bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Gaslighting and Epistemic Injustice: Editor's Introduction
Authors: Bailey Alison
Published: November 2020

Social justice demands that we attend carefully to the epistemic terrains we inhabit as well as to the epistemic resources we summon to make our lived experiences tangible to one another. Not all epistemic terrains are hospitable—colonial projects landscaped a good portion of our epistemic terrain long before present generations moved across it. There is no shared epistemicterra firma,no level epistemic common ground where knowers share credibility and where a diversity of hermeneutical resources play together happily. Knowers engage one another on a politically saturated,unlevel knowing fieldwhere members of dominant groups work to forcibly maintain their epistemic home-terrain advantage. I use the metaphor of the unlevel knowing field to capture these oppressive epistemic structures. The unlevel knowing field is a hungry place where all knowledge that fails to nurture and sustain dominant ways knowing risks being dragged onto the dominator's epistemic home turf to be mined, coopted, consumed, or destroyed. Knowledge and willful ignorance circulate with equal vigor in this hungry world. From the standpoint of oppressed/resisting peoples, the unlevel knowing field is a minefield, an epistemic twilight zone, which must be traversed with considerable care and endless attention. The harms epistemic injustice produces are not disembodied harms. Repeated acts of injustice (epistemic or otherwise) weather our bodies, dull our minds, weaken our hearts, and traumatize the spirit of our communities. They create public-health precarities and invite mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual illness into our being. Epistemic oppression is a cruel thief. It is disorienting, exhausting, and deadly. It triggers anger, anxiety, depression, and resistance. It steals our time, energy, and attention away from more beautiful things.
“A New Way of Governing”: Heinrich Brüning, Rudolf Hilferding, and Cross-Party Cooperation during the Waning Years of the Weimar Republic, 1930–1932
Authors: McSpadden James
Published: November 2020

This article examines the unexpected behind-the-scenes relationship between the conservative Catholic chancellor Heinrich Brüning and Marxist theorist Rudolf Hilferding. This relationship is the starting point to understand both the politics of toleration and the political and cultural ecosystem in which this friendship came about. The German Social Democratic Party's policy of tolerating Brüning's conservative minority cabinet was hotly contested and has been viewed skeptically by political historians ever since. This article analyzes the mechanics of toleration through Brüning and Hilferding's relationship and demonstrates how Hilferding became the indispensable intermediary between the German cabinet and the socialist party. Toleration was a replacement political process in a polarized climate. A behind-the-scenes informal coalition that included the socialists, as well as the conservative cabinet, muddled through governing and policymaking with backroom negotiations instead of parliamentary debate. Although it failed, toleration was a last-ditch political strategy trying to preserve the Weimar Republic.
Herbicide residues of pre-harvest burndown in cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata) grains
Authors: Concenço G. , Vivian R. , Ikeda F. S. , Pizzutti I. R. , Vela G.M.E. , Ferracini V.L. , Nora L. , Ceccon G. , Concenço F.I.G.R.
Published: November 2020

Cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata) is usually submitted to pre-harvest burndown with herbicides aiming to an early harvest. We aimed to quantify the residues of paraquat, diquat, glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate in cowpea grains subjected to two timings of pre-harvest burndown. Three identical experiments were installed in Dourados (Lat. 22° S), Sinop (Lat. 11° S) and Teresina (Lat. 05° S), Brazil, comprising the pre-harvest burndown of cowpea bean with these herbicides, applied either with 50 or 75% of the pods dry and ready for harvest. As hotter and drier the location as slower the herbicide dissipation. Glyphosate should not be used for pre-harvest burndown of cowpea. Herbicide residues were above the maximum levels stated by the Brazilian legislation when applied with 50% dry pods. Burndown herbicides aiming to speed harvest should be applied with at least 75% dry pods in cowpea to ensure safe herbicide residue levels in grains.
Effects of 2,4-thiazolidinedione (TZD) on milk fatty acid profile and serum vitamins in dairy goats challenged with intramammary infusion of Streptococcus uberis
Authors: Tsai Chia-Yu , Rosa Fernanda , Bionaz Massimo , Rezamand Pedram
Published: November 2020

The study included two experiments. In the first, 24 lactating Saanen dairy goats received low-energy diet without vitamin supplements. Twelve goats received a daily IV injection of 2,4- thiazolidinedione (TZD), others received saline injection. A week later, 6 goats from each treatment were challenged with intramammary infusion (IMI) of saline (CTRL) or Streptococcus uberis. In the second experiment, 12 Saanen lactating dairy goats received supplemental vitamins to reach NRC recommendation level. Six goats in each group were injected with TZD or saline daily, and 14 d later received Streptococcus uberis IMI in the right half of the udder. The hypotheses were (1) TZD does not affect the level of retinol in blood, and (2) the fatty acid profile is affected by the interaction between mammary infection and TZD in dairy goats. In the first experiment blood samples were collected on d −7, −2, 1, 2, 12 and milk samples were collected on d −8, 1, 4, 7, and 12, both relative to IMI. In the second experiment, blood samples were collected on d −15, 0, 1, and 10 relative to IMI. Milk and serum samples were analyzed for retinol, α-tocopherol and fatty acid profile. Serum retinol and β-carotene concentrations were higher in the second experiment compared to the first. Serum β-carotene and α-tocopherol were greater in TZD than CTRL and there was a TZD × time interaction in the first experiment. In addition, the TZD × time interaction showed that the milk fatty acid were reduced in C16 : 0 while C18 : 3 n3 while total omega 3 fatty acids were increased, as well as with minor effect on preventing a transient increase in α-tocopherol in milk. Overall, the TZD may affect the lipid-soluble vitamins and fatty acid profile, potentially altering immune responses, during mastitis in dairy goats.
Dysphagia presentation and management following coronavirus disease 2019: an acute care tertiary centre experience
Authors: Dawson C , Capewell R , Ellis S , Matthews S , Adamson S , Wood M , Fitch L , Reid K , Shaw M , Wheeler J , Pracy P , Nankivell P , Sharma N
Published: November 2020

Objectives

As the pathophysiology of Covid-19 emerges, this paper describes dysphagia as a sequela of the disease, including its diagnosis and management, hypothesised causes, symptomatology in relation to viral progression, and concurrent variables such as intubation, tracheostomy and delirium, at a tertiary UK hospital.

Results

During the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, 208 out of 736 patients (28.9 per cent) admitted to our institution with SARS-CoV-2 were referred for swallow assessment. Of the 208 patients, 102 were admitted to the intensive treatment unit for mechanical ventilation support, of which 82 were tracheostomised. The majority of patients regained near normal swallow function prior to discharge, regardless of intubation duration or tracheostomy status.

Conclusion

Dysphagia is prevalent in patients admitted either to the intensive treatment unit or the ward with Covid-19 related respiratory issues. This paper describes the crucial role of intensive swallow rehabilitation to manage dysphagia associated with this disease, including therapeutic respiratory weaning for those with a tracheostomy.
Psychophysiological responses underlying unresolved loss and trauma in the Adult Attachment Interview
Authors: Bakkum Lianne , Oosterman Mirjam , Verhage Marije L. , Kunseler Florentina C. , Fearon R. M. Pasco , Schuengel Carlo , Duschinsky Robbie
Published: November 2020

Unresolved loss/trauma in the context of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) has been theorised to result from dissociative processing of fear-related memories and ideas. To examine the plausibility of this model, this study tested hypothesised associations between unresolved loss/trauma and indicators of autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity. First-time pregnant women (N = 235) participated in the AAI while heart rate (interbeat interval; IBI) and indicators of parasympathetic reactivity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia; RSA) and sympathetic reactivity (pre-ejection period; PEP, skin conductance level; SCL) were recorded. Using multilevel modelling, ANS reactivity was examined in relation to topic (loss/trauma versus other questions); discussion of actual loss/trauma; classification of unresolved/disorganised; and unresolved responses during the interview. Responses to loss/trauma questions and discussion of loss were associated with respectively larger and smaller IBIs. There was no moderation by unresolved/disorganised status. Unresolved responses about loss were associated with smaller IBIs. Participants classified as unresolved/disorganised showed decreasing PEP and blunted SCL throughout the whole interview. The findings suggest that unresolved speech about loss co-occurs with physiological arousal, although the inconclusive findings regarding parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system responses fail to clearly support the role of fear.
A systems approach to examine hospital-acquired infections in a paediatric CICU
Authors: Thaker Pavan , Lee Eva K , Zhang Peijue , Chanani Nikhil
Published: November 2020

Objective:

We aimed to apply systems engineering principles to address hospital-acquired infections in the paediatric intensive care setting.

Design:

Mixed method approach involving four steps: perform time–motion study of cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) care processes, establish a meaningful schema to classify observations, design a web-based system to manage and analyse data, and design a prototypical computer-based training system to assist with hygiene compliance.

Setting:

Paediatric CICU at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Patients:

Paediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery.

Interventions:

Extensive time–motion study of CICU care processes.

Measurements:

Non-compliances were recorded for each care process observed during the time–motion study.

Results:

Guided by our observations, we introduced a novel categorisation schema with action types, observation categories, severity classes, procedure classifications, and personnel categories that offer a systematic and efficient mechanism for reporting and classifying non-compliance and violations. Utilising these categories, a web-based database management system was designed that allows observers to input their data. This web analytic tool offers easy summarisation, data analysis, and visualisation of findings. A computer-based training system with modules to educate visitors in hospital-acquired infections hygiene was also created.

Conclusion:

Our study offers a checklist of non-compliance situations and potential development of a proactive surveillance system of awareness of infection-prone situations. Working with quality improvement experts and stakeholders, recommendations and actionable practice will be synthesised for implementation in clinical settings. Careful design of the implementation protocol is needed to measure and quantify the potential improvements in outcomes.
Commemorating Geert Hofstede, a pioneer in the study of culture and institutions
Authors: Sent Esther-Mirjam , Kroese Annelie L. J.
Published: November 2020

This contribution commemorates Geert Hofstede, who recently passed away, as a pioneer in the study of culture and institutions. It does so by touching on some of the details of his personal life and connecting these with his professional career. The latter was devoted to developing the paradigm of national cultures based on empirical analysis, and to relate it to organisational behaviour. Closer scrutiny reveals that four distinct phases may be identified. Hofstede first started as an ‘undercover’ engineer and next moved to social psychology. During the second phase, he developed the first four dimensions of natural culture. During the third, Hofstede connected these national dimensions to organisational ones. During the last, he added two new cultural dimensions and developed additional practical applications. Finally, the article considers the reception, criticism, and further elaborations of Hofstede's contributions.
A Juno Era Model of the Jovian Magnetosphere
Authors: Rehnberg Morgan
Published: November 2020

Updating a model developed during the Voyager flybys will enable better mission planning and a deeper understanding of Juno data.
The Obscuring Effects of Calcite Dissolution and Formation on Quantifying Soil Respiration
Authors: Gallagher Timothy M. , Breecker Daniel O.
Published: November 2020

Drylands occupy nearly 40% of the land surface and comprise a globally significant carbon reservoir. Dryland‐atmosphere carbon exchange may regulate interannual variability in atmospheric CO2. Quantifying soil respiration rates in these environments is often complicated by the presence of calcium carbonates, which are a common feature of dryland soils. We show with high‐precision O2 measurements in a laboratory potted soil experiment that respiration rates after watering were similar in control and carbonate treatment soils. However, CO2 concentrations were up to 72% lower in the carbonate treatment soil because CO2 was initially consumed during calcite dissolution. Subsequently, CO2 concentrations were over 166% greater in the carbonate treatment soil as respiration slowed and calcite precipitated, releasing CO2. Elevated δ13C values of soil CO2 (>6‰ higher in the treatment than control) confirm that observed differences were due to calcite dissolution. These findings demonstrate that calcite dissolution and precipitation can occur rapidly enough to affect soil gas compositions and that changes in soil CO2 are not always directly related to changes in soil respiration rates. Studies of local soil respiration rates and carbon exchange are likely to be influenced by dissolution and precipitation of calcium carbonates in soils. We estimate that one fifth of global soil respiration occurs in soils that contain some amount of soil carbonate, underscoring the need to account for its obscuring effects when trying to quantify soil respiration and net ecosystem exchange on a regional or global scale.
The Impact of Large Erosional Events and Transient Normal Stress Changes on the Seismicity of Faults
Authors: Jeandet Ribes L. , Cubas N. , Bhat H. S. , Steer P.
Published: November 2020

The long‐term erosion of steep landscapes is punctuated by dramatic erosional events that can remove significant amount of sediments within a timescale shorter than a seismic cycle. However, the role of such large erosional events on seismicity is poorly understood. We use QDYN, a quasi‐dynamic numerical model of earthquake cycles to investigate the effect of a large erosional event on seismicity. The progressive evacuation of landslide sediments is modeled by a transient normal stress decrease. We show that erosional events with a shorter duration compared with the duration of a seismic cycle can significantly increase the seismicity rate, even for small stress changes. Moreover, large erosional events with a shorter period compared with the earthquake nucleation timescale can change earthquake size distribution by triggering more small events. Those results suggest that large erosional events can significantly affect seismicity, illustrating in turn the short‐term impact of surface processes on tectonics.
Periodicity and Clustering in the Long‐Term Earthquake Record
Authors: Griffin Jonathan D. , Stirling Mark W. , Wang Ting
Published: November 2020

Elastic rebound theory forms the basis of the standard earthquake cycle model and predicts large earthquakes to recur regularly through cycles of strain accumulation and release. Yet few individual earthquake records are sufficiently long to test the theory. Here we characterize the distribution of earthquake interevent times from a global compilation of 80 long‐term records. We find that large earthquakes recur more regularly than a random Poisson process on individual fault segments. The majority of Earth's well‐studied faults shows weakly periodic and uncorrelated large earthquake recurrence, consistent with the expectations of elastic rebound theory. However, many low activity‐rate (annual occurrence rates < 2 × 10−4) faults show random or clustered earthquake recurrence, which cannot be explained by elastic rebound theory.
Attribution of NAO Predictive Skill Beyond 2 Weeks in Boreal Winter
Authors: Sun Lantao , Perlwitz Judith , Richter Jadwiga H. , Hoerling Martin P. , Hurrell James W.
Published: November 2020

Weeks 3–6 averaged winter North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) predictive skill in a state‐of‐the‐art coupled climate prediction system is attributed to two principle sources: upper and lower boundary conditions linked to the stratosphere and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO), respectively. A 20‐member ensemble of 45‐day reforecasts over 1999–2015 is utilized, together with uninitialized simulations with the atmospheric component of the prediction system forced with observed radiative forcing and lower boundary conditions. NAO forecast skill for lead times out to 6 weeks is higher following extreme stratospheric polar vortex conditions (weak and strong vortex events) compared to neutral states. Enhanced weeks 3–6 NAO predictive skill for weak vortex events results primarily from stratospheric downward coupling to the troposphere, while enhanced skill for strong vortex events can be partly attributed to lower boundary forcing related to the ENSO phenomenon. Implications for forecast system development and improvement are discussed.
Arctic Ocean Freshening Linked to Anthropogenic Climate Change: All Hands on Deck
Authors: Haine Thomas W. N.
Published: November 2020

Arctic Ocean freshwater storage increased since the mid‐1990s, but the cause was unknown. Jahn and Laiho (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL088854) use ensemble runs of a coupled climate model to suggest that the observed increase is anthropogenic. The paper quantifies when the anthropogenic signals should emerge from the noise of natural variability. This result contextualizes research on the Arctic Ocean freshwater system and sketches an unprecedented opportunity. Future work should elucidate mechanisms, seek to observe the anthropogenic freshwater changes, and investigate the impacts on biogeochemistry and the North Atlantic Ocean circulation.
Thermal Characterization of Pockmarks Across Vestnesa and Svyatogor Ridges, Offshore Svalbard
Authors: Riedel M. , Villinger H. , Freudenthal T. , Pape T. , Bünz S. , Bohrmann G.
Published: November 2020

The Svalbard margin represents one of the northernmost gas hydrate provinces worldwide. Vestnesa Ridge (VR) and Svyatogor Ridge (SR) west of Svalbard are two prominent sediment drifts showing abundant pockmarks and sites of seismic chimney structures. Some of these sites at VR are associated with active gas venting and were the focus of drilling and coring with the seafloor‐deployed MARUM‐MeBo70 rig. Understanding the nature of fluid migration and gas hydrate distribution requires (among other parameters) knowledge of the thermal regime and in situ gas and pore fluid composition. In situ temperature data were obtained downhole at a reference site at VR defining a geothermal gradient of ~78 mK m−1 (heat flow ~95 mW m−2). Additional heat probe data were obtained to describe the thermal regime of the pockmarks. The highest heat flow values were systematically seen within pockmark depressions and were uncorrelated to gas venting occurrences. Heat flow within pockmarks is typically ~20 mW m−2 higher than outside pockmarks. Using the downhole temperature data and gas compositions from drilling we model the regional base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ). Thermal modeling including topographic effects suggest a BGHSZ up to 40 m deeper than estimated from seismic data. Uncertainties in sediment properties (velocity and thermal conductivity) are only partially explaining the mismatch. Capillary effects due to small sediment grain sizes may shift the free gas occurrence above the equilibrium BGHSZ. Changes in gas composition or pore fluid salinity at greater depth may also explain the discrepancy in observed and modeled BGHSZ.
Fluid Migration and Widespread Remagnetization in the Dabashan Fold and Thrust Belt, China
Authors: Zhang Yong , Jia Dong , Muxworthy Adrian R. , Zhang Yueqiao , Li Yongxiang , Yin Hongwei , Chen Zhuxin , Brzozowski Matthew J. , Li Wei , Wang Maomao , Li Zhigang
Published: November 2020

To better understand the fluid migration in orogenic zones and associated chemical remagnetization, we have conducted a detailed magnetic, petrographic, and strontium isotope study in an important orogenic belt of China, the Jurassic Dabashan fold and thrust belt. This belt formed by the continued collision of the North and South China blocks after the Late Triassic closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean. Samples were collected in a variety of rock units of Ediacaran to Permian age, in both the thrust and the fold belts. Paleomagnetic analysis indicates that all the samples were remagnetized and carry a Middle‐Late Jurassic paleo‐direction. Rock magnetic data and scanning electron microscopy observations found that the proposed remagnetization is carried by framboidal magnetite, which likely formed by the replacement of pyrite. The pervasive nature of the chemical remagnetization in these units and belts and its temporal and spatial association with the orogeny suggest that it resulted from the alteration of orogeny‐induced fluids. Sr‐isotopic analysis of the units that are thought to be remagnetized suggests that the sediments in the thrust belt were altered by externally derived evolved fluids, whereas the Permian samples in the fold belt were altered by internal pore fluid mixing during the orogeny. Together with the lithological and structural features, we conclude that the external orogenic fluids migrated preferentially along thrust faults and unconformities but were blocked by layers of low‐permeability gypsum. Our results help to constrain the origin of widespread remagnetization in South China.
The Response of the Northern Hemisphere Storm Tracks and Jet Streams to Climate Change in the CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 Climate Models
Authors: Harvey B. J. , Cook P. , Shaffrey L. C. , Schiemann R.
Published: November 2020

The representation of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) storm tracks and jet streams and their response to climate change have been evaluated in climate model simulations from Phases 3, 5, and 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6, respectively). The spatial patterns of the multimodel biases in CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 are similar; however, the magnitudes of the biases in the CMIP6 models are substantially lower. For instance, the multimodel mean RMSE of the North Atlantic storm track for the CMIP6 models (as measured by time‐filtered sea‐level pressure variance) is over 50% smaller than that of the CMIP3 models in both winter and summer, and over 40% smaller for the North Pacific. The magnitude of the jet stream biases is also reduced in CMIP6, but by a lesser extent. Despite this improved representation of the current climate, the spatial patterns of the climate change response of the NH storm tracks and jet streams remain similar in the CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 models. The SSP2‐4.5 scenario responses in the CMIP6 models are substantially larger than in the RCP4.5 CMIP5 models, which is consistent with the larger climate sensitivities of the CMIP6 models compared to CMIP5.
How Wind Shear Affects Trade‐wind Cumulus Convection
Authors: Helfer K. C. , Nuijens L. , de Roode S. R. , Siebesma A. P.
Published: November 2020

Motivated by an observed relationship between marine low cloud cover and surface wind speed, this study investigates how vertical wind shear affects trade‐wind cumulus convection, including shallow cumulus and congestus with tops below the freezing level. We ran large‐eddy simulations for an idealized case of trade‐wind convection using different vertical shears in the zonal wind. Backward shear, whereby surface easterlies become upper westerlies, is effective at limiting vertical cloud development, which leads to a moister, shallower, and cloudier trade‐wind layer. Without shear or with forward shear, shallow convection tends to deepen more, but clouds tops are still limited under forward shear. A number of mechanisms explain the observed behavior: First, shear leads to different surface wind speeds and, in turn, surface heat and moisture fluxes due to momentum transport, whereby the weakest surface wind speeds develop under backward shear. Second, a forward shear profile in the subcloud layer enhances moisture aggregation and leads to larger cloud clusters, but only on large domains that generally support cloud organization. Third, any absolute amount of shear across the cloud layer limits updraft speeds by enhancing the downward oriented pressure perturbation force. Backward shear—the most typical shear found in the winter trades—can thus be argued a key ingredient at setting the typical structure of the trade‐wind layer.
Active Deformation and Relief Evolution in the Western Lurestan Region of the Zagros Mountain Belt: New Insights From Tectonic Geomorphology Analysis and Finite Element Modeling
Authors: Basilici Matteo , Ascione Alessandra , Megna Antonella , Santini Stefano , Tavani Stefano , Valente Ettore , Mazzoli Stefano
Published: November 2020

To unravel how and where coseismic and interseismic deformation impacts the spatial and temporal patterns of rock uplift of the Lurestan sector of the Zagros Mountains, we performed an investigation of the large‐scale features of topography and river network coupled with 2‐D finite element modeling. Geomorphological analysis and constraints from parameters such as elevation, local relief, normalized channel steepness index (ksn), river longitudinal profiles, and transformed river profiles (chi plots) were used to unravel the time‐space distribution of vertical motions. Whereas the much longer timescale over which topography grows and/or rivers respond to tectonic or climatic perturbations with respect to even multiple seismic cycles, the outputs of the finite element model yield fundamental information on the source of the late part of the spatiotemporal evolution of surface uplift recorded by the geomorphology. Model outputs shed new light into the processes controlling relief evolution in an actively growing mountain belt underlain by a major blind thrust. The outputs illustrate how coseismic slip controls localized uplift of a prominent topographic feature—the Mountain Front Flexure—located above the main upper crustal ramp of the principal basement thrust fault of the region, while continuous displacement along the deeper, aseismic portion of the same basement fault controls generalized uplift of the whole crustal block located farther to the NE, in the interior of the orogen.
Upscaling of Solute Plumes in Periodic Porous Media Through a Trajectory‐Based Spatial Markov Model
Authors: Bianchi Janetti Emanuela , Sherman Thomas , Guédon Gaël Raymond , Bolster Diogo , Porta Giovanni M.
Published: November 2020

We propose an approach to upscale solute transport in spatially periodic porous media. Our methodology relies on pore‐scale information to predict large‐scale transport features, including explicit reconstruction of the solute plume, breakthrough curves at fixed distances, and spatial spreading transverse to the main flow direction. The proposed approach is grounded on the recently proposed trajectory‐based spatial Markov model (tSMM), which upscales transport based on information collected from advective‐diffusive particle trajectories across one periodic element. In previous works, this model has been applied solely to one‐dimensional transport in a single periodic pore geometry. In this work we extend the tSMM to the prediction of multidimensional solute plumes. This is obtained by analyzing the joint space‐time probability distribution associated with discrete particles, as yielded by the tSMM. By comparing numerical results from fully resolved simulations and predictions obtained with the tSMM over a wide range of Péclet numbers, we demonstrate that the proposed approach is suitable for modeling transport of conservative and linearly decaying solute species in a realistic pore space and showcase the applicability of the model to predict steady‐state solute plumes. Additionally, we evaluate the model performance as a function of numerical parameters employed in the tSMM parameterization.
Race/ethnicity in systemic AL amyloidosis: perspectives on disease and outcome disparities
Authors: Staron Andrew , Connors Lawreen H. , Zheng Luke , Doros Gheorghe , Sanchorawala Vaishali
Published: November 2020

In marked contrast to multiple myeloma, racial/ethnic minorities are underrepresented in publications of systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. The impact of race/ethnicity is therefore lacking in the narrative of this disease. To address this gap, we compared disease characteristics, treatments, and outcomes across racial/ethnic groups in a referred cohort of patients with AL amyloidosis from 1990 to 2020. Among 2416 patients, 14% were minorities. Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs) comprised 8% and had higher-risk sociodemographic factors. Hispanics comprised 4% and presented with disproportionately more BU stage IIIb cardiac involvement (27% vs. 4–17%). At onset, minority groups were younger in age by 4–6 years. There was indication of more aggressive disease phenotype among NHBs with higher prevalence of difference between involved and uninvolved free light chains >180 mg/L (39% vs. 22–33%, P = 0.044). Receipt of stem cell transplantation was 30% lower in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic White (NHWs) on account of sociodemographic and physiologic factors. Although the age/sex-adjusted hazard for death among NHBs was 24% higher relative to NHWs (P = 0.020), race/ethnicity itself did not impact survival after controlling for disease severity and treatment variables. These findings highlight the complexities of racial/ethnic disparities in AL amyloidosis. Directed efforts by providers and advocacy groups are needed to expand access to testing and effective treatments within underprivileged communities.
Distinct CCK-positive SFO neurons are involved in persistent or transient suppression of water intake
Authors: Matsuda Takashi , Hiyama Takeshi Y. , Kobayashi Kenta , Kobayashi Kazuto , Noda Masaharu
Published: November 2020

The control of water-intake behavior is critical for life because an excessive water intake induces pathological conditions, such as hyponatremia or water intoxication. However, the brain mechanisms controlling water intake currently remain unclear. We previously reported that thirst-driving neurons (water neurons) in the subfornical organ (SFO) are cholecystokinin (CCK)-dependently suppressed by GABAergic interneurons under Na-depleted conditions. We herein show that CCK-producing excitatory neurons in the SFO stimulate the activity of GABAergic interneurons via CCK-B receptors. Fluorescence-microscopic Ca2+ imaging demonstrates two distinct subpopulations in CCK-positive neurons in the SFO, which are persistently activated under hyponatremic conditions or transiently activated in response to water drinking, respectively. Optical and chemogenetic silencings of the respective types of CCK-positive neurons both significantly increase water intake under water-repleted conditions. The present study thus reveals CCK-mediated neural mechanisms in the central nervous system for the control of water-intake behaviors.
Space station biomining experiment demonstrates rare earth element extraction in microgravity and Mars gravity
Authors: Cockell Charles S. , Santomartino Rosa , Finster Kai , Waajen Annemiek C. , Eades Lorna J. , Moeller Ralf , Rettberg Petra , Fuchs Felix M. , Van Houdt Rob , Leys Natalie , Coninx Ilse , Hatton Jason , Parmitano Luca , Krause Jutta , Koehler Andrea , Caplin Nicol , Zuijderduijn Lobke , Mariani Alessandro , Pellari Stefano S. , Carubia Fabrizio , Luciani Giacomo , Balsamo Michele , Zolesi Valfredo , Nicholson Natasha , Loudon Claire-Marie , Doswald-Winkler Jeannine , Herová Magdalena , Rattenbacher Bernd , Wadsworth Jennifer , Craig Everroad R. , Demets René
Published: November 2020

Microorganisms are employed to mine economically important elements from rocks, including the rare earth elements (REEs), used in electronic industries and alloy production. We carried out a mining experiment on the International Space Station to test hypotheses on the bioleaching of REEs from basaltic rock in microgravity and simulated Mars and Earth gravities using three microorganisms and a purposely designed biomining reactor. Sphingomonas desiccabilis enhanced mean leached concentrations of REEs compared to non-biological controls in all gravity conditions. No significant difference in final yields was observed between gravity conditions, showing the efficacy of the process under different gravity regimens. Bacillus subtilis exhibited a reduction in bioleaching efficacy and Cupriavidus metallidurans showed no difference compared to non-biological controls, showing the microbial specificity of the process, as on Earth. These data demonstrate the potential for space biomining and the principles of a reactor to advance human industry and mining beyond Earth.
Slim-panel holographic video display
Authors: An Jungkwuen , Won Kanghee , Kim Young , Hong Jong-Young , Kim Hojung , Kim Yongkyu , Song Hoon , Choi Chilsung , Kim Yunhee , Seo Juwon , Morozov Alexander , Park Hyunsik , Hong Sunghoon , Hwang Sungwoo , Kim Kichul , Lee Hong-Seok
Published: November 2020

Since its discovery almost 70 years ago, the hologram has been considered to reproduce the most realistic three dimensional images without visual side effects. Holographic video has been extensively researched for commercialization, since Benton et al. at MIT Media Lab developed the first holographic video systems in 1990. However, commercially available holographic video displays have not been introduced yet for several reasons: narrow viewing angle, bulky optics and heavy computing power. Here we present an interactive slim-panel holographic video display using a steering-backlight unit and a holographic video processor to solve the above issues. The steering-backlight unit enables to expand the viewing angle by 30 times and its diffractive waveguide architecture makes a slim display form-factor. The holographic video processor computes high quality holograms in real-time on a single-chip. We suggest that the slim-panel holographic display can provide realistic three-dimensional video in office and household environments.
Trans-basin Atlantic-Pacific connections further weakened by common model Pacific mean SST biases
Authors: Li Chen , Dommenget Dietmar , McGregor Shayne
Published: November 2020

A robust eastern Pacific surface temperature cooling trend was evident between ~1990–2013 that was considered as a pronounced contributor to the global surface warming slowdown. The majority of current climate models failed to reproduce this Pacific cooling trend, which is at least partly due to the underrepresentation of trans-basin teleconnections. Here, we investigate whether common Pacific mean sea surface temperature biases may further diminish the Atlantic-Pacific trans-basin induced Pacific cooling. Our results suggest that background Pacific SST biases act to weaken the trans-basin teleconnection by strengthening the Atlantic atmospheric stability and reducing Atlantic convection. These Pacific SST biases also act to substantially undermine the positive zonal wind-SST feedback. Furthermore, when combined, the Pacific and Atlantic SST biases led to Pacific cooling response that is almost non-existent (underestimated by 89%). Future efforts aim at reducing the model mean state biases may significantly help to improve the simulation skills of trans-basin teleconnections.
NeoR, a near-infrared absorbing rhodopsin
Authors: Broser Matthias , Spreen Anika , Konold Patrick E. , Schiewer Enrico , Adam Suliman , Borin Veniamin , Schapiro Igor , Seifert Reinhard , Kennis John T. M. , Bernal Sierra Yinth Andrea , Hegemann Peter
Published: November 2020

The Rhizoclosmatium globosum genome encodes three rhodopsin-guanylyl cyclases (RGCs), which are predicted to facilitate visual orientation of the fungal zoospores. Here, we show that RGC1 and RGC2 function as light-activated cyclases only upon heterodimerization with RGC3 (NeoR). RGC1/2 utilize conventional green or blue-light-sensitive rhodopsins (λmax = 550 and 480 nm, respectively), with short-lived signaling states, responsible for light-activation of the enzyme. The bistable NeoR is photoswitchable between a near-infrared-sensitive (NIR, λmax = 690 nm) highly fluorescent state (QF = 0.2) and a UV-sensitive non-fluorescent state, thereby modulating the activity by NIR pre-illumination. No other rhodopsin has been reported so far to be functional as a heterooligomer, or as having such a long wavelength absorption or high fluorescence yield. Site-specific mutagenesis and hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics simulations support the idea that the unusual photochemical properties result from the rigidity of the retinal chromophore and a unique counterion triad composed of two glutamic and one aspartic acids. These findings substantially expand our understanding of the natural potential and limitations of spectral tuning in rhodopsin photoreceptors.
Single-cell analysis of developing and azoospermia human testicles reveals central role of Sertoli cells
Authors: Zhao LiangYu , Yao ChenCheng , Xing XiaoYu , Jing Tao , Li Peng , Zhu ZiJue , Yang Chao , Zhai Jing , Tian RuHui , Chen HuiXing , Luo JiaQiang , Liu NaChuan , Deng ZhiWen , Lin XiaoHan , Li Na , Fang Jing , Sun Jie , Wang ChenChen , Zhou Zhi , Li Zheng
Published: November 2020

Clinical efficacy of treatments against non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), which affects 1% of men, are currently limited by the incomplete understanding of NOA pathogenesis and normal spermatogenic microenvironment. Here, we profile >80,000 human testicular single-cell transcriptomes from 10 healthy donors spanning the range from infant to adult and 7 NOA patients. We show that Sertoli cells, which form the scaffold in the testicular microenvironment, are severely damaged in NOA patients and identify the roadmap of Sertoli cell maturation. Notably, Sertoli cells of patients with congenital causes (Klinefelter syndrome and Y chromosome microdeletions) are mature, but exhibit abnormal immune responses, while the cells in idiopathic NOA (iNOA) are physiologically immature. Furthermore, we find that inhibition of Wnt signaling promotes the maturation of Sertoli cells from iNOA patients, allowing these cells to regain their ability to support germ cell survival. We provide a novel perspective on the development of diagnostic methods and therapeutic targets for NOA.
Strategies for simultaneous strengthening and toughening via nanoscopic intracrystalline defects in a biogenic ceramic
Authors: Deng Zhifei , Chen Hongshun , Yang Ting , Jia Zian , Weaver James C. , Shevchenko Pavel D. , De Carlo Francesco , Mirzaeifar Reza , Li Ling
Published: November 2020

While many organisms synthesize robust skeletal composites consisting of spatially discrete organic and mineral (ceramic) phases, the intrinsic mechanical properties of the mineral phases are poorly understood. Using the shell of the marine bivalve Atrina rigida as a model system, and through a combination of multiscale structural and mechanical characterization in conjunction with theoretical and computational modeling, we uncover the underlying mechanical roles of a ubiquitous structural motif in biogenic calcite, their nanoscopic intracrystalline defects. These nanoscopic defects not only suppress the soft yielding of pure calcite through the classical precipitation strengthening mechanism, but also enhance energy dissipation through controlled nano- and micro-fracture, where the defects’ size, geometry, orientation, and distribution facilitate and guide crack initialization and propagation. These nano- and micro-scale cracks are further confined by larger scale intercrystalline organic interfaces, enabling further improved damage tolerance.
Structural basis of ion transport and inhibition in ferroportin
Authors: Pan Yaping , Ren Zhenning , Gao Shuai , Shen Jiemin , Wang Lie , Xu Zhichun , Yu Ye , Bachina Preetham , Zhang Hanzhi , Fan Xiao , Laganowsky Arthur , Yan Nieng , Zhou Ming
Published: November 2020

Ferroportin is an iron exporter essential for releasing cellular iron into circulation. Ferroportin is inhibited by a peptide hormone, hepcidin. In humans, mutations in ferroportin lead to ferroportin diseases that are often associated with accumulation of iron in macrophages and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Here we present the structures of the ferroportin from the primate Philippine tarsier (TsFpn) in the presence and absence of hepcidin solved by cryo-electron microscopy. TsFpn is composed of two domains resembling a clamshell and the structure defines two metal ion binding sites, one in each domain. Both structures are in an outward-facing conformation, and hepcidin binds between the two domains and reaches one of the ion binding sites. Functional studies show that TsFpn is an electroneutral H+/Fe2+ antiporter so that transport of each Fe2+ is coupled to transport of two H+ in the opposite direction. Perturbing either of the ion binding sites compromises the coupled transport of H+ and Fe2+. These results establish the structural basis of metal ion binding, transport and inhibition in ferroportin and provide a blueprint for targeting ferroportin in pharmacological intervention of ferroportin diseases.
A new Majorana platform in an Fe-As bilayer superconductor
Authors: Liu Wenyao , Cao Lu , Zhu Shiyu , Kong Lingyuan , Wang Guangwei , Papaj Michał , Zhang Peng , Liu Ya-Bin , Chen Hui , Li Geng , Yang Fazhi , Kondo Takeshi , Du Shixuan , Cao Guang-Han , Shin Shik , Fu Liang , Yin Zhiping , Gao Hong-Jun , Ding Hong
Published: November 2020

Iron-chalcogenide superconductors have emerged as a promising Majorana platform for topological quantum computation. By combining topological band and superconductivity in a single material, they provide significant advantage to realize isolated Majorana zero modes. However, iron-chalcogenide superconductors, especially Fe(Te,Se), suffer from strong inhomogeneity which may hamper their practical application. In addition, some iron-pnictide superconductors have been demonstrated to have topological surface states, yet no Majorana zero mode has been observed inside their vortices, raising a question of universality about this new Majorana platform. In this work, through angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy measurement, we identify Dirac surface states and Majorana zero modes, respectively, for the first time in an iron-pnictide superconductor, CaKFe4As4. More strikingly, the multiple vortex bound states with integer-quantization sequences can be accurately reproduced by our model calculation, firmly establishing Majorana nature of the zero mode.
N-type organic thermoelectrics: demonstration of ZT > 0.3
Authors: Liu Jian , van der Zee Bas , Alessandri Riccardo , Sami Selim , Dong Jingjin , Nugraha Mohamad I. , Barker Alex J. , Rousseva Sylvia , Qiu Li , Qiu Xinkai , Klasen Nathalie , Chiechi Ryan C. , Baran Derya , Caironi Mario , Anthopoulos Thomas D. , Portale Giuseppe , Havenith Remco W. A. , Marrink Siewert J. , Hummelen Jan C. , Koster L. Jan Anton
Published: November 2020

The ‘phonon-glass electron-crystal’ concept has triggered most of the progress that has been achieved in inorganic thermoelectrics in the past two decades. Organic thermoelectric materials, unlike their inorganic counterparts, exhibit molecular diversity, flexible mechanical properties and easy fabrication, and are mostly ‘phonon glasses’. However, the thermoelectric performances of these organic materials are largely limited by low molecular order and they are therefore far from being ‘electron crystals’. Here, we report a molecularly n-doped fullerene derivative with meticulous design of the side chain that approaches an organic ‘PGEC’ thermoelectric material. This thermoelectric material exhibits an excellent electrical conductivity of >10 S cm−1 and an ultralow thermal conductivity of <0.1 Wm−1K−1, leading to the best figure of merit ZT = 0.34 (at 120 °C) among all reported single-host n-type organic thermoelectric materials. The key factor to achieving the record performance is to use ‘arm-shaped’ double-triethylene-glycol-type side chains, which not only offer excellent doping efficiency (~60%) but also induce a disorder-to-order transition upon thermal annealing. This study illustrates the vast potential of organic semiconductors as thermoelectric materials.
Active learning for the power factor prediction in diamond-like thermoelectric materials
Authors: Sheng Ye , Wu Yasong , Yang Jiong , Lu Wencong , Villars Pierre , Zhang Wenqing
Published: November 2020

The Materials Genome Initiative requires the crossing of material calculations, machine learning, and experiments to accelerate the material development process. In recent years, data-based methods have been applied to the thermoelectric field, mostly on the transport properties. In this work, we combined data-driven machine learning and first-principles automated calculations into an active learning loop, in order to predict the p-type power factors (PFs) of diamond-like pnictides and chalcogenides. Our active learning loop contains two procedures (1) based on a high-throughput theoretical database, machine learning methods are employed to select potential candidates and (2) computational verification is applied to these candidates about their transport properties. The verification data will be added into the database to improve the extrapolation abilities of the machine learning models. Different strategies of selecting candidates have been tested, finally the Gradient Boosting Regression model of Query by Committee strategy has the highest extrapolation accuracy (the Pearson R = 0.95 on untrained systems). Based on the prediction from the machine learning models, binary pnictides, vacancy, and small atom-containing chalcogenides are predicted to have large PFs. The bonding analysis reveals that the alterations of anionic bonding networks due to small atoms are beneficial to the PFs in these compounds.