bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social consequences of wood-based innovations: a generic analysis of sectoral differences in Austria
Authors: Mair-Bauernfeind Claudia , Boiger Theresa , Asada Raphael , Stern Tobias
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To model the overall social consequences of changing wood utilization, a system perspective is needed that encompasses the entire wood utilization system in a defined region. The aim of this study was to analyze the social performance of wood-based industries in Austria using sector-specific data and to use less disaggregated data to depict social risks in the resource extraction phase. Additionally, the social consequences of innovations in terms of the social performance of a sector and potential side effects on other wood-based industries were analyzed.

Methods

Differences in the sectoral social performance of forestry and wood-based industries in Austria were analyzed using sectoral data for 11 different social indicators (e.g., occupational injuries, woman in managerial positions) collected at official sites in Austria. To calculate the overall social performance of the sector, sectoral data from Austria need to be combined with data from other sources representing the value chain (e.g., from resource extracting countries). This enables the social consequences of a change to be analyzed by including the social indicators in the system dynamics model WOODSIM. The WOODSIM model depicts the Austrian wood utilization system, allowing the user to model direct and indirect effects of introducing an innovation in a particular industry on the social performance of industries in the wood utilization system.

Results and discussion

The results show that social risks can differ depending on the sectoral context even within the same country (e.g., occupational injuries in wood harvesting compared to textile production). The most dangerous sectors (in terms of injuries) are forestry and construction (34 and 3 times higher than Austrian average, respectively). Including the risks of resource extraction affects the social performance of the industries. Surprisingly, the median for Austria is 1434 accidents per 100,000 employees, whereas it is only 592 for all countries combined. Modeling the social consequences with system dynamics reveals that some innovations can result in bigger improvements in social performance than others, mostly due to the existence of more globalized value chains.

Conclusions

This work illustrates the importance of including sectoral information when performing generic social life cycle assessments and models the social consequences of an innovation for the first time using system dynamics modeling. To avoid overestimating positive effects when analyzing consequences, a systems perspective must be taken. Better and more disaggregated data are needed to depict the social performance of sectors more accurately.
Development of metacognitive monitoring and control skills in elementary school: a latent profile approach
Authors: van Loon Mariëtte , Roebers Claudia M.
Published: August 2024

This study aims to understand individual differences between children in metacognitive monitoring and control processes and the developmental trajectories of metacognition over one year. Three indicators of procedural metacognition were used: monitoring accuracy (discrimination of confidence judgments between correct and incorrect test responses), effective restudy selections, and accuracy of response maintenance/withdrawal decisions. These indicators were measured for two tasks (text comprehension and Kanji memory) at two measurement points one year apart. Participants were 151 second graders (M age 7.61 years) and 176 fourth graders (M age 9.62 years). With latent profile analyses, distinct metacognition profiles were found for both grade levels at both measurement points. Children showed heterogeneity in the proficiency of metacognition but also in the extent to which metacognitive skills were generalizable across the two tasks. For second-grade children, being low at metacognition at the first measurement point was not associated with extra risks for low metacognition one year later. However, for fourth graders, children with low metacognitive skills appeared likely to stay low in metacognition over time and particularly showed ineffective restudy decisions. This indicates that they seemed at risk for a longer-term metacognitive deficiency. Findings may improve understanding of the heterogeneity of metacognition and support distinguishing typical from at-risk metacognitive development.
Comparing the effects of a collaboration script and collaborative reflection on promoting knowledge about good collaboration and effective interaction
Authors: Strauß Sebastian , Tunnigkeit Isis , Eberle Julia , Avdullahu Arlind , Rummel Nikol
Published: August 2024

A key challenge in CSCL research is to find ways to support learners in becoming effective collaborators. While the effectiveness of external collaboration scripts is well established, there is a need for research into support that acknowledges learners’ autonomy during collaboration. In the present study, we compare an external collaboration script and a reflection scaffold to a control condition and examine their effects on learners’ knowledge about effective collaboration and on their groups’ interaction quality. In an experimental study that employed a 1× three-factorial design, 150 university students collaborated in groups of three to solve two information pooling problems. These groups either received an external collaboration script during collaboration, no support during collaboration but a reflection scaffold before beginning to collaborate on the second problem, or no support for their collaboration. Multilevel modeling suggests that learners in the reflection condition gained more knowledge about effective collaboration than learners who collaborated guided by an external collaboration script or learners who did not receive any support. However, we found no effect of the script or the reflection scaffold on the quality of interaction in the subsequent collaboration. Explorative analyses suggest that learners acquired knowledge particularly about those interactions that are required for solving information pooling tasks (e.g., sharing information). We discuss our findings by contrasting the design of the external collaboration script and the reflection scaffold to identify potential mechanisms behind scripting and collaborative reflection and to what extent these forms of support foster collaboration skills and engagement in productive interaction.
Guided growth surgery for angular deformity of the knee: one centres experience
Authors: Moore Dave M. , Turner Henry , Boughton Oliver , Noonan Maria , Noel Jacques , Kiely Pat , O’Toole Pat , Kelly Paula M. , Moore David P.
Published: August 2024

Background

Angular deformity in the lower extremity can result in pain, gait disturbance, cosmetic deformity and joint degeneration. Up until the introduction of guided growth, which has since become the widely accepted treatment for frontal plane angular angular deformity around the knee in skeletally immature patients, treatment consisted of staples, corrective osteotomy or an angular epiphysiodesis. Guided growth modulation uses the tension band principle with the goal of treatment being to normalise the lower limb mechanical axis resulting in lower morbidity than previous treatments. In order to assess the success of this procedure we reviewed our results in an attempt to identify patients who may not benefit from this elegant procedure.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected surgical records and diagnostic imaging in our paediatric tertiary national referral centre to identify all patients who had guided growth surgery for coronal plane angular deformity of the knee from 2007 to 2023. We noted the patient demographics, diagnosis, peri-operative experience and outcome. All patients were followed until skeletal maturity, until their hardware was removed or at least 2 years.

Results

Two hundred thirty-six patients were assessed for eligibility. Of the 282 treated knees which met the criteria for final assessment 55 (19.5%) were unsuccessful. Complications were few but included infection and metal-work prominence. Procedures that were less likely to be successfully included growth disturbances following trauma (18.8% failure) or infection (40%), tumour (66.6%), mucopolysaccharidoses type I (15.7%), spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (25%) or Blount’s disease (60%). Idiopathic angular deformity showed an 89.5% success rate with guided growth.

Conclusion

In our hands, guided growth had an 80.5% success rate when all diagnoses were considered. We continue to advocate the use of guided growth as a successful treatment option for skeletally immature patients with limb deformity however caution should be employed when considering its use in certain patient groups.

Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
Prognostic and Predictive Models in Myelofibrosis
Authors: Mora Barbara , Bucelli Cristina , Cattaneo Daniele , Bellani Valentina , Versino Francesco , Barbullushi Kordelia , Fracchiolla Nicola , Iurlo Alessandra , Passamonti Francesco
Published: August 2024

Purpose of Review

Myelofibrosis (MF) includes prefibrotic primary MF (pre-PMF), overt-PMF and secondary MF (SMF). Median overall survival (OS) of pre-PMF, overt-PMF and SMF patients is around 14 years, seven and nine years, respectively. Main causes of mortality are non-clonal progression and transformation into blast phase.

Recent Findings

Discoveries on the impact of the biological architecture on OS have led to the design of integrated scores to predict survival in PMF. For SMF, OS estimates should be calculated by the specific MYSEC-PM (MYelofibrosis SECondary-prognostic model). Information on the prognostic role of the molecular landscape in SMF is accumulating. Crucial treatment decisions for MF patients could be now supported by multivariable predictive algorithms. OS should become a relevant endpoint of clinical trials.

Prognostic models guide prediction of OS and treatment planning in MF, therefore, their timely application is critical in the personalized approach of MF patients.
The CNN Effect and South Korea’s Humanitarian Response to North Korea: A Media-Driven Policy?
Authors: Yeger Shay , Podoler Guy
Published: August 2024

This study explores the intersection of media and policy in inter-Korean relations, focusing on the impact of South Korean media on the government’s response to the North Korean famine. Examining the famine through the “CNN effect” and Robinson’s “policy-media interaction model,” we move beyond simplistic cause-and-effect narratives and assess the media’s potential to drive policy change in a unique context: a divided nation marked by both deep animosity and shared cultural ties. Our analysis reveals that the South Korean media predominantly conveyed informative narratives rather than emotional ones during the coverage of the North Korean famine. We argue that, consistent with the interaction model, the media primarily functioned to solidify societal consensus on humanitarian aid, rather than directly shaping government policy. Robinson’s framework supports this finding, suggesting that media influence diminishes when policy goals are clearly defined, as they were for South Korea’s response to the famine. However, this study also addresses the limitations of Robinson’s model, noting that it may oversimplify media behavior by neglecting crucial cultural, political, and historical factors. Ultimately, this study sheds light on the nuanced dynamics of media, policy, and inter-Korean relations in the face of a humanitarian crisis.
Research-Practice Partnerships for the Development of School Mental Health Interventions: An Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Lawson Gwendolyn M. , Owens Julie Sarno
Published: August 2024

The rising prevalence of mental health challenges among youth has created a pressing need for effective, feasible, equitable, and contextually relevant interventions. Educators and school mental health professionals face critical challenges in helping students overcome such barriers to school success. This makes the need for school-based intervention development research particularly that conducted in the context of collaborative research-practice partnerships, greater than ever. Despite the critical importance of iterative intervention development work, such work often receives less in attention in the published literature compared to studies about the outcomes of interventions. The goal of this special issue is to highlight innovative and rigorous research that describes the process of iteratively developing school mental health services in partnership with educators. Each paper in the special issue describes how education partners (and others including students, families, and other community partners) contributed to the development of an intervention or implementation strategy (i.e., a method or technique to enhance intervention adoption, implementation, or sustainment), how data informed iterations of the intervention or strategy, considerations related to contextual appropriateness, and lessons learned related to community-partnered school-based intervention development. In this introduction paper, we provide a context for this work and highlight innovations across papers in the special issue.
Antibacterial activity of natural flavones against bovine mastitis pathogens: in vitro, SAR analysis, and computational study
Authors: Haj Hasan Ahlam , Preet Gagan , Astakala Rishi Vachaspathy , Al-Adilah Hanan , Oluwabusola Emmanuel Tope , Ebel Rainer , Jaspars Marcel
Published: August 2024

Bovine mastitis is a worldwide disease affecting dairy cattle and causes major economic losses in the dairy industry. Recently, the emergence of microbial resistance to the current antibiotics complicates the treatment protocol which necessitates antibiotic stewardship and further research to find new active compounds. Recently, phytobiotics have gained interest in being used as an alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry as an antibiotic stewardship intervention. This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of 16 flavonoids against bovine mastitis pathogens. Two flavones: 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)chromen-4-one (1) and 2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)chromen-4-one (4) showed inhibition of the growth of Klebsiella oxytoca with MIC values range (25–50 µg mL− 1) followed by a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study indicating that the presence of a hydroxyl group at C-3` or methoxy at C-4` increases the activity against Klebsiella oxytoca while the presence of hydroxyl group at C-7 decreases the activity. Furthermore, a structure-based drug development approach was applied using several in silico tools to understand the interactions of active flavones at the active site of the DNA gyrase protein. Compound (4) showed a higher docking score than quercetin (standard) which is known to have antibacterial activity by inhibiting the DNA gyrase. In addition, the structure-based pharmacophores of compound (4) and quercetin showed similar pharmacophoric features and interactions with DNA gyrase. Based on our findings, compounds (1) and (4) are promising for further study as potential anti-microbial phytochemicals that can have a role in controlling bovine mastitis as well as to investigate their mechanism of action further.
Hierarchical Service Composition via Blockchain-enabled Federated Learning
Authors: Huang Li , Zhao Lu , Liu Yansong , Zhao Yao
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the transformative evolution of cloud computing has reshaped organizational practices by enabling the outsourcing of web service applications. This shift has led to the emergence of the cloud environment, characterized by the involvement of Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and intelligent applications. Cloud Service Composition (CSC) has become pivotal in this context, playing a crucial role in enhancing efficiency, Quality of Service (QoS), and customer satisfaction through the aggregation of diverse Cloud Services (CSs) to create composite services. However, the vast array of available CSs presents a challenge in efficiently addressing specified QoS requirements, turning CSC into a recognized NP-hard problem. Existing solutions, often involving third-party brokers, struggle with scalability in large-scale systems and overlook crucial security concerns. To address these limitations, we propose the Hierarchical Service Composition (HSC) approach, leveraging blockchain and federated learning to minimize computational complexity. The integration of Blockchain-enabled Federated Learning (BFL) facilitates machine learning model training with decentralized data, ensuring practicality and fairness. HSC comprises an initialization phase and two selection layers. The first selection layer enables each CSP to efficiently select services using a pre-trained model, while the second selection layer employs a blockchain-based QoS-aware mechanism for the final composition result, addressing privacy concerns. HSC introduces a novel framework, collaborative service selection methods, and a smart selection algorithm, demonstrating remarkable composition efficiency in extensive simulations compared to the baseline approach.
Exploring factors influencing the microfinance program sustainability
Authors: Gunawan Indra , Nurchasanah
Published: August 2024

Ensuring the sustainability of development interventions such as microfinance programs is essential for making sure that the financial access is available for the poor in long term. However, many project-based microfinance have faced sustainability issues. Therefore, exploring the factors affecting the sustainability of the programs is essential. Using institutionalist view of microfinance sustainability and considering project implementation aspects, this study aims to explore the factors that influence the sustainability of project-based microfinance institutions (MFIs). Quantitative approach by using a statistical tool is used to analyse the survey of the 85 microfinance bankers from 65 Microfinance institutions (MFIs). The result showed that project-based microfinance sustainability is influenced by local project characteristics, community support and project management. It implies that project implementation and its sustainability is concomitant. Project implementation that considers local community and is supported by project management could hold an important role in the sustainability of the project. Furthermore, developing sustainability strategies in planning and implementation stages is crucial. Hence, international development project actors should take them into account.
Combining the spatiotemporal mobility patterns and MMC for next location prediction of fake base stations
Authors: Yufei·Shi  , Tao Haiyan , Zhuo Li
Published: August 2024

The spatiotemporal mobility patterns and next location prediction of fake base stations (FBS) provide important technical support for the police to prevent spam messages from FBS. However, due to the difficulty in locating their real-time locations, our understanding of the mobility patterns and predictability of FBS is still limited. Based on the crowdsourced spam data, we extract the time and potential locations of FBS and propose a Tucker-MMC method that combines Tucker decomposition with a Mobility Markov Chain (MMC) model to investigate the mobility patterns and predictability of FBS sending spam messages. First, we utilize Tucker decomposition to reflect the spatial and temporal preferences during the movement of the corresponding FBS. Then the mobility regularity and the theoretical maximum predictability of the FBS trajectories with similar mobility preferences are analyzed by entropy and Fano's inequality. A Tucker-MMC is also established for the next location prediction. The results using the spam dataset in Beijing show that the accuracy of Tucker-MMC is more than double that of the MMC. The accuracy of the actual location prediction model is more likely to approach the theoretical maximum predictability when FBS send spam messages in a shorter time, shorter transfer distance, and smaller access range.
Understanding and resolving the heterogeneous degradation of anion exchange membrane water electrolysis for large-scale hydrogen production
Authors: Lei Jia , Wang Ziyi , Zhang Yunze , Ju Min , Fei Hao , Wang Siyuan , Fu Chengxi , Yuan Xinchang , Fu Qiang , Farid Muhammad Usman , Kong Hui , An Alicia Kyoungjin , Deng Runxu , Liu Feng , Wang Jian
Published: August 2024

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) has seen rapid advancements over the past decade due to its promising role in green hydrogen production. Ensuring long-term functionality is as crucial as optimizing performance to achieve commercial viability and industrial integration. However, few studies have systematically discussed the degradation issues of this technology. Therefore, a thorough understanding of AEMWE degradation is needed to guide the design, assembly, operation, and maintenance of the device over its lifetime. To address this gap, this review systematically overviewed the heterogeneous degradation of AEMWE across different material and interface levels, focusing on several key components including catalysts, ionomers, membranes, and gas diffusion layers. The influences of these components and their interfaces on the catalytic efficiency, active site density, and mass and electron transfer capabilities were discussed. Moreover, the impacts of operation conditions, including temperature, electrolyte composition, and clamping pressure, on the stable operation of AEMWE were assessed. Accordingly, current mitigation strategies to resolve these degradation phenomena were rigorously evaluated. By offering insights into optimizing operations, designing materials, and improving assessment protocols for AEMWE, this work will contribute to enhancing its stability for large-scale hydrogen production.
Lessons From Transient Simulations of the Last Deglaciation With CLIMBER‐X: GLAC1D Versus PaleoMist
Authors: Masoum Ahmadreza , Nerger Lars , Willeit Matteo , Ganopolski Andrey , Lohmann Gerrit
Published: August 2024

The last deglaciation experienced the retreat of massive ice sheets and a transition from the cold Last Glacial Maximum to the warmer Holocene. Key simulation challenges for this period include the timing and extent of ice sheet decay and meltwater input into the oceans. Here, major uncertainties and forcing factors for the last deglaciation are evaluated. Two sets of transient simulations are performed based on the novel ice‐sheet reconstruction PaleoMist and the more established GLAC1D. The simulations reveal that the proximity of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) to a bifurcation point, where it can switch between on‐ and off‐modes, is primarily determined by the interplay of greenhouse gas concentrations, orbital forcing and freshwater forcing. The PaleoMist simulation qualitatively replicates the Bølling‐Allerød (BA)/Younger Dryas (YD) sequence: a warming in Greenland and Antarctica during the BA, followed by a cooling northern North Atlantic and an Antarctic warming during the YD.
Magnetic Hysteresis Properties of Magnetite: Trends With Particle Size and Shape
Authors: Paterson Greig A. , Moreno Roberto , Muxworthy Adrian R. , Nagy Lesleis , Williams Wyn , Tauxe Lisa
Published: August 2024

Magnetic hysteresis measurements are routinely made in the Earth and planetary sciences to identify geologically meaningful magnetic recorders, and to study variations in present and past environments. Interpreting magnetic hysteresis data in terms of domain state and paleomagnetic stability are major motivations behind undertaking these measurements, but the interpretations remain fraught with challenges and ambiguities. To shed new light on these ambiguities, we have undertaken a systematic micromagnetic study to quantify the magnetic hysteresis behavior of room‐temperature magnetite as a function of particle size (45–195 nm; equivalent spherical volume diameter) and shape (oblate, prolate and equant); our models span uniformly magnetized single domain (SD) to non‐uniformly magnetized single vortex (SV) states. Within our models the reduced magnetization associated with SV particles marks a clear boundary between SD (≥0.5) and SV (<0.5) magnetite. We further identify particle sizes and shapes with unexpectedly low coercivity and coercivity of remanence. These low coercivity regions correspond to magnetite particles that typically have multiple possible magnetic domain state configurations, which have been previously linked to a zone of unstable magnetic recorders. Of all the hysteresis parameters investigated, transient hysteresis is most sensitive to particles that exhibit such domain state multiplicity. When experimental transient hysteresis is compared to paleointensity behavior, we show that increasing transience corresponds to more curved Arai plots and less accurate paleointensity results. We therefore strongly suggest that transient behavior should be more routinely measured during rock magnetic investigations.
Tectonic Landform and Lithologic Age Impact Uncertainties in Fault Displacement Hazard Models
Authors: Scott Chelsea , Kottke Albert , Madugo Christopher , Arrowsmith J. Ramon , Adam Rachel , Zuckerman Malinda
Published: August 2024

Tectonic landforms and surficial lithologic age are essential data for producing quality late Quaternary fault maps and predicting coseismic fault rupture location before an earthquake. However, we lack a clear understanding of the relationship between tectonic landforms and shallow earthquake processes and how lithologic age relates to landform preservation. We assess how fault location error (rupture‐to‐fault separation distance) and coseismic displacement residual (difference between observed and predicted coseismic displacement) vary with tectonic landform and lithologic age for four historical earthquakes. Certain tectonic landforms identified before these earthquakes correlate with lower fault location errors and median displacements below model predictions. Faults cutting Holocene units exhibit the largest location errors, reflecting surface processes that erode or bury fault evidence. This study shows that tectonic landforms and lithologic age have a significant impact on fault location uncertainty and coseismic displacement, which should be considered in fault mapping and fault displacement assessment.
Underestimation of Methane Emissions From the Sudd Wetland: Unraveling the Impact of Wetland Extent Dynamics
Authors: Dong Bogang , Peng Shushi , Liu Gang , Pu Tianjiao , Gerlein‐Safdi Cynthia , Prigent Catherine , Lin Xin
Published: August 2024

Tropical wetlands account for ∼20% of the global total methane (CH4) emissions, but uncertainties remain in emission estimation due to the inaccurate representation of wetland spatiotemporal variations. Based on the latest satellite observational inundation data, we constructed a model to map the long‐term time series of wetland extents over the Sudd floodplain, which has recently been identified as an important source of wetland CH4 emissions. Our analysis reveals an annual, total wetland extent of 5.73 ± 2.05 × 104 km2 for 2003–2022, with a notable accelerated expansion rate of 1.19 × 104 km2 yr−1 during 2019–2022 driven by anomalous upstream precipitation patterns. We found that current wetland products generally report smaller wetland areas, resulting in a systematic underestimation of wetland CH4 emissions from the Sudd wetland. Our study highlights the pivotal role of comprehensively characterizing the seasonal and interannual dynamics of wetland extent to accurately estimate CH4 emissions from tropical floodplains.
Distribution and Cycling of Nickel and Nickel Isotopes in the Pacific Ocean
Authors: Bian X. , Yang S.‐C. , Raad R. J. , Odendahl C. E. , Lanning N. T. , Sieber M. , Huang K.‐F. , Fitzsimmons J. N. , Conway T. M. , John S. G.
Published: August 2024

Nickel stable isotopes (δ60Ni) provide insight to Ni biogeochemistry in the modern and past oceans. Here, we present the first Pacific Ocean high‐resolution dissolved Ni concentration and δ60Ni data, from the US GEOTRACES GP15 cruise. As in other ocean basins, increases in δ60Ni toward the surface ocean are observed across the entire transect, reflecting preferential biological uptake of light Ni isotopes, however the observed magnitude of fractionation is larger in the tropical Pacific than the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. Such surface ocean fractionation by phytoplankton should accumulate isotopically lighter Ni in the deep Pacific, yet we find that North Pacific deep ocean δ60Ni is similar to previously reported values from the deep Atlantic. Finally, we find that seawater dissolved δ60Ni in regions with hydrothermal input can be either higher or lower than background deep ocean δ60Ni, depending on vent geochemistry and proximity.
Near‐Surface Wind Convergence Along the Sea Ice Edge in the Greenland Sea: Its Mean State and Shaping Process
Authors: Masunaga R.
Published: August 2024

At mid‐latitudes, a narrow band of near‐surface wind convergence (NSWC) overlies the western boundary currents in long‐term climatology as a response to steep sea surface temperature gradients. The underlying dynamics shaping mean convergence in the mid‐latitude region have been investigated in detail. In polar regions, surface temperature gradients are intense along the sea ice edges. However, literature concerning NSWC near sea ice edges is limited. This study investigates time‐mean NSWC along sea ice edges and its shaping processes, focusing on the Greenland Sea, based on atmospheric reanalysis. In cold‐season climatology, positive NSWC overlies the sea ice edge, resulting in a localized upward motion reaching the free atmosphere. The mean NSWC was insensitive to sea ice thickness and surface roughness in the regional model. This study suggests that, in addition to local atmospheric boundary processes, extreme NSWC events play a vital role in shaping the mean distribution. Although these features are similar to those along the Gulf Stream, atmospheric fronts appear to play a relatively minor role in the Greenland Sea. Instead, the frequent cyclone generation near the sea ice edge and the anticyclonic circulation over Greenland in conjunction with the transient synoptic circulation seem essential. In the warm season, positive NSWC was virtually missing in the Greenland Sea, unlike in the Gulf Stream region, reflecting the shallow virtual temperature response to the surface thermal forcing. This study contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which sea ice variability affects large‐scale atmospheric circulation in remote regions.
Deep (200–2,000 cm) Soil Water Use Can Compensate for the Drought Effect on Gas Exchange in Dry Years Better Than in Wet Years for Dryland Tree Plantations
Authors: Shao Xiaoya , Gao Xiaodong , Zhang Zhibo , He Nana , Ma Nanfang , Du Xue , Zhao Xining
Published: August 2024

Analyzing deep soil water use (DSWU) response to precipitation change and its impact on tree physiology is necessary to understand tree mortality mechanisms, especially in drylands. Using a process‐based model parameterized with in situ measured fine root distribution data for 0–2,000 cm depth, along with a root‐cutting (below 200 cm depth) numerical experiment, this study explored DSWU strategies and their contribution to total water consumption during different precipitation years, as well as their relationship to tree gas exchange traits, in mature apple (Malus pumila Mill) tree and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations in both wetter (Changwu, 583 mm) and drier (Yan'an, 534 mm) sites on China's Loess Plateau. Results showed that DSWU at 200–2,000 cm depth in different precipitation years of both species mainly occurred during the early growing seasons. On average, DSWU contributed 22.9% and 25.1% to the total water consumption of apple trees and black locust, respectively, and its contribution increased to 26.0% and 36.7% in extremely dry years. Moreover, the lack of DSWU significantly decreased (p < 0.05) stomatal conductance (by 16.9%, 16.9%, 47.4%, and 11.4%, respectively) and photosynthetic rates (by 37.1%, 20.1%, 28.5%, and 16.4%, respectively) of Changwu apple trees, Yan'an apple trees, Changwu black locust and Yan'an black locust in extremely dry years. Similar reductions occurred only in Yan'an for both tree species in normal years. In contrast, no significant differences were found in gas exchange traits in extremely wet years. Our results highlight that DSWU is an important strategy for plantations in the deep vadose zone region to resist extreme drought.
The Influence of Tree Infilling on Energy Partitioning, Vegetation Water Use, and Soil Water State in Sparse Conifer Stands of the Taiga Shield Ecoregion
Authors: Spence C. , Coles A. , Gibson J. J. , Nicholls E. M. , Perron N. , Sniderhan A. , Sonnentag O. , Baltzer J. L.
Published: August 2024

Climate warming and permafrost thaw induced land cover change are well documented in much of the circumpolar north. The extensive exposure of Precambrian continental crust in Canada's Taiga Shield ecoregion could mean impacts of land cover change documented in other regions without this feature are not transferable. This study examined energy partitioning with eddy covariance measurements, vegetation water use with stable isotopes and soil water state with time domain reflectometry sensors in conifer stands in the Taiga Shield ecoregion. The goal was to determine how changes in forest density with climate warming could influence water budget response and soil water state. Paired measurements of sensible and latent heat imply evaporative processes in denser canopies are controlled more by radiative than the aerodynamic factors predominant in sparser canopies. As denser canopies become more prevalent on the landscape, this switch in relative importance of evapotranspirative processes will lead to a reduction in inter‐annual variability of evapotranspiration. The dominant tree species (black spruce, tamarack and jack pine) were all quick to draw water from shallow soils after spring thaw and rainfall. Stand structural changes resulted in older, more evaporatively enriched water prevalent in soils below dense canopies. While there is evidence for forest infilling, widespread lakes and exposed bedrock restricts extensive expansion of forested land covers. The insufficient difference between sparse and dense canopy evapotranspiration suggest a fundamental change in how water cycles in Taiga Shield catchments is unlikely, which is notably different than previously investigated landscapes in Alaska and the Canadian Taiga Plains.
Phase preservation of orbital angular momentum of light in multiple scattering environment
Authors: Meglinski Igor , Lopushenko Ivan , Sdobnov Anton , Bykov Alexander
Published: August 2024

Recent advancements in wavefront shaping techniques have facilitated the study of complex structured light’s propagation with orbital angular momentum (OAM) within various media. The introduction of spiral phase modulation to the Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) beam during its paraxial propagation is facilitated by the negative gradient of the medium’s refractive index change over time, leading to a notable increase in the rate of phase twist, effectively observed as phase retardation of the OAM. This approach attains remarkable sensitivity to even the slightest variations in the medium’s refractive index (∼10−6). The phase memory of OAM is revealed as the ability of twisted light to preserve the initial helical phase even propagating through the turbid tissue-like multiple scattering medium. The results confirm fascinating opportunities for exploiting OAM light in biomedical applications, e.g. such as non-invasive trans-cutaneous glucose diagnosis and optical communication through biological tissues and other optically dense media.
p53 target ANKRA2 cooperates with RFX7 to regulate tumor suppressor genes
Authors: Schwab Katjana , Riege Konstantin , Coronel Luis , Stanko Clara , Förste Silke , Hoffmann Steve , Fischer Martin
Published: August 2024

The transcription factor regulatory factor X 7 (RFX7) has been identified as a tumor suppressor that is recurrently mutated in lymphoid cancers and appears to be dysregulated in many other cancers. RFX7 is activated by the well-known tumor suppressor p53 and regulates several other known tumor suppressor genes. However, what other factors regulate RFX7 and its target genes remains unclear. Here, reporter gene assays were used to identify that RFX7 regulates the tumor suppressor gene PDCD4 through direct interaction with its X-box promoter motif. We utilized mass spectrometry to identify factors that bind to DNA together with RFX7. In addition to RFX7, we also identified RFX5, RFXAP, RFXANK, and ANKRA2 that bind to the X-box motif in the PDCD4 promoter. We demonstrate that ANKRA2 is a bona fide direct p53 target gene. We used transcriptome analyses in two cell systems to identify genes regulated by ANKRA2, its sibling RFXANK, and RFX7. These results revealed that ANKRA2 functions as a critical cofactor of RFX7, whereas RFXANK regulates largely distinct gene sets.
Endogenous osteoprotegerin (OPG) represses ERα and promotes stemness and chemoresistance in breast cancer cells
Authors: Alraouji Noura N. , Colak Dilek , Al-mohanna Falah H. , Alaiya Ayodele A. , Aboussekhra Abdelilah
Published: August 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of death among women worldwide. The osteoprotegerin (OPG) cytokine, a decoy receptor for RANKL and a key player in bone homeostasis, has pro-and anti-carcinogenic effects in various types of cancer, including breast neoplasms. In the present study, we have shown that ectopic expression of OPG in breast epithelial/cancer cells promotes the pro-metastatic processes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), stemness, angiogenesis as well as the activation of breast stromal fibroblasts. Furthermore, proteomics analysis, which allows the identification and quantification of a plethora of known and unknown proteins, has shown a strong and significant correlation between OPG upregulation and the expression of proteins with functions in EMT and stemness. On the other hand, OPG knockdown in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells inhibited the formation of cancer stem cells. Importantly, while OPG upregulation significantly enhanced the resistance of luminal BC cells to cisplatin and docetaxel, OPG downregulation sensitized TNBC cells to these chemotherapeutic drugs. We have also shown that OPG negatively controls estrogen receptor α (ERα), and OPG upregulation correlated well with the expression of genes related to ER-negative claudin low cells. Collectively, these results show that OPG promotes stemness and the consequent chemoresistance of breast cancer cells.
The Chlamydia pneumoniae effector SemD exploits its host’s endocytic machinery by structural and functional mimicry
Authors: Kocher Fabienne , Applegate Violetta , Reiners Jens , Port Astrid , Spona Dominik , Hänsch Sebastian , Mirzaiebadizi Amin , Ahmadian Mohammad Reza , Smits Sander H. J. , Hegemann Johannes H. , Mölleken Katja
Published: August 2024

To enter epithelial cells, the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae secretes early effector proteins, which bind to and modulate the host-cell’s plasma membrane and recruit several pivotal endocytic host proteins. Here, we present the high-resolution structure of an entry-related chlamydial effector protein, SemD. Co-crystallisation of SemD with its host binding partners demonstrates that SemD co-opts the Cdc42 binding site to activate the actin cytoskeleton regulator N-WASP, making active, GTP-bound Cdc42 superfluous. While SemD binds N-WASP much more strongly than Cdc42 does, it does not bind the Cdc42 effector protein FMNL2, indicating effector protein specificity. Furthermore, by identifying flexible and structured domains, we show that SemD can simultaneously interact with the membrane, the endocytic protein SNX9, and N-WASP. Here, we show at the structural level how a single effector protein can hijack central components of the host’s endocytic system for efficient internalization.
Constraint-based modelling predicts metabolic signatures of low and high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Meeson Kate E. , Schwartz Jean-Marc
Published: August 2024

Ovarian cancer is an aggressive, heterogeneous disease, burdened with late diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy. Clinical features of ovarian cancer could be explained by investigating its metabolism, and how the regulation of specific pathways links to individual phenotypes. Ovarian cancer is of particular interest for metabolic research due to its heterogeneous nature, with five distinct subtypes having been identified, each of which may display a unique metabolic signature. To elucidate metabolic differences, constraint-based modelling (CBM) represents a powerful technology, inviting the integration of ‘omics’ data, such as transcriptomics. However, many CBM methods have not prioritised accurate growth rate predictions, and there are very few ovarian cancer genome-scale studies. Here, a novel method for CBM has been developed, employing the genome-scale model Human1 and flux balance analysis, enabling the integration of in vitro growth rates, transcriptomics data and media conditions to predict the metabolic behaviour of cells. Using low- and high-grade ovarian cancer, subtype-specific metabolic differences have been predicted, which have been supported by publicly available CRISPR-Cas9 data from the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopaedia and an extensive literature review. Metabolic drivers of aggressive, invasive phenotypes, as well as pathways responsible for increased chemoresistance in low-grade cell lines have been suggested. Experimental gene dependency data has been used to validate areas of the pentose phosphate pathway as essential for low-grade cellular growth, highlighting potential vulnerabilities for this ovarian cancer subtype.
Improved high quality sand fly assemblies enabled by ultra low input long read sequencing
Authors: Huang Michelle , Kingan Sarah , Shoue Douglas , Nguyen Oanh , Froenicke Lutz , Galvin Brendan , Lambert Christine , Khan Ruqayya , Maheshwari Chirag , Weisz David , Maslen Gareth , Davison Helen , Aiden Erez Lieberman , Korlach Jonas , Dudchenko Olga , McDowell Mary Ann , Richards Stephen
Published: August 2024

Phlebotomine sand flies are the vectors of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease. High-quality reference genomes are an important tool for understanding the biology and eco-evolutionary dynamics underpinning disease epidemiology. Previous leishmaniasis vector reference sequences were limited by sequencing technologies available at the time and inadequate for high-resolution genomic inquiry. Here, we present updated reference assemblies of two sand flies, Phlebotomus papatasi and Lutzomyia longipalpis. These chromosome-level assemblies were generated using an ultra-low input library protocol, PacBio HiFi long reads, and Hi-C technology. The new P. papatasi reference has a final assembly span of 351.6 Mb and contig and scaffold N50s of 926 kb and 111.8 Mb, respectively. The new Lu. longipalpis reference has a final assembly span of 147.8 Mb and contig and scaffold N50s of 1.09 Mb and 40.6 Mb, respectively. Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologue (BUSCO) assessments indicated 94.5% and 95.6% complete single copy insecta orthologs for P. papatasi and Lu. longipalpis. These improved assemblies will serve as an invaluable resource for future genomic work on phlebotomine sandflies.
Microconfined High-Pressure Transcritical Channel Flow Database: Laminar, Transitional & Turbulent Regimes
Authors: Abdellatif Ahmed , Monteiro Carlos , Bernades Marc , Jofre Lluís
Published: August 2024

The potential of comprehending and managing microscale flows to enhance energy processes, especially in heat transfer and propulsion applications, remains largely untapped particularly for supercritical fluids, which have gained increased interest over the past years due to the higher power and thermodynamic efficiencies they provide. This work, therefore, presents the first comprehensive, open-source dataset carefully curated and structured for studying microconfined high-pressure transcritical fluid channel flows under various regimes. Particularly, the dataset contains 18 direct numerical simulations of carbon dioxide at different bulk pressures and velocities confined between differentially-heated walls. For all cases, the thermodynamic conditions selected impose the fluid to undergo a transcritical trajectory across the pseudo-boiling region. The data collection comprises an array of physical quantities that enable comprehensive parametric analyses spanning laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow regimes. This data repository is poised to provide access to the detailed study and modeling of the complex flow physics observed in high-pressure transcritical fluids, especially those closely linked to improving microfluidics performance.
A Dataset for Detection and Segmentation of Underwater Marine Debris in Shallow Waters
Authors: Đuraš Antun , Wolf Ben J. , Ilioudi Athina , Palunko Ivana , De Schutter Bart
Published: August 2024

Robust object detection is crucial for automating underwater marine debris collection. While supervised deep learning achieves state-of-the-art performance in discriminative tasks, replicating this success on underwater data is challenging. The generalization of these methods suffers due to a lack of available annotated data considering different sources of variation in the unstructured underwater environment and imaging conditions. In this paper, we present the Seaclear Marine Debris Dataset, the first publicly available shallow-water marine debris dataset annotated for instance segmentation/object detection. The dataset contains 8610 images collected using ROVs at multiple locations and with different cameras, annotated for 40 object categories, encompassing not only litter but also observed animals, plants, and robot parts. As part of the technical validation, we provide baseline results for object detection using Faster RCNN and YOLOv6 models. Furthermore, we demonstrate the non-triviality of generalizing the trained model performance to unseen sites and cameras due to domain shift. This underscores the value of the presented dataset in further developing robust models for underwater debris detection.