bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pricing carbon emissions reduces health inequities from air pollution exposure
Authors: Huang Xinyuan , Srikrish Vivek , Lamontagne Jonathan , Keller Klaus , Peng Wei
Published: August 2022

Climate mitigation can bring health co-benefits by improving air quality. Yet, whether mitigation will widen or narrow current health disparities remains unclear. Here we use a coupled climate-energy-health model to assess the effects of a global carbon price on the distribution of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure and associated health risks across an ensemble of nearly 30,000 future scenarios. We find that pricing carbon consistently lowers the PM2.5-attributable death rates in lower-income countries by reducing fossil fuel burning (e.g., China and India). Since these countries are projected to have large ageing populations, the greatest reduction in global average PM2.5-attributable death rate is found in elderly populations, which are more vulnerable to air pollution than the other age groups. In contrast, the health effects in higher-income countries are more complex, because pricing carbon can increase the emissions from bioenergy use and land-use changes, counteracting the mortality decrease from reduced fossil fuel burning. Mitigation technology choices and complex interactions between age structures, energy use, and land use all influence the distribution of health effects. Our results highlight the importance of an improved understanding of regional characteristics and cross-sector dynamics for addressing the interconnected challenges of climate, health, and social inequalities.
Timing of the reproductive cycle of Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota (Brandt, 1835) from the Persian Gulf based on evaluation of gonad histomorphology and sex hormones
Authors: Faridani Fatemeh Azimiyan , Salamat Negin , Doostshenas Babak , Sharifpour Issa , Fakhri Ali
Published: August 2022

Sea cucumber Holothuria (Mertensiothuria) leucospilota is a native export species in the Persian Gulf, and despite its high economic value, no study has been conducted on its reproductive biology in this region. The aim of the present study was to describe the reproductive biology of H. leucospilota using gonad tissue indices and steroid sex hormones (for the first time in sea cucumbers). Spawning was observed only once in this species. The annual reproductive cycle of H. leucospilota can be divided into six stages including resting (recovery), growth, advanced growth, mature, spawning and spent. These stages were simultaneous among the population. The beginning of gametogenesis coincided with the end of January and continued until the end of July. From May to July, the majority of individuals in the population were mature and ready to spawn. Spawning finally took place in August when the water temperature reaches its maximum value. However, spawning continued until the beginning of October. In general, according to the present study, the reproductive season of H. leucospilota is the summer of the Persian Gulf, when the temperature reaches its maximum. Most individuals were in the resting phase between late October and early January, during which it was impossible to distinguish the sex of them.
Development of Governance Evaluation Model for Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development in the United Arab Emirates Using Analytical Network Process
Authors: AlKhamis Amal , Dweiri Fikri , Kolo Jerry , AlOtaibi Emran , Sarker Abu Elias
Published: August 2022

Accessibility and Inclusion are challenging issues for decision-makers due to its impact on equity and quality of life. This research presents a novel governance evaluation model (GEM) for Accessible and Inclusive Urban Development (AIUD) to develop quantitative approach by applying Analytical Network Process (ANP). Experts feedback was sought to first: rank priorities of governance principles (GP’s), second: determine interdependencies of GI’s with respect to GP’s, third: determine interdependencies of indicators with respect to each other and finally scores for public governance. Therefore, the model was used to evaluate public governance in Sharjah Emirate by four agencies representing public sector. AIUD GEM results showed that the most important governance principle at AIUD in the UAE is (Transparency and Accountability). While the highest rated governance indicator is (representation of persons with disabilities and their families). The model implementation in Sharjah, demonstrated organizations agreement on rating (political commitment and legitimacy) as the highest in Sharjah public governance. The final outcome established reliable tool to support decision making in resource allocation, prioritizing intervention actions in addition to determining areas of improvement needed among various stakeholders and sectors. It is this gap or niche in the field of AIUD that this research endeavoured to fill by formulating a bespoke GEM for AIUD in the UAE, with the potential for adaptation in other contexts around the world. The model formulated in this research is a holistic monitoring and evaluation tool that engages stakeholders from various sectors, uses indicators for which data collection is less time- and effort-consuming, and allows for continuous and easy monitoring by decision-makers. This research is a timely response to a trans-disciplinary subject which is a global concern to decision- makers due to its significant impact on sustainable development. Due to the impact of AIUD on social inclusion, human welfare and economic development, the development of GI’s facilitates decision-making through stakeholder’s involvement in order to allow benchmarking and comparison of performance. The model would enable the UAE to remain a role model in the field of AIUD and continue to influence knowledge and practice in this field globally. This research is the first published research that utilized MCDM tools to develop public GEM considering holistic approach in the context of AIUD. Therefore, it is forming solid base for academics and decision-makers to utilize this model to promote public governance performance not only in the UAE but also internationally.
Mutation-associated transcripts reconstruct the prognostic features of tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Liao Ga , Liang Libo , LI YI , Ying Binwu , Huang Xinyan , Liao Shenling , Yang Jiajin
Published: August 2022

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma is highly malignant with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to combine whole-genome sequencing, whole-genome methylation, and whole transcriptome analyses to better understand the molecular mechanisms of this cancer. Cancerous and paraneoplastic tissues from five patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma were included as five paired samples. After multi-omics sequencing, differentially methylated intervals, methyl loop sites, methylated promoters, and transcripts were screened for variation in all paired samples. Correlations between them were analyzed to determine biological processes in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. We found five mutated methylation promoters that were significantly associated with the expression levels of mRNAs and lncRNAs. Functional annotation of these transcripts revealed their involvement in triggering the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade, which is associated with cancer progression and the development of drug resistance during treatment. The prognostic signature models constructed based on the WDR81 and HNRNPH1 genes and combined clinical phenotype-gene prognostic signature models have shown high predictive efficacy and can be applied to predict patient prognostic risk in clinical settings. We identified biological processes in tongue squamous cell carcinoma that are initiated by mutations in the methylation promoter and are associated with the expression levels of specific mRNAs and lncRNAs. Ultimately, changes in the transcript levels affect the prognosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma patients.
Weighted Scaling Approach for Metabolomics Data Analysis
Authors: Biswas Biplab , Kumar Nishith , Hoque Md. Aminul , Alam Md. Ashad
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Systematic variation is a common issue in metabolomics data analysis. Therefore, different scaling and normalization techniques are used to preprocess the data for metabolomics data analysis. Although several scaling methods are available in the literature, however, choice of scaling, transformation and/or normalization technique influence the further statistical analysis. It is challenged to choose the appropriate scaling technique for downstream analysis to get accurate results or to the make proper decision. Moreover, the existing scaling techniques are sensitive to outliers or extreme values.
Objectives: To fill the gap, our objective is to introduce a robust scaling approach that is not influenced by outliers as well as provides more accurate results for downstream analysis.
Methods: Here, we introduced a new weighted scaling approach that is robust against outliers however, where no additional outlier detection/treatment step is needed in data preprocessing and also compared it with the conventional scaling and normalization techniques through artificial and real metabolomics datasets.
Results: We evaluated the performance of the proposed method in comparison to the other existing conventional scaling techniques using metabolomics data analysis in both the absence and presence of different percentages of outliers. Results show that in most cases the proposed scaling technique is a better performer than the traditional scaling methods in both the absence and presence of outliers.
Conclusion: The proposed method improves the further downstream metabolomics analysis. The R function of the proposed robust scaling method is available at https://github.com/nishithkumarpaul/robustScaling/blob/main/wscaling.R
Perception, knowledge and attitude of learners about the use of 3D technologies in manual therapy education – A qualitative study
Authors: Sampath Kesava Kovanur , Arumugam Ashokan , Yaghi Esra , Fairs Emma , Andersen Patrea
Published: August 2022

Objectives The current paradigm of teaching manual therapy is ‘teacher centred’ and may not enable learners to develop the complex clinical skills of manual therapy. 3D technologies such as virtual reality may facilitate the teaching and learning of manual therapy. Hence the aim of the current study was to investigate the perception, knowledge and attitude of manual therapy learners about the use of 3D technologies in manual therapy education.Design: In-depth interviews; data analysed using thematic analysis.Setting: online.Participants 10 manual therapy students (age =32 (Range19-58); 80% females).Results: Five factors were identified which appeared to influence participants’ perception of role of technology in manual therapy education. These were (1) Sufficiency of current teaching method; (2) Evolution as a learner (novice to expert); (3) Need for objectivity; (4) Tutor feedback; and (5) Barriers and enablers. These five factors influenced the participants’ perception about the role of 3D technologies in manual therapy education with participants evidently taking two distinct/polarized positions (‘no role’ (techstatic) versus a ‘complete role’ (techsavvy)). Conclusions Participants in this study held a range of views regarding the role of 3D technologies in manual therapy education. Although 3D technology may not replace face-to-face teaching, it may be used to complement the traditional “see one, do one” approach of learning/teaching to facilitate the learning of complex skills by manual therapy learners. The advantage of such an approach is an area of future research.
Appeal and Likelihood of Use of Multiple Flavor Varieties of BIDI® Stick Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems among Adult Current, Former, and Never Tobacco Users in the United States
Authors: McDowell Elliott H. , Yue Leiyu , Lyden Jennifer T. , Bagwell William R.
Published: August 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Abundance and distribution of antennal sensilla on males and females of three sympatric species of alpine grasshopper (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Catantopinae) in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Nakano Mari , Morgan-Richards Mary , Clavijo-McCormick Andrea , Trewick Steven
Published: August 2022

Brachaspis nivalis, Sigaus australis and Paprides nitidus are grasshopper species endemic to Aotearoa New Zealand where they are sympatric in several regions of South Island. On mountains of Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (Southern Alps), B. nivalis is most abundant on scree/rock habitat whereas S. australis and P. nitidus are prevalent in alpine tussock and herbfields. It is expected, therefore, that these species have different sensory needs that are likely to be apparent in the type, abundance, and distribution of chemo-sensilla on their antennae. It is also likely that sexual selection has resulted in sex linked differences in sensilla. To test these hypotheses, abundance and distribution of the chemo-sensilla on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of their antennae were characterized in adult males and females of the three species. Five types of chemo-sensilla were identified on the distal portion of their antenna: chaetica, basiconica, trichoidea, coeloconica, and cavity. All species had significantly more chemo-sensilla on the ventral than the dorsal surface of antennae and a similar distribution pattern of chemo-sensilla. Despite having relatively short antenna, B. nivalis had the largest number of olfactory sensilla, but the fewest chaetica of the three species studied. A plausible explanation is that B. nivalis prefer less vegetated habitats compared to the other species, and therefore may rely more on olfaction (distance) than taste (contact) reception for finding food. No significant differences were observed between the sexes of B. nivalis and P. nitidus, however, S. australis males had significantly more basiconica sensilla than females.
Immunoglobulin genes expressed in lymphoblast cell lines discern and predict lithium response in bipolar disorder patients
Authors: Mizrahi Liron , Choudhary Ashwani , Ofer Polina , Goldberg Gabriela , Milanesi Elena , Kelsoe John , Gurwitz David , Alda Martin , Gage Fred , Stern Shani
Published: August 2022

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric mood disorder manifested by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. More than half of BD patients are non-responsive to lithium, the first-line treatment drug, complicating BD clinical management. Given its unknown etiology, it is pertinent to understand the genetic signatures that lead to variability in lithium treatment. We discovered a set of differentially expressed genes from the LCLs of 10 controls and 19 BD patients belonging mainly to the immunoglobulin gene family that can be used as potential biomarkers to diagnose and treat BD. Importantly, we trained a machine learning algorithm on our datasets that predicted the lithium response of BD subtypes with no errors, even when used on a different cohort of 24 BD patients acquired by a different laboratory. This proves the scalability of our methodology for predicting lithium response in BD and for a prompt and suitable decision on therapeutic interventions.
Characterising spinal cerebrospinal fluid flow in the pig with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Bessen Madeleine Amy , Gayen Christine Diana , Quarrington Ryan David , Walls Angela Catherine , Leonard Anna Victoria , Kurtcuoglu Vartan , Jones Claire Frances
Published: August 2022

Background
Detecting changes in pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow may assist clinical management decisions, but spinal CSF flow is relatively understudied. Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) often cause spinal cord swelling and subarachnoid space (SAS) obstruction, potentially causing pulsatile CSF flow changes. Pigs are emerging as a favoured large animal SCI model; therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise CSF flow along the healthy pig spine.
Methods
Phase-contrast magnetic resonance images (PC-MRI), retrospectively cardiac gated, were acquired for fourteen laterally recumbent, anaesthetised and ventilated, female domestic pigs (22–29 kg). Axial images were obtained at C2/C3, T8/T9, T11/T12 and L1/L2. Dorsal and ventral SAS regions of interest (ROI) were manually segmented. CSF flow and velocity were determined throughout a cardiac cycle. Linear mixed-effects models, with post hoc comparisons, were used to identify differences in peak systolic/diastolic flow, and maximum velocity (cranial/caudal), across spinal levels and dorsal/ventral SAS. Velocity wave speed from C2/L3 to L1/L2 was calculated.
Results
PC-MRI data were obtained for 11/14 animals. Pulsatile CSF flow was observed at all spinal levels. Peak systolic flow was greater at C2/C3 (dorsal: -0.37 ± 0.17 mL/s, ventral: -0.19 ± 0.17 mL/s) than T8/T9 (dorsal: -0.04 ± 0.03 mL/s, ventral: -0.09 ± 0.09 mL/s) in both SAS regions (p < 0.001), and not different between thoracolumbar levels (p > 0.05). Peak diastolic flow was greater at C2/C3 (0.179 ± 0.06 mL/s) compared to T8/T9 (0.04 ± 0.02 mL/s) dorsally (p < 0.001), but not different ventrally (p = 1.000). Caudal maximum velocity at C2/C3 was greater than at thoracolumbar levels dorsally and ventrally (p < 0.001), but not different ventrally for cranial maximum velocity (p > 0.05). Diastolic velocity wave speed was 1.41 ± 0.39 m/s dorsally and 1.22 ± 0.21 m/s ventrally, and systolic velocity wave speed was 1.02 ± 0.25 m/s dorsally and 0.91 ± 0.22 m/s ventrally.
Conclusions
In anaesthetised and ventilated domestic pigs, spinal CSF has lower pulsatile flow and slower velocity wave propagation, compared to humans. This study provides baseline CSF flow at spinal levels relevant for future SCI research in this animal model.
TGFβ-induced long non-coding RNA LINC00313 activates Wnt signalling and promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression
Authors: Papoutsoglou Panagiotis , Louis Corentin , Pineau Raphaël , L’Haridon Anaïs , Banales Jesus M. , Gilot David , Aubry Marc , Coulouarn Cédric
Published: August 2022

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a devastating liver cancer characterized by high aggressiveness and resistance to therapy, which results to poor prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and signals imposed by oncogenic pathways, such as transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) frequently contribute to CCA development. Here, we explored novel effectors of TGFβ signalling in CCA.Methods: We performed gene expression profiling to identify TGFβ-regulated genes in CCA cell lines. RNA-sequencing and ATAC-sequencing after LINC00313 gain-of-function were used to identify transcriptional targets of LINC00313, in vitro. We evaluated the impact of LINC00313 on TCF/LEF signalling by luciferase assays. Mouse xenograft models were used to evaluate the effects of LINC00313 on CCA progression, in vivo. Integrative analysis revealed the clinical relevance of LINC00313 in CCA. We identified LINC00313-interacting proteins by RNA-pull down, followed by mass spectrometry.Results: LINC00313 was identified as a novel target of TGFβ signalling in CCA cells. TGFβ induced LINC00313 expression in a TβRI/Smad-dependent manner. LINC00313 regulated genes involved in Wnt signalling. LINC00313 gain-of-function increased TCF7 expression. Of note, LINC00313 enhanced TCF/LEF-dependent transcriptional responses, promoted colony-forming capacities of CCA cells in vitro and accelerated tumour growth in vivo. Genes associated with LINC00313 over-expression in CCA tumours were characterized by KRAS and TP53 mutations and reduced patient’s overall survival. Mechanistically, actin-like 6A (ACTL6A), a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodelling complex, interacted with LINC00313 and impacted on TCF7 and SULF2 transcription and TCF/LEF signalling output.Conclusions: We propose a model whereby TGFβ induces LINC00313 in order to regulate expression of a subset of target genes, possibly in co-operation with SWI/SNF. By regulating key genes of the Wnt pathway, LINC00313 fine-tunes Wnt/TCF/LEF-dependent transcriptional responses and boosts cholangiocarcinogenesis.
Primary health care coverage in Brazil: a dataset from 1998 to 2020
Authors: Boccolini Patricia de Moraes Mello , Alves Ronaldo Fernandes Santos , Boccolini Cristiano Siqueira , Baroni Lais Ribeiro
Published: August 2022

Objectives: Primary health care builds the backbone of an effective healthcare system and can improve population health, reduce cost growth, and lessen inequality. We offer a machine-readable and open-access dataset on primary health care coverage in Brazil from 1998 to 2020. This dataset is interoperable with epidemiological data from two major studies and reusable by the research community worldwide for other purposes, such as monitoring progress toward universal health coverage and studying the association between primary health care and health outcomes.Data description: The dataset gathers official and public information from the “e-Gestor AB” platform of the Ministry of Health of Brazil and restricted data obtained by the Brazilian Access to Information Law. It includes 1,509,870 observations and 35 attributes aggregated by months/years and policy-relevant geographic units (country, macroregions, states, municipalities, and capitals) on primary health care team count and their absolute and relative population coverage estimates, information on the More Doctors Program implementation and physician counts, and spatial, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics. We automated all data processing and curation in the free and open software R. The codes can be audited, replicated, and reused to produce alternative analyses.
Prognostic Estimation Model for Oligodendroglioma: An mRNA-Sequence Data-Based Analysis
Authors: Zhu Qinghui , Shen Shaoping , Yang Chuanwei , Li Mingxiao , Zhang Xiaokang , Li Haoyi , Zhao Xuzhe , Li Ming , Yong Cui , Ren Xiaohui , Lin Song
Published: August 2022

Object: In contrast with the previous diagnostic strategy, which relied only on histopathologic evidence, the integrated diagnosis of oligodendroglioma based on the 5th edition of World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (WHO CNS 5) criteria requires the codeletion of chromosome arms 1p and 19q and isocitrate dehydrogenase gene (IDH1 or IDH2) mutation (mt). The existing prognostic indicators may not be completely suitable for oligodendroglioma patients based on the new diagnostic criteria. We aimed to identify a prognostic prediction model for oligodendrogliomas based on the WHO CNS5 classification.Methods: We collected 175 glioma samples to investigate significant changes in mRNAs using the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) database and to establish a prediction model for prognosis by Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Cox logistic analysis.Results: Eighty-eight differentially expressed RNAs (DERNAs) were identified between the long survival group and the short survival group. Seven RNAs were selected to calculate risk scores. Risk level, age and Primary-or-Recurrent Status (PRS) type were used as factors for the prognostic model.Conclusion: An individualized prognostic model for oligodendroglioma patients based on the WHO CNS5 criteria was established. The predictive ability of this model was validated in a validation cohort, which demonstrated its predictive accuracy. In the future, more pathological evidence is needed to support our predictive model to further classify oligodendrogliomas.
Comparing Treatment Delays and Pathways to Early Intervention Services for Psychosis in Urban Settings in India and Canada
Authors: MacDonald Kathleen , Mohan Greeshma , Pawliuk Nicole , Joober Ridha , Padmavati Ramachandran , Rangaswamy Thara , Malla Ashok , Iyer Srividya N.
Published: August 2022

IntroductionAlthough extensively studied in high-income countries (HICs) and less so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), pathways to care and treatment delays in early psychosis have not been compared across contexts. We compared pathways to early intervention for psychosis in an HIC (Montreal, Canada) and an LMIC (Chennai, India). We hypothesised that the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) would be longer in Chennai.MethodsThe number of contacts preceding early intervention, referral sources, first contacts, and DUP and its referral and help-seeking components of first-episode psychosis patients at both sites were similarly measured and compared using chi-square analyses and t-tests/one-way ANOVAs.ResultsOverall and help-seeking DUPs of Chennai (N = 168) and Montreal (N = 165) participants were not significantly different. However, Chennai patients had shorter referral DUPs [mean = 12.0 ± 34.1 weeks vs. Montreal mean = 13.2 ± 28.7 weeks; t(302.57) = 4.40; p < .001] as the early intervention service was the first contact for 44% of them (vs. 5% in Montreal). Faith healers comprised 25% of first contacts in Chennai. Those seeing faith healers had significantly shorter help-seeking but longer referral DUPs. As predicted, most (93%) Montreal referrals came from medical sources. Those seeing psychologists/counsellors/social workers as their first contact had longer DUPs.ConclusionDifferences in cultural views about mental illnesses and organizational structures shape pathways to care and their associations with treatment delays across contexts. Both formal and informal sources need to be targeted to reduce delays. Early intervention services being the first portal where help is sought can reduce DUP especially if accessed early on in the illness course.
Polystyrene Microplastic Beads Caused Cellular Alterations in midgut cells and Sex-Specific Toxic Effects on Survival, Starvation Resistance, and Excretion of the Model Insect Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kholy Samar El , Naggar Yahya Al
Published: August 2022

Although the toxicity of microplastics in aquatic creatures has been extensively studied, there have been far fewer studies in terrestrial organisms. Here, we conducted a series of experiments to understand whether exposure to different concentrations (0.005, 0.05, 0.5 µg/ml) of polystyrene microplastics beads PS-MPs (2 µm in size) can impact feeding activity and modulate digestion and excretion, using the fruit fly D. melanogaster as a model of terrestrial organisms. The ability of adult male and female flies to distinguish between food treated with PS-MPs and food not treated with PS-MPs was tested first, and then we evaluated the effects of a 7-day short-term exposure to PS-MPs on food intake, mortality, starvation resistance, fecal pellet count, and the cellular structure of mid gut cells. The results revealed that flies can really differentiate and ignore MPs-treated food. We discovered sex-specific effects, with male flies being more sensitive to PS-MPs, with all males dying after 14 days when exposed to 0.5 µg/ml of PS-MPs, whereas 20% of female flies survived to day 20. Furthermore, regardless of concentration, nearly all male flies exposed to PS-MPs died after 24 hours of starvation. Only female flies fed media containing 0.05 or 0.5 µg/ml PS-MPs had significantly fewer fecal pellets. PS-MPs also showed concentration-dependent effects on the cellular structure of midgut cells in both male and female flies, that are indicative of cell necrosis and apoptosis. Our findings provide new insights into MP toxicity and will be useful in assessing the environmental risks associated with MPs as newly emerging pollutants.
Analysis of the effects of lead-time variation on a multi-site supply chain network
Authors: Sakhri Mohamed Salim Amri , Tlili Mounira , Korbaa Ouajdi
Published: August 2022

In a supply chain, inventory is the single largest source of costs for a company. This is due to the various physical and informational activities that accompany inventory management, primarily the holding and transportation of inventory. Companies are looking to streamline these activities and minimize the associated costs. One of the most coveted models for jointly solving these two problems is the Inventory Routing Problem (IRP), which will be the focus of this study. This paper deals with the case of a deterministic replenishment demand in a distribution network consisting of a supplier and a number of customers to be served by a single vehicle over a finite planning horizon. We study the impact of increasing supplier delivery times on the network costs. A mathematical model is developed and solved by an exact method. The results obtained will be analyzed and solutions will be suggested.
The politics of groundwater allocation and the transition from open access
Authors: Blomquist William , Babbitt Christina
Published: August 2022

Groundwater allocation is a key institutional instrument for restoring sustainability in overdrawn aquifers, especially those that have been used on an open-access basis in the past. Many suggestions for improving groundwater management - pumping reductions, fees on overuse, transferability of pumping rights or shares - are based on the establishment of groundwater allocations. Therefore, how groundwater allocations can be created and maintained is a critical foundational issue in sustainable water resource management. In this chapter, we review the institutional and policy issues associated with establishing groundwater allocations: how they differ from and relate to allocations of surface water; the various values to be taken into account when developing allocations; and why the allocation of groundwater is an inescapably political process. We also review examples of groundwater allocation efforts and identify some patterns among those examples. Combining the review and the examples, we present and explain a set of considerations regarding the process of establishing groundwater allocations. Our considerations are intended to be useful to practitioners as well as researchers interested in this subject, and therefore potentially beneficial in practical ways in the advancement of water sustainability.
Allocations and environmental flows
Authors: Stein Eric D. , McClain Michael E. , Sengupta Ashmita , Grantham Theodore E. , Zimmerman Julie K. H. , Yarnell Sarah M.
Published: August 2022

Over the past 30 years, much has been learned from strategies used around the world to establish and implement environmental flow programs. Approaches vary from highly prescriptive regulatory requirements to largely voluntary programs. These examples have shown that allocating water to the environment does not necessarily constrain human uses and can have benefits for both agriculture and ecosystems. Some efforts attempt to reduce conflict between agriculture and the environment by limiting water allocations spatially, while others attempt to reconcile competing water demands through comprehensive, regional allocation schemes that vary with climate conditions over time. Here we summarize strategies for water allocation planning and implementation that can be used to balance environmental and agricultural water needs. Effective strategies incorporate: a holistic environmental water allocation approach that focuses on protecting overall ecological structure and functions; environmental flow protections at broad spatial and temporal scales; consideration of surface-ground water interactions and the relationships between flow, sediment, temperature, and water quality. From an implementation perspective, approaches that establish a volumetric water budget for the environment based on interannual variation in water availability, integrate across programs in a transparent manner, are broadly inclusive, and incorporate traditional values and perspectives have the highest likelihood of success. Environmental flow strategies that consider technical solutions, establish clear objectives and anticipate how environmental water will be allocated under different water year types, and are sensitive to social issues and concerns will increase certainty in how much water is allocated for agriculture and the environment. Beyond reconciling conflicts between competing demands, emerging technical and institutional approaches to environmental flows can improve resiliency of water management programs to climate change by preventing the over-exploitation of water supplies, enhancing flexibility, and providing a framework for adaptation.
England and Wales: countering ‘unsustainable abstraction’ with the catchment based approach
Authors: Benson David , Cook Hadrian , Ak M. Yasir , Demirbilek Burcin
Published: August 2022

England and Wales have a long-established abstraction licensing regime for determining water allocations amongst economic sectors, particularly agriculture. This regime is implemented by the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW), primarily through Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) and attendant Abstraction Licensing Strategies (ALS), to support policy requirements for environmental sustainability. Over time, water licensing has been increasingly linked to water availability in catchments while licence trading now provides greater flexibility in allocations. Ongoing reforms will further seek to integrate resource sustainability and the catchment based approach (CaBA) to management into this evolving regime. Yet a critical question concerns whether such policy commitments to countering ‘unsustainable abstraction’ have been achieved, particularly by the agricultural sector. Here, we define sustainability in terms of the environmental, social and economic outcomes of governance.
Water allocation in Spain. Legal framework, instruments and emerging debates
Authors: Sanchis-Ibor Carles , Pulido-Velazquez Manuel , Valero de Palma Juan , García-Mollá Marta
Published: August 2022

Spain has a tradition of water management and allocation based on a dual model of water rights, where surface water is public, but groundwater has historically been considered a private resource. The Water Law (1985) created a new concessional system for the assignment of water rights to users of both resources, controlled by the State, but preserving the historical rights. Water allocation, in practice, is determined by the resources and demands that are estimated in the water planning documents. Therefore, water allocation is granted by River Basin Authorities and depends on water availability, social and environmental priorities, and the system operating rules. It is an institutional model of water allocation, under State control, but partially open to participation and negotiation with users. The main weakness of the Spanish water allocation model derives from the application, during the 20th century, of an excessively generous policy of water rights allocation and the lack of control of water uses. This policy has led to the overallocation of water rights and groundwater overexploitation in some basins, generating structural deficits, dramatic environmental impacts and significant social and territorial tensions. This context, which hinders the implementation of environmental flows, has required the design of different programmes and plans to control water uses, and the introduction of new legal instruments to stimulate water rights temporal exchanges.
Managing a common resource in agriculture: an overview of the French nested water allocation system
Authors: Rouillard Josselin , Rinaudo Jean-Daniel
Published: August 2022

Water resources in France are the focus of much social and political attention with recurring conflicts between agriculture and environmental organisations. The last 30 years have seen a major transition from open to regulated access to water resources, which has required a deep transformation of the regulatory framework, the development of new planning procedures at different nested levels, the establishment of new organisations, the development of hydrological, hydrogeological and environmental knowledge and significant social change. Nowadays, the French allocation regime has distinct characteristics, giving priority in allocation to the environment and relying on permits that can be modified or cancelled by the State without compensation. A move towards co-management has nevertheless occurred where authorities, users and stakeholders jointly define allocation rules. Co-management is deployed at different nested levels, from river basin district to catchment level and agricultural user communities. In particular, the establishment of agricultural users' organisations (OUGCs) is an innovative attempt to organise reallocation without relying on market mechanisms. The French model still faces major challenges in the future, due to imperfect allocation institutions and increased scarcity and droughts driven by climate change which will further question allocations between water uses and the environment.
Legal frameworks for agricultural water use in Canada: a comparative study of Alberta and Québec
Authors: Tremblay Hugo
Published: August 2022

Canada encompasses vastly different hydrological conditions, agricultural practices, and legal regimes for water rights. In Alberta, extensive agricultural irrigation has developed since the late 1800s in water-supply constrained conditions based on a prior-appropriation regime for water rights. In comparison, the legal framework for agricultural water rights in the relatively water-abundant province of Quebec has more recently evolved into regulated riparianism where most of the crops are still rain-fed. This chapter compares these two provinces to highlight how sub-national jurisdictions on water rights and differences in legal traditions can address diversity in agricultural practice and hydrological regimes.
Polycentric governance in Nebraska, U.S., for ground and surface water
Authors: Jedd Theresa , Schutz Anthony , Burbach Mark
Published: August 2022

This chapter describes the locally driven, but centrally coordinated, water governance model in Nebraska, U.S. It offers a snapshot of water resources and the importance of agriculture, then moves to the relevant political institutions in the state, and federal controls related to water quantity. The focus of the chapter is on the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources' (NeDNR) and Natural Resources Districts' (NRDs) management of surface and groundwater, which has some distinct and some overlapping authority. The main area of overlap is in addressing the connection between ground and surface water, particularly in situations when either or both are over appropriated. Integrated management planning is a key tool for basins in crisis, where allocations are fully or over appropriated and there is increased demand or diminished supply. The chapter explains what integrated management planning entails and gives a closer look into instances where it has been implemented. The polycentric model allows for collaborative governance, pushing stakeholders (particularly the agricultural sector) to innovate based on changes in water availability. NRDs can (and do) exercise controls; they do so by using their authority to make institutional changes and sanction violators for over-abstraction. This authority is granted and legitimized by publicly elected boards, an ongoing leadership training network, and a history of locally driven rule-making. However, there are also shortcomings to the model: in particular, it is difficult to address cross-border issues or legal conflicts. Furthermore, there is scant research on its effectiveness in actually preventing groundwater decline. The Nebraska model and its local examples may offer lessons for other basins where water resources have historically been relatively plentiful but are now facing drought stresses and the growing demands of intensive irrigated agricultural production.
Current challenges in the Rio Grande/Río Bravo Basin: old disputes in a new century
Authors: Buono Regina M. , Eckstein Gabriel
Published: August 2022

The Rio Grande River traverses 2000 kilometres of the international border between Mexico and the United States. The river and its tributaries are governed by a series of border treaties and institutions, as well as under the domestic laws of each nation. Often lauded for enabling innovative and collaborative governance, in recent years the complicated regime has come under pressure as domestic and international water governance institutions struggle under the strain of climate change, population growth, and other stressors on water supply and demand in the region. This chapter considers three of the major challenges currently facing the Rio Grande River Basin and its riparians: (1) groundwater and ground–surface interactions and related practical and policy implications; (2) engagement with local and regional stakeholders; and (3) Mexico's latest water debt under the 1944 Treaty. It also identifies shortcomings in the regime to address these concerns, as well as innovative responses and solutions that have been crafted at various levels of governance.
Inferência da única explicação e eliminação de hipóteses: Uma abordagem pragmática
Authors: Rodrigues da Silva Marcos
Published: August 2022

Um dos debates atuais em filosofia da ciência diz respeito ao status das hipóteses descartadas em processos de escolha de teorias. Por um lado, temos a inferência da única explicação, defendida pelo filósofo realista Alexander Bird: quando ocorre uma escolha entre teorias que buscam explicar uma evidência, seleciona-se a melhor delas e, como as outras foram refutadas, temos apenas uma única explicação da evidência. Por outro lado, o filósofo antirrealista Kyle Stanford entende que, em situações de escolha de teorias, é possível que ocorra uma eliminação prematura de hipóteses, de modo que algumas hipóteses teriam sido desconsideradas pela comunidade científica. Ambas propostas possuem uma natureza exclusivamente epistemológica; ou seja: elas tratam apenas da relação entre as hipóteses e as evidências empíricas. Contudo, casos de escolha de teorias podem também ser tratados a partir de um enfoque pragmático, o qual considera não apenas a relação entre hipóteses e as evidências empíricas, mas também a dinâmica da comunidade científica na qual se infere a única explicação e certas hipóteses são descartadas.
Habermas, Foucault e a “vulneronormatividade”: interfaces entre a norma e a experiência
Authors: Salgueiro Marques Ângela Cristina , Nigri Veloso Lucas Henrique
Published: August 2022

O artigo realiza uma costura vulnerável entre diagnósticos e propostas que Habermas e Foucault realizam sobre intersubjetividade, reconhecimento e comunidade política. Apesar de insolúveis distinções, argumentamos que é possível fomentar aproximações produtivas entre eles a partir do modo como tematizam vulnerabilidades ligadas aos processos de subjetivação política. Tal empreendimento é realizado a partir da instrumentalização da noção de vulnerabilidades e de um exame detido sobre as bases da ética normativa da troca discursiva, em Habermas, e da ética do “cuidado de si” que enfrenta o poder em sua configuração relacional, em Foucault. A partir de “costuras vulneráveis”,  propomos a superação de uma dicotomia que se reitera na oposição de ambas as tradições e escolas de pensamento, propondo um conceito que os abriga e hibridiza, ainda que sem apaziguar suas tensões e dissensos: a “vulneronormatividade”.
Ontologia e estética em Luigi Pareyson, de Íris Uribe
Authors: Rodrigues Ubiratane
Published: August 2022

Resenha do livro Uribe, Íris F. S. Ontologia e estética em Luigi Pareyson. 2. ed. – Jundiaí, SP: Paco, 2021.
Frege on the Ontological Presuppositions of Scientific Discourse
Authors: Greimann Dirk
Published: August 2022

According to the standard conception of ontological commitment, which goes back to Quine, we are ontologically committed to acknowledge those and only those entities whose existence is a condition for the truth of our theories. Frege has sketched, in the context of his critique of the idealist interpretation of scientific language, a more complete approach according to which we are committed to accept also those entities whose existence is a condition for successful communication in science. He argued that we must acknowledge a Platonic realm of objective senses because the existence of such entities is a condition for communicating non-trivial scientific discoveries. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct and defend Frege’s approach. The main thesis defended is that, although Frege’s analysis of ontological commitment is largely obsolete, his general approach to derive our ontological commitments from both the truth and the success conditions of scientific discourse is correct.
As dimensões do projeto fundacional de Frege em 1892: uma nota editorial
Authors: Ciccarelli Vincenzo
Published: August 2022

Este artigo é uma nota editorial de introdução ao dossiê temático ‘1892-2022: 130 anos de Über Sinn und Bedeutung de Frege’. Por meio do exame dos artigos publicados no dossiê, defendemos a tese de que o projeto fundacional do artigo de Frege de 1892 é mais amplo que o projeto logicista em filosofia da matemática e que se desenvolve ao longo de quatro dimensões fundamentais: 1) o desenvolvimento de uma teoria semântica geral; 2) a fundação filosófica de uma linguagem formal e dos principais modos de inferência; 3) a fundação do discurso científico; 4) o esboço de uma semântica para a linguagem natural.
Comportamento espaço-temporal da precipitação na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Potengi-RN
Authors: Andrade Souza Julie , Freitas de Amorim Rodrigo
Published: August 2022

A precipitação é a variável mais importante, quando se pretende compreender a dinâmica da estrutura superficial da paisagem e as consequências nas diversas atividades humanas. As análises quantitativas dos dados de chuva permitem espacializar os volumes precipitados, relacioná-los aos  principais  mecanismos que governam o regime de precipitação  da  área e estimar os tempos de retorno de eventos extremos.  Para atingir os objetivos, a metodologia compreende o uso de ferramentas estatísticas de espacialização de dados (krigagem) e a utilização do método de Gumbell para calcular os tempos de retorno de precipitações máximas  na bacia. Os resultados demonstram que há uma significativa variação espaço-temporal da precipitação nos diferentes compartimentos. Com relação aos eventos máximos, foi possível verificar que no intervalo de retorno de 10 anos, todos os quatro municípios apresentam valores de precipitação acima de 100mm em 24h. Pode-se concluir que os fenômenos climatológicos de precipitação com alta magnitude e baixa recorrência são frequentes em uma escala de tempo de décadas, estando, esses, vinculados à dinâmica climática regional e aos condicionantes de controle global.
Nanogel-based Transdermal Drug Delivery System: A Therapeutic Strategy
with Under Discussed Potential
Authors: Rehman Muneeb U. , Tariq Lubna , Arafah Azher , Ali Shafat , Beigh Saba , Dar Mashooq Ahmad , Dar Tanvir ul Hassan , Dar Aqib Iqbal , Alsaffar Rana M. , Masoodi Mubashir Hussain
Published: August 2022

The application of nanoparticles in medication delivery has revolutionized the field of
therapeutic biology. To improve medical efficacy, currently, drug nanocarriers are employed to control the release and stability, expand its circulation time, or protect it from cell clearance or premature breakdown. A crosslinked polymeric framework is used to crosslink the hydrogel nanoparticle
dispersions for safer and stable delivery on target sites. Nanogels have developed in the last two
decades as potential biomaterials with a wide variety of applications. Later attributes of nanogels
are mainly due to large surface areas, retention of molecules, size flexibility, and water-based formulations that have made them popular as drug delivery vehicles, as seen by several in vivo uses.
The gel matrix containing the nanoparticle drug demonstrated a considerable increase in drug penetration in transdermal drug and topical delivery methods. This review aims to understand why and
how nanogels are considered so innovative as a drug delivery method. It also examines their preparation methods and applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedical fields and discusses the benefits of nanogels, including swelling capacity and stimulus stimuli sensitivity. Nanogels, on the other
hand, have recently been investigated for applications outside the field of biomedicine. Since there
are many possible uses for nanogels, we have comprehensively reviewed the current state of the art
for all feasible nanogel applications and manufacturing methods.