bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Current and future characteristics of land use based on intensity analysis and PLUS model : a case study of Foshan city, China
Authors: Chen Lihua , Ma Yuan
Published: February 2023

Land use change drives urban pattern change. The development of urbanization will result in the diminution of ecological land and the extinction of ecological defense. Foshan is a highly typical city. Identifying the characteristics of dynamic land use changes and predicting the future land use pattern are crucial components of land use planning. Land use transfer matrix and intensity analysis model were utilized in this study. Three representative years, 2010, 2015, and 2020, were used to analyze the interval, category, and transition level characteristics for Foshan City. Then, based on the PLUS model and the Markov model, multiple scenarios for the land use of Foshan City in 2030 were developed. The results indicate the following: (i) According to the interval level intensity analysis, the general trend of land use intensity between 2010 and 2020 is first rapid and then gradual. At the category level, construction land demonstrates stable activity with increasing intensity, whereas dike-ponds demonstrate continuous activity with decreasing intensity. (ii) From 2020 to 2030, there is a slowing in the intensity of site conversion. The natural development scenario is more in line with the city's development. (iii) In simulations of future urban scenarios, the dike-pond has a decreasing trend over the scenario. At the future transition level, three possible land use conversion systems exist: "forestland—dike-pond," "water—dike-pond," and "dike-pond—construction land." With this study, Foshan City can serve as a case study for sustainable development and rational planning.

Article Highlights

Land use change components, quantity, exchange and shift were estimated.

The largest net change occurred in 2010–2015 due to human activities.

Spatial reallocation were characterized by exchange and shift.

The largest exchange occurred in 2010–2020 due to the dike-pond eroded.

The dike-pond has a decreasing trend over the simulated scenario.
High cholesterol intake remodels cholesterol turnover and energy homeostasis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Li Rui-Xin , Chen Ling-Yun , Limbu Samwel M. , Qian Yu-Cheng , Zhou Wen-Hao , Chen Li-Qiao , Luo Yuan , Qiao Fang , Zhang Mei-Ling , Du Zhen-Yu
Published: February 2023

The roles of dietary cholesterol in fish physiology are currently contradictory. The issue reflects the limited studies on the metabolic consequences of cholesterol intake in fish. The present study investigated the metabolic responses to high cholesterol intake in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), which were fed with four cholesterol-contained diets (0.8, 1.6, 2.4 and 3.2%) and a control diet for eight weeks. All fish-fed cholesterol diets showed increased body weight, but accumulated cholesterol (the peak level was in the 1.6% cholesterol group). Then, we selected 1.6% cholesterol and control diets for further analysis. The high cholesterol diet impaired liver function and reduced mitochondria number in fish. Furthermore, high cholesterol intake triggered protective adaptation via (1) inhibiting endogenous cholesterol synthesis, (2) elevating the expression of genes related to cholesterol esterification and efflux, and (3) promoting chenodeoxycholic acid synthesis and efflux. Accordingly, high cholesterol intake reshaped the fish gut microbiome by increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus spp. and Mycobacterium spp., both of which are involved in cholesterol and/or bile acids catabolism. Moreover, high cholesterol intake inhibited lipid catabolic activities through mitochondrial β-oxidation, and lysosome-mediated lipophagy, and depressed insulin signaling sensitivity. Protein catabolism was elevated as a compulsory response to maintain energy homeostasis. Therefore, although high cholesterol intake promoted growth, it led to metabolic disorders in fish. For the first time, this study provides evidence for the systemic metabolic response to high cholesterol intake in fish. This knowledge contributes to an understanding of the metabolic syndromes caused by high cholesterol intake or deposition in fish.
VIS Atlas: A Database of Virus Integration Sites in Human Genome from NGS Data to Explore Integration Patterns
Authors: Chen Ye , Wang Yuyan , Zhou Ping , Huang Hao , Li Rui , Zeng Zhen , Cui Zifeng , Tian Rui , Jin Zhuang , Liu Jiashuo , Huang Zhaoyue , Li Lifang , Huang Zheying , Tian Xun , Yu Meiying , Hu Zheng
Published: February 2023

Integration of oncogenic DNA viruses into the human genome is a key step in most virus-induced carcinogenesis. Here, we constructed a virus integration site (VIS) Atlas database, an extensive collection of integration breakpoints for three most prevalent oncoviruses, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B virus, and Epstein–Barr virus based on the next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, literature, and experimental data. There are 63,179 breakpoints and 47,411 junctional sequences with full annotations deposited in the VIS Atlas database, comprising 47 virus genotypes and 17 disease types. The VIS Atlas database provides (1) a genome browser for NGS breakpoint quality check, visualization of VISs, and the local genomic context; (2) a novel platform to discover integration patterns; and (3) a statistics interface for a comprehensive investigation of genotype-specific integration features. Data collected in the VIS Atlas aid to provide insights into virus pathogenic mechanisms and the development of novel antitumor drugs. The VIS Atlas database is available at http://www.vis-atlas.tech/.
Multimedia Comprehension
Authors: Schnotz Wolfgang
Published: February 2023

Multimedia messages use combinations of texts, pictures, maps, and graphs as tools for communication. This book provides a synthesis of theory and research about how people comprehend multimedia. It adopts the perspectives of cognitive psychology, semiotics, anthropology, linguistics, education, and art. Its central idea is that information displays can be categorized into two different but complementary forms of representations, which service different purposes in human cognition and communication. Specific interaction between these representations enhances comprehension, thinking, and problem solving, as illustrated by numerous examples. Multimedia Comprehension is written for a broad audience with no special prior knowledge. It is of interest to everyone trying to understand how people comprehend multimedia, from scholars and students in psychology, communication, and education, to web- and interface-designers and instructors.
Contraception and Modern Ireland
Authors: Kelly Laura
Published: February 2023

Contraception was the subject of intense controversy in twentieth-century Ireland. Banned in 1935 and stigmatised by the Catholic Church, it was the focus of some of the most polarised debates before and after its legalisation in 1979. This is the first comprehensive, dedicated history of contraception in Ireland from the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922 to the 1990s. Drawing on the experiences of Irish citizens through a wide range of archival sources and oral history, Laura Kelly provides insights into the lived experiences of those negotiating family planning, alongside the memories of activists who campaigned for and against legalisation. She highlights the influence of the Catholic Church's teachings and legal structures on Irish life showing how, for many, sex and contraception were obscured by shame. Yet, in spite of these constraints, many Irish women and men showed resistance in accessing contraceptive methods. This title is also available as Open Access.
Lidar Engineering
Authors: Gimmestad Gary G. , Roberts David W.
Published: February 2023

Explore the spectrum of lidar engineering in this one-of-a-kind introduction. For the first time, this multidisciplinary resource covers all the scientific and engineering aspects of atmospheric lidar – including atmospheric science, spectroscopy, lasers and eye safety, classical optics and electro-optics, electrical and mechanical engineering, and software algorithms – in a single comprehensive and authoritative book. Discover up-to-date material not included in any other book, including simple treatments of the lidar crossover range and depolarization in lidar signals, an improved explanation of lidar data inversion algorithms, digital signal processing applications in lidar, and statistical limitations of lidar signal-to-noise ratios. This is an ideal standalone text for students seeking a thorough grounding in lidar, whether through a taught course or self-study.
Physics of Charged Macromolecules
Authors: Muthukumar Murugappan
Published: February 2023

A concise introduction to the physics of charged macromolecules, from the basics of electrostatics to cutting-edge modern research developments. This accessible book provides a clear and intuitive view of concepts and theory, and features appendices detailing mathematical methodology. Supported by results from real-world experiments and simulations, this book equips the reader with a vital foundation for performing experimental research. Topics include living matter and synthetic materials including polyelectrolytes, polyzwitterions, polyampholytes, proteins, intrinsically disordered proteins, and DNA/RNA. Serving as a gateway to the growing field of charged macromolecules and their applications, this concept-driven book is a perfect guide for students beginning their studies in charged macromolecules, providing new opportunities for research and discovery.
Goethe and the Poets of Arabia
Authors: Mommsen Katharina
Published: February 2023

A comprehensive account of Goethe's relationship to Arabian culture, mediated by his interest in certain poets and texts and by his highly nuanced attitude toward Islam.
The Comedia in English
Authors: Boyle Catherine M. , Dixon Victor , Fischer Susan L. , Gunter Ben , Halberstam Michael , Johnston David , Larson Catherine , Lauer A. Robert , Matthews Dakin , McNaughton Anne , Mujica Barbara , Parr James , Smith Dawn L. , Thacker Jonathan , Voros Sharon D.
Published: February 2023

For many reasons, but most usually the lack of playable modern translations, the plays of the seventeenth-century Spanish Comedia have appeared infrequently on the stages of the English-speaking world. Once such translations began to appear in the final decades of the twentieth century, productions followed and audiences were once again given the opportunity of discovering the enormous riches of this theatre. The bringing of Spanish seventeenth-century verse plays to the contemporary English-speaking stage involves a number of fundamental questions. Are verse translations preferable to prose, and if so, what kind of verse? To what degree should translations aim to be "faithful"? Which kinds of plays "work", and which do not? Which values and customs of the past present no difficulties for contemporary audiences, and which need to be decoded in performance? Which kinds of staging are suitable, and which are not? To what degree, if any, should one aim for "authenticity" in staging? And so on.  In this volume, a distinguished group of translators, directors, and scholars explores these and related questions in illuminating and thought-provoking essays.  EDITORS: Susan Paun de García and Donald Larson are Associate Professors of Spanish at the Universities of Denison and Ohio State respectively. OTHER CONTRIBUTORS: Isaac Benabu, Catherine Boyle, Victor Dixon, Susan Fischer, Michael Halberstam, David Johnston, Catherine Larson, A. Robert Lauer, Dakin Matthews, Anne McNaughton, Barbara Mujica, James Parr, Dawn Smith, Jonathan Thacker, Sharon Voros
Hiring, Algorithms, and Choice: Why Interviews Still Matter
Authors: Bhargava Vikram R. , Assadi Pooria
Published: February 2023

Why do organizations conduct job interviews? The traditional view of interviewing holds that interviews are conducted, despite their steep costs, to predict a candidate’s future performance and fit. This view faces a twofold threat: the behavioral and algorithmic threats. Specifically, an overwhelming body of behavioral research suggests that we are bad at predicting performance and fit; furthermore, algorithms are already better than us at making these predictions in various domains. If the traditional view captures the whole story, then interviews seem to be a costly, archaic human resources procedure sustained by managerial overconfidence. However, building on T. M. Scanlon’s work, we offer the value of choice theory of interviewing and argue that interviews can be vindicated once we recognize that they generate commonly overlooked kinds of noninstrumental value. On our view, interviews should thus not be entirely replaced by algorithms, however sophisticated algorithms ultimately become at predicting performance and fit.
Well-Being and Meaning in Life
Authors: Hammerton Matthew
Published: February 2023

Many philosophers now see meaning in life as a key evaluative category that stands alongside well-being and moral goodness. Our lives are assessed not only by how well they go for us and how morally good they are, but also by their meaningfulness. In this article, I raise a challenge to this view. Theories of meaning in life closely resemble theories of well-being, and there is a suspicion that the former collapse into the latter. I develop this challenge showing that it is formidable. I then answer it by offering a novel account of what meaning in life is and how it differs from well-being. The account I offer is able to resist the strongest form of the challenge while also having much intuitive appeal.
Reasoning Simplifying Attitudes
Authors: Palmira Michele
Published: February 2023

Several philosophers maintain that outright belief exists because it plays a reasoning simplifying role (Holton 2008; Ross and Schroeder 2014; Staffel 2019; Weisberg 2020). This claim has been recently contested, on the grounds that credences also can simplify reasoning (Dinges 2021). This paper takes a step back and asks: what features of an attitude explain its alleged ability to simplify reasoning? The paper contrasts two explanations, one in terms of dispositions and the other in terms of representation, arguing in favour of the latter and against the former. The proposed explanation yields two interesting results: first, both belief and other attitudes, such as acceptance and imagination, can play a reasoning simplifying role; second, credences do not simplify our reasoning.
A fixed-point curve theorem for finite-orbits local diffeomorphisms
Authors: LISBOA LUCIVANIO , RIBÓN JAVIER
Published: February 2023

We study local biholomorphisms with finite orbits in some neighborhood of the origin since they are intimately related to holomorphic foliations with closed leaves. We describe the structure of the set of periodic points in dimension 2. As a consequence we show that given a finite-orbits local biholomorphism F, in dimension 2, there exists an analytic curve passing through the origin and contained in the fixed-point set of some non-trivial iterate of
$F.$
As an application we obtain that at least one eigenvalue of the linear part of F at the origin is a root of unity. Moreover, we show that such a result is sharp by exhibiting examples of finite-orbits local biholomorphisms such that exactly one of the eigenvalues is a root of unity. These examples are subtle since we show they cannot be embedded in one-parameter groups.
The Effect of State Supreme Court Selection Method on Perceptions of the U.S. Supreme Court
Authors: Hansford Thomas G. , Lucero Eddie , Intawan Chanita , Robles Ricardo
Published: February 2023

We argue that perceptions of the U.S. Supreme Court can be influenced by stimuli paired with state courts. People with low levels of court knowledge will exhibit an assimilation effect in which residing in a state with an elected supreme court increases perceptions of the Court being political. People with greater knowledge will demonstrate a contrast effect, meaning that the Court will be perceived as less political compared to an elected state court. Using existing survey data and a new survey experiment, we find evidence of the assimilation effect for low-knowledge participants. Our results imply that fundamental perceptions of the Supreme Court can be shaped by stimuli that are objectively unconnected to the Court, and that many people do not effectively differentiate between different types of court.
Desargues’ involution theorem: from history to applications
Authors: Gîrban Alexandru
Published: February 2023

Desargues’ Involution Theorem is a powerful problem solving tool to anyone interested in projective geometry and its contemporary applications. To give a better understanding of this fundamental result, we present the history of the idea and we illustrate several direct applications.
Wolstenholme’s inequality and its relation to the Barrow and Garfunkel-Bankoff inequalities
Authors: Lukarevski Martin
Published: February 2023

Many readers are familiar with the celebrated Finsler-Hadwiger and Weitzenböck’s inequality in triangle geometry. On the other hand, Wolstenholme’s inequality is not widely known, but is equally important and in an indirect way can be used to derive these two. We will introduce it and then show its strength.
Exploring an Evolutionary Paradox: An Analysis of the “Spite Effect” and the “Nearly Neutral Effect” in Synergistic Models of Finite Populations
Authors: Heydon Emily
Published: February 2023

Forber and Smead (2014) analyze how increasing the fitness benefits associated with prosocial behavior can increase the fitness of spiteful individuals relative to their prosocial counterparts, so that selection favors spite over prosociality. This poses a problem for the evolution of prosocial behavior: As the benefits of prosocial behavior increase, it becomes more likely that spite, not prosocial behavior, will evolve in any given population. In this article, I develop two game-theoretic models that, taken together, illustrate how synergistic costs and benefits may provide partial solutions to Forber and Smead’s paradox.
Information Deprivation and Democratic Engagement
Authors: Yee Adrian K.
Published: February 2023

There remains no consensus among social scientists as to how to measure and understand forms of information deprivation such as misinformation. Machine learning and statistical analyses of information deprivation typically contain problematic operationalizations which are too often biased towards epistemic elites’ conceptions that can undermine their empirical adequacy. A mature science of information deprivation should include considerable citizen involvement that is sensitive to the value-ladenness of information quality, and doing so may improve the predictive and explanatory power of extant models.
Christian Humanitarianism, Refugee Stories, and the Making of the Cold War West
Authors: Brydan David
Published: February 2023

This article argues that refugees and the Christian humanitarian organizations supporting them, particularly Catholic ones, helped to construct the Cold War West. Christian NGOs valued these refugees, not only for their needs or their suffering, but for the power of their stories. Refugees’ stories served to encapsulate and dramatize the horrors of communism, transforming it from an abstract ideological threat to a vivid personal danger. Their suffering and sacrifice, and the efforts to relieve this suffering, helped to forge ties of solidarity across Western Europe and North America. Christian groups fuelled this solidarity through the dissemination of information about communist persecution and the courage of refugees seeking to escape it, mobilizing the faithful to contribute through donations, prayers, and relief campaigns. The vision of the West which emerged from these campaigns emphasized religious freedom as the cornerstone of Western societies. It promoted solidarity across national borders by emphasizing Christian unity, although there were tensions between different denominations and Catholics were often the most active supporters of anti-communist humanitarianism. It also, strikingly, had little to say about democracy, something that becomes particularly evident when we examine the participation of Franco's Spain in Christian refugee relief.
Why there is no obligation to love God
Authors: Bell William L. , Renz Graham
Published: February 2023

The first and greatest commandment according to Jesus, and so the one most central to Christian practice, is the command to love God. We argue that this commandment is best interpreted in aretaic rather than deontic terms. In brief, we argue that there is no obligation to love God. While bad, failure to seek and enjoy a union of love with God is not in violation of any general moral requirement. The core argument is straightforward: relations of intimacy should not be morally imposed upon autonomous beings. We contend that such reasoning applies to human beings' relationship to God. So, even if our ultimate end is to enjoy communion with God, God has no right that human beings seek a relationship with him. If this is correct, then the command to ‘love God’ is not the sort of moral principle that can be supported by threats of hellfire or other forms of coercion.
THE ROMAN AQUEDUCT OF KNOSSOS, A MODEL FOR NINETEENTH-CENTURY AQUEDUCT DESIGN
Authors: Kelly Amanda , O'Neill Brendan
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we present findings from a field inspection of the Knossos aqueduct undertaken in 2019. A key contribution of our fieldwork was the architectural identification of the Roman channel underlying the nineteenth-century wall of the Ottoman-Egyptian aqueduct supplying Iraklio. While reuse of the Roman aqueduct in the nineteenth century was known from historical reports, the structural overlap has never been identified in the field or documented archaeologically, until now. We recorded the Roman channel lined with opus signinum running along the base of the nineteenth-century aqueduct's wall between Fundana and Spilia. Through this realisation in the field, we were able to establish diagnostic styles of masonry for both periods. Our architectural distinction between the overlaid aqueducts allowed us to integrate previously disarticulated components of the later system, like the reused Roman tunnel at Skalani and the nineteenth-century bridge at Spilia, into an integrated Ottoman-Egyptian water supply for Iraklio. As we approached Knossos from Spilia, we were also able to identify the point at which the Venetian aqueduct supplying Iraklio converged with the Roman system. Consequently, our 2019 fieldwork not only mapped the length of the Roman aqueduct supplying the city of Knossos but also that section of the nineteenth-century Ottoman-Egyptian aqueduct of Iraklio built directly over it and a shorter tract of the Venetian aqueduct of Iraklio that either ran alongside it or was, in turn, itself partially overlaid by the nineteenth-century system.
Unified robot and inertial sensor self-calibration
Authors: Ferguson James M. , Ertop Tayfun Efe , Herrell S. Duke , Webster Robert J.
Published: February 2023

Robots and inertial measurement units (IMUs) are typically calibrated independently. IMUs are placed in purpose-built, expensive automated test rigs. Robot poses are typically measured using highly accurate (and thus expensive) tracking systems. In this paper, we present a quick, easy, and inexpensive new approach to calibrate both simultaneously, simply by attaching the IMU anywhere on the robot’s end-effector and moving the robot continuously through space. Our approach provides a fast and inexpensive alternative to both robot and IMU calibration, without any external measurement systems. We accomplish this using continuous-time batch estimation, providing statistically optimal solutions. Under Gaussian assumptions, we show that this becomes a nonlinear least-squares problem and analyze the structure of the associated Jacobian. Our methods are validated both numerically and experimentally and compared to standard individual robot and IMU calibration methods.
Digital Immunization Tracking in Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities
Authors: Wilson Kumanan , Wilson Lindsay A. , Rusk Kelsey T. , Henry Justine L. , Denize Kathryn M. , Hsu Amy T. , Sveistrup Heidi
Published: February 2023

A disproportionate share of the health impacts of COVID-19 has been borne by older adults, particularly those in long-term care facilities (LTCs). Vaccination has been critical to efforts to combat this issue, but as we begin to emerge from this pandemic, questions remain about how to protect the health of residents of LTC and assisted living facilities proactively in order to prevent such a disaster from occurring again. Vaccination, not just against COVID-19, but also against other vaccine-preventable illness, will be a key component of this effort. However, there are currently substantial gaps in the uptake of vaccines recommended for older adults. Technology offers an opportunity to assist in filling these vaccination gaps. Our experiences in Fredericton, New Brunswick suggest that a digital immunization solution would facilitate better uptake of adult vaccines for older adults in assisted and independent living facilities and would help policy and decision makers to identify coverage gaps and develop interventions to protect these individuals.
Course of child social–emotional and sleep symptoms, parental distress and pandemic-related stressors during COVID-19
Authors: Nolvi Saara , Paavonen E. Juulia , Korja Riikka , Pelto Juho , Karukivi Max , Tuulari Jetro J. , Karlsson Hasse , Karlsson Linnea
Published: February 2023

Research on the longitudinal courses of child social–emotional symptoms and sleep during the COVID-19 pandemic within societies would be of key value for promoting child well-being in global crises. We characterized the course of children’s social–emotional and sleep symptoms before and throughout the pandemic in a Finnish longitudinal cohort of 1825 5- to 9-year-old children (46% girls) with four follow-up points during the pandemic from up to 695 participants (spring 2020–summer 2021). Second, we examined the role of parental distress and COVID-related stressful events in child symptoms. Child total and behavioral symptoms increased in spring 2020 but decreased thereafter and remained stable throughout the rest of the follow-up. Sleep symptoms decreased in spring 2020 and remained stable thereafter. Parental distress was linked with higher child social–emotional and sleep symptoms. The cross-sectional associations between COVID-related stressors and child symptoms were partially mediated by parental distress. The findings propose that children can be protected from the long-term adverse influences of the pandemic, and parental well-being likely plays a mediating role between pandemic-related stressors and child well-being. Further research focusing on the societal and resilience factors underlying family and child responses to the pandemic is warranted.
Rice seed longevity in the context of seed moisture contents and hypoxic conditions in the storage environment
Authors: Tahir Ayesha , Afzal Irfan , Khalid Ehsan , Razzaq Maryam , Arif Mian Abdur Rehman
Published: February 2023

Cumulative oxidation of cellular macromolecules during storage reduces seed longevity. This study was undertaken to unravel the physiological and biochemical changes in rice seeds that contribute to deterioration during storage. Rice seeds maintained at three different seed moisture contents (SMC; 10, 12 and 14%) were stored in airtight glass jars. Half of the jars were flushed with nitrogen gas to provide modified oxygen conditions, while the other half were sealed with natural air (21% O2). Seed quality in terms of germination and antioxidant defence mechanisms was monitored after 3 and 6 months of storage at 25°C. The results showed that seeds performed better when stored at low SMC (10 and 12%), whereas the deterioration process accelerated in seeds stored at higher SMC (14%). Coupling high SMC with the availability of oxygen in the storage environment produced a negative effect on seed quality and longevity. Results from the antioxidant analysis showed more activity in seeds stored with oxygen at high SMC (14%) compared to lower SMC stored in modified oxygen conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that storage with low moisture levels (12%) or below (10%) is the best to preserve rice seed quality. However, at higher moisture levels (14%), the availability of oxygen in storage is more harmful to seed lifespan and quality.
Impact ofAlpinia galangaand zinc on semen quality and some reproductive hormone constituents in California rabbit bucks
Authors: El-Speiy M.E. , El-Sawy M.A. , Sadaka T.A. , Abd-Elaal M.A. , Habib M.R. , Abdella M.M. , Khattab Mostafa S.A.
Published: February 2023

The objective of the current study was to investigate the influence of synergism of the dry powder ofAlpinia galangarhizomes (AGR) and/or zinc sulfate in the diet on semen quality and reproductive traits of California rabbit bucks. The study was conducted in two stages. First stage: appreciation of semen characteristics, 36 California rabbit bucks (aged 5 months) with average body weights of 2980 g were divided randomly into six treatments (six individuals each). The treatment groups were: first group, control fed basal diet (C); second group, fed basal diet plus 1 g AGR/kg dry matter (DM) (AGR1); third group, fed basal diet plus 2 g AGR/kg DM (AGR2); fourth group, fed basal diet plus 200 mg Zn/litre drinking water (Zn); fifth group, fed basal diet plus 1 g AGR/kg DM and 200 mg Zn/litre drinking water (AGR1 + Zn); sixth group, fed basal diet plus 2 g AGR/kg DM and 200 mg Zn/litre drinking water (AGR2 + Zn). Second stage: the previous bucks were used to determine the efficiency of semen on reproductive fertility traits, 48 mature does (aged 6 months, nulliparous) with an average body weight of 3050 ± 20.7 g were divided randomly into six treatments and inseminated with previous groups of treated bucks. The results of the first stage, recorded high activity on gonadotropins hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone (FT), progesterone (P4) and oestrogen (E217β) concentrations for AGR1 + Zn and AGR2 + Zn compared with the control group. Groups AGR1, AGR2, AGR1 + Zn and AGR2 + Zn had significantly lowered concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and malondialdehyde (MDA), whereas high-density lipoprotein and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were increased significantly compared with the control group. The group supplemented with AGR with or without Zn had significantly improved ejaculate volume, advanced motility, sperm concentration, and cell integrity. Fertility rate and litter size were improved in all groups compared with the control. It was concluded that supplementing diets withAlpinia galangaand Zn significantly increased sperm percentage, motility and reproductive hormones (testosterone, FSH, LH, E217β, P4). This suggested that this plant when used may be favourable for improved sperm quality and fertility parameters.
Fatal Air Medical Accidents in the United States (2000-2020)
Authors: Shekhar Aditya C. , Blumen Ira J.
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Currently, many airplanes and helicopters are used as air ambulances to transport high-acuity patients. Unfortunately, civilian air medical transport in the United States has experienced a significant number of serious and fatal accidents. At the moment, additional research is needed to identify what factors affect air medical safety.

Methods:

Accident reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were queried. Accident reports were analyzed if the accident occurred from 2000 through 2020, involved a helicopter or airplane on an air medical flight (as identified by the NTSB), and had at least one fatality. The date of the accident, the model of aircraft involved, and NTSB-determined probable causes of the accident were examined.

Results:

Eighty-seven (87) accidents and 239 fatalities took place from January 2000 through December 2020. Nearly three-fourths (72.4%) of fatalities occurred on helicopters, while just 27.6% occurred on airplanes. Interpreting the NTSB findings, various human factors probably contributed to 87.4% of fatalities. These include pilot disorientation, pilot errors, maintenance errors, impairment, fatigue, or weather misestimation. Nighttime-related factors probably contributed to 38.9% of fatalities, followed by weather-related factors (35.6%), and various mechanical failures (17.2%).

Conclusion:

These data show that the probable causes of fatal air medical accidents are primarily human factors and are, therefore, likely preventable. Developing a safety-first culture with a focus on human factors training has been shown to improve outcomes across a wide range of medical specialties (eg, anesthesia, surgery, and resuscitation). While there have been fewer fatal accidents in recent years, a continued emphasis on various training modalities seems warranted.
Placental nanoparticle gene therapy normalizes gene expression changes in the fetal liver associated with fetal growth restriction in a fetal sex-specific manner
Authors: Wilson Rebecca L. , Stephens Kendal K. , Jones Helen N.
Published: February 2023

Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases. We have a placenta-specific nanoparticle gene therapy protocol that increases placental expression of human insulin-like growth factor 1 (hIGF1), for the treatment of FGR in utero. We aimed to characterize the effects of FGR on hepatic gluconeogenesis pathways during early stages of FGR establishment, and determine whether placental nanoparticle-mediated hIGF1 therapy treatment could resolve differences in the FGR fetus. Female Hartley guinea pigs (dams) were fed either a Control or Maternal Nutrient Restriction (MNR) diet using established protocols. At GD30-33, dams underwent ultrasound guided, transcutaneous, intraplacental injection of hIGF1 nanoparticle or PBS (sham) and were sacrificed 5 days post-injection. Fetal liver tissue was fixed and snap frozen for morphology and gene expression analysis. In female and male fetuses, liver weight as a percentage of body weight was reduced by MNR, and not changed with hIGF1 nanoparticle treatment. In female fetal livers, expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1 (Hif1α) and tumor necrosis factor (Tnfα) were increased in MNR compared to Control, but reduced in MNR + hIGF1 compared to MNR. In male fetal liver, MNR increased expression of Igf1 and decreased expression of Igf2 compared to Control. Igf1 and Igf2 expression was restored to Control levels in the MNR + hIGF1 group. This data provides further insight into the sex-specific mechanistic adaptations seen in FGR fetuses and demonstrates that disruption to fetal developmental mechanisms may be returned to normal by treatment of the placenta.
Glyphosate-resistant horseweed control in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D-resistant soybean with one- and two-pass herbicide programs
Authors: Duenk Emily , Soltani Nader , Miller Robert T. , Hooker David C. , Robinson Darren E. , Sikkema Peter H.
Published: February 2023

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) biotypes of horseweed were first confirmed in southern Ontario in 2010 and have spread across southern Ontario. A total of four field experiments were conducted between 2021 and 2022 to determine GR horseweed control with one- and two-pass herbicide programs in glyphosate/glufosinate/2,4-D-resistant (GG2R) soybean. 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA, halauxifen-methyl, and saflufenacil applied preplant (PP) controlled GR horseweed by 59%, 72%, and 78% 8 wk after postemergence (POST) application (WAA-POST); there was no improvement of GR horseweed control when 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA was added to saflufenacil; in contrast, there was improved GR horseweed control when saflufenacil was added to 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA. Glufosinate and 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA applied POST controlled glyphosate-resistant horseweed by 71% and 86%, respectively, 8 WAA-POST. Two-pass herbicide programs of a PP followed by POST application provided greater GR horseweed control than a PP or POST herbicide applied alone. Glufosinate or 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA applied POST following 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA or halauxifen-methyl applied PP improved GR horseweed control by 29% to 38% and 24%, respectively at 8 WAA-POST. The application of 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA applied POST following saflufenacil applied PP improved control by 20% 8 WAA-POST; there was no improvement of GR horseweed control when glufosinate was applied POST following saflufenacil applied PP or when either POST herbicide was applied following saflufenacil + 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA applied PP. When used in a two-pass program, 2,4-D choline/glyphosate DMA POST provided 2% to 3% greater control of GR horseweed than glufosinate.
An angiosome-centred approach for TcpO2 electrode	positioning
Authors: Catella Judith , Schiava Nellie Della , L’Hoia Fortunat , Lermusiaux Patrick , Millon Antoine , Long Anne
Published: February 2023

Summary: Background: The latest guidelines propose a TcpO2 value of 30 mmHg to help to confirm the diagnosis of chronic limb threatening ischemia. However, placement of electrodes is not standardised. The relevance of an “angiosome-centred” approach for TcpO2 electrode positioning has never been evaluated. We therefore retrospectively analysed our TcpO2 results to study the impact of electrode placement on the different angiosomes of the foot. Patients and methods: Patients consulting the vascular medicine department laboratory for suspicion of CLTI using TcpO2 electrodes placement on the different angiosome arteries of the foot (first inter metatarsal space, lateral edge of the foot and plantar side of the foot) were included. As the mean intra-individual variation is reported to be 8 mmHg, a variation of mean TcpO2 for the 3 locations ≤8 mmHg was considered to be not clinically significant. Results: Thirty-four patients (34 ischemic legs) were analysed. The mean TcpO2 was higher at the lateral edge of the foot (55 mmHg) and plantar side of the foot (65 mmHg) than at the first intermetatarsal space (48 mmHg). There was no clinically significant variation of mean TcpO2 according to anterior/posterior tibial artery patency and fibular artery patency. This was present when stratifying on the number of patent arteries. Conclusions: The present study suggests that multi-electrode TcpO2 is not useful to assess tissue oxygenation in the different angiosomes of the foot to guide surgical decision; first intermetatarsal electrode alone would be preferred. TcpO2 seems rather to evaluate overall tissue oxygenation of the foot. Electrode location on the plantar side of the foot may overestimate results and lead to misinterpretation.
Mechanisms and Impacts of Earth System Tipping Elements
Authors: Wang Seaver , Foster Adrianna , Lenz Elizabeth A. , Kessler John D. , Stroeve Julienne C. , Anderson Liana O. , Turetsky Merritt , Betts Richard , Zou Sijia , Liu Wei , Boos William R. , Hausfather Zeke
Published: February 2023

Tipping elements are components of the Earth system which may respond nonlinearly to anthropogenic climate change by transitioning toward substantially different long‐term states upon passing key thresholds or “tipping points.” In some cases, such changes could produce additional greenhouse gas emissions or radiative forcing that could compound global warming. Improved understanding of tipping elements is important for predicting future climate risks and their impacts. Here we review mechanisms, predictions, impacts, and knowledge gaps associated with 10 notable Earth system components proposed to be tipping elements. We evaluate which tipping elements are approaching critical thresholds and whether shifts may manifest rapidly or over longer timescales. Some tipping elements have a higher risk of crossing tipping points under middle‐of‐the‐road emissions pathways and will possibly affect major ecosystems, climate patterns, and/or carbon cycling within the 21st century. However, literature assessing different emissions scenarios indicates a strong potential to reduce impacts associated with many tipping elements through climate change mitigation. The studies synthesized in our review suggest most tipping elements do not possess the potential for abrupt future change within years, and some proposed tipping elements may not exhibit tipping behavior, rather responding more predictably and directly to the magnitude of forcing. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain associated with many tipping elements, highlighting an acute need for further research and modeling to better constrain risks.
Gravity Wave Modulations at the Lower Altitudes of Venus Ionosphere
Authors: Tripathi Keshav R. , Choudhary R. K. , Jose Jeslin S. , Ambili K. M. , Imamura T.
Published: February 2023

Using measurements from radio science experiments onboard Venus Express and Akatsuki orbiter, we explore factors that control the occurrence and spatial structure of the electron density enhancement at lower altitudes (V0 layer) in the Venus ionosphere. Results suggest that the Gravity Waves (GWs) play a crucial role in determining the shape of the V0 layer. For solar zenith angle (SZA) less than 40°, when the average gravity wave potential energy (AGPE) is less than 4.7 J/kg, V0 has a single well‐defined peak. For higher AGPE, the V0 peak height gets perturbed and exhibits a wave‐like structure. For SZA >40°, and AGPE >4.7 J/kg, mostly wave‐like feature at the base of the V0 layer emerges. We surmise that although GW do not control the formation of a V0 layer, they likely control its shape and occurrence altitude.
Subseasonal Predictability of the July 2021 Extreme Rainfall Event Over Henan China in S2S Operational Models
Authors: Yan Yuhan , Zhu Congwen , Liu Boqi
Published: February 2023

A record‐breaking flooding event occurred in Zhengzhou, Henan Province of China during 17–23 July 2021, causing hundreds of deaths and vast economic losses. Here, we evaluated the predictability of this extreme rainfall event and the impacts of tropical cyclones (TCs) using subseasonal‐to‐seasonal (S2S) operational models. On the monthly timescale, most models initialized in late June reasonably predicted the wet‐in‐north and dry‐in‐south patterns of anomalous rainfall over China in July, accompanied by the well‐predicted westward extension of the western North Pacific subtropical high (WNPSH) and eastward stretching of the South Asian High. On the weekly timescale, only four models captured the location, probability, and sudden intensification of the rainfall extremes in advance of 1 week, largely due to their reasonable prediction of WNPSH variability in mid‐latitudes. However, the S2S models still underestimated the super extremeness of this event. The prediction discrepancies came from the poor predictability of Typhoon IN‐FA and its impact on the daily evolution of the extreme rainfall event, even within a few days forecast lead. Compared with the observation, the prediction bias of tropical disturbance changed the environmental monsoon airflow to induce the earlier warning of rainfall extremes prior to the formation of IN‐FA. After the formation of IN‐FA, the prediction bias of the typhoon's moving speed distorted the typhoon location, which incorrectly predicted the moisture convergence center and underestimated their remote impacts on this heavy rainfall event.
The Sensitivity of Tidal Channel Systems to Initial Bed Conditions, Vegetation, and Tidal Asymmetry
Authors: Geng L. , Lanzoni S. , D'Alpaos A. , Sgarabotto A. , Gong Z.
Published: February 2023

In tidal environments, channel networks act as essential drainage pathways. Although the complex interactions between environmental factors have been studied extensively, the effects of the initial bathymetry on tidal network ontogeny are poorly understood. In this contribution, we used a numerical model to mimic a schematic tidal basin subjected to tidal forcing. The effects of the initial bathymetry and vegetation growth are analyzed by changing the features of randomly generated bed perturbation and the intertidal platform slope. Different perturbation densities mildly affect the growth of tidal networks, which, at equilibrium, share similar values in terms of channel length, tidal prism, and cross‐sectional area. The complexity and structure of channel networks are more sensitive to variations in the perturbation distribution. Increasing the initial bathymetry slope can shorten channels and reduce the tidal prism and drainage efficiency. Vegetation growth is found to invariably promote channel lengthening and narrowing, increasing the complexity and drainage efficiency of the system. An asymmetrical tidal forcing generally leads to longer channels and smaller unchanneled lengths. Under ebb‐dominant conditions, channels get deeper, and the increased channel length ensures a higher drainage efficiency. The insights of our study provide a deeper understanding of the environmental factors controlling the equilibrium morphology of tidal channel systems and their overall resilience. Further implications concern the restoration and management of coastal areas through the informed use of topographic changes and planting arrangements. Finally, accounting for the uncertainties associated with initial conditions is relevant when modeling other earth systems and comparing them with real systems.
Expansion of Reducing Marine Environments During the Ireviken Biogeochemical Event: Evidence From the Altajme Core, Gotland, Sweden
Authors: Stolfus Brittany M. , Allman Lindsi J. , Young Seth A. , Calner Mikael , Hartke Emma R. , Oborny Stephan C. , Bancroft Alyssa M. , Cramer Bradley D.
Published: February 2023

New δ34Spy (pyrite) and δ34SCAS (carbonate‐associated sulfate) across the Llandovery‐Wenlock boundary (∼432 Ma) provide evidence for the expansion of reduced marine environments during the Ireviken Biogeochemical Event. This event consists of a major positive carbon isotope excursion, increased biotic turnover, and other major perturbations and changes within biogeochemical cycles. This interval of time has been hypothesized to coincide with an expansion of reducing marine environments that caused increased organic carbon burial and led to the Ireviken positive carbon isotope excursion (ICIE). Previous high‐resolution carbon isotope work in the Altajme core from Gotland, Sweden provides the highest resolution record of the ICIE yet documented and provides an ideal expanded stratigraphic section to study this event. Local expansion of reduced marine environments within the deeper shelf setting of the Altajme core is indicated by a positive shift in δ34Spy values and increase in pyrite sulfur concentrations at the onset of the ICIE. These data are indicative of increased microbial sulfate reduction within this portion of the Baltic Basin. Combined with new δ34SCAS data from this core, as well as additional data from distant basins, the new data presented here suggest a global expansion of reduced environments led to an increase in organic carbon burial and the ICIE.