bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Head Impact Location, Speed and Angle from Falls and Trips in the Workplace
Authors: Yu Xiancheng , Baker Claire E. , Ghajari Mazdak
Published: February 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common injury in the workplace. Trips and falls are the leading causes of TBI in the workplace. However, industrial safety helmets are not designed for protecting the head under these impact conditions. Instead, they are designed to pass the regulatory standards which test head protection against falling heavy and sharp objects. This is likely to be due to the limited understanding of head impact conditions from trips and falls in workplace. In this study, we used validated human multi-body models to predict the head impact location, speed and angle (measured from the ground) during trips, forward falls and backward falls. We studied the effects of worker size, initial posture, walking speed, width and height of the tripping barrier, bracing and falling height on the head impact conditions. Overall, we performed 1692 simulations. The head impact speed was over two folds larger in falls than trips, with backward falls producing highest impact speeds. However, the trips produced impacts with smaller impact angles to the ground. Increasing the walking speed increased the head impact speed but bracing reduced it. We found that 41% of backward falls and 19% of trips/forward falls produced head impacts located outside the region of helmet coverage. Next, we grouped all the data into three sub-groups based on the head impact angle: [0°, 30°], (30°, 60°] and (60°, 90°] and excluded groups with small number of cases. We found that most trips and forward falls lead to impact angles within the (30°, 60°] and (60°, 90°] groups while all backward falls produced impact angles within (60°, 90°] group. We therefore determined five representative head impact conditions from these groups by selecting the 75th percentile speed, mean value of angle intervals and median impact location (determined by elevation and azimuth angles) of each group. This led to two representative head impact conditions for trips: 2.7 m/s at 45° and 3.9 m/s at 75°, two for forward falls: 3.8 m/s at 45° and 5.5 m/s at 75° and one for backward falls: 9.4 m/s at 75°. These impact conditions can be used to improve industrial helmet standards.
Hyperlipidaemia and Weight Amongst Afghani Refugees Attending a General Practice Clinic in Regional Australia
Authors: Mehdi S. P. , Pasricha J. , Biggs B. A.
Published: February 2023

Obesity and chronic disease are increasing problems in refugee populations. Afghani refugees undergoing hepatitis B vaccination between January 2015 and December 2017 at a general practice clinic received dietary counselling sessions in Dari by native speaking clinicians. Anthropometry, blood pressure, fasting lipids and liver function tests were measured at both visits with results compared over time. 110/119 refugees requiring hepatitis B vaccination were recruited into the study. Mean BMI was lower at follow up visits (25.4 vs 26.1 by wilcoxon signed rank test p 0.04) with 72 of 110 participants losing a median of 2 kg between visits (range 0.5–14 kg) a mean of 206 days after the initial consultation. Median triglyceride levels were lower at the second visit than the first (1.4 vs 1.3 mmol/L Wilcoxon signed rank test Z = 3.5, p 0.0004). This cohort of refugees lost weight and showed a small improvement in triglyceride levels between visits.
Tire-derived reclaimed rubber as a secondary raw material for rubber foams: in the framework of circular economy strategy
Authors: Kouhi Fateh , Vahidifar Ali , Naderi Ghasem , Esmizadeh Elnaz
Published: February 2023

Improper disposal and accumulation of waste tire rubbers have posed a serious threat to the development of a circular economy, a sustainable environment, and human health. In light of the drawback of the current waste management of waste tires, the recycling and transformation of reclaimed rubber (RR) into valuable end products has received significant attention from industries and the academic field. Herein, we propose a facile method to reuse RR in developing closed-cell elastomeric foams based on ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM). Rheometry results revealed that the introduction of RR up to 20 phr, increased the cure rate from 11.7 to 13.48%/min, reduced curing time from 12.21 to 9.3 min and also increased ultimate torque from 6.51 to 7.24 N.m. Morphological studies indicated that the RR increased the cell density from 12 to 78 cell/mm3 and reduced the number average cell size from 940 to 110 µm. The mechanical results indicated that the introduction of RR could be a feasible alternative for the fabrication of high-performance EPDM foams with improved hardness and resilience. By increasing RR content of EPDM/RR foams, the relative density and cell density of EPDM/RR foams increased, while cell size decreased. The introduction of 10 phr of RR, increased the hardness and resilience of the EPDM foam by 37 shore A and 68%, respectively. The research verified that the attempt to use RR to produce a good foam structure was found to be successful. The results open a way for EPDM/RR foam composites to be applied for sealing and gasket industries as an eco-friendly replacement for virgin products.

Highlights

• Use of reclaimed rubber from waste tires as secondary raw material for EPDM rubber foams

• Tire-derived reclaimed rubber/EPDM closed-cell foams support the circular economy of waste tires

• Tire-derived reclaimed rubber/EPDM closed-cell foams exhibit superior mechanical properties at the low cost
Sublethal biochemical, behavioral, and physiological toxicity of extremely low dose of bendiocarb insecticide in Periplaneta americana (Blattodea: Blattidae)
Authors: Jankowska Milena , Augustyn Bartosz , Maliszewska Justyna , Przeździecka Barbara , Kubiak Dawid , Chełchowska Olga , Kaczorek Jagoda , Knop Dominik , Krajnik Kornelia , Kletkiewicz Hanna , Kęsy Jacek , Rogalska Justyna , Stankiewicz Maria
Published: February 2023

Insecticides are dedicated to impair the insect organisms, but also have an impact on other, non-target organisms, including humans. In this way, they became important risk factor for disturbance of physiological homeostasis and can be involved in the development of diseases or in deterioration of existing conditions. The influence of sublethal doses of various insecticides on vertebrates’ and invertebrates’ organisms has been previously observed. In this paper, we have evaluated the impact of exposure to extremely low dose of neurotoxin, bendiocarb (0.1 nM), a commonly used carbamate insecticide on a model organism in neurobiology—Periplaneta americana. The assessment was performed on all levels of animal organism from molecular (oxidative stress parameters: phosphorylation level of proteins, cAMP level, protein kinase A and C levels, and octopamine) to physiological (heart beat and gas exchange tests) and behavioral (motor skills assay, grooming test). Exposure to such a low level of bendiocarb did not cause direct paralysis of insects, but changed their grooming behavior, decreased heart rate, and increased gas exchange. We also observed the increased parameters of oxidative stress as well as stressogenic response to 0.1 nM bendiocarb exposure. Exposure to a trace amount of bendiocarb also increased sensitivity to effective doses of the same insecticide, thus acts as preconditioning. These results force us to reconsider the possible risk from frequent/continuous exposure to traces of pesticide residues in the environment to human health.
Effect of Microstructure of Additively Manufactured Inconel 625 on Long-Term Corrosion Behaviour in Sulfuric Acid Media
Authors: Gola K. , Ledwig P. , Dubiel B.
Published: February 2023

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of the microstructure of Inconel 625 additively manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) and laser-assisted directed energy deposition (LDED) on the resistance to corrosion in sulfuric acid solution. Corrosion tests lasted 30 days, 90 days and 180 days. Microstructure characterization was performed using light microscopy, scanning and scanning-transmission electron microscopy. Corrosion resistance measurements were conducted using polarization curves and impedance spectroscopy. After immersion in sulfuric acid, the corrosion pits were observed on the surface. The area fraction of corrosion pits increased with prolongation of the test and after 180 days was equal to 9.63% and 4.49% in LPBF and LDED specimens, respectively. The higher density of the pits occurred along the boundaries of the melt pools, grain boundaries and cell walls and next to precipitates. It was determined that higher drop in impedance and increase in corrosion current occurred in LPBF than LDED Inconel 625, which was mainly related to a more intensive propagation of corrosion pits in areas with higher free energy. Furthermore, the weaker corrosion resistance is related to a more refined microstructure with a higher density of the preferential sites of localized corrosion after long-term corrosion in sulfuric acid.
Evolution of ‘India’s Neighbourhood First Policy’ Since Independence
Authors: Aryal Saroj Kumar , Bharti Simant Shankar
Published: February 2023

The ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ is the anchor point of India’s general foreign policy since independence in 1947. Subsequently, the Neighbourhood First Policy has evolved, was debilitated, and has been reformed under the various prime ministers of India. Based on preferences and perceptions about the South Asian neighbourhood, the Neighbourhood First Policy has been implemented differently. This article aims to analyse the Neighbourhood First Policy of India under four different prime ministers (Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Inder Kumar Gujral, and Narendra Modi). The article investigates the pretexts behind each premier’s way of handling the Neighbourhood First Policy followed by an empirical analysis.
Autologous Oral Mucosal Mesh Graft for Vaginoplasty: Seven Tips in the Techniques
Authors: Dung Pham Thi Viet , Son Tran Thiet , Thuy Ta Thi Hong , Chien Vu Hong , Huy Le Anh
Published: February 2023

The demand for sexual life makes vaginoplasty a crucial need for patients who had complete vagina agenesis. We present our experience on vaginoplasty by using a maximum amount of meshing oral mucosal grafts in a case series study on 43 patients. The patients were followed up for an average of 19 months, ranging from 6 months to 4 years. No serious complications were reported. The patients gained good results also at neovagina and donor sites. These results were proved on clinical, endoscopy images, and biopsies. We recommend seven tips in the techniques to be used to achieve these significant results.
Aortic Stenosis: Haemodynamic Benchmark and Metric Reliability Study
Authors: Gill Harminder , Fernandes Joao Filipe , Nio Amanda , Dockerill Cameron , Shah Nili , Ahmed Naajia , Raymond Jason , Wang Shu , Sotelo Julio , Urbina Jesus , Uribe Sergio , Rajani Ronak , Rhode Kawal , Lamata Pablo
Published: February 2023

Aortic stenosis is a condition which is fatal if left untreated. Novel quantitative imaging techniques which better characterise transvalvular pressure drops are being developed but require refinement and validation. A customisable and cost-effective workbench valve phantom circuit capable of replicating valve mechanics and pathology was created. The reproducibility and relationship of differing haemodynamic metrics were assessed from ground truth pressure data alongside imaging compatibility. The phantom met the requirements to capture ground truth pressure data alongside ultrasound and magnetic resonance image compatibility. The reproducibility was successfully tested. The robustness of three different pressure drop metrics was assessed: whilst the peak and net pressure drops provide a robust assessment of the stenotic burden in our phantom, the peak-to-peak pressure drop is a metric that is confounded by non-valvular factors such as wave reflection. The peak-to-peak pressure drop is a metric that should be reconsidered in clinical practice.

Graphical abstract

The left panel shows manufacture of low cost, functional valves. The central section demonstrates circuit layout, representative MRI and US images alongside gross valve morphologies. The right panel shows the different pressure drop metrics that were assessed for reproducibility
Bounded weak solutions to superlinear Dirichlet double phase problems
Authors: Sciammetta Angela , Tornatore Elisabetta , Winkert Patrick
Published: February 2023

In this paper we study a Dirichlet double phase problem with a parametric superlinear right-hand side that has subcritical growth. Under very general assumptions on the data, we prove the existence of at least two nontrivial bounded weak solutions to such problem by using variational methods and critical point theory. In contrast to other works we do not need to suppose the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition.
Prospects of Merger Review in the Digital Age: A Critical Look at the EU, the United States, and Germany
Authors: Richter Heiko
Published: February 2023

This article takes a critical look at merger law and practice in the EU, the United States, and Germany regarding data-related transactions. It focuses on the current legal standard and evaluates the recent decision practice in these jurisdictions. This includes the increasing implementation of data-related remedies, such as data access and data separation commitments, which have so far not been the focus of scholarly attention. On this basis, the article discusses the prospects of merger review within the framework of current policy reform debates. It concludes with recommendations for future legislative action in Germany and the EU. In particular, the legislature should implement a tightened and better suited merger review regime for dominant undertakings in digital markets.
Analyse von Routinedaten in der Gesundheitsforschung: Validität, Generalisierbarkeit und Herausforderungen
Authors: Slagman Anna , Hoffmann Falk , Horenkamp-Sonntag Dirk , Swart Enno , Vogt Verena , Herrmann Wolfram J.
Published: February 2023

Hintergrund

Routinedaten aus der Abrechnung von Gesundheitsleistungen und der Dokumentation der Gesundheitsversorgung gewinnen zunehmend an Bedeutung für wissenschaftliche Analysen – auch in der Allgemeinmedizin. Dies spiegelt sich auch in einer steigenden Zahl an Publikationen, denen eine Routinedatenanalyse zugrunde liegt, wider. Eine kritische Reflektion der Stärken und Schwächen von Routinedatenanalysen in der Gesundheitsforschung ist essenziell.

Ziel der Arbeit

Dieser Artikel soll die Leser*innen befähigen, eine kritische Einordnung von auf Routinedaten beruhenden Studien systematisch und kriteriengestützt vorzunehmen

Material und Methoden

Nutzung vorhandener Leitlinien, selektiver Literaturrecherche und Expertise der Autor*innen.

Ergebnisse

Routinedaten („Sekundärdaten“) sind im Vergleich zu Daten aus klassischen prospektiven Interventions- und Beobachtungsstudien mit Primärdatenerhebung kostengünstiger und vergleichsweise schneller verfügbar sowie in der Regel mit einem geringeren Selektionsbias behaftet und damit eher geeignet, die tatsächliche Versorgungsrealität abzubilden. Ein weiterer Vorteil zeigt sich in hohen Fallzahlen und damit der Möglichkeit der Analyse von Subgruppen, auch mit seltenen Merkmalen, die in Studien mit Primärdatenerhebung häufig nicht in ausreichender Fallzahl verfügbar sind. Dem gegenüber stehen Limitation auf Grund der Qualität und Validität der Daten, die die Aussagekraft von Routinedatenanalysen gegebenenfalls einschränken und durch geeignete Methoden, wie interne und externe Validierung, adressiert werden können.

Diskussion

Die Routinedatenanalyse ist eine wichtige Methode der Gesundheitsforschung, insbesondere um die Versorgungsrealität, auch für Subgruppen mit seltenen Merkmalen, abbilden zu können. Eine transparente Berichterstattung, insbesondere der generellen und projektspezifischen Limitationen, ist für die Interpretation der Analyseergebnisse notwendig
Wie evaluieren wir die Förderung von Qualität und Effizienz der allgemeinmedizinischen Weiterbildung durch die Kompetenzzentren?
Authors: Huenges Bert , Roos Marco , Schwill Simon , Jendyk Ralf Michael , Vollmar Horst Christian , Bischoff Martina
Published: February 2023

Hintergrund

In den vergangenen Jahren wurden in Deutschland 16 Kompetenzzentren für allgemeinmedizinische Weiterbildung (KW) mit dem Ziel gegründet, die Qualität und Effizienz der hausärztlichen Weiterbildung zu fördern. Ziel der Studie war es, geeignete Indikatoren für die externe Evaluation der KW zu identifizieren.

Methoden

Expert*innen aus den KW erarbeiteten ein Set aus möglichen Qualitätsindikatoren in 2 konsekutiven Workshops. Dieses Set wurde in einem 2‑stufigen Delphi-Prozess unter allen KW überarbeitet und priorisiert. Insgesamt nahmen im Zeitraum Februar bis Oktober 2020 70 Expert*innen aus 16 KW teil, davon 38 Expert*innen an beiden Befragungsrunden.

Ergebnisse

Die Expert*innen schlagen 61 mögliche Qualitätsindikatoren in 9 Themenbereichen vor: 1) Inanspruchnahme/Teilnahmequoten, 2) Qualität der praktischen Weiterbildung, 3) Qualität der KW-Angebote, 4) Organisation/Service, 5) objektive Kompetenzmessungen, 6) Erfolgs- und Abschlussquoten, 7) Versorgungsqualität und -quantität, 8) allgemeine Effekte und 9) Effizienz/Weiterbildungsdauer. Davon wurden 26 hoch, 18 mittelgradig und 17 gering priorisiert.

Schlussfolgerungen

Insbesondere quantitativ leicht zu erhebende Qualitätsindikatoren der Bereiche 1, 3, 4, 6 und 9 sind größtenteils etabliert und sollten für die Evaluation der KW fortgeführt werden. Darüber hinaus sollten geeignete Methoden zu inhaltlich-qualitativen Indikatoren, wie der Kompetenzentwicklung von Teilnehmer*innen in der Selbstwahrnehmung (3), der praktischen Weiterbildung (2), objektive Kompetenzmessung nach der Weiterbildung (5), zu allgemeinen Effekten (8) und zu Auswirkungen der KW auf die Versorgungsqualität (7), entwickelt werden. Methodisch wäre der Vergleich von Teilnehmer*innen und Nichtteilnehmer*innen durch eine externe, systematische Befragung erstrebenswert, sowohl während als auch nach der Weiterbildung. Verfahren zur objektiven Kompetenzbeurteilung von Absolvent*innen sollten in der allgemeinmedizinischen Weiterbildung etabliert werden.
Hydrolysed proteins in infant formula and child neurodevelopment up to the age of 3·5 years: the nationwide Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE) birth cohort
Authors: Somaraki Maria , de Lauzon-Guillain Blandine , Bernard Jonathan Y. , Tafflet Muriel , Charles Marie-Aline , Nicklaus Sophie
Published: February 2023

While breast-feeding is the recommended feeding mode in infancy, rates are low in some Western societies, and infants are widely fed formula. France, in particular, shows high rates of infant formula use, including formulas with protein hydrolysates. The degree of protein hydrolysis has previously been associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. The present study examines the associations between the protein’s hydrolysis degree in infant formula and child neurodevelopment up to 3·5 years of age in the French nationwide Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l’Enfance (ELFE study). Parents reported on brand and name of the formula used at 2 months, and protein hydrolysis degree was derived from the ingredient list. Analyses were based on 6979 infants (92·2, 6·8 and 1 % consuming non-hydrolysed, partially and extensively hydrolysed formulas, respectively). Neurodevelopment was assessed at age 1 and 3·5 years with the Child Development Inventory (CDI), at age 2 years with the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories and at age 3·5 years with the Picture Similarities sub-scale (British Ability Scales). Associations between protein hydrolysis degree and child neurodevelopment were assessed using linear and logistic regression for overall scores and poor CDI sub-domain scores (<25th centile), respectively. Among formula-fed infants, protein hydrolysis degree in infant formula was not associated with overall neurodevelopmental scores up to 3·5 years. Some associations were found with the motor skills CDI sub-domain, but they were not consistent at 1 and 3·5 years as well as across sensitivity analyses. The use of hydrolysed formula appears safe in terms of overall neurodevelopment, and research should further investigate specific neurodevelopmental domains.
Pour une lecture déflationniste du doute cartésien
Authors: de Peretti François-Xavier
Published: February 2023

L'on considère, selon une interprétation largement soutenue, que nous assistons dans la Méditation première à une montée en puissance du doute reposant sur une efficacité croissante des raisons de douter. Nous suggérons ici que nous pouvons défendre une lecture déflationniste du doute des Méditations en ce que la succession des arguments sceptiques utilisés par Descartes accuse une courbe d'efficacité décroissante. Cette lecture n'est bien évidemment pas sans conséquences, évoquées en conclusion, sur l'interprétation de l'exercice même du doute et, plus fondamentalement, de la doctrine cartésienne de la connaissance.
Helminth parasites of the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus in Southern England: levels of infection, species richness and interactions between species
Authors: Lewis J. W. , Morley N. J. , Behnke J. M.
Published: February 2023

Helminth parasites of the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus (n = 440), were surveyed in five localities, comprising woodland and grassland sites, in Southern England. Seven species of helminths were identified, among which Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Syphacia stroma were dominant (prevalence = 79.1% and 54.1%, respectively). Less common species were the trematode Corrigia vitta (14.8%), cestodes Catenotaenia pusilla (8.4%), Hydatigera taeniaeformis (4.1%) and Microsomacanthus crenata (3.4%) and the nematode Aonchotheca murissylvatici (0.2%). Differences in prevalences between localities were found for H. polygyrus, H. taeniaeformis and M. crenata and in abundances of H. polygyrus, S. stroma and C. vitta. Age-dependent increases in both parameters were identified among species and for helminth species richness. The only species to show significant host sex bias was S. stroma with prevalence values being higher in male mice. A number of different methods for exploiting raw data, and data corrected for significant confounding factors, were used to determine whether there were significant associations (prevalence) between species or quantitative interactions (abundance). The strongest evidence for a positive association was shown in concurrent infections with the trematode C. vitta and the cestode C. pusilla (significant in the whole dataset and evident in each locality, both sexes and both age classes). The abundance of C. pusilla was also higher in mice with C. vitta and vice versa. Overall, however, there was little support for associations or quantitative interactions between species, especially after data had been corrected for significant extrinsic/intrinsic factors, and we conclude that the helminths of wood mice in these communities are largely non-interactive and hence, perhaps better referred to as assemblages.
Between an archipelago and an ice floe: The know-where of Arctic governance expertise
Authors: Kuus Merje
Published: February 2023

This paper examines the production of Arctic governance expertise, understood here as the specialised knowledge through which international cooperation is regulated in the region. Instead of presuming that such expertise is created primarily in the capitals of Arctic states, I ask a more open-ended question:wherespecifically does that process take place? I argue that Arctic governance expertise increasingly operates in a transnational and networked fashion: an array of think tanks, foundations and events like conferences are as important as the obvious places like foreign ministries and universities. It is a quasi-diplomatic social field characterised by blurry boundaries between different states, professions and institutional settings: between government and academia, legal and political fields, public and private sectors. The paper foregrounds that field of expertise as an object of study.
‘Draw me after you’: Toward an erotic theosis
Authors: Davis Aaron Brian
Published: February 2023

In this article I propose an erotic theosis as a fruitful possibility for conceptualising our final participation in union with God in the beatific vision and for imaging said participation on earth. Particularly, I propose a synthesis of recent work from Oliver Crisp on theosis with that of Sarah Coakley on sexual desire as an especially helpful way in which to conceive of our ever-deepening participation in God's love. Further, this synthesis uses contributions from Erin Dufault-Hunter on the intersections of sexual desire and ethics as a catalyst for its recommendations.
What We Talk about When We Talk about Live Smooth Jazz: Sonic Suburbanization, Multipurpose Places of Assembly, and Collective Memory in Regional Cleveland
Authors: Blake George
Published: February 2023

Writing about jazz often emphasizes urbanity and focuses on a geographically bounded scene. This can obscure what people do with jazz to affirm community across distances, in the context of Black suburbanization. Likewise, the construction of jazz as an art music oriented around a canonical past does not allow a full understanding of what musicians do with commercial culture to construct community in the present. In this article, I present the notion of sonic suburbanization to foreground the ways Black people exert agency through musicking, claiming suburban space and affirming community across urban and suburban lines. This is live performance that is “both/and”: Both suburban and urban; both community and commercial. Based on ethnographic fieldwork in Cleveland, this research focuses on the ways live smooth jazz performers invoke multiple musical histories while congregating heterogeneous Black identities across boundaries. To demonstrate the crossovers of live smooth jazz, I begin by outlining the idea of sonic suburbanization. I then note the proximity of Black music genres in a context of racial segregation. Despite suburbanization's role in dislocating Black geographic cohesion, live musical performance continues to affirm a crossover Black community through interposing an array of sensibilities. Finally, I point to the conceptual schemas of musicians in the scene who foreground continuity with jazz, pop, and gospel. Live smooth jazz performers take pride in rhetorical effectiveness and genre versatility as part of connecting to the audience. Although some scholars attend to smooth jazz outside “real jazz,” musicians in the scene view smooth jazz as real jazz.
Time‐Lapse Geophysical Investigation of Geyser Dynamics at Spouter Geyser, Yellowstone National Park: Geyser Dynamics II
Authors: Ciraula D. A. , Carr B. J. , Sims K. W. W.
Published: February 2023

Geysers are unique hydrothermal features, requiring specific geometry, fluid, and vapor input, and heat to produce eruptions. In a geyser eruption, the decompression of superheated hydrothermal fluids results in a conversion of thermal to kinetic energy. Recent studies conclude that a laterally offset cavity structure (bubble trap) plays an integral role in the geyser eruption process. In this second study of Spouter Geyser, Yellowstone National Park (YNP), we build on the geyser structure developed in the first publication and explore how structural components, such as the bubble trap, control eruption dynamics. We utilize time‐lapse electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and transient electromagnetics (TEM) geophysical methods to track changes in the saturation of conductive hydrothermal fluid and resistive vapor through the eruption cycle. Additionally, we use pressure‐temperature transducer data to measure eruption and recharge durations over the past 23 years at Spouter Geyser, identifying long‐period trends in geyser behavior. The geophysics results support the bubble trap model, capturing an increase in resistivity in the bubble trap structure during the recharge phase interpreted as a vapor saturation increase. The TEM also captures a resistivity increase in the 20–30 m depth interval during the eruption phase, interpreted as a vapor‐dominated “flash eruption zone” where the superheated hydrothermal fluids flash into steam and drive fluid out of this zone during the eruption. From the temperature time‐series detailing 23 years of eruption and recharge durations, we find that eruption durations have remained constant at ∼2 hr while recharge durations have decreased linearly at 6.6 min/year.
Anomalous Attenuation of High‐Frequency Seismic Waves in Taiwan: Observation, Model and Interpretation
Authors: Calvet M. , Margerin L. , Hung S.‐H.
Published: February 2023

High resolution maps of seismic attenuation parameters in Taiwan have been obtained from a modified “Multiple Lapse Time Window Analysis” (MLTWA). At most of the stations in porous sedimentary and highly faulted areas in Taiwan, the conventional modeling of MLTWA based on the scalar theory of radiative transfer in a half‐space with isotropic scattering fails to explain the spatio‐temporal distribution of the whole S‐wave train. Using Monte Carlo simulations of wave transport, we demonstrate that this anomalous energy distribution in the coda may be modeled by multiple anisotropic scattering of seismic waves. In addition to the scattering quality factor , we introduce a parameter (independent of ) which determines the angular redistribution of energy upon scattering (scattering anisotropy). We inverted the attenuation parameters , and g in three frequency bands (1–2, 2–4, and 4–8 Hz). Overall, Taiwan is more attenuating than most orogens with a mean effective scattering loss and a mean intrinsic absorption of 2.5 × 10−3 and 9 × 10−3 at 1.5 Hz, respectively. Scattering loss varies over more than one order of magnitude across Taiwan while absorption variations reach approximately 30%. The more attenuating zones are the Coastal Range and the Coastal Plain where scattering dominates over absorption at low frequency, and inversely at high frequency. These regions are also characterized by strong backscattering ( < −0.85) at 1.5 Hz and rather high ratio. We propose that the observed strong back‐scattering at low frequency, related to large impedance fluctuations in the crust, is induced by the presence of fluids.
Meridional Variability in Multi‐Decadal Trends of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Surface Seawater of the Western North Pacific Along the 165°E Line
Authors: Ono Hisashi , Toyama Katsuya , Enyo Kazutaka , Iida Yosuke , Sasano Daisuke , Nakaoka Shin‐Ichiro , Ishii Masao
Published: February 2023

Multi‐decadal trends of the total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) concentrations and consequent ocean acidification in surface seawater were investigated on the basis of data from shipboard measurements conducted since 1996 along the 165°E repeat line in the western North Pacific. The observed trends exhibited clear meridional variabilities, with higher rates in the subtropical and tropical zones and lower rates in the subarctic zone, with a DIC range from +0.09 ± 0.14 to +1.64 ± 0.16 μmol kg−1 yr−1 and pH range from −0.0023 ± 0.0034 to −0.0281 ± 0.0059 decade−1. DIC and acidification trends were consistent with those expected from the atmospheric CO2 concentrations at nearly all latitudinal zones, but were significantly different at some latitudes. We attribute the significantly lower rates observed in the central western Subarctic Gyre and southern Subtropical Gyres primarily to the variabilities in upward DIC supply from the subsurface associated with the variability in ocean circulation. However, the higher rate observed to the south of the Kuroshio Extension appears to have been caused by the change in winter vertical mixing related to the change in its stable/unstable paths.
Multi-millijoule terahertz emission from laser-wakefield-accelerated electrons
Authors: Pak Taegyu , Rezaei-Pandari Mohammad , Kim Sang Beom , Lee Geonwoo , Wi Dae Hee , Hojbota Calin Ioan , Mirzaie Mohammad , Kim Hyeongmun , Sung Jae Hee , Lee Seong Ku , Kang Chul , Kim Ki-Yong
Published: February 2023

High-power terahertz radiation was observed to be emitted from a gas jet irradiated by 100-terawatt-class laser pulses in the laser-wakefield acceleration of electrons. The emitted terahertz radiation was characterized in terms of its spectrum, polarization, and energy dependence on the accompanying electron bunch energy and charge under various gas target conditions. With a nitrogen target, more than 4 mJ of energy was produced at <10 THz with a laser-to-terahertz conversion efficiency of ~0.15%. Such strong terahertz radiation is hypothesized to be produced from plasma electrons accelerated by the ponderomotive force of the laser and the plasma wakefields on the time scale of the laser pulse duration and plasma period. This model is examined with analytic calculations and particle-in-cell simulations to better understand the generation mechanism of high-energy terahertz radiation in laser-wakefield acceleration.
Self-optimized single-nanowire photoluminescence thermometry
Authors: Liang Zhang , Wu Jinhua , Cui Ying , Sun Hao , Ning Cun-Zheng
Published: February 2023

Nanomaterials-based photoluminescence thermometry (PLT) is a new contact-free photonic approach for temperature sensing, important for applications ranging from quantum technology to biomedical imaging and diagnostics. Even though numerous new materials have been explored, great challenges and deficiencies remain that hamper many applications. In contrast to most of the existing approaches that use large ensembles of rare-earth-doped nanomaterials with large volumes and unavoidable inhomogeneity, we demonstrate the ultimate size reduction and simplicity of PLT by using only a single erbium-chloride-silicate (ECS) nanowire. Importantly, we propose and demonstrate a novel strategy that contains a self-optimization or “smart” procedure to automatically identify the best PL intensity ratio for temperature sensing. The automated procedure is used to self-optimize key sensing metrics, such as sensitivity, precision, or resolution to achieve an all-around superior PLT including several record-setting metrics including the first sensitivity exceeding 100% K−1 (~138% K−1), the highest resolution of 0.01 K, and the largest range of sensible temperatures 4–500 K operating completely within 1500–1800 nm (an important biological window). The high-quality ECS nanowire enables the use of well-resolved Stark-sublevels to construct a series of PL intensity ratios for optimization in infrared, allowing the completely Boltzmann-based sensing at cryogenic temperature for the first time. Our single-nanowire PLT and the proposed optimization strategy overcome many existing challenges and could fundamentally impact PL nano-thermometry and related applications such as single-cell thermometry.
Alterations in the LRRK2-Rab pathway in urinary extracellular vesicles as Parkinson’s disease and pharmacodynamic biomarkers
Authors: Taymans Jean-Marc , Mutez Eugénie , Sibran William , Vandewynckel Laurine , Deldycke Claire , Bleuse Séverine , Marchand Antoine , Sarchione Alessia , Leghay Coline , Kreisler Alexandre , Simonin Clémence , Koprich James , Baille Guillaume , Defebvre Luc , Dujardin Kathy , Destée Alain , Chartier-Harlin Marie-Christine
Published: February 2023

Expression or phosphorylation levels of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) and its Rab substrates have strong potential as disease or pharmacodynamic biomarkers. The main objective of this study is therefore to assess the LRRK2-Rab pathway for use as biomarkers in human, non-human primate (NHP) and rat urine. With urine collected from human subjects and animals, we applied an ultracentrifugation based fractionation protocol to isolate small urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs). We used western blot with antibodies directed against total and phosphorylated LRRK2, Rab8, and Rab10 to measure these LRRK2 and Rab epitopes in uEVs. We confirm the presence of LRRK2 and Rab8/10 in human and NHP uEVs, including total LRRK2 as well as phospho-LRRK2, phospho-Rab8 and phospho-Rab10. We also confirm LRRK2 and Rab expression in rodent uEVs. We quantified LRRK2 and Rab epitopes in human cohorts and found in a first cohort that pS1292-LRRK2 levels were elevated in individuals carrying the LRRK2 G2019S mutation, without significant differences between healthy and PD groups, whether for LRRK2 G2019S carriers or not. In a second cohort, we found that PD was associated to increased Rab8 levels and decreased pS910-LRRK2 and pS935-LRRK2. In animals, acute treatment with LRRK2 kinase inhibitors led to decreased pT73-Rab10. The identification of changes in Rab8 and LRRK2 phosphorylation at S910 and S935 heterologous phosphosites in uEVs of PD patients and pT73-Rab10 in inhibitor-dosed animals further reinforces the potential of the LRRK2-Rab pathway as a source of PD and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in uEVs.
Fish shoals resemble a stochastic excitable system driven by environmental perturbations
Authors: Gómez-Nava Luis , Lange Robert T. , Klamser Pascal P. , Lukas Juliane , Arias-Rodriguez Lenin , Bierbach David , Krause Jens , Sprekeler Henning , Romanczuk Pawel
Published: February 2023

Groups of animals can perform highly coordinated collective behaviours that confer benefits to the participating individuals by facilitating social information exchange and protection from predators1. Some of these characteristics could arise when groups operate at critical points between two structurally and functionally different states, leading to maximal responsiveness to external stimuli and effective propagation of information2,3. It has been proposed that animal groups constitute examples of self-organized systems at criticality2,3; however, direct empirical evidence of this hypothesis—in particular in the wild—is mostly absent. Here we show that highly conspicuous, repetitive and rhythmic collective dive cascades produced by many thousands of freshwater fish under high predation risk resemble a stochastic excitable system driven by environmental perturbations. Together with the results of an agent-based model of the system, this suggests that these fish shoals might operate at a critical point between a state of high individual diving activity and low overall diving activity. We show that the best fitting model, which is located at a critical point, allows information about external perturbations—such as predator attacks—to propagate most effectively through the shoal. Our results suggest that criticality might be a plausible principle of distributed information processing in large animal collectives.
Eco-ISEA3H, a machine learning ready spatial database for ecometric and species distribution modeling
Authors: Mechenich Michael F. , Žliobaitė Indrė
Published: February 2023

We present the Eco-ISEA3H database, a compilation of global spatial data characterizing climate, geology, land cover, physical and human geography, and the geographic ranges of nearly 900 large mammalian species. The data are tailored for machine learning (ML)-based ecological modeling, and are intended primarily for continental- to global-scale ecometric and species distribution modeling. Such models are trained on present-day data and applied to the geologic past, or to future scenarios of climatic and environmental change. Model training requires integrated global datasets, describing species’ occurrence and environment via consistent observational units. The Eco-ISEA3H database incorporates data from 17 sources, and includes 3,033 variables. The database is built on the Icosahedral Snyder Equal Area (ISEA) aperture 3 hexagonal (3H) discrete global grid system (DGGS), which partitions the Earth’s surface into equal-area hexagonal cells. Source data were incorporated at six nested ISEA3H resolutions, using scripts developed and made available here. We demonstrate the utility of the database in a case study analyzing the bioclimatic envelopes of ten large, widely distributed mammalian species.
CASPR2 antibody associated neurological syndromes in children
Authors: Wu Liwen , Cai Fang , Zhuo Zhihong , Wu Dejun , Zhang Tianyi , Yang Haiyang , Fang Hongjun , Xiao Zhenghui
Published: February 2023

To strengthen the understanding of the clinical features for CASPR2 neurological autoimmunity in children. A multicenter retrospective and prospective analysis of CASPR2 autoimmunity was conducted. Twenty-six patients were enrolled, including 25 with serum positivity and 3 with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) positivity; 5 patients were co-positive with anti-NMDAR or anti-GABABR antibodies. Eleven patients (who manifested with refractory epilepsy, psychobehavioral abnormalities or germinoma) presented with low antibody titers, relatively normal MRI/EEG/CSF examinations, and poor response to immunotherapy and were thus considered false positive (42.3%). Fifteen patients were diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis/ encephalopathy/ cerebellitis (including 1 whose condition was secondary to Japanese encephalitis). The most common symptoms included disorders of consciousness (10/15), fever (8/15), psychological symptoms/abnormal behaviors (8/15), sleep disorders (8/15), seizures (7/15), movement disorders (5/15), autonomic symptoms (5/15). Brain MRI revealed abnormalities in 10 patients (66.7%). Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings revealed a slow wave background in 13 patients (86.7%). Five patients showed elevated WBCs in CSF, and 4 patients showed elevated protein levels in the CSF. Thirteen patients received immunotherapy (rituximab was adopted in 2 cases) and recovered well. Two patients received symptomatic treatment, and the recovery was slow and accompanied by emotional abnormalities and developmental delay. Autoimmune encephalitis is the most common clinical phenotype; it can be secondary to Japanese encephalitis. Rituximab can be used in patients who respond poorly to conventional immunotherapy. The high false-positive rate of anti-CASPR2 in refractory epilepsy and the psychobehavioral abnormalities needs to be explored further.
Study on the application of optical coherence microscopy in Hirschsprung's disease
Authors: Wu Zhiwei , Song Jialun , Zeng Xianxu , Cao Zhenjie , Zhao Xinxin , Wang Peng , Ma Qian , Ma Huan , Wang Baojin , Du Junpeng
Published: February 2023

To explore the clinical application value of optical coherence microscopy (OCM) in Hirschsprung’s disease. 109 HSCR patients were recuited in a Chinese hospital from January 2018 to July 2021. All the recruited patients underwent barium enema angiography preoperatively and the resected diseased intestinal tubes were evaluated intraoperatively. The OCM and the histopathological examination were performed successively on the surgical specimens, and the OCM images were compared with the relevant tissue sections to characterize different lesions. 10 non-HSCR fetal colorectal tissues at the same period were retained for OCM, the characteristics of which with and without HSCR under OCM imaging were analyzed. In the OCM images of in vitro tissue, it can be clearly observed that the scattering degree of HSCR narrow segment mucosal is high, glands and crypt structures are reduced or even atrophy, and the scattering degree of submucosal and intermuscular is low; In the dilated segment, the low scattering and high scattering are complex, and the muscle layer is obviously hypertrophy and structural disorder. Compared with the pathological findings, the OCM sensitivity, Kappa value, and AUC area reached 92.66%, 0.63, and 0.91, respectively. OCM can quickly and clearly display the structure of all layers of colorectal tissue, which is highly consistent with the corresponding histopathological examination results and has high sensitivity. which will provide a more reliable basis for OCM diagnosis of early HSCR, targeted biopsy and location of operative treatment, and has a certain potential for clinical application.
Application of neural network-based image analysis to detect sister chromatid cohesion defects
Authors: Ikemoto Daiki , Taniguchi Tomoya , Hirota Kouji , Nishikawa Kiyoshi , Okubo Kan , Abe Takuya
Published: February 2023

Sister chromatid cohesion (SCC) is mediated by the cohesin complex and its regulatory proteins. To evaluate the involvement of a protein in cohesin regulation, preparations of metaphase chromosome spreads and classifications of chromosome shapes after depletion of the target protein are commonly employed. Although this is a convenient and approved method, the evaluation and classification of each chromosome shape has to be performed manually by researchers. Therefore, this method is time consuming, and the results might be affected by the subjectivity of researchers. In this study, we developed neural network-based image recognition models to judge the positional relationship of sister chromatids, and thereby detect SCC defects. Transfer learning models based on SqueeezeNet or ResNet-18 were trained with more than 600 chromosome images labeled with the type of chromosome, which were classified according to the positional relationship between sister chromatids. The SqueezeNet-based trained model achieved a concordance rate of 73.1% with the sample answers given by a researcher. Importantly, the model successfully detected the SCC defect in the CTF18 deficient cell line, which was used as an SCC-defective model. These results indicate that neural-network-based image recognition models are valuable tools for examining SCC defects in different genetic backgrounds.
Handwriting kinematics during learning to write with the dominant left hand in converted left-handers
Authors: Stetter Laura , Sattler Johanna Barbara , Marquardt Christian , Hermsdörfer Joachim
Published: February 2023

Converting left-handers to their non-dominant right hand was previously widespread, particularly for handwriting. The present study aimed to explore the extent to which adult, converted left-handers can learn writing with their dominant left hand during a 2-year training program. Eleven converted left-handers participated in the training. Handwriting kinematics were assessed at regular intervals (seven sessions) and compared to those of 11 innate left-handed controls matched for age, gender, and overall handedness score for basic (Finger,Wrist,Circle) and complex (Sentence,Copy) handwriting tasks. Regarding basic tasks in the training group, we found rapid increases in left and right-hand frequency and no significant differences between both hands at any time point, indicating successful hand transfer. After 24 months, training participants significantly surpassed controls for writing frequency in basic tasks with their left hand. For complex tasks, we identified significant increases in the training groups’ left-hand writing frequency and duration between the first and last session. While training participants’ left-hand writing remained significantly slower than their right-hand writing, statistics confirmed final differences between hands only for the duration of theSentencetask. Importantly, left-hand writing in the training group was characterized by lower frequency, lower automaticity, and prolonged duration after 24 months compared to innate left-handers. With training participants’ left-hand writing skills significantly increasing for complex tasks and no final statistically significant differences between hands for frequency and automaticity, the program was considered effective. Nevertheless, within 2 years, training participants did not reach innate left-handers handwriting proficiency for complex tasks. Underlying reasons may be various, such as a non-optimal training program, a sensitive period for learning to write, irreversible neural changes during conversion in childhood, age-related decline of motor learning capacity, or retrograde interference between right- and left-hand writing.