bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inspiratory and expiratory CT analyses of the diaphragmatic crus in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Wada Shinji , Matsuoka Shin , Mimura Hidefumi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the association between the results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the size of their diaphragmatic crus (DC) using inspiratory and expiratory CT.

Materials and methods

Thirty-three patients who underwent inspiratory and expiratory CT and PFTs between July and December 2019 were studied retrospectively. The short axis, long axis, and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the bilateral DC were measured, and the percentage change of the DC after expiration (% change of DC) in the size was calculated. The correlation between the results of the PFTs (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1], FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC], and percent predicted FEV1 [%FEV1]) and the size and % change of DC was statistically analyzed.

Results

Significant correlations were observed between the short axis of the right and left DC at expiration and PFTs (FEV1, r = –0.35, –0.48, p = 0.04, .007; FEV1/FVC, r = –0.52, –0.65, p = 0.002, < .001; %FEV1, r = –0.56, –0.60, p < 0.001, < 0.001; respectively), between the CSA of the right DC at expiration and PFTs (FEV1/FVC, r = –0.42, p = 0.01; %FEV1, r = –0.41, p = 0.017; respectively), and between the % change of the short axis of the left DC and the CSA of the left DC and PFTs (FEV1, r = 0.64, 0.56, p < 0.001, .001; %FEV1, r = 0.52, 0.51, p = 0.004, 0.004; respectively). The smaller the short axis of the DC and CSA at expiration and the larger the % change in DC of the CSA, the lower the airflow limitation.

Conclusion

There were significant correlations between airflow limitation and the short axis of the bilateral DC at expiration, and the % change in the DC of the CSA. Certain CT measurements of the DC may reflect airflow limitation in patients with COPD.
Der kybernetische Blick und seine Grenzen. Zur systemtheoretischen Selbstbeschreibung der digitalen Gesellschaft
Authors: Dickel Sascha
Published: July 2022

Die Systemtheorie positioniert sich in prominenter Weise als eine Sozial- und Gesellschaftstheorie, die sich aufgrund ihrer kybernetischen Denkfiguren und Begriffe besonders dazu eignet, die Digitalisierung der Gesellschaft soziologisch zu deuten. Angesichts dieses Anspruchs reflektiert dieser Beitrag die Bedingungen und Grenzen einer systemtheoretischen Beschreibung digitaler Sozialität. Selbst- und Fremdzuschreibungen der Systemtheorie als Theorie digitaler Sozialität rekapitulierend, betreibt er dazu eine Beobachtung zweiter Ordnung jenes kybernetischen Blicks, der Sozialität generell in funktional-formaler Weise als Prozess der Informationsverarbeitung versteht und Mensch und Computer damit gleichsam symmetrisiert. Es wird herausgearbeitet, dass die Systemtheorie zwar in der Tat gut geeignet ist, eine bereits digital konstituierte Sozialität zu beschreiben, ihr jedoch die Hervorbringung der Unterscheidung von Digitalem und Analogem gerade aufgrund ihrer kybernetisch-digitalen Theorieanlage latent entgleitet. Dies, so die Argumentation, manifestiert sich in einem blinden Fleck der Systemtheorie mit Blick auf Prozesse der Digitalisierung. Zur Bearbeitung dieser Leerstelle schlägt der Beitrag vor, Interfaces als soziotechnische Scharniere, die Analoges in Digitales übersetzen, soziologisch zu fokussieren. Denn erst diese Schnittstellen, so die These, ermöglichen einerseits die Symmetrisierung sämtlicher Entitäten im Register der Digitalität und machen andererseits das nicht-übersetzbare oder -übersetzungswürdige Analoge als „Rest“ des Digitalen intelligibel. Eine Sozialtheorie der Digitalisierung ist mithin angehalten zu rekonstruieren, wie eine Gesellschaft ihre analoge Umwelt laufend digital markiert, verarbeitet und schließlich vergisst.
Content Validity of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Developed for Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Systematic Review
Authors: Terwee Caroline B. , Elders Petra J. M. , Langendoen-Gort Marlous , Elsman Ellen B. M. , Prinsen Cecilia A. C. , van der Heijden Amber A. , de Wit Maartje , Beulens Joline W. J. , Mokkink Lidwine B. , Rutters Femke
Published: July 2022

Purpose of review

We aimed to systematically evaluate the content validity of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) specifically developed to measure (aspects of) health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in people with type 2 diabetes. A systematic review was performed in PubMed and Embase of PROMs measuring perceived symptoms, physical function, mental function, social function/participation, and general health perceptions, and that were validated to at least some extent. Content validity (relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility) was evaluated using COSMIN methodology.

Recent findings

We identified 54 (different versions of) PROMs, containing 150 subscales. We found evidence for sufficient content validity for only 41/150 (27%) (subscales of) PROMs. The quality of evidence was generally very low. We found 66 out of 150 (44%) (subscales of) PROMs with evidence for either insufficient relevance, insufficient comprehensiveness, or insufficient comprehensibility. For measuring diabetes-specific symptoms, physical function, mental function, social function/participation, and general health perceptions, we identified one to 11 (subscales of) PROMs with sufficient content validity, although quality of the evidence was generally low. For measuring depressive symptoms, no PROM with sufficient content validity was identified.

For each aspect of HRQL, we found at least one PROM with sufficient content validity, except for depressive symptoms. The quality of the evidence was mostly very low.
The Role of Fertility and Partnership History in Later-life Cognition
Authors: Sironi Maria
Published: July 2022

Cognitive ageing continues to be a significant burden for society and a primary contributor to individuals’ diminishing independence and quality of life. Therefore, improving our understanding of life-course influences on cognitive function is a necessity for public health. Parenthood and marriage are two such influences that may affect cognition in old age. Using the Health and Retirement Study, the relationship between family histories and cognitive functioning in adults in the ‘older’ age group in the United States is investigated through a sequence-analysis approach. The results show that most of the relationship between fertility and partnership history and cognition later in life is explained by childhood health and socioeconomic conditions, and current sociodemographic characteristics. However, those individuals who have never been married, and in particular those who have never been married and have had no children, report a significantly lower level of cognitive functioning in older age, especially women.
Perceived overqualification and work engagement: the moderating role of organizational size
Authors: Tomás Inés , González-Romá Vicente , Valls Victor , Hernández Ana
Published: July 2022

Testing two competing hypotheses based on different theories (i.e., the theory of career mobility and social exchange theory), this study examines whether organizational size enhances or buffers the negative relationship between perceived overqualification (i.e., having more education or qualifications, skills, and/or experience than one’s job requires) and work engagement (a positive, affective-motivational state of fulfillment characterized by vigor, dedication, and absorption). The study sample consisted of 107 university graduates. A time-lagged design with two data collection points was implemented. Data were analyzed using moderated regression. The results showed that organizational size enhanced the negative relationship between perceived overqualification and engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption). This is the first study to show the moderator role of organizational size in the investigated relationship. To mitigate the dysfunctional consequences of perceived overqualification on work engagement, we suggest that large organizations should give overqualified employees the opportunity to develop long-term, high-quality relationships in their work environment.
Gasification of Biowaste Based on Validated Computational Simulations: A Circular Economy Model to Handle Poultry Litter Waste
Authors: de Priall Oisín , Brandoni Caterina , Gogulancea Valentina , Jaffar Mohammad , Hewitt Neil J. , Zhang Kai , Huang Ye
Published: July 2022

Converting waste biomass resources through downdraft gasification can generate a producer gas for a combined heat and power unit. The study includes feedstock analysis, process modelling using ECLIPSE simulation software, and experimental analysis of materials in a pilot-scale fixed-bed downdraft gasifier. Anaerobic digestate and miscanthus were investigated for comparing the gasification potential of poultry litter as an energy source. Models validated through experimental analysis were applied to a case study based on a typical poultry farm in Northern Ireland.; Results found producer gas with a lower heating value up to 4.15 MJ/Nm3 can be generated. Sufficient poultry waste is generated on-site to produce the required heat and electricity for each shed, allowing the farm to switch from fossil fuels to a local renewable resource and addressing the waste disposal issue.; Downdraft gasification coupled with cogeneration could have a payback period of 4–5 years given the correct conditions. The net present value is positive for all technologies considered (i.e. internal combustion engine and the Organic Rankine cycle combined heat and power unit) under different subsidies, showing the economic viability of the solution. The break-even selling price could be lower than the current grid electricity selling price (£120/MWh) when incentives such as: (i) avoiding disposal cost of £30/tonne, (ii) selling the biochar by-product at £200/tonne and (iii) fuel displacement costs of 1.5p/kWh are considered.

Graphical abstract
Unraveling Heterogeneities in Mindfulness Profiles: a Review and Latent Profile Analysis of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire Short-Form (FFMQ-SF) in the Spanish Population
Authors: Lecuona Oscar , García-Rubio Carlos , de Rivas Sara , Moreno-Jiménez Jennifer E. , Rodríguez-Carvajal Raquel
Published: July 2022

Objectives

The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is one of the most common self-report instruments used in scientific literature to assess mindfulness. However, mixed evidence has been provided regarding its psychometric properties. Among them, the FFMQ seems to present latent classes or profiles with specific patterns in its facets, which might explain said mixed evidence. This study explores mindfulness profiles in the Spanish population using the short form of the FFMQ (FFMQ-SF) and its relations with relevant constructs (i.e., decentering, self-compassion, psychological well-being, psychopathology, positive and negative states).

Methods

A general population sample of 826 participants completed instruments measuring mindfulness and related constructs. Latent profile analyses were applied to the FFMQ-SF facets, and profile membership of participants was estimated for relations with related constructs.

Results

Three latent profiles were found: General Mindfulness, Judgmentally Observing, and Non-judgmentally Aware. General Mindfulness showed expected relations with other constructs, but the other two profiles showed some relations opposite to prior literature: The Judgmentally Observing profile displayed functional behaviors while the Non-judgmentally Aware profile showed an inverse mitigated pattern. Results could not be explained by gender, age, level of studies, or minimum experience with meditation.

Conclusions

Most people (68%) fall into mindfulness profiles that can be regarded as a continuum (e.g., an overall mindfulness factor). However, the FFMQ-SF shows heterogeneities in its facets due to two unique latent profiles, namely “Judgmentally Observing” (7.4%) and “Non-judgmentally Aware” (24.8%). While the structure of these profiles was replicated, relations with relevant psychological constructs contradicted previous literature. Implications and recommendations for future studies are discussed.
Downregulation of PGM5 expression correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in human prostate cancer
Authors: Sun Jian , Wang Fei , Zhou Huihui , Zhao Chunchun , Li Kai , Fan Caibin , Wang Jianqing
Published: July 2022

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common malignancy in men in developed countries. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) remains the most widely used serum marker for prostate cancer. Here, we reported that the expression of phosphoglucomutase-like protein 5 (PGM5) is significantly lower in prostate cancer tissue. The low expression of PGM5 and its related gene signature were found to be linked to poor clinical outcome and high Gleason score. In vitro assays showed that overexpression of PGM5 significantly repressed proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells. GO and pathway analyses showed the enrichment of genes in regulation of cell growth and migration, and pathways related in cancer. Our additional results showed that the downregulation of PGM5 is closely related to DNA methylation. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that PGM5 expression is associated with prostate cancer progression. These results also highlight a preclinical rationale that PGM5 represents a prognostic marker and a promising target for new therapeutic strategies in prostate cancer.
Den Stress im Blick – lokale Blickbewegungsmaße bei der Einschätzung schwierigkeitsgenerierender Merkmale von mathematischen Textaufgaben unter Stress
Authors: Becker Sara , Spinath Birgit , Ditzen Beate , Dörfler Tobias
Published: July 2022

Die Fähigkeit, mathematische Textaufgaben hinsichtlich ihrer schwierigkeitsgenerierenden Merkmale zu beurteilen, erweist sich als wichtiger Indikator der diagnostischen Kompetenz von Mathematiklehrkräften. Die diagnostische Kompetenz umfasst die kognitiven Prozesse der Wahrnehmung von potenziell schwierigkeitsgenerierenden Aufgabenmerkmalen sowie deren Interpretation hinsichtlich ihrer Relevanz. Beide Beurteilungsprozesse erfordern kognitive Kapazitäten, die in realen Lehr-Lern-Situationen aufgrund des kapazitätsreduzierenden Einflusses von Stress beeinträchtigt werden können. Über den Einfluss von Stress auf die Prozesse des Wahrnehmens und Interpretierens von Aufgabenmerkmalen ist bislang wenig bekannt.

Vor diesem Hintergrund wurde in der vorliegenden experimentellen Eye Tracking-Studie der Einfluss von Stress auf die diagnostischen Prozesse der Wahrnehmung sowie der Interpretation von schwierigkeitsgenerierenden Merkmalen bei mathematischen Textaufgaben untersucht. Die Teilnehmenden,N = 64 angehende Mathematiklehrkräfte (73,4 % weiblich), wurden randomisiert der Kontrollgruppe oder der Stressgruppe zugeordnet. Die künstliche Erzeugung von Stress bei den Teilnehmenden der Stressgruppe erfolgte vor der Beurteilung der schwierigkeitsgenerierenden Merkmale mithilfe des Sozialevaluativen Kaltwasserstresstests. Der Einfluss von Stress auf die Wahrnehmungsprozesse während des Diagnostizierens wurde über so genannte lokale Blickbewegungsmaße operationalisiert. Der Einfluss von Stress auf die Interpretationsprozesse wurde anhand der Begründungen der Teilnehmenden untersucht.

Die Auswertungen der Studie zeigten, dass die schwierigkeitsgenerierenden Textaufgabenmerkmale sowohl von den Teilnehmenden der Kontrollgruppe als auch von denen der Stressgruppe wahrgenommen wurden. Die Aufmerksamkeit unter Stress begrenzte sich jedoch auf potenziell relevante Bereiche der Textaufgaben. Unter Stress wurden insgesamt weniger Merkmale für das diagnostische Urteil herangezogen und jedes schwierigkeitsgenerierende Merkmal wurde weniger oft als relevant interpretiert. Zusammenfassend weisen die Ergebnisse darauf hin, dass angehende Mathematiklehrkräfte unter Stress nur einen selektiven Bereich von Textaufgaben wahrnehmen und verarbeiten können. Insbesondere die kognitiv anspruchsvollen Verarbeitungsprozesse erscheinen eingeschränkt. Dies weist auf eine verzerrte und fehlerhafte Urteilsbildung in Stresssituationen hin.
Allergenicity reduction of the bio-elicited peanut sprout powder (BPSP) and toxicological acceptance of BPSP-supplemented diets assessed with ICR mice
Authors: Weng Brian B.-C. , Liu Yu-Chia , White Brittany L. , Chang Ju-Chun , Davis Jack P. , Hsiao Shih-Hsuan , Chiou Robin Y.-Y.
Published: July 2022

The allergenic and toxicological acceptances of the bio-elicited peanut sprout powder (BPSP) have not been assessed. BPSP was generated from peanut kernels germinated at 26–28 °C for 72 h (designated as 72 h-NGS). The 72 h-NGS were subsequently sliced, incubated, dried, defatted and pulverized to generate bio-elicited peanut sprout powder (BPSP). Protein solubility of BPSP increased 2.6-fold compared to 72 h-NGS. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed BPSP production triggered extensive degradation of the high-molecular weight peanut allergic proteins, mainly Ara h 1 and Ara h 3. Western blotting detected with peanut allergic patients’ IgE indicated decreased in vitro reactivity. Food safety assessment of BPSP was performed with ICR mice fed with basal (control) and three doses of formulated BPSP-supplemented diets containing 0.11 g (normal), 2.5 g (high) and 25 g (super high) BPSP /kg BW. Animals appeared healthy with steady body weight gain in all groups during the entire 35-day dietary intervention. Hematological and serum biochemical analyses revealed no significant difference among groups. Histopathological examination on the tissue sections of primary organs further supported safety with no pathologies. The in vitro allergic reduction and toxicological safety in the BPSP-supplemented dietary intervention in the ICR mice study, support moving forward with BPSP-involved product development.
A new water flooding characteristic curve at ultra-high water cut stage
Authors: Li Shanshan , Feng Qihong , Zhang Xianmin , Yu Chunlei , Huang Yingsong
Published: July 2022

A large number of field practices show that the water flooding characteristic curve will appear up-warping phenomenon in ultra-high water cut stage, and the conventional water flooding characteristic curve is difficult to accurately characterize. In this work, a new expression of oil–water relative permeability ratio (Kro/Krw) and water saturation (Sw) is proposed based on the statistical analysis of experimental data of oil–water relative permeability at high displacement multiples. The new expression has a simpler form and fewer unknown parameters. The results show that the expression can accurately fit the later section of the conventional relative permeability ratio curve, and the correlation coefficient is above 0.996. On this basis, a new type of water flooding characteristic curve suitable for the whole process of water flooding reservoir development is established by combining the reservoir engineering method. Numerical simulation and field application show that the new curve has higher accuracy and wider applicability than conventional curve. The prediction error of recoverable reserves calculated by the new curve is only 0.22%, and the error of geological reserves is less than 5%. According to the comparison between the actual data and the predicted data, the actual cumulative oil production is 2.579 × 106 t, the predicted by the new curve is 2.569 × 106 t, the actual ultimate oil recovery is 50.235%, and the predicted is 50.04%. The predicted value is consistent with the actual one. It provides a more reliable method to accurately predict reservoir development indexes and guides the oilfield’s subsequent decision-making.
The Challenge of Catalan Secessionism to the European Model of the Rule of Law
Authors: Hernández Gisela , Closa Carlos
Published: July 2022

Far from being an abstract concept, international, European, and Spanish legal orders clearly conceptualize “rule of law”. Catalan secessionism, appealing to the democratic principle, challenged the common understanding of rule of law in the period between 2012 and 2017. This article offers a detailed explanation on how secessionism fundamentally disregarded the common understandings of the rule of law principle and, more precisely, two of its essential elements: the principles of legality and respect for courts. In relation to the former, Catalan separatism assumed competences attributed to the central state, ignored procedural guarantees in passing legislation on the referendum, and adopted ad hoc legal supremacy. In relation to the second, Catalan authorities repeatedly ignored and disobeyed the Spanish Constitutional Court’s rulings. However, disrespect for Constitutional justice turned into an appeal to it when Catalan secessionist leaders sought to defend their individual rights in face of criminal prosecution.
Interaction between thermal stratification and turbulence in channel flow
Authors: Zonta Francesco , Hadi Sichani Pejman , Soldati Alfredo
Published: July 2022

Transport phenomena in high Reynolds number wall-bounded stratified flows are dominated by the interplay between the turbulence structures generated at the wall and the buoyancy-induced large-scale waves populating the channel core. In this study, we want to investigate the flow physics of wall-bounded stratified turbulence at relatively high shear Reynolds number

$Re_\tau$

and for mild to moderate stratification level – quantified here by the shear Richardson number varying in the range

$0\leqslant Ri_{\tau } \leqslant 300$

. By increasing stratification, active turbulence is sustained only in the near-wall region, whereas intermittent turbulence, modulated by the presence of non-turbulent wavy structures (internal gravity waves), is observed at the channel core. In such conditions, the wall-normal transport of momentum and heat is considerably reduced compared with the case of non-stratified turbulence. A careful characterization of the flow-field statistics shows that, despite temperature and wall-normal velocity fluctuations being very large at the channel centre, the mean value of their product – the buoyancy flux – vanishes for

$Ri_{\tau } \geqslant 200$

. We show that this behaviour is due to the presence of a

$\sim {\rm \pi}/2$

phase delay between the temperature and the wall-normal velocity signals: when wall-normal velocity fluctuations are large (in magnitude), temperature fluctuations are almost zero, and vice versa. This constitutes a blockage effect to the wall-normal exchange of energy. In addition, we show that the friction factor scales as

$C_f \sim Ri_{\tau }^{-1/3}$

, and we propose a new scaling for the Nusselt number,

$Nu \cdot Re_{\tau }^{-2/3} \sim Ri_{\tau }^{-1/3}$

. These scaling laws, which seem to be robust over the explored range of parameters, complement and extend previous experimental and numerical data, and are expected to help the development of improved models and parametrizations of stratified flows at large

$Re_{\tau }$

.
Development, testing, and implementation of a new procedure to assess the clinical added benefit of pharmaceuticals
Authors: Dóczy Veronika , Wernerné Sódar Barbara , Hölgyesi Áron , Merész Gergő , Gaál Péter
Published: July 2022

Objectives

The reimbursement process for innovative health technologies in Hungary lacks any formalized assessment of clinical added benefit (CAB). The aim of this research is to present the development, retrospective testing, and implementation of a local assessment framework for determining the CAB of cancer treatments at the Department of Health Technology Assessment of the National Institute of Pharmacy and Nutrition in Hungary.

Methods

The assessment framework was drafted after screening existing methods and a retrospective comparison of local reimbursement dossiers to that of German and French methods. The Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale of the European Society for Medical Oncology was chosen to rate the extent of CAB in oncology, as part of a conclusion complemented by the assessment of endpoint relevance and the quality of evidence. Several rounds of retrospective assessments have been conducted involving all clinical assessors, iterated with semistructured discussions to consolidate divergence between assessors. External stakeholders were consulted to provide feedback on the framework.

Results

Retrospective assessments resulted in average more than 75 percent concordance between assessors on each element of the conclusion. Input from ten stakeholders was also incorporated; stakeholders were generally supportive, and they mostly commented on the concept, the elements of the framework, and its implementation.

Conclusions

The procedure is suitable for routine use in the decision-making process to describe the CAB of antineoplastic technologies in Hungary. Further extension of the framework is required to cover more disease areas for structured and comparable conclusions on CAB of innovative health technologies.
From Reciprocity to Territoriality: Extradition, the Opium War, and the Idea of British Sovereignty in Hong Kong, 1842–44
Authors: Lee Ivan
Published: July 2022

This article examines a key ambiguity in the Opium War treaties of 1842-1843, which concerned the legal status of Hong Kong’s native Chinese population. Overlooked in existing studies, the question was whether the cession of Hong Kong entailed British jurisdiction over crimes involving Chinese peopleinter se. To British minds, the idea of territorial sovereignty pulled against the reciprocal premise of the treaties, by which China and Britain enjoyed an absolute right to discipline their own offenders. To square the circle, British officials mooted various compromises steeped in extant ideas of sovereignty and subjecthood. Subsequently, all efforts at a principled policy were abandoned following a pivotal murder in eastern Hong Kong. Seven Chinese suspects were examined at the colonial magistracy for possible surrender to China, but the hearing was construed after the fact as a full trial and acquittal, which anchored exclusive British jurisdiction on the island. Thus, Hong Kong lay at the intellectual centre of Britain’s incipient Chinese Empire. The meaning of the Opium War treaties was shaped through iterative domestic discourse, in which the ideas of territorial sovereignty, extradition, and extraterritoriality were mutually constitutive, and law-making involved the retrospective rationalization of equivocal events and decisions on the ground.
Relic Groundwater and Prolonged Drought Confound Interpretations of Water Sustainability and Lithium Extraction in Arid Lands
Authors: Moran Brendan J. , Boutt David F. , McKnight Sarah V. , Jenckes Jordan , Munk Lee Ann , Corkran Daniel , Kirshen Alexander
Published: July 2022

Demand for lithium for batteries is growing rapidly with the global push to decarbonize energy systems. The Salar de Atacama, Chile holds ∼42% of the planet's reserves in the form of brine hosted in massive evaporite aquifers. The mining of these brines and associated freshwater use has raised concerns over the environmental responsibility of lithium extraction, yet large uncertainties remain regarding fundamental aspects of governing hydrological processes in these environments. This incomplete understanding has led to the perpetuation of misconceptions about what constitutes sustainable or renewable water use and therefore what justifies responsible allocation. We present an integrated hydrological assessment using tritium and stable oxygen, and hydrogen isotopes paired with remotely sensed and terrestrial hydroclimate data to define unique sources of water distinguished by residence time, physical characteristics, and connectivity to modern climate. Our results describe the impacts of prolonged drought on surface and groundwaters and demonstrate that nearly all inflow to the basin is composed of water recharged >65 years ago. Still, modern precipitation is critical to sustaining important wetlands around the salar. Recent large rain events have increased surface water and vegetation extents and terrestrial water storage while mining‐related water withdrawals have continued. As we show, poor conceptualizations of these complex hydrological systems have perpetuated the misallocation of water and the misattribution of impacts. These fundamental issues apply to arid regions globally. Our new framework for hydrological assessment in these basins moves beyond calculating gross inputs‐outputs at a steady state to include all compartmentalized stores that constitute “modern” budgets.
Potential of Land‐Neutral Negative Emissions Through Biochar Sequestration
Authors: Werner C. , Lucht W. , Gerten D. , Kammann C.
Published: July 2022

Negative emissions (NE) are under discussion as elements of mitigation strategies aiming to achieve the climate targets of the Paris Agreement. However, biomass‐based NE technologies such as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) require vast land areas in order to meet the targets projected by climate economic optimization models, thereby competing with food production and ecosystem protection. Here we assess feasible NE contributions of alternative, more sustainable pyrogenic carbon capture and storage (PyCCS) based on land‐neutral biomass production using biochar‐mediated yield increases to maintain calorie production while realizing net CO2 extraction from the atmosphere. Simulations with a biosphere model indicate that such a land‐ and calorie‐neutral PyCCS approach could sequester 0.44–2.62 Gt CO2 yr−1 depending on the assumed biochar‐mediated yield increase achievable on (sub‐)tropical cropland (15%, 20% and 30%, respectively). Cumulatively, by the end of the century, 33–201 Gt CO2 could be sustainably supplied by such an approach, equaling 6%–35% of the NE demand projected for trajectories likely to limit climate warming to 2°C or lower. Furthermore, additional areas dedicated to BECCS in integrated assessment scenarios could instead be used to increase global calorie production (by 2%–16%), or spared for nature protection (up to ∼ 100 Mha). Thus, land‐ and calorie‐neutral PyCCS may, within limits, contribute to lessening the additional land use pressure of biomass‐based NE technologies.
New Findings From Explainable SYM‐H Forecasting Using Gradient Boosting Machines
Authors: Iong Daniel , Chen Yang , Toth Gabor , Zou Shasha , Pulkkinen Tuija , Ren Jiaen , Camporeale Enrico , Gombosi Tamas
Published: July 2022

In this work, we develop gradient boosting machines (GBMs) for forecasting the SYM‐H index multiple hours ahead using different combinations of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters, derived parameters, and past SYM‐H values. Using Shapley Additive Explanation values to quantify the contributions from each input to predictions of the SYM‐H index from GBMs, we show that our predictions are consistent with physical understanding while also providing insight into the complex relationship between the solar wind and Earth's ring current. In particular, we found that feature contributions vary depending on the storm phase. We also perform a direct comparison between GBMs and neural networks presented in prior publications for forecasting the SYM‐H index by training, validating, and testing them on the same data. We find that the GBMs yield a statistically significant improvement in root mean squared error over the best published black‐box neural network schemes and the Burton equation.
Precession Helped Drive Glacial Cycles in the Pleistocene
Authors: Kornei Katherine
Published: July 2022

By studying bits of rock scooped up by ancient glaciers, researchers have pinned down that recent glacial variability was driven, in part, by changes in the direction of Earth’s axis of rotation.
Hydrologic Turnover Matters — Gross Gains and Losses of Six First‐Order Streams Across Contrasting Landscapes and Flow Regimes
Authors: Jähkel A. , Graeber D. , Fleckenstein J. H. , Schmidt C.
Published: July 2022

Gross gains and losses of stream water and the consequent hydrologic turnover may modify the composition of stream water and drive in‐stream ecological functioning. We evaluated over 500 breakthrough curves of conservative tracer additions to analyze the channel water balance resulting in gross gains and losses, net exchange, and hydrologic turnover. During the hydrological year 2019, seven tracer experiments had been carried out in six first‐order streams along 400 m study reaches. All streams are located in the Holtemme catchment (Central Germany) with three each dominated by forested and agricultural land use. Four of the six streams were characterized by net‐losing conditions. The overall median of gross exchange was five times higher than net exchange. On average, subsurface gains replaced 50% of the original stream water over less than one kilometer of stream length. We even observed cases where over 95% of the stream water turned over within 100 m. Gross exchange was relatively higher in forested than in agricultural streams. Patterns of exchange in the forested streams persisted spatially and were temporally independent of streamflow, whereas in the agricultural ones, variable spatial patterns and streamflow dependence occurred. Overall, moderate flow coincided with highest relative gross exchange. Our results support previous findings that in‐stream solute concentrations could heavily depend on location and magnitude of gains and losses. Gross exchange embodies a permanent but variable control of downstream solute concentrations interacting with the signal of biogeochemical activity. We highlight the importance to include reach‐scale hydrological processes in studies on nutrient spiraling.
Relating psychiatric symptoms and self-regulation during the COVID-19 crisis
Authors: Vaghi Matilde M. , Hagen McKenzie P. , Jones Henry M. , Mumford Jeanette A. , Bissett Patrick G. , Poldrack Russell A.
Published: July 2022

Disruptions of self-regulation are a hallmark of numerous psychiatric disorders. Here, we examine the relationship between transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology and changes in self-regulation in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a data-driven approach on a large number of cognitive tasks and self-reported surveys in training datasets. Then, we derived measures of self-regulation and psychiatric functioning in an independent population sample (N = 102) tested both before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the restrictions in place represented a threat to mental health and forced people to flexibly adjust to modifications of daily routines. We found independent relationships between transdiagnostic dimensions of psychopathology and longitudinal alterations in specific domains of self-regulation defined using a diffusion decision model. Compared to the period preceding the onset of the pandemic, a symptom dimension related to anxiety and depression was characterized by a more cautious behavior, indexed by the need to accumulate more evidence before making a decision. Instead, social withdrawal related to faster non-decision processes. Self-reported measures of self-regulation predicted variance in psychiatric symptoms both concurrently and prospectively, revealing the psychological dimensions relevant for separate transdiagnostic dimensions of psychiatry, but tasks did not. Taken together, our results are suggestive of potential cognitive vulnerabilities in the domain of self-regulation in people with underlying psychiatric difficulties in face of real-life stressors. More generally, they also suggest that the study of cognition needs to take into account the dynamic nature of real-world events as well as within-subject variability over time.
Distinct proteomic profiles in prefrontal subareas of elderly major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder patients
Authors: Qi Yang-Jian , Lu Yun-Rong , Shi Li-Gen , Demmers Jeroen A. A. , Bezstarosti Karel , Rijkers Erikjan , Balesar Rawien , Swaab Dick , Bao Ai-Min
Published: July 2022

We investigated for the first time the proteomic profiles both in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients. Cryostat sections of DLPFC and ACC of MDD and BD patients with their respective well-matched controls were used for study. Proteins were quantified by tandem mass tag and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. Gene Ontology terms and functional cluster alteration were analyzed through bioinformatic analysis. Over 3000 proteins were accurately quantified, with more than 100 protein expressions identified as significantly changed in these two brain areas of MDD and BD patients as compared to their respective controls. These include OGDH, SDHA and COX5B in the DLPFC in MDD patients; PFN1, HSP90AA1 and PDCD6IP in the ACC of MDD patients; DBN1, DBNL and MYH9 in the DLPFC in BD patients. Impressively, depending on brain area and distinct diseases, the most notable change we found in the DLPFC of MDD was ‘suppressed energy metabolism’; in the ACC of MDD it was ‘suppressed tissue remodeling and suppressed immune response’; and in the DLPFC of BD it was differentiated ‘suppressed tissue remodeling and suppressed neuronal projection’. In summary, there are distinct proteomic changes in different brain areas of the same mood disorder, and in the same brain area between MDD and BD patients, which strengthens the distinct pathogeneses and thus treatment targets.
Herpes simplex virus 1 infection on grey matter and general intelligence in severe mental illness
Authors: Andreou Dimitrios , Jørgensen Kjetil Nordbø , Nerland Stener , Ueland Torill , Vaskinn Anja , Haukvik Unn K. , Yolken Robert H. , Andreassen Ole A. , Agartz Ingrid
Published: July 2022

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are severe mental illnesses (SMI) linked to both genetic and environmental factors. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) is a common neurotropic pathogen which after the primary infection establishes latency with periodic reactivations. We hypothesized that the latent HSV1 infection is associated with brain structural abnormalities and cognitive impairment, especially in SMI. We included 420 adult patients with SMI (schizophrenia or bipolar spectrum) and 481 healthy controls. Circulating HSV1 immunoglobulin G concentrations were measured with immunoassays. We measured the total grey matter volume (TGMV), cortical, subcortical, cerebellar and regional cortical volumes based on T1-weighted MRI scans processed in FreeSurfer v6.0.0. Intelligence quotient (IQ) was assessed with the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence. Seropositive patients had significantly smaller TGMV than seronegative patients (642 cm3and 654 cm3, respectively;p = 0.019) and lower IQ (104 and 107, respectively;p = 0.018). No TGMV or IQ differences were found between seropositive and seronegative healthy controls. Post-hoc analysis showed that (a) in both schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum, seropositive patients had similarly smaller TGMV than seronegative patients, whereas the HSV1-IQ association was driven by the schizophrenia spectrum group, and (b) among all patients, seropositivity was associated with smaller total cortical (p = 0.016), but not subcortical or cerebellar grey matter volumes, and with smaller left caudal middle frontal, precentral, lingual, middle temporal and banks of superior temporal sulcus regional cortical grey matter volumes. The results of this cross-sectional study indicate that HSV1 may be an environmental factor associated with brain structural abnormalities and cognitive impairment in SMI.
A super pan-genomic landscape of rice
Authors: Shang Lianguang , Li Xiaoxia , He Huiying , Yuan Qiaoling , Song Yanni , Wei Zhaoran , Lin Hai , Hu Min , Zhao Fengli , Zhang Chao , Li Yuhua , Gao Hongsheng , Wang Tianyi , Liu Xiangpei , Zhang Hong , Zhang Ya , Cao Shuaimin , Yu Xiaoman , Zhang Bintao , Zhang Yong , Tan Yiqing , Qin Mao , Ai Cheng , Yang Yingxue , Zhang Bin , Hu Zhiqiang , Wang Hongru , Lv Yang , Wang Yuexing , Ma Jie , Wang Quan , Lu Hongwei , Wu Zhe , Liu Shanlin , Sun Zongyi , Zhang Hongliang , Guo Longbiao , Li Zichao , Zhou Yongfeng , Li Jiayang , Zhu Zuofeng , Xiong Guosheng , Ruan Jue , Qian Qian
Published: July 2022

Pan-genomes from large natural populations can capture genetic diversity and reveal genomic complexity. Using de novo long-read assembly, we generated a graph-based super pan-genome of rice consisting of a 251-accession panel comprising both cultivated and wild species of Asian and African rice. Our pan-genome reveals extensive structural variations (SVs) and gene presence/absence variations. Additionally, our pan-genome enables the accurate identification of nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes and characterization of their inter- and intraspecific diversity. Moreover, we uncovered grain weight-associated SVs which specify traits by affecting the expression of their nearby genes. We characterized genetic variants associated with submergence tolerance, seed shattering and plant architecture and found independent selection for a common set of genes that drove adaptation and domestication in Asian and African rice. This super pan-genome facilitates pinpointing of lineage-specific haplotypes for trait-associated genes and provides insights into the evolutionary events that have shaped the genomic architecture of various rice species.
Ultra-sensitive monitoring of leukemia patients using superRCA mutation detection assays
Authors: Chen Lei , Eriksson Anna , Weström Simone , Pandzic Tatjana , Lehmann Sören , Cavelier Lucia , Landegren Ulf
Published: July 2022

Rare tumor-specific mutations in patient samples serve as excellent markers to monitor the course of malignant disease and responses to therapy in clinical routine, and improved assay techniques are needed for broad adoption. We describe herein a highly sensitive and selective molecule amplification technology - superRCA assays - for rapid and highly specific detection of DNA sequence variants present at very low frequencies in DNA samples. Using a standard flow cytometer we demonstrate precise, ultra-sensitive detection of single-nucleotide mutant sequences from malignant cells against up to a 100,000-fold excess of DNA from normal cells in either bone marrow or peripheral blood, to follow the course of patients treated for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We also demonstrate that sequence variants located in a high-GC region may be sensitively detected, and we illustrate the potential of the technology for early detection of disease recurrence as a basis for prompt change of therapy.
Early crustal processes revealed by the ejection site of the oldest martian meteorite
Authors: Lagain A. , Bouley S. , Zanda B. , Miljković K. , Rajšić A. , Baratoux D. , Payré V. , Doucet L. S. , Timms N. E. , Hewins R. , Benedix G. K. , Malarewic V. , Servis K. , Bland P. A.
Published: July 2022

The formation and differentiation of the crust of Mars in the first tens of millions of years after its accretion can only be deciphered from incredibly limited records. The martian breccia NWA 7034 and its paired stones is one of them. This meteorite contains the oldest martian igneous material ever dated: ~4.5 Ga old. However, its source and geological context have so far remained unknown. Here, we show that the meteorite was ejected 5–10 Ma ago from the north-east of the Terra Cimmeria—Sirenum province, in the southern hemisphere of Mars. More specifically, the breccia belongs to the ejecta deposits of the Khujirt crater formed 1.5 Ga ago, and it was ejected as a result of the formation of the Karratha crater 5–10 Ma ago. Our findings demonstrate that the Terra Cimmeria—Sirenum province is a relic of the differentiated primordial martian crust, formed shortly after the accretion of the planet, and that it constitutes a unique record of early crustal processes. This province is an ideal landing site for future missions aiming to unravel the first tens of millions of years of the history of Mars and, by extension, of all terrestrial planets, including the Earth.
Base editing in human cells with monomeric DddA-TALE fusion deaminases
Authors: Mok Young Geun , Lee Ji Min , Chung Eugene , Lee Jaesuk , Lim Kayeong , Cho Sung-Ik , Kim Jin-Soo
Published: July 2022

Inter-bacterial toxin DddA-derived cytosine base editors (DdCBEs) enable targeted C-to-T conversions in nuclear and organellar DNA. DddAtox, the deaminase catalytic domain derived from Burkholderia cenocepacia, is split into two inactive halves to avoid its cytotoxicity in eukaryotic cells, when fused to transcription activator-like effector (TALE) DNA-binding proteins to make DdCBEs. As a result, DdCBEs function as pairs, which hampers gene delivery via viral vectors with a small cargo size. Here, we present non-toxic, full-length DddAtox variants to make monomeric DdCBEs (mDdCBEs), enabling mitochondrial DNA editing with high efficiencies of up to 50%, when transiently expressed in human cells. We demonstrate that mDdCBEs expressed via AAV in cultured human cells can achieve nearly homoplasmic C-to-T editing in mitochondrial DNA. Interestingly, mDdCBEs often produce mutation patterns different from those obtained with conventional dimeric DdCBEs. Furthermore, mDdCBEs allow base editing at sites for which only one TALE protein can be designed. We also show that transfection of mDdCBE-encoding mRNA, rather than plasmid, can reduce off-target editing in human mitochondrial DNA.
Nestin-dependent mitochondria-ER contacts define stem Leydig cell differentiation to attenuate male reproductive ageing
Authors: Yao Senyu , Wei Xiaoyue , Deng Wenrui , Wang Boyan , Cai Jianye , Huang Yinong , Lai Xiaofan , Qiu Yuan , Wang Yi , Guan Yuanjun , Wang Jiancheng
Published: July 2022

Male reproductive system ageing is closely associated with deficiency in testosterone production due to loss of functional Leydig cells, which are differentiated from stem Leydig cells (SLCs). However, the relationship between SLC differentiation and ageing remains unknown. In addition, active lipid metabolism during SLC differentiation in the reproductive system requires transportation and processing of substrates among multiple organelles, e.g., mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), highlighting the importance of interorganelle contact. Here, we show that SLC differentiation potential declines with disordered intracellular homeostasis during SLC senescence. Mechanistically, loss of the intermediate filament Nestin results in lower differentiation capacity by separating mitochondria-ER contacts (MERCs) during SLC senescence. Furthermore, pharmacological intervention by melatonin restores Nestin-dependent MERCs, reverses SLC differentiation capacity and alleviates male reproductive system ageing. These findings not only explain SLC senescence from a cytoskeleton-dependent MERCs regulation mechanism, but also suggest a promising therapy targeting SLC differentiation for age-related reproductive system diseases.