bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invisible (bio)economies: a framework to assess the ‘blind spots’ of dominant bioeconomy models
Authors: Pungas Lilian
Published: February 2023

Bioeconomy as a new promissory discourse neither challenges the paradigm of economic growth, nor questions its embeddedness in capitalist (neo-)colonial patriarchal power relations. However, the calls for a ‘genuine’ socio-ecological transformation and for alternative bioeconomy visions imply exactly a destabilization of these power relations. Drawing on the Bielefeld subsistence approach and on its colonialism–capitalism–patriarchy nexus, I argue that the latest bioeconomy strategy and policy papers of both the EU and Estonia each disregard certain spheres of the bioeconomy due to the three-dimensional power relations. As a seemingly neutral political discourse, the bioeconomy is shaped by cultural assumptions and narratives that determine and perpetuate what is deemed worthy of protection and what is pushed aside as merely ‘natural’. As such, the current bioeconomy papers promote a ‘biomass-based model of capital accumulation’ that is essentially built on the prerequisite of the subordination, devaluation, appropriation and/or exploitation of (1) different geographical regions, (2) ecological foundations, and (3) prevalent bioeconomy practices. As a widespread agricultural practice in Eastern Europe, Food Self-Provisioning (FSP) serves as a good example of how predominant bioeconomy models (1) simply operate as new forms of postcolonial development discourse, instead of embracing the plurality of decolonial ‘alternatives to development’; (2) deepen the human–nature dichotomy by regarding nature as a mere resource to be extracted more efficiently instead of cultivating mutually nourishing partnership-like relation(ship)s with nature; and (3) maintain the separation between monetized and maintenance economies, rather than fostering ethics of care to overcome the structural separation between the latter.
What is attractive rural landscape? Differences in the social and expert assessment of the changes in the rural landscape of the Carpathian region in Poland with regard to the need of its protection
Authors: Gajdek Agata , Krupa Barbara , Nowak Anna
Published: February 2023

Contemporary villages of the mountain region are subject to uncontrolled structural and spatial transformations, which cause deformation of centuries-old spatial systems of high cultural and natural value. The aim of the study is to confront the opinions of the inhabitants and experts regarding the condition of the cultural landscape of the villages in south-eastern Poland. This area belongs to the Carpathian region of Central Europe. The historical and economic conditions of the studied region, related to the functioning in the post-war period, and then its breakdown and the development of the free market economy, constitute an interesting background for the proposed research. Local communities still remembering the period of difficulties related to the period of systemic transformations, are currently experiencing a relative prosperity, many difficulties related to the period of systemic transformations, are currently experiencing a relative prosperity, which is also expressed in a completely new, previously unknown way of managing the landscape. Investments implemented in villages are associated by the inhabitants with the improvement of the standards and quality of life. They assess them rather positively. An expert assessment of these landscape transformations indicates their negative dimension and the risk of losing timeless values. The discrepancy in the assessment of experts and local residents creates difficulties in the protection of the rural landscape. Therefore, high-quality visual landscape features among rural residents is necessary from the point of view of its multi-faceted and effective protection. Local initiatives and actions in the field of industry policy should play a significant role in this respect by consolidating the images of a harmonious landscape in the public awareness.
Half-a-century (1971–2020) of glacier shrinkage and climatic variability in the Bhaga basin, western Himalaya
Authors: Das Suresh , Sharma Milap Chand , Murari Madhav Krishna , Nüsser Marcus , Schmidt Susanne
Published: February 2023

Glacier shrinkage is a globally occurring phenomena. High-resolution change detection based on frequent mapping and monitoring of high-altitude glaciers is necessary to precisely evaluate future water availability and to understand glacier evolution under different climatic scenarios in the Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) region. This also holds true for the Bhaga basin of the western Himalaya. This study investigates glacier and glacier lake changes in the Bhaga basin, over the last five decades based on satellite imagery including Corona KH4 (1971), Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+; 2000), Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor (LISS IV; 2013), and Sentinel 2 (2020). Regional temperature and precipitation trends were evaluated from gridded climatic datasets (1900–2020). In the Bhaga basin 306 glaciers (>0.2 km2) were mapped with a total area of 360.3 ± 4.0 km2, of which 55.7 ± 0.6 km2was covered with debris in 2013. The total glacier covered area decreased by ∼8.2 ± 1.5 % (0.16 ± 0.03 % yr−1) during the entire observation period 1971–2020, with noticeable heterogeneity between tributary watersheds. In the past two decades (2000–2020), the deglaciation rate has increased significantly (0.25 % yr−1) compared to the previous decades (1971–2000; 0.12 % yr−1). Glacier lake area increased by 0.6 ± 0.1 km2(0.012 km2yr−1) between 1971 and 2020. The NCEP/NCAR climatic data reveals an increase of 0.63°C in temperature and a decrease of 6.39 mm in precipitation for the period 1948–2018. In comparison, APHRODITE data shows an increasing trend in temperature of 1.14°C between 1961 and 2015 and decreasing trend in precipitation of 31 mm between 1951 and 2007. Both NCEP/NCAR and APHRODITE data reveal significant temperature increase and precipitation decrease since the 1990s, which have probably augmented ice loss in the Bhaga basin during the early 21stcentury.
Die Relevanz von Alterskontexten bei der Prävention und Repression des sexuellen Missbrauchs von Kindern und der kinderpornografischen Delikte unter Nutzung des Tatmittels Internet
Authors: Biedermann Jürgen , Rüdiger Thomas-Gabriel , Ehlert Cindy
Published: February 2023

Die vorliegende Untersuchung beschäftigt sich mit der Kontrastierung minderjähriger gegenüber erwachsenen Tatverdächtigen beim sexuellen Missbrauch von Kindern und bei kinderpornografischen Delikten unter Nutzung des Tatmittels Internet. Hierfür werden auf der Basis von Informationen der polizeilichen Datenbanken der Länder Berlin, Brandenburg, Sachsen und Sachsen-Anhalt verschiedene Tätertypen verglichen, wobei für den sexuellen Missbrauch von Kindern insgesamt 1353 Tatverdächtige und für die kinderpornografischen Delikte 8466 Tatverdächtige in die Analysen einbezogen werden konnten. Die Typenbildung rekurriert auf eine multidimensionale Berücksichtigung der Straftatkategorie in Verbindung mit dem Alter der Tatverdächtigen und Opfer. Die Tätertypen werden hinsichtlich zentraler Merkmale der Tatbegehung charakterisiert und einander gegenübergestellt. Den Analysen zufolge betten sich die internetbedingten Sexualstraftaten von Minderjährigen in einen anderen Merkmalskontext ein, als dies für erwachsene Tatverdächtige der Fall ist. Die Ergebnisse werden im Hinblick auf präventive und repressive Ansätze zur Verhinderung von Sexualstraftaten diskutiert, wobei auch die jüngste Reform der Sexualdelikte mit Bezug zu kindlichen Opfern einer kritischen Betrachtung unterzogen wird.
Left ventricular assist device implantation and clinical outcomes in the Netherlands
Authors: Damman Kevin , Caliskan Kadir , Birim Ozcan , Kuijpers Michiel , Otterspoor Luuk C. , Yazdanbakhsh Aria , Palmen Meindert , Ramjankhan Faiz Z. , Tops Lauren F. , van Laake Linda W. ,   Working Group on Mechanical Circulatory Support of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology and the Netherlands Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Published: February 2023

Background

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy is an established treatment for advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. We evaluated the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients implanted with an LVAD in the Netherlands.

Methods

Patients implanted with an LVAD in the Netherlands between 2016 and 2020 were included in the analysis. Baseline characteristics entered into this registry, as well as clinical outcomes (death on device, heart transplantation) and major adverse events (device dysfunction, major bleeding, major infection and cerebrovascular event), were evaluated.

Results

A total of 430 patients were implanted with an LVAD; mean age was 55 ± 13 years and 27% were female. The initial device strategy was bridge to transplant (BTT) in 50%, destination therapy (DT) in 29% and bridge to decision (BTD) in the remaining 21%. After a follow-up of 17 months, 97 (23%) patients had died during active LVAD support. Survival was 83% at 1 year, 76% at 2 years and 54% at 5 years. Patients implanted with an LVAD as a BTT had better outcomes compared with DT at all time points (1 year 86% vs 72%, 2 years 83% vs 59% and 5 years 58% vs 33%). Major adverse events were frequently observed, most often major infection, major bleeding and cerebrovascular events (0.84, 0.33 and 0.09 per patient-year at risk, respectively) and were similar across device strategies. Patients supported with HeartMate 3 had a lower incidence of major adverse events.

Conclusions

Long-term survival on durable LVAD support in the Netherlands is over 50% after 5 years. Major adverse events, especially infection and bleeding, are still frequently observed, but decreasing with the contemporary use of HeartMate 3 LVAD.
Food production and resource use of urban farms and gardens: a five-country study
Authors: Dorr Erica , Hawes Jason K. , Goldstein Benjamin , Fargue-Lelièvre Agnès , Fox-Kämper Runrid , Specht Kathrin , Fedeńczak Konstancja , Caputo Silvio , Cohen Nevin , Poniży Lidia , Schoen Victoria , Górecki Tomasz , Newell Joshua P. , Jean-Soro Liliane , Grard Baptiste
Published: February 2023

There is a lack of data on resources used and food produced at urban farms. This hampers attempts to quantify the environmental impacts of urban agriculture or craft policies for sustainable food production in cities. To address this gap, we used a citizen science approach to collect data from 72 urban agriculture sites, representing three types of spaces (urban farms, collective gardens, individual gardens), in five countries (France, Germany, Poland, United Kingdom, and United States). We answered three key questions about urban agriculture with this unprecedented dataset: (1) What are its land, water, nutrient, and energy demands? (2) How productive is it relative to conventional agriculture and across types of farms? and (3) What are its contributions to local biodiversity? We found that participant farms used dozens of inputs, most of which were organic (e.g., manure for fertilizers). Farms required on average 71.6 L of irrigation water, 5.5 L of compost, and 0.53 m2 of land per kilogram of harvested food. Irrigation was lower in individual gardens and higher in sites using drip irrigation. While extremely variable, yields at well-managed urban farms can exceed those of conventional counterparts. Although farm type did not predict yield, our cluster analysis demonstrated that individually managed leisure gardens had lower yields than other farms and gardens. Farms in our sample contributed significantly to local biodiversity, with an average of 20 different crops per farm not including ornamental plants. Aside from clarifying important trends in resource use at urban farms using a robust and open dataset, this study also raises numerous questions about how crop selection and growing practices influence the environmental impacts of growing food in cities. We conclude with a research agenda to tackle these and other pressing questions on resource use at urban farms.
Investigation of correlation between thrust and anode temperature during transient operation of RAIJIN-66
Authors: Satpathy Dibyesh , Kawabata Shu , Sekine Hokuto , Kawashima Rei , Komurasaki Kimiya , Koizumi Hiroyuki
Published: February 2023

The thrust performance of RAIJIN-66, a 2 kW-class Thruster with Anode Layer was investigated with respect to anode temperature change at a discharge voltage of 155 V, where propellant was not fully utilized. The upgraded dual pendulum thrust stand used for this study allows for thermal drift free thrust measurement. Correlation between the anode temperature and thrust was measured in real-time before the thruster and stand reached thermal equilibrium. An 8.7% decrease in thrust was reported when the anode temperature increased from 83 ºC to 130 °C. Using an analytical model to elucidate the effect of anode temperature on thruster performance, a good agreement between the predicted and measured thrust values was found for an ionization length of 1.1 mm, but the difference in slope suggests that the thrust performance is more sensitive to the gas temperature than expected. Thrust sensitivity is inferred for conditions in which the ionization mean free path is comparable or greater than the ionization length.
Research on influencing factors of urban building carbon emissions based on STIRPAT model——taking Suzhou as an example
Authors: Hao Linjie , Huang Ning , Tong Qing , Guo Yuefeng , Qian Jing , Chen Wenying
Published: February 2023

The research on the influencing factors of carbon emissions from urban buildings is of great significance for the reduction of carbon in the urban building sector and even the realization of the city’s the carbon peak and neutrality goals. In this paper, combined with the ridge regression method, the STIRPAT model is used to establish a new model for influencing factors of building carbon emissions in Suzhou, and the factors such as urbanization rate, the number of permanent residents, per capita construction and tertiary industry added value, and per capita disposable income are analyzed. The analysis results show that the urbanization rate is the primary driving factor for building carbon emissions in Suzhou, followed by the number of permanent residents, then the added value of the per capita construction industry and tertiary industry, and finally the per capita disposable income. The conclusions of this paper indicate that industrialization and urbanization have strongly promoted the growth of building carbon emissions in Suzhou. In the future, with the continuous development of industrialization and urbanization and the increase of population, Suzhou City can rationally plan urban development boundaries to promote green and low-carbon transformation and development in the field of urban and rural construction, improve residents’ low-carbon awareness, and advocate green and low-carbon behavior of residents to reduce building carbon emissions.
Dating Marine Shell: A Guide for the Wary North American Archaeologist
Authors: Hadden Carla S. , Hutchinson Ian , Martindale Andrew
Published: February 2023

Radiocarbon dates on marine shell and other materials of marine origin appear significantly older than contemporaneous samples of terrestrial/atmospheric origin. Misunderstandings regarding the mechanisms that give rise to this “marine reservoir effect” (MRE), the terminology used to define it, and the mathematics used to describe it cause many coastal archaeologists to distrust or misinterpret marine shell dates. The recent release of a reformulated 14C calibration curve for marine samples (Marine20), which necessitates recalculation of all local reservoir age corrections, may add to the confusion. Here, we review the benefits of dating shell; provide a plain-language explanation of the mechanical, chemical, biological, and cultural processes that give rise to age disparities associated with the MRE; and offer advice to archaeologists intending to date marine shell. Our hope is that these comments will not only aid archaeologists in the planning and interpretive stages of research but also assist in assessing the reliability of legacy chronologies based on marine materials. More broadly, we encourage careful evaluation of all sources of uncertainty in all 14C chronologies, whether based on terrestrial or marine materials.
Rethinking Stone Drill Manufacture
Authors: Engelbrecht William
Published: February 2023

Drills and projectile points from a site often share a similar shaped base, and it is typically assumed that these drills are reworked hafted points. Measurements of triangular-shaped drills and triangular arrow points from an Iroquoian site indicate that, on average, these drills had narrower bases and were thicker than points. Additionally, most preserved point foreshafts from the western United States are too short if used as a simple drill shaft, and most dart and arrow shafts are too long to serve as convenient drill shafts if used with a strap or bow drill. These data call into question the assumption that drills were reworked hafted points at Iroquoian and possibly other sites.
Insights into measuring health disparities using electronic health records from a statewide network of health systems: A case study
Authors: Smith Maureen A. , Gigot Matthew , Harburn Abbey , Bednarz Lauren , Curtis Katherine , Mathew Jomol , Farrar-Edwards Dorothy
Published: February 2023

Within Wisconsin, our residents experience some of the worst health disparities in the nation. Public reporting on disparities in the quality of care is important to achieving accountability for reducing disparities over time and has been associated with improvements in care. Disparities reporting using statewide electronic health records (EHR) data would allow efficient and regular reporting, but there are significant challenges with missing data and data harmonization. We report our experience in creating a statewide, centralized EHR data repository to support health systems in reducing health disparities through public reporting. We partnered with the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality (the “Collaborative”), which houses patient-level EHR data from 25 health systems including validated metrics of healthcare quality. We undertook a detailed assessment of potential disparity indicators (race and ethnicity, insurance status and type, and geographic disparity). Challenges for each indicator are described, with solutions encompassing internal (health system) harmonization, central (Collaborative) harmonization, and centralized data processing. Key lessons include engaging health systems in identifying disparity indicators, aligning with system priorities, measuring indicators already collected in the EHR to minimize burden, and facilitating workgroups with health systems to build relationships, improve data collection, and develop initiatives to address disparities in healthcare.
Noninjectivity of the cycle class map in continuous -adic cohomology
Authors: Scavia Federico , Suzuki Fumiaki
Published: February 2023

Jannsen asked whether the rational cycle class map in continuous$\ell $-adic cohomology is injective, in every codimension for all smooth projective varieties over a field of finite type over the prime field. As recently pointed out by Schreieder, the integral version of Jannsen’s question is also of interest. We exhibit several examples showing that the answer to the integral version is negative in general. Our examples also have consequences for the coniveau filtration on Chow groups and the transcendental Abel-Jacobi map constructed by Schreieder.
Effect of incorporation of bead-beating during DNA extraction for quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Trichuris trichiura in stool samples in community settings: a systematic review
Authors: Rana D.R.S.J.B. , Pokhrel N.
Published: February 2023

This meta-analysis was designed to assess the effect of the addition of a bead-beating (BB) step during DNA extraction to effectively isolate Trichuris trichiura DNA from stool samples for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based diagnosis. qPCR-based molecular studies comparing the inclusion of a bead-beating step during the DNA extraction from stool samples with extraction without the step were included in the analysis. Studies using real patient samples in community settings were included. The PubMed database and Google search engine were searched in December 2019. Risk of bias and applicability were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 checklist. Odds ratios (ORs) for individual studies were combined to estimate the random effects model OR. A total of six independent sub-studies were gathered from two published original articles. The division of the two major studies into six sub-studies was indispensable due to the nature of the study carried out. 128 of the total 192 samples (in all studies) were positive for T. trichiura when BB was used during DNA extraction compared to 108/192 when BB was excluded. The combined OR was 1.66 (95% confidence interval: 1.059 to 2.602). Though only two articles were included in the study, six exclusive individual sub-studies were analyzed. Inherent differences in the background prevalence of helminths in the study population could impact the sensitivity of qPCR. It was found that the inclusion of the BB step during DNA extraction significantly increased the sensitivity of the test. This study was not registered in any database.
The positivity offset theory of anhedonia in schizophrenia: evidence for a deficit in daily life using digital phenotyping
Authors: Bartolomeo Lisa A. , Raugh Ian M. , Strauss Gregory P.
Published: February 2023

Background

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia have recently been proposed to result from a decoupling of (intact) hedonic experience and (diminished) approach behavior. The current study challenged this view by exploring the hypothesis that negative symptoms are driven by a specific type of emotional experience abnormality, a reduction in the positivity offset (i.e. the tendency to experience greater levels of positive relative to negative emotion in low-arousal contexts), which limits the production of approach behaviors in neutral environments.

Methods

Participants included outpatients with SZ (n = 44) and healthy controls (CN: n = 48) who completed one week of active (ecological momentary assessment surveys of emotional experience and symptoms) and passive (geolocation, accelerometry) digital phenotyping. Mathematical modeling approaches from Cacioppo's Evaluative Space Model were used to quantify the positivity offset in daily life. Negative symptoms were assessed via standard clinical ratings, as well as active (EMA surveys) and passive (geolocation, accelerometry) digital phenotyping measures.

Results

Results indicated that the positivity offset was reduced in SZ and associated with more severe anhedonia and avolition measured via clinical interviews and active and passive digital phenotyping.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that current conceptual models of negative symptoms, which assume hedonic normality, may need to be revised to account for reductions in the positivity offset and its connection to diminished motivated behavior. Findings identify key real-world contexts where negative symptoms could be targeted using psychosocial treatments.
Three New Agnus Dei Pennies
Authors: Keynes Simon , MacKay William , Naismith Rory
Published: February 2023

The recorded corpus of Agnus Dei pennies made or found in England has been augmented by three further specimens. The first two (below, [1] and [2]) are imitations of the type, probably minted in Scandinavia but uncovered in England. The third (below, [3]) is a specimen of the original English issue, representing a previously unrecorded mint-place (Dorchester, in Dorset). The new coins are presented in turn, showing how each in its own way refines important aspects of the wider understanding of the Agnus Dei coinage.
Constrained exact boundary controllability of a semilinear model for pipeline gas flow
Authors: Gugat Martin , Habermann Jens , Hintermüller Michael , Huber Olivier
Published: February 2023

While the quasilinear isothermal Euler equations are an excellent model for gas pipeline flow, the operation of the pipeline flow with high pressure and small Mach numbers allows us to obtain approximate solutions by a simpler semilinear model. We provide a derivation of the semilinear model that shows that the semilinear model is valid for sufficiently low Mach numbers and sufficiently high pressures. We prove an existence result for continuous solutions of the semilinear model that takes into account lower and upper bounds for the pressure and an upper bound for the magnitude of the Mach number of the gas flow. These state constraints are important both in the operation of gas pipelines and to guarantee that the solution remains in the set where the model is physically valid. We show the constrained exact boundary controllability of the system with the same pressure and Mach number constraints.
Bruges as a multilingual contact zone: book production and multilingual literary networks in fifteenth-century Bruges
Authors: Demets Lisa
Published: February 2023

Medieval Bruges was an important international economic hub in the late Middle Ages. Similar to other luxury goods, manuscripts produced in Bruges were intended for both local and international audiences. This article scrutinizes the specific urban context of Bruges as a multilingual contact zone focusing on quantitative data of extant manuscripts and case-studies of professional and non-professional book production. The dominance of francophone manuscripts in a Dutch-speaking town is noteworthy and called for an actively bilingual community of book professionals. Furthermore, the social competition of locally embedded social groups (court, merchants, craft guilds) influenced language choice as well. Both ‘official’ production of books for trade by professional writers and librarians, and the ‘private’ multilingual literary accomplishments of Bruges city-dwellers, illustrate the multilingual dynamics of urban contacts in Bruges.
Coronary artery compression by pulmonary artery stenting after arterial switch operation: a novel indication for coronary compression test
Authors: Quatrini Mara , Pilati Mara , Butera Gianfranco
Published: February 2023

Pulmonary artery stenosis is one of the most common complications after arterial switch operation. Stent implantation is an effective treatment with some risks related to coronary artery compression. We present the case of a patient affected by pulmonary stenosis after arterial switch operation. Coronary compression testing demonstrated compression of the left coronary artery from the balloon inflated in the left pulmonary artery. We should systematically consider the use of coronary balloon testing before stent implantation in patients with a history of switch operation.
SMITH AT 300: ON REGULATION OF THE LABOUR CONTRACT
Authors: Aspromourgos Tony
Published: February 2023

“Whenever the legislature attempts to regulate the differences between masters and their workmen, its counsellors are always the masters. When the regulation, therefore, is in favour of the workmen, it is always just and equitable; but it is sometimes otherwise when in favour of the masters. Thus the law which obliges the masters in several different trades to pay their workmen in money and not in goods, is quite just and equitable” (Smith 1976 [1776]), I.x.c.61, pp. 157–158).
Intra-Abdominal Abscess of Unusual Origin
Authors: Eckharter Christoph , Gass Jörn-Markus , Kremo Valerie
Published: February 2023

Abstract. This article describes the case of a woman who unknowingly swallowed several fishbones, one of which perforated the intestinal wall and subsequently formed an intra-abdominal abscess due to the foreign body reaction.
Transkatheter-Aortenklappenimplantation (TAVI) bei multivalvulären Herzerkrankungen
Authors: Fritschi Daniel , Oechslin Luca , Biaggi Patric , Wenaweser Peter
Published: February 2023

Zusammenfassung. Die Prävalenz von multivalvulären Herzerkrankungen ist bei TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation)-Patientinnen und -Patienten hoch. Am häufigsten findet sich die Kombination Aortenklappenstenose (AS) und Mitralinsuffizienz, gefolgt von der Kombination AS und Trikuspidalinsuffizienz oder AS und Mitralstenose. Die Graduierung von multivalvulären Erkrankungen ist anspruchsvoll und führt oft zu einer Unterschätzung des Krankheitsstadiums. Daher ist ein profundes Wissen über die pathophysiologischen Zusammenhänge zentral, und die Patientinnen und Patienten sollten stets multimodal abgeklärt werden. Nach einer erfolgreichen TAVI können sich sekundäre zusätzliche Klappenprobleme verbessern, aber auch unbeeinflusst bleiben oder sich sogar verschlechtern. Die wissenschaftliche Datenlage bei multivalvulären Erkrankungen ist spärlich. Nicht zuletzt deshalb bleibt die Rolle des «Heart Teams» zentral, um Patientinnen und Patienten einen individuell angepassten Therapievorschlag unterbreiten zu können.
Seasonal and Interannual Variability of the Subtropical South Indian Ocean Sea Surface Salinity Maximum
Authors: Bingham F. M. , Brodnitz S. K. , Gordon A. L.
Published: February 2023

The sea surface salinity (SSS) maximum of the South Indian Ocean (the SISSS‐max) is a high‐salinity feature centered at 30°S, 90°E, near the center of the South Indian subtropical gyre. It is located poleward of a region of strong evaporation and weak precipitation. Using several different satellites and in situ data sets, we track changes in this feature since the early 2000s. The centroid of the SISSS‐max moves seasonally north and south, furthest north in late winter and farthest south in late summer. Interannually, the SISSS‐max has moved on a northeast‐southwest path about 1,500 km in length. The size and maximum SSS of the feature vary in tandem with this motion. It gets larger (smaller) and saltier (fresher) as it moves to the northeast (southwest) closer to (further from) the area of strongest surface freshwater flux. The area of the SISSS‐max almost doubles from its smallest to largest extent. It was maximum in area in 2006, decreased steadily until it reached a minimum in 2013, and then increased again. The seasonal variability of the SISSS‐max is controlled by the changes that occur on its poleward, or southern, side, whereas interannual variability is controlled by changes on its equatorward side. The variations in the SISSS‐max are a complex dance between changes in evaporation, precipitation, wind forcing, gyre‐scale ocean circulation, and downward Ekman pumping. Its motion correlated with SSS changes throughout the South Indian Ocean and may be an indicator of changes in the basin's subtropical circulation.
Causes and Characteristics of Electrical Resistivity Variability in Shallow (<4 m) Soils in Taylor Valley, East Antarctica
Authors: Gutterman W. S. , Doran P. T. , Virginia R. A. , Barrett J. E. , Myers K. F. , Tulaczyk S. M. , Foley N. T. , Mikucki J. A. , Dugan H. A. , Grombacher D. J. , Bording T. S. , Auken E.
Published: February 2023

Airborne electromagnetic surveys collected in December 2011 and November 2018 and three soil sampling transects were used to analyze the spatial heterogeneity of shallow (<4 m) soil properties in lower Taylor Valley (TV), East Antarctica. Soil resistivities from 2011 to 2018 ranged from ∼33 Ωm to ∼3,500 Ωm with 200 Ωm assigned as an upper boundary for brine‐saturated sediments. Elevations below ∼50 m above sea level (masl) typically exhibit the lowest resistivities with resistivity increasing at high elevations on steeper slopes. Soil water content was empirically estimated from electrical resistivities using Archie's Law and range from ∼<1% to ∼68% by volume. An increase in silt‐ and clay‐sized particles at low elevations increases soil porosity but decreases hydraulic conductivity, promoting greater residence times of soil water at low elevations near Lake Fryxell. Soil resistivity variability between 2011 and 2018 shows soils at different stages of soil freeze‐thaw cycles, which are caused predominantly by solar warming of soils as opposed to air temperature. This study furthers the understanding of the hydrogeologic structure of the shallow subsurface in TV and identifies locations of soils that are potentially prone to greater rates of thaw and resulting ecosystem homogenization of soil properties from projected increases in hydrological connectivity across the region over the coming decades.
Can Hydrological Models Benefit From Using Global Soil Moisture, Evapotranspiration, and Runoff Products as Calibration Targets?
Authors: Mei Yiwen , Mai Juliane , Do Hong Xuan , Gronewold Andrew , Reeves Howard , Eberts Sandra , Niswonger Richard , Regan R. Steven , Hunt Randall J.
Published: February 2023

Hydrological models are usually calibrated to in‐situ streamflow observations with reasonably long and uninterrupted records. This is challenging for poorly gage or ungaged basins where such information is not available. Even for gaged basins, the single‐objective calibration to gaged streamflow cannot guarantee reliable forecasts because, as has been documented elsewhere, the inverse problem is mathematically ill‐posed. Therefore, the inclusion of other observations, and the reproduction of other hydrological variables beyond streamflow, become critical components of accurate hydrological forecasting. In this study, six single‐ and multi‐objective model calibration schemes based on different combinations of gaged streamflow, global‐scale gridded soil moisture, actual evapotranspiration (ET), and runoff products are used for the calibration of a process‐based hydrological model for 20 catchments located within the Lake Michigan watershed, of the Laurentian Great Lakes. Results show that the addition of gridded soil moisture to gaged streamflow in model calibration improves the ET simulation performance for most of the catchments, leading to the overall best‐performing models. The monthly streamflow simulation performance for the experiments using gridded runoff products to inform the model is outperformed by those using the gaged streamflow, but the discrepancy is mitigated with increasing catchment scale. A new visualization method that effectively synthesizes model performance for the simulations of streamflow, soil moisture, and ET was also proposed. Based on the method, it is revealed that the streamflow simulation performance is relatively weak for baseflow‐dominated catchments; overall, the 20 catchment models simulate streamflow and ET better than soil moisture.
“Hot Jupiter” Is in a Possible Death Spiral
Authors: Benningfield Damond
Published: February 2023

Kepler’s first exoplanet is migrating toward its star, an evolved subgiant that is much bigger than first thought.
Targeted dual base editing with Campylobacter jejuni Cas9 by single AAV-mediated delivery
Authors: Kweon Jiyeon , Jang An-Hee , Kwon Eunji , Kim Ungi , Shin Ha Rim , See Jieun , Jang Gayoung , Lee Chaeyeon , Koo Taeyoung , Kim Seokjoong , Kim Yongsub
Published: February 2023

Various CRISPR‒Cas9 orthologs are used in genome engineering. One of the smallest Cas9 orthologs is cjCas9 derived from Campylobacter jejuni, which is a highly specific genome editing tool. Here, we developed cjCas9-based base editors including a cytosine base editor (cjCBEmax) and an adenine base editor (cjABE8e) that can successfully induce endogenous base substitutions by up to 91.2% at the HPD gene in HEK293T cells. Analysis of the base editing efficiency of 13 endogenous target sites showed that the active windows of cjCBEmax and cjABE8e are wider than those of spCas9-based base editors and that their specificities are slightly lower than that of cjCas9. Importantly, engineered cjCas9 and gRNA scaffolds can improve the base editing efficiency of cjABE8e by up to 6.4-fold at the HIF1A gene in HEK293T cells. Due to its small size, cjABE8e can be packaged in a single adeno-associated virus vector with two tandem arrays of gRNAs, and the delivery of the resulting AAV could introduce base substitutions at endogenous ANGPT2 and HPD target sites. Overall, our findings have expanded the potential of the use of base editors for in vivo or ex vivo therapeutic approaches.
Near-zero-dispersion soliton and broadband modulational instability Kerr microcombs in anomalous dispersion
Authors: Xiao Zeyu , Li Tieying , Cai Minglu , Zhang Hongyi , Huang Yi , Li Chao , Yao Baicheng , Wu Kan , Chen Jianping
Published: February 2023

The developing advances of microresonator-based Kerr cavity solitons have enabled versatile applications ranging from communication, signal processing to high-precision measurements. Resonator dispersion is the key factor determining the Kerr comb dynamics. Near the zero group-velocity-dispersion (GVD) regime, low-noise and broadband microcomb sources are achievable, which is crucial to the application of the Kerr soliton. When the GVD is almost vanished, higher-order dispersion can significantly affect the Kerr comb dynamics. Although many studies have investigated the Kerr comb dynamics near the zero-dispersion regime in microresonator or fiber ring system, limited by dispersion profiles and dispersion perturbations, the near-zero-dispersion soliton structure pumped in the anomalous dispersion side is still elusive so far. Here, we theoretically and experimentally investigate the microcomb dynamics in fiber-based Fabry-Perot microresonator with ultra-small anomalous GVD. We obtain 2/3-octave-spaning microcombs with ~10 GHz spacing, >84 THz span, and >8400 comb lines in the modulational instability (MI) state, without any external nonlinear spectral broadening. Such widely-spanned MI combs are also able to enter the soliton state. Moreover, we report the first observation of anomalous-dispersion based near-zero-dispersion solitons, which exhibits a local repetition rate up to 8.6 THz, an individual pulse duration <100 fs, a span >32 THz and >3200 comb lines. These two distinct comb states have their own advantages. The broadband MI combs possess high conversion efficiency and wide existing range, while the near-zero-dispersion soliton exhibits relatively low phase noise and ultra-high local repetition rate. This work complements the dynamics of Kerr cavity soliton near the zero-dispersion regime, and may stimulate cross-disciplinary inspirations ranging from dispersion-controlled microresonators to broadband coherent comb devices.
Proteome analysis of monocytes implicates altered mitochondrial biology in adults reporting adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Zang Johannes C. S. , May Caroline , Hellwig Birte , Moser Dirk , Hengstler Jan G. , Cole Steve , Heinrichs Markus , Rahnenführer Jörg , Marcus Katrin , Kumsta Robert
Published: February 2023

The experience of adversity in childhood has been associated with poor health outcomes in adulthood. In search of the biological mechanisms underlying these effects, research so far focused on alterations of DNA methylation or shifts in transcriptomic profiles. The level of protein, however, has been largely neglected. We utilized mass spectrometry to investigate the proteome of CD14+ monocytes in healthy adults reporting childhood adversity and a control group before and after psychosocial stress exposure. Particular proteins involved in (i) immune processes, such as neutrophil-related proteins, (ii) protein metabolism, or (iii) proteins related to mitochondrial biology, such as those involved in energy production processes, were upregulated in participants reporting exposure to adversity in childhood. This functional triad was further corroborated by protein interaction- and co-expression analyses, was independent of stress exposure, i.e. observed at both pre- and post-stress time points, and became evident especially in females. In line with the mitochondrial allostatic load model, our findings provide evidence for the long-term effects of childhood adversity on mitochondrial biology.
Persistent short nighttime sleep duration is associated with a greater post-COVID risk in fully mRNA-vaccinated individuals
Authors: Xue Pei , Merikanto Ilona , Chung Frances , Morin Charles M. , Espie Colin , Bjorvatn Bjørn , Cedernaes Jonathan , Landtblom Anne-Marie , Penzel Thomas , De Gennaro Luigi , Holzinger Brigitte , Matsui Kentaro , Hrubos-Strøm Harald , Korman Maria , Leger Damien , Mota-Rolim Sérgio , Bolstad Courtney J. , Nadorff Michael , Plazzi Giuseppe , Reis Catia , Chan Rachel Ngan Yin , Wing Yun Kwok , Yordanova Juliana , Bjelajac Adrijana Koscec , Inoue Yuichi , Partinen Markku , Dauvilliers Yves , Benedict Christian
Published: February 2023

Short nighttime sleep duration impairs the immune response to virus vaccination, and long nighttime sleep duration is associated with poor health status. Thus, we hypothesized that short (<6 h) and long (>9 h) nighttime sleepers have a higher post-COVID risk than normal nighttime sleepers, despite two doses of mRNA vaccine (which has previously been linked to lower odds of long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms). Post-COVID was defined as experiencing at least one core COVID-19 symptom for at least three months (e.g., shortness of breath). Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and other factors showed in 9717 respondents (age span 18–99) that two mRNA vaccinations lowered the risk of suffering from post-COVID by about 21% (p < 0.001). When restricting the analysis to double-vaccinated respondents (n = 5918), short and long sleepers exhibited a greater post-COVID risk than normal sleepers (adjusted OR [95%-CI], 1.56 [1.29, 1.88] and 1.87 [1.32, 2.66], respectively). Among respondents with persistent sleep duration patterns during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic, short but not long sleep duration was significantly associated with the post-COVID risk (adjusted OR [95%-CI], 1.59 [1.24, 2.03] and 1.18 [0.70, 1.97], respectively). No significant association between sleep duration and post-COVID symptoms was observed in those reporting positive SARS-CoV-2 test results (n = 538). Our findings suggest that two mRNA vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 are associated with a lower post-COVID risk. However, this protection may be less pronounced among those sleeping less than 6 h per night. Our findings warrant replication in cohorts with individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A split ribozyme that links detection of a native RNA to orthogonal protein outputs
Authors: Gambill Lauren , Staubus August , Mo Kim Wai , Ameruoso Andrea , Chappell James
Published: February 2023

Individual RNA remains a challenging signal to synthetically transduce into different types of cellular information. Here, we describe Ribozyme-ENabled Detection of RNA (RENDR), a plug-and-play strategy that uses cellular transcripts to template the assembly of split ribozymes, triggering splicing reactions that generate orthogonal protein outputs. To identify split ribozymes that require templating for splicing, we use laboratory evolution to evaluate the activities of different split variants of the Tetrahymena thermophila ribozyme. The best design delivers a 93-fold dynamic range of splicing with RENDR controlling fluorescent protein production in response to an RNA input. We further resolve a thermodynamic model to guide RENDR design, show how input signals can be transduced into diverse outputs, demonstrate portability across different bacteria, and use RENDR to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This work shows how transcriptional signals can be monitored in situ and converted into different types of biochemical information using RNA synthetic biology.
Germline T cell receptor exchange results in physiological T cell development and function
Authors: Rollins Meagan R. , Raynor Jackson F. , Miller Ebony A. , Butler Jonah Z. , Spartz Ellen J. , Lahr Walker S. , You Yun , Burrack Adam L. , Moriarity Branden S. , Webber Beau R. , Stromnes Ingunn M.
Published: February 2023

T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic mice represent an invaluable tool to study antigen-specific immune responses. In the pre-existing models, a monoclonal TCR is driven by a non-physiologic promoter and randomly integrated into the genome. Here, we create a highly efficient methodology to develop T cell receptor exchange (TRex) mice, in which TCRs, specific to the self/tumor antigen mesothelin (Msln), are integrated into the Trac locus, with concomitant Msln disruption to circumvent T cell tolerance. We show that high affinity TRex thymocytes undergo all sequential stages of maturation, express the exogenous TCR at DN4, require MHC class I for positive selection and undergo negative selection only when both Msln alleles are present. By comparison of TCRs with the same specificity but varying affinity, we show that Trac targeting improves functional sensitivity of a lower affinity TCR and confers resistance to T cell functional loss. By generating P14 TRex mice with the same specificity as the widely used LCMV-P14 TCR transgenic mouse, we demonstrate increased avidity of Trac-targeted TCRs over transgenic TCRs, while preserving physiologic T cell development. Together, our results support that the TRex methodology is an advanced tool to study physiological antigen-specific T cell behavior.
A paralog of Pcc1 is the fifth core subunit of the KEOPS tRNA-modifying complex in Archaea
Authors: Daugeron Marie-Claire , Missoury Sophia , Da Cunha Violette , Lazar Noureddine , Collinet Bruno , van Tilbeurgh Herman , Basta Tamara
Published: February 2023

In Archaea and Eukaryotes, the synthesis of a universal tRNA modification, N6-threonyl-carbamoyl adenosine (t6A), is catalyzed by the KEOPS complex composed of Kae1, Bud32, Cgi121, and Pcc1. A fifth subunit, Gon7, is found only in Fungi and Metazoa. Here, we identify and characterize a fifth KEOPS subunit in Archaea. This protein, dubbed Pcc2, is a paralog of Pcc1 and is widely conserved in Archaea. Pcc1 and Pcc2 form a heterodimer in solution, and show modest sequence conservation but very high structural similarity. The five-subunit archaeal KEOPS does not form dimers but retains robust tRNA binding and t6A synthetic activity. Pcc2 can substitute for Pcc1 but the resulting KEOPS complex is inactive, suggesting a distinct function for the two paralogs. Comparative sequence and structure analyses point to a possible evolutionary link between archaeal Pcc2 and eukaryotic Gon7. Our work indicates that Pcc2 regulates the oligomeric state of the KEOPS complex, a feature that seems to be conserved from Archaea to Eukaryotes.
Phosphorescent extensophores expose elastic nonuniformity in polymer networks
Authors: Zheng Kaikai , Zhang Yifan , Li Bo , Granick Steve
Published: February 2023

Networks and gels are soft elastic solids of tremendous technological importance that consist of cross-linked polymers whose structure and connectivity at the molecular level are fundamentally nonuniform. Pre-failure local mechanical responses are not understood at the level of individual crosslinks, despite the enormous attention given to their macroscopic mechanical responses and to developing optical probes to detect their loci of mechanical failure. Here, introducing the extensophore concept to measure nondestructive forces using an optical probe with continuous force readout proportional to deformation, we show that the crosslinks in an elastic polymer network extend, fluctuate, and deform with a wide range of molecular individuality. Requiring little specialized equipment, this foundational single-molecule phosphorescence approach, applied here to polymer science and engineering, can be useful to a broad science and engineering community.