bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A CROSS-SECTIONAL METHOD FOR RIGHT-TAILED PANIC TESTS UNDER A MODERATELY LOCAL TO UNITY FRAMEWORK
Authors: Yamamoto Yohei , Horie Tetsushi
Published: March 2022

The left-tailed unit-root tests of the panel analysis of nonstationarity in idiosyncratic and common components (PANIC) proposed by Bai and Ng (2004, Econometrica 72, 1127–1177) have standard local asymptotic power. We assess the size and power properties of the right-tailed version of the PANIC tests when the common and/or the idiosyncratic components are moderately explosive. We find that, when an idiosyncratic component is moderately explosive, the tests for the common components may have considerable size distortions, and those for an idiosyncratic component may suffer from the nonmonotonic power problem. We provide an analytic explanation under the moderately local to unity framework developed by Phillips and Magdalinos (2007, Journal of Econometrics 136, 115–130). We then propose a new cross-sectional (CS) approach to disentangle the common and idiosyncratic components in a relatively short explosive window. Our Monte Carlo simulations show that the CS approach is robust to the nonmonotonic power problem.
An adaptive strategy for offering m-out-of-n insurance policies
Authors: Fishman George S. , Stidham Shaler
Published: March 2022

A company with $n$ geographically widely dispersed sites seeks insurance that pays off if $m$ out of the $n$ sites experience rarely occurring catastrophes (e.g., earthquakes) during a year. This study describes an adaptive dynamic strategy that enables an insurance company to offer the policy with smaller loss probability than more conventional static policies induce, but at a comparable or lower premium. The strategy accomplishes this by periodically purchasing reinsurance on individual sites. Exploiting rarity, the policy induces zero loss with probability one if no more than one quake occurs during any review interval. The policy also may induce a profit if $m$ or more quakes occur in an interval if no quakes have occurred in previous intervals. The study also examines the benefit of more than one reinsurance policy per active site. The study relies on expected utility to determine indifference premiums and derives an upper bound on loss probability independent of premium.
Indirect effects, via parental factors, of income harshness and unpredictability on kindergarteners’ socioemotional functioning
Authors: Li Zhi , Belsky Jay
Published: March 2022

Drawing on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort (n= 10,700), we evaluate indirect effects − via parent negative psychology and harsh-inconsistent parenting − of income harshness, unpredictability, and their interaction on kindergarteners’ socioemotional development. Income harshness is operationalized as the typical level of family income-to-needs across four repeated measurements from 9 months to kindergarten and unpredictability as random variation across the same repeated measurements. Results indicate that the effects of greater income harshness and the harshness-X-unpredictability interaction (reflecting more predictable income harshness) on more “problematic” child behavior operated via both parent negative psychology (i.e., greater psychological stress) and harsh-inconsistent parenting. Results underscore the utility of simultaneously investigating effects of income harshness and unpredictability, as well as their interaction and mechanisms of influence.
Externalizing behavior in preschool children in a South African birth cohort: Predictive pathways in a high-risk context
Authors: Malcolm-Smith Susan , Lake Marilyn T. , Krwece Akhona , du Plooy Christopher P. , Hoffman Nadia , Donald Kirsten A. , Zar Heather J. , Stein Dan J.
Published: March 2022

Mental health problems often begin in early childhood. However, the associations of various individual and contextual risk factors with mental health in the preschool period are incompletely understood, particularly in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) where multiple risk factors co-exist. To address this gap, we prospectively followed 981 children in a South African birth cohort, the Drakenstein Child Health Study, assessing pre-and postnatal exposures and risk factors. The predictive value of these factors for child mental health (assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist) was modeled using structural equation modeling. We identified two key pathways to greater externalizing behavior: (1) prenatal exposure to substances (alcohol and smoking) directly predicted increased externalizing behavior (β = 0.24, p < 0.001); this relationship was partially mediated by an aspect of infant temperament (negative emotionality; β = 0.05, p = 0.016); (2) lower socioeconomic status and associated maternal prenatal depression predicted more coercive parenting, which in turn predicted increased externalizing behavior (β = 0.18, p = 0.001). Findings in this high-risk LMIC cohort cohere with research from higher income contexts, and indicate the need to introduce integrated screening and intervention strategies for maternal prenatal substance use and depression, and promoting positive parenting across the preschool period.
The Roles of Transnational Associations in the World Order in the 1919 Paris Peace Settlement: A Comparative Assessment of Proposals and Their Influence
Authors: Davies Thomas Richard
Published: March 2022

In contrast to previous state-centric accounts, this article sheds new transnational light on the 1919 Paris peace settlement through its investigation of proposals for transnational associations’ roles in the envisaged new world order. The popularity of some of these proposals, and their perceived potential to contribute towards a more democratic, legitimate and peaceful international order, stimulated their consideration during official negotiations at the Paris Peace Conference, and subsequent League of Nations practice was also perceived to have reflected some of the ideas put forward in the proposals. This article provides a typology of these proposals, and it critically evaluates the claims made with respect to their repercussions for democracy, legitimacy and peace. The article further elucidates how, despite their limitations, these proposals helped open up diplomacy to transnational associations both at the Paris Peace Conference and in the League of Nations era.
Understanding the Nature of Crystallographic Bonds by Establishing the Correlation between Ion-Pair Chemistry and Their Separation in Detector Space
Authors: Licata Olivia G. , Mazumder Baishakhi
Published: March 2022

The occurrence of multi-hit events and the separation distance between multi-hit ion pairs field evaporated from III-nitride semiconductors can potentially provide insights on neighboring chemistry, crystal structure, and field conditions. In this work, we quantify the range of variation in major III-N and III-III ion-pair separation to establish correlations with bulk composition, growth method, and ion-pair chemistry. The analysis of ion-pair separation along the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure system allows for comparison of Ga-N and Ga-Ga ion-pair separation between events evaporated from pure GaN and Al0.3Ga0.7N. From this, we aim to define a relative measure for the bond length of ion pairs within an AlGaN/GaN heterostructure. The distributions of pair separation revealed a distinct bimodal behavior that is unique to Al-N2+ion pairs, suggesting the occurrence of both co-evaporation and molecular dissociation. Finally, we demonstrated that the two modes of ion-pair events align with the known variation in the surface electric field of the AlGaN(0001) structure. These findings demonstrate the utility of atom probe tomography in studying the crystallographic nature of nitride semiconductors.
From Black Lives Matter to EndSARS: Women’s Socio-Political Power and the Transnational Movement for Black Lives
Authors: Nwakanma Adaugo Pamela
Published: March 2022

The relationship between Black Lives Matter (BLM) and anti-police brutality movements abroad reveals the variety of ways in which Black feminist theories of justice have taken root in public discourse. The EndSARS movement in Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and the world’s largest Black nation, illustrates the influence of BLM transnationally and some of the continuities and discontinuities between anti-police brutality movements across contexts. I examine these two movements in tandem and develop a theory of political behaviour that builds on transnational Black and African feminist insights. More specifically, I consider how Black feminist articulations of intersectionality, personal politics, and Black liberation have informed the language and organizational praxis of two of the largest anti-police brutality movements to have taken place in the midst of a global pandemic. Here, I argue that organizers, many of whom were women, leveraged social power, in the form of embeddedness in politically active communities, to effectively organize protests and demand for justice. Through this comparative analysis, I contribute substantively to our understanding of how social power engenders political empowerment for individuals and communities in spite of patriarchal systems of exclusion.
The interaction of pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin applied preemergence for the control of multiple-herbicide-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in soybean
Authors: Ferrier James , Soltani Nader , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: March 2022

Six field experiments were conducted to investigate any interaction between pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin on soybean tolerance and control of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp in soybean during 2016 and 2017 in Ontario, Canada. There was a synergistic increase in soybean injury with the co-application of pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin at all rates evaluated at 2 wk after emergence (WAE), the two highest rates evaluated (134/106 and 268/211 g ai ha–1) at 4 WAE, and the highest rate (268/211 g ai ha–1) evaluated at 8 WAE. Soybean injury with all pyroxasulfone and flumioxazin treatments was transient and had no adverse effect on soybean grain yield. Pyroxasulfone applied preemergence at 45, 89, 134, and 268 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 72%, 89%, 92%, and 95%, respectively. Flumioxazin applied preemergence at 35, 70, 106, and 211 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 78%, 90%, 93%, and 96%, respectively. Pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin applied preemergence at 45/35, 89/70, 134/106, and 268/211 g ai ha–1 controlled MHR waterhemp up to 92%, 96%, 98%, and 100%, respectively. There were no significant antagonistic or synergistic interactions for the control of MHR waterhemp with pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin at rates evaluated except at 268/211 g ai ha–1, which provided a synergistic increase in MHR waterhemp control at 4 WAE. The MHR waterhemp biomass and density reductions followed a trend similar trend to visible control. Pyroxasulfone/flumioxazin at 268/211 g ai ha–1 caused a synergistic response in biomass reduction (9% difference). Based on these results, there is an additive increase in MHR waterhemp control and potential for a synergistic increase in soybean injury with the co-application of pyroxasulfone plus flumioxazin.
Enhancement of tolpyralate + atrazine efficacy with adjuvants
Authors: Fluttert John C. , Soltani Nader , Galla Mariano , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: March 2022

Tolpyralate is commonly mixed with atrazine for improved control of common annual weed species in corn production systems in the United States and Canada. Weed control efficacy with this mixture is enhanced with the addition of methylated seed oil (MSO) Concentrate®; however, there is little information on the efficacy of tolpyralate + atrazine with other proprietary adjuvants. Therefore, four trials were conducted at field research sites in Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the efficacy of tolpyralate + atrazine when applied with six different commercially available adjuvants on four annual broadleaf and two annual grass weed species in corn. The adjuvants evaluated were MSO Concentrate®, Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, Carrier®, LI 700®, and Merge®. A treatment of tolpyralate + atrazine applied with no adjuvant was also included in the study. For the control of velvetleaf and wild mustard, the adjuvants evaluated with tolpyralate + atrazine did not improve control. At 8 wk after application (WAA), the use of Agral® 90, Assist® Oil Concentrate, Carrier®, MSO Concentrate®, or Merge® with tolpyralate + atrazine provided similar or greater control of common ragweed than tolpyralate + atrazine applied with LI 700®. At 8 WAA, the adjuvants performed similarly with tolpyralate + atrazine for the control of common lambsquarters; however, LI 700® was the only adjuvant that did not improve control compared to tolpyralate + atrazine applied without an adjuvant. At 8 WAA, MSO Concentrate®, Carrier®, and Merge® improved control of barnyardgrass and foxtail species with tolpyralate + atrazine to a similar or greater level than Assist® Oil Concentrate, Agral® 90, and LI 700®. Overall, MSO Concentrate®, Carrier®, or Merge® should be added to tolpyralate + atrazine for control of the myriad of weed species interfering with corn production.
The addition of very low rates of protoporphyrinogen oxidase–inhibiting herbicides to glufosinate does not improve control of glyphosate-resistant horseweed (Erigeron canadensis)
Authors: Dilliott Meghan , Soltani Nader , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: March 2022

Recent research reported synergism between glufosinate plus very low rates of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)–inhibiting herbicides on select broadleaf weeds. Two field studies, each consisting of four trials, were conducted in 2020 and 2021 in commercial fields with glyphosate-resistant (GR) horseweed in Ontario, Canada. Study 1 evaluated GR horseweed control with glufosinate plus five PPO inhibitors at 5% of the label rate; study 2 evaluated what dose of saflufenacil is needed when co-applied with glufosinate to improve GR horseweed control. In study 1, glufosinate plus very low rates of PPO-inhibiting herbicides provided low GR horseweed control. At site 1, despite the synergistic increase in GR horseweed control with saflufenacil (1.25 g ai ha–1) plus glufosinate (300 g ai ha–1), the level of control did not exceed 42% at 2 and 4 wk after application (WAA); the interaction was additive at 8 WAA. The co-application of glufosinate (300 g ai ha–1) with pyraflufen-ethyl (0.34 g ai ha–1), pyraflufen-ethyl/2,4-D (26.4 g ai ha–1), flumioxazin (5.35 g ai ha–1), fomesafen (12 g ai ha–1), or sulfentrazone (7 g ai ha–1) resulted in an additive interaction for GR horseweed control at 2, 4, and 8 WAA. However, glufosinate plus pyraflufen-ethyl or sulfentrazone was antagonistic at 8 WAA. In study 2, similar doses of saflufenacil were required for 50%, 80%, and 95% GR horseweed control whether glufosinate was included in the mixture or not. Interactions between glufosinate (300 g ai ha–1) plus saflufenacil at 1.56, 3.13, 6.25, and 12.5 g ai ha–1 were antagonistic at 2, 4, and 8 WAA at sites 1, 2, and 3; all other interactions were additive. The results of this research indicate there was little to no benefit of adding very low rates of PPO-inhibiting herbicides to glufosinate to improve GR horseweed control under field conditions.
Impact of environmental and agronomic conditions on rice injury caused by florpyrauxifen-benzyl
Authors: Beesinger James W. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Butts Thomas R. , Roberts Trenton L.
Published: March 2022

Environmental conditions surrounding herbicide applications are known to affect weed control and crop response. Variable levels of rice injury caused by florpyrauxifen-benzyl have been observed across cropping systems and environmental conditions, warranting research in which single environmental and management strategies are isolated to understand the effect of each factor on rice injury and subsequent reductions in rice growth. A field study was conducted to determine the effects of planting date, rice cultivar, and florpyrauxifen-benzyl rate on rice injury, maturity, and yield. Two greenhouse studies were conducted to determine the effect of soil moisture and time of flooding after florpyrauxifen-benzyl application on rice injury caused by the herbicide. Growth chamber experiments were conducted to isolate the effects of temperature and light intensity on rice injury caused by florpyrauxifen-benzyl. In the field study, levels of injury varied across planting dates in both years, indicating the influence of environment on the crop response to florpyrauxifen-benzyl applications. Under dry (40% soil moisture) and saturated (100%) soil conditions, rice injury increased to 36% and 35%, respectively, compared with 27% and 25% injury at 60% and 80% soil moisture, respectively. Flooding rice 0 to 6 d after florpyrauxifen-benzyl application reduced visible injury; however, a reduction in rice tiller production occurred when the rice was flooded the same day as application. Visible rice injury increased when florpyrauxifen-benzyl was applied under low light intensity (700 µmol m−2 s−1) and high temperatures (35/24 C day/night). Based on these findings, applications of florpyrauxifen-benzyl are least likely to cause unacceptable rice injury when applied to soils having 60% and 80% saturation in high light, low temperature environments, and the crop is flooded 3 to 6 d following application.
Origin and Age of Magmatism in the Northern Philippine Sea Basins
Authors: Ishizuka Osamu , Tani Kenichiro , Taylor Rex N. , Umino Susumu , Sakamoto Izumi , Yokoyama Yuka , Shimoda Gen , Harigane Yumiko , Ohara Yasuhiko , Conway Chris E. , Perez Americus , Sekimoto Shun
Published: March 2022

A Robust tectonic reconstruction of the Philippine Sea Plate around ∼52 Ma is a prerequisite in understanding the process of subduction initiation and establishment of the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana arc. This study investigates origins and timing of basin formation in the still poorly understood oldest part of the northern Philippine Sea plate. We have established that andesitic magmatism in the form of the Northern Philippine Sea volcanics is widely distributed across this area. It is founded on both a Mesozoic arc terrane (Daito Ridge Group) and an intervening basin (Kita‐Daito Basin). Their narrow Eocene age range (45‐41 Ma) and lack of systematic spatial variation in geochemistry implies that this magmatism was not associated with on‐going subduction, but related to the rifting/spreading event forming the Kita‐Daito Basin. The arc‐like geochemistry of the volcanics seems to indicate melting of lithospheric mantle which had been previously metasomatized by Mesozoic subduction of a plate with Pacific‐MORB isotopic characteristics. Late Eocene basaltic magmatism also found in the Kita‐Daito Basin does not have arc‐like characteristics, and could have formed from low‐degree melts of asthenospheric mantle associated with the final stage of Kita‐Daito Basin spreading. As onset of activity of the Northern Philippine Sea volcanics is essentially synchronous with the magmatism associated with the Oki‐Daito mantle plume, it is possible that both magmatism and rifting of the Kita‐Daito Basin were triggered by the arrival of the Oki‐Daito mantle plume in this region. These results demonstrate that the Kita‐Daito Basin postdates subduction initiation of the Pacific Plate along the Izu‐Bonin‐Mariana arc.
Distinct North American Cooling Signatures Following the Zonally Symmetric and Asymmetric Modes of Winter Stratospheric Variability
Authors: Ding Xiuyuan , Chen Gang , Sun Lantao , Zhang Pengfei
Published: March 2022

This paper compares surface signatures of the zonally symmetric and asymmetric modes of stratospheric variability, which describe the strength of the polar vortex and a planetary wave‐1 pattern, respectively. Unlike a weak polar vortex followed by negative Arctic Oscillation–like anomalies, strong stratospheric wave activity features a polar vortex displacement with a deep planetary wave‐1 structure, resulting in positive North Atlantic Oscillation–like North American cooling in about 10 days. Moreover, the linkage between the stratosphere and surface is examined in two reanalyzes and four models of different configurations, which show more robust North American cooling following the displacement of the polar vortex due to strong stratospheric wave activity than the zonally symmetric weakening of the polar vortex. This suggests strong stratospheric wave activity acts as a better predictor for cold spells in the northern U.S. and Canada compared with a weak polar vortex.
Skillful Seasonal Forecasts of Land Carbon Uptake in Northern Mid‐ and High Latitudes
Authors: Lee Eunjee , Koster Randal D. , Ott Lesley E. , Joiner Joanna , Zeng Fan‐Wei , Kolassa Jana , Reichle Rolf H. , Arsenault Kristi R. , Hazra Abheera , Shukla Shraddhanand
Published: March 2022

Here we present a first look at the Gross Primary Production (GPP) forecast skill levels achievable with a state‐of‐the‐art subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) forecast system. Using NASA's retrospective S2S ensemble forecast in conjunction with a terrestrial biosphere model, and using an independent, remote sensing‐based data set for validation, we demonstrate an ability to accurately forecast spring‐summer carbon uptake at multi‐month leads. Averaged across mid‐ and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere land, the GPP forecast initialized on January 1 produces statistically significant skill through summer. The skill achieved, however, is spatially variable, with some regions appearing to extract skill from accurate forecasts of snowpack removal and others extracting skill from the initialization of carbon and nitrogen states. Our results reveal some heretofore unexplored facets of climate predictability and provide a look at what might be possible with future S2S forecast systems that are fully integrated with biogeochemical cycles.
Swift Weathering Response on Floodplains During the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum
Authors: Ramos Evan J. , Breecker Daniel O. , Barnes Jaime D. , Li Fangliang , Gingerich Philip D. , Loewy Staci L. , Satkoski Aaron M. , Baczynski Allison A. , Wing Scott L. , Miller Nathaniel R. , Lassiter John C.
Published: March 2022

Silicate weathering is thought to increase and offset the rapid, massive input of CO2 into the atmosphere and ocean during the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), but few nonmarine records have been used to quantify this. We probe changes in silicate weathering intensity by measuring Li isotope ratios of bedrock and ancient floodplain deposits spanning the PETM in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming (USA). Our results reveal a rapid increase in silicate weathering intensity during the PETM that remained high during at least the initial stage of climate recovery. Additionally, we determine that soils that formed farthest from ancient river channels underwent larger weathering changes than near‐channel soils. Alongside increased temperatures and pCO2, the simplest explanation for this response relates to increased seasonal fluctuations in water table height in the floodplain that promote dissolution and precipitation reactions. These findings newly demonstrate that weathering on floodplains, like mountain hillslopes, responds to climate change.
The Speciation and Coordination of a Deep Earth Carbonate‐Silicate‐Metal Melt
Authors: Davis A. H. , Solomatova N. V. , Campbell A. J. , Caracas R.
Published: March 2022

Ab initio molecular dynamics calculations on a carbonate‐silicate‐metal melt were performed to study speciation and coordination changes as a function of pressure and temperature. We examine in detail the bond abundances of specific element pairs and the distribution of coordination environments over conditions spanning Earth’s present‐day mantle. Average coordination numbers increase continuously from 4 to 8 for Fe and Mg, from 4 to 6 for Si, and from 2 to 4 for C from 1 to 148 GPa (4,000 K). Speciation across all pressure and temperature conditions is complex due to the unusual bonding of carbon. With the increasing pressure, C‐C and C‐Fe bonding increase significantly, resulting in the formation of carbon polymers, C‐Fe clusters, and the loss of carbonate groups. The increased bonding of carbon with elements other than oxygen indicates that carbon begins to replace oxygen as an anion in the melt network. We evaluate our results in the context of diamond formation and of metal‐silicate partitioning behavior of carbon. Our work has implications for properties of carbon and metal‐bearing silicate melts, such as viscosity, electrical conductivity, and reactivity with surrounding phases.
Estimation of Charge Transfer During Long Continuing Currents in Natural Downward Flashes Using Single‐Station E‐Field Measurements
Authors: Kohlmann Hannes , Schulz Wolfgang , Rachidi Farhad
Published: March 2022

The amount of charge transferred to ground during long continuing currents in natural downward flashes can be obtained either through direct current measurements or using remote electromagnetic fields, if direct measurements are not feasible. In this study, measurements of a single‐station E‐field antenna were used to estimate charge transfer during continuing currents. With time‐synchronized high‐speed video recordings serving as ground‐truth data for continuing current occurrence, we estimate transferred charge during long continuing currents in 140 natural downward flashes from electric field changes, assuming a simple monopole charge model. We present average parameters for the duration, transferred charge, amplitude, and the average amplitude on five segments along the channel. Further, we perform a simulation to investigate the estimation performance of the monopole charge model, when the cloud charge is spatially extended. Using an extended charge distribution model, we generate single‐station remote field waveforms and infer the charge with the monopole model. Comparison of the known and inferred charge yields estimation errors depending on the leader orientation, its spatial extension, and the observation distance. A Monte Carlo approach is carried out to statistically evaluate parameter deviations. This novel estimation error analysis sheds light on the limitations of the applied simple techniques for charge transfer estimation of long continuing currents using single‐station electric field measurements.
Projected Changes in the Tibetan Plateau Snowpack Resulting From Rising Global Temperatures
Authors: Nury Ahmad Hasan , Sharma Ashish , Mehrotra Raj , Marshall Lucy , Cordery Ian
Published: March 2022

The snowpack is a critical component of the hydrologic cycle in cold regions, the change in which becomes important for proper planning and management of water. The Tibetan Plateau provides significant amount of water to most Asian rivers, and consequently the downstream population is dependent on its availability. Despite its importance, potential change in snowpack in this region due to climate change is poorly understood to date, largely because of remoteness and the orographic complexity of the area. This study inspects the impact of climate change on snowpack change over the Tibetan Plateau considering historical simulations (1981–2004), near future projections (2041–2064), and far future projections (2071–2094) from global climate models (GCMs) and regional climate models (RCMs) of derived temperature, precipitation, and snow water equivalent (SWE). A multivariate nesting bias correction approach (MRNBC) was employed to correct possible biases in GCM and RCM derived temperature, precipitation, and SWE jointly over multiple time scales to preserve interdependencies among the variables while enabling simulation of year‐to‐year persistence, which is of importance in water security assessments. MRNBC reduced the bias in model simulations significantly and improved projections of the snow climatology. The results indicate that the annual maximum spell of snow‐free days will increase over the region whereas the snowy day fraction will decrease in the future compared to the historical period. In addition, annual SWE are noted to be decreasing in both the near future and far future with respect to historical averages. Changes in SWE will result from warming temperatures and also from changes in precipitation, which will lead to more rainfall than snowfall thus affecting snowmelt processes.
Dynamical Effect on Static Stability of the Venus Atmosphere Simulated Using a General Circulation Model: A Comparison With Radio Occultation Measurements
Authors: Ando Hiroki , Takaya Koutarou , Takagi Masahiro , Sugimoto Norihiko , Imamura Takeshi , Sagawa Hideo , Tellmann Silvia , Pätzold Martin , Matsuda Yoshihisa , Häusler Bernd , Limaye Sanjay , Choudhary Raj Kumar , Antonita Maria
Published: March 2022

Distributions of temperature and static stability in the Venus atmosphere consistent with recent radio occultation measurements are reproduced using a general circulation model. A low‐stability layer is maintained at low‐ and mid‐latitudes at 50–60 km altitude and is sandwiched by high‐ and moderate‐stability layers extending above 60 and below 50 km, respectively. In the polar region, the low‐stability layer is located at 46–63 km altitude and the relatively low‐stability layer is also found at 40–46 km altitude. To investigate how these thermal structures form, we examine the dynamical effects of the atmospheric motions on the static stability below 65 km altitude. The results show that the heat transports due to the mean meridional circulation and disturbances are important in low‐latitudes. The mid‐ and high‐latitudes above ∼47 km are destabilized by radiative processes and stabilized by the disturbances, which are mainly associated with baroclinic Rossby‐type waves. Below ∼47 km altitude, the polar region is destabilized by the dynamical processes which induce the appreciable equatorward heat transport, which might be related to Rossby waves in the sub‐cloud region, although the suppression of convective adjustment at cloud heights leads to stabilization at 43–47 km.
The Resilience of Biofilm‐Bound Sandy Systems to Cyclic Changes in Shear Stress
Authors: Chen Xindi , Zhang Changkuan , Townend Ian H. , Gong Zheng , Feng Qian , Yu Xiping
Published: March 2022

Sand‐attached benthic biofilms drive many important biogeological processes and serve as cooperative “ecosystem engineers”. In aquatic environments, biofilms undergo periodic detachment and re‐colonization due to the regular changes in hydrodynamic forcing. However, legacy impacts of past microbial actions on current biofilm formation and the biostabilization of the substratum sands are yet to be fully understood. In this study, a systematic set of flume experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different depositional histories. Changes in the erosion threshold and rate of erosion were determined from the time sequences of suspended sediment concentrations. The contents of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and particle morphology of the biofilm‐bound sandy matrix were analyzed. Surprisingly, biostabilization is disturbance‐stimulated, rather than disturbance‐limited, as previously thought. Bio‐sandy beds cultivated under intensive disturbance presented an EPS accumulation in each cycle, and showed a more rapid increase in bed strength and stability than when rarely disturbed. All colonies from previous cycles exhibited traces of EPS as “footprints”. These stimulated and possibly accelerated the process of recolonization, thereby enhancing the erosion resistance of the bed. In contrast, a stabilized bed was better suited to mature microbial communities. A modified “Windows of Opportunity” framework was therefore put forward. Although biostabilization was not established within short quiescent periods, the system created the “opportunity” to become established in subsequent “windows” by seeding the colonization process. The stabilization, destabilization and re‐stabilization of biofilm may imply a much more important role as ecosystem engineers and is relevant for a range of engineered bio‐systems.
Extracting Rare Earth Elements from Waste with a Flash of Heat
Authors: Fritts Rachel
Published: March 2022

A method called flash Joule heating could offer a more sustainable way to source essential components of electronics from coal fly ash.
Differences in microglia morphological profiles reflect divergent emotional temperaments: insights from a selective breeding model
Authors: Maras Pamela M. , Hebda-Bauer Elaine K. , Hagenauer Megan H. , Hilde Kathryn L. , Blandino Peter , Watson Stanley J. , Akil Huda
Published: March 2022

Microglia play critical roles in healthy brain development and function, as well as the neuropathology underlying a range of brain diseases. Despite evidence for a role of microglia in affective regulation and mood disorders, little is known regarding how variation in microglia status relates to individual differences in emotionality. Using a selective breeding model, we have generated rat lines with unique temperamental phenotypes that reflect broad emotional traits: bred low responder rats (bLRs) are novelty-averse and model a passive coping style, whereas bred high responder rats (bHRs) are highly exploratory and model an active coping style. To identify a functional role of microglia in these phenotypes, we administered minocycline, an antibiotic with potent microglia inhibiting properties and observed shifts in forced swim, sucrose preference, and social interaction behaviors in bLRs. Using detailed anatomical analyses, we compared hippocampal microglia profiles of bHRs and bLRs and found that although the lines had similar numbers of microglia, selective breeding was associated with a shift in the morphological features of these cells. Specifically, microglia from bLRs were characterized by a hyper-ramified morphology, with longer processes and more complicated branching patterns than microglia from bHRs. This morphology is thought to reflect an early stage of microglia activation and suggests that bLR microglia are in a reactive state even when animals are not overtly challenged. Taken together, our results provide novel evidence linking variation in inborn temperament with differences in the baseline status of microglia and implicate a role for microglia in shaping enduring emotional characteristics.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Hepatic stellate cell mediates transcription of TNFSF14 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via H2S/CSE-JNK/JunB signaling pathway
Authors: Ma Yanan , Wang Shanshan , Wu Yongle , Liu Bihan , Li Lei , Wang Wenjing , Weng Honglei , Ding Huiguo
Published: March 2022

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) both play important roles in the development of hepatocellar carcinoma (HCC). Whereas, in the microenvironment of HCC, whether HSC participate in regulating the biological process of HCC cells by releasing H2S remains elusive. In vitro, Flow cytometry (FCM), CCK-8, RNA-sequencing, Western blotting, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence and ChIP assays were carried out in the HCC cells to investigate the effect of H2S on biological functions and JNK/JunB-TNFSF14 signaling pathway. Specimens from HCC patients were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting assays for evaluating the expression of TNFSF14 and CSE. Statistical analysis was used to analyze the correlation between TNFSF14 expression and clinical data of HCC patients. Based on the FCM and CCK-8 results, we found the LX-2 cells were able to induce HCC cells apoptosis through releasing H2S. RNA-sequencing, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting results showed that TNFSF14 gene was upregulated in both LX-2 and NaHS group. NaHS treated in HCC cells led to JNK/JunB signaling pathway activating and greater binding of p-JunB to its responsive elements on TNFSF14 promoter. Impairment of TNFSF14 induction alleviated LX-2 and NaHS induced apoptosis of HepG2 and PLC/PRF/5 cells. Furthermore, TNFSF14 expression in HCC tissues was lower than the adjacent tissue. HCC patients with low expression of TNFSF14 had higher malignant degree and poor prognosis. In summary, demonstration of the involvement of HSC-derived H2S in JNK/JunB mediated expression of TNFSF14 gene strongly indicates H2S palys an important role in the regulation of HCC apoptosis.
Dopamine D3 receptor signaling alleviates mouse rheumatoid arthritis by promoting Toll-like receptor 4 degradation in mast cells
Authors: Wang Biao , Li Xueyi , Li Ming , Geng Yan , Wang Na , Jin Yaofeng , Zhang Wen , Xu Ke , Wang Jing , Tao Li , Lai Simin , Wu Kunyi , Lei Jing , Wang Jing , Zhou Ting , Li Ke , Chen Yanjiong , Xue Li
Published: March 2022

Dopamine receptors are involved in several immunological diseases. We previously found that dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) on mast cells showed a high correlation with disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but the mechanism remains largely elusive. In this study, a murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was employed in both DBA/1 mice and D3R knockout mice. Here, we revealed that D3R-deficient mice developed more severe arthritis than wild-type mice. D3R suppressed mast cell activation in vivo and in vitro via a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-dependent pathway. Importantly, D3R promoted LC3 conversion to accelerate ubiquitin-labeled TLR4 degradation. Mechanistically, D3R inhibited mTOR and AKT phosphorylation while enhancing AMPK phosphorylation in activated mast cells, which was followed by autophagy-dependent protein degradation of TLR4. In total, we found that D3R on mast cells alleviated inflammation in mouse rheumatoid arthritis through the mTOR/AKT/AMPK-LC3-ubiquitin-TLR4 signaling axis. These findings identify a protective function of D3R against excessive inflammation in mast cells, expanding significant insight into the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and providing a possible target for future treatment.
Projected climate-driven changes in pollen emission season length and magnitude over the continental United States
Authors: Zhang Yingxiao , Steiner Allison L.
Published: March 2022

Atmospheric conditions affect the release of anemophilous pollen, and the timing and magnitude will be altered by climate change. As simulated with a pollen emission model and future climate data, warmer end-of-century temperatures (4–6 K) shift the start of spring emissions 10–40 days earlier and summer/fall weeds and grasses 5–15 days later and lengthen the season duration. Phenological shifts depend on the temperature response of individual taxa, with convergence in some regions and divergence in others. Temperature and precipitation alter daily pollen emission maxima by −35 to 40% and increase the annual total pollen emission by 16–40% due to changes in phenology and temperature-driven pollen production. Increasing atmospheric CO2 may increase pollen production, and doubling production in conjunction with climate increases end-of-century emissions up to 200%. Land cover change modifies the distribution of pollen emitters, yet the effects are relatively small (<10%) compared to climate or CO2. These simulations indicate that increasing pollen and longer seasons will increase the likelihood of seasonal allergies.
Stalagmite paleomagnetic record of a quiet mid-to-late Holocene field activity in central South America
Authors: Jaqueto Plinio , Trindade Ricardo I. F. , Terra-Nova Filipe , Feinberg Joshua M. , Novello Valdir F. , Stríkis Nicolás M. , Schroedl Peter , Azevedo Vitor , Strauss Beck E. , Cruz Francisco W. , Cheng Hai , Edwards R. Lawrence
Published: March 2022

Speleothems can provide high-quality continuous records of the direction and relative paleointensity of the geomagnetic field, combining high precision dating (with U-Th method) and rapid lock-in of their detrital magnetic particles during calcite precipitation. Paleomagnetic results for a mid-to-late Holocene stalagmite from Dona Benedita Cave in central Brazil encompass ~1900 years (3410 BP to 5310 BP, constrained by 12 U-Th ages) of paleomagnetic record from 58 samples (resolution of ~33 years). This dataset reveals angular variations of less than 0.06° yr−1 and a relatively steady paleointensity record (after calibration with geomagnetic field model) contrasting with the fast variations observed in younger speleothems from the same region under influence of the South Atlantic Anomaly. These results point to a quiescent period of the geomagnetic field during the mid-to-late Holocene in the area now comprised by the South Atlantic Anomaly, suggesting an intermittent or an absent behavior at the multi-millennial timescale.
Molecular basis for allosteric agonism and G protein subtype selectivity of galanin receptors
Authors: Duan Jia , Shen Dan-Dan , Zhao Tingting , Guo Shimeng , He Xinheng , Yin Wanchao , Xu Peiyu , Ji Yujie , Chen Li-Nan , Liu Jinyu , Zhang Huibing , Liu Qiufeng , Shi Yi , Cheng Xi , Jiang Hualiang , Eric Xu H. , Zhang Yan , Xie Xin , Jiang Yi
Published: March 2022

Peptide hormones and neuropeptides are complex signaling molecules that predominately function through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Two unanswered questions remaining in the field of peptide-GPCR signaling systems pertain to the basis for the diverse binding modes of peptide ligands and the specificity of G protein coupling. Here, we report the structures of a neuropeptide, galanin, bound to its receptors, GAL1R and GAL2R, in complex with their primary G protein subtypes Gi and Gq, respectively. The structures reveal a unique binding pose of galanin, which almost ‘lays flat’ on the top of the receptor transmembrane domain pocket in an α-helical conformation, and acts as an ‘allosteric-like’ agonist via a distinct signal transduction cascade. The structures also uncover the important features of intracellular loop 2 (ICL2) that mediate specific interactions with Gq, thus determining the selective coupling of Gq to GAL2R. ICL2 replacement in Gi-coupled GAL1R, μOR, 5-HT1AR, and Gs-coupled β2AR and D1R with that of GAL2R promotes Gq coupling of these receptors, highlighting the dominant roles of ICL2 in Gq selectivity. Together our results provide insights into peptide ligand recognition and allosteric activation of galanin receptors and uncover a general structural element for Gq coupling selectivity.
Screening transition metal-based polar pentagonal monolayers with large piezoelectricity and shift current
Authors: Guo Yaguang , Zhou Jian , Xie Huanhuan , Chen Yanyan , Wang Qian
Published: March 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) materials entirely composed of pentagon motifs are of interest for their wide applications. Here, we demonstrate that in-plane polar symmetry can exist in ternary pentagonal monolayers, where the induced electric polarization is not associated with specific conditions, such as ferroelectric phase transition, strain gradient, and layer stacking, but is an intrinsic structural property coming from the orderly arranged polar bonds. Based on the high-throughput screening method and first-principles calculations, we find eight stable 2D polar transition metal compounds with a number of intriguing properties. In particular, their piezoelectric coefficients are three orders of magnitude larger than those of 2D elemental and binary pentagonal structures, and their bulk photovaltaic shift current can reach up to 300 μA V−2, superior to that of 2D conventional ferroelectric materials such as GeS. Our identified pentagonal monolayers not only expand the family of 2D pyroelectric materials, but also hold potential for energy conversions.
Storage of photonic time-bin qubits for up to 20 ms in a rare-earth doped crystal
Authors: Ortu Antonio , Holzäpfel Adrian , Etesse Jean , Afzelius Mikael
Published: March 2022

Long-duration quantum memories for photonic qubits are essential components for achieving long-distance quantum networks and repeaters. The mapping of optical states onto coherent spin-waves in rare earth ensembles is a particularly promising approach to quantum storage. However, it remains challenging to achieve long-duration storage at the quantum level due to read-out noise caused by the required spin-wave manipulation. In this work, we apply dynamical decoupling techniques and a small magnetic field to achieve the storage of six temporal modes for 20, 50, and 100 ms in a 151Eu3+:Y2SiO5 crystal, based on an atomic frequency comb memory, where each temporal mode contains around one photon on average. The quantum coherence of the memory is verified by storing two time-bin qubits for 20 ms, with an average memory output fidelity of F = (85 ± 2)% for an average number of photons per qubit of μin = 0.92 ± 0.04. The qubit analysis is done at the read-out of the memory, using a type of composite adiabatic read-out pulse we developed.
Magneto-optical study of metamagnetic transitions in the antiferromagnetic phase of α-RuCl3
Authors: Wagner Julian , Sahasrabudhe Anuja , Versteeg Rolf B. , Wysocki Lena , Wang Zhe , Tsurkan Vladimir , Loidl Alois , Khomskii Daniel I. , Hedayat Hamoon , van Loosdrecht Paul H. M.
Published: March 2022

α-RuCl3 is a promising candidate material to realize the so far elusive quantum spin liquid ground state. However, at low temperatures, the coexistence of different exchange interactions couple the effective pseudospins into an antiferromagnetically zigzag (ZZ) ordered state. The low-field evolution of spin structure is still a matter of debate and the magnetic anisotropy within the honeycomb planes is an open and challenging question. Here, we investigate the evolution of the ZZ order parameter by second-order magneto-optical effects, the magnetic linear dichroism and magnetic linear birefringence. Our results clarify the presence and nature of metamagnetic transitions in the ZZ phase of α-RuCl3. The experimental observations show the presence of initial magnetic domain repopulation followed by a spin-flop transition for small in-plane applied magnetic fields (≈1.6 T) along specific crystallographic directions. In addition, using a magneto-optical approach, we detected the recently reported emergence of a field-induced intermediate phase before suppressing the ZZ order. The results disclose the details of various angle-dependent in-plane metamagnetic transitions quantifying the bond-anisotropic interactions present in α-RuCl3.
Detection of subtle white matter lesions in MRI through texture feature extraction and boundary delineation using an embedded clustering strategy
Authors: Ong Kokhaur , Young David M. , Sulaiman Sarina , Shamsuddin Siti Mariyam , Mohd Zain Norzaini Rose , Hashim Hilwati , Yuen Kahhay , Sanders Stephan J. , Yu Weimiao , Hang Seepheng
Published: March 2022

White matter lesions (WML) underlie multiple brain disorders, and automatic WML segmentation is crucial to evaluate the natural disease course and effectiveness of clinical interventions, including drug discovery. Although recent research has achieved tremendous progress in WML segmentation, accurate detection of subtle WML present early in the disease course remains particularly challenging. Here we propose an approach to automatic WML segmentation of mild WML loads using an intensity standardisation technique, gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) embedded clustering technique, and random forest (RF) classifier to extract texture features and identify morphology specific to true WML. We precisely define their boundaries through a local outlier factor (LOF) algorithm that identifies edge pixels by local density deviation relative to its neighbors. The automated approach was validated on 32 human subjects, demonstrating strong agreement and correlation (excluding one outlier) with manual delineation by a neuroradiologist through Intra-Class Correlation (ICC = 0.881, 95% CI 0.769, 0.941) and Pearson correlation (r = 0.895, p-value < 0.001), respectively, and outperforming three leading algorithms (Trimmed Mean Outlier Detection, Lesion Prediction Algorithm, and SALEM-LS) in five of the six established key metrics defined in the MICCAI Grand Challenge. By facilitating more accurate segmentation of subtle WML, this approach may enable earlier diagnosis and intervention.