bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Case for Revisiting Nodal Signaling in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Authors: Hayes Kevin , Kim Yun-Kyo , Pera Martin F.
Published: November 2021

Nodal is a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily member that plays a number of critical roles in mammalian embryonic development. Nodal is essential for the support of the peri-implantation epiblast in the mouse embryo and subsequently acts to specify mesendodermal fate at the time of gastrulation and, later, left-right asymmetry. Maintenance of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) in vitro is dependent on Nodal signaling. Because it has proven difficult to prepare a biologically active form of recombinant Nodal protein, Activin or TGFB1 are widely used as surrogates for NODAL in hPSC culture. Nonetheless, the expression of the components of an endogenous Nodal signaling pathway in hPSC provides a potential autocrine pathway for the regulation of self-renewal in this system. Here we review recent studies that have clarified the role of Nodal signaling in pluripotent stem cell populations, highlighted spatial restrictions on Nodal signaling, and shown that Nodal functions in vivo as a heterodimer with GDF3, another TGF-β superfamily member expressed by hPSC. We discuss the role of this pathway in the maintenance of the epiblast and hPSC in light of these new advances.
Chapter 6: Russia’s Regional Free Trade Agreements and Agri-Food Trade After 2014
Authors: Elvestad Christel , Isachenko Tatiana
Published: November 2021

This chapter analyses changes in Russia’s agri-food trade relations after 2014 with a specific focus on regional trade agreements. The introduction of countersanctions against Western countries in 2014 spurred the need to replace some of Russia’s most important foreign food trade partners. Free trade agreements can be effective instruments to boost trade and strengthen ties between countries. Russia is a latecomer in the race for free trade agreements, but a series of agreements have been negotiated since 2015. The portfolio of free trade agreements is still in an early stage, but there is a clear turn to Asia in Russia’s trade. China’s role in total trade as well as in agri-food trade with Russia is considerably strengthened despite the lack of trade preferences so far.
Effective Field Theory for jet substructure in heavy ion collisions
Authors: Vaidya Varun
Published: November 2021

Abstract

I develop an Effective Field Theory (EFT) framework to compute jet substructure observables for heavy ion collision experiments. As an example, I consider dijet events that accompany the formation of a weakly coupled long lived Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) medium in a heavy ion collision and look at an observable insensitive to jet selection bias: the simultaneous measurement of jet mass along with the transverse momentum imbalance between the jets that are groomed to remove soft radiation. Treating the jet as an open quantum system, I write down a factorization formula within the SCET (Soft Collinear Effective Theory) framework in the forward scattering regime. The physics of the medium is encoded in a universal soft field correlator while the jet-medium interaction is captured by a medium induced jet function. The factorization formula leads to a Lindblad type equation for the evolution of the reduced density matrix of the jet in the Markovian approximation. The solution for this equation allows a resummation of large logarithms that arise due to the final state measurements imposed while simultaneously summing over multiple incoherent interactions of the jet with the medium.
Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) – ein vielversprechendes, valides Messinstrument der „patient-reported outcome measures“ (PROM)
Authors: Örgel Marcus , Graulich Tilman , Liodakis Emmanouil
Published: November 2021

„Patient-reported outcome measures“ (PROM) sind klinische Messinstrumente, die den Gesundheitszustand sowie die Ergebnisse medizinischer Interventionen aus der Perspektive des Patienten erfassen. Ziel dieser Studie war es, retrospektiv die Korrelation zwischen dem Oxford Elbow Score (OES) und Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) zu untersuchen. Dies wurde zwischen Dezember 2018 und Februar 2019 bei 86 Patienten mittels des Pearson Korrelationskoeffizient zwischem dem SANE und OES untersucht. OES und die SANE korrelierten signifikant (r = 0,903, p < 0,001), sodass SANE als vielversprechender Outcome-Parameter neben etablierten Scores betrachtet werden kann.
DNS-embedded service endpoint registry for distributed e-Infrastructures
Authors: Salnikov Andrii , Kónya Balázs
Published: November 2021

Distributed e-Infrastructure is a key component of modern BIG Science. Service discovery in e-Science environments, such as Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG), is a crucial functionality that relies on service registry. In this paper we re-formulate the requirements for the service endpoint registry based on our more than 10 years experience with many systems designed or used within the WLCG e-Infrastructure. To satisfy those requirements the paper proposes a novel idea to use the existing well-established Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure together with a suitable data model as a service endpoint registry. The presented ARC Hierarchical Endpoints Registry (ARCHERY) system consists of a minimalistic data model representing services and their endpoints within e-Infrastructures, a rendering of the data model embedded into DNS-records, a lightweight software layer for DNS-record management and client-side data discovery. Our approach for the ARCHERY registry required minimal software development and inherits all the benefits of one of the most reliable distributed information discovery source of the internet, the DNS infrastructure. In particular, deployment, management and operation of ARCHERY is fully relying on DNS. Results of ARCHERY deployment use-cases are provided together with performance analysis.
Effects of experimental multi-season drought on abundance, richness, and beta diversity patterns in perennially flowing stream insect communities
Authors: Saffarinia P. , Anderson K. E. , Herbst D. B.
Published: November 2021

Freshwater systems are projected to experience increased hydrologic extremes under climate change. To determine how small streams may be impacted by shifts in flow regimes, we experimentally simulated flow loss over the span of three summers in nine 50 m naturally fed stream channels. The aquatic insect community of these streams was sampled before, during, and after experimental drought treatments as well as following one unforeseen flood event. Abundance, richness, and beta diversity were measured as indicators of biotic effects of altered flow regimes. Abundance declined in proportion to flow loss. In contrast, we observed a threshold response in richness where richness did not decrease except in channels where losses of surface flow occurred and disconnected pools remained. The flood reset this pattern, but communities continued their prior trajectories shortly thereafter. Beta diversity partitions suggested no strong compositional shifts, and that the effect of drought was largely experienced uniformly across taxa until flow cessation. Pools served as a refuge, maintaining stable abundance gradients and higher richness longer than riffles. Upon flow resumption, abundance and richness returned to pre-treatment levels within one year. Our results suggest that many taxa present were resistant to drought conditions until loss in surface flow occurred.
Green Chemistry Production of Codlemone, the Sex Pheromone of the Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella), by Metabolic Engineering of the Oilseed Crop Camelina (Camelina sativa)
Authors: Xia Yi-Han , Wang Hong-Lei , Ding Bao-Jian , Svensson Glenn P. , Jarl-Sunesson Carin , Cahoon Edgar B. , Hofvander Per , Löfstedt Christer
Published: November 2021

Synthetic pheromones have been used for pest control over several decades. The conventional synthesis of di-unsaturated pheromone compounds is usually complex and costly. Camelina (Camelina sativa) has emerged as an ideal, non-food biotech oilseed platform for production of oils with modified fatty acid compositions. We used Camelina as a plant factory to produce mono- and di-unsaturated C12 chain length moth sex pheromone precursors, (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid, by introducing a fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase FatB gene UcTE from California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica) and a bifunctional ∆9 desaturase gene Cpo_CPRQ from the codling moth, Cydia pomonella. Different transgene combinations were investigated for increasing pheromone precursor yield. The most productive Camelina line was engineered with a vector that contained one copy of UcTE and the viral suppressor protein encoding P19 transgenes and three copies of Cpo_CPRQ transgene. The T2 generation of this line produced 9.4% of (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and 5.5% of (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid of the total fatty acids, and seeds were selected to advance top-performing lines to homozygosity. In the T4 generation, production levels of (E)-9-dodecenoic acid and (E,E)-8,10-dodecadienoic acid remained stable. The diene acid together with other seed fatty acids were converted into corresponding alcohols, and the bioactivity of the plant-derived codlemone was confirmed by GC-EAD and a flight tunnel assay. Trapping in orchards and home gardens confirmed significant and specific attraction of C. pomonella males to the plant-derived codlemone.
Kanzelhöhe Observatory: Instruments, Data Processing and Data Products
Authors: Pötzi Werner , Veronig Astrid , Jarolim Robert , Rodríguez Gómez Jenny Marcela , Podlachikova Tatiana , Baumgartner Dietmar , Freislich Heinrich , Strutzmann Heinz
Published: November 2021

Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research (KSO) of the University of Graz (Austria) is in continuous operation since its foundation in 1943. Since the beginning, its main task was the regular observation of the Sun in full disc. In this long time span covering almost seven solar cycles, a substantial amount of data was collected, which is made available online. In this article we describe the separate processing steps from data acquisition to high level products for different observing wavelengths. First of all we present in detail the quality classification, which is important for further processing of the raw images. We show how we construct centre-to-limb variation (CLV) profiles and how we remove large scale intensity variations produced by the telescope optics in order to get images with uniform intensity and contrast. Another important point is an overview of the different data products from raw images to high contrast images with heliographic grids overlaid. As the data products are accessible via different sources, we also present how to get information about the availability and how to obtain these data. Finally, in an appendix, we describe in detail the information in the FITS headers, the file naming and the data hierarchy.
The aging venous system: from varicosities to vascular cognitive impairment
Authors: Molnár Andrea Ágnes , Nádasy György László , Dörnyei Gabriella , Patai Bernadett Bettina , Delfavero Jordan , Fülöp Gábor Áron , Kirkpatrick Angelia C. , Ungvári Zoltán , Merkely Béla
Published: November 2021

Aging-induced pathological alterations of the circulatory system play a critical role in morbidity and mortality of older adults. While the importance of cellular and molecular mechanisms of arterial aging for increased cardiovascular risk in older adults is increasingly appreciated, aging processes of veins are much less studied and understood than those of arteries. In this review, age-related cellular and morphological alterations in the venous system are presented. Similarities and dissimilarities between arterial and venous aging are highlighted, and shared molecular mechanisms of arterial and venous aging are considered. The pathogenesis of venous diseases affecting older adults, including varicose veins, chronic venous insufficiency, and deep vein thrombosis, is discussed, and the potential contribution of venous pathologies to the onset of vascular cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases is emphasized. It is our hope that a greater appreciation of the cellular and molecular processes of vascular aging will stimulate further investigation into strategies aimed at preventing or retarding age-related venous pathologies.
Kernel Principal Component Analysis for Structural Health Monitoring and Damage Detection of an Engineering Structure Under Operational Loading Variations
Authors: Rahim Sharafiz Abdul , Manson Graeme
Published: November 2021

This paper highlights kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) in distinguishing damage-sensitive features from the effects of liquid loading on frequency response. A vibration test is performed on an aircraft wing box incorporated with a liquid tank that undergoes various tank loading. Such experiment is established as a preliminary study of an aircraft wing that undergoes operational load change in a fuel tank. The operational loading effects in a mechanical system can lead to a false alarm as loading and damage effects produce a similar reduction in the vibration response. This study proposes a non-nonlinear transformation to separate loading effects from damage-sensitive features. Based on a baseline data set built from a healthy structure that undergoes systematic tank loading, the Gaussian parameter is measured based on the distance of the baseline data set to various damage states. As a result, both loading and damage features expand and are distinguished better. For novelty damage detection, Mahalanobis square distance (MSD) and Monte Carlo-based threshold are applied. The main contribution of this project is the nonlinear PCA projection to understand the dynamic behavior of the wing box under damage and loading influences and to differentiate both effects that arise from the tank loading and damage severities.
Was lange währt, wird endlich gut?!
Authors: Klomann Verena , Kutscher Nadia
Published: November 2021

Der Beitrag zeichnet kurz den Prozess der SGB VIII-Reform nach und leitet dann thematisch in den Schwerpunkt ein.
Endothelial cell-specific reduction of heparan sulfate suppresses glioma growth in mice
Authors: Kinoshita Takamasa , Tomita Hiroyuki , Okada Hideshi , Niwa Ayumi , Hyodo Fuminori , Kanayama Tomohiro , Matsuo Mikiko , Imaizumi Yuko , Kuroda Takahiro , Hatano Yuichiro , Miyai Masafumi , Egashira Yusuke , Enomoto Yukiko , Nakayama Noriyuki , Sugie Shigeyuki , Matsumoto Kazu , Yamaguchi Yu , Matsuo Masayuki , Hara Hideaki , Iwama Toru , Hara Akira
Published: November 2021

Purpose

Heparan sulfate (HS) is one of the factors that has been suggested to be associated with angiogenesis and invasion of glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive and fast-growing brain tumor. However, it remains unclear how HS of endothelial cells is involved in angiogenesis in glioblastoma and its prognosis. Thus, we investigated the effect of endothelial cell HS on GBM development.

Methods

We generated endothelial cell-specific knockout of Ext1, a gene encoding a glycosyltransferase and essential for HS synthesis, and murine GL261 glioblastoma cells were orthotopically transplanted. Two weeks after transplantation, we examined the tumor progression and underlying mechanisms.

Results

The endothelial cell-specific Ext1 knockout (Ext1CKO) mice exhibited reduced HS expression specifically in the vascular endothelium of the brain capillaries compared with the control wild-type (WT) mice. GBM growth was significantly suppressed in Ext1CKO mice compared with that in WT mice. After GBM transplantation, the survival rate was significantly higher in Ext1CKO mice than in WT mice. We investigated how the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), which is known as an angiogenesis-promoting factor, differs between Ext1CKO and WT mice by using an in vivo Matrigel assay and demonstrated that endothelial cell-specific HS reduction attenuated the effect of FGF2 on angiogenesis.

Conclusions

HS reduction in the vascular endothelium of the brain suppressed GBM growth and neovascularization in mice.
User experience and acceptance of a device assisting persons with dementia in daily life: a multicenter field study
Authors: König Theresa , Pigliautile Martina , Águila Oscar , Arambarri Jon , Christophorou Christophoros , Colombo Matteo , Constantinides Argyris , Curia Rosario , Dankl Kathrina , Hanke Sten , Mayer Christopher Clemens , Moritsch Stefan , Müllner-Rieder Markus , Pernkopf Fritz , Schüler Christian , Stillo Maria , Mecocci Patrizia , Stögmann Elisabeth
Published: November 2021

Background

Assistive technologies have the potential to facilitate everyday life of people with dementia and their families. Close collaboration with affected people and interdisciplinary research are essential to understand and address the needs of prospective users. In this study, we present the results of the evaluation of such an assistive system prototype.

Aims

Challenges from the patient and caregiver side, technical and design problems and acceptance and usability with regard to our special target group were evaluated.

Methods

MEMENTO, a system of two e-ink tablets and a smartwatch, was tested in the domestic environment of dementia patients. Thirty participants from Italy, Spain and Austria took part in a 3-month field trial and compared the MEMENTO system to traditional strategies in everyday life. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and frequency of use of the system was monitored.

Results

There were no significant changes in quantitative measurements, such as activities of daily living and caregiver burden over the duration of the 3-month field trial. More frequent usage was significantly correlated with positive attitude towards technology (r = 0.723,p < 0.05), but not with age. The design of the system was positively emphasized, reducing fear of the technology on the one hand and stigmatization on the other.

Conclusion

We show that a positive attitude towards technology is the essential variable for successful implementation of such systems, regardless of age. Participants showed great interest in digital solutions and agreed that technological systems will help in maintaining independency of persons with cognitive dysfunction in the future.
The Navier–Stokes equations on the plane with time-dependent external forces
Authors: Yamazaki Masao
Published: November 2021

We are concerned with the non-stationary Navier–Stokes equations on the whole plane with external forces which are non-decaying in time, and give a sufficient condition on the external forces for the existence of a solution which exists for whole time. Typical examples are time-periodic solutions and solutions almost periodic in time. The stability under perturbation is also verified.
Inhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary value problem for nonlinear Schrödinger equations in the upper half-space
Authors: Hayashi Nakao , Kaikina Elena I. , Ogawa Takayoshi
Published: November 2021

We consider the inhomogeneous Dirichlet-boundary value problem for nonlinear Schrödinger equations with a power nonlinearity in general space dimension $$n\ge 3$$

n
≥
3

. We present some results on global existence in time and uniquness of small solutions to integral equations associated to the original problem.
On a Navier–Stokes–Ohm problem from plasma physics in multi connected domains
Authors: Shimizu Senjo , Tsuritani Hidenobu
Published: November 2021

We consider a model from electro-magneto-hydrodynamics describing a plasma in bounded multi connected domains. A nontrivial solution exists for magnetic fields as the equilibrium of this model. Nonlinear stability of the nontrivial solution is proved based on time weighted maximal $$L_p$$

L
p

-regularity.
Development and analysis of entropy stable no-slip wall boundary conditions for the Eulerian model for viscous and heat conducting compressible flows
Authors: Sayyari Mohammed , Dalcin Lisandro , Parsani Matteo
Published: November 2021

Nonlinear entropy stability analysis is used to derive entropy stable no-slip wall boundary conditions for the Eulerian model proposed by Svärd (Phys A Stat Mech Appl 506:350–375, 2018). The spatial discretization is based on entropy stable collocated discontinuous Galerkin operators with the summation-by-parts property for unstructured grids. A set of viscous test cases of increasing complexity are simulated using both the Eulerian and the classic compressible Navier–Stokes models. The numerical results obtained with the two models are compared, and similarities and differences are then highlighted. However, the differences are very small and probably smaller than what the current experimental technology allows to measure.
Facing it: assessing the immediate emotional impacts of calorie labelling using automatic facial coding
Authors: Laffan Kate , Sunstein Cass , Dolan Paul
Published: November 2021

Although there has been a proliferation of research and policy work into how nudges shape people's behaviour, most studies stop far short of consumer welfare analysis. In the current work, we critically reflect on recent efforts to provide insights into the consumer welfare impact of nudges using willingness to pay and subjective well-being reports and explore an unobtrusive approach that can speak to the immediate emotional impacts of a nudge: automatic facial expression coding. In an exploratory lab study, we use facial expression coding to assess the short-run emotional impact of being presented with calorie information about a popcorn snack in the context of a stylised ‘Cinema experience’. The results of the study indicate that calorie information has heterogeneous impacts on people's likelihood of choosing the snack and on the emotions they experience during the moment of choice which varies based on their level of health-consciousness. The information does not, however, affect the emotions people go on to experience while viewing movie clips, suggesting that the emotional effects of the information are short-lived. We conclude by emphasising the potential of automatic facial expression coding to provide new insights into the immediate emotional impacts of nudges and calling for further research into this promising technique.
Experiments and egalitarianism
Authors: Hargreaves Heap Shaun P.
Published: November 2021

In this paper, I reflect on the implications that ultimatum and dictator game experiments might have for public policy and for the debates over egalitarianism. Experiments suggest that people are more inclined to redistribute when outcomes are influenced by luck than effort. This can create difficulties for public policy when people hold contrasting views over whether luck or effort determine outcomes. The results also appear to play into forms of luck egalitarianism. However, they may also be consistent with an alternative understanding of egalitarianism as the impulse to have rules that treat people equally.
Yield response of barley to the application of mineral fertilizers containing major nutrients on Cambisols and Vertisols in Ethiopia
Authors: Shewangizaw Beza , Gurumu Gebreyes , Agegnehu Getachew , Eshetu Mulugeta , Assefa Shawl , Hadgu Fisseha , Seid Jemal , Tibebe Degefie , Sileshi Gudeta W. , Tamene Lulseged
Published: November 2021

Increasing barley production in the face of declining soil fertility on smallholder farms is a critical challenge in Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the optimum rates of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and sulfur (S) fertilizers under a balanced fertilization of other macro- and micronutrients (zinc and boron) and (2) quantify the agronomic efficiency of N and P on Cambisols and Vertisols. The trials were conducted for three consecutive years (2014–2016) on farmers’ fields on 83 sites under rain-fed conditions. On each farm, six rates of N, P, K, and S with a balanced application of the other nutrients were laid out separately in a randomized block design with three replicates. Balanced fertilization resulted in yield increments of 26–59% on Cambisols and 18–74% on Vertisols, as compared with the control (0 N). Application of P increased grain yield from 11% to 30% and from 7% to 14% due to the interaction of P by soil type as compared with the control. The application of K and S, however, had no significant effect on barley yields on either soil type. The highest agronomic efficiency of N (AEN) was obtained from 46 kg N ha−1, with AEN increasing by 117% on Cambisols and 33% on Vertisols, as compared with the highest N rate of 230 kg N ha−1. The maximum agronomic efficiency of P (AEP) was recorded with 10 kg P ha−1 on Vertisols, with AEP increasing by 73% on Cambisols and 452% on Vertisols, as compared with the application of 50 kg P ha−1. With balanced application of other nutrients, use of 230 kg N and 20 kg P ha−1 was recommended for tepid sub-moist mid-highlands and Vertisols. For tepid sub-humid mid-highlands, application of 46 kg N and 20 kg P ha−1 with balanced application of other nutrients was recommended. For Cambisols, application of 230 kg N and 40 kg P ha−1 was recommended with balanced application of the other nutrients. Similarly, application of 230 kg N, 40 kg P, and 10 kg S ha−1 was tentatively recommended for cool sub-most mid highlands. However, response to K was inconsistent and therefore a firm recommendation could not be proposed for the study sites. Further research needs to be conducted on more soil types and locations.
ALIGNING THE BRUSSELS REGIME WITH THE REPRESENTATIVE ACTIONS DIRECTIVE
Authors: Rielaender Frederick
Published: November 2021

European private international law has long been recognised as improperly set up to deal with cross-border collective redress. In light of this shortcoming, it seems unfortunate that the private international law implications of the Representative Actions Directive (Directive (EU) No 2020/1828) have not yet been addressed coherently by the European legislator. This article examines to what extent the policy of promoting collective redress can be supported, even if only partially, through a reinterpretation of the jurisdictional rules of the Brussels Ia Regulation. Furthermore, it discusses which legislative measures need to be adopted to better accommodate collective redress mechanisms within the Brussels regime.
Comparative proteomic analysis of Leishmania parasites isolated from visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis patients
Authors: Dinç Melike , Yalçın Talat , Çavuş İbrahim , Özbilgin Ahmet
Published: November 2021

Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease in which different clinical manifestations are classified into three primary forms: visceral, cutaneous and mucocutaneous. These disease forms are associated with parasite species of the protozoan genus Leishmania. For instance, Leishmania infantum and Leishmania tropica are typically linked with visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis, respectively; however, these two species can also cause other form to a lesser extent. What is more alarming is this characteristic, which threatens current medical diagnosis and treatment, is started to be acquired by other species. Our purpose was to address this issue; therefore, gel-based and gel-free proteomic analyses were carried out on the species L. infantum to determine the proteins differentiating between the parasites caused VL and CL. In addition, L. tropica parasites representing the typical cases for CL were included. According to our results, electrophoresis gels of parasites caused to VL were distinguishable regarding the repetitive down-regulation on some specific locations. In addition, a distinct spot of an antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, was shown up only on the gels of CL samples regardless of the species. In the gel-free approach, 37 proteins that were verified with a second database search using a different search engine, were recognized from the comparison between VL and CL samples. Among them, 31 proteins for the CL group and six proteins for the VL group were determined differentially abundant. Two proteins from the gel-based analysis, pyruvate kinase and succinyl-coA:3-ketoacid-coenzyme A transferase analysis were encountered in the protein list of the CL group.
Sound Patterns as Connectors: An Experimental Production of Three Sisters
Authors: Lemmer Karina
Published: November 2021

The actor is tasked with embodying text in order to portray the characters’ intentions. This article shows that such a complex task escalates when the actor performs in a second language. In South Africa, where eleven official languages are embraced, the multiplicity and crossover of spoken languages is a daily challenge for actors and theatre makers, leading to a preference for physical performances, which limits the use of text. The production of embodied sound patterns embedded in a text informed the creative process of an experimental production of Chekhov’s Three Sisters. It was created with a second-language cast (speakers of Setswana and Afrikaans) whose over-arching goal was to consider the embodied patterns of pre-linguistic expression as a theatre-making tool. When reflecting on their work, the actors indicated that their explorations facilitated a connection with the text in English and generated the relevant dynamics for the play’s sociopolitical themes to be adequately ‘translated’ to a contemporary multilingual South African context. Karina Lemmer is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts at Tshwane University of Technology in Gauteng, where she teaches acting and voice. She has directed a number of multilingual productions, including Buried Voices (2018) and Motlotlegi (2019), and has published in the Voice and Speech Review (2018).
Raptor migration at Guantouling, south-west China: phenology, weather influence and persecution pressure
Authors: SHI XU , XIAO XIAOBO , ZHAO XINYI , SUN RENJIE , ZHAO XINGFENG , CHOI CHI-YEUNG , LIN WUYING
Published: November 2021

South-west China, particularly between the Himalayas and the Beibu Gulf, constitutes an important corridor for migratory raptors along the East-Asian continental flyway. However, a lack of ornithological assessment and the common practice of illegal hunting in this region emphasize the need for research and conservation actions. To investigate the ecology of migration and scale of persecution, we launched one of the first citizen-science projects in mainland China to record southward-migrating raptors and hunting gunshots from 2015 to 2019 on Guantouling, a well-known raptor site in South-west China. A total of 42,891 raptors were recorded, belonging to 30 diurnal raptor species. Grey-faced Buzzard Butastur indicus, Oriental Honey Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus and Amur Falcon Falco amurensis were the three most abundant species recorded. The bulk of Grey-faced Buzzard and Amur Falcon migrated through Guantouling from mid-October till early November, while Oriental Honey Buzzard migrated throughout October and early November. Precipitation slowed down migration significantly while increasing cloud cover was favoured by the three most abundant species. We found hunting mostly occurred in the afternoon, coinciding with an increasing number of Oriental Honey Buzzard, which may become a major victim of hunting. It is thus suggested to prioritize peak raptor migration period for law enforcement actions, especially on cloudy days and after passage of cold fronts, when Oriental Honey Buzzards and other species are likely to migrate. The annual counting scheme on Guantouling is not only an ecological survey, but also an effective way of engaging the public to counter raptor persecution.
Worth its weight in gold: is the extractive industries transparency initiative a credible signalling mechanism to investors?
Authors: Fraser Jamie
Published: November 2021

This paper seeks to understand the link between resource governance and investor expectations in resource-rich countries. We test whether voluntary membership in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a public-private partnership that promotes transparency and accountability in the extractives sector, behaves as a credible signalling mechanism to investors that governments in resource-rich countries can manage resource revenue and adhere to sustainable fiscal policies in the medium and long run. Using an interrupted time series analysis coupled with a fixed effects model, we examine whether investor expectations on the price of sovereign debt behave as a credible signalling mechanism in the presence of certain conditions. Results indicate that in some cases there is a significant change in spread on the default price of sovereign debt as a result of announcement of either EITI candidacy or EITI compliance. However, it is clear that EITI membership alone is not a sufficient signal to investors that a country can effectively manage its resource revenues in the long run because the result of EITI implementation is heavily influenced by country-specific conditions.
Closer to home: How national implementation affects State conduct in partnered operations
Authors: Amoroso Alessandro Mario
Published: November 2021

Domestic law, case law and policies play a decisive yet underestimated role in ensuring that partnered operations are carried out in compliance with international law. Research on the legal framework of partnered operations has so far focused on clarifying existing and emerging obligations at the international level. Less attention has been devoted to understanding whether and how domestic legal systems integrate international law into national decision-making which governs the planning, execution and assessment of partnered operations. This article tries to fill the gap by focusing on the practice of selected States (the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Italy), chosen for their recent or current involvement in partnered operations. By using the International Committee of the Red Cross's “support relationships” framework and based on a comparative analysis of practice, the study seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of national laws, case law and policies according to their ability to prevent or mitigate the risk of humanitarian consequences posed by partnered warfare.
Mechanical scarification technique breaks seed coat-mediated dormancy in wild oat (Avena fatua)
Authors: Lujan Rocha Roberto , Khalil Yaseen , Maity Aniruddha , Beckie Hugh J. , Ashworth Michael B.
Published: November 2021

Wild oat is a herbicide resistance-prone global weed species that causes significant economic losses in dryland and horticultural agriculture. As a result, there has been a significant research effort to control this species. A major impediment to this research is the seed coat-mediated dormancy of wild oat, which requires a labor-intensive incision or puncturing of the seed coat to initiate seed germination. This study defines the most efficient settings of a mechanical thresher to overcome wild oat seed dormancy and then validates these settings using multiple populations collected from the Western Australian grain belt. We also compare the effects of rapid mechanical scarification and known germination stimulus tactics such as scarification with sulfuric acid (H2SO4), partial endosperm removal, sandpaper scarification of the seed coat, and immersion in sodium nitroprusside (NO donor SNP) solution on wild oat seedling growth rate. Threshing treatment of 1,500 rpm for 5 s provides equivalent germination compared with manually puncturing individual wild oat seeds, with no difference in seedling relative growth rate. The mechanical scarification of seeds using the thresher resulted in greater germination (66%) than H2SO4 scarification (0%), partial endosperm removal (10%), sandpaper seed coat scarification (25%), and exposure to NO donor SNP (34%). This study demonstrates that the physical dormancy of wild oat can be rapidly overcome using a commercially available mechanical thresher.
Changes in Runoff Volumes of Inland Terminal Lake: A Case Study of Lake Daihai
Authors: Wang Qianxun , Chen Xuekai , Peng Wenqi , Liu Xiaobo , Dong Fei , Huang Aiping , Wang Weihao
Published: November 2021

The reduction of the runoff to lake has become a common phenomenon of the inland lakes in northwest China, and the quantitative calculation of the driving factors affecting the runoff change has always been a challenge in lake research. In this pursuit, the present study was performed on Lake Daihai as an example, based on the relevant data from 1960 to 2018. The quantitative calculations of the runoff driving factors of Lake Daihai from 1982 to 2004 and from 2004 to 2017 were based on the slope change ratio of cumulative quantity (SCRCQ). It was concluded that human activities were the main factors affecting runoff change after 1982. The SCRCQ method was improved, which could carry out the quantitative calculations on the driving factors affecting the runoff change of the Lake Daihai from 1961 to 2017 on a yearly basis. The results show that the dominant factor of runoff changes in Lake Daihai was found to be the climate change before 1975, and it changed into human activities after 1975. Finally, based on the comparative analysis of the results of SCRCQ and improved SCRCQ, the advantages of improved SCRCQ were discussed. In addition, the reasons for the variation of the runoff to lake dominated by different factors in different periods for Lake Daihai were analyzed.
Future Global Convective Environments in CMIP6 Models
Authors: Lepore Chiara , Abernathey Ryan , Henderson Naomi , Allen John T. , Tippett Michael K.
Published: November 2021

The response of severe convective storms to a warming climate is poorly understood outside of a few well studied regions. Here, projections from seven global climate models from the CMIP6 archive, for both historical and future scenarios, are used to explore the global response in variables that describe favorability of conditions for the development of severe storms. The variables include convective available potential energy (CAPE), convection inhibition (CIN), 0–6 km vertical wind shear (S06), storm relative helicity (SRH), and covariate indices (i.e., severe weather proxies) that combine them. To better quantify uncertainty, understand variable sensitivity to increasing temperature, and present results independent from a specific scenario, we consider changes in convective variables as a function of global average temperature increase across each ensemble member. Increases to favorable convective environments show an overall frequency increases on the order of 5%–20% per °C of global temperature increase, but are not regionally uniform, with higher latitudes, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere, showing much larger relative changes. The driving mechanism of these changes is a strong increase in CAPE that is not offset by factors that either resist convection (CIN), or modify the likelihood of storm organization (S06, SRH). Severe weather proxies are not the same as severe weather events. Hence, their projected increases will not necessarily translate to severe weather occurrences, but they allow us to quantify how increases in global temperature will affect the occurrence of conditions favorable to severe weather.
Exploring Methane Emissions from Africa’s Tropical Forests
Authors: Sidder Aaron
Published: November 2021

Global methane budgets suffer from a lack of field studies in African forests, but new research sheds light on methane emissions and uptake from upland forests in the Congo Basin.
The “Internet of Things” Boosts Agricultural Livelihoods in India
Authors: Padmanaban Deepa
Published: November 2021

New technology is bringing better connectivity to remote areas, helping farmers improve crop yields and allowing fisherfolk to venture more safely out into the sea.
Modeling Subsurface Explosions Recorded on a Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor
Authors: Mellors Robert J. , Abbott Robert , Steedman David , Podrasky David , Pitarka Arben
Published: November 2021

Fiber optic distributed acoustic sensors (DAS) are becoming a widely used tool for seismic sensing. Here we examine recordings of two subsurface chemical explosions, DAG‐1 and DAG‐3, each of which was about one metric ton (TNT equivalent), that were recorded from a helical fiber installed in two boreholes 80 m away from the source location. Several clear phases including the initial P wave, a weak S wave, and a surface reflected P wave are observed on the helical DAS data. We estimate a velocity model using arrival times measured from the fiber. The DAS waveform data were compared with colocated accelerometers at specific depths in both frequency and time domains. The spectra of the DAS data matched spectra estimated from the accelerometer records. Comparisons of observed waveform shape between the accelerometer records and the fiber measurements (strain‐rate) show reasonable agreement except for the data near the event depth. The DAS data and the accelerometer agreed in relative amplitudes but we had difficulties in matching absolute amplitudes, possibly due to errors in metadata. Synthetic strain‐rate waveforms were calculated using a 2D wavenumber algorithm and matched the waveform shape and relative amplitudes. In general, DAS is effective at recording strong ground motions at high spatial density. Comparison of the synthetic seismograms with observed data indicate that the waveforms are not consistent with a pure isotropic explosion source and that the observed S waves originate from very near the source region.
Dating Continental Subduction Beneath the Samail Ophiolite: Garnet, Zircon, and Rutile Petrochronology of the As Sifah Eclogites, NE Oman
Authors: Garber Joshua M. , Rioux Matthew , Searle Michael P. , Kylander‐Clark Andrew R. C. , Hacker Bradley R. , Vervoort Jeff D. , Warren Clare J. , Smye Andrew J.
Published: November 2021

Studies of the high‐pressure (HP) As Sifah eclogites in the NE Saih Hatat Window, Oman, have used different combinations of radiometric dating results (Ar/Ar, Sm‐Nd vs. U‐Pb, Rb‐Sr) to interpret disparate tectonic models for the timing, geometry, and cause of continental subduction—including its relationship to the Samail Ophiolite. To determine the timing of continental subduction, we coupled petrochronological analyses of major (garnet) and accessory phases (zircon and rutile) from the highest grade metamorphic rocks (As Sifah eclogites) in the Saih Hatat. Early Permian (283.8 ± 0.7 Ma) tuffaceous zircon cores are consistent with earlier interpretations that the As Sifah rocks were sourced from a distal portion of the Arabian continental margin. Data from a range of bulk compositions and metamorphic assemblages consistently suggest a single metamorphic event with garnet growth from ∼81 to 77 Ma—though with slight, consistent offsets in the timing of metamorphic (re)crystallization between different lithologies. These new data confirm previous interpretations for continental HP metamorphism in a single NE‐dipping subduction zone beneath the obducted Samail Ophiolite; there is no robust evidence for an ∼110 Ma event or for SW‐dipping subduction beneath the Arabian plate. Combined with other constraints, our data suggest that the As Sifah unit was subducted at rates similar to other small continental HP bodies, followed by two stages of cooling and exhumation—likely associated with the dragging to mantle depths by a mafic root, an initial phase of rapid exhumation from mantle depths, and a lengthy residence (≤40 My) in the lower to middle crust.
Ocean and Sea Ice Retrievals From an End‐To‐End Simulation of the Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) 1.4–36.5 GHz Measurements
Authors: Jiménez Carlos , Tenerelli Joseph , Prigent Catherine , Kilic Lise , Lavergne Thomas , Skarpalezos Sotirios , Høyer Jacob L. , Reul Nicolas , Donlon Craig
Published: November 2021

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is currently being implemented by the European Space Agency (ESA) as a Copernicus Expansion Mission primarily designed to observe the Polar Regions in support of the Integrated European Policy for the Arctic. It is a conically scanning microwave radiometer with polarized channels centered at 1.414, 6.925, 10.65, 18.7, and 36.5 GHz and channel NEΔT between 0.2 and 0.7 K. A large rotating deployable mesh reflector will provide real‐aperture resolutions ranging from 60 (1.4 GHz) to 5 km (36.5 GHz). To evaluate CIMR retrieval performance, a simplified end‐to‐end simulation of the mission has been carried out. The simulation includes important processes and input parameters, such as test geophysical datasets, forward models, an instrument simulator, and retrieval algorithms to derive the key mission geophysical products. The forward modeling is tested by producing Brightness Temperatures (TBs) from 4 global scenes. A comparison with current observations of the open ocean and sea ice at similar frequencies confirmed the realism of the simulations. The produced top‐of‐atmosphere TBs are converted to Antenna brightness Temperatures (TAs), taking into account the instrument design, and are then inverted to retrieve Sea Ice Concentration (SIC), Sea Surface Temperature (SST), and Sea Surface Salinity (SSS). Evaluating the retrieval performance showed that the simulated CIMR instrument can provide SST, SSS, and SIC measurements with precisions and spatial resolutions conforming with the mission requirements. The evaluation also highlighted the challenges of observing the Arctic environment and put in perspective CIMR capabilities compared with current instruments.
Propagating acoustic waves on a culture substrate regulate the directional collective cell migration
Authors: Imashiro Chikahiro , Kang Byungjun , Lee Yunam , Hwang Youn-Hoo , Im Seonghun , Kim Dae-Eun , Takemura Kenjiro , Lee Hyungsuk
Published: November 2021

Collective cell migration plays a critical role in physiological and pathological processes such as development, wound healing, and metastasis. Numerous studies have demonstrated how various types of chemical, mechanical, and electrical cues dictate the collective migratory behaviors of cells. Although an acoustic cue can be advantageous because of its noninvasiveness and biocompatibility, cell migration in response to acoustic stimulation remains poorly understood. In this study, we developed a device that is able to apply surface acoustic waves to a cell culture substrate and investigated the effect of propagating acoustic waves on collective cell migration. The migration distance estimated at various wave intensities revealed that unidirectional cell migration was enhanced at a critical wave intensity and that it was suppressed as the intensity was further increased. The increased migration might be attributable to cell orientation alignment along the direction of the propagating wave, as characterized by nucleus shape. Thicker actin bundles indicative of a high traction force were observed in cells subjected to propagating acoustic waves at the critical intensity. Our device and technique can be useful for regulating cellular functions associated with cell migration.