bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating extreme hydrological risk impact on water quality; evidence from Buffalo catchment headwater, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Owolabi Solomon Temidayo , Belle Johanes A.
Published: May 2023

Evidence from increasing mineralization, micropollutant concentrations, waterborne epidemics, an algal boom, and dissolved organic matter has provided substantial evidence that climate change impacts water quality. While the impact of the extreme hydrological event (EHE) on water quality (WQ) has aroused considerable research interest, research uncertainty has been premised on WQ data scarcity, a short time frame, data non-linearity, data structure, and environmental biases on WQ. This study conceptualized a categorical and periodic correlation using confusion matrices and wavelet coherence for varying standard hydrological drought index (SHDI; 1971–2010) and daily WQ series (1977–2011) of four spatially distinct basins. By condensing the WQ variables using chemometric analyses, confusion matrices were assessed by cascading the SHDI series into 2-, 3-, and 5-phase scenarios. 2-phase revealed an overall accuracy (0.43–0.73), sensitivity analysis (0.52–1.00), and Kappa coefficient (− 0.13 to 0.14), which declines substantially with the phase increase, suggesting the disruptive impact of EHE on WQ. Wavelet coherence depicted the substantial ($${R}_{n}^{2}\left(u,s\right)\ge 0.5$$

R

n

2

u
,
s

≥
0.5

) mid- and long-term (8–32 days; 6–128 days) co-movement of streamflow over WQ, confirming the varying sensitivity of WQ variables. Land use/land cover mapping and the Gibbs diagram corroborate the eventful WQ evolution by EHE and their spatial variability concerning landscape transformation. Overall, the study deduced that hydrologic extreme triggers substantial WQ disruption with dissimilar WQ sensitivity. Consequently, suitable chemometric indicators of EHE impacts such as WQ index, nitrate-nitrogen, and Larson index at designated landscapes were identified for extreme chemodynamics impact assessment. This study proffers a recommendation for monitoring and managing the impact of climate change, floods, and drought on water quality.
Geographical Differences of Risk of Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis according to Urban/Rural Area: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Cohort Studies
Authors: Song Mincheol , Hwang Seohyeon , Son Eunjeong , Yeo Hye Ju , Cho Woo Hyun , Kim Tae Woo , Kim Kihun , Lee Dongjun , Kim Yun Hak
Published: May 2023

Several studies have demonstrated an association between the risk asthma/allergic rhinitis and the environment. However, to date, no systematic review or meta-analysis has investigated these factors. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between urban/rural living and the risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. We searched the Embase and Medline databases for relevant articles and included only cohort studies to observe the effects of time-lapse geographical differences.Papers containing information on rural/urban residence and respiratory allergic diseases were eligible for inclusion. We calculated the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using a 2 × 2 contingency table and used random effects to pool data. Our database search yielded 8388 records, of which 14 studies involving 50,100,913 participants were finally included. The risk of asthma was higher in urban areas compared to rural areas (RR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12–1.44,p< 0.001), but not for the risk of allergic rhinitis (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.87–1.59,p= 0.30). The risk of asthma in urban areas compared to rural areas was higher in the 0–6 years and 0–18 years age groups, with RRs of 1.21 (95% CI, 1.01–1.46,p= 0.04) and 1.35 (95% CI, 1.12–1.63,p= 0.002), respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the risk of asthma between urban and rural areas for children aged 0–2 years, with a RR of 3.10 (95% CI, 0.44–21.56,p= 0.25). Our study provides epidemiological evidence for an association between allergic respiratory diseases, especially asthma, and urban/rural living. Future research should focus on identifying the factors associated with asthma in children living in urban areas. The review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021249578).
Estimating the future clinical and economic benefits of improving osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment among postmenopausal women across eight European countries
Authors: Yeh Eric J. , Gitlin Matthew , Sorio Francesc , McCloskey Eugene
Published: May 2023

A
population-level, cross-sectional model was developed to estimate the clinical and economic burden of osteoporosis among women (≥ 70 years) across eight European countries. Results demonstrated that interventions aimed at improving fracture risk assessment and adherence would save 15.2% of annual costs in 2040.

Purpose

Osteoporosis is associated with significant clinical and economic burden, expected to further increase with an ageing population. This modelling analysis assessed clinical and economic outcomes under different hypothetical disease management interventions to reduce this burden.

Methods

A population-level, cross-sectional cohort model was developed to estimate numbers of incident fractures and direct costs of care among women (≥ 70 years) in eight European countries under different hypothetical interventions: (1) an improvement in the risk assessment rate, (2) an improvement in the treatment adherence rate and (3) a combination of interventions 1 and 2. A 50% improvement from the status quo, based on existing disease management patterns, was evaluated in the main analysis; scenario analyses evaluated improvement of either 10 or 100%.

Results

Based on existing disease management patterns, a 44% increase in the annual number of fractures and costs was predicted from 2020 to 2040: from 1.2 million fractures and €12.8 billion in 2020 to 1.8 million fractures and €18.4 billion in 2040. Intervention 3 provided the greatest fracture reduction and cost savings (a decrease of 17.9% and 15.2% in fractures and cost, respectively) in 2040 compared with intervention 1 (decreases of 8.7% and 7.0% in fractures and cost, respectively) and intervention 2 (10.0% and 8.8% reductions in fracture and cost, respectively). Scenario analyses showed similar patterns.

Conclusion

These analyses suggest that interventions which improve fracture risk assessment and adherence to treatments would relieve the burden of osteoporosis, and that a combination strategy would achieve greatest benefits.
Mechanistic Approach on the Pulmonary Oxido-Inflammatory Stress Induced by Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles in Rats
Authors: Hassanen Eman I. , Abdelrahman Rehab E. , Aboul-Ella Hassan , Ibrahim Marwa A. , El-Dek Samaa , Shaalan Mohamed
Published: May 2023

Cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (CFN) are employed in data storage, imaging, medication administration, and catalysis due to their superparamagnetic characteristics. The widespread use of CFN led to significantly increased exposure to people and the environment to these nanoparticles. Until now, there is not any published paper describing the adverse effect of repeated oral intake of this nanoformulation on rats’ lungs. So, the current research aims to elucidate the pulmonary toxicity prompted by different concentrations of CFN in rats as well as to explore the mechanistic way of such toxicity. We used 28 rats that were divided equally into 4 groups. The control group received normal saline, and the experimental groups received CFN at dosage levels 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/kg bwt. Our findings revealed that CFN enhanced dose-dependent oxidative stress manifested by raising in the MDA levels and declining in the GSH content. The histopathological examination revealed interstitial pulmonary inflammation along with bronchial and alveolar damage in both 0.5 and 5 mg CFN given groups. All these lesions were confirmed by the immunohistochemical staining that demonstrated strong iNOS and Cox-2 protein expression. There was also a significant upregulation of TNFα, Cox-2, and IL-1β genes with downregulation of IL-10 and TGF-β genes. Additionally, the group receiving 0.05 mg CFN did not exhibit any considerable toxicity in all measurable parameters. We concluded that the daily oral intake of either 0.5 or 5 mg CFN, but not 0.05 mg, could induce pulmonary toxicity via NPs and/or its leached components (cobalt and iron)-mediated oxido-inflammatory stress. Our findings may help to clarify the mechanisms of pulmonary toxicity generated by these nanoparticles through outlining the standards for risk assessment in rats as a human model.
Moderate Intensity of Treadmill Exercise Rescues TBI-Induced Ferroptosis, Neurodegeneration, and Cognitive Impairments via Suppressing STING Pathway
Authors: Chen Jie , Zhu Tong , Yu Dongyu , Yan Bing , Zhang Yuxiang , Jin Jungong , Yang Zhuojin , Zhang Bao , Hao Xiuli , Chen Zhennan , Yan Chunxia , Yu Jun
Published: May 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a universal leading cause of long-term neurological disability and causes a huge burden to an ever-growing population. Moderate intensity of treadmill exercise has been recognized as an efficient intervention to combat TBI-induced motor and cognitive disorders, yet the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Ferroptosis is known to be highly implicated in TBI pathophysiology, and the anti-ferroptosis effects of treadmill exercise have been reported in other neurological diseases except for TBI. In addition to cytokine induction, recent evidence has demonstrated the involvement of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway in ferroptosis. Therefore, we examined the possibility that treadmill exercise might inhibit TBI-induced ferroptosis via STING pathway. In this study, we first found that a series of ferroptosis-related characteristics, including abnormal iron homeostasis, decreased glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4), and increased lipid peroxidation, were detected at 44 days post TBI, substantiating the involvement of ferroptosis at the chronic stage following TBI. Furthermore, treadmill exercise potently decreased the aforementioned ferroptosis-related changes, suggesting the anti-ferroptosis role of treadmill exercise following TBI. In addition to alleviating neurodegeneration, treadmill exercise effectively reduced anxiety, enhanced spatial memory recovery, and improved social novelty post TBI. Interestingly, STING knockdown also obtained the similar anti-ferroptosis effects after TBI. More importantly, overexpression of STING largely reversed the ferroptosis inactivation caused by treadmill exercise following TBI. To conclude, moderate-intensity treadmill exercise rescues TBI-induced ferroptosis and cognitive deficits at least in part via STING pathway, broadening our understanding of neuroprotective effects induced by treadmill exercise against TBI.
Ecophysiological Responses of the Intertidal Seaweed Fucus Distichus to Temperature Changes and Reduced Light Driven by Tides and Glacial Input
Authors: Umanzor Schery , Sandoval-Gil Jose Miguel , Conitz Jan
Published: May 2023

Climate change is influencing the performance and distribution of macroalgae in the marine environment. Although intertidal seaweeds successfully adapt to extreme and rapid abiotic changes, exposure to persistent or prolonged potentially stressful conditions can affect their vitality and productivity. Rapid glacial melt can severely alter seawater physicochemical characteristics for shallow and intertidal seaweed communities on the Alaskan coasts. Understanding how intertidal macroalgae respond to this complex mosaic of stressors is key to assessing their ability to adapt to a climate change scenario. This study assessed whether specific stress responses and acclimation mechanisms were exhibited by the intertidal brown seaweed Fucus distichus subsp. evanescence may enable it to cope with changing temperatures and reduced light availability linked to tides and glacial inputs. We analyzed its physiological performance, including photobiological variables, nutrient content, nitrate uptake, and oxidative stress descriptors under strictly controlled laboratory conditions. Results show that this subspecies of Fucus distichus may be relatively unaffected by changes in light and temperature driven by glacial melt due to the presence of pre-adapted strategies that collectively express wide physiological tolerances. Outcomes provide insights into some of the mechanisms of stress tolerance of this major structuring seaweed across the Alaskan coast. Nonetheless, glacial melt would also lower salinity in coastal water, potentially resulting in osmotic stress and other physiological effects not explored here.
Parental Influence on Child Mental Health Post-Hurricane Harvey
Authors: Short Mary B. , Kaye Savannah , Knight Cory , Riobueno-Naylor Alexa , Lai Betty , Elkins Sara , Schanding Thomas , Bistricky Steven L.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Many children who face natural disasters experience significant mental health consequences. Parents play a prominent role in the likelihood of child mental health outcomes after a weather-related disaster. This study aimed to examine the relationship between parent risk factors and children’s psychological well-being post Hurricane Harvey.

Methods

Parents (n = 140) completed a survey that measured hurricane exposure, parental depression and anxiety, parenting behaviors, and assistance given and received during or after Hurricane Harvey. Additionally, parents were asked to complete questionnaires assessing one of their children’s post-disaster psychosocial functioning and distress.

Results

Results indicated that heightened parent anxiety was significantly associated with an increased risk for emotional symptoms, conduct problems, and hyperactivity-inattention symptoms in children. Additionally, inconsistency in parental discipline was significantly associated with an increased risk of child conduct problems. Further, higher numbers of assistance types received by parents—a proxy indicator of resource loss—was associated with higher child emotional distress scores.

Conclusions

Broader systems-level interventions that address parents’ physical and emotional needs may help mitigate maladaptive reactions in children and facilitate greater post-disaster psychosocial adjustment.
Validating algorithms designed for fertilization control in rice farming system
Authors: Bamurigire Peace , Vodacek Anthony
Published: May 2023

Rice yields in Rwanda seldom reach values expected for irrigated production, in part due to poor fertilization management. To adapt well-known best practices to local conditions, two fuzzy fertilization algorithms were designed for conditions of rice production in Rwanda. Fuzzy algorithms have a linguistic rule base of 183 IF THEN statements linking measurable field conditions to crop yield. Interviews with government agricultural experts and published knowledge of site conditions were used to create the rule base which incorporates the known nutrient requirements of the different growth stages of rice. Fuzzy algorithms are intended for use in an Internet of Things (IoT) system. To validate the algorithms, historical weather and field data are used to drive yield simulations for different plots during the first growing season of 2020 at sites in northeast Rwanda. Predicted yields are compared to measured yields for scenarios with different irrigation levels and fertilization amounts and with and without full Internet connectivity. Insights are provided on the potential of these fuzzy methods to improve rice nutrient management for increased yields in low-income countries are discussed.
Bruhat–Tits Theory
Authors: Kaletha Tasho , Prasad Gopal
Published: May 2023

Bruhat–Tits theory is an important topic in number theory, representation theory, harmonic analysis, and algebraic geometry. This book gives the first comprehensive treatment of this theory over discretely valued Henselian fields. It can serve both as a reference for researchers in the field and as a thorough introduction for graduate students and early career mathematicians. Part I of the book gives a review of the relevant background material, touching upon Lie theory, metric geometry, algebraic groups, and integral models. Part II gives a complete, detailed, and motivated treatment of the core theory as well as an axiomatic summary of Bruhat–Tits theory that suffices for the main applications. Part III treats modern topics that have become important in current research. Part IV provides a few sample applications of the theory. The appendices contain further details on the topic of integral models, including a detailed study of integral models.
Water entry of cups and disks
Authors: Belden Jesse , Speirs Nathan B. , Hellum Aren M. , Jones Matthew , Paolero Anthony J. , Truscott Tadd T.
Published: May 2023

It is known that the water entry of a body with a recessed, cupped nose can suppress the splash and air cavity typically observed for solid body entry (Mathai, Govardhan & Arakeri, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 106, 2015, 064101). However, the interplay between the captive gas in the cup, the cavity and the splash is quite subtle and has not been thoroughly explored. Here we study the cavity and splash dynamics associated with the vertical water entry of cups and find a variety of regimes over a range of Weber numbers (

$We_D$

) and dimensionless cup depths. Our parameter space spans a transition between slow-developing cavities with long closure times (low

$We_D$

) to fast-sealing cavities (high

$We_D$

). An important dynamic event is the evacuation of trapped gas from within the cup, which drives the ensuing cavity and splash behaviour. Through modelling, we predict the conditions for which the evacuating gas inflates a cavity that opens to the atmosphere versus inflating a submerged cavity that suppresses air entrainment from above the surface. We also compare our cup water entry findings to the impact phenomena observed for flat disks, which entrap gas on the front surface similar to cups. In doing so, we reveal the sensitivity of disk splash and cavity behaviour to impact angle, and show that disks share a common regime with cups, in which a thin splash quickly seals on the body. We deduce the mechanisms by which increasing cup depth delays the cavity seal time in this regime. These findings reveal that cups may in fact promote or suppress cavity growth, depending on the cup depth and impact conditions.
Campaign-style Personnel Management: Task Responsiveness and Selective Delocalization during China's Anti-corruption Crackdown, 2013–2020
Authors: Qian Jingyuan , Tang Feng
Published: May 2023

The anti-corruption campaign launched by General Secretary Xi Jinping has been one of the most far-reaching bureaucratic overhauls in modern Chinese history. How has Xi's crackdown on corruption shaped bureaucratic selection at the sub-provincial level? In this paper, we find that the purge has influenced how local ties are weighed in the appointment of prefecture city leaders. While it is common for provincial Party chiefs to appoint locally embedded officials to govern localities without high-profile corruption cases, they tend to appoint outside officials without local experience and connections to manage cities whose ex-leaders have recently been prosecuted for corruption. We argue that the provincial leaders’ objective of installing non-local officials is to exert hierarchical control and oversight in localities affected by corruption. Using an original dataset of all Party secretaries from China's 287 prefecture-level cities between 2013 and 2020, we find a significant divergence in the local embeddedness of officials who are appointed to replace corrupt ex-leaders and the embeddedness of those who fill the vacancies of transferred or retired predecessors. Our study sheds light on how Xi's anti-corruption campaign has reshaped the central–local relations and the logic of political control in China.
The “Wolf Warrior Cycle”: Chinese Blockbusters in the Age of the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Yang Xiao
Published: May 2023

This article concentrates on four Chinese blockbuster movies, Wolf Warrior (2015), Operation Mekong (2016), Wolf Warrior 2 (2017) and Operation Red Sea (2018), referring to them collectively as the “wolf warrior cycle” on the basis of their shared themes of China's overseas military actions. To understand why films addressing this topic have emerged since the mid-2010s, the article employs a critical political economy approach and situates the wolf warrior cycle in China's transforming foreign policies. It argues that the Belt and Road Initiative, one of the state's prominent foreign policies and global strategies in this period, played a crucial role in shaping the production of the wolf warrior cycle films under a trend of the politicization of commercial blockbusters in the Chinese film industry. In turn, these films contributed to the formation of the “wolf warrior diplomacy” image by reinforcing the proactiveness of China's diplomacy and nationalistic stereotypes in Chinese society towards international relations.
Dietary outcomes of community-based CVD preventive interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hassen Hamid Y , Sisay Binyam G , Van Geertruyden Jean-Pierre , Le Goff Delphine , Ndejjo Rawlance , Musinguzi Geofrey , Abrams Steven , Bastiaens Hilde
Published: May 2023

Objective:

We aimed to synthesise available evidence on the effects of community-based interventions in improving various dietary outcome measures.

Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting:

We searched databases including Medline, EMBASE, PSYCINFO, CINAHL and the Cochrane registry for studies reported between January 2000 and June 2022. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane risk of bias tools for each study type. For some of the outcomes, we pooled the effect size using a random-effects meta-analysis.

Participants:

A total of fifty-one studies, thirty-three randomised and eighteen non-randomised, involving 100 746 participants were included.

Results:

Overall, thirty-seven studies found a statistically significant difference in at least one dietary outcome measure favouring the intervention group, whereas fourteen studies found no statistically significant difference. Our meta-analyses indicated that, compared with controls, interventions were effective in decreasing daily energy intake (MJ/d) (mean difference (MD): –0·25; 95 % CI: –0·37, –0·14), fat % of energy (MD: –1·01; 95 % CI: –1·76, –0·25) and saturated fat % of energy (MD: –1·54; 95 % CI: –2·01, –1·07). Furthermore, the interventions were effective in improving fibre intake (g/d) (MD: 1·08; 95 % CI: 0·39, 1·77). Effective interventions use various strategies including tailored individual lifestyle coaching, health education, health promotion activities, community engagement activities and/or structural changes.

Conclusion:

This review shows the potential of improving dietary patterns through community-based CVD preventive interventions. Thus, development and implementation of context-specific preventive interventions could help to minimise dietary risk factors, which in turn decrease morbidity and mortality due to CVD and other non-communicable diseases.
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Intertwin Birth Weight Discordance Among Same-Sex Twins in Lombardy, Northern Italy
Authors: Esposito Giovanna , Cantarutti Anna , Mauri Paola Agnese , Franchi Matteo , Fedele Francesco , Corrao Giovanni , Parazzini Fabio , Persico Nicola
Published: May 2023

This population-based cohort study investigated the prevalence, potential risk factors, and consequences of birth weight discordance (BWD) among same-sex twins. We retrieved data from the automated system of healthcare utilization databases of Lombardy Region, Northern Italy (2007–2021). BWD was defined as 30% or more disparity in birth weights between the larger and the smaller twin. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of BWD in deliveries with same-sex twins. In addition, the distribution of several neonatal outcomes was assessed overall and according to BWD level (i.e., ≤20%, 21–29, and ≥30%). Finally, a stratified analysis by BWD was performed to assess the relationship between assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and neonatal outcomes. We identified 11,096 same-sex twin deliveries; 556 (5.0%) pairs of twins were affected by BWD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that maternal age ≥35 years (OR1.26, 95% CI [1.05,5.51]), low level of education (OR1.34, 95% CI [1.05, 1.70]), and ART (OR1.16, 95% CI [0.94, 1.44], almost significant due to the low power) were independent risk factors for BWD in same-sex twins. Conversely, parity (OR0.73, 95% CI [0.60, 0.89]) was inversely related. All the adverse outcomes observed were more common among BWD pairs than non-BWD ones. Instead, a protective effect of ART was observed for most neonatal outcomes considered among BWD twins. Our results suggest that conception after ART increases the risk of developing a high disparity between the weights of the two twins. However, the presence of BWD may complicate twin pregnancies, compromising neonatal outcomes, regardless of the modality of conception.
Deutschland – wirklich angekommen?
Authors: Schröer Carolin
Published: May 2023

Was ist zu diesem Thema bekannt?

Die Probleme geflüchteter Menschen bedeuten für das deutsche Gesundheitssystem enorme Herausforderungen, die in der Wissenschaft kontinuierlich thematisiert und diskutiert werden. Oftmals erkranken die Betroffenen aufgrund ihrer Erlebnisse an einer Traumafolgestörung und benötigen umfangreiche Unterstützung.

Wie wird eine neue Perspektive eingebracht?

Um die Komplexität der Thematik zu erfassen, wird die theoretische Grundlage dargestellt und einzelne Lösungsansätze werden präsentiert und diskutiert. Es wird sowohl auf die Perspektive der geflüchteten Menschen als auch auf die Sicht der Fachkräfte eingegangen.

Was sind die Auswirkungen für die Praxis?

Eine kontinuierliche Sensibilisierung für die Relevanz der Thematik ist nicht nur auf gesellschaftlicher und politischer Ebene wichtig, sondern auch in der täglichen Arbeit mit geflüchteten Menschen unumgänglich. Dadurch können Barrieren reduziert und eine Verbesserung der Netzwerkarbeit erreicht werden.
InSAR‐Derived Horizontal Velocities in a Global Reference Frame
Authors: Lazecký M. , Hooper A. J. , Piromthong P.
Published: May 2023

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar is used to measure deformation rates over continents to constrain tectonic processes. The resulting velocity measurements are only relative, however, due to unknown integer ambiguities introduced during propagation of the signal through the atmosphere. These ambiguities mostly cancel when using spectral diversity to estimate along‐track motion, allowing measurements to be made with respect to a global reference frame. Here, we calculate along‐track velocities for a partial global data set of Sentinel‐1 acquisitions and find good agreement with ITRF2014 plate motion model and measurements from GPS stations. We include corrections for solid‐earth tides and gradients of ionospheric total electron content. Combining data from ascending and descending orbits we are able to estimate north and east velocities over 250 × 250 km areas and their accuracy of 4 and 23 mm/year, respectively. These “absolute” measurements can be particularly useful for global velocity and strain rate estimation where GNSS measurements are sparse.
Marine Cold‐Air Outbreak Snowfall in the North Atlantic: A CloudSat Perspective
Authors: Mateling Marian E. , Pettersen Claire , Kulie Mark S. , L’Ecuyer Tristan S.
Published: May 2023

This study analyzes the influence of marine cold‐air outbreaks (MCAO) on snowfall and cloud properties in the North Atlantic Ocean using CloudSat observations. Comparing reanalysis‐determined MCAO conditions (low‐level instability) against “non‐CAO” conditions, we find that MCAO conditions are associated with predominantly light snowfall rates (<2 mm day−1 liquid water equivalent) whereas non‐CAO conditions are more frequently associated with higher snowfall rates. Near cold‐air sources, such as sea ice or cold continents, MCAO‐forced snowfall rates tend to be more frequent and more intense. Additionally, 76% of snowing clouds identified during MCAO conditions are shallow (mean cloud top height <3 km) stratocumulus, whereas 44% (43%) of clouds in non‐CAO conditions are deeper nimbostratus (stratocumulus). With greater boundary layer instability (stronger MCAO conditions), CloudSat observes higher cloud‐top heights, reflecting a deepening boundary layer and the presence of two distinct cloud modes during MCAO conditions.
Fitting Cumulus Cloud Size Distributions From Idealized Cloud Resolving Model Simulations
Authors: Savre Julien , Craig George
Published: May 2023

Whereas it is now widely accepted that cumulus cloud sizes are power‐law distributed, characteristic exponents reported in the literature vary greatly, generally taking values between 1 and >3. Although these differences might be explained by variations in environmental conditions or physical processes organizing the cloud ensembles, the use of improper fitting methods may also introduce large biases. To address this issue, we propose to use a combination of maximum likelihood estimation and goodness‐of‐fit tests to provide more robust power‐law fits while systematically identifying the size range over which these fits are valid. The procedure is applied to cloud size distributions extracted from two idealized high‐resolution simulations displaying different organization characteristics. Overall, power‐laws are found to be outperformed by alternative distributions in almost all situations. When clouds are identified based on a condensed water path threshold, using power‐laws with an exponential cutoff yields the best results as it provides superior fits in the tail of the cloud size distributions. For clouds identified using a combination of water content and updraft velocity thresholds in the free troposphere, no substantial improvement over pure power‐laws can be found when considering more complex two‐parameter distributions. In this context however, exponential distributions provide results that are as good as, if not better than power‐laws. Finally, it is demonstrated that the emergence of scale free behaviors in cloud size distributions is related to exponentially distributed cloud cores merging as they are brought closer to each other by underlying organizing mechanisms.
Machine‐Learned Climate Model Corrections From a Global Storm‐Resolving Model: Performance Across the Annual Cycle
Authors: Kwa Anna , Clark Spencer K. , Henn Brian , Brenowitz Noah D. , McGibbon Jeremy , Watt‐Meyer Oliver , Perkins W. Andre , Harris Lucas , Bretherton Christopher S.
Published: May 2023

One approach to improving the accuracy of a coarse‐grid global climate model is to add machine‐learned (ML) state‐dependent corrections to the prognosed model tendencies, such that the climate model evolves more like a reference fine‐grid global storm‐resolving model (GSRM). Our past work demonstrating this approach was trained with short (40‐day) simulations of GFDL's X‐SHiELD GSRM with 3 km global horizontal grid spacing. Here, we extend this approach to span the full annual cycle by training and testing our ML using a new year‐long GSRM simulation. Our corrective ML models are trained by learning the state‐dependent tendencies of temperature and humidity and surface radiative fluxes needed to nudge a closely related 200 km grid coarse model, FV3GFS, to the GSRM evolution. Coarse‐grid simulations adding these learned ML corrections run stably for multiple years. Compared to a no‐ML baseline, the time‐mean spatial pattern errors with respect to the fine‐grid target are reduced by 6%–26% for land surface temperature and 9%–25% for land surface precipitation. The ML‐corrected simulations develop other biases in climate and circulation that differ from, but have comparable amplitude to, the no‐ML baseline simulation.
Why Did the 2017 Kuroshio Large Meander Event Become the Longest in the Past 70 Years?
Authors: Qiu Bo , Chen Shuiming , Oka Eitarou
Published: May 2023

The Kuroshio south of Japan is known to vacillate between a straight and a large meander (LM) path. Since 1950, eight LM events have been observed with different durations. The most recent/on‐going LM started in August 2017 and has become the longest event in record. By analyzing eddy‐resolving sea surface height data and by adopting a wind‐forced linear vorticity model, we demonstrate that the on‐going LM is maintained by an exceptionally stable dynamic state of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) forced by wind stresses across the Pacific basin. The highly‐stable KE system not only minimizes westward eddy perturbations from disrupting the upstream Kuroshio path, its strengthened southern recirculation gyre further helps to anchor the Kuroshio across the Izu Ridge. By contrasting the on‐going event to the 2004–2005 event, we argue that the LM duration is more sensitive to the wind‐forced KE dynamic state than the eastward Kuroshio transport south of Japan.
Freestanding region-responsive bilayer for functional packaging of ingestible devices
Authors: Straker Michael A. , Levy Joshua A. , Stine Justin M. , Borbash Vivian , Beardslee Luke A. , Ghodssi Reza
Published: May 2023

Ingestible capsules have the potential to become an attractive alternative to traditional means of treating and detecting gastrointestinal (GI) disease. As device complexity increases, so too does the demand for more effective capsule packaging technologies to elegantly target specific GI locations. While pH-responsive coatings have been traditionally used for the passive targeting of specific GI regions, their application is limited due to the geometric restrictions imposed by standard coating methods. Dip, pan, and spray coating methods only enable the protection of microscale unsupported openings against the harsh GI environment. However, some emerging technologies have millimeter-scale components for performing functions such as sensing and drug delivery. To this end, we present the freestanding region-responsive bilayer (FRRB), a packaging technology for ingestible capsules that can be readily applied for various functional ingestible capsule components. The bilayer is composed of rigid polyethylene glycol (PEG) under a flexible pH-responsive Eudragit® FL 30 D 55, which protects the contents of the capsule until it arrives in the targeted intestinal environment. The FRRB can be fabricated in a multitude of shapes that facilitate various functional packaging mechanisms, some of which are demonstrated here. In this paper, we characterize and validate the use of this technology in a simulated intestinal environment, confirming that the FRRB can be tuned for small intestinal release. We also show a case example where the FRRB is used to protect and expose a thermomechanical actuator for targeted drug delivery.
Protein glycosylation alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma: function and clinical implications
Authors: Wang Yifei , Chen Huarong
Published: May 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Understanding the cancer mechanisms provides novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic markers for the management of HCC disease. In addition to genomic and epigenomic regulation, post-translational modification exerts a profound influence on protein functions and plays a critical role in regulating various biological processes. Protein glycosylation is one of the most common and complex post-translational modifications of newly synthesized proteins and acts as an important regulatory mechanism that is implicated in fundamental molecular and cell biology processes. Recent studies in glycobiology suggest that aberrant protein glycosylation in hepatocytes contributes to the malignant transformation to HCC by modulating a wide range of pro-tumorigenic signaling pathways. The dysregulated protein glycosylation regulates cancer growth, metastasis, stemness, immune evasion, and therapy resistance, and is regarded as a hallmark of HCC. Changes in protein glycosylation could serve as potential diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic factors in HCC. In this review, we summarize the functional importance, molecular mechanism, and clinical application of protein glycosylation alterations in HCC.
Electrochemical grippers based on the tuning of surface forces for applications in micro- and nanorobotics
Authors: Karg A. , Kuznetsov V. , Helfricht N. , Lippitz M. , Papastavrou G.
Published: May 2023

Existing approaches to robotic manipulation often rely on external mechanical devices, such as hydraulic and pneumatic devices or grippers. Both types of devices can be adapted to microrobots only with difficulties and for nanorobots not all. Here, we present a fundamentally different approach that is based on tuning the acting surface forces themselves rather than applying external forces by grippers. Tuning of forces is achieved by the electrochemical control of an electrode’s diffuse layer. Such electrochemical grippers can be integrated directly into an atomic force microscope, allowing for ‘pick and place’ procedures typically used in macroscopic robotics. Due to the low potentials involved, small autonomous robots could as well be equipped with these electrochemical grippers that will be particularly useful in soft robotics as well as nanorobotics. Moreover, these grippers have no moving parts and can be incorporated in new concepts for actuators. The concept can easily be scaled down and applied to a wide range of objects, such as colloids, proteins, and macromolecules.
Financial inclusion helps rural households address climate risk
Authors: Chhatre Ashwini , Deuskar Prachi , Mohib Javed , Bhardwaj Deepanshi
Published: May 2023

Financial inclusion plays an important role in helping households manage risks, but its role in mitigating climate risks is unexplored. Access to formal financial institutions in regions with high climate risks increases households’ access to liquidity that they need to buffer against climate shocks. Using longitudinal data from 1082 rural households located in the semi-arid tropics in India, we find that households facing high climate risks hold a higher proportion of assets in liquid form. Access to formal financial services, however, reduces the need to keep liquid assets to be able to respond to high climate variability. Our results suggest that expanded financial inclusion in regions with high climate variability can reallocate resources held in unproductive liquid assets to invest in climate adaptation.
Rainfall variability patterns in Nigeria during the rainy season
Authors: Ibebuchi Chibuike Chiedozie , Abu Itohan-Osa
Published: May 2023

To enhance the physical understanding of the circulation patterns associated with rainfall variations in Nigeria, we spatially decomposed rainfall during the rainy season and uncovered the asymmetric atmospheric circulation patterns driving wet and dry regimes in specific parts of Nigeria. Also, we examined linear trends in rainfall and the circulation patterns driving the trends. Our result shows that during the analysis period (1979–2022), northern part of Nigeria has coherent rainfall anomaly that is coupled with rainfall variations over the Sahel (Pearson correlation coefficient (r) is 0.55), and sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTa) in the global oceans (r = $$\left|0.5\right|$$

0.5

). The negative phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, and the North Pacific Oscillation; and the positive phases of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation and the Pacific warm pool are associated with rainfall increase over the northern part of Nigeria. Owing to the increasing trend in SSTa over the Mediterranean and the adjacent oceans, implying the weakening of dry northerly winds penetrating northern Nigeria, the rainfall trend is significantly positive in the northern part of Nigeria during the rainy season—with an increase of about 2–4 mm/year, especially during August. The circulation patterns associated with rainfall formation at the western and southeastern parts of Nigeria are shown to be associated with SSTa over the tropical Atlantic Ocean, south coast of Nigeria (r = $$\left|0.4\right|$$

0.4

). Moreover, rainfall shows a negative trend, with a decrease of about 5 mm/year, in the southeastern parts of Nigeria, which can be linked to the warming trend over the Gulf of Guinea.
Effect of viscosity of experimental universal adhesive on bond strength to dentin prepared with Er:YAG laser
Authors: Kamitsu Takehiro , Shimomura-Kuroki Junko , Shinkai Koichi
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of universal adhesive (UA) viscosity on the bond strength of resin composite to dentin prepared with Er:YAG laser. Four experimental UAs (SI-1, SI-2, SI-3, and SI-4) were developed by adding 1, 2, 3, and 4 wt/% nanosilica to BeautyBond Xtreme (Shofu), respectively. BeautyBond Xtreme was used as a control (SI-0). The viscosities of experimental UAs were measured using a B-type viscometer. After bovine mandibular anterior teeth were ground with #600 emery paper to obtain the flattened dentin surfaces, the dentin surfaces were cut thinly by irradiating the Er:YAG laser. Specimens were prepared using the respective UA and flowable resin composite and subjected to the microtensile bond strength (µTBS) test. The data from viscosity measurement and the μTBS test were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The mean values of viscosity significantly differed among the all experimental groups (p < 0.01). The μTBS of SI-1 and SI-2 was significantly higher than that of SI-0, SI-3, and SI-4 (p < 0.001). The μTBS of SI-0 was significantly lower than that of SI-4 (p < 0.001). The viscosities of the experimental universal adhesives significantly affected their bond strength to laser-cut dentin.
GDE7 produces cyclic phosphatidic acid in the ER lumen functioning as a lysophospholipid mediator
Authors: Kitakaze Keisuke , Ali Hanif , Kimoto Raiki , Takenouchi Yasuhiro , Ishimaru Hironobu , Yamashita Atsushi , Ueda Natsuo , Tanaka Tamotsu , Okamoto Yasuo , Tsuboi Kazuhito
Published: May 2023

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a lipid mediator, which regulates adipogenic differentiation and glucose homeostasis by suppressing nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Glycerophosphodiesterase 7 (GDE7) is a Ca2+-dependent lysophospholipase D that localizes in the endoplasmic reticulum. Although mouse GDE7 catalyzes cPA production in a cell-free system, it is unknown whether GDE7 generates cPA in living cells. Here, we demonstrate that human GDE7 possesses cPA-producing activity in living cells as well as in a cell-free system. Furthermore, the active site of human GDE7 is directed towards the luminal side of the endoplasmic reticulum. Mutagenesis revealed that amino acid residues F227 and Y238 are important for catalytic activity. GDE7 suppresses the PPARγ pathway in human mammary MCF-7 and mouse preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells, suggesting that cPA functions as an intracellular lipid mediator. These findings lead to a better understanding of the biological role of GDE7 and its product, cPA.
Metal-free transfer hydrogenation/cycloaddition cascade of activated quinolines and isoquinolines with tosyl azides
Authors: Yadav Suman , Kant Ruchir , Kuram Malleswara Rao
Published: May 2023

The intrinsically unstable cyclic enamines impeded for exploration in cycloaddition reaction. Here, we accomplished a cascade reaction providing cyclic amidines by the cycloaddition of azides with in situ generated enamines.
A formal synthesis of (–)-erinacine B enabled by asymmetric organocatalysis
Authors: Yan Jiahang , Xu Dongyang , Zhou Zhiqiang , He Long , Gao Jin-Ming , Wei Hongbo , Xie Weiqing
Published: May 2023

A unified strategy for accessing the core structure of cyathane diterpenoids has been developed, enabling the formal synthesis of (–)-erinacine B.
A statistical design approach to the sol–gel synthesis of (amino)organosilane hybrid nanoparticles
Authors: Bondarenko Lyubov , Saveliev Yaroslav , Chernyaev Dmitry , Baimuratova Rose , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian , Dzeranov Artur , Kelbysheva Elena , Kydralieva Kamila
Published: May 2023

This study comprehensively investigates the efficiency of the formulation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) copolymer in sol–gel syntheses as part of a multivariate experiment.
UV-excited single-component white phosphor of Lu2WO6 with broad-band emission for pc-WLED
Authors: Zheng Huibin , Zheng Chunyu , lian Xin , Shi Yarui , Li Jianxin , Song Haixiang , Ding Bangfu
Published: May 2023

Obtaining white light from a single-component phosphor is still a significant challenge due to the complex energy transfer between multiple luminescent centers.
Luminescence of ESIPT-capable zinc(ii) complexes with a 1-hydroxy-1H-imidazole-based ligand: exploring the impact of substitution in the proton-donating moiety
Authors: Shekhovtsov Nikita A. , Nikolaenkova Elena B. , Vorobyova Sofya N. , Plyusnin Victor F. , Vinogradova Katerina A. , Sukhikh Taisiya S. , Tikhonov Alexsei Ya. , Bushuev Mark B.
Published: May 2023

The luminescence of ESIPT-capable zinc(ii) complexes can be fine-tuned through the modification of the ligand core.
A facile, green and scalable approach to fabricate hierarchical ZnAl-LDH for efficient removal of hexavalent chromium
Authors: Liu Tingting , Zheng Meiqi , Ji Kaiyue , Xue Xiaomeng , Yang Jiangrong , Shao Mingfei , Duan Haohong , Kong Xianggui
Published: May 2023

A feasible, green and scalable approach for the synthesis of hierarchical ZnAl-LDH with well adsorption capacity to Cr(vi).
Sustainable functionalization of carbon black via dry ball milling
Authors: Kiani Aida , Sozio Nicolas , Acocella Maria Rosaria
Published: May 2023

Here a green and sustainable functionalization of oxidized carbon black by dry ball milling is reported. This eco-friendly approach provides, via cation exchange, new carbon fillers with good mass efficiency and high sustainability.
Synthesis and characterization of novel imino derivatives of acenocoumarol: chiral separation, absolute configuration and determination of biological activity
Authors: Ali Imran , Kraimi Aicha , Belboukhari Nasser , Sekkoum Khaled , Messali Mouslim
Published: May 2023

We report the synthesis of new imino derivatives of acenocoumarol and their chiral separationviaHPLC.
An excellent sensible heat storage and photothermal conversion pyrite waste material for pollutant removal
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zheng Dan , Bai Bo , Mei Meng , Yang Feiying
Published: May 2023

The synergistic effect of photothermal conversion and heat energy storage of Fenton catalysts can not only effectively improve solar energy utilization, but also enhance the removal efficiency of pollutants in environmental governance.
One pot transamidation of N-pivaloyl activated amides with anilines in the absence of catalyst, base and additive
Authors: Samuel Rajan Ida Angel Priya , Rajendran Saravanakumar
Published: May 2023

Transamidation of planar and resonance stabilized N-pivaloyl activated amides with non-nucleophilic aromatic amines is demonstrated in absence of catalyst, base and additives.
β-Ga2O3: ultralow-loss and low-permittivity dielectric ceramic for high-frequency packaging substrate
Authors: Wang Wei , Du Chao , Wang Xin , Xu Diming , Qiu Hong-Song , Jin Biao-Bing , Shi Zhong-Qi , Hussain Fayaz , Darwish Moustafa Adel , Zhou Tao , Chen Ya-Wei , Liang Qi-Xin , Zhang Mei-Rong , Zhou Di
Published: May 2023

The β-Ga2O3 ceramic exhibits excellent dielectric properties with a Q × f of 133 140 GHz and εr of 9.57. A sub-6 GHz patch antenna was designed and fabricated using a Ga2O3 ceramic substrate, showing great potential for high-frequency applications.
Metal-free heteroarene C(sp2)–H amination with unprotected (hetero)arylamines
Authors: Wen Tao , Zhang Zhen , Ye Lihua , Zhang Chihong , Jin Bo , Wang Wenkun , Chen Zhong-Ning , Cai Hu
Published: May 2023

A metal-free intramolecular C(sp2)–H/N–H amination between pyridines and arylamines is realized, which provides efficient access to α-carbolines. This methodology exhibits excellent applicability and, thus, holds attractive application potential.