bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keeping cognition kinky: a reply to Moyal-Sharrock on contentful cognition and its origins
Authors: Hutto Daniel D.
Published: August 2024

Advocates of radical enactivism maintain that contentful cognition is kinky, and that we need a kinky explanation of its natural origins (Hutto & Satne 2017, Hutto, D. D., & Myin, E. (2017). Evolving enactivism. MIT Press.). In advancing this idea, they maintain that there are qualitatively important cognitive differences between creatures capable of full-fledged contentful thought and speech and those which are not. Moreover, they maintain that the capacity for full-fledged contentful cognition needs special kind of explanation – it needs an explanation that isn’t a simple tale of the mere elaboration or embellishment of prior existing forms of cognition. Moyal-Sharrock (2021a, 2021b) rejects the need to introduce kinks of either sort. This contribution responds to her critical assessment, defending the radical enactivist stance on the need to keep contentful cognition kinky.
The TimeUse+ data set: 4 weeks of time use and expenditure data based on GPS tracks
Authors: Winkler Caroline , Meister Adrian , Axhausen Kay W.
Published: August 2024

This data paper introduces the TimeUse+ data set and outlines the comprehensive survey methodologies employed in its collection. The TimeUse+ study comprised two online questionnaires and a smartphone-based diary, recording travel, time use, and expenditure data. Participants were instructed to utilize the TimeUse+ application over a 4-week period. The app passively tracked participants’ movements via GPS and enabled them to annotate their trips and time spent at fixed locations with relevant time use and expenditure information. We begin by providing an overview of extant research on smartphone-based activity-travel diaries and the survey methodological research that informed the TimeUse+ app’s design. We then delineate the study design and components of TimeUse+, highlighting insights derived from prior focus groups and pretests. The data analyzed in this study were collected during the main study wave of TimeUse+, conducted in German-speaking Switzerland from July 2022 to February 2023. Approximately 63,000 individuals were invited to participate, of which approximately 10% initially indicated interest. Despite the study’s extensive and burdensome nature, we observed a net response rate of 2.1%. We present findings related to travel behavior, time use patterns, and expenditure habits, and discuss the challenges faced and lessons learned during each stage of development and execution of the TimeUse+ study. These extensive longitudinal data, which include validated information on travel mode and purpose, as well as detailed data on duration, social partners, and expenditures associated with activities performed at each destination, are being made available for further research.
Promoting active transportation: A comparative assessment of paths and prices
Authors: Mihailova Darja , Vance Colin
Published: August 2024

The time people spend traveling has far reaching implications for their health and for environmental outcomes. Urban planning paradigms—such as that of the "15-minute city"—have consequently endeavoured to bring key services and amenities to residents within a walkable or cycleable 15–20-minute distance. These efforts notwithstanding, the policy levers that influence travel-related time allocation remain poorly understood. Drawing on a panel of household travel data from Germany covering 2005–2020, the present study analyses the role of 2 such levers—bicycle/pedestrian paths and fuel prices—as determinants of time allocation across modes. We start with a descriptive analysis that identifies a stable average travel time expenditure ranging between 65–70 min for women and 75–80 min for men until 2020, when it dropped precipitously as COVID-19 spread. We subsequently estimate fractional response models to identify the influence of the policy variables on time expenditures across motorized, nonmotorized, and public transit modes. We complete the analysis by feeding the model estimates into the World Heath Organization’s on-line Health and Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) to quantify the health and environmental impacts of the planned expansion of the bike path network in the city of Munich, comparing this with the impact of Germany’s recently introduced carbon tax on fuel. Both measures result in substantial benefits, with the implementation of the tax yielding a considerably higher benefit/cost ratio owing to its lower cost of implementation.
Diasporic Philanthropy and the Sense of Belonging as an Expression of Diasporic Cultural Identity and Inclusion
Authors: Ouacha Malika , Meijs Lucas , Biekart Kees
Published: August 2024

This study examines how performing diaspora philanthropy in the country of origin (Morocco) and the experience of integration and inclusion in the country of residence (Netherlands) influences the sense of belonging amongst cross-border diasporic philanthropists. The examination combines theories on migration, cross-border diasporic philanthropy and the sense of belonging. Based on a qualitative exploration of the perspectives and motives of individual cross-border diasporic philanthropists (N = 30), the analysis reveals a profile of cross-border diasporic philanthropists for whom country of residence serves as a positive reference, due to the constant experience of inclusion. They use their country of residence as a reference for social change in their country of origin. This generates a sense of belonging amongst diasporic philanthropists. The findings of this study contribute to the existing literature on the sense of belonging within diasporic communities and cross-border diasporic philanthropists, thereby enhancing understanding of motivations for diasporic philanthropy.
Analysis types and quantification methods applied in UHPLC-MS metabolomics research: a tutorial
Authors: Beger Richard D. , Goodacre Royston , Jones Christina M. , Lippa Katrice A. , Mayboroda Oleg A. , O’Neill Donna , Najdekr Lukas , Ntai Ioanna , Wilson Ian D. , Dunn Warwick B.
Published: August 2024

Background

Different types of analytical methods, with different characteristics, are applied in metabolomics and lipidomics research and include untargeted, targeted and semi-targeted methods. Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is one of the most frequently applied measurement instruments in metabolomics because of its ability to detect a large number of water-soluble and lipid metabolites over a wide range of concentrations in short analysis times. Methods applied for the detection and quantification of metabolites differ and can either report a (normalised) peak area or an absolute concentration.

Aim of review

In this tutorial we aim to (1) define similarities and differences between different analytical approaches applied in metabolomics and (2) define how amounts or absolute concentrations of endogenous metabolites can be determined together with the advantages and limitations of each approach in relation to the accuracy and precision when concentrations are reported.

Key scientific concepts of review

The pre-analysis knowledge of metabolites to be targeted, the requirement for (normalised) peak responses or absolute concentrations to be reported and the number of metabolites to be reported define whether an untargeted, targeted or semi-targeted method is applied. Fully untargeted methods can only provide (normalised) peak responses and fold changes which can be reported even when the structural identity of the metabolite is not known. Targeted methods, where the analytes are known prior to the analysis, can also report fold changes. Semi-targeted methods apply a mix of characteristics of both untargeted and targeted assays. For the reporting of absolute concentrations of metabolites, the analytes are not only predefined but optimized analytical methods should be developed and validated for each analyte so that the accuracy and precision of concentration data collected for biological samples can be reported as fit for purpose and be reviewed by the scientific community.
Body fat distribution and bone mineral density in a multi-ethnic sample of postmenopausal women in The Malaysian Cohort
Authors: Bihun Holly , Abdullah Noraidatulakma , Abdul Murad Nor Azian , Chin Siok Fong , Arifin Azwa Shawani Kamalul , Khuzaimi Aisyatul Najihah , Karpe Fredrik , Lewington Sarah , Carter Jennifer , Bragg Fiona , Jamal Rahman
Published: August 2024

In this study of postmenopausal women in Malaysia, total adiposity was inversely associated with total BMD, while regional associations varied. No differences were detected across Malay, Chinese, and Indian ethnicities. Low BMD contributes substantially to morbidity and mortality, and increasing adiposity levels globally may be contributing to this.

Purpose

To investigate associations of total and regional adiposity with bone mineral density (BMD) among a multi-ethnic cohort of postmenopausal women.

Methods

Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging was undertaken for 1990 postmenopausal women without prior chronic diseases (30% Malay, 53% Chinese, and 17% Indian) from The Malaysian Cohort (TMC). The strength of the associations between standardized total and regional body fat percentages with total and regional BMD was examined using linear regression models adjusted for age, height, lean mass, ethnicity, education, and diabetes. Effect modification was assessed for ethnicity.

Results

Women with a higher total body fat percentage were more likely to be Indian or Malay. Mean (SD) BMD for the whole-body total, lumbar spine, leg, and arm were 1.08 (0.11), 0.96 (0.15), 2.21 (0.22), and 1.36 (0.12) g/cm2, respectively. Total body and visceral fat percentage were inversely associated with total BMD (− 0.02 [95% CI − 0.03, − 0.01] and − 0.01 [− 0.02, − 0.006] g/cm2 per 1 SD, respectively). In contrast, subcutaneous and gynoid fat percentages were positively associated with BMD (0.007 [0.002, 0.01] and 0.01 [0.006, 0.02] g/cm2, respectively). Total body fat percentage showed a weak positive association with lumbar BMD (0.01 [0.004, 0.02]) and inverse associations with leg (− 0.04 [− 0.06, − 0.03]) and arm (− 0.02 [− 0.03, − 0.02]) BMD in the highest four quintiles. There was no effect modification by ethnicity (phetero > 0.05).

Conclusion

Total adiposity was inversely associated with total BMD, although regional associations varied. There was no heterogeneity across ethnic groups suggesting adiposity may be a risk factor for low BMD across diverse populations.
In Situ Measurements of NiAl Precipitation During Aging of Dual Hardening Hybrid Steels
Authors: Hörnqvist Colliander Magnus , Ooi Steve , Lindgren Kristina , Müller Timo , Thuvander Mattias
Published: August 2024

The performance of modern dual hardening steels strongly relies on a well-controlled precipitation processes during manufacturing and heat treatment. Here, the precipitation of intermetallic β-NiAl in recently developed dual hardening steels has been investigated during aging using combined high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction and small-angle scattering. The effects of heating rate and aging temperature on the precipitation kinetics and lattice mismatch in two alloys (Hybrid 55 and Hybrid 60) were studied. Precipitation starts already during heating, typically in the temperature range 450 °C to 500 °C. The precipitation process is significantly faster at 570 °C compared to 545 °C for both steel grades, and the number density reaches its maximum already within 1 hours during aging at 545 °C and within 15 minutes during aging at 570 °C. The effect of heating rate is limited, but the precipitation during heating increases in Hybrid 60 when slower heating rate is used. This led to slightly higher volume fractions during subsequent aging, but did not affect the particle size. The lattice mismatch between β-NiAl and the matrix initially develops rapidly with time during aging, presumably due to a developing chemistry of the β phase, until a particle size of around 1.5 nm is reached, whereafter it saturates. After saturation, the lattice mismatch is small, but positive, and independent of temperature during cooling.
Momelotinib versus ruxolitinib in JAK inhibitor-naïve patients with myelofibrosis: an efficacy/safety analysis in the Japanese subgroup of the phase 3 randomized SIMPLIFY-1 trial
Authors: Shimoda Kazuya , Komatsu Norio , Matsumura Itaru , Ikeda Kazuhiko , Hino Masayuki , Hidaka Michihiro , Maeda Yoshinobu , Kondo Takeshi , Fujisaki Tomoaki , Shoshi Keita , Azuma Kyoichi , Fukushima Ryuichi , Kawashima Jun , Kosugi Hiroshi
Published: August 2024

Momelotinib, an oral Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 and activin A receptor type 1 inhibitor, improved symptoms, splenomegaly, and anemia in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). This sub-analysis of SIMPLIFY-1 evaluated the efficacy and safety of momelotinib versus ruxolitinib in Japanese patients with JAK inhibitor (JAKi)-naïve MF. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive momelotinib 200 mg once daily or ruxolitinib 20 mg twice daily (or modified based on label) for 24 weeks, after which patients could receive open-label momelotinib. The primary endpoint was splenic response rate (SRR; ≥ 35% reduction in spleen volume) at 24 weeks; main secondary endpoints were total symptom score (TSS) response (≥ 50% reduction) and transfusion independence (TI) rates. Fifteen Japanese patients (momelotinib, n = 6; ruxolitinib, n = 9) were enrolled; all completed treatment. At Week 24, SRR was 50.0% with momelotinib and 44.4% with ruxolitinib. TSS response rates were 33.3% and 0%, and TI rates were 83.3% and 44.4%. Any-grade treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) rates were 83.3% with momelotinib and 88.9% with ruxolitinib. Grade 3/4 TRAE rates were 0% and 55.6%, with specific events being anemia (55.6%) and vertigo (11.1%) with ruxolitinib. Momelotinib was well tolerated, improved spleen and symptom responses, and reduced transfusion requirements in Japanese patients with JAKi-naïve MF.
Outcome of whole brain irradiation with a dose-escalated simultaneous-integrated boost in patients with multiple large and/or diffuse brain metastases: real live data and review of the literature
Authors: Agolli Linda , Nicosia Luca , Hilger Thomas , Iancu Gheorghe , Exeli Ann-Katrin , Eul Bastian , Struffert Tobias , Acker Till , Habermehl Daniel
Published: August 2024

Background

We retrospectively investigate feasibility and safety of whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) including a simultaneous-integrated boost technique (WBRT-SIB) in a cohort of patients with a very poor prognosis suffering from multiple and/or large brain metastases, unfavorable primary histology, poor performance status and/or symptomatic BMs.

Materials and Methods

Thirty-five patients with high brain tumor burden, extracranial metastases and low life-expectancy were treated with WBRT-SIB mostly with 35-42 Gy/14 fractions. All metastases were boosted in patients with up to 12 BMs. In patients with > 12 BM, large and/or small metastases in critical brain regions were boosted up to a maximum of 12 SIB volumes.

Results

The median number of BM was 8 (range 2–45) and the median BM diameter was 12 mm (range 4–90 mm). Fifteen (43%) patients had ≥ 10 BMs and 25 patients presented with a Karnofski index ≤ 80%. Primary tumor histology was NSCLC (n = 13), SCLC (n = 11), breast cancer (n = 7), melanoma (n = 2), other (n = 2). The median iPFS was not reached, and 12- and 18-months iPFS were 75% and 50%, respectively. Overall, seven patients had intracranial progression: two patients within the SIB and WBRT area, one patient only within the SIB region and four patients had new BMs in the WBRT volume alone. The median iPFS for non-SCLC patients was 17 months and the 12- and 18-month iPFS were 56.8% and 28.4%, respectively. There was no significant OS difference between SCLC-group and non-SCLC patients (p = 0.38). Overall, median OS was 8.7 months and 1-year OS was 25%. The treatment was generally well-tolerated with no observed cases of radionecrosis.

Conclusion

Our WBRT-SIB approach involves a combination of whole brain radiotherapy and a simultaneous integrated boost to specific tumor volumes, and its effectiveness is compared with other treatment modalities in the literature. Further research, including prospective studies with larger patient cohorts, is necessary to validate and refine the findings.
Searching for Sonin kernels
Authors: Ortigueira Manuel D.
Published: August 2024

The causal shift-invariant convolution is studied from the point of view of inversion. Abel’s algorithm, used in the tautochrone problem, is considered and Sonin’s existence condition is deduced. To generate pairs of functions verifying Sonin’s condition, the class of Mittag-Leffler type functions is used. In particular, functions that are impulse responses of ARMA(N,N) systems serve as a basis. The possible use of Abel’s procedure as a support for introducing generalized fractional derivatives is evaluated.
Impact of pre-harvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on fruit quality, physiological disorders and respiration rate of ‘Scilate’ apple
Authors: Sidhu Ramandeep Singh , Bound Sally A. , Hunt Ian , Swarts Nigel D.
Published: August 2024

The ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is widely used in the apple industry as a post-harvest fumigation application to slow down the ripening process and maintain fruit quality during storage. With the development of a sprayable formulation (Harvista™, Agrofresh Inc, USA), it is becoming increasingly common in the apple industry to apply 1-MCP as a pre-harvest spray. This study investigated the impact of pre-harvest 1-MCP applied 1 week prior to harvest as a foliar application at 11.4 L ha−1 in 1000 L water, on the quality and respiration rate of ‘Scilate’ apples grown in the Huon Valley, Southern Tasmania, Australia. Two trials were undertaken, trial 1 examined fruit quality, flesh browning (FB) and fruit softening in 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit while trial 2 compared the respiration rate of 1-MCP treated and untreated fruit. Despite no effect on fresh fruit quality attributes, pre-harvest spray application of 1-MCP influenced post-harvest fruit quality, storability, and respiration rate of apples. Fruit treated with 1-MCP showed higher malic acid concentration (1.2 g L−1 vs 0.9 g L−1) and lower juice pH (4.6 vs 4.9) even after 7.5 months of regular air cold-storage along with a six-fold reduction in fruit softening in comparison to untreated fruit (2% vs 13%). Pre-harvest treatment of 1-MCP reduced respiration rate by 32%, and incidence of CO2 injury by over 40%. The incidence of radial type (senescent related) FB was reduced by 100%. A significant proportion of treated apples still suffered from severe CO2 injury. This study has demonstrated that pre-harvest application of 1-MCP to ‘Scilate’ fruit can be useful in maintaining long-term fruit quality during storage, reducing respiration rate, and lowering the incidence of FB in general. However, the risk of severe CO2 injury remains, especially with larger fruit harvested from trees with lighter crop loads.
The Generic Failure of Lower-Semicontinuity for the Linear Distortion Functional
Authors: Hashemi Mohsen , Martin Gaven J.
Published: August 2024

We consider the convexity properties of distortion functionals, particularly the linear distortion, defined for homeomorphisms of domains in Euclidean n-spaces, $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

. The inner and outer distortion functionals are lower semi-continuous in all dimensions and so for the curve modulus or analytic definitions of quasiconformality it ifollows that if $$ \{ f_{n} \}_{n=1}^{\infty } $$

{

f
n

}

n
=
1

∞

is a sequence of K-quasiconformal mappings (here K depends on the particular distortion functional but is the same for every element of the sequence) which converges locally uniformly to a mapping f, then this limit function is also K-quasiconformal. Despite a widespread belief that this was also true for the geometric definition of quasiconformality (defined through the linear distortion $$H({f_{n}})$$

H
(

f
n

)

), T. Iwaniec gave a specific and surprising example to show that the linear distortion functional is not always lower-semicontinuous on uniformly converging sequences of quasiconformal mappings. Here we show that this failure of lower-semicontinuity is common, perhaps generic in the sense that under mild restrictions on a quasiconformal f, there is a sequence $$ \{f_{n} \}_{n=1}^{\infty } $$

{

f
n

}

n
=
1

∞

with $$ {f_{n}}\rightarrow {f}$$

f
n

→
f

locally uniformly and with $$\limsup _{n\rightarrow \infty } H( {f_{n}})<H( {f})$$

lim sup

n
→
∞

H

(

f
n

)

<
H

(
f
)

. Our main result shows this is true for affine mappings. Addressing conjectures of Gehring and Iwaniec we show the jump up in the limit can be arbitrarily large and give conjecturally sharp bounds: for each $$\alpha <\sqrt{2}$$

α
<

2

there is $${f_{n}}\rightarrow {f}$$

f
n

→
f

locally uniformly with f affine and $$\begin{aligned} \alpha \; \limsup _{n\rightarrow \infty } H( {f_{n}}) < H( {f}) \end{aligned}$$

α

lim sup

n
→
∞

H

(

f
n

)

<
H

(
f
)

We conjecture $$\sqrt{2}$$

2

to be best possible.
Prototype pipeline modelling using interval scanning point clouds
Authors: Pečur Toa , Bosché Frédéric , Cerniauskas Gabrielis , Mill Frank , Sherlock Andrew , Yu Nan
Published: August 2024

With the aid of computer aided design (CAD) and building information modelling (BIM), as-built to as-designed comparison has seen many developments in improving the workflow of manufacturing and construction tasks. Recently, evolution has been centred around automation of scene interpretation from three-dimensional (3D) scan data. The scope of this paper is to assess assemblies as the installation process progresses and inferring if arising deviations are problematic (complex task). The adequacy of utilising unorganised point clouds to compliance check are trialled with a real life down-scaled prototype model in conjunction with a synthetic dataset. This work aims to highlight areas where large rework could be avoided, in part by the detection of potential clashes of components early in the pipeline installation process. With the help of an extracted model in the form of a point cloud generated from a scanned physical model and a 3D CAD model representing the nominal geometry, an operator can be made visually aware of potential deviations and component clashes during a pipeline assembly process.
Policing, Power, and Protests: Landscapes of Surveillance in Private and Public Spaces in Lower Manhattan
Authors: Aubey Madison , Britt Kelly M. , Gold Kellen
Published: August 2024

In decades since 11 September 2001 (9/11), surveillance and policing within the United States have increased manifold and, with them, protests against the systemic racism and classism embedded in these practices. These practices go back beyond the 21st century—these modes of policing, power, and protests against them are not new. Due to urban spaces’ concentration of political, economic, and social power and the sheer density of people, they can quickly take on material and symbolic importance that can last for centuries. As public protests increase, so do countermeasures from those wielding power in the forms of both formal and informal policing and surveillance. These policing measures also leave material traces in the landscape, working to create a palimpsest of trauma across urban terrains. The lineage of a surveillance landscape as seen in policing, power, and protest in Lower Manhattan, will be explored through a documentary archaeological approach to examine the residual trauma left in public spaces.
Improvement of post-harvest quality of Balady lime fruit with Aloe vera gel and tea tree oil against green mold disease caused by Penicillium digitatum
Authors: Abou-Zaid Eman A. A. , Hussein Azza S. , Sultan Raoof , Abo-Elyousr Kamal A. M. , Sallam Nashwa M. A. , Khalil Bagy Hadeel M. M.
Published: August 2024

Penicillium digitatum Sacc is a common postharvest pathogen affecting lime fruits. It causes significant losses in postharvest lime production. An emerging alternative to chemical control is the use of environmentally friendly such as edible and biodegradable films and packaging. The goal of the current study was to test different concentrations of Aloe vera gel (5, 15, 25, 50, 75, and 100% v/v), tea tree oil coating (0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, and 10% v/v), and their combination for controlling P. digitatum in vitro. The results revealed that specific concentrations of Aloe vera gel (75% and 100% v/v), tea tree oil (2.5, 5, and 10% v/v), and Aloe vera gel (25%) + tea tree oil (1%) v/v showed the highest inhibitory effect against the pathogen. The most effective concentrations of Aloe vera gel (75%), tea tree oil (2.5%), and Aloe vera gel (25%) + tea tree oil (1%) were evaluated against the green mold disease of lime under natural infection through storage period (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days). Compared to the control group, all edible layers demonstrated a significant delay and reduced in disease severity percentage throughout the storage periods. However, coating lime fruits with a combination of Aloe vera gel (25%) + tea tree oil (1%) successfully prevented the green mold disease of lime fruits over 28 days. The impact of these coatings was evaluated on lime fruit quality maintenance (weight loss, firmness, juice weight, total soluble solids, total acidity, pH, vitamin C, lipid peroxidation content, total phenols, total flavonoid, and total protein) over 28 days of storage during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. All treatments improved fruit quality through the storage period compared with untreated fruits. Treated lime fruits with Aloe vera gel (25%) + tea tree oil (1%) exhibited slight reductions in weight loss and juice weight compared to alternative treatments as an average of the two successive seasons. Simultaneously, this treatment improved fruit firmness, vitamin C levels, total phenols, total flavonoid, and total protein when contrasted with other treatments as an average of the two studied seasons. These findings show that the combination of Aloe vera gel and tea tree oil coatings enhances the shelf life and maintains the quality of lime fruits. They can also be used as an environmentally acceptable, chemical-free alternative treatment to preserve the postharvest quality of lime fruit.
A Simple Perspective on Simultaneous Column and Row Generation
Authors: Spliet Remy
Published: August 2024

To solve a linear programming problem with many variables and constraints, a simultaneous column and row generation algorithm can be used. Such an algorithm iteratively solves a restricted version of a linear programming problem including only a subset of the variables and constraints. In each iteration, it might simultaneously add both a new variable and constraint, as opposed to non-simultaneous column and row generation algorithms that only add either a new variable or constraint. In this paper, a simple perspective is provided to indicate the relevance of simultaneous column and row generation and to make it more accessible. Particular emphasis is put on an optimality condition for linear programming which is perhaps a particular source of confusion in this context. It is argued that optimality can be achieved using non-simultaneous column and row generation algorithms, while an example is provided illustrating the potential computational gains of using simultaneous column and row generation algorithms.
Determination of heavy metal concentration in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Awugo Victor Emmanuel , Igejongbo Toyosi Fadekemi
Published: August 2024

Aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria face significant environmental challenges because of anthropogenic activities, resulting in heavy metal contamination. Fish body weight and length and heavy metal concentrations in African pike (Hepsetus odoe) from Alape River, Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria, were investigated. Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb) concentrations were measured in the gills, intestines, and trunks of the fish over six months (i.e., from May 2022 to October 2022) using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Buck Scientific’s 210VGP). Significant variations in heavy metal concentrations were observed across different months and organs. The order of concentrations for the six months, from highest to lowest, was Fe (2.26 mg/kg) > Ni (0.37 mg/kg) > Cu (0.23 mg/kg) > Mn (0.27 mg/kg) > Pb (0.05 mg/kg) > Cd (0.01 mg/kg). Higher concentrations were generally observed in the gills and intestines in May and June, whereas elevated levels were observed in the gills in September and October. These concentrations were compared with the maximum permissible limits established by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization for fish consumption, and all measured heavy metal concentrations were determined to be below the permissible limits. Body weight ranged from 172 to 362 g, and length ranged from 15.7 cm to 23.5 cm. The regression coefficient (b) ranged from − 0.134 to 0.204, indicating a relatively weak length–weight relationship. The condition factor (K) exhibited variations in the overall health and well-being of the fish. Based on these findings, the consumption of African pike from the Alape River is currently considered safe for humans, regardless of fish size, with all of the heavy metal concentrations within the permissible limits. However, continuous monitoring is crucial to ensure the ongoing safety of aquatic ecosystems and human health.
Federalism and Democratic Backsliding in Comparative Perspective
Authors: Kaufman Robert R. , Kelemen R. Daniel , Kolcak Burcu
Published: August 2024

As a wave of backsliding has swept across both new and established democracies, scholars have sought to identify formal and informal institutions that can act as guardrails of democracy. But while informal norms, party structures, and formal institutions such as separation of powers have all been singled out as potential bulwarks against democratic backsliding, the literature has had less to say about what role, if any, federalism might play in stopping democracies from sliding into autocracy. While some constitutional designers and scholars have argued that federalism can help to prevent the emergence of a national tyranny, most contemporary research has emphasized the damaging effects federalism can have on democracy. In this article, we assess the relationship between federalism and threats posed by national rulers, with quantitative analysis of that relationship in countries around the world and with structured, focused comparative case studies in the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, and India. Our quantitative analysis finds no systematic relationship between federalism and backsliding, while our comparative case studies support our argument that federalism is only likely to serve as a bulwark against autocratic threats posed by national rulers under a limited set of conditions.
Energy Dissipation During Shear Along Experimental Rough Faults
Authors: Morad Doron , Reches Ze'ev , Sagy Amir , Hatzor Yossef H.
Published: August 2024

The energy budget and the interplay between stable friction evolution and dynamic stick‐slips are tested here under continuous slip along rough faults. We conducted 34 direct‐shear experiments coupled with precise roughness measurements on diabase and limestone fault samples. The faults broad roughness ranges from highly rough and interlocked fractured interfaces to smooth polished surfaces. The analysis focuses on two slip phases: (a) the evolution of the shear strength of rough sample under stable, cumulative displacement; and (b) the dynamic of unstable stick‐slip sliding. We found that the breakdown work during frictional strength evolution increases with roughness increase across multiple scales. The diabase samples are more sensitive to roughness increase than limestone samples in terms of the breakdown work implied by frictional evolution. We attribute this increased diabase sensitivity with fault roughness to its higher bulk elasticity and not to the fault shear stiffness. The diabase faults displayed multiple periodic system‐size stick‐slips, and the measured stored energy during the preparatory stage were surprisingly independent of the fault roughness. This finding suggests that during the preparatory stage a balance between the intracycle fault stiffness and stress drop govern the stored energy magnitude. Further, this energy balance suggests that some interface conditioning occurs before the spontaneous slip overcomes a sticking barrier.
On the Seasonal Cycle of Phytoplankton Bio‐Optical Properties Inside a Warm Core Ring in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Márquez‐Artavia Amaru , Pallàs‐Sanz Enric , Tenreiro M.
Published: August 2024

Four underwater glider missions were carried out to sample the physical and bio‐optical properties inside a Loop Current Eddy (LCE) in the Gulf of Mexico, to investigate whether the winter deepening of the mixed‐layer and erosion of the nitracline stimulates phytoplankton growth. Recent coupled physical‐biogeochemical numerical models support this mechanism, but observations using profiling floats suggest that there is no seasonal cycle on integrated phytoplankton biomass. Here, data collected by underwater gliders during a full seasonal cycle and inside the LCE Poseidon support the idea of an increase in phytoplankton biomass during winter, consistent with nutrient entrainment into the euphotic zone. The changes in fluorescence emission per chlorophyll‐a unit and their implications for interpreting bio‐optical variability were also assessed. Linear regressions between in vivo chlorophyll‐a fluorescence and satellite chlorophyll‐a concentration show the largest (smallest) slopes during winter (summer), suggesting a shift in the phytoplankton community along the year or photoacclimation. Although the glider data set is convolved by temporal and spatial variability, and chlorophyll‐a fluorescence is affected by multiple factors, the concomitant enhancement of particle backscattering coefficient and chlorophyll‐a observed during winter supports the occurrence of a seasonal cycle in phytoplankton biomass. Deep vertical mixing in winter inside the core of the LCE, can promote fertilization through vertical diffusion of nutrients. Poseidon was an extraordinary, large, and strong, LCE that prompted phytoplankton blooms in winter highlighting their relevance for primary production and in general for biogeochemical processes.
Assessing the Tropospheric Temperature and Humidity Simulations in CMIP3/5/6 Models Using the AIRS Obs4MIPs V2.1 Data
Authors: Tian Baijun , Fetzer Eric J. , Teixeira Joao
Published: August 2024

In this study, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Observations for Model Intercomparison Projects (Obs4MIPs) V2.1 tropospheric air temperature, specific humidity, and relative humidity data are utilized to evaluate the global tropospheric temperature and humidity simulations in the fully coupled global climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phases 3, 5, and 6 (CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6), and possible simulation improvement in CMIP6 models in comparison to CMIP3 and CMIP5 models. Our analyses indicate that all three phases of CMIP models share similar tropospheric air temperature, specific humidity, and relative humidity biases in their multi‐model ensemble means relative to AIRS. Cold biases up to 4 K and positive relative humidity biases up to 20% are found in the free troposphere almost globally with maxima over the mid‐latitude storm tracks. Warm biases up to 2 K are seen over the Southern Ocean in the lower troposphere. Positive specific and relative humidity biases exist over the off‐equatorial oceans while negative specific and relative humidity biases are seen near the equator in the tropical free troposphere, which are related to the double‐intertropical convergence zone bias in the models. Both the air temperature and specific humidity biases are important to the relative humidity biases except in the tropical free troposphere where the specific humidity biases dominate. The tropospheric air temperature, specific humidity, and relative humidity biases are reduced from CMIP3 to CMIP5 and to CMIP6 at almost all pressure levels except at 300 hPa for specific humidity and in the boundary layer for relative humidity.
Spatially Resolved Temperature Response Functions to CO2 Emissions
Authors: Freese Lyssa M. , Giani Paolo , Fiore Arlene M. , Selin Noelle E.
Published: August 2024

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions affect local temperature; quantifying that local response is important for learning about the earth system, the impacts of mitigation, and adaptation needs. We assume the climate system can be represented as a time‐dependent linear system, diagnosing Green's Functions for the spatial temperature response to CO2 emissions based on CMIP6 earth system models. This allows us to emulate the linear component of the temperature response to CO2. This approach is sufficient to capture the spatial temperature response of CMIP6 experiments within one standard deviation of the multimodel spread across most regions, though accuracy is lower in the Southern Ocean and the Arctic. Our approach reveals where nonlinear feedbacks are important in current CMIP6 models, and where the local system response is well represented by a time‐dependent linear differential operator. It incorporates emissions path dependency and may be useful for evaluating large ensembles of emission scenarios.
Velocity of Greenland's Helheim Glacier Controlled Both by Terminus Effects and Subglacial Hydrology With Distinct Realms of Influence
Authors: Sommers A. N. , Meyer C. R. , Poinar K. , Mejia J. , Morlighem M. , Rajaram H. , Warburton K. L. P. , Chu W.
Published: August 2024

Two outstanding questions for the future of the Greenland Ice Sheet are (a) how enhanced meltwater draining beneath the ice will impact the behavior of large tidewater glaciers, and (b) to what extent tidewater glacier velocity is driven by changes at the terminus versus changes in sliding velocity due to meltwater. We present a two‐way coupled framework to simulate the nonlinear feedbacks of evolving subglacial hydrology and ice dynamics using the Subglacial Hydrology And Kinetic, Transient Interactions (SHAKTI) model within the Ice‐sheet and Sea‐level System Model (ISSM). Through coupled simulations of Helheim Glacier, we find that terminus effects dominate the seasonal velocity pattern up to 15 km from the terminus, while hydrology drives the velocity response upstream. With increased melt, the hydrology influence yields seasonal acceleration of several hundred meters per year in the interior, suggesting that hydrology will play an important role in future mass balance of tidewater glaciers.
Hydro‐Mechanical Characterization of a Fractured Aquifer Using Groundwater Level Tidal Analysis: Effect of Pore Pressure and Seismic Dynamic Shear Stresses on Permeability Variations
Authors: Thomas A. , Fortin J. , Vittecoq B. , Aochi H. , Violette S. , Maury J. , Lacquement F. , Bitri A.
Published: August 2024

Groundwater level tidal analysis is a powerful technique to monitor aquifer's permeability and hence its change over time. Earthquakes are known to affect aquifer's properties, in their vicinity through static stress changes but also further away through dynamic stresses. Most often changes are in the form of permeability increases, but sometimes decreases; the changes can be either permanent or transient. These observations are relatively well documented but the physical processes behind these changes are not well understood. By combining solid‐earth and barometric tidal groundwater level responses in a borehole in a coherent poroelastic theoretical framework, and a bi‐layer hydrogeological model, we recover a 15 years‐long time series evolution of aquifer transmissivity and shear modulus. This study showcases the full potential of the tidal analysis method, coupling pore pressure diffusion and rock deformation, at the frontier of hydrogeology and rock physics. This unprecedented measurement of permeability and shear modulus evolution by tidal analysis reveals, during interseismic period, high sensitivity of this shallow aquifer to effective stress, and thus to pore pressure. Thanks to additional finite element simulation of seismic wave propagation, we explore the different mechanisms affecting permeability and shear modulus in the studied fractured andesite aquifer. This study confirms the predominant role of seismic dynamic stresses, and more precisely of dynamic shear stresses, in the change of permeability following an earthquake.
Evaluation of Detection Efficiency of World Wide Lightning Location Network in Southeast Asian Region
Authors: Rafi Mehdi Hasan , Holzworth Robert H. , Mostafa Md Golam
Published: August 2024

The detection efficiency (DE) of the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) is evaluated in Southeast Asia by comparing WWLLN data with the Earth Network Total Lightning Network (ENTLN) data taking into account time, distance, and peak‐current parameters. The performance of WWLLN is evaluated in the months of November and December in two different years (2020–2021). These periods are selected to assess the change (if any) in DE overtime and the inclusion of new stations. The strokes between the two networks were considered matched if they fell within a time criterion of 100 µs and a location difference of 25 km. Using this criterion, 5.2 × 106 WWLLN strokes were matched with ENTLN cloud‐to‐ground (CG) lightning strokes in November‐December 2020, resulting in a DE of 32.9%. Similarly, 4.6 × 106 WWLLN strokes were found to match in November‐December 2021, yielding a DE of 36.5%. Analysis of the peak‐currents reveals that DE is lowest (<10%) for a peak‐current below ±10 kA. However, for peak‐current exceeding ±50 kA, the DE increases to ∼60%. During November‐December 2021, WWLLN reported 38.95 × 106 lightning strokes globally; amongst them, Dhaka station detected 0.5 × 106 strokes, contributing to a 1.3% increase in the global DE. Dhaka station detects most lightning strokes within 8 × 103 km, which diminishes to zero after 10 × 103 km. The Dhaka station recorded a larger number of strokes at longer detection distances during midnight (22:00–02:00) than during noon (10:00–14:00). The results signify a positive impact of the Dhaka station on WWLLN's DE during the mentioned period.
Hepcidin depending on astrocytic NEO1 ameliorates blood-brain barrier dysfunction after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Wei Boyang , Liu Wenchao , Jin Lei , Huang Yaxian , Cheng Wenping , Fan Haiyan , Su Shixing , Jin Fa , Zhang Xin , Yang Zeyu , Liang Shuyin , Li Longxiang , Wu Yu , Liu Yanchao , Duan Chuanzhi , Li Xifeng
Published: August 2024

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) significantly compromises the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and impairs patient recovery. This study elucidates the critical role of astrocytic Neogenin-1 (NEO1) in BBB integrity post-SAH and examines the regulatory effects of hepcidin on endothelial cell (EC) function amid NEO1-mediated disruptions in iron homeostasis. Proteomic analyses of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from SAH patients revealed a substantial decrease in NEO1 expression, identifying it as a key factor in BBB integrity. 111 CSF proteins were significantly reduced in early SAH stages (days 1–3), with NEO1 among the most significantly altered. This dysregulation was linked to poorer patient outcomes, as indicated by a negative correlation between NEO1 levels and Modified Rankin Scale scores six months post-SAH (R = −0.4743, P < 0.0001). Experimental models further highlighted the importance of NEO1: SAH model and NEO1GFAP-Cre mice exhibited exacerbated EC dysfunction and increased BBB permeability, evidenced by significant Evans Blue retention and dextran leakage in the parietal cortex, effects that were mitigated by hepcidin administration. Our findings highlight the complex interplay between astrocytic signaling and endothelial function in SAH pathophysiology. The loss of astrocytic NEO1 led to increased EC proliferation and altered BBB structure, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and immunostaining for PECAM-1, indicating heightened blood vessel density in the affected cortex. Hepcidin treatment effectively reversed the EC dysfunction and BBB disruption in both NEO1-cKO mice and the SAH model, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent to enhance recovery and improve prognosis following SAH.
ALDH1A1 promotes immune escape of tumor cells through ZBTB7B-glycolysis pathway
Authors: Wang Mingyuan , Wang Taoli , Wang Jinjin , Yang Yuexin , Li Xi , Chen Huan , Liao Jingnan
Published: August 2024

The primary impediment to the success of immunotherapy lies in the immune evasion orchestrated by tumors, contributing to the suboptimal overall response rates observed. Despite this recognition, the intricacies of the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Through preliminary detection of clinical patient tissues, we have found that ALDH1A1 was a key gene for the prognosis of cancer patients and tumor glycolysis. In vitro experiments and tumor formation in nude mice suggested that targeting ALDH1A1 could inhibit tumor growth. Through further analysis of xenograft tumor models in immune-normal mice and flow cytometry, we found that deficiency in ALDH1A1 could promote immune system suppression of tumors in vivo. Specifically, RNA-seq analysis, combined with qPCR and western blot, identified the transcription factor ZBTB7B as downstream of ALDH1A1. The binding sites of the transcription factor ZBTB7B on the LDHA promoter region, which is responsible for regulating the rate-limiting enzyme gene LDHA in glycolysis, were determined using luciferase reporter gene detection and Chip-qPCR, respectively. In addition, the increased SUMOylation of ZBTB7B stabilized its transcriptional activity. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that the combination of targeting ALDH1A1 and ZBTB7B with immune checkpoint inhibitors could synergistically inhibit tumors in vivo. Finally, after conducting additional verification of patient tissue and clinical data, we have confirmed the potential translational value of targeting ALDH1A1 and ZBTB7B for tumor immunotherapy. These results emphasize the potential translational significance of targeting ALDH1A1 and ZBTB7B in the realm of tumor immunotherapy. The convergence of ALDH1A1 inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade, particularly with PD-L1/PD-1 mAb, presents a compelling avenue for curtailing tumor immune escape.
Motor domain phosphorylation increases nucleotide exchange and turns MYO6 into a faster and stronger motor
Authors: de Jonge Janeska J. , Graw Andreas , Kargas Vasileios , Batters Christopher , Montanarella Antonino F. , O’Loughlin Tom , Johnson Chloe , Arden Susan D. , Warren Alan J. , Geeves Michael A. , Kendrick-Jones John , Zaccai Nathan R. , Kröss Markus , Veigel Claudia , Buss Folma
Published: August 2024

Myosin motors perform many fundamental functions in eukaryotic cells by providing force generation, transport or tethering capacity. Motor activity control within the cell involves on/off switches, however, few examples are known of how myosins regulate speed or processivity and fine-tune their activity to a specific cellular task. Here, we describe a phosphorylation event for myosins of class VI (MYO6) in the motor domain, which accelerates its ATPase activity leading to a 4-fold increase in motor speed determined by actin-gliding assays, single molecule mechanics and stopped flow kinetics. We demonstrate that the serine/threonine kinase DYRK2 phosphorylates MYO6 at S267 in vitro. Single-molecule optical-tweezers studies at low load reveal that S267-phosphorylation results in faster nucleotide-exchange kinetics without change in the working stroke of the motor. The selective increase in stiffness of the acto-MYO6 complex when proceeding load-dependently into the nucleotide-free rigor state demonstrates that S267-phosphorylation turns MYO6 into a stronger motor. Finally, molecular dynamic simulations of the nucleotide-free motor reveal an alternative interaction network within insert-1 upon phosphorylation, suggesting a molecular mechanism, which regulates insert-1 positioning, turning the S267-phosphorylated MYO6 into a faster motor.