bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Die „gesunde Kommune“ im Lichte „großer Wenden“ – ein sozialökologisch fundiertes Ziel kommunaler Gesundheitsförderung (KoGeFö)
Authors: Schlicht Wolfgang , Bucksch Jens , Kohlmann Carl-Walter , Renner Britta , Steinacker Jürgen , Walling Fabian
Published: August 2021

Hintergrund

In Kommunen wird die Gesundheit der Bewohner*innen durch Lebensumstände geschützt, gefördert oder gefährdet. Kommunale Gesundheitsförderung (KoGeFö) findet in und mit der Kommune statt. In der Kommune konzentrieren sich Programme und Maßnahmen auf Endpunkte der Morbidität und Mortalität. Die Krankheitslast soll reduziert, sowie die individuelle Lebensqualität gestärkt werden. Mit der Kommune will Gesundheitsförderung die „gesunde Kommune“ entwickeln.

Fragestellung

Wann ist eine Kommune „gesund“? Welche Absichten werden in der Gesundheitsförderung mit der Kommune jenseits von Programmen verfolgt, die auf die Reduktion der Inzidenz und Prävalenz nicht-ansteckender Erkrankungen zielen, indem sie die Bewohner*innen motivieren und unterstützen, sich gesundheitsfördernd zu verhalten?

Material und Methoden

Vor dem Hintergrund „großer gesellschaftlicher Herausforderungen“ und mit Rückgriff auf sozialökologische Ansätze wird erörtert, was eine „gesunde Kommune“ ausmacht, worauf die Gesundheitsförderung mit der Kommune zielt.

Ergebnisse

Die „gesunde Kommune“ entwickelt sich in der intersektoralen Zusammenarbeit von Akteur*innen der Politik, von Verwaltungseinheiten, der Zivilgesellschaft und der Bewohner*innen. Die „gesunde Kommune“ ist als faire Umgebung gestaltet. Sie öffnet den Einzelnen Möglichkeitsräume für dessen Handeln und gewährt Verwirklichungschancen für persönlich wichtige Ziele.

Schlussfolgerung

Die bevorzugte sozialökologische Perspektive schärft den Blick für die dynamische Interaktion von Umwelt- und Personenfaktoren. Mit Fairness, Möglichkeitsräumen und Verwirklichungschancen sind drei Kriterien benannt, die sich als Gradmesser für den Endpunkt „gesunde Kommune“ einer Gesundheitsförderung mit der Kommune eignen.
Reaction Sequences in Flash Smelting and Converting Furnaces: An In-depth View
Authors: Taskinen Pekka , Jokilaakso Ari
Published: August 2021

Flash smelting and flash converting are mature technologies in copper and nickel sulfide smelting. The sensitivity of operation concerning the furnace design is evident. It is obvious that when two unit operations are carried out in separate spaces in the same furnace, skills related to maintenance of suspension oxidation of fine minerals, fluxing, fluid as well as heat flows and the overall energy balance are required. Despite these fundamental features, the flow-sheet wide understanding of linking the suspension oxidation of sulfides with the subsequent smelting processes in the furnace as well as the chemistry of its off-gas train is largely absent in the scientific literature. This review gives a detailed outlook on the microscale phenomena in flash smelting and flash converting furnaces accumulated during the last decades. It connects their vital features and chemistries with the reaction tendencies and heat fluxes in the different parts and reaction zones of the furnace as well as in the off-gas train from the smelter to the acid plant.

Graphic Abstract
Self-Reported Gastrointestinal Symptoms Two To Four Years After Bariatric Surgery. A Cross-Sectional Study Comparing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Thorsen Brit , Gjeilo Kari Hanne , Sandvik Jorunn , Follestad Turid , Græslie Hallvard , Nymo Siren
Published: August 2021

Background

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) are efficient methods for weight loss (WL) and WL maintenance in severe obesity. However, the knowledge of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms after surgery is limited. This study aimed to compare the severity of GI symptoms, pain, and self-rated health 2 to 4 years after RYGBP and LSG surgery.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, RYGBP and LSG patients answered a questionnaire including the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS), questions from the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and self-rated health (SRH).

Results

A total of 172/303 (57%) responded, RYGBP (n=73) and LSG (n=99). The mean age was 45.3 (SD 11.1) years (74% females). There was no evidence of a difference in total GSRS scores between the surgical methods (p=0.638). There were higher scores of reflux symptoms in LSG vs. RYGBP (both median 1, 75-percentile 2.5 vs. 1.0, p <0.001) and higher consumption of acid-reducing medication after LSG (32% vs. 12%, p <0.001). Pain scores were low in both groups; however, average abdominal pain was higher for RYGBP, median 2 (IQR 0–4) vs. median 1 (IQR 0–3) for LSG (p = 0.025). There was no significant difference in SRH.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing RYGBP and LSG surgery reported similar total GSRS scores and low pain scores 2 to 4 years after surgery. However, reflux symptoms and use of acid-reducing medication occurred more frequently after LSG surgery, while abdominal pain was more frequent in RYGBP surgery. These findings are important for surgical decision-making and follow-up.

Graphical abstract
Developing, Implementing and Critiquing an Evaluation Framework to Assess the Extent to Which a Child’s Right to be Heard is Embedded at an Organisational Level
Authors: Kennan Danielle , Brady Bernadine , Forkan Cormac , Tierney Edel
Published: August 2021

The national Child and Family Agency in Ireland, in 2015, undertook an ambitious three-year programme of work to embed a child’s right to be heard in its culture and operations. In parallel to its implementation, the authors of this paper were tasked with evaluating to what extent this intended outcome, that a child’s right to be heard was embedded in the government agency’s culture and operations, was achieved. The overarching evaluation design was a mixed methods baseline and follow up study. This paper reports on the development and implementation of the evaluation framework guiding the study. The framework comprised seven structural and process indicators adapted from the Council of Europe Child Participation Assessment Tool and five outcome indicators informed by the Lundy Model of participation. As well as reporting on the evaluation process, the paper critiques the value of the framework, its benefits, challenges and the pitfalls along the way to inform future evaluations.
Autofluorescence of stingray skeletal cartilage: hyperspectral imaging as a tool for histological characterization
Authors: Chaumel Júlia , Marsal María , Gómez-Sánchez Adrián , Blumer Michael , Gualda Emilio J. , de Juan Anna , Loza-Alvarez Pablo , Dean Mason N.
Published: August 2021

Tessellated cartilage is a distinctive composite tissue forming the bulk of the skeleton of cartilaginous fishes (e.g. sharks and rays), built from unmineralized cartilage covered at the surface by a thin layer of mineralized tiles called tesserae. The finescale structure and composition of elasmobranch tessellated cartilage has largely been investigated with electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography and histology, but many aspects of tissue structure and composition remain uncharacterized. In our study, we demonstrate that the tessellated cartilage of a stingray exhibits a strong and diverse autofluorescence, a native property of the tissue which can be harnessed as an effective label-free imaging technique. The autofluorescence signal was excited using a broad range of wavelengths in confocal and light sheet microscopy, comparing several sample preparations (fresh; demineralized and paraffin-embedded; non-demineralized and plastic-embedded) and imaging the tissue at different scales. Autofluorescence varied with sample preparation with the signal in both plastic- and paraffin-embedded samples strong enough to allow visualization of finescale (≥ 1 μm) cellular and matrix structures, such as cell nuclei and current and former mineralization fronts, identifiable by globular mineralized tissue. A defined pericellular matrix (PCM) surrounding chondrocytes was also discernible, described here for the first time in elasmobranchs. The presence of a PCM suggests similarities with mammalian cartilage regarding how chondrocytes interact with their environment, the PCM in mammals acting as a transducer for biomechanical and biochemical signals. A posterior analysis of hyperspectral images by an MCR-ALS unmixing algorithm allowed identification of several distinct fluorescence signatures associated to specific regions in the tissue. Some fluorescence signatures identified could be correlated with collagen type II, the most abundant structural molecule of cartilage. Other fluorescence signatures, however, remained unidentified, spotlighting tissue regions that deserve deeper characterization and suggesting the presence of molecules still unidentified in elasmobranch skeletal cartilage. Our results show that autofluorescence can be a powerful exploratory imaging tool for characterizing less-studied skeletal tissues, such as tessellated cartilage. The images obtained are largely comparable with more commonly used techniques, but without the need for complicated sample preparations or external staining reagents standard in histology and electron microscopy (TEM, SEM).
Between Frontline and Parliament: Ukrainian Political Parties and Irregular Armed Groups in 2014–2019
Authors: Fedorenko Kostiantyn , Umland Andreas
Published: August 2021

The short-lived Ukrainian armed volunteer movement and its interaction with electoral politics, in some regards did, and in other regards, did not fit patterns observed in research into irregular armed groups (IAGs). The brief life span of most Ukrainian IAGs as more or less independent actors, and their swift integration into Ukraine’s regular forces during the years 2014–2015, were both unusual. They were also one of the reasons for the relatively low political impact of the IAGs as such - a repercussion that is in contrast to the partly impressive individual political careers of some IAG commanders in 2014–2019. There were various forms of interpenetration of parties with IAGs in post-Euromaidan Ukraine. Certain parties, political activists, and MPs took part in the creation and development of IAGs in 2014. Some – to that point, mostly minor - politicians became soldiers or commanders of IAGs. Subsequently, a number of IAG members transited into the party-political realm, either joining older parties or creating new political organizations.
Mesozoic exhumation of the Jueluotage area, Eastern Tianshan, NW China: constraints from (U–Th)/He and fission-track thermochronology
Authors: Sun Jingbo , Chen Wen , Qin Kezhang , Danišík Martin , Evans Noreen J. , McInnes Brent I. A. , Shen Ze , Zhao Shuangfeng , Zhang Bin , Yin Jiyuan , Tao Ni
Published: August 2021

The Jueluotage area, which is located in the southern branch of the Eastern Tianshan and northeast of the Tarim Basin, represents a vital locality for investigating intracontinental reactivation induced by the tectonic events at the Eurasian plate margin. This study applies zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He and apatite fission-track thermochronology to the Jueluotage area in the Eastern Tianshan. Our data and thermal history modelling show that the Jueluotage area experienced Triassic–Early Jurassic (˜240–180 Ma) cooling, reflecting the closure of the North Tianshan Ocean and subsequent far-field effects of collision/accretion of the Qiangtang Block and Kunlun terrane. Following this period of fast cooling, a differential exhumation process occurred between the various tectonic belts in the Jueluotage area. The Aqishan–Yamansu belt was exposed at the surface during the Triassic–Early Jurassic cooling phase and experienced subsequent burial, which continued until Early Cretaceous time when a pulse of exhumation occurred. However, the major fault zones (Kanggurtag ductile shear zone and Aqikkuduk Fault) and Central Tianshan arc have remained tectonically stable since Early Jurassic time. No Cenozoic rapid cooling was recorded by the low-temperature thermochronology results in this study, indicating that much of the Jueluotage area was exhumed to the upper crust in the late Mesozoic period.
Nafsan
Authors: Billington Rosey , Thieberger Nick , Fletcher Janet
Published: August 2021

Nafsan (ISO 639-3: erk, Glottocode: sout2856), also known as South Efate, is a Southern Oceanic language of Vanuatu. It is spoken in Erakor, Eratap and Pango, three villages situated along the southern coast of the island of Efate (Figure 1) (Clark 1985, Lynch 2000, Thieberger 2006). Nafsan is also closely related to Eton, Lelepa, Nakanamanga and Namakura, spoken further to the north on Efate and some smaller neighbouring islands.1 Nafsan is often described as the southernmost member of the North-Central Vanuatu group of languages, and the Nafsan and Eton-speaking communities are noted to be at the core of ‘an unmistakable area of innovation’ compared to their northern neighbours (Clark 1985: 25). Though crosslinguistic comparisons suggest a clear boundary between North-Central Vanuatu languages and languages of the Southern Vanuatu group, there is evidence that Nafsan speakers have both linguistic and cultural links to the southern islands, suggestive of complex historical relationships between the populations of the central and southern regions (Lynch 2004; Thieberger 2007, 2015). In terms of the sound system, Nafsan is noted to be of particular interest because it ‘forms a transition between the phonologically more conservative languages to the north and the more “aberrant” languages to the south’ (Lynch 2000: 320), and exhibits phonotactic patterns which are complex and typologically uncommon, particularly among Oceanic languages (Thieberger 2006).
The impact of self-efficacy on first onset and prognosis of major depressive disorder: findings from a longitudinal study in a sample of Chinese first-year university students
Authors: Wang JianLi , Liu Debiao , Li Guoliang , Zhu Jin , Yue Song , Li Xiang , Li Ying , Wu Yili , Wang Bin , Liu Yan
Published: August 2021

Background

Self-efficacy is a pivotal factor in the etiology and prognosis of major depression. However, longitudinal studies on the relationship between self-efficacy and major depressive disorder (MDD) are scarce. The objectives were to investigate: (1) the associations between self-efficacy and the 1-year and 2-year risks of first onset of MDD and (2) the associations between self-efficacy and the 1-year and 2-year risks of the persistence/recurrence of MDD, in a sample of first-year university students.

Methods

We followed 8079 first-year university students for 2 years from April 2018 to October 2020. MDD was ascertained by the Chinese version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-3.0) based on self-report. Self-efficacy was measured by the 10-item General Self-efficacy (GSE) scale. Random effect logistic regression modeling was used to estimate the associations.

Results

Among participants without a lifetime MDD, the data showed that participants with high baseline GSE scores were associated with a higher risk of first onset of MDD over 2 years [odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.08]. Among those with a lifetime MDD, participants with high baseline GSE scores were less likely to have had a MDD over 2 years (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.88–0.99) compared to others.

Conclusions

A high level of GSE may be protective of the risk of persistent or recurrent MDD. More longitudinal studies in university students are needed to further investigate the impact of GSE on the first onset of MDD.
Relational Indigenous systems: Aboriginal Australian political ordering and reconfiguring IR
Authors: Brigg Morgan , Graham Mary , Weber Martin
Published: August 2021

Ontological parochialism persists in International Relations (IR) scholarship among gestures towards relational ontological reinvention. Meanwhile, the inter-polity relations of many Indigenous peoples pre-date contemporary IR and tend to be substantively relational. This situation invites rethinking of IR's understandings of political order and inter-polity relations. We take up this task by laying out necessary methodological innovations to engage with Aboriginal Australia and then showing how conventional and much recent heterodox IR seek to create forms of ‘escape’ from lived political relations by asserting the powerful yet problematic social science mechanism of observer's distance. This demonstrates a need to take Aboriginal Australia as a system on its own terms to speak back to IR. We next explain how Aboriginal Australian people produce political order on the Australian continent through a ‘relational-ecological’ disposition that contrasts with IR's predominant ‘survivalist’ disposition. The accompanying capacity to manage survivalism through relationalism provides an avenue for engaging with and recasting some of mainstream IR's survivalist assumptions, including by considering an Aboriginal approach to multipolarity, without attempting ‘pure escape’ through alternative ontologies. We thus argue that while it is necessary to critique and recast dominant IR, doing so requires putting dominant IR and Indigenous understandings into relational exchange.
University students and staff able to maintain low daily contact numbers during various COVID-19 guideline periods
Authors: Trickey Adam , Nixon Emily , Christensen Hannah , Finn Adam , Thomas Amy , Relton Caroline , Montgomery Clara , Hemani Gibran , Metz Jane , Walker Josephine G. , Turner Katy , Kwiatkowska Rachel , Sauchelli Sarah , Danon Leon , Brooks-Pollock Ellen
Published: August 2021

UK universities re-opened in September 2020, amidst the coronavirus epidemic. During the first term, various national social distancing measures were introduced, including banning groups of >6 people and the second lockdown in November; however, outbreaks among university students occurred. We aimed to measure the University of Bristol staff and student contact patterns via an online, longitudinal survey capturing self-reported contacts on the previous day. We investigated the change in contacts associated with COVID-19 guidance periods: post-first lockdown (23/06/2020–03/07/2020), relaxed guidance period (04/07/2020–13/09/2020), ‘rule-of-six’ period (14/09/2020–04/11/2020) and the second lockdown (05/11/2020–25/11/2020). In total, 722 staff (4199 responses) and 738 students (1906 responses) were included in the study. For staff, daily contacts were higher in the relaxed guidance and ‘rule-of-six’ periods than the post-first lockdown and second lockdown. Mean student contacts dropped between the ‘rule-of-six’ and second lockdown periods. For both staff and students, the proportion meeting with groups larger than six dropped between the ‘rule-of-six’ period and the second lockdown period, although was higher for students than for staff. Our results suggest university staff and students responded to national guidance by altering their social contacts. Most contacts during the second lockdown were household contacts. The response in staff and students was similar, suggesting that students can adhere to social distancing guidance while at university. The number of contacts recorded for both staff and students were much lower than those recorded by previous surveys in the UK conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Soft law and individual responsibility: a review of the Swedish policy response to COVID-19
Authors: Winblad Ulrika , Swenning Anna-Karin , Spangler Douglas
Published: August 2021

Sweden's coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response, initially based largely on voluntary measures, has evoked strong reactions nationally and internationally. In this study, we describe Sweden's national policy response with regard to the general public, the community and the health care system, with a focus on how the response changed from March 2020 to June 2021. A number of factors contributed to Sweden's choice of policy response, including its existing legal framework, independent expert agencies and its decentralized, multi-level health care governance system. Challenges to the health- and elder care system during the pandemic, such as the need to increase intensive care- and testing capacity, and to ensure the safety of the elderly were addressed largely at the regional and local levels, with national authorities assuming a primarily coordinative role. Although the overall response based on voluntary compliance has persisted, the national government started to take a more prominent role in public messaging, and in enacting legally binding restrictions during subsequent waves of the pandemic. This study illustrates that not only policy responses, but also the fundamental structure of the health- and elder care system and its governance should be considered when evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Integrating Multiple Research Methods to Unravel the Complexity of Human‐Water Systems
Authors: Di Baldassarre Giuliano , Cloke Hannah , Lindersson Sara , Mazzoleni Maurizio , Mondino Elena , Mård Johanna , Odongo Vincent , Raffetti Elena , Ridolfi Elena , Rusca Maria , Savelli Elisa , Tootoonchi Faranak
Published: August 2021

Predicting floods and droughts is essential to inform the development of policy in water management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Yet, hydrological predictions are highly uncertain, while the frequency, severity and spatial distribution of extreme events are further complicated by the increasing impact of human activities on the water cycle. In this commentary, we argue that four main aspects characterizing the complexity of human‐water systems should be explicitly addressed: feedbacks, scales, tradeoffs and inequalities. We propose the integration of multiple research methods as a way to cope with complexity and develop policy‐relevant science.
Holocene Hydroclimatic Reorganizations in Northwest Canada Inferred From Lacustrine Carbonate Oxygen Isotopes
Authors: Lasher G. Everett , Abbott Mark B. , Anderson Lesleigh , Yasarer Lindsey , Rosenmeier Michael , Finney Bruce P.
Published: August 2021

Sub‐centennial oxygen (δ18O) isotopes of ostracod and authigenic calcite from Squanga Lake provides evidence of hydroclimatic extremes and a series of post‐glacial climate system reorganizations for the interior region of northwest Canada. Authigenic calcite δ18O values range from −16‰ to −21‰ and are presently similar to modern lake water and annual precipitation values. Ostracod δ18O record near identical trends with calcite, offset by +1.7 ± 0.6‰. At 11 ka BP (kaBP = thousands of years before 1950), higher δ18O values reflect decreased precipitation−evaporation (P−E) balance from residual ice sheet influences on moisture availability. A trend to lower δ18O values until ∼8 ka BP reflects a shift to wetter conditions, and reorganization of atmospheric circulation. The last millennium and modern era are relatively dry, though not as dry as the early Holocene extreme. North Pacific climate dynamics remained an important driver of P−E balance in northwest Canada throughout the Holocene.
Hot Plasma in the Magnetotail Lobes Shows Characteristics Consistent With Closed Field Lines Trapped in the Lobes
Authors: Coxon John C. , Fear Robert C. , Reidy Jade A. , Fryer Laura J. , Plank James
Published: August 2021

We examine the magnetotail using data from the Hot Ion Analyzer on Cluster 1 during 2001–2009. We develop and utilize an algorithm in order to identify times during which Cluster 1 is in the magnetotail lobe but observes plasma, which is hotter than our expectations of the lobe. We analyze the prevailing Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) conditions for our algorithm and a reference algorithm (with no particle energy criteria) and find that the periods we select are, on average, nT more toward northward IMF. Examining the temperature in the magnetotail for our periods shows that the morphology of the average temperature is consistent with the Milan et al. (2005, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JA010835) model of a magnetotail structure during northward IMF, in which closed field lines are prevented from convecting to the dayside, causing them and the plasma trapped on them to protrude into the magnetotail lobes. We also find evidence that of our identified periods may be driven by direct entry into the magnetosphere from the solar wind.
Sulfur Constraints on the Carbon Cycle of a Blanket Bog Peatland
Authors: Boothroyd I. M. , Worrall F. , Moody C. S. , Clay G. D. , Abbott G. D. , Rose R.
Published: August 2021

The reduction of sulfate (SO42−) represents an alternative terminal electron acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter in peat soils. The greenhouse gas budget in peatlands will be constrained by how much a peatland can utilize SO42− reduction as an alternative to methanogenesis. Using records of atmospheric deposition and stream chemistry coupled with elemental analysis of peat soil, vegetation, particulate organic matter (POM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM), this study estimated a 23‐years long sulfur (S) budget for a blanket bog‐covered catchment in the North Pennines, England. The study showed that: (a) Atmospheric deposition of total S significantly declined over the study period from 2.4 to 0.5 t S/km2/yr. (b) Long term accumulation of S into deep peat at 1 m depth averaged 127 kg S/km2/yr. (c) Total S fluvial flux peaked as 4.5 t S/km2/yr with an average of 0.7 t S/km2/yr. (d) On average, over 23 years, 0.25 t S/km2/yr were reduced to either mineral sulphides or hydrogen sulphide; however, in eight out of the 23 years the catchment was a net producer of S to the streams of the catchment. At maximum observed, S reduction capacity the peatland was capable of a net removal of 71% of atmospheric S deposition. Allowing for the efficiency of energy transfer in the redox process and the oxidation state of peat organic matter means that for every mole of SO42− reduced, 1.69 moles of CO2 were produced, and an average of 0.47 t C/km2/yr are diverted from methanogenesis.
Forecasting the Probability of Large Rates of Change of the Geomagnetic Field in the UK: Timescales, Horizons, and Thresholds
Authors: Smith A. W. , Forsyth C. , Rae I. J. , Garton T. M. , Bloch T. , Jackman C. M. , Bakrania M.
Published: August 2021

Large geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) pose a risk to ground based infrastructure such as power networks. Large GICs may be induced when the rate of change of the ground magnetic field is significantly elevated. We assess the ability of three different machine learning model architectures to process the time history of the incoming solar wind and provide a probabilistic forecast as to whether the rate of change of the ground magnetic field will exceed specific high thresholds at a location in the UK. The three models tested represent feed forward, convolutional and recurrent neural networks. We find all three models are reliable and skillful, with Brier skill scores, receiver‐operating characteristic scores and precision‐recall scores of approximately 0.25, 0.95 and 0.45, respectively. When evaluated during two example magnetospheric storms we find that all scores increase significantly, indicating that the models work better during active intervals. The models perform excellently through the majority of the storms, however they do not fully capture the ground response around the initial sudden commencements. We attribute this to the use of propagated solar wind data not allowing the models notice to forecast impulsive phenomenon. Increasing the volume of solar wind data provided to the models does not produce appreciable increases in model performance, possibly due to the fixed model structures and limited training data. However, increasing the horizon of the forecast from 30 min to 3 h increases the performance of the models, presumably as the models need not be as precise about timing.
A Hydrologic Functional Approach for Improving Large‐Sample Hydrology Performance in Poorly Gauged Regions
Authors: Janssen Joseph , Ameli Ali A.
Published: August 2021

Hydrologic functions of catchments are intrinsically diverse and defined as the ways catchments partition, store, and drain rainfall and snowmelt. Large‐sample hydrology (LSH) uses existing datasets of catchments to derive generalizable conclusions on hydrologic behaviors. LSH has the potential to synthesize the diversity of catchment hydrologic functions, allowing a robust extrapolation of streamflow generation mechanisms to poorly gauged regions. However, the descriptors of hydrologic functions, required to synthesize and extrapolate, have not been developed in LSH methodologies. This has potentially resulted in unexpectedly small associations between catchments' physical features and streamflow characteristics as well as poor predictability of the shape of streamflow hydrographs, as shown in recent LSH studies. Here, we propose three dimensionless indices—which directly quantify hydrologic functions—based on how interactions between a catchment’s climatic and physical attributes construct catchment functions. Using climatic and physical data as well as long‐term streamflow observations at hundreds of gauged catchments across the United States and Canada, our results depict that the use of interactive functional indices as catchment descriptors improves the performance of LSH methodologies (hierarchical clustering, multivariate regression, and random forests) in identifying hydrologic similarities in shape‐based streamflow signatures among catchments, and in predicting shape‐based streamflow signatures in poorly gauged regions. This research highlights the importance of physical interpretability of LSH models and showcases the development of parsimonious and process‐based catchment‐scale frameworks, allowing the analysis of globally available catchment data to progress the generalizable understanding of catchment hydrologic functions and streamflow generation mechanisms.
Genome-level diversification of eight ancient tea populations in the Guizhou and Yunnan regions identifies candidate genes for core agronomic traits
Authors: Lu Litang , Chen Hufang , Wang Xiaojing , Zhao Yichen , Yao Xinzhuan , Xiong Biao , Deng Yanli , Zhao Degang
Published: August 2021

The ancient tea plant, as a precious natural resource and source of tea plant genetic diversity, is of great value for studying the evolutionary mechanism, diversification, and domestication of plants. The overall genetic diversity among ancient tea plants and the genetic changes that occurred during natural selection remain poorly understood. Here, we report the genome resequencing of eight different groups consisting of 120 ancient tea plants: six groups from Guizhou Province and two groups from Yunnan Province. Based on the 8,082,370 identified high-quality SNPs, we constructed phylogenetic relationships, assessed population structure, and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our phylogenetic analysis showed that the 120 ancient tea plants were mainly clustered into three groups and five single branches, which is consistent with the results of principal component analysis (PCA). Ancient tea plants were further divided into seven subpopulations based on genetic structure analysis. Moreover, it was found that the variation in ancient tea plants was not reduced by pressure from the external natural environment or artificial breeding (nonsynonymous/synonymous = 1.05). By integrating GWAS, selection signals, and gene function prediction, four candidate genes were significantly associated with three leaf traits, and two candidate genes were significantly associated with plant type. These candidate genes can be used for further functional characterization and genetic improvement of tea plants.
The effect of galvanization and potassium iodide iontophoresis of the throat and larynx on thyroid parameters: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zwolińska Jolanta , Augustyn Barbara , Baj Katarzyna , Krukowska Jadwiga
Published: August 2021

Few studies have assessed the application and side effects of potassium iodide (KI) iontophoresis. Using a double-blinded randomized controlled trial with a 1:1 parallel-group, we investigated the effect of galvanization and the KI iontophoresis in the throat and larynx on three thyroid parameters. A total of 50 healthy volunteers with normal TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels and lacking focal changes in the thyroid ultrasonography were subjected to 10 electrotherapy treatments. The TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels were determined prior to the 10 electrotherapeutic treatments (T1), 2-weeks after treatment (T2) and 6-months after treatment (T3). At T2 and T3, both groups had normal levels of TSH, FT3, and FT4. Regarding the change of TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels between T1 vs. T2 and T1 vs. T3, no significant differences between the galvanization and iontophoresis groups were found. However, both groups had lower levels of all three hormones at T3. Together, these data indicate that KI iontophoresis does not affect thyroid hormone levels in the short- nor long-term. Additional follow-up studies with larger groups are required to better confirm the safety of galvanization and iontophoresis procedures in the pharynx and larynx.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04013308; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov). Day of first registration 09/07/2019.
Long term prognosis in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia
Authors: Kamada Hiroyuki , Kaneyama Junji , Inoue Yuko Y. , Noda Takashi , Ueda Nobuhiko , Nakajima Kenzaburo , Kamakura Tsukasa , Wada Mitsuru , Ishibashi Kohei , Yamagata Kenichiro , Miyamoto Koji , Aoki Tatsuo , Ogo Takeshi , Nagase Satoshi , Aiba Takeshi , Satomi Kazuhiro , Kusano Kengo
Published: August 2021

Various forms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) occur in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). Despite the high efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for SVT, insufficient data exist regarding patients with PH. Thirty SVTs in 23 PH patients (age 47 [35–60] years; mean pulmonary artery pressure 44 [32–50] mmHg) were analyzed. Procedural success rate, short- and long-term clinical outcomes, were evaluated during a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Single-procedure success rate was 83%; 94% (17/18) in typical atrial flutter, 73% (8/11) in atrial tachycardia (AT), and 100% (1/1) in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Antiarrhythmic drugs, serum brain natriuretic peptide levels and number of hospitalizations significantly decreased after RFCA than that before (p = 0.002, 0.04, and 0.002, respectively). Four patients had several procedures. After last RFCA, 12 patients had SVT and 8 patients died. Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients with SVT after the last RFCA had a lower survival rate compared to those without (p = 0.0297). Multivariate analysis identified any SVT after the last RFCA as significant risk factor of mortality (hazard ratio: 9.31; p = 0.016). RFCA for SVT in patients with PH is feasible and effective in the short-term, but SVT is common during long-term follow-up and associated with lower survival.
Brain tissue oxygenation guided therapy and outcome in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Gouvea Bogossian Elisa , Diaferia Daniela , Ndieugnou Djangang Narcisse , Menozzi Marco , Vincent Jean-Louis , Talamonti Marta , Dewitte Olivier , Peluso Lorenzo , Barrit Sami , Al Barajraji Mejdeddine , Andre Joachim , Schuind Sophie , Creteur Jacques , Taccone Fabio Silvio
Published: August 2021

Brain hypoxia can occur after non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), even when levels of intracranial pressure (ICP) remain normal. Brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) can be measured as a part of a neurological multimodal neuromonitoring. Low PbtO2 has been associated with poor neurologic recovery. There is scarce data on the impact of PbtO2 guided-therapy on patients’ outcome. This single-center cohort study (June 2014–March 2020) included all patients admitted to the ICU after SAH who required multimodal monitoring. Patients with imminent brain death were excluded. Our primary goal was to assess the impact of PbtO2-guided therapy on neurological outcome. Secondary outcome included the association of brain hypoxia with outcome. Of the 163 patients that underwent ICP monitoring, 62 were monitored with PbtO2 and 54 (87%) had at least one episode of brain hypoxia. In patients that required treatment based on neuromonitoring strategies, PbtO2-guided therapy (OR 0.33 [CI 95% 0.12–0.89]) compared to ICP-guided therapy had a protective effect on neurological outcome at 6 months. In this cohort of SAH patients, PbtO2-guided therapy might be associated with improved long-term neurological outcome, only when compared to ICP-guided therapy.
Clinical validation of optimised RT-LAMP for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Lim Boon , Ratcliff Jeremy , Nawrot Dorota A. , Yu Yejiong , Sanghani Harshmeena R. , Hsu Chia-Chen , Peto Leon , Evans Simon , Hodgson Susanne H. , Skeva Aikaterini , Adam Maria , Panopoulou Maria , Zois Christos E. , Poncin Katy , Vasudevan Sridhar R. , Dai Siqi , Ren Shuai , Chang Hong , Cui Zhanfeng , Simmonds Peter , Huang Wei E. , Andersson Monique I.
Published: August 2021

We have optimised a reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from extracted RNA for clinical application. We improved the stability and reliability of the RT-LAMP assay by the addition of a temperature-dependent switch oligonucleotide to reduce self- or off-target amplification. We then developed freeze-dried master mix for single step RT-LAMP reaction, simplifying the operation for end users and improving long-term storage and transportation. The assay can detect as low as 13 copies of SARS-CoV2 RNA per reaction (25-μL). Cross reactivity with other human coronaviruses was not observed. We have applied the new RT-LAMP assay for testing clinical extracted RNA samples extracted from swabs of 72 patients in the UK and 126 samples from Greece and demonstrated the overall sensitivity of 90.2% (95% CI 83.8–94.7%) and specificity of 92.4% (95% CI 83.2–97.5%). Among 115 positive samples which Ct values were less than 34, the RT-LAMP assay was able to detect 110 of them with 95.6% sensitivity. The specificity was 100% when RNA elution used RNase-free water. The outcome of RT-LAMP can be reported by both colorimetric detection and quantifiable fluorescent reading. Objective measures with a digitized reading data flow would allow for the sharing of results for local or national surveillance.
Microfluidic investigation of the effect of graphene oxide on mechanical properties of cell and actin cytoskeleton networks: experimental and theoretical approaches
Authors: Ghorbani Mohammad , Soleymani Hossein , Hashemzadeh Hadi , Mortezazadeh Saeed , Sedghi Mosslim , Shojaeilangari Seyedehsamaneh , Allahverdi Abdollah , Naderi-Manesh Hossein
Published: August 2021

Biomechanical and morphological analysis of the cells is a novel approach for monitoring the environmental features, drugs, and toxic compounds’ effects on cells. Graphene oxide (GO) has a broad range of medical applications such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. However, the effects of GO nanosheets on biological systems have not been completely understood. In this study, we focused on the biophysical characteristics of cells and their changes resulting from the effect of GO nanosheets. The biophysical properties of the cell population were characterized as follows: cell stiffness was calculated by atomic force microscopy, cell motility and invasive properties were characterized in the microfluidic chip in which the cells are able to visualize cell migration at a single-cell level. Intracellular actin was stained to establish a quantitative picture of the intracellular cytoskeleton. In addition, to understand the molecular interaction of GO nanosheets and actin filaments, coarse-grained (CG) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out. Our results showed that GO nanosheets can reduce cell stiffness in MCF7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and highly inhibited cell migration (39.2%) in MCF-7 and (38.6%) in MDA-MB-231 cell lines through the GO nanosheets-mediated disruption of the intracellular cytoskeleton. In the presence of GO nanosheets, the cell migration of both cell lines, as well as the cell stiffness, significantly decreased. Moreover, after GO nanosheets treatment, the cell actin network dramatically changed. The experimental and theoretical approaches established a quantitative picture of changes in these networks. Our results showed the reduction of the order parameter in actin filaments was 23% in the MCF7 cell line and 20.4% in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The theoretical studies also showed that the GO nanosheet–actin filaments have stable interaction during MD simulation. Moreover, the 2D free energy plot indicated the GO nanosheet can induce conformational changes in actin filaments. Our findings showed that the GO nanosheets can increase the distance of actin-actin subunits from 3.22 to 3.5 nm and in addition disrupt native contacts between two subunits which lead to separate actin subunits from each other in actin filaments. In this study, the biomechanical characteristics were used to explain the effect of GO nanosheets on cells which presents a novel view of how GO nanosheets can affect the biological properties of cells without cell death. These findings have the potential to be applied in different biomedical applications.
Collective transient ratchet transport induced by many elastically interacting particles
Authors: Manchein Cesar , de Oliveira Tulio M. , Silva Rafael M. da , Beims Marcus W.
Published: August 2021

Several dynamical systems in nature can be maintained out-of-equilibrium, either through mutual interaction of particles or by external fields. The particle’s transport and the transient dynamics are landmarking of such systems. While single ratchet systems are genuine candidates to describe unbiased transport, we demonstrate here that coupled ratchets exhibit collective transient ratchet transport. Extensive numerical simulations for up to $$N=1024$$

N
=
1024

elastically interacting ratchets establish the generation of large transient ratchet currents (RCs). The lifetimes of the transient RCs increase with N and decrease with the coupling strength between the ratchets. We demonstrate one peculiar case having a coupling-induced transient RC through the asymmetric destruction of attractors. Results suggest that physical devices built with coupled ratchet systems should present large collective transient transport of particles, whose technological applications are undoubtedly appealing and feasible.
Poor adult nutrition impairs learning and memory in a parasitoid wasp
Authors: Kishani Farahani Hossein , Moghadassi Yasaman , Pierre Jean-Sebastien , Kraus Stéphane , Lihoreau Mathieu
Published: August 2021

Animals have evolved cognitive abilities whose impairment can incur dramatic fitness costs. While malnutrition is known to impact brain development and cognitive functions in vertebrates, little is known in insects whose small brain appears particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors. Here, we investigated the influence of diet quality on learning and memory in the parasitoid waspVenturia canescens. Newly emerged adults were exposed for 24 h to either honey, 20% sucrose solution, 10% sucrose solution, or water, before being conditioned in an olfactory associative learning task in which an odor was associated to a host larvae (reward). Honey fed wasps showed 3.5 times higher learning performances and 1.5 times longer memory retention than wasps fed sucrose solutions or water. Poor diets also reduced longevity and fecundity. Our results demonstrate the importance of early adult nutrition for optimal cognitive function in these parasitoid wasps that must quickly develop long-term olfactory memories for searching suitable hosts for their progeny.
Long range synchronization within the enteric nervous system underlies propulsion along the large intestine in mice
Authors: Spencer Nick J. , Travis Lee , Wiklendt Lukasz , Costa Marcello , Hibberd Timothy J. , Brookes Simon J. , Dinning Phil , Hu Hongzhen , Wattchow David A. , Sorensen Julian
Published: August 2021

How the Enteric Nervous System (ENS) coordinates propulsion of content along the gastrointestinal (GI)-tract has been a major unresolved issue. We reveal a mechanism that explains how ENS activity underlies propulsion of content along the colon. We used a recently developed high-resolution video imaging approach with concurrent electrophysiological recordings from smooth muscle, during fluid propulsion. Recordings showed pulsatile firing of excitatory and inhibitory neuromuscular inputs not only in proximal colon, but also distal colon, long before the propagating contraction invades the distal region. During propulsion, wavelet analysis revealed increased coherence at ~2 Hz over large distances between the proximal and distal regions. Therefore, during propulsion, synchronous firing of descending inhibitory nerve pathways over long ranges aborally acts to suppress smooth muscle from contracting, counteracting the excitatory nerve pathways over this same region of colon. This delays muscle contraction downstream, ahead of the advancing contraction. The mechanism identified is more complex than expected and vastly different from fluid propulsion along other hollow smooth muscle organs; like lymphatic vessels, portal vein, or ureters, that evolved without intrinsic neurons.
Fundamentals and Applications in Solution-phase Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis
Authors: Swarts Pieter J. , Swarts Jannie C.
Published: August 2021

A simple treatment of the fundamentals of solution-phase voltammetry is followed by six examples of porphyrinoids highlighting how structural changes of the redox species influence formal reduction potentials. Electronic communication among different molecular groups is demonstrated, and it is shown how the correct solvent and supporting electrolyte choice may result in observing 17 of a possible 18 redox processes in a cadmium triple-decker phthalocyanine. The difference between outer- and inner-sphere electron transfer processes is used to introduce adsorption effects of redox species on electrodes. This forms the bases of electrocatalysis, and a short theoretical introduction to electrocatalysis is presented. The reader is then eased into electrocatalysis concepts through a discussion of electrocatalyzed alcohol oxidation and sulfite sensors with adsorbed porphyrin polymers. Covalent binding or adsorption to the electrode or solution-phase electrocatalysts are demonstrated. Electrocatalysis in fuel production or energy storage systems concludes this chapter. CO2 reduction by an Fe0 porphyrin, an octaalkoxylated Co phthalocyanine, which aggregates less, and covalent– and metal–organic framework complexes of Co porphyrinoids, are considered. Hydrogen evolution by Ni porphyrins, oxygen reduction to either H2O or H2O2, and H2O oxidation to O2 utilizing carefully chosen porphyrinoids are other reactions that are discussed.
Photophysical Characterization of Porphyrinoids
Authors: Kahnt A.
Published: August 2021

This chapter gives in the first part a brief overview over the common photophysical processes and techniques employed to obtain photophysical properties of porphyrinoids in solution. In the second part the photophysical properties of selected porphyrins, chlorins, bacteriochlorins, corroles, tetrabenzoporphyrins, porphyrazines, phthalocyanines, naphthalocyanines, and azulenocyanies (with a special emphasis on the non-porphyrin and non-phthalocyanine porphyrinoids) are presented.
Applicability of Highly Functional Phthalogens
Authors: Rüffer Tobias , Lang Heinrich
Published: August 2021

Within this chapter, the syntheses as well as the chemical and physical properties of phthalogens are discussed. Phthalogens are compounds, which give upon thermal treatment, photo-irradiation or (electro)chemical reduction their respective (metallo)phthalocyanines (MPc's) or (metallo)naphthophthalocyanines MNc's. The applications of phthalogens from the viewpoint as precursors of MPc's and MNc's in the fields of textile-fiber coloring and surface patterning as well their original application as homogeneous catalysts are reported as well.