bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
OECD countries’ twin long-run challenge: The impact of aging dynamics and increasing natural disasters on savings ratios
Authors: Xiong Tian , Celebi Kaan , Welfens Paul J. J.
Published: May 2022

There has been a long-standing debate over the development of savings rates in developed economies, and an emphasis has been placed on aging societies and a global savings glut. Meanwhile, with rising global temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events becoming an increasingly visible economic and ecological global challenge, the concern of climate-related risks could indeed be an important issue in monetary and real economic analysis. This study aims to investigate the dual long-term challenge of sustainable economic development. By constructing an enhanced growth model and investigating empirically, using a panel approach which employs data from OECD countries between 1980 and 2020, the question as to the extent to which the savings rate is affected by aging populations and environmental degradation will be addressed in a broad macro perspective. This study explores for the first time the impact of natural disasters on OECD countries and the main findings indicate that aging populations and natural disasters have significant negative impacts on savings rates. Moreover, the analyses using sub-samples suggest a diminishing role of the real long-term interest rate regarding savings behaviour.
Stimulating secondary compound accumulation by elicitation: Is it a realistic tool in medicinal plants in vivo?
Authors: Kandoudi Wafae , Németh-Zámboriné Éva
Published: May 2022

Stimulating the production of secondary metabolites by elicitation seems to be an accepted tool in several in vitro cultures. In vivo application of chemical elicitation is, however, much less frequently discussed. The paper summarizes the experimental findings on the effects of jasmonic acid, methyl-jasmonate (MeJa) and salicylic acid (SA) treatments on medicinal and aromatic plants. Growth behaviour, yield, stress responses, essential oil (EO) and phenolic compounds are discussed. Exogenous application of MeJa or SA mostly by foliar spraying in concentrations between 10−4 and 4 mM, induced various changes in the plants. In most cases, the elicitation enhanced the volatile accumulation, although the opposite reaction was observed too. Numerous in vivo trials also demonstrated an altered EO composition. Positive effects of treatments on the concentration of phenolic type compounds were described, while in some cases the components exhibited contradictory behavior or no significant changes. Unfortunately, phenolic composition was rarely determined. There is evidence for the dose dependency of the reactions to both elicitors, but systematic studies on this issue are missing. Some results indicate that lower concentrations in replication may be at least as effective as higher ones. Changes in secondary metabolite accumulation may be induced by the elicitors directly or through other physiological processes. The in vivo results should be considered in the complex system of plant ontogenesis, environmental conditions, timing of the treatment, type of the elicitor and concentration. Research results indicate a promising aspect of chemical elicitation in vivo, but further well-designed studies are needed for the individual species.
Efficient and Automated Inversions of Magnetically Sensitive Forbidden Coronal Lines: CLEDB – The Coronal Line Emission DataBase Magnetic Field Inversion Algorithm
Authors: Paraschiv Alin Razvan , Judge Philip Gordon
Published: May 2022

We present CLEDB, a “single-point inversion” algorithm for inferring parameters using $I$
I
, $Q$
Q
, $U$
U
, and $V$
V
Stokes parameters of forbidden magnetic dipole lines formed in the solar corona. We select lines of interest and construct databases of Stokes parameters for combinations of plasma thermal and magnetic configurations. The size and complexity of such databases are drastically reduced by taking advantage of symmetries. Using wavelength-integrated line profiles, each of which might be decomposed beforehand into several line-of-sight components, we search for nearest matches to observed Stokes parameters computed for the elongation corresponding to the observed region. The method is intended to be applied to two or more lines observed simultaneously. The solutions initially yield magnetic orientation, thermal properties, and the spatial position of the emitting plasma in three dimensions. Multiple possible solutions for each observation are returned, including irreducible degeneracies, where usually sets of two solutions are compatible with the two input $I$
I
, $Q$
Q
, $U$
U
, and $V$
V
measurements. In solving for the scattering geometry, this method avoids an additional degeneracy pointed out by Dima and Schad (Astrophys. J.889, 109, 2020). The magnetic field strength is separately derived from the simple ratio of observed to database Stokes $V$
V
data, after the thermal properties and scattering geometry solutions have been determined.
The Early History of Heliospheric Science and the Spacecraft That Made It Possible
Authors: Zank G. P. , Sterken V. , Giacalone J. , Möbius E. , von Steiger R. , Stone E. S. , Krimigis S. M. , Richardson J. D. , Linsky J. , Izmodenov V. , Heber B.
Published: May 2022

Our understanding of the interaction of the large-scale heliosphere with the local interstellar medium (LISM) has undergone a profound change since the very earliest analyses of the problem. In part, the revisions have been a consequence of ever-improving and widening observational results, especially those that identified the entrance of interstellar material and gas into the heliosphere. Accompanying these observations was the identification of the basic underlying physics of how neutral interstellar gas and interstellar charged particles of different energies, up to and including interstellar dust grains, interacted with the temporal flows and electromagnetic fields of the heliosphere. The incorporation of these various basic effects into global models of the interaction, whether focused on neutral interstellar gas and pickup ions, energetic particles such as anomalous and galactic cosmic rays, or magnetic fields and large-scale flows, has profoundly changed our view of how the heliosphere and LISM interact. This article presents a brief history of the conceptual and observation evolution of our understanding of the interaction of the heliosphere with the local interstellar medium, up until approximately 1996.
Patient and Provider Perspectives on a Novel, Low-Threshold HIV PrEP Program for People Who Inject Drugs Experiencing Homelessness
Authors: Bazzi Angela R. , Shaw Leah C. , Biello Katie B. , Vahey Seamus , Brody Jennifer K.
Published: May 2022

Background

HIV outbreaks among people who inject drugs (PWID) and experience homelessness are increasing across the USA. Despite high levels of need, multilevel barriers to accessing antiretroviral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention persist for this population. The Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) initiated a low-threshold, outreach-based program to support engagement in PrEP services among PWID experiencing homelessness.

Methods

To inform dissemination efforts, we explored patient and provider perspectives on key program components. From March to December 2020, we conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with current and former BHCHP PrEP program participants and prescribers, patient navigators, and outreach workers (i.e., providers). Thematic analysis explored perspectives on key program components.

Results

Participants (n = 21) and providers (n = 11) identified the following five key components of BHCHP’s PrEP program that they perceived to be particularly helpful for supporting patient engagement in PrEP services: (1) community-driven PrEP education; (2) low-threshold, accessible programming including same-day PrEP prescribing; (3) tailored prescribing supports (e.g., on-site pharmacy, short-term prescriptions, medication storage); (4) intensive outreach and navigation; and (5) trusting, respectful patient-provider relationships.

Discussion

Findings suggest that more patient-centered services formed the basis of BHCHP’s innovative, successful PrEP program. While contextual challenges including competing public health emergencies and homeless encampment “sweeps” necessitate ongoing programmatic adaptations, lessons from BHCHP’s PrEP program can inform PrEP delivery in a range of community-based settings serving this population, including syringe service programs and shelters.
Different xylogenesis responses to atmospheric water demand contribute to species coexistence in a mixed pine–oak forest
Authors: Pompa-García Marín , Camarero J. Julio , Colangelo Michele
Published: May 2022

Seasonal patterns of wood formation (xylogenesis) remain understudied in mixed pine–oak forests despite their contribution to tree coexistence through temporal niche complementarity. Xylogenesis was assessed in three pine species (Pinus cembroides,Pinus leiophylla,Pinus engelmannii) and one oak (Quercus grisea) coexisting in a semi-arid Mexican forest. The main xylogenesis phases (production of cambium cells, radial enlargement, cell-wall thickening and maturation) were related to climate data considering 5–15-day temporal windows. In pines, cambium activity maximized from mid-March to April as temperature and evaporation increased, whereas cell radial enlargement peaked from April to May and was constrained by high evaporation and low precipitation. Cell-wall thickening peaked from June to July and in August–September as maximum temperature and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) increased. Maturation of earlywood and latewood tracheids occurred in May–June and June–July, enhanced by high minimum temperatures and VPD inP. engelmanniiandP. leiophylla. In oak, cambial onset started in March, constrained by high minimum temperatures, and vessel radial enlargement and radial increment maximized in April as temperatures and evaporation increased, whereas earlywood vessels matured from May to June as VPD increased. Overall, 15-day wet conditions enhanced cell radial enlargement inP.leiophyllaandP. engelmannii, whereas early-summer high 15-day temperature and VPD drove cell-wall thickening inP. cembroides. Warm night conditions and high evaporation rates during spring and summer enhanced growth. An earlier growth peak in oak and a higher responsiveness to spring–summer water demand in pines contributed to their coexistence.
Analysis of the Microstructure Role in the Yield Asymmetry of Extruded Mg-LPSO Alloys Using In Situ Diffraction Experiments
Authors: Garces G. , Medina J. , Perez P. , Stark A. , Lim H. K. , Kim S. , Shell N. , Adeva P.
Published: May 2022

The effect of microstructure and processing parameters on the mechanical behavior of extruded Mg-Y2x-Znx alloys containing different volume fractions of the long-period stacking order (LPSO) phase is evaluated using in situ diffraction experiments. The Mg-LPSO extruded alloys exhibit a microstructure consisting of a mixture of fine dynamically recrystallized α-Mg grains, highly oriented non-recrystallized coarse α-Mg grains with the basal plane parallel to the extrusion direction, and particles of the LPSO phase elongated in the extrusion direction. The volume fraction of dynamically recrystallized α-Mg grain areas tends to increase as the volume fraction of the LPSO phase and the processing stress increase. In situ diffraction experiments have allowed the understanding of the elastic–plastic behavior of non-DRXed and DRXed grains, and their individual contribution to the macroscopic deformation of magnesium alloys containing LPSO phases and, consequently, the reverse tension–compression asymmetry.
A volume-averaged plasma model for heaterless C12A7 electride hollow cathodes
Authors: Gondol Norman , Tajmar Martin
Published: May 2022

A volume-averaged hollow cathode plasma model is presented that serves as a preliminary design tool for orificed hollow cathodes. The plasma discharge volume is subdivided into two computational domains with separate sub-models that are used to determine the emitter and orifice region plasma parameters. The plasma model is coupled with a lumped node thermal model that uses power inputs from the plasma model to estimate the temperature distribution of the hollow cathode. The model has been implemented for conventional cylindrical emitter geometries and for novel disc-shaped emitters. A lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) hollow cathode has been used to validate the cylindrical model results and shows good agreement with well-known trends of hollow cathodes and published model data, while a calcium aluminate electride (C12A7:e-) hollow cathode developed at Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) served as the basis for the disc configuration. The model results of the disc configuration are presented and discussed to identify trends and optimization potential for hollow cathodes using C12A7:e- emitters. The model results in combination with thermal measurements of the TUD hollow cathode indicate a work function of C12A7:e- in a hollow cathode plasma below 2 eV.
Sex Workers’ Everyday Security in the Netherlands and the Impact of COVID-19
Authors: Cubides Kovacsics María Inés , Santos Wáleri , Siegmann Karin Astrid
Published: May 2022

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare and exacerbates the existing insecurities of sex workers. This paper asks: What are sex workers’ everyday experiences of (in)security? And: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these?

Methods

We engage with these questions through collaborative research based on semi-structured interviews carried out in 2019 and 2020 with sex workers in The Hague, the Netherlands.

Results

Revealing a stark mismatch between the insecurities that sex workers’ experience and the concerns enshrined in regulation, our analysis shows that sex workers’ everyday insecurities involve diverse concerns regarding their occupational safety and health, highlighting that work insecurity is more multi-faceted than sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Widespread employment and income insecurities for sex workers are exacerbated for transwomen and male sex workers. Their legal liminality is enabled not only by the opaque legal status of sex work in the Netherlands, but also by the gendering of official regulation. The COVID-19 pandemic made visible how the sexual and gender norms that informally govern sex workers’ working conditions intersect with hierarchies of citizenship, complicating access to COVID-19 support, particularly for migrant sex workers.

Conclusions

Sex work regulation in the Netherlands leaves workers in a limbo—not without obligations and surveillance, yet, without the full guarantee of their labour rights.

Policy Implications

To effectively address sex workers’ insecurities, a shift in regulation from its current biopolitical focus to a labour approach is necessary. Besides, public policy and civil society actors alike need to address the sex industry’s harmful social regulation through hierarchies of gender, sexuality and race.
Values in evolutionary biology: a comparison between the contemporary debate on organic progress and Canguilhem’s biological philosophy
Authors: De Cesare Silvia
Published: May 2022

The aim of this paper is to make a comparison and build up a dialogue between two different philosophical approaches to values in evolutionary biology. First, I present the approach proposed by Alexander Rosenberg and Daniel McShea in their contribution to the contemporary debate on organic progress. i.e. the idea that there has been some kind of improvement concerning organisms over the history of life. Discussing organic progress raises the question of what “better” exactly means. This requires an explicit clarification on what legitimately means to speak about “good” in evolutionary biology, thus to speak about values. Second, I move on to present an approach to values that has been proposed by Georges Canguilhem in the context of a different philosophical tradition (i.e. the “continental” tradition). Canguilhem’s original theses are conceived in a Darwinian framework and clearly relate to the question of values in evolutionary biology. I shall then propose a comparison between these two heterogeneous perspectives on values by critically evaluating their common points and main differences. I will argue that both perspectives agree that the question of values in evolutionary biology takes on its full meaning with respect to the relationship between the organism and the environment. However, the framework for conceptualizing values in evolutionary biology provided by Rosenberg and McShea neglects a significant point highlighted by Canguilhem, i.e. the active role that the organism can play in evaluating the environment. In line with recent developments of biology (e.g. niche construction), this point can be easily integrated into Rosenberg and McShea’s framework. Finally, I will point out some main differences between the two perspectives relative to the specificity of Canguilhem’s biological philosophy.
ezQTL: A Web Platform for Interactive Visualization and Colocalization of QTLs and GWAS Loci
Authors: Zhang Tongwu , Klein Alyssa , Sang Jian , Choi Jiyeon , Brown Kevin M.
Published: May 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified thousands of genomic loci associated with complex diseases and traits, including cancer. The vast majority of common trait-associated variants identified via GWAS fall in non-coding regions of the genome, posing a challenge in elucidating the causal variants, genes, and mechanisms involved. Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) and other molecular QTL studies have been valuable resources in identifying candidate causal genes from GWAS loci through statistical colocalization methods. While QTL colocalization is becoming a standard analysis in post-GWAS investigation, an easy web tool for users to perform formal colocalization analyses with either user-provided or public GWAS and eQTL datasets has been lacking. Here, we present ezQTL, a web-based bioinformatic application to interactively visualize and analyze genetic association data such as GWAS loci and molecular QTLs under different linkage disequilibrium (LD) patterns (1000 Genomes Project, UK Biobank, or user-provided data). This application allows users to perform data quality control for variants matched between different datasets, LD visualization, and two-trait colocalization analyses using two state-of-the-art methodologies (eCAVIAR and HyPrColoc), including batch processing. ezQTL is a free and publicly available cross-platform web tool, which can be accessed online at https://analysistools.cancer.gov/ezqtl.
Particle radial velocity and concentration kernels estimation in isotropic grid turbulence experiments of inertialess particles at small separation distances
Authors: Chen Si , Passaggia Pierre-Yves , White Brian L.
Published: May 2022

We report experimental measurements of kinematic and dynamic particle concentration kernels conditioned by the separation distances of solid inertialess particles in isotropic turbulence by three-dimensional particle tracking velocimetry with particle diameters smaller than the Kolmogorov length scale. Particle radial relative velocity statistics are measured from the dissipation to the integral length-scale range. The radial scaling of particle and fluid relative velocity variance

$\langle w_r(r)^{2} \rangle \sim r^{2/3}$

in the inertial subrange, consistent with Kolmogorov's theory, is reported, while a new scaling is found for small distances due to finite-size effects between particles. The measured concentration kernels at small separation distances therefore deviate from those in the theory of Saffman & Turner (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 1, 1956, pp. 16–30) at small inter-particle distances due to hydrodynamic interactions. A real kernel taking into account the history of the particle tracks and excluding multiple events is also calculated, while the normalised particle concentration kernels are found to be essentially insensitive to the flow Reynolds number.
Open Science and Epistemic Diversity: Friends or Foes?
Authors: Leonelli Sabina
Published: May 2022

I argue that Open Science as currently conceptualized and implemented does not take sufficient account of epistemic diversity within research. I use three case studies to exemplify how Open Science threatens to privilege some forms of inquiry over others, thus exasperating divides within and across systems of practice, and overlooking important sources and forms of epistemic diversity. Building on insights from pluralist philosophy, I then identify four aspects of diverse research practices that should serve as reference points for debates around Open Science: (1) specificity to local conditions, (2) entrenchment within repertoires, (3) permeability to newcomers, and (4) demarcation strategies.
Unlimited Associative Learning as a Null Hypothesis
Authors: Halina Marta
Published: May 2022

A common strategy in comparative cognition is to require that one reject associative learning as an explanation for behavior before concluding that an organism is capable of causal reasoning. In this paper, I argue that standard causal-reasoning tasks can be explained by a powerful form of associative learning: unlimited associative learning (UAL). The lesson, however, is not that researchers should conduct more studies to reject UAL, but that they should instead focus on 1) enriching the cognitive hypothesis space and 2) testing a broader range of information processing patterns—errors, biases and limits, rather than successful problem solving alone.
Cleft palate and ventilation tubes: a prophylactic dilemma
Authors: Machado A , Santos M , Leitao B , Silva A , Coutinho M
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study aimed to understand, in a long-term follow-up study, whether the placement of grommets had been necessary after cleft palate surgical correction.

Method

A case–control, retrospective study was carried out on consecutive paediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of a cleft palate.

Results

The study population included 138 patients, divided into 2 groups: group 1 – patients in whom grommets were placed at the time of cleft palate surgery, and group 2 – patients in whom grommets were not placed at the time of cleft palate surgery. During the follow up, in groups 1 and 2, 65.2 per cent and 67.8 per cent, respectively, did not need subsequent grommet placement after cleft palate surgery.

Conclusion

Of patients, 56.5 per cent did not need ventilation tubes at any point during follow up. The placement of grommets is not innocuous; therefore, its use at the time of cleft palate surgical repair should be reconsidered.
The Hypomnemata of Hegesippus
Authors: Eurell John-Christian
Published: May 2022

This article deals with the lost work of the early Christian writer Hegesippus, whose Hypomnemata is only known through quotations in Eusebius. Faulty preconceptions regarding the dating and provenance of Hegesippus’ work are criticised, and it is argued that the Hypomnemata is a loose collection of bishop traditions from the late 170s or 180s. The purpose of the work is to connect orthodoxy with correct episcopal succession.
On the probability and direction of morphosyntactic lifespan change
Authors: Fonteyn Lauren , Petré Peter
Published: May 2022

The aim of this study is to further contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the nature of “morphosyntactic lifespan change,” defined here as observable shifts in the grammatical choices individuals make between competing morphosyntactic structures. Through a quantitative case study of competition between two types of ing-nominals in seventeenth-century English, in which we factor in the grammatical contexts in which the variant structures can be used, we show that individuals vary in the extent to which they participate in the contextual diffusion of a new structure. We furthermore show that there is interindividual variability with respect to whether and what kind of lifespan change—frequency, constraint, and inventory change—is attested and highlight different patterns of intraindividual change: progressive, retrograde, and “mixed.”
Altitude Distribution of Large and Small‐Scale Equatorial Ionospheric Irregularities Sampled From an Elliptical Low‐Earth Orbit
Authors: Mohandesi Ali , Knudsen David J. , Skone Susan , Langley Richard B. , Yau Andrew W.
Published: May 2022

We provide insight into the vertical distribution of multi‐scale scintillation‐inducing irregularities in the low‐latitude ionosphere. In four sets of novel experiments, we sampled altitudes from 330 to 1,280 km in the 18–24 magnetic local time (MLT) sector using the Swarm Echo GPS Attitude, Positioning, and Profiling Experiment occultation receiver (GAP‐O) GPS receiver with its antenna oriented toward zenith. In order to identify multi‐scale irregularities both above and at the satellite's position, we utilize high‐sample‐rate GAP‐O amplitude and phase measurements along with a measurement of net current on the surface of the imaging and rapid‐scanning ion mass spectrometer sensor on board, which serves as a proxy for density variations. By calculating the rate of change of total electron content index using two sets of GPS parameter choices, we are able to sample irregularities as small as 160 m, which is comparable to or smaller than the Fresnel scale responsible for scintillation‐inducing irregularities. During one campaign, we find that amplitude scintillations on the GPS signal coincide with strong in‐situ small‐scale density irregularities in 32% of cases, indicative of a broad irregularity region extending from the satellite's position to hundreds of kilometers above. Also, we show that large‐scale ionospheric disturbances (larger than 80 km) occur predominantly below 500 km, and down to the 330 km perigee of Swarm Echo in the 18–21 MLT sector. In contrast, small‐scale variations of total electron content are detected at all MLTs between 18 MLT and magnetic midnight and at all altitudes sampled in this experiment. However, they are more frequent in the 22–24 MLT range.
Empirical Evidence of Frequency‐Dependent Directivity Effects From Small‐To‐Moderate Normal Fault Earthquakes in Central Italy
Authors: Colavitti Leonardo , Lanzano Giovanni , Sgobba Sara , Pacor Francesca , Gallovič František
Published: May 2022

Rupture directivity and its potential frequency dependence is an open issue within the seismological community, especially for small‐to‐moderate events. Here, we provide a statistical overview based on empirical evidence of seismological observations, thanks to the large amount of high‐quality seismic recordings (more than 30,000 waveforms) from Central Italy, which represents an excellent and almost unique natural laboratory of normal faulting earthquakes in the magnitude range between 3.4 and 6.5 within the time frame 2008–2018. In order to detect an anisotropic distribution of ground motion amplitudes due to the rupture directivity, we fit the smoothed Fourier Amplitude Spectra (FAS) cleared of source‐, site‐ and path‐effects. According to our criteria, about 36% of the analyzed events (162 out of 456) are directive and the distribution of rupture direction is aligned with the strikes of the major faults of the Central Apennines. We find that the directivity is a band‐limited phenomenon whose width may extend up to five times the corner frequency. The results of this research provide useful insights to parameterize directivity, to be explicitly implemented in future ground motion modeling and scenario predictions.
Physical and Chemical Properties of Cloud Droplet Residuals and Aerosol Particles During the Arctic Ocean 2018 Expedition
Authors: Karlsson Linn , Baccarini Andrea , Duplessis Patrick , Baumgardner Darrel , Brooks Ian M. , Chang Rachel Y.‐W. , Dada Lubna , Dällenbach Kaspar R. , Heikkinen Liine , Krejci Radovan , Leaitch W. Richard , Leck Caroline , Partridge Daniel G. , Salter Matthew E. , Wernli Heini , Wheeler Michael J. , Schmale Julia , Zieger Paul
Published: May 2022

Detailed knowledge of the physical and chemical properties and sources of particles that form clouds is especially important in pristine areas like the Arctic, where particle concentrations are often low and observations are sparse. Here, we present in situ cloud and aerosol measurements from the central Arctic Ocean in August–September 2018 combined with air parcel source analysis. We provide direct experimental evidence that Aitken mode particles (particles with diameters ≲70 nm) significantly contribute to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) or cloud droplet residuals, especially after the freeze‐up of the sea ice in the transition toward fall. These Aitken mode particles were associated with air that spent more time over the pack ice, while size distributions dominated by accumulation mode particles (particles with diameters ≳70 nm) showed a stronger contribution of oceanic air and slightly different source regions. This was accompanied by changes in the average chemical composition of the accumulation mode aerosol with an increased relative contribution of organic material toward fall. Addition of aerosol mass due to aqueous‐phase chemistry during in‐cloud processing was probably small over the pack ice given the fact that we observed very similar particle size distributions in both the whole‐air and cloud droplet residual data. These aerosol–cloud interaction observations provide valuable insight into the origin and physical and chemical properties of CCN over the pristine central Arctic Ocean.
Effects of Ionospheric Inhomogeneities on Remote Sensing of the Earth by Space‐Borne P‐Band SAR
Authors: Kryukovsky A. S. , Bova Y. I. , Kutuza B. G. , Rastyagaev D. V.
Published: May 2022

Numerical modeling of the effect of the polarization vector rotation in the ionospheric plasma on the radio waves of the high frequency range is performed. The relevance of the work is associated with the creation of space‐based P‐band synthetic aperture radars (SARs) for the Biomass mission and the MKS‐RSA (P) experiment on board ISS station. These instruments are intended for surface and subsurface sounding of the Earth and their readings are strongly influenced by the ionosphere. Another problem of EM propagation is the reconstruction of the profile e‐ionospheric plasma density by radio tomography methods. The source of radiation is located on the moving spacecraft at a distance of 400 km from the Earth's surface. The angle of rays inclination varies from 150 to 30° relative to the horizontal axis. The receiver is located on the surface of the Earth. Three spherical two‐layer models of the ionosphere are compared. To determine the ray paths, a bi‐characteristic system of equations is used. The dependence of the aiming angle deviation on group time is investigated. The phase variation due to the influence of the ionosphere and the angle of the Faraday rotation are studied. It is shown that the changes in the Faraday rotation angle for the selected parameters lie in the range from 6° to 54°, which will have a strong impact on the operation of the P‐band SAR and requires a sufficiently accurate quantitative account of the variability of the angle when probing vegetation and soil covers.
Extremely Stable, Highly Conductive Boron‐Hydrogen Complexes in Forsterite and Olivine
Authors: Muir Joshua M. R. , Chen Yuying , Liu Xi , Zhang Feiwu
Published: May 2022

Boron is an important tracer in the mantle but its fate during deep subduction is poorly constrained. In this work we use density functional theory and a thermodynamic model to study the stability of boron‐hydrogen defects in forsterite and olivine and predict their effect on olivine properties. In the absence of water/hydrogen we predict that in all conditions B3+ replaces Si4+ charge balanced by an oxygen vacancy and thus pure boron increases oxygen diffusion rates. In the presence of hydrogen two boron‐hydrogen defects are found to be stable, an “associated” boron‐silicon hydrate (B‐Si‐H) with planar BO3 at low temperatures and an attached hydrogen and a “dissociated” B‐Si‐H with tetrahedral BO4 and interstitial free hydrogen at high temperatures. These B‐Si‐H complexes are extremely stable compared to non‐hydrous boron and form to the exclusion of all other water defects regardless of pressure, temperature, SiO2 activity and Fe# thus forsterite and olivine should behave identically. The stability of B‐Si‐H defects against pressure and temperature suggests that dissolved boron will remain dissolved deep into the mantle and that boron should induce a near linear increase in the solubility of water in olivine. We predict that at high temperatures water associated with boron in olivine will not have FTIR signals in the standard measurement range 3,000–3,600 cm−1 and that instead a large rise in conductivity will be seen. The change in the coordination of boron in B‐Si‐H with temperature will impact upon its fractionation.
Standardization of molecular monitoring of CML: results and recommendations from the European treatment and outcome study
Authors: White Helen E. , Salmon Matthew , Albano Francesco , Andersen Christina Søs Auður , Balabanov Stefan , Balatzenko Gueorgui , Barbany Gisela , Cayuela Jean-Michel , Cerveira Nuno , Cochaux Pascale , Colomer Dolors , Coriu Daniel , Diamond Joana , Dietz Christian , Dulucq Stéphanie , Engvall Marie , Franke Georg N. , Gineikiene-Valentine Egle , Gniot Michal , Gómez-Casares María Teresa , Gottardi Enrico , Hayden Chloe , Hayette Sandrine , Hedblom Andreas , Ilea Anca , Izzo Barbara , Jiménez-Velasco Antonio , Jurcek Tomas , Kairisto Veli , Langabeer Stephen E. , Lion Thomas , Meggyesi Nora , Mešanović Semir , Mihok Luboslav , Mitterbauer-Hohendanner Gerlinde , Moeckel Sylvia , Naumann Nicole , Nibourel Olivier , Oppliger Leibundgut Elisabeth , Panayiotidis Panayiotis , Podgornik Helena , Pott Christiane , Rapado Inmaculada , Rose Susan J. , Schäfer Vivien , Touloumenidou Tasoula , Veigaard Christopher , Venniker-Punt Bianca , Venturi Claudia , Vigneri Paolo , Vorkinn Ingvild , Wilkinson Elizabeth , Zadro Renata , Zawada Magdalena , Zizkova Hana , Müller Martin C. , Saussele Susanne , Ernst Thomas , Machova Polakova Katerina , Hochhaus Andreas , Cross Nicholas C. P.
Published: May 2022

Standardized monitoring of BCR::ABL1 mRNA levels is essential for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. From 2016 to 2021 the European Treatment and Outcome Study for CML (EUTOS) explored the use of secondary, lyophilized cell-based BCR::ABL1 reference panels traceable to the World Health Organization primary reference material to standardize and validate local laboratory tests. Panels were used to assign and validate conversion factors (CFs) to the International Scale and assess the ability of laboratories to assess deep molecular response (DMR). The study also explored aspects of internal quality control. The percentage of EUTOS reference laboratories (n = 50) with CFs validated as optimal or satisfactory increased from 67.5% to 97.6% and 36.4% to 91.7% for ABL1 and GUSB, respectively, during the study period and 98% of laboratories were able to detect MR4.5 in most samples. Laboratories with unvalidated CFs had a higher coefficient of variation for BCR::ABL1IS and some laboratories had a limit of blank greater than zero which could affect the accurate reporting of DMR. Our study indicates that secondary reference panels can be used effectively to obtain and validate CFs in a manner equivalent to sample exchange and can also be used to monitor additional aspects of quality assurance.
The mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 regulates F-ATP synthase channel formation
Authors: Cannino Giuseppe , Urbani Andrea , Gaspari Marco , Varano Mariaconcetta , Negro Alessandro , Filippi Antonio , Ciscato Francesco , Masgras Ionica , Gerle Christoph , Tibaldi Elena , Brunati Anna Maria , Colombo Giorgio , Lippe Giovanna , Bernardi Paolo , Rasola Andrea
Published: May 2022

Binding of the mitochondrial chaperone TRAP1 to client proteins shapes bioenergetic and proteostatic adaptations of cells, but the panel of TRAP1 clients is only partially defined. Here we show that TRAP1 interacts with F-ATP synthase, the protein complex that provides most cellular ATP. TRAP1 competes with the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase cyclophilin D (CyPD) for binding to the oligomycin sensitivity-conferring protein (OSCP) subunit of F-ATP synthase, increasing its catalytic activity and counteracting the inhibitory effect of CyPD. Electrophysiological measurements indicate that TRAP1 directly inhibits a channel activity of purified F-ATP synthase endowed with the features of the permeability transition pore (PTP) and that it reverses PTP induction by CyPD, antagonizing PTP-dependent mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. Conversely, CyPD outcompetes the TRAP1 inhibitory effect on the channel. Our data identify TRAP1 as an F-ATP synthase regulator that can influence cell bioenergetics and survival and can be targeted in pathological conditions where these processes are dysregulated, such as cancer.
FAT10 promotes chemotherapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition via stabilization of FOXM1 expression
Authors: Zhu Jinfeng , Zhao Jiefeng , Luo Chen , Zhu Zhengming , Peng Xingyu , Zhu Xiaojian , Lin Kang , Bu Fanqin , Zhang Wenjun , Li Qing , Wang Kai , Hu Zhigang , Yu Xin , Chen Leifeng , Yuan Rongfa
Published: May 2022

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest malignant tumors, and its resistance to gemcitabine chemotherapy is the primary reason for poor prognosis in patients. Ubiquitin-like protein FAT10 has recently been reported to promote tumor chemotherapy resistance. In this study, the expression of FAT10 in PC was significantly higher than that in adjacent noncancerous tissues. Increased expression of FAT10 in PC was related to a late TNM stage and decreased overall survival. Functional experiments revealed that downregulating the expression of FAT10 inhibits the proliferation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PC cells, promotes the apoptosis of PC cells, and enhances sensitivity to gemcitabine chemotherapy. In addition, upregulation of FAT10 increased the expression of FOXM1 protein. The effect of downregulating FAT10 was reversed by FOXM1 overexpression, and FOXM1 knockdown inhibited EMT driven by FAT10 overexpression. Mechanistically, FAT10 stabilized the expression of FOXM1 by competing with ubiquitin to bind FOXM1 and inhibiting the ubiquitination-mediated degradation of FOXM1. In conclusion, the FAT10-FOXM1 axis is a pivotal driver of PC proliferation and gemcitabine resistance, and the results provide novel insights into chemotherapy resistance in PC.
Developing and validating a multivariable prediction model which predicts progression of intermediate to late age-related macular degeneration—the PINNACLE trial protocol
Authors: Sutton Janice , Menten Martin J. , Riedl Sophie , Bogunović Hrvoje , Leingang Oliver , Anders Philipp , Hagag Ahmed M. , Waldstein Sebastian , Wilson Amber , Cree Angela J. , Traber Ghislaine , Fritsche Lars G. , Scholl Hendrik , Rueckert Daniel , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula , Sivaprasad Sobha , Prevost Toby , Lotery Andrew
Published: May 2022

Aims

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is characterised by a progressive loss of central vision. Intermediate AMD is a risk factor for progression to advanced stages categorised as geographic atrophy (GA) and neovascular AMD. However, rates of progression to advanced stages vary between individuals. Recent advances in imaging and computing technologies have enabled deep phenotyping of intermediate AMD. The aim of this project is to utilise machine learning (ML) and advanced statistical modelling as an innovative approach to discover novel features and accurately quantify markers of pathological retinal ageing that can individualise progression to advanced AMD.

Methods

The PINNACLE study consists of both retrospective and prospective parts. In the retrospective part, more than 400,000 optical coherent tomography (OCT) images collected from four University Teaching Hospitals and the UK Biobank Population Study are being pooled, centrally stored and pre-processed. With this large dataset featuring eyes with AMD at various stages and healthy controls, we aim to identify imaging biomarkers for disease progression for intermediate AMD via supervised and unsupervised ML. The prospective study part will firstly characterise the progression of intermediate AMD in patients followed between one and three years; secondly, it will validate the utility of biomarkers identified in the retrospective cohort as predictors of progression towards late AMD. Patients aged 55–90 years old with intermediate AMD in at least one eye will be recruited across multiple sites in UK, Austria and Switzerland for visual function tests, multimodal retinal imaging and genotyping. Imaging will be repeated every four months to identify early focal signs of deterioration on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) by human graders. A focal event triggers more frequent follow-up with visual function and imaging tests. The primary outcome is the sensitivity and specificity of the OCT imaging biomarkers. Secondary outcomes include sensitivity and specificity of novel multimodal imaging characteristics at predicting disease progression, ROC curves, time from development of imaging change to development of these endpoints, structure-function correlations, structure-genotype correlation and predictive risk models.

Conclusions

This is one of the first studies in intermediate AMD to combine both ML, retrospective and prospective AMD patient data with the goal of identifying biomarkers of progression and to report the natural history of progression of intermediate AMD with multimodal retinal imaging.
Pan-cancer analyses reveal the genetic and pharmacogenomic landscape of transient receptor potential channels
Authors: Pan Tao , Gao Yueying , Xu Gang , Zhou Ping , Li Si , Guo Jing , Zou Haozhe , Xu Qi , Huang Xiaoyan , Xu Juan , Li Yongsheng
Published: May 2022

Transient-receptor potential (TRP) channels comprise a diverse family of ion channels, which play important roles in regulation of intracellular calcium. Emerging evidence has revealed the critical roles of TRP channels in tumor development and progression. However, we still lack knowledge about the genetic and pharmacogenomics landscape of TRP genes across cancer types. Here, we comprehensively characterized the genetic and transcriptome alterations of TRP genes across >10,000 patients of 33 cancer types. We revealed prevalent somatic mutations and copy number variation in TRP genes. In particular, mutations located in transmembrane regions of TRP genes were likely to be deleterious mutations (p-values < 0.001). Genetic alterations were correlated with transcriptome dysregulation of TRP genes, and we found that TRPM2, TRPM8, and TPRA1 showed extent dysregulation in cancer. Patients with TRP gene alterations were with significantly higher hypoxia scores, tumor mutation burdens, tumor stages and grades, and poor survival. The alterations of TRP genes were significantly associated with the activity of cancer-related pathways. Moreover, we found that the expression of TRP genes were potentially useful for development of targeted therapies. Our study provided the landscape of genomic and transcriptomic alterations of TPRs across 33 cancer types, which is a comprehensive resource for guiding both mechanistic and therapeutic analyses of the roles of TRP genes in cancer. Identifying the TRP genes with extensive genetic alterations will directly contribute to cancer therapy in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine.
Qubit teleportation between non-neighbouring nodes in a quantum network
Authors: Hermans S. L. N. , Pompili M. , Beukers H. K. C. , Baier S. , Borregaard J. , Hanson R.
Published: May 2022

Future quantum internet applications will derive their power from the ability to share quantum information across the network1,2. Quantum teleportation allows for the reliable transfer of quantum information between distant nodes, even in the presence of highly lossy network connections3. Although many experimental demonstrations have been performed on different quantum network platforms4–10, moving beyond directly connected nodes has, so far, been hindered by the demanding requirements on the pre-shared remote entanglement, joint qubit readout and coherence times. Here we realize quantum teleportation between remote, non-neighbouring nodes in a quantum network. The network uses three optically connected nodes based on solid-state spin qubits. The teleporter is prepared by establishing remote entanglement on the two links, followed by entanglement swapping on the middle node and storage in a memory qubit. We demonstrate that, once successful preparation of the teleporter is heralded, arbitrary qubit states can be teleported with fidelity above the classical bound, even with unit efficiency. These results are enabled by key innovations in the qubit readout procedure, active memory qubit protection during entanglement generation and tailored heralding that reduces remote entanglement infidelities. Our work demonstrates a prime building block for future quantum networks and opens the door to exploring teleportation-based multi-node protocols and applications2,11–13.
Lidar reveals pre-Hispanic low-density urbanism in the Bolivian Amazon
Authors: Prümers Heiko , Betancourt Carla Jaimes , Iriarte José , Robinson Mark , Schaich Martin
Published: May 2022

Archaeological remains of agrarian-based, low-density urbananism1–3have been reported to exist beneath the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka and Central America4–6. However, beyond some large interconnected settlements in southern Amazonia7–9, there has been no such evidence for pre-Hispanic Amazonia. Here we present lidar data of sites belonging to the Casarabe culture (aroundad 500 toad 1400)10–13in the Llanos de Mojos savannah–forest mosaic, southwest Amazonia, revealing the presence of two remarkably large sites (147 ha and 315 ha) in a dense four-tiered settlement system. The Casarabe culture area, as far as known today, spans approximately 4,500 km2, with one of the large settlement sites controlling an area of approximately 500 km2. The civic-ceremonial architecture of these large settlement sites includes stepped platforms, on top of which lie U-shaped structures, rectangular platform mounds and conical pyramids (which are up to 22 m tall). The large settlement sites are surrounded by ranked concentric polygonal banks and represent central nodes that are connected to lower-ranked sites by straight, raised causeways that stretch over several kilometres. Massive water-management infrastructure, composed of canals and reservoirs, complete the settlement system in an anthropogenically modified landscape. Our results indicate that the Casarabe-culture settlement pattern represents a type of tropical low-density urbanism that has not previously been described in Amazonia.