrated significant improvements throughout the duration of the 3DCP program for mindfulness, depression (p < .001) and stress (p < .05), with each variable evidencing incremental monthly improvements. Frequency of meditation (i.e., days practiced per month), but not time (i.e., minutes per month) was significantly associated with improvements throughout the 3DCP program. Results provide support for the benefits of the 3DCP while offering clinically useful information that can inform current guidelines for meditation home practice. As predicted, the 3DCP was associated with significant improvements on all outcomes. Favorable outcomes were linked to frequency, but not total time of meditation practice, which suggests that consistent meditation may be more helpful than extended meditation.
The role of complementary feeding in India’s high child malnutrition rates: findings from a comprehensive analysis of NFHS IV (2015–2016) data
Authors: Petrikova Ivica
Published: September 2021

Relative to its economic growth and poverty levels, Indian children suffer from higher levels of malnutrition than children in many other low- and middle-income countries. Research presented in this article examined the links between infant and young child feeding practices among Indian children and their rates of stunting, underweight, wasting, and anaemia, with a particular focus on the types of semisolid complementary food consumed. It did so through a comprehensive analysis of data on more than 57,000 6-to-23-month-old children obtained from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey IV (2015–2016). One of the key findings was that especially feeding children animal-sourced and vitamin-A-rich food was associated with lower malnutrition rates. The study further interrogated whether livestock ownership and participation in the Integrated Child Development Services programme could be supportive of better complementary child feeding and concluded that daily food receipts from the programme and poultry ownership were indeed linked with significantly higher rates of children following the recommended feeding practices as well as with somewhat lower children’s malnutrition rates.
On the people counting problem in smart homes: undirected graphs and theoretical lower-bounds
Authors: Giaretta Alberto , Loutfi Amy
Published: September 2021

Smart homes of the future will have to deal with multi-occupancy scenarios. Multi-occupancy systems entail a preliminary and critical feature: the capability of counting people. This can be fulfilled by means of simple binary sensors, cheaper and more privacy preserving than other sensors, such as cameras. However, it is currently unclear how many people can be counted in a smart home, given the set of available sensors. In this paper, we propose a graph-based technique that allows to map a smart home to an undirected graph G and discover the lower-bound of certainly countable people, also defined as certain count. We prove that every independent set of n vertices of an undirected graph G represents a minimum count of n people. We also prove that the maximum number of certainly countable people corresponds to the maximum independent sets of G, and that the maximal independent sets of G provide every combination of active sensors that ensure different minimum count. Last, we show how to use this technique to identify and optimise suboptimal deployment of sensors, so that the assumptions can be tightened and the theoretical lower-bound improved.
La-Faujasite zeolite activated with boron trifluoride: synthesis and application as solid acid catalyst for isobutane–isobutene alkylation
Authors: Bolonio David , Sánchez-Palencia Yolanda , García-Martínez María-Jesús , Ortega Marcelo F. , Ortiz José Eugenio , Costafreda Jorge , Canoira Laureano
Published: September 2021

The sodium form of Faujasite Y (Na-FAU) zeolite has been synthesized by the hydrothermal method, and it has been exchanged with ammonium sulphate and later with lanthanum (III) chloride solutions to obtain the La-FAU catalyst. The three zeolites Na-FAU, NH4+-FAU and La-FAU have been characterized by microcrystalline X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, surface area, pore volume and Brönsted acid sites. The La-FAU catalyst has been successfully activated with boron trifluoride etherate, and it has been tested in the alkylation reaction of isobutane with isobutene up to 112 h of time on stream, since the raw La-FAU catalyst showed a rapid deactivation.
Metamodel-based multidisciplinary design optimization methods for aerospace system
Authors: Shi Renhe , Long Teng , Ye Nianhui , Wu Yufei , Wei Zhao , Liu Zhenyu
Published: September 2021

The design of complex aerospace systems is a multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) problem involving the interaction of multiple disciplines. However, because of the necessity of evaluating expensive black-box simulations, the enormous computational cost of solving MDO problems in aerospace systems has also become a problem in practice. To resolve this, metamodel-based design optimization techniques have been applied to MDO. With these methods, system models can be rapidly predicted using approximate metamodels to improve the optimization efficiency. This paper presents an overall survey of metamodel-based MDO for aerospace systems. From the perspective of aerospace system design, this paper introduces the fundamental methodology and technology of metamodel-based MDO, including aerospace system MDO problem formulation, metamodeling techniques, state-of-the-art metamodel-based multidisciplinary optimization strategies, and expensive black-box constraint-handling mechanisms. Moreover, various aerospace system examples are presented to illustrate the application of metamodel-based MDOs to practical engineering. The conclusions derived from this work are summarized in the final section of the paper. The survey results are expected to serve as guide and reference for designers involved in metamodel-based MDO in the field of aerospace engineering.
N and Fe doped NiO nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of azo dye methylene blue in the presence of visible light
Authors: Ramesh Martha
Published: September 2021

Pure NiO, N-doped, Fe-doped, N and Fe codoped NiO NPs were fabricated via a precipitation process. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the face centered cubic phase of NiO products. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the XRD peak was steadily enlarged with the order of elements N, Fe, N/Fe doped to NiO, and shifted towards a greater angle due to decrease in grain size, as shown by XRD. The average crystallite size of NiO products was calculated, ranging from 6.67 to 3.76 nm, according to the Debye Scherrer formula. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated considerable morphological changes in the produced nanoparticles, including those directed to rock-like geometries (NiO and Fe/NiO nanoparticles) while gas covered-nanocrystals (N/NiO and N/Fe/NiO nanoparticles) were formed using precipitation method. The particle size range of 10–50 nm was estimated using the bar scale in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) pictures. The elemental composition of Ni, O, Fe and N atoms in the respected samples was analyzed by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (EDX). Photoluminescence (PL) showed band edge emission at 370 nm. The band edge-absorption peak, which is caused by electronic transitions between energy levels, is determined to be in the range 314–325 nm. A UV–Vis analysis found an energy gap amid 3.2 eV and 2.5 eV. The chemical condition of the Fe and N doped NiO composites were validated using XPS. Using visible photo application of undoped and doped NiO NPs, the degradation of an azo dye termed methylene blue was examined. It was N/Fe/NiO (79.8%), Fe/NiO (76%), N/NiO (73%), and NiO (62%) throughout the 6 h irradiation duration. Increased production of OH•radicals was detected in fluorescence tests using terephthalic acid (TA) for N/Fe/NiO NPs, indicating the higher photo-degradation described. Furthermore, the degradation trends of both undoped and doped NiO NPs closely matched the pseudo first order kinetics, according to the kinetic analysis. There was also a suggestion for a thorough MB breakdown mechanism.
One-bath one-step dyeing of polyester/cotton (PC) blends fabric with disperse dyes after acetylation of cotton
Authors: Kumsa Girmaye , Gebino Gemeda , Ketema Gezu
Published: September 2021

Aiming at the classic problem of dyeing of polyester–cotton blended fabric one-bath one-step dyeing of PC blends with disperse dye after surface modification of cotton were studied. Surface modification of cotton was carried out using fibrous acetylation methods. The optimum value for surface modification was obtained with a concentration of acetylation agent 16% and time of reaction 2.5 h, gave a percent acetylation of 34. Surface chemistry and thermal decomposition were studied by using FTIR spectra and TGA. The tear strength crease recovery, pilling and abrasion resistance were evaluated. The experiment result of dyeing showed that the optimum value was obtained with dye concentration above 1% at a temperature of 120 °C warp tensile strength decreased by 12% and weft tensile strength was decreased by 9% from the control half-bleached fabric. Results of this study showed that one-step one bath dyed modified PC blend with disperse dye fabric presents good fastness property and color strength values compared with conventional two-bath dyed fabric.
History and Historiography in Classical Utilitarianism, 1800–1865
Authors: Barrell Callum
Published: September 2021

This first comprehensive account of the utilitarians' historical thought intellectually resituates their conceptions of philosophy and politics, at a time when the past acquired new significances as both a means and object of study. Drawing on published and unpublished writings - and set against the intellectual backdrops of Scottish philosophical history, German and French historicism, romanticism, positivism, and the rise of social science and scientific history - Callum Barrell recovers the depth with which Jeremy Bentham, James Mill, George Grote, and John Stuart Mill thought about history as a site of philosophy and politics. He argues that the utilitarians, contrary to their reputations as ahistorical and even antihistorical thinkers, developed complex frameworks in which to learn from and negotiate the past, inviting us to rethink the foundations of their ideas, as well as their place in - and relationship to - nineteenth-century philosophy and political thought.
Island Fantasia
Authors: Lin Wei-Ping
Published: September 2021

The Matsu archipelago between China and Taiwan, for long an isolated outpost off southeast China, was suddenly transformed into a military frontline in 1949 by the Cold War and the Communist-Nationalist conflict. The army occupied the islands, commencing more than 40 long years of military rule. With the lifting of martial law in 1992, the people were confronted with the question of how to move forward. This in-depth ethnography and social history of the islands focuses on how individual citizens redefined themselves and reimagined their society. Drawing on long-term fieldwork, Wei-Ping Lin shows how islanders used both traditional and new media to cope with the conflicts and trauma of harsh military rule. She discusses the formation of new social imaginaries through the appearance of 'imagining subjects', interrogating their subjectification processes and varied uses of mediating technologies as they seek to answer existential questions. This title is Open Access.
Evidential Decision Theory
Authors: Ahmed Arif
Published: September 2021

Evidential Decision Theory is a radical theory of rational decision-making. It recommends that instead of thinking about what your decisions *cause*, you should think about what they *reveal*. This Element explains in simple terms why thinking in this way makes a big difference, and argues that doing so makes for *better* decisions. An appendix gives an intuitive explanation of the measure-theoretic foundations of Evidential Decision Theory.
Synchrotron Radiation
Authors: Woodruff D. Phil
Published: September 2021

Learn about the properties of synchrotron radiation and its wide range of applications in physics, materials science and chemistry with this invaluable reference. This thorough text describes the physical principles of the subject, its source and methods of delivery to the sample, as well as the different techniques that use synchrotron radiation to analyse the electronic properties and structure of crystalline and non-crystalline materials and surfaces. Explains applications to study the structure and electronic properties of materials on a microscopic, nanoscopic and atomic scale. An excellent resource for current and future users of these facilities, showing how the available techniques can complement information obtained in users' home laboratories. Perfect for graduate and senior undergraduate students taking specialist courses in synchrotron radiation, in addition to new and established researchers in the field.
Campaigning on the Ability to Govern: A Study of Strategic References to Competence Made by Political Parties in Europe
Authors: Rafałowski Wojciech
Published: September 2021

One of the sources of the incumbent advantage over the challenger in a two-candidate election is the possibility of referring to accomplishments in office. Incumbents exploit this resource in their campaigning rhetoric by putting greater emphasis on competence than challengers do. However, this tendency has not been tested outside two-party systems yet. In multiparty settings, the outgoing government, often formed by a coalition of parties, faces multiple opposition forces. This can change the strategic context of the competition, so the generalizations made in two-party systems may not be adequate. Using the Comparative Campaign Dynamics Dataset, I demonstrate that the tendency to put more emphasis on competence does not apply to government parties in multiparty elections in Europe. However, parties with better positions in the pre-electoral polls are more likely to emphasize traits associated with the ability to govern efficiently during the campaign.
Management Innovation and Middle Managers: The Role of Empowering Leadership, Voice, and Collectivist Orientation
Authors: Rohlfer Sylvia , Hassi Abderrahman , Jebsen Simon
Published: September 2021

Exposing under which conditions management innovation diffuses within firms, this study investigates at the individual level the mediating influence of middle managers’ voice behavior on the relationship between CEOs’ empowering leadership behavior and perceived management innovation. We also propose that the magnitude of this relationship depends on middle managers’ collectivist orientation. This study exploits a unique Moroccan sample of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and utilizes structural equation modeling to analyze the studied relations. We found that the positive relationship between CEOs’ empowering leadership behavior and management innovation is mediated by middle managers’ voice. This effect is conditioned by middle managers’ collectivist orientations, which positively influence their attention to CEOs’ signals and the value and frequency of their contributions to management innovation. While research has identified the external and organizational factors that shape management innovation, our study concentrates on the individual level and accentuates that middle managers’ closeness to management processes, combined with their access to technical knowledge, renders them essential to management innovation. We contradict arguments that middle managers may be less inclined to help management innovation to emerge. SMEs can systematically invest in management innovation by advancing their managerial capabilities and considering individual value orientations.
Discrimination and resentment: examining American attitudes about Native Americans
Authors: Foxworth Raymond , Boulding Carew
Published: September 2021

What shapes Americans' attitudes toward and about Native Americans? Public opinion research acknowledges that race and ethnicity are a factor in shaping US public opinion. Native Americans have been almost entirely excluded from this research. But we do know that, despite being a relatively small population, the general public holds stereotypes and false narratives about Native Americans that have been perpetuated by popular culture, education curriculum, and national myths. In this paper, we use new and original data collected under the Reclaiming Native Truth project to examine the factors that shape attitudes toward Native Americans. More specifically, we examine individual and contextual factors that shape views of discrimination against Native Americans and resentment toward Native Americans. We find that political ideology (liberal versus conservative) and the reliance on Native American stereotypes are factors most consistently associated with resentment and attitudes about Native American discrimination, although direct personal experiences and factual knowledge also matter. Our findings contribute to conversations about attitudes toward racial and ethnic minority groups and emerging scholarship on the role of political attitudes in settler-colonial societies.
Ketones: potential to achieve brain energy rescue and sustain cognitive health during ageing
Authors: Myette-Côté Étienne , Soto-Mota Adrian , Cunnane Stephen C.
Published: September 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common major neurocognitive disorder of ageing. Although largely ignored until about a decade ago, accumulating evidence suggests that deteriorating brain energy metabolism plays a key role in the development and/or progression of AD-associated cognitive decline. Brain glucose hypometabolism is a well-established biomarker in AD but was mostly assumed to be a consequence of neuronal dysfunction and death. However, its presence in cognitively asymptomatic populations at higher risk of AD strongly suggests that it is actually a pre-symptomatic component in the development of AD. The question then arises as to whether progressive AD-related cognitive decline could be prevented or slowed down by correcting or bypassing this progressive ‘brain energy gap’. In this review, we provide an overview of research on brain glucose and ketone metabolism in AD and its prodromal condition – mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – to provide a clearer basis for proposing keto-therapeutics as a strategy for brain energy rescue in AD. We also discuss studies using ketogenic interventions and their impact on plasma ketone levels, brain energetics and cognitive performance in MCI and AD. Given that exercise has several overlapping metabolic effects with ketones, we propose that in combination these two approaches might be synergistic for brain health during ageing. As cause-and-effect relationships between the different hallmarks of AD are emerging, further research efforts should focus on optimising the efficacy, acceptability and accessibility of keto-therapeutics in AD and populations at risk of AD.
Underwriter Reputation, Issuer–Underwriter Matching, and SEO Performance
Authors: Calomiris Charles W. , Izhakian Yehuda , Zender Jaime F.
Published: September 2021

The role of underwriters is altered in new seasoned equity offering deal types in which the offering follows quickly after its announcement. Controlling for the endogenous matching between issuing firms and underwriters, we find increased underwriter reputation mitigates the immediate price impact of announcing an accelerated bookbuilt offering, exacerbates the price impact of announcing a bought offering, and has no immediate price impact for fully marketed deals. In contrast, underwriter reputation positively affects price outcomes for fully marketed deals around the offer date. Reputation effects are not apparent in the absence of controlling for the endogenous matching.
Pre-operative assessment of facial recess width in paediatric cochlear implant recipients: a radiological study
Authors: Han S , Wang L , Gao F , Liang W , Lee T H , Peng K A
Published: September 2021

Background

The location of the vertical segment of the facial nerve varies greatly among patients undergoing otological surgery. Its position relative to the incus determines facial recess width, which has implications for ease of cochlear implantation.

Objective

To investigate the variation in facial nerve depth, relative to the incus, on pre-operative computed tomography in patients undergoing cochlear implantation.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of paediatric patients undergoing cochlear implantation at a tertiary referral centre. Distance between the incus short process and facial nerve, in the transverse (medial-lateral) dimension, was measured at six imaging slices, ranging from 1.25 to 7.25 mm below the tip of the incus short process.

Results

Facial nerve depth relative to the incus short process demonstrated significant variability. Among all subjects and at all measurements taken inferior to the incus, the mean dimension between the facial nerve and the incus short process was 1.71 mm.

Conclusion

This paper presents a rapid, repeatable technique to assess the depth of the facial nerve vertical segment on pre-operative computed tomography, as measured relative to the tip of the incus short process. This allows the surgeon to anticipate facial recess width and round window access during cochlear implantation.
Digital mental health in China: a systematic review
Authors: Zhang Xiaolong , Lewis Shôn , Firth Joseph , Chen Xu , Bucci Sandra
Published: September 2021

Mental health problems are highly prevalent in China; however, China's mental health services lack resources to deliver high-quality care to people in need. Digital mental health is a promising solution to this short-fall in view of the population's digital literacy. In this review, we aim to: (i) investigate the effectiveness, acceptability, usability, and safety of digital health technologies (DHTs) for people with mental health problems in China; (ii) critically appraise the literature; and (iii) make recommendations for future research directions. The databases MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Web of Science, CNKI, WANFANG, and VIP were systemically searched for English and Chinese language articles evaluating DHTs for people with mental health problems in mainland China. Eligible studies were systematically reviewed. The heterogeneity of studies included precluded a meta-analysis. In total, 39 articles were retrieved, reporting on 32 DHTs for various mental health problems. Compared with the digital mental health field in the West, the Chinese studies targeted schizophrenia and substance use disorder more often and investigated social anxiety mediated by shame and culturally specific variants, DHTs were rarely developed in a co-production approach, and methodology quality was less rigorous. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review focused on digital mental health in the Chinese context including studies published in both English and the Chinese language. DHTs were acceptable and usable among Chinese people with mental health problems in general, similar to findings from the West. Due to heterogeneity across studies and a paucity of robust control trial research, conclusions about the efficacy of DHTs are lacking.
Why God allows undeserved horrendous evil
Authors: Hill Scott
Published: September 2021

I defend a new version of the non-identity theodicy. After presenting the theodicy, I reply to a series of objections. I then argue that my approach improves upon similar approaches in the literature.
Of Constitutions, Campaigns and Commissions: A Century of Democratic Centralism under the CCP
Authors: Thornton Patricia M.
Published: September 2021

Democratic centralism, a hallmark of Leninist party organizations, has played a formative role in the history of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Yet despite being hailed as an “inviolable” and “unchanging” Party principle, understandings of democratic centralism have shifted dramatically over the century of its existence. This study traces the long arc of the concept's evolution across successive Party Constitutions, focusing on three critical historical junctures: the Sixth Party Congress, which formally adopted democratic centralism into its Constitution as an organizational principle; the Seventh Party Congress, which adopted rectification as the Party's practice of democratic centralism; and the 19th Party Congress, which set a new milestone in codifying the system as a disciplinary tool. I argue that while democratic centralism exemplifies the CCP's institutional plasticity and adaptive governance and is critical to understanding Party-driven constitutionalism in contemporary China, it also highlights an irresolvable paradox inherent in Party rule. Adaptability does not necessarily impart resilience. I conclude that the CCP's normatively unconstrained extra-constitutional leadership under Xi Jinping highlights the essentially and increasingly irrationalist aspects of its illiberal governance project.
MALL language learning outcomes: A comprehensive meta-analysis 1994–2019
Authors: Burston Jack , Giannakou Konstantinos
Published: September 2021

The aim of this study is to comprehensively evaluate quantitative experimental mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) studies published between 1994 and 2019 that meet minimal conditions of research design and statistical analysis. Starting with a bibliographical database of 1,144 references to experimental MALL implementations, of which there were 700 objectively substantiated by quantitative experimental language learning outcomes, only 84 experimental MALL studies met the inclusion requirements. Their analysis addresses two critical sets of research questions. First, what are the general characteristics of the selected studies and, second, what are their language learning outcomes in terms of measured effect size. Nine general characteristics are considered: publication source, chronological distribution, country of origin, institutional environment, sample size, intervention duration, targeted language, language learner competence level, and learning focus. Effect size was calculated separately for between-group (independent, experimental) and within-group (quasi-experimental) treatment studies. In both cases, the overall results were quite large: 0.72 for the former and 1.16 for the latter. An analysis of four critical moderator variables (language learner competence level, language area focus, institutional environment, and intervention duration) revealed similarly large effect sizes. Notwithstanding, analysis of the data also confirmed obvious publication bias and a very high level of heterogeneity that frequently approached 100%. The relevance of positive language learning outcome conclusions thus needs to be tempered by these shortcomings.
Genetic variation in melon (Cucumis melo L.) landraces and wild relatives of Karnataka state of southern India
Authors: Shivapriya Manchali , Mamatha S. , Umesha K. , Lingaiah H. B. , Mohankumar S.
Published: September 2021

Melon (Cucumis meloL.) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. Karnataka state of southern India is rich in melon landraces and wild relatives, which are potential sources of genetic diversity for crop improvement. Here we report on the collection, characterization and documentation of previously unexplored landrace and wild material to broaden the availability of this genetic diversity for use in melon improvement. Accessions of botanical groups,momordica,kachri,chandalak,reticulatus,acidulusandindicus, intermediate forms ofacidulusandmomordica, and three melons of an unknown group were sourced directly from farmers of eight agro-ecological regions. Twenty-three representative melon landraces and wild relatives, along with four reference varieties of different botanical groups, were evaluated for agronomic traits during the year 2016. Very wide and distinctive genetic variations were observed among the melon accessions for ovary characters, sex expression, days taken to first fruit maturity, external and internal fruit traits, and fruit cracking (splitting). The remarkable variability displayed among the melon accessions as observed from the study demonstrates the importance of them as a valuable genetic reservoir for melon improvement.
Late colonial antecedents of modern democracy
Authors: Bjørnskov Christian , Rode Martin
Published: September 2021

Claims that colonial political institutions fundamentally affected the probability for democratic governance in the post-colonial period are probably among some of the most contested in institutional analysis. The current paper revisits this literature using a previously unused source of empirical information – the Statesman's Yearbook – on a large number of non-sovereign countries in the immediate aftermath of World War II. Our analysis shows that neither the size of the European population nor the existence of institutions of higher education appear to be important for the subsequent democratisation of countries decolonised during the latter half of the 20th century, while the existence of representative political bodies during the late colonial period clearly predicts the existence and stability of democracy in recent decades. Successful transplants of democracy to former colonies thus seem to crucially depend on whether recipients had time available to experiment around and adjust the imported institutions to local practices.
Based on Atmospheric Physics and Ecological Principle to Assess the Accuracies of Field CO2/H2O Measurements From Infrared Gas Analyzers in Closed‐Path Eddy‐Covariance Systems
Authors: Zhou Xinhua , Gao Tian , Pang Yunchao , Mahan Hayden , Li Xiufen , Zheng Ning , Suyker Andrew E. , Awada Tala , Zhu Jiaojun
Published: September 2021

Field CO2/H2O measurements from infrared gas analyzers in closed‐path eddy‐covariance systems have wide applications in earth sciences. Knowledge about exactness of these measurements is required to assess measurement applicability. Although the analyzers are specified with uncertainty components (zero drift, gain drift, cross‐sensitivities, and precision), exactness for individual measurements is unavailable due to an absence of methodology to comprehend the components as an overall uncertainty. Adopting an advanced definition of accuracy as a range of all measurement uncertainty sources, the specified components are composited into a model formulated for studying analyzers’ CO2/H2O accuracy equations. Based on atmospheric physics and environmental parameters, the analyzers are evaluated using the equations for CO2 accuracy (±0.78 µmolCO2 mol−1, relatively ±0.18%) and H2O accuracy (±0.15 mmolH2O mol−1). Evaluation shows that precision and cross‐sensitivity are minor uncertainties while zero and gain drifts are major uncertainties. Both drifts need adjusting through zero/span procedures during field maintenance. The equations provide rationales to guide and assess the procedures. H2O span needs more attentions under humid conditions. Under freezing conditions while H2O span is impractical, this span is fortunately unnecessary. Under the same conditions, H2O zero drift dominates H2O measurement uncertainty. Therefore, automatic zero becomes a more applicable and necessary tactic. In general cases of atmospheric CO2 background, automatic CO2 zero/span procedures can narrow CO2 accuracy by 36% (±0.74 to ± 0.47 µmolCO2 mol−1). Automatic/manual H2O zero/span procedures can narrow H2O accuracy by 27% (±0.15 to ±0.11 mmolH2O mol−1). While ensuring system specifications, the procedures guided by equations improve measurement accuracies.
Winter Euro‐Atlantic Climate Modes: Future Scenarios From a CMIP6 Multi‐Model Ensemble
Authors: Cusinato E. , Rubino A. , Zanchettin D.
Published: September 2021

Dominant Euro‐Atlantic modes of large‐scale atmospheric variability significantly affect interannual‐to‐decadal Euro‐Mediterranean climate fluctuations, especially in winter. Here, we investigate the robustness of historical and projected state and variability of such modes in a CMIP6 multi‐model ensemble of historical and ssp585 future scenario simulations, focusing on the winter season. Results show overall good skills of the historical ensemble to reproduce the observed temporal, spectral and distributional properties of all considered modes. At the end of the 21st Century the ssp585 ensemble yields non‐significant distributional changes for NAO, EAWR, and SCA indices and a transition to a baroclinic structure for EA, with persistent positive anomalies in the mid‐troposphere enhancing globally‐driven warming over the Euro‐Mediterranean region. The hemispheric spatial correlation patterns with temperature and precipitation significantly change for all modes, that is, we observe a significant modulation of the teleconnections associated with each index.
A Seasonal Harmonic Model for Internal Tide Amplitude Prediction
Authors: Rayson Matthew D. , Jones Nicole L. , Ivey Gregory N. , Gong Yankun
Published: September 2021

We present an empirical model of the seasonal variability of the internal tide using seasonal harmonics to modulate the amplitude of the fundamental tidal constituents. Internal tide data, from both long‐term, in‐situ moorings and a mesoscale‐resolving and internal tide‐resolving ocean model, are used to demonstrate the performance of the seasonal harmonic model for the Indo‐Australian Basin region. The seasonal model describes up to 15% more of the observed (baroclinic) sea surface height variance than a fixed‐amplitude harmonic model at the mooring sites. The ocean model results demonstrate that the study region, which includes the Australian North West Shelf (NWS), Timor Sea, and southern Indonesian Islands, is dominated by standing wave interference patterns due to the presence of multiple generation sites. The seasonal harmonic model reveals that temporal shifts in the standing wave patterns coincide with seasonal variations in density stratification. This shift is particularly evident within distances of 2–3 internal wave lengths from strong generation sites. The fraction of the variance of the internal tide signal explained by seasonal modulations is largest in standing wave node regions, contributing to differences in predictive skill of the seasonal harmonic model at two moorings separated by only 38 km. Output of the harmonic model also demonstrates that the seasonally evolving internal tide propagating southward from Lombok Strait had a small amplitude in October when shear from the Indonesian Throughflow was strongest.
Controlling Factors of Seasonal Variation of Stem Methane Emissions From Alnus japonica in a Riparian Wetland of a Temperate Forest
Authors: Sakabe Ayaka , Takahashi Kenshi , Azuma Wakana , Itoh Masayuki , Tateishi Makiko , Kosugi Yoshiko
Published: September 2021

Tree‐mediated methane (CH4) emissions represent an uncertain pathway of the total CH4 flux released from forested ecosystems. We measured the stem CH4 fluxes from Alnus japonica in a riparian wetland of a temperate forest for a year from 2017 to 2018, using automated chambers. The stem CH4 fluxes varied seasonally, showing summertime maxima and wintertime minima. Medians of stem CH4 fluxes were 12.9, 0.5, 0.4, and 13.4 nmol m−2 s−1 during autumn, winter, spring, and summer, respectively. Dissolved CH4 concentration in groundwater beneath the trees was the major controlling factor of the stem CH4 fluxes. Temporal variations in soil environmental conditions (temperature and groundwater level) controlled dissolved CH4 concentrations in groundwater, and accordingly, stem CH4 fluxes. In addition, stem CH4 emissions were observed when the sap flux diminished during the defoliation period. These results indicate that CH4 in the rhizosphere is mainly transported in the gaseous form through intercellular space in trees. Intense rainfall occasionally caused a transient increase in the stem CH4 emissions, which was attributed to the temporal changes in the groundwater flow paths by rainfall affecting the belowground CH4 concentrations. Our findings highlight the need for continuous stem CH4 flux measurements for improved understanding of the controlling factors and future response of CH4 dynamics in forests, with regards to climate change.
Melatonin and doxorubicin synergistically enhance apoptosis via autophagy-dependent reduction of AMPKα1 transcription in human breast cancer cells
Authors: Tran Quynh Hoa , Hoang Dang Hieu , Song Minhyeok , Choe Wonchae , Kang Insug , Kim Sung Soo , Ha Joohun
Published: September 2021

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective agents used to treat various cancers, including breast cancer, but its usage is limited by the risk of adverse effects, including cardiotoxicity. Melatonin, a natural hormone that functions as a major regulator of circadian rhythms, has been considered a supplemental component for doxorubicin due to its potential to improve its effectiveness. However, the mechanisms and biological targets of the combination of melatonin and doxorubicin with respect to cancer cell death are not well understood. In the present study, we found that melatonin synergized with doxorubicin to induce apoptosis of breast cancer cells by decreasing the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPK α1), which acts as a critical survival factor for cancer cells. This cotreatment-induced reduction in AMPKα1 expression occurred at the transcriptional level via an autophagy-dependent mechanism. The synergistic effects of the combined treatment were evident in many other cancer cell lines, and melatonin was also highly effective in inducing cancer death when combined with other cancer drugs, including cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan, and sorafenib. AMPKα1 expression was decreased in all of these cases, suggesting that reducing AMPKα1 can be considered an effective method to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to doxorubicin treatment.
Human cardiac stem cells rejuvenated by modulating autophagy with MHY-1685 enhance the therapeutic potential for cardiac repair
Authors: Park Ji Hye , Kim Hyeok , Moon Hyung Ryong , Park Bong-Woo , Park Jae-Hyun , Sim Woo-Sup , Kim Jin-Ju , Lim Hye Ji , Kim Yeon-Ju , Ji Seung Taek , Jang Woong Bi , Rethineswaran Vinoth Kumar , Van Le Thi Hong , Giang Ly Thanh Truong , Yun Jisoo , Ha Jong Seong , Ban Kiwon , Chung Hae Young , Baek Sang Hong , Park Hun-Jun , Kwon Sang-Mo
Published: September 2021

Stem cell-based therapies with clinical applications require millions of cells. Therefore, repeated subculture is essential for cellular expansion, which is often complicated by replicative senescence. Cellular senescence contributes to reduced stem cell regenerative potential as it inhibits stem cell proliferation and differentiation as well as the activation of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). In this study, we employed MHY-1685, a novel mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, and examined its long-term priming effect on the activities of senile human cardiac stem cells (hCSCs) and the functional benefits of primed hCSCs after transplantation. In vitro experiments showed that the MHY-1685‒primed hCSCs exhibited higher viability in response to oxidative stress and an enhanced proliferation potential compared to that of the unprimed senile hCSCs. Interestingly, priming MHY-1685 enhanced the expression of stemness-related markers in senile hCSCs and provided the differentiation potential of hCSCs into vascular lineages. In vivo experiment with echocardiography showed that transplantation of MHY-1685‒primed hCSCs improved cardiac function than that of the unprimed senile hCSCs at 4 weeks post-MI. In addition, hearts transplanted with MHY-1685-primed hCSCs exhibited significantly lower cardiac fibrosis and higher capillary density than that of the unprimed senile hCSCs. In confocal fluorescence imaging, MHY-1685‒primed hCSCs survived for longer durations than that of the unprimed senile hCSCs and had a higher potential to differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) within the infarcted hearts. These findings suggest that MHY-1685 can rejuvenate senile hCSCs by modulating autophagy and that as a senescence inhibitor, MHY-1685 can provide opportunities to improve hCSC-based myocardial regeneration.
Reverted exhaustion phenotype of circulating lymphocytes as immune correlate of anti-PD1 first-line treatment in Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Garcia-Marquez Maria A. , Thelen Martin , Reinke Sarah , Keller Diandra , Wennhold Kerstin , Lehmann Jonas , Veldman Johanna , Borchmann Sven , Rosenwald Andreas , Sasse Stephanie , Diepstra Arjan , Borchmann Peter , Engert Andreas , Klapper Wolfram , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Bröckelmann Paul J. , Schlößer Hans A.
Published: September 2021

While classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is highly susceptible to anti-programmed death protein 1 (PD1) antibodies, the exact modes of action remain controversial. To elucidate the circulating lymphocyte phenotype and systemic effects during anti-PD1 1st-line HL treatment we applied multicolor flow cytometry, FluoroSpot and NanoString to sequential samples of 81 HL patients from the NIVAHL trial (NCT03004833) compared to healthy controls. HL patients showed a decreased CD4 T-cell fraction, a higher percentage of effector-memory T cells and higher expression of activation markers at baseline. Strikingly, and in contrast to solid cancers, expression for 10 out of 16 analyzed co-inhibitory molecules on T cells (e.g., PD1, LAG3, Tim3) was higher in HL. Overall, we observed a sustained decrease of the exhausted T-cell phenotype during anti-PD1 treatment. FluoroSpot of 42.3% of patients revealed T-cell responses against ≥1 of five analyzed tumor-associated antigens. Importantly, these responses were more frequently observed in samples from patients with early excellent response to anti-PD1 therapy. In summary, an initially exhausted lymphocyte phenotype rapidly reverted during anti-PD1 1st-line treatment. The frequently observed IFN-y responses against shared tumor-associated antigens indicate T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity and could represent an important resource for immune monitoring and cellular therapy of HL.
USP28 facilitates pancreatic cancer progression through activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway via stabilising FOXM1
Authors: Chen Leifeng , Xu Zheng , Li Qing , Feng Qian , Zheng Cihua , Du Yunyan , Yuan Rongfa , Peng Xiaogang
Published: September 2021

Ubiquitination is an important post-translational modification that can be reversed by a family of enzymes called deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). Ubiquitin-specific protease 28 (USP28), a member of the DUBs family, functions as a potential tumour promoter in various cancers. However, the biological function and clinical significance of USP28 in pancreatic cancer (PC) are still unclear. Here, we showed that PC tumours had higher USP28 expression compared with that of normal pancreatic tissues, and high USP28 level was significantly correlated with malignant phenotype and shorter survival in patients with PC. Overexpression of USP28 accelerated PC cell growth, whereas USP28 knockdown impaired PC cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Further, we found that USP28 promoted PC cell growth by facilitating cell cycle progression and inhibiting apoptosis. Mechanistically, USP28 deubiquitinated and stabilised FOXM1, a critical mediator of Wnt/β-catenin signalling. USP28-mediated stabilisation of FOXM1 significantly promoted nucleus β-catenin trans-activation, which in turn led to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Finally, restoration of FOXM1 expression abolished the anti-tumour effects of USP28-silencing. Thus, USP28 contributes to PC pathogenesis through enhancing the FOXM1-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signalling, and could be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for PC cases.
Histone deacetylase 6 acts upstream of DNA damage response activation to support the survival of glioblastoma cells
Authors: Yang Wen-Bin , Wu An-Chih , Hsu Tsung-I , Liou Jing-Ping , Lo Wei-Lun , Chang Kwang-Yu , Chen Pin-Yuan , Kikkawa Ushio , Yang Shung-Tai , Kao Tzu-Jen , Chen Ruei-Ming , Chang Wen-Chang , Ko Chiung-Yuan , Chuang Jian-Ying
Published: September 2021

DNA repair promotes the progression and recurrence of glioblastoma (GBM). However, there remain no effective therapies for targeting the DNA damage response and repair (DDR) pathway in the clinical setting. Thus, we aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of DDR genes in GBM specimens to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying treatment resistance. Herein, transcriptomic analysis of 177 well-defined DDR genes was performed with normal and GBM specimens (n = 137) from The Cancer Genome Atlas and further integrated with the expression profiling of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibition in temozolomide (TMZ)-resistant GBM cells and patient-derived tumor cells. The effects of HDAC6 inhibition on DDR signaling were examined both in vitro and intracranial mouse models. We found that the expression of DDR genes, involved in repair pathways for DNA double-strand breaks, was upregulated in highly malignant primary and recurrent brain tumors, and their expression was related to abnormal clinical features. However, a potent HDAC6 inhibitor, MPT0B291, attenuated the expression of these genes, including RAD51 and CHEK1, and was more effective in blocking homologous recombination repair in GBM cells. Interestingly, it resulted in lower cytotoxicity in primary glial cells than other HDAC6 inhibitors. MPT0B291 reduced the growth of both TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant tumor cells and prolonged survival in mouse models of GBM. We verified that HDAC6 regulated DDR genes by affecting Sp1 expression, which abolished MPT0B291-induced DNA damage. Our findings uncover a regulatory network among HDAC6, Sp1, and DDR genes for drug resistance and survival of GBM cells. Furthermore, MPT0B291 may serve as a potential lead compound for GBM therapy.