bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CAPN1 (Calpain1)-Mediated Impairment of Autophagic Flux Contributes to Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Neuronal Damage
Authors: Liu Yueyang , Che Xiaohang , Zhang Haotian , Fu Xiaoxiao , Yao Yang , Luo Jun , Yang Yu , Cai Ruiping , Yu Xiangnan , Yang Jingyu , Zhou Ming-Sheng
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose:

CAPN1 (calpain1)—an intracellular Ca
2+
-regulated cysteine protease—can be activated under cerebral ischemia. However, the mechanisms by which CAPN1 activation promotes cerebral ischemic injury are not defined.

Methods:

In the present study, we used adeno-associated virus-mediated genetic knockdown and pharmacological blockade (MDL-28170) of CAPN1 to investigate the role of CAPN1 in the regulation of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and neuronal damage in 2 models, rat permanent middle cerebral occlusion in vivo model and oxygen-glucose–deprived primary neuron in vitro model.

Results:

CAPN1 was activated in the cortex of permanent middle cerebral occlusion–operated rats and oxygen-glucose deprivation–exposed neurons. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of CAPN1 significantly attenuated ischemia-induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization and subsequent accumulation of autophagic substrates in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, inhibition of CAPN1 increased autophagosome formation by decreasing the cleavage of the autophagy regulators BECN1 (Beclin1) and ATG (autophagy-related gene) 5. Importantly, the neuron-protective effect of MDL-28170 on ischemic insult was reversed by cotreatment with either class III-PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) inhibitor 3-methyladenine or lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine (chloroquine), suggesting that CAPN1 activation-mediated impairment of autophagic flux is crucial for cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal damage.

Conclusions:

The present study demonstrates for the first time that ischemia-induced CAPN1 activation impairs lysosomal function and suppresses autophagosome formation, which contribute to the accumulation of substrates and aggravate the ischemia-induced neuronal cell damage. Our work highlights the vital role of CAPN1 in the regulation of cerebral ischemia–mediated autophagy-lysosomal pathway defects and neuronal damage.
Pigs Don’t Fly and You Cannot Expect Absolutely Safe COVID-19 Vaccines (But You Should Expect a Fair Compensation)
Authors: Raposo Vera Lúcia
Published: April 2021

This paper focuses on the COVID-19 vaccines authorised for use in the European Union, and explores the mechanisms in place to control vaccine safety and to compensate injured patients, mainly in the context of European law. Based on these considerations, the paper concludes that the refusal by some potential vaccinees to take the vaccine based on safety concerns is ungrounded and an indication of unrealistic expectations, but that in order to build public trust proper compensation mechanisms should be in place.
The Church as an Ecological Community: Practising Eco-Ecclesiology in the Ecological Crisis of Indonesia
Authors: Setyawan Yusak Budi
Published: April 2021

Given the ecological crisis in Indonesia, the churches must implement an ecclesiological reconstruction based on the church as an ecological community and on the understanding that the churches are an inseparable part of Indonesian society and cultures which emphasise respect for nature, while at the same time reconstructing their identity in the Christian faith tradition rooted in the Triune God, faith in Christ as Saviour, and an eschatological dimension. Ecclesial praxis will promote ecological awareness among church members, involvement in conservation efforts and in making public policies related to ecological issues.
New Perspectives on Manila’s Chinese Community at the Turn of the Eighteenth Century
Authors: Slack (史义华) Edward R.
Published: April 2021

This article reexamines the political dynamic within Manila’s Parián (Chinatown) in the early eighteenth century, challenging the “conventional” paradigm of Christian Chinese monopolization of power. The centerpiece of my research focuses on a judicial case initiated by the Chinese community against Pedro Barredo, a Spanish official charged with committing a variety of sadistic crimes against Chinese merchants and their families in 1701. It also analyzes the psychological rationale undergirding Spain’s systemic racism against Chinese immigrants responsible for the colony’s economic prosperity. Utilizing unpublished documents from the Archivo General de Indias in Seville, Spain, and the National Archives of the Philippines in Manila, this new perspective fills in significant details missing from scholarly literature regarding the Chinese Overseas experience in Manila prior to 1800.
Staatenkunde als Geschäft: Kommerzialität, Serialität und Globalität der Rengerischen Staaten (1704-1718)
Authors: Bauer Volker
Published: April 2021

1704-18 erschienen die sog. Rengerischen Staaten, eine Serie von ca. 80 Bänden, die meist jeweils eine politische Einheit beschreiben. Der Generaltitel bezieht sich auf die ausschlaggebende Rolle des Verlags Renger aus Halle a.d. Saale, handelte es sich doch um ein rein kommerzielles Produkt. Die Titel wurden über den Buchmarkt vertrieben, und der Verlag steuerte Produktion, Distribution und Rezeption rigoros. Damit ist die Reihe durchaus typisch für die kompilatorische Wissensliteratur ihrer Zeit. Der Seriencharakter unterstützte die Vermarktung, da er die Möglichkeit zur Revision, zur schrittweisen Erweiterung des Angebots und zum blockweisen Verkauf bot. Schließlich mündete er in eine Ausdehnung der zunächst auf Europa beschränkten Staatenkunden auf asiatische und afrikanische Länder sowie Amerika. Konzeptionell markiert die Serie den Übergang von der Fürstenherrschaft zum Institutionenstaat und die daran geknüpfte Ausdifferenzierung von Politik und Öffentlichkeit.
An Early Holocene Lithic Assemblage from Dibé Rockshelter, South-Central Ethiopia
Authors: Ashkenazy Hila , Sahle Yonatan
Published: April 2021

The dearth of securely dated assemblages in the Horn of Africa limits a comprehensive understanding of human adaptation across the Early Holocene. This paper presents results from initial analyses of lithic material from Dibé rockshelter in the Arsi lowlands, Ethiopia. Radiocarbon dates confirm occupation of Dibé rockshelter by hunter-gatherers directly following improved climatic conditions marking the onset of the Holocene. Microliths dominate both the surface and excavated sub-assemblages. Micro-burins and Levallois items are present, although more frequent as surface finds. Regionally available siliceous rocks were extensively exploited, with greater variety in the older occupation layers signifying differential access to raw material sources and/or wider foraging ranges. Largely similar reduction patterns and toolkits across the sampled sequence imply continuity in lithic tradition. This, coupled with the total absence of finds commonly associated with early food production, suggests that Dibé was abandoned during one of the abrupt arid episodes of the Early/Mid-Holocene.
Caribbean development: an overview
Authors: Sutton Paul
Published: April 2021

Reviews development in the Caribbean, especially since 1990 to the present, and highlights future development prospects. Author discusses 2 reports from 2005 on present developments problems in the Caribbean region: the economics-focussed 'A time to choose: Caribbean development in the 21st century' by the World Bank, and the UN ECLAC report 'The Millennium Development Goals: a Latin American and Caribbean perspective', with a broader, also social and political, development agenda. He relates what both reports recommend for the Caribbean on the basis of their evaluations of past development. The World Bank report advocates a move toward the services sector, including tourism, offshore education, ICT services, and health services as most viable. The ECLAC report notes some social and political advances in comparison to other developing countries, but also remaining problems and inequalities. The author finds that the World Bank report's neoliberal, one-size-fits-all approach is not mindful of specific Caribbean realities, while the ECLAC study is more sensitive to local realities, and espouses a mixed economy. He thus considers the ECLAC approach preferable, but argues that it needs to go further, as it excludes Cuba and Haiti as atypical states.
Symbolic legacies of slavery in Guyana
Authors: Thompson Alvin O.
Published: April 2021

Focusses on the commemoration and symbolic functions of the slavery past in the Americas, with a particular focus on Guyana. Author explains that while symbolic representations of the legacies of slavery increased in the Americas since the 1960s, the nationalist government under Forbes Burnham since 1970 went further in using the slavery past as its ideological foundation. He discusses how this relates to Guyana's history and ethnic development of 2 main, often opposed groups of African- and Indian-descended groups, calling on their respective slavery or indenture past in emphasizing their national significance. He further describes slavery-related symbolic representations promoted under Burnham, specifically the 1763 slave revolt led by Cuffy, presented as first anticolonial rebellion aimed at liberation, and as a precursor to the PNC government, and other slave rebellions and rebels, such as led by Damon in 1834. He points out how some Indian-Guyanese found that Indian heroes were sidelined in relation to these. Author then describes how the annual commemoration of Emancipation Day continues to refer to the martyrdom of these slave rebels, along with other discursive connections, such as regarding reparations. He also pays attention to the activities of nongovernmental organizations in Guyana up to the present in commemorating the slavery past, often with broader African diaspora connections.
Ritual Piracy or Creolization with an Attitude
Authors: Romberg Raquel
Published: April 2021

Discusses a renewed view on "creolization", in relation to the Caribbean's social and cultural history. Author first points at the different creolization theories, noting a recurrence in these of the concepts of "mixture", "creative mixture", or "dialogue" between cultures, and describes how such "harmonious mix" views of creolization influenced forms of nationalism and nation building in the Caribbean, thereby blurring inequalities. She, however, points at the unequal power relations, or "contentious constitution", historically involved in creolization processes, with hegemonic (cultural and religious) colonial power over and against so-called superstitious or other vernacular interpretations. With a specific focus on late-19th c. creolization processes in urban slave and highland peasant-Maroon societies in Puerto Rico, she further shows how vernacular, magical religions and folk healing rechanneled hegemonic religious symbols, like the cross, to purposes other than those intended by the Church. She calls this a form of "ritual piracy", including tactical mimicry, representing thus subversion from within, but with maintained relations to the hegemonic, complicating the "resistance" aspect.
A new name for Justicia reticulata Benoist (Acanthaceae)

Authors: KOTTAIMUTHU RAMALINGAM , KUMAR JOHNKENNEDY JOHN PRAVEEN , DINESHKUMAR PANJAVARNAM , LOGESHWARI MARUTHAN
Published: April 2021

Justicieae is the largest tribe in the family Acanthaceae, notable for its amazing morphological diversity with about 2000 species (Kiel et al. 2017). Among the tribe Justicieae, Justicia Linnaeus (1753: 15) is the most speciose genus with about 935 accepted species (POWO 2021, Tong & Deng 2021). Justicia reticulata Benoist (1946: 146) was described based on the gathering of Perrier from Madagascar. But according to Art.53.1 of ICN (Turland et al. 2018), Benoist’s name is an illegitimate later homonym of J. reticulata Vahl (1804: 157) unfortunately till now this was unnoticed. Therefore, a new name is proposed here for the Malagasy species.
Culex mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) recorded along the Nile River in central and northern Sudan, with a key for the identification of all species of the genus known to occur in the country
Authors: SIMSAA MISHKAT A. A. , HARBACH RALPH E. , ALMALIK ALAA M. ALI , AHMED ELSHEIMA M. , EISA ALWIA A. , MOHAMED ASIA H. , AZRAG RASHA S.
Published: April 2021

Despite the importance of Culex species as major vectors of Rift Valley fever virus, West Nile virus and the microfilariae that cause lymphatic filariasis, information on these mosquitoes in Sudan is limited to works published 65 years ago in the former Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, where some species were only recorded from areas of the territory now known as South Sudan. In this paper, we provide updated information on Culex mosquitoes collected indoors during surveillance studies conducted along the Nile River in central and northern areas of Sudan between 2012 and 2019. Of 3,411 female mosquitoes collected in Khartoum and northern states along the river, 2,560 (75%) were specimens of Culex belonging to 12 species: Cx. (Culex) antennatus (Becker, 1903), Cx. (Cux.) laticinctus Edwards, 1913, Cx. (Cux.) neavei Theobald, 1906, Cx. (Cux.) pipiens Linnaeus, 1758, Cx. (Cux.) perexiguus Theobald, 1903, Cx. (Cux.) poicilipes (Theobald, 1903), Cx. (Cux.) quinquefasciatus Say, 1823, Cx. (Cux.) simpsoni Theobald, 1905, Cx. (Cux.) sinaiticus Kirkpatrick, 1925, Cx. (Cux.) theileri Theobald, 1903, Cx. (Cux.) tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 and Cx. (Culiciomyia) macfiei Edwards, 1923. This is the first record for Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and Cx. macfiei in central Sudan. The relative abundance of each species varied in different areas and seasons, but Cx. antennatus and Cx. quinquefasciatus were the most abundant indoor resting species. We provide an updated dichotomous key for the identiﬁcation of the adults of Culex mosquitoes known to occur in the Republic of the Sudan.
Autodesk Sketchbook: An application that minimizes time and maximizes results of taxonomic drawing
Authors: CALA-RIQUELME FRANKLYN
Published: April 2021

Scientific illustration continues to remain a critical part of taxonomy. Illustrations often require lots of time and, in many cases, the results are not as expected. At present, taxonomy journals only accept high quality digital illustrations; thus, image manipulation programs using vector or bitmap graphics have become the new focus of attention. This paper provides a step-by-step guide to making illustrations using bitmap graphics in Autodesk SketchBook. This application provides an alternative to other known tools by allowing: 1) faster illustrations; 2) direct drawing with a wide range of tools that simulate traditional drawing; 3) more detailed illustrations; and 4) an easy interface and work-flow for novice illustrators, all while being completely free and compatible with multiple operating systems.
Hogsbackia africaensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetoidea, Punctoribatidae), from Afromontane forest of South Africa
Authors: ERMILOV SERGEY G. , HUGO-COETZEE ELIZABETH A. , BEHAN-PELLETIER VALERIE M.
Published: April 2021

A new oribatid mite genus, Hogsbackia gen. nov. (Oribatida, Punctoribatidae), with type species Hogsbackia africaensis sp. nov., is proposed and described from the indigenous Afromontane forest of South Africa. The new genus is closely related to Scotiazetes, from which it is most easily distinguished by body size ratio, number of notogastral and genital setae, type of humeral porose area Ah, position of dorsophragmata, and leg setation. The redescription of Scotiazetes bidens Wallwork, 1966 is presented, based on material from South Georgia (Antarctic region). The generic diagnosis of Scotiazetes is revised, and the genus is transferred from Ceratozetidae to Punctoribatidae. Relationships between the genera Hogsbackia gen. nov., Scotiazetes and other punctoribatid genera are discussed.
A Photothermal Therapy Strategy for Monitoring Real-Time Temperature in Kidney Cancers by Injecting Gold Nanorods with Phosphors
Authors: Shen Wenzeng , Zhang Xuefeng , Liu Dongyang , Xing Christina , Tucker Isabelle , Amador Eric , Chen Wei , Yang Yanmin
Published: April 2021

Photothermal ablation therapy (PTA) has been widely reported; however, it is not possible to predict the internal temperature of the tumor in real time that causes ineffective treatment and normal tissue burns. Here, we have designed a photothermal therapy strategy under real-time temperature
monitoring by injecting gold nanorods (AuNRs) and NaYF4: Yb3+ /Er3+ into the tumor site where AuNRs are used for PTA of cancer cells by converting the absorbed energy into heat and using Yb3+ , Er3+-NaYF 4 phosphors to monitor
the temperature inside the tumor. Our experiments confirm the effectiveness of this strategy, which is expected to be an aid in the development of real-time temperature monitoring and effective photothermal therapy for the treatment of cancers.
Illumina Sequencing Reveals Conserved and Novel MicroRNAs of Dendrobium nobile Protocorm Involved in Synthesizing Dendrobine, a Potential Nanodrug
Authors: Qian Xu , Zhu Jieying , Yuan Qingjun , Jia Qi , Jin Hui , Han Jing , Sarsaiya Surendra , Jin Leilei , Chen Jishuang , Guo Lanping
Published: April 2021

Emergency of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems has improved the target, bioavailability, and curative effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). However, the application of nano-preparation has been limited owing to the low content of active ingredients in part TCM. MicroRNAs
(miRNAs) regulate plant growth, development, and response to environmental stresses at post-transcriptional regulation level by cleavage or translational inhibition. The molecular functions of miRNAs playing a role in synthesizing active comportments at medicinal plants have been widely researched.
Dendrobium nobile is a perennial herb in the orchidaceae family. D. nobile protocorm can produce plant-specific metabolites at a short period. Therefore, it is a good substitute for producing metabolites. To understand the functions of miRNAs in D. nobile protocorm, Illumina sequencing of
D. nobile protocorm (Dnp), D. officinale protocorm (Dcp), and D. nobile leaf (Dnl) were carried out. A total of 439, 412, and 432 miRNAs were identified from Dnp, Dcp, and Dnl, respectively. Some specific miRNAs were identified among them. Through combing GO and KEGG function annotation, miRNAs
mainly involved metabolic pathways, plant hormone signal transduction, biological regulation, and protein binding. Acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase (AACT), mevalonate kinase (MK), 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate cytidylyltransferase
(HDS), synthesizing basic precursor isoprene pyrophosphate (IPP) in terpenoid backbone biosynthesis pathway, were predicted as potential targets of 6 different miRNAs. Twenty-six miRNAs participated in auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid signal transduction pathway.
This report provided valuable candidate genes in Dnp involved in terpenoid biosynthesis and plant hormone signal transduction pathway. At the same time, it can help accelerate the use of dendrobine into nano preparation.
Preparation of Core–Shell Silica Microspheres with Controllable Shell Thickness for Fast High Performance Liquid Chromatography Separation of Alkyl Benzenes and Intact Proteins
Authors: Xia Hongjun , Wang Huaiming , Wang Jianshan , Wang Lin , Jin Lin , Bai Quan
Published: April 2021

As it is difficult to prevent secondary nucleation and agglomeration during the preparation of core–shell silica microspheres, these issues have been successfully resolved in this study using template-dissolution-induced redeposition. The non-porous particles are transformed into
core–shell silica microspheres (CSSMs) in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and octyltrimethylammonium bromide under basic conditions. The shell thickness and pore sizes of the CSSMs are controlled by adjusting the etching time and molar ratio of the template, respectively.
The CSSMs are modified using octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride to separate the mixture of alkyl benzenes, and a high column separation efficiency is achieved within two minutes. The CSSMs are used for the separation and analysis of proteins and the digests of bovine serum albumin. The chromatographic
column packed with core–shell particles affords a significantly higher separation efficiency than the commercial column. Therefore, as a chromatographic stationary phase, these core–shell particles can potentially be used for the fast separation of proteins, small solutes, and
complex samples.
Dimensional Accuracy of Working Dies Fabricated by Different Impression Materials and Techniques: 3D Digital Assessment
Authors: Soliman Mai , Aldegheishem Alhanoof , Alsubaie Norah , Alshamrani Razan , Eldwakhly Elzahraa
Published: April 2021

Accuracy of dental impression plays a significant role in the success of definitive restorations. This study aimed to compare the dimensional accuracy of working dies fabricated using two different impression materials and techniques. Forty working dies fabricated from 40 impressions
of preprepared mandibular first molar tooth replica stabilized in a jaw model to receive full coverage crown. Two different Polyvinyl siloxane (PVS) impression materials were used; Aquasil and Virtual. Two different impression techniques were used with each type of impression material; One-step
and two-step. The working dies dimensional accuracy was measured in four dimensions and compared with that of the preprepared molar tooth replica using a digital caliper and 3D scanner. Based on a 3D scanner, there were a significant difference of dies fabricated by the two tested impression
materials using the two-step impression technique in Mesiodistal-Gingival dimension (IIA and IIB) groups compared to the preprepared tooth replica with an average 0.370 μm (P < .005). A significant difference was observed of the dies fabricated by the two tested impression
techniques using virtual impression. material in Mesiodistal Occlusal dimensions with an average 0.135 μm (P < .03), and in Mesiodistal-Gingival dimensions with an average 0.490 μm (P < .001) and Buccolingual-Gingival dimensions with an average 0.143
μm (P < .005) using Aquasil impression material compared to the preprepared molar tooth replica. Both impression materials (Aquasil and Virtual) and techniques (One-step and Two-step) used in this study produced working dies with clinically accepted dimensional accuracy.
ECG Noise Removal Using Modified Distributed Arithmetic Based Finite Impulse Response Filter
Authors: Uma A. , Kalpana P.
Published: April 2021

ECG monitoring is essential to support human life. During signal acquisition, the signals are contaminated by various noises that occur due to different sources. This paper focuses on Baseline wander and Muscle Artifact noise removal using Distributed Arithmetic (DA) based FIR filters.
An area-efficient modified DA based FIR filter consists of LUT-less structure and used for noise removal. The performance of the modified DA based FIR filter is compared with the conventional DA FIR filter. An arbitrary real-time ECG record is taken from MIT-BIH database and Baseline Wander
noise, Muscle artifact noises are taken from MIT-BIH noise stress test database. The performance of both filters is evaluated in terms of output Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) and Mean Square Error (MSE). For Baseline wander noise removal, the modified DA based FIR filter produces high output
SNR and also low MSE of 76.6% than the conventional filter. Similarly, for Muscle Artifact noise removal, it produces high SNR, and MSE is reduced to 73.8%. A modified DA based FIR filter is synthesized for the target FPGA device Spartan3E XC3s2000-4fg900 and hardware resource utilization
is presented.
3D Graphene Oxide Hydrogel Derived from Waste Toner as Adsorbent
Authors: Tian Zhengshan , Sun Lijuan , Tian Hao , Cao Kesheng , Bai Suzhen , Li Jitao , Zhu Qiuxiang
Published: April 2021

Waste toner powders are considered as hazardous materials to human and living things, and should be properly recycled by many effective ways due to their fine particle sizes and complex components. In this paper, waste toner powders were used as raw materials to successfully synthesize
three dimensions (3D) graphene oxide (GO) hydrogel by means of a one-pot chemical transformation based on the improved Hummers’ method. The obtained 3D GO hydrogel has porous structure and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups because of the inherent 3D solid structure of waste
toner powder and the strong oxidation process of the improved Hummers’ method. Interestingly, the as-prepared 3D GO hydrogel with excellent adsorptive property could quickly remove Pb(II) ions (100 mg/L, removal efficiency of 96% and removal capacity of 144 mg/g) and methylene blue (50
mg/L, removal efficiency of 97% and removal capacity of 48 mg/g) from water, respectively. The preparation process of 3D GO hydrogel was simple and easy to operate, and the output can be moderately mass produced, thus it would provide a new and effective disposal way for the recycling and
reusing of waste toner.
Development of Simvastatin Loaded Electrospun Zein Nanofiber Membranes for Bone Repair
Authors: Mehrabiyan Nooshin , Movaffagh Jebraeel , Magham Abbas Heshmati Jannat , Krishnan Sasirekha , Ramakrishna Seeram , Ramalingam Murugan , Bayat Zakiyeh
Published: April 2021

The present study aims to prepare and And Characterization of zein nanofibers with simvastatin-loaded in it by electrospinning method using a polymeric matrix prepared from zein solution containing simvastatin antibiotics. The physical, cellular properties and drug release kinetics
of the fibers were studied. Fiber formation was investigated by implementing a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM images show a uniform network bead-free fiber structure created from the 1.5% simvastatin/zeinsolution. The viscosity of the 1.5% simvastatin/zein mixture increased to
0.402 P due to the presence of drug in zein solution. Also, the presence of the indicative peaks associated with simvastatin in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the samples containing the drug, verifies the existence of the drug on the polymeric base of zein/polyethylene oxide
(PEO). Also, around 53.887% of the loaded drug was released in the first 12 h of the release kinetics assay and the results of the MTT assay shows reduction in the number of live cells in the test sample. In conclusion, zein nanofibers containing simvastatin drug were found to be potential
biodegradable polymers that can find application in bone tissue repair.
The Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets (FARM)
Authors: Wurman Joshua , Kosiba Karen , Pereira Brian , Robinson Paul , Frambach Andrew , Gilliland Alycia , White Trevor , Aikins Josh , Trapp Robert J. , Nesbitt Stephen , Hanshaw Maiana N. , Lutz Jon
Published: April 2021

The Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets (FARM) Facility is an extensive mobile/quickly deployable (MQD) multiple-Doppler radar and in situ instrumentation network. The FARM includes four radars: two 3-cm dual polarization, dual frequency (DPDF), Doppler on Wheels (DOW6/DOW7), the Rapid-Scan DOW (RSDOW), and a quickly deployable (QD) DPDF 5-cm C band on Wheels (COW). The FARM includes three mobile mesonet (MM) vehicles with 3.5-m masts, an array of rugged QD weather stations (PODNET), QD weather stations deployed on infrastructure such as light/power poles (POLENET), four disdrometers, six MQD upper-air sounding systems and a Mobile Operations and Repair Center (MORC). The FARM serves a wide variety of research/educational uses. Components have deployed to >30 projects during 1995–2020 in the United States, Europe, and South America, obtaining pioneering observations of a myriad of small spatial- and temporal-scale phenomena including tornadoes, hurricanes, lake-effect snow storms, aircraft-affecting turbulence, convection initiation, microbursts, intense precipitation, boundary layer structures and evolution, airborne hazardous substances, coastal storms, wildfires and wildfire suppression efforts, weather modification effects, and mountain/alpine winds and precipitation. The radars and other FARM systems support innovative educational efforts, deploying >40 times to universities/colleges, providing hands-on access to cutting-edge instrumentation for their students. The FARM provides integrated multiple radar, mesonet, sounding, and related capabilities enabling diverse and robust coordinated sampling of three-dimensional vector winds, precipitation, and thermodynamics increasingly central to a wide range of mesoscale research. Planned innovations include S-band on Wheels Network (SOWNET) and Bistatic Adaptable Radar Network (BARN), offering more qualitative improvements to the field project observational paradigm, providing broad, flexible, and inexpensive 10-cm radar coverage and vector wind field measurements.
Improving Observations of Precipitation Type at the Surface: A 5-year Verification of a Radar-derived Product from the United Kingdom Met Office.
Authors: Pickering Ben S. , Best Steven , Dufton David , Lukach Maryna , Lyth Darren , Neely Ryan R.
Published: April 2021

This study aims to verify the skill of a radar-based surface precipitation type (SPT) product with observations on the ground. Social and economic impacts can occur from SPT because it is not well forecast or observed. Observations from the United Kingdom Meteorological Office’s weather radar network are combined with post-processed numerical weather prediction (NWP) freezing level heights in a Boolean logic algorithm to create a 1 km resolution cartesian-gridded map of SPT. Here 5 years of discrete non-probabilistic outputs of rain, mixed phase, and snow are compared against surface observations made by trained observers, automatic weather stations, and laser disdrometers. The novel skill verification method developed as part of this study employs several tolerances of space and time from the SPT product, indicating the precision of the product for a desired accuracy. In general the results indicate that the tolerance verification method works well and produces reasonable statistical score ranges grounded in physical constraints. Using this method, we find that the mixed precipitation class is the least well diagnosed which is due to a negative bias in the input temperature height field, resulting in rain events frequently being classified as mixed. Snowis capturedwell by the product which is entirely reliant upon a post-processed NWP temperature field, although a single period of anomalously cold temperatures positively skewed snow scores with low-skill events. Furthermore, we conclude that more verification consistency is needed amongst studies to help identify successful approaches and thus improve SPT forecasts.
Advancing Maritime Transparent Cirrus Detection Using the Advanced Baseline Imager “Cirrus” Band
Authors: McHardy Theodore M. , Campbell James R. , Peterson David A. , Lolli Simone , Bankert Richard L. , Garnier Anne , Kuciauskas Arunas P. , Surratt Melinda L. , Marquis Jared W. , Miller Steven D. , Dolinar Erica K. , Dong Xiquan
Published: April 2021

We describe a quantitative evaluation of maritime transparent cirrus cloud detection, which is based on Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – 16 (GOES-16) and developed with collocated Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) profiling. The detection algorithm is developed using one month of collocated GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) Channel 4 (1.378 μm) radiance and CALIOP 0.532 μm column-integrated cloud optical depth (COD). First, the relationships between the clear-sky 1.378 μm radiance, viewing/solar geometry, and precipitable water vapor (PWV) are characterized. Using machine learning techniques, it is shown that the total atmospheric pathlength, proxied by airmass factor (AMF), is a suitable replacement for viewing zenith and solar zenith angles alone, and that PWV is not a significant problem over ocean. Detection thresholds are computed using the Ch. 4 radiance as a function of AMF. The algorithm detects nearly 50% of sub-visual cirrus (COD < 0.03), 80% of transparent cirrus (0.03 < COD < 0.3), and 90% of opaque cirrus (COD > 0.3). Using a conservative radiance threshold results in 84% of cloudy pixels being correctly identified and 4% of clear-sky pixels being misidentified as cirrus. A semi-quantitative COD retrieval is developed for GOES ABI based on the observed relationship between CALIOP COD and 1.378 μm radiance. This study lays the groundwork for a more complex, operational GOES transparent cirrus detection algorithm. Future expansion includes an over-land algorithm, a more robust COD retrieval that is suitable for assimilation purposes, and downstream GOES products such as cirrus cloud microphysical property retrieval based on ABI infrared channels.
Weather Forecast Perceptions of Saudi Arabian Citizens: Initial Steps toward Building Extreme Weather Forecasting Communication Technology
Authors: Khamaj Abdulrahman , Alhashim Amin G. , Ybarra Vincent T. , Hussain Azham
Published: April 2021

Communicating weather forecasts from the public perspective is essential for meeting people’s needs and enhancing their overall experiences. Because of the lack of cited work on the public’s behavior and perception of weather data and delivery sources in Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia (KSA), this study employs a cross-sectional questionnaire to fill the gap and apply the protective action decision model to non-Western individuals. The questionnaire examined respondents’ opinions about 1) the importance of weather forecast accessibility, 2) crucial weather features, and 3) available features on existing smartphone weather applications (apps) in KSA. The results showed that nearly all participants reported that their decisions of daily lives and activities were highly dependent on weather forecasts. Most participants thought weather forecast features are necessary. Although the most commonly used source for weather forecasts in KSA was smartphone apps, many participants responded that these apps were lacking specific weather functionalities (e.g., giving weather alerts to their exact location). Regression analyses found that KSA individuals who do not believe that weather forecasts are important are predicted by 1) not wanting any new features added to weather applications and 2) thinking that weather forecasts do not impact lives or property. This study’s findings can guide governmental and private weather agencies in KSA and other Middle Eastern or developing countries to better understand how to meet and communicate people’s weather needs.
Insurance Status and Ethnicity Impact Health Disparities in Rates of Advance Directives in Trauma
Authors: Haines Krista L. , Nguyen Benjamin P. , Antonescu Ioana , Freeman Jennifer , Cox Christopher , Krishnamoorthy Vijay , Kawano Brad , Agarwal Suresh
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Advanced directives (ADs) provide a framework from which families may understand patient’s wishes. However, end-of-life planning may not be prioritized by everyone. This analysis aimed to determine what populations have ADs and how they affected trauma outcomes.

Methods

Adult trauma patients recorded in the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) from 2013-2015 were included. The primary outcome was presence of an AD. Secondary outcomes included mortality, length of stay (LOS), mechanical ventilation, ICU admission/LOS, withdrawal of life-sustaining measures, and discharge disposition. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed for outcomes.

Results

44 705 patients were included in the analyses. Advanced directives were present in 1.79% of patients. The average age for patients with ADs was 77.8 ± 10.7. African American (odds ratio (OR) .53, confidence intervals [CI] .36-.79) and Asian (OR .22, CI .05-.91) patients were less likely to have ADs. Conversely, Medicaid (OR 1.70, CI 1.06-2.73) and Medicare (OR 1.65, CI 1.25-2.17) patients were more likely to have ADs as compared to those with private insurance. The presence of ADs was associated with increased hospital mortality (OR 2.84, CI 2.19-3.70), increased transition to comfort measures (OR 2.87, CI 2.08-3.95), and shorter LOS (CO −.74, CI −1.26-.22). Patients with ADs had an increased odds of hospice care (OR 4.24, CI 3.18-5.64).

Conclusion

Advanced directives at admission are uncommon, particularly among African Americans and Asians. The presence of ADs was associated with increased mortality, use of mechanical ventilation, admission to the ICU, withdrawal of life-sustaining measures, and hospice. Future research should target expansion of ADs among minority populations to alleviate disparities in end-of-life treatment.
Chemotherapy and Abdominal Wall Closure Technique Increase the Probability of Postoperative Ventral Incisional Hernia in Patients With Colon Cancer
Authors: Santos David A. , Zhang Liangliang , Do Kim-Anh , Bednarski Brian K. , Robinson Ledet Celia , Limmer Angela , Gibson Heather , You Y. Nancy
Published: April 2021

Background

Chemotherapy is associated with postoperative ventral incisional hernia (PVIH) after right hemicolectomy (RHC) for colon cancer, and abdominal wall closure technique may affect PVIH. We sought to identify clinical predictors of PVIH.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent RHC for colon cancer from 2008-2018 and later developed PVIH. Time to PVIH was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier analysis, clinical predictors were identified with multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling, and the probability of PVIH given chemotherapy and the suture technique was estimated with Bayesian analysis.

Results

We identified 399 patients (209 no adjuvant chemotherapy and 190 adjuvant chemotherapy), with an overall PVIH rate of 38%. The 5-year PVIH rate was 55% for adjuvant chemotherapy, compared with 38% for none (log-rank P < .05). Adjuvant chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.31, P < .01), age (HR .99, 95% CI .97-1.00, P < .01), body mass index (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04, P < .01), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.21-3.00, P < .01) were independently associated with PVIH. Postoperative ventral incisional hernia was more common overall in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (46% compared with 30%, P < .01). In patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy, the probability of PVIH for incision closure with #1 running looped polydioxanone was 42%, compared with 59% for incision closure with #0 single interrupted polyglactin 910.

Discussion

Exposure to chemotherapy increases the probability of PVIH after RHC, and non–short stitch incision closure further increases this probability, more so than age or body mass index. The suture technique deserves further study as a modifiable factor in this high-risk population.
Balloon Angioplasty Versus Stenting in Patients With ST-Elevated Myocardial Infarction Before Subsequent Coronary Artery By-Pass Grafting
Authors: Ipek Gokturk , Keskin Muhammed , Aldag Mustafa , Borklu Edibe Betul , Inan Duygu , Yilmaz Hale , Demirtas Murat , Bolca Osman
Published: April 2021

Decision of ad hoc revascularization strategy in patients who require coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) following primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) is challenging due to the pros and cons of only-ballooning and stenting. In this study, we aimed to compare the outcomes of only-balloon-angioplasty to stenting in primary PCI in patients with ST elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) who required a subsequent CABG. We retrospectively analyzed 350 consecutive STEMI patients who needed CABG in addition to primary balloon angioplasty (n = 160) and stenting strategy (n = 190). In-hospital and 5-year outcomes of the patients were compared between the 2 groups. In-hospital mortality rates in the ballooning and stenting groups were not nonsignificantly different (11.2% vs 9.5%, respectively, P = .59); 5-year mortality rates were also similar between the 2 groups (9.2% vs 8.7%, P = .89). Additionally, major bleeding rates (3.8% vs 6.3%, P = .28) did not differ between the 2 groups. In conclusion, our study showed no significant difference in-hospital and long-term mortality rates in patients who require CABG after primary PCI irrespective of the ad hoc revascularization strategy.
Factors That Affect Drivers’ Perception of Closing and an Immediate Hazard
Authors: Weaver Bradley W. , DeLucia Patricia R. , Jupe Jason
Published: April 2021

Objective

To measure the looming threshold for when drivers perceive closing and an immediate hazard and determine what factors affect these thresholds.

Background

Rear-end collisions are a common type of crash. One key issue is determining when drivers first perceive they need to react. The looming threshold for closing and an immediate hazard are critical perceptual thresholds that reflect when drivers perceive they need to react.

Method

Two driving simulator experiments examined whether engaging in a cell phone conversation and whether the complexity of the roadway environment affect these thresholds for the perception of closing and immediate hazard. Half of the participants engaged in a cognitive task, the last letter task, to emulate a cell phone conversation, and all participants experienced both simple and complex roadway environments.

Results

Drivers perceived an immediate hazard later when engaged in a cell phone conversation than when not engaged in a conversation but only when the driving task was relatively less demanding (e.g., simple roadway, slow closing velocity). Compared to simple scenes, drivers perceived closing and an immediate hazard later for complex scenes but only when closing velocity was 30 mph (48.28 km/h) or greater.

Conclusion

Cell phone conversation can affect when drivers perceive an immediate hazard when the roadway is less demanding. Roadway complexity can affect when drivers perceive closing and an immediate hazard when closing velocity is high.

Application

Results can aid accident analysis cases and the design of driving automation systems by suggesting when a typical driver would respond.
The PACT Model: Improving Outcomes in the Treatment of PTSD
Authors: Larova Veronika , Frederick Heather
Published: April 2021

This article introduces a new model for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder that has the potential to provide clinicians with information that may facilitate improved outcomes. The PACT model emerged during a systematic literature review intended to suggest ways to enhance the efficacy of evidence-based treatments by critically evaluating the potential mechanisms of therapeutic action at work in a novel treatment approach, MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)-assisted psychotherapy, and applying this understanding to existing treatment protocols. The goal of the review was to synthesize the potential therapeutic mechanisms of action that are involved in this approach, and to better understand how they could inform other protocols without the need to administer MDMA. Four elements of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy that do not require the administration of MDMA and could inform our approach to treating patients with trauma form the basis of the PACT model: (1) Presence; (2) Acceptance; (3) Connection; (4) Transcendence. This article highlights how the PACT model reflects the qualities and values of humanistic–existential therapies, explains how it overlaps with and extends common factors in psychotherapy, and suggests how these four elements may signify important avenues of future research for trauma treatments, focusing on enhancing the patient’s experience of safety and posttraumatic growth.
Might High-Intensity Interval Exercise Be Remembered as More Pleasurable? An Attempt to Test the Peak-End Rule in the Exercise Context
Authors: Alves Elaine Domingues , Julio Ursula Ferreira , Panissa Valéria Leme Gonçalves , Franchini Emerson , Takito Monica Yuri
Published: April 2021

Given humans’ limited ability to recall past experiences for evaluation, scholars have proposed the peak-end rule stating that if perceived discomfort at the end of an aversive experience is lower than the peak discomfort experienced, the aversive experience will be remembered more positively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the peak-end rule as applied to high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE). Participants were 30 inactive men ( M age = 27.9, SD =  5.2 years). In the first session they performed a graded exercise test on cycle-ergometer to determine their maximal aerobic power (MAP) ( M = 233, SD = 35W); and, in the second and third sessions, they performed two HIIE protocols in randomized order: (a) Short trial – 20-minutes of HIIE, composed of 30-second efforts at 100% of MAP interspersed by 30-seconds of passive recovery; and (b) Long trial – 20-minutes of the short trial, plus 10-minutes more of HIIE, decreasing 3% of MAP in each additional bout, resulting in 70% of MAP in the last bout. During exercise, we recorded the participants’ rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and affect, using the Feeling Scale (FS). At 30-minutes post-exercise, we again recorded the participants’ affect, using the Global Affect Evaluation (GAE) and their session-RPE, and we recorded their enjoyment, using the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). In the last session, the participants chose a favorite protocol to repeat. All sessions were interspersed by at least 72 hours. The 10-minutes extra HIIE in the Long-trial condition resulted decreased heart rate values ( M = 157, SD = 13bpm to M = 144, SD = 14bpm; p < 0.001), but psychological responses during and after exercise did not differ, nor did participants’ preferred HIIE protocol. As the load drop for the Long-trial was not enough to change the psychological responses during exercise, there was no difference in the retrospective evaluation as the peak-end rule would have suggested.
Variation in the Content of Postpartum Visits by Maternal Race/Ethnicity, Preconception, and Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risk, PRAMS, 2016-2017
Authors: Stanhope Kaitlyn K. , Kramer Michael R.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Limited evidence suggests racial/ethnic disparities in postpartum visit attendance; however, little is known about patterns in postpartum visit content. We sought to determine whether receipt of screening and counseling varies by race/ethnicity and whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (preconception or pregnancy related) predicts postpartum visit content.

Methods

We used data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System 2016-2017 (39 sites) to calculate the prevalence of self-reported receipt of screening, services, and counseling at the postpartum visit by race/ethnicity and CVD risk (unweighted analytic sample n = 59 427). We created a score representing receipt of 5 key screenings or messages at the visit (counseling on healthy eating and exercise, cigarettes, pregnancy spacing, and birth control methods; screening for depression), which we used as a binary indicator of visit content in regression models. We fit a logistic regression model to determine the magnitude of association between CVD risk and receipt of the 5 key messages, prevention screening, or CVD-specific counseling (on healthy eating and exercise, smoking), adjusting for maternal age, race/ethnicity, and health insurance status.

Results

Overall, 40% of women reported receiving all CVD-specific prevention messages. Both prepregnancy and pregnancy-related CVD risk were associated with increased odds of receipt of CVD prevention messages (adjusted odds ratios [aOR] = 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; and 1.1; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2, respectively). Race/ethnicity was a stronger predictor than CVD risk: non-Hispanic Black women were twice as likely as non-Hispanic White women to receive CVD prevention messages, regardless of CVD risk (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.0).

Conclusions

Health systems should consider novel strategies to improve and standardize the content of postpartum visits.