bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A double blind randomized controlled trial investigating efficacy and safety of varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with type 2 diabetes: study protocol
Authors: Russo C. , Caponnetto P. , Cibella F. , Maglia M. , Alamo A. , Campagna D. , Frittitta L. , Di Mauro M. , Leotta C. , Mondati E. , Krysiński A. , Franek E. , Polosa R.
Published: March 2021

Reducing exposure to cigarette smoke is an imperative for public health and for diabetic patients. Patients with diabetes who continue to smoke face challenges at quitting and the delivery of effective smoking cessation interventions is a major unmet need. The high-affinity α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist varenicline in combination with counseling is effective for smoking cessation, but evidence in patients with diabetes is limited. A clinical trial of varenicline targeted specifically at smokers with T2DM is warranted. This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial will be the first study to test efficacy and safety of varenicline in smokers with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) over the course of 52 weeks. We hypothesize that varenicline treatment (1 mg BID, administered for 12 weeks) would increase quit rates, maintain smoking abstinence up to 1 year after treatment, and be well-tolerated in T2DM smokers intending to quit. Efficacy end points will include carbon monoxide–confirmed continuous abstinence rate (CAR) and 7-day point prevalence of abstinence. The results of this RCT will help inform medical/health authorities and physicians worldwide whether an optimally varenicline-treated cohort of T2DM patients who smoke will experience significant success rates, without significant side effects.

Trial registration NCT01387425 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01387425).
The sustainability of beach nourishments: a review of nourishment and environmental monitoring practice
Authors: Staudt Franziska , Gijsman Rik , Ganal Caroline , Mielck Finn , Wolbring Johanna , Hass H. Christian , Goseberg Nils , Schüttrumpf Holger , Schlurmann Torsten , Schimmels Stefan
Published: March 2021

Beach nourishments are a widely used method to mitigate erosion along sandy shorelines. In contrast to hard coastal protection structures, nourishments are considered as soft engineering, although little is known about the cumulative, long-term environmental effects of both marine sediment extraction and nourishment activities. Recent endeavours to sustain the marine ecosystem and research results on the environmental impact of sediment extraction and nourishment activities are driving the need for a comprehensive up-to-date review of beach nourishment practice, and to evaluate the physical and ecological sustainability of these activities. While existing reviews of nourishment practice have focused on the general design (motivation, techniques and methods, international overview of sites and volumes) as well as legal and financial aspects, this study reviews and compares not only nourishment practice but also the accompanying assessment and monitoring of environmental impacts in a number of developed countries around the world. For the study, we reviewed 205 openly-accessible coastal management strategies, legal texts, guidelines, EIA documents, websites, project reports, press releases and research publications about beach nourishments in several developed countries around the world (Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, UK, USA and Australia). Where information was not openly available, the responsible authorities were contacted directly. The study elaborates on the differences in coastal management strategies and legislation as well as the large dissimilarities in the EIA procedure (where applicable) for both marine sediment extraction and nourishment activities. The spatial disturbance of the marine environment that is considered a significant impact, a factor which determines the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment, varies substantially between the countries covered in this study. Combined with the large uncertainties of the long-term ecological and geomorphological impacts, these results underline the need to reconsider the sustainability of nourishments as “soft” coastal protection measures.
An extensive parameter study of hydrotropic extraction of steam-pretreated birch
Authors: Olsson Johanna , Persson Michael , Galbe Mats , Wallberg Ola , Jönsson Ann-Sofi
Published: March 2021

Efficient fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass is an important step toward the replacement of fossil-based products. However, the utilisation of all of the components in biomass requires various fractionation techniques. One promising process configuration is to apply steam explosion for the recovery of hemicelluloses and a subsequent hydrotropic extraction step for the delignification of the remaining solids. In this work, the influence of residence time, temperature and biomass loading on lignin recovery from birch using sodium xylene sulphonate as a hydrotrope was investigated. Our results show that residence time, temperature and biomass loading correlate positively with lignin extraction, but the effects of these parameters were limited. Furthermore, when steam explosion was implemented as the initial step, hydrotropic extraction could be performed even at room temperature, yielding a lignin extraction of 50%. Also, hydrothermal degradation of the material was necessary for efficient delignification with sodium xylene sulphonate, regardless of whether it occurs during steam explosion pretreatment or is achieved at high temperatures during the hydrotropic extraction.
Beyond brood: the potential impacts of insect growth disruptors on the long-term health and performance of honey bee colonies
Authors: Fine Julia D. , Corby-Harris Vanessa
Published: March 2021

Honey bees are valued pollinators of agricultural crops, and heavy losses reported by beekeepers have spurred efforts to identify causes. As social insects, threats to honey bees should be assessed by evaluating the effects of stress on the long-term health and productivity of the entire colony. Insect growth disruptors are a class of pesticides encountered by honey bees that target pathways involved in insect development, reproduction, and behavior, and they have been shown to affect critical aspects of all three in honey bees. Therefore, it is imperative that their risks to honey bees be thoroughly evaluated. This review describes the effects of insect growth disruptors on honey bees at the individual and colony levels, highlighting hazards associated with different chemistries, and addresses their potential impacts on the longevity of colonies. Finally, recommendations for the direction of future research to identify strategies to mitigate effects are prescribed.
Effect of COVID-19 pandemic on medical waste management: a case study
Authors: Kalantary Roshanak Rezaei , Jamshidi Arsalan , Mofrad Mohammad Mehdi Golbini , Jafari Ahmad Jonidi , Heidari Neda , Fallahizadeh Saeid , Hesami Arani Mohsen , Torkashvand Javad
Published: March 2021

Covid-19 Pandemic leads to medical services for the society all over the world. The Covid-19 pandemic influence the waste management and specially medical waste management. In this study, the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak on medical waste was evaluated via assessing the solid waste generation, composition, and management status in five hospitals in Iran. The results indicated that the epidemic Covid-19 leads to increased waste generation on average 102.2 % in both private and public hospitals. In addition, the ratio of infectious waste in the studied hospitals increased by an average of 9 % in medical waste composition and 121 % compared with before COVID-19 pandemic. Changes in plans and management measurement such as increasing the frequency of waste collection per week leads to lower the risk of infection transmission from medical waste in the studied hospitals. The results obtained from the present research clearly show the changes in medical waste generation and waste composition within pandemic Covid-19. In addition, established new ward, Covid-19 ward with high-infected waste led to new challenges which should be managed properly by change in routine activities.
Mapping and modeling within-tree variation for loblolly pine pulp yield and lignin content
Authors: Schimleck Laurence R. , Antony Finto , Mora Christian , Dahlen Joseph
Published: March 2021

We examined the within-tree variation of pulp yield and lignin content for loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) trees aged 13 and 22 years. Radial trends in pulp yield (increase) and lignin (decrease) were consistent with what would be expected for loblolly pine as were changes in properties related to maturation. Maps, based on the average of 18 trees at each age, depicting pulp yield variation within-tree were similar to loblolly pine maps reported for microfibril angle and stiffness, while lignin maps resembled the inverse of those reported for density and related properties. Mixed-effects models for both properties were developed with the base model for pulp yield explaining 64% of the observed variation, with the inclusion of tree height improving the model slightly, whereas models for lignin content explained 44% of the variability. The models could be incorporated into growth and yield prediction systems, or procurement model systems that predict within-tree wood properties based on age and tree size.
Socioeconomic Status Moderates the Impact of Emotional but not Physical Childhood Abuse on Women’s Sleep
Authors: Currie Cheryl L. , Higa Erin K. , Swanepoel Lisa-Marie
Published: March 2021

A recent systematic review highlighted associations between childhood abuse and adult sleep quality, and the need for research focused specifically on women and the role of moderating variables. The objectives of the present study were (1) to assess the impact of frequent physical and emotional child abuse on adult sleep among women; and (2) to assess the role that childhood socioeconomic status (SES) could play in moderating these associations. In-person data were collected from women living in a mid-sized city in western Canada in 2019–2020 (N = 185; M age = 40 years). Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Physical and emotional abuse experienced often or very often in childhood were assessed using single items (yes or no). Childhood SES was assessed by a single item and dichotomized at the sample median. Linear regression models examined associations between each form of abuse and continuous adult sleep quality score adjusted for covariates. Statistically significant interactions were stratified and examined by child SES group. Frequent physical and emotional childhood abuse were each associated with clinically and statistically significant increases in past-month sleep problem scores among women in adjusted models. This association was moderated by childhood SES for emotional child abuse, but not physical child abuse. Findings suggest that growing up in an upper-middle to upper SES household may buffer the adverse impact of frequent emotional child abuse on later adult sleep, but may not promote resilience in the context of frequent physical child abuse.
Continuous frames for unbounded operators
Authors: Bellomonte Giorgia
Published: March 2021

Few years ago Găvruţa gave the notions of K-frame and atomic system for a linear bounded operator K in a Hilbert space $$\mathcal {H}$$
H
in order to decompose $$\mathcal {R}(K)$$

R
(
K
)

, the range of K, with a frame-like expansion. These notions are here generalized to the case of a densely defined and possibly unbounded operator A on a Hilbert space in a continuous setting, thus extending what have been done in a previous paper in a discrete framework.
The mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA Regulatory Network and Factors Associated with Prognosis Prediction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Hu Bo , Ma Xiaolu , Fu Peiyao , Sun Qiman , Tang Weiguo , Sun Haixiang , Yang Zhangfu , Yu Mincheng , Zhou Jian , Fan Jia , Xu Yang
Published: March 2021

The aim of this study was to identify novel prognostic mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using methods in systems biology. Differentially expressed mRNAs, miRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were compared between HCC tumor tissues and normal liver tissues in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, a prognosis-associated mRNA co-expression network, an mRNA–miRNA regulatory network, and an mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA regulatory network were constructed to identify prognostic biomarkers for HCC through Cox survival analysis. Seven prognosis-associated mRNA co-expression modules were obtained by analyzing these differentially expressed mRNAs. An expression module including 120 mRNAs was significantly correlated with HCC patient survival. Combined with patient survival data, several mRNAs and miRNAs, including CHST4, SLC22A8, STC2, hsa-miR-326, and hsa-miR-21 were identified from the network to predict HCC patient prognosis. Clinical significance was investigated using tissue microarray analysis of samples from 258 patients with HCC. Functional annotation of hsa-miR-326 and hsa-miR-21-5p indicated specific associations with several cancer-related pathways. The present study provides a bioinformatics method for biomarker screening, leading to the identification of an integrated mRNA–miRNA–lncRNA regulatory network and their co-expression patterns in relation to predicting HCC patient survival.
The Human Embryo In Vitro
Authors: McMillan Catriona A. W.
Published: March 2021

The Human Embryo in vitro explores the ways in which UK law engages with embryonic processes under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended), the intellectual basis of which has not been reconsidered for almost thirty years. McMillan argues that in regulating 'the embryo' – that is, a processual liminal entity in itself - the law is regulating for uncertainty. This book offers a fuller understanding of how complex biological processes of development and growth can be better aligned with a legal framework that purports to pay respect to the embryo while also allowing its destruction. To do so it employs an anthropological concept, liminality, which is itself concerned with revealing the dynamics of process. The implications of this for contemporary regulation of artificial reproduction are fully explored, and recommendations are offered for international regimes on how they can better align biological reality with social policy and law.
Characteristic measures of symbolic dynamical systems
Authors: FRISCH JOSHUA , TAMUZ OMER
Published: March 2021

A probability measure is a characteristic measure of a topological dynamical system if it is invariant to the automorphism group of the system. We show that zero entropy shifts always admit characteristic measures. We use similar techniques to show that automorphism groups of minimal zero entropy shifts are sofic.
Search for intermittent X-ray pulsations from neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries
Authors: Bahar Yunus Emre , Chakraborty Manoneeta , Göğüş Ersin
Published: March 2021

We present the results of our extensive binary orbital motion corrected pulsation search for 13 low-mass X-ray binaries. These selected sources exhibit burst oscillations in X-rays with frequencies ranging from 45 to 1 122 Hz and have a binary orbital period varying from 2.1 to 18.9 h. We first determined episodes that contain weak pulsations around the burst oscillation frequency by searching all archival Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer data of these sources. Then, we applied Doppler corrections to these pulsation episodes to discard the smearing effect of the binary orbital motion and searched for recovered pulsations at the second stage. Here we report 75 pulsation episodes that contain weak but coherent pulsations around the burst oscillation frequency. Furthermore, we report eight new episodes that show relatively strong pulsations in the binary orbital motion corrected data.
Hard traveling: unemployment and road infrastructure in the shadow of political conflict
Authors: Abrahams Alexei Sisulu
Published: March 2021

If political circumstances are an important cause of unemployment in the Middle East, does this tend to attenuate the influence of economic infrastructure? I approach this question by building a geospatial dataset of the West Bank, an area with high unemployment arguably linked to political problems. I find Israeli army road obstacles, deployed during the Second Intifada, obstructed peri-urban Palestinian commuters from accessing commercial centers and border crossings, inflicting employment losses that were substantially offset by employment gains among their more centrally located Palestinian competitors. The findings suggest that marginal economic interventions, such as removing obstacles or paving roads, have a good chance of altering the spatial distribution of unemployment, but may struggle to reduce overall unemployment levels absent political reform.
Guns of Peace and an Early Campaign against Smallpox
Authors: Snyder Sarah B.
Published: March 2021

This article analyses the religious and other motivations of Robert Hingson and Brother's Brother Foundation in their work on smallpox eradication and international health more broadly. It examines Hingson's development and early usage of the jet injector in mass vaccination campaigns. It also highlights that in offering logistical support to Hingson's efforts in Liberia, the US government participated in smallpox eradication earlier than existing narratives have suggested.
Using multivariate endophenotypes to identify psychophysiological mechanisms associated with polygenic scores for substance use, schizophrenia, and education attainment
Authors: Harper Jeremy , Liu Mengzhen , Malone Stephen M. , McGue Matt , Iacono William G. , Vrieze Scott I.
Published: March 2021

Background

To better characterize brain-based mechanisms of polygenic liability for psychopathology and psychological traits, we extended our previous report (Liu et al. Psychophysiological endophenotypes to characterize mechanisms of known schizophrenia genetic loci. Psychological Medicine, 2017), focused solely on schizophrenia, to test the association between multivariate psychophysiological candidate endophenotypes (including novel measures ofθ/δoscillatory activity) and a range of polygenic scores (PGSs), namely alcohol/cannabis/nicotine use, an updated schizophrenia PGS (containing 52 more genome-wide significant loci than the PGS used in our previous report) and educational attainment.

Method

A large community-based twin/family sample (N= 4893) was genome-wide genotyped and imputed. PGSs were constructed for alcohol use, regular smoking initiation, lifetime cannabis use, schizophrenia, and educational attainment. Eleven endophenotypes were assessed: visual oddball task event-related electroencephalogram (EEG) measures (target-related parietal P3 amplitude, frontalθ, and parietalδenergy/inter-trial phase clustering), band-limited resting-state EEG power, antisaccade error rate. Principal component analysis exploited covariation among endophenotypes to extract a smaller number of meaningful dimensions/components for statistical analysis.

Results

Endophenotypes were heritable. PGSs showed expected intercorrelations (e.g. schizophrenia PGS correlated positively with alcohol/nicotine/cannabis PGSs). Schizophrenia PGS was negatively associated with an event-related P3/δcomponent [β= −0.032, nonparametric bootstrap 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.059 to −0.003]. A prefrontal control component (event-relatedθ/antisaccade errors) was negatively associated with alcohol (β= −0.034, 95% CI −0.063 to −0.006) and regular smoking PGSs (β= −0.032, 95% CI −0.061 to −0.005) and positively associated with educational attainment PGS (β= 0.031, 95% CI 0.003–0.058).

Conclusions

Evidence suggests that multivariate endophenotypes of decision-making (P3/δ) and cognitive/attentional control (θ/antisaccade error) relate to alcohol/nicotine, schizophrenia, and educational attainment PGSs and represent promising targets for future research.
Female sex workers population size estimation in Rwanda using a three-source capture−recapture method
Authors: Musengimana G. , Tuyishime E. , Remera E. , Dong M. , Sebuhoro D. , Mulindabigwi A. , Kayirangwa E. , Malamba S. S. , Gutreuter S. , Prybylski D. , Doshi R. H. , Kayitesi C. , Mutarabayire V. , Nsanzimana S. , Mugwaneza P.
Published: March 2021

Establishing accurate population size estimates (PSE) is important for prioritising and planning provision of services. Multiple source capture−recapture sampling method increases PSE accuracy and reliability. In August 2018, the three-source capture−recapture (3S-CRC) method was employed with a stringent assumption of sample independence to estimate the number of female sex workers (FSW) in Rwanda. Using Rwanda 2017 FSW hotspots mapping data, street and venue-based FSW were sampled at the sector level of each province and tagged with two unique gifts. Each capture was completed within one week to minimise FSW migration between provinces and recall bias. The three captures had 1042, 1204 and 1488 FSW. There were 111 FSW recaptured between captures 1 and 2; 237 between captures 2 and 3; 203 between captures 1 and 3 and 46 captured in all three. The PSE for street and venue-based FSW in Rwanda lies within 95% credible set: 8328–22 806 with corresponding median of 13 716 FSW. The 3S-CRC technique was low-cost and relatively easy to use for PSE in hard-to-reach populations. This estimate provides the basis for determining the denominators to assess HIV programme performance towards FSW and epidemic control and warrants further PSE for home- and cyber-based FSW in Rwanda.
Cryopreservation of both male and female gametes leads to reduced embryo development and implantation potential
Authors: Setti Amanda Souza , Braga Daniela Paes de Almeida Ferreira , Iaconelli Assumpto , Borges Edson
Published: March 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of oocyte and sperm cryopreservation on donated eggs submitted to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Medical charts of 122 oocyte recipients undergoing 152 oocyte recipient ICSI cycles, from 2017 to 2018, in a private university-affiliated in vitro fertilization (IVF) centre, were reviewed in this historical cohort study. Cycles were divided into four groups according to the gamete status: the FO/FS Group, recipients in which fresh oocytes were injected with fresh sperm (n = 19); the FO/CrS Group, recipients in which fresh oocytes were injected with cryopreserved sperm (n = 14); the CrO/FS Group, recipients in which cryopreserved oocytes were injected with fresh sperm (n = 85); and the CrO/CrS Group, recipients in which cryopreserved oocytes were injected with cryopreserved sperm (n = 34). Generalized mixed models fit by restricted maximum likelihood, followed by Bonferroni post hoc test for the comparison of means amongst groups were used to investigate the effect of cryopreservation on recipient ICSI outcomes. The results were expressed as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and P-values. The main outcome measure was the implantation rate. Normal day 3 cleavage speed, blastocyst development and implantation rates were significantly lower in the CrO/CrS Group compared with the FO/FS Group. In conclusion, embryo developmental competence and implantation potential were reduced when vitrified oocytes were injected with frozen sperm in an egg-sharing donation programme.
“Doing no harm” in the digital age: What the digitalization of cash means for humanitarian action
Authors: Burton Jo
Published: March 2021

Cash transfers have changed the way the humanitarian sector delivers assistance, and at the same time, digitalization is changing the way our world works in fundamental ways. The digitalization of cash means that the simple click of a button can put money in the hands of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people within minutes. Digital payments have been a game changer, opening the door to faster and more efficient delivery of life-saving assistance. Although physical currency will not disappear with the rise of digital payments, it is essential to balance the benefits of these digital processes with the risks. As humanitarians, we need to articulate what “do no harm” means in the digital age, applying this equally to the way we use digital payments to support people affected by armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
The changing role of multilateral forums in regulating armed conflict in the digital age
Authors: Gill Amandeep S.
Published: March 2021

This article examines a subset of multilateral forums dealing with security problems posed by digital technologies, such as cyber warfare, cyber crime and lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS).1 It identifies structural issues that make it difficult for multilateral forums to discuss fast-moving digital issues and respond in time with the required norms and policy measures. Based on this problem analysis, and the recent experience of regulating cyber conflict and LAWS through Groups of Governmental Experts, the article proposes a schema for multilateral governance of digital technologies in armed conflict. The schema includes a heuristic for understanding human–machine interaction in order to operationalize accountability with international humanitarian law principles and international law applicable to armed conflict in the digital age. The article concludes with specific suggestions for advancing work in multilateral forums dealing with cyber weapons and lethal autonomy.
Himalaya Air Quality Impacts From the COVID‐19 Lockdown Across the Indo‐Gangetic Plain
Authors: Moore G. W. K. , Semple J. L.
Published: March 2021

Starting in January 2020, the novel coronavirus, now known as acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) and the disease that it causes (COVID‐19) has had significant impacts on human health, the environment, and the economy globally. The rapid lockdown that occurred as well as its well documented timing allows for an unprecedented opportunity to examine the impact of air pollution from densely populated regions has on adjacent and pristine environments. Here, we use in situ and satellite observations to show that there was a step function decrease in two key indicators of air quality, nitrogen dioxide and airborne particulates, in locations within the Indo‐Gangetic Plan (IGP) as a result of the Spring 2020 lockdown. Based on anomaly patterns, we find a dipole response with a statistically significant reduction in air pollution along the western IGP and Himalaya and an increase in air pollution in the eastern IGP and Himalaya. We show that spatial variability in the reductions in economic activity across northern India and the adjoining countries of Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh contributed to this dipole as did a persistent atmospheric circulation anomaly across the region during the lockdown.
Submarine Groundwater Discharge on the Western Shelf of the Northern South China Sea Influenced by the Pearl River Plume and Upwelling
Authors: Dai Guiyuan , Wang Guizhi , Li Qing , Tan Ehui , Dai Minhan
Published: March 2021

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a crucial material transport pathway across the continent–ocean margins. To evaluate the geochemical impacts of SGD on the western shelf of the northern South China Sea (NSCS), salinity, temperature, and radium were investigated in the summer of 2012. With Ra box models, the flux of SGD was estimated to be (1.0 ± 0.44) × 108 m3 day−1 (3.0 ± 1.3 cm day−1) in the upwelling‐influenced area and (5.4 ± 2.3) × 108 m3 day−1 (1.8 ± 0.8 cm day−1) in the no‐upwelling area. The flux of SGD in the no‐upwelling area estimated using a three end‐member mixing model was (2.1 ± 1.7) × 108 m3 day−1 (0.7 ± 0.5 cm day−1), consistent with the flux estimates above. In the upwelling‐influenced area, the average net fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved silicate (DSi), dissolved carbon (including dissolved inorganic carbon, DIC, and organic carbon), and total alkalinity (TA) via SGD were 1–27 times greater than those from the upwelling. In the no‐upwelling area, the average SGD‐associated DIN, SRP, DSi, TA, and dissolved carbon fluxes were 22%–42% equivalent to the Pearl River estuarine exports. The net SRP flux from SGD could support 11%–13% of the new production on the shelf. The concentration of DIC on the shelf could increase by about 50 μmol L−1 due to the net DIC fluxes via SGD. These results indicate that SGD is a significant nutrient and carbon source more important than the upwelling and second to the Pearl River on the western shelf of the NSCS and needs to be considered in the shelf biogeochemistry.
Using Observational and Reanalysis Data to Explore the Southern Gulf of California Boundary Layer During the North American Monsoon Onset
Authors: Fonseca‐Hernandez Mariam , Turrent Cuauhtémoc , Mayor Yandy G. , Tereshchenko Iryna
Published: March 2021

This paper uses rawinsondes and pilot balloon data from the 2004 North American Monsoon (NAM) Experiment, as well as satellite‐based products and reanalysis datasets that span 1982–2018, to analyze the mixing mechanisms responsible for the temporal and spatial variations of the Gulf of California (GoC) boundary layer during the NAM onset in the core monsoon region. We show that the regional diurnal cycle is strongly affected by low‐level convergence and divergence associated with local land‐sea breezes and by the presence of a thermal inversion over the gulf. Earlier starting monsoons have less moisture available for precipitation than those starting later in the calendar year. Therefore, early onset monsoons have less rainfall during their first month, which is a result that is in contrast with previous studies that have analyzed the timing of the NAM but only reported seasonal precipitation totals. The GoC boundary layer height at the time of monsoon onset, found to be controlled by the gulf’s surface temperature, has a significant impact on the precipitation over Sonora, Sinaloa, and southern Arizona. After the erosion of the thermal inversion over the GoC that coincides with the NAM onset, wind shear produced by the region’s unique geographic and topographic features is the largest source of turbulence for the mixing of the boundary layer. Our results suggest that a numerical model used to forecast or analyze NAM precipitation must have enough spatial resolution to adequately reproduce the effects that the GoC’s features have on its complex diurnal circulation systems.
Radiocarbon Data Reveal Contrasting Sources for Carbon Fractions in Thermokarst Lakes and Rivers of Eastern Canada (Nunavik, Quebec)
Authors: Gonzalez Moguel Regina , Bass Adrian M. , Garnett Mark H. , Pilote Martin , Keenan Benjamin , Matveev Alex , Douglas Peter M. J.
Published: March 2021

Greenhouse gas emissions from permafrost organic carbon decomposition in lakes and rivers can accelerate global warming. We used radiocarbon (14C) measurements to determine the predominant sources of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), and methane (CH4) in five thermokarst lakes and three rivers in an area of widespread permafrost degradation in Northern Quebec to assess contributions from thawing permafrost and other old carbon (fixed before CE 1950) reservoirs. We compared emission pathways (dissolved gas and ebullition), seasons (summer and winter), and surface soil type (mineral and peat soils). Modern carbon (fixed after CE 1950) was the dominant source of DOC, DIC, and CH4 of non‐peatland aquatic systems, while POC and sediment carbon were predominantly fixed in the last millennia. In the peatland systems, modern and permafrost carbon were important sources of DOC, lake DIC, lake ebullition CO2, and lake dissolved CH4. In contrast, POC, lake ebullition CH4, and river DIC were dominated by millennial‐old carbon. In winter, the 14C age of DOC, DIC, and POC in the peatland lakes increased, but the 14C age of dissolved CH4 did not change. Our results point to a clearly older overall carbon source for ebullition CH4 relative to dissolved CH4 in the peatland lakes but not the non‐peatland lakes. The younger ages of dissolved CH4 and DIC relative to DOC and POC in all lakes suggest that recent primary productivity strongly influences the large total lake CH4 and CO2 emissions in this area, as diffusion fluxes greatly exceed ebullition fluxes.
Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean Reconstruction of the Last Millennium Using Online Data Assimilation
Authors: Perkins W. A. , Hakim G. J.
Published: March 2021

We use online data assimilation to combine information from a linear inverse model of coupled atmosphere‐ocean dynamics with proxy records to create a new annual‐resolution reconstruction of atmosphere and ocean fields over the last millennium. Instrumental validation of reconstructed sea‐surface temperature and 0–700 m ocean heat content shows broad regions of positive spatial correlations, and high correlations (∼0.6–0.9) for global averages and indices of large‐scale modes of atmospheric variability. Compared to previous reconstructions, the online reconstructions show global and hemispheric averages with little‐to‐no millennial‐scale trend and global‐mean temperatures ∼0.25–0.5 K cooler during early periods (1000–1400 C.E.). The spatial anomaly differences of average temperature between an early (1000–1250 C.E.) and later (1400–1700 C.E.) period show warm anomalies over high‐latitude Europe and cool tropical conditions in partial agreement with previous assessments. The addition of online data assimilation, which provides dynamical memory to climate proxy information, is shown to be crucial for adequately characterizing decadal‐to‐centennial‐scale variability of 0–700 m ocean heat content. Furthermore, the climate forecasts provide model‐based physical constraints for atmosphere–ocean interaction, which become increasingly important during early periods when less proxy information is available for assimilation.
The Impact of Solar Activity on Forecasting the Upper Atmosphere via Assimilation of Electron Density Data
Authors: Kodikara Timothy , Zhang Kefei , Pedatella Nicholas Michael , Borries Claudia
Published: March 2021

This study presents a comprehensive comparison of the impact of solar activity on forecasting the upper atmosphere through assimilation of radio occultation (RO)‐derived electron density (Ne) into a physics‐based model (TIE‐GCM) using an ensemble Kalman filter (KF). Globally abundant RO‐derived Ne offers one of the most promising means to test the effect of assimilation on the model forecasted state on a global scale. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding how the assimilation results vary with solar activity, which is one of the main drivers of thermosphere‐ionosphere dynamics. This study validates the forecast states with independent RO‐derived GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment mission) Ne data. The principal result of the study is that the agreement between forecast Ne and data is better during solar minimum than solar maximum. The results also show that the agreement between data and forecast is mostly better than that of the standalone TIE‐GCM driven with observed geophysical indices. The results emphasize that TIE‐GCM significantly underestimate Ne in altitudes below 250 km and the assimilation of Ne is not as effective in these lower altitudes as it is in higher altitudes. The results demonstrate that assimilation of Ne significantly impacts the neutral mass density estimates via the KF state vector—the impact is larger during solar maximum than solar minimum relative to a control case that does not assimilate Ne. The results are useful to explain the inherent model bias, to understand the limitations of the data, and to demonstrate the capability of the assimilation technique.
A New Approach to Three‐Dimensional Flow in a Pumped Confined Aquifer Connected to a Shallow Stream: Near‐Stream and Far‐From‐Stream Groundwater Extractions
Authors: Xiong Manling , Tong Chenchen , Huang Ching‐Sheng
Published: March 2021

Existing analytical models, which have assumed a fully penetrating stream (FPS), give significant error in predicting stream depletion/filtration rate (SDR) for the typical case of a partially penetrating stream. In addition, existing source terms, embedded in flow equations for stream treatment, neglect the effect of small‐scale streambed storage. This study develops two new models for describing three‐dimensional (3D) flow in a pumped confined aquifer connected to a stream with shallow penetration. One model treats a finite‐width stream as a modified source term reflecting the streambed storage effect for the case of near‐stream groundwater extraction. The finite element solution of the model is built. The other model considers a rectilinear stream as a source term neglecting the streambed storage effect for the case of far‐from‐stream groundwater extraction. The semi‐analytical solution of the model is derived by the Laplace transform and Fourier transform. The time‐domain approximate solution for SDR is also derived. Results suggest the modified source term serves as a convenient and efficient alternative to existing stream treatments in incorporating the streambed storage effect and achieving both accurate solution prediction and coarse aquifer discretization. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates the response of SDR more sensitive to the change in vertical aquifer hydraulic conductivity than that in horizontal one due to shallow penetration of stream. A shallow stream can be regarded as a FPS in predicting SDR under three quantitative conditions. As concluded, this study provides hydrologists with a better understanding of SDR behavior subject to 3D flow in typical stream‐aquifer system.
Thank You to Our 2020 Peer Reviewers
Authors: Trumbore Susan , Barros Ana P. , Becker Thorsten W. , Davidson Eric A. , Ehlmann Bethany L. , Gruber Nicolas , Hofmann Eileen , Hudson Mary K. , Illangasekare Tissa H. , Kang Sarah , Malanotte‐Rizzoli Paola , Montanari Alberto , Nimmo Francis , Parsons Tom , Salters Vincent J. M. , Schimel David , Stevens Bjorn , Wuebbles Donald J. , Zeitler Peter , Zhu Tong
Published: March 2021

Key Point

The editors thank the 2020 peer reviewers
Letter of Appreciation to Our 2020 Reviewers in the Time of COVID‐19
Authors: Xenopoulos Marguerite A. , Goñi Miguel , Desai Ankur , Huntzinger Deborah
Published: March 2021

The editorial team at JGR: Biogeosciences would like to extend thanks to the 2020 reviewers who offered their time and expertize to help us make decisions on and improve papers.
Bioprospecting of the agaricomycete Ganoderma australe GPC191 as novel source for l-asparaginase production
Authors: Chakraborty Meghna , Shivakumar Srividya
Published: March 2021

l-Asparaginase is a therapeutically and industrially-competent enzyme, acting predominantly as an anti-neoplastic and anti-cancerous agent. The existing formulations of prokaryotic l-asparaginase are often toxic and contain l-glutaminase and urease residues, thereby increasing the purification steps. Production of l-glutaminase and urease free l-asparaginase is thus desired. In this research, bioprospecting of isolates from the less explored class Agaricomycetes was undertaken for l-asparaginase production. Plate assay (using phenol red and bromothymol blue dyes) was performed followed by estimation of l-asparaginase, l-glutaminase and urease activities by Nesslerization reaction for all the isolates. The isolate displaying the desired enzyme production was subjected to morphological, molecular identification, and phylogenetic analysis with statistical validation using Jukes-Cantor by Neighbour-joining tree of Maximum Likelihood statistical method. Among the isolates, Ganoderma australe GPC191 with significantly high zone index value (5.581 ± 0.045 at 120 h) and enzyme activity (1.57 ± 0.006 U/mL), devoid of l-glutaminase and urease activity was selected. The present study for the first-time reported G. australe as the potential source of l-glutaminase and urease-free l-asparaginase and also is one of the few studies contributing to the literature of G. australe in India. Hence, it can be postulated that it may find its future application in pharmaceutical and food industries.
Fish associations with shallow water subsea pipelines compared to surrounding reef and soft sediment habitats
Authors: Schramm Karl D. , Marnane Michael J. , Elsdon Travis S. , Jones Christopher M. , Saunders Benjamin J. , Newman Stephen J. , Harvey Euan S.
Published: March 2021

Offshore decommissioning activities are expected to increase as oil and gas subsea infrastructure becomes obsolete. Decisions on decommissioning alternatives will benefit from quantifying and understanding the marine communities associated with these structures. As a case study, fish assemblages associated with an inshore network of subsea pipelines located on the North West shelf of Western Australia were compared to those in surrounding natural reef and soft sediment habitats using remotely operated vehicles fitted with a stereo-video system (stereo-ROVs). The number of species, the abundance, biomass, feeding guild composition and the economic value of fishes were compared among habitats. The community composition of fish associated with pipelines was distinct from those associated with natural habitats, and was characterised by a greater abundance and/or biomass of fish from higher trophic levels (e.g. piscivores, generalist carnivores and invertivores), including many species considered to be of value to commercial and recreational fishers. Biomass of fish on pipelines was, on average, 20 times greater than soft sediments, and was similar to natural reefs. However, the biomass of species considered important to fisheries recorded on the pipelines was, on average 3.5 times greater than reef and 44.5 times greater than soft sediment habitats. This study demonstrates that fish assemblages on the pipeline infrastructure exhibit high ecological and socioeconomic values.
Utilization of patterned bioprinting for heterogeneous and physiologically representative reconstructed epidermal skin models
Authors: Madiedo-Podvrsan Sabrina , Belaïdi Jean-Philippe , Desbouis Stephanie , Simonetti Lucie , Ben-Khalifa Youcef , Collin-Djangone Christine , Soeur Jérémie , Rielland Maïté
Published: March 2021

Organotypic skin tissue models have decades of use for basic research applications, the treatment of burns, and for efficacy/safety evaluation studies. The complex and heterogeneous nature of native human skin however creates difficulties for the construction of physiologically comparable organotypic models. Within the present study, we utilized bioprinting technology for the controlled deposition of separate keratinocyte subpopulations to create a reconstructed epidermis with two distinct halves in a single insert, each comprised of a different keratinocyte sub-population, in order to better model heterogonous skin and reduce inter-sample variability. As an initial proof-of-concept, we created a patterned epidermal skin model using GPF positive and negative keratinocyte subpopulations, both printed into 2 halves of a reconstructed skin insert, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach. We then demonstrated the physiological relevance of this bioprinting technique by generating a heterogeneous model comprised of dual keratinocyte population with either normal or low filaggrin expression. The resultant model exhibited a well-organized epidermal structure with each half possessing the phenotypic characteristics of its constituent cells, indicative of a successful and stable tissue reconstruction. This patterned skin model aims to mimic the edge of lesions as seen in atopic dermatitis or ichthyosis vulgaris, while the use of two populations within a single insert allows for paired statistics in evaluation studies, likely increasing study statistical power and reducing the number of models required per study. This is the first report of human patterned epidermal model using a predefined bioprinted designs, and demonstrates the relevance of bioprinting to faithfully reproduce human skin microanatomy.
Measurement of the dependence of ultra diluted gas transmittance on the size of the detector
Authors: Ratajczak Jakub M.
Published: March 2021

We show that measured optical transmittance of an ultra thin gas depends on the detector size. To this end we conducted an experiment that compares transmittances measured in parallel with a pair of detectors with different diameters ranging from 2 to 200 $$\upmu$$
μ
m. A Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy type system was used. Transmittance of $$\sim$$
∼
 10$$^{-2}$$

-
2

 mbar water vapor on NIR absorption line $$\lambda =1368.60$$

λ
=
1368.60

 nm was measured using a 61.6 m long multi-pass cell placed inside the $$\sim$$
∼
 300 l vacuum chamber. The result of the experiment shows higher transmittances when the measurement is performed using smaller detectors. The difference reaches as much as $$1.23 \pm 0.1$$

1.23
±
0.1

%, which is greater than 0 with $$>5 \sigma$$

>
5
σ

statistical significance. Qualitatively it is in agreement with the recently developed model of thin gas optical transmittance taking into account the quantum mechanical effects of spreading of the wave functions of individual gas particles.
Confirmation of the cardiac safety of nolasiban in a randomised cohort of healthy female volunteers
Authors: Täubel Jörg , Lorch Ulrike , Spencer Christopher S. , Freier Anne , Camilleri Dorothée , Djumanov Dilshat , Ferber Georg , Marchand Line , Gotteland Jean-Pierre , Pohl Oliver
Published: March 2021

Nolasiban is an orally active oxytocin receptor antagonist being developed to increase the efficiency of assisted reproductive technologies. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and cardiac safety of nolasiban in 45 healthy women of child-bearing age. Nolasiban was administered in a fasted state with a standardised lunch served 4.5 h post-dose. Concentration-effect modelling was used to assess the effect of two dosages of nolasiban (900 mg and 1800 mg) on QTc following single-dose administration. We found no significant change in QTc at all tested dosages. Two-sided 90% confidence intervals of geometric mean Cmaxfor estimated QTc effects of nolasiban were below the threshold of regulatory concern. The sensitivity of the assay to detect small changes in QTc was confirmed by a significant shortening of QTc between 2 and 4 h after consumption of a meal, which served to validate the model. Independent of the nolasiban assessment, this study also explored the effects of sex hormones on ECG parameters, especially QT subintervals. We found a significant relationship between JTpc and oestradiol. Heart rate was negatively correlated with progesterone. This study confirms the cardiovascular safety of nolasiban and describes relationships of sex hormones and ECG parameters.