bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Groundwater quality assessment using geospatial and statistical approaches over Faridabad and Gurgaon districts of National Capital Region, India
Authors: Swain Sabyasachi , Sahoo Sashikanta , Taloor Ajay Kumar
Published: March 2022

This study presents an assessment of groundwater quality over the two constituent districts (Faridabad and Gurgaon) of the National Capital Region (NCR), India, using geospatial and statistical approaches. These districts have been subjected to rapid urbanization and industrialization in recent years. The groundwater quality parameters viz., pH, electrical conductivity (EC), carbonate (CO32−), bicarbonate (HCO3−), chloride (Cl−), sulphate (SO42−), nitrate (NO3−), fluoride (F−), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), silica (SiO2), and total hardness (TH) are obtained for the year of 2017 from 28 sites over the study area. The suitability for human drinking purposes is assessed by comparing the concentration of parameters at each site with respect to their permissible limits recommended by the Bureau of Indian Standards (IS 10500: 2012). The geospatial mapping of the water quality parameters is carried out to visualize their variations, whereas their risk assessment is accomplished by the statistical approaches viz., water quality index (WQI), correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). The number of sites exceeding the permissible limits of pH, EC, Cl−, SO42−, NO3−, F−, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and TH is obtained to be 7, 15, 5, 6, 8, 3, 5, 7, 18, 3, and 8, respectively. The WQI analysis revealed 10 out of the 28 sites to be unsuitable for drinking purposes. The parameters mostly exhibited positive correlations except for pH that showed a negative correlation with other parameters. The results of PCA revealed the first principal component (PC1) to explain more than 95% of the total variance, thereby significantly reducing the dimensionality. The deteriorated water quality may be mainly attributed to anthropogenic activities, i.e., reckless industrial growth, population explosion, and rapid urbanization. This study emphasizes the need for regular water quality monitoring, and the information reported will certainly help for water resources planning and management, especially over the industrial regions of NCR, India.
Dynamic Rollover of Gyroplanes during Landing—Cause and Prevention
Authors: Duda Holger , Sachs Falk , Seewald Jörg , Lorenz Sven
Published: March 2022

While new-generation gyroplanes are very stable during flight, the susceptibility to roll over briefly after touching down is still the issue due to incorrectly applied landing procedure. A tendency to dynamically roll over is also known from helicopters but rarely from airplanes. The main cause for rotary wing aircraft’s risk to rollover is the rotor force which is still relevant after touching down. The triangular wheel system of a gyroplane in combination with high centre of gravity is another factor for gyroplane’s rollover susceptibility during landing. Typical situations provoking a rollover are landings during severe crosswind or taxiing at too high ground speeds with a rotating rotor. Both situations are related to incorrect piloting techniques. In this paper, the forces acting on the gyroplane during landing were investigated to understand the physical principles. Analytical equations were evaluated using the data of a reference gyroplane in combination with a single-track model known from road vehicle dynamics. It appeared that a steering oversensitivity may occur if the pilot moves the stick forward too early after touching down. Non-linear simulations with a validated model of the reference gyroplane confirmed these analyses. Design parameter studies were conducted to analyse the impact on rollover susceptibility. Finally, this study confirmed that a rollover of a gyroplane during landing is most unlikely if the pilot applies the correct technique, which means pulling the control stick back properly after touching down.
Oil, export diversification and economic growth in Sudan: evidence from a VAR model
Authors: Ali Sabna , Murshed Syed Mansoob , Papyrakis Elissaios
Published: March 2022

There is an extensive literature demonstrating a positive link between export diversification and economic growth. In parallel, the resource curse thesis posits export concentration as an important mechanism curtailing growth in mineral-rich countries. Our analysis contributes to this literature by empirically investigating the interaction between oil dependence captured by the share of oil rents in GDP and export diversification and economic growth for Sudan. We do this with the help of a VAR model using annual data between 1960 and 2018. In comparison to earlier studies, our dataset covers also Sudan’s post-oil boom period, which coincided with a substantial drop in oil dependence after the 2011 secession of South Sudan. We find that oil rents appear to have a statistically significant and negative effect on export diversification, although contemporaneously rather than in the long-term. However, we find no evidence of a statistically significant impact of either oil dependence or export diversification on economic growth, as suggested by the resource curse hypothesis.
Islamic Studies in Australian Islamic schools: educator voice
Authors: Abdalla Mohamad , Chown Dylan , Memon Nadeem
Published: March 2022

This paper responds to calls for renewal in Islamic schooling and education. In doing so, it provides insight into educators’ views on Islamic Studies (IS) in five Australian Islamic schools, with a focus on senior years (years 10, 11 and 12). The study offers a ‘dialogic alternative’ of ‘speaking with’ rather than ‘speaking for’ educators in Islamic educational research, planning, and renewal within K-12 Australian Islamic schools. It privileges educators’ voice and enables an insight into their experience with one of the most important and distinct features of Islamic schools – IS. Using phenomenology as a methodological framework, educators’ voice was elicited through focus groups where eighteen educators provided information describing their experience with IS. The study identified “strengths” and “challenges” of IS. Strengths includes parents’ desire for IS, educators’ personal connection with learner, knowledge of subject-matter, autonomy in teaching IS and unity among IS educators. The challenges outweigh the strengths and include insufficient time for IS, lack of resources, absence of a clear vision leading to a tokenistic and fragmented approach to the teaching of IS, low-level respect and recognition of IS educators and more.
A Fixed-Point Fast Sweeping WENO Method with Inverse Lax-Wendroff Boundary Treatment for Steady State of Hyperbolic Conservation Laws
Authors: Li Liang , Zhu Jun , Shu Chi-Wang , Zhang Yong-Tao
Published: March 2022

Fixed-point fast sweeping WENO methods are a class of efficient high-order numerical methods to solve steady-state solutions of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). The Gauss-Seidel iterations and alternating sweeping strategy are used to cover characteristics of hyperbolic PDEs in each sweeping order to achieve fast convergence rate to steady-state solutions. A nice property of fixed-point fast sweeping WENO methods which distinguishes them from other fast sweeping methods is that they are explicit and do not require inverse operation of nonlinear local systems. Hence, they are easy to be applied to a general hyperbolic system. To deal with the difficulties associated with numerical boundary treatment when high-order finite difference methods on a Cartesian mesh are used to solve hyperbolic PDEs on complex domains, inverse Lax-Wendroff (ILW) procedures were developed as a very effective approach in the literature. In this paper, we combine a fifth-order fixed-point fast sweeping WENO method with an ILW procedure to solve steady-state solution of hyperbolic conservation laws on complex computing regions. Numerical experiments are performed to test the method in solving various problems including the cases with the physical boundary not aligned with the grids. Numerical results show high-order accuracy and good performance of the method. Furthermore, the method is compared with the popular third-order total variation diminishing Runge-Kutta (TVD-RK3) time-marching method for steady-state computations. Numerical examples show that for most of examples, the fixed-point fast sweeping method saves more than half CPU time costs than TVD-RK3 to converge to steady-state solutions.
Annealing of Monel 400 Alloy Using Principal Component Analysis, Hyper-parameter Optimization, Machine Learning Techniques, and Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Chintakindi Sanjay , Alsamhan Ali , Abidi Mustufa Haider , Kumar Maduri Praveen
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the annealing process at 1000 °C on machining parameters using contemporary techniques such as principal component analysis (PCA), hyper-parameter optimization by Optuna, multi-objective particle swarm optimization, and theoretical validation using the machine learning method. Results after annealing show that there will be a reduction in surface roughness values by 19.61%, tool wear by 6.3%, and an increase in the metal removal rate by 14.98%. The PCA results show that the feed is more significant than the depth of cut and speed. The higher value of the composite primary component will represent optimal factors such as speed of 80, feed of 0.2 and depth of cut of 0.3, and values of principal components like surface roughness (Ψ1 = 64.5), tool wear (Ψ2 = 22.3) and metal removal rate (Ψ3 = 13.2). Hyper-parameter optimization represents speed is directly proportional to roughness, tool wear, and metal removal rate, while feed and depth of cut are inversely proportional. The optimization history plot will be steady, and the prediction accuracy will be 96.96%. Machine learning techniques are employed through the Python language using Google Colab. The estimated values from the decision tree method for surface roughness and tool wear predictions using the AdaBoost algorithm match well with actual values. As per MOPSO (multi-objective particle swarm optimization), the predicted responses are as follows; surface roughness (2.5 μm, 100, 02, 0.45), tool wear (0.31 mm, 40, 0.40, 0.60), and MRR (material removal rate) (5145 mm3/min, 100, 0.4, 0.15). As validated by experimentation, there are small variations as the surface roughness varied by 1.56%, tool wear by 6.8%, and MRR by 2.57%.
Teaching principles of translational science to a broad scientific audience using a case study approach: A pilot course from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Authors: Faupel-Badger Jessica M. , Vogel Amanda L. , Hussain Shadab F. , Austin Christopher P. , Hall Matthew D. , Ness Elizabeth , Sanderson Philip , Terse Pramod S. , Xu Xin , Balakrishnan Krishna , Patnaik Samarjit , Marugan Juan J. , Rudloff Udo , Ferrer Marc
Published: March 2022

There are numerous examples of translational science innovations addressing challenges in the translational process, accelerating progress along the translational spectrum, and generating solutions relevant to a wide range of human health needs. Examining these successes through an education lens can identify core principles and effective practices that lead to successful translational outcomes. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is identifying and teaching these core principles and practices to a broad audience via online courses in translational science which teach from case studies of NCATS-led or supported research initiatives. In this paper, we share our approach to the design of these courses and offer a detailed description of our initial course, which focused on a preclinical drug discovery and development project spanning academic and government settings. Course participants were from a variety of career stages and institutions. Participants rated the course high in overall value to them and in providing a unique window into the translational science process. We share our model for course development as well as initial findings from the course evaluation with the goal of continuing to stimulate development of novel education activities teaching foundational principles in translational science to a broad audience.
Prolonged silent carriage, genomic virulence potential and transmission between staff and patients characterize a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Authors: Madera Sharline , McNeil Nicole , Serpa Paula Hayakawa , Kamm Jack , Pak Christy , Caughell Carolyn , Nichols Amy , Dynerman David , Li Lucy M. , Sanchez-Guerrero Estella , Phelps Maira S. , Detweiler Angela M. , Neff Norma , Reyes Helen , Miller Steve A. , Yokoe Deborah S. , DeRisi Joseph L. , Ramirez-Avila Lynn , Langelier Charles R.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) that confers significant morbidity and mortality.

Objective:

Improving our understanding of MRSA transmission dynamics, especially among high-risk patients, is an infection prevention priority.

Methods:

We investigated a cluster of clinical MRSA cases in the NICU using a combination of epidemiologic review and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of isolates from clinical and surveillance cultures obtained from patients and healthcare personnel (HCP).

Results:

Phylogenetic analysis identified 2 genetically distinct phylogenetic clades and revealed multiple silent-transmission events between HCP and infants. The predominant outbreak strain harbored multiple virulence factors. Epidemiologic investigation and genomic analysis identified a HCP colonized with the dominant MRSA outbreak strain who cared for most NICU patients who were infected or colonized with the same strain, including 1 NICU patient with severe infection 7 months before the described outbreak. These results guided implementation of infection prevention interventions that prevented further transmission events.

Conclusions:

Silent transmission of MRSA between HCP and NICU patients likely contributed to a NICU outbreak involving a virulent MRSA strain. WGS enabled data-driven decision making to inform implementation of infection control policies that mitigated the outbreak. Prospective WGS coupled with epidemiologic analysis can be used to detect transmission events and prompt early implementation of control strategies.
The First Large Absorption Survey in Hi(FLASH): I. Science goals and survey design
Authors: Allison James R. , Sadler E. M. , Amaral A. D. , An T. , Curran S. J. , Darling J. , Edge A. C. , Ellison S. L. , Emig K. L. , Gaensler B. M. , Garratt-Smithson L. , Glowacki M. , Grasha K. , Koribalski B. S. , Lagos C. del P. , Lah P. , Mahony E. K. , Mao S. A. , Morganti R. , Moss V. A. , Pettini M. , Pimbblet K. A. , Power C. , Salas P. , Staveley-Smith L. , Whiting M. T. , Wong O. I. , Yoon H. , Zheng Z. , Zwaan M. A.
Published: March 2022

We describe the scientific goals and survey design of the First Large Absorption Survey in Hi(FLASH), a wide field survey for 21-cm line absorption in neutral atomic hydrogen (Hi) at intermediate cosmological redshifts. FLASH will be carried out with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope and is planned to cover the sky south of$\delta \approx +40\,\deg$at frequencies between 711.5 and 999.5 MHz. At redshifts between$z = 0.4$and$1.0$(look-back times of 4 – 8 Gyr), the Hicontent of the Universe has been poorly explored due to the difficulty of carrying out radio surveys for faint 21-cm line emission and, at ultra-violet wavelengths, space-borne searches for Damped Lyman-$\alpha$absorption in quasar spectra. The ASKAP wide field of view and large spectral bandwidth, in combination with a radio-quiet site, will enable a search for absorption lines in the radio spectra of bright continuum sources over 80% of the sky. This survey is expected to detect at least several hundred intervening 21-cm absorbers and will produce an Hi-absorption-selected catalogue of galaxies rich in cool, star-forming gas, some of which may be concealed from optical surveys. Likewise, at least several hundred associated 21-cm absorbers are expected to be detected within the host galaxies of radio sources at$0.4 < z < 1.0$, providing valuable kinematical information for models of gas accretion and jet-driven feedback in radio-loud active galactic nuclei. FLASH will also detect OH 18-cm absorbers in diffuse molecular gas, megamaser OH emission, radio recombination lines, and stacked Hiemission.
The Business of Internetworking: Standards, Start-Ups, and Network Effects
Authors: Russell Andrew L. , Pelkey James L. , Robbins Loring
Published: March 2022

Historical accounts of the Internet's origins tend to emphasize U.S. government investment and university-based researchers. In contrast, this article introduces actors who have been overlooked: the entrepreneurs and private firms that developed standards, evaluated competing standards, educated consumers about the value of new products, and built products to sell. Start-up companies such as 3Com and Cisco Systems succeeded because they met rapidly rising demand from users, particularly those in large organizations, who were connecting computers into networks and networks into internetworks. We consider a relatively brief yet dynamic period, from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, when regulators attacked incumbent American firms, entrepreneurs flourished in new market niches, and engineers set industry standards for networking and internetworking. As a consequence, their combined efforts forged new processes and institutions for so-called open standards that, in turn, created the conditions favorable for the “network effects” that sustained the formative years of the digital economy.
The Politics of Li Yu'sXianqing ouji
Authors: Lu Tina
Published: March 2022

Seventeenth-century Chinese literature thematizes market segmentation, the idea that functionally similar but different objects can be produced for and marketed to different ranks of people. A 1671 collection of classical essays,Xianqing ouji閑情偶寄 by Li Yu 李漁 (1611–80), has generally been understood to be the most influential of lifestyle guides, containing essays about the theater, everyday life, and material culture. This article argues that price and quality differentiation when it comes to a variety of consumer goods forms a central organizing principle for the volume and provides a prism through whichXianqing oujidiscusses social inequity and hierarchy.
Investigating mitochondrial bioenergetics in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of women with childhood maltreatment from post-parturition period to one-year follow-up
Authors: Gumpp Anja M. , Behnke Alexander , Ramo-Fernández Laura , Radermacher Peter , Gündel Harald , Ziegenhain Ute , Karabatsiakis Alexander , Kolassa Iris-Tatjana
Published: March 2022

Background

Childhood maltreatment (CM) exerts various long-lasting psychological and biological changes in affected individuals, with inflammation being an interconnecting element. Besides chronic low-grade inflammation, CM might also affect the energy production of cells by altering the function and density of mitochondria, i.e. the body's main energy suppliers. Here, we compared mitochondrial respiration and density in intact peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), from women with and without CM between two time points, i.e. at the highly inflammatory phase within 1 week after parturition (t0) and again after 1 year (t2).

Methods

CM exposure was assessed with theChildhood Trauma Questionnaire. Whole blood was collected fromn= 52 healthy women within the study ‘My Childhood – Your Childhood’ at both time points to isolate and cryopreserve PBMC. Thawed PBMC were used to measure mitochondrial respiration and density by high-resolution respirometry followed by spectrophotometric analyses ofcitrate-synthaseactivity.

Results

Over time, quantitative respiratory parameters increased, while qualitative flux control ratios decreased, independently of CM. Women with CM showed higher mitochondrial respiration and density att0, but not att2. We found significant CM group × time interaction effects forATP-turnover-related respiration and mitochondrial density.

Conclusions

This is the first study to longitudinally investigate mitochondrial bioenergetics in postpartum women with and without CM. Our results indicate that CM-related mitochondrial alterations reflect allostatic load, probably due to higher inflammatory states during parturition, which normalize later. However, later inflammatory states might moderate the vulnerability for a second-hit on the level of mitochondrial bioenergetics, at least in immune cells.
Understanding the relationship between family income and conduct problems: findings from the mental health of children and young people survey
Authors: Piotrowska P. J. , Stride C. B. , Maughan B. , Ford T. , McIntyre N. A. , Rowe R.
Published: March 2022

Background

Children from low-socioeconomic backgrounds exhibit more behavioural difficulties than those from more affluent families. Influential theoretical models specify family stress and child characteristics as mediating this effect. These accounts, however, have often been based on cross-sectional data or longitudinal analyses that do not capture all potential pathways, and therefore may not provide good policy guidance.

Methods

In a UK representative sample of 2399 children aged 5–15, we tested mediation of the effect of household income on parent and teacher reports of conduct problems (CP) via unhealthy family functioning, poor parental mental health, stressful life events, child physical health and reading ability. We applied cross-lagged longitudinal mediation models which allowed for testing of reciprocal effects whereby the hypothesised mediators were modelled as outcomes as well as predictors of CP.

Results

We found the predicted significant longitudinal effect of income on CP, but no evidence that it was mediated by the child and family factors included in the study. Instead, we found significant indirect paths from income to parental mental health, child physical health and stressful life events that were transmitted via child CP.

Conclusion

The results confirm that income is associated with change in CP but do not support models that suggest this effect is transmitted via unhealthy family functioning, parental mental health, child physical health, stressful life events or reading difficulties. Instead, the results highlight that child CP may be a mediator of social inequalities in family psychosocial functioning.
Intellectual Property and International Clean Technology Diffusion: Pathways and Prospects
Authors: CHENG Wenting
Published: March 2022

International clean technology diffusion is essential to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while fast and optimal diffusion can be prevented by the paywall of patents. This article explores the deficiency in clean technology diffusion caused by the legal fragmentation and rule complex of international environmental law and intellectual property law. It systematically examines three pathways to foster international clean technology diffusion through: restriction of intellectual property, including imposing external restraints in environmental law; striking internal balancing in maximizing TRIPS flexibilities; and keeping the status quo. It argues that treaty pathways may not work, and an operable pathway to promote clean technology diffusion is to maximize and consolidate TRIPS flexibilities in national laws. This option challenges the popular proposal of a “Doha-like” declaration on TRIPS and climate change due to the paralyzed multilateral trade mechanism, asymmetrical negotiation power of developing countries, prolonged negotiation process, and categorization problem in treaty negotiations.
Extrapolating Empirical Models of Satellite‐Observed Global Mean Sea Level to Estimate Future Sea Level Change
Authors: Nerem R. S. , Frederikse T. , Hamlington B. D.
Published: March 2022

We estimate a quadratic model of climate‐driven global mean sea level (GMSL) change based on the satellite altimetry record (1993–2020), including a rigorous assessment of the errors in the quadratic coefficients. We then extrapolate this model 30 years into the future to 2050 and compute the 90% confidence interval. We find GMSL rise in 2050 relative to 2020 will be 16.4 cm higher, with an uncertainty range of 11.3–21.4 cm. This prediction agrees within uncertainties with IPCC SROCC and AR6 sea level projections. In addition, a hindcast extrapolation prior to 1993 agrees well with the tide gauge record of GMSL change over the 2nd half of the 20th century. We believe this shows the value of short‐term observationally driven extrapolations as an additional tool for predicting future sea level change.
Groundwater Variability Across India, Under Contrasting Human and Natural Conditions
Authors: Panda Dileep K. , Tiwari Virendra M. , Rodell Matthew
Published: March 2022

Characterizing local to regional scale water cycles and water resources will be crucial for achieving the United Nations' water‐related Sustainable Developmental Goals. However, quantification and understanding of groundwater extraction across scales have been hampered by inadequate water usage reporting and limited information on irrigation practices. Here we analyze observations from ∼15,000 groundwater monitoring wells and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites together with irrigation, agricultural, and meteorological datasets to show how drought‐induced coupling between natural and anthropogenic groundwater storage variations has caused sustainability challenges in India, the world's biggest consumer of groundwater for irrigation. Notably, the mechanisms and consequences of such coupling differ significantly depending on aquifer types. In Andhra Pradesh's hard rock aquifer, groundwater declines have been limited, despite the nearly constant water scarcity that its farmers face. Moreover, its free farm power policy involves an annual irrigation energy consumption of 26 billion kWh that costs US$ 2.5 billion, possibly unparalleled compared to any other part of the world of similar size (0.27 million km2). In West Bengal's highly permeable alluvial aquifer, the water table is declining rapidly (15 cm/yr) due to a policy that encourages irrigation. Situated between these two states, Odisha's aquifer shows substantial resilience to drought, owing to the state's relatively natural landscape and forest restoration policy. The findings of this study provide new insights to understand the divergent aspects of groundwater irrigation in north versus south India, which can enable development of adaptation and mitigation strategies to avert the looming water crisis.
Effect of the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation on the Madden Julian Oscillation Teleconnections in the Southern Hemisphere
Authors: Sena Ana C. T. , Peings Yannick , Magnusdottir Gudrun
Published: March 2022

The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the main source of intraseasonal variability in the tropics. MJO modulates rainfall in remote areas in the Southern Hemisphere by exciting tropical and extratropical wave trains. We use newly released reanalysis data to analyze how the Quasi‐Biennial Oscillation (QBO) can influence the MJO's effects over the Southern Hemisphere, focusing on precipitation anomalies over South America. The anomalies in the intensity of the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and precipitation over Southeastern South America during MJO phases 1 and 4 are intensified during the easterly QBO. The extratropical wave train excited by the anomalous convection over the maritime continent during MJO phase 4 is affected by the QBO, with a stronger, better‐defined pattern during westerly QBO. The conclusions are supported by a perturbation experiment of a case study, conducted using a high‐top atmospheric global climate model where the QBO and MJO are controlled.
Discontinuity of Diurnal Temperature Range Along Elevated Regions
Authors: Jang Yi‐Shin , Shen Sheng‐Feng , Juang Jehn‐Yih , Huang Cho‐ying , Lo Min‐Hui
Published: March 2022

Low‐clouds and fog moderate the diurnal temperature range (DTR) through radiative effects. Consequently, frequent foggy events make montane cloud forests (MCFs) stable and unique. However, high‐resolution observations in the forest understory are rare. To investigate the DTR variation in elevations, we surveyed the Central Cross‐Island Highway in central Taiwan along the altitude of 0–3,000 m across both the non‐cloud forest and MCFs. The results from paired weather stations revealed that the DTR increases significantly with altitude in open fields but not in the forest's understory. Furthermore, the continuous observations in altitude indicate that smaller DTRs were found in both open field and understory sites in the MCF compared with those in low‐ and high‐altitude sites. The DTR discontinuity highlights the indispensability of MCF for the mountain ecosystem. Further simulating the integrative effect of the climate and land‐use change on fog is crucial for the ecoclimate in mountainous regions.
PSP Observations of a Slow Shock Pair Bounding a Large‐Scale Plasmoid/Macro Magnetic Hole
Authors: Zhou Zilu , Xu Xiaojun , Zuo Pingbing , Wang Yi , Wang Ludi , Ye Yudong , Wang Ming , Chang Qing , Wang Xing , Luo Lei
Published: March 2022

Slow shocks are introduced to be the main dissipation sites in Petschek reconnection model, but they are seldom observed in interplanetary space. We report a slow shock pair bounding a plasmoid/macro magnetic hole observed by Parker Solar Probe. The jump conditions across the shocks are examined and confirmed to satisfy the Rankine‐Hugoniot relations. The flow speed in the preshock and postshock regions of both shocks match up with the characteristics of slow shocks. The slow shock pair is suggested to be a part of a curved slow shock bounding the plasmoid produced by magnetic reconnection. Our findings append a new dissipation site to the picture of energy conversion through solar wind magnetic reconnection. In addition, the results suggest that plasmoids emitted by local magnetic reconnections could be a possible origin of macro magnetic holes in the solar wind.
Precipitating Electron Energy Spectra and Auroral Power Estimation by Incoherent Scatter Radar With High Temporal Resolution
Authors: Tesfaw Habtamu W. , Virtanen Ilkka I. , Aikio Anita T. , Nel Amoré , Kosch Michael , Ogawa Yasunobu
Published: March 2022

This study presents an improved method to estimate differential energy flux, auroral power and field‐aligned current of electron precipitation from incoherent scatter radar data. The method is based on a newly developed data analysis technique that uses Bayesian filtering to fit altitude profiles of electron density, electron temperature, and ion temperature to observed incoherent scatter spectra with high time and range resolutions. The electron energy spectra are inverted from the electron density profiles. Previous high‐time resolution fits have relied on the raw electron density, which is calculated from the backscattered power assuming that the ion and electron temperatures are equal. The improved technique is applied to one auroral event measured by the EISCAT UHF radar and it is demonstrated that the effect of electron heating on electron energy spectra, auroral power, and upward field‐aligned current can be significant at times. Using the fitted electron densities instead of the raw ones may lead to wider electron energy spectra and auroral power up to 75% larger. The largest differences take place for precipitation that produces enhanced electron heating in the upper E region, and in this study correspond to fluxes of electrons with peak energies from 3 to 5 keV. Finally, the auroral power estimates are verified by comparison to the 427.8 nm auroral emission intensity, which shows good correlation. The improved method makes it possible to calculate unbiased estimates of electron energy spectra with high time resolution and thereby to study rapidly varying aurora.
Water Vapor Transport Across an Arid Sand Surface—Non‐Linear Thermal Coupling, Wind‐Driven Pore Advection, Subsurface Waves, and Exchange With the Atmospheric Boundary Layer
Authors: Louge M. Y. , Valance A. , Xu J. , Ould el‐Moctar A. , Chasle P.
Published: March 2022

Although vapor exchanged across hyper‐arid surfaces without free liquid affects the water budget of sand seas, its mechanism is poorly documented for want of accurate instruments with fine spatial resolution. To rectify this, we report bulk density profiles and spatiotemporal variations of vapor mass fraction just below the surface of a mobile dune, acquired with a multi‐sensor capacitance probe sensitive to tiny water films adsorbed on sand grains. We also record wind speed and direction, ambient temperature and relative humidity, net radiation flux, and subsurface temperature profiles over 2 days. The data validate a non‐linear model of vapor mass fraction. Unlike heat, which conducts through grains, vapor percolates across the interstitial pore space by advection and diffusion. On time scales longer than evaporation, adsorbed films equilibrate with their surroundings and hinder molecular diffusion. Their non‐linear coupling with subsurface temperature generates inflections in vapor profiles without counterpart in simpler diffusive systems. Pore advection arises as wind induces subtle pressure variations over the topography. During periods of aeolian transport, flowing sand dehydrates the surface intermittently, triggering evanescent vapor waves of amplitude decaying exponentially downward on a characteristic length implying an adsorption rate governed by a kinetic‐limited activated process. Finally, the probe yields diffusive and advective exchanges with the atmospheric boundary layer. During the day, their combined flux is smaller than expected, yet nearly proportional to the difference between vapor mass fraction at the surface and aloft. Under stabler stratification at night, or during aeolian sand transport, this relation no longer holds.
Greenland Mass Trends From Airborne and Satellite Altimetry During 2011–2020
Authors: Khan Shfaqat A. , Bamber Jonathan L. , Rignot Eric , Helm Veit , Aschwanden Andy , Holland David M. , van den Broeke Michiel , King Michalea , Noël Brice , Truffer Martin , Humbert Angelika , Colgan William , Vijay Saurabh , Kuipers Munneke Peter
Published: March 2022

We use satellite and airborne altimetry to estimate annual mass changes of the Greenland Ice Sheet. We estimate ice loss corresponding to a sea‐level rise of 6.9 ± 0.4 mm from April 2011 to April 2020, with a highest annual ice loss rate of 1.4 mm/yr sea‐level equivalent from April 2019 to April 2020. On a regional scale, our annual mass loss timeseries reveals 10–15 m/yr dynamic thickening at the terminus of Jakobshavn Isbræ from April 2016 to April 2018, followed by a return to dynamic thinning. We observe contrasting patterns of mass loss acceleration in different basins across the ice sheet and suggest that these spatiotemporal trends could be useful for calibrating and validating prognostic ice sheet models. In addition to resolving the spatial and temporal fingerprint of Greenland's recent ice loss, these mass loss grids are key for partitioning contemporary elastic vertical land motion from longer‐term glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) trends at GPS stations around the ice sheet. Our ice‐loss product results in a significantly different GIA interpretation from a previous ice‐loss product.
A Posteriori Random Forests for Stochastic Downscaling of Precipitation by Predicting Probability Distributions
Authors: Legasa M. N. , Manzanas R. , Calviño A. , Gutiérrez J. M.
Published: March 2022

This work presents a comprehensive assessment of the suitability of random forests, a well‐known machine learning technique, for the statistical downscaling of precipitation. Building on the experimental and validation framework proposed in the Experiment 1 of the COST action VALUE—the largest, most exhaustive intercomparison study of statistical downscaling methods to date—we introduce and thoroughly analyze a posteriori random forests (AP‐RFs), which use all the information contained in the leaves to reliably predict the shape and scale parameters of the gamma probability distribution of precipitation on wet days. Therefore, as opposed to traditional random forests, which typically provide deterministic predictions, our AP‐RFs allow realistic stochastic precipitation samples to be generated for wet days. Indeed, as compared to one particular implementation of a generalized linear model that exhibited an overall good performance in VALUE, our AP‐RFs yield better distributional similarity with observations without loss of predictive power. Noteworthy, the new methodology proposed in this paper has substantial potential for hydrologists and other impact communities which are in need of local‐scale, reliable stochastic climate information.
Dynamic CT Reconstruction With Improved Temporal Resolution for Scanning of Fluid Flow in Porous Media
Authors: Goethals Wannes , Bultreys Tom , Manigrasso Zaira , Mascini Arjen , Aelterman Jan , Boone Matthieu N.
Published: March 2022

Lab‐based high‐resolution Computed Tomography (μCT) is an important tool to investigate multiphase fluid flow through porous media. Rapid and continuous μCT acquisition can be used to resolve the dynamics of the 3D fluid distribution in the pores over time while the flow processes occur. However, the temporal resolution of this technique remains limited due to a trade‐off between acquisition time and image quality. This work presents a method to improve the temporal resolution of multiphase flow imaging experiments by limiting the angular range of radiographs used to reconstruct each time step, while compensating for this loss of information by including a temporal total variation term in the reconstruction algorithm. This addition penalizes improper temporal fluctuations in the reconstructed images, but not those dynamic events that are consistent with the radiographs. We perform a thorough evaluation of the resulting gain in temporal resolution at the single‐pore level. The method is validated on both simulated and experimental data representing multiphase flow in porous media. We find that this method improved the temporal resolution up to a factor 3 compared to reconstructions that use full 360° rotations for each time step.
Capillaric field effect transistors
Authors: Meffan Claude , Menges Julian , Dolamore Fabian , Mak Daniel , Fee Conan , Dobson Renwick C. J. , Nock Volker
Published: March 2022

Controlling fluid flow in capillaric circuits is a key requirement to increase their uptake for assay applications. Capillary action off-valves provide such functionality by pushing an occluding bubble into the channel using a difference in capillary pressure. Previously, we utilized the binary switching mode of this structure to develop a powerful set of fundamental fluidic valving operations. In this work, we study the transistor-like qualities of the off-valve and provide evidence that these structures are in fact functionally complementary to electronic junction field effect transistors. In view of this, we propose the new term capillaric field effect transistor to describe these types of valves. To support this conclusion, we present a theoretical description, experimental characterization, and practical application of analog flow resistance control. In addition, we demonstrate that the valves can also be reopened. We show modulation of the flow resistance from fully open to pinch-off, determine the flow rate–trigger channel volume relationship and demonstrate that the latter can be modeled using Shockley’s equation for electronic transistors. Finally, we provide a first example of how the valves can be opened and closed repeatedly.
The DNMT1-PAS1-PH20 axis drives breast cancer growth and metastasis
Authors: Fu Yenan , Zhang Xi , Liu Xiao , Wang Peng , Chu Wenhui , Zhao Wei , Wang Yunling , Zhou Guangbiao , Yu Yu , Zhang Hongquan
Published: March 2022

PH20 is a member of the human hyaluronidase family that degrades hyaluronan in the extracellular matrix and controls tumor progression. Inhibition of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) leads to elevated hyaluronan levels; however, whether DNMT inhibitors control PH20 remains unclear. Here, we report that the DNMT1 inhibitor, decitabine, suppresses PH20 expression by activating the long non-coding RNA PHACTR2-AS1 (PAS1). PAS1 forms a tripartite complex with the RNA-binding protein vigilin and histone methyltransferase SUV39H1. The interaction between PAS1 and vigilin maintains the stability of PAS1. Meanwhile, PAS1 recruits SUV39H1 to trigger the H3K9 methylation of PH20, resulting in its silencing. Functionally, PAS1 inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis, at least partially, by suppressing PH20. Combination therapy of decitabine and PAS1-30nt-RNA, which directly binds to SUV39H1, effectively blocked breast cancer growth and metastasis in mice. Taken together, DNMT1, PAS1, and PH20 comprise a regulatory axis to control breast cancer growth and metastasis. These findings reveal that the DNMT1-PAS1-PH20 axis is a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
BMP-7 ameliorates partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition by restoring SnoN protein level via Smad1/5 pathway in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Peng Wei , Zhou Xingcheng , Xu Tingting , Mao Yanwen , Zhang Xiaohuan , Liu Huiming , Liang Luqun , Liu Lingling , Liu Lirong , Xiao Ying , Zhang Fan , Li Shuang , Shi Mingjun , Zhou Yuxia , Tang Lei , Wang Yuanyuan , Guo Bing
Published: March 2022

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) is involved in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is involved in the extensive fibrosis of renal tissue by facilitating the partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), increasing the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM), inhibiting degradation, inducing apoptosis of renal parenchyma cells, and activating renal interstitial fibroblasts and inflammatory cells. Recent studies indicated that bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) upregulated the expression of endogenous SnoN against renal TIF induced by TGF-β1 or hyperglycemia. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying the BMP-7-mediated restoration of SnoN protein level remains elusive. The present study demonstrated the increased expression of BMP-7 in diabetic mellitus (DM) mice by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of overexpressed BMP-7 plasmid, which attenuated the effects of DM on kidney in mice. Partial tubular EMT and the accumulation of Collagen-III were resisted in DM mice that received overexpressed BMP-7 plasmid. Similar in vivo results showed that BMP-7 was competent to alleviate NRK-52E cells undergoing partial EMT in a high-glucose milieu. Furthermore, exogenous BMP-7 activated the Smad1/5 pathway to promote gene transcription of SnoN and intervened ubiquitination of SnoN; both effects repaired the SnoN protein level in renal tubular cells and kidney tissues of DM mice. Therefore, these findings suggested that BMP-7 could upregulate SnoN mRNA and protein levels by activating the classical Smad1/5 pathway to refrain from the partial EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells and the deposition of ECM in DKD-induced renal fibrosis.
Ultra-processed foods: how functional is the NOVA system?
Authors: Braesco Véronique , Souchon Isabelle , Sauvant Patrick , Haurogné Typhaine , Maillot Matthieu , Féart Catherine , Darmon Nicole
Published: March 2022

Background

In the NOVA classification system, descriptive criteria are used to assign foods to one of four groups based on processing-related criteria. Although NOVA is widely used, its robustness and functionality remain largely unexplored. We determined whether this system leads to consistent food assignments by users.

Methods

French food and nutrition specialists completed an online survey in which they assigned foods to NOVA groups. The survey comprised two lists: one with 120 marketed food products with ingredient information and one with 111 generic food items without ingredient information. We quantified assignment consistency among evaluators using Fleiss’ κ (range: 0–1, where 1 = 100% agreement). Hierarchical clustering on principal components identified clusters of foods with similar distributions of NOVA assignments.

Results

Fleiss’ κ was 0.32 and 0.34 for the marketed foods (n = 159 evaluators) and generic foods (n = 177 evaluators), respectively. There were three clusters within the marketed foods: one contained 90 foods largely assigned to NOVA4 (91% of assignments), while the two others displayed greater assignment heterogeneity. There were four clusters within the generic foods: three clusters contained foods mostly assigned to a single NOVA group (69–79% of assignments), and the fourth cluster comprised 28 foods whose assignments were more evenly distributed across the four NOVA groups.

Conclusions

Although assignments were more consistent for some foods than others, overall consistency among evaluators was low, even when ingredient information was available. These results suggest current NOVA criteria do not allow for robust and functional food assignments.
Contrasting genetic trajectories of endangered and expanding red fox populations in the western U.S
Authors: Quinn Cate B. , Preckler-Quisquater Sophie , Akins Jocelyn R. , Cross Patrick R. , Alden Preston B. , Vanderzwan Stevi L. , Stephenson John A. , Figura Pete J. , Green Gregory A. , Hiller Tim L. , Sacks Benjamin N.
Published: March 2022

As anthropogenic disturbances continue to drive habitat loss and range contractions, the maintenance of evolutionary processes will increasingly require targeting measures to the population level, even for common and widespread species. Doing so requires detailed knowledge of population genetic structure, both to identify populations of conservation need and value, as well as to evaluate suitability of potential donor populations. We conducted a range-wide analysis of the genetic structure of red foxes in the contiguous western U.S., including a federally endangered distinct population segment of the Sierra Nevada subspecies, with the objectives of contextualizing field observations of relative scarcity in the Pacific mountains and increasing abundance in the cold desert basins of the Intermountain West. Using 31 autosomal microsatellites, along with mitochondrial and Y-chromosome markers, we found that populations of the Pacific mountains were isolated from one another and genetically depauperate (e.g., estimated Ne range = 3–9). In contrast, red foxes in the Intermountain regions showed relatively high connectivity and genetic diversity. Although most Intermountain red foxes carried indigenous western matrilines (78%) and patrilines (85%), the presence of nonindigenous haplotypes at lower elevations indicated admixture with fur-farm foxes and possibly expanding midcontinent populations as well. Our findings suggest that some Pacific mountain populations could likely benefit from increased connectivity (i.e., genetic rescue) but that nonnative admixture makes expanding populations in the Intermountain basins a non-ideal source. However, our results also suggest contact between Pacific mountain and Intermountain basin populations is likely to increase regardless, warranting consideration of risks and benefits of proactive measures to mitigate against unwanted effects of Intermountain gene flow.