bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic management of leaks and fistulas after bariatric surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rogalski Pawel , Swidnicka-Siergiejko Agnieszka , Wasielica-Berger Justyna , Zienkiewicz Damian , Wieckowska Barbara , Wroblewski Eugeniusz , Baniukiewicz Andrzej , Rogalska-Plonska Magdalena , Siergiejko Grzegorz , Dabrowski Andrzej , Daniluk Jaroslaw
Published: February 2020

Background

Endoscopic techniques have become the first-line therapy in bariatric surgery-related complications such as leaks and fistulas. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of self-expandable stents, clipping, and tissue sealants in closing of post-bariatric surgery leak/fistula.

Methods

A systematic literature search of the Medline/Scopus databases was performed to identify full-text articles published up to February 2019 on the use of self-expandable stents, clipping, or tissue sealants as primary endoscopic strategies used for leak/fistula closure. Meta-analysis of studies reporting stents was performed with the PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Data concerning the efficacy of self-expanding stents in the treatment of leaks/fistulas after bariatric surgery were extracted from 40 studies (493 patients). The overall proportion of successful leak/fistula closure was 92% (95% CI, 90–95%). The overall proportion of stent migration was 23% (95% CI, 19–28%). Seventeen papers (98 patients) reported the use of clipping: the over-the-scope clips (OTSC) system was used in 85 patients with a successful closure rate of 67.1% and a few complications (migration, stenosis, tear). The successful fistula/leak closure using other than OTSC types was achieved in 69.2% of patients. In 10 case series (63 patients), fibrin glue alone was used with a 92.8–100% success rate of fistula closure that usually required repeated sessions at scheduled intervals. The complications of fibrin glue applications were reported in only one study and included pain and fever in 12.5% of patients.

Conclusions

Endoscopic techniques are effective for management of post-bariatric leaks and fistulas in properly selected patients.
Assessing transformation scenarios from pure Norway spruce to mixed uneven-aged forests in mountain areas
Authors: Hilmers Torben , Biber Peter , Knoke Thomas , Pretzsch Hans
Published: February 2020

Mixed mountain forests, primarily made up of Norway spruce (Picea abies(L.) Karst.), silver fir (Abies albaMill.) and European beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.), cover about 10 × 106 ha of submontane–subalpine altitudes in Europe. They provide invaluable ecosystem services, e.g. protection against avalanches, landslides or rockfall. However, pure Norway spruce stands have, since mediaeval times, been heavily promoted as productive stand types for salt works at sites naturally supporting mixed mountain forests. Damage to these secondary pure spruce stands has been steadily increasing in recent decades. Furthermore, due to their previous limitation due to low temperatures and a short growing season, forest ecosystems in higher elevations are expected to be strongly affected by climate warming. To address these problems, alternative management concepts are being intensively discussed. A possible option to improve the stability and resilience of the stand is the transformation from pure Norway spruce stands into site-appropriate, sustainable and stable mixed mountain forests. In this study, we have tested seven different transformation scenarios (e.g. slit, shelterwood and gap-coupes, strip clear-cutting, do-nothing) and their impact on five evaluation criteria (forest growth, economics, carbon sequestration, (stand) stability and biodiversity). As there are hardly any practical examples for some of the transformation scenarios available, we have used the forest growth simulator SILVA to assess whether the tested transformation scenarios differ in transformation success and to observe trade-offs between the criteria of evaluation. Of the investigated scenarios, we consider the ones with gap or slit-coupes with the most beneficial overall utility values for the portfolio of the five evaluation criteria. However, we showed with our results that it is possible, by means of several trajectories, to return destabilised forests to sustainable and stable systems. We showed that a transformation is realistic, even if sophisticated silvicultural concepts are not strictly pursued.
The global economic system and access and allocation in earth system governance
Authors: Gonenc Defne , Piselli Dario , Sun Yixian
Published: February 2020

Ensuring sustainability of earth systems is intrinsically dependent on the incorporation of equity and fairness in the regimes and institutions that govern the global economy. Accordingly, to design effective and just earth system governance (ESG), it is crucial to understand how the global economic system affects access to and allocation of environmental benefits and burdens among people and countries around the world and what are the relevant causal mechanisms. By focusing on trade and investment as two predominant elements of today’s global economic system, this paper reviews the literature developed within the ESG project in 2008–2017 to explore the relationships between the global economic system and access to and allocation of environmental benefits and burdens. Our review shows that ESG scholarship has begun to highlight the dynamics of unfair access and allocation deriving from the global economic system, ranging from the direct impacts of trade and investment on environmental inequality and socioeconomic opportunities to the indirect equity implications of certification schemes, environmental decision-making processes and environmentally motivated restrictions in international trade and investment regimes. However, it also notes that critical questions about the identity of vulnerable groups and the potential pathways for more equitable sharing of benefits and burdens remain understudied by ESG scholars. Hence, we call for more critical analysis of the role of the global economic system in perpetuating unsustainable patterns of access and allocation in ESG, as well as research about the local impacts of the global economic system on environmental access and allocation.
A review on water quality and dairy cattle health: a special emphasis on high-altitude region
Authors: Giri Arup , Bharti Vijay K. , Kalia Sahil , Arora Achin , Balaje S. S. , Chaurasia O. P.
Published: February 2020

Water is the wonder of nature which is an essential source of nutrient for all forms of life. It helps in proper digestion, energy metabolism, transport of nutrients and metabolites, cellular functions, and excretion of waste materials from our body and animals. Furthermore, water plays a vital role in body thermoregulatory and electrolyte health, and performance the fluidity and cushioning environment for the developing fetus in the human and animals. The quality of water determines the health and productivity of milk and their quality, as it causes bioaccumulation of water solutes in the milk and body tissues. Therefore, its quality has to be good for optimum health, and performance of dairy cattle. The high-altitude environments have limited surface and groundwater resources and more dependent on snow precipitations, very deep bore well groundwater, and mountain river. Recently, quality of high-altitude water resources has become questionable due to more environmental pollution, climate change, and high anthropogenic activities at high altitude. Therefore, there is a continuous requirement to monitor water quality, dairy product quality, and cattle health for prevention and control of waterborne diseases. This review reveals the water quality and the probable effects on the health performance of dairy cattle with a particular emphasis on high-altitude regions. From this review, it can be concluded that global warming and an increase in tourists at high-altitude regions have caused deterioration of water quality, which may affect the health, reproduction, and production of quality dairy products. This may lead to bioaccumulation of some toxic molecules and metals into higher food chain and affecting public health.
Chemical constituents, antioxidant and cytotoxicity properties of Leonotis leonurus used in the folklore management of neurological disorders in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Tonisi Sipho , Okaiyeto Kunle , Hoppe Heinrich , Mabinya Leonard V. , Nwodo Uchechukwu U. , Okoh Anthony I.
Published: February 2020

In the present study, we evaluated the phytochemical compounds and antioxidant properties of chloroform, ethanol and acetone extracts for leaves and flowers ofLeonutusleonurus(L.leonurus) alongside with their cytotoxic effects on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines. The phytochemical compounds present in the leaves and flowers ofL.leonurusincluded; phenolics, flavonoids and alkaloids. Their radicals scavenging effects against 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) [ABTS·+], hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide as well as metal chelating activities showed dose-dependent activities. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analyses revealed the presence of important bioactive compounds, which are associated with antioxidant; and the extracts exhibited toxicity effect against HeLa cells. The findings from this study divulge extracts ofL.leonurusas prospective sources of antioxidant and anticancer agents; and hence, further study on their neuroprotective potentials becomes imperative.
Personality and positionality-evidence from survey experiments with alternative goods
Authors: Akay Alpaslan , Karabulut Gökhan
Published: February 2020

This paper employs survey experiments to examine the relationship between personality characteristics and positional concerns across a wide range of “goods”, e.g., income and market value of a car, and “bads”, e.g., infant mortality and poverty rates. Personality traits are measured using the five-factor model (Big-5), the locus of control, and reciprocity. We demonstrate that there are significant relationships between personality types and positional concerns, which differ both by the type of personality and by the nature of a good. The results are highly consistent with the predictions presented in the field of personality psychology. That is, while agreeableness is negatively associated, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and external locus of control are positively associated with positional concerns for most goods. Importantly, there is also a substantial heterogeneity in the mean degree of positional concerns across the low and high values of most personality characteristics and goods.
Study of Semi-Infinite Crack in a Sandwiched Orthotropic Strip
Authors: Singh Anuwedita , Das S. , Craciun E-M.
Published: February 2020

The problem of semi-infinite crack situated in an orthotropic strip sandwiched between two identical half planes has been considered. The considered boundary value problem has been solved to convert it into the standard Wiener-Hopf equation by using Fourier transform technique, which has been solved to obtain analytical expressions for stress intensity factor and crack opening displacement. The variations of stress intensity factors and crack opening displacement are displayed graphically for different pair of orthortropic materials and for various depth of the strip of the composite media.
The grapes are sour: An envier's attributional perspective of coworker impression management
Authors: Azeem Sundas , Zafar Mueen Aizaz , Khan Abdul Karim
Published: February 2020

Arguing that it would serve scholars and practitioners better to view impression management (IM) from a coworker's perspective than from that of an actor's outcomes, this study demonstrates that IM by a coworker triggers a self-serving attributional process. The authors reason that denial of another's relative advantage leads the observing coworker to attribute this behavior to the actor's incompetence, consequently leading to counterproductive behavior toward them in efforts to reduce their own relative disadvantage. Data were collected at T1 and T2 from 142 service sector employees. Our results were consistent with our hypotheses. However, the moderated-mediation models for conditional effects of hostile attributional style were not supported. This study offers an integrated view of previously isolated domains of IM and attribution, suggesting future literature considers a similar perspective for more meaningful investigations.
Consumo de fauna y funcionalidad de sitios: Testeando hipótesis en los Andes meridionales
Authors: Neme Gustavo A. , Otaola Clara , Giardina Miguel A. , Gil Adolfo F. , Franchetti Fernando R.
Published: February 2020

El registro arqueológico de cazadores-recolectores localizado en ambientes de altura ha sido ampliamente debatido en la literatura mundial. Las discusiones se han centrado en su funcionalidad, cronología, complementariedad con ambientes bajos y significado en los procesos de poblamiento de distintas regiones. Los Andes meridionales cuentan con un amplio espacio cordillerano dentro del cual se emplazan una serie de sitios arqueológicos localizados a aproximadamente 3.000 m snm. Las duras condiciones climáticas de estos ambientes, así como la presencia de estructuras habitacionales, despertó el interés de los investigadores en relación con su funcionalidad, tiempo de permanencia y manejo de los recursos locales. En este trabajo se presenta la información zooarqueológica de cuatro sitios de altura localizados en un sector de los Andes meridionales, en el sur de la provincia de Mendoza, Argentina: El Indígeno, Los Peuquenes, Laguna del Diamante S-4 y Risco de los Indios. El material arqueofaunístico analizado es evaluado a la luz de las características ambientales, los costos de transporte y la funcionalidad de estas locaciones en relación con los circuitos de explotación anual. Los resultados muestran un uso de taxones restringido, con un fuerte énfasis en el guanaco, y un escaso transporte de fauna desde y hacia pisos ecológicos localizados a menor altitud. Todo esto sugiere el uso de los sitios de manera residencial y no como lugares de obtención de presas para su procesamiento y traslado hacia localizaciones más bajas.
Pretreatment of Terrestrial Macrofossils
Authors: Norris Margaret W , Turnbull Jocelyn C , Howarth Jamie D , Vandergoes Marcus J
Published: February 2020

Acid-alkali-acid (AAA) pretreatment is widely used to clean terrestrial plant macrofossil samples for radiocarbon (14C) dating. There is wide variation amongst laboratories in the AAA method details and less rigorous AAA pretreatment is often used on fragile or small samples. Yet there is little evidence as to the efficacy of the different methods and whether the use of less rigorous methods is justified. We investigated four variations of AAA pretreatment: acid only (no alkali wash); room temperature AAA; “standard” AAA at 85°C; and “aggressive” AAA at 85°C with alkali washes repeated until no discoloration was detected. We tested six different terrestrial macrofossils from four different locations and ranging in age from mid-Holocene to the Last Glacial Maximum. Our results demonstrate that while acid only is not always sufficient to remove young material, there is no difference in 14C age of samples pretreated by any of the AAA variants. We also observed mass loss of 85–90% in the standard and aggressive AAA pretreatments, and much more modest mass loss in the room temperature AAA pretreatment. Therefore, we conclude that room temperature AAA pretreatment is optimal to remove contaminating material from fragile terrestrial macrofossils while retaining the majority of the authentic sample material.
A preferential attachment process approaching the Rado graph
Authors: Elwes Richard
Published: February 2020

We consider a simple preferential attachment graph process, which begins with a finite graph and in which a new (t + 1)st vertex is added at each subsequent time step t that is connected to each previous vertex u ≤ t with probability du(t)/t, where du(t) is the degree of u at time t. We analyse the graph obtained as the infinite limit of this process, and we show that, as long as the initial finite graph is neither edgeless nor complete, with probability 1 the outcome will be a copy of the Rado graph augmented with a finite number of either isolated or universal vertices.
Delta- and Daugavet points in Banach spaces
Authors: Abrahamsen T. A. , Haller R. , Lima V. , Pirk K.
Published: February 2020

A Δ-pointxof a Banach space is a norm-one element that is arbitrarily close to convex combinations of elements in the unit ball that are almost at distance 2 fromx. If, in addition, every point in the unit ball is arbitrarily close to such convex combinations,xis a Daugavet point. A Banach spaceXhas the Daugavet property if and only if every norm-one element is a Daugavet point. We show that Δ- and Daugavet points are the same inL1-spaces, inL1-preduals, as well as in a big class of Müntz spaces. We also provide an example of a Banach space where all points on the unit sphere are Δ-points, but none of them are Daugavet points. We also study the property that the unit ball is the closed convex hull of its Δ-points. This gives rise to a new diameter-two property that we call the convex diametral diameter-two property. We show that allC(K) spaces,Kinfinite compact Hausdorff, as well as all Müntz spaces have this property. Moreover, we show that this property is stable under absolute sums.
Morphological and molecular taxonomy of Timea (Porifera: Timeidae) from the Gulf of Mexico with the description of a new species and re-description of T. hechteli
Authors: Cruz-Barraza José Antonio , Vega Cristina , Rützler Klaus , Salas-Castañeda Manuel
Published: February 2020

We present the description of a new species of genus Timea and the re-description of T. hechteli from cryptic habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. Timea alcoladoi sp. nov. is an encrusting, pale orange sponge, with megascleres ranging from styles to subtylostyles (185–990 μm long) and a single category of microscleres, spherostrongilaster characterized by a prominent rounded centre (5–15 μm in diameter). Timea hechteli was established by Lehnert & Heimler, based on the description of a very small specimen, previously recorded as Halicometes stellata by Little, and transferred to the genus Timea by Hechtel. However, because the name ‘stellata’ was preoccupied by the type species, T. stellata, the species was renamed T. hechteli, to honour George Hechtel. After the revision of Little's material and new material, we present the re-description of T. hechteli. For both species, partial sequences of COI mtDNA and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region were obtained in order to complement our morphological taxonomy and establish their molecular systematic position among tethyids. Tree topologies for both loci were congruent by grouping together our species as a sister group of the main Tethyida clade, which is according to the current systematics of the group. The COI fragment showed Timea as polyphyletic due to two sequences of Timea (from GenBank) that were clustered with other sponge groups. The species described here are the first record of the genus Timea from the Mexican coast of the Gulf of Mexico. A taxonomic key for West Atlantic Timea species is also presented.
Household Networks and Early Christian Economics: A Fresh Study of 1 Timothy 5.3–16
Authors: Barclay John M. G.
Published: February 2020

1 Tim 5.3–16 defines which women may be registered for financial support at church expense. It is integrated around four ‘household rules’, but is not concerned to regulate an ‘order’ or ‘office’ of widows. Rather, it clarifies that the church should not supplant households in financial matters, and should be responsible only for destitute widows who have no other network support. Since χήρα can mean ‘woman without a man’, the instructions in 5.11–15 are best interpreted as directed against young women who have chosen celibacy. By contrast, the author conceives of the church as a network of Christian households connected by mutual economic support.
Solomon and 666 (Revelation 13.18)
Authors: Bodner Keith , Strawn Brent A.
Published: February 2020

The present article argues that 666 in Rev 13.18 is best related to the notice of Solomon receiving 666 talents of gold (1 Kgs 10.14 // 2 Chr 9.13), which is, in turn, an important notice of this king's wayward and unjust practices: his inordinate wealth, exploitation of his own people and eschewing of God's law.
Maternal caesarean section infection (MACSI) in Sierra Leone: a case–control study
Authors: Di Gennaro F. , Marotta C. , Pisani L. , Veronese N. , Pisani V. , Lippolis V. , Pellizer G. , Pizzol D. , Tognon F. , Bavaro D. F. , Oliva F. , Ponte S. , Nanka Bruce P. , Monno L. , Saracino A. , Koroma M. M. , Putoto G.
Published: February 2020

Sierra Leone is the country with highest maternal mortality and infections are the underlying cause in 11% of maternal deaths, but the real burden remains unknown. This study aims to determine the incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) post-caesarean section (CS) in women admitted to Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) in Freetown, Sierra Leone. A prospective case–control (1:3 ratio) study was implemented from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2019 and 11 women presenting with suspected or confirmed infection post-CS were screened for inclusion as a case. For each case, three patients undergoing CS on the same day and admitted to the same ward, but not presenting with SSI, were selected as controls. The post-CS infection rate was 10.9%. Two hundred and fifty-four clinically confirmed cases were enrolled and matched with 762 control patients. By multivariable analysis, the risk factors for SSI were: being single (odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.36–1.66), low education level (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.55–1.84), previous CS (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.10–1.52), presenting with premature membranes rupture (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.18–1.88), a long decision–incision time (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.74–2.24) and a high missing post-CS antibiotic doses rate (OR 2.52, 95% CI 2.10–2.85).
Postglacial evolution of marine and lacustrine water bodies in Bunger Hills
Authors: Berg Sonja , Melles Martin , Gore Damian B. , Verkulich Sergei , Pushina Zina V.
Published: February 2020

Unglaciated coastal areas in East Antarctica provide records of past ice sheet and glacier fluctuations and subsequent environmental conditions. In this paper we review lithological, geochemical, diatom and radiocarbon data from sediment records from inland and epishelf lakes in Bunger Hills, East Antarctica. While some hilltops were unglaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum, till deposits in lake basins indicate infilling by glacier ice prior to the Holocene. Proglacial sedimentation occurred in lakes during the early Holocene. Around 9.6 kabp, deposition of marine sapropel started under relatively warm climate conditions. Inland lakes were affected by high clastic input from meltwater runoff untilc.7.9 kabp, when deposition became highly organic and biogenic proxies indicate a period of cooler conditions. Epishelf lakes experienced a decrease in water exchange with the ocean and increased freshwater input around 7.7 ± 0.2 kabpand after 2.2 kabp. This probably resulted from grounding line advances of the bounding glaciers, which could be either controlled by relative sea level (RSL) lowering and/or climate-driven glacier dynamics. The absence of marine sediments in the postglacial record of Algae Lake indicates that Holocene RSL probably reached a maximum at or below 10 m above present sea level.
Application of nutrient essentiality criteria to dietary carbohydrates
Authors: Tondt Justin , Yancy William S. , Westman Eric C.
Published: February 2020

The purpose of the present review is to describe how human physiology at very low carbohydrate intakes relates to the criteria for nutritional essentiality. Although we did not limit ourselves to one particular type or function of carbohydrates, we did primarily focus on glucose utilisation as that function was used to determine the recommended daily allowance. In the general population, the human body is able to endogenously synthesise carbohydrates, and does not show signs of deficiency in the absence of dietary carbohydrates. However, in certain genetic defects, such as glycogen storage disease type I, absence of dietary carbohydrates causes abnormalities that are resolved with dietary supplementation of carbohydrates. Therefore, dietary carbohydrates may be defined as conditionally essential nutrients because they are nutrients that are not required in the diet for the general population but are required for specific subpopulations. Ketosis may be considered a physiological normal state due to its occurrence in infants in addition to at very low carbohydrate intakes. Although sources of dietary carbohydrates can provide beneficial micronutrients, no signs of micronutrient deficiencies have been reported in clinical trials of low-carbohydrate ketogenic diets. Nonetheless, more research is needed on how micronutrient requirements can change depending on the dietary and metabolic context. More research is also needed on the role of dietary fibre during a low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet as the beneficial effects of dietary fibre were determined on a standard diet and several studies have shown beneficial effects of decreasing non-digestible carbohydrates.
The Politics of MPF Reform: Lessons from Public Attitudes in Hong Kong
Authors: Kühner Stefan , Chou Kee-Lee
Published: February 2020

This article examines public attitudes towards two reform options for the defined-contribution (DC) Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme in Hong Kong: (i) increasing MPF contributions; or (ii) introducing a universal pension partly funded by switching MPF contributions to the universal pension. Drawing on a phone survey conducted with 975 active contributors to the MPF, we examine whether agreement with these MPF reform options can be explained by respondents’ self-interest, attachment to different welfare ideologies, their level of confusion with the MPF, uncertainty about future MPF income, and trust in the Hong Kong government to deal with MPF issues. This research identifies that it is uncertainty with future MPF income and low trust in the Hong Kong government to deal with MPF issues that have the most significant effect on respondents’ MPF reform preferences. Mainstream accounts of the effect of liberalist, universalist, conservative, and familistic welfare ideologies are only partially confirmed.
Linear Versus Nonlinear Methods for Detecting Magnetospheric and Ionospheric Current Systems Patterns
Authors: Alberti T. , Giannattasio F. , De Michelis P. , Consolini G.
Published: February 2020

There is a growing interest in the development of models and methods of analysis aimed to recognize in the geomagnetic field signals the different contributions coming from the various sources both internal and external to the Earth. Many models describing the geomagnetic field of internal and external origin have been developed. Here, we investigate the possibility to recognize in the magnetic field of external origin the different contributions coming from external sources. We consider the measurements of the vertical component of the geomagnetic field recorded by the European Space Agency (ESA) Swarm A and B satellites at low and mid latitudes during a geomagnetically quiet period. We apply two different methods of analysis: a linear method, that is, the empirical orthogonal function (EOF), and a nonlinear one, that is, the multivariate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD). Due to the high nonlinear behavior of the different external contributions to the magnetic signal the MEMD seems to recognize better than EOF the main intrinsic modes capable of describing the different magnetic spatial structures embedded in the analyzed signal. By applying the MEMD only five modes and a residue are necessary to recognize the different contributions coming from the external sources in the magnetic signal against the 26 modes that are necessary in the case of the EOF. This study is an example of the potential of the MEMD to give new insights into the analysis of the geomagnetic field of external origin and to separate the ionospheric signal from the magnetospheric one in a simple and rapid way.
Recent Progress in Lunar Laser Ranging at Grasse Laser Ranging Station
Authors: Chabé Julien , Courde Clément , Torre Jean‐Marie , Bouquillon Sébastien , Bourgoin Adrien , Aimar Mourad , Albanèse Dominique , Chauvineau Bertrand , Mariey Hervé , Martinot‐Lagarde Grégoire , Maurice Nicolas , Phung Duy‐Hà , Samain Etienne , Viot Hervé
Published: February 2020

Based on a fully passive space segment, the lunar laser ranging experiment is the last of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package to operate. Observations from the Grasse lunar laser ranging station have been made on a daily basis since the first echoes obtained in 1981. In this paper, first, we review the principle and the technical aspects of lunar laser ranging. We then give a brief summary of the progress made at the Grasse laser ranging facility (Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur, Calern Plateau on the French Riviera) since the first echoes. The current performance, driven by the use of an infrared wavelength laser, is presented in the last section for the year 2018.
Global Prompt Proton Sensor Network: Monitoring Solar Energetic Protons Based on GPS Satellite Constellation
Authors: Chen Yue , Morley Steven K. , Carver Matthew R.
Published: February 2020

Energetic particle instruments on board Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites form a powerful global prompt proton sensor network (GPPSn) that provides an unprecedented opportunity to monitor and characterize solar energetic protons targeting the Earth. The medium‐Earth orbits of the GPS constellation have the unique advantage of allowing solar energetic protons to be simultaneously measured from multiple points in both open‐ and closed‐field line regions. Examining two example intervals of solar proton events, we showcase in this study how GPS proton data are prepared, calibrated, and utilized to reveal important features of solar protons, including their source, acceleration/scattering by interplanetary shocks, the relative position of Earth when impinged by these shocks, the shape of solar particle fronts, the access of solar protons inside the dynamic geomagnetic field, and temporally varying proton distributions in both energy and space. By comparing to Van Allen Probes data, GPS proton observations are further demonstrated not only to be useful for qualitatively monitoring the dynamics of solar protons but also for quantitative scientific research including determining cutoff L‐shells. Our results establish that this GPPSn can join forces with other existing solar proton monitors and contribute to observing, warning, understanding, and ultimately forecasting the incoming solar energetic proton events.
A Century of Reduced ENSO Variability During the Medieval Climate Anomaly
Authors: Lawman Allison E. , Quinn Terrence M. , Partin Judson W. , Thirumalai Kaustubh , Taylor Frederick W. , Wu Chung‐Che , Yu Tsai‐Luen , Gorman Meaghan K. , Shen Chuan‐Chou
Published: February 2020

Climate model simulations of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) behavior for the last millennium demonstrate interdecadal to centennial changes in ENSO variability that can arise purely from stochastic processes internal to the climate system. That said, the instrumental record of ENSO does not have the temporal coverage needed to capture the full range of natural ENSO variability observed in long, unforced climate model simulations. Here we demonstrate a probabilistic framework to quantify changes in ENSO variability via histograms and probability density functions using monthly instrumental and coral‐based sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies from 1900–2005 and 1051–1150 CE. We find that reconstructed SST anomalies from modern corals from the southwest Pacific capture changes in ENSO variability that are consistent with instrumental SST data from the central equatorial Pacific. Fossil coral records indicate 100 years of relatively lower ENSO variability during part of the Medieval Climate Anomaly. Our results demonstrate that periods of reduced ENSO variability can last a century, far longer in duration than modern observations in the instrumental record of ENSO, but consistent with results from unforced climate model simulations.
Evaluation on the Quasi‐Realistic Ionospheric Prediction Using an Ensemble Kalman Filter Data Assimilation Algorithm
Authors: He Jianhui , Yue Xinan , Le Huijun , Ren Zhipeng , Wan Weixing
Published: February 2020

In this work, we evaluated the quasi‐realistic ionosphere forecasting capability by an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) ionosphere and thermosphere data assimilation algorithm. The National Center for Atmospheric Research Thermosphere Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model is used as the background model in the system. The slant total electron contents (TECs) from global International Global Navigation Satellite Systems Service ground‐based receivers and from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate are assimilated into the system, and the ionosphere is then predicted in advance during the quiet interval of 23 to 27 March 2010. The predicted ionosphere vertical TEC (VTEC) and the critical frequency foF2 are validated by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology VTEC and global ionosondes network, respectively. We found that the ionosphere forecast quality could be enhanced by optimizing the thermospheric neutral components via the EnKF method. The ionosphere electron density forecast accuracy can be improved by at least 10% for 24 hr. Furthermore, the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics/Global Ultraviolet Imager (TIMED/GUVI) [O/N2] observations are used to validate the predicted thermosphere [O/N2]. The validation shows that the [O/N2] optimized by EnKF has better agreement with the TIMED/GUVI observation. This study further demonstrates the validity of EnKF in enhancing the ionospheric forecast capability in addition to our previous observing system simulation experiments by He et al. (2019, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JA026554).
Forearc Basin Stratigraphy Resulting From Syntectonic Sedimentation During Accretionary Wedge Growth: Insights From Sandbox Analog Experiments
Authors: Noda Atsushi , Koge Hiroaki , Yamada Yasuhiro , Miyakawa Ayumu , Ashi Juichiro
Published: February 2020

Forearc basin stratigraphy is expected to record a detailed history of the deformation and growth pattern of an accretionary wedge. However, the relationship between syntectonic basin sedimentation and growth of a wedge remains poorly understood, including how deformation of the wedge modifies the basin stratigraphy and how syntectonic sedimentation influences deformation of the wedge. This study reproduced accretionary wedges with and without syntectonic sedimentation by analog sandbox experiments. The results show that basin stratigraphy varied with changes of the growth pattern of the accretionary wedge. In the case that wedge growth was dominated by frontal accretion phase, the depositional area migrated trenchward. In contrast, underthrusting phase caused the sediment layers to be tilted landward and the depocenter to migrate landward. A prolonged underthrusting can result in combining a retrowedge basin with a wedge top basin and yield a wide area of accommodation space. The occurrence of two types of basin stratigraphy (trenchward and landward migration of the depocenter) reflects the two different types of deformation (frontal accretion phase and underthrusting phase), and these differences possibly depend on a contrast in strength of the basal shear resistance between the inner and outer parts of the wedge due to temporal and spatial variations of sedimentation on the wedge. A change in the magnitude of normal stress acting on the wedge base likely influenced the mode of deformation of the wedge. These results suggest that forearc basin stratigraphy is influenced by the growth pattern of accretionary wedges, which is itself affected by syntectonic sedimentation.
14C‐Dating Model for Groundwater Affected by CO2 Inputs From Deep Underground Formations
Authors: Wang Tao , Chen Jiansheng , Zhang Chenming , Zhan Lucheng , Li Ling
Published: February 2020

Groundwater age, defined as the time since recharge, is useful for estimating groundwater renewal rates. Radiocarbon (14C) activity has been widely applied for groundwater age dating since the 1950s. However, this approach can be complicated by other 14C‐free carbon sources, which dilute the 14C content at the time of groundwater recharge. Several corrective models have been introduced to determine the dilution factor using carbon isotopes and chemical mass balances, but these models do not account for the influence of deep crust and/or mantle (endogenic) carbon sources and are hence not applicable for dating groundwater affected by endogenic CO2. Therefore, we developed a new 14C groundwater dating model including three carbon end‐members (biogenically derived sedimentary carbon, carbonate carbon, and deep crust and/or mantle carbon) to quantify the dilution factor. This model was tested by age dating groundwater samples from the United States that were influenced by endogenic carbon (based on their δ13C value), showing that the conventional method overestimated the 14C apparent age by ~19% on average. The average uncertainty for the conventional and new method is approximately 1.58% and 11.2%, respectively. The new method proposed here can be applied to groundwater age dating in other regions where aquifers are influenced by endogenic CO2. However, its application requires a priori identification of local geological, hydrogeological, and geochemical conditions.
Effects of Temperature on Tidally Influenced Coastal Unconfined Aquifers
Authors: Nguyen Thuy T. M. , Yu Xiayang , Pu Li , Xin Pei , Zhang Chenming , Barry D. A. , Li Ling
Published: February 2020

Aquifer‐ocean temperature contrasts are common worldwide. Their effects on flow and salinity distributions in unconfined coastal aquifers are, however, poorly understood. Based on laboratory experiments and numerical simulations, we examined the responses of flow processes in tidally influenced aquifers to aquifer‐ocean temperature differences. The extent of seawater intrusion and seawater circulation were found to vary with the aquifer‐ocean temperature contrast. Compared with the isothermal case, an increase of up to 40% of the tide‐induced seawater circulation rate in the intertidal zone was observed when seawater is warmer than groundwater. In contrast, saltwater circulation in the lower saltwater wedge declines notably no matter whether the seawater is warmer or colder than groundwater. As the seawater temperature rises, the contribution of tide‐induced circulation to the overall increase of submarine groundwater discharge becomes more important compared with that of density‐driven seawater circulation. Both the upper saline plume and the freshwater discharge zone expand significantly with warmer seawater whereas the lower saltwater wedge contracts.
Mechanically and biologically skin-like elastomers for bio-integrated electronics
Authors: Chen Shuo , Sun Lijie , Zhou Xiaojun , Guo Yifan , Song Jianchun , Qian Sihao , Liu Zenghe , Guan Qingbao , Meade Jeffries Eric , Liu Wenguang , Wang Yadong , He Chuanglong , You Zhengwei
Published: February 2020

The bio-integrated electronics industry is booming and becoming more integrated with biological tissues. To successfully integrate with the soft tissues of the body (eg. skin), the material must possess many of the same properties including compliance, toughness, elasticity, and tear resistance. In this work, we prepare mechanically and biologically skin-like materials (PSeD-U elastomers) by designing a unique physical and covalent hybrid crosslinking structure. The introduction of an optimal amount of hydrogen bonds significantly strengthens the resultant elastomers with 11 times the toughness and 3 times the strength of covalent crosslinked PSeD elastomers, while maintaining a low modulus. Besides, the PSeD-U elastomers show nonlinear mechanical behavior similar to skins. Furthermore, PSeD-U elastomers demonstrate the cytocompatibility and biodegradability to achieve better integration with tissues. Finally, piezocapacitive pressure sensors are fabricated with high pressure sensitivity and rapid response to demonstrate the potential use of PSeD-U elastomers in bio-integrated electronics.
Visualization and molecular characterization of whole-brain vascular networks with capillary resolution
Authors: Miyawaki Takeyuki , Morikawa Shota , Susaki Etsuo A. , Nakashima Ai , Takeuchi Haruki , Yamaguchi Shun , Ueda Hiroki R. , Ikegaya Yuji
Published: February 2020

Structural elucidation and molecular scrutiny of cerebral vasculature is crucial for understanding the functions and diseases of the brain. Here, we introduce SeeNet, a method for near-complete three-dimensional visualization of cerebral vascular networks with high signal-to-noise ratios compatible with molecular phenotyping. SeeNet employs perfusion of a multifunctional crosslinker, vascular casting by temperature-controlled polymerization of hybrid hydrogels, and a bile salt-based tissue-clearing technique optimized for observation of vascular connectivity. SeeNet is capable of whole-brain visualization of molecularly characterized cerebral vasculatures at the single-microvessel level. Moreover, SeeNet reveals a hitherto unidentified vascular pathway bridging cerebral and hippocampal vessels, thus serving as a potential tool to evaluate the connectivity of cerebral vasculature.
Multi-resolution localization of causal variants across the genome
Authors: Sesia Matteo , Katsevich Eugene , Bates Stephen , Candès Emmanuel , Sabatti Chiara
Published: February 2020

In the statistical analysis of genome-wide association data, it is challenging to precisely localize the variants that affect complex traits, due to linkage disequilibrium, and to maximize power while limiting spurious findings. Here we report onKnockoffZoom: a flexible method that localizes causal variants at multiple resolutions by testing the conditional associations of genetic segments of decreasing width, while provably controlling the false discovery rate. Our method utilizes artificial genotypes as negative controls and is equally valid for quantitative and binary phenotypes, without requiring any assumptions about their genetic architectures. Instead, we rely on well-established genetic models of linkage disequilibrium. We demonstrate that our method can detect more associations than mixed effects models and achieve fine-mapping precision, at comparable computational cost. Lastly, we applyKnockoffZoomto data from 350k subjects in the UK Biobank and report many new findings.
Cation-controlled wetting properties of vermiculite membranes and its promise for fouling resistant oil–water separation
Authors: Huang K. , Rowe P. , Chi C. , Sreepal V. , Bohn T. , Zhou K.-G. , Su Y. , Prestat E. , Pillai P. Balakrishna , Cherian C. T. , Michaelides A. , Nair R. R.
Published: February 2020

Manipulating the surface energy, and thereby the wetting properties of solids, has promise for various physical, chemical, biological and industrial processes. Typically, this is achieved by either chemical modification or by controlling the hierarchical structures of surfaces. Here we report a phenomenon whereby the wetting properties of vermiculite laminates are controlled by the hydrated cations on the surface and in the interlamellar space. We find that vermiculite laminates can be tuned from superhydrophilic to hydrophobic simply by exchanging the cations; hydrophilicity decreases with increasing cation hydration free energy, except for lithium. The lithium-exchanged vermiculite laminate is found to provide a superhydrophilic surface due to its anomalous hydrated structure at the vermiculite surface. Building on these findings, we demonstrate the potential application of superhydrophilic lithium exchanged vermiculite as a thin coating layer on microfiltration membranes to resist fouling, and thus, we address a major challenge for oil–water separation technology.
Bismuthene for highly efficient carbon dioxide electroreduction reaction
Authors: Yang Fa , Elnabawy Ahmed O. , Schimmenti Roberto , Song Ping , Wang Jiawei , Peng Zhangquan , Yao Shuang , Deng Ruiping , Song Shuyan , Lin Yue , Mavrikakis Manos , Xu Weilin
Published: February 2020

Bismuth (Bi) has been known as a highly efficient electrocatalyst for CO2 reduction reaction. Stable free-standing two-dimensional Bi monolayer (Bismuthene) structures have been predicted theoretically, but never realized experimentally. Here, we show the first simple large-scale synthesis of free-standing Bismuthene, to our knowledge, and demonstrate its high electrocatalytic efficiency for formate (HCOO−) formation from CO2 reduction reaction. The catalytic performance is evident by the high Faradaic efficiency (99% at −580 mV vs. Reversible Hydrogen Electrode (RHE)), small onset overpotential (<90 mV) and high durability (no performance decay after 75 h and annealing at 400 °C). Density functional theory calculations show the structure-sensitivity of the CO2 reduction reaction over Bismuthene and thicker nanosheets, suggesting that selective formation of HCOO− indeed can proceed easily on Bismuthene (111) facet due to the unique compressive strain. This work paves the way for the extensive experimental investigation of Bismuthene in many different fields.
Co-existence of leiomyomas, adenomyosis and endometriosis in women with endometrial cancer
Authors: Johnatty Sharon E. , Stewart Colin J. R. , Smith Deborah , Nguyen Anthony , O’ Dwyer John , O’Mara Tracy A. , Webb Penelope M. , Spurdle Amanda B.
Published: February 2020

Leiomyomas, adenomyosis, and endometriosis are reported to be risk factors for endometrial carcinoma (EC), and adenomyosis and endometriosis also for ovarian carcinoma (OC). We aimed to describe the prevalence of these conditions in EC patients with or without an OC diagnosis, and to investigate their relationship with EC risk and prognostic factors in these patients. We evaluated the co-existence of these three conditions in 1399 EC patients, and compared the prevalence of epidemiological risk factors and tumor prognostic features in patients with each condition versus not. Prevalence of conditions was also assessed in the subset of patients with prior/concurrent OC. The observed coexistence of leiomyomas, adenomyosis and endometriosis significantly deviated from that expected (P = 1.2 × 10−8). Patients were more likely to: report a younger age at menarche (PTrend = 0.004) if they had leiomyomas; have used oral contraceptives (P = 6.6 × 10−5) or had ≥2 full-term pregnancies (PTrend = 2.0 × 10−9) if they had adenomyosis; be diagnosed with EC at younger age (P = 5.0 × 10−11) if they had endometriosis. Patients with prior/concurrent OC were more likely to be diagnosed at younger age (P = 5.0 × 10−5), have endometriosis (P = 9.9 × 10−7), and present with higher stage EC (PTrend = 6.6 × 10−5). These findings justify further consideration of these gynecologic conditions as independent risk and prognostic factors for EC.