bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
General self-efficacy, not musculoskeletal health, was associated with social isolation and loneliness in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study
Authors: Bevilacqua Gregorio , Westbury Leo D. , Bloom Ilse , Zhang Jean , Lawrence Wendy T. , Barker Mary E. , Ward Kate A. , Dennison Elaine M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent among older adults. This study investigated factors influencing worsening social isolation and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on musculoskeletal conditions, falls, and fractures.

Methods

We studied 153 participants from the Hertfordshire Cohort Study. Baseline assessments (2019–20) included osteoporosis, clinical osteoarthritis, fractures after age 45 years, falls in previous year, and lifestyle factors. Self-efficacy was assessed using a shortened General Self-Efficacy Scale. Social isolation was assessed using the 6-item Lubben Social Network Scale. Follow-up (2020–21) assessments included social isolation and loneliness using the 6-item De Jong-Gierveld scale for emotional, social, and overall loneliness.

Results

Baseline median age was 83.1 years. A history of smoking predicted worsening social isolation (p = 0.046). Being married (p = 0.026) and higher self-efficacy scores (p = 0.03) predicted reduced social isolation at follow-up. Greater alcohol consumption was associated with higher overall loneliness (p = 0.026). Being married was related to a 36% (95% CI: 3%, 58%) reduction in emotional loneliness (p = 0.037). No musculoskeletal condition was associated with social isolation or loneliness. However, we observed a 22% (14%, 30%; p < 0.001) reduction in emotional loneliness and a 12% (4%, 20%; p = 0.003) reduction in overall loneliness per unit increase in self-efficacy score.

Conclusions

No musculoskeletal condition was associated with increased social isolation or loneliness, but longitudinal studies in larger samples are required. Greater self-efficacy was associated with reduced social isolation and reduced loneliness. Interventions promoting self-efficacy in older adults may reduce isolation and loneliness in this age group.
Endocrine manifestations in adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: a retrospective single-center cohort study
Authors: Soubry E. , David K. , Swillen A. , Vergaelen E. , Docx Op de Beeck M. , Hulsmans M. , Charleer S. , Decallonne B.
Published: February 2024

Introduction and objective

Patients with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) frequently display cardiological and psychiatric diseases, but are also at increased risk for endocrine manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the screening, prevalence, and management of hypoparathyroidism and thyroid disease in patients with 22q11DS, to evaluate the metabolic profile, and to compare these results with current literature and guidelines.

Design

We performed a retrospective study of patients with genetically confirmed 22q11DS, followed at the center for human genetics of the University Hospitals Leuven, resulting in a cohort of 75 patients. Medical history, medication, and laboratory results concerning hypoparathyroidism, thyroid dysfunction, and the metabolic profile were collected.

Results

Of the total cohort, 26 patients (35%) had at least one hypocalcaemic episode. During hypocalcaemia, parathyroid hormone (PTH) was measured in only 12 patients with 11 having normal or low PTH, confirming a diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. Recurrent episodes of hypocalcaemia occurred in seventeen patients (23%). Adherence to the guidelines was low, with 13% of patients having a yearly serum calcium evaluation, 12% receiving daily calcium supplements, and 20% receiving non-active vitamin D. Hypothyroidism was present in 31 patients (44%) and hyperthyroidism in 6 patients (8%). Information on body mass index (BMI) was available in 52 patients (69%), of which 38% were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2).

Conclusion

Hypoparathyroidism, hypothyroidism, and obesity are common endocrine manifestations in patients with 22q11DS but are probably underdiagnosed and undertreated, indicating the need for multidisciplinary follow-up including an endocrinologist.
Geochemical and petrological studies of high sulfur coal and overburden from Makum coalfield (Northeast India) towards understanding and mitigation of acid mine drainage
Authors: Mahanta Angana , Sarmah Debashis , Bhuyan Nilotpol , Saikia Monikankana , Phukan Sarat , Subramanyam K. S. V. , Singh Ajit , Saikia Prasenjit , Saikia Binoy K.
Published: February 2024

Opencast coal mining produces trash of soil and rock containing various minerals, that are usually dumped nearby the abandoned sites which causes severe environmental concern including the production of acid mine drainage (AMD) through oxidation pyrite minerals. The current study entailed assessing the potential production of AMD from an opencast coal mining region in Northeast part of India. In order to have a comprehensive overview of the AMD problem in Makum coalfield, the physico-chemical, geochemical, and petrological characteristics of the coal and overburden (OB) samples collected from the Makum coalfield (Northeast India) were thoroughly investigated. The maceral compositions reveal that coal features all three groups of macerals (liptinite, vitrinite, and inertinite), with a high concentration of liptinite indicating the coal of perhydrous, thereby rendering it more reactive. Pyrite (FeS2) oxidation kinetics were studied by conducting the aqueous leaching experiments of coal and (OB) samples to interpret the chemical weathering under controlled laboratory conditions of various temperature and time periods, and to replicate the actual mine site leaching. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) was operated to detect the disposal of some precarious elements from coal and OB samples to the leachates during our controlled leaching experiment. The Rare earth element (REE) enrichment in the samples shows the anthropogenic incorporation of the REE in the coal and OB. These experiments reveal the change in conductivity, acid producing tendency, total dissolved solid(TDS), total Iron(Fe) and dissolved Sulfate(SO42−) ions on progress of the leaching experiments. Moreover, the discharge of FeS2via atmospheric oxidation in laboratory condition undergoes a significant growth with the rise of temperature of the reaction systems in the environment and follows pseudo first order kinetics. A bio-remediative strategies is also reported in this paper to mitigate AMD water by employing size-segregated powdered limestone and water hyacinth plant in an indigenously developed site-specific prototype station. Apart from neutralisation of AMD water, this eco-friendly AMD remediation strategy demonstrates a reduction in PHEs concentrations in the treated AMD water.
Is there a nexus between pro-social behavior and well-being? Correlational evidence
Authors: Koch Christian
Published: February 2024

Is there a connection between pro-social behavior and well-being? This question has long been of interest, with Aristotle famously suggesting a nexus between virtues and well-being. To delve into this relationship, I conducted an extensive study encompassing multiple classical economic games and nearly 100 well-being questions. My findings confirm that different patterns of pro-sociality are robustly correlated with each other. On top, I find reliable correlations between well-being and pro-social behavior, as well as certain forms of punishment. In terms of underlying explanations, I observe that pro-sociality is particularly associated with a form of long-term well-being known as eudaimonia, suggesting that pro-social behavior plays a fundamental role in people perceiving their life as meaningful.
Rockburst prevention by microwave destressing: a numerical investigation
Authors: Yang Chun , Zhou Keping , Zhang Quan , He Manchao , Gao Feng , Xiong Xin , Pan Zheng , Topa Ameen
Published: February 2024

Rockbursts are a complex phenomenon characterized by a violent ejection of rock fragments from the free face of deep underground mines. Due to the sudden, disruptive, and complex nature of these events, accurate predictions of rockbursts are difficult. Therefore, geotechnical intervention is imperative to prevent the occurrence of a rockburst. The scenarios of microwave destressing is introduced here as an application method to potentially prevent their occurrence. To understand the influences of microwave destressing, such as microwave exposure duration, spatial layout, and geometric parameters of the microwave preconditioned zone (MPZ), on the occurrence of a rockburst, numerical simulation was conducted based on an impact-induced rockburst model. The feasibility of microwave destressing technology was validated numerically. This paper also provides guidance for the utilization of microwave destressing in practice. Discontinuous MPZ is suitable for a known blasting source with a fixed position, and continuous MPZ can be applied for a working condition with multiple blasting sources with variable positions. A closer distance of MPZ from the free face results in a better microwave destressing effect. However, the closer distance of MPZ from the free face also introduces more negative influences on the static stability of surrounding rock.
The Contribution of 2D and 3D Geometric Morphometrics to Lithic Taxonomies: Testing Discrete Categories of Backed Flakes from Recurrent Centripetal Core Reduction
Authors: Bustos-Pérez Guillermo , Gravina Brad , Brenet Michel , Romagnoli Francesca
Published: February 2024

Paleolithic lithic assemblages are usually dominated by flakes and display a high degree of morphological variability. When analyzing Paleolithic lithic assemblages, it is common to classify flakes into categories based on their morphological and technological features, which are linked to the position of the flake in the reduction sequence and how removals are organized in a given production method. For the analysis of Middle Paleolithic lithic assemblages, two categories of flakes are commonly identified: core–edge flakes and pseudo-Levallois points. A third type, core–edge flakes with a limited back, is also commonly found in the archaeological literature, providing an alternative category whose definition does not match the two previous types but shares many of their morphological and technological features. The present study addresses whether these three flakes constitute discrete categories based on their morphological and technological attributes. 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics are employed on an experimental set composed of the three categories of flakes to quantify morphological variation. Machine learning models and principal components biplots are used to test the discreteness of the categories. The results indicate that geometric morphometrics succeed in capturing the morphological and technological features that characterize each type of product. Pseudo-Levallois points have the highest discreteness of the three technological products, and while some degree of mixture exists between core edge flakes and core edge flakes with a limited back, they are also highly distinguishable. We conclude that the three categories are discrete and can be employed in technological lists of products for the analysis of lithic assemblages and that geometric morphometrics is useful for testing for the validity of categories. When testing these technological categories, we stress the need for well-defined and shared lithic analytical units to correctly identify and interpret the technical steps and decisions made by prehistoric knappers and to properly compare similarities and differences between stone tool assemblages. These are key aspects for current research in which open datasets are becoming more and more common and used to build interpretative techno-cultural models on large geographical scales. Now more than ever, lithic specialists are aware of the need to overcome differences in taxonomies between different school traditions.
‘Do not parade your ignorance’: Negation as a power tool of toxic geek masculinity
Authors: Poucke Margo Van
Published: February 2024

Catering to a primarily male user population, Reddit is often said to be a breeding ground for toxic language use, which has led to the development of multiple computational classification models for the automated identification of toxicity in online conversations. Since negation can play a key role in cyberbullying, functioning as a popular stance marker in the dialogical exchange of dominating views in the digital sphere, it should not be ignored. Likewise, its use as a rhetorical strategy deserves more linguistic attention. Described as Engagement resources of disclaim in Appraisal theory, negated constructions may be employed by Reddit users to disalign themselves from divergent perspectives through emotion-driven ad hominem attacks, not only resulting in a potentially detrimental impact on the users’ mental health, but also perpetuating toxic power relationships. Therefore, this paper examines the use of negation, in combination with various other interpersonal resources, within the Redditors’ dialogical interactions, to explore its possible motivations and role in shaping the online discourse. A computer-assisted appraisal analysis was conducted on 2637 most upvoted comments and replies (49,866 words), extracted from the subreddit of r/AustralianPolitics between 11–14 April and 7–10 May 2022, during the period leading up to the so-called federal climate change election in Australia. The study shows evidence of a seemingly dominant negation pattern characterised by negative judgement and its findings tentatively suggest that some of the male Australian users may use negation as a discursive strategy driven by ideology and emotion. This raises the possibility that the language use encountered on r/AustralianPolitics may be influenced by covert toxic geek masculinity.
A globalization diversity ideology
Authors: Diamond Aurel H.
Published: February 2024

Current reviews of diversity ideologies compare the efficacy of multiculturalism, colorblindness, and polyculturalism in facilitating positive intergroup contact. This paper considers the co-production between globalization and diversity in order to propose a globalization diversity ideology that would add a fourth dimension to the existing multiculturalism-colorblindness-polyculturalism paradigm. This paper explores the concept of a globalization diversity ideology in two steps. First, by considering diversity in the context of globalization and global spaces, this paper defines a globalization diversity ideology that highlights belonging to a mutual global and international space, while recognizing the asymmetric interactions between groups. Second, and in order to illustrate the potential of a globalization diversity ideology, the paper reviews empirical studies that indicate how it may reduce the impact of discrimination and racism, and facilitate positive intergroup contact. Example empirical studies focus on globalization diversity in management and STEM contexts. The studies demonstrate how in some cases, globalization diversity can reduce the salience of the local or national context, thus providing ethnic and racial minorities with a path for negotiating hostile intergroup relations. These studies indicate how a globalization ideology for diversity may differ from colourblindness, multiculturalism, and polyculturalism ideologies. The paper recommends the development of an empirical instrument for measuring and implementing a globalization diversity ideology. The successful development of a globalization ideology would facilitate a four-way approach to diversity ideologies and models that would expand on the existing multiculturalism-colorblindness-polyculturalism paradigm.
Resource-Efficient Gigawatt Water Electrolysis in Germany—A Circular Economy Potential Analysis
Authors: Matz Levin , Bensmann Boris , Hanke-Rauschenbach Richard , Minke Christine
Published: February 2024

Green hydrogen will play a key role in the future energy system. For the production of green hydrogen, an installation of alkaline (AWE) and proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) of several gigawatts per year is projected in the upcoming decades. The development of the hydrogen economy is associated with a great demand for scarce and expensive resources. To reduce resource demand and avoid supply bottlenecks, actions toward a circular economy are required. In the present study, three circular economy actions (repair, reuse, and recycling) are analyzed with regard to AWE and PEMWE installation taking Germany as an example. It is found that, so far, only recycling is a viable strategy for a circular economy. For further analysis, a model is developed to assess the impact of recycling on resource demand for AWE and PEMWE scale-up. Mass flows from end-of-life recycling are intergrated into the model, and their economic value is estimated. The results imply that closed-loop recycling can reduce the cumulated primary resource demand by up to 50% in the long run. However, recycling will first be relevant after 2040, while water electrolysis capacities installed before still depend on primary materials. The outlook on the economic value of the recycling materials indicates a volume of up to 2.15 B € per decade for PEMWE and 0.98 B € per decade for AWE recycling. To realize the potential, a recycling industry specialized for those technolgies considering the whole value chain covering dismantling, collection, and recycling must be introduced.
Urbanization and Benefit of Integration Circular Economy into Waste Management in Indonesia: A Review
Authors: Wikurendra Edza Aria , Csonka Arnold , Nagy Imre , Nurika Globila
Published: February 2024

Urbanization is a global problem but is more pronounced in developing countries. Population growth in developing countries is in line with population movement from rural to urban areas due to easy access to jobs, welfare, and the economy. Indirectly, urbanization will burden urban areas in various vital sectors and contribute directly to waste generation. Unscientific waste handling causes health hazards and urban environmental degradation. Solid Waste Management is a formidable task in Indonesia that will become more complicated with increasing urbanization, changing lifestyles, and increasing consumerism. Several current obstacles related to waste management have made the situation even worse. Current inappropriate waste disposal practices have created severe environmental and public health problems. The purpose of this paper is to critically review the impact of urbanization on waste generation, what is currently being done, and the benefit of integrating a circular economy into waste management to address the waste problem in Indonesia. This review provides an overview of urbanization trends, the projected increase in waste due to urbanization, solid waste status, and current waste management in Indonesia. An integration circular economy approach provides an overview of the benefits of implementing this approach in five crucial sectors in Indonesia. The circular economy approach is expected to be one of the future solutions to the problem of waste management in Indonesia.
Analysis of ICESat‐2 Data Acquisition Algorithm Parameter Enhancements to Improve Worldwide Bathymetric Coverage
Authors: Dietrich James T. , Rackley Reese Ann , Gibbons Aimée , Magruder Lori A. , Parrish Christopher E.
Published: February 2024

A major advance in global bathymetric observation occurred in 2018 with the launch of NASA’s ICESat‐2 satellite, carrying a green‐wavelength, photon‐counting lidar, the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System (ATLAS). Although bathymetric measurement was not initially a design goal for the mission, pre‐ and post‐launch studies revealed ATLAS’s notable bathymetric mapping capability. ICESat‐2 bathymetry has been used to support a wide range of coastal and nearshore science objectives. However, analysis of ICESat‐2 bathymetry in numerous locations around the world revealed instances of missing or clipped bathymetry in areas where bathymetric measurement should be feasible. These missing data were due to the ATLAS receiver algorithms not being optimized for bathymetry capture. To address this, two updates have been made to ICESat‐2’s receiver algorithm parameters with the goal of increasing the area for which ICESat‐2 can provide bathymetry. This paper details the parameter changes and presents the results of a two‐phased study designed to investigate ICESat‐2’s bathymetry enhancements at both local and global scales. The results of both phases confirm that the new parameters achieved the intended goal of increasing the amount of bathymetry provided by ICESat‐2. The site‐specific phase demonstrates the ability to fill critical bathymetric data gaps in open ocean and coastal settings. The global analysis shows that the area of potential bathymetry approximately doubled, with 6.1 million km2 of new area in which bathymetric measurements may be feasible. These enhancements are anticipated to facilitate a range of science objectives and close the gap between ICESat‐2 bathymetry and offshore sonar data.
National‐Scale Rainfall‐Triggered Landslide Susceptibility and Exposure in Nepal
Authors: Kincey M. E. , Rosser N. J. , Swirad Z. M. , Robinson T. R. , Shrestha R. , Pujara D. S. , Basyal G. K. , Densmore A. L. , Arrell K. , Oven K. J. , Dunant A.
Published: February 2024

Nepal is one of the most landslide‐prone countries in the world, with year‐on‐year impacts resulting in loss of life and imposing a chronic impediment to sustainable livelihoods. Living with landslides is a daily reality for an increasing number of people, so establishing the nature of landslide hazard and risk is essential. Here we develop a model of landslide susceptibility for Nepal and use this to generate a nationwide geographical profile of exposure to rainfall‐triggered landslides. We model landslide susceptibility using a fuzzy overlay approach based on freely‐available topographic data, trained on an inventory of mapped landslides, and combine this with high resolution population and building data to describe the spatial distribution of exposure to landslides. We find that whilst landslide susceptibility is highest in the High Himalaya, exposure is highest within the Middle Hills, but this is highly spatially variable and skewed to on average relatively low values. Around 4 × 106 Nepalis (∼15% of the population) live in areas considered to be at moderate or higher degree of exposure to landsliding (>0.25 of the maximum), and critically this number is highly sensitive to even small variations in landslide susceptibility. Our results show a complex relationship between landslides and buildings, that implies wider complexity in the association between physical exposure to landslides and poverty. This analysis for the first time brings into focus the geography of the landslide exposure and risk case load in Nepal, and demonstrates limitations of assessing future risk based on limited records of previous events.
Improving the Accessibility and Efficiency of Proton Irradiations for 4He/3He Thermochronology
Authors: Colleps C. L. , van der Beek P. A. , Amalberti J. , Denker A. , Tremblay M. M. , Bernard M. , Dittwald A. H. , Bundesmann J.
Published: February 2024

Synthesizing uniform and high concentrations of 3He within minerals via high‐energy proton irradiation is paramount for 4He/3He thermochronology and helium diffusion kinetic studies. Proton irradiations of geological material have hitherto exclusively been routinely conducted at the Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy Center (FHB); we thus explored alternative irradiation protocols at two European‐based facilities with the intention to improve the accessibility and efficiency in obtaining 4He/3He data. We conducted a single irradiation at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) using an approach most similar to that used at FHB (wide, high‐energy beam), and four irradiations at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) using a newly developed in‐vacuum irradiation protocol in a narrow, lower‐energy but high‐intensity beam. Internal shards of Durango apatite were irradiated in all experiments; 4He/3He release spectra and bulk 3He concentrations of PSI and HZB‐irradiated Durango shards were compared to those from FHB to assess the quality of each experiment in terms of the quantity and uniformity of synthesized 3He. While 3He was uniformly synthesized in PSI‐irradiated Durango shards, the bulk 3He concentration was below the required threshold due to limitations on the maximum allotted proton flux. Over the course of four irradiation experiments at HZB, the protocol evolved to ensure that uniform and high concentrations of 3He can be consistently induced. Furthermore, we demonstrate how HZB irradiations can be replicated using computer simulations, permitting the use of simulations to inform future modifications of the irradiation protocol in order to optimize the uniformity of the 3He distribution across all irradiated samples.
Carbon Storage in the Forearc Produced by Buoyant Diapirs of Subducted Sediment
Authors: Wang Xinxin , Zhao Liang , Yang Jianfeng , Guo Zhengtang
Published: February 2024

Carbonate sediments transported into the mantle at subduction zone settings account for the majority of the carbon flux into the Earth's interior and are thus critical to the deep carbon cycle. Understanding carbon storage volumes in the deep earth requires knowledge of the degree to which carbonate sediments are stored in the arc lithosphere or descend to the deep mantle. Here, we use petrological‐thermomechanical modeling to indicate that solid‐state diapirs dominate the removal of carbon from subducting plates, which may be the principal carbon‐release mechanism for the Cyclades (Greece) and Costa Rican forearcs. We find that forearc diapirs remove up to ∼80% of subducting carbon and develop diagonally upward, resulting in massive carbon storage in the subarc lithosphere. Outgassing from the carbon storage may cause high carbon outputs and explain volcanic gas with high δ13C at some subduction zones, affecting atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Nepheloid Layer Structure and Variability Along the Highly Energetic Continental Margin of the Northern South China Sea
Authors: Chen Tian , Liu Xiaolei , Bian Changwei , Zhang Shaotong , Ji Chunsheng , Wu Zhaosen , Jia Yonggang
Published: February 2024

Observations of hydrography and suspended particles supply a large amount of information regarding material transport with respect to the changing marginal sea. To investigate the nepheloid layer structure and variability along the highly energetic continental margin of the northern South China Sea, we combined optical data and time series of acoustic backscatter data. The surface nepheloid layers and subsurface nepheloid layers were widely developed, but the bottom nepheloid layers (BNLs) and intermediate nepheloid layers (INLs) showed regional differences. On the western side of Dongsha Island, there was a large variability of strong INLs, with concentrations up to 0.94 mg L−1, and they occasionally formed and exceeded 200 m in a few hours, with concentration changes up to an order of magnitude. On the eastern side, INLs thicker than 100 m were rare. However, the BNL was larger and more stable, and the strongest BNLs with nepheloid inversion had concentrations up to 0.55 mg L−1 and unexpectedly thickened to be greater than 1,500 m, extending upward to the thermocline. Time series data found that the recurring nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) dominated the enhancement of BNLs in the Dongsha Slope. The NLIW‐induced vertical velocity reached 0.5 m s−1, increasing the concentration of BNLs and resuspending sediment to 10 m above the bottom. The NLIWs strongly erode the sediments and provide a material source for the upward development of BNLs, while centimeter‐scale rippled scours form on the seafloor. These findings provide evidence of strong lateral transport across continental margins.
Constraining Formation Hypotheses for Irregular Mare Patches on the Moon With Orbital Reflectance Spectra
Authors: Vannier Hunter , Horgan Briony , Stopar Julie D. , Henderson Marie
Published: February 2024

Irregular mare patches (IMPs) are enigmatic volcanic features on the Moon's surface, whose lack of cratering and crisp appearance imply they formed <100 Ma ago, ∼1 Ga after the expected turnoff of lunar volcanism. Multiple contrasting formation hypotheses have been put forth to explain their young appearance, including recent emplacement via eruptions of juvenile volcanic material or outgassing, versus ancient volcanic deposits that were emplaced billions of years ago but only appeared young due to highly porous material. If IMPs formed recently, this would require a reinterpretation of lunar thermal evolution. To help constrain formation hypotheses, we provide a comprehensive mineralogical analysis of IMPs using visible to near infrared hyperspectral data from the Moon Mineralogy Mapper. IMPs appear spectrally dominated by high‐calcium pyroxene and are spectrally similar to their host mare and fresh craters. IMPs do not show clear indications of significant glass, implying that pyroclastic eruption was not significant in IMP formation. Based on spectral comparisons to terrestrial magma foam, we find that this also contradicts the glassiness expected for a magma foam exposed at the surface. Thus, we find it is unlikely that IMPs are composed of recently erupted material and may instead be the result of recent or ongoing surface modification of materials similar in composition and likely contemporaneously emplaced with the mare. We favor previous hypotheses that collapse processes or drainage into subsurface voids or porous materials may have been the major drivers of IMP surface rejuvenation, supported by their proximity to collapse features.
Improving Thermospheric Density Predictions in Low‐Earth Orbit With Machine Learning
Authors: Acciarini Giacomo , Brown Edward , Berger Tom , Guhathakurta Madhulika , Parr James , Bridges Christopher , Baydin Atılım Güneş
Published: February 2024

Thermospheric density is one of the main sources of uncertainty in the estimation of satellites' position and velocity in low‐Earth orbit. This has negative consequences in several space domains, including space traffic management, collision avoidance, re‐entry predictions, orbital lifetime analysis, and space object cataloging. In this paper, we investigate the prediction accuracy of empirical density models (e.g., NRLMSISE‐00 and JB‐08) against black‐box machine learning (ML) models trained on precise orbit determination‐derived thermospheric density data (from CHAMP, GOCE, GRACE, SWARM‐A/B satellites). We show that by using the same inputs, the ML models we designed are capable of consistently improving the predictions with respect to state‐of‐the‐art empirical models by reducing the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) in the thermospheric density estimation from the range of 40%–60% to approximately 20%. As a result of this work, we introduce Karman: an open‐source Python software package developed during this study. Karman provides functionalities to ingest and preprocess thermospheric density, solar irradiance, and geomagnetic input data for ML readiness. Additionally, it facilitates developing and training ML models on the aforementioned data and benchmarking their performance at different altitudes, geographic locations, times, and solar activity conditions. Through this contribution, we offer the scientific community a comprehensive tool for comparing and enhancing thermospheric density models using ML techniques.
Quantifying Uncertainties in the Quiet‐Time Ionosphere‐Thermosphere Using WAM‐IPE
Authors: Zhan Weijia , Doostan Alireza , Sutton Eric , Fang Tzu‐Wei
Published: February 2024

This study presents a data‐driven approach to quantify uncertainties in the ionosphere‐thermosphere (IT) system due to varying solar wind parameters (drivers) during quiet conditions (Kp < 4) and fixed solar radiation and lower atmospheric conditions representative of 16 March 2013. Ensemble simulations of the coupled Whole Atmosphere Model with Ionosphere Plasmasphere Electrodynamics (WAM‐IPE) driven by synthetic solar wind drivers generated through a multi‐channel variational autoencoder (MCVAE) model are obtained. Applying the polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) technique, it is possible to estimate the means and variances of the QoIs as well as the sensitivities of the QoIs with regard to the drivers. Our results highlight unique features of the IT system's uncertainty: (a) the uncertainty of the IT system is larger during nighttime; (b) the spatial distributions of the uncertainty for electron density and zonal drift at fixed local times present 4 peaks in the evening sector, which are associated with the low‐density regions of longitude structure of electron density; (c) the uncertainty of the equatorial electron density is highly correlated with the uncertainty of the zonal drift, especially in the evening sector, while it is weakly correlated with the vertical drift. A variance‐based global sensitivity analysis suggests that the IMF Bz plays a dominant role in the uncertainty of electron density. A further discussion shows that the uncertainty of the IT system is determined by the magnitudes and universal time variations of solar wind drivers. Its temporal and spatial distribution can be modulated by the average state of the IT system.
Physical and mental health in adolescence: novel insights from a transdiagnostic examination of FitBit data in the ABCD study
Authors: Damme Katherine S. F. , Vargas Teresa G. , Walther Sebastian , Shankman Stewart A. , Mittal Vijay A.
Published: February 2024

Adolescence is among the most vulnerable period for the emergence of serious mental illnesses. Addressing this vulnerability has generated interest in identifying markers of risk for symptoms and opportunities for early intervention. Physical fitness has been linked to psychopathology and may be a useful risk marker and target for early intervention. New wearable technology has made assessing fitness behavior more practical while avoiding recall and self-report bias. Still, questions remain regarding the clinical utility of physical fitness metrics for mental health, both transdiagnostically and along specific symptom dimensions. The current study includes 5007 adolescents (ages 10–13) who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and additional sub-study that collected fitness data from wearable technology and clinical symptom measures. Physical fitness metrics included resting heart rate (RHR- an index of cardiovascular health), time spent sedentary (associated with increased inflammation and cardiovascular disease), and time spent in moderate physical activity (associated with increased neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, and healthy neurodevelopment). Self-report clinical symptoms included measures of psychosis-like experiences (PLE), internalizing symptoms, and externalizing symptoms. Increased RHR- lower cardiovascular fitness- related only to greater internalizing symptoms (t = 3.63). More sedentary behavior related to elevated PLE severity (t = 5.49). More moderate activity related to lower PLE (t = −2.69) and internalizing (t = −6.29) symptom severity. Wearable technology fitness metrics linked physical health to specific mental health dimensions, which emphasizes the utility of detailed digital health data as a marker for risk and the need for precision in targeting physical health behaviors to benefit symptoms of psychopathology.
Machine learning classification of autism spectrum disorder based on reciprocity in naturalistic social interactions
Authors: Koehler Jana Christina , Dong Mark Sen , Bierlich Afton M. , Fischer Stefanie , Späth Johanna , Plank Irene Sophia , Koutsouleris Nikolaos , Falter-Wagner Christine M.
Published: February 2024

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by impaired social communication and interaction. As a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed during childhood, diagnosis in adulthood is preceded by a resource-heavy clinical assessment period. The ongoing developments in digital phenotyping give rise to novel opportunities within the screening and diagnostic process. Our aim was to quantify multiple non-verbal social interaction characteristics in autism and build diagnostic classification models independent of clinical ratings. We analyzed videos of naturalistic social interactions in a sample including 28 autistic and 60 non-autistic adults paired in dyads and engaging in two conversational tasks. We used existing open-source computer vision algorithms for objective annotation to extract information based on the synchrony of movement and facial expression. These were subsequently used as features in a support vector machine learning model to predict whether an individual was part of an autistic or non-autistic interaction dyad. The two prediction models based on reciprocal adaptation in facial movements, as well as individual amounts of head and body motion and facial expressiveness showed the highest precision (balanced accuracies: 79.5% and 68.8%, respectively), followed by models based on reciprocal coordination of head (balanced accuracy: 62.1%) and body (balanced accuracy: 56.7%) motion, as well as intrapersonal coordination processes (balanced accuracy: 44.2%). Combinations of these models did not increase overall predictive performance. Our work highlights the distinctive nature of non-verbal behavior in autism and its utility for digital phenotyping-based classification. Future research needs to both explore the performance of different prediction algorithms to reveal underlying mechanisms and interactions, as well as investigate the prospective generalizability and robustness of these algorithms in routine clinical care.
Targeting AXL induces tumor-intrinsic immunogenic response in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-resistant liver cancer
Authors: Xie Yunong , Wu Haofeng , He Yimiao , Liu Linglin , Huang Ianto Bosheng , Zhou Lei , Lin Cheuk-Yin , Leung Rainbow Wing-Hei , Loh Jia-Jian , Lee Terence Kin-Wah , Ding Jin , Man Kwan , Ma Stephanie , Tong Man
Published: February 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy without effective therapeutic approaches. Here, we evaluate the tumor-intrinsic mechanisms that attenuate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) that is observed in patients with advanced HCC who progress on first-line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Upregulation of AXL observed in sorafenib- and lenvatinib-resistant HCCs is correlated with poor response towards TKI and ICI treatments. AXL upregulation protects sorafenib-resistant HCC cells from oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and accompanying immunogenic cell death through suppressed tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and STING-type I interferon pathways. Pharmacological inhibition of AXL abrogates the protective effect and re-sensitizes TKI-resistant HCC tumors to anti-PD-1 treatment. We suggest that targeting AXL in combination with anti-PD-1 may provide an alternative treatment scheme for HCC patients who progress on TKI treatment.
Programmed microalgae-gel promotes chronic wound healing in diabetes
Authors: Kang Yong , Xu Lingling , Dong Jinrui , Yuan Xue , Ye Jiamin , Fan Yueyue , Liu Bing , Xie Julin , Ji Xiaoyuan
Published: February 2024

Chronic diabetic wounds are at lifelong risk of developing diabetic foot ulcers owing to severe hypoxia, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), a complex inflammatory microenvironment, and the potential for bacterial infection. Here we develop a programmed treatment strategy employing live Haematococcus (HEA). By modulating light intensity, HEA can be programmed to perform a variety of functions, such as antibacterial activity, oxygen supply, ROS scavenging, and immune regulation, suggesting its potential for use in programmed therapy. Under high light intensity (658 nm, 0.5 W/cm2), green HEA (GHEA) with efficient photothermal conversion mediate wound surface disinfection. By decreasing the light intensity (658 nm, 0.1 W/cm2), the photosynthetic system of GHEA can continuously produce oxygen, effectively resolving the problems of hypoxia and promoting vascular regeneration. Continuous light irradiation induces astaxanthin (AST) accumulation in HEA cells, resulting in a gradual transformation from a green to red hue (RHEA). RHEA effectively scavenges excess ROS, enhances the expression of intracellular antioxidant enzymes, and directs polarization to M2 macrophages by secreting AST vesicles via exosomes. The living HEA hydrogel can sterilize and enhance cell proliferation and migration and promote neoangiogenesis, which could improve infected diabetic wound healing in female mice.
Camrelizumab and apatinib plus induction chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in stage N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a phase 2 clinical trial
Authors: Liang Hu , Jiang Yao-Fei , Liu Guo-Ying , Wang Lin , Wang Jian-Wei , Lu Nian , Xia Wei-Xiong , Ke Liang-Ru , Ye Yan-Fang , Duan Jin-Lin , Bei Wei-Xin , Dong Shu-Hui , Li Wang-Zhong , Liu Li-Ting , Zhao Chong , Xie Changqing , Xiang Yan-Qun
Published: February 2024

The antiangiogenic agent apatinib has been shown to clinically improve responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors in several cancer types. Patients with N3 nasopharyngeal carcinoma have a high risk of distant metastasis, however, if the addition of immunotherapy to standard treatment could improve efficacy is unclear. In this phase II clinical trial (ChiCTR2000032317), 49 patients with stage TanyN3M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled and received the combination of three cycles of induction chemotherapy, camrelizumab and apatinib followed by chemoradiotherapy. Here we report on the primary outcome of distant metastasis-free survival and secondary end points of objective response rate, failure-free survival, locoregional recurrence-free survival, overall survival and toxicity profile. After induction therapy, all patients had objective response, including 13 patients (26.5%) with complete response. After a median follow-up of 28.7 months, the primary endpoint of 1-year distant metastasis-free survival was met for the cohort (1-year DMFS rate: 98%). Grade≥3 toxicity appeared in 32 (65.3%) patients, with the most common being mucositis (14[28.6%]) and nausea/vomiting (9[18.4%]). In this work, camrelizumab and apatinib in combination with induction chemotherapy show promising distant metastasis control with acceptable safety profile in patients with stage TanyN3M0 nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
The anti-PD-L1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody KN046 in combination with nab-paclitaxel in first-line treatment of metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a multicenter phase II trial
Authors: Li Qiao , Liu Jiaxuan , Zhang Qingyuan , Ouyang Quchang , Zhang Yang , Liu Qiang , Sun Tao , Ye Feng , Zhang Baochun , Xia Summer , Zhang Bangyong , Xu Binghe
Published: February 2024

This multicenter, phase II study (NCT03872791) aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the anti-PD-L1/CTLA-4 bispecific antibody KN046 combined with nab-paclitaxel in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The primary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR), and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) rate, safety, and the correlation of PD-L1 status with clinical efficacy. This trial met pre-specified endpoints. 27 female patients were enrolled sequentially to receive KN046 in two dose levels (3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg). Among the 25 evaluable patients, the ORR achieved 44.0% (95% CI, 24.4% − 65.1%), and the median DoR was not mature. The median PFS reached 7.33 months (95%CI, 3.68 − 11.07 months), and the median OS was 30.92 months (95%CI, 14.75 - NE months). In PD-L1 positive patients, PFS was 8.61 months (versus 4.73 months) and the 2-year OS rate was 62.5% (versus 57.1%) compared to PD-L1 negative patients. Patients tolerated well the combination therapy. In general, KN046 combined with nab-paclitaxel showed favorable efficacy and survival benefits with tolerable toxicity in the first-line treatment of metastatic TNBC, especially PD-L1 positive, which is worth further investigation.
Determining intrinsic potentials and validating optical binding forces between colloidal particles using optical tweezers
Authors: Zhang Chi , Muñetón Díaz José , Muster Augustin , Abujetas Diego R. , Froufe-Pérez Luis S. , Scheffold Frank
Published: February 2024

Understanding the interactions between small, submicrometer-sized colloidal particles is crucial for numerous scientific disciplines and technological applications. In this study, we employ optical tweezers as a powerful tool to investigate these interactions. We utilize a full image reconstruction technique to achieve high precision in characterizing particle pairs that enable nanometer-scale measurement of their positions. This approach captures intricate details and provides a comprehensive understanding of the spatial arrangement between particles, overcoming previous limitations in resolution. Moreover, our research demonstrates that properly accounting for optical binding forces to determine the intrinsic interaction potential is vital. We employ a discrete dipole approximation approach to calculate optical binding potentials and achieve a good agreement between the calculated and observed binding forces. We incorporate the findings from these simulations into the assessment of the intrinsic interaction potentials and validate our methodology by using short-range depletion attraction induced by micelles as an example.
Tuning oxidant and antioxidant activities of ceria by anchoring copper single-site for antibacterial application
Authors: Jiang Peng , Zhang Ludan , Liu Xiaolong , Ye Chenliang , Zhu Peng , Tan Ting , Wang Dingsheng , Wang Yuguang
Published: February 2024

The reaction system of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) catalyzed by nanozyme has a broad prospect in antibacterial treatment. However, the complex catalytic activities of nanozymes lead to multiple pathways reacting in parallel, causing uncertain antibacterial results. New approach to effectively regulate the multiple catalytic activities of nanozyme is in urgent need. Herein, Cu single site is modified on nanoceria with various catalytic activities, such as peroxidase-like activity (POD) and hydroxyl radical antioxidant capacity (HORAC). Benefiting from the interaction between coordinated Cu and CeO2 substrate, POD is enhanced while HORAC is inhibited, which is further confirmed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Cu-CeO2 + H2O2 system shows good antibacterial properties both in vitro and in vivo. In this work, the strategy based on the interaction between coordinated metal and carrier provides a general clue for optimizing the complex activities of nanozymes.