bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Credit Access, U.S. Agricultural Productivity, and Residual Returns to Resources
Authors: Sabasi Darlington , Shumway C. Richard , Kompaniyets Lyudmyla
Published: August 2021

We examine the relationship credit access has had with the U.S. agricultural productivity and residual returns to resources. Our theoretical analysis suggests that limited credit access can be sufficient to prevent a representative farmer from maximizing both short- and long-run profits. Empirical results show that increased credit access is positively associated with both productivity and residual returns to resources. Our findings imply that one way to stimulate the U.S. agricultural productivity growth is to increase credit access. They also provide strong empirical support for the productivity-stimulating value of programs such as the Farm Service Agency’s Farm Loan Program.
Disability, Human Rights Violations, and Crimes Against Humanity
Authors: Pons William I. , Lord Janet E. , Stein Michael Ashley
Published: August 2021

Persons with disabilities have historically been subjected to egregious human rights violations. Yet despite well-documented and widespread harms, one billion persons with disabilities remain largely neglected by the international laws, legal processes, and institutions that seek to redress those violations, including crimes against humanity (CAH). This Article argues for the propriety of prosecuting egregious and systemic human rights violations against persons with disabilities as a CAH, and, in addition, asserts the necessity of ensuring the accessibility of international criminal processes to those individuals. The UN Security Council's recent acknowledgement of the enhanced risk that persons with disabilities experience during armed conflict, the growing evidence of widespread human rights violations against them, and an ongoing effort to forge a UN convention on the prevention and punishment of CAH make these arguments especially timely.
Easing Medical Device Regulatory Oversight: The FDA and Testing Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Maxwell Katelynn
Published: August 2021

The FDA already subjects most medical devices to much less stringent approval requirements than drugs and biologics, and attempts to speed up rollout during the COVID crisis have been problematic. Agency decisions, including to allow antibody test marketing without emergency use authorization or review, and the back-and-forth guidance on laboratory-developed tests, have met harsh criticism and unreliable results. Though the long-term results of these decisions are unclear, the FDA’s credibility, reliability, and commitment to safety are threatened by even further lessening medical device regulatory oversight during the coronavirus pandemic. The relaxed and fix-it-later approach to many of the FDA’s public health emergency decisions regarding medical devices reflect the ongoing criticisms of medical device regulation in general, specifically the 510(k) process and laboratory developed test regulation, offering a point of reflection towards reform. Adaptive legislation and a risk-based and evidentiary approach to premarket and postmarket review can begin to address these issues both generally and in an emergency context.
Philippine private sector response, strategies, and state-business relations toward economic recovery and growth post-COVID-19
Authors: Reyes Lara Gianina
Published: August 2021

The Philippines was among the fastest-growing economies averaging within the 6.5 percent GDP growth in the past five years. However, the COVID-19 crisis brought major disruptions to the Philippine economy as growth, employment, and overall productivity fell into recession levels along with the declaration of a nationwide lockdown. As the pandemic resulted in a series of business closures, supply chain breakdowns, and massive job cuts, the private sector was forced to confront the challenges brought by the pandemic including its threat to business continuity and survival. This article presents the private sector's assessment of the pandemic's impact on the Philippine economy along with their views on the national pandemic response and the extent of public-private collaborations in countering the effects of COVID-19. Following the insights and experiences shared by industry leaders and other corporate executives, this article also discusses pivots in corporate strategy along with a significant shift in corporate mindset toward new ways of doing business and fulfilling their responsibilities in society.
Varieties of Deliberation: Framing Plurality in Political CSR
Authors: Dawkins Cedric E.
Published: August 2021

This article argues that the concept of deliberation is construed too narrowly in political corporate social responsibility (CSR) and that a concept of deliberation for political CSR should err toward useful speech acts rather than reciprocity and charity. It draws from the political philosophy, labor relations, and business ethics literatures to outline a framework for an extended notion of deliberative engagement. The characters of deliberative behavior and deliberative environment are held to generate four modes of engagement: strategic deliberation, unitarist deliberation, pluralist deliberation, and deliberative activism. The article concludes by arguing that political CSR will be better positioned to realize its potential by moving away from primarily consensus-centered objectives to a more responsive range of deliberative goals and practice.
Financial support by older adults to family members: a configurational perspective
Authors: Baeriswyl Marie , Girardin Myriam , Oris Michel
Published: August 2021

Most research on financial inter vivos transfers from older parents to their family members is focused on the giver–receiver dyad, usually between an older parent and an adult child. This study aimed to investigate older adults' financial support beyond this level of intergenerational dyads using an egocentric network perspective (i.e., the configurational approach). Data were from a sample of 2,991 older adults (aged 65 and older) from the Vivre/Leben/Vivere study, a large survey addressing family life and health conditions of older people in Switzerland. We used Wald tests and regression analyses to identify how financial transfers are related to family network properties in later life. Findings showed that older parents' propensity to provide financial support is associated with the density of practical help exchanges within the family (mainly for men) and with the position (mainly for women) and the role they play within their family configuration.
Dysregulation of immune response in otitis media
Authors: Mather Michael W. , Powell Steven , Talks Benjamin , Ward Chris , Bingle Colin D. , Haniffa Muzlifah , Powell Jason
Published: August 2021

Objective

Otitis media (OM) is a common reason for children to be prescribed antibiotics and undergo surgery but a thorough understanding of disease mechanisms is lacking. We evaluate the evidence of a dysregulated immune response in the pathogenesis of OM.

Methods

A comprehensive systematic review of the literature using search terms [otitis media OR glue ear OR AOM OR OME] OR [middle ear AND (infection OR inflammation)] which were run through Medline and Embase via Ovid, including both human and animal studies. In total, 82 955 studies underwent automated filtering followed by manual screening. One hundred studies were included in the review.

Results

Most studies were based on in vitro or animal work. Abnormalities in pathogen detection pathways, such as Toll-like receptors, have confirmed roles in OM. The aetiology of OM, its chronic subgroups (chronic OM, persistent OM with effusion) and recurrent acute OM is complex; however, inflammatory signalling mechanisms are frequently implicated. Host epithelium likely plays a crucial role, but the characterisation of human middle ear tissue lags behind that of other anatomical subsites.

Conclusions

Translational research for OM presently falls far behind its clinical importance. This has likely hindered the development of new diagnostic and treatment modalities. Further work is urgently required; particularly to disentangle the respective immune pathologies in the clinically observed phenotypes and thereby work towards more personalised treatments.
The Paradox of Civilization: Preinstitutional Sources of Security and Prosperity
Authors: DAL BÓ ERNESTO , HERNÁNDEZ-LAGOS PABLO , MAZZUCA SEBASTIÁN
Published: August 2021

The production of economic surplus, or “prosperity,” was fundamental to financing the rise of pristine civilizations. Yet, prosperity attracts predation, which discourages the investments required for civilization. To the extent that the economic footing of civilization creates existential security threats, civilization is paradoxical. We claim that, in addition to surplus production, civilizations require surplus protection, or “security.” Drawing from archaeology and history, we model the trade-offs facing a society on its path to civilization. We emphasize preinstitutional forces, especially the geographical environment, that shape growth and defense capabilities and derive the conditions under which these capabilities help escape the civilizational paradox. We provide qualitative illustration of the model by analyzing the rise of the first two civilizations, Sumer and Egypt.
County Over Party: How Governors Prioritized Geography Not Particularism in the Distribution of Opportunity Zones
Authors: Glick David , Palmer Maxwell
Published: August 2021

Allocating resources is a central function of government, and the distributive politics literature provides considerable evidence of leaders around the world directing resources to co-partisan voters and officials. In the United States, studies of ‘presidential particularism’ have recently demonstrated strategic targeting by the federal executive branch. This letter extends the inquiry to states using an unusually rich case in which all governors simultaneously faced decisions about allocating a constrained resource – tax advantaged status for economic development – from an exogenously generated list of geographic possibilities. This study tests whether governors rewarded their supporters' and allies' areas alongside two alternatives: (1) spreading the wealth by geographic subunits and (2) policy need. It finds no evidence of gubernatorial particularism. Instead, Republicans and Democratic governors prioritized allocating opportunity zones geographically and made efforts to designate at least one in each county. They were also responsive to policy need.
Comparison of metabolic, oxidative and inflammatory status of Simmental × Holstein crossbred with parental breeds during the peripartal and early lactation periods
Authors: De Matteis Giovanna , Scatà Maria Carmela , Catillo Gennaro , Grandoni Francesco , Rossi Emanuela , Meo Zilio David , Crisà Alessandra , Lopreiato Vincenzo , Trevisi Erminio , Barile Vittoria Lucia
Published: August 2021

The aim of the research reported in this paper was to evaluate plasma concentrations of energy, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers of Simmental (sire) × Holstein (dam) crossbred cows, in comparison with the two parental breeds during the peripartal and early lactation periods and to estimate the effects of heterosis for these traits. Thirty-three animals, managed under the same conditions, 8 Simmental (SI), 9 Holstein (HO) and 16 crossbred (CR) cows were enrolled in this study. Glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), total protein, albumin, creatinine and urea were determined in blood sampled at six different time points (30 ± 3 and 15 ± 3 d before the expected calving date, at calving and 15, 30 and 60 d after calving). Furthermore, derived reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs), biological antioxidant potential (BAP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), haptoglobin (Hp) and serum amyloid A protein (SAA) were determined to evaluate inflammatory and oxidative status. Results showed that the CR group had significantly lower average values of glucose and NEFA when compared to HO group; signifcantly lower values of urea than SI group and significantly higher values of creatinine than HO. Furthermore, CR cows showed the lowest average value of d-ROMs with respect to SI and HO parental breeds. Finally, the average value of haptoglobin was significantly lower in CR and HO groups, when compared to SI group. As for the heterosis we found the highest (positive) percentage for CK (98%) and BAP (47%) and the lowest (negative) percentage for OSi (−75%) and d-ROMs (−39%). A negative percentage was also found for the glucose (−11%) and NEFA (−20%) toward the Simmental parental breed. Our results suggest a different response among the three genetic groups during the peripartal and early lactation periods. In particular, CR and SI cows seem more adaptable regarding energy metabolism and oxidative status. Heterosis led to a positive effect on those parameters in Simmental (sire) × Holstein (dam) crossbred cows F1 population (50% Simmental and 50% Holstein).
A closed-form approximation formula for pricing European options under a three-factor model
Authors: Kil Hye-mee , Kim Jeong-Hoon
Published: August 2021

The double-mean-reverting model, introduced by Gatheral [(2008). Consistent modeling of SPX and VIX options. In The Fifth World Congress of the Bachelier Finance Society London, July 18], is known to be a successful three-factor model that can be calibrated to both CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) and S&P 500 Index (SPX) options. However, the calibration of this model may be slow because there is no closed-form solution formula for European options. In this paper, we use a rescaled version of the model developed by Huh et al. [(2018). A scaled version of the double-mean-reverting model for VIX derivatives. Mathematics and Financial Economics 12: 495–515] and obtain explicitly a closed-form pricing formula for European option prices. Our formulas for the first and second-order approximations do not require any complicated calculation of integral. We demonstrate that a faster calibration result of the double-mean revering model is available and yet the practical implied volatility surface of SPX options can be produced. In particular, not only the usual convex behavior of the implied volatility surface but also the unusual concave down behavior as shown in the COVID-19 market can be captured by our formula.
Buildings for Dollars and Oil: East German and Romanian Construction Companies in Cold War Iraq
Authors: Stanek Łukasz
Published: August 2021

This article discusses the partial integration of companies from socialist Eastern Europe into the nascent economic globalisation in the late Cold War. By focusing on the industrial slaughterhouse designed and built in Baghdad by East German and Romanian companies (1974–81), it shows how they operated within and across the political economy of state socialism and the emerging, Western-dominated market of construction services. In Baghdad, East Germans and Romanians struggled with working across differing monetary regimes, inefficient corporate structures and the requirement to comply with Western standards and regulations. This article shows how they strived to bypass obstacles and to exploit opportunities stemming from their liminal and unequal position in Iraq. By zooming into architectural and engineering documentation, it argues that petrobarter agreements, or the exchange of crude oil for goods and services, shaped programmes, layouts, technologies and materialities of buildings constructed by Eastern Europeans in Iraq and the region.
Piled Modifiers, Buried Verbs, and Other Turgid Prose in the American Political Science Review
Authors: DeScioli Peter , Pinker Steven
Published: August 2021

Academic writing is notoriously difficult to read. Can political science do better? To assess the state of prose in political science, we examined a recent issue of the American Political Science Review. We evaluated the articles according to the basic principles of style endorsed by writing experts. We find that the writing suffers most from heavy noun phrases in forms such as noun noun noun and adjective adjective noun noun. Further, we describe five contributors that swell noun phrases: piled modifiers, needless words, nebulous nouns, missing prepositions, and buried verbs. We document more than a thousand examples and demonstrate how to revise each one with principles of style. We also draw on research in cognitive science to explain why these constructions confuse, mislead, and distract readers.
Executive control in bilingual aphasia: a systematic review
Authors: Mooijman Saskia , Schoonen Rob , Roelofs Ardi , Ruiter Marina B.
Published: August 2021

Much research has been dedicated to the effects of bilingualism on executive control (EC). For bilinguals withaphasia, the interplay with EC is complex. In this systematic review, we synthesize research on this topic and provide an overview of the current state of the field. First, we examine the evidence for EC deficits in bilingual persons with aphasia (bPWA). We then discuss the domain generality of bilingual language control impairments. Finally, we evaluate the bilingual advantage hypothesis in bPWA. We conclude that (1) EC impairments in bPWA are frequently observed, (2) experimental results on the relationship between linguistic and domain-general control are mixed, (3) bPWA with language control problems in everyday communication have domain-general EC problems, and (4) there are indications for EC advantages in bPWA. We end with directions for experimental work that could provide better insight into the intricate relationship between EC and bilingual aphasia.
Be Responsible?
Authors: Meier Brian P. , Kitchens Michael B. , Kupersmith Danielle E. , Houck Kristie E. , Keyton Nevada S. , Petrasic Sydney E. , Schultz Ethan H. , Sheriff Sierra S. , Simmers Matthew M. , Underwood John O. , Walker Sara , Zweizig Daymond N.
Published: August 2021

Abstract. The bystander effect reveals that people are less likely to help a person in need when others are present. We examined the impact of priming the concept of responsibility on the bystander effect in a field study. Lone pedestrians ( N = 259) were randomly assigned to a two (Bystanders: none and three nonresponsive bystanders) by two (Shirt: blank shirt and shirt with “Be Responsible” written on the front) design. A researcher dropped eight pens approximately 15 ft from a lone pedestrian, while wearing one of the two shirts in the presence/absence of bystanders (confederates). The bystander effect was found: Pedestrians helped pick up pens more frequently in the no bystanders condition (59.05% helped) compared to the nonresponsive bystanders condition (41.67% helped). The responsibility prime tended to boost helping rates, but it did not significantly increase helping rates either as a main effect or as part of an interaction term. The bystander effect was replicated in a field setting, but priming the concept of responsibility did not appear to reduce it.
When Dogs Shrink the Typical Lengthening Effect Caused by Negative Emotions
Authors: Hallez Quentin , Baltenneck Nicolas , Galiano Anna-Rita
Published: August 2021

Abstract. This paper examines how dogs can modulate the effects of emotion on time perception. To this end, participants performed a temporal bisection task with stimulus durations presented in the form of neutral or emotional facial expressions (angry, sad, and happy faces). In the first experiment, dog owners were compared with nondog owners, while in the second experiment, students were randomly assigned to one of the three waiting groups (waiting alone, with another person, or with a dog) before being confronted with the temporal bisection task. The results showed that dogs allowed the participants to regulate the intensity of negative emotional effects, while no statistical differences emerged for the happy facial expressions. In certain circumstances, dogs could even lead the subjects to generate underestimation of time when faced with negative facial expressions.
A Fast Algorithm for Elastic Wave‐Mode Separation Using Deep Learning With Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs)
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Fomel Sergey , Pham Nam
Published: August 2021

Wave‐mode separation and wave‐vector decomposition aims to separate a full elastic wavefield into different wavefields corresponding to their respective wave mode. The wave mode separation process allows the handling of different wave modes independently, which is important to ensure the accuracy of migration. Most of the previously developed algorithms require the knowledge of polarization vectors that are calculated using the Christoffel equation in the wave‐number domain by using the anisotropic parameters of the mesh nodes. This process can be really expensive, especially for quasi‐differential operators. We propose to implement a framework using deep neural networks (DNNs) for elastic wave‐mode separation in a heterogeneous anisotropic medium. To avoid the necessity of solving the Christoffel equation at each spatial location of the medium, we develop an efficient algorithm using generative adversarial networks (GANs). In particular, we propose a wave‐mode decoupling workflow where we train the neural network using five to six time slices for a particular source location and test on all other time slices for that source location, as well as for all other source locations that are not a part of training. Numerical examples of increasing complexity show that the proposed approach provides an effective wave‐mode decomposition method for heterogeneous and strongly anisotropic media.
Mantle Flow Patterns Beneath the Junction of Multiple Subduction Systems Between the Pacific and Tethys Domains, SE Asia: Constraints From SKS‐Wave Splitting Measurements
Authors: Cao Lingmin , He Xiaobo , Zhao Liang , Lü ChuanChuan , Hao Tianyao , Zhao Minghui , Qiu Xuelin
Published: August 2021

The region around the Celebes Sea, SE Asia, is evolving within a convergent tectonic environment involving the Pacific plate to the east and the Indian‐Australian plate to the south. It is arguably one of the most tectonically complex regions in the world and serves as an ideal setting to study dynamic interactions between the Pacific and Tethys tectonic domains. The issue of which subducting plate plays a leading role in governing the regional mantle flow is not well understood. Mantle flow can be characterized by seismic anisotropy observations, providing clues for understanding regional tectonics. We conducted SKS‐wave splitting analysis by using data from seven seismic stations located around the Celebes Sea. Our results, when combined with previous observations, suggest the presence of various types of mantle flow in this area, including (a) corner flow in the mantle wedge above the westward‐subducting Molucca Sea (Sangihe) slab, (b) two‐layer anisotropy related to the eastward‐subducting Molucca Sea (Halmahera) slab, (c) deflected flow due to proximity to the Sangihe slab's edges, (d) trench‐normal mantle flow beneath southeastern Borneo due to the subduction of the Indian‐Australian plate, and (e) Northwest Borneo‐Palawan trough‐parallel mantle flow beneath northeastern Borneo. Various types of mantle flow indicate that the dynamic interactions of adjacent subduction zones played crucial roles in influencing the regional upper mantle dynamics between the Tethys and western Pacific domains since the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent in the Mesozoic.
Climate Change and Women's Health: A Scoping Review
Authors: Desai Zalak , Zhang Ying
Published: August 2021

Climate change is a significant global health threat that is, underpinned by the existing issue of gender inequality. A scoping review was conducted to better understand the relationship between climate change and women's health. We found a notably higher proportion of existing studies focused on low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs). Most of the studies included were published after 2010, with predominantly qualitative study designs. Four key themes were identified, including women's exposure to climate change risks, the impacts on women's health, factors contributing to the vulnerability, and responding strategies in addressing climate change. The scoping review indicates that women's health is at higher risks due to the vulnerability to climate change, especially in LMICs. Meanwhile, it is beneficial to have insights from women in terms of adaptation and mitigation strategies to build stronger resilience. Mixed methods are strongly recommended to support evidence‐based policy making in responding to climate change.
Modeling of Possible Plume Mechanisms on Europa
Authors: Vorburger Audrey , Wurz Peter
Published: August 2021

Plumes spewing water high above Europa's surface have been inferred from several observation campaigns in the past decade. Whereas the occasional existence of plumes on Europa has thus been confirmed, the origin of the plumes remains uncertain. Most notably, it is still unclear whether the inferred plumes are of oceanic origin, possibly containing information about the ocean's habitability, or if they are of surficial nature, offering information on the highly processed surface instead. In this study, we use a Monte‐Carlo model to analyze three different plume models, two of which are surficial (near‐surface liquid inclusion and diapir), and one of which originates in the sub‐surface ocean (oceanic plume). We analyze all relevant Lyman‐ and OI 1304 emission mechanisms to determine the three models' emission profiles. These profiles are then compared to the Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectograph measurements presented by Roth, Saur, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051) with the goal of determining which ab initio model fits these measurements best. Our analyses show that all three models investigated produce similar Lyman‐ and OI 130.4 nm emission profiles, with differences being perceivable only on scales well below the HST resolution and sensitivity. Since none of the models contradict the Roth, Saur, et al. (2014, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1247051) observations, none of them can be ruled out as being the acting force behind the observed plumes. The currently available optical measurements are thus not sufficient to determine the physical nature of Europa's plumes, identification of which can only be achieved through higher resolution images or in situ measurements.
CCREM: New Reference Earth Model From the Global Coda‐Correlation Wavefield
Authors: Ma Xiaolong , Tkalčić Hrvoje
Published: August 2021

The existing reference Earth models have provided an excellent one‐dimensional representation of Earth's properties as a function of its radius and explained many seismic observations in a broad frequency band. However, some discrepancies still exist among these models near the first‐order discontinuities (e.g., the core‐mantle and the inner‐core boundaries) due to different data sets and approaches. As a new paradigm in global seismology, the analysis of coda‐correlation wavefield is fundamentally different from interpreting direct observations of seismic phases or free oscillations of the Earth. The correlation features exist in global correlograms due to the similarity of body waves reverberating through the Earth's interior. As such, there is a great potential to utilize the information stored in the coda‐correlation wavefield in constraining the Earth's internal structure. Here, we deploy the global earthquake‐coda correlation wavefield as an independent data source in the 15–50 s period interval to increase the Earth's radial structure constraints. We assemble a data set of multiple pronounced correlation features and fit both their travel times and waveforms by computing synthetic correlograms through a series of candidate models. Misfit measurements for correlation features are then computed to search for the best‐fitting model. The model that provides an optimal representation of the correlation features in the coda‐correlation wavefield is CCREM. It displays differences in radial seismic velocities, especially near the first‐order discontinuities, relative to previously proposed Earth‐reference models. This is the first application of the earthquake‐coda correlation wavefield in constraining the whole Earth's radial velocity structure.
Future Changes in the Indian Ocean Walker Circulation and Links to Kenyan Rainfall
Authors: King James A. , Washington Richard
Published: August 2021

East Africa is vulnerable to hydroclimatic variability and change, and therefore reliable projections of future rainfall are important for climate change adaptation planning. However, the region's climate is affected by complex multi‐scalar processes and poorly represented in climate models, leading to uncertainty surrounding rainfall change. The importance of circulation features in controlling long‐term rainfall variability provides an opportunity to constrain projections. We use a process‐based climate model evaluation methodology to demonstrate links between Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) rainfall biases over Kenya and circulation biases in the Indian Ocean Walker Circulation (IOWC). During both the long and short rains, models with wet biases in historical runs continue to be wet in future. Wet future projections are associated with enhanced easterly winds over the equatorial Indian Ocean, as well as decreasing vertical velocity over Kenya and increasing vertical velocity over the Maritime Continent. We demonstrate that models with a simulated IOWC which is close to reanalysis in historical runs project different changes to Kenyan rainfall than those which do not. In particular, the projected rainfall increase during the long rains is confined to a single month (April) in these models. We call for a renewed focus on the Walker Circulation as a way to constrain uncertain rainfall projections elsewhere in the tropics.
Improved Representation of Low‐Level Mixed‐Phase Clouds in a Global Cloud‐System‐Resolving Simulation
Authors: Noda Akira T. , Seiki Tatsuya , Roh Woosub , Satoh Masaki , Ohno Tomoki
Published: August 2021

Low‐level mixed‐phase clouds are important for Earth's climate but are poorly represented in climate models. A one‐moment microphysics scheme from Seiki and Roh (2020, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-19-0266.1) improves the representation of supercooled water and verifies it with a single‐column model. We evaluate the performance of this scheme using a global cloud‐system‐resolving simulation. We show that the scheme has several major improvements over the original scheme on which it is based, which underestimated the generation of supercooled droplets. The new scheme suppresses the original scheme's tendency to overestimate the conversion of cloud water to rain, vapor to cloud ice, and cloud water to cloud ice. It greatly improves the previously underestimated production of low‐level mixed‐phase clouds at middle‐to‐high latitudes, particularly over the ocean at the middle latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere. It also increases the lifetime of liquid clouds, thus improving the simulation of low‐level liquid clouds in western coastal regions of the tropics. The temperature dependency of the ratio of mass fraction of liquid cloud to the sum of ice and liquid clouds, F, reveals that mixed‐phase clouds statistically develop in a much wider range of temperature (−30°C ∼ 0°C), which supports the development of more mixed‐phase clouds in our simulation. The change to a wider range of F at given temperature is expected to be important, because it allows more complex feedback processes to arise from different cloud phase regimes. An improved simulation in seasonal variation of shortwave radiation and its cloud radiative effect are also identified.
Trace Metal Evidence for Deglacial Ventilation of the Abyssal Pacific and Southern Oceans
Authors: Pavia Frank J. , Wang Shouyi , Middleton Jennifer , Murray Richard W. , Anderson Robert F.
Published: August 2021

The deep ocean has long been recognized as the reservoir that stores the carbon dioxide (CO2) removed from the atmosphere during Pleistocene glacial periods. The removal of glacial atmospheric CO2 into the ocean is likely modulated by an increase in the degree of utilization of macronutrients at the sea surface and enhanced storage of respired CO2 in the deep ocean, known as enhanced efficiency of the biological pump. Enhanced biological pump efficiency during glacial periods is most easily documented in the deep ocean using proxies for oxygen concentrations, which are directly linked to respiratory CO2 levels. We document the enhanced storage of respired CO2 during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in the Pacific Southern Ocean and deepest Equatorial Pacific using records of deglacial authigenic manganese, which form as relict peaks during increases in bottom water oxygen (BWO) concentration. These peaks are found at depths and regions where other oxygenation histories have been ambiguous, due to diagenetic alteration of authigenic uranium, another proxy for BWO. Our results require that the entirety of the abyssal Pacific below approximately 1,000 m was enriched in respired CO2 and depleted in oxygen during the LGM. The presence of authigenic Mn enrichment in the deep Equatorial Pacific for each of the last five deglaciations suggests that the storage of respired CO2 in the deep ocean is a ubiquitous feature of late‐Pleistocene ice ages.
Construction of hollow polydopamine nanoparticle based drug sustainable release system and its application in bone regeneration
Authors: Wang Lu , Liu Shuwei , Ren Chunxia , Xiang Siyuan , Li Daowei , Hao Xinqing , Ni Shilei , Chen Yixin , Zhang Kai , Sun Hongchen
Published: August 2021

Nanomaterial-based drug sustainable release systems have been tentatively applied to bone regeneration. They, however, still face disadvantages of high toxicity, low biocompatibility, and low drug-load capacity. In view of the low toxicity and high biocompatibility of polymer nanomaterials and the excellent load capacity of hollow nanomaterials with high specific surface area, we evaluated the hollow polydopamine nanoparticles (HPDA NPs), in order to find an optimal system to effectively deliver the osteogenic drugs to improve treatment of bone defect. Data demonstrated that the HPDA NPs synthesized herein could efficiently load four types of osteogenic drugs and the drugs can effectively release from the HPDA NPs for a relatively longer time in vitro and in vivo with low toxicity and high biocompatibility. Results of qRT-PCR, ALP, and alizarin red S staining showed that drugs released from the HPDA NPs could promote osteogenic differentiation and proliferation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in vitro. Image data from micro-CT and H&E staining showed that all four osteogenic drugs released from the HPDA NPs effectively promoted bone regeneration in the defect of tooth extraction fossa in vivo, especially tacrolimus. These results suggest that the HPDA NPs, the biodegradable hollow polymer nanoparticles with high drug load rate and sustainable release ability, have good prospect to treat the bone defect in future clinical practice.
Laser solid-phase synthesis of single-atom catalysts
Authors: Peng Yudong , Cao Jianyun , Sha Yang , Yang Wenji , Li Lin , Liu Zhu
Published: August 2021

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) with atomically dispersed catalytic sites have shown outstanding catalytic performance in a variety of reactions. However, the development of facile and high-yield techniques for the fabrication of SACs remains challenging. In this paper, we report a laser-induced solid-phase strategy for the synthesis of Pt SACs on graphene support. Simply by rapid laser scanning/irradiation of a freeze-dried electrochemical graphene oxide (EGO) film loaded with chloroplatinic acid (H2PtCl6), we enabled simultaneous pyrolysis of H2PtCl6 into SACs and reduction/graphitization of EGO into graphene. The rapid freezing of EGO hydrogel film infused with H2PtCl6 solution in liquid nitrogen and the subsequent ice sublimation by freeze-drying were essential to achieve the atomically dispersed Pt. Nanosecond pulsed infrared (IR; 1064 nm) and picosecond pulsed ultraviolet (UV; 355 nm) lasers were used to investigate the effects of laser wavelength and pulse duration on the SACs formation mechanism. The atomically dispersed Pt on graphene support exhibited a small overpotential of −42.3 mV at −10 mA cm−2 for hydrogen evolution reaction and a mass activity tenfold higher than that of the commercial Pt/C catalyst. This method is simple, fast and potentially versatile, and scalable for the mass production of SACs.
A 3D flexible neural interface based on a microfluidic interconnection cable capable of chemical delivery
Authors: Kang Yoo Na , Chou Namsun , Jang Jae-Won , Choe Han Kyoung , Kim Sohee
Published: August 2021

The demand for multifunctional neural interfaces has grown due to the need to provide a better understanding of biological mechanisms related to neurological diseases and neural networks. Direct intracerebral drug injection using microfluidic neural interfaces is an effective way to deliver drugs to the brain, and it expands the utility of drugs by bypassing the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In addition, uses of implantable neural interfacing devices have been challenging due to inevitable acute and chronic tissue responses around the electrodes, pointing to a critical issue still to be overcome. Although neural interfaces comprised of a collection of microneedles in an array have been used for various applications, it has been challenging to integrate microfluidic channels with them due to their characteristic three-dimensional structures, which differ from two-dimensionally fabricated shank-type neural probes. Here we present a method to provide such three-dimensional needle-type arrays with chemical delivery functionality. We fabricated a microfluidic interconnection cable (µFIC) and integrated it with a flexible penetrating microelectrode array (FPMA) that has a 3-dimensional structure comprised of silicon microneedle electrodes supported by a flexible array base. We successfully demonstrated chemical delivery through the developed device by recording neural signals acutely from in vivo brains before and after KCl injection. This suggests the potential of the developed microfluidic neural interface to contribute to neuroscience research by providing simultaneous signal recording and chemical delivery capabilities.
Failure rates associated with guided versus non-guided dental implant placement: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Abdelhay Nancy , Prasad Soni , Gibson Monica Prasad
Published: August 2021

Objective

The purpose of the systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate implant failure rates and their association with guided and free-hand implant placement techniques.

Materials and methods

A literature search was conducted across PubMed, Medline via Ovid, Cochrane database, and Google Scholar. The search was completed in September 2020. Series of meta-analyses were conducted to compare implant failure rates with guided and free-hand techniques.

Results

A total of 3387 articles were identified from the electronic search. After applying the inclusion criteria, eight articles were selected for qualitative assessment and four for quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis). The included studies had a risk ratio of 0.29 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.58), P < 0.001 for the use of guided implant placement. Implant failure rates were affected by the different placement techniques indicated by the test for overall effect (Z = 3.53, P = 0.0004). The incidence of implant failure in guided surgery versus free-hand surgery was found to be 2.25% and 6.42%, respectively.

Conclusion

Both guided and free-hand implant placement techniques resulted in a high implant survival rate. However, implant failure rates were almost three times higher in the free-hand implant placement category. A guided implant placement approach is recommended for a successful outcome.
Heterogeneous integration of single-crystalline rutile nanomembranes with steep phase transition on silicon substrates
Authors: Lee Dong Kyu , Park Yunkyu , Sim Hyeji , Park Jinheon , Kim Younghak , Kim Gi-Yeop , Eom Chang-Beom , Choi Si-Young , Son Junwoo
Published: August 2021

Unrestricted integration of single-crystal oxide films on arbitrary substrates has been of great interest to exploit emerging phenomena from transition metal oxides for practical applications. Here, we demonstrate the release and transfer of a freestanding single-crystalline rutile oxide nanomembranes to serve as an epitaxial template for heterogeneous integration of correlated oxides on dissimilar substrates. By selective oxidation and dissolution of sacrificial VO2 buffer layers from TiO2/VO2/TiO2 by H2O2, millimeter-size TiO2 single-crystalline layers are integrated on silicon without any deterioration. After subsequent VO2 epitaxial growth on the transferred TiO2 nanomembranes, we create artificial single-crystalline oxide/Si heterostructures with excellent sharpness of metal-insulator transition ($$\triangle \rho /\rho$$
△
ρ
/
ρ
> 103) even in ultrathin (<10 nm) VO2 films that are not achievable via direct growth on Si. This discovery offers a synthetic strategy to release the new single-crystalline oxide nanomembranes and an integration scheme to exploit emergent functionality from epitaxial oxide heterostructures in mature silicon devices.
Probing atom dynamics of excited Co-Mo-S nanocrystals in 3D
Authors: Chen Fu-Rong , Van Dyck Dirk , Kisielowski Christian , Hansen Lars P. , Barton Bastian , Helveg Stig
Published: August 2021

Advances in electron microscopy have enabled visualizations of the three-dimensional (3D) atom arrangements in nano-scale objects. The observations are, however, prone to electron-beam-induced object alterations, so tracking of single atoms in space and time becomes key to unravel inherent structures and properties. Here, we introduce an analytical approach to quantitatively account for atom dynamics in 3D atomic-resolution imaging. The approach is showcased for a Co-Mo-S nanocrystal by analysis of time-resolved in-line holograms achieving ~1.5 Å resolution in 3D. The analysis reveals a decay of phase image contrast towards the nanocrystal edges and meta-stable edge motifs with crystallographic dependence. These findings are explained by beam-stimulated vibrations that exceed Debye-Waller factors and cause chemical transformations at catalytically relevant edges. This ability to simultaneously probe atom vibrations and displacements enables a recovery of the pristine Co-Mo-S structure and establishes, in turn, a foundation to understand heterogeneous chemical functionality of nanostructures, surfaces and molecules.
Structures of a deAMPylation complex rationalise the switch between antagonistic catalytic activities of FICD
Authors: Perera Luke A. , Preissler Steffen , Zaccai Nathan R. , Prévost Sylvain , Devos Juliette M. , Haertlein Michael , Ron David
Published: August 2021

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Hsp70 chaperone BiP is regulated by AMPylation, a reversible inactivating post-translational modification. Both BiP AMPylation and deAMPylation are catalysed by a single ER-localised enzyme, FICD. Here we present crystallographic and solution structures of a deAMPylation Michaelis complex formed between mammalian AMPylated BiP and FICD. The latter, via its tetratricopeptide repeat domain, binds a surface that is specific to ATP-state Hsp70 chaperones, explaining the exquisite selectivity of FICD for BiP’s ATP-bound conformation both when AMPylating and deAMPylating Thr518. The eukaryotic deAMPylation mechanism thus revealed, rationalises the role of the conserved Fic domain Glu234 as a gatekeeper residue that both inhibits AMPylation and facilitates hydrolytic deAMPylation catalysed by dimeric FICD. These findings point to a monomerisation-induced increase in Glu234 flexibility as the basis of an oligomeric state-dependent switch between FICD’s antagonistic activities, despite a similar mode of engagement of its two substrates — unmodified and AMPylated BiP.
The underappreciated role of agricultural soil nitrogen oxide emissions in ozone pollution regulation in North China
Authors: Lu Xiao , Ye Xingpei , Zhou Mi , Zhao Yuanhong , Weng Hongjian , Kong Hao , Li Ke , Gao Meng , Zheng Bo , Lin Jintai , Zhou Feng , Zhang Qiang , Wu Dianming , Zhang Lin , Zhang Yuanhang
Published: August 2021

Intensive agricultural activities in the North China Plain (NCP) lead to substantial emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from soil, while the role of this source on local severe ozone pollution is unknown. Here we use a mechanistic parameterization of soil NOx emissions combined with two atmospheric chemistry models to investigate the issue. We find that the presence of soil NOx emissions in the NCP significantly reduces the sensitivity of ozone to anthropogenic emissions. The maximum ozone air quality improvements in July 2017, as can be achieved by controlling all domestic anthropogenic emissions of air pollutants, decrease by 30% due to the presence of soil NOx. This effect causes an emission control penalty such that large additional emission reductions are required to achieve ozone regulation targets. As NOx emissions from fuel combustion are being controlled, the soil emission penalty would become increasingly prominent and shall be considered in emission control strategies.
Single-cell evaluation reveals shifts in the tumor-immune niches that shape and maintain aggressive lesions in the breast
Authors: Sinha Vidya C. , Rinkenbaugh Amanda L. , Xu Mingchu , Zhou Xinhui , Zhang Xiaomei , Jeter-Jones Sabrina , Shao Jiansu , Qi Yuan , Zebala John A. , Maeda Dean Y. , McAllister Florencia , Piwnica-Worms Helen
Published: August 2021

There is an unmet clinical need for stratification of breast lesions as indolent or aggressive to tailor treatment. Here, single-cell transcriptomics and multiparametric imaging applied to a mouse model of breast cancer reveals that the aggressive tumor niche is characterized by an expanded basal-like population, specialization of tumor subpopulations, and mixed-lineage tumor cells potentially serving as a transition state between luminal and basal phenotypes. Despite vast tumor cell-intrinsic differences, aggressive and indolent tumor cells are functionally indistinguishable once isolated from their local niche, suggesting a role for non-tumor collaborators in determining aggressiveness. Aggressive lesions harbor fewer total but more suppressed-like T cells, and elevated tumor-promoting neutrophils and IL-17 signaling, disruption of which increase tumor latency and reduce the number of aggressive lesions. Our study provides insight into tumor-immune features distinguishing indolent from aggressive lesions, identifies heterogeneous populations comprising these lesions, and supports a role for IL-17 signaling in aggressive progression.