bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Casual Games, Cognition, and Play across the Lifespan: A Critical Synthesis
Authors: Squire Kurt , Wells Garrison , Anderson-Coto Maria J. , Steinkuehler Constance
Published: May 2023

Games, including video games have long been associated with both rhetorics of progress and frivolity, simultaneously recruiting efforts to employ games toward furthering cognitive skills, while also eliciting concerns about the decadence of players. Casual games, defined as games with a low barrier to entry and quick play sessions often focus on cognitively-oriented challenges and are perceived by many players to promote cognitive, social, and emotional benefits. Research on the cognitive, social, and emotional impact of casual games now spans games marketed as entertainment, “brain games,” and digital therapeutics; despite these games sharing similar qualities, the bodies of research literature on them remains largely distinct. This review finds little support for the cognitive benefits of playing casual games, with exception of the elderly or those with dementia. This research synthesis finds evidence for the social and emotional benefits of casual games when they are sought for these purposes, played mindfully, and within robust social contexts. However, the same games, when played in different contexts can have negative consequences, consistent with findings from the mindset literature more broadly. Researchers thus should take seriously the context of game play, perhaps treating the emergent phenomena of play as the unit of analysis, rather than the media artifact.
Spatiotemporally Consistent HDR Indoor Lighting Estimation
Authors: Li Zhengqin , Yu Li , Okunev Mikhail , Chandraker Manmohan , Dong Zhao
Published: May 2023

We propose a physically motivated deep learning framework to solve a general version of the challenging indoor lighting estimation problem. Given a single LDR image with a depth map, our method predicts spatially consistent lighting at any given image position. Particularly, when the input is an LDR video sequence, our framework not only progressively refines the lighting prediction as it sees more regions, but also preserves temporal consistency by keeping the refinement smooth. Our framework reconstructs a spherical Gaussian lighting volume (SGLV) through a tailored 3D encoder-decoder, which enables spatially consistent lighting prediction through volume ray tracing, a hybrid blending network for detailed environment maps, an in-network Monte Carlo rendering layer to enhance photorealism for virtual object insertion, and recurrent neural networks (RNN) to achieve temporally consistent lighting prediction with a video sequence as the input. For training, we significantly enhance the OpenRooms public dataset of photorealistic synthetic indoor scenes with around 360k HDR environment maps of much higher resolution and 38k video sequences, rendered with GPU-based path tracing. Experiments show that our framework achieves lighting prediction with higher quality compared to state-of-the-art single-image or video-based methods, leading to photorealistic AR applications such as object insertion.
Investigating the Nonlinear Relationship between Takeout Order Demand and Built Environment under Different Periods of COVID-19
Authors: Guo Zishuo , Zhang Fan , Ji Yanjie
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the global restaurant business hard, especially dine-in. However, it has also provided opportunities for online dining, with takeout becoming a fulcrum for the economic resilience of the urban restaurant industry. Currently, research on the factors affecting takeout order demand under the pandemic has been inadequate. Therefore, this study uses multisource data from Nanjing to explore the changes in takeout order demand as the pandemic develops. And based on the Light gradient boosting machine (Light GBM) model, the nonlinear relationship between the built environment and order demand under different periods of pandemic is investigated, and the important factors affecting the demand are obtained. The results show that daily orders on average during COVID-19 decline by 25.6% than before COVID-19, while during the stabilization phase of the pandemic, they are 20.0% higher than before COVID-19. According to the relative importance ranking of factors in the model, land use diversity and road design influence takeout the most and the crucial influencing factors vary across pandemic periods. In the postpandemic era, special attention needs to be paid to the impact of the number of restaurants, colleges, offices, and main roads on takeout services. In addition, the thresholds of key built environment factors through partial dependency plots can enhance operators’ understanding of takeout services and provide suggestions for the spatial layout of takeout resources. While satisfying people’s dietary needs, the role of takeout in restoring the restaurant economy can be better utilized.
Description of an Equine Hepacivirus Cluster in a Horse Stable in Italy
Authors: Cardone Roberta , Buonavoglia Alessio , Lanave Gianvito , Vasinioti Violetta Iris , Mininni Valentina , Lorusso Eleonora , Decaro Nicola , Martella Vito , Elia Gabriella , Diakoudi Georgia
Published: May 2023

Equine hepacivirus (EqHV), also known as Hepacivirus A, represents the most closely related genetic homologue of human hepatitis C virus (HCV). Although detected worldwide, limited information on the clinical features of this infection is available and on the mechanisms by which EqHV is transmitted. In this study, we describe a spread of infection of EqHV that occurred in a small stable of horses in southern Italy. The RNA of EqHV was detected in 6/13 (46.2%) sera of the horses introduced into the herd, at different times, over a period of approximately one year. Based on the sequencing analyses of genomic portions located in the NS5B, 5′UTR, and NS3 genes, the viruses detected in the animals were genetically highly related (100% nt identity) to each other. The nearly full-length genome of the virus identified from two horses was generated. For one animal with a profile of chronic infection, the genome sequence was determined with a 7-month interval, revealing 26nt changes resulting in 11 nonsynonymous intrahost nucleotide variations. Overall, based on the epidemiological information, we support the hypothesis that horizontal transmission occurred in the herd.
An Enhanced Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Global Router for VLSI Design
Authors: Xu Saijuan , Yang Liliang , Liu Genggeng
Published: May 2023

Global routing is a crucial step in the design of Very Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. However, most of the existing methods are heuristic algorithms, which cannot conjointly optimize the subproblems of global routing, resulting in congestion and overflow. In response to this challenge, an enhanced Deep Reinforcement Learning- (DRL-) based global router has been proposed, which comprises the following effective strategies. First, to avoid the overestimation problem generated by

Q

-learning, the proposed global router adopts the Double Deep

Q

-Network (DDQN) model. The DDQN-based global router has better performance in wire length optimization and convergence. Second, to avoid the agent from learning redundant information, an action elimination method is added to the action selection part, which significantly enhances the convergence performance of the training process. Third, to avoid the unfair allocation problem of routing resources in serial training, concurrent training is proposed to enhance the routability. Fourth, to reduce wire length and disperse routing resources, a new reward function is proposed to guide the agent to learn better routing solutions regarding wire length and congestion standard deviation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms others in several important performance metrics, including wire length, convergence performance, routability, and congestion standard deviation. In conclusion, the proposed enhanced DRL-based global router is a promising approach for solving the global routing problem in VLSI design, which can achieve superior performance compared to the heuristic method and DRL-based global router.
Evaluation of Physicochemical and Sensorial Quality of Nonconventional Olive-Enriched Snack with Biopolymer Barriers
Authors: Savaş Elif , Demir Veranur
Published: May 2023

The freeze-dried snack enriched with olives was produced with different biopolymer supports in order to improve the texture and high microencapsulation of olive biomolecules in the matrix for the first time. The effects of biopolymers used to increase storage stability in terms of desired texture properties on existing texture and sensory profile were evaluated. The healthy olive-enriched snack formulated with modified potato starch, maltodextrin, sodium alginate, and gum arabic was obtained using the freeze-dry technique with 20.93% drying efficiency. The smallest pore diameter and homogeneous porosity were obtained in the snack containing sodium alginate. The addition of maltodextrin resulted in larger pores and greater porosity. Large pores and random pore distribution are striking in the snack recipe without biopolymer. Large porosity and voids caused increased brittleness in the control sample without biopolymer. While the hardness increased in the sample containing sodium alginate, the fracturability remained lower than the other polymer supports. The fracturability value determined in the sample without polymers was determined to not be able to protect the integrity of the product during packaging and storage. The highest rehydration ability (7.85%) was obtained in the sample containing sodium alginate. Maltodextrin gave higher fracturability (10.552 mm) and the lowest hardness value (12.00 N) compared to other polymer supports at the concentration used. Maltodextrin gave the lowest astringency value in olive-enriched snacks. The lowest glass transition temperature (80.0°C) was obtained in the maltodextrin-added snack. The addition of sodium alginate delayed the onset of oxidation (OTs, 211°C). With the biopolymer supports used, functional and different taste snacks with nutritionally rich content were produced.
Delayed Diagnosis of Blunt Ureteral Injury following Motor Vehicle Collision
Authors: Canales Alexander , Desai Harsh
Published: May 2023

Background. A 19-year-old male requiring emergency surgery after presenting to the emergency department (ED) as a trauma activation status post-motor vehicle collision. Summary. The patient presented to the ED after a motor vehicle collision. He was taken emergently to the operating room after finding hemoperitoneum on computerized tomography scan without evidence of solid organ injury. Significant small and large bowel injuries were discovered requiring resection and anastomosis. The patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery and was discharged home. He was later re-admitted to the hospital with a large pelvic abscess and a left mid-ureteral stricture causing hydronephrosis. The abscess was treated with antibiotics, and the left ureteral injury was treated with a nephrostomy tube and stent placement. He made a full recovery after hospital re-admission and a delay in diagnosis of blunt ureteral injury. Conclusion. Patients involved in motor vehicle collisions are at risk of multi-system trauma including genito-urinary injuries. A small percentage of these patients may present with blunt ureteral injuries. A high index of suspicion is required to make an early diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis may help to prevent morbidity.
Impact of Perinatal Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Early Health Outcomes among Infants Born from 2020 to 2021 in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Richter Lindsay L. , Ho Matthew S. P. , Zhang Qian , Bone Jeffrey N. , Portales-Casamar Elodie , Yang Connie L. , Roberts Ashley , Kang Kristopher , Kieran Emily , Lam Carol , Lisonkova Sarka , Ting Joseph Y.
Published: May 2023

Background. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has impacted healthcare services and outcomes. We aimed to investigate healthcare resource utilization and early health outcomes of infants born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods. The study included all infants born alive between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, in British Columbia. We used linked provincial population-based databases including data on COVID-19 testing, birth, and health information for up to one year from birth. Perinatal COVID-19 exposure for infants was defined being born to mothers with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or at delivery. Cases of COVID-19-exposed infants were matched with up to four non‐exposed infants by birth month, sex, birthplace, and gestational age in weeks. Outcomes included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and in-/outpatient diagnoses. Outcomes were compared between groups using conditional logistic regression and linear mixed effects models including effect modification by maternal residence. Results. Among 52,711 live births, 484 infants had perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2, an incidence rate of 9.18 per 1000 live births. Exposed infants (54.6% male) had a mean gestational age of 38.5 weeks, and 99% were born in hospital. Proportions of infants requiring at least one hospitalization (8.1% vs. 5.1%) and at least one emergency department visit (16.9% vs. 12.9%) were higher among the exposed vs. unexposed infants, respectively. Among infants from the urban area, those with exposure were more likely to have respiratory infectious diseases (odds ratio: 1.74; 95% confidence intervals: 1.07, 2.84), compared with those without exposure. Interpretation. In our cohort, infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection have increased healthcare demands in their early infancy, which warrants further investigation.
FIGURE 5 from p35 is a Crucial Player in NK-cell Cytotoxicity and TGFβ-mediated NK-cell Dysfunction
Authors: Wong Derek P. , Fritz Claire E. , Feinberg Daniel , Huang Alex Y. , Parameswaran Reshmi
Published: May 2023

TGFβ induces p35 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. A, NK92 cells were incubated with fluorescently-labeled Jeko-1 cells and different concentrations of TGFβ for 16 hours. Cells were stained with PI and gated on labeled cancer cells via flow cytometry to measure cancer cell death. **, P < 0.01; ****, P < 0.0001. Graphs display mean ± SD, n = 3 biological cocultures, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett multiple comparisons test. B, NK92 cells were incubated with different concentrations of TGFβ in complete media for 48 hours. Protein was collected and analyzed via Western blot analysis. C, NK92 cells were incubated with 5 ng/mL TGFβ in complete media for 24 hours with or without the TGFβ receptor inhibitor EW-7197 (5 ng/mL). Protein was collected and analyzed via Western blot analysis. D, 1° NK cells were incubated in complete media with different concentrations of TGFβ and/or 5 ng/mL EW-7197 for 48 hours. Protein was collected and analyzed via Western blot analysis. E, 1° NK cells were cultured in cytokine-free media for 48 hours, followed by culture with either 200 U/mL IL2 or 5 ng/mL TGFβ. Protein lysate was collected at the indicated timepoints.
FIGURE 2 from p35 is a Crucial Player in NK-cell Cytotoxicity and TGFβ-mediated NK-cell Dysfunction
Authors: Wong Derek P. , Fritz Claire E. , Feinberg Daniel , Huang Alex Y. , Parameswaran Reshmi
Published: May 2023

CDK5 knockdown inhibits NK92 survival while p35 knockdown increases NK92 cytotoxicity. A, qRT-PCR results using RNA isolated from NK92 cells transduced with p35 shRNA (shp35) or CDK5 shRNA (shCdk5) compared with shGFP control. GAPDH was used as the housekeeping gene. Graphs display mean ± SD, n = 3 technical replicates. B, Western blot analysis of protein from NK92 cells transduced with p35 shRNA (shp35) or negative control GFP shRNA (shGFP). C, Phase contrast microscopy of NK92 cells transduced with CDK5 shRNA or one of two p35 shRNA clones, compared with shGFP control. Images are 10x magnification; scale bar, 100 μm. D, NK92 cells were plated in complete media with a starting count of 250,000 cells. Live cell count was obtained after 48 hours cell culture via trypan blue staining and manual counting on a hemocytometer. ****, P < 0.0001. Graphs display mean ± SD, n = 3 biological cultures, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett multiple comparisons test. E, NK92 cells were stained with Annexin V and PI and analyzed via flow cytometry. Percentage of cells staining positive for Annexin V and/or PI were graphed. ****, P < 0.0001. Graphs display mean ± SD, n = 3 biological cultures, one-way ANOVA with Dunnett multiple comparisons test. F, NK92 cells were cocultured with fluorescently-labeled Jeko-1 cells for 16 hours to measure the effect of p35 knockdown on cytotoxicity. Cells were stained with PI and gated on the labeled cancer cells to measure cancer cell death. ****, P < 0.0001. Graphs display mean ± SD, n = 3 biological cocultures, two-way ANOVA with Dunnett multiple comparisons test.
The Argument/Adjunct Distinction Does Not Condition Islandhood of PPs in English
Authors: McInnerney Andrew
Published: May 2023

I argue that the well-known islandhood of adjunct prepositional phrases does not substantially derive from their adjuncthood. Instead, islandhood of these domains derives from various factors that are orthogonal to the argument/adjunct distinction, including PP-internal structure, lexical properties of prepositions, and semanticopragmatic construal. To show this, I demonstrate that PP islandhood crosscuts the argument/adjunct distinction. In particular, (a) PPs with NP complements are generally not islands, (b) PPs with tensed clausal complements are generally (strong) islands, and (c) PPs with gerundive complements are generally (weak) islands. These generalizations hold whether or not the relevant PP has a prototypical adjunct function.
From Diversity to Homogeneity
Authors: Baioud Gegentuul
Published: May 2023

This article explores the shifting connotations of two key terms in propaganda texts on bilingual education policy in Inner Mongolia. The two terms are dumdadu-yin ündüsten (Ch.: Zhonghua minzu, Chinese nation) and ulus-un neidem hereglehü üge hel (Ch.: guojia tongyong yuyan, national common language). I examine how the meanings of these key terms have begun to shift as China strives to shed its multinational character and build a linguistically homogenous Chinese nation-state. The new prominence given to the term dumdadu-yin ündüsten (Chinese nation) and the gradual substitution of the terms neitelig hel (Ch.: putonghua) and khitad hel (Han language) with the term ulus-un neidem hereglehü üge hel (national common language) in propaganda texts in Inner Mongolia reflect and shape China’s changing policies on its borderlands. In this brief exploratory article, I underline how the Mongolian terms referring to the Chinese nation and national common language undergo shifts in their meanings as what sits at the very core of these terms – the Han – irrepressibly exposes itself and subsumes other meaning potentials.
‘When the Land Cannot Support the People Any More’
Authors: Nyima Yonten
Published: May 2023

This article examines the use of a popular Chinese formulation, yifang shuitu yanghuo buliao yifangren (‘the soil and water of a place cannot support the local people’), in China’s poverty-alleviation resettlement by focusing on the case of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The official narrative that the formulation points to is that the native land of Tibetans living in ‘harsh’ environments can no longer support them and cannot enable them to escape from ‘poverty’; they thus need to be resettled. The article shows that, while the degree to which the formulation holds true is debatable even from a government perspective, local officials find the authority embedded in the formulation, originating as it has from the central government, useful as a means of persuasion in getting Tibetans to agree to resettle and thus facilitating policy implementation on the ground. This finding echoes earlier research on the usefulness of political language for authorities in China at different levels of the administration.
Ecotourism as Racial Capitalism
Authors: Salimjan Guldana
Published: May 2023

China’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2011–2015) designated the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as a major up-and-coming tourist destination as part of a programme called ‘Ecological Civilisation’ (shengtai wenming 生态文明). As the crackdown on Turkic Muslims accelerated from 2017 onwards, more and more Uyghur villages and places from which Kazakhs and other pastoralist communities had been displaced in the name of ‘ecological migration’ were branded as locations for tourists to appreciate ‘nature’ and ‘folklore’. This essay analyses land expropriation and labour injustice at these ecotourism sites from the angle of colonial racial capitalism and shows that the expansion of ecological capitalism in China remains hinged on the production of brutal economic inequalities and cycles of vulnerability among racialised and minoritised bodies.
On ‘New Tuva’ Anti-war Movement
Authors: Khovalyg Dankhaiaa
Published: May 2023

‘New Tuva’ is a Tuvan anti-war movement that was created in the spring, 2022, after the Russian government started the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The movement consists of a decentralised group of activists and volunteers of Tuvan origin with an anti-war position and shared aim to prevent support of the war against Ukraine from Tuva in all forms of its manifestation. Their main activities include providing assistance to military personnel and those who might be mobilised in refusing to participate in the war and public awareness-building regarding the real situation in Ukraine, Tuva and statistics over Tuvans killed in the war etc.

This study focuses on the context of the Tuvan republic, the activities of ‘New Tuva’, its influence on the Tuvan society within the region and what main obstacles and difficulties the movement faces in its work.
‘Free Nations League’
Authors: Dolyaev Erentsen , Dugar-DePonte Radjana
Published: May 2023

The article introduces the ‘League of Free Nations’, which united earlier existing movements from various ethnic groups across the Russian Federation. The League is a horizontal network that brings together organizations, movements and individual activists who share its goals and views. Amongst the major aims is the consolidation of anti-imperial forces in the Russian Federation and enabling self-determination among its subjects.
Erratum: Idrees, M. & Zhiyong, Z. (2022) Lectotypification of 16 names in Rubus subg. Idaeobatus, 12 names in R. subg. Malachobatus, and 1 name in R. subg. Chamaebatus (Rosaceae). Phytotaxa 559 (1): 13–24.
Authors: IDREES MUHAMMAD , ZHANG ZHIYONG
Published: May 2023

N/A
Infrageneric classification of Elwendia (Apiaceae) with a restored species
Authors: KLJUYKOV EUGENE V. , ZAKHAROVA EKATERINA A. , DEGTJAREVA GALINA V. , SAMIGULLIN TAHIR H.
Published: May 2023

Elwendia is a middle-sized genus with its center of diversity in Central Asia. Due to the progress in recent molecular phylogenetic studies, the genus has been restored and expanded by the inclusion of eastern species of Bunium. However, it still lacks a modern infrageneric classification system based on integrative analyses of molecular, morphological, and karyological evidence. Here, we present the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the genus to date, covering all species within the genus. We used DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacers and sampled 21 morphological characters for each species. As a result, an infrageneric classification system of Elwendia is proposed with 6 sections and 11 subsections. Diagnostically important morphological characters include specializations of fruits and stem leaves. Of particular interest is the congruence between molecular and chromosomal data. Descriptions and species composition of the sections and subsections are provided. Elwendia longiloba is resurrected from the synonymy of E. hissarica.
Lepiota atrobrunneodisca (Agaricaceae, Agaricales), a new species with a hymeniform pileus covering from North China
Authors: MAO NING , XIA LU , XU YU-YAN , Fan Li
Published: May 2023

Lepiota atrobrunneodisca sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on collections from Shanxi Province in North China. This species is characterized by the pileus with dark brown to black-brown umbonate disc, irregularly shaped squamules on a whitish surface, annulus often adhering to stipe, ellipsoid to narrowly ellipsoid, binucleate basidiospores, numerous cheilocystidia, the absence of pleurocystidia, and the hymeniform pileus covering made up of tightly packed subglobose, sphaeropedunculate to clavate terminal elements. The phylogenetic analyses were performed using ITS and four combined loci (ITS-nrLSU-IGS-mtSSU) datasets, which supported that L. atrobrunneodisca formed a distinct clade.
Allium tianmuense, a new species from Tianmu Mountain (Zhejiang, Southeast China)
Authors: SHE SHI-QI , ZHANG YANG , YANG JIA , PANG CHUN-MEI , XU YUE-LIANG , CHEN ZHENG-HAI
Published: May 2023

In this paper, Allium tianmuense is described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses, and its taxonomic relationships are discussed. It grows in the understorey of deciduous broad-leaved forests at 1000‒1500 m a.s.l. in Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang (southeast China). Morphological analysis indicates A. tianmuense should be classified into A. sect. Sacculiferum and is distinct from the common species A. thunbergii and A. chinense in the morphology of leaves, umbel, filaments and phenology. Nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) phylogenetic analysis further confirmed the inclusion of A. tianmuense within A. sect. Sacculiferum and revealed its distinction from all other species of this section representing a new species.
Sternodea arcana, new species (Coleoptera: Cryptophagidae: Caenoscelini): part of the Nearctic fauna?
Authors: LESCHEN RICHARD A.B. , GIMMEL MATTHEW L.
Published: May 2023

The leaf litter-inhabiting genus Sternodea Reitter (Cryptophagidae: Cryptophaginae: Caenoscelini) presently contains seven Palearctic species and up to 27 undescribed species from North and Central America. Here we describe Sternodea arcana, new species, ostensibly from Florida but possibly mislabeled, and likely originating from Mexico or Central America. Consequently, the existence of Sternodea among the North American cryptophagid fauna is unknown.
Role of the Low-Latitude Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation in the Extreme Persistent Heavy Rainfall in the Mei-Yu Season over the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River
Authors: Xia Yicong , Yao Suxiang , Sun Tianle , Guo Ziyi
Published: May 2023

Persistent heavy rainfall events (PHREs), as a result of the interaction among multiscale systems, are prone to continuously affect the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (MLYR). Based on the observation and reanalysis data, a total of 41 PHREs during the mei-yu seasons of 1979–2020 are first identified over the MLYR and divided into prolonged (over 5 days) and normal (3–5 days) groups. The contributions of quasi-biweekly-scale and synoptic-scale components to the abovementioned two types of PHREs are analyzed. Prolonged PHREs are dominated by the quasi-biweekly component of precipitation (QBW_Pr), while normal PHREs depend on synoptic-scale components (SS_Pr). The quantitative moisture budget indicates that the favorable environment for the QBW_Pr of prolonged PHREs is associated with the interaction between background moisture and quasi-biweekly circulation disturbances. Approximately 80% of prolonged PHREs occurred in phases 6–8 of the boreal summer QBWO (BSISO2) life cycle. The large-scale meridional vertical circulation along the South China Sea (SCS)–MLYR, and the westward-propagating suppressed convection at low latitudes, accompanied by the substantial northward and upward moisture supply, significantly promotes and maintains the QBW_Pr for prolonged PHREs. In contrast, the QBWO signals are relatively insignificant in the evolution of normal PHREs. The impact of the low-latitude QBWO on the prolonged PHREs is further confirmed by sensitivity experiments with RegCM4.9. As the QBWO are weakened on the southeast lateral boundary near the SCS, the vertical circulation and moisture transport clearly diminish along the SCS–MLYR. Consequentially, precipitation reduces visibly during prolonged PHREs.

Significance Statement

Persistent heavy rainfall events (PHREs), as the reflection of the interaction among multiscale circulation systems, characterized by high intensity and wide coverage, are prone to cause severe flooding and death in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (MLYR). This study aims to investigate the connection between PHREs and different time scales of atmospheric variability, thus elucidating the crucial factors and the influencing mechanisms for the prolonged PHREs during the mei-yu season. Our results reveal that the prolonged PHREs are dominated by the quasi-biweekly component of precipitation, while normal PHREs depend on the synoptic-scale component. The quasi-biweekly precipitation of prolonged PHREs is promoted and maintained by the meridional vertical circulation along the South China Sea (SCS)–MLYR, which is accompanied by the westward-propagating SCS QBWO-related suppressed convection at low latitudes. This study highlights the specific role of the low-latitude QBWO to the formation of prolonged PHREs relative to normal PHREs.
Seasonal Streamflow Forecasting for Fresh Water Reservoir Management in the Netherlands: An Assessment of Multiple Prediction Systems
Authors: Hurkmans Ruud T. W. L. , van den Hurk Bart , Schmeits Maurice , Wetterhall Fredrik , Pechlivanidis Ilias G.
Published: May 2023

For efficient management of the Dutch surface water reservoir Lake IJssel, (sub)seasonal forecasts of the water volumes going in and out of the reservoir are potentially of great interest. Here, streamflow forecasts were analyzed for the river Rhine at Lobith, which is partly routed through the river IJssel, the main influx into the reservoir. We analyzed seasonal forecast datasets derived from the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS), the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) European Hydrological Predictions for the Environment (E-HYPE), and Hydrology Tiled ECMWF Scheme of Surface Exchanges over Land (HTESSEL), which differ in their underlying hydrological formulation, but are all forced by meteorological forecasts from ECMWF’s fifth generation seasonal forecast system (SEAS5). We postprocessed the streamflow forecasts using quantile mapping (QM) and analyzed several forecast quality metrics. Forecast performance was assessed based on the available reforecast period, as well as on individual summer seasons. QM increased forecast skill for nearly all metrics evaluated. Averaged over the reforecast period, forecasts were skillful for up to 4 months in spring and early summer. Later in summer the skillful period deteriorated to 1–2 months. When investigating specific years with either low- or high-flow conditions, forecast skill increased with the extremity of the event. Although raw forecasts for both E-HYPE and EFAS were more skillful than HTESSEL, bias correction based on QM can significantly reduce the difference. In operational mode, the three forecast systems show comparable skill. In general, dry conditions can be forecasted with high success rates up to 3 months ahead, which is very promising for successful use of Rhine streamflow forecasts in downstream reservoir management.

Significance Statement

Lake IJssel is the Netherlands’ largest freshwater reservoir, with its main water source coming from a branch of the river Rhine. We investigate whether seasonal forecasts of river discharge can help in managing the lake level to create extra buffer capacity for dry periods. We compare three seasonal forecast systems and assess their quality. We find that statistical corrections are needed for all systems to be used. In spring discharge can be predicted up to 4 months ahead due to snow processes. In summer this time is shorter, but it increases with event extremity: severe low-flow events can be predicted longer ahead. This offers potential for water managers to base their lake management on other similar reservoirs.
Scale-Dependent Eddy Diffusivities at the Kuroshio Extension: A Particle-Based Estimate and Comparison to Theory
Authors: Liu Mingyue , Chen Ru , Flierl Glenn R. , Guan Wenting , Zhang Hong , Geng Qianqian
Published: May 2023

For eddy-permitting climate models, only eddies smaller than the smallest resolvable scale need to be parameterized. Therefore, it is important to study the diffusivities induced by eddies smaller than a specific separation scale L*, that is, the scale-dependent eddy diffusivities. Using a submesoscale-permitting model solution (MITgcm llc4320), we estimate the scale-dependent eddy diffusivity in the Kuroshio Extension. We find that, as the separation scale L* increases, the diffusivity increases, and the spatial structure approaches that of the total eddy diffusivity. We quantify this scale dependence through fitting the diffusivity to L*n. Our derivation shows that n is approximately (a + 1)/2, where a is the eddy kinetic energy spectral slope. For domain-averaged diffusivity, n is 1.33. We then extend four existing mixing theories by including scale dependence. Our results show that both of the theories designed for intense-jet regions, the suppressed mixing length theory and the multiwavenumber theory, closely match the magnitude of the scale-dependent diffusivity but fail to capture well the diffusivity’s spatial structure. However, the other two theories based on eddy size and Rhines scale can reasonably represent the spatial structure. Based on this finding, we propose an empirical formula for scale-dependent eddy diffusivity that well represents both the magnitude and the spatial structure of the eddy diffusivity. Our work demonstrates that climate models should use scale-dependent diffusivity, and designing appropriate empirical formulas may be a reasonable approach to represent these scale-dependent diffusivities. Also, our diagnostic framework and theories for scale-dependent eddy diffusivity may be applicable to the global ocean.
Diagnosing Storm Mode with Deep Learning in Convection-Allowing Models
Authors: Sobash Ryan A. , Gagne David John , Becker Charlie L. , Ahijevych David , Gantos Gabrielle N. , Schwartz Craig S.
Published: May 2023

While convective storm mode is explicitly depicted in convection-allowing model (CAM) output, subjectively diagnosing mode in large volumes of CAM forecasts can be burdensome. In this work, four machine learning (ML) models were trained to probabilistically classify CAM storms into one of three modes: supercells, quasi-linear convective systems, and disorganized convection. The four ML models included a dense neural network (DNN), logistic regression (LR), a convolutional neural network (CNN), and semisupervised CNN–Gaussian mixture model (GMM). The DNN, CNN, and LR were trained with a set of hand-labeled CAM storms, while the semisupervised GMM used updraft helicity and storm size to generate clusters, which were then hand labeled. When evaluated using storms withheld from training, the four classifiers had similar ability to discriminate between modes, but the GMM had worse calibration. The DNN and LR had similar objective performance to the CNN, suggesting that CNN-based methods may not be needed for mode classification tasks. The mode classifications from all four classifiers successfully approximated the known climatology of modes in the United States, including a maximum in supercell occurrence in the U.S. Central Plains. Further, the modes also occurred in environments recognized to support the three different storm morphologies. Finally, storm mode provided useful information about hazard type, e.g., storm reports were most likely with supercells, further supporting the efficacy of the classifiers. Future applications, including the use of objective CAM mode classifications as a novel predictor in ML systems, could potentially lead to improved forecasts of convective hazards.

Significance Statement

Whether a thunderstorm produces hazards such as tornadoes, hail, or intense wind gusts is in part determined by whether the storm takes the form of a single cell or a line. Numerical forecasting models can now provide forecasts that depict this structure. We tested several automated algorithms to extract this information from forecast output using machine learning. All of the automated methods were able to distinguish between a set of three convective types, with the simple techniques providing similarly skilled classifications compared to the complex approaches. The automated classifications also successfully discriminated between thunderstorm hazards, potentially leading to new forecast tools and better forecasts of high-impact convective hazards.
Complete Heart Block After Low Dose Octreotide Infusion for Esophageal Variceal Bleeding
Authors: Castater Christine A. , Meyer Courtney , Phillips Steven , Fabien Jamesa , Hill Raven , Hazen Benjamin , Nguyen Jonathan , Dougherty Stacy , Fiza Babar , Subramanian Ram
Published: May 2023

Cirrhosis and chronic liver disease cause a myriad of systemic health problems mostly caused by the presence of portal hypertension. Esophageal varices are one result of portal hypertension. They can rupture and bleed, which can be catastrophic in already coagulopathic liver failure patients. We present a patient who presented with decompensated liver failure for transplant. He developed a severe and refractory gastrointestinal bleed and was put on an octreotide infusion to increase splanchnic flow and decrease portal pressures. He subsequently developed complete heart block. Understanding the mechanisms of octreotide is imperative due to its frequent use in medically complex patients
Necrotizing Vaginitis in a 45-Year-Old Woman With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Ralph Oliver G. , Siparsky Nicole F.
Published: May 2023

Vaginitis emphysematosa (VE) is a rare, benign, and self-limited condition often diagnosed by the presence of intramuscular vaginal air observed on computed tomography (CT) scan. Although it is a nonpathologic, self-limited condition requiring no intervention, it is important to rule out a more serious infectious pathology. This report highlights a clinical dilemma and the potential consequences of over-reliance on CT in distinguishing benign VE from pathologic necrotizing vaginitis. A high clinical suspicion for infection should be maintained, especially when relevant clinical and laboratory markers suggest a more serious pathology. We describe the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented to the hospital with abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. CT scan demonstrated intramuscular vaginal air, which was reported as VE. Classic imaging findings of VE falsely reassured clinicians. She died shortly thereafter of necrotizing vaginitis.
Prevalence and Predictors of Long-term Opioid Use After Pelvic Fractures
Authors: Villa Nicole Ann Elvambuena , Shum Kristina , Atkinson Allison , Ong Adrian , Muller Allison , Espiridion Eduardo
Published: May 2023

Background

Opioids are effective in short-term pain treatment; however, their long-term effectiveness is unconfirmed. Many patients are exposed to opioids after pelvic injuries with little known about persistent use afterward. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of long-term opioid use following pelvic fractures.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 277 patients with acute pelvic fractures over five years. Daily and total morphine milligram equivalents (MME) were calculated. The primary outcome was long-term opioid use (LOU) defined as ongoing opioid use 60-90 days post-discharge. The secondary outcome was intermediate-term opioid use (IOU) defined as ongoing opioid use 30-60 days post-discharge. Univariable and logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

Median (interquartile range) total inpatient opioid MME was 422 (157-1667) with a median daily MME of 69 (26-145). Long-term opioid use occurred in 16%, and IOU occurred in 29%. Univariable analysis found that total and daily inpatient opioid use were each significantly associated with LOU (median MME, 1241 vs 371; median MMEs, 127.7 vs 59.2, respectively) and IOU (median MME, 1140 vs 326; median MMEs, 111.8 vs 57.9, respectively). Logistic regression analysis found daily inpatient MME ≥50 (odds ratio [OR] 3.027, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.059-8.652]) and pelvic fracture type (Tile B/C) (OR 2.992 [CI 1.324-6.763])were independent predictors of LOU.

Conclusion

Total and daily inpatient opioid use were significantly associated with LOU and IOU. Patients who received ≥50 MME/inpatient day had a higher likelihood of LOU. This study seeks to inform clinical decisions for pain management to prevent adverse outcomes.
“The Most Satisfactory Procedure in the Field of Pediatric Surgery”: The History of Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
Authors: Lovasik Brendan P. , Srinivasan Jahnavi K. , Pettitt Barbara J.
Published: May 2023

This historical retrospective explores the history of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis from its initial observations to the first surgical approaches to modern understandings of pathogenesis. The important work of Hirschsprung, Fredet, and Ramstedt remains a foundational part of management for this complex condition.
The Militarized Interstate Confrontation Dataset, 1816-2014
Authors: Gibler Douglas M. , Miller Steven V.
Published: May 2023

We use this article to introduce the Militarized Interstate Confrontation (MIC) dataset, 1816-2014—a new dataset for international conflict with a host of innovative features. The MIC data corrects thousands of errors in existing interstate conflict data and provides fatality ranges for all conflicts, with meaningful fatality estimates and no missing fatality values. Thus, the MIC data fixes missing data problems that have precluded researchers from analyzing escalation and related issues because of the lack of integrated conflict and war data. We also identify and distribute separate datasets for state-versus-citizen actions that are protest-dependent. These are attacks on shipping, fishing boats, and rebels, which were previously included in the data because the sovereign of those private citizens protested. We discuss our systematic search for new conflict cases and the 108 new conflicts we found, and we provide analyses and summaries that demonstrate the usefulness of our MIC data. Finally, we use our new data to create the first ever dataset of truly dyadic, directed dyad-year data, with highest actions and fatalities that vary appropriately within conflicts by both year and dyad. We believe these datasets will be useful for a host of studies but especially those interested in how conflicts evolve over time.
Making a National Program National: The US Resettlement of Displaced Persons After World War II
Authors: Haines David W.
Published: May 2023

The end of the Second World War in Europe left millions of people out of place, including Jews left in concentration camps, forced laborers in the huge Nazi work camp system, and many Germans as well. For roughly a million of these people, no immediate return to their home countries was possible, and the United States—although very slowly—ultimately resettled the largest number of them. One important thread in these US efforts was the intent to make the resettlement program a fully national one. Those efforts are seen most clearly in states that would not at that time have been obvious destinations for displaced persons, or at least not obvious destinations for relatively large numbers of them. This article examines three states—North Dakota, Minnesota, and Mississippi. The resettlement program may not have been fully coherent in policy goals, including veering sharply at times from the original humanitarian intent. Yet the program worked well on its own terms and set a new standard for state and local involvement in resettlement that has continued through the major surges of refugees to the United States since then, including recent efforts on behalf of those from Afghanistan and Ukraine. This US experience of refugee resettlement through a flexible federal/state/local system, with strong involvement from both public and private sectors, remains a crucial experiment in resettlement and a reminder of the ways refugee and immigration policies and programs are intertwined.
Detailed Analysis of New York City Subway Pedestrian Incidents From 2019
Authors: Hall Daniel , Linogao Joe , Zentz Logan , Shaw Greg , Lamb Tom , Simms Ciaran
Published: May 2023

This study analyzed New York Subway incident cases from 2019 to expand on the current understanding of subway train to human collisions. From the 263 incident cases available, 185 (70%) involved train to pedestrian contact. The fatality data were compared with published literature covering 1990 to 2007, showing reasonable agreement in age-, gender-, and borough distributions. The location of incidents was typically the station platform (84%). Four primary behaviors were exhibited by pedestrians before impact with the train. Jumping from the platform was the most common, followed by falling from the platform, walking along the tracks, and standing too close to the edge of the platform. A higher fatality rate was found for collisions that occurred at elevated stations (40%) compared with below-ground stations (27%). The two primary collision types were frontal- and side impact (on the train). The most common impact velocity was 40 to 48 km/h (25 to 30 mph). The most likely outcome of these interactions was a fatality (31%) with only 9% of subway–human interactions resulting in mild injuries. The data suggested that policies based on proactive countermeasures could reduce a significant portion of subway train–human collisions as the majority of preimpact activity occurred on the station platform. Further investigation into the difference in elevated and below-ground collisions may yield useful information, especially relating to the potential protection offered by the drainage trough. When simulating subway–human collisions for countermeasure design, equal consideration should be given to the three impact position types: standing, lying, and jumping.
Review of Current Practice and Research on E-Bikes in Transport Models
Authors: Arning Leonard , Silva Cat , Kaths Heather
Published: May 2023

E-bike sales have been growing strongly across the globe in recent years. Despite the differences between e-bikes and conventional bicycles, bicycle traffic is typically considered a uniform mode in macroscopic transport modeling. This is problematic because such models do not allow for dedicated e-bike analysis and could therefore have adverse impacts on accuracy. In this study, we therefore investigated whether and how e-bikes are presently modeled in practice and how e-bikes should be modeled to improve data validity and usefulness. To this end, we conducted a review of 14 exemplary strategic transport models and carried out a structured exploratory literature review of existing empirical research. We queried four fields of research and investigated 29 relevant and unique sources covering influences on e-bike ownership and use as well as the characteristics of e-bike mode and route choice. Based on this work, we identified three key findings: (1) purchase choice and mode choice models must allow for scenario setting; (2) generalized costs should also include factors other than travel time, and the factors’ weighting parameters should be estimated separately between conventional bicycles and e-bikes; and (3) it is especially important for e-bike modeling to differentiate between person groups. Future research is needed to investigate route choice parameters for e-bike users, especially concerning the aversion to slopes, and methods to collect e-bike-specific data. Our findings demonstrated that, although modeling e-bikes is worthwhile, appropriate modeling approaches still need to be developed and applied to demonstrate their practicability and usefulness.