bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The European Convention of Human Rights as a Kantian cosmopolitan legal order
Authors: BROWN GARRETT WALLACE , ANDENAS MADS
Published: December 2020

InA Cosmopolitan Legal Order: Kant, Constitutional Justice and the European Convention on Human Rights, Alec Stone Sweet and Clare Ryan argue that there has been the emergence of, and increasing prospects for, a cosmopolitan legal order based on the Convention. This symposium aims to engage with, and to better explore, the theoretical implications and practical legal ramifications of their argument. In doing so, this first article acts as a general introduction to the symposium, laying out the major arguments of the book as well as arguments presented by the symposium contributors. Moving beyond the summative, this introduction also situatesA Cosmopolitan Legal Oderwithin broader debates in global constitutionalism, while defending its use of Kant’s cosmopolitan theory. Lastly, it explores some of the key implications and challenges that arise from the symposium itself, rooting these insights within the current context of anti-globalism, nationalism, populism and neo-sovereigntism, and the corresponding necessity for a more transitional and pluralistic response as offered inA Cosmopolitan Legal Order.
Trends in the prevalence and disability-adjusted life years of eating disorders from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Authors: Wu Jiayuan , Liu Jie , Li Shasha , Ma Huan , Wang Yufeng
Published: December 2020

Aim

Eating disorders have increasingly become a public health concern globally. This study aimed to reveal the burden of eating disorders at the global, regional and national levels using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2017 data.

Methods

We extracted the age-standardised rates (ASRs) of prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and their 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, between 1990 and 2017 from the GBD 2017 data. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to quantify the secular trends of the burden of eating disorders.

Results

The ASRs of prevalence and the DALYs of eating disorders continuously increased worldwide from 1990 to 2017 by an average of 0.65 (95% UI: 0.59–0.71) and 0.66 (95% UI: 0.60–0.72), respectively. The burden of eating disorders was higher in females than in males, but the increment in ASRs was greater in males than in females over time. In 2017, the highest burden of eating disorders was observed in the high sociodemographic index (SDI) regions, especially Australasia (ASR of prevalence = 807.13, 95% UI: 664.20–982.30; ASR of DALYs = 170.74, 95% UI: 113.43–244.14, per 100 000 population), Western Europe and high-income North America. However, the most significant increment of the burden of eating disorders was observed in East Asia (EAPC for prevalence = 2.23, 95% UI: 2.14–2.32; EAPC for DALYs = 2.22, 95% UI: 2.13–2.31), followed by South Asia. An increasing trend in the burden of eating disorders at the national level was observed among most countries or territories. The countries with the top three highest increasing trends were Equatorial Guinea, Bosnia and Herzegovina and China. Positive associations were found between the burden estimates and the SDI levels in almost all geographic regions during the observed 28-year period. We also found that the human development indexes in 2017 were positively correlated with the EAPCs of the ASRs of prevalence (ρ = 0.222, P = 0.002) and DALYs (ρ = 0.208, P = 0.003).

Conclusion

The highest burden of eating disorders remains in the high-income western countries, but an increasing trend was observed globally and in all SDI-quintiles, especially in Asian regions that were highly populous. These results could help governments worldwide formulate suitable medical and health policies for the prevention and early intervention of eating disorders.
Preserving Ancestral Land and Ethnic Identification: Narratives of Kerinci Migrants in Malaysia
Authors: Zainuddin Mahli , Latief Hilman
Published: December 2020

Members of the Kerinci ethnic group area migrated to and settled in Malaysia centuries before the nation-state era arrived on the Malay Peninsula. Their migration continues in the present, and they face a range of problems, such as ongoing changes in the nation-state in the Malay Peninsula, migration policies, available types of occupations and aspects of their social-economic and cultural context. This paper focuses on the lives of members of ethnic groups from the regency of Kerinci, Sumatra, who have been living as migrants in Malaysia for more than three generations. It explores the ethnic identification of Kerinci migrants in Malaysia and investigates how they have preserved their legacy and protected the land that was inherited from their ancestors. This paper argues that the migration of some Kerinci to Malaysia entails a preservation of cultural differences and reunification of some families, as well as the continuation of certain family inheritances.
The interaction between dietary approaches to stop hypertension and MC4R gene variant in predicting cardiovascular risk factors
Authors: Yarizadeh Habib , Bahiraee Alireza , Asadi Sara , Maddahi Niloofar Sadat , Setayesh Leila , Casazza Krista , Mirzaei Khadijeh
Published: December 2020

Abstract. Objective: The genetic variants near the melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R), a key protein regulating energy balance and adiposity, have been related to obesity and cardiovascular risk factors. However, qualitative and quantitative aspects of diet may modulate the association of this polymorphism with obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this study was to evaluate interactions among MC4R rs17782313, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and risk factors for CVDs. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 266 Iranian women categorized by body mass index (BMI) range of 25–40 kg/m2 as overweight or obese. CVD risk factors included waist circumference (WC), lipid profile, blood pressure, insulin circulation and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Insulin and FBS were used to calculate homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) Body composition was assessed by a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analyzer, InBody 770 scanner. Results: The findings of this study show that high adherence to the DASH diet in the CC groups were associated with decreased SBP and DBP compared to the TT group. In addition, a significant difference between women with high adherence to the DASH diet compared to low adherence was observed for body weight (p < 0.001), fat free mass (FFM) (p = 0.01) and BMI (p = 0.02). Women with the CC genotype had higher insulin (mg/dl) (mean and SD, for TT: 14.6 ± 4.6, TC: 17.3 ± 9.2, CC: 15.3 ± 4.8, p = 0.04) and HOMA-IR (mean for and SD, TT: 3.1 ± 1.07, TC: 3.9 ± 2.4, CC: 3.2 ± 1.1, p = 0.01) than TT group. Inclusion of potential confounding variables (age, physical activity, BMI and daily caloric intake) did not attenuate the difference. Conclusion: Among overweight/obese Iranian women with the CC genotype, incorporating the DASH diet may serve as a dietary prescription to decrease CVD risk. A dietary intervention trial is warranted.
The role of vitamin D in metabolic and reproductive disturbances of polycystic ovary syndrome: A narrative mini-review
Authors: Menichini Daniela , Forte Gianpiero , Orrù Beatrice , Gullo Giuseppe , Unfer Vittorio , Facchinetti Fabio
Published: December 2020

Abstract. Vitamin D is a secosteroid hormone that plays a pivotal role in several metabolic and reproductive pathways in humans. Increasing evidence supports the role of vitamin D deficiency in metabolic disturbances and infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Indeed, supplementation with vitamin D seems to have a beneficial role on insulin resistance (IR) and endometrial receptivity. On the other hand, exceedingly high levels of vitamin D appear to play a detrimental role on oocytes development and embryo quality. In the current review, we summarize the available evidence about the topic, aiming to suggest the best supplementation strategy in women with PCOS or, more generally, in those with metabolic disturbances and infertility. Based on the retrieved data, vitamin D seems to have a beneficial role on IR, insulin sensitivity and endometrial receptivity, but high levels and incorrect timing of administration seem to have a detrimental role on oocytes development and embryo quality. Therefore, we encourage a low dose supplementation (400–800 IU/day) particularly in vitamin D deficient women that present metabolic disturbances like PCOS. As far as the reproductive health, we advise vitamin D supplementation in selected populations, only during specific moments of the ovarian cycle, to support the luteal phase. However, ambiguities about dosage and timing of the supplementation still emerge from the clinical studies published to date and further studies are required.
Warmer, Wetter Climates Accelerate Mechanical Weathering in Field Data, Independent of Stress‐Loading
Authors: Eppes M. C. , Magi B. , Scheff J. , Warren K. , Ching S. , Feng T.
Published: December 2020

Weathering is a foundational process in most Earth systems, but there has been a lack of data directly quantifying what influences mechanical weathering. Here we use multiple years of in situ field data, “listening” to acoustic emissions of naturally cracking rocks, to test a hypothesized link between climate and subcritical crack‐tip processes (i.e., the bond‐breaking mechanism thought to embody most mechanical weathering). Our results challenge the assumption of a singular dependence of mechanical weathering on stresses. We find that mechanical weathering rates exponentially increase as functions of atmospheric vapor pressure (VP), temperature, and relative humidity, even when controlling for stress‐loading. VP exerts the most pronounced influence on the observed mechanical weathering rates. Put in the context of global climate change, our results underscore the potential for climate‐dependent subcritical crack‐tip processes to influence all weathering‐allied problems including the long‐term stabilization of the climate by weathering‐carbon‐cycle feedbacks.
The Implications of Temporal Variability in Wave‐Particle Interactions in Earth's Radiation Belts
Authors: Watt C. E. J. , Allison H. J. , Thompson R. L. , Bentley S. N. , Meredith N. P. , Glauert S. A. , Horne R. B. , Rae I. J.
Published: December 2020

Changes in electron flux in Earth's outer radiation belt can be modeled using a diffusion‐based framework. Diffusion coefficients D for such models are often constructed from statistical averages of observed inputs. Here, we use stochastic parameterization to investigate the consequences of temporal variability in D. Variability time scales are constrained using Van Allen Probe observations. Results from stochastic parameterization experiments are compared with experiments using D constructed from averaged inputs and an average of observation‐specific D. We find that the evolution and final state of the numerical experiment depends upon the variability time scale of D; experiments with longer variability time scales differ from those with shorter time scales, even when the time‐integrated diffusion is the same. Short variability time scale experiments converge with solutions obtained using an averaged observation‐specific D, and both exhibit greater diffusion than experiments using the averaged‐input D. These experiments reveal the importance of temporal variability in radiation belt diffusion.
Subpolar Activation of Halogen Heterogeneous Chemistry in Austral Spring
Authors: Zambri Brian , Kinnison Douglas E. , Solomon Susan
Published: December 2020

Heterogeneous halogen chemistry plays a dominant role in driving changes in polar chemical composition and ozone depletion. Activation of halogens outside the polar regions may result in depletion of local ozone, along with changes in the chemical budgets of various species in the lower stratosphere (LS). In this study, the means and distributions of NO2 measurements from the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE3m) are compared to simulations from a coupled climate‐chemistry model, in order to better characterize and quantify subpolar heterogeneous halogen chemistry. NO2 abundances from a simulation with heterogeneous chemistry are drawn from the same distribution as the SAGE3m observations, while the NO2 distribution is different in a simulation without heterogeneous chemistry. Results indicate that heterogeneous chemistry plays a significant role in determining the chemical composition of the subpolar LS in austral spring and show how analysis of distribution functions can provide useful insights into chemical processes.
Lake Morphometry and River Network Controls on Evasion of Terrestrially Sourced Headwater CO2
Authors: Brinkerhoff C. B. , Raymond P. A. , Maavara T. , Ishitsuka Y. , Aho K.S. , Gleason C. J.
Published: December 2020

Lakes are central components of the inland water system distinct from, yet inextricably connected to, river networks. Currently, existing network‐scale biogeochemistry research, although robust, typically treats each of these components separately or reductively. Here, we incorporate lake morphometry into a fully connected stream/lake network for the Connecticut River watershed and model potential evasion of terrestrially sourced headwater CO2 as transported through the network, ignoring in‐stream production. We found that approximately 25%–30% of total potential soil CO2 evasion occurs in lakes, and percent evasion is inversely related to streamflow. A lake's ability to evade CO2 is controlled by residence time and size: most lakes with residence time over 7 days or surface area greater than 0.004 km2 evade functionally all terrestrial CO2 entering from upstream, precluding further downstream transport. We conclude that lakes are important for soil CO2 degassing and that this coupled river/lake approach is promising for CO2 studies henceforth.
Deformation Precursors to Catastrophic Failure in Rocks
Authors: McBeck J. A. , Aiken J. M. , Mathiesen J. , Ben‐Zion Y. , Renard F.
Published: December 2020

Forecasting the timing of catastrophic failure, such as crustal earthquakes, has been a central concern for centuries. Such forecasting requires identifying signals that evolve or accelerate in the precursory phase leading to failure, and the subset of signals that may be detected in the crust. We develop machine learning models to predict the proximity of catastrophic failure in synchrotron X‐ray tomography triaxial compression experiments on rocks using characteristics of evolving fracture networks. We then examine the characteristics that most strongly influence the model results, and thus may be considered the best predictors of the proximity of macroscopic failure. The resulting suite of predictive parameters underscores the importance of dilation in the precursory phase leading to catastrophic failure. The results indicate that the evolution of the strain energy density field may provide more robust predictions of the proximity of failure than other existing metrics of rock deformation.
Enhanced PM2.5 Decreases and O3 Increases in China During COVID‐19 Lockdown by Aerosol‐Radiation Feedback
Authors: Zhu Jia , Chen Lei , Liao Hong , Yang Hao , Yang Yang , Yue Xu
Published: December 2020

We apply an online‐coupled meteorology‐chemistry model (WRF‐Chem) embedded with an improved process analysis to examine aerosol‐radiation feedback (ARF) impacts on effectiveness of emission control due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) lockdown over North China Plain. Emission reduction alone induces PM2.5 decrease by 16.3 μg m−3 and O3 increase by 10.2 ppbv during COVID‐19 lockdown. The ARF enhances PM2.5 decrease by 2.7 μg m−3 (16.6%) and O3 increase by 0.8 ppbv (7.8%). The ARF‐induced enhancement of PM2.5 decline is mostly attributed to aerosol chemistry process, while enhancement of O3 rise is ascribed to physical advection and vertical mixing processes. A set of sensitivity experiments with emission reductions in different degrees indicate that the ARF‐induced enhancements of PM2.5 declines (O3 rises) follow a robust linear relationship with the emission‐reduction‐induced PM2.5 decreases. The fitted relationship has an important implication for assessing the effectiveness of emission abatement at any extent.
On the Fluctuations in Volcanic Plumes
Authors: Woitischek Julia , Edmonds Marie , Woods Andrew W.
Published: December 2020

Some basaltic open vent volcanoes show that spectroscopic SO2 measurements of a volcanic gas plume are characterized by a fluctuating signal. Understanding the origin of these fluctuations is of great interest for interpreting volcanic gas emission regimes. Although some fluctuations may be associated with intermittency in the source flux, some may be associated with the turbulence in the flow. A simple laboratory experiment, in which we release dye pulses into a turbulent wake in a small water‐filled channel, suggests that when the intermittency of the source has comparable or smaller timescale as the turbulence, the fluctuations are similar, whereas when the intermittency of the source has longer timescale than the turbulence, the fluctuations can be distinguished. We also present some small‐scale laboratory experiments of turbulent buoyant plumes produced from a steady source; these demonstrate a time‐fluctuating concentration of source fluid downstream and the fluctuation period tends to increase with distance.
Sea Ice Thickness in the Western Ross Sea
Authors: Rack Wolfgang , Price Daniel , Haas Christian , Langhorne Patricia J. , Leonard Greg H.
Published: December 2020

Using airborne measurements, we provide a first direct glimpse of the sea ice thickness distribution in the western Ross Sea, Antarctica, where the distinguishing sea ice process is the regular occurrence of the Ross Sea, McMurdo Sound, and Terra Nova Bay polynyas. Two flights in November 2017 over a length of 800 km reveal a heavily deformed ice regime with a mean thickness of 2.0 ± 1.6 m. Supported by satellite image analysis, we identify regional variability in ice thickness based on formation history. Sea ice thickness gradients are highest within 100 and 200 km of the Terra Nova Bay and McMurdo Sound polynyas, respectively, where the mean thickness of the thickest 10% of ice is 7.6 m. Overall, about 80% of the ice is heavily deformed, concentrated in ridges with thicknesses of 3.0–11.8 m. This is evidence that sea ice is much thicker than in the central Ross Sea.
Rectification of the Intraseasonal SST Variability by the Diurnal Cycle of SST Revealed by the Global Tropical Moored Buoy Array
Authors: Yan Yunwei , Zhang Lei , Yu Yi , Chen Changlin , Xi Jingyuan , Chai Fei
Published: December 2020

It has been suggested that the intraseasonal sea surface temperature (SST) variability in the tropical oceans can be amplified by the diurnal cycle of SST (dSST). Here, by analyzing the global tropical moored buoy array for the first time, we find that the intraseasonal SST variability is indeed amplified by the dSST in most of the tropical oceans, especially in the Indo‐Pacific warm pool, but weakened in the equatorial cold tongues of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Such a divergent response is associated with the difference in atmosphere‐ocean interaction processes over these two regions. In the warm pool region, SST responds to the intraseasonal atmospheric variability, resulting in in‐phase intraseasonal fluctuations between SST and dSST that amplify the intraseasonal SST variability. However, in the cold tongue region, SST drives the atmospheric changes, which leads to out‐of‐phase intraseasonal fluctuations between SST and dSST and thus the inhibition of the intraseasonal SST variability.
Evolution of a Tornado and Debris Ball Associated With Super Typhoon Hagibis 2019 Observed by X‐Band Phased Array Weather Radar in Japan
Authors: Morotomi Kazuomi , Shimamura Shigeharu , Kobayashi Fumiaki , Takamura Tamio , Takano Toshiaki , Higuchi Atsushi , Iwashita Hisato
Published: December 2020

A tornado associated with category 5 Super Typhoon Hagibis occurred on October 12, 2019 in Ichihara City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. An X‐band phased array weather radar revealed the occurrence of the tornado at the south edge of its parent cloud, which had several characteristics of a classic supercell (mesocyclone, hook‐shaped echo, bounded weak echo region, and vault shape). Phased array radar observation also revealed a three‐dimensional multiscale structure of the tornado with a mesocyclone and misocyclone at different altitudes. The misocyclone, the vorticity of which intensified for several minutes under the mesocyclone, resulted in the formation of a tornado and debris ball. The echo top height of the debris ball abruptly increased at the time when the vorticity of the misocyclone maximized at low levels, suggesting a rapid evolution of tornadic vortex and the associated damage on the ground.
Retrogressive Thaw Slumps on Ice‐Rich Permafrost Under Degradation: Results From a Large‐Scale Laboratory Simulation
Authors: Costard F. , Dupeyrat L. , Séjourné A. , Bouchard F. , Fedorov A. , Saint‐Bézar B.
Published: December 2020

In the ice‐rich permafrost of the Arctic regions, thermokarst erosion on slopes induces the formation of large‐scale retrogressive thaw slumps (RTS). They have significant geomorphological, hydrological, and biogeochemical impacts on the landscape. Further research is thus needed to better understand the respective effect of ice content and permafrost heterogeneities on the dynamics of these erosional features. Here, we present results of a full‐scale physical modeling of RTS development in a cold room. The experimental setup was designed to simulate and compare two ground‐ice settings (ice wedges, icy layers) with the thawing of ice‐poor permafrost (i.e., reference model). Our results show that the melting of the icy layers induces a loss of decohesion of the overlapping frozen soil. The heterogeneous frozen soil with ice wedges needs a longer time until degradation, but undergoes a stronger and faster decohesion of its structure during the thawing phase.
Forecasting the Permanent Loss of Lake Ice in the Northern Hemisphere Within the 21st Century
Authors: Sharma Sapna , Blagrave Kevin , Filazzola Alessandro , Imrit M. Arshad , Hendricks Franssen Harrie‐Jan
Published: December 2020

Lake ice cover is essential to conserving the global freshwater supply for the 50 million lakes that freeze each winter. Here, we ask when lakes across the Northern Hemisphere may permanently lose ice cover. A K‐means cluster analysis from 31 lakes identified four clusters of lakes vulnerable to losing ice cover, including shallow and deep lakes in regions where winter air temperatures hover ∼0 °C and larger and deeper lakes in colder regions. By the end of this century, we estimate that up to 5,679 lakes of 1.35 million HydroLAKES may permanently lose ice cover if greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) continue to be emitted at current levels. In the Northern Hemisphere, lakes in southern and coastal regions, some of which are among the largest lakes in the world and in close proximity to large human populations, are the most vulnerable to permanently losing ice.
Centennial‐Scale Shifts in Storm Frequency Captured in Paleohurricane Records From The Bahamas Arise Predominantly From Random Variability
Authors: Wallace Elizabeth J. , Coats Sloan , Emanuel Kerry , Donnelly Jeffrey P.
Published: December 2020

Event‐based paleohurricane reconstructions of the last millennium indicate dramatic changes in the frequency of landfalling hurricanes on centennial timescales. It is difficult to assess whether the variability captured in these paleorecords is related to changing climate or randomness. We assess whether centennial‐scale active and quiet intervals of intense hurricane activity occur in a set of synthetic storms run with boundary conditions from an earth system model simulation of the last millennium. We generate 1,000 pseudo sedimentary records for a site on South Andros Island using a Poisson random draw from this synthetic storm data set. We find that any single pseudo sedimentary record contains active and quiet intervals of hurricane activity. The 1,000‐record ensemble average, which reflects the common signal of climate variability, does not. This suggests that the record of paleohurricane activity from The Bahamas reflects variability in hurricane frequency dominated by randomness and not variability in the climatic conditions.
Air‐Sea Interactions in the Cold Wakes of Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Pasquero Claudia , Desbiolles Fabien , Meroni Agostino N.
Published: December 2020

Tropical cyclones generate a large and wide cold wake along their trajectories, which conditions the subsequent evolution of the tropical cyclone themselves. The cold wakes persist for weeks, impacting both the upper ocean, the air‐sea fluxes, and the atmosphere. The study by Z. Ma et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088873) for the first time analyzes a composite of remotely sensed data sets to show that cold wakes modify surface winds and reduce cloud coverage and rainfall. These results contribute to shedding light on the mechanisms at the origin of the air‐sea feedbacks, which can differ at different latitudes depending on the stability of the marine atmospheric boundary layer. The work stimulates further research to assess whether the cloud cover anomalies induced by tropical cyclones significantly modify the radiative budget of the Earth.
Improved Decadal Predictions of North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre SST in CMIP6
Authors: Borchert Leonard F. , Menary Matthew B. , Swingedouw Didier , Sgubin Giovanni , Hermanson Leon , Mignot Juliette
Published: December 2020

Due to its wide‐ranging impacts, predicting decadal variations of sea surface temperature (SST) in the subpolar North Atlantic remains a key goal of climate science. Here, we compare the representation of observed subpolar SST variations since 1960 in initialized and uninitialized historical simulations from the 5th and 6th phases of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5/6). Initialized decadal hindcasts from CMIP6 explain 88% of observed SST variance post‐1980 in the subpolar gyre at lead years 5–7 (77% in uninitialized simulations) compared to 42% (8%) in CMIP5, indicating a more prominent role for forcing in driving observed subpolar SST changes than previously thought. Analysis of single‐forcing experiments suggests much of this correlation is due to natural forcing, explaining ∼55% of the observed variance. The amplitude of observed subpolar SST variations is underestimated in historical simulations and improved by initialization in CMIP6, indicating continued value of initialization for predicting North Atlantic SST.
Ring Current Decay During Geomagnetic Storm Recovery Phase: Comparison Between RBSP Observations and Theoretical Modeling
Authors: Chen Ao , Yue Chao , Chen Hongfei , Zong Qiugang , Fu Suiyan , Wang Yongfu , Ren Jie
Published: December 2020

Ring current decay during storm recovery phase may be affected by different loss processes. In this study, we have investigated the lifetimes of ring current ions (H+ and O+) of energies from 1 keV to several hundred keV at L shell from 3 to 6 during the storm recovery phase through a statistical survey. The observational data of 48 geomagnetic storms from March 2013 to May 2019 are collected based on Van Allen Probe observations. We find that (1) the observed lifetimes of H+ and O+ in general increase with L shell and (2) the lifetimes of H+ is short than that of O+ when E < ∼50 keV while the situation is reversed when E > ∼50 keV. In addition, we have made use of the charge exchange theory, combined with previous experimental results on the charge exchange cross section and two distribution models of neutral hydrogen atoms in the exosphere, so as to directly estimate the ring current ions decay caused by charge exchange mechanism only. Through the comparison between the model predictions of charge exchange lifetime and the observed lifetimes, we find that (3) the observed lifetimes are in general consistent with model results, which confirms that charge exchange is a dominant loss mechanism of ring current ions during storm recovery phase.
Surface‐Wave Attenuation From Seismic Ambient Noise: Numerical Validation and Application
Authors: Magrini Fabrizio , Boschi Lapo
Published: December 2020

We evaluate, by numerical tests, whether surface‐wave attenuation can be determined from ambient‐noise data. We generate synthetic recordings of numerically simulated ambient seismic noise in several experimental setups, characterized by different source distributions and different values of attenuation coefficient. We use them to verify that the source spectrum can be reconstructed from ambient recordings (provided that the density of sources and the attenuation coefficient are known) and that true attenuation can be retrieved from normalized cross correlations of synthetic signals. We then apply the so validated method to real continuous recordings from 33 broadband receivers distributed within the Colorado Plateau and Great Basin. A preliminary analysis of the signal‐to‐noise ratio as a function of azimuth reveals a SW‐NE preferential directionality of the noise sources within the secondary microseism band (6–8 s), consistent with previous studies. By nonlinear inversion of noise data we find the attenuation coefficient in the area of interest to range from ∼ 1 × 10−5 m−1 at 0.3 Hz to ∼ 4.5 × 10−7 m−1 at 0.065 Hz, and confirm the statistical robustness of this estimate by means of a bootstrap analysis. The result is compatible with previous observations based on both earthquake‐generated and ambient Rayleigh waves. In this regard, the method proves to be promising in accurately quantifying surface‐wave attenuation at relatively high frequencies.
Structure of the Offshore Obducted Oman Margin: Emplacement of Semail Ophiolite and Role of Tectonic Inheritance
Authors: Ninkabou D. , Agard P. , Nielsen C. , Smit J. , Gorini C. , Rodriguez M. , Haq B. , Chamot‐Rooke N. , Weidle C. , Ducassou C.
Published: December 2020

The northern Oman margin is a key area for understanding the emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite and obduction processes in general. This study uses a grid of 2D‐multichannel seismic lines tied to well data to characterize the offshore domain of the Semail Ophiolite and reappraises the obduction and post‐obduction history of the Oman margin. West of Muscat, in the Sohar basin, the late Cretaceous to Paleogene tectonic mega‐sequence records syn‐ to late‐obduction stages and the deposition of erosional products of the autochthonous Arabian sediments, including a major mass transport complex. Syn‐obduction thrusting is documented in this sector only, as a major fault emplacing a distal basement high (likely volcanic) onto Campanian sediments over >10 km. To the east, the Hatat and Tiwi basins are characterized by a less‐copious Maastrichtian‐Paleogene sequence. These basins developed above a domain characterized by the northern equivalent of the Saih Hatat dome and later extensional faults. This sector distinctively records the extensional phase associated with the exhumation and erosion of the subducted continental margin. The dichotomy between the two sectors is linked due to a structural high located offshore, in the continuation of the Semail Gap transfer fault. We propose that this transfer fault, coincident with a major Pan‐African structure, affected the architecture of the passive margin during both rifting of the Neotethys and later ophiolite emplacement, that is, during (continental) subduction and obduction.
Calsequestrin: a well-known but curious protein in skeletal muscle
Authors: Woo Jin Seok , Jeong Seung Yeon , Park Ji Hee , Choi Jun Hee , Lee Eun Hui
Published: December 2020

Calsequestrin (CASQ) was discovered in rabbit skeletal muscle tissues in 1971 and has been considered simply a passive Ca2+-buffering protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) that provides Ca2+ions for various Ca2+signals. For the past three decades, physiologists, biochemists, and structural biologists have examined the roles of the skeletal muscle type of CASQ (CASQ1) in skeletal muscle and revealed that CASQ1 has various important functions as (1) a major Ca2+-buffering protein to maintain the SR with a suitable amount of Ca2+at each moment, (2) a dynamic Ca2+sensor in the SR that regulates Ca2+release from the SR to the cytosol, (3) a structural regulator for the proper formation of terminal cisternae, (4) a reverse-directional regulator of extracellular Ca2+entries, and (5) a cause of human skeletal muscle diseases. This review is focused on understanding these functions of CASQ1 in the physiological or pathophysiological status of skeletal muscle.
Convergent genomic and pharmacological evidence of PI3K/GSK3 signaling alterations in neurons from schizophrenia patients
Authors: Stertz Laura , Di Re Jessica , Pei Guangsheng , Fries Gabriel R. , Mendez Emily , Li Shenglan , Smith-Callahan Laura , Raventos Henriette , Tipo Jerricho , Cherukuru Rohan , Zhao Zhongming , Liu Ying , Jia Peilin , Laezza Fernanda , Walss-Bass Consuelo
Published: December 2020

Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) allow for the establishment of brain cellular models of psychiatric disorders that account for a patient’s genetic background. Here, we conducted an RNA-sequencing profiling study of hiPSC-derived cell lines from schizophrenia (SCZ) subjects, most of which are from a multiplex family, from the population isolate of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. hiPSCs, neural precursor cells, and cortical neurons derived from six healthy controls and seven SCZ subjects were generated using standard methodology. Transcriptome from these cells was obtained using Illumina HiSeq 2500, and differential expression analyses were performed using DESeq2 (|fold change|>1.5 and false discovery rate < 0.3), in patients compared to controls. We identified 454 differentially expressed genes in hiPSC-derived neurons, enriched in pathways including phosphoinositide 3-kinase/glycogen synthase kinase 3 (PI3K/GSK3) signaling, with serum-glucocorticoid kinase 1 (SGK1), an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, as part of this pathway. We further found that pharmacological inhibition of downstream effectors of the PI3K/GSK3 pathway, SGK1 and GSK3, induced alterations in levels of neurite markers βIII tubulin and fibroblast growth factor 12, with differential effects in patients compared to controls. While demonstrating the utility of hiPSCs derived from multiplex families to identify significant cell-specific gene network alterations in SCZ, these studies support a role for disruption of PI3K/GSK3 signaling as a risk factor for SCZ.
NOP10 predicts lung cancer prognosis and its associated small nucleolar RNAs drive proliferation and migration
Authors: Cui Chunhong , Liu Yi , Gerloff Dennis , Rohde Christian , Pauli Cornelius , Köhn Marcel , Misiak Danny , Oellerich Thomas , Schwartz Schraga , Schmidt Lars-Henning , Wiewrodt Rainer , Marra Alessandro , Hillejan Ludger , Bartel Frank , Wickenhauser Claudia , Hüttelmaier Stefan , Göllner Stefanie , Zhou Fengbiao , Edemir Bayram , Müller-Tidow Carsten
Published: December 2020

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide underlining the urgent need for new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for this disease. Long noncoding RNAs are critical players in NSCLC but the role of small RNA species is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the role of H/ACA box small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) and snoRNA-bound ribonucleoproteins (snoRNPs) in the tumorigenesis of NSCLC. H/ACA box snoRNPs including the NOP10 core protein were highly expressed in NSCLC. High levels of either NOP10 mRNA or protein were associated with poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Loss of NOP10 and subsequent reduction of H/ACA box snoRNAs and rRNA pseudouridylation inhibited lung cancer cell growth, colony formation, migration, and invasion. A focused CRISPR/Cas9 snoRNA knockout screen revealed that genomic deletion of SNORA65, SNORA7A, and SNORA7B reduced proliferation of lung cancer cells. In line, high levels of SNORA65, SNORA7A, and SNORA7B were observed in primary lung cancer specimens with associated changes in rRNA pseudouridylation. Knockdown of either SNORA65 or SNORA7A/B inhibited growth and colony formation of NSCLC cell lines. Our data indicate that specific H/ACA box snoRNAs and snoRNA-associated proteins such as NOP10 have an oncogenic role in NSCLC providing new potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the disease.
Perspectives from the Society for Pediatric Research: Probiotic use in urinary tract infections, atopic dermatitis, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea: an overview
Authors: Forster Catherine S. , Hsieh Michael H. , Cabana Michael D.
Published: December 2020

Probiotics have received significant attention within both the scientific and lay communities for their potential health-promoting properties, including the treatment or prevention of various conditions in children. In this article, we review the published data on use of specific probiotic strains for three common pediatric conditions: the prevention of urinary tract infections and antibiotic-associated diarrhea and the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Research into the utility of specific probiotic strains is of varying quality, and data are often derived from small studies and case series. We discuss the scientific merit of these studies, their overall findings regarding the utility of probiotics for these indications, issues in reporting of methods, and results from these clinical trials, as well as future areas of investigation.
Seasonality of archaeal proteorhodopsin and associated Marine Group IIb ecotypes (Ca. Poseidoniales) in the North Western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Pereira Olivier , Hochart Corentin , Boeuf Dominique , Auguet Jean Christophe , Debroas Didier , Galand Pierre E
Published: December 2020

The Archaea Marine Group II (MGII) is widespread in the world’s ocean where it plays an important role in the carbon cycle. Despite recent discoveries on the group’s metabolisms, the ecology of this newly proposed order (Candidatus Poseidoniales) remains poorly understood. Here we used a combination of time-series metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and high-frequency 16S rRNA data from the NW Mediterranean Sea to test if the taxonomic diversity within the MGIIb family (Candidatus Thalassarchaeaceae) reflects the presence of different ecotypes. The MAGs’ seasonality revealed a MGIIb family composed of different subclades that have distinct lifestyles and physiologies. The vitamin metabolisms were notably different between ecotypes with, in some, a possible link to sunlight’s energy. Diverse archaeal proteorhodopsin variants, with unusual signature in key amino acid residues, had distinct seasonal patterns corresponding to changing day length. In addition, we show that in summer, archaea, as opposed to bacteria, disappeared completely from surface waters. Our results shed light on the diversity and the distribution of the euryarchaeotal proteorhodopsin, and highlight that MGIIb is a diverse ecological group. The work shows that time-series based studies of the taxonomy, seasonality, and metabolisms of marine prokaryotes is critical to uncover their diverse role in the ocean.
Midostaurin after allogeneic stem cell transplant in patients with FLT3-internal tandem duplication-positive acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Maziarz Richard T. , Levis Mark , Patnaik Mrinal M. , Scott Bart L. , Mohan Sanjay R. , Deol Abhinav , Rowley Scott D. , Kim Dennis D. H. , Hernandez Daniela , Rajkhowa Trivikram , Haines Kelly , Bonifacio Gaetano , Rine Patrice , Purkayastha Das , Fernandez Hugo F.
Published: December 2020

We evaluated standard-of-care (SOC) treatment with or without midostaurin to prevent relapse following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) harboring internal tandem duplication (ITD) in FLT3. Adults (aged 18–70 years) who received alloHSCT in first complete remission, had achieved hematologic recovery, and were transfusion independent were randomized to receive SOC with or without midostaurin (50 mg twice daily) continuously in twelve 4-week cycles. The primary endpoint was relapse-free survival (RFS) 18 months post-alloHSCT. Sixty patients were randomized (30/arm); 30 completed all 12 cycles (midostaurin + SOC, n = 16; SOC, n = 14). The estimated 18-month RFS (95% CI) was 89% (69–96%) in the midostaurin arm and 76% (54–88%) in the SOC arm (hazard ratio, 0.46 [95% CI, 0.12–1.86]; P = 0.27); estimated relapse rates were 11% and 24%, respectively. Inhibition of FLT3 phosphorylation to <70% of baseline (achieved by 50% of midostaurin-treated patients) was associated with improved RFS. The most common serious adverse events were diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Rates of graft-vs-host disease were similar between both arms (midostaurin + SOC, 70%; SOC, 73%). The addition of midostaurin maintenance therapy following alloHSCT may provide clinical benefit in some patients with FLT3-ITD AML. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01883362).
Ubiquitin-dependent and -independent functions of OTULIN in cell fate control and beyond
Authors: Weinelt Nadine , van Wijk Sjoerd J. L.
Published: December 2020

Ubiquitination, and its control by deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), mediates protein stability, function, signaling and cell fate. The ovarian tumor (OTU) family DUB OTULIN (FAM105B) exclusively cleaves linear (Met1-linked) poly-ubiquitin chains and plays important roles in auto-immunity, inflammation and infection. OTULIN regulates Met1-linked ubiquitination downstream of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), toll-like receptor (TLR) and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) receptor activation and interacts with the Met1 ubiquitin-specific linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC) E3 ligase. However, despite extensive research efforts, the receptor and cytosolic roles of OTULIN and the distributions of multiple Met1 ubiquitin-associated E3-DUB complexes in the regulation of cell fate still remain controversial and unclear. Apart from that, novel ubiquitin-independent OTULIN functions have emerged highlighting an even more complex role of OTULIN in cellular homeostasis. For example, OTULIN interferes with endosome-to-plasma membrane trafficking and the OTULIN-related pseudo-DUB OTULINL (FAM105A) resides at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Here, we discuss how OTULIN contributes to cell fate control and highlight novel ubiquitin-dependent and -independent functions.
Calcium cytotoxicity sensitizes prostate cancer cells to standard-of-care treatments for locally advanced tumors
Authors: Alaimo Alessandro , Lorenzoni Marco , Ambrosino Paolo , Bertossi Arianna , Bisio Alessandra , Macchia Alice , Zoni Eugenio , Genovesi Sacha , Cambuli Francesco , Foletto Veronica , De Felice Dario , Soldovieri Maria Virginia , Mosca Ilaria , Gandolfi Francesco , Brunelli Matteo , Petris Gianluca , Cereseto Anna , Villarroel Alvaro , Thalmann George , Carbone Francesco Giuseppe , Kruithof-de Julio Marianna , Barbareschi Mattia , Romanel Alessandro , Taglialatela Maurizio , Lunardi Andrea
Published: December 2020

Therapy resistance is a major roadblock in oncology. Exacerbation of molecular dysfunctions typical of cancer cells have proven effective in twisting oncogenic mechanisms to lethal conditions, thus offering new therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrate that selective agonists of Transient Receptor Potential cation channel subfamily M member 8 (TRPM8), a cation channel characteristic of the prostate epithelium frequently overexpressed in advanced stage III/IV prostate cancers (PCa), sensitize therapy refractory models of PCa to radio, chemo or hormonal treatment. Overall, our study demonstrates that pharmacological-induced Ca2+ cytotoxicity is an actionable strategy to sensitize cancer cells to standard therapies.
A predicted NEDD8 conjugating enzyme gene identified as a Capsicum candidate Rf gene using bulk segregant RNA sequencing
Authors: Wei Bingqiang , Bosland Paul W. , Zhang Zhenghai , Wang Yongfu , Zhang Gaoyuan , Wang Lanlan , Yu Jihua
Published: December 2020

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an important tool for producing F1hybrids, which can exhibit heterosis. The companion system, restorer-of-fertility (Rf), is poorly understood at the molecular level and would be valuable in producing restorer lines for hybrid seed production. The identity of theRfgene inCapsicum(pepper) is currently unclear. In this study, using bulked segregant RNA sequencing (BSR-seq), a strong candidateRfgene, Capana06g002866, which is annotated as a NEDD8 conjugating enzyme E2, was identified. Capana06g002866 has an ORF of 555 bp in length encoding 184 amino acids; it can be cloned from F1plants from the hybridization of the CMS line 8A and restorer line R1 but is not found in CMS line 8A. With qRT-PCR validation, Capana06g002866 was found to be upregulated in restorer accessions compared to sterile accessions. The relative expression in flower buds increased with the developmental stage in F1plants, while the expression was very low in all flower bud stages of the CMS lines. These results provide new insights into theRfgene in pepper and will be useful for other crops utilizing the CMS system.
Synergistic interactions among growing stressors increase risk to an Arctic ecosystem
Authors: Arrigo K. R. , van Dijken Gert L. , Cameron M. A. , van der Grient J. , Wedding L. M. , Hazen L. , Leape J. , Leonard G. , Merkl A. , Micheli F. , Mills M. M. , Monismith S. , Ouellette N. T. , Zivian A. , Levi M. , Bailey R. M.
Published: December 2020

Oceans provide critical ecosystem services, but are subject to a growing number of external pressures, including overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change. Current models typically treat stressors on species and ecosystems independently, though in reality, stressors often interact in ways that are not well understood. Here, we use a network interaction model (OSIRIS) to explicitly study stressor interactions in the Chukchi Sea (Arctic Ocean) due to its extensive climate-driven loss of sea ice and accelerated growth of other stressors, including shipping and oil exploration. The model includes numerous trophic levels ranging from phytoplankton to polar bears. We find that climate-related stressors have a larger impact on animal populations than do acute stressors like increased shipping and subsistence harvesting. In particular, organisms with a strong temperature-growth rate relationship show the greatest changes in biomass as interaction strength increased, but also exhibit the greatest variability. Neglecting interactions between stressors vastly underestimates the risk of population crashes. Our results indicate that models must account for stressor interactions to enable responsible management and decision-making.
Increasing the reproducibility of fluid biomarker studies in neurodegenerative studies
Authors: Mattsson-Carlgren Niklas , Palmqvist Sebastian , Blennow Kaj , Hansson Oskar
Published: December 2020

Biomarkers have revolutionized scientific research on neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer’s disease, transformed drug trial design, and are also increasingly improving patient management in clinical practice. A few key cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have been robustly associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Several novel biomarkers are very promising, especially blood-based markers. However, many biomarker findings have had low reproducibility despite initial promising results. In this perspective, we identify possible sources for low reproducibility of studies on fluid biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease. We suggest guidelines for researchers and journal editors, with the aim to improve reproducibility of findings.