bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discrete antiderivatives for functions over $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_p^n$$
Authors: Sălăgean Ana
Published: November 2019

In the design of cryptographic functions, the properties of their discrete derivatives have to be carefully considered, as many cryptographic attacks exploit these properties. One can therefore attempt to first construct derivatives with the desired properties and then recover the function itself. Recently Suder developed an algorithm for reconstructing a function (also called antiderivative) over the finite field $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{2^n}$$F2n given its discrete derivatives in up to n linearly independent directions. Pasalic et al. also presented an algorithm for determining a function over $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{p^n}$$Fpn given one of its derivatives. Both algorithms involve solving a $$p^n \times p^n$$pn×pn system of linear equations; the functions are represented as univariate polynomials over $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{p^n}$$Fpn. We show that this apparently high computational complexity is not intrinsic to the problem, but rather a consequence of the representation used. We describe a simpler algorithm, with quasilinear complexity, provided we work with a different representation of the functions. Namely they are polynomials in n variables over $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{p}$$Fp in algebraic normal form (for $$p>2$$p>2, additionally, we need to use the falling factorial polynomial basis) and the directions of the derivatives are the canonical basis of $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{p}^n$$Fpn. Algorithms for other representations (the directions of the derivatives not being the canonical basis vectors or the univariate polynomials over $$\mathop {{\mathbb {F}}}_{p^n}$$Fpn mentioned above) can be obtained by combining our algorithm with converting between representations. However, the complexity of these conversions is, in the worst case, exponential. As an application, we develop a method for constructing new quadratic PN (Perfect Nonlinear) functions. We use an approach similar to the one of Suder, who used antiderivatives to give an alternative formulation of the methods of Weng et al. and Yu et al. for searching for new quadratic APN (Almost Perfect Nonlinear) functions.
Angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor—a breakthrough in chronic heart failure therapy: summary of subanalysis on PARADIGM-HF trial findings
Authors: Książczyk Marcin , Lelonek Małgorzata
Published: November 2019

It is over 4 years since the Prospective Comparison of angiotensin receptor/neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and Morbidity in Heart Failure (PARADIGM-HF) trial was published in New England Journal of Medicine. The PARADIGM-HF trial was the one that contributed to the official approval to use ARNI simultaneously with cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in patients who receive optimal medical treatment and still presented NYHA II-IV class symptoms according to the 2016 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure. The aim of this article is to summarise current knowledge on the activity of ARNI in a selected group of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on a recent PARADIGM-HF subanalysis in the field of renal function in patients with and without chronic kidney disease, glycaemia control in patients with diabetes, ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death and health-related quality of life. This article includes also recently announced findings on the TRANSITION study which revealed that HFrEF therapy with ARNI might be safely initiated after an acute decompensated heart failure episode, including patients with heart failure de novo and ACEI/ARB naïve, both hospitalised or shortly after discharge, in contrary to the PARADIGM-HF trial, where patients had to be administered a stable dose of an ACEI/ARB equivalent to enalapril 10 mg a day for at least 4 weeks before the screening.
Factorial structure of the Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders
Authors: Petkari Eleni , Giacco Domenico , Priebe Stefan
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Subjective quality of life is a central patient-reported outcome in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life (MANSA) is an established and widely used instrument for its assessment. The present study is a secondary analysis of large schizophrenia studies and aims to establish the factorial structure of the MANSA with a rigorous two-step methodology.

Methods

A sample of 3120 patients was randomly split into two datasets; the first includes two thirds of the patients and serves as the calibration sample (N = 2071) and the second includes one third of them and serves as the validation sample (N = 1049). We performed an exploratory factor analysis with the calibration sample followed by a confirmatory factor analysis with the validation sample.

Results

Our results for both samples revealed a model with adequate fit comprising two factors. The first factor encompasses eight items measuring satisfaction with a variety of life and health-related aspects of quality of life, whereas the second consists of four items assessing satisfaction with living environment comprising living alone or with others, accommodation, family, and safety. These two factors correlate in a different way with socio-demographic characteristics such as age and living conditions.

Conclusions

Future trials and service evaluation projects using the MANSA to measure quality of life should take into account that satisfaction with living environment may be distinct from satisfaction with other life and health-related aspects of quality of life.
Morphotectonic Evolution of the Siwalik Hills between the Yamuna and the Markanda River Exits, NW Himalaya
Authors: Sharma Mahak , Divyadarshini Ananya , Singh Vimal
Published: November 2019

The Main Frontal Thrust (MFT) marks the present day active deformation front of the Himalaya and separates it from the Indo- Gangetic plains. The dynamic growth of the outermost Siwalik hills due to thrusting along the MFT has a direct influence on the drainages which collectively control the landform evolution of the region. In this study, the Siwalik hills (called as the Dhanaura range in the study area) between the Markanda and the Yamuna river exits in the NW Himalaya is investigated for its morphotectonic evolution using geomorphic indices, longitudinal river profiles, and topographic profiles.

The results suggest presence of at least four structures that have merged to form the Dhanaura range. The first expression of the Siwalik hills was marked by the uplift of the surface due to a blind thrust in the northwestern part of the study area, followed by the growth of the Pataliyon anticline along a northeastern segment. The growth of the Dhanaura anticline occurred later by the merging of three MFT segments in the southern part of the study area. The Dhanaura anticline formed a barrier to the drainages arising from the initial northern topography, forcing them to get deflected. There also exists an unidentified structure to the north of the Dhanaura anticline as evident from the longitudinal river profiles, structural data, and drainage network of the area. Low mountain front sinuosity ratio, moderate hypsometric integral (HI) values and tilting of drainage basins in the study area suggest the structures are active.
Assessment of Domestic Water Use Pattern and Drinking Water Quality of Sikkim, North Eastern Himalaya, India: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Shit Pravat Kumar , Bhunia Gouri Sankar , Bhattacharya Manojit , Patra Bidhan Chandra
Published: November 2019

The present study focused on the pattern of domestic water consumption in Sikkim state of India along with the assessment of the hydro-chemical and hydrobiological characteristics of drinking water quality. The pattern of water consumption and socioeconomic status were acquired through questionnaires and interview of 98 households in three major towns of Sikkim e.g. Gangtok, Ravangla and Pelling. Results showed that the hydro-chemical parameters of drinking water were less than maximum permissible limit as prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus spp. and P. aeruginosa were detected in 80.2, 47.5, 49.8, 55.2 and 75 percent of the drinking water samples respectively. However, a careful household survey reveals that about 43% of respondents suffered from water-borne diseases during the monsoon period. For this reason 60% of people prefer boiling or detoxify the water before drinking.
Prioritization of Sub-Watersheds for Soil and Water Conservation in Parts of Narmada River through Morphometric Analysis Using Remote Sensing and GIS
Authors: Ahirwar Rakesh , Malik Mohammad Subzar , Shukla Jai Prakash
Published: November 2019

GIS-based prioritization of sub-watersheds of Hoshangabad and Budhni industrial area, Madhya Pradesh, India were carried out to describe the importance of morphometric parameters in the field of water and soil conservation. In the study, four subwatersheds were prioritized through geomorphologic analysis for soil and water conservation. Topographic maps 55 F/9, 55 F/10 and 55 F/13 on scale 1:50,000 were used to evaluate the drainage characteristics of watershed. SRTM DEM data has been processed for slope analysis and delineation of sub-watersheds. LISS-III, IRS data was processed for land use/ land cover analysis. Soil map has been generated by processing of NBSS & LUP soil map. The various morphometric parameters evaluated in each sub-watershed includes drainage network, drainage geometry and texture analysis and relief parameters in ArcGIS. Each sub-watershed has been prioritized by assigning ranks using compound parameter. After prioritization, land use, soil type and slope classes of each subwatershed were integrated to propose suitable soil and water conservation structures at appropriate places. It has been suggested that the proposed soil and water conservation structures must be executed on priority basis to reduce the adverse effect on the land and environment. The study shows that classification and prioritization of sub-watersheds are very relevant, supportive and useful in the watershed, where there is high diversity in agricultural practices, soil texture and land cover. Thus, priority wise execution of the proposed soil and water conservation structures will not only reduce the soil erosion but also increase the surface and groundwater availability in the area. Therefore, prioritization of these sub-watersheds is found very helpful for soil conservation and management of groundwater in the watershed.
Quantitative Study of Trace Elements in Coal and Coal Related Ashes using PIXE
Authors: Srikanth S. , Raju G.J. Naga
Published: November 2019

Trace element analysis of feed coal, fly ash and bottom ash samples acquired from NTPC, Visakhapatnam was done by Particle Induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method. Sixteen inorganic elements K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, and Pb were quantified. The enrichment and partition ratios were determined to understand the distribution and behavior of trace elements in coal and its residues. Enrichment factor for trace elements in ashes with respect to the concentration of Fe normalized relative to the earth’s continental crustal values was calculated to understand the effect of these elements on the environment. It was expected that the results of the present study may be useful in determining the coal combustion residue recovery potential and also help in reducing their potential impact on eco systems.
The Brain Health Champion study: Health coaching changes behaviors in patients with cognitive impairment
Authors: Schwartz Hope E.M. , Bay Camden P. , McFeeley Brittany M. , Krivanek Taylor J. , Daffner Kirk R. , Gale Seth A.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Converging evidence suggests that increasing healthy behaviors may slow or prevent cognitive decline.

Methods

We piloted a six‐month, randomized, controlled investigation of 40 patients with mild dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive decline. The intervention consisted of weekly motivational interviewing phone calls and three visits with a “Brain Health Champion” health coach, who guided participants to achieve personalized goals. Changes in behavior were measured using validated questionnaires.

Results

Compared with the standard‐of‐care control group, Brain Health Champion participants had statistically significant and clinically meaningful increases in physical activity (Cohen's d = 1.37, P < .001), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Cohen's d = 0.87, P = .016), cognitive/social activity (Cohen's d = 1.09, P = .003), and quality of life (Cohen's d = 1.23, P < .001). The magnitude of behavior change strongly predicted improvement in quality of life.

Discussion

Our results demonstrate the feasibility and potential efficacy of a health coaching approach in changing health behaviors in cognitively impaired and at‐risk patients.
A pilot study to implement and sustain the US PHS clinical practice guidelines for treating tobacco use and dependence in free clinics, a safety net care setting for the uninsured
Authors: Foley Kristie L. , Song Eunyoung Y , Pockey Jessica , Jones Cindy , Spangler John G. , Miller David , Davis Whitney D. , Sutfin Erin L.
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Uninsured patients are more likely than the general population to use tobacco and less likely to quit.

Aims

To determine if the mode of delivering the PHS Guidelines influenced the effectiveness of smoking cessation among patients in a safety net setting.

Methods

Six free clinics were randomly assigned to a training program delivered by an academic physician or community partner plus video support. A repeated cross-sectional survey of patients was conducted at three waves to assess effectiveness to promote quitting.

Results

Tobacco use was triple the rate of the US population: 57.7% (Wave 1), 44.7% (Wave 2), and 48.9% (Wave 3). Patients were more likely to report receipt of at least one evidence-based strategy to promote quitting at Wave 2 (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI (1.18–4.58)). Patients treated in clinics trained by the community partner were significantly more likely to report receiving cessation assistance at Wave 2 (AOR 2.54, 95%CI 1.29–5.00) and the trend was similar, but not significant at Wave 3. Patients in the community partner-led arm were significantly less likely to report tobacco use at Wave 3 (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35–0.99).

Conclusions

Implementation of the PHS Guidelines in free clinics demonstrates preliminary efficacy, with delivery by community partners offering greater scalability.
A MINIMAL PAIR IN THE GENERIC DEGREES
Authors: HIRSCHFELDT DENIS R.
Published: November 2019

We show that there is a minimal pair in the nonuniform generic degrees, and hence also in the uniform generic degrees. This fact contrasts with Igusa’s result that there are no minimal pairs for relative generic computability and answers a basic structural question mentioned in several papers in the area.
Comparative politics and causal evaluation of structural reforms: the case of the UK national minimum wage introduction
Authors: König Thomas , Ropers Guido , Buchmann Anika
Published: November 2019

In comparative studies, causal evaluations attempt to improve our understanding of the effectiveness of structural reforms by counterfactually inspecting post-treatment effects. Yet, even if comparative scholars find similar treatment and comparison units, the interpretation of the post-treatment trajectory is difficult as short-term estimates can be subject to strategic timing of reform implementation, while long-term effects are likely affected by further interventions. To illustrate these difficulties we apply the generalized synthetic control method to evaluate the introduction of a British national minimum wage. We find a short-term decreasing effect on youth unemployment that turns into an increasing effect over time. This suggests the presence of an upward biased selection effect from strategic timing. We also inspect two post-treatment interventions and find that they differ in their general and country-specific implications for the long-term trajectory.
A high-resolution sedimentary charcoal- and geochemistry-based reconstruction of late Holocene fire regimes in the páramo of Chirripό National Park, Costa Rica
Authors: Wu Jiaying , Porinchu David F.
Published: November 2019

Multiproxy analysis of two sediment cores recovered from lagos Morrenas 3C and Ditkebi, located in the páramo of Costa Rica's Chirripó National Park, was undertaken to develop multidecadal-scale reconstructions of late Holocene fire regimes for the region. Analysis of macroscopic charcoal and sediment geochemistry (C%, N%, δ13C, δ15N, and C/N ratios) documents periodic burning of the páramo in Chirripó National Park during the past ~1700 yr. The charcoal records provide evidence of high fire frequency between AD ~560 and 720 and between AD ~980 and 1230. Severe fire episodes are reflected by a rapid increase in the flux of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) from the surrounding catchment because of the volatilization of páramo vegetation. Additionally, δ15N, which sharply increases following local fire events, captures postfire changes in nutrient loading and, likely, the decadal-scale rate of postfire recovery of páramo vegetation. The consistently high δ13C and C/N values observed between AD ~700 and 1100 suggest an expansion ofMuhlenbergia, a native C4grass growing near shore, suggesting that the interval between AD ~700 and 1100, broadly corresponding to the Terminal Classic Drought and Medieval Climate Anomaly, was characterized by a decrease in effective moisture and temperature.
A PERSIAN MARRIAGE FEAST IN MACEDON? (HERODOTUS 5.17–21)
Authors: Harrison Thomas
Published: November 2019

Herodotus’ fateful tale of the seven Persian emissaries sent to seek Earth and Water from the Macedonian king Amyntes has been the subject of increasingly rich discussion in recent years. Generations of commentators have cumulatively revealed the ironies of Herodotus’ account: its repeated hints, for example, of the Persians’ eventual end; and, crowning all other ironies, the story's ending: that, after resisting the indignity of his female relatives being molested at a banquet, and disposing of all trace of the Persian ambassadors and their party, Alexander of Macedon then arranges his sister's marriage to the leader of the search party sent to investigate his disappeared compatriots (Hdt. 5.21.2). More recent readings have gone further in uncovering the mythological archetypes for thelogos, or in tracing its exploration of a number of themes: revenge, guest-friendship, the equation of sexual and military conquest, or the ‘explosion of violence resulting from the contact of two different cultures’. Most fruitful perhaps have been those readings that have seen thelogosno longer as a detached ‘short story’ but in its wider context in theHistories: David Fearn, for example, has stressed the need to understand the presentation of Alexander I in the light of what the reader knows of his subsequent history.
LUCRETIUS’ USE OF THE NAME IPHIANASSA (DE RERVM NATVRA1.85)
Authors: Brown Robert
Published: November 2019

The name Iphianassa occurs only once in Latin literature—in the proem toDe Rerum Natura(=DRN). Here Lucretius illustrates the evils of religion with a description of Iphianassa's sacrifice at Aulis (1.80–101):illud in his rebus uereor, ne forte rearisimpia te rationis inire elementa uiamqueindugredi sceleris. quod contra saepius illareligio peperit scelerosa atque impia facta.Aulide quo pacto Triuiai uirginis aramIphianassai turparunt sanguine foedeductores Danaum delecti, prima uirorum.cui simul infula uirgineos circumdata comptusex utraque pari malarum parte profusast,et maestum simul ante aras adstare parentemsensit et hunc propter ferrum celare ministrosaspectuque suo lacrimas effundere ciuis,muta metu terram genibus summissa petebat.nec miserae prodesse in tali tempore quibatquod patrio princeps donarat nomine regem.nam sublata uirum manibus tremibundaque ad arasdeductast, non ut sollemni more sacrorumperfecto posset claro comitari Hymenaeo,sed casta inceste nubendi tempore in ipsohostia concideret mactatu maesta parentis,exitus ut classi felix faustusque daretur.tantum religio potuit suadere malorum.It is clear that Lucretius treats the name Iphianassa as a synonym for Iphigenia. Homer (Il. 9.145, 9.287) and Sophocles (El. 157) mention a daughter of Agamemnon called Iphianassa, but in neither author is she the daughter who was sacrificed at Aulis (and in several versions rescued at the last moment by Artemis). The first known mention of this myth was in theCypria, where, according to the summary of Proclus, the daughter was called Iphigenia (Kinkel,EGF19; Bernabé,PEG1.41). Hesiod refers to it in theCatalogue of Women, where he calls the daughter Iphimede (Cat. fr. 23a.15–26 + b M-W). From the fifth centuryb.c.e., the extant sources, beginning with Pindar (Pyth. 11.22) and Aeschylus (Ag. 1526, 1555), call her Iphigenia. Why did Lucretius choose Iphianassa?
Corporate Innovation: Do Diverse Boards Help?
Authors: An Heng , Chen Carl R. , Wu Qun , Zhang Ting
Published: November 2019

We find that corporate innovation is positively related to board diversity as measured by a multidimensional index. The benefit of board diversity is more pronounced for firms with more complex operations, more experienced boards, and stronger external governance, suggesting that diverse boards have superior advising capacity. We find evidence to suggest that firms with diverse boards engage in more exploratory innovations and develop new technology in unfamiliar areas. As a result, they create a larger number of both most-cited and uncited patents. Finally, of the six different aspects of board diversity, professional diversity matters the most for corporate innovation.
Challenging Imperialism Across Borders: Recent Studies of Twentieth-Century Internationalist Networks against Empire
Authors: Brückenhaus Daniel
Published: November 2019

In recent years there has been a growing interest in the global dimensions of twentieth-century imperialism and anti-imperialism. Historians, themselves part of an increasingly interconnected world, have been drawn to investigate the links between anti-colonial activists working in different parts of the globe. After a period in which most studies had focused either on the perspective of imperial decision makers in Europe or on that of nationalist activists within the framework of one single colony, more recently scholars have argued that the first of these approaches underrates the agency of anti-imperialists in interactions with the imperial rulers, while the second makes it difficult to explain broader, global trends, including the surprising near-simultaneity of decolonisation in large parts of the world between 1945 and 1970. Instead, historians now argue that we need to take into account the inherently internationalist visions of many activists in this period, which led them to travel the world, interact with their counterparts from other colonies, develop shared views of anti-imperialism and provide each other with practical and ideological support. This review article examines some of the most successful monographs to be published in this field between 2014 and 2018.
On Recent Developments in the New Historiography of (Neo)Liberalism
Authors: Stewart Iain
Published: November 2019

Over the last twenty years or so several new waves of research on the history of liberalism have emerged. The novelty of this should not be exaggerated as broad scholarly interest in liberalism has in fact been increasing at a remarkable rate since the 1980s. Nevertheless, it is clear that the historiography of liberalism has broken much new ground since around the turn of the century. This has been driven partly by the influence of larger developments in the humanities and social sciences. The global and post-colonial turns, for instance, have helped to reshape the historiography of liberalism by provoking debates over the extent of its complicity in slavery and colonialism, while also drawing attention to the contribution of theorists from the global south. But even much of this ‘normal’ innovation has been driven at least indirectly by a growing sense that liberalism is in crisis. The War on Terror, the financial meltdown of 2008 and the global rise of populist authoritarianism are the obvious staging posts in liberalism's journey from post-Cold War triumphalism to contemporary fears for its imminent demise. And it is not a coincidence that the end of the end of history has seen the beginning of a new historiography of liberalism. Since the early 2000s the emergence of new sub-fields like the histories of ‘Cold War liberalism’, human rights and neoliberalism can all be seen in different ways as responding to liberalism's unfolding crisis.
Serbian Historiography after 1991
Authors: Nielsen Christian Axboe
Published: November 2019

Few countries in Europe have witnessed as much turbulence during the past quarter century as the seven states which emerged from socialist Yugoslavia after it dissolved amidst a catastrophic series of wars of succession. Although actual armed conflict only took place in Serbia (then still including Kosovo in the rump state Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) in 1998 and 1999, Serbia directly participated in the wars of Yugoslav succession beginning in 1991 in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then finally in Kosovo. For nearly a decade from 1992 until 2001 Serbia's economy languished under the combination of a kleptocratic regime, expensive and protracted military engagements and international sanctions. The long Serbian transition entered a new phase in October 2000, when Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević was ousted by a very heterogeneous political coalition whose leaders shared only an intense antipathy for Milošević. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was transformed into the short-lived state union of Serbia and Montenegro, which disappeared when Montenegro declared its independence in 2006, followed by Kosovo in 2008.
Persistent pedestrianism: urban walking in motor age America, 1920s–1960s
Authors: Norton Peter
Published: November 2019

Generalizations about ‘car culture’ in the United States, and about American's ‘love affair with the automobile’, have concealed persistent values and practices among millions of Americans that do not suit such stereotypes. Car culture and the car's attractions are not denied. American society, however, is a complex of numerous subcultures, including many that resented and resisted the automobile's growing priority during the twentieth century. Such groups’ resistance to automobile domination has been neglected. Persistent advocacy for pedestrians’ interests is illustrated through numerous examples from the 1920s to the 1960s, the decades when ‘car culture’ rose to its apogee.
A posteriori dietary patterns and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a meta-analysis of observational studies
Authors: Khorshidi Masoud , Djafarian Kurosh , Aghayei Elham , Shab-Bidar Sakineh
Published: November 2019

Abstract. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder which affects the gastrointestinal tract. Many factors, such as genetics, stress, and dietary patterns have been related to the risk of this disease. Adherence to a prudent/healthy dietary pattern, due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, help to reduce the risk of many chronic diseases such as IBD. The results from previous studies regarding the association between dietary patterns and risk of IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are inconsistent. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the potential relations between dietary patterns and risk of CD and UC. PubMed and Scopus were searched up to October 2017 for eligible studies. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were used to pool the estimated risks for the highest versus the lowest category of extracted dietary patterns. A total of six studies, including four case-control and two cohort studies with 1099 cases and 263112 controls/participants were included in the meta-analysis. A decreased risk of CD was seen for the highest compared with the lowest categories of healthy dietary pattern (OR/RR = 0.39, 95%CI = 0.16–0.62), while no significant association with western dietary pattern was observed (OR/RR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.51–1.04). Furthermore, no significant relationship was found between healthy (OR/RR = 0.61, 95%CI = 0.04–1.18, random effects) and western/unhealthy (OR/RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.67–1.26) dietary patterns and risk of UC. The results of the current meta-analysis showed that a healthy dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of CD. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
The relationship between vitamin D deficiency and oxidative stress can be independent of age and gender
Authors: Câmara Alice Barros , Brandão Igor Augusto
Published: November 2019

Abstract. The active vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) acts through a nuclear receptor to perform several functions in cellular metabolism. 1,25(OH)2D participates directly in calcium homeostasis, regulates the immune system, nervous system, blood pressure, insulin secretion, among others. Vitamin D deficiency could also be associated with several diseases and increased cellular oxidative damage. The present study aimed to investigate whether lipid peroxidation and/or protein oxidation are affected by vitamin D deficiency and whether sunlight exposure/diet, gender, and age might influence this relationship. Vitamin D concentrations were obtained from the Heart Hospital database and a questionnaire was applied among the 212 participants. We used the inactive vitamin D (25(OH)2) in the analyses since 1,25(OH)2D has a short half-life and a low blood concentration. Lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation analyses were performed using spectrophotometry. Multivariate analyses suggested the participation of vitamin D deficiency (<30 ng/mL) and sunlight/diet in oxidative stress (p <0.05; R2 MDA: 0.562; R2 CG: 0.429). Multiple linear regression test show that the age and gender of patients are not interfering in the analyses (p>0.05). Therefore, we suggest that the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and oxidative stress can be independent of age and gender.
Regional Modeling of Antarctic Bottom Water Flows in the Key Passages of the Atlantic
Authors: Frey D. I. , Morozov E. G. , Fomin V. V. , Diansky N. A. , Tarakanov R. Y.
Published: November 2019

The goal of this research is to modify and apply a version of high‐resolution three‐dimensional numerical model for simulations of bottom circulation and to study the flows of Antarctic Bottom Water in abyssal channels of the Atlantic Ocean using this model. We adjusted the Institute of Numerical Mathematics Ocean Model σ‐level ocean circulation model for several regions with intense bottom currents in abyssal channels. High vertical resolution near the seafloor allowed us to study the abyssal part of the ocean circulation, while high horizontal resolution is necessary for modeling currents in narrow underwater channels and fracture zones. We used our direct velocity measurements carried out at key points of the currents in the channels for verification of the model. This approach was applied in the regions with different seafloor topography: in the long and narrow Vema Channel with a strong bottom current and in several fracture zones of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge with rough bathymetry. On the basis of simulated three‐dimensional velocity fields, we analyzed the spatial structure of the bottom currents along the entire length of the channels, determined maximum velocities at different sections, investigated the influence of the Ekman flux on the structure of the flows, and compared our model results with in situ observations. We also calculated the total transports of Antarctic Bottom Water through the fractures in several underwater ridges of the Atlantic Ocean.
New Insight Into the Formation and Evolution of the East Reykjanes Ridge Current and Irminger Current
Authors: Petit T. , Mercier H. , Thierry V.
Published: November 2019

The Reykjanes Ridge strongly influences the circulation of the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre as it flows to the Irminger Sea from the Iceland Basin. The circulation is composed of two main along‐ridge currents: the southwestward East Reykjanes Ridge Current (ERRC) in the Iceland Basin and the northeastward Irminger Current (IC) in the Irminger Sea. To study their interconnection through the ridge, as well as their connections with the interior of each basin, velocity and hydrological measurements were carried out along and perpendicular to the crest of the Reykjanes Ridge in June–July 2015 as part of the Reykjanes Ridge Experiment project. This new data set changes our view of the ERRC and IC as it reveals undocumented along‐stream evolutions of their hydrological properties, structures, and transports. These evolutions are due to flows connecting the ERRC and IC branches at specific locations set by the bathymetry of the ridge and to significant connections with the interiors of the basins. Overall, the ERRC transport increases by 3.2 Sv between 63°N and 59.5°N and remains almost constantly southward. In the Irminger Sea, the increase in IC transport of 13.7 Sv between 56°N and 59.5°N, and the evolution of its properties are explained by both cross‐ridge flows and inflows from the Irminger Sea. Further north, bathymetry steers the IC northwestward into the Irminger Sea. At 63°N, the IC water masses are mostly issued from the cross‐ridge flow.
Modeling the Dispersion of Dissolved Natural Gas Condensates From the Sanchi Incident
Authors: Chen Lei , Yang Jiayan , Wu Lixin
Published: November 2019

An Iranian tanker with 136,000 tons of natural gas condensates collided with a freighter in the East China Sea in January 2018 and, after drifting ablaze for 8 days and over 200 km, capsized on the edge of the shelf near the Kuroshio Current. Different from the crude oil, the condensates consist of hydrocarbons that have relatively high solubility in seawater. We postulate that the leakage from the remaining condensate cargo at 110 m depth may result in a bottom layer of condensate‐enriched water in the vicinity of the resting tanker. A model is constructed in this study to simulate the dispersion of contaminated water through the processes of oceanic advection, diffusion, biodegradation, and volatilization. It is found that the scope and magnitude of the dispersion are most sensitive to the biodegradation. Even though the biodegradation time scale depends on several factors that are not well quantified in this region, using any value within the estimated range from a previous study results in significant contamination in the broad area. The dispersion is particularly effective in this incident because the tanker capsized near the Kuroshio Current—a fast‐moving western boundary current. The Kuroshio acts as a fast conduit to spread the contaminant to the east coast of Japan and the interior Pacific Ocean. In addition, we identify that the Tsushima Warm Current, a perennial flow into the Japan Sea, is the second major conduit for spreading the polluted water. This study indicates that dissolved hydrocarbons are the main environmental risk for maritime spills of natural gas condensates.
Mars Water and D/H Evolution From 3.3 Ga to Present
Authors: Alsaeed N. R. , Jakosky B. M.
Published: November 2019

The current deuterium to hydrogen ratio (D/H) on Mars is enriched by a factor of 5–6 relative to terrestrial values, suggesting that large amounts of H from water have been lost to space. Loss of H occurs more efficiently than loss of D because H atoms are lighter than D atoms, so the remaining gas becomes enriched in D. We constrain the history of water on Mars using D/H by tracking the supply and loss of H and D in the atmosphere. We examined the evolution of water and D/H from 3.3 Ga to the present, using the measured D/H in an ~3‐billion‐year‐old Gale crater mudstone and in the present atmosphere as constraints. We define the boundary conditions by the amount of water present at the surface early in history and the amount of water present today and incorporate the supply of water from outgassing and loss of H and D to space. The factor‐of‐2 enrichment in D/H in the last 3.3 Ga can be produced if loss to space outstrips outgassing. This corresponds to a present‐day 20‐ to 50‐m water global equivalent layer (GEL) that is a residual of an initial inventory at 3.3 Ga of 40‐ to 170‐m GEL, combined with 5‐ to 100‐m GEL outgassed and 20‐ to 220‐m GEL lost to space.
Northern Hemisphere Greening in Association With Warming Permafrost
Authors: Peng Xiaoqing , Zhang Tingjun , Frauenfeld Oliver W. , Wang Shijin , Qiao Lina , Du Ran , Mu Cuicui
Published: November 2019

Vegetation is closely tied to climate change, hydrological processes, the carbon cycle, and the energy balance. However, in cold regions, both climate and vegetation changes are also closely coupled to permafrost. The association between amplified warming and greening in Northern Hemisphere permafrost regions is not clearly understood. We therefore produce an extended 1982–2015 normalized difference vegetation index record based on concatenated Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies and Moderate‐Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data to quantify the spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation variability. We also establish spatiotemporal permafrost warming patterns based on a thawing index, active layer thickness, soil temperature, the first thaw date, and thawing days. Next, we establish the association between vegetation and warming permafrost. We find that normalized difference vegetation index increases in approximately 70% of Northern Hemisphere permafrost regions during the growing season (April–October) and in 72% of the region during autumn. Warming permafrost shows a positive relationship with greening. A higher thawing index, greater active layer thickness, higher soil temperature, and also increased precipitation are linked with the observed greening. An earlier first thaw date and an increased number of thawing days also correlate with vegetation greening. These findings underscore the sensitivity of vegetation to warming permafrost. Continued permafrost warming will result in further greening of Northern Hemisphere cold regions (and vice versa), with important implications for the permafrost soil‐vegetation‐atmosphere carbon cycles, and the water, nutrient, and energy budgets.
Seasonal and Latitudinal Response of New Zealand Sea Surface Temperature to Warming Climate Since the Last Glaciation: Comparing Alkenones to Mg/Ca Foraminiferal Reconstructions
Authors: Sikes Elisabeth L. , Schiraldi Benedetto , Williams Amanda
Published: November 2019

Dual proxies were used to estimate paleo sea surface temperatures (SST) for the Bay of Plenty, north of New Zealand.
and Mg/Ca in the planktonic foraminifera Globogerina bulloides reconstruct SST for the growth seasons for the organisms they are based upon.
SST (summer) were consistently ~ 3.5 °C warmer than Mg/Ca (spring), suggesting that Bay of Plenty SST during the last glacial maximum (LGM) was 17.3 °C in summer and 13.8 °C in spring. Combining these results with published data based on the same proxies from other sites around New Zealand shows cooling of 3–4 °C in both seasons at all sites in the LGM relative to the Holocene. This indicates that overall, glacial surface water cooling was similar in subtropical and subpolar waters in both spring and summer. This contrasts with published foraminiferal assemblage reconstructions suggesting greater subantarctic cooling during the LGM. Deglacial warming across the region was characterized by changes in both seasonal and latitudinal temperature differences. Warming began in subtropical waters at ~21 ka, ~ 1.5 ka earlier than in subantarctic water. In the Bay of Plenty, the seasons maintained a consistent offset, while in Hawke Bay, springs stayed cold while summers warmed until after the Antarctic Cold Reversal. In contrast, subantarctic spring SST warmed rapidly, causing temperature differences to decrease between the Chatham Rise (subantarctic) and subtropical sites, possibly caused by shifting westerly winds. The use of multiple proxies enhances our understanding by adding a seasonal component to the glacial story of climate change in the southwest Pacific Ocean.
Deep Crustal Flow Within Postorogenic Metamorphic Core Complexes: Insights From the Southern Western Gneiss Region of Norway
Authors: Wiest J. D. , Osmundsen P. T. , Jacobs J. , Fossen H.
Published: November 2019

Viscous crustal flow can exhume once deeply buried rocks in postorogenic metamorphic core complexes (MCCs). While migmatite domes record the flow dynamics of anatectic crust, the mechanics and kinematics of solid‐state flow in the deep crust are poorly constrained. To address this issue, we studied a deeply eroded and particularly well‐exposed MCC in the southern Western Gneiss Region of Norway. The Gulen MCC formed during Devonian transtensional collapse of the Caledonian orogeny in the footwall of the Nordfjord‐Sogn detachment zone. We developed a semiquantitative mapping scheme for ductile strain to constrain micro‐ to megascale processes, which brought eclogite‐bearing crust from the orogenic root into direct contact with Devonian supradetachment basins. The Gulen MCC comprises different structural levels with distinct metamorphic evolutions. In the high‐grade core, amphibolite‐facies structures record fluid‐controlled eclogite retrogression and coaxial flow involving vast extension‐perpendicular shortening. Detachment mylonites formed during ductile‐to‐brittle noncoaxial deformation and wrap around the core. We present a sequential 3‐D reconstruction of MCC formation. In the detachment zone, the combined effects of simple shearing, incision/excision, and erosion thinned the upper crust. Internal necking of the ductile crust was compensated by extension‐perpendicular shortening within the deep crust and resulted in differential folding of distinct crustal levels. We identify this differential folding as the main mechanism that can redistribute material within solid‐state MCCs. Our interpretation suggests a continuum of processes from migmatite‐cored to solid‐state MCCs and has implications for postorogenic exhumation of (ultra‐)high‐pressure rocks.
Correction: miR-377 induces senescence in human skin fibroblasts by targeting DNA methyltransferase 1
Authors: Xie Hong-fu , Liu Ying-zi , Du Rui , Wang Ben , Chen Meng-ting , Zhang Yi-ya , Deng Zhi-li , Li Ji
Published: November 2019

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Alterations in ZnT1 expression and function lead to impaired intracellular zinc homeostasis in cancer
Authors: Lehvy Adrian Israel , Horev Guy , Golan Yarden , Glaser Fabian , Shammai Yael , Assaraf Yehuda Gérard
Published: November 2019

Zinc is vital for the structure and function of ~3000 human proteins and hence plays key physiological roles. Consequently, impaired zinc homeostasis is associated with various human diseases including cancer. Intracellular zinc levels are tightly regulated by two families of zinc transporters: ZIPs and ZnTs; ZIPs import zinc into the cytosol from the extracellular milieu, or from the lumen of organelles into the cytoplasm. In contrast, the vast majority of ZnTs compartmentalize zinc within organelles, whereas the ubiquitously expressed ZnT1 is the sole zinc exporter. Herein, we explored the hypothesis that qualitative and quantitative alterations in ZnT1 activity impair cellular zinc homeostasis in cancer. Towards this end, we first used bioinformatics to analyze inactivating mutations in ZIPs and ZNTs, catalogued in the COSMIC and gnomAD databases, representing tumor specimens and healthy population controls, respectively. ZnT1, ZnT10, ZIP8, and ZIP10 showed extremely high rates of loss of function mutations in cancer as compared to healthy controls. Analysis of the putative functional impact of missense mutations in ZnT1-ZnT10 and ZIP1-ZIP14, using homologous protein alignment and structural predictions, revealed that ZnT1 displays a markedly increased frequency of predicted functionally deleterious mutations in malignant tumors, as compared to a healthy population. Furthermore, examination of ZnT1 expression in 30 cancer types in the TCGA database revealed five tumor types with significant ZnT1 overexpression, which predicted dismal prognosis for cancer patient survival. Novel functional zinc transport assays, which allowed for the indirect measurement of cytosolic zinc levels, established that wild type ZnT1 overexpression results in low intracellular zinc levels. In contrast, overexpression of predicted deleterious ZnT1 missense mutations did not reduce intracellular zinc levels, validating eight missense mutations as loss of function (LoF) mutations. Thus, alterations in ZnT1 expression and LoF mutations in ZnT1 provide a molecular mechanism for impaired zinc homeostasis in cancer formation and/or progression.
Ultralow amounts of DNA from long-term archived serum samples produce quality genotypes
Authors: Rounge Trine B. , Lauritzen Marianne , Erlandsen Sten Even , Langseth Hilde , Holmen Oddgeir Lingaas , Gislefoss Randi E.
Published: November 2019

While genotyping studies are scavenging for suitable samples to analyze, large serum collections are currently left unused as they are assumed to provide insufficient amounts of DNA for array-based genotyping. Long-term stored serum is considered to be difficult to genotype since preanalytical treatments and storage effects on DNA yields are not well understood. Successful genotyping of such samples has the potential to activate large biobanks for future genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We aimed to evaluate genotyping of ultralow amounts of DNA from samples stored up to 45 years in the Janus Serum Bank with two commercially available platforms. 64 samples, with various preanalytical treatments, were genotyped on the Axiom Array from Thermo Fisher Scientific and a subset of 24 samples with slightly higher yield were genotyped on the HumanCoreExome array from Illumina. Our results showed that about 80% of the serum samples produced call rates with the Axiom arrays that would be satisfactory in GWAS. The mean DNA yield was 5.8 ng as measured with PicoGreen, 3–6% of recommended yield. The failed samples had on average lower input amounts of DNA. All serum samples genotyped on the HumanCoreExome with a standard and FFPE protocol produced GWAS satisfactory call rates, with mean 97.57% and 98.35% call rates, respectively. The mean yield was 10.65 ng, 6% of the recommendations. Successful array-based genotyping of ultralow DNA yields from serum samples stored up to 45 years is possible. These results demonstrate the potential to activate large serum biobank collections for future studies.
Economic value of protected areas via visitor mental health
Authors: Buckley Ralf , Brough Paula , Hague Leah , Chauvenet Alienor , Fleming Chris , Roche Elisha , Sofija Ernesta , Harris Neil
Published: November 2019

We evaluate methods to calculate the economic value of protected areas derived from the improved mental health of visitors. A conservative global estimate using quality-adjusted life years, a standard measure in health economics, is US$6 trillion p.a. This is an order of magnitude greater than the global value of protected area tourism, and two to three orders greater than global aggregate protected area management agency budgets. Future research should: refine this estimate using more precise methods; consider interactions between health and conservation policies and budgets at national scales; and examine links between personalities and protected area experiences at individual scale.