bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the distribution and variation characteristics of marine primary productivity in the coastal marine area of Vietnam South Centre
Authors: Duc Hieu Nguyen Trinh , Huan Nguyen Huu , Thi Van Tran , Lien Nguyen Phuong
Published: January 2022

Primary production (PP) of phytoplankton plays an essential role in food web dynamics, biogeochemical cycles and marine fisheries. It is used as one of the basic information for evaluating marine ecosystems. In this paper, monthly composite PP data on a 4 km x 4 km grid for the period 2003-2020 was used to evaluate the distributional characteristics of PP in the coastal marine area of Vietnam South Centre. The statistical results show that the climatological average of PP in 18 years reached 449.2 mgC/m2/day, ranged from 272.1 to 14,205.4 mgC/m2/day. The PP has seasonal and spatial variations. In time, the lowest value of PP was in spring, and the highest was in winter; in space, PP tended to decrease from shore to offshore, PP was higher in coastal areas than in the open sea areas. During the northeast monsoon season, PP increased by more than 1000 mgC/m2/day in the coastal area. Meanwhile, in the southwest monsoon season, due to the ecological influence of the upwelling phenomenon, PP increased with a value greater than 1500 mgC/m2/day, distributed along the coastline of Ninh Thuan - Binh Thuan. Primary productivity positively correlated with chlorophyll content but negatively correlated with sea surface temperature with correlation coefficients of 0.9 and -0.6, respectively. There was a weak correlation between PP and ONI with correlation coefficients of -0.23. The temporal-spatial variation of PP was affected by the ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) phenomenon, the positive phase of ENSO (El Niño conditions) corresponded to lower PP, and the negative phase of ENSO (La Niña conditions) corresponded to higher PP. The research results from this paper can be used as a reference in marine ecosystem management.
Energy recovery from municipal solid waste landfill for a sustainable circular economy in Danang City, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Phong Hoang , Nguyen Cao Quynh Khanh , Bui Long Ta
Published: January 2022

Sustainable development of Danang City in the direction of circular economy (CE) and a zero-waste city is an urgent solution because the impacts of local municipal solid waste (MSW) generation in the city’s districts are increasingly causing serious pressure for MSW management and treatment. Segregation of waste at source, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery from landfill gas (LFG) generated is considered as one of the keys to solving the dilemma of sustainable waste management. This study analyzed and evaluated the generation of greenhouse gases (GHGs), mainly CH4 and CO2 gases from the Khanh Son landfill based on the application of the EnLandFill software and assessed the potential of energy recovery, clean electricity generation, as well as GHG emission reduction in the period of 2021 – 2050 based on the CE-oriented scenario of the city government. With the potential to recover LFGs in the period of 2021 – 2050 could reach 136.9 million m3 (with efficiency E = 90%), the total annual potential value of electricity generation is estimated at 420.767 million kWh, equivalent to the total potential for GHGs emission reduction (GWP) about 271.25 thousand tCO2-eq. At the same time, this will be a baseline study to serve as the basis for extensive assessments and to suggest the most appropriate waste management strategies and policies create a circular economy in the future.
Combination of photocatalytic degradation and adsorption in dye removal by TiO2-chitosan-glycerol beads under natural sunlight
Authors: Tran Anh Thi-Kim , Hoang Nhung Thi-Tuyet , Hoang Nguyen Tien Thuy
Published: January 2022

The synthesis of TiO2-chitosan-glycerol (TiCsG) beads was prepared to determine the optimum condition for dye removal under natural sunlight. By using the orthogonal array design with five parameters (ratio of TiO2/Chitosan, initial concentration of dyes, pH of solution, irradiation time, dose of TiCsG) to analyze their interaction such as well as optimizing the photocatalytic process. The significant parameters influent in the removal of Acid Blue 193, MO, NWY dyes were irradiation time (p = 0.011) and the ratio of TiO2/chitosan (p = 0.025), while the initial concentration of dyes, pH of dye solution and dose of TiCsG were unimportant factors with p > 0.05. The optimum of factors based on the ratio of signal per noise to attain the highest dye removal ability of TiCsG was the percentage of TiO2/chitosan = 2 % w/w (level 2), initial concentration of dye at level 5 (10 mg/L of AB 193, 5 mg/L for MO and 100 mg/L for NWY), pH =4.5 (level 2), irradiation time =1.5 h (level 5) and dose of TiCsG =0.2 g/mL (level 4).
Synthesis of hydrated ferric oxide on cation exchange resin for phosphate and hardness removal in water
Authors: Tran Le Ba , Nguyen Trung Thanh , Le Tri Thich , Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh , Phan Phuoc Toan , Padungthon Surapol , Nguyen Nhat Huy
Published: January 2022

In this study, a potential adsorbent was synthesized from iron salt and cation exchange resin (FeOOH@CR) and applied for phosphate adsorption in batch experiments. The characteristics of FeOOH@CR materials before and after phosphate adsorption were determined by FTIR, XRD, and SEM. The factors affecting the adsorption process such as reaction time, solution pH, material dosage, concentration, temperature, and competing ions were tested. Kinetic, thermodynamic and isothermal models of the adsorption process were applied to study the nature of the adsorption process. The properties of phosphate adsorption, effect of competitive ions and material reusability were also examined. Results showed that the adsorption time reached equilibrium after 48 h and the suitable adsorption condition was found at solution pH of 6.5, material dosage of 5 g/L. In addition, the durability of the material after 5 times of regeneration was investigated with the remained adsorption ability of about 55% as compared to the original one.
Deep-learning online EEG decoding brain-computer interface using error-related potentials recorded with a consumer-grade headset
Authors: Ancau Dorina-Marcela , Ancau Mircea , Ancau Mihai
Published: January 2022

Objective. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) allow subjects with sensorimotor disability to interact with the environment. Non-invasive BCIs relying on EEG signals such as event-related potentials (ERPs) have been established as a reliable compromise between spatio-temporal resolution and patient impact, but limitations due to portability and versatility preclude their broad application. Here we describe a deep-learning augmented error-related potential (ErrP) discriminating BCI using a consumer-grade portable headset EEG, the Emotiv EPOC+. Approach. We recorded and discriminated ErrPs offline and online from 14 subjects during a visual feedback task. Main results: We achieved online discrimination accuracies of up to 81%, comparable to those obtained with professional 32/64-channel EEG devices via deep-learning using either a generative-adversarial network or an intrinsic-mode function augmentation of the training data and minimalistic computing resources. Significance. Our BCI model has the potential of expanding the spectrum of BCIs to more portable, artificial intelligence-enhanced, efficient interfaces accelerating the routine deployment of these devices outside the controlled environment of a scientific laboratory.
The measurement and control of high-risk host cell proteins for polysorbate degradation in biologics formulation
Authors: Li Xuanwen , Wang Fengqiang , Li Hong , Richardson Douglas D , Roush David J
Published: January 2022

Nonionic surfactant polysorbates, including PS-80 and PS-20, are commonly used in the formulation of biotherapeutic products for both preventing surface adsorption and acting as stabilizer against protein aggregation. Trace levels of residual host cell proteins (HCPs) with lipase or esterase enzymatic activity have been shown to degrade polysorbates in biologics formulation. The measurement and control of these low abundance, high-risk HCPs for polysorbate degradation are an industry-wide challenge to achieve desired shelf life of biopharmaceuticals in liquid formulation, especially for high-concentration formulation product development. Here, we reviewed the challenges, recent advances, and future opportunities of analytical method development, risk assessment, and control strategies for polysorbate degradation during formulation development with a focus on enzymatic degradation. Continued efforts to advance our understanding of polysorbate degradation in biologics formulation will help develop high-quality medicines for patients.
Infraorbital Hyaluronic Acid Filler: Common Aesthetic Side Effects With Treatment and Prevention Options
Authors: Siperstein Robyn
Published: January 2022

Background

Infraorbital hollows can give a fatigued or aged appearance, which can be treated by volumizing the segmented transition from the tear trough to the cheek with hyaluronic acid filler. Due to thin skin and the complex anatomy of the infraorbital area, both short- and long-term side effects (SEs) from this treatment are very common. While some patients are clear surgical candidates vs filler candidates, in real-world practice, many, if not most, patients are on a continuum where either procedure is appropriate, and the treatment decision is individualized based on each person’s risk vs benefit profile.

Objectives

Common aesthetic SEs from hyaluronic acid filler treatment in the infraorbital area will be reviewed, including their etiology, prevention, detection, and treatment.

Methods

The author’s experience from injecting the infraorbital areas of more than 800 patients in private clinical practice and observations from both short- and long-term follow-ups over 8 years is leveraged to provide detailed guidance.

Results

Recommendations on injection techniques, patient selection, and patient education are presented along with algorithms for the prevention and management of bruising, short- and long-term swelling, bumps, and blue discoloration (which is usually secondary to swelling from the filler rather than just the filler alone placed or migrating too superficially).

Conclusions

For nearly all patients, complete dissolution of filler with hyaluronidase is not required to address the issue, and the guidelines provided here will assist clinicians in the management of SEs to increase patient satisfaction with their treatment and aesthetic outcome.

Level of Evidence: 5
Visualization, benchmarking and characterization of nested single-cell heterogeneity as dynamic forest mixtures
Authors: Anchang Benedict , Mendez-Giraldez Raul , Xu Xiaojiang , Archer Trevor K , Chen Qing , Hu Guang , Plevritis Sylvia K , Motsinger-Reif Alison Anne , Li Jian-Liang
Published: January 2022

A major topic of debate in developmental biology centers on whether development is continuous, discontinuous, or a mixture of both. Pseudo-time trajectory models, optimal for visualizing cellular progression, model cell transitions as continuous state manifolds and do not explicitly model real-time, complex, heterogeneous systems and are challenging for benchmarking with temporal models. We present a data-driven framework that addresses these limitations with temporal single-cell data collected at discrete time points as inputs and a mixture of dependent minimum spanning trees (MSTs) as outputs, denoted as dynamic spanning forest mixtures (DSFMix). DSFMix uses decision-tree models to select genes that account for variations in multimodality, skewness and time. The genes are subsequently used to build the forest using tree agglomerative hierarchical clustering and dynamic branch cutting. We first motivate the use of forest-based algorithms compared to single-tree approaches for visualizing and characterizing developmental processes. We next benchmark DSFMix to pseudo-time and temporal approaches in terms of feature selection, time correlation, and network similarity. Finally, we demonstrate how DSFMix can be used to visualize, compare and characterize complex relationships during biological processes such as epithelial–mesenchymal transition, spermatogenesis, stem cell pluripotency, early transcriptional response from hormones and immune response to coronavirus disease. Our results indicate that the expression of genes during normal development exhibits a high proportion of non-uniformly distributed profiles that are mostly right-skewed and multimodal; the latter being a characteristic of major steady states during development. Our study also identifies and validates gene signatures driving complex dynamic processes during somatic or germline differentiation.
Two ecological gradients drive phenotypic differentiation of a cave fish over a few hundred metres
Authors: Riesch Rüdiger , Curtis Amy , Jourdan Jonas , Schlupp Ingo , Arias-Rodriguez Lenin , Plath Martin
Published: January 2022

Ecological gradients can drive adaptive phenotypic diversification, but the extent of local adaptation depends on the strength, temporal stability and spatial dimensions of selective forces at play. We examined diversification in morphology and life histories of a live-bearing fish (Poecilia mexicana) that has adapted to two concomitant gradients: differential light regimes and toxicity levels in and around a hydrogen sulphide-rich cave. Even though typical ranging distances of P. mexicana exceed the spatial dimensions of both gradients (few hundred metres), clines in head size, body depth, male and female lean mass, offspring size, fecundity and maternal provisioning strategies tracked both gradients. Comparison of two life-history samplings from 2007/2008 and 2014 revealed remarkable temporal stability, even though some degree of temporal variation was seen in fat content and investment into reproduction. Our study demonstrates how patterns of phenotypic gradient evolution can emerge when spatially and temporally stable, strong selection forces alter selective landscapes, resulting in alternate fitness optima of different locally adapted genotypes and impeding individuals’ movement even at a spatial scale far below the species’ potential lifetime ranging distance. This is further evidence for the role of active colonization and gradual adaptation to cave environments in the evolution of some cave organisms.
Importance of long-term surveillance after curative esophagectomy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yago Akikazu , Ohkura Yu , Ueno Masaki , Fujisawa Kentoku , Ogawa Yusuke , Shimoyama Hayato , Haruta Shusuke , Udagawa Harushi
Published: January 2022

Background

The long-term outcomes after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer remain uncertain and the optimal surveillance strategy after curative surgery remains controversial.

Methods

In this study, the clinicopathological characteristics of patients who underwent curative thoracic esophagectomy between 1991 and 2015 at Toranomon Hospital were retrospectively analyzed and reviewed until December 2020. We evaluated the accumulated data regarding the pattern and rates of recurrence and second malignancy.

Results

A total of 1054 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. Of these, 97% were followed up for 5 years, and the outcomes after 25 years could be determined in 65.5%. Recurrence was diagnosed in 318 patients (30.2%), and the most common pattern was lymph node metastasis (n = 168, 52.8%). Recurrence was diagnosed within 1 year in 174 patients (54.7%) and within 3 years in 289 (90.9%). Second malignancy possibly occurred through the entire study period after esophagectomy even in early-stage cancer, keeping 2%–5% of the incidental risk. There was no significant difference in the prognosis between 3-year survivors with and without a second malignancy.

Conclusions

Most recurrences after resection of esophageal cancer occurred within 3 years regardless of disease stage. However, these patients have an ongoing risk of developing a second malignancy after esophagectomy. Further consideration is required regarding the efficacy of long-term surveillance.
Interaction between science advice and policymaking in time of COVID-19: a French perspective
Authors: Bruat Camille , Monnet Elisabeth , Azanowsky Jean-Michel , Faliu Bernard , Mansour Zeina , Chauvin Franck
Published: January 2022

Background

In the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) context, many governments relied on scientific consultative bodies to advise their policy, but their contribution remains poorly documented. This article aims to fill this gap by reviewing the role played by the French High Council for Public Health (HCSP) in the French government’s response to COVID-19.

Methods

We studied the time distribution of the COVID-19 guidelines produced by the HCSP until November 2020, computed their delay of production and analyzed the thematic areas they cover. To assess their use by the authorities, we looked for references to these guidelines in the regulatory texts, protocols and press communicates issued by national and local authorities until January 2021.

Results

The HCSP was strongly demanded with 102 guidelines produced following 97 official requests and two self-referrals. Most of them (N = 43) concerned protective measures to constrain the infection, while health inequalities and mental health were poorly addressed. Timing was very constraint as half of the guidelines were requested within 4 days. In total, 73% of the guidelines were used by policymakers to implement new obligations or within communication toward the public at national and local levels.

Conclusions

This article informs on the HCSP’s contribution during the crisis and stresses the difficulties it encountered to provide quality recommendations in very short times. It prompts governments to enlarge the competencies of their advisory boards and to consider the multidimensional aspects of health in policy design.
Comparative transcriptome analysis of genes and metabolic pathways involved in sporulation in Ganoderma lingzhi
Authors: Cai Manjun , Tan Zengdong , Wu Xiaoxian , Liang Xiaowei , Liu Yuanchao , Xie Yizhen , Li Xiangmin , Xiao Chun , Gao Xiong , Chen Shaodan , Hu Huiping , Wu Qingping
Published: January 2022

Over the past decades, Ganoderma lingzhi spores have received considerable attention as a great potential pharmaceutical resource. However, the genetic regulation of sporulation is not well understood. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis of the low-sporing HZ203 and high-sporing YW-1 was performed to characterize the mechanism underlying sporulation. A total of 917 differentially expressed genes were identified in HZ203 and 1,450 differentially expressed genes in YW-1. Differentially expressed genes involved in sporulation were identified, which included HOP1, Mek1, MSH4, MSH5, and Spo5 in meiosis. Positive regulatory pathways of sporulation were proposed as 2 transcriptional factors had high connectivity with MSH4 and Spo5. Furthermore, we found that the pathways associated with energy production were enriched in the high-sporing genotype, such as the glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism. Finally, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis and found that the hub genes of the module which exhibit strong positive relationship with the high-sporing phase purportedly participate in signal transduction, carbohydrate transport and metabolism. The dissection of differentially expressed genes during sporulation extends our knowledge about the genetic and molecular networks mediating spore morphogenesis and sheds light on the importance of energy source during sporulation.
Modeling allelic diversity of multiparent mapping populations affects detection of quantitative trait loci
Authors: Odell Sarah G , Hudson Asher I , Praud Sébastien , Dubreuil Pierre , Tixier Marie-Hélène , Ross-Ibarra Jeffrey , Runcie Daniel E
Published: January 2022

The search for quantitative trait loci that explain complex traits such as yield and drought tolerance has been ongoing in all crops. Methods such as biparental quantitative trait loci mapping and genome-wide association studies each have their own advantages and limitations. Multiparent advanced generation intercross populations contain more recombination events and genetic diversity than biparental mapping populations and are better able to estimate effect sizes of rare alleles than association mapping populations. Here, we discuss the results of using a multiparent advanced generation intercross population of doubled haploid maize lines created from 16 diverse founders to perform quantitative trait loci mapping. We compare 3 models that assume bi-allelic, founder, and ancestral haplotype allelic states for quantitative trait loci. The 3 methods have differing power to detect quantitative trait loci for a variety of agronomic traits. Although the founder approach finds the most quantitative trait loci, all methods are able to find unique quantitative trait loci, suggesting that each model has advantages for traits with different genetic architectures. A closer look at a well-characterized flowering time quantitative trait loci, qDTA8, which contains vgt1, highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each method and suggests a potential epistatic interaction. Overall, our results reinforce the importance of considering different approaches to analyzing genotypic datasets, and shows the limitations of binary SNP data for identifying multiallelic quantitative trait loci.
Relationship Between 5 Epigenetic Clocks, Telomere Length, and Functional Capacity Assessed in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analyses
Authors: Vetter Valentin M , Kalies Christian H , Sommerer Yasmine , Spira Dominik , Drewelies Johanna , Regitz-Zagrosek Vera , Bertram Lars , Gerstorf Denis , Demuth Ilja
Published: January 2022

DNA methylation age acceleration (DNAmAA, derived from an epigenetic clock) and relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) are widely accepted biomarkers of aging. Nevertheless, it is still unclear which aspects of aging they represent best. Here we evaluated longitudinal associations between baseline rLTL and DNAmAA (estimated with 7-CpG clock) and functional assessments covering different domains of aging. Additionally, we made use of cross-sectional data on these assessments and examined their association with DNAmAA estimated by 5 different DNAm age measures. Two-wave longitudinal data were available for 1 083 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II who were reexamined on average 7.4 years after baseline as part of the GendAge study. Functional outcomes were assessed with Fried’s frailty score, Tinetti mobility test, falls in the past 12 months (yes/no), finger-floor distance, Mini-Mental State Examination, Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression scale, activities of daily living, instrumented ADL, and mini nutritional assessment. Overall, we found no evidence for an association between the molecular biomarkers measured at baseline, rLTL, and DNAmAA (7-CpG clock), and functional assessments assessed at follow-up. Similarly, a cross-sectional analysis of follow-up data did also not show evidence for associations of the various DNAmAA measures (7-CpG clock, Horvath’s clock, Hannum’s clock PhenoAge, and GrimAge) with functional assessments. In conclusion, neither rLTL nor 7-CpG DNAmAA was able to predict impairment in the analyzed assessments over a ~7-year time course. Similarly, DNAmAA estimated from 5 epigenetic clocks was not a good cross-sectional marker of health deterioration either.
Trajectories of Frailty With Aging: Coordinated Analysis of Five Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Jenkins Natalie D , Hoogendijk Emiel O , Armstrong Joshua J , Lewis Nathan A , Ranson Janice M , Rijnhart Judith J M , Ahmed Tamer , Ghachem Ahmed , Mullin Donncha S , Ntanasi Eva , Welstead Miles , Auais Mohammad , Bennett David A , Bandinelli Stefania , Cesari Matteo , Ferrucci Luigi , French Simon D , Huisman Martijn , Llewellyn David J , Scarmeas Nikolaos , Piccinin Andrea M , Hofer Scott M , Muniz-Terrera Graciela
Published: January 2022

Background and Objectives

There is an urgent need to better understand frailty and its predisposing factors. Although numerous cross-sectional studies have identified various risk and protective factors of frailty, there is a limited understanding of longitudinal frailty progression. Furthermore, discrepancies in the methodologies of these studies hamper comparability of results. Here, we use a coordinated analytical approach in 5 independent cohorts to evaluate longitudinal trajectories of frailty and the effect of 3 previously identified critical risk factors: sex, age, and education.

Research Design and Methods

We derived a frailty index (FI) for 5 cohorts based on the accumulation of deficits approach. Four linear and quadratic growth curve models were fit in each cohort independently. Models were adjusted for sex/gender, age, years of education, and a sex/gender-by-age interaction term.

Results

Models describing linear progression of frailty best fit the data. Annual increases in FI ranged from 0.002 in the Invecchiare in Chianti cohort to 0.009 in the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA). Women had consistently higher levels of frailty than men in all cohorts, ranging from an increase in the mean FI in women from 0.014 in the Health and Retirement Study cohort to 0.046 in the LASA cohort. However, the associations between sex/gender and rate of frailty progression were mixed. There was significant heterogeneity in within-person trajectories of frailty about the mean curves.

Discussion and Implications

Our findings of linear longitudinal increases in frailty highlight important avenues for future research. Specifically, we encourage further research to identify potential effect modifiers or groups that would benefit from targeted or personalized interventions.
Resisting Tiny Heroes: Kant on the Mechanism and Scope of Imaginative Resistance
Authors: Lambeth Morganna
Published: January 2022

Traditionally, theorists suggested that imaginative resistance (e.g., when a reader does not imagine what a literary work entreats her to imagine) is limited to morally repugnant claims. More recently, theorists have argued that the phenomenon of imaginative resistance is wider in scope, extending to descriptive claims (e.g., those that are conceptually contradictory). On both sides, though, theorists have focused on cases where imaginative resistance goes right, tracking something that is wrong with the story—that it is morally repugnant, or conceptually contradictory. I use a rarely cited discussion from Kant to argue that imaginative resistance can also occur when something goes wrong with the reader—namely, when a reader imports their own biases into the story, and resists a descriptive claim as a result. In identifying this new class of claims that can meet imaginative resistance, Kant presses the question: when should we cultivate imaginative resistance and when should we fight it?
Generating real-world data from health records: design of a patient-centric study in multiple sclerosis using a commercial health records platform
Authors: Hanson Gillian , Chitnis Tanuja , Williams Mitzi J , Gan Ryan William , Julian Laura , Mace Kieran , Chia Jenny , Wormser David , Martinec Michael , Astorino Troy , Leviner Noga , Maung Pye , Jan Asif , Belendiuk Katherine
Published: January 2022

Objective

The FlywheelMS study will explore the use of a real-world health record data set generated by PicnicHealth, a patient-centric health records platform, to improve understanding of disease course and patterns of care for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials and Methods

The FlywheelMS study aims to enroll 5000 adults with MS in the United States to create a large, deidentified, longitudinal data set for clinical research. PicnicHealth obtains health records, including paper charts, electronic health records, and radiology imaging files from any healthcare site. Using a large-scale health record processing pipeline, PicnicHealth abstracts standard and condition-specific data elements from structured (eg, laboratory test results) and unstructured (eg, narrative) text and maps these to standardized medical vocabularies. Researchers can use the resulting data set to answer empirical questions and study participants can access and share their harmonized health records using PicnicHealth’s web application.

Results

As of November 24, 2020, more than 4176 participants from 49 of 50 US states have enrolled in the FlywheelMS study. A median of 200 pages of records have been collected from 14 different doctors over 8 years per participant. Abstraction precision, established through inter-abstractor agreement, is as high as 97.8% when identifying and mapping data elements to a standard ontology.

Conclusion

Using a commercial health records platform, the FlywheelMS study is generating a real-world, multimodal data set that could provide valuable insights about patients with MS. This approach to data collection and abstraction is disease-agnostic and could be used to address other clinical research questions in the future.
Activity patterns and behavior of Myocastor coypus in a gated community in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Authors: Salas Magdalena , Hernandez-Hernandez Julio C , Iglesias Martín , Corriale María J
Published: January 2022

Anthropization processes confront local wildlife with a new set of conditions that may lead to local extinctions or allow the expansion of some species. This is what happens with the coypu (Myocastor coypus) in gated communities in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (Argentina), where its rapid population growth results in continuous conflicts with the local inhabitants. The aim of this study was to document the daily and seasonal activity patterns and behavior of the coypu in an urban landscape within their natural distribution range. To achieve this, we conducted a camera-trap survey within areas occupied by the species from February to November 2018. The coypu activity was mainly crepuscular and nocturnal with variations between seasons. We found that the seasons with the greatest activity patterns overlap were winter and autumn (84%), while the least overlap was observed between summer and winter (53%). During the active periods, time spent on foraging behavior was dominant. Time dedicated to vigilance was greater in summer than in winter. This result, alongside an increase in nocturnal activity during summer, shows that coypu in this urban landscape shift its behavior when exposed to an increasing human activity. This study brings up more ecological data of this species, which is key to find alternative control methods within gated communities to lead to a harmonic relationship between inhabitants and the species in its native distribution.
Severe Trauma Patients Requiring Undelayable Combined Cranial and Extra-Cranial Surgery: A Proof-of-Concept Monocentric Study
Authors: Beucler Nathan , Sellier Aurore , Joubert Christophe , Bernard Cédric , Desse Nicolas , Esnault Pierre , Dagain Arnaud
Published: January 2022

Introduction

To date, there is no evidence concerning the emergency surgical management of severe trauma patients (STP) with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) presenting a life-threatening intracranial hematoma and a concomitant extra-cranial noncompressible active bleeding. Current guidelines recommend stopping the extra-cranial bleeding first. Nevertheless, the long-term outcome of STP with STBI mainly depends from intracranial lesions. Thus, we propose a combined damage-control surgical strategy aiming to reduce the time spent with intracranial hypertension and to hasten the admission in the intensive care unit. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the benefits of combined cranial and extra-cranial surgery of STP on the long-term outcome.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively searched through the database of STBI of a level 1 trauma center facility (Sainte-Anne Military Teaching Hospital, Toulon, France) from 2007 until 2021 looking for patients who benefited from combined cranial and extra-cranial surgery in an acute setting.

Results

The research yielded 8 patients. The mean age was 35 years old (±14) and the male to female sex ratio was 1.7/1. The trauma mechanism was a fall in 50% of the cases and a traffic accident in 50% of the cases. The median Glasgow coma scale score was 8 (IQR 4) before intubation. The median Injury Severity Score was 41 (IQR 16). Seven patients (88%) presented hypovolemic shock upon admission. Six patients (75%) benefited from damage-control laparotomy among, whom 4 (67%) underwent hemostatic splenectomy. One patient benefited from drainage of tension pneumothorax, and one patient benefited from external fixator of multiple limb fractures. Seven patients (88%) benefited from decompressive craniectomy for acute subdural hematoma (5 patients) or major brain contusion (2 patients). One patient (12%) benefited from craniotomy for epidural hematoma. Three patients presented intraoperative profound hypovolemic shock. Six patients (75%) presented a favorable neurologic outcome with minor complications from extra-cranial surgeries and 2 patients died (25%).

Conclusion

Performing combined life-saving cranial and extra-cranial surgery is feasible and safe as long as the trauma teams are trained according to the principles of damage control. It may be beneficial for the neurologic prognostic of STP with STBI requiring cranial and extra-cranial surgery.
The center-to-limb variation of non-thermal velocities using IRIS Si IV
Authors: Rao Yamini K , Del Zanna Giulio , Mason Helen E
Published: January 2022

We study the non-thermal velocities in the quiet-sun using various high spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). We focus our analysis on the transition region using the optically thin line (Si iv 1393.7 Å), and select line profiles that are nearly Gaussian. We find evidence of a centre-to-limb variation using different observations having different exposure times, ranging from 5-30 s. The distribution of non-thermal velocities close to the limb are observed to peak around 20 km s−1 while the disc observations show a peak around 15 km s−1. The distributions are also different. The overall variation in the non-thermal velocities are correlated with the intensity of the line, as found previously. The on-disc velocities are smaller than most previous observations. In general, we find that the non-thermal velocities are independent of the selected exposure times. The Si iv lines didn’t seem to exhibit any significant opacity effects. We conclude that these Doppler motions are mostly transverse to the radial direction. The possibility of swaying/torsional motions leading to such variations are validated from these IRIS observations.
The obesity paradox in patients with colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Yiding , Li Chenhan , Wu Guiling , Yang Wanli , Wang Xiaoqian , Duan Lili , Niu Liaoran , Chen Junfeng , Zhang Yujie , Zhou Wei , Liu Jinqiang , Hong Liu , Fan Daiming
Published: January 2022

Context

Obesity is widely regarded as an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, recent studies have shown that lower mortality and better cancer-specific survival were observed in CRC patients with elevated body mass index (BMI), an example of the obesity paradox, which is the inverse correlation between obesity and mortality in some populations.

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between BMI and CRC outcomes.

Data Sources

PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched for relevant articles published from inception to December 31, 2020.

Study Selection

Studies comparing the prognosis of CRC patients with obesity or overweight with that of normal-weight CRC patients were eligible.

Data Extraction

Data were extracted by 2 reviewers independently; differences were resolved by a third reviewer. BMI was classified according to WHO categories.

Data Analysis

To assess the prognostic effects of different BMI categories in CRC patients, hazard ratios and 95%CIs of overall survival, disease-free survival, and cancer-specific survival were extracted from included articles.

Results

Sixteen studies (55 391 patients in total) were included. Higher BMI was significantly associated with more favorable CRC outcomes. Compared with normal-weight patients, underweight patients had worse overall survival (HR = 1.26; 95%CI, 1.15–1.37) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.19; 95%CI, 1.11–1.27, while patients with overweight had better overall survival (HR = 0.92; 95%CI, 0.86–0.99), disease-free survival (HR = 0.96; 95%CI, 0.93–1.00), and cancer-specific survival (HR = 0.86; 95%CI, 0.76–0.98). Patients with morbid obesity had worse overall survival (HR = 1.12; 95%CI, 1.02–1.22) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.15; 95%CI, 1.07–1.24) than normal-weight patients. There was no significant difference in cancer-specific survival between patients with obesity (HR = 0.94; 95%CI, 0.76–1.16) and patients with normal weight, nor between patients with underweight and patients with normal weight (HR = 1.14; 95%CI, 0.82–1.58).

Conclusions

CRC patients with a higher BMI appear to have reduced mortality compared with normal-weight CRC patients, even though higher BMI/obesity is an established determinant for the development of CRC.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO registration no. CRD42020202320.
Regulation, Asset Complexity, and the Informativeness of Credit Ratings
Authors: Jankowitsch Rainer , Ottonello Giorgio , Subrahmanyam Marti G
Published: January 2022

We show that the effect of regulation on credit rating informativeness depends on asset complexity. Using the Dodd-Frank Act as a shock to the rating industry, we analyze the impact of rating changes on market prices, conditioning on various measures of complexity. Rating informativeness improves after Dodd-Frank, but not for assets with high complexity. Our results are robust to alternative measures of informativeness and provide strong evidence that the impact of regulation varies in the cross-section of securities. Our findings are consistent with models combining rating shopping with rating agencies that strategically decide on information acquisition and rating inflation. (JEL, G12, G32)

Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.
Effects of water quality on growth performance and health of nursery pigs
Authors: Lozinski Brigit M , Frederick Brent , Li Yuzhi , Saqui-Salces Milena , Shurson Gerald C , Urriola Pedro E , Wilson Melissa L , Johnston Lee J
Published: January 2022

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of providing drinking water of differing qualities on growth performance and health of nursery pigs. Weanling pigs (n = 450; 150 pigs/group; 10 pigs/pen) were assigned randomly to one of three experimental groups consisting of three water sources of varying qualities: 1) Water source A containing 1,410 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 1,120 ppm sulfates, and 1,500 ppm total dissolved solids (TDS); 2) Water source B containing 909 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 617 ppm sulfates, and 1,050 ppm TDS; and 3) Water source C containing 235 ppm hardness (CaCO3 equivalent), 2 ppm sulfates, and 348 ppm TDS. Pigs were provided ad libitum access to their respective water sources for the duration of the study which began at weaning (21 d of age) and ended 40 d later (61 d of age). Individual pig weights were recorded weekly along with feed intake on a pen basis. Occurrences of morbidity and mortality were recorded daily. Subjective fecal scores were assigned on a pen basis and blood samples were used to evaluate blood chemistry, cytokine concentrations, and phagocytic activity. A differential sugar absorption test was used to assess intestinal permeability. Fecal grab samples were used to establish diet digestibility, and drinking behavior was video-recorded to assess pigs’ acceptance of water sources provided. The statistical model considered fixed effects of water source, room, and their interaction with the random effect of pen. A repeated measures analysis was conducted to determine the effects of water quality over time. There were no differences (P > 0.440) among water sources in average daily gain (A, 0.46 kg/d; B, 0.46 kg/d; C, 0.47 kg/d) or average daily feed intake (A, 0.68 kg/d; B, 0.69 kg/d; C, 0.71 kg/d). Overall mortality of pigs was 0.44% and did not differ across the three water sources. There were no differences in apparent total tract digestibility of the diet, intestinal permeability, immune parameters, or blood chemistry attributable to quality of water consumed by pigs. Pigs did not show an aversion to the water sources provided, because total time pigs spent at the drinker did not differ (P > 0.750) among water sources on days 1 through 3 of the experiment. These data indicate that the water sources of differing quality studied did not affect growth performance or health of nursery pigs.
Self-similar properties of avalanche statistics in a simple turbulent model
Authors: Benzi Roberto , Castaldi Ilaria , Toschi Federico , Trampert Jeannot
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we consider a simplified model of turbulence for large Reynolds numbers driven by a constant power energy input on large scales. In the statistical stationary regime, the behaviour of the kinetic energy is characterized by two well-defined phases: a laminar phase where the kinetic energy grows linearly for a (random) time

t
w

followed by abrupt avalanche-like energy drops of sizes

S

due to strong intermittent fluctuations of energy dissipation. We study the probability distribution

P
[

t
w

]

and

P
[
S
]

which both exhibit a quite well-defined scaling behaviour. Although

t
w

and

S

are not statistically correlated, we suggest and numerically checked that their scaling properties are related based on a simple, but non-trivial, scaling argument. We propose that the same approach can be used for other systems showing avalanche-like behaviour such as amorphous solids and seismic events.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
Remarks on the principles of statistical fluid mechanics
Authors: Ohkitani Koji
Published: January 2022

This is an idiosyncratic survey of statistical fluid mechanics centering on the Hopf functional differential equation. Using the Burgers equation for illustration, we review several functional integration approaches to the theory of turbulence. We note in particular that some important contributions have been brought about by researchers working on wave propagation in random media, among which Uriel Frisch is not an exception. We also discuss a particular finite-dimensional approximation for the Burgers equation.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘’Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
The Onsager theory of wall-bounded turbulence and Taylor’s momentum anomaly
Authors: Eyink Gregory L. , Kumar Samvit , Quan Hao
Published: January 2022

We discuss the Onsager theory of wall-bounded turbulence, analysing the momentum dissipation anomaly hypothesized by Taylor. Turbulent drag laws observed with both smooth and rough walls imply ultraviolet divergences of velocity gradients. These are eliminated by a coarse-graining operation, filtering out small-scale eddies and windowing out near-wall eddies, thus introducing two arbitrary regularization length-scales. The regularized equations for resolved eddies correspond to the weak formulation of the Navier–Stokes equation and contain, in addition to the usual turbulent stress, also an inertial drag force modelling momentum exchange with unresolved near-wall eddies. Using an Onsager-type argument based on the principle of renormalization group invariance, we derive an upper bound on wall friction by a function of Reynolds number determined by the modulus of continuity of the velocity at the wall. Our main result is a deterministic version of Prandtl’s relation between the Blasius

−
1

/

4

drag law and the 1/7 power-law profile of the mean streamwise velocity. At higher Reynolds, the von Kármán–Prandtl drag law requires instead a slow logarithmic approach of velocity to zero at the wall. We discuss briefly also the large-eddy simulation of wall-bounded flows and use of iterative renormalization group methods to establish universal statistics in the inertial sublayer.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
Laws of turbulence decay from direct numerical simulations
Authors: Panickacheril John John , Donzis Diego A. , Sreenivasan Katepalli R.
Published: January 2022

Inspection of available data on the decay exponent for the kinetic energy of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence (HIT) shows that it varies by as much as 100%. Measurements and simulations often show no correspondence with theoretical arguments, which are themselves varied. This situation is unsatisfactory given that HIT is a building block of turbulence theory and modelling. We take recourse to a large base of direct numerical simulations and study decaying HIT for a variety of initial conditions. We show that the Kolmogorov decay exponent and the Birkhoff–Saffman decay are both observed, albeit approximately, for long periods of time if the initial conditions are appropriately arranged. We also present, for both cases, other turbulent statistics such as the velocity derivative skewness, energy spectra and dissipation, and show that the decay and growth laws are approximately as expected theoretically, though the wavenumber spectrum near the origin begins to change relatively quickly, suggesting that the invariants do not strictly exist. We comment briefly on why the decay exponent has varied so widely in past experiments and simulations.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
A correspondence between the multifractal model of turbulence and the Navier–Stokes equations
Authors: Dubrulle B. , Gibbon J. D.
Published: January 2022

The multifractal model of turbulence (MFM) and the three-dimensional Navier–Stokes equations are blended together by applying the probabilistic scaling arguments of the former to a hierarchy of weak solutions of the latter. This process imposes a lower bound on both the multifractal spectrum

C
(
h
)

, which appears naturally in the Large Deviation formulation of the MFM, and on

h

the standard scaling parameter. These bounds respectively take the form: (i)

C
(
h
)
≥
1
−
3
h

, which is consistent with Kolmogorov’s four-fifths law ; and (ii)

h
≥
−

2
3

. The latter is significant as it prevents solutions from approaching the Navier–Stokes singular set of Caffarelli, Kohn and Nirenberg.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
Hidden scale invariance in Navier–Stokes intermittency
Authors: Mailybaev Alexei A. , Thalabard Simon
Published: January 2022

We expose a hidden scaling symmetry of the Navier–Stokes equations in the limit of vanishing viscosity, which stems from dynamical space–time rescaling around suitably defined Lagrangian scaling centres. At a dynamical level, the hidden symmetry projects solutions which differ up to Galilean invariance and global temporal scaling onto the same representative flow. At a statistical level, this projection repairs the scale invariance, which is broken by intermittency in the original formulation. Following previous work by the first author, we here postulate and substantiate with numerics that hidden symmetry statistically holds in the inertial interval of fully developed turbulence. We show that this symmetry accounts for the scale-invariance of a certain class of observables, in particular, the Kolmogorov multipliers.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.