bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An association of ABCG8: rs11887534 polymorphism and HDL-cholesterol response to statin treatment in the Polish population
Authors: Sałacka A. , Boroń A. , Gorący I. , Hornowska I. , Safranow K. , Ciechanowicz A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Variation in lipid changes in response to statin treatment is associated with genetic polymorphism. Sterolin-1, encoded byABCG5, and sterolin-2, encoded byABCG8, together form a sterol transporter. There are some reports indicating association of rs11887534 (ABCG8:c.55G > C) polymorphism with lipid concentrations, both prior to and after statin treatment. The aim of this study was to analyze both baseline plasma lipids and their concentrations in response to statin treatment with regard toABCG8: rs11887534 polymorphism in Caucasian patients of Polish origin.

Methods

The study group consisted of 170 consecutive adult out-patients treated with atorvastatin or simvastatin for a minimum of 2 months. Concentrations of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured before and after statin treatment. TheABCG8polymorphism was identified by mini-sequencing genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes.

Results

There were no significant differences in regard toABCG8variants for baseline TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C as well as for TG, TC or LDL-C concentrations after statin treatment. However, patients carrying at least one C allele showed a decrease in post-statin HDL-C concentrations and the absolute and relative changes between post- and pre-statin HDL-C concentrations were negative in contrast to positive values in wild-type homozygotes.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the c.55C allele of theABCG8: rs11887534 polymorphism might be associated with decrease in HDL-cholesterol in response to statin treatment in Polish patients.
Effect of Late Androgen Replacement Therapy on Erectile Function Through Structural Changes in Castrated Rats
Authors: Kataoka Tomoya , Hotta Yuji , Yamamoto Yuka , Fukamoto Ayako , Takeuchi Madoka , Maeda Yasuhiro , Kimura Kazunori
Published: June 2021

Background

Because androgen replacement therapy (ART) is not performed immediately after the onset of androgen deficiency, the treatment is considered to be late.

Aim

To investigate the effects of late ART, starting 4 weeks after castration of rats, on erectile function and structural changes in the corpus cavernosum.

Methods

Rats were subjected to ART for 4 (Late-ART [4w]) or 8 (Late-ART [8w]) weeks. In either case, rats were assigned to the following groups: castrated (Cast), castrated with subcutaneous administration of testosterone (3 mg/kg/day; Cast+T), and sham (Sham). Cast + T rats received daily subcutaneous doses of testosterone starting 4 weeks after castration for 4 or 8 weeks whereas Sham and Cast rats received only the vehicle.

Outcomes

Erectile function was assessed by evaluating intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) after electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve, corporal veno-occlusive function using dynamic infusion cavernosometry, and histology using Masson's trichrome staining.

Results

No increase in the ICP was observed in Cast+T rats in the Late-ART (4w) group (0.47 ± 0.02, P > .05), whereas, in Cast+T rats in the Late-ART (8w) group, there was a significant increase in the ICP/MAP ratio (0.60 ± 0.02, P < .05), drop rate, and smooth muscle/collagen ratio.

Clinical Translation

The present study provides scientific evidence for the effect of late ART on erectile function.

Strengths and Limitations

This study provides insights into the influence of late ART on erectile function through improvements in the structure of corpus cavernosum. The major limitation of this study is the difference in the time required for healing between the humans and rats, which might have a bearing on the translational relevenace of the results.

Conclusions

Late ART could improve erectile function. However, as improvement requires a considerable time period, it is necessary to persist with therapy patiently for optimal results.
Book Review: More like Life Itself: Simulations as Powerful and Purposeful Social Studies
Authors: Evers Sara Louise
Published: June 2021

Wright-Maley and contributing chapter authors explore simulations as a pedagogical tool; offering cautions and solutions about using simulations for students to practice decision making, develop ways of thinking, and learn to engage in the world.
Philosophy of Psychiatry
Authors: Tsou Jonathan Y.
Published: June 2021

Jonathan Y. Tsou examines and defends positions on central issues in philosophy of psychiatry. The positions defended assume a naturalistic and realist perspective and are framed against skeptical perspectives on biological psychiatry. Issues addressed include the reality of mental disorders; mechanistic and disease explanations of abnormal behavior; definitions of mental disorder; natural and artificial kinds in psychiatry; biological essentialism and the projectability of psychiatric categories; looping effects and the stability of mental disorders; psychiatric classification; and the validity of the DSM's diagnostic categories. The main argument defended by Tsou is that genuine mental disorders are biological kinds with harmful effects. This argument opposes the dogma that mental disorders are necessarily diseases (or pathological conditions) that result from biological dysfunction. Tsou contends that the broader ideal of biological kinds offers a more promising and empirically ascertainable naturalistic standard for assessing the reality of mental disorders and the validity of psychiatric categories.
Regional Nonlinear Relationships Across the United States Between Drought and Tree‐Ring Width Variability From a Neural Network
Authors: Trevino Aleyda M. , Stine Alexander R. , Huybers Peter
Published: June 2021

Neural networks were previously applied to reconstruct climate indices from tree rings but showed mixed results in skill relative to more standard linear methods. A two‐layer neural network is explored for purposes of reconstructing summertime self‐calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (scPDSI) across the contiguous United States. Reconstructions using neural networks are more skillful than a linear approach at 75% of the gridboxes if evaluated by the coefficient of efficiency and at 54% when using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The increased reconstruction skill is related to the network capturing nonlinear growth‐climate relationships. In the Southwest, in particular, a nonlinear response function captures a diminishing sensitivity of growth to moisture under wetter conditions, consistent with alleviation of moisture stress. These results indicate somewhat less‐severe and more‐stable incidences of drought over the past two centuries in the U.S. Southwest.
Greenland Blocking Promotes Subtropical North Atlantic Spring Blooms
Authors: Le Chengfeng , Chen Yihui , Lehrter John C. , Hu Chuanmin , Bouman Heather , Cai Wei‐Jun , Qi Lin
Published: June 2021

Climate patterns drive broad‐scale patterns of ocean ecosystem productivity. However, the mechanistic connections between regional climate variability and ocean ecosystem responses are not well understood for much of the ocean. By analyzing multi‐decadal atmospheric and oceanic data over the North Atlantic Ocean, we show that the subtropical spring bloom variability is connected to winter Greenland blocking events. The blocking enforces a southward shift of the eddy‐driven jet stream, inducing higher surface westerly winds, causing deeper vertical mixing in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean in winter and promotes larger spring blooms. These findings reveal the physical mechanisms connecting a predominant climate variability mode in the Arctic with variability in the subtropical spring bloom and highlight the importance of ocean‐atmosphere coupling in shaping the response of oceanic ecosystems to climate variability. Our results also imply a potential teleconnection between rapid Arctic warming over Greenland and phytoplankton variability in the subtropical North Atlantic.
Topographic and Ground‐Ice Controls on Shallow Landsliding in Thawing Arctic Permafrost
Authors: Mithan H. T. , Hales T. C. , Cleall P. J.
Published: June 2021

An increase in Arctic shallow landsliding is a potential consequence of climate warming. Warmer summer‐air temperatures and larger rainfall events drive heat into the active layer, melting ice and decreasing soil shear stress. Topography has the potential to exacerbate landsliding by controlling the distribution of ground ice and the movement of water in the subsurface. We demonstrate that shallow Arctic landslides initiate in zero‐order drainage basins consistent with models of shallow landsliding in non‐permafrost environments. However, the low average slopes and low concavity of Arctic hillslopes cannot create pore‐water pressures high enough to generate landsliding. Instead, two‐dimensional slope stability modeling suggests that the vertical distribution of ground‐ice distributions controls landslide susceptibility. High ground‐ice concentrations close to the potential failure plane act as a stronger control than high average ice volumes or rapid thawing. Our results demonstrate that landslide susceptibility is strongly affected by topographic controls on ground ice and hydrology.
Nonlinear Interaction Between the Drivers of the Monsoon and Summertime Stationary Waves
Authors: Garfinkel Chaim I. , White Ian P. , Gerber Edwin P. , Adam Ori , Jucker Martin
Published: June 2021

A moist General Circulation Model is used to investigate the forcing of the Asian monsoon and the associated upper level anticyclone by land‐sea contrast, net horizontal oceanic heat transport, and topography. The monsoonal pattern is not simply the linear additive sum of the response to each forcing; only when all three forcings are included simultaneously does the monsoonal circulation extend westward to India. This nonadditivity impacts the location of the upper level anticyclone, which is shifted eastward and weaker if the forcings are imposed individually. Sahelian precipitation, and also austral summer precipitation over Australia, southern Africa, and South America, are likewise stronger if all forcings are imposed simultaneously. The source of the nonlinearity can be diagnosed using gross moist stability, but appears inconsistent with the land‐sea breeze paradigm. This non‐additivity implies that the question of which forcing is most important may be ill‐posed in many regions.
Modeled Three‐Dimensional Currents and Eddies on an Alongshore‐Variable Barred Beach
Authors: Baker Christine M. , Moulton Melissa , Raubenheimer Britt , Elgar Steve , Kumar Nirnimesh
Published: June 2021

Circulation in the nearshore region, which is critical for material transport along the coast and between the surf zone and the inner shelf, includes strong vortical motions. The horizontal length scales and vertical structure associated with vortical motions are not well documented on alongshore‐variable beaches. Here, a three‐dimensional phase‐resolving numerical model, Simulating WAves till SHore (SWASH), is compared with surfzone waves and flows on a barred beach, and is used to investigate surfzone eddies. Model simulations with measured bathymetry reproduce trends in the mean surfzone circulation patterns, including alongshore currents and rip current circulation cells observed for offshore wave heights from 0.5 to 2.0 m and incident wave directions from 0 to 15° relative to shore normal. The length scales of simulated eddies, quantified using the alongshore wavenumber spectra of vertical vorticity, suggest that increasing wave directional spread intensifies small‐scale eddies ((10) m). Simulations with bathymetric variability ranging from alongshore uniform to highly alongshore variable indicate that large‐scale eddies ((100) m) may be enhanced by surfzone bathymetric variability, whereas small‐scale eddies ((10) m) are less dependent on bathymetric variability. The simulated vertical dependence of the magnitude and mean length scale (centroid) of the alongshore wavenumber spectra of vertical vorticity and very low‐frequency (f ≈ 0.005 Hz) currents is weak in the outer surf zone, and decreases toward the shoreline. The vertical dependence in the simulations may be affected by the vertical structure of turbulence, mean shear, and bottom boundary layer dynamics.
Wheels Down for NASA’s Operation IceBridge
Authors: MacGregor Joseph , Boisvert Linette , Medley Brooke
Published: June 2021

Over a 13-year period, almost a thousand flights surveyed land and sea ice across the Arctic, Antarctic, and Alaska, providing unique insights into how the polar regions are changing.
Variation in Upper Plate Crustal and Lithospheric Mantle Structure in the Greater and Lesser Antilles From Ambient Noise Tomography
Authors: Schlaphorst D. , Harmon N. , Kendall J. M. , Rychert C. A. , Collier J. , Rietbrock A. , Goes S. ,   the VoiLA Team
Published: June 2021

The crust and upper mantle structure of the Greater and Lesser Antilles Arc provides insights into key subduction zone processes in a unique region of slow convergence of old slow‐spreading oceanic lithosphere. We use ambient noise tomography gathered from island broadband seismic stations and the temporary ocean bottom seismometer network installed as part of the Volatile Recycling in the Lesser Antilles experiment to map crustal and upper mantle shear‐wave velocity of the eastern Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles Arc. Taking the depth to the 2.0 km/s contour as a proxy, we find sediment thickness up to 15 km in the south in the Grenada and Tobago basins and thinner sediments near the arc and to the north. We observe thicker crust, based on the depth to the 4.0 km/s velocity contour, beneath the arc platforms with the greatest crustal thickness of around 30 km, likely related to crustal addition from arc volcanism through time. There are distinct low velocity zones (4.2–4.4 km/s) in the mantle wedge (30–50 km depth), beneath the Mona Passage, Guadeloupe‐Martinique, and the Grenadines. The Mona passage mantle anomaly may be related to ongoing extension there, while the Guadeloupe‐Martinique and Grenadine anomalies are likely related to fluid flux, upwelling, and/or partial melt related to nearby slab features. The location of the Guadeloupe‐Martinique anomaly is slightly to the south of the obliquely subducted fracture zones. This feature could be explained by either three‐dimensional mantle flow, a gap in the slab, variable slab hydration, and/or melt dynamics including ponding and interactions with the upper plate.
Cassini Observation of Relativistic Electron Butterfly Distributions in Saturn’s Inner Radiation Belts: Evidence for Acceleration by Local Processes
Authors: Yuan C.‐J. , Roussos E. , Wei Y. , Krupp N. , Sun Y. X. , Hao Y. X.
Published: June 2021

The morphology of electron pitch angle distributions (PADs) helps to identify dynamic processes in Saturn’s magnetosphere. Previous studies demonstrated convective transport being important for relativistic electron acceleration at L > 4 in the inner magnetosphere, whereas closer to Saturn the situation is not as well established. We have investigated the PADs of relativistic electrons throughout radiation belts, using 13‐years measurements from Cassini spacecraft. Our results show that at 3.5 < L < 6, the PADs peak near 90°. However, at 2.5 < L < 3.5, the PADs transform to butterfly distributions, dominating over an energy range of one order of magnitude, from 800 keV to >7 MeV. These results suggest that convective transport continues to govern down to L = 3.5. For even smaller L‐shells, the independence of butterfly PADs from energy suggests that the acceleration by resonant interactions of electrons with waves likely serves as an additional key mechanism regulating the dynamics in the core region of radiation belts.
Estimating Dissipation Rates Associated With Double Diffusion
Authors: Middleton L. , Fine E. C. , MacKinnon J. A. , Alford M. H. , Taylor J. R.
Published: June 2021

Double diffusion refers to a variety of turbulent processes in which potential energy is released into kinetic energy, made possible in the ocean by the difference in molecular diffusivities between salinity and temperature. Here, we present a new method for estimating the kinetic energy dissipation rates forced by double‐diffusive convection using temperature and salinity data alone. The method estimates the up‐gradient diapycnal buoyancy flux associated with double diffusion, which is hypothesized to balance the dissipation rate. To calculate the temperature and salinity gradients on small scales we apply a canonical scaling for compensated thermohaline variance (or ‘spice’) on sub‐measurement scales with a fixed buoyancy gradient. Our predicted dissipation rates compare favorably with microstructure measurements collected in the Chukchi Sea. Fine et al. (2018), https://doi.org/10.1175/jpo-d-18-0028.1, showed that dissipation rates provide good estimates for heat fluxes in this region. Finally, we show the method maintains predictive skill when applied to a sub‐sampling of the Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) data.
Contributions of Altimetry and Argo to Non‐Closure of the Global Mean Sea Level Budget Since 2016
Authors: Barnoud Anne , Pfeffer Julia , Guérou Adrien , Frery Marie‐Laure , Siméon Mathilde , Cazenave Anny , Chen Jianli , Llovel William , Thierry Virginie , Legeais Jean‐François , Ablain Michaël
Published: June 2021

Over 1993–2016, studies have shown that the observed global mean sea level (GMSL) budget is closed within the current data uncertainties. However, non‐closure of the budget was recently reported when using Jason‐3, Argo and GRACE/GRACE Follow‐On data after 2016. This non‐closure may result from errors in the data sets used to estimate the GMSL and its components. Here, we investigate possible sources of errors affecting Jason‐3 and Argo data. Comparisons of Jason‐3 GMSL trends with other altimetry missions show good agreement within 0.4 mm/yr over 2016–present. Besides, the wet tropospheric correction uncertainty from the Jason‐3 radiometer contributes to up to 0.2 mm/yr. Therefore, altimetry alone cannot explain the misfit in the GMSL budget observed after 2016. Argo‐based salinity products display strong discrepancies since 2016, attributed to instrumental problems and data editing issues. Reassessment of the sea level budget with the thermosteric component provides about 40% improvement in the budget closure.
Lower Mantle Seismicity Following the 2015 Mw 7.9 Bonin Islands Deep‐Focus Earthquake
Authors: Kiser Eric , Kehoe Haiyang , Chen Min , Hughes Amanda
Published: June 2021

Deep‐focus earthquakes provide insight into how subducting slabs deform over a range of spatial and temporal scales as they descend into the mantle. This study uses a 4D source imaging approach to determine centroid locations of the 2015 Mw 7.9 Bonin Islands deep‐focus earthquake and its aftershock sequence. Imaged sources of the mainshock show a complex rupture, but one that is compatible with a sub‐horizontal rupture plane. Previously undetected early aftershocks are imaged down to depths of approximately 750 km and represent the first reported earthquakes that initiate in the lower mantle. These events and a previously reported group of shallower distal aftershocks occur at the lower and upper boundaries of an imaged slab segment that deforms as it penetrates into the lower mantle. We hypothesize that mainshock failure allowed gravitational settling of the slab segment to occur which produced the distal aftershock sequences.
Ocean Circulation in the Challenger Deep Derived From Super‐Deep Underwater Glider Observation
Authors: Jiang Huichang , Xu Hongzhou , Vetter Philip A. , Xie Qiang , Yu Jiancheng , Shang Xuekun , Yu Liu
Published: June 2021

Ocean circulation in the Challenger Deep is rarely investigated due to sparse observations. Based on hydrographic data collected by two super‐deep Chinese “Sea‐Wing” gliders during September–October 2018, we analyzed water properties and ocean circulation structures in this trench. Results showed that the horizontal distribution of water properties is approximately a three layer structure, changing from a northeast‐southwest structure to a north‐south structure then to an east‐west structure as the depth increases from 3,000 to 7,000 m. This structure is a joint result of the water uplift, advection, and diffusion in the trench. The westward geostrophic flow, with 1.29 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1) volume transport, dominates the deep layer of the Challenger Deep, gradually weakening with depth. The unexpectedly large volume transport, twice that of previous studies, might be due to temporal variations of LCDW (Lower Circumpolar Deep Water) intrusion from the Southern Ocean and different reference levels.
Electric Field Enlarges Raindrops Beneath Electrified Clouds: Observational Evidence
Authors: Mudiar Dipjyoti , Pawar S. D. , Gopalakrishnan V. , Williams Earle
Published: June 2021

Simultaneous measurements of cloud electric field and raindrop size at the Earth's surface have been analyzed to investigate an anticipated relation between the two cloud parameters. A significant positive correlation is observed between the magnitude of the surface electric field and raindrop size supported by a theoretical framework advanced here. It is shown that in the presence of an electric field, raindrops increase their size through electrically induced collision and coalescence processes near the Earth's surface. This study also demonstrates that the presence of an electric field inside the cloud can enhance the rain intensity by influencing the growth rate of raindrops. This new insight may be useful for a proper understanding of the rain microphysics and for developing better numerical weather models for simulation and forecasting of heavy rainfall events associated with stronger in‐cloud electrical environments.
A New Approach for Simultaneous Estimation of Entrainment and Detrainment Rates in Non‐Precipitating Shallow Cumulus
Authors: Zhu Lei , Lu Chunsong , Yan Shuqi , Liu Yangang , Zhang Guang J. , Mei Fan , Zhu Bin , Fast Jerome D. , Matthews Alyssa , Pekour Mikhail S.
Published: June 2021

A new approach is developed for estimating entrainment and detrainment rates in cumulus clouds based on aircraft observations. Equations relating entrainment and detrainment rates to gross entrainment and detrainment are derived. This approach is applied to the Holistic Interactions of Shallow Clouds, Aerosols, and Land‐Ecosystems field campaign, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program. The results show that both entrainment and detrainment rates decrease with increasing height. Sensitivity tests with different detrained air assumptions yield similar results. The entrainment and detrainment rates can reproduce the cloud thermodynamic variables. Partial correlation analysis indicates that entrainment rate is positively correlated with environmental relative humidity (RH), and detrainment rate is negatively correlated with environmental RH and positively correlated with entrainment rate. This new approach can be applied to other cloud observations to obtain a data set of entrainment and detrainment rates in cumulus clouds.
Development of Multiple Injection Channels During a Sawtooth Substorm Event
Authors: Sun Weiqin , Sadeghzadeh Sina , Yang Jian , Wang Wenrui , Cui Jun
Published: June 2021

Substorm injection boundary was proposed to explain the dispersion characteristics of particles during the substorm expansion phase. Sawtooth event, a peculiar quasi‐periodic type of substorms, is believed to have a very wide injection boundary around the geosynchronous orbit. In this study, we combine the numerical simulation of the Rice Convection Model with the IMAGE, LANL, and GOES data to investigate how the injection develops and couples with the ionosphere during a sawtooth substorm. We find the wide injection breaks up into multiple injection boundaries/channels with the local time separation of about 1–2 h. Using backward tracing of energetic particles in the self‐consistently computed electromagnetic field, we can infer the MLT locations of the channels, which are found to be nearly one‐to‐one co‐located with multiple finger‐like auroral structures. Our study provides strong evidence that the interchange instability plays a central role in the development of multiple injection channels.
Effects of Ocean Optical Properties and Solar Attenuation on the Northwestern Atlantic Ocean Heat Content and Hurricane Intensity
Authors: Liu Yangyang , He Ruoying , Lee Zhongping
Published: June 2021

This study investigated how ocean optical properties and solar attenuation may affect the upper ocean temperature structure and ocean heat content (OHC). We employed a realistic three‐dimensional ocean circulation model for the northwestern Atlantic to simulate ocean states during the active Atlantic hurricane season of 2017. Sensitivity experiments were performed by coupling the ocean circulation prediction with either a conventional water type‐based solar attenuation model or an inherent optical properties (IOP)‐based model. Validations against in‐situ ocean temperature observations and remote sensing‐derived OHC showed that ocean simulations using the IOP‐based model outperformed simulations using the conventional water type‐based model in predicting sea surface temperature, upper ocean thermal structure, and OHC. An OHC‐hurricane intensity relationship derived for five major hurricanes in 2017 suggests that the ocean optical properties and the application of an appropriate solar attenuation model are important for the forecast of hurricane intensity.
Local Acceleration of Protons to 100 keV in a Quasi‐Parallel Bow Shock
Authors: Stasiewicz Krzysztof , Eliasson Bengt , Cohen Ian J. , Turner Drew L. , Ergun Robert E.
Published: June 2021

Recent observations in the quasi‐parallel bow shock by the Magnetospheric Multiscale spacecraft show rapid heating and acceleration of ions up to an energy of about 100 keV. It is demonstrated that a prominent acceleration mechanism is the nonlinear interaction with a spectrum of waves produced by gradient‐driven instabilities, including the lower hybrid drift (LHD) instability, modified two‐stream (MTS) instability, and electron cyclotron drift (ECD) instability. Test‐particle simulations show that the observed spectrum of waves can rapidly accelerate protons up to a few hundreds of keV by the ExB mechanism. The ExB wave mechanism is related to the surfatron mechanism at shocks, but through the coupling with the stochastic heating condition, it produces significant acceleration on much shorter temporal and spatial scales by the interaction with bursts of waves within a cyclotron period. The results of this study are built on the heritage of four‐point measurement techniques developed for the Cluster mission and imply that the concepts of Fermi acceleration, diffusive shock acceleration, and shock drift acceleration are not needed to explain proton acceleration to hundreds of keV at the Earth’s bow shock.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission River Database (SWORD): A Global River Network for Satellite Data Products
Authors: Altenau Elizabeth H. , Pavelsky Tamlin M. , Durand Michael T. , Yang Xiao , Frasson Renato Prata de Moraes , Bendezu Liam
Published: June 2021

The upcoming Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite mission, planned to launch in 2022, is the first mission to focus on measuring hydrological processes in Earth's surface water. As such, SWOT will vastly expand observations of global rivers ≥100 m wide. SWOT will provide a variety of data products, including a global vector river product containing water surface elevation (WSE), width, slope, and estimated discharge. Practical application and consistency of the SWOT vector products requires a prior global river network database divided into reaches. Here, we introduce the SWOT River Database (SWORD). SWORD will serve as the framework for the SWOT river vector products consisting of river reaches (∼10 km long) and nodes (∼200 m spacing). We generate SWORD by combining several global river‐ and satellite‐related data sets into one congruent product. When defining river reaches, we incorporate natural and human‐created river obstructions, basin boundaries, tributary junctions, and SWOT orbit track information. SWORD contains a total of 213,485 reaches and 10.7 million nodes. Globally, 77.3% of river reach lengths are between 10 and 20 km with a median reach length of 10.5 km. 95% of river reaches ≥10 km will have sufficient SWOT observations to provide discharge estimates at least once per orbit cycle. SWORD also contains many useful hydrologic and morphological attributes and is designed to be expandable in the future. Even before the launch of SWOT, it can serve as a framework for global hydrologic analyses using models, in situ measurements, and additional satellite observations.
An integrative transcriptome study reveals Ddit4/Redd1 as a key regulator of cancer cachexia in rodent models
Authors: Niu Mengyuan , Li Li , Su Zhonglan , Wei Lulu , Pu Wenyuan , Zhao Chen , Ding Yibing , Wazir Junaid , Cao Wangsen , Song Shiyu , Gao Qian , Wang Hongwei
Published: June 2021

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome that causes up to 20% of cancer-related deaths. Muscle atrophy, the hallmark of cancer cachexia, strongly impairs the quality of life of cancer patients; however, the underlying pathological process is still poorly understood. Investigation of the disease pathogenesis largely relies on cachectic mouse models. In our study, the transcriptome of the cachectic gastrocnemius muscle in the C26 xenograft model was integrated and compared with that of 5 more different datasets. The bioinformatic analysis revealed pivotal gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of the disease, and the key genes were validated. Construction of the protein-protein interaction network and the comparison of pathways enriched in cancer cachexia with 5 other muscle atrophy models revealed Ddit4 (DNA damage-inducible transcript 4), as a key protein in cancer cachexia. The higher expression of Ddit4 in cachectic muscle was further validated in animal models and cachectic cancer patients. Further study revealed that p38 induced the expression of Ddit4, which in turn inhibited the mTOR pathway in atrophic cells.
Synergy of light and acid–base reaction in energy conversion based on cellulose nanofiber intercalated titanium carbide composite nanofluidics
Authors: Liu Pei , Zhou Teng , Yang Linsen , Zhu Congcong , Teng Yunfei , Kong Xiang-Yu , Wen Liping
Published: June 2021

A light and acid–base reaction hybrid external factor-assisted energy conversion system is demonstrated based on MXene/CNF composite membranes, showing the great potential of physical–chemical hybrid assistant factors in enhancing energy conversion.
Comparative study of the laxative effects of konjac oligosaccharides and konjac glucomannan on loperamide-induced constipation in rats
Authors: Hu Mengmeng , Fang Changqian , Liu Youqian , Gao Meng , Zhang Dongjian , Shi Gaofeng , Yin Zhiqi , Zheng Rendong , Zhang Jian
Published: June 2021

Dietary fiber is the basic therapeutic method to relieve the symptoms of chronic constipation.
A photocatalyst-free visible-light-mediated solvent-switchable route to stilbenes/vinyl sulfones from β-nitrostyrenes and arylazo sulfones
Authors: Chawla Ruchi , Jaiswal Shefali , Dutta P. K. , Yadav Lal Dhar S.
Published: June 2021

A visible-light-mediated solvent-controlled denitrative arylation/sulfonylation of β-nitrostyrenes employing photolabile arylazo sulfones to synthesize trans-stilbenes and (E)-vinyl sulfones under mild conditions has been developed.
A well-controlled three-dimensional tree-like core–shell structured electrode for flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors with favorable mechanical and electrochemical durability
Authors: Gu Hao , Zeng Yiqing , Wan Shipeng , Zhang Shule , Zhong Qin , Bu Yunfei
Published: June 2021

A three-dimensional core–shell structural NS@NCCH/NPCC electrode enables high energy and power density as well as excellent mechanical and electrochemical durability of a flexible all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor (FASSAS).
Chloride-incorporated quasi-2D perovskite filmsviadynamic processing for spectrum-stable blue light-emitting diodes
Authors: Chen Jing , Jin Yan , Lou Yan-Hui , Yuan Shuai , Zhou Yu-Huang , Wang Kai-Li , Wang Zhao-Kui
Published: June 2021

The spectral stability remains a challenge for blue perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) based on mixed-Cl/Br or quasi-2D perovskites. In this work, we control the redshift of the emitting luminescence (EL) peak for devices less than 2 nm.
Backstepping boundary control design for a cascaded viscous Hamilton–Jacobi PDE–ODE system
Authors: Nikdel Parisa , Sheikholeslam Farid , Zekri Maryam , Ghadiri‐Modarres Mohammadali
Published: June 2021

This paper develops state‐feedback and output‐feedback control design methodologies for boundary stabilization of a class of systems that involves cascade connection of a non‐linear viscous Hamilton–Jacobi partial differential equation (PDE) and a possibly unstable linear ordinary differential equation (ODE). First, an explicit state‐feedback controller is designed based on the infinite‐dimensional backstepping method and by utilizing a locally invertible feedback linearizing transformation whose role is to convert the non‐linear viscous Hamilton–Jacobi PDE to a linear heat equation. Next, an output‐feedback controller is proposed which makes the closed‐loop system exponentially stable through the measured output of the system. The main feature of the proposed output‐feedback scheme is that the distributed integral terms are avoided in the feedback law. This is achieved by exploiting the derived state‐feedback controller and introducing a virtual ODE–PDE system, whose ODE state determines the stabilizing feedback law. Then, an observer is proposed that generates state estimates of the virtual system. In both schemes, local exponential stability is shown via Lyapunov analysis and an estimate of the region of attraction is provided. Finally, simulation examples for an unstable ODE are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed results.
Dual‐view 3D human pose estimation without camera parameters for action recognition
Authors: Liu Long , Yang Le , Chen Wanjun , Gao Xin
Published: June 2021

The purpose of 3D human pose estimation is to estimate the 3D coordinates of key points of the human body directly from images. Although multi‐view based methods have better performance and higher precision of coordinate estimation than a single‐view based, they need to know the camera parameters. In order to effectively avoid the restriction of this constraint and improve the generalizability of the model, a dual‐view single‐person 3D pose estimation method without camera parameters is proposed. This method first uses the 2D pose estimation network HR‐net to estimate the 2D joint point coordinates from two images with different views, and then inputs them into the 3D regression network to generate the final 3D joint point coordinates. In order to make the 3D regression network fully learn the spatial structure relationship of the human body and the transformation projection relationship between different views, a self‐supervised training method is designed based on a 3D human pose orthogonal projection model to generate the virtual views. In the pose estimation experiments on the Human3.6 dataset, this method achieves a significantly improved estimation error of 34.5 mm. Furthermore, an action recognition based on the human poses extracted by the proposed method is conducted, and an accuracy of 83.19% is obtained.
Broadband pattern‐reconfigurable water loop antenna, pattern‐reconfigurable water loop antenna
Authors: Ren Zhen , Qi Shi‐Shan , Wu Wen
Published: June 2021

A novel loop antenna is proposed here. This antenna uses an annular arm made of pure water to take the place of the metallic loop of a typical loop antenna. The water arm is enclosed by a resin loop tube. The arm has circular cross section to excite a travelling wave of the axially symmetric mode and propagates along the loop. To change the volumes of water in the tube, the proposed antenna may work in different states. When the tube is fully filled, the proposed water antenna works as a loop antenna. When the tube is partly filled, it looks like and also works as a water dipole antenna, which indicates pattern reconfigurability. Measured results show that the proposed water loop antenna achieves a broadband. The impedance bandwidth (|S11| < −10 dB) of the antenna is from 0.9 to 2.3 GHz (87.5%) for the loop state and from 0.8 to 2.1 GHz (89.7%) for the dipole state. Maximum gain of 4.7 dBi for the loop mode and 1.7 dBi for the dipole mode are obtained. The proposed water loop antenna shows the advantages of pattern reconfigurability, good radiation performances, high transparency and low cost, which may be used in maritime communication.
A robust model for scheduling power productions of multiple offshore wind farms using one‐to‐many maintenance services
Authors: Zhang Bingying , Zhang Zijun
Published: June 2021

This paper studies the power production optimization problem of multiple offshore wind farms (OWFs) considering different maintenance demands and requirements under the wind power uncertainty. A decentralized robust operation optimization model is developed, in which OWFs and a maintenance service provider (MSP) are treated as individual stakeholders with different interests but coupled by maintenance resources. Based on the analytical target cascading (ATC) algorithm, the model is decoupled into independent models for MSP and each OWF. The operation and objectives of individual entities can be autonomously optimized only considering their own conditions. For each OWF, the power production planning coupled with maintenance scheduling is formulated as a two‐stage robust optimization model and solved by a column‐and‐constraint generation (C&CG) algorithm to tackle the wind power uncertainty. Numerical experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and the applicability of the integrated solution method to the studied problem. Results illustrate that the developed model shows a better guarantee for individual interests of OWFs, lower communication burden, and better information privacy than the centralized optimization model, especially in large‐scale systems. The integrated solution framework can guarantee a quick convergence and optimality. Moreover, it reduces impacts of uncertain factors on power productions and maintenance schemes.
Papanicolaou-Stained Cytosmear Preparations in the Evaluation of Leucocytospermia: A Tertiary Centre Experience and Assessment of Utility
Authors: Puri Vandana , Gaur Kavita , Hooda Sunaina , Shukla Shailaja , Sharma Sunita
Published: June 2021

Objectives Leucocytospermia is a rare cause of infertility with a variable incidence in infertile men. In many andrology laboratories, semen analysis is primarily centered on analyzing basic parameters (sperm count, motility, and viability). We examined the role of cytomorphological analysis on Papanicolaou (PAP)-stained smears in the work up of male infertility, with special reference to leukocytospermia and assessed the morphological features of sperms in these cases.

Materials and Methods All cases signed out as “leukocytospermia” between November 2017 and January 2018 were evaluated. Cases showing pus cells (≥ 1/5hpf) on cytosmear evaluation were also analyzed. Parameters obtained on modified Neubauer’s chamber, wet mount preparations, and autoanalyzer SQA-IIC-P (Medical Electronic Systems, Israel) were tabulated. PAP-stained smears were examined to assess morphological defects and other findings, if any.

Results Out of 348 semen samples, 6 (1.72%) were diagnosed as leukocytospermia, all displaying pus cells on cytomorphological evaluation. Five cases having white blood cells < 1 × 10 9/L were analyzed, which displayed the presence of pus cells (≥ 1/5 hpf) on cytosmear preparations (1.43%). Nine cases (81.8%) showed reduced motile sperm concentration, functional sperm concentration, and sperm motility index. Morphological evaluation of the PAP-stained smears showed mid-piece defects in 18.1% cases.

Conclusion Diligent cytomorphological evaluation of semen is essential to diagnose leukocytospermia, assess morphological defects, and serve as a quality control measure.
Thromboses and Hemostasis Disorders Associated with COVID-19: The Possible Causal Role of Cross-Reactivity and Immunological Imprinting
Authors: Kanduc Darja
Published: June 2021

By examining the issue of the thromboses and hemostasis disorders associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) through the lens of cross-reactivity, it was found that 60 pentapeptides are shared by SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (gp) and human proteins that— when altered, mutated, deficient or, however, improperly functioning— cause vascular diseases, thromboembolic complications, venous thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathies, and bleeding, inter alia. The peptide commonality has a relevant immunological potential as almost all of the shared sequences are present in experimentally validated SARS-CoV-2 spike gp-derived epitopes, thus supporting the possibility of cross-reactions between the viral gp and the thromboses-related human proteins. Moreover, many of the shared peptide sequences are also present in pathogens to which individuals have previously been exposed following natural infection or vaccinal routes, and of which the immune system has stored imprint. Such an immunological memory might rapidly trigger anamnestic secondary cross-reactive responses of extreme affinity and avidity, in this way explaining the thromboembolic adverse events that can associate with SARS-CoV-2 infection or active immunization.
Clinical Implications of S100A12 and Resolvin D1 Serum Levels, and Related Genes in Children with Familial Mediterranean Fever
Authors: Abdallah Zeinab Y. , Ibrahim Mona , Thomas Manal M. , Megahed Hisham , Eldeen Ghada Nour , Hamed Khaled , Fares Mohamed , ElHefnawi Mahmoud , El-Bassyouni Hala T.
Published: June 2021

The aim of this article was to study the role of S100A12 and resolvin D1-related genes and serum levels in the diagnosis and detection of subclinical inflammation in children with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) during the quiescent stage of the disease. Seventy-eight children with FMF during the silent state and 60 healthy control were studied. Serum S100A12 and resolvin D1 were quantitatively measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the levels of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hemoglobin were determined. The clinical severity was evaluated. The link between the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene and the genes related to the two studied biomarkers was also assessed. Correlation between S100A12 and resolvin D1 and the clinical severity was assessed. The mean serum levels of S100A12 and resolvin D1 were 847.4 and 793.3, respectively, which were highly significantly increased (p = 0.001) compared with the controls (324.3 and 235.1, respectively). The receiver operating characteristic curve test showed that S100A12 had a sensitivity of 97.4% and specificity of 80% with cutoff value of 529.5, while resolvin D1 showed a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 50% with cutoff value of 231.2. A correlation was detected between the clinical severity and S100A12 and resolvin D1. This study delineated that S100A12 and resolvin D1 are sensitive biomarkers to detect the degree of inflammation in children with FMF during the silent period. Consequently, we recommend adjusting the colchicine dose to ameliorate the disease's symptoms and to improve the quality of life in these patients.
Primary Disseminated Hydatid Disease Involving Multiple Organs in a Pediatric Patient: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Gupta Nishu , Jindal Gunjan , Singla Hanish , Garg Deepak
Published: June 2021

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation by Echinococcus genus of tapeworm, resulting from ingestion of tapeworm eggs and leading to formation of cysts predominantly in the liver and lungs. Multiorgan involvement in children is unusual. We present a case of a 12-year-old female with multiple organ involvement. Patient had history of abdominal pain, breathlessness, irritability and vomiting. Plain radiograph showed a large ovoid calcific lesion projected over the liver. Abdominal sonography demonstrated multiple hydatid cysts in the liver, spleen and left kidney. Ultrasound findings were further confirmed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography that showed additional hydatid cysts in bilateral lungs. All accessible cysts were excised on laparotomy. Cystic hydatid disease should be suspected in all pediatric patients with multiple cystic lesions, especially in endemic areas.
Serial Thyroid Function Test in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates
Authors: Pradhan Birendra , Panda Santosh Kumar , Pradhan Deepti Damayanty , Nayak Manas Kumar , Rath Soumini , Sahoo Sonali
Published: June 2021

Thyroid dysfunction is more common in preterm and low birth weight infants, and may be missed if thyroid function test (TFT) is not repeated. Thus, we attempted to study the pattern of thyroid function among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants with birth weight less than 1,500 g by serial TFTs. Serum free thyroxine (FT4) and thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) levels of VLBW infants were tested on fifth to seventh days of life and repeated after 4 weeks of age. Based on serial FT4 and TSH results, abnormal TFT was classified into four groups—transient hypothyroxinemia of prematurity (THOP), transient hyperthyrotropinemia (THT), delayed TSH rise, and overt congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Stata 15.1 (Stata Corp, Texas, United States) was used for analysis. Ninety-six VLBW infants were enrolled with mean gestational age of 30.5 ± 2.7 weeks and median (interquartile range) birth weight of 1,200 (317) g. Out of 96 cases, 30 (31.2%) infants had abnormal TFT. Ten (10.4%) infants had THOP, 7 (7.3%) infants had THT, 11 (11.5%) infants had delayed TSH rise, and 2 (2.1%) infants had overt CH. There were no significant differences in demographic profile and clinical characteristics between neonates with normal and abnormal TFTs. Five infants required levothyroxine supplementation (two infants with overt CH and three infants with delayed TSH rise). VLBW neonates have higher incidence of CH and delayed rise of TSH in this study. In resource-limited settings, repeating TFTs at least once after 4 weeks of age may be suggested to identify delayed rise of TSH which may need intervention.