bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lignin Preservation and Microbial Carbohydrate Metabolism in Permafrost Soils
Authors: Dao Thao Thi , Mikutta Robert , Sauheitl Leopold , Gentsch Norman , Shibistova Olga , Wild Birgit , Schnecker Jörg , Bárta Jiří , Čapek Petr , Gittel Antje , Lashchinskiy Nikolay , Urich Tim , Šantrůčková Hana , Richter Andreas , Guggenberger Georg
Published: January 2022

Permafrost‐affected soils in the northern circumpolar region store more than 1,000 Pg soil organic carbon (OC), and are strongly vulnerable to climatic warming. However, the extent to which changing soil environmental conditions with permafrost thaw affects different compounds of soil organic matter (OM) is poorly understood. Here, we assessed the fate of lignin and non‐cellulosic carbohydrates in density fractionated soils (light fraction, LF vs. heavy fraction, HF) from three permafrost regions with decreasing continentality, expanding from east to west of northern Siberia (Cherskiy, Logata, Tazovskiy, respectively). In soils at the Tazovskiy site with thicker active layers, the LF showed smaller OC‐normalized contents of lignin‐derived phenols and plant‐derived sugars and a decrease of these compounds with soil depth, while a constant or even increasing trend was observed in soils with shallower active layers (Cherskiy and Logata). Also in the HF, soils at the Tazovskiy site had smaller contents of OC‐normalized lignin‐derived phenols and plant‐derived sugars along with more pronounced indicators of oxidative lignin decomposition and production of microbial‐derived sugars. Active layer deepening, thus, likely favors the decomposition of lignin and plant‐derived sugars, that is, lignocelluloses, by increasing water drainage and aeration. Our study suggests that climate‐induced degradation of permafrost soils may promote carbon losses from lignin and associated polysaccharides by abolishing context‐specific preservation mechanisms. However, relations of OC‐based lignin‐derived phenols and sugars in the HF with mineralogical properties suggest that future OM transformation and carbon losses will be modulated in addition by reactive soil minerals.
Modeling of Diffuse Auroral Emission at Mars: Contribution of MeV Protons
Authors: Nakamura Yuki , Terada Naoki , Leblanc François , Rahmati Ali , Nakagawa Hiromu , Sakai Shotaro , Hiruba Sayano , Kataoka Ryuho , Murase Kiyoka
Published: January 2022

The Solar Energetic Particle and imaging ultraviolet spectrograph (IUVS) instruments onboard the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft discovered diffuse aurora that span across the nightside of Mars due to the interaction of solar energetic particles (SEPs) with the Martian atmosphere. However, it is unclear whether the diffuse aurora originates from energetic electrons or protons. We have developed a Monte Carlo model to calculate the limb intensity profile of the CO2+ ultraviolet doublet (UVD) due to precipitation of energetic electrons and protons with energy ranges from 100 eV to 100 keV and from 50 keV to 5 MeV, respectively. We used electron and proton fluxes observed by MAVEN during the December 2014 SEP event and the September 2017 SEP event. Our results showed that proton‐induced CO2+ UVD emission has a lower peak altitude than electron‐induced CO2+ UVD emission. The calculated peak altitudes of the CO2+ UVD limb profiles are 76 and 68 km in the December 2014 event and the September 2017 event, respectively. Extending the energy to 500 keV for electrons and 20 MeV for protons further improved our comparison to the IUVS observations. We have succeeded in reproducing peak altitudes and shapes of the observed CO2+ UVD limb profiles using the SEP flux observed by MAVEN. This was possible by taking into account the contribution of energetic protons, indicating that both energetic electrons and protons contribute to producing the observed diffuse aurora.
Relativistic Electron Precipitation Near Midnight: Drivers, Distribution, and Properties
Authors: Capannolo L. , Li W. , Millan R. , Smith D. , Sivadas N. , Sample J. , Shekhar S.
Published: January 2022

We analyze the drivers, distribution, and properties of the relativistic electron precipitation (REP) detected near midnight by the Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) and Meteorological Operational (MetOp) satellites, critical for understanding radiation belt losses and nightside atmospheric energy input. REP is either driven by wave‐particle interactions (isolated precipitation within the outer radiation belt), or current sheet scattering (CSS; precipitation with energy dispersion), or a combination of the two. We evaluate the L‐MLT distribution for the identified REP events in which only one process evidently drove the precipitation (∼10% of the REP near midnight). We show that the two mechanisms coexist and drive precipitation in a broad L‐shell range (4–7). However, wave‐driven REP was also observed at L < 4, whereas CSS‐driven REP was also detected at L > 7. Moreover, we estimate the magnetotail stretching during each REP event using the magnetic field observations from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES). Both wave‐particle interactions and CSS drive REP in association with a stretched magnetotail, although CSS‐driven REP potentially shows more pronounced stretching. Wave‐driven REP events are localized in L shell and often occur on spatial scales of <0.3 L. Using either proton precipitation (observed by POES/MetOp during wave‐driven REP) as a proxy for electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) wave activity or wave observations (from GOES and the Van Allen Probes) at the conjugate event location, we find that ∼73% wave‐driven REP events are associated with EMIC waves.
Evidence for Deeply Subducted Lower‐Plate Seamounts at the Hikurangi Subduction Margin: Implications for Seismic and Aseismic Behavior
Authors: Chow Bryant , Kaneko Yoshihiro , Townend John
Published: January 2022

Seamounts are found at many subduction zones and act as seafloor heterogeneities that affect slip behavior on megathrusts. At the Hikurangi subduction zone offshore the North Island, New Zealand, seamounts have been identified on the incoming Pacific plate and below the accretionary prism, but there is little concrete evidence for seamounts subducted beyond the present‐day coastline. Using a high‐resolution, adjoint tomography‐derived velocity model of the North Island, we identify two high‐velocity anomalies below the East Coast and an intraslab low‐velocity zone up‐dip of one of these anomalies. We interpret the high‐velocity anomalies as previously unidentified, deeply subducted seamounts, and the low‐velocity zone as fluid in the subducting slab. The seamounts are inferred to be 10–30 km wide and on the plate interface at 12–15 km depth. Resolution analysis using point spread functions confirms that these are well‐resolved features. The locations of the two seamounts coincide with bathymetric features whose geometries are consistent with those predicted from analog experiments and numerical simulations of seamount subduction. The spatial characteristics of seismicity and slow slip events near the inferred seamounts agree well with previous numerical modeling predictions of the effects of seamount subduction on megathrust stress and slip. Anomalous geophysical signatures, magnetic anomalies, and swarm seismicity have also been observed previously at one or both seamount locations. We propose that permanent fracturing of the northern Hikurangi upper plate by repeated seamount subduction may be responsible for the dichotomous slow slip behavior observed geodetically, and partly responsible for along‐strike variations in plate coupling on the Hikurangi subduction interface.
Crustal Structure Beneath the Northern Appalachians and the Eastern Grenville Province
Authors: Bagherpur Mojaver Omid , Darbyshire Fiona
Published: January 2022

Southeastern Canada and the northeastern USA include terranes that were tectonized since the Archean, making this region an excellent place to investigate the evolution of continental crust. Our study area covers the Archean southeastern Superior Province, the Proterozoic eastern Grenville, and the Phanerozoic northern Appalachians comprising terranes with either Peri‐Laurentian or Peri‐Gondwanan heritage. Adopting a Rayleigh wave ambient noise tomography method, we used noise data recorded between 2013 and 2015, and obtained high resolution anisotropic tomographic images of the crust enabling us to discuss tectonic implications. The azimuthal anisotropy orientations follow a dominant NE‐SW trend across the study area, but some localized changes of anisotropy direction in the Bay of Fundy and across the Appalachian front are observed. The crust beneath the older Superior and Grenville provinces is generally fast, whereas the Appalachians include strong slow anomalies, especially at upper crustal depths, where they represent thick sedimentary basins beneath the St. Lawrence valley, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the Bay of Fundy. We suggest that the boundary between the Peri‐Laurentian and the Peri‐Gondwanan terranes at depth is marked by a Moho‐offset feature observable in our models. A generally similar crustal seismic signature for the two youngest easternmost tectonic domains suggest that they were never separated by a wide ocean basin. Our results provide important evidence for evolution of the continental crust during and after accretionary/collisional episodes in the study area.
Focusing and Defocusing of Tropical Cyclone Generated Waves by Ocean Current Refraction
Authors: Sun Rui , Villas Bôas Ana B. , Subramanian Aneesh C. , Cornuelle Bruce D. , Mazloff Matthew R. , Miller Arthur J. , Langodan Sabique , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: January 2022

Waves generated by tropical cyclones can have devastating effects on coastal regions. However, the role of ocean currents in modifying wave amplitudes, wavelengths, and directions is commonly overlooked in wave forecasts, despite the fact that these interactions can lead to extreme wave conditions. Here, we use satellite observations and wave modeling to quantify the effects of ocean currents on the surface waves generated during a tropical cyclone event in the Arabian Sea. As a case study, this paper documents beams of wave heights originating from the eyewall of a tropical cyclone caused by current‐induced refraction. Alternating regions of high and low wave heights in the model simulations are consistent with observations and extend for thousands of kilometers all the way to 100 m isobath. Our results highlight the importance of accounting for wave refraction by currents in order to accurately predict the impact of tropical cyclone generated waves on coastal regions.
Evaluation and Modification of Microphysics Schemes on the Cold Pool Evolution for a Simulated Bow Echo in Southeast China
Authors: Zhou Ang , Zhao Kun , Lee Wen‐Chau , Ding Zhicheng , Lu Yinghui , Huang Hao
Published: January 2022

A merger‐formation bow echo (MFBE) in southeast China during the pre‐summer rainy season (PSRS) was simulated using three microphysics schemes including Thompson (THOM), Morrison (MORR), and Weather Research and Forecasting Double‐Moment 6‐Class (WDM6) schemes to compare against polarimetric observations and Variational Doppler Radar Analysis System (VDRAS) analyses. The three schemes captured the basic kinematic structures for this MFBE event after assimilating radar radial velocities, but all underpredicted the cold pool strength by ∼25%. Particularly, THOM produced the best raindrop size distributions (DSDs) and precipitation pattern compared with observed retrievals; further analyses indicated the larger raindrop size bias and the weak cold pool strength in THOM were owing to the relatively low rain breakup efficiency and inefficient rain evaporation, respectively. By decreasing the cutoff diameter of rain breakup parameterization from the default 1.6–1.2 mm (i.e., increasing breakup efficiency) and increasing evaporation efficiency by threefold in THOM, the simulated DSDs and precipitation were greatly improved, and the cold pool strength was significantly increased from 77% to 99% compared to that in VDRAS analyses. This study illustrated a plausible approach of combining polarimetric radar retrievals and VDRAS analyses as bases to adjust THOM default settings in simulating a MFBE event in southeast China with physical characteristics more consistent with observations. Since microphysical processes vary from convective organizations and climate regions, it is recognized more cases studies are needed in the future to examine the validity and approach in this study to improve simulations and predictions of MFBEs in southeast China.
Observed and Bin Model Simulated Evolution of Drop Size Distributions in High‐Based Cumulus Congestus Over the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Morrison Hugh , Lawson Paul , Chandrakar Kamal Kant
Published: January 2022

This study examines microphysical processes in developing high‐based cumulus congestus over the United Arab Emirates using aircraft observations and a large‐eddy‐simulation model with bin microphysics. A notable feature of this case is the lack of mm‐sized drops despite having a liquid cloud layer  km deep, contrasting with copious large drops observed in maritime tropical cumulus congestus having a similar vertical extent. Modeled drop size distributions are similar to observations at various temperatures between 9.5 and −12°C, including the lack of mm‐sized drops. Cloud dilution leads to low‐to‐moderate liquid water contents (∼0.5–1.5 g m−3) in most of the cloud core, several times smaller than adiabatic values. Dilution is enhanced in the inflowing branch of the toroidal circulations associated with individual cloud thermals, which are favored regions for secondary droplet activation (activation above cloud base). Secondary activation in general contributes substantially to the droplet population. Turning it off leads to a sharp decrease in droplet concentration and increase in mean size aloft, but does little to increase rain drop production. Warm rain generation (or lack thereof) in this case is therefore determined more by the sub‐cloud aerosol and the cloud base droplet size distribution (DSD) than DSD evolution aloft from secondary droplet activation. Decreasing the aerosol concentration by a factor of 10 greatly increases production of large drops via collision‐coalescence. Thus, despite its high base (low temperatures) and substantial dilution, the simulated cloud is thermodynamically and dynamically capable of rapidly producing copious mm‐sized drops from collision‐coalescence under pristine aerosol conditions.
Joint Transmitting Subarray Partition and Beamforming for Active Jamming Suppression in Phased‐MIMO Radar
Authors: Huang Junsheng , Cao Guangdi
Published: January 2022

As the tradeoff between conventional phased‐array and multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) radars, phased‐MIMO radar has been studied in recent years, which can simultaneously obtain coherent processing gain and waveform diversity gain. In this paper, in order to effectively suppress the jamming signal and improve the target detection performance of radar system, a joint transmitting subarray partition and beamforming method in phased‐MIMO radar is proposed. To be specific, at the transmitter, the transmitting array of radar system is partitioned into a certain number of non‐overlapped subarrays, and the subarray structure of transmitting array and the corresponding beamformer weight vectors are simultaneously optimized by constructing the optimization model of maximizing the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the whole received echoes under certain constraint conditions, so as to effectively maximize the power utilization of radar transmitter, reduce the peak sidelobe level of transmit beampattern and improve the radar anti‐jamming performance. Moreover, the adaptive beamforming technique is applied to suppress the jamming signal entering the receiver, so that the transmitting and receiving adaptive degrees of freedom are jointly utilized to enhance the anti‐jamming capability of radar system. Simulation results demonstrate the validity of the proposed method.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels in euthyroid patients 8 years following bariatric surgery
Authors: Lautenbach Anne , Wernecke Marie , Mann Oliver , Busch Philipp , Huber Tobias B. , Stoll Fabian , Aberle Jens
Published: January 2022

Background

Bariatric surgery (BS) was shown to promote a decline in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in euthyroid patients with severe obesity in the short-term. Aim of the present study was to assess the effect of weight loss on thyroid function in euthyroid patients in the long-term following different bariatric procedures.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study including 135 patients at baseline, thyroid function was assessed at six time points up to 8 years after surgery. Patients were stratified by TSH levels at baseline and divided into two groups to compare the change in TSH at long-time. We used log-linear regression to assess the relation between thyroid hormones and TSH and linear regression analyses to identify variables that were thought to determine TSH and fT3/fT4-ratio as well as their change long-term.

Results

Over a mean follow-up of 8 years, TSH and fT3/fT4-ratio declined (both p < 0.001). Patients with high-normal TSH showed a greater decline in TSH than those with normal TSH compared to baseline. Thyroid hormones and TSH displayed a negative log-linear correlation at long-term follow-up. Change in TSH at long-time showed a negative correlation with TSH at baseline (B = −0.55; p < 0.001). With regard to type of surgery, there were no significant differences in TSH.

Conclusion

BS promotes a decline of TSH in euthyroid patients up to 8 years after intervention despite weight regain. The greatest change in TSH was seen among patients with high-normal baseline-TSH. Results of log-linear regression suggest recovery of the pituitary-thyroid axis. Type of surgery did not affect the change in TSH levels over time.
Maternal high-fat diet programs white and brown adipose tissue lipidome and transcriptome in offspring in a sex- and tissue-dependent manner in mice
Authors: Savva Christina , Helguero Luisa A. , González-Granillo Marcela , Melo Tânia , Couto Daniela , Buyandelger Byambajav , Gustafsson Sonja , Liu Jianping , Domingues Maria Rosário , Li Xidan , Korach-André Marion
Published: January 2022

Objective

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has drastically increased during the last decades and maternal obesity has been demonstrated as one of the ultimate factors. Nutrition-stimulated transgenerational regulation of key metabolic genes is fundamental to the developmental origins of the metabolic syndrome. Fetal nutrition may differently influence female and male offspring.

Methods

Mice dam were fed either a control diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6-week prior mating and continued their respective diet during gestation and lactation. At weaning, female and male offspring were fed the HFD until sacrifice. White (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues were investigated in vivo by nuclear magnetic resonance at two different timepoints in life (midterm and endterm) and tissues were collected at endterm for lipidomic analysis and RNA sequencing. We explored the sex-dependent metabolic adaptation and gene programming changes by maternal HFD in visceral AT (VAT), subcutaneous AT (SAT) and BAT of offspring.

Results

We show that the triglyceride profile varies between adipose depots, sexes and maternal diet. In female offspring, maternal HFD remodels the triglycerides profile in SAT and BAT, and increases thermogenesis and cell differentiation in BAT, which may prevent metabolic complication later in life. Male offspring exhibit whitening of BAT and hyperplasia in VAT when born from high-fat mothers, with impaired metabolic profile. Maternal HFD differentially programs gene expression in WAT and BAT of female and male offspring.

Conclusion

Maternal HFD modulates metabolic profile in offspring in a sex-dependent manner. A sex- and maternal diet-dependent gene programming exists in VAT, SAT, and BAT which may be key player in the sexual dimorphism in the metabolic adaptation later in life.
Atom-optically synthetic gauge fields for a noninteracting Bose gas
Authors: Li Yuqing , Zhang Jiahui , Wang Yunfei , Du Huiying , Wu Jizhou , Liu Wenliang , Mei Feng , Ma Jie , Xiao Liantuan , Jia Suotang
Published: January 2022

Synthetic gauge fields in synthetic dimensions are now of great interest. This concept provides a convenient manner for exploring topological phases of matter. Here, we report on the first experimental realization of an atom-optically synthetic gauge field based on the synthetic momentum-state lattice of a Bose gas of 133Cs atoms, where magnetically controlled Feshbach resonance is used to tune the interacting lattice into noninteracting regime. Specifically, we engineer a noninteracting one-dimensional lattice into a two-leg ladder with tunable synthetic gauge fields. We observe the flux-dependent populations of atoms and measure the gauge field-induced chiral currents in the two legs. We also show that an inhomogeneous gauge field could control the atomic transport in the ladder. Our results lay the groundwork for using a clean noninteracting synthetic momentum-state lattice to study the gauge field-induced topological physics.
Single cell analysis reveals inhibition of angiogenesis attenuates the progression of heterotopic ossification in Mkx−/− mice
Authors: Lin Junxin , Yang Yuwei , Zhou Wenyan , Dai Chao , Chen Xiao , Xie Yuanhao , Han Shan , Liu Huanhuan , Hu Yejun , Tang Chenqi , Bunpetch Varitsara , Zhang Dandan , Chen Yishan , Zou Xiaohui , Chen Di , Liu Wanlu , Ouyang Hongwei
Published: January 2022

Tendon heterotopic ossification (HO) is characterized by bone formation inside tendon tissue, which severely debilitates people in their daily life. Current therapies fail to promote functional tissue repair largely due to our limited understanding of HO pathogenesis. Here, we investigate the pathological mechanism and propose a potential treatment method for HO. Immunofluorescence assays showed that the Mohawk (MKX) expression level was decreased in human tendon HO tissue, coinciding with spontaneous HO and the upregulated expression of osteochondrogenic and angiogenic genes in the tendons of Mkx−/− mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of wild-type and Mkx−/− tendons identified three cell types and revealed the excessive activation of osteochondrogenic genes during the tenogenesis of Mkx−/− tendon cells. Single-cell analysis revealed that the gene expression program of angiogenesis, which is strongly associated with bone formation, was activated in all cell types during HO. Moreover, inhibition of angiogenesis by the small-molecule inhibitor BIBF1120 attenuated bone formation and angiogenesis in the Achilles tendons of both Mkx mutant mice and a rat traumatic model of HO. These findings provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms of tendon HO and highlight the inhibition of angiogenesis with BIBF1120 as a potential treatment strategy for HO.
Simple and rapid detection of common fetal aneuploidies using peptide nucleic acid probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Hong Subeen , Lee Seung Mi , Oh Sohee , Kim So Yeon , Jung Young Mi , Kim Sun Min , Park Chan-Wook , Jun Jong Kwan , Kim Byoung Jae , Park Joong Shin
Published: January 2022

To examine the detection performance of a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe-based real-time time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect common aneuploidies. Using amniotic fluid samples, PNA probe based real-time PCR (Patio DEP Detection Kit; SeaSun Biomaterials, Korea) assay was performed. PNA probe was designed to hybridize to similar sequences located on different segments of target chromosomes (21, 18, and 13) and a reference chromosome. Amplification of target sequences and melting curve analysis was performed. When analyzing the melting curve, the ratio of the peak height of the target and reference chromosome was calculated and determined as aneuploidy if the ratio of peak height was abnormal. All the results from the PNA probe-based real-time PCR and melting curve analyses were compared to those from conventional karyotyping. Forty-two cases with common aneuploidies (24 of trisomy 21, 12 of trisomy 18, and 6 of trisomy 13) and 131 cases with normal karyotype were analyzed. When comparing the karyotyping results, the sensitivity and specificity of the PNA probe-based real-time PCR assay were both 100%. The level of agreement was almost perfect (k = 1.00). PNA real-time PCR assay is a rapid and easy method for detecting common aneuploidies.
The expression and clinical significance of programmed cell death receptor 1 and its ligand in tumor tissues of patients with extranodal nasal NK/T cell lymphoma
Authors: Feng Yu , Feng Xia , Jing Caixia , Yu Xinmei , Zheng Yuhuan , Xu Caigang
Published: January 2022

Appropriate biomarkers may help distinguish the biological behavior of different types of lymphoma and their response to traditional chemotherapy. Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) belong to different subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the biological behavior and prognosis of them are very different, programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) have been investigated in these two types of diseases. However, few studies addressed the difference of PD-1/PD-L1 levels between ENKTL and DLBCL, in order to find out the difference and related clinical application value, the clinical data and tumor tissue paraffin sections of 24 newly diagnosed ENKTL patients and 42 newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) were collected. PD-1/PD-L1 levels in tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between the PD-1/PD-L1 levels and clinical data of patients with ENKTL patients was analyzed. Both patient groups showed PD-1 level in tumor tissue of ENKTL patients was significantly lower than that of DLBCL patients (P < 0.05), while the PD-L1 level in tumor tissues of ENKTL patients was not different from DLBCL (P < 0.05). In addition, the ENKTL patients with B symptoms, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and decreased hemoglobin (HGB) concentrations had lower level of PD-1 in tumor tissue. PD-L1 level in tumor tissues, the LDH level, Epstein-Barr genome (EBV-DNA) copy and Ki-67 index may affect the outcomes of ENKTL patients (P < 0.05), but they were not independent factors. PD-L1 levels in tumor tissues has clinical significance in ENKTL patients, which suggested that the PD-1/PD-L1 signal pathway may be involved in the immune escape of ENKTL and play different roles in different lymphoma subtypes.
SPTV sheds light on flow dynamics of fractal-induced turbulence over a plate-fin array forced convection
Authors: Hoi Su Min , Ooi Ean Hin , Chew Irene Mei Leng , Foo Ji Jinn
Published: January 2022

A 3D stationary particle tracking velocimetry (SPTV) with a unique recursive corrective algorithm has been successfully established to detect the instantaneous regional fluid flow characteristics. The veracity of SPTV is corroborated by conducting actual displacement measurement validation, which gives a maximum percentage deviation of about 0.8%. This supports the accuracy of the current SPTV system in 3D position detection. More importantly, the SPTV detected velocity fluctuations are highly repeatable. In this study, SPTV is proven to be able to express the nature of chaotic fractal grid-induced regional turbulence, namely: the high turbulence intensity attributed to multilength-scale wake interactions, the Kolmogorov’s −5/3 law decay, vortex shedding, and the Gaussian flow undulations immediately leeward of the grid followed by non-Gaussian behaviour further downstream. Moreover, by comparing the flow fields between control no-grid and fractal grid-generated turbulence of a plate-fin array, SPTV reveals vigorous turbulence intensity, smaller regional integral-length-scale, and energetic vortex shedding at higher frequency for the latter, particularly between fins. Thereupon, it allows the unravelling of detailed thermofluid interplays of plate-fin heat sink heat transfer augmentation. The novelty of SPTV lies in its simplicity, use of low-cost off-the-shelf components, and most remarkably, low computational complexity in detecting fundamental characteristics of turbulent fluid flow.
First fully endoscopic metabolic procedure with NOTES gastrojejunostomy, controlled bypass length and duodenal exclusion: a 9-month porcine study
Authors: Gonzalez Jean-Michel , Ouazzani Sohaib , Monino Laurent , Beyer-Berjot Laura , Berdah Stephane , Cauche Nicolas , Delattre Cecilia , Peetermans Joyce A. , Dayton Peter , Gjata Ornela , Curran Darren , Barthet Marc
Published: January 2022

We conducted a pilot study of a potential endoscopic alternative to bariatric surgery. We developed a Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) gastric bypass with controlled bypass limb length using four new devices including a dedicated lumen-apposing metal stent (GJ-LAMS) and pyloric duodenal exclusion device (DED). We evaluated procedural technical success, weight change from baseline, and adverse events in growing Landrace/Large-White pigs through 38 weeks after GJ-LAMS placement. Six pigs (age 2.5 months, mean baseline weight 26.1 ± 2.7 kg) had initial GJ-LAMS placement with controlled bypass limb length, followed by DED placement at 2 weeks. Technical success was 100%. GJ-LAMS migrated in 3 of 6, and DED migrated in 3 of 5 surviving pigs after mucosal abrasion. One pig died by Day 94. At 38 weeks, necropsy showed 100–240 cm limb length except for one at 760 cm. Weight gain was significantly lower in the pigs that underwent endoscopic bypass procedures compared to expected weight for age. This first survival study of a fully endoscopic controlled bypass length gastrojejunostomy with duodenal exclusion in a growing porcine model showed high technical success but significant adverse events. Future studies will include procedural and device optimizations and comparison to a control group.
Workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes and sitting at work and for transport among Japanese desk-based workers
Authors: Lin Chien-Yu , Koohsari Mohammad Javad , Liao Yung , Ishii Kaori , Shibata Ai , Nakaya Tomoki , McCormack Gavin R. , Hadgraft Nyssa , Sugiyama Takemi , Owen Neville , Oka Koichiro
Published: January 2022

Workplace settings—both internal and external—can influence how workers are physically active or sedentary. Although research has identified some indoor environmental attributes associated with sitting at work, few studies have examined associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with workplace sitting time. We examined the cross-sectional associations of perceived and objective workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time at work and for transport among desk-based workers in Japan. Data were collected from a nationwide online survey. The Abbreviated Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (n = 2137) and Walk Score® (for a subsample of participants; n = 1163) were used to assess perceived and objective built-environment attributes of workplace neighbourhoods. Self-reported daily average sitting time at work, in cars and in public transport was measured using a Japanese validated questionnaire. Linear regression models estimated the associations of workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes with sitting time. All perceived workplace neighbourhood built-environment attributes were positively correlated with Walk Score®. However, statistically significant associations with Walk Score® were found for sitting for transport but not for sitting at work. Workers who perceived their workplace neighbourhoods to be more walkable reported a longer time sitting at work and in public transport but a shorter sitting time in cars. Our findings suggest that walkable workplace neighbourhoods may discourage longer car use but have workplaces where workers spend a long time sitting at work. The latter finding further suggests that there may be missed opportunities for desk-based workers to reduce sitting time. Future workplace interventions to reduce sitting time may be developed, taking advantage of the opportunities to take time away from work in workplace neighbourhoods.
Adverse health and environmental outcomes of cycling in heavily polluted urban environments
Authors: Adamiec Ewa , Jarosz-Krzemińska Elżbieta , Bilkiewicz-Kubarek Aleksandra
Published: January 2022

Cycling is a healthy habit; however, are its benefits outweighing risks when biking in heavily trafficked and air-polluted cities? Research involved studying contamination with traffic-related elements of dust collected from bike paths located in top trafficked cities of Europe in Poland. Human health risk was assessed via inhalation and ingestion pathways for adults and children. Bike path dust was heavily contaminated with Zn, Cd (Geoaccumulation index Igeo 4) and Pb (Igeo 3), sourced predominantly from nonexhaust car emissions. The concentrations of metals in dust decreased in the following descending order: Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Cd. A fractionation study revealed that Zn and Cd are almost entirely bioavailable (Mobility factor MF above 90%), causing hazards to humans and the environment. The highest congested intersections result in more TRAP-contaminated dust deposited on bike paths, which is easily resuspended, posing a health risk for cyclists or pedestrians. Avoiding cycling in proximity to heavily trafficked routes should be considered, when possible, as well as physical removal of dust by wet sweeping to limit dust resuspension.
Tenebrio molitor larvae meal inclusion affects hepatic proteome and apoptosis and/or autophagy of three farmed fish species
Authors: Mente Eleni , Bousdras Thomas , Feidantsis Konstantinos , Panteli Nikolas , Mastoraki Maria , Kormas Konstantinos Ar. , Chatzifotis Stavros , Piccolo Giovanni , Gasco Laura , Gai Francesco , Martin Samuel A. M. , Antonopoulou Efthimia
Published: January 2022

Herein, the effect of dietary inclusion of insect (Tenebrio molitor) meal on hepatic pathways of apoptosis and autophagy in three farmed fish species, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), fed diets at 25%, 50% and 60% insect meal inclusion levels respectively, was investigated. Hepatic proteome was examined by liver protein profiles from the three fish species, obtained by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Although cellular stress was evident in the three teleost species following insect meal, inclusion by T. molitor, D. labrax and O. mykiss suppressed apoptosis through induction of hepatic autophagy, while in S. aurata both cellular procedures were activated. Protein abundance showed that a total of 30, 81 and 74 spots were altered significantly in seabream, European seabass and rainbow trout, respectively. Insect meal inclusion resulted in individual protein abundance changes, with less number of proteins altered in gilthead seabream compared to European seabass and rainbow trout. This is the first study demonstrating that insect meal in fish diets is causing changes in liver protein abundances. However, a species-specific response both in the above mentioned bioindicators, indicates the need to strategically manage fish meal replacement in fish diets per species.
Atrial function and geometry differences in transthyretin versus immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis: a cardiac magnetic resonance study
Authors: Palmer Cassady , Truong Vien T. , Slivnick Jeremy A. , Wolking Sarah , Coleman Paige , Mazur Wojciech , Zareba Karolina M.
Published: January 2022

To determine the differences in left atrial (LA) function and geometry assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) between transthyretin (ATTR) and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) cardiac amyloidosis (CA). We performed a retrospective analysis of 54 consecutive patients (68.5% male, mean age 67 ± 11 years) with confirmed CA (24 ATTR, 30 AL) who underwent comprehensive CMR examinations. LA structural and functional assessment including LA volume, LA sphericity index, and LA strain parameters were compared between both subtypes. In addition, 15 age-matched controls were compared to all groups. Patients with ATTR-CA were older (73 ± 9 vs. 62 ± 10 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be male (83.3% vs. 56.7%, p = 0.036) when compared to AL-CA. No significant difference existed in LA maximum volume and LA sphericity index between ATTR-CA and AL-CA. LA minimum volumes were larger in ATTR-CA when compared with AL-CA. There was a significant difference in LA function with worse strain values in ATTR vs AL: left atrial reservoir [7.4 (6.3–12.8) in ATTR vs. 13.8 (6.90–24.8) in AL, p = 0.017] and booster strains [3.6 (2.6–5.5) in ATTR vs. 5.2 (3.6–12.1) in AL, p = 0.039]. After adjusting for age, LA reservoir remained significantly lower in ATTR-CA compared to AL-CA (p = 0.03), but not LA booster (p = 0.16). We demonstrate novel differences in LA function between ATTR-CA and AL-CA despite similar LA geometry. Our findings of more impaired LA function in ATTR may offer insight into higher AF burden in these patients.
Microwave-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis to produce xylooligosaccharides from rice husk alkali-soluble arabinoxylan
Authors: Klangpetch Wannaporn , Pattarapisitporn Alisa , Phongthai Suphat , Utama-ang Niramon , Laokuldilok Thunnop , Tangjaidee Pipat , Wirjantoro Tri Indrarini , Jaichakan Pannapapol
Published: January 2022

The prebiotic properties of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and arabino-xylooligosaccharides (AXOS) produced from rice husk (RH) using microwave treatment combined with enzymatic hydrolysis were evaluated. The RH was subjected to microwave pretreatment at 140, 160 and 180 °C for 5, 10 and 15 min to obtain crude arabinoxylan (AX). Increasing microwave pretreatment time increased sugar content. Crude AX was extracted with 2% (w/v) sodium hydroxide at 25 °C for 24 h and used as a substrate for XOS production by commercial xylanases. Results showed that oligosaccharides produced by Pentopan Mono BG and Ultraflo Max provided xylobiose and xylotriose as the main products. AXOS was also present in the oligosaccharides that promoted growth of Lactobacillus spp. and resisted degradation by over 70% after exposure to simulated human digestion.
Social Media Discussions Predict Mental Health Consultations on College Campuses
Authors: Saha Koustuv , Yousuf Asra , Boyd Ryan L. , Pennebaker James W. , De Choudhury Munmun
Published: January 2022

The mental health of college students is a growing concern, and gauging the mental health needs of college students is difficult to assess in real-time and in scale. To address this gap, researchers and practitioners have encouraged the use of passive technologies. Social media is one such "passive sensor" that has shown potential as a viable "passive sensor" of mental health. However, the construct validity and in-practice reliability of computational assessments of mental health constructs with social media data remain largely unexplored. Towards this goal, we study how assessing the mental health of college students using social media data correspond with ground-truth data of on-campus mental health consultations. For a large U.S. public university, we obtained ground-truth data of on-campus mental health consultations between 2011–2016, and collected 66,000 posts from the university’s Reddit community. We adopted machine learning and natural language methodologies to measure symptomatic mental health expressions of depression, anxiety, stress, suicidal ideation, and psychosis on the social media data. Seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) models of forecasting on-campus mental health consultations showed that incorporating social media data led to predictions with r = 0.86 and SMAPE = 13.30, outperforming models without social media data by 41%. Our language analyses revealed that social media discussions during high mental health consultations months consisted of discussions on academics and career, whereas months of low mental health consultations saliently show expressions of positive affect, collective identity, and socialization. This study reveals that social media data can improve our understanding of college students’ mental health, particularly their mental health treatment needs.
High BRCA1 gene expression increases the risk of early distant metastasis in ER+ breast cancers
Authors: Chang Hui-Ju , Yang Ueng-Cheng , Lai Mei-Yu , Chen Chen-Hsin , Fann Yang-Cheng
Published: January 2022

Although the function of the BRCA1 gene has been extensively studied, the relationship between BRCA1 gene expression and tumor aggressiveness remains controversial in sporadic breast cancers. Because the BRCA1 protein is known to regulate estrogen signaling, we selected microarray data of ER+ breast cancers from the GEO public repository to resolve previous conflicting findings. The BRCA1 gene expression level in highly proliferative luminal B tumors was shown to be higher than that in luminal A tumors. Survival analysis using a cure model indicated that patients of early ER+ breast cancers with high BRCA1 expression developed rapid distant metastasis. In addition, the proliferation marker genes MKI67 and PCNA, which are characteristic of aggressive tumors, were also highly expressed in patients with high BRCA1 expression. The associations among high BRCA1 expression, high proliferation marker expression, and high risk of distant metastasis emerged in independent datasets, regardless of tamoxifen treatment. Tamoxifen therapy could improve the metastasis-free fraction of high BRCA1 expression patients. Our findings link BRCA1 expression with proliferation and possibly distant metastasis via the ER signaling pathway. We propose a testable hypothesis based on these consistent results and offer an interpretation for our reported associations.
The first mainland European Mesozoic click-beetle (Coleoptera: Elateridae) revealed by X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning of an Upper Cretaceous amber from Hungary
Authors: Szabó Márton , Kundrata Robin , Hoffmannova Johana , Németh Tamás , Bodor Emese , Szenti Imre , Prosvirov Alexander S. , Kukovecz Ákos , Ősi Attila
Published: January 2022

Fossil bioinclusions in amber are invaluable source of information on the past evolution and diversity of various organisms, as well as on the paleoecosystems in general. The click-beetles, Elateridae, which originated and greatly diversified during the Mesozoic, are mostly known from the adpression-like fossils, and their diversity in the Cretaceous ambers is only poorly documented. In this study, we describe a new click-beetle based on an incomplete inclusion in ajkaite, an Upper Cretaceous (Santonian) amber from the Ajka Coal Formation from Hungary. We used X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning to reconstruct its morphology because it is deposited in an opaque piece of amber. Our results suggest that the newly described Ajkaelater merkli gen. et sp. nov. belongs to subfamily Elaterinae. It represents the first Mesozoic beetle reported from Hungary, and the first Mesozoic Elateridae formally described from mainland Europe. Our discovery supports an Eurasian distribution and diversification of Elaterinae already in the Cretaceous. The paleoenvironment of the Ajka Coal Formation agrees well with the presumed habitat preference of the new fossil taxon. The discovery of a presumably saproxylic click-beetle shed further light on the yet poorly known paleoecosystem of the Santonian present-day western Hungary.
Quantum computing formulation of some classical Hadamard matrix searching methods and its implementation on a quantum computer
Authors: Suksmono Andriyan Bayu , Minato Yuichiro
Published: January 2022

Finding a Hadamard matrix (H-matrix) among all possible binary matrices of corresponding order is a hard problem that can be solved by a quantum computer. Due to the limitation on the number of qubits and connections in current quantum processors, only low order H-matrix search of orders 2 and 4 were implementable by previous method. In this paper, we show that by adopting classical searching techniques of the H-matrices, we can formulate new quantum computing methods for finding higher order ones. We present some results of finding H-matrices of order up to more than one hundred and a prototypical experiment of the classical-quantum resource balancing method that yields a 92-order H-matrix previously found by Jet Propulsion Laboratory researchers in 1961 using a mainframe computer. Since the exactness of the solutions can be verified by an orthogonality test performed in polynomial time; which is untypical for optimization of hard problems, the proposed method can potentially be used for demonstrating practical quantum supremacy in the near future.
Simulated proximity enhances perceptual and physiological responses to emotional facial expressions
Authors: Bogdanova Olena V. , Bogdanov Volodymyr B. , Miller Luke E. , Hadj-Bouziane Fadila
Published: January 2022

Physical proximity is important in social interactions. Here, we assessed whether simulated physical proximity modulates the perceived intensity of facial emotional expressions and their associated physiological signatures during observation or imitation of these expressions. Forty-four healthy volunteers rated intensities of dynamic angry or happy facial expressions, presented at two simulated locations, proximal (0.5 m) and distant (3 m) from the participants. We tested whether simulated physical proximity affected the spontaneous (in the observation task) and voluntary (in the imitation task) physiological responses (activity of the corrugator supercilii face muscle and pupil diameter) as well as subsequent ratings of emotional intensity. Angry expressions provoked relative activation of the corrugator supercilii muscle and pupil dilation, whereas happy expressions induced a decrease in corrugator supercilii muscle activity. In proximal condition, these responses were enhanced during both observation and imitation of the facial expressions, and were accompanied by an increase in subsequent affective ratings. In addition, individual variations in condition related EMG activation during imitation of angry expressions predicted increase in subsequent emotional ratings. In sum, our results reveal novel insights about the impact of physical proximity in the perception of emotional expressions, with early proximity-induced enhancements of physiological responses followed by an increased intensity rating of facial emotional expressions.
Neuroanatomy of the nodosaurid Struthiosaurus austriacus (Dinosauria: Thyreophora) supports potential ecological differentiations within Ankylosauria
Authors: Schade Marco , Stumpf Sebastian , Kriwet Jürgen , Kettler Christoph , Pfaff Cathrin
Published: January 2022

Nodosauridae is a group of thyreophoran dinosaurs characterized by a collar of prominent osteoderms. In comparison to its sister group, the often club-tailed ankylosaurids, a different lifestyle of nodosaurids could be assumed based on their neuroanatomy and weaponry, e.g., regarding applied defensive strategies. The holotype of the nodosauridStruthiosaurus austriacusconsists of a single partial braincase from the Late Cretaceous of Austria. Since neuroanatomy is considered to be associated with ecological tendencies, we created digital models of the braincase based on micro-CT data. The cranial endocast ofS. austriacusgenerally resembles those of its relatives. A network of vascular canals surrounding the brain cavity further supports special thermoregulatory adaptations within Ankylosauria. The horizontal orientation of the lateral semicircular canal independently confirms previous appraisals of head posture forS. austriacusand, hence, strengthens the usage of the LSC as proxy for habitual head posture in fossil tetrapods. The short anterior and angular lateral semicircular canals, combined with the relatively shortest dinosaurian cochlear duct known so far and the lack of a floccular recess suggest a rather inert lifestyle without the necessity of sophisticated senses for equilibrium and hearing inS. austriacus. These observations agree with an animal that adapted to a comparatively inactive lifestyle with limited social interactions.