bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Habitat quality and drought effects on breeding mallard and other waterfowl populations in California, USA
Authors: Kahara Sharon N. , Skalos Daniel , Madurapperuma Buddhika , Hernandez Kaitlyn
Published: December 2021

As many as 500,000 waterfowl reside in California, USA, during summer, but little is known about the availability or quality of their habitats. Wetland size and distribution serve as proximate cues for habitat selection by breeding waterfowl in other parts of North America such as the Prairie Pothole Region. In heavily modified landscapes such as California's Central Valley, disturbance from factors like crop cultivation and urban development may limit access, affect survival, and decrease reproductive success. Water limitations due to recurring seasonal droughts pose another potential threat to breeding waterfowl. Spatial and temporal disparities in environmental resources may provide clearer indications of ultimate habitat selection. We addressed waterfowl habitat selection in 9 regions surveyed annually by California's Department of Fish and Wildlife to determine relative importance of drought severity, wetland area, and habitat quality on mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and other waterfowl population dynamics from 2007–2019. High‐quality habitat supports long‐term population persistence of waterfowl. This study period included an extended drought (2012–2015) and flooding (2016–2017). Statewide, habitat quality was the best predictor of mallard and other waterfowl population fluctuations. The model that included intermediate habitat quality, which accounted for influence of adjacent land‐use, outperformed models that included wetland area alone. At the regional level, drought severity out‐ranked other variables in most regions, suggesting management at regional scales must account for climate. Drought accounted for bird declines in some regions and possible increases in others. This information could be used to identify areas for conservation priority based on projected drought frequency and severity.
Pharyngo‐Esophageal Modulatory Swallow Responses to Bolus Volume and Viscosity Across Time
Authors: Nollet Joeke L. , Cajander Per , Ferris Lara F. , Ramjith Jordache , Omari Taher I. , Savilampi Johanna
Published: December 2021

Objectives/Hypothesis

Modulation of the pharyngeal swallow to bolus volume and viscosity is important for safe swallowing and is commonly studied using high‐resolution pharyngeal manometry (HRPM). Use of unidirectional pressure sensor technology may, however, introduce variability in swallow measures and a fixed bolus administration protocol may induce time and order effects. We aimed to overcome these limitations and to investigate the effect of time by repeating randomized measurements using circumferential pressure sensor technology.

Study Design

Sub‐set analysis of data from the placebo arm of a randomized, repeated measures trial.

Methods

HRPM with impedance was recorded using a solid‐state catheter with 36 circumferential pressure sensors and 18 impedance segments straddling from hypopharynx to stomach. Testing included triplicates of 5, 10, and 20 ml thin liquid and 10 ml thick liquid boluses, the order of the thin liquid boluses was randomized. The swallow challenges were repeated approximately 10 minutes after finishing the baseline measurement.

Results

We included 19 healthy adults (10/9 male/female; age 24.5 ± 4.1 year). Intrabolus pressure, all upper esophageal sphincter (UES) opening and relaxation metrics, and flow timing metrics increased with larger volumes. A thicker viscosity decreased UES relaxation time, UES basal pressure, and flow timing metrics, whereas UES opening extent increased. Pre‐swallow UES basal pressure and post‐swallow UES contractile integral decreased over time.

Conclusion

Using circumferential pressure sensor technology, the effects of volume and viscosity were largely consistent with previous reports. UES contractile pressures reduced over time. The growing body of literature offers a benchmark for recognizing aberrant pharyngo‐esophageal motor responses.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:1817–1824, 2022
Experimental investigation on flame morphology and improved flame radiation model of rectangular heptane pool fire
Authors: Li Manhou , Han Guangzhao , Yang Shenlin
Published: December 2021

The safety process and effectiveness of in situ burning (ISB) method dealing with spilling liquids depend on flame morphology, mass burning rate and flame radiation. In this work, eight rectangular pools with a fixed area of 400 cm2 but different aspect ratios (length–width ratio, n = 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16, respectively) are used. As the aspect ratio increases from n = 1 to n = 16, the flame height decreases from 105.6 to 72.9 cm, whereas the incident heat flux increases from 0.283 to 0.562 kW/m2. The mass burning rate decreases initially at n ≤ 6 and increases afterwards at n > 6. The traditional flame radiation model overestimates experimental measurement because the radiation model assumes that the flame surface is rectangular, but the actual flame shape shows a trapezoidal surface due to air entrainment. The mathematical linear interpolation method is proposed to make an improvement of rectangular radiation model. The new‐proposed flame radiation model is validated by experimental measurements with the relative error < 5%. The current work provides a good method to evaluate the magnitude of loss prevention of oil leakage.
A General Synthesis of Mesoporous Hollow Carbon Spheres with Extraordinary Sodium Storage Kinetics by Engineering Solvation Structure
Authors: Chen Yang , Zhao Si , Yu Yueyue , Wei Mingdeng , Mathur Sanjay , Hong Zhensheng
Published: December 2021

Porous and hollow carbon materials have great superiority and prospects in electrochemical energy applications, especially for surface charge storage due to the high active surface. Herein, a general strategy is developed to synthesize mesoporous hollow carbon spheres (MHCS) with controllable texture and compositions by the synergistic effect of dopamine polymerization and metal catalysis (Cu, Bi, Zn). Mesoporous MHCS–Cu and MHCS–Bi are regular spheres, while mesoporous MHCS–Zn possesses an inward concave texture, and simultaneously has a very high surface area of 1675.5 m2 g‐1 and lower oxygen content through the catalytic deoxygenation effect. MHCS–Zn displays an exceptional sodium storage kinetics and excellent long cycling life with 171.9 mAh g‐1 after 2500 cycles at 5 A g‐1 in compatible ether‐based electrolytes. Such electrolyte enables enhanced solvated Na+ transport kinetics with appropriate electrostatic interactions at the surface of carbon anode as revealed by molecular dynamics simulations and molecular surface electrostatic potential calculations. Such an anode also displays basically constant capacity working at 0 °C, and still delivers 140 mAh g‐1 at 3 A g‐1 under ‐20 °C. Moreover, MHCS–Zn anode is coupled with Na3V2(PO4)3 cathode to construct a hybrid capacitor, which exhibits a high energy density of 145 Wh Kg‐1 at a very high power of 8009 W kg‐1.
Constraints to Waterfowl Hunting by Hunters and Anglers in the Central United States
Authors: Hinrichs Matthew P. , Gruntorad Matthew P. , A. Nawrocki Julia , Vrtiska Mark P. , Pegg Mark A. , Chizinski Christopher J.
Published: December 2021

Waterfowl hunting participation has been on the decline since the mid‐1980s. We used a web‐based survey to better understand waterfowl hunting constraints (i.e., factors that limit or prohibit participation and enjoyment in leisure activities) among hunters and anglers that hunted or did not hunt waterfowl in the central United States. Forty‐eight constraint items were condensed into 10 constraint factors: Rules and Regulations, Waterfowl Identification, Cost, Waterfowl Hunting Skills, Land Access and Permissions, Interference by Other Hunters, Travel, Social, Waterfowl Populations, and Views of Others. We observed significant effects of both state of residence and activity type (i.e., frequent waterfowl hunters, sporadic waterfowl hunters, dissociated waterfowl hunters, non‐waterfowl hunters, and anglers) but the effect sizes were mostly small. There were few meaningful differences between constraints based on state of residence, indicating that the perception of constraints was largely consistent among the states included in our study. However, Social, Waterfowl Identification, and Waterfowl Hunting Skills constraints had greater differences, particularly between frequent waterfowl hunters and non‐waterfowl hunters. Our assessment of waterfowl constraints did not indicate a single constraint that was inhibiting (or prohibiting) participation of waterfowl hunting among waterfowl hunters or non‐waterfowl hunters. However, there were numerous constraints that were slightly to moderately limiting across all activity groups similarly, which suggests that constraints may act collectively to create a perception of an insurmountable impediment to participation to the individual. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.
The geometry of Hermitian self-orthogonal codes
Authors: Ball Simeon , Vilar Ricard
Published: December 2021

We prove that if $$n >k^2$$

n
>

k
2

then a k-dimensional linear code of length n over $${\mathbb F}_{q^2}$$

F

q
2

has a truncation which is linearly equivalent to a Hermitian self-orthogonal linear code. In the contrary case we prove that truncations of linear codes to codes equivalent to Hermitian self-orthogonal linear codes occur when the columns of a generator matrix of the code do not impose independent conditions on the space of Hermitian forms. In the case that there are more than n common zeros to the set of Hermitian forms which are zero on the columns of a generator matrix of the code, the additional zeros give the extension of the code to a code that has a truncation which is equivalent to a Hermitian self-orthogonal code.
The use of accessibility metadata in e-learning environments: a systematic literature review
Authors: Ingavélez-Guerra Paola , Otón-Tortosa Salvador , Hilera-González José , Sánchez-Gordón Mary
Published: December 2021

E-learning environments constitute an essential element in education, as they help students to ensure their pass their courses and graduate on time. Although guidelines, techniques, and methods have been presented in some literature in recent years to contribute to the development of accessible e-learning environments that promote digital inclusion, their implementation is challenging. In this context, the use of accessibility metadata not only provides a way to enhance the description of adapted educational resources but also facilitates their search according to the needs and preferences of students, in particular those with disabilities. In this paper, a systematic review was conducted in order to provide the state of the art regarding the use of accessibility metadata in e-learning environments. A total of 746 documents were found during the period from 2012 to 2019, of which 31 were selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria relevant to our review. The findings revealed an intensive use of models and standards of accessibility in e-learning environments, however, using accessibility metadata remains underused. In fact, the evaluation of accessibility and adaptability through the use of its metadata was not found. The findings obtained also helped to establish challenges and opportunities in this research field as well as to provide an overview that could support those who generate educational resources to keep their interest in making them accessible.
The role of different school organizational models in the psychological adaptation of refugee adolescents
Authors: Pagel Lisa , Edele Aileen
Published: December 2021

Given the high number of refugee children and adolescents around the globe, it is critical to determine conditions that foster their adaptation in the receiving country. This study investigated the psychological adaptation of recently arrived adolescent refugees in Germany. We focused on whether psychological adaptation reflects the organizational approach taken by the school that refugee adolescents initially attended. School is an important context for the development and acculturation of young refugees. As in other European countries, the schooling of refugee adolescents in Germany is organized in different models: separate instruction in newcomer classes, direct immersion in regular classes, and mixed approaches. To answer our research questions, we used self-reported data from 700 refugee adolescents (12-, 14-, and 17-year-olds) in a representative survey of refugees in Germany. As indicators of their psychological adaptation, we analyzed their sense of school belonging, their emotional and behavioral problems, and their life satisfaction. Comparing them to non-refugee peers, the refugee adolescents showed similar levels of psychological adaptation, and an even higher level in the case of school belonging. Multiple regression analyses provide limited support for the assumed advantage of the mixed school organizational model: While students who initially attended a mixed approach reported higher levels of school belonging than those in other models, no differences emerged on the other indicators. We discuss the implications of our findings for the schooling of newly arrived refugees.
A new method for the in vivo identification of degenerated material property ranges of the human eye: feasibility analysis based on synthetic data
Authors: Muench Stefan , Roellig Mike , Balzani Daniel
Published: December 2021

This paper proposes a new method for in vivo and almost real-time identification of biomechanical properties of the human cornea based on non-contact tonometer data. Further goal is to demonstrate the method’s functionality based on synthetic data serving as reference. For this purpose, a finite element model of the human eye is constructed to synthetically generate full-field displacements from different data sets with keratoconus-like degradations. Then, a new approach based on the equilibrium gap method combined with a mechanical morphing approach is proposed and used to identify the material parameters from virtual test data sets. In a further step, random absolute noise is added to the virtual test data to investigate the sensitivity of the new approach to noise. As a result, the proposed method shows a relevant accuracy in identifying material parameters based on full-field displacements. At the same time, the method turns out to work almost in real time (order of a few minutes on a regular workstation) and is thus much faster than inverse problems solved by typical forward approaches. On the other hand, the method shows a noticeable sensitivity to rather small noise amplitudes rendering the method not accurate enough for the precise identification of individual parameter values. However, analysis show that the accuracy is sufficient for the identification of property ranges which might be related to diseased tissues. Thereby, the proposed approach turns out promising with view to diagnostic purposes.
Critical Rationalism and Trust in Science
Authors: Chmielewski Adam
Published: December 2021

In this paper, I consider whether the critical rationalist philosophy of science may provide a rationale for trusting scientific knowledge. In the first part, I refer to several insights of Karl Popper’s social and political philosophy in order to see whether they may be of help in offsetting the distrust of science spawned by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the second part, I address the more general issue of whether the theoretical principles of the critical rationalist philosophy of science may afford a foundation for building trust in science. Both parts of the discussion, confined for the sake of the argument largely to the repudiation of the concept of good reasons for considering a theory to be true, imply that this question would have to be answered negatively. Against this, I argue that such a conclusion is based on a misconception of the nature of scientific knowledge: critical rationalism views science as a cognitive regime which calls for bold theories and at the same time demands a rigorous and continuous distrust towards them, and it is precisely this attitude that should be adopted as a compelling argument for trusting science.
Effects of imidazolium- and ammonium-based ionic liquids on clay swelling: experimental and simulation approach
Authors: Rahman Md Tauhidur , Negash Berihun Mamo , Danso David Kwaku , Idris Alamin , Elryes Ahmed Abdulla , Umar Ibrahim Adamu
Published: December 2021

Water-based fracturing fluids without an inhibitor promote clay swelling, which eventually creates wellbore instability. Several ionic liquids (ILs) have been studied as swelling inhibitors in recent years. The cations of the ILs are crucial to the inhibitory mechanisms that take place during hydraulic fracturing. Individual studies were carried out on several ILs with various cations, with the most frequently found being ammonium and imidazolium cations. As a result, the goal of this study is to compare these two cations to find an effective swelling inhibitor. A comparison and evaluation of the clay swelling inhibitory properties of tetramethylammonium chloride (TMACl) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIMCl) were conducted in this work. Their results were also compared to a conventional inhibitor, potassium chloride (KCl), to see which performed better. The linear swelling test and the rheology test were used to determine the inhibitory performance of these compounds. Zeta potential measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements were carried out to experimentally explain the inhibitory mechanisms. In addition, the COSMO-RS simulation was conducted to explain the inhibitory processes and provide support for the experimental findings. The findings of the linear swelling test revealed that the swelling was reduced by 23.40% and 15.66%, respectively, after the application of TMACl and EMIMCl. The adsorption of ILs on the negatively charged clay surfaces, neutralizing the charges, as well as the lowering of the surface hydrophilicity, aided in the improvement of the swelling inhibition performance.
Systematic synthesis and multi-criteria evaluation of transmission topologies for electric vehicles
Authors: Köller Sven , Schmitz Vincent
Published: December 2021

The focus on the expansion of the electrification of vehicles becomes stronger. Thus, the development process of powertrains of those cars needs to be more dynamic to react to the new challenges. One way to accelerate the development is to automate predevelopment and evaluation at an early stage. An automated method to synthesize transmission topologies and pre-design gears for the generated topologies for electric vehicles is presented within this paper. The method contains two internal evaluations—one after the topology synthesis and the second after the initial design of the gears. The results of the method are gear ratios and gear data for the single transmission steps of each topology. The inputs and boundary conditions can be easily changed and fitted to specific requirements for all use-cases. Here, the process is explained, and the methods' results are validated using state-of-the-art passenger vehicle transmission. As for electric trucks, no state-of-the-art electric powertrains exist; the method is subsequently applied to find topologies for a heavy-duty truck. Extracts of the results are presented. The application for trucks is carried out within the publicly funded research project “Concept ELV2”. In general, the method is capable of synthesizing transmissions for any given vehicle and motor combination.
Responsible media technology and AI: challenges and research directions
Authors: Trattner Christoph , Jannach Dietmar , Motta Enrico , Costera Meijer Irene , Diakopoulos Nicholas , Elahi Mehdi , Opdahl Andreas L. , Tessem Bjørnar , Borch Njål , Fjeld Morten , Øvrelid Lilja , De Smedt Koenraad , Moe Hallvard
Published: December 2021

The last two decades have witnessed major disruptions to the traditional media industry as a result of technological breakthroughs. New opportunities and challenges continue to arise, most recently as a result of the rapid advance and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies. On the one hand, the broad adoption of these technologies may introduce new opportunities for diversifying media offerings, fighting disinformation, and advancing data-driven journalism. On the other hand, techniques such as algorithmic content selection and user personalization can introduce risks and societal threats. The challenge of balancing these opportunities and benefits against their potential for negative impacts underscores the need for more research in responsible media technology. In this paper, we first describe the major challenges—both for societies and the media industry—that come with modern media technology. We then outline various places in the media production and dissemination chain, where research gaps exist, where better technical approaches are needed, and where technology must be designed in a way that can effectively support responsible editorial processes and principles. We argue that a comprehensive approach to research in responsible media technology, leveraging an interdisciplinary approach and a close cooperation between the media industry and academic institutions, is urgently needed.
Long Term Effectiveness and Safety of Intracavernosal Botulinum Toxin A as an Add-on Therapy to Phosphosdiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors or Prostaglandin E1 Injections for Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Giuliano Francois , Joussain Charles , Denys Pierre
Published: December 2021

Background

Some evidence suggests that intracavernosal botulinum toxin A (BTX-A IC) injections administered in addition to phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) or prostaglandin E1 intracavernosal injections (PGE1 ICI) could effectively treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in non–responders, or insufficient responders to these pharmacologic treatments.

Aim

To determine the long-term effectiveness and safety of combined treatment involving a single injection of BTX-A IC as an add on therapy to PDE5-Is or PGE1-ICI for the treatment of ED of different etiologies.

Methods

A retrospective, uncontrolled, single center study was conducted. Data from 123 consecutive patients with ED who were insufficient responders to PDE5-Is or PGE1-ICI and who received onabotulinumtoxinA 100 U, abobotulinumtoxinA 250 U or 500 U IC as an add on to their current pharmacologic treatment were analyzed. All analyses were exploratory. Qualitative data were compared using the Fisher’s exact test. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using logistic regression with Odds Ratios (OR). Only variables with P < .05 in the univariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis.

Results

The minimally clinically important difference (relative to baseline severity of ED) in the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile function domain (IIEF-EF) score was achieved in 50% of patients at 34 (27–42) days and in 41% at 5.9 (3.9 – 8.1) months following BTX-A IC in combination with PDE5-Is or PGE1 ICI. The severity of ED influenced response to BTX-A IC according to the multivariate analysis (OR = 0.3, IC(95%]) = (0.16 – 0.56). Neither being post prostatectomy nor the type of BTX-A affected the response. Effectiveness tended to decrease more over time with abobotulinumtoxinA 250 U than 500 U.

The only side-effects were mild penile pain on injection (n = 1) and mild penile pain for 3 days following injection (n = 1); no systemic effects were reported.

Clinical implications

BTX-A IC (all types) administered as an add on to registered pharmacologic treatments improved erectile function for at least 6 months in 41% of patients with ED of varying etiologies, and was safe.

Strengths & Limitations

A relatively large cohort of patients with ED was included, with a long follow-up period, however the study was retrospective, and uncontrolled.

Conclusion

This study provides preliminary evidence that BTX-A IC administered as an add-on therapy for ED that is insufficiently responsive to standard therapy is effective for at least 6 months, and is safe. Randomized clinical trials are now needed to fully confirm these results.
Experimental analysis of particle clustering in moderately dense gas–solid flow
Authors: Fong Kee Onn , Coletti Filippo
Published: December 2021

In collisional gas–solid flows, dense particle clusters are often observed that greatly affect the transport properties of the mixture. The characterisation and prediction of this phenomenon are challenging due to limited optical access, the wide range of scales involved and the interplay of different mechanisms. Here, we consider a laboratory setup in which particles fall against upward-moving air in a square vertical duct: a classic configuration in riser reactors. The use of non-cohesive, monodispersed, spherical particles and the ability to independently vary the solid volume fraction (

$\varPhi _V = 0.1\,\% - 0.8\,\%$

) and the bulk airflow Reynolds number (

$Re_{bulk} = 300 - 1200$

) allows us to isolate key elements of the multiphase dynamics, providing the first laboratory observation of cluster-induced turbulence. Above a threshold

$\varPhi _V$

, the system exhibits intense fluctuations of concentration and velocity, as measured by high-speed imaging via a backlighting technique which returns optically depth-averaged fields. The space–time autocorrelations reveal dense and persistent mesoscale structures falling faster than the surrounding particles and trailing long wakes. These are shown to be the statistical footprints of visually observed clusters, mostly found in the vicinity of the walls. They are identified via a percolation analysis, tracked in time, and characterised in terms of size, shape, location and velocity. Larger clusters are denser, longer-lived and have greater descent velocity. At the present particle Stokes number, the threshold

$\varPhi _V \sim 0.5$

% (largely independent from

$Re_{bulk}$

) is consistent with the view that clusters appear when the typical interval between successive collisions is shorter than the particle response time.
The Family Friendliness That Wasn’t: Access, but Not Progress, for Women in the Czech Judiciary
Authors: Havelková Barbara , Kosař David , Urbániková Marína
Published: December 2021

Despite the fact that three-fifths of Czech judges are women, it would be a mistake to consider the Czech judiciary “feminized”: it is characterized by vertical gender segregation and a slow “defeminization” in positions of power and influence. The key to understanding both women’s presence overall and absence at the top is the gendered division of labor, especially in the home. The same reason why many women enter the judiciary—better reconciliation of private and professional lives than in other legal professions—is the reason why women do not progress—their “second shift” at home prevents them from ascending the career ladder.
Modeling Repressive Policing: Computational Analysis of Protocols from the Israeli State Commission of Inquiry into the October 2000 Events
Authors: Keydar Renana , Litmanovitz Yael , Hasisi Badi , Kan-Tor Yoav
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the gap between normative expectations of the right to protest in liberal democracies and the continued practice of repressive protest policing. The empirical literature has identified three types of factors explaining repressive policing: macro- or societal-level factors, meso-level factors relating to the police organization, and micro-level factors pertaining to specific events. Yet these factors provide only a fragmented understanding of the phenomenon. In this article, we put forward a novel three-tiered methodology of scaled reading, which is able to examine all these explanations together. We use scaled reading to analyze the protocols of the Or Commission of Inquiry, which investigated lethal clashes between the Israeli police and Israel’s Arab minority in October 2000. Through large-scale algorithmic topic modeling, we found that all types of empirical explanations of repressive policing co-exist within the October events. The mid-scale analysis revealed that no type of explanation exclusively belongs to a specific group of actors. The small-scale reading of the most representative documents for each topic demonstrated that this coexistence of mechanisms is also present within single testimonies. Together, our findings challenge existing empirical categories and illuminate repressive policing as a nonlinear, nonbinary, noncausal, and nonunitary phenomenon. These insights help make sense of the phenomenon’s persistence in deeply divided societies.
The privatisation of remembering practices in contemporary inpatient mental healthcare: going beyond Agnes's Jacket
Authors: Brown Steven D. , Reavey Paula
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we consider changes to memorial practices for mental health service users during the asylum period of the mid-nineteenth up to the end of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. The closing of large asylums in the UK has been largely welcomed by professionals and service-users alike, but their closure has led to a decrease in continuous and consistent care for those with enduring mental health challenges. Temporary and time-limited mental health services, largely dedicated to crisis management and risk reduction have failed to enable memory practices outside the therapy room. This is an unusual case of privatised memories being favoured over collective memorial activity. We argue that the collectivisation of service user memories, especially in institutions containing large numbers of long-stay patients, would benefit both staff and patients. The benefit would be in the development of awareness of how service users make sense of their past in relation to their present stay in hospital, how they might connect with others in similar positions and how they may connect with the world and others upon future release. This seems to us central to a project of recovery and yet is rarely practised in any mental health institution in the UK, despite being central to other forms of care provision, such as elderly and children's care services. We offer some suggestions on how collective models of memory in mental health might assist in this project of recovery and create greater visibility between past, present and future imaginings.
Between Qum and Qayrawān: Unearthing early Shii ḥadı̄th sources
Authors: Rajani Kumail
Published: December 2021

In this article, I develop and test a new methodology of unearthing early Shii ḥadı̄th sources that served as the basis for the later collections of the fourth/tenth century. This method, besides answering the question of historicity, enables us to understand the dissemination of texts across times and regions. As a case-study, I examine what is alleged to have been the first Shii legal ḥadı̄th collection, a work attributed to ʿUbaydullāh b. ʿAlī al-Ḥalabī (d. c. 148/765). By comparing the reports transmitted on the authority of al-Ḥalabī in the Twelver ḥadı̄th compendium originating in Qum, al-Kulaynī's al-Kāfī, and an Ismaili legal ḥadı̄th composition, al-Qāḍī al-Nuʿmān's al-Īḍāḥ, composed in Qayrawān, I demonstrate that both works trace their material to an earlier Kūfan source of the second/eighth century, with each work drawing on the same material independently. A cross-regional textual analysis of later ḥadı̄th compendia, in this case composed by contemporaneous scholars, residing in different regions, affiliated to dissimilar religious persuasions, reveals the transmission of identical material; this finding contributes to our understanding of both geographical transmission of early sources and compositional arrangements of the later ḥadı̄th compendia.
Fiddling while Democracy Burns: Partisan Reactions to Weak Democracy in Latin America
Authors: Singer Matthew M.
Published: December 2021

Democracy is weakened when citizens and elites do not criticize actions or actors that undermine its principles. Yet this study documents a widespread pattern of partisan rationalization in how elites and the public evaluate democratic performance in Latin America. Survey data show that those whose party controls the presidency consistently express positive evaluations of the current state of democratic competition and institutions even when democracy in their country is weak. This pattern emerges in both mass survey data and among elected elites. These data have a worrying implication: if only the political opposition is willing to publicly acknowledge and sound the alarm when democracy is under attack, public pressure to protect democracy is likely to be dramatically reduced.
The Buffer Effect
Authors: Tretter Stefan , Diefenbach Sarah
Published: December 2021

Abstract. The mediating nature of communication technologies (e.g., telephone, voice message, or chat) can buffer the experience of conversations by establishing a figurative shield between sender and receiver. From a psychological perspective, this buffer effect may affect senders’ communication channel choices depending on their respective communication goals. Building on the impression management model of strategic channel use ( O’Sullivan, 2000 ), we examine how valence and locus of a message and the interlocutors’ relationship lead to differences in the buffer effect people establish through their channel choices. In two vignette-based, mixed-design studies, participants indicated which channel they would choose to communicate with a receiver in different situations, depending on the valence of the episode (positive vs. negative; Studies 1 and 2), who is at the center of the issue (self vs. other; Studies 1 and 2), and their interpersonal closeness (friend vs. acquaintance; Study 2). In Study 1, people chose channels with a higher buffer effect for negative (vs. positive) issues and episodes that focused on themselves (vs. the receiver). Study 2 supported a moderating effect of relationship. While people still chose channels with higher buffer effects for negative (vs. positive) issues in the acquaintance condition, the opposite was true when people were to communicate with friends. We attribute this to the higher salience of relational compared to self-presentational communication goals under increasing interpersonal closeness. The present studies expand the impression management model by focusing on the subjective buffer effect of communication channels and introducing the decisive role of relationship in its application.
Mechanisms Controlling the Distribution of Net Water Transport in Estuarine Networks
Authors: Wang Jinyang , Dijkstra Yoeri M. , de Swart Huib E.
Published: December 2021

Net water transport (NWT) in estuaries is important for, for example, salt intrusion and sediment dynamics. While NWT is only determined by river runoff in single channels, in estuarine networks, it results from a complex interplay between tides and residual flows. This study aims to disentangle the various contributions of these physical drivers to NWT in estuarine networks and investigate the sensitivities of NWT to variable forcing conditions, interventions, and sea level rise (SLR). To this end, a processes‐based perturbative network model is developed, which accounts for the vertical flow structure to resolve density‐driven flow driven by a vertically uniform along‐channel salinity gradient. Other identified drivers are river discharge and three tidal rectification processes: Stokes transport and its return flow, momentum advection, and velocity‐depth asymmetry. The model is applied to the Yangtze Estuary. NWT due to tidal rectifications and density‐driven flow can be comparable to river discharge. Specifically in the North Branch, the direction of NWT may differ from the direction of river discharge. Varying river discharge mainly affects NWT as tide‐river interaction is weak and density‐driven flow is shown to be insensitive to salt intrusion. Conversely, variations in tidal amplitude strongly affect NWT related to tidal rectification and density‐driven flow. The deepening (narrowing) of one channel (Deep Waterway Project), affected the NWT mostly through the density‐driven flow (advection). Furthermore, NWT distribution in the Yangtze is insensitive to SLR up to 2 m because the effects of SLR on transport due to different drivers compensate each other.
Hydroclimate Variability Affects Habitat‐Specific (Open Water and Littoral) Lake Metabolism
Authors: Scordo Facundo , Lottig Noah R. , Fiorenza Juan E. , Culpepper Joshua , Simmons James , Seitz Carina , Krynak Edward M. , Suenaga Erin , Chandra Sudeep
Published: December 2021

Lakes integrate the signals of changing hydroclimate in their surrounding basin, which substantially influence gross primary production (GPP), respiration (R), and net ecosystem production (NEP). Most research focuses only on the changes to the open water habitat despite the littoral habitat's importance to lakes and its sensitivity to hydroclimatic variability. We analyze how years with different ice‐out dates and snow water equivalent (SWE) triggered different metabolism responses in the open water and littoral habitats of a subalpine lake. The dry (early ice‐out date and low SWE) and wet (late ice‐out date and high SWE) years had lower GPP and R rates in both habitats compared to the average hydroclimatic year. Furthermore, consumer biomass decreased during dry and wet years. GPP and R reduced the most in the littoral habitat. Consequently, the relative contribution to total lake GPP and R of the littoral habitat decreased, and the contribution of the open water habitat increased during the dry and wet years. We demonstrate that hydroclimatic conditions affect productivity and consumer biomass and show that within‐lake habitats do not experience equivalent responses to climate forcing. Our study has implications for how ecosystem scientists and managers quantify the absolute and relative contributions of the littoral habitat to whole lake production in the context of climate variation.
CDK5RAP2 loss-of-function causes premature cell senescence via the GSK3β/β-catenin-WIP1 pathway
Authors: Wang Xidi , Sipila Patrick , Si Zizhen , Rosales Jesusa L. , Gao Xu , Lee Ki-Young
Published: December 2021

Developmental disorders characterized by small body size have been linked to CDK5RAP2 loss-of-function mutations, but the mechanisms underlying which remain obscure. Here, we demonstrate that knocking down CDK5RAP2 in human fibroblasts triggers premature cell senescence that is recapitulated in Cdk5rap2an/an mouse embryonic fibroblasts and embryos, which exhibit reduced body weight and size, and increased senescence-associated (SA)-β-gal staining compared to Cdk5rap2+/+ and Cdk5rap2+/an embryos. Interestingly, CDK5RAP2-knockdown human fibroblasts show increased p53 Ser15 phosphorylation that does not correlate with activation of p53 kinases, but rather correlates with decreased level of the p53 phosphatase, WIP1. Ectopic WIP1 expression reverses the senescent phenotype in CDK5RAP2-knockdown cells, indicating that senescence in these cells is linked to WIP1 downregulation. CDK5RAP2 interacts with GSK3β, causing increased inhibitory GSK3β Ser9 phosphorylation and inhibiting the activity of GSK3β, which phosphorylates β-catenin, tagging β-catenin for degradation. Thus, loss of CDK5RAP2 decreases GSK3β Ser9 phosphorylation and increases GSK3β activity, reducing nuclear β-catenin, which affects the expression of NF-κB target genes such as WIP1. Consequently, loss of CDK5RAP2 or β-catenin causes WIP1 downregulation. Inhibition of GSK3β activity restores β-catenin and WIP1 levels in CDK5RAP2-knockdown cells, reducing p53 Ser15 phosphorylation and preventing senescence in these cells. Conversely, inhibition of WIP1 activity increases p53 Ser15 phosphorylation and senescence in CDK5RAP2-depleted cells lacking GSK3β activity. These findings indicate that loss of CDK5RAP2 promotes premature cell senescence through GSK3β/β-catenin downregulation of WIP1. Premature cell senescence may contribute to reduced body size associated with CDK5RAP2 loss-of-function.
Autophagy deficiency promotes M1 macrophage polarization to exacerbate acute liver injury via ATG5 repression during aging
Authors: Liu Rui , Cui Juanjuan , Sun Yating , Xu Wentao , Wang Ziming , Wu Miaomiao , Dong Huke , Yang Congcong , Hong Shaocheng , Yin Shi , Wang Hua
Published: December 2021

Aging disrupts the maintenance of liver homeostasis, which impairs hepatocyte regeneration and aggravates acute liver injury (ALI), ultimately leading to the development of acute liver failure (ALF), a systemic inflammatory response, and even death. Macrophages influence the progression and outcome of ALI through the innate immune system. However, it is still unclear how macrophages regulate ALI during aging. The variation in macrophage autophagy with aging and the influence on macrophage polarization and cytokine release were assessed in BMDMs in vitro. Then, after BMDMs subjected to several treatments were intravenously or intraperitoneally injected into mice, thioacetamide (TAA)-induced ALI (TAA-ALI) was established, and its effects on inflammation, injury, and mortality were assessed. We found that aging aggravated the liver injury, along with increases in the levels of proinflammatory mediators, presenting a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which promoted macrophage polarization to the M1 phenotype. In addition, autophagy levels decreased significantly in aged mice, which was ascribed to ATG5 repression during aging. Notably, enhancing autophagy levels in aged BMDMs restored macrophage polarization to that observed under young conditions. Finally, autophagy restoration in aged BMDMs enhanced the protective effect against TAA-ALI, similar to M2 macrophages induced by IL-4. Overall, we demonstrated that the influence of aging on macrophage polarization is an important aggravating factor in TAA-ALI, and the autophagy in macrophages is associated with the aging phenotype.
A bioinspired gelatin-hyaluronic acid-based hybrid interpenetrating network for the enhancement of retinal ganglion cells replacement therapy
Authors: Dromel Pierre C. , Singh Deepti , Andres Eliot , Likes Molly , Kurisawa Motoichi , Alexander-Katz Alfredo , Spector Myron , Young Michael
Published: December 2021

Biomaterial-based cell replacement approaches to regenerative medicine are emerging as promising treatments for a wide array of profound clinical problems. Here we report an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) composed of gelatin-hydroxyphenyl propionic acid and hyaluronic acid tyramine that is able to enhance intravitreal retinal cell therapy. By tuning our bioinspired hydrogel to mimic the vitreous chemical composition and mechanical characteristics we were able to improve in vitro and in vivo viability of human retinal ganglion cells (hRGC) incorporated into the IPN. In vivo vitreal injections of cell-bearing IPN in rats showed extensive attachment to the inner limiting membrane of the retina, improving with hydrogels stiffness. Engrafted hRGC displayed signs of regenerating processes along the optic nerve. Of note was the decrease in the immune cell response to hRGC delivered in the gel. The findings compel further translation of the gelatin-hyaluronic acid IPN for intravitreal cell therapy.
Assessments of different batches and dose levels of a two-dose Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo vaccine regimen
Authors: Bockstal Viki , Gaddah Auguste , Goldstein Neil , Shukarev Georgi , Bart Stephan , Luhn Kerstin , Robinson Cynthia , Anumendem Dickson , Leyssen Maarten , Douoguih Macaya
Published: December 2021

Two phase 3 clinical studies were conducted in the USA to bridge across different Ad26.ZEBOV manufacturing processes and sites, and to evaluate the immunogenicity of different dose levels of Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo. Study 1 evaluated the immunological equivalence of three batches of Ad26.ZEBOV administered as dose 1, followed by one batch of MVA-BN-Filo as dose 2. In Study 2, immunogenic non-inferiority of intermediate (Ad26.ZEBOV: 2 × 1010 viral particles [vp], MVA-BN-Filo: 5 × 107 infectious units [Inf.U]) and low (8 × 109 vp, 5 × 107 Inf.U) doses of Ad26.ZEBOV and MVA-BN-Filo were evaluated against the full clinical dose (5 × 1010 vp, 1 × 108 Inf.U). In Study 1, equivalence was demonstrated for two of three batch comparisons post-dose 1 and all three batches after the full regimen. Study 2 demonstrated a dose-dependent response; however, non-inferiority against the full clinical dose was not met. All regimens were well tolerated and immune responses were observed in all participants, regardless of manufacturing process or dose. Consistency of immunogenicity of different Ad26.ZEBOV batches was demonstrated and a dose-dependent response was observed after Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo vaccination. ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT02543268; NCT02543567.
Pneumococcal capsule blocks protection by immunization with conserved surface proteins
Authors: Zangari Tonia , Zafar M. Ammar , Lees John A. , Abruzzo Annie R. , Bee Gavyn Chern Wei , Weiser Jeffrey N.
Published: December 2021

Vaccines targetingStreptococcus pneumoniae(Spn) are limited by dependence on capsular polysaccharide and its serotype diversity. More broadly-based approaches using common protein antigens have not resulted in a licensed vaccine. Herein, we used an unbiased, genome-wide approach to find novel vaccine antigens to disrupt carriage modeled in mice. A Tn-Seq screen identified 198 genes required for colonization of which 16 are known to express conserved, immunogenic surface proteins. After testing defined mutants for impaired colonization of infant and adult mice, 5 validated candidates (StkP, PenA/Pbp2a, PgdA, HtrA, and LytD/Pce/CbpE) were used as immunogens. Despite induction of antibody recognizing the Spn cell surface, there was no protection against Spn colonization. There was, however, protection against an unencapsulated Spn mutant. This result correlated with increased antibody binding to the bacterial surface in the absence of capsule. Our findings demonstrate how the pneumococcal capsule interferes with mucosal protection by antibody to common protein targets.
A stroke detection and discrimination framework using broadband microwave scattering on stochastic models with deep learning
Authors: Alon Leeor , Dehkharghani Seena
Published: December 2021

Stroke poses an immense public health burden and remains among the primary causes of death and disability worldwide. Emergent therapy is often precluded by late or indeterminate times of onset before initial clinical presentation. Rapid, mobile, safe and low-cost stroke detection technology remains a deeply unmet clinical need. Past studies have explored the use of microwave and other small form-factor strategies for rapid stroke detection; however, widespread clinical adoption remains unrealized. Here, we investigated the use of microwave scattering perturbations from ultra wide-band antenna arrays to learn dielectric signatures of disease. Two deep neural networks (DNNs) were used for: (1) stroke detection (“classification network”), and (2) characterization of the hemorrhage location and size (“discrimination network”). Dielectric signatures were learned on a simulated cohort of 666 hemorrhagic stroke and control subjects using 2D stochastic head models. The classification network yielded a stratified K-fold stroke detection accuracy > 94% with an AUC of 0.996, while the discrimination network resulted in a mean squared error of < 0.004 cm and < 0.02 cm, for the stroke localization and size estimation, respectively. We report a novel approach to intelligent diagnostics using microwave wide-band scattering information thus circumventing conventional image-formation.