bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of near‐shore wind measurements using a dual scanning light detection and ranging system
Authors: Shimada Susumu , Kogaki Tetsuya , Konagaya Mizuki , Mito Toshinari , Araki Ryuzou , Ueda Yuko , Ohsawa Teruo
Published: June 2022

This paper reports results from a 2‐month validation campaign of near‐shore wind measurements taken by a dual scanning light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system at a coastal site in Japan. A meteorological mast and a vertical profiling LiDAR device were deployed at an offshore research station approximately 1.5 km from the coast. Offshore winds at heights of 66, 120, and 180 m above sea level were observed by the scanning LiDAR system. Comparisons with a sonic anemometer found that the radial velocities had a coefficient of determination of more than 0.99 without unreasonable bias. The accuracy of 10‐min mean wind speeds and directions was then evaluated. The 10‐min values from the dual scanning LiDAR system were accurate enough to satisfy the acceptance criteria used for floating LiDAR systems. In addition, the vertical velocity and direction profiles from the dual scanning LiDAR system were compared with those from a vertical profiling LiDAR device. The performance of turbulence intensity (TI) measurements was also evaluated. Although the TIs from the dual scanning LiDAR system were slightly lower than those from the sonic anemometer, they were equivalent to those from the cup anemometers. This investigation concluded that the near‐shore wind measurements using the dual scanning LiDAR system are beneficial for reducing near‐shore wind measurement costs, because the system can measure not only 10‐min wind speed and direction, but also parameters associated with assessing site‐specific conditions without installing offshore meteorological masts.
Nitrogen Isotopes in Tree Rings—Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Savard Martine M. , Siegwolf Rolf T. W.
Published: June 2022

Nutritive, but detrimental if at high levels, several nitrogen (N) forms involved in air and soil biogeochemical reactions constitute the N load trees assimilate. Although a large body of literature describes series of tree-ring N isotopes (δ15N) as archival systems for environmental changes, several questions relative to the isotopic integrity and reproducibility of trends still linger in the dendroisotopist community. This chapter reviews the fundamentals of forest N cycling and examines trees as N receptors in their very position, at the interface between the atmosphere and pedosphere. The related scrutiny of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms regulating isotopic changes also underlines flaws and forces of tree-ring δ15N series as environmental indicators.
Postphotosynthetic Fractionation in Leaves, Phloem and Stem
Authors: Gessler Arthur , Ferrio Juan Pedro
Published: June 2022

Stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) in organic matter convey important integrated and (if assessed in the tree ring archive) dateable information on plant physiology and related environmental drivers. While the generation of the δ13C signal in the primary assimilates in the leaves via photosynthetic carbon isotope fractionation is well understood, we still lack detailed knowledge of the processes that determine the isotopic fractionation in downstream processes in the leaves and during the transport in the stem, which in turn affect δ13C in the tree-ring archive. We here provide an update on processes that drive post-carboxylationcarbon isotope fractionation in the leaves, on potential changes in δ13C related to phloem loading and transport and we also discuss the role of stem CO2 fluxes (bark photosynthesis, stem respiration and CO2 fixation by phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase). Moreover, we address the impact of carbon storage and remobilization on the intra-annual variation of δ13C in tree rings. Finally, we point to the potential importance of the intra-molecularcarbon isotope distribution in carbohydrates for tree ring δ13C and its relation to shifts in metabolic pathways.
Limits and Strengths of Tree-Ring Stable Isotopes
Authors: Andreu-Hayles Laia , Lévesque Mathieu , Guerrieri Rossella , Siegwolf Rolf T. W. , Körner Christian
Published: June 2022

This chapter aims at summarizing strengths and caveats on the suitability of stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in tree rings as recorders for fingerprints of environmental influences. First, environmental constraints limiting tree growth and shaping tree species distribution worldwide are discussed. Second, examples are presented for environmental conditions under which tree-ring isotopes record environmental signals particularly well, but also cases where physiological processes can mask climate signals. Third, the link between leaf-level carbon assimilation and the investment of assimilates in the stem during the annual ring formation are discussed in light of the resulting deviations of the isotopic values between leaves and tree rings. Finally, difficulties and pitfalls in the interpretation of stable isotope signals in tree rings are reviewed. These problems often result from a poor understanding of when and how the tree canopy, stems and roots are physiologically interconnected. Current literature suggests that photosynthesis and radial growth are only loosely coupled, if at all, challenging the interpretation of environmental signals recorded in tree-ring isotopes. Harsh environmental conditions (e.g. low temperatures, drought) often result in a decoupling of carbon assimilation and growth. The chapter closes by providing possible solutions on how to improve the detection of environmental information from stable isotope signals by integrating scales and different methodological approaches.
Post-photosynthetic Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen Isotope Signal Transfer to Tree Rings—How Timing of Cell Formations and Turnover of Stored Carbohydrates Affect Intra-annual Isotope Variations
Authors: Kagawa Akira , Battipaglia Giovanna
Published: June 2022

In this chapter, we discuss post-photosynthetic processes that affect intra-annual variation in the stable isotopes of tree rings, such as timing of cell formations and turnover of stored carbohydrates, by combining research findings gained by using either natural-abundance or artificially-enriched carbon, oxygenand hydrogen isotopes. We focus on within-ring variation in stable isotope ratios, with an emphasis on aligning observed ratios in whole wood or extracted cellulose to seasonal dynamics in climate and phenology. We also present a discussion of isotopic fractionation that operates within the scope of observed variations across individual rings. We then introduce a model that traces the seasonal partitioning of photosynthate into tree rings via storage pool, which is based on experimental data gained from labeling studies using artificially enriched 13CO2 gas. Finally, we will describe our current understanding of post-photosynthetic signal transfer processes of oxygenand hydrogen isotopes from leaves to tree rings, such as exchange of oxygen and hydrogen between storage carbohydrates and local cambial water, and possible causes of difference in oxygen and hydrogen isotope fractionations. Finally, we discuss mechanisms behind how oxygen and hydrogen from foliar-absorbed liquid water is then incorporated into wood biomass, by introducing results gained from recent H218O and HDO pulse-labeling experiments.
Probing Tree Physiology Using the Dual-Isotope Approach
Authors: Roden John , Saurer Matthias , Siegwolf Rolf T. W.
Published: June 2022

The environmental and physiological interpretation of stable isotope variation in organic matter is affected by many different and interacting factors. This is especially true when considering isotope variation in tree rings, which are influenced not only by leaf-level photosynthetic gas exchange processes but also by post-photosynthetic fractionation. It has been proposed that measuring multiple isotopes on the same sample may constrain such interpretations if one isotope provides independent information about important fractionation events that cause variation in another isotope. Here we describe one such “dual-isotope approach” where oxygen isotope variation (δ18O) is used to probe the effects of stomatal conductance on carbon isotope (δ13C) variation for the same sample. This chapter describes the development of this conceptual model, constraints on model applicability, particularly with respect to tree rings, and how it has been utilized to explore aspects of tree physiology.
Intrinsic Water-Use Efficiency Derived from Stable Carbon Isotopes of Tree-Rings
Authors: Saurer Matthias , Voelker Steve
Published: June 2022

Stable carbon isotopes in tree-rings are not only useful to derive climatic information of the past. Based on the isotope fractionations during uptake and fixation of CO2, physiological information can be retrieved, namely the ratio of assimilation to stomatal conductance, which is termed the intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). This crucial plant physiological trait varies among species and environments and is characteristic of how much water is lost from leaves for a certain carbon gain. iWUE is of great importance at the scale of individual plants because it can determine plant performance and survival. iWUE also contributes how closely canopy- or ecosystem-scale carbon and water fluxes are coupled or divergent, which has implications for understanding biogeochemical cycling. Carbon isotopes in tree-rings can be used to estimate how iWUE of trees has changed in the past, e.g. due to increasing CO2, nitrogen or other factors. Accordingly, many applications have explored this tool for various forest ecosystems across the globe, often reporting a strong increase in iWUE over the twentieth century. Explicit comparisons of tree-ring iWUE to growth-data obtained from the same rings can help distinguish among strategies plants employ under various environmental impacts, like increasing CO2, light limitation, drought or too much water. In this chapter, we describe the theory behind iWUE, show some limitations of the method, give examples of the combined application of iWUE and tree-ring width, discuss photosynthetic limitations of iWUE and finally show how the method has been applied in large-scale tree-ring networks.
Spatial and Temporal Variations in Plant Source Water: O and H Isotope Ratios from Precipitation to Xylem Water
Authors: Allen Scott T. , Sprenger Matthias , Bowen Gabriel J. , Brooks J. Renée
Published: June 2022

The water present within trees when sugars and cellulose are formed is the source of hydrogen and oxygen atoms that are incorporated into tree-ring cellulose (see Chaps. 10.1007/978-3-030-92698-4_10 and 10.1007/978-3-030-92698-4_11). However, the isotope composition of relevant water pools is often unknown when trying to interpret δ18O and δ2H isotopic records in tree rings. This chapter focuses on the factors that can influence the O and H isotope ratios of source waters for trees. Trees generally use water that originated as precipitation, but this does not mean that the isotope ratios of water used by trees—predominantly taken up by roots from soils—and incorporated in cellulose exactly matches precipitation isotope ratios. Precipitation isotope ratios vary in space and time, and only a fraction of all precipitation infiltrates soils, reaches roots, and is ultimately taken up by trees. Considering species, soils, and climates may allow for predicting which fraction of water resides in the root-zone during the growing seasons, and how its isotope ratios deviate from that of average precipitation. Here we provide an overview of the terrestrial water cycle and the associated transport and fractionation processes that influence the stable isotope ratios of water used by trees. We highlight obstacles and opportunities to be considered, towards more accurately interpreting the records of O and H isotope ratios in tree cellulose.
Stable Isotopes in Tree Rings of Mediterranean Forests
Authors: Battipaglia Giovanna , Cherubini Paolo
Published: June 2022

Tree-ring studies in the Mediterranean Basin and in regions characterized by Mediterranean climates are scarce because of a lack of old trees and difficulties related to the clear identification of individual rings.
Stable Isotopes in Tree Rings of Tropical Forests
Authors: van der Sleen Peter , Zuidema Pieter A. , Pons Thijs L.
Published: June 2022

The study of stable isotopes in tree rings is relatively new, but growing research field in tropical forests. In this chapter, we review 53 studies that measured stable isotopes of C, O and/or N in tree rings of a total of 83 tropical tree species. Tree growth in tropical forests is generally determined by seasonality of precipitation, and not temperature. Consequently, temporal variation in both δ13C and δ18O has often been correlated to precipitation and variability of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which can affect weather systems throughout the tropics and subtropics. Currently, stable isotopes research in the tropics has mainly focused on (i) quantifying the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate change on tree physiology, (ii) identifying the drivers of growth variability and reconstruction of past climate, and (iii) the identification of annual rings in wood lacking anatomically distinct growth boundaries. In addition, some initial studies used tree-ring δ15N as a tool to assess anthropogenic change of the nitrogen cycle in tropical forests. Although stable isotope analyses in the tropics still faces methodological and interpretation issues, it is becoming an important tool for understanding the functioning of tropical forests and their resilience to global change.
Sample Collection and Preparation for Annual and Intra-annual Tree-Ring Isotope Chronologies
Authors: Belmecheri Soumaya , Wright William E. , Szejner Paul
Published: June 2022

This chapter provides guidance for conducting studies based on stable isotope measurements in tree rings to infer past and present climate variability and ecophysiology. Balancing theoretical perspectives of stable isotope variations recorded in tree rings, intended research applications (paleoclimate or ecophysiology) and resource limitations, this chapter describes key aspects of field sampling strategies and laboratory sample processing. It presents an overview of factors influencing variations and thus interpretations of carbon and oxygen isotopes, including juvenile/age effects, canopy status and stand characteristicsto inform sampling strategies that optimize a robust paleoenvironmental and physiological signal with statistically defined confidence limits. Fieldwork considerations include the selection of a study site and trees, field equipment, and sample requirements to recover sufficient material for isotopic measurements, and the desired environmental signal. Aspects of laboratory sample processing include choosing a sampling resolution (e.g. whole ring, earlywood/latewood, thin section, etc.), sample pooling within and between trees, and particle size requirements for chemical extraction and analytical repeatability. Finally, this chapter provides a case study highlighting the potential benefits and limitations of high-resolution sub-seasonal sampling.
Newer Developments in Tree-Ring Stable Isotope Methods
Authors: Rinne-Garmston Katja T. , Helle Gerhard , Lehmann Marco M. , Sahlstedt Elina , Schleucher Jürgen , Waterhouse John S.
Published: June 2022

The tree-ring stable C, O and H isotope compositions have proven valuable for examining past changes in the environment and predicting forest responses to environmental change. However, we have not yet recovered the full potential of this archive, partly due to a lack understanding of fractionation processes resulting from methodological constraints. With better understanding of the biochemical and tree physiological processes that lead to differences between the isotopic compositions of primary photosynthates and the isotopic compositions of substrates deposited in stem xylem, more reliable and accurate reconstructions could be obtained. Furthermore, by extending isotopic analysis of tree-ring cellulose to intra-molecular level, more information could be obtained on changing climate, tree metabolism or ecophysiology. This chapter presents newer methods in isotope research that have become available or show high future potential for fully utilising the wealth of information available in tree-rings. These include compound-specific analysis of sugars and cyclitols, high spatial resolution analysis of tree rings with UV-laser, and position-specific isotope analysis of cellulose. The aim is to provide the reader with understanding of the advantages and of the current challenges connected with the use of these methods for stable isotope tree-ring research.
Well-digging in a community of forest-living wild East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)
Authors: Péter Hella , Zuberbühler Klaus , Hobaiter Catherine
Published: June 2022

Access to resources shapes species’ physiology and behaviour. Water is not typically considered a limiting resource for rainforest-living chimpanzees; however, several savannah and savannah-woodland communities show behavioural adaptations to limited water. Here, we provide a first report of habitual well-digging in a rainforest-living group of East African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) and suggest that it may have been imported into the community’s behavioural repertoire by an immigrant female. We describe the presence and frequency of well-digging and related behaviour, and suggest that its subsequent spread in the group may have involved some degree of social learning. We highlight that subsurface water is a concealed resource, and that the limited spread of well-digging in the group may highlight the cognitive, rather than physical, challenges it presents in a rainforest environment.
Effects of tropical forest conversion into oil palm plantations on nitrous oxide emissions: A meta-analysis
Authors: Mori Taiki
Published: June 2022

Oil palm plantations have dramatically expanded in tropical Asia over the past decades. Although their establishment has been projected to increase nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, earlier reports have shown inconsistent results. This study analyzed these previously published data to compare N2O emissions in oil palm plantations to reference forests. A linear mixed-effects model was used to examine the significance of the effect of establishing oil palm plantations on N2O emissions, rather than to calculate mean effect sizes because of limitations in the data structure. The results indicated that N2O emissions were significantly greater from oil palm plantations than from reference forests, as expected. This is the first study to report the effect of oil palm plantations on N2O emissions by synthesizing previously published data. To quantify the size of this effect, additional studies with frequent and long-term monitoring data are needed.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors-associated thrombosis in patients with lung cancer and melanoma: a study of the Spanish society of medical oncology (SEOM) thrombosis and cancer group
Authors: Cánovas Manuel Sánchez , Garay David Fernández , Moran Laura Ortega , Pérez Jaime Rubio , Rubio Carlos Miguel Guirao , de Mena Miriam Lobo , Portero Berta Obispo , Castro Jesús Brenes , Lage Yolanda , Lavin Diego Cacho , Blanco Ana Belen Rupérez , de Soignie Ana Manuela Martín Fernández , Perejón Jonatan Zacarías Benoit , Colomo Laura Jiménez , Boluda Noel Blaya , Moreno Javier Bosque , Verduguez Teresa Quintanar , Garrido Carmen Rosa , Huertas Roberto Martín , Puig Carme Font i , Martín Andrés Jesús Muñoz
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) can be associated with thrombotic events, both venous and arterial (VTE/AT). However, there is a paucity of information regarding patients in routine clinical practice.

Methods/patients

Retrospective, multicenter study promoted by the Thrombosis and Cancer Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). Patients with melanoma and lung cancer who initiated ICI between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2019 were recruited. Minimum follow-up was 6 months (unless it was not possible because of death). The primary objective was to calculate the incidence of ICI-associated VTE/AT and the secondary objectives included to analyze its impact on survival and to identify predictor variables for VTE/AT.

Results

665 patients with lung cancer were enrolled. The incidence of VTE/AT during follow-up was 8.4%. Median overall survival (OS) was lower in the VTE/AT group (12 months 95% CI 4.84–19.16 vs. 19 months 95% CI 16.11–21.9; p = 0.0049). Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and anemia upon initiation of IT, as well as a history of thrombosis between cancer diagnosis and the start of ICI, were predictive variables for developing of VTE/AT (p < 0.05). 291 patients with melanoma were enrolled. There was a 5.8% incidence rate of VTE/AT during follow-up. Median OS was lower in the VTE/AT group (10 months 95% CI 0.0–20.27 vs. 29 months 95% CI 19.58–36.42; p = 0.034). NLR and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) at the beginning of ICI were predictor variables for VTE/AT (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

ICI increases the risk of VTE/AT in patients with lung cancer and melanoma, which impact OS.
Let’s Play at Digging
Authors: Mateos Ana , Zorrilla-Revilla Guillermo , Rodríguez Jesús
Published: June 2022

Extractive foraging tasks, such as digging, are broadly practiced among hunter-gatherer populations in different ecological conditions. Despite tuber-gathering tasks being widely practiced by children and adolescents, little research has focused on the physical traits associated with digging ability. Here, we assess how age and energetic expenditure affect the performance of this extractive task. Using an experimental approach, the energetic cost of digging to extract simulated tubers is evaluated in a sample of 40 urban children and adolescents of both sexes to measure the intensity of the physical effort and the influence of several anatomical variables. Digging is a moderately vigorous activity for inexperienced girls and boys from 8 to 14 years old, and it requires significant physical effort depending on strength and body size. However, extracting subterranean resources is a task that may be performed effectively without previous training. Sex-specific and age-specific differences in the net energy expenditure of digging were detected, even though both sexes exhibited similar proficiency levels when performing the task. Our results highlight that both boys and girls spend considerable energy while digging, with differences largely driven by body size and age. Other factors beyond ability and experience, such as strength and body size, may influence the proficiency of juveniles in performing certain physically intensive foraging tasks, such as gathering tubers.
Effect of early feeding practices and eating behaviors on body composition in primary school children
Authors: Omar Omneya Magdy , Massoud Mohamed Naguib , Ibrahim Afaf Gaber , Khalaf Nada Atef
Published: June 2022

Background

Understanding children’s feeding practices and eating behaviors is important to determine etiology of childhood obesity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between early feeding practices, eating behavior and body composition among primary school children.

Methods

The data were collected from 403 primary school children. They were administered structured questionnaire, including sociodemographic characteristics, early feeding practices and Child’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed.

Results

Children with obesity and overweight showed higher food approach subscales and lower food avoidance subscales compared to a healthy and underweight child. Children who were exclusively or predominantly breast fed during the first 6 months had the lowest scores for the food approach subscales, food responsiveness (FR) and emotional overeating (EOE) and had the highest scores for the food avoidance subscales, satiety responsiveness (SR) and emotional under eating (EUE). Children who were introduced solid food after 6 months showed lower scores for FR, enjoyment of food and EOE but scored highest for SR, slowness in eating (SE) and EUE. All anthropometric measurements were positively correlated with all food approach subscales and negatively with SE, SR and food fussiness. All food approach subscales were positively correlated with BP percentiles. All food avoidance subscales were negatively correlated with both BP percentiles, except for EUE, which was negatively correlated with diastolic BP percentile only. Age, SR, SE and FR were predictors for child body mass index.

Conclusion

Early feeding practices and eating behavior are considered as prevention approaches for obesity.
Explaining consumer suspicion: insights of a vignette study on online product reviews
Authors: Kollmer Tim , Eckhardt Andreas , Reibenspiess Victoria
Published: June 2022

As part of the online product and service selection and purchase process, many consumers consult and rely on online product reviews. In order to persuade potential customers to buy their products, many organizations and businesses post deceptive product reviews of their own products on their own or third-party websites to their advantage. This creates consumer suspicion about the authenticity and veracity of online product reviews. To better understand how consumers’ experiences of having been deceived by deceptive online product reviews in the past and the density of deception characteristics in an online product review influence their level of suspicion about the review and, ultimately, their intention to buy the product, we conduct a 3 × 3 vignette study. Our results indicate that deceptive characteristics in online product reviews and prior encounters with deception in online marketplaces increase consumer suspicion. Furthermore, we show that preference for a specific product decreases consumer suspicion about reviews of that product. Lastly, we demonstrate that consumer suspicion towards a product decreases purchase intention.
Quality of life among out-patients with long-term indwelling urinary catheter attending Urology Clinic at a Tertiary Hospital in Northwestern Tanzania
Authors: Ndomba Asteria L. M. , Laisser Rose M. , T.Konje Eveline , Silago Vitus , Mwanga Joseph R. , Mshana Stephen E.
Published: June 2022

Background

This study aimed to determine quality of life (QoL) among patients living with long-term indwelling urinary catheter (IUC) at home in the Northwestern Tanzania. To the best of our knowledge for the first time in Africa, we report on quality of life for patients living with a long-term IUC at home.

Methods

This was a descriptive cross‑sectional study conducted between December 2016 and September 2017. A total of 202 out-patients aged 18 years and above living with a long-term IUC were conveniently recruited. The QoL was determined using WHOQOL‑BREF tool. Quantitative data were entered into Microsoft Excel for cleaning and coding, then into STATA software version 13.0 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to compute means and standard deviations for numerical variables as well as frequencies for nominal and ordinal variables. Significance of association between various variables and QoL were tested using t test with equal variances. Inferential statistics applied included an independent sample’s t‑test for comparing numerical socio-demographic variables. A P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The mean score indicating good QoL according to our study is a mean score of 50 and above. The higher the score the higher the QoL.

Results

Median age of participants was 69 (IQR 61–77) years. Majority of participants were males (195, 96.5%), married (187, 92.6%), and having primary education (116, 57.3%). Generally, the QoL was poor in all the domains: mean score for physical health being 36.67 ± 0.89, psychological 29.54 ± 0.87, social relationship 49.59 ± 1.61, and environment 26.05 ± 0.63. Married participants were slightly better under social domain 51.1 ± 1.6 than singles 31.1 ± 5.4; P-value 0.001. Those with primary education & above were slightly better in environmental domain 26.1 ± 0.7 than those with no formal education 23.5 ± 1.5; P-value 0.039.

Conclusion

QoL of participants with a long-term IUC in Northwestern Tanzania is generally poor in all domains. Those with primary education & above and the married were slightly better in environmental and social domains respectively. We recommend on the needs of improved social economic status and the importance of close follow up at home for the married participants living with long-term IUC.
SimplifyEnrichment: A Bioconductor Package for Clustering and Visualizing Functional Enrichment Results
Authors: Gu Zuguang , Hübschmann Daniel
Published: June 2022

Functional enrichment analysis or gene set enrichment analysis is a basic bioinformatics method that evaluates the biological importance of a list of genes of interest. However, it may produce a long list of significant terms with highly redundant information that is difficult to summarize. Current tools to simplify enrichment results by clustering them into groups either still produce redundancy between clusters or do not retain consistent term similarities within clusters. We propose a new method named binary cut for clustering similarity matrices of functional terms. Through comprehensive benchmarks on both simulated and real-world datasets, we demonstrated that binary cut could efficiently cluster functional terms into groups where terms showed consistent similarities within groups and were mutually exclusive between groups. We compared binary cut clustering on the similarity matrices obtained from different similarity measures and found that semantic similarity worked well with binary cut, while similarity matrices based on gene overlap showed less consistent patterns. We implemented the binary cut algorithm in the R package simplifyEnrichment, which additionally provides functionalities for visualizing, summarizing, and comparing the clustering. The simplifyEnrichment package and the documentation are available at https://bioconductor.org/packages/simplifyEnrichment/.
On equal-input and monotone Markov matrices
Authors: Baake Michael , Sumner Jeremy
Published: June 2022

The practically important classes of equal-input and of monotone Markov matrices are revisited, with special focus on embeddability, infinite divisibility, and mutual relations. Several uniqueness results for the classic Markov embedding problem are obtained in the process. To achieve our results, we need to employ various algebraic and geometric tools, including commutativity, permutation invariance, and convexity. Of particular relevance in several demarcation results are Markov matrices that are idempotents.
Normal Approximation for Functions of Hidden Markov Models
Authors: Houdré Christian , Kerchev George
Published: June 2022

The generalized perturbative approach is an all-purpose variant of Stein’s method used to obtain rates of normal approximation. Originally developed for functions of independent random variables, this method is here extended to functions of the realization of a hidden Markov model. In this dependent setting, rates of convergence are provided in some applications, leading, in each instance, to an extra log-factor vis-à-vis the rate in the independent case.
Limit theorems for continuous-state branching processes with immigration
Authors: Foucart Clément , Ma Chunhua , Yuan Linglong
Published: June 2022

A continuous-state branching process with immigration having branching mechanism$\Psi$and immigration mechanism$\Phi$, a CBI$(\Psi,\Phi)$process for short, may have either of two different asymptotic regimes, depending on whether$\int_{0}\frac{\Phi(u)}{|\Psi(u)|}\textrm{d} u<\infty$or$\int_{0}\frac{\Phi(u)}{|\Psi(u)|}\textrm{d} u=\infty$. When$\int_{0}\frac{\Phi(u)}{|\Psi(u)|}\textrm{d} u<\infty$, the CBI process has either a limit distribution or a growth rate dictated by the branching dynamics. When$\scriptstyle\int_{0}\tfrac{\Phi(u)}{|\Psi(u)|}\textrm{d} u=\infty$, immigration overwhelms branching dynamics. Asymptotics in the latter case are studied via a nonlinear time-dependent renormalization in law. Three regimes of weak convergence are exhibited. Processes with critical branching mechanisms subject to a regular variation assumption are studied. This article proves and extends results stated by M. Pinsky in ‘Limit theorems for continuous state branching processes with immigration’ (Bull. Amer. Math. Soc.78, 1972).
Redefining capabilities as drivers of adaptation, incremental change, and transformation: recognizing the importance of strategic and operational intent on performance
Authors: Paavola Lauri , Cuthbertson Richard
Published: June 2022

Prior research has emphasized the importance of dynamic capabilities to organizational transformation. In this paper, we explore how dynamic capabilities can have varying roles in change, and only potentially create transformational outcomes. By conducting ethnographic phenomenon driven research and observing the interactions of specific customer data related capabilities over a long period of time, we relate the potential for change to the way in which capabilities' interact, and identify three different mechanisms for change. Transformation requires a disruption of existing operational capabilities, which may result from one of the three identified mechanisms. Introducing a more theoretically consistent and practical taxonomy for (dynamic) capabilities may help in resolving some of the criticisms for their unclear practical implications. Further, our findings underline the importance of studying capabilities in their networks within organizations and over time.
Effect of high nitrate vegetable juice supplementation on plasma nitrate and blood pressure in adults: a pilot randomized crossover intervention in healthy volunteers
Authors: Elsahoryi Nour A. , Cardwell Christopher , Gilchrist Sarah , Woodside Jayne V.
Published: June 2022

Beetroot juice (BRJ) has been demonstrated to decrease blood pressure (BP) due to the high inorganic nitrate content. This pilot randomized crossover trial aimed to investigate the effect of two different high nitrate vegetable juices on plasma nitrate concentrations and BP in healthy adults. Eighteen healthy volunteers were randomized to receive 115 ml of BRJ or 250 ml of green leafy vegetable juice for 7 d which contained similar amounts of nitrate (340 mg) daily. Blood samples were collected, and clinic BP measured at baseline and at the end of each juice consumption. Daily home BP assessment was conducted 2 h after juice consumption. Nitrate and nitrite concentrations were analysed using a commercially available kit on a Triturus automated ELISA analyser. Hills and Armitage analysis was used for the two-period crossover design and paired sample t-tests were performed to compare within-group changes. Plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations significantly increased and there was a significant reduction in clinic and home systolic blood pressure (SBP) mean during the BRJ period (P-values 0⋅004 and 0⋅002, respectively). Home diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reduced significantly during green leafy vegetable juice consumption week (P-value 0⋅03). The difference between groups did not reach statistical significance during the formal crossover analysis adjusted for period effects. BRJ and green leafy vegetable juice may reduce SBP or DBP, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two juices, although this was only a pilot study.
Existing Ethical Tensions in Xenotransplantation
Authors: Johnson L. Syd M
Published: June 2022

The genetic modification of pigs as a source of transplantable organs is one of several possible solutions to the chronic organ shortage. This paper describes existing ethical tensions in xenotransplantation (XTx) that argue against pursuing it. Recommendations for lifelong infectious disease surveillance and notification of close contacts of recipients are in tension with the rights of human research subjects. Parental/guardian consent for pediatric xenograft recipients is in tension with a child’s right to an open future. Individual consent to transplant is in tension with public health threats that include zoonotic diseases. XTx amplifies concerns about justice in organ transplantation and could exacerbate existing inequities. The prevention of infectious disease in source animals is in tension with the best practices of animal care and animal welfare, requiring isolation, ethologically inappropriate housing, and invasive reproductive procedures that would severely impact the well-being of intelligent social creatures like pigs.
Current trends and future perspective of designing on-chip antennas
Authors: Singh Harshavardhan , Mandal Sujit Kumar
Published: June 2022

With the evolution of 5G and 6G network architectures, the demand for highly compact system-on-chip-based devices with high data transfer capabilities has been increased significantly. While the advancement of very large-scale integration technology with the continuous scaling of complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor nodes put forward to integrate different functional modules of a complete system on a single IC board, the antenna being the largest component still remains outside of the chip. Integration of the antenna and other functional modules of a system on the same chip leads to produce a really compact and economical design. Though on-chip antenna (OCAs) have several other advantages and emerging applications, they have some design challenges in terms of low gain due to losses in the substrate, requirement of miniaturization at lower microwave frequencies (LMFs) (particularly, below 10 GHz), unavailability of proper design rules, etc. In this paper, analyzing the design challenges of OCAs, their current research trends and future perspective applications are discussed.
Sensitivity of Air Pollution Exposure and Disease Burden to Emission Changes in China Using Machine Learning Emulation
Authors: Conibear Luke , Reddington Carly L. , Silver Ben J. , Chen Ying , Knote Christoph , Arnold Stephen R. , Spracklen Dominick V.
Published: June 2022

Machine learning models can emulate chemical transport models, reducing computational costs and enabling more experimentation. We developed emulators to predict annual−mean fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone (O3) concentrations and their associated chronic health impacts from changes in five major emission sectors (residential, industrial, land transport, agriculture, and power generation) in China. The emulators predicted 99.9% of the variance in PM2.5 and O3 concentrations. We used these emulators to estimate how emission reductions can attain air quality targets. In 2015, we estimate that PM2.5 exposure was 47.4 μg m−3 and O3 exposure was 43.8 ppb, associated with 2,189,700 (95% uncertainty interval, 95UI: 1,948,000–2,427,300) premature deaths per year, primarily from PM2.5 exposure (98%). PM2.5 exposure and the associated disease burden were most sensitive to industry and residential emissions. We explore the sensitivity of exposure and health to different combinations of emission reductions. The National Air Quality Target (35 μg m−3) for PM2.5 concentrations can be attained nationally with emission reductions of 72% in industrial, 57% in residential, 36% in land transport, 35% in agricultural, and 33% in power generation emissions. We show that complete removal of emissions from these five sectors does not enable the attainment of the WHO Annual Guideline (5 μg m−3) due to remaining air pollution from other sources. Our work provides the first assessment of how air pollution exposure and disease burden in China varies as emissions change across these five sectors and highlights the value of emulators in air quality research.
Global Flash Drought Analysis: Uncertainties From Indicators and Datasets
Authors: Mukherjee Sourav , Mishra Ashok Kumar
Published: June 2022

Flash Drought (FD) has garnered much attention in recent years, with significant advancements in the indicators applied for identifying these rapidly intensifying events. However, the difference in existing FD definitions and methodologies among research communities and the choice of different data sources underscores the importance of addressing the uncertainties associated with the global FD characteristics and their drivers. This study compares two key FD indicators derived based on evaporative stress ratio (ESR) and root‐zone soil‐moisture (RZSM) using three different data sources to investigate the uncertainties in global FD frequency and intensity (speed), and the influencing drivers. The results suggest that such disparities are significant in the two FD indicators across different climate regions of the globe. The results highlight varying spatial drivers of FD frequency, intensity, and their evolution, potentially linked to background aridity. Changes in precipitation, temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and soil‐temperature coupling play an important role with a cascading (concurrent) impact on the evolution of FD based on RZSM (ESR). The relationship between ESR and RZSM fails to explain most of the variance in each of these indicators specific to the FD episodes, especially in the transitional and humid climate regimes. Overall, the results highlight the necessity of more nuanced methodologies for deriving FD indicators that can efficiently couple the rapid soil‐moisture depletion rates in deeper layers with changes in atmospheric evaporative demand which has direct implications on vegetation health.
Modeling the East‐West Asymmetry of Energetic Particle Fluence in Large Solar Energetic Particle Events Using the iPATH Model
Authors: Ding Zheyi , Li Gang , Ebert Robert W. , Dayeh Maher A. , Fe‐Dueñas Adolfo Santa , Desai Mihir , Xie Hong , Gopalswamy N. , Bruno A.
Published: June 2022

It has been noted that in large solar energetic particle (SEP) events, the peak intensities show an East‐West asymmetry with respect to the source flare locations. Using the 2D improved Particle Acceleration and Transport in the Heliosphere (iPATH) model, we investigate the origin of this longitudinal trend. We consider multiple cases with different solar wind speeds and eruption speeds of the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and fit the longitudinal distributions of time‐averaged fluence by symmetric/asymmetric Gaussian functions with three time intervals of 8, 24 and 48 hr after the flare onset time respectively. The simulation results are compared with a statistical study of three‐spacecraft events. We suggest that the East‐West asymmetry of SEP fluence and peak intensity can be primarily caused the combined effect of an extended shock acceleration process and the evolution of magnetic field connection to the shock front. Our simulations show that the solar wind speed and the CME speed are important factors determining the East‐West fluence asymmetry.
Regional Impact Crater Mapping and Analysis on Saturn's Moon Dione and the Relation to Source Impactors
Authors: Ferguson Sierra N. , Rhoden Alyssa R. , Kirchoff Michelle R.
Published: June 2022

Recent dynamical modeling of the formation and evolution of the Saturnian satellites suggests that the ages of the mid‐sized inner moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea) could be as young as 100 Myr. This estimate is in contrast to most previous modeling and observational work that suggest an age more contemporaneous with the formation of Saturn 4.5 Ga ago. Given the heritage of using craters to constrain surface ages, we examine the impact craters of Dione using imagery from NASA's Cassini ISS camera and analyze their size‐frequency distributions (SFDs) to understand impactor populations. We survey four areas across different geologic terrains and compare our crater counts to standard outer solar system production functions. In addition to crater counts, we study several crater types such as elliptical and polygonal to further examine the bombardment source for the craters. We find evidence for a Saturn‐specific planetocentric impactor source, as none of the standard production functions fit the data. We compare our Dione data with our work on Tethys and find similarly shaped SFDs between the satellites. However, Dione's surface has been extensively modified to remove smaller craters (D ∼ <5 km) and has been bombarded by larger impactors, creating more D ∼ >20 km on Dione than Tethys. In contrast, Tethys more generally represents an ancient unmodified surface within the Saturn system. More complete observations and assessment of the cratering records on the satellites of Uranus and Neptune's moon Triton would enable better constraints on the bombardment history of the Saturn system.
Unraveling the mechanism for paired electrocatalysis of organics with water as a feedstock
Authors: Yang Ganceng , Jiao Yanqing , Yan Haijing , Xie Ying , Tian Chungui , Wu Aiping , Wang Yu , Fu Honggang
Published: June 2022

Paired electroreduction and electrooxidation of organics with water as a feedstock to produce value-added chemicals is meaningful. A comprehensive understanding of reaction mechanism is critical for the catalyst design and relative area development. Here, we have systematically studied the mechanism of the paired electroreduction and electrooxidation of organics on Fe-Mo-based phosphide heterojunctions. It is shown that active H* species for organic electroreduction originate from water. As for organic electrooxidation, among various oxygen species (OH*, OOH*, and O*), OH* free radicals derived from the first step of water dissociation are identified as active species. Furthermore, explicit reaction pathways and their paired advantages are proposed based on theoretical calculations. The paired electrolyzer powered by a solar cell shows a low voltage of 1.594 V at 100 mA cm−2, faradaic efficiency of ≥99%, and remarkable cycle stability. This work provides a guide for sustainable synthesis of various value-added chemicals via paired electrocatalysis.
Phylogenomics and species delimitation of the economically important Black Basses (Micropterus)
Authors: Kim Daemin , Taylor Andrew T. , Near Thomas J.
Published: June 2022

Informed management and conservation efforts are vital to sustainable recreational fishing and biodiversity conservation. Because the taxonomic rank of species is important in conservation and management strategies, success of these efforts depends on accurate species delimitation. The Black Basses (Micropterus) are an iconic lineage of freshwater fishes that include some of the world’s most popular species for recreational fishing and world's most invasive species. Despite their popularity, previous studies to delimit species and lineages inMicropterussuffer from insufficient geographic coverage and uninformative molecular markers. Our phylogenomic analyses of ddRAD data result in the delimitation of 19 species ofMicropterus, which includes 14 described species, the undescribed but well-known Altamaha, Bartram’s, and Choctaw basses, and two additional undescribed species currently classified as Smallmouth Bass (M. dolomieu). We provide a revised delimitation of species in the Largemouth Bass complex that necessitates a change in scientific nomenclature:Micropterus salmoidesis retained for the Florida Bass andMicropterus nigricansis elevated from synonymy for the Largemouth Bass. The new understanding of diversity, distribution, and systematics of Black Basses will serve as important basis for the management and conservation of this charismatic and economically important clade of fishes.