bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of lead (Pb) on expression of stress and immune-related genes, and microRNAs in shorthorn sculpins (Myoxocephalus scorpius)
Authors: Jantawongsri Khattapan , Nørregaard Rasmus Dyrmose , Bach Lis , Dietz Rune , Sonne Christian , Jørgensen Kasper , Lierhagen Syverin , Ciesielski Tomasz Maciej , Jenssen Bjørn Munro , Waugh Courtney Alice , Eriksen Ruth , Nowak Barbara , Anderson Kelli
Published: August 2022

Old lead–zinc (Pb–Zn) mining sites in Greenland have increased the environmental concentration of Pb in local marine organisms, including the shorthorn sculpin. Organ metal concentrations and histopathology have been used in environmental monitoring programs to evaluate metal exposure and subsequent effects in shorthorn sculpins. So far, no study has reported the impact of heavy metals on gene expression involved in metal-related stress and immune responses in sculpins. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exposure to environmentally relevant waterborne Pb (0.73 ± 0.35 μg/L) on hepatic gene expression of metallothionein (mt), immunoglobulin M (igm), and microRNAs (miRNAs; mir132 and mir155) associated with immune responses in the shorthorn sculpin compared to a control group. The mt and igm expression were upregulated in the Pb-exposed group compared to the control group. The transcripts of mir132 and mir155 were not different in sculpins between the Pb-exposed and control group; however, miRNA levels were significantly correlated with Pb liver concentrations. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between liver Pb concentrations and igm, and a positive relationship between igm and mir155. The results indicate that exposure to Pb similar to those concentrations reported in in marine waters around Greenland Pb–Zn mine sites influences the mt and immune responses in shorthorn sculpins. This is the first study to identify candidate molecular markers in the shorthorn sculpins exposed to waterborne environmentally relevant Pb suggesting mt and igm as potential molecular markers of exposure to be applied in future assessments of the marine environment near Arctic mining sites.
Bell-Type Inequalities from the Perspective of Non-Newtonian Calculus
Authors: Piłat Michał Piotr
Published: August 2022

A class of quantum probabilities is reformulated in terms of non-Newtonian calculus and projective arithmetic. The model generalizes spin-1/2 singlet state probabilities discussed in Czachor (Acta Physica Polonica:139 70–83, 2021) to arbitrary spins s. For $$s\rightarrow \infty$$

s
→
∞

the formalism reduces to ordinary arithmetic and calculus. Accordingly, the limit “non-Newtonian to Newtonian” becomes analogous to the classical limit of a quantum theory.
Effectiveness of Stone and Deep Mixing Lime Columns on Stability of Embankments Constructed on Soft Consolidating Soil
Authors: Prakash K. G. , Krishnamoorthy A.
Published: August 2022

One of the most common, effective and innovative ways to improve soft soil is to use stone columns or lime columns. An extensive study has been conducted to find the effectiveness of lime or stone columns to improve the settlement of embankments constructed over soft consolidating soil. There are very few studies to evaluate the effects of columns on embankment safety factor during foundation soil consolidation. This study examined the effectiveness of stone and lime columns on the embankment stability, both in terms of safety factor and settlement, which are determined at different intervals of time, during the foundation soil consolidation. Further, it was also investigated the effectiveness of stone and lime column composite system. In this numerical study, two-dimensional plane strain finite element method is used. This study shows that, stone columns are more effective than lime columns in reducing post-construction settlement and to accelerate consolidation process, whereas lime columns are observed to be more effective than stone columns in improving the safety factor after the embankment construction indicating that the usage of stone or lime columns is significantly affected by the purpose for which columns are used. In addition, it is also observed that the column effectiveness on safety factor is strongly influenced by the relative shear strength of embankment and foundation soils. Further, provision of stone and lime columns as a composite system performs better than providing only stone or lime columns.
Foraging Strategies of Invasive Macaca fascicularis may Promote Plant Invasion in Mauritius
Authors: Reinegger Raphael D. , Oleksy Ryszard Z. , Gazagne Eva , Jones Gareth
Published: August 2022

The effectiveness of seed dispersal by frugivorous primates may vary between seasons and plant species, depending on foraging strategies. We investigated how foraging strategies of an invasive frugivorous primate (the long-tailed macaque, Macaca fascicularis) affect seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) between native and invasive plants in Mauritius’ native remnant forests. By collecting behavioural data on a group of partially habituated macaques via scan sampling from December 2019 until December 2020 (mean 19.2 ± SD 7.3 hours per month), we investigated seasonal patterns in diet, home range, and fruit availability to identify foraging strategies and determine fruit preference. We simultaneously assessed SDE for invasive vs native plants by quantifying native and invasive fruits consumed or dropped intact by macaques during feeding bouts (n = 114). Macaques fed increasingly on ripe invasive fruits and less on other food items as fruit availability increased, due to preference for invasive fruits and disproportionate availability of invasive vs native fruits. When fruit became scarcer, macaques had larger home ranges, increasingly fed on scarce unripe native and invasive fruits, and expanded their diet by eating orchard crops, indicating use of energy-maximizing strategies. Macaques consumed more native than invasive fruits when unripe and commonly destroyed seeds of native fruits, indicating higher SDE for invasive vs native plants. Higher discard rates of unripe compared to ripe fruits further reinforced these differences in SDE. Our results highlight potential facilitation of plant invasion by an invasive primate, due to foraging strategies shaped by the availability of invasive fruits.
German measurement structures: case-marking and non-conservativity
Authors: Pasternak Robert , Sauerland Uli
Published: August 2022

This paper addresses the syntactic and semantic analysis of nominal measurement structures liketwo liters of black coffeein German. German allows the case-marking on the substance noun phraseblack coffeeto vary: it can appear in genitive case or in the same case as the measure nounliter. The choice of case lacks semantic import with absolute measures likeliter, but a semantic distinction does arise for proportional measures likepercent, with the interpretation in the case-matching configuration serving as aprima faciecounterexample to Keenan and Stavi’sConservativity Hypothesisof DP quantification. We argue that (i) measurement structures do not have different syntactic configurations depending on the choice of measure noun (e.g.,litervs.percent); (ii) genitive and case-matching structures do, however, have different syntactic configurations; (iii) the semantic contrast between absolute and proportional measure nouns can be traced to their lexical interpretations; and (iv) the apparent violation of the Conservativity Hypothesis is only a surface-level phenomenon, and at LF all DP quantification is conservative.
Planning for active aging: exploring housing preferences of elderly populations in the United States
Authors: Wang Weijing , Durst Noah J.
Published: August 2022

Increases in the elderly population (defined as people aged 65 years old and above by the United States Census Bureau) in the United States (U.S.) have reached an inflection point. This demographic shift fundamentally reshapes the magnitude of housing needs in U.S. communities. Planning housing markets for active aging, our study (1) examines how the overall housing market in the U.S. responds to increases in the elderly population, (2) identifies housing preferences of elderly populations by exploring the heterogeneous effects of increasing elderly populations on different types/sizes of houses. Our results suggest that increases in the elderly population are associated with a slight rise in prices in the overall housing market. It points towards the role of increasing elderly populations in shaping the housing market, bringing both opportunities and challenges in reframing urban and housing policy. The study also shows that increases in the elderly population have significant and positive effects on single-family homes and small homes, but no impact on condominiums and large homes. The heterogeneous effects on different types/sizes of housing represent the preferences of elderly populations to single-family homes and small homes. Given the increasing size and share of elderly populations and severe shortages in affordable elderly housing, our study suggests that a strong commitment to reframing urban policy and housing programs targeting assistance and support toward elderly populations such as the Sect. 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, is in great need of federal and local governments’ interventions.
Is Circumcision “Necessary” in Islam? A Philosophical Argument Based on Peer Disagreement
Authors: Dabbagh Hossein
Published: August 2022

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in debates on the ethics of child genital cutting practices, both female and male, including within a Muslim context. Opponents of female genital cutting sometimes assert that the practice is not mentioned explicitly in the Qur’an as a way of implying that it does not have any religious standing within Islam. However, neither is male genital cutting mentioned explicitly in the Qur’an, and yet most people accept that it is a Muslim religious practice. Both practices, however, are mentioned in secondary sources of Islamic jurisprudence, with disagreement among religious authorities about the status or authenticity of some of these sources. This paper considers the religious status of both female and male genital cutting practices within Islam and employs a philosophical argument based on “peer disagreement” to ask whether either practice is necessary (i.e., religiously required) for a devout Muslim to endorse.
Fractal impedance for passive controllers: a framework for interaction robotics
Authors: Babarahmati Keyhan Kouhkiloui , Tiseo Carlo , Smith Joshua , Lin Hsiu-Chin , Erden Mustafa Suphi , Mistry Michael
Published: August 2022

There is increasing interest in control frameworks capable of moving robots from industrial cages to unstructured environments and coexisting with humans. Despite significant improvement in some specific applications (e.g., medical robotics), there is still the need for a general control framework that improves interaction robustness and motion dynamics. Passive controllers show promising results in this direction; however, they often rely on virtual energy tanks that can guarantee passivity as long as they do not run out of energy. In this paper, a Fractal Attractor is proposed to implement a variable impedance controller that can retain passivity without relying on energy tanks. The controller generates a Fractal Attractor around the desired state using an asymptotic stable potential field, making the controller robust to discretization and numerical integration errors. The results prove that it can accurately track both trajectories and end-effector forces during interaction. Therefore, these properties make the controller ideal for applications requiring robust dynamic interaction at the end-effector.
Agentive Duality reconsidered
Authors: Loets Annina , Zakkou Julia
Published: August 2022

A growing consensus in the literature on agentive modals has it that ability modals like ‘can’ or ‘able to’ have a dual, i.e. interpretations of ‘must’ or ‘cannot but’ which stand to necessity as ability stands to possibility. We argue that this thesis (which we call ‘Agentive Duality’) is much more controversial than meets the eye. While Agentive Duality follows from the orthodox possibility analysis of ability given natural assumptions, it sits uneasily with a wide range of alternative proposals which are unified by the idea that ability requires control. In particular, we show that against the background of a control requirement on ability, Agentive Duality can be used to derive absurd predictions featuring this dual. Far from being a purely definitional thesis, Agentive Duality thus affords a new lens through which to assess the long-standing debate between possibility analyses of ability and their discontents.
Utility of visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to predict base neutralizing capacity and lime requirement of quaternary soils
Authors: Horf Michael , Bönecke Eric , Gebbers Robin , Kling Charlotte , Kramer Eckart , Rühlmann Jörg , Schröter Ingmar , Schwanghart Wolfgang , Vogel Sebastian
Published: August 2022

Detailed knowledge of a soil’s lime requirement (LR) is a prerequisite for a demand-based lime fertilization to achieve the optimum soil pH and thus sustainably increasing soil fertility and crop yields. LR can be directly determined by the base neutralizing capacity (BNC) obtained by soil-base titration. For a site-specific soil acidity management, detailed information on the within-field variation of BNC is required. However, soil-base titrations for BNC determination are too laborious to be extensively applied in routine soil testing. In contrast, visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (visNIRS) is a time and cost-effective alternative that can analyze several soil characteristics within a single spectrum. VisNIRS was tested in the laboratory on 170 air-dried and sieved soil samples of nine agricultural fields of a quaternary landscape in North-east Germany predicting the soil’s BNC and the corresponding lime requirement (LRBNC) at a target pH of 6.5. Seven spectral pre-processing methods were tested including a new technique based on normalized differences (ND). Furthermore, six multivariate regression methods were conducted including a new method combining a forward stagewise subset selection algorithm with PLSR (FS-PLSR). The models were validated using an independent sample set. The best regression model for most target variables was FS-PLSR combined with the second Savitzky-Golay derivation as pre-processing method achieving R2s from 0.68 to 0.82. Finally, the performance of the direct prediction of LRBNC (R2 = 0.68) was compared with an indirect prediction that was calculated by the predicted BNC parameters. This resulted in slightly higher correlation coefficients for the indirect method with R2 = 0.75.
Combining Web of Science and Scopus datasets in citation-based literature study
Authors: Kumpulainen Miika , Seppänen Marko
Published: August 2022

Scientific research builds on previous studies and scientifically proven knowledge. Researchers must master the recent developments in the field when designing research to answer new questions. Today, the accessibility of research literature is abundant due to digitized publications, extensive coverage of citation indexes, and several literature databases. The means for conducting systematic literature reviews have greatly improved. In recent years, a lot of research with methods, such as systematic literature reviews, literature mapping, and visualizing studies, has been published. Despite the tools having been perfected, they still have limitations. Particularly, database selection for a literature search sets a bias, because the citation indexes differ in coverage according to the scientific domain. In this paper, bibliometric data from two citation indexes (Web of Science and Scopus) are combined for the purposes of bibliometric analyses in the context of inter-firm relationships. The combination process requires a lot of unifying and repairing of data in practice that is referred as data wrangling. This study describes the process steps and the lessons learned and considers the amount of effort required.
The classification of preordered spaces in terms of monotones: complexity and optimization
Authors: Hack Pedro , Braun Daniel A. , Gottwald Sebastian
Published: August 2022

The study of complexity and optimization in decision theory involves both partial and complete characterizations of preferences over decision spaces in terms of real-valued monotones. With this motivation, and following the recent introduction of new classes of monotones, like injective monotones or strict monotone multi-utilities, we present the classification of preordered spaces in terms of both the existence and cardinality of real-valued monotones and the cardinality of the quotient space. In particular, we take advantage of a characterization of real-valued monotones in terms of separating families of increasing sets to obtain a more complete classification consisting of classes that are strictly different from each other. As a result, we gain new insight into both complexity and optimization, and clarify their interplay in preordered spaces.
Antagonism of the Muscarinic Acetylcholine Type 1 Receptor Enhances Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Expression of Respiratory Chain Components via AMPK in Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells and Primary Neurons
Authors: Naznin Farhana , Waise T. M. Zaved , Fernyhough Paul
Published: August 2022

Impairments in mitochondrial physiology play a role in the progression of multiple neurodegenerative conditions, including peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. Blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine type 1 receptor (M1R) with specific/selective antagonists prevented mitochondrial dysfunction and reversed nerve degeneration in in vitro and in vivo models of peripheral neuropathy. Specifically, in type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes, inhibition of M1R using pirenzepine or muscarinic toxin 7 (MT7) induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and prevented sensory abnormalities and distal nerve fiber loss. The human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line has been extensively used as an in vitro model system to study mechanisms of neurodegeneration in DRG neurons and other neuronal sub-types. Here, we tested the hypothesis that pirenzepine or MT7 enhance AMPK activity and via this pathway augment mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. M1R expression was confirmed by utilizing a fluorescent dye, ATTO590-labeled MT7, that exhibits great specificity for this receptor. M1R antagonist treatment in SH-SY5Y culture increased AMPK phosphorylation and mitochondrial protein expression (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was augmented in pirenzepine and MT7 treated cultured SH-SY5Y cells and DRG neurons. Compound C or AMPK-specific siRNA suppressed pirenzepine or MT7-induced elevation of OXPHOS expression and MMP. Moreover, muscarinic antagonists induced hyperpolarization by activating the M-current and, thus, suppressed neuronal excitability. These results reveal that negative regulation of this M1R-dependent pathway could represent a potential therapeutic target to elevate AMPK activity, enhance mitochondrial function, suppress neuropathic pain, and enhance nerve repair in peripheral neuropathy.
Occurrence of cadmium in groundwater in China: a review
Authors: Hoareau Carol Emilly , Hadibarata Tony , Yılmaz Murat
Published: August 2022

China has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies due to its increase in various industrial activities. A side effect of economic growth is severe environmental problems such as heavy metal contamination of soil and groundwater. Anthropogenic activities are the main sources of cadmium which is highly mobile and toxic with the potential to bioaccumulate in the ecosystem. It can contaminate ground and river water consequently negatively impacting agriculture and water sources. Anthropogenic source of Cd concentrations in China is 0.002 mg/L in drinking water, 0.102 mg/kg in soil, and 0.23–0.96 mg/kg in paddy soil. Geological trends and health implications of cadmium contamination in Human, southern China were analyzed. Source, transportation, and various conventional remediation processes exist today and can be categorized as biological, physical, and chemical. Using nanoparticle technology, it has been found that adsorption capacities can be 3 to 4 times higher compared to using powdered activated carbon. From the experiment carried out, a maximum adsorption capacity of 10.86 mg/g for cadmium was obtained. Cadmium intake in south China populations occurred at an alarming rate and most children were at greater risk of being affected. Therefore, cadmium contamination should be taken seriously by the responsible authorities.
Identification of stromal microenvironment characteristics and key molecular mining in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Ji Hongchen , Zhang Qiong , Wang Xiang-Xu , Li Junjie , Wang Xiaowen , Pan Wei , Zhang Zhuochao , Ma Ben , Zhang Hong-Mei
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. The extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment affects the drug sensitivity and prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients. This study constructed an 8-genes pancreatic ECM scoring (PECMS) model, to classify the ECM features of pancreatic cancer, analyze the impact of ECM features on survival and drug sensitivity, and mine key molecules that influence ECM features in pancreatic cancer.

Methods

GSVA score calculation and clustering were performed in TCGA-PAAD patients. Lasso regression was used to construct the PECMS model. The association between PECMS and patient survival was analyzed and validated in the CPTAC-3 dataset of TCGA and our single-center retrospective cohort. The relationships between PECMS and features of the matrix microenvironment were analyzed. Finally, PECMS feature genes were screened and verified in pancreatic cancer specimens to select key genes associated with the ECM microenvironment.

Result

The survival of the PECMS-high group was significantly worse. The PECMS-high group showed higher oxidative stress levels, lower levels of antigen presentation- and MHC-I molecule-related pathways, and less immune effector cell infiltration. Data from IMvigor-210 cohort suggested that PECMS-low group patients were more sensitive to immune checkpoint blockers. The PECMS score was negatively correlated with chemotherapy drug sensitivity. The negative association of PECMS with survival and drug sensitivity was validated in our retrospective cohort. KLHL32 expression predicted lower oxidative stress level and more immune cells infiltrate in pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

PECMS is an effective predictor of prognosis and drug sensitivity in pancreatic cancer patients. KLHL32 may play an important role in the construction of ECM, and the mechanism is worth further study.
How Much “New” Public Is Too Much? The CJEU’s VG Bild-Kunst Judgment and Non-Exhaustive Control Over a Work’s Consumption
Authors: Oprysk Liliia
Published: August 2022

Pursuant to the EU copyrightacquis, right holders enjoy broad control over the communication of a work to the public. Following theVG Bild-Kunstjudgment of the CJEU, right holders can rely on copyright to preclude framing of their otherwise freely available works on other websites. Circumventing technical measures placed by the right holders to prevent framing infringes their exclusive right of communicating works to the public. The judgment not only constrains secondary communication of a work, but also de facto places restrictions on the consumption of lawfully communicated works. The CJEU’s reasoning builds upon the expansive interpretation of the “new public” criterion coined in the precedingRenckhoffcase. This paper argues that relying on the new public criterion inVG Bild-Kunstconcealed the relevant circumstances of the case. Fundamental questions of the extent of the right holder’s exclusive control over authorized communication and the circumstances of a work’s consumption remained unexplored. It is concluded that revising the scope of application of the new public criterion is in order. Restricting the new public test to secondary communication and access to a work in its strict sense will expose the fundamental normative questions and the need to consider the underlying objectives of the copyrightacquis.
AVO study on a known geothermal reservoir located in the fractured carbonate formations of the pre-Cenozoic basement, Northwest Hungary
Authors: Masri Emad N. , Takács Ernő
Published: August 2022

Amplitude Versus Offset (AVO) analysis has been successfully applied in the hydrocarbon industry for more than three decades. This effective tool of the joint seismic and well-log data processing enables to predict and analyze fluid saturated porous geological formations. AVO methodology is based on the anomalous behavior of the pre-stack reflected amplitudes observed from fluid bearing rocks. However, the potential of AVO methodology is still unexploited in geothermal exploration, although the lithology and rock physical properties are very similar. In this study, we summarize the theoretical backgrounds and calculate synthetic AVO responses of a known geothermal reservoir located in the fractured carbonates of the Mesozoic basement. We demonstrate that the AVO response of a deep geothermal reservoir can be quite different from the amplitude response observed from a hydrocarbon bearing clastic formation. AVO attributes of the investigated geothermal reservoir are presented, and the potential of its detection by seismic amplitude data are discussed.
A Regulatory Design for Financial Stability in Hong Kong
Authors: Gibson Evan
Published: August 2022

In Hong Kong, the banking system is the primary source of financial stability risk. Post-2008 regulatory reforms have focused on financial stability policies and tools while neglecting the design of supervisory models. This book provides a comparative analysis of how supervisory models affect the management of financial stability regulations in Hong Kong's banking system. Regulatory issues discussed span prudential regulations, systemically important banks, unconventional liquidity tools, deposit insurance, lender of last resort, resolution regimes, central clearing counterparties and derivatives, Renminbi infrastructure, stock and bond connect schemes, distributed ledger technology, digital yuan, US dollar sanctions, cryptocurrencies, RegTech, and FinTech. A Regulatory Design for Financial Stability in Hong Kong elucidates the flaws and synergies in Hong Kong's banking regulatory framework and proposes conventional and innovative regulatory reforms. This book will be of great interest to banking, financial, and legal practitioners, central bankers, regulators, policy makers, finance ministries, scholars, researchers, and policy institutes.
Power in Movement
Authors: Tarrow Sidney
Published: August 2022

Social movements have an elusive power but one that is altogether real. From the French and American revolutions to the Arab Spring, and to ethnic and terrorist movements of today, contentious politics exercises a fleeting but powerful influence on politics, society and international relations. Covering key episodes up to the attack on the US Capitol in January 2021, leading scholar of politics and government Sidney Tarrow uses a number of recent, historical and comparative case studies to introduce his theory of social movements and political parties. The fourth edition of this classic study emphasizes the symbiotic relations between social movements and parties by focusing attention on the growing role of populism in Europe, Latin America, and the US; analyzes the role of social media as a mobilizing and aggregating force for social movements; highlights the relations between structural changes in the economy and new forms of contention; draws on new material on movements in the Global South and the relations between movements and democracy.
The Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands
Authors: Carpentier Frank
Published: August 2022

Overview

The Portable Antiquities of the Netherlands (PAN) is an online system aimed at recording and documenting archaeological finds by the public. Since PAN launched in 2016, it has become an important data contributor to Dutch archaeology, amassing over 100,000 recorded finds. These data, mostly the result of metal detection, enable scholars to gain new insights and policy makers to make more informed decisions. This review describes the context in which PAN was established, along with its current structure and scope, before looking at its different components, including the underlying database and linked data reference collection. In a final section, the article briefly addresses some common issues inherent to public reporting programs and how PAN approaches these issues.
Three Conceptions of Law in Democratic Theory
Authors: Beckman Ludvig
Published: August 2022

Democratic theory tends to proceed on the assumption that law requires democratic legitimation because it is coercive. However, the claim that law requires democratic legitimation is distinct from claims about the nature of law. This paper takes issue with the notion that law is coercive by an exploration of three distinct understandings of the nature of law: the state-based conception of law, law as the rules of institutionalized normative systems, and law as social norms. Drawing on insights from legal and democratic theory, the paper defends the view that the ‘law’ to which democratic claims apply are the rules of conduct of institutionalized normative systems. Since rules that belong to such systems are found in associations beyond or below the level of the state, the scope of democratic participation is significantly wider than is usually recognized.
Changes in the microbiology, epidemiology, and outcomes of candidemia in Connecticut: A comparison between two periods using statewide surveillance
Authors: Gleason-Vergados Johanna R. , Clogher Paula , Meek James I. , Banach David B.
Published: August 2022

Using statewide surveillance, we describe candidemia in Connecticut during 1998–2000 and 2019. In 2019, candidemia was more frequently associated with community-onset and non-albicans Candida species and less frequently associated with central vascular catheters, recent surgery, and in-hospital mortality. Understanding changes in candidemia can optimize clinical management and prevention strategies.
FINITE GROUPS WITH ABNORMAL MINIMAL NONNILPOTENT SUBGROUPS
Authors: WANG ZHIGANG , CAI JINZHUAN , SAFONOVA INNA N. , SKIBA ALEXANDER N.
Published: August 2022

We describe finite soluble nonnilpotent groups in which every minimal nonnilpotent subgroup is abnormal. We also show that if G is a nonsoluble finite group in which every minimal nonnilpotent subgroup is abnormal, then G is quasisimple and
$Z(G)$
is cyclic of order
$|Z(G)|\in \{1, 2, 3, 4\}$
.
Disrupted dynamic network reconfiguration of the executive and reward networks in internet gaming disorder
Authors: Wang Min , Zheng Hui , Zhou Weiran , Yang Bo , Wang Lingxiao , Chen Shuaiyu , Dong Guang-Heng
Published: August 2022

Background

Studies have shown that people with internet gaming disorder (IGD) exhibit impaired executive control of gaming cravings; however, the neural mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown. In addition, these conclusions were based on the hypothesis that brain networks are temporally static, neglecting dynamic changes in cognitive processes.

Methods

Resting-state fMRI data were collected from 402 subjects [162 subjects with IGD and 240 recreational game users (RGUs)]. The community structure (recruitment and integration) of the executive control network (ECN) and the basal ganglia network (BGN), which represents the reward network, of patients with IGD and RGUs were compared. Mediation effects among the different networks were analyzed.

Results

Compared to RGUs, subjects with IGD had a lower recruitment coefficient within the right ECN. Further analysis showed that only male subjects had a lower recruitment coefficient. Mediation analysis showed that the integration coefficient of the right ECN mediated the relationship between the recruitment coefficients of both the right ECN and the BGN in RGUs.

Conclusions

Male subjects with IGD had a lower recruitment coefficient than RGUs, which impairing their impulse control. The mediation results suggest that top-down executive control of the ECN is absent in subjects with IGD. Together, these findings could explain why subjects with IGD exhibit impaired executive control of gaming cravings; these results have important therapeutic implications for developing effective interventions for IGD.
Investigating the Effect of Perceived Social Support on the Promotion of Earthquake-Related Awareness in Iranian High School Students
Authors: Ahmadi Marzaleh Milad , Peyravi Mahmoudreza , Khaledi Hassan , Saadatmand Vahid , Khaledi Farahnaz
Published: August 2022

Introduction and Objective:

Students are one of the groups in society that are always exposed to earthquake-related hazards. Perceived social support plays a major role in students’ self-efficacy to respond appropriately to earthquakes. Social support affects students’ beliefs about their abilities and enhances their performance during earthquakes. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of perceived social support on the promotion of earthquake-related awareness amongst high school students.

Methods:

The present educational intervention with a randomized control group was conducted on 64 high school students in Lordegan, Iran. The participants were randomly divided into an intervention and a control group. Earthquake-related awareness index and perceived social support were completed by the two groups before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. The intervention group received 120-minute educational intervention sessions once a week for four weeks. The data were entered into the SPSS 20 software and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods.

Results:

According to the results, educational intervention was effective in improving the perceived social support. The results also showed that increasing the perceived social support significantly improved the earthquake-related awareness among the high school students in the intervention group compared to the control group after the intervention (P <.001).

Conclusion:

The findings revealed that perceived social support played a major role in promoting earthquake-related awareness in the high school students. Due to the accuracy of the study, these results can be considered in future investigations.
Patch antenna with multi-cell EBG for RF energy harvesting applications
Authors: Venkata Sravya R. , Sankar Vinnakota Sarath , Kumari Runa
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a ring patch antenna with 1 GHz of bandwidth and three resonances is designed for the RF energy harvesting application. Two complementary split-ring resonators (CSRR) is etched out from the patch, designed at 6.8 GHz, near feed to enhance the bandwidth from 267 MHz to 1 GHz. Due to the introduction of CSRR, two additional resonances at 6.4 and 7.4 GHz are obtained with gain 5.5 and 0.2 dB respectively. The gains at 6.8 and 7.4 GHz are enhanced to 8.3 and 2 dB respectively by cascaded circular mushroom electromagnetic bandgap structures (EBGs) with circular symmetry designed around the antenna. This ring patch antenna with cascaded EBG is integrated with a rectifier circuit based on voltage doubler topology (rectenna). The results of the rectenna show that, for an input power of 7 dBm to the rectifier circuit, a DC output voltage of 1.2 V with a power conversion efficiency of 40% is achieved.
Evapotranspiration Partitioning Based on Leaf and Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency
Authors: Yu Liuyang , Zhou Sha , Zhao Xining , Gao Xiaodong , Jiang Kongtao , Zhang Baoqing , Cheng Lei , Song Xiaolin , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: August 2022

Partitioning evapotranspiration (ET) into evaporation (E) and transpiration (T) is essential for understanding the global hydrological cycle and improving water resource management. However, ecosystem‐level ET partitioning remains challenging. Here we proposed a novel ET partitioning method that uses the unified stomatal conductance model to estimate T:ET by calculating the ratio of the ecosystem water use efficiency (WUEeco) to leaf WUE (WUEleaf) using half‐hourly flux data. The WUEleaf values estimated by the unified stomatal conductance model agree with an independently measured ratio of hourly photosynthetic rate to T rate (R2 = 0.69). The sensitivity of T:ET to the key parameter g1 varied among different plant functional types (PFTs), but the T:ET variations for each PFT were all controlled within 20% when g1 altered within its 95% confidence interval. The mean annual T:ET was highest for evergreen broadleaf forests (0.63), followed by deciduous broad forests (0.62), grasslands (0.52), evergreen needleleaf forests (0.43) and woody savannas (0.40). C3 croplands had higher T:ET (0.65) than C4 croplands (0.48). Seasonal variations in T:ET varied across PFTs and the leaf area index explained about 50% of the variation in seasonal T:ET. Our method is not only consistent with other three EC‐based methods: Z16, N18, and L19 (R = 0.92, 0.94, and 0.68), but also shows high correlations to sap flow‐based T (R = 0.70) at three different forest sites. The method developed in this study provides a feasible and universal approach for ET partitioning of global EC sites, improving the understanding of ecosystem T characteristics across climates and PFTs.
Conservation Laws for Potential Vorticity in a Salty Ocean or Cloudy Atmosphere
Authors: Kooloth Parvathi , Smith Leslie M. , Stechmann Samuel N.
Published: August 2022

One of the most important conservation laws in atmospheric and oceanic science is conservation of potential vorticity. The original derivation is approximately a century old, in the work of Rossby and Ertel, and it is related to the celebrated circulation theorems of Kelvin and Bjerknes. However, the laws apply to idealized fluids, and extensions to more realistic scenarios have been problematic. Here, these laws are extended to hold with additional fundamental complexities, including salinity in the ocean, or moisture and clouds in the atmosphere. In the absence of these additional complexities, it is known that potential vorticity is conserved following each fluid parcel; here, for a salty ocean or cloudy atmosphere, the general conserved quantity is potential vorticity integrated over certain pancake‐shaped volumes. Furthermore, the conservation laws are also related to a symmetry in the Lagrangian, which brings a connection to the symmetry‐conservation relationships seen in other areas of physics.
Hidden Roughness of Subducting Seafloor and Implications for Megathrust Seismogenesis: Example From Northern Manila Trench
Authors: Tan Huiwen , Gao Xiang , Wang Kelin , Gao Jinwei , He Jiangheng
Published: August 2022

A smooth subducting seafloor usually leads to a smooth megathrust, which promotes great earthquakes. We present a case study at the northern Manila Trench to emphasize that the process depends also on sediment accretion and deformation. Here, a very rugged igneous basement is hidden beneath a smooth sediment cover on the incoming seafloor. Seismic imaging indicates that most of the sediment is scraped off at the trench, resulting in an uneven décollement interrupted by partially exposed subducted seamounts. New thermal models confirm the presence of large frictional heating, also consistent with a rough and strong megathrust. Our findings in conjunction with the low degree of megathrust locking reported in the literature are compatible with the notion of strong creep. Consequent implications to regional seismic and tsunami hazards call for further investigations, especially with new seafloor geodetic monitoring and improved paleoseismic studies.
Ionospheric Semidiurnal Lunitidal Perturbations During the 2021 Sudden Stratospheric Warming Event: Latitudinal and Inter‐Hemispheric Variations in the American, Asian‐Australian, and African‐European Sectors
Authors: Liu Jing , Zhang Donghe , Sun Shuji , Hao Yongqiang , Xiao Zuo
Published: August 2022

The ionosphere exhibits enhanced semidiurnal lunitidal (M2) perturbations during sudden stratospheric warming (SSW) events, of which the manifestation and mechanism are not well documented and understood. This paper studies the latitudinal and inter‐hemispheric variations of the ionospheric M2 perturbations during the 2021 major Arctic SSW with total electron content (TEC) data in the American, Asian‐Australian, and African‐European sectors. Results show that the M2 perturbations in the three sectors all enhanced during the SSW, with the strongest M2 perturbations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres at about 10°∼15°N and 25°∼30°S geomagnetic latitudes, respectively. Also, clear M2 perturbations in the three sectors all extended to middle latitudes during the SSW only in the Southern Hemisphere. Comparatively, the inter‐hemispheric asymmetry of the magnitude of the M2 perturbations during the SSW was more complex. The inter‐hemispheric asymmetry of the crest locations of the low‐latitude M2 perturbations in the three sectors during the SSW was probably due to the F‐region meridional wind effect on the diffusion process of the low‐latitude plasma fountain. Meanwhile, the longitudinal differences were also obvious. The TEC M2 amplitude in the American sector was obviously larger than those in the Asian‐Australian and African‐European sectors during the SSW. The M2 characteristics in the southern middle latitude in the American sector were significantly different from those in the other two sectors during the SSW, which may be related to the differences of the combined effects of the local wind and geomagnetic configuration. In addition, a moderate geomagnetic activity occurred during the 2021 SSW, which brings difficulties to the analysis of the SSW‐related TEC variation.
Multi‐Instrument Observations of the Ionospheric Response to the 26 December 2019 Solar Eclipse Over Indian and Southeast Asian Longitudes
Authors: Barad R. K. , Sripathi S. , England S. L.
Published: August 2022

Here, the impact of the 26 December 2019 solar eclipse on the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere has been investigated using ground and space‐based observations over Indian and Southeast Asian longitudes. The high‐resolution Ionosonde observations at Tirunelveli, GPS Total Electron Content (TEC) observations from a chain of GPS receivers along and across the eclipse path, TIMED‐SABER, and Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) satellites were utilized to investigate the eclipse‐induced variations in electron density and thermospheric cooling. We noticed a tremendous increase and decrease in the base height of the F‐layer, resembling the nighttime Pre‐Reversal Enhancement (PRE). Near the eclipse maximum, a strong blanketing sporadic E layer was observed at Tirunelveli with a top frequency of ∼18 MHz for 1 hr and 26 min. Satellite traces (STs) and “U” shaped ionograms were noticed for the first time over Tirunelveli during eclipse maximum and end phases. The “STs” and “U” shaped traces indicate the presence of short‐period gravity waves or TID type of wave perturbations over the Indian region. A maximum of ∼5–7 TECU (30%–40%) decrease in TEC is observed on the eclipse day for iisc, hyde, and tiru stations. Periodogram analyses of TEC data showed the presence of wavelike structures with periodicities of 18–24 min for different stations. Simultaneous observations from the ICON satellite showed an increase and decrease in hmF2 and NmF2 which matches well with the ionosonde observations from Tirunelveli. The temperature profiles from TIMED‐SABER and ICON satellites showed a reduction and enhancement in the lower and upper E regions respectively.
Effects of Geologic Setting on Contaminant Transport in Deltaic Aquifers
Authors: Xu Zhongyuan , Hariharan Jayaram , Passalacqua Paola , Steel Elisabeth , Chadwick Austin , Paola Chris , Paldor Anner , Michael Holly A.
Published: August 2022

Coastal deltaic aquifers are vulnerable to degradation from seawater intrusion, geogenic and anthropogenic contamination, and groundwater abstraction. The distribution and transport of contaminants are highly dependent on the subsurface sedimentary architecture, such as the presence of channelized features that preferentially conduct flow. Surface deposition changes in response to sea‐level rise (SLR) and sediment supply, but it remains unclear how these surface changes affect the distribution and transport of groundwater solutes in aquifers. Here, we explore the influence of SLR and sediment supply on aquifer heterogeneity and resulting effects on contaminant transport. We use realizations of subsurface heterogeneity generated by a process‐based numerical model, DeltaRCM, which simulates the evolution of a deltaic aquifer with different input sand fractions and rates of SLR. We simulate groundwater flow and solute transport through these deposits in three contamination scenarios: (a) vertical transport from widespread contamination at the land surface, (b) vertical transport from river water infiltration, and (c) lateral seawater intrusion. The simulations show that the vulnerability of deltaic aquifers to seawater intrusion correlates to sand fraction, while vertical transport of contaminants, such as widespread shallow contamination and river water infiltration, is influenced by channel stacking patterns. This analysis provides new insights into the connection between the depositional system properties and vulnerability to different modes of groundwater contamination. It also illustrates how vulnerability may vary locally within a delta due to depositional differences. Results suggest that groundwater management strategies may be improved by considering surface features, location within the delta, and the external forcings during aquifer deposition.
NaBiF4-based hollow upconversion nanoparticles for temperature sensing
Authors: Sun Lining
Published: August 2022

Hollow upconversion nanoparticles with tunable central cavity size can be used as self-referenced luminescent thermometers over a wide temperature range.
Molecular mechanisms underlying iron and phosphorus co-limitation responses in the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Crocosphaera
Authors: Yang Nina , Lin Yu-An , Merkel Carlin A , DeMers Michelle A , Qu Ping-Ping , Webb Eric A , Fu Fei-Xue , Hutchins David A
Published: August 2022

In the nitrogen-limited subtropical gyres, diazotrophic cyanobacteria, including Crocosphaera, provide an essential ecosystem service by converting dinitrogen (N2) gas into ammonia to support primary production in these oligotrophic regimes. Natural gradients of phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) availability in the low-latitude oceans constrain the biogeography and activity of diazotrophs with important implications for marine biogeochemical cycling. Much remains unknown regarding Crocosphaera’s physiological and molecular responses to multiple nutrient limitations. We cultured C. watsonii under Fe, P, and Fe/P (co)-limiting scenarios to link cellular physiology with diel gene expression and observed unique physiological and transcriptional profiles for each treatment. Counterintuitively, reduced growth and N2 fixation resource use efficiencies (RUEs) for Fe or P under P limitation were alleviated under Fe/P co-limitation. Differential gene expression analyses show that Fe/P co-limited cells employ the same responses as single-nutrient limited cells that reduce cellular nutrient requirements and increase responsiveness to environmental change including smaller cell size, protein turnover (Fe-limited), and upregulation of environmental sense-and-respond systems (P-limited). Combined, these mechanisms enhance growth and RUEs in Fe/P co-limited cells. These findings are important to our understanding of nutrient controls on N2 fixation and the implications for primary productivity and microbial dynamics in a changing ocean.