bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electricity-Carbon Joint Trading of Virtual Power Plant with Carbon Capture System
Authors: Liu Dan , Xiao Fan , Wu Junzhao , Ji Xiaotong , Xiong Ping , Zhang Mingnian , Kang Yiqun
Published: April 2023

With the establishment and rapid development of the national carbon emission trading market, new energy system participates in the carbon emission trading market. Analysing the potentiality of virtual power plant trading in carbon emission trading market, this paper designs a two-stage joint trading mechanism for electricity and carbon market with a weekly cycle according to their characteristics, which contain multiple transaction types for both markets. In addition, this paper introduces a carbon capture system (CCS) in gas turbine, which reduces the actual carbon emissions and increases the carbon market income of virtual power plant. Furthermore, it improves the comprehensive and flexible operation capability by adjusting the operation level of CCS, which is conducive to the timely consumption of renewable energy. Aiming at the uncertainty of renewable energy output and electricity price, the paper adopts a multiscenario analysis method to deal with it and establishes a stochastic optimization model to maximize joint earnings. Finally, through example analysis with GAMS, the effectiveness of the scheduling model is verified with simulation results. The overall income of the virtual power plant is improved, and the low carbon power is realized.
High Efficiency Secure Channels for a Secure Multiparty Computation Protocol Based on Signal
Authors: Yang Yunqi , Zhang Rui
Published: April 2023

Secure multiparty computation (MPC) requires the messages transmitted in secure channels which can provide encryption and authorization to the messages. To implement a secure channel for MPC protocols, researchers have tried some communication protocols, such as TLS and Noise. However, these methods have some limitations. These protocols need a trusted certification authority to provide identity authorization which is difficult for an MPC protocol, and how participants manage the key of each party and how to use the key to establish communication is also a problem. A Signal protocol is an end-to-end encryption communication protocol, which is known as the most secure communication protocol in the world. Based on the Signal protocol, we implemented a signal-based secure multiparty computation protocol, which can run the MPC protocol and transmit messages through a signal-based secure channel. Compared with previous research on the MPC protocol over Signal secure channels, the new MPC client adds group communication of the Signal protocol to transmit messages, which significantly improves the communication efficiency of broadcast messages of MPC protocols. To test the communication efficiency of the new MPC client, we implemented a concrete BLS threshold signature protocol on the new client, comparing the elapsed time of key generation and signing on the new client to that on the client only using Signal end-to-end communication. According to our experiment result, we found that the new client run at least 37.48% faster than the old client on the BLS threshold signature whose number of parties ranges from 3 to 5, if the parties have sent Signal group messages to each other. The more parties in the MPC protocol, the higher the proportion of broadcast messages and the more obvious the performance improvement of the new client. Our work improves the performance of MPC secure channels based on the Signal protocol, especially for complex MPC protocols with many participants.
Data from Assessment of Tumor Redox Status through (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-Glutamic Acid PET Imaging of System xc− Activity
Authors: McCormick Patrick N. , Greenwood Hannah E. , Glaser Matthias , Maddocks Oliver D.K. , Gendron Thibault , Sander Kerstin , Gowrishankar Gayatri , Hoehne Aileen , Zhang Tong , Shuhendler Adam J. , Lewis David Y. , Berndt Mathias , Koglin Norman , Lythgoe Mark F. , Gambhir Sanjiv S. , Årstad Erik , Witney Timothy H.
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The cell's endogenous antioxidant system is vital to maintain redox homeostasis. Despite its central role in normal and pathophysiology, no noninvasive tools exist to measure this system in patients. The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc− maintains the balance between intracellular reactive oxygen species and antioxidant production through the provision of cystine, a key precursor in glutathione biosynthesis. Here, we show that tumor cell retention of a system xc−-specific PET radiotracer, (S)-4-(3-[18F]fluoropropyl)-L-glutamic acid ([18F]FSPG), decreases in proportion to levels of oxidative stress following treatment with a range of redox-active compounds. The decrease in [18F]FSPG retention correlated with a depletion of intracellular cystine resulting from increased de novo glutathione biosynthesis, shown through [U-13C6, U-15N2]cystine isotopic tracing. In vivo, treatment with the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin decreased [18F]FSPG tumor uptake in a mouse model of ovarian cancer, coinciding with markers of oxidative stress but preceding tumor shrinkage and decreased glucose utilization. Having already been used in pilot clinical trials, [18F]FSPG PET could be rapidly translated to the clinic as an early redox indicator of tumor response to treatment.
Significance:
[18F]FSPG PET imaging provides a sensitive noninvasive measure of tumor redox status and provides an early marker of tumor response to therapy.

See related commentary by Lee et al., p. 701
Disruption of the MYC Superenhancer Complex by Dual Targeting of FLT3 and LSD1 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Yashar William M. , Curtiss Brittany M. , Coleman Daniel J. , VanCampen Jake , Kong Garth , Macaraeg Jommel , Estabrook Joseph , Demir Emek , Long Nicola , Bottomly Daniel , McWeeney Shannon K. , Tyner Jeffrey W. , Druker Brian J. , Maxson Julia E. , Braun Theodore P.
Published: April 2023

Mutations in Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) are common drivers in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) yet FLT3 inhibitors only provide modest clinical benefit. Prior work has shown that inhibitors of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) enhance kinase inhibitor activity in AML. Here we show that combined LSD1 and FLT3 inhibition induces synergistic cell death in FLT3-mutant AML. Multi-omic profiling revealed that the drug combination disrupts STAT5, LSD1, and GFI1 binding at the MYC blood superenhancer, suppressing superenhancer accessibility as well as MYC expression and activity. The drug combination simultaneously results in the accumulation of repressive H3K9me1 methylation, an LSD1 substrate, at MYC target genes. We validated these findings in 72 primary AML samples with the nearly every sample demonstrating synergistic responses to the drug combination. Collectively, these studies reveal how epigenetic therapies augment the activity of kinase inhibitors in FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication) AML.

Implications:

This work establishes the synergistic efficacy of combined FLT3 and LSD1 inhibition in FLT3-ITD AML by disrupting STAT5 and GFI1 binding at the MYC blood-specific superenhancer complex.
MYC Induces Immunotherapy and IFNγ Resistance Through Downregulation of JAK2
Authors: Markovits Ettai , Harush Ortal , Baruch Erez N. , Shulman Eldad D. , Debby Assaf , Itzhaki Orit , Anafi Liat , Danilevsky Artem , Shomron Noam , Ben-Betzalel Guy , Asher Nethanel , Shapira-Frommer Ronnie , Schachter Jacob , Barshack Iris , Geiger Tamar , Elkon Ran , Besser Michal J. , Markel Gal
Published: April 2023

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of advanced melanoma. Because the pathways mediating resistance to immunotherapy are largely unknown, we conducted transcriptome profiling of preimmunotherapy tumor biopsies from patients with melanoma that received PD-1 blockade or adoptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We identified two melanoma-intrinsic, mutually exclusive gene programs, which were controlled by IFNγ and MYC, and the association with immunotherapy outcome. MYC-overexpressing melanoma cells exhibited lower IFNγ responsiveness, which was linked with JAK2 downregulation. Luciferase activity assays, under the control of JAK2 promoter, demonstrated reduced activity in MYC-overexpressing cells, which was partly reversible upon mutagenesis of a MYC E-box binding site in the JAK2 promoter. Moreover, silencing of MYC or its cofactor MAX with siRNA increased JAK2 expression and IFNγ responsiveness of melanomas, while concomitantly enhancing the effector functions of T cells coincubated with MYC-overexpressing cells. Thus, we propose that MYC plays a pivotal role in immunotherapy resistance through downregulation of JAK2.
mWTX-330, an IL-12 INDUKINE Molecule, Activates and Reshapes Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T and NK Cells to Generate Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Nirschl Christopher J. , Brodkin Heather R. , Domonkos Celesztina , Dwyer Connor J. , Hicklin Daniel J. , Ismail Nesreen , Seidel-Dugan Cynthia , Steiner Philipp , Steuert Zoe , Sullivan Jenna M. , Winston William M. , Salmeron Andres
Published: April 2023

IL-12 is a pleotropic inflammatory cytokine, which has broad stimulatory effects on various immune cell populations, making it an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy. However, despite generating robust antitumor activity in syngeneic murine tumor models, clinical administration of IL-12 has been limited by severe toxicity. mWTX-330 is a selectively inducible INDUKINE molecule comprised of a half-life extension domain and an inactivation domain linked to chimeric IL-12 by tumor protease–sensitive linkers. Systemic administration of mWTX-330 in mice was well tolerated, resulted in robust antitumor immunity in multiple tumor models, and preferentially activated tumor-infiltrating immune cells rather than immune cells present in peripheral tissues. Antitumor activity was dependent on in vivo processing of the protease cleavable linkers and required CD8+ T cells for full efficacy. Within the tumor, mWTX-330 increased the frequency of cross-presenting dendritic cells (DC), activated natural killer (NK) cells, skewed conventional CD4+ T cells toward a T helper 1 (TH1) phenotype, drove regulatory T cells (Treg) fragility, and increased the frequency of polyfunctional CD8+ T cells. mWTX-330 treatment also increased the clonality of tumor-infiltrating T cells by expanding underrepresented T-cell receptor (TCR) clones, drove CD8+ T and NK cells towards increased mitochondrial respiration and fitness, and decreased the frequency of TOX+ exhausted CD8+ T cells within the tumor. A fully human version of this INDUKINE molecule was stable in human serum, was reliably and selectively processed by human tumor samples, and is currently in clinical development.
Adaptive c-Met-PLXDC2 Signaling Axis Mediates Cancer Stem Cell Plasticity to Confer Radioresistance-associated Aggressiveness in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Lang Liwei , Chen Fanghui , Li Yamin , Shay Chloe , Yang Fan , Dan Hancai , Chen Zhuo G. , Saba Nabil F. , Teng Yong
Published: April 2023

Radiotherapy plays an essential role in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), yet radioresistance remains a major barrier to therapeutic efficacy. A better understanding of the predominant pathways determining radiotherapy response could help develop mechanism-informed therapies to improve cancer management. Here we report that radioresistant HNSCC cells exhibit increased tumor aggressiveness. Using unbiased proteome profiler antibody arrays, we identify that upregulation of c-Met phosphorylation is one of the critical mechanisms for radioresistance in HNSCC cells. We further uncover that radioresistance-associated HNSCC aggressiveness is effectively exacerbated by c-Met but is suppressed by its genetic knockdown and pharmacologic inactivation. Mechanistically, the resulting upregulation of c-Met promotes elevated expression of plexin domain containing 2 (PLXDC2) through activating ERK1/2-ELK1 signaling, which in turn modulates cancer cell plasticity by epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction and enrichment of the cancer stem cell (CSC) subpopulation, leading to resistance of HNSCC cells to radiotherapy. Depletion of PLXDC2 overcomes c-Met–mediated radioresistance through reversing the EMT progress and blunting the self-renewal capacity of CSCs. Therapeutically, the addition of SU11274, a selective and potent c-Met inhibitor, to radiation induces tumor shrinkage and limits tumor metastasis to lymph nodes in an orthotopic mouse model. Collectively, these significant findings not only demonstrate a novel mechanism underpinning radioresistance-associated aggressiveness but also provide a possible therapeutic strategy to target radioresistance in patients with HNSCC.

Significance:

This work provides novel insights into c-Met-PLXDC2 signaling in radioresistance-associated aggressiveness and suggests a new mechanism-informed therapeutic strategy to overcome failure of radiotherapy in patients with HNSCC.
Patient Perspectives on Psoriatic Disease Burden: Results from the Global Psoriasis and Beyond Survey
Authors: Armstrong April W. , Bohannan Barbra , Mburu Sicily , Coates Laura C. , Ogdie Alexis , Alarcon Ivette , Kasparek Torben , Frade Susan , Barrio Silvia Fernandez , Augustin Matthias
Published: April 2023

Background: Patients’ understanding of the systemic nature of psoriatic disease (PsD) remains insufficiently explored. Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess patients’ understanding of PsD, associated comorbidities, disease burden, and relationships with healthcare professionals (HCPs). Methods: Psoriasis and Beyond was a cross-sectional, quantitative online survey conducted in patients with a self-reported, physician-given diagnosis of moderate to severe psoriasis (body surface area [BSA] >5% to <10%, affecting sensitive and/or prominent body parts or BSA ≥10%) at its worst, with/without psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Patients were recruited through online panels by the Institut de Publique Sondage d’Opinion Secteur (Ipsos SA) and patient advocacy groups. Results: Overall, 4,978 respondents with psoriasis completed the online survey from 20 countries across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Americas; 30% of patients also reported having concomitant PsA. Overall, 69% of patients with psoriasis had heard that their disease was part of a systemic disease, and 60% had heard of the term “psoriatic disease.” Despite this, recognition of common manifestations and comorbidities associated with PsD was low. Among psoriasis-only patients (n = 3,490), 38% screened positive using the Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool (PEST), indicative of potential PsA. Overall, 48% of patients reported that their disease had a very large to extremely large effect on quality of life (QoL; Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI] score, 11–30); only 13% of patients reported no impact of the disease on QoL (DLQI, 0–1). Most patients had experienced stigma and discrimination (82%) and a negative impact on relationships (81%) in their lives. Overall, 59% of patients were not involved in deciding their treatment goals: 58% of all treated patients (n = 4,757) and 64% of treated patients with concomitant PsA (n = 1,409) were satisfied with their current treatment. Conclusions: These results highlight that patients may not fully understand the systemic nature of their disease, were frequently uninvolved in deciding treatment goals, and were often not satisfied with their current treatment. Increasing patients’ participation in their care can facilitate shared decision-making between patients and HCPs, which may result in better treatment adherence and patient outcomes. Furthermore, these data indicate that policies should be implemented to protect against stigma and discrimination, which are commonly experienced by patients with psoriasis.
Correlation between Pneumatization Variants of Paranasal Sinuses and Skull Base and Spontaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Dong Dong , Chen Xi , Cai Fangyu , Huang Shuman , Li Chang , Zhao Yulin
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (SCSFR) is the most common type of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and may cause serious cerebral complications. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between the degree of pneumatization variants of the paranasal sinus and skull base and the incidence of SCSFR. Methods: In total, 131 patients with SCSFR were analyzed, and 50 patients suffering from the nasal septal deviation were selected as controls. The pneumatization of the paranasal sinus and skull base was observed by CT scan. Results: Among the 137 fistulas, 55 (40.15%) were found in the ethmoid sinus. The incidences of Onodi cells (27.27 vs. 8%) and type 3 lateral recess of the sphenoid sinus (LRSS, 70.37 vs. 22%) in the SCSFR subgroups were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the occurrence of SCSFR was linearly correlated with the classification of Onodi cells and LRSS (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of frontal cells, anterior clinoid process pneumatization, and posterior clinoid process pneumatization between the SCSFR patients and the controls. Conclusion: The most common site of SCSFR is the ethmoid sinus. The excessive pneumatization of the Onodi cell and LRSS increases the risk for the occurrence of SCSFR in the ethmoid sinus and sphenoid sinus, respectively. The possible association between the paranasal sinus ontogeny and SCSFR pathophysiology needs further studies.
Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Flare-Up after Both Doses of BBIBP-CorV Vaccination in a Patient under Adalimumab Treatment: A Case Report
Authors: Dayani Dorsa , Rokhafrouz Hatam , Balighi Kamran
Published: April 2023

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a possibly serious condition that can be triggered by various factors. Previous studies show a slight likelihood of disease exacerbation subsequent to COVID-19 vaccination. Here, we present the first (to the best of our knowledge) case of pustular psoriasis flare after each one of the two shots of the BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) vaccine despite adalimumab treatment.
Clinicopathological Characteristics and Outcomes of Renal Sarcoidosis: A Series Study of 18 Patients from a Single Center
Authors: Zhu Mengyue , Jiang Ling , Xu Feng , Hu Jing , Liang Shaoshan , Zhang Haitao
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is characterized by noncaseating granulomatous inflammation in multiple organs. Renal involvement is rare, and granulomatous interstitial nephritis (GIN) is the predominant histological feature. Renal sarcoidosis (RS) is usually diagnosed by exclusion, combining clinical and histological findings, and often remains misdiagnosed. This retrospective study aimed to describe the characteristics and prognosis of patients with RS in China. Methods: Eighteen patients with RS from a single center were enrolled, of whom 15 had biopsy-proven tubulointerstitial nephritis. Their clinicopathological features and renal outcomes were analyzed to understand this rare disease better. Results: Eighteen patients (14 male/4 female) were included in our study. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 30.36 (11.57, 60.14) mL/min/1.73 m2. In 15 patients undergoing a renal biopsy, GIN was the most common pathological phenotype (66.67%). Seventeen patients had follow-up records, with a median follow-up of 24.07 (8.82, 60.90) months. One month after treatment, median eGFR increased significantly from 30.36 (11.57, 60.14) mL/min/1.73 m2 to 58.53 (39.35, 80.65) mL/min/1.73 m2, and proteinuria decreased from 1.10 (0.69, 1.58) g/24 h to 0.68 (0.52, 1.05) g/24 h. No patients relapsed or developed end-stage renal disease. Conclusion: RS is a rare but important cause of tubulointerstitial injury, with a favorable long-term prognosis if properly diagnosed and treated promptly.
Patient- and Caregiver-Reported Outcome Measures after Single-Level Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Spastic Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Rasadurai Abeelan , Frank Nicole Alexandra , Greuter Ladina Aurea , Licci Maria , Weber Peter , Jünemann Stephanie , Guzman Raphael , Soleman Jehuda
Published: April 2023

Introduction: The aim of this cohort study was to assess the outcome of single-level selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in children and young adults with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) treated at our institution, focusing on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and quality of life (QoL) of patients and their caregivers. Methods: We included consecutive patients undergoing SDR from 2018 to 2020 at our institution. Subjective outcome was measured through PROMs, while functional outcome was measured through baseline characteristics, operative outcome, as well as short- and long-term follow-up. Furthermore, the effect of age at the time of surgery on patient/caregiver satisfaction was analyzed. Results: Seven patients (3 female, 43%) with a median age at surgery of 11.9 years (IQR 8.7–15.5) were included. All patients had a Gross Motor Function Classification (GMFCS) score of at least IV before surgery. Five surgeries were palliative and two non-palliative. Based on PROMs, SDR showed very good QoL and health-related outcome measures for both palliative and non-palliative patients. Patient/caregiver satisfaction was higher for the early subgroup (age ≤11) than the late subgroup (age >11). Functional outcome showed reduced spasticity in both groups. Blood transfusions were never needed, while no cerebrospinal fluid leak, infection, or permanent morbidity was seen. Conclusion: Based on PROMs, SDR leads to high satisfaction and improved QoL, especially if done at an early age. Further studies with larger cohorts are necessary to underline and confirm our observations.
Noise and Air Pollution as Risk Factors for Hypertension: Part II—Pathophysiologic Insight
Authors: Hahad Omar , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Lelieveld Jos , Sørensen Mette , Kuntic Marin , Daiber Andreas , Basner Mathias , Nieuwenhuijsen Mark , Brook Robert D. , Münzel Thomas
Published: April 2023

Traffic noise and air pollution are environmental stressors found to increase risk for cardiovascular events. The burden of disease attributable to environmental stressors and cardiovascular disease globally is substantial, with a need to better understand the contribution of specific risk factors that may underlie these effects. Epidemiological observations and experimental evidence from animal models and human controlled exposure studies suggest an essential role for common mediating pathways. These include sympathovagal imbalance, endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, increased circulating cytokines, activation of central stress responses, including hypothalamic and limbic pathways, and circadian disruption. Evidence also suggests that cessation of air pollution or noise through directed interventions alleviates increases in blood pressure and intermediate surrogate pathways, supporting a causal link. In the second part of this review, we discuss the current understanding of mechanisms underlying and current gaps in knowledge and opportunities for new research.
Association of Prenatal Depression With New Cardiovascular Disease Within 24 Months Postpartum
Authors: Ackerman‐Banks Christina M. , Lipkind Heather S. , Palmsten Kristin , Pfeiffer Mariah , Gelsinger Catherine , Ahrens Katherine A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Although depression is well established as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the nonpregnant population, this association has largely not been investigated in pregnant populations. We aimed to estimate the cumulative risk of new CVD in the first 24 months postpartum among pregnant individuals diagnosed with prenatal depression compared with patients without depression diagnosed during pregnancy.

Methods and Results

Our longitudinal population‐based study included pregnant individuals with deliveries during 2007 to 2019 in the Maine Health Data Organization's All Payer Claims Data. We excluded those with prepregnancy CVD, multifetal gestations, or no continuous health insurance during pregnancy. Prenatal depression and CVD (heart failure, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, cerebrovascular disease, and chronic hypertension) were identified by
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
(
ICD‐9
)/
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision
(
ICD‐10
) codes. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for potential confounding factors. Analyses were stratified by hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. A total of 119 422 pregnancies were examined. Pregnant individuals with prenatal depression had an increased risk of ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia/cardiac arrest, cardiomyopathy, and new hypertension (adjusted HR [aHR], 1.83 [95% CI, 1.20–2.80], aHR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.10–2.31], aHR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.15–2.24], and aHR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.17–1.50], respectively). When the analyses were stratified by co‐occurring hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, several of these associations persisted.

Conclusions

The cumulative risk of a new CVD diagnosis postpartum was elevated among individuals with prenatal depression and persists even in the absence of co‐occurring hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Further research to determine the causal pathway can inform postpartum CVD preventive measures.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Ischemic Stroke Thrombi Are Associated Wth Poor Clinical Outcome
Authors: Lapostolle Arnaud , Loyer Chloé , Elhorany Mahmoud , Chaigneau Thomas , Bielle Franck , Alamowitch Sonia , Clarençon Frédéric , Elbim Carole
Published: April 2023

Background

Acute ischemic stroke is a neurologic emergency associated with severe disability and death. There is growing evidence that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to the pathogenesis of acute stroke. By mechanical removal of the occluding thrombus from the patient's vasculature, endovascular thrombectomy enables the collection of thrombus material for immunohistologic analysis. The aim of our study was to strengthen the association of NET content in ischemic thrombi with clinical outcome and guide future therapeutics.

Methods

We performed an immunohistologic analysis of thrombi from 101 patients with acute ischemic stroke, focusing on the association between NET content and clinical and interventional indicators.

Results

NETs were present in every patient with acute ischemic stroke. Their abundance in thrombi was associated with interventional markers of thrombus stability. NET‐rich thrombi were associated with unsuccessful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction <2B) and longer procedure time, and NET abundance in acute ischemic stroke thrombi was associated with outcomes evaluated by patients’ postassessment National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and modified Rankin Scale scores.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that NET content is critically important to thrombus stability and clinical outcome in acute stroke. They should open new perspectives for innovative immunotherapy strategies based on neutrophil modulation.
Improvements in task performance after practice are associated with scale-free dynamics of brain activity
Authors: Kardan Omid , Stier Andrew J. , Layden Elliot A. , Choe Kyoung Whan , Lyu Muxuan , Zhang Xihan , Beilock Sian L. , Rosenberg Monica D. , Berman Marc G.
Published: April 2023

Although practicing a task generally benefits later performance on that same task, there are individual differences in practice effects. One avenue to model such differences comes from research showing that brain networks extract functional advantages from operating in the vicinity of criticality, a state in which brain network activity is more scale-free. We hypothesized that higher scale-free signal from fMRI data, measured with the Hurst exponent (H), indicates closer proximity to critical states. We tested whether individuals with higher H during repeated task performance would show greater practice effects. In Study 1, participants performed a dual-n-back task (DNB) twice during MRI (n = 56). In Study 2, we used two runs of n-back task (NBK) data from the Human Connectome Project sample (n = 599). In Study 3, participants performed a word completion task (CAST) across six runs (n = 44). In all three studies, multivariate analysis was used to test whether higher H was related to greater practice-related performance improvement. Supporting our hypothesis, we found patterns of higher H that reliably correlated with greater performance improvement across participants in all three studies. However, the predictive brain regions were distinct, suggesting that the specific spatial H↑ patterns are not task-general.
Remote sensing and citizen science to characterize the ecological niche of an endemic and endangered Costa Rican poison frog
Authors: Garrido-Priego Marina , Aragonés David , Liedtke H. Christoph , Whitworth Andrew , Gomez-Mestre Ivan
Published: April 2023

Habitat encroachment can have devastating effects upon biodiversity, especially amphibians. Phyllobates vittatus is an endemic frog from Costa Rica, where land cover has seen significant changes over recent decades. Here we use remote sensing to create a land cover map of the region and carry out ecological niche modelling to identify the main abiotic factors associated to the distribution of this species. We have informed our models based on our own field observations, those from other researchers, and citizen science participants to obtain a comprehensive database of P. vittatus occurrences. Elevation, forest percentage, distance to lakes and rivers, annual temperature range and precipitation variables were found to shape the ecological niche of P. vittatus, which is mostly located within protected areas. Prior knowledge of the habitat of the species was key to interpret the model output. We identify populations that might be isolated, and areas where presence has not yet been verified or that have not been occupied by the species, thus, identifying potential areas for reintroductions. We also calculated the area of occupancy and recommend that P. vittatus’ status be adjusted to “Endangered”. Future surveys and evaluation of population health and connectivity would help to better ensure the protection of the species in the long-term.
1600 BC: Fårdrup and Valsømagle-Type Axes and the First Evidence of Southern Alpine Metal
Authors: Nørgaard Heide W. , Pernicka Ernst , Vandkilde Helle
Published: April 2023

This article presents the results of a comprehensive investigation of Fårdrup and Valsømagle-type shafthole axes from Denmark and southern Sweden. The combination of artefact style and typology with trace element and lead isotope data in the analysis has provided new insights into the chronological relationship between these two axe types. This way, we open a new window to long-standing debates surrounding these artefact types. Did Fårdrup and Valsømagle type axes evolve parallel, or did they replace each other chronologically in evolutionary progression? The archaeometallurgical dataset presented in this article includes more than 70 axes. Four axes have been analysed for this article. This large set of data is then assessed against a background of metal analyses which trace the long and winding evolution of the use of bronze in Scandinavia c.2300–1400 BC. Combining these two datasets shows the provenance of the metals and, thus, provides insights into metallurgical developments at the onset of the Nordic Bronze Age (NBA, c.1600 BC). In particular, the shafthole axes offer new evidence of the use of a novel type of copper from the East Alpine region based on chalcopyrite ores. The first occurrences of this low-impurity copper in southern Scandinavia appeared around 1700 BC. However, it would eventually become dominant in c.1600 BC, when the local production of shafthole axes began. Significantly, a fraction of the shafthole axes – Fårdrup and Valsømagle-types alike – consist of low impurity copper most likely derived from the Italian Alps (Trentino), which was absent in earlier periods. By NBA II 1500–1300 BC, most metal objects can be related to this northern Italian copper. We interpret this in terms of chronology: Fårdrup (⁓Koszider) and Valsømagle (⁓Tumulus B1) consisted of similar types of copper, which had declined by the onset of NBA II, all indicating that Fårdrup and Valsømagle style objects flourished before the beginning of NBA II (c.1500 BC). The small influx of north Italian copper in the axes indicates that its arrival began before the breakthrough of NBA II. Therefore, while the results of the metal analyses cannot exclude chronological differences between the two shafthole axe types over the 16th century BC, it is probable that their timelines coincided. In summary, our results display correlations between societal developments and thresholds on the one hand and metal provenances and trade routes on the other.
Discrepancy between Intention and Realization in an Implementation Research Perspective: When Researcher and Teachers Talk Past Each Other
Authors: Østergaard Maria Kirstine
Published: April 2023

This article (an extension of a conference paper presented at CERME12; Østergaard & Jankvist, 2022) discusses influential factors in the longitudinal implementation of an innovation concerning students’ beliefs, especially reflection, in mathematics education. Here, the researcher constantly found herself “talking past” the two involved teachers. In the search for a deeper understanding of the discrepancy between the intended and the realized outcome, qualitative data collected in planning sessions and classroom observations are analyzed by applying theoretical constructs from implementation research. In particular, three influential factors appeared to play a central role in the case presented in the paper: characteristics of the end-users, attributes of the innovation, and implementation support strategies. The findings suggest that some of these factors may even have been contradictive to the intentions of the innovation. Furthermore, the article also contributes to the discussion of whether small-scale, qualitative studies have a role to play in implementation research, illustrating how a deeper understanding of the processes involved can be achieved.

The impact sheet to this article can be accessed at 10.6084/m9.figshare.22304629.
A review of growth form and plant duration (life cycle) in Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) in an evolutionary and classificatory framework
Authors: SMITH GIDEON F. , PARIHAR BHARTI , ALMEIDA ANA M.R.
Published: April 2023

Representatives of Kalanchoe (Crassulaceae subfam. Kalanchooideae) are well-known for having evolved a range of reproductive mechanisms, at least some of which have contributed to certain species and nothospecies having become weeds in places remote from their natural habitats. In addition, kalanchoes have evolved a range of different growth forms in response to a diversity of historical environmental pressures prevalent in the locations where they grow naturally. In terms of growth form, many species are herbaceous, soft- to firm-stemmed perennials that remain small to medium-sized. In some of these same species, variants that are annuals, biennials, or multi-annuals are found. A further group of species are perennial, multi-stemmed shrubs with slightly woody but rather brittle stems and branches. A small group of Malagasy species have woody stems and branches, to the extent that the plants are truly arborescent or nearly so. The distribution of growth form, with special reference to stem and branch morphology, across the four subgenera at present formally recognised in Kalanchoe is reviewed in an evolutionary and classificatory framework, and illustrated.
Contributions to Ziziphora clinopodioides (Lamiaceae) in Turkey and Iraq
Authors: DİRMENCİ TUNCAY , HALOOB ALİ , CELEP FERHAT , GHAZANFAR SHAHINA A.
Published: April 2023

While revising the genus Ziziphora for the Flora of Iraq and Turkey, we recognise seven subspecies for Z. clinopodioides. An identification key to these subspecific taxa is presented. A new subspecies, Z. clinopodioides subsp. brevistamina, is described and Ziziphora brantii is given a new subspecific status as Z. clinopodioides subsp. brantii. We have selected lectotypes for the subspecies brantii, kurdica, rigida and ronnigeri of Z. clinopodioides. Besides, Z. clinopodioides subsp. filicaulis is recorded for the first time for the Flora of Turkey.
Contribution to the taxonomy, identification, and biogeography of the Palaearctic species of Bathyplectes Förster and Leptoperilissus Schmiedeknecht (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae)
Authors: VAS ZOLTÁN
Published: April 2023

Two new species are described, Bathyplectes dbari sp. nov. from Turkmenistan, and Leptoperilissus horstmanni sp. nov. from Algeria, along with discussion on the generic placements, and with notes on the identification of the species. Additionally, 23 new Palaearctic distributional records of 11 species are given: Bathyplectes anurus (Thomson) from Armenia, Russia; B. aspergus Dbar from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Syria; B. cingulatus (Brischke) from Hungary; B. clypearis (Horstmann) from Romania; B. curculionis (Thomson) from Algeria, Crete, Hungary, Sicily, Syria; B. exiguus (Gravenhorst) from Armenia; B. infernalis (Gravenhorst) from Algeria; B. nigridens (Horstmann) from Algeria; B. quinqueangularis (Ratzeburg) from Kosovo and Mongolia, the latter represents the first record of the species from the Eastern Palaearctic region; B. rostratus (Thomson) from Hungary, Spain; B. tibiator (Gravenhorst) from Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Turkey. Furthermore, some formerly published erroneous distributional records are corrected.
Correcting Subseasonal Forecast Errors with an Explainable ANN to Understand Misrepresented Sources of Predictability of European Summer Temperatures
Authors: van Straaten Chiem , Whan Kirien , Coumou Dim , van den Hurk Bart , Schmeits Maurice
Published: April 2023

Subseasonal forecasts are challenging for numerical weather prediction (NWP) and machine learning models alike. Forecasting 2-m temperature (t2m) with a lead time of 2 or more weeks requires a forward model to integrate multiple complex interactions, like oceanic and land surface conditions leading to predictable weather patterns. NWP models represent these interactions imperfectly, meaning that in certain conditions, errors accumulate and model predictability deviates from real predictability, often for poorly understood reasons. To advance that understanding, this paper corrects conditional errors in NWP forecasts with an artificial neural network (ANN). The ANN postprocesses ECMWF extended-range summer temperature forecasts by learning to correct the ECMWF-predicted probability that monthly t2m in western and central Europe exceeds the climatological median. Predictors are objectively selected from ECMWF forecasts themselves, and from states at initialization, i.e., the ERA5 reanalysis. The latter allows the ANN to account for sources of predictability that are biased in the NWP model itself. We attribute ANN corrections with two explainable artificial intelligence (AI) tools. This reveals that certain erroneous forecasts relate to tropical western Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures at initialization. We conjecture that the atmospheric teleconnection following this source of predictability is imperfectly represented by the ECMWF model. Correcting the associated conditional errors with the ANN improves forecast skill.

Significance Statement

We want to understand occasions in which a numerical weather prediction (NWP) model fails to forecast a predictable event existing in the real world. For forecasts of European summer weather more than 2 weeks in advance, real predictable events are rare. When misrepresented by the model, predicted future states become needlessly biased. We diagnose these missed opportunities with an explainable neural network. The neural network is aware of the initial state and learns to correct the NWP forecast on occasions when it misrepresents a teleconnection from the western tropical Pacific Ocean to Europe. The explainable architecture can be useful for other applications in which conditional model errors need to be understood and corrected.
Exploring the Symmetries of Pantropical Connections between the Tropical Atlantic and Pacific Basins
Authors: Naha Rajashree , McGregor Shayne , Singh Martin
Published: April 2023

Recent analysis of pantropical interactions suggests that after 1980 the tropical Atlantic Ocean’s (TAO) influence on the tropical Pacific Ocean (TPO) appears to have become much more pronounced while the tropical Indian Ocean’s (TIO) influence appears to have weakened. This study explores whether and how decadal changes in TAO and TPO SSTs modulate these pantropical connections in an attempt to explain the recent dominance of the TAO. To this end, we carry out a series of idealized atmosphere-only experiments using the ACCESS atmospheric general circulation model where the magnitude and sign of the decadal TAO SST signal are varied, presenting various warm and cool Atlantic scenarios. To understand further if these pantropical connections are influenced by changes in TPO SST, we carry out the above TAO experiments with both warm and cool phases of Pacific decadal variability (PDV). We find that an imposed TAO warming leads to increases in TPO atmospheric temperature and stability, which lead to a decrease in average TPO precipitation, with the most prominent changes occurring in June–August. These changes in TPO precipitation induced by TAO warming are largely mirrored when TAO cooling is added, whereas the TPO rainfall response to TAO anomalies remains relatively unchanged for the different phases of PDV. In contrast to the precipitation response, the wind response did display some asymmetries between different phases of TAO SST variability. Specifically, surface winds in the western half of the Niño-4 region exhibited a significantly different response to positive versus negative Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV), whereas the surface winds in the western equatorial Pacific were significantly stronger (roughly 40% larger) in the positive phase of PDV than in the negative phase. These results suggest that the phases of PDV and AMV may modulate pantropical interactions through their effect on zonal wind stress.
Effects of ITCZ Poleward Location Bias on ENSO Seasonal Phase-Locking Simulation in Climate Models
Authors: Liao Huaxia , Cai Zhichao , Guo Jingsong , Song Zhenya
Published: April 2023

El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the most influential interannual climate variability on Earth. The tendency of the mature phase of ENSO, characterized by the strongest sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, to appear during the boreal winter is known as seasonal phase locking. Climate models are challenged by biases in simulating ENSO seasonal phase locking. Here, we evaluated the ENSO phase-locking simulation performance in 50 models of phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) and found that the models with the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) poleward bias tended to simulate more ENSO events that peaked out of the boreal winter season. The contributions of the ITCZ poleward bias to the ENSO phase-locking bias were also evaluated, yielding a correlation coefficient of 0.55, which can explain approximately 30% of the ENSO seasonal phase-locking bias. The mechanism that influences the simulation of ENSO seasonal phase locking was also assessed. The ITCZ poleward bias induces a dry bias over the equatorial Pacific, especially during the boreal summer. During ENSO events, the meridional movement of the ITCZ is prevented, and the equatorial precipitation and convection anomalies that respond to ENSO events are also restrained. The restrained convection anomaly weakens the ENSO-related zonal wind anomaly, triggering a weaker eastern tropical Pacific thermocline anomaly during the following autumn. The weakened thermocline anomaly cannot sustain further development of ENSO-related SST anomalies. Therefore, ENSO events in models containing the ITCZ poleward bias are restrained during the boreal summer and autumn and, thus, tend to peak out of the winter season.

Significance Statement

We aimed to better understand the mechanism that induces bias when simulating ENSO seasonal phase locking, that is, what disturbs the simulated ENSO events peaking during the boreal winter. As previous studies have primarily focused on the South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ) bias and other biases, this study is the first to propose the effects of the poleward ITCZ latitude bias and clarify the corresponding mechanism. We show that latitudinal bias can explain approximately 30% of the ENSO seasonal phase-locking bias. This is important because the biases in simulating ENSO seasonal phase locking have long hampered the prediction of ENSO. Our study highlights the importance of the latitude of the ITCZ and provides a basis for the future development of climate models.
Lightning-Based Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Guidance
Authors: Slocum Christopher J. , Knaff John A. , Stevenson Stephanie N.
Published: April 2023

With several seasons of Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) data, this work revisits incorporating lightning observations into operational tropical cyclone rapid intensification guidance. GLM provides freely available, real-time lightning data over the central and eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans. A long-term lightning dataset is needed to use GLM in a statistical–dynamical operational application to capture the relationship between lightning and the rare occurrence of rapid intensification. This work uses the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) dataset from 2005 to 2017 to develop lightning-based predictors for rapid intensification guidance models. The models mimic the operational Statistical Hurricane Intensity Prediction Scheme Rapid Intensification Index and Rapid Intensification Prediction Aid frameworks. The frameworks are averaged to form a consensus as a means to isolate the impact of the lightning predictors. Two configurations for lightning predictors are assessed: a spatial configuration with 0–100-km inner core and 200–300-km rainband area for the preceding 6-h predictors and a temporal configuration with an inner core only for the preceding 0–1, 0–6, and 6–12 h. When tested on the 2018–21 seasons, the temporal configuration adds skill primarily to the 12–48-h forecasts when compared to the no-lightning version and rapid intensification operational consensus. When WWLLN is replaced with GLM, minor changes to the prediction are observed suggesting that this approach is suitable for operational applications and provides a new baseline for tropical cyclone lightning-based rapid intensification aids.

Significance Statement

The forecasting of rare, yet critical, tropical cyclone rapid intensification events continues to be challenging. The current operational tools to anticipate rapid intensity changes use a combination of numerical weather prediction–derived environmental conditions and satellite-based cloud top temperature variations of deep convection. Here, we use freely available Geostationary Lightning Mapper data, which provide independent information about convection, in similar intensity guidance frameworks using temporal and spatial aspects of lightning variability. Our results show an improvement in short-term (12–48 h) rapid intensification forecasts by using temporal lightning information, and our investigation highlights that users of Geostationary Lightning Mapper lightning information should be cognizant of the influence and impact of land on these observations.