bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triggers of Anaphylaxis in Mastocytosis Patients: Evidence of the Current Drug-Avoidance Recommendation
Authors: Rama Tiago Azenha , Castells Mariana
Published: September 2023

Opinion statement

Mastocytosis is associated with a high risk of anaphylaxis, in part due to drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHR). Drugs associated with mast cell activation include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), drugs used in the perioperative setting, including general anesthetics, neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) and opiates/opioids, radiocontrast media (RCM), vaccines, and antibiotics such as quinolones and vancomycin. To protect patients against DHR and anaphylaxis, general avoidance of potential drug triggers is common practice, which often deprives patients of important drugs at times of need and limits their options. We aimed to critically review current evidence on the indications to avoid drugs in children and adults with mastocytosis. Recent data shows that general avoidance of drugs with potential mast cell activation action is not indicated in all patients with mastocytosis, but guidelines are lacking. Drugs tolerated before and after the onset of mastocytosis should not be avoided and a personalized approach is recommended to address drugs inducing mast cell activation. Pre-medication (RCM, local and general anesthetics, vaccines), use of safer alternatives (opioids, NBMAs, NSAIDs in selected cases), and drug challenges (NSAIDs in most cases) are recommended to increase the safety of patients with mastocytosis when introduced to new drugs.
Short review: novel concepts in the approach to patients with amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis
Authors: Cappellani D. , Bartalena L. , Bogazzi F.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The approach to this condition is widely variable across different medical specialists and even among expert endocrinologists. As a matter of fact, the approach to amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis has always been considered difficult, due to diagnostic uncertainties easily resulting in missteps, and therapeutic challenges easily resulting in unresponsiveness or slow-responsiveness to the administered drugs.

Purpose

Our purpose is to review novelties emerged during the last years about this condition, with the aim to provide novel insights on the diagnostic and therapeutic management of this challenging condition.
A novel time-dependent damage constitutive model for hard rock materials
Authors: Wang Susheng , Yang Shengqi , Zhang Qiang
Published: September 2023

The mechanical behavior of deep hard rocks plays a crucial role in the long-term safety and stability of engineering structures. This work focuses on studying the instantaneous and time-dependent fracture propagation of hard rock materials from a theoretical perspective. A new unified constitutive model, based on a modified Mohr–Coulomb (M-C) criterion, is proposed to accurately represent the short and long-term mechanical properties of hard rocks. To capture the strain hardening and strain softening behaviors, damage is utilized as an internal mechanism-driven variable, controlling the expansion and contraction of the plastic yield surface. Additionally, a combination of time-dependent damage law and viscoplastic theory is employed to account for nonlinear creep deformation characteristics. By considering the time-dependent effects, the model can be applied to both instantaneous loading and creep conditions. The general algorithm format is derived in detail, and an explicit integration algorithm is utilized to update the time-dependent damage evolution. Finally, the proposed model is validated by comparing its predictions with the short and long-term mechanical responses of Beishan granite and Rumei dacite. This comprehensive constitutive model improves our understanding of continuum damage mechanics and provides a scientific basis for analyzing and evaluating the long-term safety and stability of deep hard rock engineering projects.
Few-Shot Relation Prediction of Knowledge Graph via Convolutional Neural Network with Self-Attention
Authors: Zhong Shanna , Wang Jiahui , Yue Kun , Duan Liang , Sun Zhengbao , Fang Yan
Published: September 2023

Knowledge graph (KG) has become the vital resource for various applications like question answering and recommendation system. However, several relations in KG only have few observed triples, which makes it necessary to develop the method for few-shot relation prediction. In this paper, we propose the Convolutional Neural Network with Self-Attention Relation Prediction (CARP) model to predict new facts with few observed triples. First, to learn the relation property features, we build a feature encoder by using the convolutional neural network with self-attention from the few observed triples rather than background knowledge. Then, by incorporating the learned features, we give an embedding network to learn the representation of incomplete triples. Finally, we give the loss function and training algorithm of our CARP model. Experimental results on three real-world datasets show that our proposed method improves Hits@10 by 48% on average over the state-of-the-art competitors.
Unlocking the power of Twitter communities for startups
Authors: Peixoto Ana Rita , de Almeida Ana , António Nuno , Batista Fernando , Ribeiro Ricardo , Cardoso Elsa
Published: September 2023

Social media platforms offer cost-effective digital marketing opportunities to monitor the market, create user communities, and spread positive opinions. They allow companies with fewer budgets, like startups, to achieve their goals and grow. In fact, studies found that startups with active engagement on those platforms have a higher chance of succeeding and receiving funding from venture capitalists. Our study explores how startups utilize social media platforms to foster social communities. We also aim to characterize the individuals within these communities. The findings from this study underscore the importance of social media for startups. We used network analysis and visualization techniques to investigate the communities of Portuguese IT startups through their Twitter data. For that, a social digraph has been created, and its visualization shows that each startup created a community with a degree of intersecting followers and following users. We characterized those users using user node-level measures. The results indicate that users who are followed by or follow Portuguese IT startups are of these types: “Person”, “Company,” “Blog,” “Venture Capital/Investor,” “IT Event,” “Incubators/Accelerators,” “Startup,” and “University.” Furthermore, startups follow users who post high volumes of tweets and have high popularity levels, while those who follow them have low activity and are unpopular. The attained results reveal the power of Twitter communities and offer essential insights for startups to consider when building their social media strategies. Lastly, this study proposes a methodological process for social media community analysis on platforms like Twitter.
Muskelgesundheit und Ernährung im Alter
Authors: Kressig Reto W.
Published: September 2023

Die Forschung der letzten Jahre bestätigte: Ähnlich wie der Knochen ist der Muskel durch den physiologischen Alterungsprozess von einem Abbau betroffen, der rund 1/3 der initialen Muskelmasse ausmacht. Hat der damit verbundene Kraftabbau funktionelle Konsequenzen auf den Alltag (z. B. stark eingeschränkte Gehgeschwindigkeit: ≤ 0,8 m/s), spricht man von Sarkopenie. Der Erhalt der Muskelgesundheit im Alter ist möglich durch regelmässiges Krafttraining und proteinreiche Ernährung. Neueste Leitlinien empfehlen deutlich höhere tägliche Proteinmengen für Senioren (1,0–1,5 g/kg Körpergewicht) als bei jüngeren Erwachsenen (0,8 g). Neueste klinische Studien ergaben, dass mit Leucin angereicherte Molkenproteine in der Lage sind, Muskelmasse und Muskelfunktion im Alter zu steigern, auch wenn kein begleitendes Krafttraining durchgeführt werden kann. Dies hat insbesondere für die Prävention von Muskelabbau bei Bettlägerigkeit und Sedentarismus grosses Potenzial. Neben den Proteinen sind im Alter Vitamin D3, Kreatin und Omega-3-Fettsäuren massgeblich an der Unterstützung einer guten Muskelfunktion beteiligt.
Relationship between oral frailty, health-related quality of life, and survival among long-term care residents
Authors: Puranen Taija , Hiltunen Kaija , Kautiainen Hannu , Suominen Merja H. , Salminen Karoliina , Mäntylä Päivi , Roitto Hanna-Maria , Pitkälä Kaisu H. , Saarela Riitta K. T.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

We evaluated oral frailty (OFr) and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), energy and protein intake, and survival among older long-term care residents.

Methods

This cross-sectional study with a 3-year follow-up for survival assessed 349 residents in long-term care facilities (73% female, mean age 82 years). We defined OFr with six signs (dry mouth, food residue on oral surfaces, unclear speech, inability to keep mouth open or pain expression during the clinical oral examination, diet pureed/soft) and OFr severity was categorized as Group 1, (mild) = 0–1 signs, Group 2 (moderate) = 2–4 signs, and Group 3 (severe) = 5–6 signs. We measured HRQoL with 15D instrument, and energy and protein intake by a 1- to 2-day food record. Mortality was retrieved from central registers on March 2021.

Results

Of the residents, 15% had 0–1, 67% 2–4 and 18% 5–6 OFr signs. HRQoL decreased linearly from Group 1 to Group 3. OFr correlated with such dimensions of HRQoL as mobility, eating, speech, excretion, usual activities, mental function, and vitality. We found no association between OFr categories and energy and protein intake. Survival decreased linearly from Group 1 to Group 3.

Conclusions

OFr was common among older long-term care residents and OFr severity predicts poorer outcomes. The six oral signs denoting OFr may be used at the bedside to screen residents at risk for OFr.
Low-density polyethylene-multi-walled carbon nanotube nanocomposite membranes with enhanced conductivity for highly sensitive vapor sensing
Authors: Shi Suyu , Xu Wenzhong , Zhou Bing , Qin Shengxue , Liu Xianhu , Li Handong
Published: September 2023

A facile technique was reported for fabricating high conductivity and improved strength of linear low-density polyethylene/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (LLDPE/MWNTs) composite films by the ultrasonication anchoring technique and compression molding treatment. Thermal property, mechanical property, electrical conductivity, microstructures, optical property, and organic vapor sensing behaviors of the MWNTs/LLDPE composite films were studied. The MWNTs are uniformly anchored onto the surface of LLDPE matrix, and the conductive networks are easily formed by the ultrasonication anchoring technique. After compression molding treatment, the incorporation of MWNTs causes an easier formation of LLDPE extended-chain, which is wrapped around of MWNTs shish. The MWNTs/LLDPE composite films exhibit an excellent conductivity of 2.79 × 105Ω∙cm with 0.15 wt % MWNTs. Meanwhile, the tensile strength of the composite films reaches 18.9 MPa. Interestingly, the transparency is not significantly reduced. The sensitivity and reproducibility of vapor sensing behaviors have been demonstrated during immersion-drying runs toward two representative solvents, i.e., acetone and xylene. This work opens up a new direction for the conductivity optimization of MWNTs/LLDPE composite films with a broad prospect in the field of vapor sensor.
Joint advertising and ordering decisions under the pre-sales crowdfunding
Authors: Zeng Kuan , Shen Yaohan
Published: September 2023

Our study considers a company launching new product on pre-sales crowdfunding platform and explores the joint advertising and ordering decisions in mass market thereafter. Under the “AON” mechanism, we construct profit-maximizing models to examine the impact of pledged amount on the company’s decision on advertising expense, order quantity and funding target. The results show that the optimal order quantity increases with the pledged amount in crowdfunding, and the company won’t promote new product in mass market until the pledged amount reaches a funding threshold, and the advertising expense increases with the pledged amount since then. In addition, we figure out the feasible scope for the funding target and suggest the company set the target within the scope, to ensure the project profitability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the expected pledged amount won’t increase with the funding target, and the optimal funding target would be the lower bound in its feasible scope, to improve the campaign success. Finally, we conduct numerical analysis to verify our theoretical results.
Risk Perception About HIV Among University Students in One of the Last Hotspots for HIV Transmission in Europe
Authors: Milic Marija , Gazibara Tatjana , Dotlic Jelena , Katanic Natasa , Filimonovic Jelena , Mitic Katarina , Bakic Marijan , Galic Igor , Aksam Slavica , Kocijancic Belovic Dusica , Nyakundi Mokaya Melchizedek , Stevanovic Jasmina
Published: September 2023

Background

HIV testing in the Northern Kosovo province is challenging, because the infrastructure is being rebuilt after the ethnic conflict. The purpose of this research was to examine self-perceived risk for acquiring HIV infection and factors associated with risk assessment among university students.

Methods

Students completed a questionnaire on socio-demographic data, knowledge about HIV prevention and transmission, attitudes toward people living with (PLHIV) and self-perceived risk for HIV infection. The self-perceived risk was categorized as low, unknown and high.

Results

The majority of students (72.5%) assessed their risk as low, 8.5% assessed their risk as high and 19.1% did not know their risk. Compared to low self-perceived risk, high self-perceived HIV risk was associated with being male, having lower knowledge about HIV prevention, less strong Segregation and protection attitude toward PLHIV, stronger Ignorance and indifference attitude toward PLHIV and positive opinion about gays/lesbians. Students who perceived own risk for acquiring HIV as high had lower knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention. However, those who were previously tested for HIV, despite their poorer knowledge about HIV prevention, assess their HIV-related risk as low.

Conclusions

Students assessed their risk of HIV infection mostly as low. Still, lower knowledge of HIV prevention has been consistently associated with a high and unknown risk of HIV. Moreover, being ignorant and indifferent about PLHIV was associated with increased self-perceived HIV risk. These findings highlight the need for continuous specialized HIV-related education to reduce fear and stigma of PLHIV and HIV testing as well as risky behaviors.
A Lie Algebroid Structure for Vector Bundles of Finite Rank Isomorphic to Tangent Bundle of Their Base Space
Authors: Dehghan Nezhad Akbar , Moghaddam Zeabadi Mina
Published: September 2023

We define a Lie algebroid structure for a class of vector bundles of rank k over a k-dimensional smooth manifold W, which are isomorphic to the tangent bundle TW. We construct an exciting example of these types of vector bundles. This example is constructed based on partial Caputo fractional derivatives. We call this vector bundle a fractional vector bundle and denote it by $${\mathscr {F}}^{\nu } {\mathscr {W}}$$

F

ν

W

.
The comparison of total energy and protein intake relative to estimated requirements in chronic spinal cord injury
Authors: Farkas Gary J. , Berg Arthur S. , Sneij Alicia , Dolbow David R. , Gorgey Ashraf S. , Gater David R.
Published: September 2023

In chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), individuals experience dietary inadequacies complicated by an understudied research area. Our objectives were to assess (1) the agreement between methods of estimating energy requirement (EER) and estimated energy intake (EEI) and (2) whether dietary protein intake met SCI-specific protein guidelines. Persons with chronic SCI (n = 43) completed 3-day food records to assess EEI and dietary protein intake. EER was determined with the Long and Institute of Medicine (IOM) methods and the SCI-specific Farkas method. Protein requirements were calculated as 0·8–1·0 g/kg of body weight (BW)/d. Reporting accuracy and bias were calculated and correlated to body composition. Compared with IOM and Long methods (P < 0·05), the SCI-specific method did not overestimate the EEI (P = 0·200). Reporting accuracy and bias were best for SCI-specific (98·9 %, −1·12 %) compared with Long (94·8 %, −5·24 %) and IOM (64·1 %, −35·4 %) methods. BW (r = –0·403), BMI (r = –0·323) and total fat mass (r = –0·346) correlated with the IOM reporting bias (all, P < 0·05). BW correlated with the SCI-specific and Long reporting bias (r = –0·313, P = 0·041). Seven (16 %) participants met BW-specific protein guidelines. The regression of dietary protein intake on BW demonstrated no association between the variables (β = 0·067, P = 0·730). In contrast, for every 1 kg increase in BW, the delta between total and required protein intake decreased by 0·833 g (P = 0·0001). The SCI-specific method for EER had the best agreement with the EEI. Protein intake decreased with increasing BW, contrary to protein requirements for chronic SCI.
The fall of Singapura: The necessity of unjust violence in the Sejarah Melayu
Authors: Tan Zi Hao
Published: September 2023

In the Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals, the fall of Singapura is widely appraised as an act of divine retribution unleashed upon rulers who have committed injustice. Implicit in this theodicy is the promise of moral justice enshrined in the Bukit Siguntang covenant, which ensures mutual reciprocity between the rulers and the ruled. But a cautious approach to the narrative of Singapura's demise reveals how justice is suspended, rather than upheld, in service of power. Enabling this suspension of morality is the transformative capacity of violence. This article performs a close reading on three consecutive episodes of unjust violence inflicted on a foreigner, a child, and a concubine, respectively, prior to the sacking of Singapura by Majapahit. In scrutinising the symbolic significance of these victims as persecuted by injudicious rulers, this article posits that violence functions as a rhetorical trope in the retelling of a Malay history. As victims are made scapegoats, unjust violence brings about the fall of Singapura and, by the same token, necessitates the birth of Melaka. Violence impels the forward movement of a royal genealogy by permitting an uninterrupted sequence of reigns through a sequence of crises.
The impact of dairy matrix structure on postprandial lipid responses
Authors: Kjølbæk Louise , Raben Anne
Published: September 2023

This review presents evidence related to the postprandial responses after consumption of dairy products focusing on the effect of the dairy matrix and lipid response, which was also presented as part of a speech at the Nutrition Society Winter Conference, January 2023. The key findings are that the dairy product(s) that differentiate from others in the postprandial TAG response are products with a semi-solid structure. There were no differences in lipid responses between cheese and butter. The main factors viscosity, fat globule size and milk fat globule membrane do not seem to explain the effect of the dairy matrix in the acute postprandial response. In summary, it is very difficult to investigate the effects of the dairy matrix per see and with the few studies conducted to date, no clear cause and effect can be established. Future research should focus on the semi-solid dairy matrix, and studies investigating specifically the yoghurt matrix are warranted.
Topological relation expression and verification of symmetrical parallel mechanism based on the evolution of chemical molecule
Authors: He Litao , Fang Hairong , Zhang Dan
Published: September 2023

The research of parallel mechanism (PM) configuration involves many problems. From topology to configuration, dimensional constraint, etc., how to establish the relationship between topology and configuration with effective methods is a long-term challenge for the configuration design. In this paper, the chemical molecular spatial structure (CMSS) is linked with the configuration of symmetrical parallel mechanism (SPM). Starting from the methane molecule (CH4), a spatial structural topological relation is obtained. Based on graph theory and the spatial structural topological relation, a new expression method with topological graph and its kinematic pair adjacency matrix for spatial SPM is proposed. Then, the expression and analysis for the characteristics of spatial SPM are obtained. Finally, by taking the 3-RPS PM and the 3-RRC PM as examples, the effectiveness and corresponding consistency of the proposed expression method are successfully verified. The proposed new expression method paves the way for the subsequent digital and automated design and analysis of the SPM configuration.
Free Speech Viet Nam through the War on Terror
Authors: MONTGOMERY WILLIAM G.
Published: September 2023

In the decades immediately following the Vietnam War, there were no significant conflicts with free speech resulting from major policy or military action. In contrast, the global war on terror following the events of September 11, 2001, mirror in many ways where prior conflicts and government action clashed with Free Speech. Forty-five days after the worst attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor, Congress enacted the USA PATRIOT Act. In the months and years that followed, American forces fought abroad and opponents of and advocates for the Act fought at home. This article will review the implementation of the Patriot Act and two provisions, section 215 and 805, to follow the actions of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government and those of civil liberties advocacy groups to review America’s efforts to meet the challenges of providing security for the homeland and protecting Free Speech.
The Abuse of Civil Liberties in World War I
Authors: BAKER PAULA
Published: September 2023

Wartime pressures to protect national military and security interests inevitably create threats to civil liberties. This essay reviews the abuses of the period, carried on by public officials as well as citizens who saw themselves as acting on their behalf. There was a remarkable range of targets—with few spies to find, broadly defined disloyalty sufficed. The attempt to create a unified, loyal culture extended to wide areas of the culture, such as the teaching of history, aided by volunteers. The public and private efforts brought ruined reputations, imprisonments, public shaming, murders, and awful behavior on the part of courts and citizens. These were bad times for civil liberties. This essay reviews the history and explores the legacies.
Free Speech and World War II
Authors: STONE GEOFFREY R.
Published: September 2023

This article presents a history of free speech in wartime in the United States from the end of World War I to the end of World War II.
Are predictions of bovine tuberculosis-infected herds unbiased and precise?
Authors: Hone Jim
Published: September 2023

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is prevalent among livestock and wildlife in many countries including New Zealand (NZ), a country which aims to eradicate bTB by 2055. This study evaluates predictions related to the numbers of livestock herds with bTB in NZ from 2012 to 2021 inclusive using both statistical and mechanistic (causal) modelling. Additionally, this study made predictions for the numbers of infected herds between 2022 and 2059. This study introduces a new graphical method representing the causal criteria of strength of association, such as R2, and the consistency of predictions, such as mean squared error. Mechanistic modelling predictions were, on average, more frequently (3 of 4) unbiased than statistical modelling predictions (1 of 4). Additionally, power model predictions were, on average, more frequently (3 of 4) unbiased than exponential model predictions (1 of 4). The mechanistic power model, along with annual updating, had the highest R2 and the lowest mean squared error of predictions. It also exhibited the closest approximation to unbiased predictions. Notably, significantly biased predictions were all underestimates. Based on the mechanistic power model, the biological eradication of bTB from New Zealand is predicted to occur after 2055. Disease eradication planning will benefit from annual updating of future predictions.
Optimising motor development in the hospitalised infant with CHD: factors contributing to early motor challenges and recommendations for assessment and intervention
Authors: Rogers Stefanie C. , Malik Lauren , Fogel Jennifer , Hamilton Bridy , Huisenga Darlene , Lewis-Wolf Christina , Mieczkowski Dana , Peterson Jennifer K. , Russell Sarah , Schmelzer Anne C. , Smith Jodi , Butler Samantha C.
Published: September 2023

Background:

Neurodevelopmental challenges are the most prevalent comorbidity associated with a diagnosis of critical CHD, and there is a high incidence of gross and fine motor delays noted in early infancy. The frequency of motor delays in hospitalised infants with critical CHD requires close monitoring from developmental therapies (physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists) to optimise motor development. Currently, minimal literature defines developmental therapists’ role in caring for infants with critical CHD in intensive or acute care hospital units.

Purpose:

This article describes typical infant motor skill development, how the hospital environment and events surrounding early cardiac surgical interventions impact those skills, and how developmental therapists support motor skill acquisition in infants with critical CHD. Recommendations for healthcare professionals and those who provide medical or developmental support in promotion of optimal motor skill development in hospitalised infants with critical CHD are discussed.

Conclusions:

Infants with critical CHD requiring neonatal surgical intervention experience interrupted motor skill interactions and developmental trajectories. As part of the interdisciplinary team working in intensive and acute care settings, developmental therapists assess, guide motor intervention, promote optimal motor skill acquisition, and support the infant’s overall development.
Numerical Study of the Transport Process of Shallow Heat Carried by Turbidity Currents in Deep‐Sea Environments
Authors: Tian Hao , Ren Yupeng , Chen Zhiyuan , Tao Wei , Wu Hanru , Xu Guohui
Published: September 2023

Turbidity currents often originate from relatively high‐temperature water bodies near the coast of the upper continental shelf. Turbidity currents are the main carriers that transport land sediments to the deep sea. Their impact on heat exchange and material transport in the deep‐sea ecosystem is receiving more attention. However, presently, there are few studies on heat transport by turbidity currents. This article presents a coupled model of multiphase flow and heat transfer through laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. The effects of sediment particle size, density, and Froude number on the characteristics of turbidity current heat transfer are analyzed, and the heat flux carried by turbidity currents transporting upper‐layer heat into the deep sea is reproduced. The results indicate that turbidity currents are carriers of shallow heat into the deep sea. The temperature structure within turbidity currents follows a Gaussian function and can effectively preserve heat. The efficiency of the long‐distance transport of heat carried by turbidity currents is negatively correlated with sediment particle size and the velocity of turbidity currents, and positively correlated with sediment concentration. Turbidity current heat shock events in the future may have significant and far‐reaching impacts on deep‐sea ecosystems.
Our Hot Future Has Arrived—Are We Prepared?
Authors: Filippelli Gabriel M.
Published: September 2023

Climate change has significantly enhanced dangerous heat events. Many of our institutions are ill‐prepared to provide science‐informed and rapid interventions to confront this. The GeoHealth community is working to bring science, public health, and medical professionals closer together to grapple with the challenges posed by extreme heat.
Impact of Air Refreshing and Cloud Ice Uptake Limitations on Vertical Profiles and Wet Depositions of Nitrate, Ammonium, and Sulfate
Authors: Luo Gan , Yu Fangqun
Published: September 2023

The impacts of cloud mixing and uptake on wet scavenging are not adequately resolved in global models which can lead to an overestimation of the removal of water‐soluble gases and aerosols from the atmosphere. To address this issue, we develop and implement novel parameterizations to consider the impacts of these processes. Our analysis of vertical profiles of nitric acid, inorganic nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate concentrations during the Atmospheric Tomography Mission periods indicates that air refreshing limitation has a significant impact above 800 hPa, while cloud ice uptake limitation plays an important role above 500 hPa. Incorporating these two processes resulted in a reduction of wet depositions of these species across source regions and a slight increase in their downwind regions. Wet depositions of nitrate, ammonium, and sulfate were reduced in source regions by 22.7%, 8.4%, and 8.3%, respectively and increased in downwind regions by 10.1%, 7.0%, and 4.3%, respectively.
Pore‐Scale Fluid Dynamics Resolved in Pressure Fluctuations at the Darcy Scale
Authors: Spurin Catherine , Roberts Gareth G. , O’Malley Conor P. B. , Kurotori Takeshi , Krevor Samuel , Blunt Martin J. , Tchelepi Hamdi
Published: September 2023

Complex pore‐scale dynamics have been observed during multiphase flow through porous rocks. These dynamics are not incorporated in large scale models for the migration and trapping of subsurface fluids such as CO2 or hydrogen. We show that fluctuations in pressure measured at the core‐scale (centimeters) can reflect fluid displacements at the pore‐scale (millimeters). The spectral characteristics of pressure data are shown to depend on the flow dynamics, the size of the rock sample, and the heterogeneity of the pore space. These results show that pressure data, transformed into the time‐frequency domain using wavelets, provides information about flow dynamics, across scales, that are otherwise challenging to acquire.
Extraction of Mantle Discontinuities From Teleseismic Body‐Wave Microseisms
Authors: Kato S. , Nishida K.
Published: September 2023

Ocean swell activities excite body‐wave microseisms that contain information on the Earth's internal structure. Although seismic interferometry is feasible for exploring structures, it faces the problem of spurious phases stemming from an inhomogeneous source distribution. This paper proposes a new method for inferring seismic discontinuity structures beneath receivers using body‐wave microseisms. This method considers the excitation sources of body‐wave microseisms to be spatially localized and persistent over time. To detect the P‐s conversion beneath the receivers, we generalize the receiver function analysis for earthquakes to body‐wave microseisms. The resultant receiver functions are migrated to the depth section. The detected 410‐ and 660‐km mantle discontinuities are consistent with the results obtained using earthquakes, thereby demonstrating the feasibility of our method for exploring deep‐earth interiors. This study is a significant step toward body‐wave exploration considering the sources of P‐wave microseisms to be isolated events.
Distribution and Trend of Wind Power Input to Near‐Inertial Motions in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Qian Jiangchao , Zhai Xiaoming , Wang Zhaomin , Jochum Markus
Published: September 2023

Wind power input to near‐inertial motions is an important energy source for generating diapycnal mixing in the ocean. However, the distribution and long‐term trend of this input over the Southern Ocean have yet to be quantified. In this study, we investigate the near‐inertial wind power input (WPIi) to the Southern Ocean using a global eddy‐permitting coupled ocean‐sea ice model forced by a high‐resolution atmospheric reanalysis product. Our results reveal a zonally asymmetric distribution of WPIi in the Southern Ocean, with the strongest input in the South Indian Ocean and the weakest in the South Pacific. The integrated WPIi between 30°S and 60°S exhibits a significant positive trend over the past four decades due to the intensification of mesoscale weather systems. The surface mixed‐layer depth is found to modulate the spatial pattern and trend of WPIi by altering the surface near‐inertial currents.
Aperture Synthesis Imaging of Ionospheric Irregularities Using Time Diversity MIMO Radar
Authors: Hysell D. L. , Chau J. L.
Published: September 2023

Aperture‐synthesis images of ionospheric irregularities in the equatorial electrojet are computed using multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) radar methods at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory. MIMO methods increase the number of distinct interferometry baselines available for imaging (by a factor of essentially three in these experiments) as well as the overall size of the synthetic aperture. The particular method employed here involves time‐division multiplexing or time diversity to distinguish pulses transmitted from different quarters of the Jicamarca array. The method comes at the cost of a large increase in computation time and complexity and a reduced signal‐to‐noise ratio. We discuss the details involved in the signal processing and the trade space involved in image optimization.
New Space Companies Meet a “Normal” Solar Maximum
Authors: Lugaz Noé , Liu Huixin , Carter Brett A. , Gannon Jennifer , Zou Shasha , Morley Steven K.
Published: September 2023

The monthly mean sunspot number has been larger in June–July 2023 than the double peak of solar cycle 24 (146 in February 2014 and 139 in November 2011) and brings us back to the sunspot level of solar cycle 23. However, the number of rocket launches, satellites in orbit and private space companies has increased dramatically in the past 20 years. Additionally, there is a growing interest for space exploration beyond Earth's orbit, to the Moon and beyond, which comes with higher risk of being affected by space weather. Here, we discuss some of these trends and the role of the journal to improve awareness of space weather impacts.
A Blue Water Scarcity‐Based Method for Hydrologically Sustainable Agricultural Expansion Design
Authors: Galli Nikolas , Chiarelli Davide Danilo , Ricciardi Livia , Rulli Maria Cristina
Published: September 2023

Sustainable development and intergenerational responsibility entail the prudent use of natural resources. Water availability can constrain agriculture, a key sector in terms of resources consumed and goods and services provided. The sustainability of its intensification and expansion has been studied, often with a particular focus on water. Agricultural strategies have been based on local water availability, and some downstream effects have been evaluated. However, a method to identify and quantify hydrologically sustainable land use and crop use changes directly accounting for downstream effects is yet to be defined. We propose a framework to design land‐use and crop‐use changes preventing local and downstream effects. We apply it on of coffee plantations expansion in Kenya, a sector that is growing and planned to grow, given its agricultural, economic and social development potential, not without risks associated to hydroclimatic change. We use crop‐ and land‐use specific hydrological modeling to simulate water scarcity impacts of coffee plantation expansion onto available suitable areas, and use the results to iteratively identify and filter out expansion areas increasing water scarcity locally or downstream. This assessment proves effective in preserving water availability, identifying 10% of the suitable and available areas as hydrologically sustainable. Total water footprints are similar in these expansion areas and in currently used areas, but expansion areas have higher precipitation‐generated water availability. The proposed methodology locates and quantifies areas in a physically robust way, maintaining flexibility to the selected expansion scenario. Thus, the methodology is replicable for planning hydrologically agricultural development.
Clues to potential dipolar-Kondo and RKKY interactions in a polar metal
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Hu Wanghua , Wang Jialu , Xu Zhuokai , Wang Tao , Lou Zhefeng , Lin Xiao
Published: September 2023

The coexistence of electric dipoles and itinerant electrons in a solid was postulated decades ago, before being experimentally established in several ‘polar metals’ during the last decade. Here, we report a concentration-driven polar-to-nonpolar phase transition in electron-doped BaTiO3. Comparing our case with other polar metals, we find a particular threshold concentration (n*) linked to the dipole density (nd). The universal ratio $$\frac{{n}_{{{{\rm{d}}}}}}{{n}^{* }}\approx 8.0(6)$$

n

d

n

*

≈
8.0

(

6

)

suggests a common mechanism across different polar systems, possibly explained by a dipolar Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida theory. Moreover, in BaTiO3, we observe enhanced thermopower and upturn on resistivity at low temperatures near n*, resembling the Kondo effect. We argue that local electric dipoles act as two-level-systems, whose fluctuations couple with surrounding electron clouds, giving rise to a potential dipolar-counterpart of the Kondo effect. Our findings unveil a mostly uncharted territory for exploring emerging physics associated with electron-dipole correlations, encouraging further theoretical work on dipolar-RKKY and Kondo interactions.
Immunomodulatory contribution of mast cells to the regenerative biomaterial microenvironment
Authors: Wang Raymond M. , Mesfin Joshua M. , Karkanitsa Maria , Ungerleider Jessica L. , Zelus Emma , Zhang Yuxue , Kawakami Yu , Kawakami Yuko , Kawakami Toshiaki , Christman Karen L.
Published: September 2023

Bioactive immunomodulatory biomaterials have shown promise for influencing the immune response to promote tissue repair and regeneration. Macrophages and T cells have been associated with this response; however, other immune cell types have been traditionally overlooked. In this study, we investigated the role of mast cells in the regulation of the immune response to decellularized biomaterial scaffolds using a subcutaneous implant model. In mast cell-deficient mice, there was dysregulation of the expected M1 to M2 macrophage transition typically induced by the biomaterial scaffold. Polarization progression deviated in a sex-specific manner with an early transition to an M2 profile in female mice, while the male response was unable to properly transition past a pro-inflammatory M1 state. Both were reversed with adoptive mast cell transfer. Further investigation of the later-stage immune response in male mice determined a greater sustained pro-inflammatory gene expression profile, including the IL-1 cytokine family, IL-6, alarmins, and chemokines. These results highlight mast cells as another important cell type that influences the immune response to pro-regenerative biomaterials.
Children perpetuate competence-based inequality when they help peers
Authors: Sierksma Jellie
Published: September 2023

Exchanges of help between children are common and often have positive consequences. But not all help is equally beneficial, for example because some help does not provide an opportunity to practice and develop skills. Here I examine whether young children might perpetuate competence-based inequality by providing incompetent peers with less opportunity to practice and improve their skills compared to competent peers. Study 1 (N = 253, 6–9 years) shows that young children understand not all help is equally beneficial: Children think that peers who receive empowerment (hints) vs. non-empowerment (correct answers) help can learn more. Study 2 (N = 80) and 3 (N = 41) then assessed children’s (7–9 years) actual helping behavior in a lab-based experiment. Through a cover story, participants were introduced to two unknown, same-age children whom they later overheard were either good or not good at solving puzzles (Study 2) or math (Study 3). Subsequently, participants got to help both of them with a puzzle-quiz (Study 2) or a math-quiz (Study 3) by providing either empowerment or non-empowerment when they asked for help. Across both studies, children were more likely to provide empowerment help to competent peers, and non-empowerment help to incompetent peers. This work suggests that when young children perceive differences in competence (e.g., based on stereotypes), they contribute to maintaining the status quo by providing the most vulnerable students, that would profit the most from improving their skills, less opportunity to do so.
Self-reproduction and doubling time limits of different cellular subsystems
Authors: Abner Kristo , Šverns Peter , Arold Janar , Morell Indrek , Lints Taivo , Medri Sander , Seiman Andrus , Adamberg Kaarel , Vilu Raivo
Published: September 2023

Ribosomes which can self-replicate themselves practically autonomously in beneficial physicochemical conditions have been recognized as the central organelles of cellular self-reproduction processes. The challenge of cell design is to understand and describe the rates and mechanisms of self-reproduction processes of cells as of coordinated functioning of ribosomes and the enzymatic networks of different functional complexity that support those ribosomes. We show that doubling times of proto-cells (ranging from simplest replicators up to those reaching the size of E. coli) increase rather with the number of different cell component species than with the total numbers of cell components. However, certain differences were observed between cell components in increasing the doubling times depending on the types of relationships between those cell components and ribosomes. Theoretical limits of doubling times of the self-reproducing proto-cells determined by the molecular parameters of cell components and cell processes were in the range between 6–40 min.
Points for energy renovation (PointER): A point cloud dataset of a million buildings linked to energy features
Authors: Krapf Sebastian , Mayer Kevin , Fischer Martin
Published: September 2023

Rapid renovation of Europe’s inefficient buildings is required to reduce climate change. However, evaluating buildings at scale is challenging because every building is unique. In current practice, the energy performance of buildings is assessed during on-site visits, which are slow, costly, and local. This paper presents a building point cloud dataset that promotes a data-driven, large-scale understanding of the 3D representation of buildings and their energy characteristics. We generate building point clouds by intersecting building footprints with geo-referenced LiDAR data and link them with attributes from UK’s energy performance database via the Unique Property Reference Number (UPRN). To mimic England’s building stock’s features well, we select one million buildings from a range of rural and urban regions, of which half a million are linked to energy characteristics. Building point clouds in new regions can be generated with our published open-source code. The dataset enables novel research in building energy modeling and can be easily expanded to other research fields by adding building features via the UPRN or geo-location.
How to transform urban institutional green spaces into Ancillary Botanic Gardens to expand informal botanical learning opportunities in cities
Authors: Melhem M. , Forrest A. , Abunnasr Y. , Abi Ali R. , Talhouk S. N.
Published: September 2023

Since many cities lack botanical gardens, we introduced the concept of Ancillary Botanic Gardens (ABG), which builds on the premise that organizations can expand informal botanical learning by adding a secondary function to their institutional green spaces. This study guides the application of the ABG concept in various spatial and functional contexts by offering practical and interpretive tools to organizations who are less used to working with nature but are interested in mitigating urban residents’ detachment from nature. Online maps of 220 botanic gardens were reviewed to define types of plant collections and produce an exhaustive list of physical botanic garden elements. The collected information was developed into an ABG field checklist that was tested on three case studies in Lebanon and then used to develop guidelines for ABG establishment. The guidelines and checklist are meant to empower and guide organizations interested in establishing an ABG.
A novel biochar-based composite hydrogel for removing heavy metals in water and alleviating cadmium stress in tobacco seedlings
Authors: Du Fu , Liu Liping , Pan Yong , Wu Chuang , Wang Ronghao , Zhao Zeyu , Fan Wenpeng , Song Hao , Shi Youzhi , Wang Jian
Published: September 2023

A novel composite hydrogel (AM/CMC/B) synthesized from peanut shell biochar effectively adsorbs heavy metal Cd in water and reduces its toxicity to tobacco seedlings. The hydrogel, prepared via hydrothermal polymerization using acrylamide (AM), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and peanut shell biochar (B), exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 164.83 mg g−1 for Cd2+ and followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In pot experiments, the application of exogenous AM/CMC/B mitigated the inhibitory effects of Cd-contaminated soil on tobacco seedling growth. Addition of 10 mg kg−1 Cd resulted in improved phenotype, root system development, enhanced photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance (Gs), stomatal number, and increased antioxidant activity while reducing MDA content and leaf cell death. These findings highlight the potential of AM/CMC/B as an environmentally friendly adsorbent for Cd removal from water and for reducing Cd stress toxicity in tobacco and other plants.
Comprehensive analysis of chemokine gene polymorphisms in Korean children with autoimmune thyroid disease
Authors: Shin Chungwoo , Baek In-Cheol , Cho Won Kyoung , Kim Tai-Gyu , Suh Byung-Kyu
Published: September 2023

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that can cause directed migration of leukocytes. The aim of this study was to examine differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of chemokine in AITD patients compared to normal controls. A total of 86 Korean pediatric patients were included in the patient group and 183 adults were included in the normal control group. To compare influences of several chemokine gene polymorphisms, 25 SNPs in 16 chemokine genes were analyzed. Genotype frequencies of CCL11(rs3744508)AA(OR = 6.9) and CCR2(rs1799864)AA(OR = 3.8) were higher in the AITD patients than in the controls, whereas CCL17(rs223828)CC was lower in the AITD patients than in the controls(OR = 0.4). In comparison between Graves' disease (GD) patients and controls, genotype frequency of CCL17(rs223828)CC(OR = 0.4) was lower in the GD group, whereas those of CCR2(rs1799864)AA(OR = 4.8) were higher in the GD group. The genotype frequency of CCL11(rs3744508)AA(OR = 11.3) was higher in Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) patients, whereas that of CXCL8(rs2227306)CC(OR = 0.4) was lower in HT patients. Polymorphisms of CCL11(rs3744508), CCL17(rs223828), and CCR2(rs1799864) might be associated with AITD, with CCL17(rs223828), CCR2(rs1799864) and CXCR2(rs2230054, rs1126579) affecting GD and CCL11(rs3744508) and CXCL8(rs2227306) affecting HT in Korean children.