bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Gap Measures Determine Results: The Case of Proportional Systems and the Gender Mobilization Gap
Authors: Morgan-Collins Mona
Published: April 2024

How scholars conceptualize and measure the gender gap in mobilization can have profound consequences for substantive conclusions. Scholars typically refer to a difference between women and men's turnout (difference-in-proportions measure) or a fraction of women voters among all voters (proportion measure). Using the case of proportional representation (PR) reform in Norway, I demonstrate that, in the context of low men's turnout, the proportion measure indicates that PR narrows the gap, while the difference-in-proportion measure indicates that it widens the gap. This is because mobilizing fewer women than men widens the difference between women and men's turnout, but may constitute a greater proportional increase in women's mobilization compared to men when only a few men (and even fewer women) vote. These findings bring together seemingly opposing arguments in the PR-gap debate and have wide implications for the study of ‘gaps’ within and beyond gender scholarship.
BILINGUALISM AND GREEK IDENTITY IN THE FIFTH CENTURYb.c.e.
Authors: James Dylan
Published: April 2024

The study of bi- and multilingualism in the ancient Mediterranean has come into its own in recent decades. The evidence is far greater for the Hellenistic and Roman periods than the Classical, so naturally scholarly attention has focussed less on the earlier era. This has led to some enduring notions about bilingualism in the fifth centuryb.c.e.which are yet to be fully scrutinized, including the idea that a Greek's speaking another tongue was inherently transgressive. What did it mean for a Greek to speak a second language? This article re-evaluates the evidence for individual bilingualism in Herodotus and Thucydides in their fifth-century context, focussed on our two best-documented examples of bilingual Greek individuals (Histiaeus of Miletus and Themistocles of Athens). Close reading of Herodotus and Thucydides suggests that not only does the notion of an inherently transgressive bilingualism hold little water for this period, but bilingualism may even be a sign ofμῆτις.
FROM FEMALE MORALITY TO HUMAN DIGNITY: AN EVOLUTIVE INTERPRETATION OF ‘HONOUR’ UNDER ARTICLE 27(2) OF THE FOURTH GENEVA CONVENTION
Authors: Marconi Rachele
Published: April 2024

This article suggests a new interpretative framework for Article 27(2) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits sexual violence against women in armed conflict. One specific aspect of this norm is particularly controversial: the notion of ‘honour’ has often been criticised as an obsolete concept linked to an outdated view of female morality. In the absence of a definition of the term, this article examines whether the gendered limitations of the norm can be overcome and the extent to which an evolutive interpretation of the concept is feasible. It argues that the concept of ‘honour’ can be treated as a generic term that is subject to evolutive interpretation, allowing for a renewed and gender-sensitive understanding to be developed, aligned with the concept of human dignity.
To flex or not to flex: oesophageal soft food bolus obstruction in the modern age
Authors: Moen Christy M , Tailor Hiteshkumar , Hammond Siggi , Hay Bruce , Peedika Nimmi , McMurran A E Louise , Choo Xin Yin , Stewart Murray
Published: April 2024

Background

Oesophageal soft food bolus obstruction is a common presentation to emergency departments. Often these patients are given medication with little evidence of efficacy. Although many cases self-resolve, some require removal of the obstruction. Delay in removal can lead to complications such as oesophageal perforation and mediastinitis. Traditionally, removal was performed by ENT surgeons using rigid oesophagoscopy, but oesophago-gastro duodenoscopy offers a safer alternative that does not require a general anaesthetic.

Method

The current performance, pathways and outcomes of patients attending emergency departments across three health boards in Scotland were reviewed.

Results

In total, 313 patients admitted for oesophageal soft food bolus obstruction were identified. Mixed practice for a single common presentation was observed. In addition, it was found that the majority of patients are already managed by surgery and gastroenterology services with good outcomes and low morbidity.

Conclusion

Patients presenting with soft food bolus obstruction should be referred to local surgery and gastroenterology services in the first instance.
Settle for Biden: The scalar production of a normative presidential candidate on Instagram
Authors: Arnold-Murray Katherine
Published: April 2024

This article performs a multimodal digital discourse analysis to examine how the 2020 social media political campaign called ‘Settle for Biden’ successfully encouraged young Progressives to vote for Joe Biden. In contrast to previous US presidential campaigns that highlight the extraordinary capabilities of their candidates, this campaign utilized the scalar and chronotopic production of normativity to highlight Biden's ‘mediocre’ capabilities. The campaign's focus on ‘settling’ for a mediocre candidate was feasible only in the sociopolitical context of 2020, at a time when Donald Trump's leadership had come to be perceived as chaotic and dangerous. While using humor to make salient the normal nature of Biden, the campaign used semiotic strategies appealing to interconnected unmarked normativities associated with class, age, race, and gender. To draw on Hall (2021), the campaign produces ‘language in the middle’, constructing Biden as neither extraordinary nor reprehensible yet preferable to the abnormality of his competitor. (Normativity, scales, chronotopes, multimodality, intertextuality, politics, social media)*
Flocking dynamics of agents moving with a constant speed and a randomly switching topology
Authors: Ahn Hyunjin , Shim Woojoo
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a sufficient framework to exhibit the sample path-wise asymptotic flocking dynamics of the Cucker–Smale model with unit-speed constraint and the randomly switching network topology. We employ a matrix formulation of the given equation, which allows us to evaluate the diameter of velocities with respect to the adjacency matrix of the network. Unlike the previous result on the randomly switching Cucker–Smale model, the unit-speed constraint disallows the system to be considered as a nonautonomous linear ordinary differential equation on velocity vector, which forces us to get a weaker form of the flocking estimate than the result for the original Cucker–Smale model.
Engineering the Economy through Austerity: The Influence of International Economic Expertise in Iceland after the First World War
Authors: Jóhannesson Sveinn M.
Published: April 2024

This essay explores how Iceland, a newly independent state on the northern European periphery, responded to the international agenda for post-war stabilisation set out by economic experts after the turmoil of the First World War. It shows that the government of the so-called Austerity Alliance, led by Jón Þorláksson, adopted austerity policies devised at the international financial conferences in Brussels (1920) and Genoa (1922). To please external experts and creditors, it implemented a comprehensive fiscal and monetary policy of austerity and created a new central bank that was independent of politics. The aim, however, was not to divorce markets from government in a return to a pre-war era of laissez-faire as the scholarly literature suggests. Offering the first analysis of ‘the Icelandic business cycle’, the Þorláksson government enforced austerity by carving out ‘the economy’ – a measurable entity legible to expert management – that greatly expanded the role of the state.
Towards the correlates of stressful life events as precipitants of obsessive-compulsive disorder: a systematic review and metanalysis
Authors: Hühne Verônica , dos Santos-Ribeiro Samara , Moreira-de-Oliveira Maria E. , de Menezes Gabriela B. , Fontenelle Leonardo F.
Published: April 2024

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent condition with multifactorial etiology involving genetic and environmental factors. The present study aims to summarize the correlates of stressful life events (SLEs) in OCD by reviewing studies comparing OCD associated or not with SLEs before its onset. To do so, a systematic review was performed by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases for studies published between the database’s inception and November 27, 2023. Studies including individuals whose OCD was precipitated or not by SLEs (SLEs OCD and NSLEs OCD, respectively) were assessed. Effect sizes or odds ratios were then calculated to identify the strength of association between SLEs and clinical characteristics, such as gender, age of onset, family history of OCD, severity of OCD symptoms, depressive symptoms, and mood comorbidities among patients with OCD. Out of the 4083 records initially identified, 5 studies met the inclusion criteria and 3 were comparable through a meta-analysis. Notably, the analyses were limited by the small number of studies available in the literature. The meta-analysis demonstrated SLEs OCD to be associated with female gender, later OCD onset, and increased comorbidity rates with mood disorders. Despite the cross-sectional nature of the reviewed studies, women may be more vulnerable to develop a later onset of OCD following SLEs, which may also lead to mood disorders. Caution is needed to avoid prematurely classifying this presentation as a distinct subtype of OCD.
The social science perspective on the Fermi paradox
Authors: Shkurko Alexander Vladimirovich
Published: April 2024

The Fermi paradox points to the apparent contradiction between the idea that the emergence of life and civilization on Earth is an objective process following the general rules of Nature and that there are no visible signs of other civilizations beyond Earth. The Fermi paradox is widely discussed in astronomical, biological and other natural sciences but almost totally ignored by social sciences, even though more than half of known explanations deal with intentions and behaviours of extraterrestrial civilizations (ETCs) or social aspects of the evolution of technological civilizations. The article analyses the problem and possible solutions to the Fermi paradox from the perspective of social sciences. In this article I argue that the Fermi paradox is primarily a social science problem, and the most plausible solutions have to contain some form of social science explanations. Three types of explanations are discussed, namely, those related to ETCs’ intentions, capacities and the consequences of their decisions and activities. I argue that attempts to explain the paradox by referring to specific goals and motives of ETCs are the least plausible. Arguments related to the capacities and consequences are more solid but do not convincingly solve the paradox. I conclude that the Fermi paradox is an important problem for social sciences whether ETCs exist or not, and it should attract greater attention from social scientists.
Genetic characterization and evaluation of pigmented maize (Zea mays L.) landraces of the North East Hill Region of India-an established centre of maize diversity
Authors: Baruah Sristishila , Bharti Thounaojam , Rajasekhar Duddukur , Tatiparthi Harshavardhan , Lyngdoh Nongbri Ernieca , Sen Devyani
Published: April 2024

The North East Hill Region (NEHR) of India is home to diverse maize landraces including pigmented accessions rich in antioxidants and nutritional properties. The present study attempted to characterize a representative collection of this mostly unexplored diversity. Altogether eighty-three local maize landraces from the seven hill states of the NEHR were studied with special emphasis on pigmentation diversity. For the morphological traits, a significant ANOVA indicated the presence of substantial genetic variability for which selection would be fruitful. A number of these accessions were found to have traits that help cope with moisture stress, improve stalk strength and optimize photosynthesis. Principal component analysis studies for the yield attributing traits indicated that ear weight was most variable. The bleaching/histological studies confirmed that anthocyanin pigment when present was always restricted to the aleurone layer of the kernels, typical of blue maize. Quantitative analysis for kernel anthocyanin/phlobaphene content also revealed genetic differences among the accessions. Genetic analysis using the model-based STRUCTURE indicated significant population structuring among the accessions. Specifically, for the pigmentation diversity studies both principal coordinate analysis and neighbour joining methods revealed near concurrent population structuring due in part to the high differentiation of seven of the twenty-one pigmentation specific loci studied. The results obtained provide comprehensive evidence of a significant amount of genetic differentiation among the landraces under study. Landraces are valuable reservoirs of favourable alleles for which selection can be made and, as in this study, identify accessions for breeding maize with enhanced levels of beneficial secondary metabolites.
Somatoform Symptoms and Functional Impairments During Middle Childhood
Authors: Vesterling Christina , Goagoses Naska , Düring Ute von
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Theoretical Background: Studies have shown that attachment is associated with somatoform symptoms in childhood, yet factors that mediate the association need to be explored. Objective: To examine emotion regulation strategies as a mediator between insecure attachment dimensions and somatoform symptoms and symptom-related impairments in quality of life (QoL). Method: A total of 221 fourth-grade school children in Germany completed the SOMS-KJ, FEEL-KJ, and ECR-RC. Results: In the path model, attachment-related anxiety was positively associated with social support seeking and emotional expression, while attachment-related avoidance was negatively associated with these, yet positively associated with emotional suppression. Both emotional suppression and social support seeking were positively associated with somatoform symptoms and symptom-related impaired QoL. Discussion and Conclusion: Differential pathways exist from insecure attachment dimensions to increased somatoform symptoms, indicating that children require specialized emotion competence training.
Impact‐Generated Fragmentation, Porosity, and Permeability Within the Chicxulub Impact Structure
Authors: Alexander Amanda M. , Marchi Simone , Johnson Brandon C. , Wiggins Sean E. , Kring David A.
Published: April 2024

Large asteroid impacts have long been attributed to imparting long‐lived heat in the upper crust, as well as widespread fracturing and porosity. When an impact occurs on or near an ocean environment, displaced water rushes back filling the crater and percolating down into the fractured crust. The significant heat and fracturing from impact allow for extensive hydrothermal activity. Hydrothermal alteration has been observed at the 180 km Chicxulub impact structure in Yucatán, Mexico. Previous studies estimate widespread hydrothermal transport and activity within the Chicxulub structure, but these processes are largely dependent on the assumed post‐impact permeability distribution. In this work, we present an impact simulation that tracks fragmentation as well as the generation of porosity and permeability during the Chicxulub impact event. The generation of porosity during tensile failure results in final porosities (up to 40%) that are up to a factor of 4 higher than previous models and in better agreement with drill core data. We find that both fragmentation and porosity contribute to overall permeability of the Chicxulub structure. Estimated permeabilities (up to 10−14 m2) are greater than measured values from drill cores because of the contribution from large‐scale fragmentation, which cannot be resolved in cm‐diameter drill cores. The larger porosities and permeabilities computed in this work suggest that the volume of hydrothermal activity generated by Chicxulub were 10 times more than previously estimated for Chicxulub and 100 times more than the Yellowstone caldera.
Geodetic Evidence for Cascading Landslide Motion Triggered by Extreme Rain Events at Joshimath, NW Himalaya
Authors: Sreejith K. M. , Jasir M. C. M. , Sunil P. S. , Rose M. S. , Saji Ajish P. , Agrawal R. , Bushair M. T. , Vijay Kumar K. , Desai N. M.
Published: April 2024

Slope instability due to tectonic, hydrological and anthropogenic activities cause severe landslides in Himalaya. Joshimath, a densely populated Himalayan town witnessed a catastrophic landslide event during December 2022 and January 2023 causing damages to ∼700 buildings. We use Interferometric synthetic aperture radar, Global Positioning System and rainfall measurements to probe the kinematics of the Joshimath landslide. We separate the seasonal and episodic deformation components using singular spectrum analysis. While the low amplitude annual landslide motions are modulated by seasonal precipitation, acceleration phases are triggered by extreme rain events. Our analysis revealed episodes of cascading motions triggered by extreme rain events resulting an overall increase in landslide velocity from −22 mm/yr during 2004–2010 to −325 mm/yr during 2022–2023. We estimate the landslide depth (∼30 m) and hydraulic diffusivity (∼3 × 10−5 m2/s) using a 1‐D pore‐water pressure diffusion model. Our study reveals the importance of systematic monitoring of ground deformation and weather parameters for landslide hazard mitigation.
Australian Rainfall Increases During Multi‐Year La Niña
Authors: Huang Ashley T. , Gillett Zoe E. , Taschetto Andréa S.
Published: April 2024

Australia is one of the regions strongly affected by the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO). The recent 2020–2023 La Niña event was marked by record‐breaking rainfall and flooding across eastern Australia. The continuous wet conditions during the triple La Niña motivated us to explore the impacts of single‐year and multi‐year ENSO events on Australian rainfall using observational data sets. We find that, while there is no difference in the rainfall impacts during single or double El Niño events, Australian rainfall tends to increase in the third year of triple La Niña events compared to the first and second years. The enhanced rainfall impact during the third La Niña year occurs despite no strengthening of La Niña in the tropical Pacific, suggesting that other processes such as local rainfall‐soil moisture feedback may play a role in prolonging the effects of multi‐year La Niña events in Australia.
Low But Persistent Organic Carbon Content of Hyperarid River Deposits and Implications for Ancient Mars
Authors: Kalucha H. , Douglas M. M. , Lamb M. P. , Ke Y. , Fischer W. W.
Published: April 2024

Mars has many well‐exposed fluvial ridges and fluvio‐deltaic basins; in two of these locations, the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers are currently searching for signs of habitability. The distribution of organic carbon that might persist in ancient fluvial deposits present on Mars is not well understood. In this study, we set out to assess the preservation potential of organic carbon in a hyperarid fluvial environment with observations and analyses of the Amargosa River in Death Valley, California (United States). The lower reaches of the Amargosa River in Badwater Basin are nearly devoid of plants and contain low gradient, meandering channels, making them a valuable terrestrial analog for early martian fluvial systems. We analyzed sediment taken from fluvial deposits exposed in cutbanks of two bends of a meandering channel. We found total organic carbon abundances that were on average 0.15% up to a meter below the surface. X‐ray diffraction and electron microscopy analyses revealed a suite of high redox potential mineral phases (including iron and manganese oxides) mixed with detrital and authigenic silicates, carbonate, and sulfate salts at or close to redox equilibrium with pore fluids in contact with the atmosphere. This finding highlighted that organic carbon can persist in fluvial deposits at low abundance despite oxidizing conditions and saturated sediments and suggested that ancient fluvial deposits on Mars may retain traces of organics in fine‐grained deposits if they are present during deposition.
The Role of Coherent Airflow Structures on the Incipient Aeolian Entrainment of Coarse Particles
Authors: Zhao Xiao‐Hu , Valyrakis Manousos , Pähtz Thomas , Li Zhen‐Shan
Published: April 2024

The role of coherent airflow structures capable of setting gravel‐sized particles in motion is studied theoretically and experimentally. Specifically, a micromechanical model based on energy conservation is proposed to describe the incipient motion of large‐particles ranging from rocking (incomplete entrainment) to incipient rolling (full entrainment). Wind tunnel experiments were conducted on an aerodynamically rough bed surface under near‐threshold airflow conditions. Synchronous signals of airflow velocities upwind of the test particles and particle displacement are measured using a hot film anemometer and a laser distance sensor, respectively, from which coherent airflow structures (extracted via quadrant analysis) and particle movements are interlinked. It is suggested that the incipient motion of gravel‐sized particles (rocking and rolling) may result from sufficiently energetic sweep events corresponding to aerodynamic drag forces in excess of the local micro‐topography resistance. However, full entrainment in rolling mode should satisfy the presented work‐based criterion. Furthermore, using an appropriate probabilistic frame, the proposed criterion may be suitable for describing processes of energy transfer from the wind to the granular soil surface, ranging from the creep transport of gravels to the “mechanical sieving” of mega‐ripples, as well as the transport of light anthropogenic debris (such as plastics).
A Novel Method for Characterizing the Inter‐ and Intra‐Lake Variability of CH4 Emissions: Validation and Application Across a Latitudinal Transect in the Alpine Region
Authors: Tomelleri Enrico , Scholz Katharina , Pighini Sylvie , Carotenuto Federico , Gioli Beniamino , Miglietta Franco , Sommaruga Ruben , Tonon Giustino , Zaldei Alessandro , Wohlfahrt Georg
Published: April 2024

Lakes in the Alpine region are recognized as critical methane (CH4) emitters, but a robust characterization of the magnitude and variability of CH4 fluxes is missing. We developed a mobile platform for CH4 eddy covariance (EC) flux measurements to tackle this gap. The mobile system was deployed at nine lakes across a latitudinal transect in the Alps and validated by comparing the measured fluxes with fixed on‐shore EC station and to chamber and boundary layer flux estimates. Our approach was shown to be well suited to capture different CH4 emission pathways and to integrate the within lake variability, therefore, overcoming the limitations of other methods (e.g., boundary layer method). Additionally, this mobile system offers a tool to characterize inter‐lake variability of fluxes with consistent measurements. Methane fluxes were explained by dissolved nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, seston and lake size. The highest fluxes and most substantial seasonal variability were found in a shallow low‐altitude lake in the Southern Alps. We suggest that characterizing the intra‐lake emission heterogeneity and consistent measurements for a better understanding of inter‐lake emission differences is fundamental for a solid estimate of freshwater CH4 budgets.
The Land Component LM4.1 of the GFDL Earth System Model ESM4.1: Model Description and Characteristics of Land Surface Climate and Carbon Cycling in the Historical Simulation
Authors: Shevliakova E. , Malyshev S. , Martinez‐Cano I. , Milly P. C. D. , Pacala S. W. , Ginoux P. , Dunne K. A. , Dunne J. P. , Dupuis C. , Findell K. L. , Ghannam K. , Horowitz L. W. , Knutson T. R. , Krasting J. P. , Naik V. , Phillipps P. , Zadeh N. , Yu Yan , Zeng F. , Zeng Y.
Published: April 2024

We describe the baseline model configuration and simulation characteristics of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)'s Land Model version 4.1 (LM4.1), which builds on component and coupled model developments over 2013–2019 for the coupled carbon‐chemistry‐climate Earth System Model Version 4.1 (ESM4.1) simulation as part of the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Analysis of ESM4.1/LM4.1 is focused on biophysical and biogeochemical processes and interactions with climate. Key features include advanced vegetation dynamics and multi‐layer canopy energy and moisture exchanges, daily fire, land use representation, and dynamic atmospheric dust coupling. We compare LM4.1 performance in the GFDL Earth System Model (ESM) configuration ESM4.1 to the previous generation component LM3.0 in the ESM2G configuration. ESM4.1/LM4.1 provides significant improvement in the treatment of ecological processes from GFDL's previous generation models. However, ESM4.1/LM4.1 likely overestimates the influence of land use and land cover change on vegetation characteristics, particularly on pasturelands, as it overestimates the competitiveness of grasses versus trees in the tropics, and as a result, underestimates present‐day biomass and carbon uptake in comparison to observations.
A Novel Gravity Wave Transport Parametrization for Global Chemistry Climate Models: Description and Validation
Authors: Guarino Maria‐Vittoria , Gardner Chester S. , Feng Wuhu , Funke Bernd , García‐Comas Maya , López‐Puertas Manuel , Kupilas Marcin M. , Marsh Daniel R. , Plane John M. C.
Published: April 2024

The gravity wave drag parametrization of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM) has been modified to include the wave‐driven atmospheric vertical mixing caused by propagating, non‐breaking, gravity waves. The strength of this atmospheric mixing is represented in the model via the “effective wave diffusivity” coefficient (Kwave). Using Kwave, a new total dynamical diffusivity (KDyn) is defined. KDyn represents the vertical mixing of the atmosphere by both breaking (dissipating) and vertically propagating (non‐dissipating) gravity waves. Here we show that, when the new diffusivity is used, the downward fluxes of Fe and Na between 80 and 100 km largely increase. Larger meteoric ablation injection rates of these metals (within a factor 2 of measurements) can now be used in WACCM, which produce Na and Fe layers in good agreement with lidar observations. Mesospheric CO2 is also significantly impacted, with the largest CO2 concentration increase occurring between 80 and 90 km, where model‐observations agreement improves. However, in regions where the model overestimates CO2 concentration, the new parametrization exacerbates the model bias. The mesospheric cooling simulated by the new parametrization, while needed, is currently too strong almost everywhere. The summer mesopause in both hemispheres becomes too cold by about 30 K compared to observations, but it shifts upward, partially correcting the WACCM low summer mesopause. Our results highlight the far‐reaching implications and the necessity of representing vertically propagating non‐breaking gravity waves in climate models. This novel method of modeling gravity waves contributes to growing evidence that it is time to move away from dissipative‐only gravity wave parametrizations.
Direct Digital RF Transceiver Technology for Millimeter‐Wave DBF Systems
Authors: Suematsu Noriharu
Published: April 2024

Digital RF technology has been developed and has been applied to below 6 GHz wireless applications. By replacing the IC die consumptive RF/analog circuit blocks by digital signal processor and circuit, digital rich/small transceivers can be realized. Since the foundation of this technology is based on the Nyquist theory, the operational frequency of the circuit has been limited by the Nyquist frequency (=1/2 of sampling clock frequency). As a result, the maximum operational RF frequency of existing digital RF technology was below 6 GHz. In this paper, a new direct digital RF technology that utilizes the higher‐order Nyquist zones is introduced. This technology enables handling RF signal in beyond Nyquist frequency range which means over 6 GHz range. The results of fabricated 26/28 GHz‐band transmitter/receiver are reviewed. Since the transceiver architecture with the proposed technologies does not require an RF local oscillator and up/down converters, it is suitable for microwave/millimeter‐wave multi‐antenna systems such as next generation satellite on‐board digital beam forming and Beyond 5G fully digital Massive multiple‐input multiple‐output systems.
Accuracy of Ocean CO2 Uptake Estimates at a Risk by a Reduction in the Data Collection
Authors: Dong Yuanxu , Bakker Dorothee C. E. , Landschützer Peter
Published: April 2024

Observation‐based quantification of ocean carbon dioxide (CO2) uptake relies on synthesis data sets such as the Surface Ocean CO2 ATlas (SOCAT). However, the data collection effort has dramatically declined and the number of annual data sets in SOCATv2023 decreased by ∼35% from 2017 to 2021. This decline has led to a 65% increase (from 0.15 to 0.25 Pg C yr−1) in the standard deviation of seven SOCAT‐based air‐sea CO2 flux estimates. Reducing the availability of the annual data to that in the year 2000 creates substantial bias (50%) in the long‐term flux trend. The annual mean CO2 flux is insensitive to the seasonal skew of the SOCAT data and to the addition of the lower accuracy data set available in SOCAT. Our study highlights the need for sustained data collection and synthesis, to inform the Global Carbon Budget assessment, the UN‐led climate negotiations, and measurement, reporting, and verification of ocean‐based CO2 removal projects.
Storm‐Time Very‐Near‐Earth Magnetotail Reconnection: A Statistical Perspective
Authors: Beyene F. , Angelopoulos V.
Published: April 2024

The ring current, an equatorial near‐Earth current, fluctuates in response to solar wind plasma interactions with Earth's magnetosphere. Despite extensive research on storm‐time ring current energization, direct evidence of the energy transport into the inner‐magnetosphere that powers this current remains scarce. Recent observations revealing that very‐near‐Earth reconnection (VNERX, occurring at geocentric distance <14 RE) can occur during storms suggest that such reconnection could play an important role in ring current development. Here we address how common VNERX is. We use inner‐magnetosphere and plasma sheet observations from the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) satellites spanning 13 years. During this period, THEMIS observed 512 storms and 7 VNERX events. All VNERX events occurred during storm main‐phase at or near the pre‐midnight sector (None were observed during storm recovery‐phase.). The events occurred within 1 RE of the modeled neutral sheet, suggesting that VNERX events are elusive because they lie near the neutral sheet. Since THEMIS spent 5,253 hr within 1 RE of the modeled neutral sheet during storm main‐phase, the inferred observational VNERX occurrence rate is 1.3 per 1,000 hr of storm main‐phase. This rate is lower than published ion‐diffusion‐region occurrence rates seen in the near‐Earth plasma sheet during non‐storm times (likely substorms). These results suggest that while VNERX events might be significant for the storm‐time ring current's initial buildup (during storm main‐phase), other transport mechanisms, like enhanced global convection, may be responsible for maintaining the strength of the ring current during storm recovery‐phase.
Enhanced response of soil respiration to experimental warming upon thermokarst formation
Authors: Wang Guanqin , Peng Yunfeng , Chen Leiyi , Abbott Benjamin W. , Ciais Philippe , Kang Luyao , Liu Yang , Li Qinlu , Peñuelas Josep , Qin Shuqi , Smith Pete , Song Yutong , Strauss Jens , Wang Jun , Wei Bin , Yu Jianchun , Zhang Dianye , Yang Yuanhe
Published: April 2024

As global temperatures continue to rise, a key uncertainty of terrestrial carbon (C)–climate feedback is the rate of C loss upon abrupt permafrost thaw. This type of thawing—termed thermokarst—may in turn accelerate or dampen the response of microbial degradation of soil organic matter and carbon dioxide (CO2) release to climate warming. However, such impacts have not yet been explored in experimental studies. Here, by experimentally warming three thermo-erosion gullies in an upland thermokarst site combined with incubating soils from five additional thermokarst-impacted sites on the Tibetan Plateau, we investigate how warming responses of soil CO2 release would change upon upland thermokarst formation. Our results show that warming-induced increase in soil CO2 release is ~5.5 times higher in thermokarst features than the adjacent non-thermokarst landforms. This larger warming response is associated with the lower substrate quality and higher abundance of microbial functional genes for recalcitrant C degradation in thermokarst-affected soils. Taken together, our study provides experimental evidence that warming-associated soil CO2 loss becomes stronger upon abrupt permafrost thaw, which could exacerbate the positive soil C–climate feedback in permafrost-affected regions.
Development of supramolecular anticoagulants with on-demand reversibility
Authors: Dockerill Millicent , Ford Daniel J. , Angerani Simona , Alwis Imala , Dowman Luke J. , Ripoll-Rozada Jorge , Smythe Rhyll E. , Liu Joanna S. T. , Pereira Pedro José Barbosa , Jackson Shaun P. , Payne Richard J. , Winssinger Nicolas
Published: April 2024

Drugs are administered at a dosing schedule set by their therapeutic index, and termination of action is achieved by clearance and metabolism of the drug. In some cases, such as anticoagulant drugs or immunotherapeutics, it is important to be able to quickly reverse the drug’s action. Here, we report a general strategy to achieve on-demand reversibility by designing a supramolecular drug (a noncovalent assembly of two cooperatively interacting drug fragments held together by transient hybridization of peptide nucleic acid (PNA)) that can be reversed with a PNA antidote that outcompetes the hybridization between the fragments. We demonstrate the approach with thrombin-inhibiting anticoagulants, creating very potent and reversible bivalent direct thrombin inhibitors (K
i = 74 pM). The supramolecular inhibitor effectively inhibited thrombus formation in mice in a needle injury thrombosis model, and this activity could be reversed by administration of the PNA antidote. This design is applicable to therapeutic targets where two binding sites can be identified.
Leveraging functional genomic annotations and genome coverage to improve polygenic prediction of complex traits within and between ancestries
Authors: Zheng Zhili , Liu Shouye , Sidorenko Julia , Wang Ying , Lin Tian , Yengo Loic , Turley Patrick , Ani Alireza , Wang Rujia , Nolte Ilja M. , Snieder Harold ,   LifeLines Cohort Study, Aguirre-Gamboa Raul , Deelen Patrick , Franke Lude , Kuivenhoven Jan A. , Lopera Maya Esteban A. , Sanna Serena , Swertz Morris A. , Vonk Judith M. , Wijmenga Cisca , Yang Jian , Wray Naomi R. , Goddard Michael E. , Visscher Peter M. , Zeng Jian
Published: April 2024

We develop a method, SBayesRC, that integrates genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics with functional genomic annotations to improve polygenic prediction of complex traits. Our method is scalable to whole-genome variant analysis and refines signals from functional annotations by allowing them to affect both causal variant probability and causal effect distribution. We analyze 50 complex traits and diseases using ∼7 million common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 96 annotations. SBayesRC improves prediction accuracy by 14% in European ancestry and up to 34% in cross-ancestry prediction compared to the baseline method SBayesR, which does not use annotations, and outperforms other methods, including LDpred2, LDpred-funct, MegaPRS, PolyPred-S and PRS-CSx. Investigation of factors affecting prediction accuracy identifies a significant interaction between SNP density and annotation information, suggesting whole-genome sequence variants with annotations may further improve prediction. Functional partitioning analysis highlights a major contribution of evolutionary constrained regions to prediction accuracy and the largest per-SNP contribution from nonsynonymous SNPs.
Correlates of protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated children
Authors: Zhong Youjia , Kang Alicia Y. H. , Tay Carina J. X. , Li Hui’ En , Elyana Nurul , Tan Chee Wah , Yap Wee Chee , Lim Joey M. E. , Le Bert Nina , Chan Kuan Rong , Ong Eugenia Z. , Low Jenny G. , Shek Lynette P. , Tham Elizabeth Huiwen , Ooi Eng Eong
Published: April 2024

The paucity of information on longevity of vaccine-induced immune responses and uncertainty of the correlates of protection hinder the development of evidence-based COVID-19 vaccination policies for new birth cohorts. Here, to address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a cohort study of healthy 5–12-year-olds vaccinated with BNT162b2. We serially measured binding and neutralizing antibody titers (nAbs), spike-specific memory B cell (MBC) and spike-reactive T cell responses over 1 year. We found that children mounted antibody, MBC and T cell responses after two doses of BNT162b2, with higher antibody and T cell responses than adults 6 months after vaccination. A booster (third) dose only improved antibody titers without impacting MBC and T cell responses. Among children with hybrid immunity, nAbs and T cell responses were highest in those infected after two vaccine doses. Binding IgG titers, MBC and T cell responses were predictive, with T cells being the most important predictor of protection against symptomatic infection before hybrid immunity; nAbs only correlated with protection after hybrid immunity. The stable MBC and T cell responses over time suggest sustained protection against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, even when nAbs wane. Booster vaccinations do not confer additional immunological protection to healthy children.
Neoadjuvant nivolumab with or without relatlimab in resectable non-small-cell lung cancer: a randomized phase 2 trial
Authors: Schuler Martin , Cuppens Kristof , Plönes Till , Wiesweg Marcel , Du Pont Bert , Hegedus Balazs , Köster Johannes , Mairinger Fabian , Darwiche Kaid , Paschen Annette , Maes Brigitte , Vanbockrijck Michel , Lähnemann David , Zhao Fang , Hautzel Hubertus , Theegarten Dirk , Hartemink Koen , Reis Henning , Baas Paul , Schramm Alexander , Aigner Clemens
Published: April 2024

Antibodies targeting the immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4, administered alone or in combination with chemotherapy, are the standard of care in most patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancers. When given before curative surgery, tumor responses and improved event-free survival are achieved. New antibody combinations may be more efficacious and tolerable. In an ongoing, open-label phase 2 study, 60 biomarker-unselected, treatment-naive patients with resectable non-small-cell lung cancer were randomized to receive two preoperative doses of nivolumab (anti-PD-1) with or without relatlimab (anti-LAG-3) antibody therapy. The primary study endpoint was the feasibility of surgery within 43 days, which was met by all patients. Curative resection was achieved in 95% of patients. Secondary endpoints included pathological and radiographic response rates, pathologically complete resection rates, disease-free and overall survival rates, and safety. Major pathological (≤10% viable tumor cells) and objective radiographic responses were achieved in 27% and 10% (nivolumab) and in 30% and 27% (nivolumab and relatlimab) of patients, respectively. In 100% (nivolumab) and 90% (nivolumab and relatlimab) of patients, tumors and lymph nodes were pathologically completely resected. With 12 months median duration of follow-up, disease-free survival and overall survival rates at 12 months were 89% and 93% (nivolumab), and 93% and 100% (nivolumab and relatlimab). Both treatments were safe with grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events reported in 10% and 13% of patients per study arm. Exploratory analyses provided insights into biological processes triggered by preoperative immunotherapy. This study establishes the feasibility and safety of dual targeting of PD-1 and LAG-3 before lung cancer surgery.

ClinicalTrials.gov Indentifier: NCT04205552.
Study on the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II) in acid mine drainage by fly ash loaded nano-FeS
Authors: Guo Xuying , Fu Honglei , Gao Xinle , Zhao Zilong , Hu Zhiyong
Published: April 2024

Aiming at the acid mine drainage (AMD) in zinc, copper and other heavy metals treatment difficulties, severe pollution of soil and water environment and other problems. Through the ultrasonic precipitation method, this study prepared fly ash-loaded nano-FeS composites (nFeS-F). The effects of nFeS-F dosage, pH, stirring rate, reaction time and initial concentration of the solution on the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II) were investigated. The data were fitted by Lagergren first and second-order kinetic equations, Internal diffusion equation, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and combined with SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, and XPS assays to reveal the mechanism of nFeS-F adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II). The results demonstrated that: The removal of Zn(II) and Cu(II) by nFeS-F could reach 83.36% and 70.40%, respectively (The dosage was 8 g/L, pH was 4, time was 150 min, and concentration was 100 mg/L). The adsorption process, mainly chemical adsorption, conforms to the Lagergren second-order kinetic equation (R2 = 0.9952 and 0.9932). The adsorption isotherms have a higher fitting degree with the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.9964 and 0.9966), and the adsorption is a monolayer adsorption process. This study can provide a reference for treating heavy metals in acid mine drainage and resource utilization of fly ash.
The psychological costs of behavioral immunity following COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Spangler Derek P. , Li Evaline Y. , Revi Gabriela S. , Kubota Jennifer T. , Cloutier Jasmin , Lauharatanahirun Nina
Published: April 2024

Prior COVID-19 infection may elevate activity of the behavioral immune system—the psychological mechanisms that foster avoidance of infection cues—to protect the individual from contracting the infection in the future. Such “adaptive behavioral immunity” may come with psychological costs, such as exacerbating the global pandemic’s disruption of social and emotional processes (i.e., pandemic disruption). To investigate that idea, we tested a mediational pathway linking prior COVID infection and pandemic disruption through behavioral immunity markers, assessed with subjective emotional ratings. This was tested in a sample of 734 Mechanical Turk workers who completed study procedures online during the global pandemic (September 2021–January 2022). Behavioral immunity markers were estimated with an affective image rating paradigm. Here, participants reported experienced disgust/fear and appraisals of sickness/harm risk to images varying in emotional content. Participants self-reported on their previous COVID-19 diagnosis history and level of pandemic disruption. The findings support the proposed mediational pathway and suggest that a prior COVID-19 infection is associated with broadly elevated threat emotionality, even to neutral stimuli that do not typically elicit threat emotions. This elevated threat emotionality was in turn related to disrupted socioemotional functioning within the pandemic context. These findings inform the psychological mechanisms that might predispose COVID survivors to mental health difficulties.
Identification of gene isoforms and their switching events between male and female embryos of the parthenogenetic crustacean Daphnia magna
Authors: Kato Yasuhiko , Nitta Joel H. , Perez Christelle Alexa Garcia , Adhitama Nikko , Religia Pijar , Toyoda Atsushi , Iwasaki Wataru , Watanabe Hajime
Published: April 2024

The cladoceran crustacean Daphnia exhibits phenotypic plasticity, a phenomenon that leads to diverse phenotypes from one genome. Alternative usage of gene isoforms has been considered a key gene regulation mechanism for controlling different phenotypes. However, to understand the phenotypic plasticity of Daphnia, gene isoforms have not been comprehensively analyzed. Here we identified 25,654 transcripts derived from the 9710 genes expressed during environmental sex determination of Daphnia magna using the long-read RNA-Seq with PacBio Iso-Seq. We found that 14,924 transcripts were previously unidentified and 5713 genes produced two or more isoforms. By a combination of Illumina short-read RNA-Seq, we detected 824 genes that implemented switching of the highest expressed isoform between females and males. Among the 824 genes, we found isoform switching of an ortholog of CREB-regulated transcription coactivator, a major regulator of carbohydrate metabolism in animals, and a correlation of this switching event with the sexually dimorphic expression of carbohydrate metabolic genes. These results suggest that a comprehensive catalog of isoforms may lead to understanding the molecular basis for environmental sex determination of Daphnia. We also infer the applicability of the full-length isoform analyses to the elucidation of phenotypic plasticity in Daphnia.
Saturated fatty acids inhibit unsaturated fatty acid induced glucose uptake involving GLUT10 and aerobic glycolysis in bovine granulosa cells
Authors: Tao Xuelian , Rahimi Maryam , Michaelis Marten , Görs Solvig , Brenmoehl Julia , Vanselow Jens , Baddela Vijay Simha
Published: April 2024

Fatty acids have been shown to modulate glucose metabolism in vitro and in vivo. However, there is still a need for substantial evidence and mechanistic understanding in many cell types whether both saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (SFAs and UFAs) pose a similar effect and, if not, what determines the net effect of fatty acid mixes on glucose metabolism. In the present study, we asked these questions by treating granulosa cells (GCs) with the most abundant non-esterified fatty acid species in bovine follicular fluid. Results revealed that oleic and alpha-linolenic acids (UFAs) significantly increased glucose consumption compared to palmitic and stearic acids (SFAs). A significant increase in lactate production, extracellular acidification rate, and decreased mitochondrial activity indicate glucose channeling through aerobic glycolysis in UFA treated GCs. We show that insulin independent glucose transporter GLUT10 is essential for UFA driven glucose consumption, and the induction of AKT and ERK signaling pathways necessary for GLUT10 expression. To mimic the physiological conditions, we co-treated GCs with mixes of SFAs and UFAs. Interestingly, co-treatments abolished the UFA induced glucose uptake and metabolism by inhibiting AKT and ERK phosphorylation and GLUT10 expression. These data suggest that the net effect of fatty acid induced glucose uptake in GCs is determined by SFAs under physiological conditions.